Chapter 387 - 268: The First Baturu

Chapter 387: Chapter 268: The First Baturu

Henry handed the battle axe to Roland. "Roland, your ferocity on the battlefield was plain for all to see. This axe is befitting of your valor!"

Roland took the battle axe, gripping it tightly with both hands. He looked up at Henry, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, my lord! I will use this axe to slay even more of your enemies!"

Henry nodded, then said, "Leon, step forward!"

Hearing his name, Leon walked briskly onto the high platform and knelt on one knee.

Henry pointed to a warhorse being led over by a member of his Personal Guard. The horse was pure black, its mane like silk, and it emanated a wild spirit.

"Leon, this warhorse is a reward for your courage. It is an exceptional steed. I hope you can master it and be invincible on the battlefield!"

Leon could hardly believe his eyes. ’A good warhorse... it’s what I’ve always dreamed of.’ It might sound a bit ungrateful, but his current mount was getting old.

"Thank you, my lord! I will not disappoint you!"

Henry surveyed the crowd and declared in a loud voice, "Today is not just about rewarding these men—it is a day of reward for all of you!"

The soldiers immediately began to murmur among themselves. Could there be other rewards besides promotions?

The voice of one man is quiet. The voices of five are noisy. The voices of twenty are a racket. To say nothing of the din created by ten thousand.

The officers quickly came to their senses and began ordering the soldiers to be quiet.

Once the crowd quieted, Henry addressed the soldiers below the platform. "To the officers and soldiers who performed with excellence on the battlefield: your valor will not be ignored!"

Henry had his Personal Guard bring out several chests. When opened, they revealed pouches filled with Gold Coins. "These Dinars are your bonuses!" Henry announced. "You fought and bled on the battlefield, and these Gold Coins are your just reward!"

The soldiers erupted in cheers. Henry was a lord who kept his promises, and he was never stingy with his rewards.

They were loyal to Henry, but that didn’t mean they didn’t desire more wealth, better treatment, and higher status.

"Today, we celebrate victory, we celebrate promotion, we celebrate glory! Tomorrow, we will continue our advance, continue the fight, and continue to forge our own magnificent future!"

The soldiers roared in unison, "For glory! For Henry!"

Bain was made a noble Knight and granted a fief; veteran soldiers received promotions; new armor and weapons were distributed; rewards of Dinars were handed out...

It was a carnival for over ten thousand people. With real gold and silver being handed out, the atmosphere was far more festive than any Imperial New Year’s celebration.

The soldiers celebrated with abandon, expressing their joy through song, dance, and cheers.

This scene stirred up a lot of emotions, especially among Henry’s old schoolmates.

Having only just arrived, they had no military achievements to their names and had yet to fully integrate with the group. Their mindset and habits were still those of outsiders.

’What did they want most? To become nobles! To have a path to promotion! Wasn’t that the whole reason they had traveled thousands of miles and braved countless risks to join him?!’

And Henry... he gave them hope. He didn’t just appreciate talented people; he gave them tangible rewards.

This filled his old schoolmates with envy. They longed to be like Bain—to win Henry’s favor and become true nobles.

’Their talent was going unrecognized, and a bitter resentment grew in their hearts. They were from noble families! They believed their foundations in Martial Arts, their command abilities, and their skills in literature and arithmetic were far superior to everyone else’s. They deserved a higher position.’

But now, simply because they were newcomers, these elites had been assigned as mere officers, not the Knight’s Squires they had expected to become.

’Becoming an Attendant was their only real path forward! Otherwise, what was the point? Even becoming captain of Henry’s Personal Guard would make one nothing more than a high-ranking officer.’

At the end of the day, that still made them commoners in the eyes of the Empire. What they wanted was to become Imperial nobles, even if only second-tier.

「Countless stars dotted the sky as a bright moon hung high above, casting its soft glow upon the land.」

The open-air banquet had already been prepared. Countless massive bonfires blazed, their leaping flames reflecting on every face and casting a warm, reddish glow.

Rows of long wooden tables and benches were arranged around the fires, covered with coarse yet clean linen cloths and laden with a lavish spread of food and drink.

"Tonight, we celebrate our victory and our glory together!"

The soldiers cheered wildly. The long tables were laden with roasted meats, bread, cheese, and fresh fruit, along with barrel after barrel of ale and wine.

The men gathered around the tables, eating and drinking their fill.

There was a generous spirit to the summer grasslands. While the Empire’s central cities, like Lukaron, were prosperous, they always felt so restrained. They could not compare to the liberating expanse of the plains.

On the other side of the bonfires, a group of soldiers had formed a circle. In the center, a man was performing a Swordsmanship demonstration.

The Long Sword in his hands flashed in the firelight. His swift movements and the dancing blade drew cheers from the onlookers.

However, the display was heavy with killing intent, lacking the sort of gentle beauty one might expect at a celebratory feast.

"My lord, did this batch of new recruits find the time to learn a noble’s sword dance?" Bain asked curiously, having noticed the display.

Henry shrugged, indicating he was just as clueless.

The soldiers had learned it over a few days from their new adjutants—Henry’s old schoolmates.

"So, Bain, you’re a Knight now. How does it feel?"