The Strategist Knows Everything - Volume 3 Chapter 2
Part III: The Imperial State Edition
Chapter 2: Defensive Battle (1)
Translated by: Hiro02
Edited by: SevenTails
Note : ‘Consolidated magic’ changed to ‘Renketsu magic’. It is the magic performed by various magicians and sorcerers in unison.
The thundering sounds of explosions made me feel the intensity of the battle.
Riding Frezberg were me, Fio, Mikana and the other Nox unit commanders, as well as Fio’s escort, Charlotte.
The seven of us were Fort Raire’s reinforcements. It was a reckless strategy to try beating quantity with quality, but we didn’t have to defeat all 30,000 enemy soldiers. All we had to do was to inflict a certain amount of damage and then withdraw.
Well, it’s definitely more difficult than it seems, but it was not impossible.
“The more thoroughly trained an army is, the less likely they are to react without orders from a commander.”
“Is it the commander you are after?” Captain Ars asked me with a bewildered face while we were sitting on Frezberg’s back.
Just as Erica was known as ‘Guren no Majo’ (TL note: Crimson Witch), Captain Ars had a nickname too.
Ars the ‘Shōgari’ (TL note: the Commander Reaper). Back when he was a mercenary, he was repeatedly thrown into battles where, in order to somehow turn the tides of war, he would find and hunt down powerful generals and commanders. That’s how he had gotten his nickname. Of course, his desire to fight against strong opponents was probably a part of the reason.
However, ever since joining Nox, Captain Ars has been restraining himself a lot. If he were to act without permission, his unit would be left in a complete state of disarray. Above all, Captain Ars’ subordinates would not be able to keep up with him. But now, he didn’t have those kinds of restraints.
“I guessed that you’ll be requesting it, but let’s first go defend the fort.”
“I can assume that you’ll buy me some time until I take control of the Imperial Army, right?” Fio asked me to assert my intentions.
I nodded in response.
“But there are only five of you? And I can’t leave Fiona’s side, so how are you going to buy us time?” Charlotte asked me with a serious look on his face. His voice tone was the same as usual, even when he was serious. It usually makes me lose my concentration, but I knew that I would lose my mind if I dug into the details about his background.
“Fighting isn’t the only way to buy time. Well, we need to get their attention first, but that will just come naturally.”
Charlotte doubted my confident words, but since Fio didn’t say anything to me, Charlotte didn’t say anything either.
Although Fio and I were both military strategists, our roles were very clear this time.
I was in charge of the vanguard and Fio of the rear.
Fio was going to take overall command of the Imperial Army while I would move as I pleased on the frontlines. There will be times when I will have to give orders to the Imperial Army, but Fio would be the one to follow up on that, and for it to happen, Fio needed to take control of the entire army.
Thus, the first thing we needed to do was buy some time.
“Fio. If you can do it, I need you to send someone over here who can do Renketsu magic.”
“All right. I’ll give it a top priority.”
“Please, Erica, save your magic power now. I’ll have you do the consolidated magic.”
“I don’t mind, but it’ll take a while to get it done with those who can’t handle it very well on their own though, okay?” Erica, who was relaxing while touching Frezberg’s feathers, replied.
I didn’t know much about the Imperial Army’s magicians’ powers, or more specifically, Fort Raire’s sorcerers.
“Because?”
“I’ll send the best people I can, but you’ll have to give me results, okay?”
“Please tell that to the captain, Your Highness. I’ll just do as I’m told.”
I was fine with Erica’s blunt words shifting responsibility to me. It’s the role of superior to take responsibility and to bring out the best of their subordinates after all.
“Don’t worry, I can at least force the enemy to retreat.”
“Yukito nii-chan, how come you’re looking unusually confident now? What’s going on?” Roy asked me curiously. I indeed had a lot of leeways, but there wasn’t any particular reason for it.
“I don’t think we can afford to lose, right? Fort Raire’s battle is a prelude. We need to win with overwhelming power, and I think that’s not going to be too difficult with this team.”
“It’s about 8,000 against 30,000, right? How many people do we have to work for?”
“We’ve got to do the job of 22,000 people and only then will we be on par with them, right?”
Mikana spoke up, in a way that took Roy’s words, but while Roy was trying to get back at Mikana, she didn’t take him seriously.
Looking at them like this, they were like close siblings, although they’d deny it if I told them.
“It is said that the commanders of Nox’s troops are the fiercest warriors in the world, and maybe they are right, but that’s only when you fight individually. The four of you must work together and I’ll lead. The power we can exert together is beyond 4,000. It would be just a little over 20,000… Not much of a difference between us, is it?”
“If you say so, Yukito-sama, then so be it. I think that we are enough to make up the difference of 22,000.”
Fio followed Mikanas’s statement with a smile.
“Then, Charlotte and I will have to work very hard! We can’t just leave the fight to protect our kingdom to people from other kingdoms!”
“That’s right. If we need to win overwhelmingly, we’ll both have to work at least as hard as ten thousand people, right?”
“No, we’re not here to fight alone. We should join forces with the 8,000 troops who are currently fighting at the fort and organize them into an orderly army. If we do that, we will surely win the battle with the help of Yuki-chan and the others.”
