Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Extra Strategist's Royal Road
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We cadets who had joined the army rotated through various units every day, getting hands-on training in the field.
We learned about the roles and importance of the administrative units, how to operate scout detachments, how to manage weaponry, and so on—everything we could pick up on-site.
Each session included a few tests, and it was here that blatant favoritism was blatantly on display.
"—So, when moving a large number of horses, the first thing you must do is secure grazing areas. Make a single mistake, and you might end up feeding the soldiers' rations to the horses."
Joshua, the supply unit officer, scanned us cadets before pointing at Banningss next to me.
"Then you there. What terrain do you think is the trickiest for moving horses?"
"Um... Since you mentioned grazing areas, maybe the barren plains where nothing grows?"
"You can't think so simplistically. When traversing such terrain, you'd naturally prepare feed for the horses in advance. Plus, the plains are ideal for horses to gallop across, making it easy to retreat if needed. Next one. Your answer."
Joshua ignored the commoner cadets as if they were invisible, directing his questions only to the nobles. Once the mood had heated up, he pointed at Casper Milias.
Casper answered as if he'd been waiting for it.
"The swamps!"
"Correct. Swamps are even harder for horses to navigate than deserts or mountains. Horses get stuck and flounder all the time. There are plenty of plants they could eat, but letting them graze freely leads to digestive issues. Hygiene deteriorates quickly, spreading diseases among them, and there are beasts and insects that prey on horses everywhere. That's why moving horses through swamps requires utmost care. Excellent answer. As expected of Milias's prodigy."
With that, he began scribbling something on his scorecard. It was an obvious show to prop up Casper.
Well, the others who flubbed such an easy question were pretty hopeless too.
Every training session followed this pattern. Everyone but Casper was just a prop. I was no exception, but today was different.
"And... you're Yulia's little brother, right? No wonder she's so proud. A bit of friendly advice: stay away from the 3rd Administrative Division. It's crawling with guys starving for women. You might get devoured."
"Ahaha..."
"Right. Then, can you tell me the precautions for expeditionary supplies?"
Thanks to my connections through Fudge and Yulia, I managed to score decently too.
That was when the blatantly scripted training was nearing its end.
Suddenly, the camp grew chaotic.
Some officers rushed about with grim expressions, and the soldiers, sensing the vibe, looked tense.
"...No way."
I was packing my gear to leave when I hurriedly headed to Master Ilya.
She had sensed the anomaly too and was staring toward the command tent.
Soon, a soldier came sprinting from that direction and prostrated himself before her.
"Report! Albad's 1st and 2nd Legions are launching a surprise attack on the northwest front! They're advancing rapidly eastward!"
"I see. So the 1st and 2nd Legions are on the move..."
Even Master swallowed dryly. Albad's 1st and 2nd Legions were their elite forces.
A surprise incursion on the northwest front was no small matter.
"The general has advanced tomorrow's camp conference to one hour from now! All officers of the 5th Infantry Division must attend!"
"Understood."
Master took it calmly, but the other officers did not.
"W-what's going on? The 1st and 2nd Legions invading...? That means full-scale war!"
"Is war really breaking out!?"
Albad and we had maintained hostile relations, but no full-scale war had erupted in nearly 20 years.
There had been small skirmishes, but nothing like a major invasion.
So even this clash on the western front was expected to end in a standoff. Few officers had anticipated all-out war.
My mind raced too.
'No way this is the spark that engulfs the entire continent in flames of war.'
Even in the game, the reason the war spread was unclear, so I had no idea.
A sudden all-out war.
I couldn't help but feel this was fate.
*
*
*
Over 100 officers gathered in the command tent.
At the center were Vice Commander Ironheart and Chief of Staff—and 3rd General of Caliper—Morgan Lotty.
"Those arrogant Albad bastards actually daring to invade...!"
Morgan grumbled incessantly, glaring at the tactical map.
With only two years until retirement, this war clearly annoyed him.
He wobbled his plump jowls as he assessed the situation.
"General, what should we do?"
"What do you mean, what?!"
When Vice Commander Ironheart asked, Morgan barked.
"We hold the line, obviously!"
The northwest front was about 60 km from here.
If we decided to send reinforcements, we could dispatch them immediately and arrive within a day via forced march.
