It was “independent” and not attached to any regiment for probably that reason. In other words, no regimental commander wanted to take charge of them.
When he asked, “But, where is the battalion commander?”, the old mercenary pointed to one section of the corner. A weak, white-haired old man was standing there, supporting himself with his staff. Beside him stood a young and fat noble wearing a staff officer badge on his shoulder. It seems that that was the “battalion headquarters”.
That's the battalion commander... It was an old man who seemed like his heart would stop just from the voices during the time of assault, without having the need to get hit by a projectile. I really got the short end of the stick here. Guiche thought, getting depressed. Anyways, Guiche approached them to give his greetings.
“Reserve Officer Guiche de Gramont, here to take up my new post!”
“Haa? What?! What's going on?!”
Battalion Commander De Vineuil, asked back while shaking. It seems he has bad hearing.
“I am Guiche de Gramont! I have been assigned to this battalion as a reserve officer. I want to receive approval,” Guiche shouted near his ears.
“Oh, I see! It's time to eat! Can't fight on an empty stomach! You need to eat properly too!”
Giving up, Guiche nodded. There, the battalion staff officer whispered something to the battalion head.
“Wh-What! Assignment! Then you should have said so!”
I have been saying that Guiche thought discouragingly.
“Li-Li-Line-up!”
The weak battalion head raised his voice. Dully, the soldiers assembled in sluggish movements.
“In-In-Introducing the new company commander!”
Heh? Company commander?
While Guiche stood dumbfounded, the battalion commander continued.
“Assigned to our glorious De Vineuil Independent Musket Infantry Battalion... Name!”
“I am Guiche de Gramont!”
“I am leaving the second company to this Grandel-kun! Therefore, the second company will now be designated as 'Grandel Company'! Salute to the company commander!”
Sluggishly, the soldiers belonging to the company saluted. Hey, the name is wrong. More importantly, company commander? That's impossible!
“Wai-Wait, battalion head! I'm a student officer! To be the company commander all of a sudden!”
Becoming the company commander meant he would be in command of over a hundred soldiers. There was no way he could do that.
However, the battalion head, while shaking, placed his hand on Guiche's shoulder.
“The company commander deserted this morning. We were looking for a new one.”
The company commander deserted? What kind of battalion is this?
“There are more senior officers, right?!”
“Ah, besides me, the staff officer, and the other company commanders, there are no nobles in this battalion.”
“That's why the only other possible officer is you. Welcome, company commander.”
He had heard the Royal Army was lacking officers, but for it to be so severe. Guiche face visibly paled.
The De Vineuil Independent Musket Infantry Battalion is a gun corps with about three-hundred and fifty people. It is split into three companies. Two are gun companies. One short spear company as a guard. One of the gun companies was entrusted to Guiche soon after he took up his new post. Even though it's a gun corps, the equipment consists of only antique arquebuses. The newer models, muskets, were nowhere to be found.
More importantly, gun corps... Guiche grabbed his head. He had never learned how to use guns in his training. He couldn't really make any complaints over the two months of sudden training...
Either way, it would have been nice if they told the branch of the group he was being assigned to in advance.
He had heard the disorder in the Royal Army, which employed large amounts of mercenaries despite the lack of officers, was severe... but for it to be this bad...
While Guiche was worrying like that, a smart-looking middle-aged man came up to him, carrying an arquebus that had the gun barrel shortened and a dagger on his hips. Wearing a steel helmet, he wore thick fur and an iron breastplate.
“Greetings, company commander.”
“Y-You too. You are?”
“Nicola, a sergeant for this company. I act as an aide and such.”
“Act” was probably modesty. There was a cut on his forehead and suntanned face. He looked like a sergeant who had been doing military services for a long time. It was certain that he, a non-commissioned officer, was the one managing the company.
“Iyaa, what a disaster.”
A mercenary sergeant, who could even look older than Guiche's father, muttered to him.
“Forced to be the company commander so soon after you arrived. From appearance, you seem to be a student.”
“Y-Yes.”
Guiche nodded.
“Well, me and my comrades will look after the company. Commanding Officer should settle down a bit.” Being told by the experienced mercenary sergeant like that, Guiche felt a bit at ease.
A trumpet sounded far away. To align the soldiers, the company commanders started raising their voices. The instructions of Albion expeditionary force's commander-in-chief General Olivier de Poitier were about to begin. After receiving the general's report, the soldiers gathered in this training facility will depart for La Rochelle. There they will ride on boats and aim for the sky continent of Albion.
Now then, at the same time.
This is the harbor of La Rochelle, where the main fleet of the air forces were stationed.
On the fleet hanging on the harbor created using an enormous tree... the dry wood of the ancient Yggdrasil, last riggings and boarding of officers and sailors were being conducted.
Standing at the root of Yggdrasil, Malicorne, who was scheduled to board a warship as a military cadet, was looking up in awe.
The sight of several tens of sailing warships, the main air force of the kingdom, hanging on the branches of the enormous Yggdrasil and waiting to depart was certainly an unexpected spectacle.
“Uwaah...” He stood gaping. While looking up at the sky, Malicorne was sent flying.
“Wh-What!” Yelling that, a tanned man was staring at him. Examining, the man wasn't wearing a mantle and just a commoner. Realizing he was sent flying by a commoner, Malicorne was enraged.
“H-How insolent! How dare you send a noble flying!”
Doing so, the sailor stared at Malicorne. Figuring out that Malicorne was just a military cadet, the man smiled profoundly.
“Hey, Bo-chan. This place is different from that corrupt world. I'll teach you the order in the air forces, so dig the holes in your ear and listen well.”
“Eh? Eeh?”
It seems that in the air forces, you can't just swagger around because you're a noble. He couldn't imagine a commoner that is greater than a noble.
“First is that captain! He is the greatest on the ship! Next is the executive officer! The earlier officers are appointed here. Voyage head, sail head, artillery head, deck head, kitchen head... In the air forces, even commoners can become officers if they achieve enough!”
That's how it is Malicorne's eyes widened. An army system that has the possibility of commoners becoming superior officers... That is the air forces.
“And next are the non-commissioned officers! And below that is finally military cadets like you guys! On a boat, you guys are just useless maggots! Remember this!”
Malicorne stood up and saluted.
“Un, understood!”
“I'll give you guts! Clench your teeth!”
Still standing attention, Malicorne received a sharp slap to his face.
“Okay, go! Run! Fool! If a military cadet walks on a warship, they'll be shouted at!”