Monthly Regular Meeting / Brans Army (1)
The monthly regular meeting.
Back in the Lunarien Army, the royal council had been a meeting in name only—little more than a cozy gathering of four people, myself included, deciding “what should we do this month?” Even then, Lord Luna trusted my words almost completely, so the sessions rarely lasted a full hour.
The Brans Army was a different matter entirely.
Every month, from the most junior officers stationed at Anel Castle to the castle lords who handled the real administrative work of the surrounding fortresses, dozens of people gathered to propose orders to Lin, receive their assignments, and prepare to carry them out.
It occurred to me that I might, in this very moment, be experiencing a true “monthly council” for the first time.
“We’ll start with last month’s reports. Castle lords, step forward in order and speak. Same sequence as last time.”
“Yes, my lord!”
First, the middle-aged blond man at the far left of the line strode forward with heavy steps.
“I am Rashion, lord of Kelstein Castle. I will report on this month’s objectives of ‘training’ and ‘military expansion.’ Our troop count has increased by three thousand three hundred, bringing the current garrison to a total of thirty-nine thousand soldiers.”
Seeing a familiar face was oddly comforting.
Rashion.
Just an average A-Class general—nothing special, but the kind of man who always earned his keep no matter what you assigned him. Not particularly loyal; if captured he almost always surrendered. Precisely because of that, he was the sort of officer you ran into constantly while playing the game. I had made good use of him myself more than a few times.
His pixel-art portrait had been nothing more than a generic extra uncle, yet in the flesh he carried a certain dignified, middle-aged charm. It felt as though every dot-character had received a massive visual upgrade the moment the game world became real.
“Anything else of note?”
“Two new talents were recruited. Additionally, the small fortress Lord Kalintz began constructing in front of the castle should be completed sometime next month.”
“Understood. As for the officer in charge of the fortress’s defense—leave it with Kalintz. Pass that along.”
“Yes! At once.”
Rashion finished his formal bow and stepped back. The man beside him came forward next.
“Daltrik of Zog Castle. First, allow me to report on the results of the past month.”
And so it went—each castle lord delivering their report in turn.
The Brans Army’s territory was vast; counting both major and minor fortresses, there were nine castles in total. Once the lords had finished, Lin looked down over the assembly and spoke.
“Today I intend to appoint a lord for Jeiland Castle, which has newly become Brans territory. I’ve also drawn up a list of personnel who will transfer there to work. Those who receive the order are to head for Jeiland. If anyone on the list is not present, the lord of their current castle will relay the message. Shall I call the names?”
The atmosphere was unfamiliar and yet strangely familiar at the same time—exactly like a trainee waiting for unit assignments to be announced.
“I appoint Aneka Rem as castle lord. Banya, Mirika, Yuzu, Diaka, and Bran—the five of you will serve under Jeiland Castle.”
““Understood!””
A few voices answered in unison. Afterward Lin rose from the throne.
“Now then, we’ll decide this month’s course of action. Anyone have a good idea? Speak freely.”
She called it a “course of action,” but it was essentially the same as the “proposal of opinions” we used to do in the Lunarien Army meetings. As a newcomer I decided to listen rather than step forward myself, and kept my mouth shut.
A few people actually raised their hands and began offering suggestions.
“I believe the most urgent matter is putting our internal administration in order. Policies focused on commerce, agriculture, and other domestic affairs would be best.”
“Surrounded on all sides by enemy nations as we are, I propose we prioritize military expansion.”
“Chellam Castle of the Roland Army in the south is poorly defended—we should prepare an assault. We must pour the full strength of the nation into conscripting and training new soldiers at Saintica Castle on the southern border.”
One after another they raised their hands and spoke. Instinctively I understood: every person who dared raise a hand and voice their own thoughts here was someone already pulling more than their weight in the Brans Army. That was precisely why they felt free to offer opinions to their lord so openly.
Then—
“My lord. May I also offer a suggestion?”
At Parfalle’s words from her place beside Lin, the lord nodded.
“Go ahead.”
“Upon review, it appears last month was spent entirely focused on the west. However, I have obtained intelligence that the Aesius Army in the east recently raised its forces and intends to punish the Alefel Army of the west.”
“Is that so? If it’s true, isn’t that quite a good opportunity?”
