Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Extra Strategist's Royal Road
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The air in the top command tent hung heavy.
Screams still echoed from outside.
The enemy was meticulously torturing and killing prisoners to drag out the spectacle as long as possible.
"Those bastards I want to rip apart...!"
One of Dunan's aides ground his teeth in the tent.
Dunan, who had been sitting with his eyes closed as if meditating, opened them and spoke.
"It seems everyone's here. Let's start the meeting right away."
But one aide spoke up, unable to understand.
"General, why did you call these kids here?"
He was pointing at Ruan Chase and Casper Milas, the representatives among the cadets, and me.
Dunan answered.
"They're the representatives of the cadets. They have a right to know how the battle is going."
"That's true, but... who the hell is that one over there...?"
Ruan and Casper were famous enough that the officers recognized their faces, but I was apparently a complete unknown. He was objecting to my presence.
"He's one of the cadets with outstanding grades. Don't nitpick right now—focus on how we're going to deal with the situation!"
The officers seemed to dismiss me as just another Helian faction cadet. With Ruan and Casper being Salleon faction kids, they figured they brought in a top student for balance.
And so the military meeting began, including even the cadets.
"There's only one thing we need to do!"
A martial-arts-focused officer stepped forward and proposed a strategy.
"The moment the sun rises, we charge out and smash that watchtower!"
He claimed it would weaken their psychological attacks and boost the soldiers' morale.
I had planned to stay quiet, but this idiotic plan made my mouth open on its own.
"That's exactly what the enemy wants."
"..."
The martial-arts officer shot me a laser-like glare, as if telling a brat like me to shut up.
Dunan silenced the officer and asked me.
"Tell us your thoughts, Als Ilrain."
"General Dunan, before that, one question: have we located the enemy's main camp?"
"..."
"As expected, we haven't pinpointed their main camp. That's why that officer over there suggested attacking an innocent watchtower instead of pushing into their headquarters. Attacking without hitting their main base is pointless. We'll just run into prepared ambushes and take heavy losses."
"Then what the hell do you suggest?!"
The martial-arts officer barked at me.
"If you're gonna yap, at least give us an alternative!"
"There's no alternative needed. We don't have to do anything. The enemy is hurting themselves. Executing prisoners? Let them have at it. We just hold our position and reap the benefits. The only countermeasure we need is handing out earplugs to the soldiers."
"That's...!"
At my opinion, Dunan muttered faintly.
"Abandon what must be abandoned boldly and seize what can be seized... Just as Juras Pamilion said."
He paused for a moment, then continued.
"That cadet's opinion is correct in terms of military strategy. But correct doesn't mean optimal. There has to be a better move than just letting the situation fester."
Casper then spoke up.
"May I... say something?"
"Go ahead, Casper Milas."
"The cadets... should withdraw from this battlefield."
Murmurs erupted here and there.
"Nonsense! You're soldiers too! You gonna run from the battlefield because you're scared?!"
"Withdraw? Who gave you permission? If you want to leave so bad, retire right now! We won't stop you!"
Casper swallowed hard at the sharp reactions he hadn't felt in a while.
Normally, he'd be treated with respect—even by superiors—due to the Wade impersonation.
Not only had Gilbert Salleon ordered the impersonation, but Duke Helian had secretly run counter-ops to hide my identity, so many soldiers and officers believed Casper was Wade.
Duke Helian had played it smart.
The counter-op hid my identity while saddling the Salleon faction with risk.
The more Casper's Wade impersonation spread, the bigger the fallout if it was exposed.
'Even the senior officers aren't that stupid, huh.'
Casper realized the officers here didn't buy him as Wade and nervously smacked his lips.
"Th-that's..."
I decided to back him up.
"He's right. It's best to pull the cadets off the battlefield. If not all, at least one."
"And who would that one be?"
"Dorothy Grimwood. It would be wise to pull the general's son from the field. If Dorothy were captured, could you maintain your composure, General?"
"!"
The other officers snapped their mouths shut like clams.
Then they started re-evaluating Casper, realizing the intent behind his suggestion.
"Dorothy won't withdraw from the battlefield. I can't make exceptions just because he's my son."
"That's why we should pull all the cadets. No exceptions then."
"No, the cadets are soldiers in our unit too. They can't withdraw to save their lives while the rest fight on. Rejected."
"..."
"And there are definitely other ways to break this deadlock besides sitting tight."
"Like what?"
"Finding and striking their main camp."
"That won't be easy. Even if intel spots their main camp, we can't be sure it's the real one. High chance it's bait to lure us in."
"Don't underestimate Caliper's intel unit, Als Ilrain. It's several times better than Crossing's."
"Yet they failed to identify Tunkai's commander first, so King Paraine had to show up at the military meeting himself. Or is my memory wrong?"
