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Chapter 117: Cavalry Barracks part 1

 

We returned to Gantz with the Royal Army troops in tow—and with Ursula herself—and the citizens welcomed us all over again. This time, we’d repelled a foreign force that had invaded our realm, and on top of that, we’d brought back a high-ranking noble of the Cecilio Kingdom as a prisoner. It was an unmistakable victory. The city burst into celebration.

We placed Ursula under soft confinement in one of our base rooms. Her soldiers, meanwhile, were waiting outside Gantz’s gate. As usual, we’d need to house them inside the city.

First, I called the city leaders to share intel: the Commerce Guildmaster, the Adventurers’ Guildmaster, and the Captain of the City Guard—a three-party council. From our side I had all squad leaders and above sit in. Once everyone had assembled, we started.

「Gentlemen, thank you for coming on short notice. A Cecilio Kingdom force slipped in near Gantz—we engaged, and I captured its commander: Countess Ursula Dopner, along with five hundred of her soldiers. Her subordinates have largely surrendered, so rest easy. As you can see, we’re holding the border secure.」

A little chest-thumping on national defense would help them sleep better tonight.

「Ohh, another victory already.」

「Our congratulations.」

「Masterful work, Lord Protector.」

Not exactly bad news, so the well-wishing came warm. Likely they were thinking, ‘Accepting him into Gantz was worth it’.

「We brought Ursula back as a prisoner. With the commander in hand, the enemy troops are behaving.」

「Then there won’t be a public-order issue?」

That from the City Guard.

「Right. And Ursula’s soldiers will be screened here and then sent home. I can’t share the particulars of the deal. But we did take a high noble—these things typically involve ransom. We’ll be arranging her transfer accordingly.」

In truth, I intend to ‘take payment’ by relocating the people of the Dopner lands wholesale to Ares. They won’t become my property, but if they become Ares citizens, calling it ransom isn’t exactly a lie. Also, anything I say here will be reported to the capital through the Commerce Guild—and quietly carried by their clerks to neighboring rulers’ ears.

「I see.」

「Please show me a copy later of the report you’ll send the capital on this matter.」

「Understood. We’ll deliver it. Will you need lodgings arranged again this time?」

The Commerce Guildmaster, Silas-san’s eyes gleamed. When people move, money moves—and money flowing into Gantz, in any form, was a welcome situation for him.

「About the soldiers’ quarters—Commerce Guild, I asked earlier for barracks space. We need to house the troops we brought, and with the new Margrave’s Army forming, numbers will keep climbing. How’s that coming?」

Silas-san glanced at Karina-san, the secretary he’d brought along.

「First, there’s an old warehouse right behind your current base. We can offer it. The contents are already cleared, so it’s usable at once, but it will take work to convert it into barracks. It’s spacious, the lot is wide, and the roof is sound.」

「Good. We’ll use it immediately. We’ll sort costs with you after. What else?」

「Beyond that, we’ve secured several candidate plots for new construction.」

New construction, huh. We’ll likely keep holding Gantz, and I’m satisfied with this base—but it’s second-hand. Given Gantz’s importance, building a purpose-made base wouldn’t be a bad call. And housing volunteers at inns forever is uneconomical.

「All right. I’ll make time to tour the lots. After this meeting, I want to see the warehouse first. If there’s no issue, we’ll move Ursula’s troops in. Do you have time now?」

「With pleasure, Lord Protector.」

「Captain Guido—once we secure the place, Ursula’s men will enter the city. My men will accompany them. There shouldn’t be trouble.」

「Understood.」

「Everyone, treat Ursula’s soldiers as you would ordinary travelers. I won’t allow disorderly conduct. Sell them goods at normal prices. For food and drink, they’ll likely frequent nearby eateries—please oblige them. If there’s nothing else, let’s adjourn here.」

Nothing further, so we wrapped quickly. They’re all busy people; short, frequent councils are best.

Silas-san, however, hurried off in a way that made me suspect he’d nudge prices up on anything sold in Gantz. To him, they’re enemy prisoners—no need to be shy, perhaps.

「Alan-sama, may I guide you to the warehouse now?」

Good—Karina-san waited per my request.

「Yes. We’ve got the surrendered troops waiting outside Gantz. I want them settled before nightfall, so time matters. Let’s head out now. I’ll bring Ursula along—give me a second to have her called.」

Elna, ever perceptive, went to fetch Ursula at once. We set out together to inspect the warehouse.

On the way, Karina spoke, sounding just a touch sulky and keeping her voice low so the woman behind us wouldn’t hear.

「Alan-sama, you seem quite…friendly with Countess Dopner.」

「Not particularly. I’m simply not indulging her because she’s a prisoner. I do make a point of showing who’s on top here.」

Maybe I sounded too dismissive without realizing it. I’ve been calling her ‘Ursula’ since she surrendered—and because ‘Countess’ is a mouthful. Hiding behind first names is a convenient dodge.

「I’ve heard there’s a possibility you’ll wed the Countess. A Margrave and a Countess—an excellent match, some say.」

Fast ears. From whom? …Right, I asked Silas-san to arrange lodging for Erwin’s team. This has Erwin’s fingerprints all over it.

