Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: The Loyal Friend's Betrayal
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"Haha, who are you taking as your partner? Hilda? Dairy? Don't worry, no one will refuse if you suggest it."
"This is a man's stubbornness! I never abandon a friend, no matter the situation!"
"Let's get through this crisis together, my friend!"
He was that kind of character.
If Als was the protagonist's right-hand man in official matters, he was the protagonist's closest friend. You could call him a frivolous character with hidden depths.
Dalmore Sting.
Like Als, he was one of the starting characters, with an SR rating.
Martial prowess 80, intellect 52, and no special skills, so his performance was just average.
He was a character I favored when enjoying handicap play.
'Dalmore was a spy planted by Juras?'
It wasn't all that strange. Juras had captured Cassius Lloyd as a slave and sold him to Byurang.
It made sense to plant a spy on Cassius's side.
Plus, thinking back, there were foreshadowings.
Dalmore had an oddly strong survival instinct. He'd miraculously return alive from situations where you thought he was surely dead, or he'd tenaciously hold out against overwhelmingly powerful foes you couldn't possibly beat.
Back then, I brushed it off as comedy character correction, but there was more to it.
'If this guy's a spy, it makes sense that he was hiding his true abilities.'
Even so, Dalmore—the loyal friend archetype—being a spy?
From my perspective, it felt like learning Eonia was actually a spy.
'Good grief. Between the west and Crossing, how many spies are there?'
Byurang almost seemed pitiful now.
If I were the protagonist, I might have developed a distrust of humanity.
"Haa..."
I let out a sigh without realizing it, and Eonia asked with a nervous expression.
"Are you alright?"
I was heading to Alpenserd with my selected retainers.
To avoid any watchful eyes, each team was traveling separately, so I was riding in a carriage alone with Eonia, my teammate.
"Was it because I was rude yesterday...?"
"Huh? You knew?"
"Y-Ymir told me. That I jumped into your bed and... wouldn't let go of the blanket."
"Well, it was a bit cold. Ymir must've been drunk too, since she didn't bring a new blanket."
I could've gotten one from the wardrobe myself, but I didn't know where it was. That's the kind of household chore Ymir and Eonia handle.
I probably could've found it if I looked, but it was a hassle, so I just slept without one.
"I-I'm ashamed! To act like that...!"
"What disgrace? If anything, it was kinda cute."
"Cute!?"
"Ah, we're here."
I arrived at Alpenserd first and linked up with Dorothy to begin organizing the troops.
During that time, the other teams finished resupplying in Rainpole and arrived.
The first to arrive was Fudge's team.
"Ooh, so this is the capital of Caliper!"
One of the team members, Aegert, was looking around excitedly with sparkling eyes. Spotting him, Dorothy ran over with joyful steps and grabbed both his hands, shaking them vigorously.
"Aegert! Long time no see! How've you been?"
"Huh? Oh, it's the weakling captain."
"It's Dorothy. Dorothy Grimwood!"
"The weakling captain's going to war too? Geez, you might really die out there."
"Yeah... so I want you to help me."
"Heh heh, can't be helped. I'll protect you!"
Next, Fudge took a deep breath and exchanged greetings with Dorothy.
"Pleased to meet you, Countess Grimwood. I'm Fudge Ilrain, third son of the Ilrain family and a mid-level officer in the army."
He was my friend, but Dorothy was a sitting countess.
It must've been awkward for Fudge. Plus, thanks to her recent promotion, she outranked him.
"Haha... feel free to speak comfortably."
"I couldn't possibly."
"Shall we head in together for now? I'd like to discuss troop organization."
"Yes, ma'am."
Not long after Dorothy led Fudge's group away enthusiastically, Olaf arrived.
He started complaining right away.
"Whew, I thought I'd suffocate. No matter what I said, they wouldn't respond. Man."
It seemed Ymir and Lisitea had stayed silent, making it awkward for him.
He was wearing purple-dyed leather armor. Since becoming Olaf, he'd barely shaved or cut his hair to hide his identity, giving him almost a wildman appearance.
Lisitea was clad in blue plate armor. As someone from Tunkai, she wore a helmet covering most of her face, just like Eonia.