Silence fell in the tent amid my stare-down with Dunan, but it didn't last.
"Insolent! A mere cadet daring to—!"
"It's fine. I called him here for this. Anyway, direction's set. We focus on defense until intel finds their main camp. Meeting adjourned. Dismissed."
The meeting ended with a decision to locate the enemy main camp and counterattack.
If they could really find and hit it, it might work, so I decided to watch for now.
*
*
*
The enemy's provocations intensified day by day.
I could feel the military's patience reaching its limit.
'Orders keep coming to ready our gear...'
Gear always needs maintenance, but pre-storm prep is different.
The tension was on another level.
The soldiers sensed it too—unlike usual, they inspected every weapon closely and hung family gifts on their gear.
"Als, heard anything?"
My brother Pudge asked, but I knew nothing more.
"That's all I heard at the military meeting. But..."
"But?"
"The mood says they're definitely planning something."
"As expected... Gonna attack?"
"Probably the highest chance."
"But you said the best move is to ignore it all and hold position. Wouldn't this be suicide?"
Not necessarily.
"I said best, not the only answer. There are ways to attack and seize momentum. The problem is the enemy wants that—they're baiting us. Holding here limits their options, but if we attack, they have tons of counters."
"Hmm... Should be fine then. You might not know, but General Dunan is amazing. A natural at combat. If battle starts, the enemy will get wrecked by him."
"Hope so."
Then it happened.
Ding-dong-ding-dong! The bell signaling enemy raid.
"They're back. Early today. Pudge infantry! Form up!"
The enemy's raids had become daily routine.
But today felt different.
Thud-thud-thud! Way more dust, and not at dusk—right before noon.
"Brother Pudge! Enemy numbers are way higher than before! Looks like all their cavalry. Don't spread the infantry square thin—concentrate it!"
"Got it!"
As expected, their cavalry count was off the charts.
Previously 200-500 for hit-and-runs; now nearly 1,000 charging at once.
Plus another 1,000 infantry following.
'They committed all their cavalry...?'
They were going all-in.
Like they'd found something to break our patience in this raid.
"So that's how you wanna play...!"
I reacted immediately.
"Brother Pudge, lend me 200!"
"Go. Malcolm! Follow my brother!"
I left Anton as Pudge's guard and rushed rearward with Ymir and Eo.
To the supply tent at the camp's rear—where Dorothy Grimwood was.
"Yahaha! Target's here! Grab her!"
"Kill everyone except the target! Don't let her escape no matter what!"
Their small guerrilla raids had been probing our main camp layout.
Scouting, essentially.
'They knew about Dorothy from the start.'
They had a desperate intel network too.
Luckily, I arrived just before their cavalry snatched her.
"Hup!"
Kwa-kwa-kwak! Knee, heart, head—blinding three strikes.
"Kuhk...!?"
The enemy soldier died without knowing what hit him, tumbling off his horse.
Then thwack! I reversed grip, whoosh! And hurled the spear, piercing a cavalryman kidnapping a female cadet.
"Ah, Als...? How are you...?"
Dorothy stared up at me blankly from the ground.
"Ymir, Eo. Clean up around us."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Right!"
Ymir and Eo coldly dispatched the rest.
I stood guard in front of Dorothy, watching.
100 cavalry hit this spot. On flat ground, 200 infantry couldn't handle it, but the mountains let us counter effectively.
Still, they were serious about this op.
"Raaah!"
Kwa-druk! A giant smashed an infantry shield with his mace-like flail.
"Hurry! Time's short!"
"Deputy boss! Big trouble! Weird guys crashed the party!"
"Huh?"
The giant scanned around and quickly spotted me guarding Dorothy.
"Tch, flies buzzing in. I'll squash 'em. Hya!"
Thud-thud! He charged me.
'Pretty strong-looking.'
I recovered my thrown spear to face him, but ping! Eo and Ymir struck first.
Pew-pew! Arrow at the horse's head, two thrown daggers at the giant's.
Their housework-honed teamwork showed perfect timing.
"What the...!?"
Aura-laced attacks from two sides stunned even the giant.
He reacted, but the horse didn't.
Pierced in the head, it died instantly and pitched forward.
"Krrk!"
Busy blocking Ymir's dagger, he botched his roll and lost balance, sliding right to me.
"Right into the vines...! Ha!"
Kwak-kwak-kwak! I stabbed into the opening.
Rule is don't hit rolling or transforming foes... but battlefields ignore that.
"Damn!"
He blocked the spearhead with his forearm, saving vitals—but no chance.
'Illya Style Secret Technique: Serpentine Path!'
The spear snaked past his arm.
I aimed for the head, but his reflexes were sharp.
Puk! Pierced his right collarbone.
"Kk!"
Lethal enough, but he grabbed the shaft with his left for counter.
