Chapter 119
Chapter 119
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: The Betrayed Marshal Betrays
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Gerhard was in the middle of a meeting, so he led me to the massive central tent.
"...First... this place..."
"That's..."
We hadn't even entered the tent yet, but the shouting from inside was enough to sense Gerhard's ordeal.
"Count Stilberg. If it's you, you can pull off things even I can't."
"...What is it?"
Stopping in front of the tent, Gerhard spoke to me.
"Don't worry about cleanup. Just go wild and do whatever you want."
"..."
His earnest plea weighed on me, and I nodded heavily.
"Alright, wait here a moment."
"...Understood."
Gerhard shrugged at me once before opening the tent flap and stepping inside.
I stood by the entrance, peeking through the gap.
"So right now... Ah, perfect timing."
"Yeah! Get over here! Where the hell have you been?!"
"Now, now. Calm down first."
In the center of the tent, a bushy-bearded dwarf and an elf—who looked like a human elder save for his long, pointed ears—were jabbing fingers at each other.
Surprisingly, they were communicating in the imperial tongue.
Gerhard walked between them.
"If it's you, you'll understand at least a little. These dwarf bastards are acting like moles, saying they won't come out from underground."
"After getting your scouts wiped out and scrambling just to take the intel we give you, you have no right to talk."
The others in the tent were glaring at one another too, aside from the two bickering reps.
But Gerhard passed them without paying the stares any mind.
"...Fine. You lot just sleep it off there. What do the humans think? The traitors move way faster, so we could intercept them before they link up with the other enemies."
"Don't talk nonsense. Why go out to fight when we can just defend against the hordes coming at us?"
"...Haha."
Sandwiched between the two faction reps trading barbs, Gerhard let out a small laugh.
"I'd like to offer my opinion, but His Majesty the Emperor's appointed commander has arrived."
He opened with a cheeky grin.
"Commander?"
"I've been filling in temporarily until now, but from today, the one who just arrived will lead the Dragonia Empire's forces."
"Hm...?"
They were surprised at the sudden handover of authority to a newcomer.
"Huh."
I was startled too, letting out a quiet exclamation.
"Since we're all here, best to introduce him now."
"Well... if that's how the empire wants it."
"Another human like you?"
"Who knows... He's a capable officer, but not quite like me."
Gerhard glanced at me and nodded slightly, so I pushed open the flap and entered.
"...?"
My entrance drew puzzled stares from everyone inside.
"...Isn't he too young?"
"You think so? I can never tell human ages."
The dwarves huddled together, muttering among themselves.
"..."
The elves just exchanged glances silently, but if they had the same abilities as the elves in the game, they were probably voicing similar doubts telepathically.
Their thought transmission slowed with distance, but elves could share ideas among themselves somehow.
"This way, sir."
"...Mm."
Gerhard, waiting for me to approach, politely stepped aside.
Recalling our earlier talk, I could guess his intent. Chin held high, I took his spot.
"I am Victor Stilberg, the Emperor's proxy come to end the chaos in the south. From now on, I take control of the 7th Legion and all Dragonia Empire forces here."
"..."
As I declared while drawing my dress sword, the reps up front fell uncomfortably silent.
"Introductions, please."
"...Blake Draven, commanding the Eastern Defense Forces."
"Vittorio Ferro."
Only after Gerhard prompted them did their expressions soften slightly as they gave their names.
Familiar names, but not prominent enough in the game to be major players.
"You. You were discussing the ops plan earlier."
"...Haa."
I extended a hand to Vittorio.
Maintaining the high-handed attitude, he sighed irritably and handed over the map.
"The enemy is moving in nearly a straight line from Mallacho toward Rento. But we've confirmed the Lavria Republic traitors are moving independently and fast, on the verge of separating from their main force."
"We confirmed it."
"Don't interrupt. Anyway, we expect them to stray far enough from their main body by Adige, so we're proposing we move first and intercept."
"The enemy isn't clumped together! How do we even... with them scattered all through the forest..."
"I said don't interrupt?"
"If you hate interruptions so much, go fight them alone!"
The moment I gave them time to read the ops sheet, Blake and Vittorio started squabbling again.
"...Not bad."
"So... what?"
I cut in with one line, drawing their eyes back to me.
By now, I'd gotten a rough read on them.
To make good use of them, I needed to accommodate their demands appropriately.
"I said it's not bad."
"...Haha. A guy who gets it."
Vittorio smirked at first.
"But detailed tactics will need to go through me and Blake."
"...Hoo. If those guys move how we want, we won't hold back either."
"You guys? Haha!"
After hearing my follow-up, he approached with a sneer.
I waved off Gerhard as he tried to approach.
"You can't even keep up with our speed or communicate like we do nonstop, and you want to dictate tactics?"
True to elven fashion, he flushed with contempt toward me and the dwarves.
"If you want our cooperation, show some sincerity."
"He's right. Did we ever say we wouldn't listen to you?"
With Blake's backup, I held my ground without yielding.
"..."
Vittorio glared at me like we were in a staring contest.
"Tch. Fine. Guess I have to understand."
He clicked his tongue and stepped back.
"No time to waste, so prep by morning. If you slap together some garbage ops plan..."
"Morning? We'll have it by end of day."
"..."
He clicked his tongue again, then left the tent with the other elves.
"Now that those annoying pricks are gone, we can actually talk."
"Mm."
I stayed and hashed out the Adige interception plan with Blake.
"...That position looks tricky. Here. This seems better."
"Then like this."
"Mm... good."
Once the plan satisfied the dwarves, Blake was pleased.
"...We'll go with this."
"..."
Vittorio, receiving the completed ops sheet far ahead of schedule, glared at it and me alternately before departing.
Having wrapped things up neatly, I returned to my tent.
"Marshal, sir?"
"Mm. Had some questions, so I came by."
Gerhard was waiting in my tent.
I sent Anna out briefly and spoke with him alone.
"First time I've seen those guys back down first. Truly..."
"Was I too harsh?"
"No. Go ahead and bully them to your heart's content. It was perfect."
"..."
Mentioning the earlier meeting, he explained the unit's situation and structure.
"I reviewed the ops plan. If everyone plays their part, we can shave down the enemy elves with minimal losses. But..."
He brought up the plan I'd made with the dwarves—the real meat of it.
"You're asking if I can trust them."
"...Yes."
To Gerhard, brimming with distrust toward those wildcards,
"Of course I don't trust them."
I answered firmly.
"...?"
"The dwarves will halt hundreds of meters short of the rendezvous point, and the elves will move wherever they please from positions we can't predict."
I knew full well they weren't reliable allies.
"...Mm."
"Don't worry. This ops plan is just an excuse."
Dwarves were slow, so once battle started, retreat would be tough.
Elves might posture, but fighting on Este Kingdom soil meant they had to produce results eventually.
I was more confident than anyone at exploiting such unreliability.
"They'll break the plan first, so they won't complain if we don't follow it either."
"So the ops plan is all for show."
"Yes. They're scoffing now, but later they'll beg us to stick to it."
Gerhard had struggled because he tried to control them somehow.
With my ability to track their movements in real time, there was no need.
"..."
Gerhard pondered briefly.
"...You did well in Esperia, so I trust you'll handle this too."
He showed his faith again and stood.
"I'll head out now. Need to tell the 7th Legion officers you're in command, right?"
"Yes. Ah, no need to pretend with our own troops."
"Hm... not hard anyway."
"It feels awkward for me."
"Awkward? Didn't notice. Better get used to it, no?"
"...Haha."
Wrapping up, I headed with him to the tent where the 7th Legion officers were gathered.