'Lisitea is blue. Eonia was white, Anton probably black. And...'
The retainers' colors were truly coming together in a rainbow. No overlapping colors among them. That meant they all had strong individual personalities.
*
*
*
The setup for this war was simple.
Byurang would invade from the southwestern border—the widest front—and advance into the west and south. Our forces had to set up camp near the border and repel them.
For efficient defense, holding deeper inside would be ideal, but the enemy's goal was plundering supplies and seizing border territories, so we had no choice.
In that sense, I had it easy.
The royal direct forces' top priority was defending the capital, so we just needed to hold the key points behind the border.
Those three were Gransel in the west, and Elton and Holton in the south.
They were the widest paths to the capital. Any other routes required crossing rugged mountains, giving us ample response time and making resupply hard for the enemy.
I assigned Olaf to Gransel in the west, and had Dorothy's unit defend Elton and Holton together.
Since Elton and Holton were close enough to be called sister cities, I decided not to split the command and set up headquarters in Elton.
That was when we entered Elton.
"Welcome!"
A man greeted us with arms raised high.
It was Viscount Molson Peland, ruler of Elton.
Beside Molson stood a girl with her hair in a ponytail.
'Who was she again?'
The question crossed my mind, but since it was recent—unlike with Erina—it came back quickly.
"Lynette, long time no see."
"Hee hee, it's been less than half a month. Have you been well, Lord Ilrain?"
As Lynette smiled brightly and greeted me, the officers buzzed. Aegert was outright staring, dumbfounded.
I said to Viscount Molson,
"I'm planning to set up headquarters here in Elton for a while to prepare operations. I'd appreciate your assistance with supplies, Viscount."
"Of course."
Even as he spoke with me, Viscount Molson kept stealing glances at Dorothy.
He seemed more interested in the sitting countess than in me, whose demotion could come any day.
'Perfect.'
Cooperation with local nobles was essential in defensive wars, but it was a huge headache. Few cooperated willingly. They'd nitpick everything—what they couldn't do, what else they couldn't do.
I figured Dorothy, with her excellent mediation skills, was perfect for it.
Hearing my proposal, Dorothy nodded readily.
She knew herself that she suited administration better than combat.
'Alright, preparations are set. Now, let's see what they do.'
Byurang... no, the west. Let's see how they move.
'Byurang's power struggle is currently divided mainly into the First Prince faction, Second Prince faction, and Third Prince faction. I need to figure out which one's the west's puppet.'
That was my current focus.
In Byurang's military conference room, ahead of their advance...
Grand General Jin Haizak sighed inwardly.
'With this lack of unity...'
Before King Wilfrid's death, military discipline hadn't been this bad. With the common enemy Svenner, they could unite when needed.
But now, they were enemies of each other.
The military had splintered into dozens of factions, each pursuing only their own gains.
Even this war was the same. They were fighting over the easiest fronts with the most loot.
Even he, the Grand General, couldn't stop it.
"Enough! Stop there!"
Haizak bellowed, finally silencing the room.
He shook his head and signaled a nearby man.
"Prince Eldric, you need to take a more active role in mediation."
Third Prince Eldric Schwarzer. One of the Ten Heroes, known as the Wandering Prince.
His rank in the Byurang military was Third General and royal direct commander.
Grand General Jin Haizak was among the Twenty Warlords, below the Ten Heroes, so Eldric had greater public renown.
But even the Ten Heroes weren't highly praised.
Not with Juras in the same generation.
In Eldric's case, rumors openly circulated that Byurang had bribed enthusiasts to name him one.
"Hmph, Haizak. You ignored me until now, but when your own back's against the wall, you come asking for help?"
"That's..."
To Haizak, who supported the First Prince, Eldric was a rival. That's why he'd deliberately excluded him from military matters until now.
But now, Eldric had built his own faction, changing the dynamic.
Using his Ten Heroes status, he'd quickly absorbed surrounding forces, making him one of Byurang's top three powers.
"I believe Your Highness understands the past circumstances."