I wouldn't let go of momentum that easily.
Shing! Drew my back sword left-handed, slash! Sliced from left collarbone to heart.
"Kr...hk!"
Eyes bulging, he glared up.
"Me, like this...?"
"Don't know who you are, but bad luck. Or blame your carelessness."
Kwak! I severed his neck and yelled to the soldiers.
"Now! Mop up the remnants!"
His death threw the enemy into chaos.
"Deputy boss is down...? For real!?"
"Wh-what the hell!"
Overreacting panic.
We exploited it to rout the rest and restore order.
Caliper forces, having repelled the massive cavalry raid, tallied losses.
I was tending our casualties when sudden news hit.
"Kalehan Calaway's dead!"
"For real!? That monster's right-hand man?"
The camp buzzed with good vibes.
"Who the hell killed that beast?"
"Whoever it was, promotion's guaranteed."
Promotion, huh. Lucky guy, whoever.
Thinking it was someone else's business, an officer came running.
"Als Ilrain! To the top tent now!"
Figured they'd talk about saving Dorothy.
But in the top tent, all the core officers stared at me in disbelief.
"Is it true?"
The martial-arts officer I'd argued with before.
"Did you really kill Kalehan Calaway?"
"Who's Kalehan?"
"..."
"?"
"...Huh?"
Dunan sighed, grasping the situation.
"Als Ilrain, I heard you suddenly left formation for the rear supply tent. Why?"
"You should know best, General."
"Don't answer with questions."
"To protect Dorothy Grimwood. If they were kidnapping someone, he'd be prime bait. Figured you wouldn't, so I did."
"Fine, whatever. But... did you see this man during it?"
Dunan showed a corpse.
The giant I'd killed.
"...No way."
"Way. Eyewitnesses say you killed this man—Kalehan Calaway. Explain."
Couldn't reveal Eo or Ymir, so I generalized.
"His horse tripped on a root when he charged me. He rolled right to me, and I finished him easy. That's it."
"Kalehan Calaway died from a fall? The legend among bandits?"
"Even monkeys fall from trees, right? Plus, this is rough mountain terrain for horses."
"Ha...! Whatever. You did take the enemy's deputy head, so..."
Dunan continued, exasperated.
"Probably first for a cadet. Als Ilrain, five-rank promotion. You can now lead an infantry battalion."
"..."
"Was gonna be seven, but docked two for leaving formation without orders."
Whatever.
Battalions of 2-3k were nothing after commanding 60k.
But it didn't end there.
Suddenly, I outranked brother Pudge.
Plus, battalion commander meant access to level-2 meetings, if not level-1.
So I had to attend the next one right away.
*
*
*
As expected, the meeting was about attacking.
An intel officer pointed at a map.
"Confirmed enemy formations: six total. Each 6,000 to 10,000 strong."
They'd split their main camp.
No wonder intel struggled.
"Six main camps..."
Dunan pondered, then looked to chief military officer Gaiz.
Gaiz spoke.
"Yes, as you think, General. Splitting the main camp creates massive inefficiencies."
We kept ours consolidated for a reason.
Splitting units slows comms, weakens command.
"Even two causes chaos; six means they can't coordinate well."
"We can defeat them piecemeal."
"Exactly."
Dunan declared intent to attack and smash them separately.
The massive raid with over 100 missing sparked impatience.
I'd gone to save Dorothy over that, but it meant little.
'Missing included cadets... That's bugging them.'
If he'd heeded my earlier advice and pulled all cadets, this wouldn't have happened.
Knowing it was futile, I spoke up anyway.
"If they split assuming a specific scenario—like us attacking—it changes things."
"...What do you mean?"
"If they pre-planned responses to our attack, they'll react sharply. Multiple formations... means easy encirclement if needed."
Gaiz countered.
"Overreach. Even if they try, we won't get surrounded easily. And split forces lack power to beat our concentrated army. That's why splitting is risky."
"That's why it's dangerous—it's too theoretically sound. Enemy wouldn't miss that."
"Or they did. Intel says their core is Kraus Faulkner's bandit gang. Bandits knowing proper strategy? They just rampage wildly. Look at their cavalry raid—lost 3,000 riders for what? They're clueless on strategy."
"Isn't maneuvering us into attacking a huge strategic win? How do you ignore that?"
With me and Gaiz clashing, Dunan polled the officers.
They jumped to back Gaiz.
'Trouble. Even if I revealed I'm Wade, it wouldn't flip.'
Dunan was fair, merit-based, upright—but stubborn.
He'd decided on attack inwardly, so this was the result.
He 'polled' but officers just echoed his bias.
He gripped command too tightly; all yes-men.
No point polling.
'Can't do much now. Just adapt to what's coming.'
Meeting ended; Caliper army decided to attack.
Full-scale mobilization began.