Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Intelligence on the Chimera War
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Back at the mansion, I ate the meal Eonia had prepared while compiling intelligence reports from Crossing.
‘The Chimera War... So it was a conflict on this scale.’
In the game, it had come across as little more than a tutorial skirmish, but in reality, it was massive enough to echo through history.
Svenner, Europa, Tunkai. The Chimera Alliance coalition had assembled a staggering 420,000 troops.
Svenner alone accounted for 240,000 of them, living up to its reputation as a superpower.
Vulran, by contrast, mustered a comparatively meager 190,000—50,000 short—but that nation’s true strength lay in its diplomatic prowess.
A decade earlier, after clashing fiercely with Svenner, Vulran had established channels to counter the superpower’s ambitions.
That was the Central-Eastern Coalition.
Vulran requested aid from the central powers—Albad, Bekavia, Ballast—and the eastern ones, Calipher and Crossing, urging them to respond in kind.
The central-eastern region was mired in successive wars, making unity seem impossible, but Vulran possessed the diplomatic skill to make it happen.
Above all, with Vulran as the bulwark, everyone knew Svenner’s ambitions would turn elsewhere the moment it crumbled—making support strategically imperative.
And so each nation began preparations to dispatch reinforcements.
Their combined forces would total around 400,000, matching the enemy.
‘An incredible scale...’
Over 820,000 troops altogether.
A grand war pitting every continental hegemon against one another was on the horizon.
As I pored over the reports, Eonia appeared, apron still tied on.
“Is the food to your liking?”
Her question brimmed with anticipation. I decided to live up to it.
“Delicious. Honestly, I feel like I couldn’t survive without you anymore.”
“P-Pardon!?”
No exaggeration. The borrowed meals from Duke Helian hadn’t suited my taste at all—I barely touched them. Before I knew it, my palate had been completely conquered by Eonia’s cooking.
“But where’s Ymir?”
“I-I-I-I-I also...”
“What’s with you all of a sudden? You sound broken.”
That was when Ymir made her entrance.
“You called for me, young master?”
“Ah, yeah. Could you deliver this letter to Brother Max?”
“If it’s just that, why not come to the mansion with me? The madam would be thrilled to hear you’re back.”
“I’ve got somewhere else to be first today.”
Lutger’s mansion. I needed to discuss the Chimera War, but more than that, I wanted to show Estelle the finished novel.
If she approved, I’d insert the steamy scenes I’d pre-written and pass it along to Bayolaf.
The Lutger family estate sat in Rainpol’s bustling district.
Knock knock! I rapped on the door, and a middle-aged maid answered. She looked like a newly hired slave from Kuravel.
“Who might you be?”
“Ah, yes. I’m here to see Miss Estelle.”
“Oh my! A friend of Miss Estelle’s. She mentioned you were coming.”
Mentioned I was coming? That was strange. It’d be hard to predict my return—not after Master and Anton got caught in that awkward scene.
“Please, come in. The young lady went out with the master to buy pastries. Wait in the drawing room with her other friends.”
“Ah...”
Looks like she had plans with friends today.
I considered coming back another time, but ended up shuffling into the drawing room anyway.
“...”
“...”
Four women eyed me curiously, sparkling with interest. Crossing Academy students, by the look of them.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
Since I was already here, I figured I’d wait. Once Lutger and his daughter returned, I’d hand Estelle off and handle my business with him first.
I pulled out another novel for reference to pass the time, but curiosity drew them over.
“You know Estelle, right? If it’s not too rude, could we have your name?”
“I’m Als Ilrain.”
A piercing squeal erupted.
They’d apparently heard bits about me from Estelle and started peppering me with questions.
That gave me an opening too.
“I have a question of my own, if you don’t mind. They say Prime Minister Juras Pamillion’s taken up a teaching post at Crossing Academy this term—is that true?”
“You mean Professor Pamillion.”
His name lit up their faces.
“He’s so witty and gentlemanly. We can’t wait for his classes.”
Details revealed he wasn’t teaching military science. His subjects were general studies—liberal arts and dance.
‘That guy’s behind it, so there’s probably some scheme...’
On the other hand, it might’ve just been whimsy. That was Juras’s unsettling side.
A total wildcard, yet freakishly competent—what could he be plotting next?
“By the way, Mr. Ilrain? You’re engaged to Estelle, aren’t you?”
“No, just friends.”
“...Oh my.”
The air shifted in an instant. The distance between us shrank somehow.
“What’s it like at Calipher Academy? With all those nobles, parties every day?”
“No such thing. And as a cadet, I’m not plugged into high society anyway.”
“A cadet! That’s so cool!”
We were deep in pleasant chatter when...
A chill crept up my back.
“...What. Are you doing.”
Estelle stood there, pastry bags in hand, radiating intimidation. Lutger, at her side, startled—clearly seeing this side of his daughter for the first time.
“Everyone, back away from Als.”
Like an imperial edict, the girls scrambled to their seats, awkwardly sipping tea.
