Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Why Seize the High Ground?
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Why occupy the hill?
"Your Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince."
A man who should be swamped with official duties right now stepped forward.
It was truly regrettable, but what could be done? Such was the nature of his position.
The only thing I could do here was to personally commend his hard work.
"You've worked hard, Academy President. It's truly heartening to see you striving for the Empire's future."
"I am only ashamed of my many shortcomings."
I kept my meeting with the president as brief as possible. Holding him too long would only burden him further.
Above all, I had come here for a specific reason and had no desire to waste time.
"To the allied training grounds."
A close examination revealed some shortcomings in the training exercises here and there.
There were no long-range weapons like in real combat, nor any magic.
The numbers were small, and with no casualties, there was no need to worry about force depletion.
Still, it wasn't bad. In fact, it was rather welcome.
The concept of hill warfare might be debatable, but it was undeniably a 'hill.'
For these young nobles and ladies just starting out, it would be a valuable experience.
From what I'd heard, there was a strong emphasis on weeding out the unfit among the nobility.
If they aspired to serve as knights or officers of the Empire, that was only natural.
"This way, Your Highness."
I needed to inspect the other years as well, but my top priority right now was here—the first-year training ground.
That's where the Field Marshal's grandson and the Supreme Commander's son were. The Empire's future talents.
I was dying to know what kind of performance this Richi fellow would put on.
"Your Imperial Highness, before the training begins..."
Baron Pierneman began, but I waved him off.
I could guess what he wanted. With me here, he wished to put on a show of protocol.
But I had to decline. There was critical training underway—what was the point?
Everyone was on edge. I had no intention of disrupting that.
Thud—
"These are the team commanders. The one on the left is B Team's commander, Galen Carlyle."
"Carlyle of the Victory Duke's command. A loyal knight of the Empire."
"Indeed. And standing opposite him is—"
Richi Reinhardt. Yes, that's him. He definitely resembles the Supreme Commander.
"Who took the initiative?"
"The decision was Richi Reinhardt's, and he chose defense."
Blocking the opening assault to kill their momentum from the start?
Not a bad choice. It was a tactic the Field Marshal himself had employed in the past.
The hero who saved the nation by repelling Koenihesen's massive assaults.
He shattered their offensives entirely before launching counterattacks that led to repeated routs.
Back then, 'Reinhardt' evoked the image of the Empire's shield.
"Good luck."
"Let's both give it our all."
The two commanders exchanged greetings and returned to their positions.
After each team moved to their attack and defense spots—
"Academy allied training begins now."
Was it because I was here, or was it always like this?
From the very start, the intensity felt overwhelmingly fierce.
B Team launched their attack almost the instant the signal sounded.
With nothing to hold them back, they aimed for a swift resolution.
It would be great if they broke through in one go, but failure would mean big risks.
"Your Highness, look over there."
At Baron Pierneman's words, I turned my gaze to where he pointed.
I could see that the attacking B Team had held some members back.
It looked like they'd arranged for reserves from the Knight Department's elites.
"They're planning to punch through any gap in one strike."
"That seems to be the case."
Not a bad judgment. They could be considered a sort of reserve force.
But aren't the numbers almost even? At that point, they hardly qualify as reserves.
With those elites pulled back, the rest would have to shoulder even more?
"...Your Highness. It seems A Team is short a few members."
Short on numbers? Are they aiming for a flank perhaps?
I scanned the surroundings dubiously, but nothing like that happened.
With equal numbers, defense should have the advantage. Why on earth?
A Team inexplicably forfeited their numerical edge.
Conversely, B Team was maximizing their strengths.
"Haaah!"
Galen Carlyle. B Team's commander was leading from the front, pressing A Team hard.
I couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration. Yes, that's what a commander should do.
No need to be at the forefront every moment, but stepping up at key times.
And with his own swordsmanship being top-notch, it was an apt response.
Waaaaah!—
The cheers and shouts from fewer than a hundred students.
