The Betrayer and Something Else

While pretending to negotiate with the rebels, General Gates proposed striking them from behind. Internally, I found the plan not entirely bad. After all, it was merely a tactical maneuver, nothing more. The true intent was to eliminate every dirty traitor who had betrayed me over the past decade. Whether they were dead or captured, the consequences would be delivered with precision.

I had come here primarily for vengeance, and everyone knew that. The other soldiers might not understand, but they would not dare interfere. Besides, even if I was slightly displeased, I would not let this golden opportunity slip away.

But right now, as I read the system message in front of me, I could not help but pause.

“…”

The quest content was dripping with danger. I should have quietly enjoyed the feast and gone back to eating rice cakes. Instead, I began to seriously consider the matter.

‘…It says my fate will be greatly affected. How could this play out so dangerously?’

I could not see a clear path right now. Abstractly, I understood only that the rebels would suffer a moral stain, and that would indirectly damage me. Yet the system was openly warning me, making it difficult to decide in haste.

Then, in my line of sight, I spotted General Franklin, her expression one of clear outrage.

“I cannot accept this! No matter what, negotiations are contracts based on mutual trust! If we break them, it will cause enormous problems for the international reputation of our rebel army in the future!”

“Hah, what nonsense! What matters most right now is not some national trust bullshit. Killing the enemies right in front of us is the only thing that matters. If we root them out completely at this chance, we can erase the entire imperial army in this region!”

“Of course I do not deny the benefits. But even if there are gains, lost trust is harder to recover than a military defeat. The other nations of the continent are already watching us closely. We cannot afford such a blemish!”

“Shut up! The supreme commander here is Nelson! If you keep disobeying orders like this, I will apply military law! After you gained some merit, you dare act so arrogantly! I will not let you off!”

“…”

Franklin could only swallow her words in the face of General Gates’ remarks.

Watching her frustration, desperation, and thick anger, I decided without further hesitation what choice to make.

*

After the meeting was suspended for a short break, General Gates agreed to Cromwell’s request to sit with him in the command tent.

He had accepted the suggestion not because he liked the underlings, but because Cromwell’s ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠words carried weight after offering such a great contribution and respect.

Right after, General Gates spoke with clear displeasure.

“Damn it! Those idiots! What are they even saying? There’s no need to talk about manners or etiquette on the battlefield!”

“Quite so. I thought General Gates was sacrificing for the sake of wiping out the enemy. I am baffled that you do not understand the depth of that resolve.”

“Hm? What nonsense is that?”

General Gates’ eyes narrowed at Cromwell’s sharp words, which sounded almost reverent.

Cromwell replied in a voice full of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠genuine respect and regret.

“After all, what is the point? Even if they are the enemy, betraying them after making an agreement is something that will always be discussed. If that happens, achieving the goal of becoming the supreme commander of the rebel army will take even longer. Even if the position is right for you, you cannot afford any stain that would bring criticism.” ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ “!!… U-um…”

General Gates flinched slightly at Cromwell’s words.

Ignoring the reaction, Cromwell continued in a tone of sorrow and admiration.

“Yet you said you would sacrifice yourself for the future of the rebel army, did you not? Even with such noble intentions, it is a shame that few others understand.”

“…Indeed… That is… Truly… a pity…”

General Gates agreed with Cromwell.

But at that moment, his mind began to spin rapidly.

‘Wait, wait. If they negotiate and then attack, it will actually make achieving the goal harder. That would be the worst kind of turnabout…’

The reason he had used dirty tactics to destroy the imperial army was, of course, to further solidify his path to becoming supreme commander.

The simple logic was that the more enemies killed, the greater the public credit. Yet Cromwell’s words about this becoming poison were starting to make General Gates reconsider his original plan.

He was a man who pursued only his own rise and self-preservation, far from any sense of bravery.

In truth, this decision to attack while the enemies were defenseless came from the simple greed of a hunter spotting easy prey, not from any deep consideration of the future or martial spirit.

‘They might just upset my stomach if I eat them. Why drag the soldiers along to stuff themselves full? Why not just accept their weapons and send them home honorably? There is no need to risk unnecessary danger…’

In the end, it was best to avoid any path that could interfere with his promotion.

Thinking that he should withdraw this decision on the spot, General Gates gave a faint, stiff smile to Cromwell.

“Um… Well… But… Even so, with the subordinates opposing like this, perhaps it would not be bad to follow their opinions this time.”

“Hm? But General, you had decided to make such a great sacrifice. To change your mind like this…”

“War is not a solo performance, after all. With two of our army’s highest-ranking officers opposing, it would not be wise to push too hard. Besides… the sight of those enemies begging for mercy while offering Laevateinn makes them somewhat pitiful.”

“…Um…”

Cromwell looked troubled, as if regretting the situation.

General Gates felt a flicker of worry that his original plan might have been rejected, but Cromwell soon sighed deeply and spoke.

“Sigh… Understood. After all, it is a war we have already won. There is no need for General Gates to force things. When the day comes that you become the monarch ruling this land, would you like to have mud on your face like this?”

“Haha, yes… You are right about that. I am grateful that you understood my intention.”

With that awkward laugh, General Gates breathed a sigh of relief that the situation had been resolved smoothly.

Watching him, Cromwell exhaled a quiet sigh of relief for an entirely different reason.

‘Thank goodness. It seems he really is a simple-minded human being, just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as I thought.’

If General Gates had been more ambitious or braver, he might have rejected the decision. But thanks to his consistent behavior from the beginning, Cromwell felt gratitude at this moment.

And then, only he could see it.

The system window appeared before his eyes.

A new passive skill had been granted.