Estelle shot them a lingering glare before turning to me.
“When did you get back?”
“This morning.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me ahead of time?”
“Came straight back—no time.”
“You’re here for me today, right?”
“Something like that. But with your prior plans, I’ll wait. Mind if I join in to kill time?”
“No.”
She turned to Lutger.
“Father, entertain our guest. See to it Als isn’t inconvenienced.”
“Y-Yeah.”
She drove the point home, well aware of how he handled men nearing her.
Left alone with Lutger as planned, I broached the war, but he was checked out—barely listening.
“Whew...”
“What’s with the sigh?”
“Estelle’s starting to take after her mother...”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“Maybe. But you’re the one who’ll deal with it, so no need for my worries.”
Lutger wore a resigned, almost enlightened look.
Estelle’s tea party wrapped up around sunset.
She approached me, expression conflicted.
“Sorry. I lost control for a second. You were just being polite and joining in.”
“No, no. I had fun too.”
“Fun...?”
“Yeah—got a glimpse of your academy life.”
“Oh... Right.”
She set the leftover pastries on the table and seemed eager to chat academy life, but time pressed, so we cut to the chase.
Pouting a bit, she was clearly dying to see my draft and dove right in.
Moments later, icy tone.
“What’s this? This idiot-looking blonde.”
“New heroine. For richer plot turns.”
“This one-trick family-prestige character as a new heroine? And named Irina Paléon. ...Wait, Als. You got advice from Erina Salleon?”
“No one else to bounce this off.”
Estelle eyed me jealously but got it, moving on to the rest.
“Way better now, right?”
“Y-Yeah...”
Impossible to deny—she nodded.
“But the ending? No. Unacceptable. Makes no sense. Why her?”
“Shocking twist.”
“Twists have to land. Here’s how...”
Estelle launched into fixes. Shocking ones.
“A third heroine?”
“Yeah—the girl always at the protagonist’s side. Reddish-brown hair, literate. Father’s a top general. ...Yes! Make him the protagonist’s superior. Name her Ertel Dionte. Irina Paléon exposed as the villainess, ends with Ertel.”
Plenty I wanted to nitpick.
“Three heroines might scatter the plot, though.”
“Nope. Like this.”
She sketched a plotline—a total trainwreck drama that hooked me too.
The novel took shape, nearing completion.
For the ending, I tweaked it slightly: protagonist torn between Ertel and Irina, ultimately sets off adventuring with the knightess main heroine.
Slipping in the sex scenes sealed the erotic novel for Bayolaf.
All that remained was delivery—but with the Chimera War looming, most land borders sealed, I couldn’t go myself. Instead, a maritime caravan via Bekavia to Europa.
*
*
*
War clouds now blanketed the continent proper.
The academy felt it too.
Calipher Kingdom had raised 70,000 troops—mostly noble levies—for dispatch. Cadets were shipping out as well.
A military liaison explained. General Dunan tied up, so General Ironheart stood in.
“No need for excessive worry. Brass predicts no real fighting.”
Svenner’s push was political posturing—picking sides.
“Timing says it all. March offensives never drag on.”
Farming season kicked in hard. Half or more of Svenner and Vulran’s forces were conscripts; leaving them at the front risked ruining the harvest.
“At worst, a month. Attach to your families, treat it as training.”
Highborn cadets puffed up.
“Heh, credit for steady nerves. Full mobilization in a week. No classes till then—head home, sort your issued gear, prep personally.”
Ironheart departed; the classroom buzzed.
“Me, in a massive war...”
“Won’t it be dangerous?”
Some paled, but most buzzed with excitement. Dreams of merits, capturing generals.
‘Charging into war on ego.’
That bravado always crumbled into terror amid the carnage.
“Hey, Als. You hear?”
My classmate Banningss.
“Juras Pamillion’s Crossing’s top commander!”
“And?”
“And? Svenner’s Evil Brain Jemuto versus Crossing’s Flawless Strategist Juras! First Ten Heroes clash! I’m backing Jemuto—even Juras’d quake at the undefeated Evil Brain’s rep.”
“That guy? He’d love it.”
Grinning wickedly, itching for a matchup.
“And Albad’s got Strategist Kaien leading too. It’s insane.”
A true all-star showdown.
Beyond those three, more Ten Heroes loomed likely; eight of the lesser Twenty Warlords already locked in.
Spotlight inevitably swung to Wade.
Would the legend mercenary show at the front?
“Hey, Casper. You commanding too?”
Cadets mobbed him.
“You could snag Grand General, shoulder-to-shoulder with Dunan, easy.”
“Hierarchy, though. Chief of staff under General Dunan?”
All pegged Casper as Wade.
He didn’t flinch.
“Got the offer—turned it down. Still just a cadet.”
“Grr, classic! But if things sour, we’re begging you, Casper—no, Wade!”
“Yeah. Count on me.”
Sandcastles crumble. Ditch the Wade act.
My advice fell on deaf ears—Casper chose to reign from the sand.
No words left for me then.