Chapter 85: The Second Variable (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 85: The Second Variable (1)
Steven introduced one of the soldiers.
"He's a local from around these parts. He knows the geography inside out, so he'll make an excellent guide."
"I'm Coby."
He was a dark-skinned soldier.
Roman acknowledged Coby's greeting, then stepped into the masterless command room and spread a map across the table.
Rustle.
"This is the map of the Southern Front. What is the fastest route to the Rear Base?"
"...Did you say the Rear Base?"
Coby's eyes widened.
According to Steven, Roman had requested a guide to help him assist the other defense lines. Naturally, Coby assumed their destination would be one of those frontline positions. He looked visibly confused when Roman suddenly brought up the Rear Base.
Roman had no obligation to explain his reasoning, but to secure the man's active cooperation, he decided to share his thoughts.
"I do not believe the defensive positions on the Southern Front can hold out for long. Even if we move quickly, one of them is bound to collapse and be breached. In that scenario, we would likely end up isolated. That is why I plan to head to the Rear Base first. Once we merge with the forces there, we will assess the situation across the frontlines and respond flexibly."
"...Ah!" Coby gasped softly.
It was a highly practical judgment. Just as Roman had pointed out, they couldn't possibly resolve every threat on the Southern Front with their meager numbers.
Coby's gaze shifted to the map. Scanning for the fastest route, he traced a line with his finger. "I think it would be best to go this way. If we follow this path, we can arrive in three hours at the earliest."
Of the numerous routes leading to the Rear Base, this was the safest.
However, Roman shook his head. "No. We do not have the luxury of seeking a safe path. What we need right now is time. To shorten our journey, we must push forward, even if it means braving steep slopes and rough terrain."
"Mmh, then how about this route?" He pointed to a path that cut straight across the mountain.
The terrain was much rougher than his first proposal, but by cutting directly across the mountain, they could arrive much faster. If the first path took three hours, this one would take two and a half. Coby expected a positive reaction this time, but Roman's expression remained entirely unsatisfied.
"As far as I know, traveling via this path takes about two and a half hours by normal standards," Roman said. "That is not fast enough. My soldiers can maintain their marching speed regardless of the terrain. Taking our capabilities into account, we need a shortcut that can get us to the Rear Base in under two hours."
Suddenly, a strange realization washed over Coby.
'Wait...'
Two suggestions, two instant dismissals. Judging by his reactions, Roman already knew these paths perfectly. Coby looked up at him, utterly bewildered.
* * *
The first path was obvious. Anyone could have figured it out, even if they weren't a Southern local. A single glance at the map showed it was mostly flat land, making it perfectly reasonable for Roman to demand a faster route.
But the second path was different.
'How did he know the mountain path takes exactly two and a half hours? That wasn't a mere guess. He spoke with absolute certainty, which means he already has a solid grasp of the Southern Front's geography. Then why did he bother asking for a guide?'
Doubts crept into his mind. He couldn't fathom what the man before him, Roman Dmitry, was thinking.
"...I didn't realize you knew the paths so well," Coby said, subtly probing to find out why Roman had summoned him at all.
Roman caught the underlying question. Without taking his eyes off the map, he spoke calmly.
"After being deployed to the Southern Front, I spent some time investigating the area. I studied the structure and terrain of the battlefield where I expected to spend the next two years. I prepared extensively for any unforeseen circumstances. I may not have a perfect grasp of every single detail, but I am well-versed in the basics."
Back when he first received the information from Valhalla, Roman had ordered Lucas to investigate the Southern Front.
This wasn't merely to look for signs of war. In preparation for a potential conflict, he had assessed the current state of the frontlines and memorized the various paths leading to each defensive position. When the 5th Defense Line was attacked, Roman had arrived at the battlefield in just over an hour. People assumed he had simply run at breakneck speed to cover a two-hour distance, but the truth was that he had utilized a shortcut already stored in his mind.
Recently, he had also received intel from McBurney. It was similar to Lucas's report but far more detailed, granting him a geographical understanding of the Southern Front that rivaled any local's.
Roman's answer only puzzled Coby further. If he was this knowledgeable, he still didn't need a guide.
"When Steven told you I summoned you, you likely assumed I was ignorant about the Southern Front."
"Ah, no, sir."
"There is no need to be flustered. Logically speaking, it is a natural assumption. The reason I asked Steven for someone knowledgeable about the Southern Front is that information on paper often differs from reality. The intel I gathered states that the second path takes two and a half hours. But what if the weather turns bad, or a recent landslide blocked the route? That is where practical, real-time knowledge—things you cannot find in documents—becomes necessary. That is why I needed your help. I wanted to verify my information, and I figured a local might know of hidden paths that outsiders wouldn't. Is that explanation sufficient?"
"Yes?! I—I understand completely," Coby stammered.
He felt as though his mind had just been read. Roman knew exactly why Coby had asked, and by thoroughly addressing his doubts, he secured the soldier's complete cooperation.
Coby looked at Roman in a completely new light. Many nobles had been assigned to the Southern Front over the years, but without a doubt, Roman Dmitry was the first of his kind.
'He's different from those spoiled nobles who just come down here to pad their resumes and live comfortably. This man is truly prepared for war. If I can help him carry out his plans, there might actually be hope for the Southern Front.'
Conviction took root in his heart. Coby examined the map closely, then pointed to a specific spot.
