Original subtitles

Hey, Van'er.

Why are you guys here?

Aren't you here too?

Ten silver royals a month, plus meals.

You'd be a fool not to come.

Besides, we're just here to do odd jobs for the knights.

We're not actually going into battle.

If things look bad, I'll run.

If I can outrun you, I'm good.

Speaking of which, if you kick the bucket,

what will happen to the girl you're seeing at the tavern in town?

Oh yeah, that Shirley girl.

Nonsense. I'm not going to die here.

I'm going to propose next year.

I'm just here to make some money.

How else am I supposed to marry her?

If you die, the death benefits will be even more.

Pah, I'm not that stupid.

Wouldn't that just benefit someone else?

Don't be silly.

Getting paid is good enough.

A death benefit?

Thirty silver royals won't be enough to marry her.

Quiet!

Everyone, stand at attention and form a line.

His Highness Roland Wimbledon,

Fourth Prince of the Kingdom of Graycastle, has arrived.

First of all, I want to thank you all for bravely stepping forward

to contribute to the defense of our homeland.

From now on, you are members of the Border Town militia.

Over the next month and a half,

you will undergo rigorous training.

Of course,

rigorous training will come with rewards.

If you pass the training,

you will receive a reward.

That reward is

an extra egg in everyone's lunch today.

Now, let me introduce your captain.

Isn't that Iron Axe?

I'm sure you all know him.

Iron Axe is our finest hunter,

and he's willing to fight to defend Border Town.

I thank him for this.

I also promise you all, in the name of Roland Wimbledon,

that anyone who excels in training or fights bravely on the battlefield

will be granted an official rank, regardless of their background.

All right, Iron Axe, begin the training.

Yes, Your Highness.

Attention, everyone.

We will now begin the first training exercise.

Stand at attention.

Everyone, adopt my posture and remain standing for half an hour.

As long as you can stay completely still for half an hour,

everyone will get an extra egg for lunch.

Chest out, head up,

buttocks up, stomach in.

Arms straight down by your sides.

Do not move a muscle.

Maintain this for half an hour.

Hang in there, Van'er.

Just hold on a little longer,

and you'll get that egg.

Time's up.

We did it!

We're getting an egg for lunch!

I haven't had one in a year.

Van'er, are you okay?

Yeah.

I never thought just standing still

would be more tiring than being a stonemason.

The first round of training is complete.

Everyone has finished the exercise.

Carter.

Yes, Your Highness.

What's going on?

They're not going back on their word and taking away the egg, right?

What are you thinking?

The Prince promised, so why would he go back on it?

Hey, when it comes to what the nobles say,

it's about as reliable as a fart.

The Prince wouldn't go back on his word, right?

Come to think of it, this Prince is pretty strange.

He actually made Iron Axe the captain.

Iron Axe is a Sand person.

Aren't nobles all about bloodlines?

Iron Axe is a decent guy.

He's the most skilled hunter in town.

Ah, sometimes I really envy the Sand people.

With a physique like that, you could stand forever without trouble.

Hey, be quiet.

Look, the knight is back.

A message from His Highness Roland Wimbledon:

"Everyone did well. Good work.

For today's lunch, everyone gets an extra egg."

Quiet. His Highness has further instructions.

The second round of training will now begin.

Continue standing at attention for one hour.

If, once again, no one moves,

everyone gets another egg for lunch.

Two eggs? My goodness...

However, if even a single person fails to hold out,

the training will be considered a failure,

and no one will get the second egg.

Wh-What is the meaning of this?

Some kind of noble prank?

But if just one person fails to hold out...

How am I supposed to know if the others can hold out?

What about you, Van'er?

Can you do it one more time?

For that second egg, I'm going all out!

It looks like you have something to say to me, Carter.

It's all right, go ahead.

Your Highness, I would never question your decision.

However, these men are nothing but a ragtag mob.

I've seen it too many times.

Once they're on the battlefield, they're the first to run.

And to be honest,

I don't see the point of this training either.

We can't defeat the demonic beasts just by standing still, right?

Right now, the nobles and knights aren't on our side.

I was ready to risk my life to at least teach these men how to wield a sword.

And besides, are you really going to make that Sand person the captain?

He doesn't belong to Graycastle, nor to any kingdom on the continent.

Using your methods,

could you train them into warriors

capable of fighting the beasts within two months?

That's... impossible.

In my experience, it takes at least five years.

And another five to reach the standard of a knight.

That's precisely why I'm not training them to be warriors or knights.

I know exactly what I can achieve in just two months.

You'll soon see the results of this training.

Yes, Your Highness.

As for Iron Axe, witches don't belong to Graycastle either,

yet they all belong to Border Town.

Besides, aren't you here to keep an eye on things?

Instead of worrying about a Sand person, you should focus on this.

Yes.

This is the schedule for the coming days.

All future training must strictly adhere to it.

Yes.

But, Your Highness...

I understand the running drills and roll calls,

but this last point...

Are you really going to have them learn to read and write?

Just enough so they can read and write orders as quickly as possible.

I'll explain this part to Karl myself.

But that's of no use in battle!

Who said that?

A unit skilled in combat is inevitably a cultured unit.

This is a lesson learned from history.

Line up to get your lunch. No pushing.

