37
Chapter 37
"Today, while questioning Charles Jean Rochefort, I realized something. Your knowledge of strategy and tactics is on par with most professors. In fact, since many professors are mere bureaucrats, someone with actual field experience like you, Charles, might even be superior. That's why I thought I'd like my students to hear a lecture from you."
"I appreciate the high praise, but I'm not sure if I'm capable of teaching. Knowing something and teaching it are two different things, aren't they? I can answer Professor Mercatz's questions, but I don't have the confidence to teach what I know to the students."
"Hmm..."
Professor Mercatz groaned as if faced with a difficult problem. After a moment,
"Then how about this?"
"What is it?"
"I will lead the class, and you, Charles, will act as my assistant and only answer the questions I ask. That shouldn't be too difficult, right?"
True... that doesn't sound too taxing. However, I need to consider the pros and cons of going as a guest lecturer.
One advantage is that I could get on Professor Mercatz's good side. He is a useful talent. Although his power and reputation are currently stronger than mine, he is a talent without a master, so I might be able to bring him under my command one day. For now, it's best to stay on good terms with him. And above all...
"Professor Mercatz."
"Yes, Charles?"
"By any chance, are there any students at Petrio Academy that I might get along with?"
As far as I know, there are two top-tier strategists at Petrio Academy. It wouldn't be a bad idea to get acquainted with them in advance.
And before long,
"Oh? How did you know?"
Professor Mercatz said,
"Actually, there were some of my students I wanted to introduce you to. They are students who aspire to become strategists like you, Charles, and I thought it would be beneficial for you to know each other."
It seems Professor Mercatz and I are on the same page. I should definitely do this.
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The next day, Charles and Mercatz headed to Petrio Academy. The academy had a slightly different atmosphere than Arcadia Academy. In contrast to Arcadia's overall antique and aristocratic feel, Petrio Academy was more free-spirited and open.
This was because Petrio Academy was open to anyone with enough money and talent—not just nobles, but the children of wealthy merchants, commoners, and foreigners.
Charles went straight to the classroom with Professor Mercatz. As they took their place on the podium, the students began to buzz.
"Who is that?"
"He's wearing an Arcadia Academy uniform."
"A transfer student?"
"He should've at least changed his uniform before coming..."
Just as the chatter began to subside, Professor Mercatz spoke.
"Allow me to introduce him."
Professor Mercatz grabbed Charles's arm and raised it high.
"Today's guest lecturer, the key figure of the Battle of the Imor River and the pursuit of Seize Castle, Charles Jean Rochefort!"
As he was introduced, gasps of admiration erupted from all over. He was a strategist who had played a major role in the war between the Crown Prince's forces and the Kronor army—a conflict the entire world had watched—so his name was widely known.
"Wait, isn't Charles a war hero?"
"Is our academy actually prestigious enough to bring in a war hero as a guest lecturer?"
"I expected a giant since he's a war hero, but he's surprisingly cute."
Then, cheers began to break out from somewhere.
"Oooooh!!!"
The cheers, which started with a few male students, soon spread to the girls as well.
"Woooooah!!!!!"
The students' reaction was fervent. Charles, meanwhile, was simply bewildered. He knew people would welcome him as a war hero, but he had never imagined such an intense response.
'They're students and I'm a student; is it really okay for me to receive this kind of welcome?'
Just as Charles was thinking that, Professor Mercatz spoke.
"Why don't you wave to them?"
"Excuse me?"
"The cadets are all staring at you, Charles."
Upon hearing this, Charles awkwardly raised his hand and waved. He was flustered, as he had rarely received this level of attention. Then...
"Woooooah!!!!!!!!"
The cheering only grew louder. It wasn't until Professor Mercatz raised his palm to silence the students that the noise finally began to die down.
"I believe you are all well-acquainted with Charles Jean Rochefort. He was a key figure in the recent major battles. To commemorate his visit, today we will analyze the Battle of the Imor River and the retreat from Seize Castle."
Meanwhile, Charles looked bewildered. He had never imagined that the very battles he had led would be the subject of a lecture while he was sitting right there.
'Did he bring me here just for this?'
It seemed Professor Mercatz had brought him here specifically to kill him with embarrassment. Charles thought as much, but the professor, oblivious—or perhaps indifferent—to his inner turmoil, continued.
"Now then, let us begin the lecture."
A strange tension filled the room. After all, the Battle of the Imor River and the pursuit of Seize Castle had happened only recently. Moreover, it was a conflict between the world's strongest power and a foreign nation—a massive international issue that was impossible to ignore.
"Is there anyone who can explain the sequence of events of the Imor battle in detail?"
For a moment, no one raised their hand. Then, Professor Mercatz called on a student.
"First, let's have Bertolf von Luitbert handle the analysis for this part."
In that instant, Charles was stunned. A man with slicked-back brown hair and a confident smile—and a strikingly handsome face—stood up. That man, Bertolf von Luitbert, was the third most brilliant strategist in the world. Charles knew he attended Petrio Academy, but he hadn't expected to meet him so soon. And then, he realized one more thing.
Professor Mercatz had a habit of piling all the presentations onto the top students. Seeing as he had called on Bertolf first, it was clear the professor enjoyed challenging his best pupils. The "presentation bomb" he had dropped on Charles the day before wasn't out of malice, but because he held Charles in such high regard.
Once he realized the truth, Charles fought back a scoff and began listening to Bertolf's presentation. Bertolf's delivery was polished overall. His voice was decent, and his pronunciation and projection were good. But the content was the most impressive part.
"When the Crown Prince's Army marched toward Celius Castle, the Kronor army made a very clever maneuver. They set up camp at the wide Imor River and waited for their opponent. Because of this, the only way for the Crown Prince's Army to advance to the North was to cross the river. As they forced their way across in heavy armor, the armor froze over and became clogged with mud, leaving them open to a one-sided slaughter. That is precisely why the Kronor army won at the Imor River."
Hmm, a solid analysis. He especially liked that Bertolf caught the detail about the ice and mud. He likely referenced testimonies from surviving soldiers. He had clearly studied hard. But at that moment, Professor Mercatz interrupted him.
"However, something is strange."
Bertolf asked back, startled.
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"According to you, Bertolf, the Kronor army was camped on the opposite bank. Couldn't the Crown Prince's Army have simply detoured and targeted another castle instead? Why didn't they do that?"
"That's, well... haha..."
Bertolf tried to laugh it off, unable to give a proper answer. Charles couldn't help but be surprised.
'What? He doesn't know? That's odd. Bertolf is one of the top three strategists in the world; he should be brilliant.'
In that instant, Charles realized. Bertolf being the third-best strategist was a story from the 'future.' In other words, while the Bertolf in his prime was a world-class strategist, the current Bertolf was merely a bright high school student. And just then...
"Charles Jean Rochefort."
Professor Mercatz called his name.
"Would you care to explain it instead?"
Aha... so this is why he brought me. With that thought, Charles stepped forward.
"The answer lies in the initiative of the maneuver strategy."
Every student's gaze shifted toward Charles.
"Mr. Bertolf's analysis was very accurate. However, the point is not tactics; it is strategy. From a strategic standpoint, His Highness the Crown Prince made one massive blunder. That was..."
The classroom began to stir. Students whispered here and there. The room became chaotic because Charles, who had served under the Crown Prince, dared to point out a mistake made by the world's most powerful person. After waiting for the noise to die down, Charles used the pointer to indicate a section of the map Professor Mercatz had laid out.