The Aslan War - Opening Moves
The armies of this world were smaller in scale than I had imagined. Well, the only military I knew came from having to spend two years in so-called mandatory service once you turned twenty, plus whatever I’d picked up from manga and games about the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Actual medieval warfare apparently never involved the massive troop numbers people assume. Still, it must have been larger than what we have now.
Elite units made up exclusively of soldiers who possessed even the slightest trace of magic power. The veteran knights who could actually be deployed in real combat. The absolute minimum equipment they required. Money alone couldn’t solve any of it. Ordinary soldiers only needed a minimal amount of magic power, but every single knight was a living weapon. The loss of even one was no small blow. It wasn’t something that ended with mere talent in martial arts, nor could magic power be forced onto someone. On top of that, truly decent equipment used magic stones as core materials—high-quality goods that were already difficult to obtain, consumed in staggering quantities. Of course, the very best pieces would end up in noble hands regardless.
Chloe, who served as both my secretary and the knight order’s commander, let out a quiet sigh.
“We have been secretly purchasing what we can, but it is growing increasingly difficult to acquire more.”
“I figured as much.”
These were items already in short supply, and merchants had long since sensed the unstable atmosphere spreading across the kingdom, especially in the South. True top-grade magic stones were banned goods, of course… but even mid-tier magic stones and magic crystals had market prices, and those prices kept climbing. Recently even food—something the South could usually call cheap—had begun rising in cost. Everyone had clearly noticed. And we were the ones who lit the fuse. Interesting.
“Still, I have managed to prepare all the units we can currently operate on short notice.”
“You prepared yours and Triana’s as well, yes?”
“Of course. They received top priority.”
I had my own forces, naturally. There were the troops I had brought from Franz, the ones the Müller domain already possessed, and everything we had continued buying from merchants. The most critical assets in this war would be Triana and the knights. When we fought Müller before, my father had taken command, my brother was present, and we even had the Golden Lion Knight Order—the strongest fighting force in the South when it came to actual combat. I had felt confident then. Now, though, I couldn’t help feeling a little uneasy.
“It will be fine,” Chloe said.
“Hm?”
While I was lost in thought, she looked at me with a deadly serious expression.
“No matter what happens, I will never allow anything to tarnish Your Lordship’s honor.”
She must have read my mind; her eyes burned with resolve. Honestly, I wasn’t that worried about honor.
I reached out and gently stroked her cheek.
“Your life matters more than honor. Like I told you before—injuries are forbidden.”
“…Understood.”
Chloe’s face flushed at my words and touch. She lowered her head shyly.
In one smooth motion I lifted her. A small yelp escaped her.
Her petite frame was light enough to hoist without even using magic reinforcement. I wrapped an arm around her waist, raised her up, and settled her gently across my thigh. She seemed startled by the suddenness, but the moment our eyes met, her gaze shifted into something warmer.
“Do you truly understand?”
“O-of course I do.”
My hand slid across her waist and onto her stomach. Small and modest, yet unmistakably a knight’s—firm, resilient muscle met my palm.
“If it’s an order, you know what to do. Repeat what I told you last time.”
“…U-ugh.”
Her face burned crimson. After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke.
“M-my…”
“Go on.”
Her small hand tightened into a fist on my shoulder. It was embarrassing, but that was exactly why it was an order. When I continued staring at her intently, she gave up and let out a defeated sigh.
“If I get injured… until my abs become soft again… you will keep impregnating me so that the moment I give birth you will impregnate me again immediately… and you will never let me leave the house for the rest of my life… That is what you said!”
“Good girl, Chloe.”
I stroked her burning cheek again. It was practically feverish.
“Uuu…”
I kneaded the soft curve of her backside. She should have grown used to this by now, yet every time I made an advance she still grew adorably embarrassed. Maybe I should just enjoy her like this. Right here. Right now.
Knock knock.
“Lord Leoric. It’s Isabel.”
“Ah…”
What a shame. It had to be the report on Aslan Territory. I couldn’t exactly ignore it. Chloe flinched at Isabel’s voice from outside and tried to scramble off my lap. Hmm.
“Come in!”
“L-Lord Leoric?!”
I gripped Chloe’s hips firmly as she panicked. She pounded weakly on my shoulder with powerless fists. Eventually she gave up, clinging to my shoulder and burying her flushed face against me.
