[Matthew's POV]
"Mr. Matthew and his personal guard will be responsible for blocking the escape route on the southwestern exit." The Kingdom Guard Captain in charge of the operation assigned us our role.
For some reason I couldn't quite understand, everyone there seemed to treat me like some kind of military leader. They kept asking for my opinion on every part of the plan and genuinely listened to my input.
These people clearly had no sense.
This was going to be a large-scale operation. The scouts had estimated that up to 200 bandits could be hiding in that chain of caves.
The royal guard would launch the assault with a force of over 300 men, invading through the two main entrances. But even that wouldn't be enough.
That's why a militia was formed, made up of adventurers and the personal guards of the city's nobles.
The militia wouldn't take part in the direct assault. Our job was only to block escape routes and engage in combat if attacked. That didn't work for me.
To complete the Side Quest, I needed to get into the heart of the bandit hideout before the royal guard and retrieve the secret information as part of my loot.
Then, an opportunity presented itself. The kingdom's Array Masters had discovered a secret passage, the shortest route to the center of the bandit lair. It was likely to be the escape route the leaders would use if attacked.
Whoever was assigned to block that passage would face the strongest enemies. No one who had volunteered wanted that mission, except for me, of course.
It was the perfect position. If we defeated the bandits fleeing through there, we'd be the first to reach the heart of the lair. So I volunteered.
There was already a rumor going around that I had led the team that faced the RedTails head-on during the last attack and achieved a crushing victory. When I volunteered for what was clearly the most dangerous task, it only added to the rumor, and people started treating me with a level of respect I seriously doubted I deserved.
Being treated that way fed my ego, but also worried me.
What if people started to see me as some kind of military leader, and I kept getting dragged into conflicts?
That was a reputation I didn't want.
But for now, I had no choice, the Side Quest rewards were too good to pass up. I had to keep up the act, even if it might eventually have serious consequences for me.
When the strategy meeting finally ended, I put on my most arrogant expression and left the command tent with my back straight and nose held high.
"You look so sexy when you play the role of a pompous noble," Lilian whispered in my ear.
Just imagining that I could be spending the day having fun with my warriors instead of preparing for a bloody battle was enough to depress me. At least the reward would be worth it.
We were already back in the tent that had been prepared just for us, getting ready to depart.
"So how are we organizing this time?" Felicia asked.
I looked at Leona, expecting her to answer, but for some reason, everyone was looking at me.
"What? You expect me to come up with a strategy?" I asked, surprised.
"Your orders worked last time, so we figured you might have something to say," Leona said.
Seriously? Even the Commander was expecting me to contribute something?
"I'm not a military expert, you people are crazy," I protested, but they didn't look convinced. "All I know are some obvious things, like how the dwarves should be our frontline."
I started listing things everyone should know, but somehow they seemed to be taking it as official orders.
"Leona should be ready to protect the dwarf's flanks and intervene if a high-ranking enemy shows up."
They were really taking all of this as our strategy?
"Rose should be in charge of direct support for the dwarfs," I continued. "Lilian and I, being less experienced, should stay in the middle of the formation."
They kept paying close attention. Seriously, what was going on?
"Felicia and Luna should stay in the rear. Luna providing long-range support and Felicia ready to strike down any enemies that break through our line."
"Alright, we have our orders. Everyone get ready, we depart in half an hour," Leona commanded.
They were really going to follow everything I said without even questioning it.
We were doomed.
[Tomas's POV]
"Who would've thought the boss had some skills up his sleeve, huh?" Romeu said beside me.
"I'd seen it before, but I still don't believe it," I replied.
It really was impressive how that lazy, cynical, degenerate guy turned into someone else in situations like this.
"Do you smell that?" Rimus asked, taking a deep breath, whatever he'd caught in the air.
"That smell is wonderful, this is what we dwarfs live for, right Rimus?" Romeu replied.
What were those two even talking about?
"The refreshing scent of battle," Rimus continued.
"The refreshing scent of enemy blood," Romeu recited the next part.
Of course dwarfs had some kind of tradition to get ready for battle. I just hadn't seen this one yet.
"Let them tremble before our courage," they recited together.
"May our blades be sharp, and our strikes precise," they went on.
"And when our victory arrives, may Bellmerhain descend to celebrate," the commander finished.
For a moment, the brothers were just as surprised as I was, but then they started pounding their chests in a show of respect.
"You know the dwarven tradition, Miss Leona?" I asked. It was the first time I saw a non-dwarf know a dwarven tradition I myself didn't.
"I've been on many battlefields, little one. I've fought beside plenty of dwarves," the commander replied.
"After we send those bandits running, we're gonna drink till we drop and you're gonna have to sing every dwarven song you know, Lioness," Rimus said excitedly.
Did he have no sense of danger? Talking to the commander like that?
"You better not hold your breath," Luna chimed in.
"The commander can drink a whole barrel of Xarraram and still not get drunk," Felicia added.
"That's why she always stays so serious, even when she drinks," Rose finished.
"Haha, now I really want to drink with you all after the battle, let's see if Miss Lioness is really that strong," Rimus replied cheerfully.
"I don't compare to Miss Luna," the commander replied.
"Me? But I'm sooo weak when it comes to alcohol," Lilian joined the conversation.
"A succubus bad with booze? I doubt it. Only an idiot would enter a drinking contest with one," Romeu said.
For some reason, Luna looked genuinely pissed at that comment, though the other girls were laughing.
Did Romeu say something wrong?
"I'd love to see Leona singing some songs," the Boss added his two cents.
"Well… if Mr. Matthew asked… I could sing a few," Leona replied.
Seriously? Matthew had that kind of power? It was strange seeing the powerful commander melt like a schoolgirl like that.
"Then it's settled. First we cut some throats, then we drink till we pass out," Rimus said, excited.
Everyone was laughing and joking. The mood was totally relaxed.
Anyone who didn't know what we were preparing for would never guess we were about to go into battle.
Was this the attitude of experienced warriors… or were we just a bunch of reckless fools?
Who cares? I was happy to be a part of it.
So this is what my father meant when he talked about his time among his comrades.