Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The Princess's Visit
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I aged ten years in an instant. What was with everyone suddenly going quiet right at that perfect timing?
It was a situation one step away from me becoming an immature punk who carelessly flapped his mouth just because he trusted in his family name.
It wouldn't have been strange if a stern rebuke had come down. In the worst case, I might've been kicked out of the command tent.
Fortunately, I had something they didn't: my memories from my past life.
Usually, it was useless stuff like missing cola, or wanting stew or soup but craving kimchi stew instead.
But watching the command staff rack their brains over that random meteor, the thought popped into my head unbidden.
Back in the days when smartphones weren't widespread yet. That Korean great man's biography everyone had read at least once.
There was that guy who, when a meteor fell, just went, "Yeah, get lost," and shot it right back.
One worry was, what if this world didn't have kites?
But that was unfounded. Kites were actually a pretty useful tool here too.
Especially for measuring wind direction and speed—nothing beat them.
The moment the Legion Commander heard my idea, he ordered kites brought in and got straight to modifying them.
Bigger than the originals. And they had to burn long and bright, so we prepped all sorts of things for that.
Watching the scene, I decided to offer one more piece of advice.
For the record, this wasn't from the biography—it was based on my own experience.
"Legion Commander. The kite's important, but there's one more thing we need."
"What might that be?"
"We need people to stir up the hearts of the soldiers who'll be slow on the uptake."
If the enemy does it, it's incitement. If we do it, it's capturing hearts.
You prep your heart out, and if the soldiers just go, "What's that?" you'll feel pretty miffed.
Catching my meaning, the Legion Commander quietly gathered trusted men.
And so, come midnight, what our soldiers witnessed was the meteor from last night rising back up.
At first, as expected, they were like, "What the heck?" But soon they erupted in massive cheers.
The few cheerleaders we deployed shouting, "That's the true will of the gods! Clear proof the Empire won't fall!" was the command staff's little secret.
Anyway, the atmosphere—which had been as limp as total defeat the day before—boiled over in an instant.
What does it mean when allied morale plummets then skyrockets like crazy?
Obviously, the enemy feels the opposite. The demons are probably kid demons by now.
And the next day's scout report confirmed my hunch.
"The demons' momentum is badly broken. They're trying to hide it, but our scouts can see it plain as day."
"Hahaha! Of course it is! How could they stay unfazed after that meteor shot back up!"
Uh, Legion Commander. Remember, that wasn't a meteor rising—it was the kite, right?
Good thing it worked out. It was a hasty improvisation from someone barely more than a rank amateur.
Leaving the command staff busy trash-talking the demons, I slipped out of the tent.
I'm not officially enlisted in the Imperial Army, nor a real commanding officer.
I don't have some brilliant insight or jaw-dropping strategy to spout.
If I stuck around basking in the praise for what I did, my true colors might show!
"Young master."
But seeing my butler Alexei waiting with a grim expression made me think staying put in the command tent might've been better.
"What? What's going on?"
"Well..."
Where Alexei glanced with his eyes stood a man in an officer's uniform.
Nothing special about him, except maybe a stiffer air than most.
"Why's that officer here? What's the deal?"
"Not that. Y-You need to go inside. Quick."
He couldn't even explain properly, just mumbling "inside" over and over.
Alexei's no fool, no slouch—why react like this?
As a member of a noble house with plenty of experience, I knew what it meant.
Someone extremely distinguished was visiting my tent right now.
That plain-looking officer was actually a disguised close bodyguard.
The conclusion hit me like a thunderclap! I immediately checked my attire.
'Whew.'
Just who could be so important inside to make him act like that?
Maybe some duke's heir secretly serving incognito?
I remember a novel from my past life where a fine noble enlisted as a grunt. No way, right?
Mulling it over, I stepped inside—and there sat a woman.
My brain kicked into overdrive the instant I saw her.
'This is a clear battlefield. Our family's no backwater spot anyone can dismiss. Yet Alexei's this antsy only for a select few. Among them, a girl my age.'
The answer followed naturally from there.
I dropped to one knee right there and slammed my gaze to the floor.
"Kael Clauvitz, eldest son of the Clauvitz Family of Bertier Imperial County, greets Her Imperial Highness the Princess."
I swear I saw a hiccup sound effect floating in front of my eyes. Because I actually heard it.
With the situation like this, the question coming my way would probably be—
"...How did you figure it out?"
Well, you gather the info, and the possibilities narrow down.
If our butler was that tense, it meant at least marquis-level or higher.