"If you are truly confident in your men's ability to move quickly regardless of the terrain, I can guarantee this path is your best option. It's a secret trail my childhood friends and I used to take. If we push through the thick underbrush, we can reach the Rear Base in under two hours. However, you must be extremely careful. One wrong step, and you'll find yourself tumbling down a sheer cliff."
This was exactly the kind of answer Roman had been waiting for. With that, the meeting was concluded.
* * *
Exactly ten minutes. The meeting hadn't taken long at all.
By the time Roman stepped out of the command room, his soldiers had already finished their preparations and were lined up in perfect formation.
"Chris, alongside thirty others. All preparations are complete."
They moved in perfect unison. It was a razor-sharp, disciplined response. However, right next to these highly disciplined soldiers stood an unwelcome face.
"Henry Albert, alongside fifty others. All preparations are complete."
It was Henry. He cast a quick glance at Chris and awkwardly mimicked his rigid posture. Although there was a massive disparity in their bearing, Henry tried his absolute best to maintain a serious expression.
Roman stared at him. "Why are you here?"
His presence was entirely unwelcome. While having more troops was generally a good thing, time was of the essence. The ragtag bunch following Henry would be nothing but dead weight. Not to mention, Henry Albert's cowardly behavior during their first meeting was still fresh in everyone's minds.
Henry knew this perfectly well, but he couldn't exactly speak his true intentions aloud.
'If I tell him I'm just trying to cozy up to the man who will soon hold all the real power in Dmitry, he'll tell me to get lost immediately, won't he?'
That was his true motive. He hardened his expression. What he needed right now was a stellar performance.
"First, I would like to apologize for my past mistakes," Henry declared. "The reason I shamelessly wish to follow you, Lord Roman, is that I, too, am a citizen of Cairo. The Hector Kingdom has declared war. With innocent people dying, I felt that as a noble of Cairo, I must lend my strength to the cause. Just give the order. I will risk my life and do my absolute best to help!"
He raised his voice dramatically. As if embodying the very spirit of noblesse oblige, he proudly puffed out his chest.
It was a truly pathetic sight. Roman knew full well that a man like Henry Albert would never act without an ulterior motive.
Roman spoke flatly. "Following me is your choice. However, I will not issue you any orders, and whether you can keep up is entirely up to your own abilities. Let me make one thing perfectly clear: if you interfere with my plans in the slightest, I will cut off the shackle holding me back and move on without you."
It was a chilling warning. With those final words, Roman spun around.
"Chris."
"Yes, sir."
The soldiers fell in line behind Roman. It was time to set out.
* * *
Despite Roman's harsh warning, Henry stubbornly followed him. However, he quickly fell behind and vanished from sight. With his pathetic physical stamina, he couldn't even keep up with Roman on flat ground. There was absolutely no way he could maintain pace on a grueling shortcut full of steep slopes.
No words were spoken as the main group advanced. Roman and Coby took the lead, moving swiftly under the local soldier's guidance.
Rustle.
They pushed through the thick, overgrown underbrush. It was certainly not a normal path. It was a route entirely untouched by travelers. Without Coby's help, they never would have known such a trail existed.
How long had they been moving? Suddenly, a strange sound reached their ears.
"...Ugh."
It was a human groan. Roman immediately halted his soldiers. The sound came from a short distance off the shortcut, but he decided they needed to investigate its source.
"Huh?"
"Isn't that a soldier from the Southern Training Camp?"
Roman's soldiers recognized the man instantly. During their intense training period, he had been one of the soldiers assisting McBurney.
However, the soldier's condition was absolutely horrific. His uniform was drenched in blood, slashed to ribbons by an attack, and his deathly pale face belonged to a man standing on the very brink of death.
Roman rushed over. After a quick assessment of the soldier's condition, he applied basic first aid and poured a healing potion over the most severe wounds.
However, it was already too late. Realizing the man was slipping away, Roman asked, "What happened?"
The soldier looked up at Roman with hazy, unfocused eyes. Then, a flash of terminal lucidity struck him. The focus in his eyes returned for a fleeting moment.
Recognizing Roman, he spoke in a desperate, ragged voice. "The... the Southern Training Camp has been... attacked. Please... please help us. Please...!"
With those final words, his body went entirely limp. Having squeezed out his absolute last breath, he finally succumbed to his wounds.
'The Southern Training Camp was attacked?'
This was entirely unexpected. The Southern Training Camp was located much closer to the Rear Base than the frontline defensive positions. Yet, somehow, it had been struck. Before Roman left the 5th Defense Line, he hadn't heard a single report of the other defensive positions being breached.
'Judging by how far this soldier managed to flee, the camp must have been attacked at least thirty minutes ago. This means the enemy bypassed the frontlines entirely. The Hector Kingdom must have launched simultaneous attacks on the five defense lines just to pin them down, while deploying a highly mobile unit to strike deep into our territory.'
Why on earth would they execute such a strategy? The timing made no sense, and their true intentions were hard to fathom.
Suddenly, a grim possibility occurred to Roman.
'If my guess is correct, the Southern Front has even less time than I thought.'
The Hector Kingdom hadn't just attacked blindly. They had launched this invasion after incredibly thorough, meticulous preparation.
Roman stood up.
"First, we head to the Southern Training Camp."
"Understood."
For now, aiding the Southern Training Camp was their absolute priority.