Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Forming the Third Army
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A heavy silence hung over the royal palace conference room.
Regardless, the way people were looking at me had changed.
Especially the king's eyes—what could I call them? They were like a father gazing at his son.
Duke Helian cleared his throat and spoke.
“Seems no one objects to General Ilrain’s opinion. Then, we can say our future policy is set.”
Clearing the false accusation of assassination. And defending our territory against the enemy for about twenty days.
“That settles it, then, Your Majesty?”
“So be it.”
With the response decided, the important part was army composition.
Helian first demanded that the great nobles provide their private troops.
The number was roughly 100,000.
It was possible because Kalliper had greatly expanded its military after the previous war with Albad and Madon.
Adding the royal family's direct 10,000 brought the total to 110,000.
“On that note, if I may.”
It was Count Chase of the Salleon faction.
He brought up the Millias Marquis family.
“Your Majesty, what do you plan to do with the Millias Marquis family’s forces?”
Leaving them as is wouldn’t do—their regular troops numbered 10,000.
Now that the Millias marquisate was under royal jurisdiction, they could be incorporated into the royal direct forces, but there was a problem.
“I doubt their officers and soldiers would quietly follow General Ilrain. If possible, it’d be best to assign those forces to another army.”
King Gares nodded, agreeing it made sense, and said,
“How goes the pursuit of Casper Millias, guilty of patricide?”
“We were tracking him with Bullang’s cooperation... but this incident broke the trail. The last report said a body presumed to be a one-armed man was found near the pursuit point. Probably Casper.”
At those words, all the nobles nodded.
They assumed an assassin dispatched by someone had taken care of Casper.
The king seemed to judge similarly.
“A tragic end. The boy once called Kalliper’s Kirin Child and hailed as its future, meeting such a fate. Was letting him impersonate Wade the root of this? If I’d known it would come to this, I should have acted sooner myself. Instead of leaving it only to you two.”
At those words, Gilbert and Helian swallowed dryly.
The king had noticed Casper’s impersonation.
‘So that’s why he deliberately appointed Delbadova as his instructor.’
Delbadova had tried to guide Casper on the right path. But there hadn’t been enough time. If Delbadova hadn’t fallen in the Bekavia War, Casper might have had a different future.
Or if Casper had waited patiently, the king might have reinstated him soon enough.
Other nobles might not know, but a royal order could override my decision.
Yet Casper hadn’t even waited that short time and had killed his father.
“Altiore, you take charge of the Millias Marquis family’s forces.”
“Understood.”
General Altiore formed the First Army with the Salleon faction’s troops.
“Our First Army of 50,000 will defend the west and part of the southwest. Ironheart, Fricksen, Holcost. Your Second Army will hold the south and part of the southwest.”
The Second Army numbered 60,000.
That left me leading the royal direct 10,000 to defend the rear.
The royal direct forces prioritized capital defense, so it was natural.
“Ilrain, your Third Army will defend the key points leading to the capital.”
“Understood.”
It was the best arrangement.
It created a factional divide, but this was still the most efficient formation.
With personnel decided, each army began organizing units.
This war was a massive invasion, and with the enemy nation bordering vast swathes of territory, there were many fronts.
Roughly 27 in number.
So, rather than battles of large formations, chaotic skirmishes between thousands of small detachments were likely.
“Um, excuse me!”
Dorothy seemed to realize she might end up in charge of an entire front.
Worried she’d cause trouble if she lost, she spoke to Duke Helian in a strained voice.
“Duke...! I want to serve under General Ilrain.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I recently declared my support for Ilrain. I want to prove that support wasn’t empty words in this war. Please assign me and my family’s forces to the Third Army.”
The Grimwood count family’s private troops numbered 6,000—elite soldiers at that.
Their absence would be keenly felt in the Second Army.
Duke Helian glanced at me for my opinion. I shrugged and replied.
“We can send 6,000 from our royal direct forces there and assign Grimwood’s to the Third Army.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do. I expect victories. Grimwood, Ilrain.”
Dorothy let out a sigh of relief.
Then she beamed at me, as if to say she’d pulled it off.
*
*
*
Taking command of the Third Army, I used the time while the royal direct forces prepared to hurry back to Rainpole and summon my retainers.
As always, Estelle attended, and this time Bisceta and brother Purji joined too.
The news had already spread, creating a tense atmosphere among them.
“To think Kalliper was behind the king of Bullang’s assassination. Shocking stuff.”
