Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: The Three Great Generals
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The Three Great Generals. That term comes up again.
“Three Great Generals Guderian Chester…?”
The cost I paid wasn’t actually for information on Master Ilyia after all—it was for intel on the Three Great Generals. The informant spills it all without hesitation.
“The leaders of the West selected three great warriors, regardless of faction, to conquer the continent.”
“Warriors, so that means no talent as commanders, right?”
“Not necessarily. First, Lexit Elbird, who was killed by Zinang Wade during the Chimera War. His personal prowess was incredible, but he lacked any skill as a commander. He originally belonged to Irvana. They say Irvana was furious over his death.”
I was curious about Irvana, but I didn’t ask since it’d probably cost more.
“Second, Guderian Chester. He’s the founder of Chester-style spear-sword arts and a master of martial arts, renowned for his unmatched skill. On top of that, he has some ability as a commander, enough to lead troops into battle. Though he doesn’t seem to have any talent for devising strategies.”
“He can execute them?”
“Yes.”
“Was he from the West from the start?”
“It’s not certain, but it’s likely since he hails from Dielrum, a beastkin village.”
“A beastkin village called Dielrum?”
“It’s a massive settlement in the West. It’s where the beastkin driven out by the Pensilon Empire settled.”
“Wait, so Guderian Chester is a beastkin?”
“He always covers his face and body, so not much is known, but he’s pureblood beastkin. That’s why even at his advanced age, he maintains his prowess.”
Come to think of it, Master had mentioned something about the handling of Gaspar before.
A close friend of Master Guderian.
*Now it makes sense.*
Gaspar is pureblood beastkin. And fairly old at that.
It’s no surprise he’d be acquainted with Guderian, a pureblood beastkin around the same age.
*Wait, if Guderian Chester is one of the Three Great Generals, then surely…*
I naturally recalled those words.
—Don’t worry. I’ve called for reinforcements. One of the Three Great Generals will come to our aid. If they help our army, we can drive out the villains of Crossing.
Someone in the game had said that to the protagonist.
Based solely on the info I’ve gathered so far, the possibility that it was Master Ilyia was extremely high. She had direct connections to the Three Great Generals. And her speech patterns matched too.
*Master was really a spy from the West…?*
My mind grew complicated, so for some fresh air, I asked the informant for other information.
“First is Lexit Elbird, second is Guderian Chester. Who’s the third?”
“Sorry, but that info is top secret…”
“Cut the crap and just tell me how much.”
“Heh heh heh, 2 million silane, please.”
I’d bill this to Juras later as intel expenses.
The merchant grins sleazily, saying he was glad to come to Arandal, then speaks softly.
“Third of the Three Great Generals. Aside from the moniker ‘Windseeker,’ nothing concrete is known about his identity.”
“You messing with me?”
“No, now comes the real info. He came to the continent several years before the Three Great Generals were formed. He infiltrated the Vulran Union.”
“He became a spy for Vulran?”
“That’s right.”
“Nothing else is known about him. Not his affiliation or the extent of his abilities. Even the infiltration rumor might just be hearsay.”
“Do you think he was involved in the recent Vulran king assassination?”
“I don’t. That assassination actually weakened Svenner and the West’s position within Vulran.”
“Hmm.”
For 2 million silane, it felt pretty skimpy.
I already knew there was a Western spy inside Vulran. This was the first I’d heard it was one of the Three Great Generals.
Perhaps reading my expression, the informant continues.
“As a small service, the one who recently ascended to the Three Great Generals in place of the deceased Lexit is a warrior from Tetora. His name isn’t known, but others call him this: Man-Eater. If you ever meet him, be careful.”
Man-Eater. Sounds brutal.
“Thanks. That’s all the info I want.”
“Heh heh heh. I hope it was a worthwhile transaction.”
From this deal, I learned a few things.
There was definitely a Western spy close to the protagonist, deeply involved.
Master might be connected to the West.
Based purely on the intel, it was entirely possible Master was dispatched from the West to gauge the continent’s situation.
“Whew…!”
Suspecting my master. My head was a mess.
At that moment, Eo speaks cautiously.
“Als. If you’re doubting Ilyia, why not just ask her directly?”
“What?”
“Ilyia wouldn’t harm you or hide anything from you. If you ask, she’ll tell you the truth. Trust her.”
She was right. Better to ask directly than stew over it alone.
“I’ll do that. Thanks.”
“Good call.”
“But it’s surprising you’d speak up to me like that. Hard to believe you’re the scheming Eonia.”
“Scheming!?”
“Didn’t you know? That’s what everyone calls you behind your back.”
“I’m not scheming! Who’s saying that?!”
“Haha, kidding. Anyway, wanna grab dinner before we head back?”