Leading 8,000 people to fight evenly against 30,000. It was a very difficult task, but Fio was smiling.
Maybe she was hiding her worries under that smile, but she didn’t show it. It was because she was in command that she wouldn’t show fear in front of her subordinates. It was a necessary element for a commander.
To reassure Fio, I exaggeratedly tried acting touch, but I guess it was unnecessary. It was the first time she was fighting against an army of people, yet it seemed that it didn’t matter to her.
It would be foolish to be concerned about a person who has already made up his/her mind.
I have to fulfill my responsibilities towards my subordinates.
“We’re almost there.”
“Isn’t it a gimmick to keep on going like this?”
“Yes, it is. The best thing to do is to show up as flamboyantly as possible! The more we stand out, the better the morale will be!”
The Imperial Army was definitely going to be aware of Frezberg, and since we (EN: ‘we’ as in Nox) didn’t have much information about him, the other countries probably wouldn’t know either.
Hence, simply riding on Frezberg was a pretty impressive sight, but no matter how much domineering we seemed, it didn’t change the fact that we were still outnumbered. I wanted to make it as conducive to victory as possible.
“What’s the point of standing out? Well, then let’s just swoop down from above! Like, swoon~! Just like that!”
With his right hand, Roy conveyed the image of a steep descent to the rest of us.”
Both Fio and I grinned at the same time.
■■■
Up above in the clouds. We couldn’t see what was going on below, but they couldn’t see what was going above either.
“From here on out, it’s all hands on deck!1 Be prepared for anything!”
“Yeah! Keep the strategies the same, just adjust them slightly to suit your opponent!”
This would be the last meeting we would have until we’re done. Frezberg had already begun to descend.
The wind was blocked by Frezberg, but I still needed to hold onto his feathers or else I’d fall off him during the descent.
Captain Ars was understandably by my side to catch me if I ever let go whenever it got out of control. It was very uncomfortable. I don’t think I’d ever do something like that again, even if I wanted to.
Fio was being Fio and Charlotte was standing by her side.
Through the clouds, we could see multicoloured lines of Renketsu magic being shot at the fort. It may have looked like fireworks, but those lights weren’t so simple after all…
“Berg! Get to the front of the fort!”
“Got it.”
At Fio’s instructions, Frezberg spread his large wings and slowed down until stopping in front of the fort, which was being continuously bombarded by a storm of Renketsu Magic. Strong wind hit the soldiers of the fort, but it was the Albion soldiers who ended up miserably. They were blown away like dust.
The appearance of the giant bird brought silence to the battlefield.
At Albion’s side, Frezberg would have looked like an unrecognized reaper who had suddenly appeared and attacked them.
To the Imperial Army, it was a sure sign that the person they have been waiting for has arrived.
“From now on, I, Fiona Albright, will take command of the Imperial Second Defensive Frontier!”
Fio shouted at the top of her lungs at the fort from on top of Frezberg.
That was more than enough. Just the appearance of Frezberg equalled her appearance, and her shouting turned it into certainty. There was no need for the Imperial Army to say anything else.
After a moment’s pause, a shout came from the fort. The soldiers, who were on the losing side and had been beaten unilaterally until just now, came back to life when Fio appeared.
Fio ran all the way down Frezberg. Then, with Charlotte holding her, she jumped to the fort.
With this, the Imperial Army’s morale would be more than five times that of Albion’s. However, it was still not enough to make up the difference in numbers for sure.
It would be difficult to raise the morale any further. So, we just had to lower the enemy’s.
“Everyone, follow me.”
I took the other four with me and moved towards Frezberg’s head, from where I could see about 30,000 Albion troops attacking Fort Raire.
The reverse was also the same.
Black hair, black eyes, black kimono and an unnaturally worn black coat. Albion’s side would know immediately who I was.
My reputation in Albion wasn’t fixed.
Some say I’m a hero for protecting Sophia from the First King of Veris while others say I’m an unforgivable sinner who kidnapped Sophia. No, many of them would clearly recognize me as an enemy after I directly confronted Albion’s army on the Imperial Defense Front.
Even without mentioning Sophia, I’m the commander who has killed the most Albion troops to date. That was more than enough to make them resent me and that’s why they’ll pay attention to what I have to say. Be it good or bad.
“White knights gather under the white flag! I have something to say before we engage in battle!”
My voice was clear enough. I was sure it would be heard far and wide now that the battlefield was drowning in silence.
All I had to do now was stall for time, but I had something I wanted to find out.
First of all, I wanted to know whether Macefield was there or not.
“Let’s hear it! Master Strategist of Veris!”
A voice answered from the middle of the Imperial Army. It was a man’s voice. Macefield is supposed to be a woman.
It is the general who usually responds in these situations. It’s not hard to imagine a case where the general doesn’t respond.
“I have a message for you! I’d like to convey a message to Miss Macefield face to face if possible!”
“Ha ha ha! I’m sorry to hear that! Macefield-sama can’t be here! There’s no need for her to appear before the Imperial Army! I, the second-in-command, Dick, will take her place!”