Olaf whistled as he spoke.
“Als, is this true? If so, Kalliper’s really in a bind.”
“Oh, right—you weren’t there then.”
“There when?”
The time Juras had told the truth.
“Hey, don’t leave me out. What’d you talk about?”
“Nothing much. Just that Crossing assassinated Bullang’s king.”
“What...!?”
Olaf was speechless. Lisitea’s eyes widened too.
“That’s not important now. Let’s focus on the immediate reality.”
“Wait...”
Olaf trailed off, organizing his thoughts.
“That means someone framed Kalliper by force. But Bullang’s people wouldn’t miss that. So they’re invading anyway?”
“They were itching for a fight. Whether it’s someone’s scheme or not, they have their pretext now, so they’re moving. Not all of them, though. Half are watching the situation.”
“Clever, using the situation to their advantage. The west really knows their stuff.”
I gave a brief rundown of the war situation.
“The forces I’m commanding are about 10,000. We have to cover three fronts, so split into three. I need generals who can lead armies. Let’s see about volunteers first.”
At that, whoosh! Eo raised his hand first.
I tried ignoring him, but Eo moved into my line of sight and kept waving his hand insistently.
“...Eo. You think you can command 3,000 troops? Seriously?”
“Of course!”
“Well, if it’s just charging ahead, maybe. But this isn’t that. You’ll face the enemy and play mind games. Total command of an army.”
I’d put it mildly, but Eo understood and looked crestfallen.
“You don’t... trust me?”
“Hmm...”
Thinking it over, maybe I was being too negative.
Judging without trying him was foolish.
“Alright, then you...”
But Bisceta scolded me sternly.
“Assigning 3,000 troops to Eo? What kind of foolish idea is that!”
“Huh!?”
Her shout snapped me back to reality.
“What was I thinking...?”
Maybe I’d been too lenient with Eo lately.
Whatever he said, I wanted to go along.
Bisceta sighed deeply.
“It reminds me of the late Holy King. He was endlessly soft on Eo too. Anyway, no army command for Eo.”
“Growth!? Why...”
“Don’t make that face. Army assignments need precise placements where they fit best. Command isn’t your strength, dear.”
“Ugh...”
She pointed to Olaf and Lutger.
“Wade, if you need commanders, those two are the ideal choice.”
“Yes, I know, but...”
This war required defense elsewhere too.
I had to manage Mowbray, the southern territory granted as a reward for my merits.
Mowbray was a small city in the southern Dalia region, with a total population of just 6,000. With so many shocking events lately, I hadn’t paid attention, but now at war, I had to act as its lord.
“Lutger, I’d like you to handle that.”
Lutger could flawlessly manage evacuations, food supplies, and such minutiae against enemy incursions.
“Go to Mowbray with my sister-in-law, Yulia Ilrain. I’ll leave on-site decisions to you two.”
“I get the idea. Mind if I ask one favor?”
“Any support you need.”
“No, not that. Just... can I take Estelle?”
“Estelle?”
Estelle looked around, confused.
“To teach her studies in spare time.”
“Ah, haha... Do as you like.”
“Thanks. In exchange, leave Lisitea here.”
“That... would help.”
With support, Lisitea could command troops just fine.
Compared to Eo, her personal strength was lower, but she excelled otherwise.
“...Alright. It’s settled.”
Sorting my thoughts, I assigned roles one by one.
“First, Anton, stay in Rainpole with Iliya, your master. Winter means fewer internal affairs, so it won’t be tough. Bisceta’s here too.”
“...Yes. Thank you sincerely for the consideration.”
Anton wanted to go to war but had just had a child, so I left him.
“Next, Olaf, Ymir, Lisitea—you’re a team. Olaf, you take lead command.”
“Haha, interesting lineup. Got it.”
Lisitea frowned and spoke.
“You’re really sending me to the battlefield?”
“Why not?”
“Of course not! I...”
“You agreed to serve under me for two years. That includes this, naturally? You’re not backing out now, are you?”
“No. Sigh... Fine. I’ll do it.”
No point resisting what had to be done.
“The rest is brother Purji. I’d like you to command another army.”
“M-Me?”
“Yes. It’s Dorothy Grimwood’s unit—my friend. I trust you’ll do well. Gaspar! Assist him.”
Gaspar would go with Aegert, who called him master, forming the Purji, Gaspar, Aegert team.
And as always, I’d be with Eo.