"Shouldn't we send reinforcements? Even Dunan couldn't hold against a simultaneous surprise attack from Albad's 1st and 2nd Legions."
"The high command must have anticipated their feints. And no reinforcement request has come yet!"
"They were caught off guard by a surprise attack! They wouldn't have had time!"
"Regardless, no request has come! Until the main camp issues orders, I'm not moving!"
The two argued.
The officers watched in silence, mouths shut like they'd eaten honey.
"We can't afford to wait for main camp orders! We need to send reinforcements now!"
"No! Would our aid even matter? The northwest front is a plain standoff with far larger forces! Sending 3,000 troops won't change the tide!"
"That's what we have to find out! If we strike their rear or flanks, we could influence the battle!"
"Charge 3,000 into tens of thousands without orders? I can't authorize such a risky op!"
Morgan staunchly refused reinforcements.
He had a point.
"Above all, we can't detach from our own standoff against 10,000! The moment we send aid, they'll attack right here!"
"The terrain favors us! 7,000 can pin down their 10,000! So dispatch 3,000 to the northwest now!"
"Urgh...!"
Morgan seemed to fear a tactical duel with the enemy general, Yussis.
At least, he didn't want to fight outnumbered.
'Morgan's choice is tactically sound.'
The basics of all tactics.
Prepare more troops than the enemy. Higher ground. Stronger defensive position.
Morgan was determined to secure at least the first element.
He wasn't an incompetent general.
But war isn't just one battle. You might win the fight but lose the war.
"No! That's settled. No reinforcements to the northwest without a request from here. Now, let's discuss future strategy!"
"Ha...!"
Ironheart sighed bitterly.
Morgan stubbornly refused reinforcements and moved on.
Reinforcements aside, what next?
That's when Master Ilya raised her hand.
"What about attacking?"
The tent buzzed at the word "attack."
"The enemy surging into the northwest can't spare reinforcements here either. If we crush the 10,000 in front of us with our own 10,000, we'll put them in a bind instead."
Ironheart picked up on Master's words.
"You're suggesting full battle with Yussis Goldray?"
"Yes."
"It has merit, but..."
Even Ironheart found the aggressive choice hard to swallow.
"A straight numbers match... No telling how many men we'll lose."
"Hmph, what war can you wage fearing death?"
"O-of course you're right. But they know that too—that's why they posted Yussis here. Charging into a thoroughly prepared foe is foolish. Isn't it, Mercenary Captain Ilya?"
This time, even General Morgan nodded vigorously in agreement with Ironheart.
Unlike Ironheart, who worried for his men, Morgan fretted for his own safety.
He soon bellowed.
"Insolent! Insolent! Don't spout off, you mercenary!"
"Hm. Understood."
Master crossed her arms as if she'd expected it and fell silent, leaving it to them.
Beside her, Yulia muttered softly, "That pig bastard, ignoring Ilya again."
She glanced at me and tilted her head.
"Little bro? What's wrong?"
"..."
I couldn't tear my eyes from the tactical map.
Unlike the simplified one in Master's unit, this command tent map detailed unit movements precisely.
Yussis's guerrilla maneuvers three days ago, our responses, the enemy's intent in striking the northwest.
Analyzing it, I grasped their true plan.
'This is...'
If they moved like this, their goal was something else.
I raised my hand to speak, but Fudge grabbed it.
"Stay put, Als. Speaking up now will just embarrass you. They won't even give you the floor. If it's that important, tell Vice Commander Ironheart after. He's reasonable."
"...Got it."
Fudge was right.
Even in this chaos, they droned on about Milias prodigy this, Herald count's heir that. I just waited for the meeting to end.
*
*
*
Vice Commander Ironheart smiled wryly after hearing me out.
"Haha, we worried you, huh? An academy cadet taking it that seriously. But don't fret. If the enemy moved like that, we'd have reports."
"No, that scout line likely broke during their guerrilla op three days ago."
"Sorry. I don't have time to hear you out detail by detail. There's a second camp conference soon with the key officers—that's the real one. Anyway, I get your concern. It's late; go rest."
"...Yes, sir."
I decided not to push. I might be wrong, and words weren't getting through anyway.