Parfalle nodded firmly, as if strongly agreeing with Lin’s interjection.
“Exactly so. Mobilizing fifty-six thousand troops to invade Valharat Castle of the Aesius Army would be an excellent chance. I believe we should begin preparations for the invasion the moment the ceasefire expires.”
“Oh? Sounds like you’ve got something to back that up.”
Instead of answering, Parfalle merely offered a faint smile. Lin nodded, then turned to the rest of us.
“Hmm… anyone else have an opinion?”
At that moment someone broke the silence by raising a hand.
“My lord.”
A woman’s voice I had already grown somewhat used to. The one who spoke was Irene.
“……Speak.”
“I believe the Serpina Army has been quiet for quite some time. Rather than focusing elsewhere, it would be better to station additional forces at Kelstein Castle in the north and thicken our defenses.”
“The north, you say?”
Lin’s expression turned indifferent as she listened.
“Didn’t they just build a new fortress there? Kalintz is already present, and more troops are already stationed on that border than any other. Do we really need to send even more?”
“That is…”
Irene began to explain, but Lin raised a hand and cut her off.
“No. Well, anyone is free to offer an opinion.”
She said it with a bright little smile—yet every word was laced with thorns. A strange atmosphere settled over the council chamber. The very current of the room, carrying the will of the absolute ruler, was aimed squarely at Irene.
This pressure… even I, a third party, felt myself shrinking under it. Had Irene been treated like this every single day?
“…….”
Irene did not continue. She simply lowered her head in submission. Lin spoke as if wrapping the matter up.
“Anyone else wish to offer an opinion? No more?”
Shortly afterward she began summarizing everything that had been said.
“First: implement policies focused on internal administration. Do you believe this is the best course for our Brans Army? If so, raise your hand.”
A handful of people in the hall raised their hands in agreement. I thought I understood the system. In the game, officers would propose ideas and the player—as lord—would usually enact the policy decided by majority vote. Of course a lord could ignore the council’s result if they wished, but doing so would lower the loyalty of all but the most devoted officers and sour relationships, so unless you were role-playing you rarely bothered.
Apparently they decided things by majority here as well. In a tiny weak nation like the Lunarien Army it might not matter, but ignoring a majority decision in a force this size would be a burden even for the lord.
Let’s see.
I inputted the question: Is implementing policies focused on internal administration the most efficient course for the Brans Army?
[FALSE]
The conclusion was [FALSE].
If I want to look like I’m actually doing my job, I should pick whatever I think is correct here.
Of course these were only opinions so far; every single answer could come back [FALSE]. In that case, if Lin felt like it she could simply ask me the way Luna used to—“What would be the most efficient approach?”—and the problem would be solved. But I only wanted to be moderately helpful. I had no desire to zealously rack up achievements. No matter how hard I worked, Luna would unify the continent anyway; there was no need to exhaust myself.
So I let it pass.
“Second: implementing policies focused on military expansion would be best. Raise your hands.”
Again a few people raised their hands. I did not.
“Third: gathering troops in the south and preparing to invade Chellam Castle would be best. Raise your hands.”
This time, surprisingly, only a single person raised a hand. The proposer who had spoken so confidently looked a little embarrassed, but what could he do? If it bothered him he should have cultivated a proper faction that would actually follow his lead. Naturally I kept my hand down as well.
“Fourth: mobilize fifty-six thousand troops and attack Valharat Castle of the Aesius Army. Those who agree?”
And then—
Many of the officers who had been hesitating all this time raised their hands in unison. Parfalle watched the sight and smiled with satisfaction.
Parfalle.
She was the State Tactician—the military advisor—of the Brans Army. In this game a State Tactician was the subordinate who served closest to the lord and could deeply influence the lord’s various decisions; in a sense it was the highest position a retainer could climb to. Of course once a territory grew large enough you could appoint legion commanders and the like, but that was a matter for later.
In any case, giving the impression that I agreed with Parfalle’s opinion and thereby deepening my relationship with her would be good politics. I inputted her proposal into my mind.
Is attacking Valharat Castle the best opinion?
[THAT IS NOT THE CASE]
Hoh.
I knew her Intelligence was over ninety. That was why I had planned to raise my hand for her opinion in a halfhearted way—high Intelligence usually meant the person was saying something correct. Apparently that was not the case this time.
