Alchemists researched while they hid themselves deep in the forest or in a secluded room.
It was a necessary branch for the production of weapons and items.
At first glance, it really was an important job.
Because of that, it seemed as if it was treated quite nicely but actually it wasn’t like that.
First, in the cases of alchemists, you had to spend quite a lot of money for the research and the results were poor and in the process of the research mishaps and small accidents happened in consection.
On top of this, alchemy was labeled as the skills of the devil and the distance between them and the magicians and priests became wider; the rank of alchemists reached the lowest levels.
The reason why blacksmiths, carpenters, and etc were treated more contemptuously was much simpler.
The kingdoms of this era didn’t hold the people that worked while doing manual labor in high regards. (E/N: Welcome to the world.)
They were considered stupid bastards that only knew how to move their hands.
This was the thoughts of the nobles and powerful people.
Thanks to that, the several branches couldn’t get treated well and were exploited with manual labor.
In that situation, Roan promised a safe lodging and constant investments while gathering skilled people. So soon after, quite the number of people gathered.
They built houses near the HQ of the Amaranth troop and settled in, but there were no quiet days.

“I wonder. It’s like that because that’s not it. We have to put twenty more steel pieces!”
“If we do that, the durability decreases and only the weight increases!”
“Just believe in me and do it once.”
“Do you think I was deceived by those words once or twice? Hmph.”

It was a hot workshop.
Two people that gave completely different impressions were raising their voices.
The middle aged man with white skin was Oden.
He was an alchemist that specialized in the combination of minerals.
The middle aged man facing Oden was another middle aged man with a red face, called Biggs.
He was considered to be one of the best blacksmiths.
The two people were following Roan’s orders to make a lighter but stronger weapon and were combining forces.
The problem was that their thoughts were too different and that the clashing of opinions was too severe.

“But you don’t know, so try it once! You just have to do what I tell you to do!”
“If you want to do it that much then do it yourself!”

Their voices became louder.
The surrounding blacksmiths clicked their tongues and shook their heads.
Then, a shadow appeared at the entrance.

“Huh?!”

The surrounding blacksmiths bowed with surprised expressions.

“Troop commander Roan!”

The person that entered through the entrance was none other than Roan.
After he returned from the village of the north, he went to find some blacksmiths.

‘They’re also hard working today.’

Roan looked at Oden and Biggs and smiled.
Although it seemed like they would hit each other at any moment, he knew that they were actually sharing their opinions.

‘I was also taken back by them at first.’

He had cold sweat trying to calm them down.
But it didn’t mean that the fierce quarrel disappeared just because he did that.
In the end, he just let them be and little by little, results started to come in.

‘After they fight like they would kill each other, they fix things up while drinking alcohol.’

The two people were a good match for each other.

“Oden. Biggs.”

Roan moved his feet and called the two of them.

“Ah! Troop commander.”
“Troop commander. Have you come?”

Although Roan was much younger than them, their ranks were clear.
The two people belonged to the alliance of alchemists and skilled people but in the first place, they were an institution belonging to a branch of the Amaranth troop.

“You’re also very fierce today.”

At those words, the two people scratched their heads as if they were embarrassed.
Roan looked around the workshop and continued saying.

“It’s close to the time where we have to start preparing. What happened with what I asked of you last time?”

He spoke in a soft voice but filled with strength.
Biggs opened his two eyes roundly.

“Ah! The new product is out.”

They hurriedly moved to the inner part of the workshop and then took out a shapeless armor and a round shield.
The armor was quite ordinary and the shield had a size to barely be able to cover your upper body; it was even thin.
The two of them were of a black color and had a smooth texture.

“We did make it as you told us for now, but will the size of this shield be of any use?”

It meant that it was too small.
If you covered your head, it revealed all of your body, and if you curled up to protect your body, it revealed your abdomen and the lower parts.
Roan made an eye sign as if it was fine.

“Ahem.”

Biggs put on the armor and shield while clearing his throat.
The shield was well fixed on his left wrist.

“Now, look.”

Biggs moved his body everywhere with a nervous expression.
He showed movements of swinging the shield and blocking and then moved his arm behind his back.
Then.

Click.

