Kapitel 37: Preparations for War

"Are you really sure about this, son?"

Ale was sitting in his father's office and munching on a cookie as he was asked that question by the Duke.

"Yes I'm sure."

He spoke in a slightly muffled voice as there were cookies in his mouth. He came to the Duke's office first thing in the morning so he hadn't had his breakfast yet. And the cookies were really delicious.

"There are always alternatives you know? I can always adopt a child and send them in your stead."

They were talking about military enlistment. Although it was a pretty heavy topic to talk about so early in the morning, but it was necessary.

They didn't have much time. Since the Duke's and other nobles were directly contacted by the Royal family, the war wasn't too far away.

Each noble family had to sent a part of their knight along with a member of their family to control those knights. There were no exceptions.

Although, if absolutely necessary, nobles could adopt a talented child and send them instead, it was still just a loophole in the system. Most nobles avoided pulling stunts like that in fear of angering the Royal family.

"We can't do that."

But Ale was strictly against doing that for an entirely different reason. It wasn't something superficial like duties of a noble or fairness. He didn't care about the world of the nobles afterall.

"I don't want to share credits."

Although Ale said that, the real reason was that he simply didn't want to make someone else suffer in his place. That would weight too heavily on his mind.

"Credits.."

"Yes. Isn't it an honour , fighting for my country?"

'Not that I give a rat's ass about the people of this country.'

Ale had a complex character. His mentality, which was divided into two, one, the innocent eighteen year old who grew up surrounded by love and care, and other thirty plus old man who was betrayed and broken and hated the whole world, they'd often clash and make it impossible for him to maintain one single persona.

Just like now, he didn't want to harm that one person who'd take up the role and go to war for him. At the same time, he couldn't care less if all the people in the world died and disappeared tomorrow, except his family and his people of course.

"I respect your wishes, son, but it's still hard."

The Duke loved both his sons wholeheartedly. Although he was bad at expressing his emotions and care in the past, he had learned a lot from his eldest son during the past three years, including the importance of expressing one's emotions.

"With all of you caring and worrying about me like this, I'm sure nothing bad will happen to me, father. Please believe in the power of your prayers."

Ale tried to pacify his anxious and worried father by saying all the right words, but even he himself didn't know what was going to happen in the future.

Ale had to go. He had no choice but to. Since he knew how Josh would end up if he went to war instead, Ake absolutely could not let that happen. In his last life, his dear brother fought against the entire kingdom to protect Ale and ended up dying as a result.

Ale couldn't let that history repeat itself. It was also one of the reasons why he made his brother the heir. The Duke and his heir staying back was the most reasonable course of action. Only the disposable child should go.

The Duke, after Ale's continuous persuasion, finally agreed to letting him go as he signed the papers. He let Ale choose the knights since Ale knew their knights even better than him by now. It felt more reassuring that way.

And, although he didn't say it out loud, another reason the Duke let Ale go was because of his attribute.

Once Ale reveals that he's a light attribute user, he'd be given his own knights and more guards and will be treated with the utmost respect and care. Since light attribute users are just that special.

But what the Duke had no clue about was that Ale would register himself as a swords rather than a light user. He had no intention of staying back and getting all those extra protection.

Despite all those miscommunications, they came to a peaceful conclusion and Ale left the Duke's office with a full stomach.

But that wasn't the end. As soon as he came out, he was confronted by another person in need of consolation. His dear little brother.

"Why are you going?"

"Umm.."

"Why do you get to decide that?"

"That..."

"You didn't even feel the need to ask me once?! What if I wanted to go?!"

"Oh you silly child. Is there anyone on this planet who wants to willingly go to war?"

Ale patted his younger brothers head lovingly and started walking away from the Duke's office. He didn't want his father to hear their conversation or be bothered by it.

"Stop! Where are you going?! Listen to me!"

"Yes yes, I'm listening."

"Why are you going? If no one wants to go to war, then why are you going?!"

"Hmm.. I'm not going because I want to. It's because I have to."

"Why? I don't like it. Don't go."

"Pfft.. I should ignore the royal order because you don't like it?"

"I'll go. I want to go."

"You do?"

"Yes!"

"And how old are you again? Thirteen?"

"I'm fifteen! I'll be an adult soon! Don't treat me like a child!"

"Pfft..haha."