Agreeing with a proposal raised affinity with the officer who made it. If the State Tactician’s opinion was not absolutely correct, I might as well agree with Irene’s and raise her affinity instead.
I was treating the entire matter with genuine lightness.
“Looks like it’s pretty much decided.”
Lin added an unnecessary remark, then opened her mouth again.
“Last one. Reinforcing Kelstein Castle in the north with additional troops to thicken our defenses against a Serpina Army invasion is the best method. Those who agree?”
This time—
Aside from the proposer Irene herself, not a single person sided with her opinion. Irene was someone who had fallen out of Lin Brans’s favor. Only her talent still allowed her to attend councils like this at all. But even in this world, people loyal enough to take the side of someone who had earned the boss’s displeasure were apparently just as rare as anywhere else.
If I raise my hand alone, affinity will go up, right?
Thinking that, I casually inputted her question into my mind without much thought.
Is gathering troops at Kelstein Castle to prepare against a Serpina Army invasion the correct course?
And the result appeared.
[NEARLY CORRECT]
……Huh?
What?
Not “no,” but “nearly correct”?
What’s going on in the north?
Honestly, I had already decided I would side with Irene’s opinion—but as Lin had said, they were building a fortress there and already had the largest troop deployment of any border. It didn’t look necessary, yet this was apparently the most efficient opinion among those offered?
“No one?”
At Lin’s words I hurriedly raised my hand. Every officer’s gaze in the chamber snapped toward me. Their looks varied, yet all of them could be summarized in a single meaning:
What are you thinking, taking her side?
Irene herself seemed not to have expected me to raise my hand; she was staring at me with mild surprise.
Lady Irene, please lift your head with pride. Surprisingly, your opinion is the most efficient among those presented.
Then—
“Hoh.”
Lin seemed to find the situation amusing; the corner of her mouth curled slightly as she pointed at me with one finger.
“Swen. You raised your hand for Irene’s opinion?”
At her words the gazes already fixed on me locked even more firmly onto my face. It might have been enough to cow someone, but compared to the time Lin had once pressed a blade to my throat, this was nothing.
“Yes.”
“Hoh? Why?”
“Because I agree with her words.”
“So you believe we should send troops to the north? Even though a fortress is already under construction and it already has the most soldiers?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“Heeh.”
She smiled as if entertained, then looked at Parfalle beside her.
“That’s what he says, Parfalle. What do you think?”
“Well… yes…”
What was Lin thinking? By this point one possibility had begun to take shape in my mind.
Don’t tell me.
“Parfalle. How about a debate for the first time in a while? Don’t you want to hear what the newcomer is thinking?”
“…….”
A debate.
What players more commonly called a “verbal duel”—a one-on-one debate within the game. It was the Intelligence version of the one-on-one duels that high-Martial officers fought against each other. Since this world was built upon the game, it seemed the system still existed, at least in form.
Parfalle heard the words, seemed to grasp something, and nodded.
“I see. Very well.”
Lin appeared satisfied with the answer and turned to me this time.
“How about it, Swen? If you’re scared you don’t have to, of course.”
She clearly intended to test me. Why? Because I had taken the side of Irene, whom she disliked? Or because she acknowledged my ability to some degree and, conversely, wanted to be persuaded herself?
Either way, now that it had come to this I could not simply refuse. The more enthusiastically I defended Irene’s opinion here, the more her affinity toward me would rise. Thinking only of that, I spoke.
“If you put it that way, then I shall dare to attempt to persuade my lord, the State Tactician, and all the officers of the Brans Army present here.”
“Ahaha. How amusing!”
Lin laughed heartily, as if my bold attitude pleased her. Then Parfalle slowly walked forward to stand before me. I likewise took a few steps so that we faced each other.
“Will this be all right, State Tactician? I would like to request a match, if I may.”
I spoke in an extremely polite tone, head bowed. Hearing me, Parfalle slowly nodded.
“It is I who should request a match. I welcome it at any time. If you can persuade me, we shall follow General Irene’s opinion.”
“Then.”
I walked slowly out into the center. She likewise left her place beside the throne and came to stand before me.
Facing each other—
I began my first one-on-one debate.