The next day dawned, distinctly hinting at autumn's arrival and signaling the necessity to begin sowing winter crops.
If this were Earth, Victor, whose grandfather spent his life working fields, could accurately predict when to plant. But here, relying solely on memories inherited from the previous body owner, he could only guess the timing.
Yet what confronted him now was perhaps the most repulsive scene imaginable. Serfs were scooping buckets tied to ropes, emptying the cesspit that had accumulated waste since latrine installation.
Unaware of precise fertilizer-making methods, he could only experiment, currently watching as these laborers carried pit contents and transported them to a field outside the village, spreading it evenly for air drying.
Over time, the pit collected all sorts of organic wastes and substantial amounts of plant ash.
Monitoring this process and exhausted by staying here any longer, Victor headed towards the castle, where serfs were busy elsewhere. Following his design, an entire training camp was being constructed eastward, resembling school playgrounds from his former world.
Here stood pull-up bars, horizontal beams, parallel bars, walls two meters high, and other athletic structures he remembered vividly. A vast field, comparable to soccer pitches on Earth, was compacted so soldiers could train without sinking into mud.
Arriving at the site, Victor encountered exactly two hundred recruits, and today he planned to eliminate half of them at once. Yet he wouldn't lose the second half; wasting food invested in them was unacceptable.
One critical detail struck him last minute. When the campaign begins, guards must remain behind in the castle. Taking away a hundred soldiers and leaving no defense would risk returning to plundered lands, which he couldn't tolerate.
Unfortunately, resources barely covered equipping a hundred men, forcing him to decide weaker recruits would remain as militia, awaiting better times for development.
— You've all proven worthy enough to join the guard, but only half of you will accompany me on campaigns, — addressed Victor directly to the assembled crowd. — Those remaining will undertake equally vital duties—protecting our castle, our lands, and our home.
He increasingly emphasized the term "ours" to instill collective ownership, encouraging these people to perceive the territory not as the lord's alone but theirs collectively.
Such propaganda would enhance loyalty later. Although they failed to comprehend now, sooner or later this concept would unconsciously sink in.
***
It's essential to understand that campaigns aren't merely about bloodshed and killing; they're opportunities to enrich oneself by pillaging villages and castles. Soldiers retained anywhere from 10% to 30% of stolen goods, and considering potential concealed items from commanders' eyes, getting rich was highly probable.
Naturally, everyone aspired to participate in campaigns, driven by the "survivor bias effect."
Dead cannot return to recount horrors experienced or miseries endured. Only survivors return from battlefields, often sharing tales of marvelous adventures—looting nobles, raping beauties, and slaughtering enemies. Hearing such narratives, young men burned with desire to reach battlefields and replicate these heroics.
***
Stepping forward, Victor demonstrated equipment usage directly before recruits.
First, he illustrated the purpose of the pull-up bar, essentially two wooden posts embedded in soil supporting a metal rod costing him a fortune, as metal was exceedingly pricey here.
Lacking effective selection methods, he simply instructed everyone to perform chin-ups, relegating the lowest performers to reserve ranks.
Ten such bars lined the field, and Alganis pushed recruits onto them, whip in hand, shouting loudly, causing headaches for Victor.
On Jin's orders, a chair, table, and refreshments were delivered, allowing him to appreciate his title truly. Comfortably seated with tea in hand, witnessing others work tirelessly brought immeasurable joy.
Almost two hours passed selecting a hundred candidates, leading to the next phase.
Victor stepped forward and gestured for a servant carrying a tray covered with cloth, beneath which lay objects destined to drastically boost soldiers' strength.
But first came mandatory formalities: all recruits dropped to one knee, repeating Alganis' oath of fealty to their lord. From that point onwards, they officially became soldiers entitled to legitimate guardianship.
— From this moment forth, you're all members of my guard and soldiers loyal to me. Your service will be rewarded, and your merits acknowledged, — proclaimed the lord boldly, eliciting bright-eyed stares from soldiers. — You shall obey my commands, dying if necessary. Any cowardice or treason displayed in battle will result in execution, and the traitor's family punished accordingly.
Arguably, the most terrifying aspect for soldiers was precisely this final clause.
***
A significant factor. In modern society, concepts like family ties have blurred, but in this medieval world, family bonds represent the sole identity these people cherish. They possess nothing else; even dying for familial prosperity was considered honorable, exploited frequently by nobles.
For example, sending soldiers to storm impregnable fortresses, promising tax reductions for one year proved sufficient motivation for serfs to rush defenses and die valiantly, ensuring their families enjoyed one extra prosperous year.
Similarly, taking oaths illustrates how nobles manipulate them freely, denying peasants and serfs the privilege of swearing allegiance.
Receiving an opportunity to pledge fealty to an aristocrat signified achieving something invaluable, valued higher than life itself.
Because doing so elevated them and their families above common peasantry and serfdom.
***
Completing these procedures, he removed the fabric covering the tray, revealing a hundred "concentration stones." Had plans not changed, he would've commissioned more, initially requesting only a hundred from the jeweler.
Although easily wearable necklaces could be fashioned, some effort was still required. Therefore, the remainder would receive their stones later.
Soldiers took turns retrieving stones, and while occupied, Victor departed the training ground, calling forth armor outside their line of sight. Now fully encased in iron and equipped with a massive hammer in his right hand and oversized shield in his left, he returned.
