Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Why Occupy the High Ground?
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Why occupy the high ground?
"Now, now, everyone. If you hand over the supply truck without a fuss, there won't be any bloodshed."
Hee hee. Hand it over. Gimme the food! Water too! Sleeping bags! Training swords! Everything!
"We'll leave it here like last time, but... sigh. We have no idea anymore."
The academy staff scratched their heads as they dropped off the supplies and retreated.
At first, they tried to protect the goods, yelling, "Everyone! You can't do this!"
But the moment I swung the training sword I was holding, they backed off with a yelp.
Polite words are fine, but nothing beats polite words backed by a fist.
I immediately ordered my team to haul all the supplies back to our camp.
"...Hey, Richi. Is this really okay?"
"What's the problem this time, my friend Enter?"
"Cut the creepy talk. This isn't something to joke about."
Enter's face was dead serious. Hmm, better rein it in before he gets really mad.
"It's been three days since B Team got their supplies cut off."
"That's right."
"Aren't you worried?"
Worried? Why would I be? Those guys are all my enemies.
There's nothing dumber than worrying about the enemy on the battlefield.
"You bastard, that look on your face! I'm not worried about B Team! I'm asking if there'll be hell to pay later, or if someone gets hurt because they can't get supplies!"
"Whoa, whoa. Calm down. Grabbing your commander's collar is assault on a superior officer, you know?"
I barely blocked Enter's hand two seconds before it grabbed my collar—using the threat of assault charges as my shield.
Whew, almost got choked out in front of the team again.
"Enter's got a point."
Michel, who had been quietly looting the supplies, chimed in with a worried look.
"The announcement didn't say anything about messing with the supplies meant for each team."
True. On supplies, it just said, "Provided by the academy." That was it.
Probably everyone glossed over it because there were no details.
But listen up, kids? You're missing the most important part.
"It didn't say we could, but it didn't say we couldn't either."
"Richi, that's..."
"Sophistry? Maybe. But I don't think so."
They occupied the high ground as they pleased. And hooray! They'd celebrate their victory.
Now it's our turn to attack and take it back.
But do we have to charge straight in and wrestle for it? There are other options.
No, wait. Do we even need to occupy the high ground in the first place?
What if there's no fight over the high ground at all?
"This training is meant to feel like real combat. There's a reason they make it drag on for five days. And in real war, cutting supply lines is standard. Right?"
"True, but... damn it, I don't know anymore."
Enter ruffled his hair wildly and groaned.
He's doing it because I told him to, but he looks unsure if it's right.
I slung an arm around his shoulder to offer some truly helpful advice.
"Enter. Know what proves you're doing well in a fight?"
"...You're about to say something weird, aren't you?"
Smart friends are the worst.
"It's when they say, 'You're doing a shit job.'"
Enter gave me a bizarre look.
What? It's not made up. It's totally true.
"You turning into Lester? What the hell is that?"
"Even if, dragging Lester into it is a bit much."
As we bantered, we reached A Team's camp.
B Team's supplies we'd been stealing for three days straight were already piled up there.
"You stole more?!"
Ariete, checking the haul, let out an exasperated sigh.
Of course we did. Those who can't protect their supplies don't deserve to eat!
"You're insane, Richi. You left the others behind on purpose day one to pull this off, didn't you?"
"Yep."
B Team must have sensed something off on day one.
Our numbers seemed suspiciously low for a fair match.
They probably worried we'd hit them from behind.
In reality, I sent our guys down to guard the supply line.
Just in case B Team thought the same as me.
And even if not, I needed an excuse ready.
"We treated it like real war, guarding our supply line and pulling guys from our short manpower to cover the rear. What did you do?! This ain't child's play!"
If B Team or the academy complained about my supply raids?
I'd shove that excuse in their faces and make their lives hell—whether B Team or the academy running the drill.
We played it real. What's the problem? They'd have nothing to say.
"I figured they'd complain, but it's been quiet."
"Their heads must still be spinning. Hit where they least expected."