Ale kept laughing as he listened to all of his brothers complains till he reached the training ground.

The knights were already called upon and gathered there in formation. Although they didn't know what was happening, they were sure to get a clue after Ale got done with his selection.

"All the new recuits go back first."

Ale started his filtration process. He got rid of the newbies first, not because they were less talented or that he feared they'd get in the way. He just didn't want those young childrens to taste the bitter reality of a war in such an early age.

"Everyone reaching the age of retirement should also go back."

Ale sent back the absolute veterans as well. They've already done more than enough serving the duchy their whole life. He didn't want them to follow him blindly and work like a dog till they die. Their life were so close to completion, it'd be too sad if they died on the battlefield now.

"Everyone at their peak should also go back."

After all that, Ale was left with the knights that were neither young nor old, those that were not at their peak and had a strong urge for strength and success. He was left with those that strived for more and whose hunger was at their peak instead.

"Now, all of you will follow me while the rest can go back to their regular training."

"Yes!"

Phil and Gary, who obviously didn't even need to be included in the filtration process, guided the knights to Ale's private training ground and waited further instructions while Ale went back to his room to get changed into training attire.

"Young master.. Are you really going?"

"Yeah."

"... You know I'm coming with you, right?"

Kevin asked after a long pause. There was no hesitation in his voice. And it didn't seem like he'd take no for an answer.

"What would you even do in a battlefield?"

"I can take care of you OUTSIDE the battlefield."

'Hmm.. Yeah, it's not like I'll always be fighting and stuff.'

The nobles even had to attend some social events during the war as well. Ale would definitely need a hand during those times.

"Okay. Do whatever you want."

"Thank you."

"Oh right. Finish the rest of the construction within a day or two."

"Yes? In such a hurry?"

"Yeah.. No wait. Let's pause the construction for now altogether."

"Umm.. Are you sure, young master?"

"Hmm.. No. Just finish the basics within today. And then send them off with lots of rewards."

"...okay."

"Also, make sure no one enters my room."

"That goes without saying."

Ale managed to sneak Xion into the mansion and hide him in his bedroom for now. Both Light and Xion was inside his room right now. After giving Kevin all the necessary instructions, Ale told him to go back and entered his room.

"Everything okay here?"

Ale asked Xion as he entered the room. The two of them looked more comfortable than he had imagined, already occupying his bed and rolling around in it.

It looked like Light and Xion was starting to form a bond, but it didn't come as a surprise to Ale considering how much similarity there were between the two.

"We're good."

Xion answered shortly and went back to rubbing Lights tummy once again.

After Ale took out his training outfit and got changed in the washroom, he suddenly remembered something and went back to searching his drawers again.

After a few seconds of searching, he finally found a small black box in one corner of his drawers. It had a weird carving on it and looked quite old.

As he opened the box, he could see the thing that was inside the box. A necklace. A silvery white necklace with a teardrop shaped blue pendant. It looked very unique and delicate.

"Here!"

He handed the necklace over to Xion with a lot of excitement in his eyes. It was times like these when he really liked being rich. This was a gift. A merchant from the south gave Ale this necklace when he came to visit his father before.

"What's this?"

"A gift. Hurry. Wear it around your neck."

Ale wondered if the Demon race also wore accessories seeing how he never saw any of them wearing anything. Xion's reaction also helped solidify his doubt so he helped the poor guy wear the necklace.

"Here. This is how you wear it."

"You guys wear stuff like this around your neck? Isn't that uncomfortable?"

"Uncomfortable? Why?"

"Don't prisoners usually wear this stuff? Am I being imprisoned?"

The shock on Xion's face was a real sight to see. But Ale managed to control his laughter in time and shook his head in denial instead.

"It's not a restriction. It's a magical equipment that'll help you hide your wings, horn and tail."

"What? That's also possible?"

"Yeah. Channel some of your mana into it and see the magic."

It was an appearance altering necklace. Since most noble ladies were often dissatisfied with their appearance and all of them wanted more and more, this was a pretty valuable item to gift to someone.

And Ale had just realised that the item could be used in this manner as well. Altering appearance, hiding horns, they required the same type of magic afterall.

"wow..."

Xion used a little bit of his mana to activate the necklace. And the transformation was indeed magical. It left Ale stunned and speechless for a while.

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