— Kneel! — shouted the knight, realizing what the lord intended.
Everyone present descended to one knee, leaning on their right leg.
Victor raised his hammer, invoking paladin blessing. Bright light engulfed the surroundings, but something went awry. Life seemed drained from him, vanishing abruptly. Then darkness enveloped his vision, plunging consciousness into oblivion.
Waking up, he found himself facing familiar bedroom ceiling. Turning his head, he spotted Lulu, seemingly accustomed to his fainting spells and behaving calmer than usual.
— You promised you'd stop passing out like this! — protested the girl.
"It isn't like I control it. What happened anyway? I blessed my soldiers and… Did I exhaust all my power? Magic doesn't function that way. If mana ran dry, I'd simply fail casting the spell. How does paladin magic differ?"
— We had to carry you here, and we don't even have a doctor anywhere nearby! — she continued rambling until he ordered assistance dressing.
According to her account, he lay bedridden nearly four days, during which merchant delegations visited seeking audience with him.
Dressed with her help, he left the bedroom and checked statistics window midway down the stairs, verifying any changes.
Strength — 39 — unchanged.
Agility — 37 — unchanged.
Intelligence — 25 — increased by seven points.
Luck — 13 — unchanged.
Armor Proficiency — 4%
Skills: Paladin Blessing (Level 1).
"Why did intelligence spike so sharply? Yesterday everything was normal. Did I do something special? Could blessing soldiers raise 'intelligence?' Why is the skill suddenly listed in stats? Is there some manual in this damned diary detailing this system?"
While reviewing statistics, Victor mulled over recent events.
Descending to the main floor, he failed to spot Alganis, usually greeting him near the guest room door, prompting him to break fast solo.
Quickly finishing his meal, he requested the knight's presence, and fifteen minutes later, a cheerful captain stood before him.
"What has gotten into you? I'm starting to suspect you've leveled up again. My energy feels the same color." Victor tried figuring out why the knight stared at him so admiringly.
— Tell me why you're so gleeful, — he finally demanded of the ecstatic man.
— My lord, I don't understand how your magic works," Alganis exclaimed breathlessly, "but seventy-nine soldiers from primary squadron and eight reservists awakened their magic to apprentice level!"
Victor stared incredulously, aware that if true, it would be extraordinary.
An apprentice isn't yet a knight, but it means their magic reaches peak levels, poised to ascend to iron-knight rank. Meaning he potentially had eighty-seven iron knights-in-waiting.
Ordinary humans have a one-in-a-thousand chance of reaching apprenticeship, and advancing from apprentice to iron knight without potions is achievable for only one in two hundred. Merely obtaining such numbers was miraculous.
Springing from his seat, Victor rushed to the training grounds, where soldiers trained according to instructions relayed earlier.
— Are you sensing this aura, milord? — asked the knight, standing beside him.
Indeed, concentration wasn't necessary. Each soldier emitted slight magical energy, creating an atmosphere akin to thickening air.
— First priority: teach them to hide their aura. Post guards around the perimeter; no one approaches this place. Soldiers are forbidden to leave the castle, — Victor issued rapid-fire orders.
"If outsiders assume I possess an artifact awakening mages, they'll conclude I found it underground. Even the king won't resist such temptation."
Contemplating implications, he sought ways to conceal everything. Maintaining secrecy on-site was manageable, but once marching out, each soldier would be scrutinized by every passing knight. Unlike nobles, checking soldiers' magic drew no objections.
— Lord, please forgive my audacity, but I have a request, — interrupted the knight, dropping to one knee. — Our guards haven't received stones; I ask permission to allocate some for them as well.
Striking his forehead, Victor recalled forgetting initial distribution included his original guards. Promising immediate arrangements, he retreated to change clothes.
Eager to test blessings, he returned, bringing twenty soldiers, then venturing farther from the group.
At a safe distance, Victor invoked the blessing, releasing a ring of light again. He sensed something draining faster but less severely compared to prior attempts.
Still insufficient, he summoned Alganis, who observed from afar.
Joining him privately, Victor applied the skill again. Instantly, his energy vanished rapidly and massively.
"Apparently, the number of recipients and their levels influence my magic."
Lost in thought, the knight watched his hands, flexing fingers curiously.
— Is something wrong?
— Lord, energy flows astonishingly swift. At this rate, I'm confident I can swiftly elevate my level, — responded the knight.
— Instruct me when the effect fades; I wish to know its duration.
Bowing, the knight resumed soldier training. Added to the hundred-man group were those who also attained apprentice status.
Under threat of death, all soldiers were warned against disclosing training details or the lord's activities.
Victor doubted this method entirely. Secrets shared between two survive a week; secrets among hundreds vanish within a day.
Thus, he urgently sought ways to obscure everything, regretting exposing his magic recklessly.
— Lord, messengers from other territorial lords are here again, — reported a maid dashing in search of him.
— I'll attend shortly, — he replied, heading back to the training ground, where sweaty soldiers relentlessly practiced.
These exercises held profound significance for this world's inhabitants. Beyond eradicating laziness and bad habits, discipline training was next on schedule.
"Disciplining these people might prove harder than fighting dragons."
Reflecting thus, he marched toward the castle.