“Pardon the intru—”
Isabel entered, began her greeting, then froze when she saw us. She paused, shook her head, and continued in a slightly strained but polite tone.
“It is still working hours, Lord Leoric. Please allow Chloe to work comfortably.”
“This is an expression of affection.”
“Work is piling up.”
“Fine, fine.”
Besides, it was time to listen to the report anyway, so I wasn’t exactly working. I savored the feeling of Chloe nestled against me.
“…This is the report concerning Aslan Territory.”
“Go on.”
Isabel composed herself and began speaking with practiced efficiency. She had grown much more comfortable with this. In the beginning she had struggled to even form proper sentences. She really did have talent.
“They appear to be quite furious. They are belatedly gathering adventurers and soldiers.”
“Adventurers are one thing, but gathering soldiers at this point seems pointless.”
It would only increase the casualties. No matter how many small fries you added, they couldn’t match a single elite knight. Quality was what mattered. In a world where equality was fundamentally impossible—where people wielded a power called magic that defied all common sense—they couldn’t possibly be unaware of that.
Squeezing Chloe’s soft rear while listening to the report definitely eased my stress. Was this what they called animal healing? Humans were animals too, after all.
“Well, it’s still better than nothing. What about Triana?”
“She has moved according to schedule.”
Triana was the key to this war. She was the only force besides myself capable of facing nobles directly. The knights could theoretically manage if they combined their strength, but the casualties would be devastating.
“I can’t send Irina either. She’ll handle it well.”
“Yes.”
Irina was still technically a guest… It wouldn’t be appropriate for her to act under my direct command just yet. Still, simply knowing she was in Müller guaranteed the castle’s defense. That alone brought significant psychological comfort.
Chloe, still nestled against my shoulder, whispered softly while the report continued.
“I could have done it…”
There was a faint note of dissatisfaction in her voice. Isabel nodded as well, showing her own confidence.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s simply not possible yet.”
“…Understood. My apologies.”
“I am truly sorry,” Chloe added.
The combat techniques knights used against nobles had been studied for a very long time. There was an undeniable gap between nobles and knights, but just as a difference in engine output didn’t guarantee victory in every race, it wasn’t impossible. The price in blood, however, was extreme.
Looking at them, I couldn’t help thinking how cruel this world was. No matter how hard you worked, no matter how exceptional your talent, the limits of bloodline and origin were far harsher than they had ever been on Earth.
“Make sure Triana monitors the situation thoroughly.”
“Yes.”
Isabel nodded. As I watched her, I continued massaging Chloe’s backside and gave her a meaningful squeeze.
“…Could you refrain from that?”
“Ah, right. Sorry.”
I might have crossed the line. Her cold tone left me a little deflated.
“Contacts are arriving from the capital.”
“Ignore them.”
I wasn’t a fool. Territorial wars were the rightful authority of nobles in the first place. I might be able to sway them with moderate bribes, but no amount of money would make the capital happy about me swallowing the entire Aslan domain.
“Maintain absolute silence. What have they ever done for me that I should listen to them? I don’t even need the noble title to begin with.”
“I… I see.”
Both Chloe and Isabel wore slightly awkward expressions, but a powerful local lord with real strength was supposed to act this way.
“Besides, we have people blocking interference from the capital, don’t we? Isn’t that right, Isabel?”
“Yes. Both Franz and Boreng have sent favorable replies.”
Excellent. Just as expected, they had agreed to help. I didn’t trust them unconditionally simply because we were family, but they were far more reliable than other nobles. I had also prepared fair compensation for their support.
The only problem was that Müller’s treasury was now completely empty.
“Still, if we obtain the Aslan domain, the route to the Great Mountain Range will be ours. The benefits will be enormous.”
The Aslan domain lay further west than Müller and controlled land near the waterway flowing from the Great Mountain Range to Rainia Lake. It was one of the most active trading hubs in the region. The advantages hardly needed explaining. In particular, the Georg Basin—our current justification for war—was one of the areas directly connected to that waterway.
The drawback was its proximity to the Great Mountain Range, but I could think of that as an investment. Once public order was stabilized, the profits would be massive. From there we could establish entirely new trade routes.
The best outcome was swallowing the entire Aslan domain. The next best was securing at least the Georg Basin.
“What about the letter sent to Princess Amelia?”
“It arrived safely. Heh. The Bahn stocks I invested in are skyrocketing!”