The shield took place on his back with the sound of a metal click.
Behind him, a hanger on his back interlocked firmly with a hanger on the insides of the shield.
Biggs turned back and showed his back.

“Just like you said, we made the shield so it could be attachable. Although it’s gonna be quite difficult before becoming proficient. Even I’m failing six out of ten times.”

He extended his arm again and moved the shield sideways.

Click.

The hangers loosened up with the sound of a metal click and the shield separated.
Biggs took posture once more and lowered his stance.

“And lastly……..”

His right hand hid behind the shield.

Srung!

A nice feeling sound of metal rang out.
At the same time, a small sword the size of a forearm appeared.

“We hid one small sword.”

The demonstrations ended.
Roan nodded and clapped.

“Amazing.”

His mouth rose up.

‘It’s a bit different to what Ian Phillips designed but if it’s this much, it’s still amazing.’

The use of a small shield and the small sword.
It was one of the parts the genius strategist Ian focused on experimenting with.

‘When others were developing a longer spear, a heavier sword, an arrow that could be fired farther, Ian focused on developing a short weapon that was light yet strong.’

Thanks to that, the Rinse kingdom could show an overwhelming strength in close combat.

‘If on top of this I can also combine the weapons of the other continents and kingdoms……..’

The strongest troop in history could be born.
But there was one unfortunate thing.

‘I just vaguely know the shape. I don’t know with what principles, ingredients, or methods those things were made with.’

Those things were parts that the alchemists and blacksmiths had to fill in.
And because of that, he had gathered them faster than anyone and wasn’t petty on the budget.

“First, you will have to mass produce that shield.”
“Yes. I understand.”

Biggs hit his shield with his right hand as if it was no problem at all.
Roan smiled satisfactorily and nodded.

“Thank you everyone for following such an unreasonable order.”

Right before he finished saying that, Owen shook both of his hands.

“We are rather thankful for letting us research as much as we want.”
“Yes. It’s the first time we were treated like this since we were born.”

Biggs followed up.
Roan slightly bowed towards those people.
He wasn’t simply investing on them.
Roan and the Amaranth troop members treated and respected them in a human way.

“Let’s keep working hard.”

At Roan’s words, Oden and Biggs clenched their fists.

“Believe in us!”

They spoke with confident expressions and voices.
Roan of the Amaranth troop, Oden of the alchemists guilds, and Biggs of the skilled people association.
The three people looked at each other and smiled.

*****

“That’s not it. The angle that you’re stepping in is wrong.”

Roan’s voice rang out in the training ground.
Amaranth troop members were quite nervous.
They swung their spear while they stood in a firm line.

Pat!

Every time the spear split the air, a sharp sound was heard.

‘They certainly are have a difficult time.’

Roan was teaching Roan’s spearmanship to the spearmen.
And he even taught the infantry, cavalry men, and archers some separate things he knew.
Although the level of it was low compared to his spearmanship, even so it was a must to teach to the normal soldiers.

‘I’m selecting new squad commanders based on the merits until now and their progress in training.’

Still water becomes foul. (E/N: I think he’s saying something about stagnation leads to demise.)
Roan wanted to make a system that could promote anyone to a higher rank if they only had the abilities and capabilities to do so.

‘A reasonable and fair competition develops everyone.’

But even so, he didn’t think of throwing away the soldiers that fell behind.
He was planning to teach them separately while putting in a little bit more of effort.
He was using the carrot and stick method at the same time. (E/N: Or in our case at kobato, carrot and whip ahahahaha.)

“Your spear fell! Put more strength in your arms!”

Roan yelled one more time with all his strength.
He could kind of see that the entire troop was becoming stronger.
Then, one man appeared at the entrance of the training ground.
It was a really familiar face.

‘Pens.’

He was Chris’s right hand and the vice president of the agency.
Roan entrusted Austin with the training and moved over to him.

“Pens.”
“Troop commander.”

Pens lightly saluted and put on a smile.
Roan patted his shoulders and went towards his office.

“Is Chris well?”
“Yes. He’s really busy right now.”

Pens brightly smiled and replied.
Roan had an awkward smile.

“I feel sorry for him.”

It was Roan that asked him things that took too much effort.
But Pens shook his head.