Back at the unit, I quietly prepped my gear. Cadets were set to leave tomorrow afternoon, just in case of combat.
Then Master entered my tent.
"What did they say?"
"They told me not to worry and ignored me. I figured that's that."
"...Hm. Then tell me the details."
"Pardon?"
"Als, I trust you. In three years, I've seen no one as sharp. Not kids your age, not even adults. You're special to me."
"Master..."
"I won't dismiss your view. I'll actively follow it if need be."
"Follow it...?"
"Our mercenary unit has some autonomy. Warn me ahead, and we can prepare minimally."
Seeing me hesitate, Master smiled.
"I'm responsible for the lives of my mercenaries. I must do my utmost to not waste them. I judge that utmost is hearing you out. So, speak your mind."
"If that's the case..."
I explained the enemy's recent movements, their meaning, and ultimate goal.
Master nodded without rebuttal and immediately began reorganizing the unit.
Effectively, her unit fell under my command.
With her aid, indirectly seizing command of the mercenaries, I felt tension grip my chest.
This was worlds apart from sparring.
Lives were at stake—over 20,000 in total, not just one.
I couldn't miss a single detail. Staring at the map in Master's tent, I simulated scenarios endlessly.
Then Fudge, summoned, announced himself and entered.
"Ilya. You called for me?"
"Yes, come in, Deputy Fudge. Als, explain."
"Als...? Why are you in Ilya's tent this late?"
I explained the operation to Fudge, who frowned.
He nodded soon enough.
"If that's the case, I'll cooperate. But Als, remember this: I'm not blindly trusting you. I'm joining because it's possible, and prepping won't harm the unit."
He seemed worried I'd get cocky.
"Yes, I know. That's enough."
"Good. From now, my infantry falls under Mercenary Captain Ilya Anpei until further orders from the general. And... I have two unit commanders I'm close with. Better convince them. If it happens like you say, it's huge."
Fudge swiftly summoned two commanders to Master's tent.
One was supply officer Joshua, whom I knew; the other, Felix, an infantry commander.
Joshua led supplies and archers; Felix, heavy infantry.
They were Fudge's academy classmates.
"What's this sudden late-night talk, Fudge? I'm beat from the second conference."
"Sorry. I think something critical might happen."
"Critical?"
"My brother here will explain."
Fudge passed it to me, as if owning the responsibility.
I pointed at the map and explained.
Their reactions differed.
"It's possible, sure?"
Joshua was skeptical but conceded the chance.
"Damn, kid's nonsense again."
Felix clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Why nonsense, Commander Felix?"
"Hmph. Like Joshua said, possible maybe. So? Wake the whole army at night for a brat's pessimistic fantasy?"
Felix sneered.
I resolved myself.
"No, it's not fantasy. They'll do it. No other explanation for these tactical moves."
Owning it now, I wouldn't back down claiming I might be wrong.
"Oho, confident, eh? We've been jerked around all day by snot-nosed Milias prodigies and Herald heirs."
Flat-born Felix clearly chafed at noble kids' armchair advice.
"If you're wrong, kid, what's your price?"
Wrong target for intimidation. I met his eyes squarely.
"I'm not. So fall under our command quietly."
"..."
Felix held his breath a moment.
"Hahaha! Fun kid. Fudge, this the Ilrain genius you mentioned?"
What? Stoic Fudge had praised me like that?
Fudge averted his eyes, embarrassed.
"That's enough, Felix. I'll buy you a big one later. Just follow Ilya's lead."
"Hmph, fine. Even if the kid's iffy, Ilya Anpei's trustworthy. I'll prep my unit."
"While you're at it, convince Vice Commander Ironheart?"
"Forget it. Following a kid's shaky plan's bad enough; pitching it to Ironheart? Might as well bite my tongue and die."
"Can't be helped."
Total forces prepped: 2,000. A fifth of the unit.
A cadet couldn't command, so I reused my Gransel mercenary alias, Wade.
Nominal role: Strategist for Ilya Anpei's Mercenary Battalion.
In the gathering of junior officers, helmet on, I outlined the plan and made one thing clear.
"If they've committed to that move, the decisive moment is set. Tomorrow dawn... no, past midnight now, so tonight's dawn."
Morning. They'd attack at first light.