"Of course I don't. Even if I were in your shoes, I'd have done the same. But I can't just say 'I see' and let it go. We need some closure, don't you think?"
"Closure, you say?"
"From now on, hand over all military authority to me. Then cooperation won't be an issue."
"Urgh!"
Haizak let out an uncomfortable cough.
He too was just one faction leader in the power struggle.
With the top commander like that, unity was impossible.
Then a Second Prince faction general interjected.
"This will only delay our advance pointlessly. Caliper forces are already at the front, securing supply lines and building camps. We need a decision now."
In the end, Haizak yielded.
"Prince Eldric. Share your strategy."
He'd indirectly ceded operational command.
Eldric smirked and pointed at the map.
"Haizak, what do you think is the key to this war?"
"The time limit. The moment Crossing intervenes, we can't keep attacking."
"Right. That determines the strategy naturally."
"Naturally...?"
"The principle of the world isn't starting from ten. Everything starts from one and builds to ten. We've seen the 'ten' of Crossing's intervention. So our strategy is to delay that 'ten.' Simply put, make it fifteen instead."
With that, Eldric swept seventy percent of the pieces on the map toward the south.
The military buzzed.
"You're concentrating everything on the south!?"
"Yes. Focus on Caliper's south to paralyze the region."
That would tie up Crossing's southern forces too. They'd have to use sea routes after.
Delaying Crossing's intervention.
"But supply lines would be extremely difficult. Caliper forces from the west and southwest will try to cut our waist. Plus, if Crossing learns land routes are blocked, they might change plans and join immediately! We could end up isolated!"
"Handle Caliper with your remaining forces, Haizak. And Crossing won't intervene."
"Where does that confidence come from?"
"Juras Pamillion. I know him best. He won't act rashly. Caliper's losses? He'll see them as minor sacrifices for his grand scheme. That's the kind of guy he is."
"Urgh...!"
"We'll concentrate on the south for quick, major gains. If needed, push up to threaten Alpenserd. Caliper's western and southwestern forces will rush back to the homeland like their feet are on fire."
It was a solid strategy.
Eldric assigned troop formations for it, then slipped out as the meeting ended.
He hurried to a deserted spot.
"Ughhh!"
Eldric vomited up his guts. He muttered curses.
"Disgusting bastards! How can such revolting scum be at the military's core...!"
People who moved only for personal gain. Cold-blooded types who'd do anything for their interests, for their faction's rise.
Eldric blamed it all on Byurang's national form. On his father.
'I'll tear it down. I'll rebuild Byurang myself!'
After emptying his stomach, he gasped for breath.
Two figures approached him.
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
"Ah, Cassius... and Dalmore too."
"You look pale."
"I'm fine. Just an upset stomach."
Looking at them, Eldric's eyes overflowed with affection.
He smiled unconsciously and patted their shoulders.
"You two must keep that purity forever. Remember: when everyone unites, nothing is impossible. We can overcome any hardship, any mighty foe. We can rebuild Byurang and topple Crossing. We can end that monstrous fiend... Juras Pamillion!"
Dalmore struck a comical bodybuilder pose in response.
"Of course, Your Highness! That's how we've done it so far, and we'll keep doing it! Trust and rely on us!"
"Hah, Dalmore. Your cheerfulness always heals me."
"It's all I can do. Supporting you and Cassius! That's my role!"
Eldric felt better and sighed in relief.
"Cassius, let's talk a bit. I have something to say about this operation."
"Huh!? Going for something tasty!? Include me if so!"
"Hahaha, no. You rest."
Left alone, Dalmore slumped his shoulders dejectedly. Some soldiers who knew him chuckled, 'He's at it again.'
Dalmore exaggeratedly fumed at them and headed to his tent.
Along the way, he spotted a mark and moved to a spot in the camp.
There stood a man in Byurang uniform.
Dalmore grinned broadly.
"Heh heh, what're you doing in a place like this? If you're snacking, share with me too."
"...Hornet. Lord Juras demands your contribution."
"..."
Dalmore glanced around and spoke lowly.
"Special Staff Officer No. 16, Bowel. Ready to answer any question."
No trace of levity remained in his voice.