Chapter 91

Chapter 92 (91/324)

92

The most discussed topic in the meeting was about the training knight examination.

"Are you saying that you want to move the examination from the end of July to the end of June?"

"Yes. I also plan to significantly increase the number of participants. If you have any opinions on this, I would like to hear them without reservation."

"How many more do you plan to add?"

"At the very least, we need to increase it to a thousand."

At Abel's firm answer, the faces of the retainers began to show concern. They knew that the number of knights had drastically decreased, and a significant increase was necessary.

"…A thousand? That's five times as many. If that happens, the maintenance costs and the decline in quality will be major issues. The costs for disaster recovery and replenishing the soldiers are already significant…"

These two issues were bound to be the biggest obstacles.

"…That's correct. Honestly, those two are the biggest problems. Even if a famine comes, it will take time for the price of wheat to rise. Perhaps… we might have to sell items within the family."

"Um…"

With a bitter smile, Abel spoke, and the retainers remained silent.

In the end, it means that money and the decline in quality are the biggest problems right now.

Should I help a little?

After glancing at Abel and the retainers, I began to speak.

"I have an idea."

"An idea…?"

"Originally, to take the training knight examination, one must have at least the status of a lesser noble, right?"

While minor families recruited commoners, prestigious families like the Viscount's were different.

One had to be at least a lesser noble to qualify for the examination.

Leonhardt could take the examination because he was born to a lesser noble knight.

Once one became a lesser noble, the status was hereditary for three generations.

Therefore, those who took the training knight examination were mostly children of nobles or lesser nobles.

Abel nodded at my words.

"That's right. So?"

"Change that restriction. Keep the existing examination that selects two hundred, but add another examination. For example, select commoners separately."

"Do you mean to select those who have trained with swords from among them?"

"No, it's a bit different. Regardless of whether they are farmers, woodcutters, or herbalists, I want to make it possible for everyone to take the examination."

Did they not understand what I meant?

Question marks appeared on the faces of the retainers and Abel.

"What do you mean…?"

I felt I needed to explain in more detail.

"Among the empire's population, nobles and lesser nobles combined make up less than 3%, don't they?"

"…That's correct."

"3% is an extremely small number when you look at the whole. In other words, we've been filtering out 97% of the population from the start. How many gems do you think are among them?"

"…"

I continued, addressing the silent Abel and retainers.

"Everyone is only trying to select those who are already prepared, without thinking about discovering gems. The same is true now. You've only thought about those who have trained with swords among the commoners, not farmers and the like."

"…"

"Serin. He's a talent I discovered. And he's a commoner. Yet, he has far better potential than most of the training knights in the family."

At that, Abel slowly nodded.

"Yes. Father told me he's an excellent talent."

"Exactly. We don't need to limit it to those who have trained with swords. There could be gems like Serin among farmers. This is about discovering such talents."

In short, it's about holding a nationwide audition.

Did my words make Abel feel something?

His expression began to change strangely.

However, there were those who raised objections.

It was Craft.

"I understand, but I'm not sure if it's a good method."

"Why do you think so?"

"It's simple. Everyone wants to become a knight, but the process involves immense pain. Do you think those who have never held a sword can endure that process?"

Craft's words were true.

Never having held a sword could be due to environmental issues, but it could also be due to a lack of personal will.

Thus, it's questionable whether they can endure the harsh training process.

There was a way.

"You don't need to worry about that."

"You don't need to worry?"

"If we open the examination to everyone, countless people will come. Of course, most will be unqualified. But that's fine."

I continued, addressing the old knight whose eyes were filled with question marks.

"Many people will come. Among them, there will definitely be talented and determined individuals. We just need to sift through them."

One retainer spoke up at my words.

"I understand your point, but if that happens, other problems will arise. Distinguishing the many who come will be a huge task, and even if we select them, whether they can adapt to the training is another issue…"

"There's no need to overthink it. We're giving a chance to the uneducated. Aren't we the ones in charge?"

We are.

And not just any, but the superiors.

So there's no need to make the selection process difficult.

Just the fact that we're selecting training knights this way is a blessing for the commoners.

Which family would select training knights from those who have never held a sword?

Even minor families that select commoners as training knights don't target farmers.

It might seem like a crazy idea.

But it's a proven method.

Even in the modern, more developed society, such audition programs have been quite entertaining.

"Set up dummies in the training ground and have them swing swords. You'll get a rough idea. Test fifty at a time quickly, and if you think they have some talent, select them."

"…What? If we select them randomly, maintenance costs and various issues will…"

"Oh, I forgot to mention one thing. Those selected won't be training knights."

"Not training knights?"

