The Strategist Knows Everything - Volume 3 Chapter 3
Part III: The Imperial State Edition
Chapter 3: The Lone Army 4
Translated by: Hiro02
Edited by: SevenTails
From the Imperial Capital to the city of Ferrenor, I went with the escorts that His Majesty Ronald had given me.
Even though it was called an escort, it was essentially just surveillance on me. They, however, took pity on me and were kind to me in many ways.
Some of them thanked me for saving their brothers’ lives at the front lines with Knox’s reinforcements, while others apologized to me for how the Empire had treated me.
Some were cheerful, while others were worried about their grandchildren. They were all friendly and were happy to talk with me.
Well, they were only friendly at most. They didn’t loosen their surveillance on me.
Still, it was a good time.
Surrounded by these guards and watchers, I arrived at Ferrenor and was summoned by the Viscount Rigar at the Taishukan. (TL Note: 太守館 or Taishukan translated as Grand Keep as well, which is the residence of the Viscount or the Governor.)
I guess he wanted to talk to me about Fio.
He was the one who said that he would not allow even a scratch on her. If he heard that she had been taken as hostage by the enemy army, he would not remain silent.
Even if I hadn’t been called, I would have still gone to apologize, so it was convenient for me.
“I wonder why I’m being separated from my escorts.”
“Ara~? Am I not good enough for you?”
Charlotte, who was standing beside me, asked, leaning over my shoulder.
It was extremely frustrating. Or rather, it feels terrible.
“Charlotte. Can you get off me?”
“Ara~ara. Do you not like it?”
“Very much. I’m not into that kind of stuff.”
“I’m a woman at heart, remember?”
“The problem is that your body is that of a man… So? Is Viscount Rigar angry?”
(TL Note: 太守 or Taishou, the kanji used, is a rank similar to that of a Governor or Viscount.)
Somehow I managed to pull Charlotte away from my shoulder and brought up a serious subject to discuss.
Shrugging his shoulders, Charlotte simply shook his head.
“I don’t have the energy to be angry. I guess I’m just depressed or something, huh?”
“So, I don’t have to worry about getting my neck snapped or anything like that, right?”
“What do you think? If you let someone take your lovely niece and see the face of the man who couldn’t protect her, it might just bring back your vigour, you know?”
“Unless that energy is going to be used to kill me, I’d really like to see it getting restored.”
“That’s impossible. After all, Fiona is… the Viscount’s first love’s daughter.”
That was new.
No, wait.
Let’s just say that the Viscount’s first love is His Majesty Ronald’s wife.
“Did he just steal his brother’s first love?”
“No, she was a waitress at the castle. She was beautiful but of low rank. That’s why the Viscount couldn’t tell her how he felt about her, but the King could.”
“I see. No wonder he loved her so much. It must have been very difficult for Viscount Rigar.”
His brother married his first love, and they had a daughter.
However, in order to protect the child, the brother sent his wife and daughter away.
Eventually, the daughter was sent to the battlefield to fight for the Empire and became known as a hero.
It’d ironic if this is the result of a misidentified or misguided love between different people.
“Right. Well, Fiona was the one who suggested she should be taken hostage, and the Empire owes you a debt of gratitude, so honestly, I think you should apologize for the whole thing, okay?”
“I hope so…” I shrugged my shoulders and let out a sigh.
The Taishokan hadn’t changed since I’d last been here. It was no wonder as it had only been a month since my last visit.
“As a result, thanks to your sacrifice, Ferrenor has been saved from becoming a battlefield and many Imperial soldiers were spared. For that, many people are grateful.”
“Sacrifice… As for me, I think I’m more of a peace ambassador.”
“You’re indeed going to Albion to help make peace, but you’re not a… messenger. I think sacrifice is more appropriate.”
I hate to be called a sacrifice, even if it was objectively true.
Charlotte laughed as if he sensed my feelings.
“You don’t like it when someone calls you a sacrifice, do you?”
“It’s natural, isn’t it? I’m going to make it back alive.”
“Anybody can say that, but how exactly are you going to get back alive?”
“I’m going to use Albion to increase my allies and trap my enemies. My weapons are my ability to converse and my knowledge.”
It wasn’t specific at all, but when I said that, Charlotte muttered surprisingly.
“What? Are you really going to come back alive?”
“That’s what I’m saying, right? Well, I’m going home, Veris.”
“Albion is a country of magicians. The majority of the people are sorcerers. That means that they have a higher attack power than normal soldiers, right? I can’t believe you got caught in that country and are trying to escape.”
“I know. It’s very difficult… or maybe impossible.”
Charlotte let out a sigh when he heard my words.
“Yes, yes. I understand. Talking to you is harder than talking to Fiona. You see odds in ways that are beyond my understanding. Is that it?”