“Pardon? But Ymir said she’d prepare dinner…”
“Sometimes I just wanna sit down and eat with everyone. I’ll call Ymir too. Might be tough to convince her, though.”
“Then let me handle the convincing.”
“You’ll just get scolded again. I’ll do it.”
With that, my short vacation ends.
I decide to don the gray helmet again to wrap up the war.
*
*
*
Resuming activities, I put on the helmet Olaf brought me and head to Arandal’s palace with only Eo in tow.
Arandal, as Erevenia’s capital, had a grand palace inside.
That’s where Incompetent Sophia was holding a military conference.
The guard tenses at the sight of me but, having coordinated through Crossing’s military beforehand, lets me pass with a grim expression after I show my token.
“Everyone’s working hard.”
My words silence the military conference room.
Swirling hostility. I smirk lightly and head to the head seat.
“As announced beforehand, I’m commanding the 10,000 Crossing reinforcements this time. The brass says to coordinate with your Bekavia forces.”
“Tsk!”
Someone clicks their tongue openly. From Bekavia’s military perspective, I’m no different from an arch-enemy. They get the situation, but it doesn’t make them happy.
But I wasn’t thrilled either.
“I heard from Kalliper forces. I hate teaming up with incompetents like you too. So I’ll take overall command. Just follow my orders.”
“What?!”
“Bullshit!”
“This bastard’s got no filter!”
Bekavia officers react furiously. I turn to Sophia.
“Hey, Incompetent Princess. If you have any shame, shut them up.”
“…”
Sophia clenches her fist.
“…We’ll do as he says.”
“Princess! What are…!”
“For what’s ahead, it’s better to unify the chain of command.”
“Then we take overall command!”
“If word gets out that Wade’s appeared, the enemy’s reaction will change. It has strategic value.”
“But…!”
“Sorry, Austin. Please bear with my stubbornness this time.”
Sophia was tormented by guilt.
She’d secured Arandal’s residents, but countless Bekavia soldiers, Kalliper troops, and even Supreme Commander Delbadova felt like deaths on her hands.
Fully claiming the head seat, I say to them.
“Looks settled. Start the reports.”
They tremble, fists clenched. Vali Austin speaks with effort.
“The enemy in the Coqueen Mountains has pulled back further to set up in the Quintin Plains. They intend to align with the frontline where the West and Crossing face off.”
“They’re reorganizing to strike the flank of another frontline.”
“That’s our assessment. So we advance too and match them in confrontation.”
“No need for a meeting over something that simple. You must’ve been discussing something else. Spit it out.”
Sophia takes over.
“The Quintin Plains where they’ve settled turn to mud in the rainy season. Swamps form in spots. And as you know, it’s rainy season now. Recent rains have made the ground uneven.”
“Cavalry won’t have fun there?”
The Toonka forces currently had a high cavalry ratio due to using them as ambush troops.
“Exactly. So the enemy will likely avoid battle in the Quintin Plains if possible. No need for us to confront them there either. So where’s optimal? Right here.”
“The Karrek Mountains.”
“Yes. It’s the southwest mountains where Crossing’s 30,000 are garrisoned. If Toonka tries stabbing Crossing’s side, we descend and counter-stab theirs for tactical advantage.”
Not a bad tactical insight.
Camped in mountains, high-cavalry Toonka would hesitate to attack, making defense easy. If Toonka moves elsewhere far off, we just link with Crossing ahead and hit the West. Toonka has no choice but to follow our moves.
“Haha.”
I can’t hold back a sneer.
“Decent this time?”
“What do you mean?”
“What if Toonka ignores us, goes elsewhere, and raids defenseless territories?”
“What are you saying? The odds of that are… sl…im…”
“Why, Arandal’s safe now, so it’s fine?”
“Urk…!”
“What a hypocrite. At least be consistent, Incompetent Princess. Or is this your consistency? Yeah, other territories and villages crumbling don’t matter as long as it’s not a metropolis. Makes sense.”
I roast her for a good while after.
It’s not my style, but nearly dying left me with lingering unease that wouldn’t fade no matter how much I vented.
Eventually.
“Sniff, sob…!”
Sophia starts crying.
*No, don’t just burst into tears like that…*
Leaves me with nothing more to say.
*Did I go too far?*
From her perspective, even giving 100 steps, it wasn’t incomprehensible. And rehashing the past was pointless.
“Sorry. I got carried away.”
But Sophia shakes her head.
“No, keep going.”
“…What?”
“Please keep rebuking me. It’s the only way I can endure and stand tall.”
“That’s… something else.”
Sophia pleads desperately for me to tear into her.
Seeing that kills any urge to keep roasting.
“Please. You have to be the one.”
“No, I’m done.”
“Where’d that spite go? Scold me!”
“No.”
“Do it!”
“I said no!”
Sophia demands scolding, I refuse.
The other officers stare at us, dumbfounded.