I glanced toward the high ground ahead.
They're not idiots; they figured it out before the day was out.
That we let them have the high ground on purpose to seize their neglected supply line.
They panicked and tried rushing men down, but who said they could?
The moment we pretended to hit the high ground, they freaked and hunkered down.
Of course, we didn't go up day one. Our guys needed rest too. They were tired.
Mealtime? Eat. Thirsty? Drink. Dirty clothes? Change.
Bad sword? Swap for a new one.
Then fight. Tactics, strategy, supplies first.
After that, they tried multiple times to send men for supplies.
But we're not crazy enough to just watch.
The second we sniffed it out, we'd loom like, "Attack or not?" pinning their feet.
To avoid tipping our hand with constant feints, we mixed it up.
Sometimes hammer hard like we'd snatch it, other times poke and pull back.
Or prep an attack then bail with "Nah, not going."
"They're probably losing their minds by now. We plop our camp in the pass and steal every supply run. Pull men to fix it? We're watching wide open. Tough spot."
"And day one everyone burned energy, so hunger and infighting hit hard—and you made it worse?"
"Plus no sleeping bags, so cold nights. No sleep tanks activity big time."
"...Never pegged you for such a ruthless bastard, Richi."
Jealous? Then guard your supply line first!
Future imperial knights and officers can't think of that? Then get punished!
If they wanted to make an issue, the academy would've stepped in.
With the crown prince watching, they'd scream, "What is this?!"
But silence. No complaints. What does that mean?
'The academy's turning a blind eye. Or the crown prince wants to watch.'
Either way, my strategy's flaws are gone.
Now just beat the hungry, thirsty, sleepless kids.
'Lucky they're all rookies like us.'
Officially, I targeted their supply line.
But I didn't start this for just that.
Everyone's green. No experience. Gotta exploit it.
Truth is, this is just kids' play at best.
If real combat, it'd go way different.
Desperate charge? We might've had no answer.
But here, enemies and allies alike are young, inexperienced newbies.
No grit? Just first-years.
Panicking now. No clue what to do.
Come attack us? Starved, exhausted?
Send some for supplies? We watching?
Hold two more days? Noble brats starved three already?
"Time to drive the wedge in."
"Wedge? You mean attack the high ground?"
I shook my head at Ariete's question.
"No?"
"Yeah. Why bother? Stupid."
Kids' fights or national wars, winning's the same.
Find the weakness. Dig relentlessly.
"Richi! Richi!! B Team's abandoning the high ground and coming down! We need to take it now..."
"No, Michel. We don't occupy."
"Huh? What, Richi! Right now..."
"Not the high ground. Hit something else."
Sorry, B Team. This'll hurt bad.
They never saw this coming.
What everyone forgot, blinded by the goal of seizing the high ground.
'Letting them have it on purpose to cut the supply line.'
The crown prince was genuinely impressed. A Team's strategy brilliant? Eh, probably not.
Even he, no military expert, knew cutting supplies mattered.
What impressed him: spotting the "supply line" gap before start.
Academy didn't specify, so "no foul" call, boldly.
Pulling men early for supplies, prepping an "excuse."
Crucially, exploiting both sides' inexperience fully.
"Haha."
Laughter bubbled up. Why did that kid keep rejecting military postings?
No mercy for peers. Torments like an actor.
Like saying war's dirtier, sneakier, tougher.
Richi Reinhardt. Born for the military.
"You look pleased, Your Highness."
The baron noted; crown prince shrugged.
Three days circling the field weren't wasted. How not enjoy?
Academy flustered by Richi's tricks, but it's training.
"Your Highness. Look there."
B Team seemed to decide.
Clinging to high ground too hard.
Better abandon, retreat, regroup?
Painful yielding seized ground, but what choice.
Retreat now, recover while foes take it...
"Oh."
A gasp escaped the crown prince.
A Team moved. Not empty high ground, chasing B Team's rear.
Now clear. From start, Richi's goal wasn't the high ground.