“I don’t know if I’d call it a possibility of winning, to be honest. It’s not like I have much of a chance.”
“Just make it clear whether you’re confident or not. I really don’t understand you, Fiona, or any of the other military strategists.”
Charlotte was not wrong when he referred to Fio as a military strategist. Fio is definitely a military strategist, but it was wrong to put her in the same category as me.
Fio is good at frontal assaults, and I am good at rear or lopsided assaults.
In a head-on clash between two large armies, or when an army is superior in terms of strength, Fio will be more effective than me. But if it’s a surprise attack or a battle where we’re outnumbered, I’m the one who’s going to win.
Maybe it’s because I have a terrible personality. I’m better at taking advantage of my opponents’ weaknesses and outwitting them.
Well, Fio has Frezberg, who is a one-hit wrecker, so you could argue that she doesn’t need any tricks.
“Fio and I have different predilections as military strategists.”
“Do you really think I’m going to make it that difficult for you? I simply put you in the military strategist category because I feel that the two of you are very similar.”
“Me and Fio alike, huh?”
Fio is a social butterfly and I am an introvert, so it’s hard to find any similarities between us. If I had to pick one point of similarity, it would be our close intelligence figures, but that’s something only I can see.
When I was thinking about the similarities, Charlotte muttered to me in a dismissive and dumbfounded manner.
“You don’t get it, did you? You two look pretty much alike.”
“What do you mean? I have no idea.”
“Yeah. I think the most similar thing is… that both of you are always thinking about someone.”
Thinking about someone else…
I thought to myself, “…she’s right”.
I, and probably Fio as well.
I spend more time thinking about others than I do about myself.
“That might be… true, I suppose.”
“What else could it be that you both care what others think?”
“You come up with that one quite frequently…”
I don’t think it was because he watched me so closely that he can see the similarities.
He knew Fio so well that he could see the resemblance even if he just glanced at me for a moment.
Or rather, hopefully so. The thought of being observed, even amid those fierce battles, gives me chills.
“I know everything about Fiona. She has started to change lately, but it’s because of your influence.”
“My influence? What kind of influence did I have on Fio?”
I don’t think that Fio has changed since I met her.
However, if she has been influenced by me, then she must have changed after meeting me.
Is it something small enough that only Charlotte can understand, or is it something so big that it could shake the Fio of the past? I’m a little curious.
“There’s a decisive difference between you and Fiona. Do you know what it is?”
“… appearance?”
“Are you smart, or are you stupid? It’s really hard to tell.”
Why the hell not? That’s the only thing I could think of when he said there’s a definite difference.
Well, from the way the conversation was going, I could guess that it was an internal one.
But I had no idea.
“I don’t know.”
“It’s the energy. She’s… kind, but not reckless or unreasonable. She shed tears of sorrow at the loss of life before her eyes, but she would not sacrifice herself to save it.”
“Indeed, Fio did not move from Ferrenor. But wasn’t that because she was stopped by the Viscount Rigar?”
“Fiona could have slipped out at any time. The only reason she didn’t was that she didn’t have enough courage to take action. She wanted to go into battle, to save people, to save her country, but she didn’t do anything more than helping the refugees in Ferrenor. Using the Viscount as an excuse, the girl didn’t even make a move.”
That’s pretty harsh.
Fio was certainly content with the status quo until I came for her.
She didn’t leave Ferrenor for a variety of reasons.
Now that I think about it, the fact that His Majesty Ronald did not force Fio to the battlefield when she refused his request to go to war was likely because he was lenient towards his daughter.
In peacetime, it could be called kindness, but at the time, the Imperial State was not in a situation to say such a thing. They had to stop Albion’s invasion, even if it took everything they had. It was a situation where they had to have that kind of determination.
If Fio had entered the fray at that point, the war situation would have been much better. I’m sure His Majesty Ronald, Viscount Rigar, and Fio herself knew that.
If I think about it, I feel like I should be angry with Fio instead. No, if Fio hadn’t become a hostage, I might have gotten angry and thrown some violent words at her.
“But… Fio has changed. To the point where she would even voluntarily become a hostage just to let someone who was in a situation where he couldn’t be saved in front of her to say goodbye to his friends.”
“… Yeah, I know. Maybe it was the debt she was carrying towards you that motivated Fiona to do that, you know?”
“I know. If Fio had taken responsibility for her power and position much sooner, then maybe I wouldn’t have ended up going to Albion, but don’t worry. I have nothing against Fio for this.”
“Yes, I do. I’m relieved. However, do you realize that’s not the only reason why she helped you?”
Other reasons. What is the reason other than a sense of guilt towards me?