“No. He’s having a lot of fun right now.”
“I’m glad then.”

Roan let out a short sigh and then moved inside his office.
Pens took out a thick pile of papers as if he was waiting for it.
It was the gathered and analyzed information centered in the eastern region of Rinse kingdom.
Roan lightly looked at it and then looked at Pens.

“Anything in particular?”
“That…..”

Pens hesitated for a moment and then continued saying.

“I’m talking about Montea mountain.”

If it’s Montea mountain, it was the mountain they bought the mining rights through the orders of Roan.

“Even so, we think it was in vain.”

They had roamed several places in the mountain for five months but they didn’t discover any mines or minerals.
Roan asked back with a composed expression.

“What are the thoughts of the others?”
“For now chief Chris and the staff of our agency all judge that it was in vain. But….”

Pens paused for a moment and then said in a low voice.

“The responsible one, Mister Ford, seems to think in another way. He says he’s getting a feeling. He says that there certainly is something in Montea mountain……..”
“Something?”

Roan copied his words.
Pens smiled bitterly.

“He’s asking to increase the budget. To dig deeper…..”

Just by looking at the situation, it was no different than a helpless proposal.
But Roan, who knew that there was an incredible sized magic stone mine, had a proud smile.

‘Ford. He’s a friend with quite good senses.’

Roan hit the end of the table with his fingers.

“Good. Tell Chris to increase the budget.”
“Yes?”

Pens asked back with a surprised expression.
He said in an urgent voice.

“With the current situation, we can’t have that much leisure. The jewels you have given us have already been invested in the agency of Amaranth troop, the Fishermen Association, the Alchemist Guild, the Blacksmith Guild, and the five businesses. The income of our side is the income coming in from the four businesses excluding the mining one…….”

Just maintaining the current situation was tight.
And Roan also knew about that situation quite well.

“It’s fine. We will be lessening the income to Amaranth troop momentarily.”

Still, he spoke with a composed voice and expression.
But his eyes were filled with certainty.

“Invest in Mister Ford. He will soon show some accomplishments.”

The decision had been made.
Pens took in a deep breath and bowed.

“Yes. I understand.”
“And tell Mr. Daiv of the Fishermen Association to prepare to move out.”
“Prepare to move?”

At Roan’s words, Pens tilted his head.

“Yeah. I’m planning to make a port in the lake after subjugating the monsters of the south.”

His eyes shined.

“Ah…”

Pens let out a low exclamation.
He knew from way before that Roan showed big interest in Poskein lake.

“I will tell him that.”

Pens wrote down the contents thoroughly.
Roan stood up from his seat.
Although he wanted to have a meal with Pens, he didn’t have the leisure right now.

“Next time, let’s have a drink together.”
“Yes. I will be waiting for you.”

Roan and Pens grabbed their hands.
A strong heat was felt between them.
Then.

Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!

The sound of the bell was heard from the HQ.

Jiing! Jiing! Jiing!

Followed by that, the heavy sound of the jing was heard.
Bell and jing.
It was a sign alarming about the appearance of monsters.

“I, is it monsters?”

Pens asked back with a slightly nervous expression.
Roan just nodded and then opened the door.

At that moment, the wind came in.
That was the wind of the boiling spirit.

“Sir! We have finished preparations to charge out!”

Austin saluted and bowed.

“Ah……”

Pens opened his eyes roundly.
He let out an exclamation after seeing the firm and solid formation in front of his eyes.

‘I heard the sound of the bell just now but they have already finished preparations……’

He had never seen a troop moving this well until now.
But the expressions of Roan and the Amaranth troop were composed and calm.
Roan hurriedly mounted his horse and grabbed Travias spear.

Cheng!

The metal stick transformed into a long spear along with the sound of metal.

“Monsters from the southeast are moving to the northwest!”

This was Austin’s report.
Roan nodded shortly afterwards and looked at the troop members.
The tightly shut lips and eyes could be seen on his face.
They were already the strong among the strong.

“Amaranth troop!”

Roan raised the Travias spear he was holding in his right hand highly.

“March!”

< Poskein Exodus (1) > End

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TL: Sorry about the irregular releases. I’m losing notion of time…

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Translator : Subak

Proofreader: st8_lupe.

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