I turned a cold eye to the man in armour who smiled triumphantly at me.
The only thing I could tell from the distance was that he was a man, and from his voice, he was not that young. I can’t see his status either, but considering how easily he revealed the absence of Macefield, he probably wasn’t of low status.
Of course, it could also be a trick, but if it was, he would have said it differently. The way he said it was too straightforward.
“All right! General Dick then! I will pass on to you a message from the Supreme Maiden!”
My words resounded throughout the Albion army. Then, I took out a fan from my pocket and unfolded it.
This fan was a national treasure, and from the Albion army’s perspective, it must be confusing to see me holding it. Well, I don’t care about the feelings of the Albion army.
“What the hell are you going to say when you take out the divine fan, Klarus? I heard that the Supreme Maiden was kidnapped by Veris! Is your goal to enrage us?!”
“Know that your thoughts are shallow! The message is brief! It is that Albion’s forces must cease fighting against justice and return to their homeland! Such is the message!”
It wasn’t an order, it was a wish. “If you get the chance, please tell them that I don’t want to fight” were the words Sophia entrusted to me.
I hadn’t had a chance to tell them since we had mostly attacked by surprise, but it was now a good opportunity, so I did, and well, I said it. Albion army’s reaction was just as I had imagined it would be.
The Albion army began to laugh loudly. It was as if they really couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’ve heard that Veris’ military strategist knows a thousand ways of warfare. … Do you really think that such lies will make us retreat?! If that’s one of your methods, then the remaining nine hundred or more shouldn’t be much of a problem!”
Dick said that and started laughing even louder, enough so that it could reach us.
My and the four captain’s eyes turned cold as we looked at Albion’s army. If you’ve ever talked to Sophia, you’d know that she was the most averse to war.
During the battle against the Empire, Sophia caused a storm that capsized many ships, but to save the drowning Imperial soldiers, she changed the direction of the wind towards the land and sent them all ashore. Thus, Sophia herself did not take the lives of the Imperial soldiers.
Those soldiers were still being held by Veris as prisoners of war, but it was better than losing their lives.
It didn’t matter how much mercy Sophia showed, it would only save a fraction of them. I think Sophia knew that, and she also knew how naïve she was. She probably felt guilty that she was the only one who didn’t stain her hands with blood, but even then, she wouldn’t do such a thing.
No matter how beautiful it was, Sophia was going to keep it that way. She was going to hold up her hands, clean of blood, and tell them how foolish it was to fight.
What a Supreme Maiden. She was just decorating herself without understanding anything and creating an idol for her own convenience.
As I looked at the 30,000 laughing Albion troops, I realized that I was feeling angry. I also knew that now was the right time to unleash it.
So.
“She would never hurt someone, even if they were trying to hurt her! That’s the kind of woman Sophia Leedsberg is! She would never forget the importance of peace, no matter the circumstances. What have you seen? What do you know? Is it funny that she wants you to stop fighting? Put a hand on your heart and ask yourselves! If she were here, what would she say to you?!”
I interrupted his laughter and said it out loud.
The battlefield went silent again.
The people of Albion know that Sophia was a peace-loving person and there’s no mistaking that.
They laughed at my words, but if you calmly thought about it, there’s nothing wrong with Sophia saying those words.
“Don’t be fooled! The man you’re fighting is a warlord of Velis! The one who kidnapped the supreme maiden! If the Supreme Maiden were here, she would admire us for fighting for justice for Albion as the guardian of order!!”
“What justice? Don’t make me laugh! Albion looked over the peace of the continent! Albion was the guardian of order on the continent, not actively fighting and harmonizing with other nations, but the Albion of today is different! Is it justice to invade the Imperial State?! No matter how you look at it, this is an invasion with territorial ambition!
Because of your actions, the continent is now on the verge of a bloody war between the four great powers! Do you understand?! Do you really think that the people think that… Albion is righteous?”
Albion’s side would have its arguments. In the past, there was no doubt that Veris was a kingdom that wanted to invade the center of the continent, and no one would have complained about trying to defeat it. It was his daughter, Kaguya-sama, who succeeded to the throne.
Justice changes with stance, and so do views and arguments. If I was asked to think of words to justify Albion, I would probably come up with more words to justify Veris instead. Although, it’d be hard for me to justify this invasion of the Imperial State.
The Imperial State, although officially allied with Veris, was an existence that Albion had no problem overlooking. There is no need for war if Veris is destroyed and the Imperial State cornered through diplomacy. The reason why they didn’t dare to do so was that once the war ended, there was a possibility of the Empire intervening and them not obtaining a satisfactory territory.
There’s no denying that the current invasion was aimed toward conquering territory and thus, it goes against the justice that Albion had been upholding as the guardian of order. Albion had violated the justice that they themselves have upheld.
“If you still want to talk about being a guardian of order, then come at me! I, Yukito Kurei, commander of the Independent Mobile Unit, Nox, of the Kingdom of Veris, will smash that rotten justice into pieces in my name!”
(1) ‘All hands on deck’ means that a particular situation requires everyone to work hard in order to achieve an aim