Yet the din rivaled that of a true battlefield in its ferocity.
"How long has it been?"
"Nearly an hour already."
An hour. That's a long time. They should be getting fatigued.
Yet both teams were still clashing fiercely.
Everyone seemed to be staking everything on this single exchange for the remaining five days.
How much more time passed? Ah, A Team was starting to give ground bit by bit.
B Team advanced. One step, then another. Toward the hill.
They needed to call up those held-back reserves now, but none appeared.
Instead, B Team timed it perfectly and charged their elites from the rear.
"Hmm."
What was Richi Reinhardt doing? What was he thinking?
Planning to retake it on the next assault? What if that didn't work?
Why forfeit the defender's advantage for that?
"Fall back to below the hill!"
In the end, at Richi's command, A Team abandoned the hill and retreated downward.
The silver lining was that no one had been subdued into surrender or capture.
But yielding a key position in less than a day was quite regrettable.
"What do you think, Baron? It seems they gave up a spot they could've held longer a bit too soon."
"Even to me, a layman in military matters... it feels that way. But it's that Reinhardt, isn't it? He must have some hidden card. Why not watch their next attack?"
Fair enough. Even I didn't know much about military affairs.
Judging rashly in such a situation would be utterly foolish.
"You're right, Baron. Better to observe a bit more."
Yet after that, A Team never climbed back up the hill.
We took it. The hill was now in our grasp.
I'd thought it would take at least two days, maybe three at most, but we achieved it in less than one.
Of course, it wasn't all good. Defenders truly lacked advantage here.
In a large-scale real battle, it would've demanded massive bloodshed.
"Check if everyone's okay."
"Got it."
We'd been told to avoid intentional injuries, but was it that easy in practice?
A wooden sword swing could fracture bones by accident, or a surge of irritation might lead to overly brutal exploitation of openings.
As commander, I had to scrutinize my subordinates even more closely.
Injured needed treatment; broken weapons replaced.
'Still, for now... we've cleared one tough hurdle.'
Richi. Richi Reinhardt. I'd worried about him plenty.
I'd pondered deeply what tactics he'd use to blunt our assault.
When I realized midway through our attack that A Team was short on numbers.
I'd wanted to send the elites waiting in the rear to hunt them down.
But instead, I chose to concentrate everything on the front.
Rear ambushes only work if the front holds and draws eyes.
If the front crumbles first, ambushes become meaningless.
It even raises the odds of mopping up the smaller ambush group.
My judgment proved right, leading to our hill occupation.
Now, all that remained was repelling A Team when they came to retake it.
"... ."
Far off, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince watched us.
I would show my future liege without fail. Our abilities—mine and my comrades'.
That there were so many ready to fight with all they had for the Empire!
"Galen."
My classmate from the Officer Department, acting as leader there, approached.
While I was overall commander, he led the Officer Department as vice-commander.
It was the best way to quell any lingering discontent.
"When's the water and rations coming?"
"The training notice said the academy would prepare and deliver to each team's position daily at set times. Probably... hmm, about another hour. Why?"
"Everyone's complaining of thirst after that initial push. We have some water from the hill stocks, but it'll run out fast."
Another stroke of luck. A Team had left all the water behind in their retreat.
Considering thirst's importance, it seemed like an oversight.
"Tell them to hang on a bit. They'll send it up prepared soon enough."
"Got it."
After my classmate withdrew, I looked down at the base of the hill.
Richi had retreated too easily. A Team had yielded the hill without much fight.
Something felt off, but no obvious problems came to mind.
Who knew? Maybe they learned defensive flaws or weak points from our assault and would target them.
To grasp issues, facing them head-on was quickest, right?
...Thirsty. Hungry too. Used a lot of energy.
They must be in the same boat, so probably no attack till afternoon.
Hopefully the academy sends supplies soon.
Three days passed. In that time, B Team hadn't received so much as a sleeping bag, let alone a drop of water.