"Just give them a temporary position like training knight candidates and train them separately. From there, we can start a more thorough evaluation. Once we filter them, the number will significantly decrease."

It would be a problem if the randomly selected people were formal training knights, but since they're not, it's fine. We can give them a plausible position and train them while providing regular meals.

Why, in the modern world, isn't there a term for it?

Passion pay, internships, and the like.

We can just lump it together like that.

"Among them, some talented and determined individuals will emerge. We can gradually promote them to training knights."

"…"

At that, some retainers began to light up. They seemed to get a rough idea of what I was proposing.

"There won't be significant costs for the candidates. Just provide them with meals. Quality decline? Since we'll filter through many, they might even have better potential than the formally selected training knights."

Surely, there will be some exceptional talents.

"If we select people this way, there will be a lot of noise at first. But after a few years, many things will change. For those not suitable as knights, we can use them as squad leaders or company commanders."

Isn't that recycling?

This is true recycling.

Abel, who had been listening to me, slowly nodded.

"That's a pretty good method."

Using this method, we won't incur significant maintenance costs, and we can select the talented from the many who come.

We can also buy time before the famine.

We only need to provide meals.

When the situation improves, we can gradually promote them to training knights.

"We can start with a pilot program in our territory, targeting the residents. If it goes well, we can expand it to the entire empire."

"Targeting the residents…"

"Yes. It's an unknown method now, but over time, it will become a gateway for commoners. Even the uneducated will come to knock on the door of the Viscount's family."

If we select training knights even from those who have never held a sword, they will naturally come.

"If the rumor spreads that even if they don't become training knights, they can become squad leaders or company commanders, what do you think will happen?"

"Um…"

"Indeed… It seems like a good method…"

I smiled at the retainers.

"It's not just good. At first, everyone will mock it, but if this method spreads… eventually, all families will follow our way."

It's a method that doesn't cost much and efficiently selects talents.

So there's no reason not to do it.

'Even if others follow…'

Since we're the first to adopt this method and the Viscount's family is known for its swordsmanship, we'll still be the top choice for commoners.

"Kai."

"Yes, Big Brother."

"You mentioned selecting squad leaders and company commanders from the candidates. Can you explain that in more detail?"

"It's simple. Originally, we promote experienced and skilled soldiers to squad leaders and company commanders, right?"

At my words, Abel nodded.

"Yes."

"I'm suggesting we select them from the training knight candidates. It's a middle position between knights and soldiers. Providing benefits would be even better. For example, teaching them sword techniques and mental techniques."

"…Then they won't be much different from knights?"

"No. We can set limits."

"…Limits?"

"Yes."

"How will you differentiate them? The lowest level of sword and mental techniques is still low."

I had already thought about this.

"For now, we can teach them only the lowest level of sword and mental techniques. That should be enough."

"…I understand. By the way, I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"I don't see the benefit of selecting squad leaders and company commanders from the candidates."

"First, we can significantly improve the level of the soldiers. Squad leaders and company commanders, apart from their experience and skill, are not much different from regular soldiers, right?"

At that, Abel nodded.

Perhaps not for battalion commanders, but we wouldn't teach sword and mental techniques to just those levels.

"If we teach sword and mental techniques to the new squad leaders and company commanders, we can significantly improve the unit's level."

"Then the existing soldiers might rebel."

"For change, we need to endure some noise. With the number of soldiers drastically reduced, this could be an opportunity. If we also select some of the existing soldiers for training, we can mitigate their dissatisfaction."

"Um… I understand. Since you mentioned the first benefit, there must be a second."

I nodded at that.

"Yes. We can widely publicize the examination we will hold. Squad leaders are not much different from soldiers, but company commanders are different. Becoming a training knight might seem impossible, but becoming a company commander might feel achievable."

Company commanders, while still soldiers, are positions that give commoners a sense of importance.

In the modern world, it's like being a manager in a large company.

So they will rush in with enthusiasm.

Even if becoming a training knight is uncertain, the hope of becoming a company commander will motivate them.

If a dragon can rise from a stream, why wouldn't they be excited?

At that, Abel nodded and looked at the retainers.

"I think Kai's suggestion is quite good. What do you all think?"

"…"

No one objected.

"Then we will start with a pilot program targeting the residents of our territory."

"Yes!"

After the meeting ended.

As the retainers left the meeting room one by one.

"Big Brother."

I called out to Abel.

Differential education.

Earlier, I said we only had low-level sword techniques, but I actually had an item that would fit perfectly for differential education.

The modified Storm Sword.

What if we also modified the other seven sword techniques and taught the modified versions to the knights, while teaching the original versions to the officer-level soldiers?

It was time to discuss the modified sword techniques with Abel.