But no noble lady my age from any house should be in this camp.
If there was, word would've gotten around somehow—no such rumors.
Then it hit me. Someone with huge interest in the military, who could keep it secret from all.
'That's the 2nd Princess, Her Highness Isabel.'
I was about to boldly state my deduction when the Princess let out a sigh.
"No. Wait, no. That was a stupid question from me."
"Your Highness?"
"Someone with your brilliant mind would've deduced that easily. I should blame myself for not being more careful."
"...?"
Princess? If you answer your own question, what happens to all my mental prep?
Whether she read my mind or not, the Princess gestured for me to rise.
She offered me a seat, so I cautiously parked myself opposite her.
"Young Lord Kael Clauvitz."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Have you ever studied astronomy?"
What an out-of-left-field question.
"Regrettably, I'm far from versed in astronomy."
"Liar."
She dismissed my answer outright. As I faltered, she continued.
"No one ignorant of stars could pull that off."
"Your Highness, I'm afraid I don't follow."
"You can't devise such a countermeasure unless you knew a meteor was coming."
"...Ah."
So that's it. She must've been pretty impressed by the wisdom from General Yushin Kim.
Even the battle-hardened Legion Commander hadn't thought of it on the spot.
Meteors don't fall every day. Especially not on a battlefield, right by the camp.
In that chaos, me naturally proposing a fix made me the weirdo.
"I truly know nothing of astronomy, Your Highness."
"...Really?"
"Yes."
No lie—I'm the guy who doesn't know the first thing about it.
Pretending otherwise and getting caught later would be a headache.
It wouldn't end with laughs at my bluffing. I'd be lying to the Princess's face.
So this was a noble's prudent confession of truth for safety's sake.
"Hold on. Then what about yesterday?"
"That was..."
"If you knew zilch about astronomy and didn't predict the meteor... You must've been just as shocked as everyone there!"
"Well..."
"And in that moment, you whip out a clever, awe-inspiring stratagem! Incredible!"
"... "
She's not listening.
"So. So then, Young Lord Kael. Why a kite?"
"Pardon?"
"Magic could've done it just fine. Instead of a kite. Why choose a kite specifically?"
Because as I recall, General Kim Yushin used a kite.
You wouldn't know, Princess, but that world had no magic.
That's it!
'...Say that, and I'll sound insane.'
Why a kite? Magic was right there, perfectly viable—why think of a kite?
Her question sent my brain spinning again.
"Well, you see."
It's heavy. That expectant look in her eyes—too much pressure.
She's brimming with anticipation, waiting for some profound answer.
When all I did was copy an answer I already knew!
"Actually."
"Actually? Actually what? What is it?"
"Ahem... As Your Highness knows, magic has its share of flaws."
I dunno. Didn't see this question coming—words are spilling out.
I should've filtered them at least a bit, but tense in front of the Princess, I just blurted.
"The key isn't the meteor falling. It's that our army's morale hit rock bottom because of it. So, whatever it took to boost the soldiers' spirits was priority one."
"Right."
"Magic's certainly one good way. But it leaves mana traces, and more importantly, doesn't it just whoosh! and end in a flash?"
"...Ah! I get it. Why you chose the kite! So the whole army could clearly see it. Slowly, unmistakably—you needed something to show that scene deliberately!"
"E-Exactly!!"
I jumped on her words, praising and hyping her up.
Do that, and no one suspects a thing. They'd be suspecting themselves too.
"Impressive, Young Lord Kael."
"You're too kind. I merely offered a bit of wisdom."
"A bit? No. Turning army morale around overnight—no, boosting it higher—is no small feat."
"Hahaha! That's—"
"Bertier Imperial Count was a fine warrior. And his heir, the young lord of the county, proves a brilliant strategist!"
Pardon? Strategist? Who? Me? It was so flabbergasting I couldn't even agree.
Me, a strategist? Princess, that's a huge misunderstanding...
"I'm looking forward to it. Whatever sparkling, clever stratagem you'll come up with next. I can expect great things, right?"
"Well..."
I should say no. But the other party's no ordinary soul—Imperial blood.
And disappointing her eager face right here? Impossible.
"O-Of course, Your Highness."
The words slipped out before I knew it.
'It's fine. Fine. No more chances to step up anyway!'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ And a few days later.
"Young Lord Kael? What's your next brilliant stratagem?"
"Hahaha..."
In front of the entire command staff, my true identity fully revealed.
The Princess stared right at me, eyes sparkling.