「It’s true she proposed it. Framing it that way keeps her troops compliant, that’s all. I haven’t promised marriage. Please keep this quiet. It benefits us to leave people guessing—it makes deals easier later.」

「Oh! I see.」

Karina-san beamed.

I think I heard a sigh from behind. …Right—Elna’s got sharp ears.

Since the warehouse sat just behind our base, we arrived quickly and toured it with Karina’s explanations.

「Along the boundary runs a drain for wastewater. There’s a wooden palisade and one of your earthen walls, Lord Protector, partitioning the lots. The palisade can be removed. If we take it down on our end we’ll charge a fee, but your soldiers may dismantle it themselves. Use the lumber for kindling if you like.」

We’ve hands to spare. I can set idle soldiers to it without blocking traffic. It’d be better if we could move freely between the base and the warehouse. The drain would be in the way, but some small structure could bridge it easily enough. I’d sort it out later.

There weren’t one but six warehouses. Same basic build, with openings large enough to drive wagons inside. There were simple stalls for draft horses. But for cavalry, that was nowhere near enough. We had to house soldiers and mounts both.

「Can we use the first floor for horses and the second floor as troop quarters?」

Ursula’s men and the Royal Army troops were mostly cavalry. Our base was already overflowing into the yard with the just-arrived Royal Army. People were a problem—but stabling was the real crunch. The frames here were stout, but the interiors were simple barns. Ursula’s troops only needed one night; we’d send them off tomorrow.

「Let’s assign one building to the Royal Army, four to Ursula’s men. Keep the last as wagon and cargo storage—no entry except for posted guards. Thoughts?」

At four buildings for five hundred, that’s about 125 per building. Horses and wagons shouldn’t mix—so wagons get their own.

「Packed in, you can fit two hundred to two hundred fifty head per building. That’ll do.」

Elna—well used to horse care—spoke up. Iris was doing the arithmetic already, but if Elna’s instincts agreed, cavalry would accept it.

Good—this would work.

「Move feed into the five horse buildings. The wagon building doesn’t need it. We don’t need bedding for the men, but we do want straw—stack it by the stairwells.」

「We’ll need rails here and here so horses don’t wander out. Stalls can wait—doable by degrees. I’ll make a list of supplies for their care.」

Elna, who had Opinions about horsecraft, briskly pointed things out as she talked.

The stairs bothered me—unsafe by design. Narrow, and with no handrails. In armor, two-way traffic would be a mess.

「Karina-san, I need sturdy handrails on these stairs, quickly. They must hold armored men. If possible, add side-guards to prevent falls. That part may take time—do it as soon as you can.」

「So the straw bundles are to keep a fall from becoming serious—I understand. What about the stair landings at the turns?」

「For now, can you slide long boards in from the side? If someone stumbles, hitting a board is better than going over the edge.」

「I’ll arrange it at once. If railings are slow, we can string strong rope as a temporary hold. Better to have something to grab if they slip.」

「Good idea. Once Ursula’s men depart, let’s rebuild the stairs—wider, and with proper guards—and put in real stalls. For today, the stopgap is fine.」

「Understood.」

That sets beds for men and horses. There are fireplaces, so if need be we could light them. No freezing tonight—and we could boil water. The remaining issues are food and waste.

「I can throw together latrines out back. But I’d like a mess hall.」

「Couldn’t they just eat in town?」

「Lunch, sure. But every meal out gets pricey, and if we want them to eat breakfast and depart fast, we should give them a place to eat.」

「You’re right.」

Karina-san thought a moment.

「How about pitching awnings in the yard behind the warehouses and putting tables under them—use it as a mess?」

「That would crowd out space for the latrines.」

You don’t put a mess and latrines cheek-by-jowl. Tricky.

「We have six buildings. Let’s devote one on the end as a temporary latrine block. Even with one building set aside, we’ve got the space of four left—enough yard to set up the mess tents.」

We put the latrines behind the wagon building. Unlike an open pit, we’d need regular night-soil pickup. The Commerce Guild could contract that—and cleaning, while we were at it.

「In that case, we’ll want a well too.」

The stables had wells. Personally, I don’t love drinking groundwater. Filling jars with Water and drinking that is easier—but I won’t always be around to cast. We need to improve water access.

「Gantz needs proper water and sewage.」

Ares—built by Iris—has both. By comparison, Gantz’s sanitation needs work. Even if you space wells and latrines, a heavy rain would overflow the latrines and the drains straight into the wells. Lovely thought.

「For now, let’s skip adding wells and use jars. Order plenty of tubs for horse watering.」

With those arrangements done, we’ll turn this cluster into a combined wagon yard and cavalry barracks. The larger issue is clear: we need real water and sewer. I’d have to sit down with Iris.

「Countess Ursula Dopner—I’d like to use these warehouses as temporary barracks for your troops. If there’s a problem, we’ll improve it. Your thoughts?」

Ursula, who’d kept quiet, looked around.

「If it’s kept clean, no issue. The men understand they’ll stay at most a handful of days. Your consideration honors me, Lord Corinth.」

That settles housing the troops. We’ll table Gantz’s waterworks for another day. First, I need to get our own base squared away.

「Alan-sama, I’ll see to the arrangements at once, so I’ll take my leave.」

Karina-san departed at a brisk clip, though she looked a little reluctant to go.