Maintain order. Everyone gets a share.

If we get a meal like this every day,

standing a few more hours would be worth it.

At least it's just standing.

I wonder what other tricks this Prince has up his sleeve.

Who cares?

As long as there's food, I'll do anything.

The afternoon training begins at the Hour of the Deer and ends at sunset.

Everyone will jog three laps around Border Town.

Everyone must complete it.

Understood. What if someone falls behind?

They can help each other.

Support, pull, carry...

No matter what it takes, everyone must finish.

That is the Prince's order.

If everyone completes the training,

then everyone gets an extra egg for dinner.

Sounds good.

Good luck to you all.

Oh, by the way...

After dinner, I suggest you go to bed early.

Sleep as much as you can.

They'll sleep like logs tonight.

Is that so?

I suggest you don't sleep too soundly.

The afternoon training is as follows.

From the Hour of the Deer until sunset,

jog three laps around Border Town.

You may help each other: support, pull, carry.

If you really can't keep running,

you may rest for a moment,

but you must persist and finish all three laps.

If everyone completes the training before sunset,

an extra egg will be added to dinner.

If even one person fails to finish on time,

then no one gets the third egg.

The egg that I finally managed to get at lunch...

Have all the others already run past?

Damn it.

I want that third egg so badly.

Damn it...

Get up, Van'er.

Van'er!

Van'er!

Van'er!

Van'er!

So, did everyone finish?

Reporting!

We've counted. Still three missing!

Look! They're coming back!

They're back, they're back!

Sir, everyone has reached the finish line.

Everyone has reached the finish line!

I can confirm that everyone has completed the training!

Today's training went well.

There's one more session tonight.

One more session?

I'm going to get a good night's sleep tonight.

I feel like I could fall asleep the moment I lie down.

Me too.

What's the evening training about?

Emergency assembly.

Good evening, Your Highness.

You're working so hard.

You just got back and still have to work.

I ate your bacon while it was still hot.

Didn't anyone teach you to mind your manners in front of a prince?

I recall you being quite polite at first.

Like this?

But you clearly ordered dinner for two.

Wasn't that meant for me?

I heard all the militia's expenses are coming out of your own pocket.

As long as it protects Border Town,

every expense is worth it.

Then why are you teaching them to read and write?

Education helps them understand what they're fighting for.

It may not show yet,

but it will be important for the battles ahead.

What they're fighting for?

Aren't they fighting to fill their stomachs?

For now, yes.

But I have to teach them what fighting truly means.

What about you?

What does the Witch Cooperation Association fight for?

We're just a bunch of poor souls gathered together to survive.

We don't have time to think about such things.

Just staying alive is already exhausting.

Your Highness, is this the new weapon you mentioned?

Yes. It's a weapon that can kill enemies from a distance.

It's called a musket. The blacksmith just finished it yesterday.

A ranged weapon?

Like a crossbow?

It fires slower than a crossbow or a bow,

but it has superior range and power.

Let me show you how to use it.

Your Highness, isn't this just Snow Powder?

Yes, but not exactly.

I adjusted its composition using the ice.

You could call it enhanced Snow Powder.

I've named it "gunpowder."

Now, do as I say.

Open the paper packet with your teeth.

Pour a little powder into the tray.

Close the lid.

Load the rest along with the bullet into the barrel.

Ram it down with the ramrod.

Raise the gun and aim at our target.

Rest the stock against your shoulder.

All right, don't pull the trigger just yet.

See the front sight on the barrel?

Stand up straight and slowly place your finger on the trigger.

Remember, the recoil is strong when you fire, so stand firmly.

Aim.

Fire!

This power is astonishing.

If I had a weapon like this back then,

my companions...

Your Highness, what's the production volume of this thing?

Currently, we only have these two.

I've already ordered the blacksmith to ramp up production.

We should be able to produce two more before the Months of Demons.

Oh.

I know what you're thinking.

This is a powerful weapon,

powerful enough to change the course of reality.

Yet, no matter how powerful, a weapon is ultimately just a tool.

For you, the most powerful weapon will always be trust and loyalty.

Only a powerful warrior can wield a powerful weapon.

These are given to you to use, not to replace you.

Carter, Iron Axe,

use them to defend Border Town.

Defend our people.

Yes, Your Highness.

That was brilliant, my lord.

I heard that kid paid you a visit.

Yes, my lord. He wanted to recruit us to fight for him.

A pipe dream.

What's he been up to since then?

My lord, I've had people investigate thoroughly.

The city wall is almost finished.

I hear they're using some kind of alchemical powder from Graycastle,

which has sped up construction enormously.

Besides that, he's recruited a bunch of militia.

They have neither weapons nor knights,

and are just messing around every day.

And he's feeding them eggs!

It's hilarious.

They have eggs to eat?

Uh... yes.

That kid bought winter provisions from Willow Town,

and stored them all in his castle.

My lord, that kid really doesn't know his place.

In my opinion, when winter comes,

he'll be crying and begging for your help.

So you're saying he now has a city wall,

an army, and provisions?

Uh... well...

Yes, my lord.

Boris.

Perhaps it is just as you say:

his wall is fragile,

his army is worthless,

and his supplies are limited.

However, I will not give him even the slightest opportunity.