To be honest, I have no idea. From a while ago, everything has been about people’s feelings, and I haven’t been able to answer at all.
Charlotte was smiling sternly at me. I guess he’s amused that I’m stuck for an answer.
“I have no idea.”
“Oh? You’re a military strategist who’s supposed to know everything, and now you’re telling me you don’t know anything at all?”
“I can’t read people’s minds or hearts, you know. Ignorance is shameful, but I think it’s even more shameful when you can’t admit it.”
“So, what are you saying? Can’t you at least guess?”
“I guess because… she thought of me as her dear friend and companion, right?”
It was embarrassing for me to say this.
I consider her an important friend. At least, a friend who risked her life on the battlefield with me. I’ve been with her for a short time, but I know I can trust her.
However, Charlotte shook his head.
“It’s close, but not exactly it.”
“Close? What do you mean?”
“You really don’t get it, do you? Fiona is in love with you, you understand?”
She’s in love with me.
For a moment, I didn’t understand the meaning of Charlotte’s words, and so for a moment, I activated my skill.
【To fall in love. To be attracted to the opposite sex. To be fascinated by someone’s charm】
Two meanings appeared on the screen.
Either way, it was no less embarrassing.
But.
“Because I’m so fascinating. It’s like I’m too smart and resourceful for my own good, you know?”
“What are you confused about? It’s normal for her to be attracted towards you as a person of the opposite sex. It’s more like a crush, and she doesn’t seem to be aware of it.”
“No, no, no! You can’t say that! It’s just your speculation!?”
“You’ll know it when you see it. Besides, you’re the first boy of her age that she can talk to as an equal, you know? Both in terms of intelligence and of not worrying about anything. And you pulled Fiona out of Ferrenor. You had the ability to act differently than her. It’s no wonder why she is so admired and attracted to you.”
Oh my God.
Until now, I’ve never been able to attract a girl, not even on Earth.
And yet.
I can’t believe I’m being told this indirectly by a stern old fart.
It’s the worst.
If Fio had told me directly, I would have felt much better. I honestly couldn’t be happy right now.
“Well, she didn’t… say that herself, did she?”
“Yeah, but I’m pretty sure she likes you. Fio is a very special nickname. Only her mother used to call her by that.”
“So, that’s what you mean when you said there’s no one to call her that… You know a lot about Fio, but how long have you been with her, Charlotte?”
I was getting a little more curious.
And why was Charlotte Fio’s escort?
It’s hard to imagine that the overprotective Viscount would take the initiative to put Charlotte, who is too dangerous both inside and out, as Fio’s bodyguard.
Charlotte said that it was an order from the Viscount, but he was too familiar with the situation for that to be the case.
“Since about the time Fiona was born. Originally, I was Fiona’s mother’s bodyguard, hired by the King. I was the one who took her mother out of the castle with the newborn Fiona. So I know all about it. And of course, I know how much you really care for Fiona.”
It was an unexpectedly longstanding relationship.
To be honest, I’m surprised. I didn’t expect someone who knows everything about all her circumstances to be by Fio’s side.
“Aren’t you going to tell her?”
“When the time comes, His Majesty will do the talking. That’s not the point. Right now, I’m talking about you. Fio is probably going to take you and run away with you, you know?”
Charlotte’s voice became sharper. Or rather, his voice became lower and thicker.
It was a very terrible feeling. I really wish he would refrain from doing it.
However, I understood what he was saying.
If there’s a chance for me to escape, it’d be the moment when Fio is released, and I’m captured by Albion’s army.
And Fio has Frezberg. If she can summon him, then running away to Veris will not be a problem.
“I’m sorry, but… even if it was an offer from a girl who loves me, I can’t take it…”
“So… you’re not running away…”
“Don’t look so disappointed. I’m sure that if I said I was going to run away, then you would be willing to hand me over to Albion by force, wouldn’t you?”
I remember the way to the Taishukan. However, Charlotte had taken a detour. In an unpopular direction.
Something smells fishy, but if it was to make sure I really had no intention of escaping, it made sense.
“I’m sorry I tried… Fiona’s feelings are important, too. But I also value the lives of the people of the Empire. I need you to go to Albion, no matter what.”
“I’ve already agreed to this, haven’t I? Don’t worry. If I’m going to do anything, it’s going to be in… Albion.”
With a smile on my face, I began to ponder.
I’ve already decided on the trap I plan to use on Stratos.
The only thing left to do is how to trap him. How do I push him over the edge?
“If you feel sorry for me, I have a few things I need you to prepare for me if that’s okay with you?”
His character is easy to read, and I can imagine what he’ll do.
Let me take advantage of his penchant.
I’m going to make him regret dragging me into his pocket.
Wait for me, Stratos.