Translator: AkazaTL
Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
Chapter 57 : Splendid Vacation (1)
“I assert that the biggest characteristic of incompetent people is that they cannot distinguish between the process and the results accompanying the process. Shall I guess what the nobles of the capital are talking about right now?”
I pressed the Abysin point on the map with the baton and spoke.
“By now, those guys must be discussing how to distribute the territory and assets after sweeping us away.”
“……Are you saying they are already thinking about rewards after the war when they haven't even had a proper engagent with us yet?”
“Didn't I tell you? That they are incompetent people. The fact that there is no news of the Subjugation Force departing yet is probably because of this too. Since the place is full of guys who are only interested in the ritual food rather than the rites, how could the chanting go properly?”
In the heads of the capital’s nobles, the Reichart subjugation would have already been a completed task.
In the first place, not only are they guys who have never fought a proper war, but they are also idiots who believe that victory or defeat in war is determined solely by the number of soldiers.
If there was one thing that weighed on their minds, it would have been Redin’s existence.
However, since even that Redin was made incapable of combat due to Araxia poisoning, it was obvious that the thought of losing could not be found in their heads.
“I don't know who is taking command, but the commander over there must have a headache right now. To wage a war leading pig bastards who only have greed.”
“…….”
“Of course, this is only if the commander over there has enough ability to realize his colleagues’ incompetence.”
“It is truly a strange thing.”
“What is?”
“It is clear that we are inferior in objective power, but when talking with the Commander, it feels as if we have occupied the advantageous ground.”
Ismael showed a smile unlike his usual self and spoke.
“It is not as if we are advantageous; we are advantageous.”
I shook my head and asserted.
“In war, especially in the case of a civil war in a small country like this, what decides the situation is ultimately the commander’s capability. Rember it well.”
My remark sounded arrogant at a glance, but Ismael did not think so.
Because the Hein Reichart he knew was a person fully qualified to say such words.
“I will keep it in mind!”
And this confidence of mine was a natural thing.
Although Ismael had no way of knowing, in the past, I was a figure who waged war against the entire continent from the position of the Akrishima Empire Emperor’s right arm.
In that process, I also possessed the experience of leading wars to victory by engaging in serious matches with countless famous generals and brave monarchs.
Compared to the nurous famous generals who fell under my stratagems, the nobles of Zodiac were practically scarecrows.
As I was aiming for a bigger and more colossal enemy that could not even be compared to the likes of Zodiac, I had no intention of dragging this war on for long.
‘I will end it within 6 months.’
And right when I pledged to end this civil war early,
“Young Master, it is Gabriel.”
“Co in.”
Gabriel opened the door with cautious movents and entered.
“Ah, the Vice-Commander was also here.”
“Long ti no see. Lord Gabriel.”
Watching the two people exchanging greetings with polite expressions, I revealed the business for which I called Gabriel.
“Gabriel, it has been quite so ti since you worked under , right?”
“Co to think of it, it has already been over a year since I served the Young Master. Ti is truly fast.”
“You suffered a lot in a foreign land eting an eccentric superior. You couldn't even rest properly during that ti.”
“N-No. Thanks to the Young Master, I…….”
“No. You suffered a lot. So I am thinking of giving you a special vacation.”
I spoke like that and narrowed my eyes to look at Gabriel.
At that appearance, Gabriel swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.
The Young Master is clearly talking about a vacation, so why is cold sweat running down my back?
“Gabriel, I will give you a vacation, so go visit your hotown.”
“Pardon?”
Vacation? Suddenly a vacation in this situation where a civil war has broken out?
In the incomprehensible situation, Gabriel questioned back without realizing it.
Smirk.
I gave an ambiguous smile and ordered Ismael.
“Ismael, take a few mbers tomorrow and escort Gabriel to his hotown.”
***
“Stupid bastards!”
Helkane, who ca out after finishing the eting, shouted in a voice filled with rage and struck the wall.
“Calm down.”
“Mother, don't you know well that we cannot delay ti anymore? The more we hesitate like this, we only give Hein ti to prepare.”
Unlike Rishu, who seed calm, Helkane could not hide his agitated deanor.
Retreating from the Reichart territory as if running away, and losing Redin; everything was absurdly resentful for Helkane.
If it were up to his heart, he wanted to lead the forces and march to the Reichart territory imdiately to avenge this humiliation.
“We cannot mobilize the army until things beco certain? They haven't even touched the hair of the enemy, yet does it make sense to discuss the distribution of spoils already?”
Looking at Helkane who could not hide his anger, Rishu spoke in a low voice.
“Helkane, I thought I taught you many things and you learned enough, but there is sothing you haven't learned yet.”
“What do you an? Mother.”
“I an the thod of handling foolish people.”
Unlike Helkane, Rishu’s expression seed to still have composure.
The fact that the nobles they ford an alliance with would do stupid things of this level was sothing she had already anticipated.
“I will show you clearly how to handle them, so watch and learn well.”
Rishu’s eyes were colder than ever.
In fact, it wasn't that she didn't feel anxiety either.
However, the reason she was feeling anxiety was a little different from Helkane.
“I wonder if he is doing well.”
The reason she felt anxiety was only one.
It was only the fact that she gave Redin up to Hein.
“Helkane, does your father know? How much I miss him.”
Distinct veins popped on the back of Rishu’s beautiful hand that was stroking the ring.
“……I will make him know.”
Looking at Rishu with an expression she rarely showed, Helkane bit his lip.
Looking at her son who had grown up so much, Rishu smiled.
“Yes. That is my son.”
***
“We will march, so I hope everyone makes preparations accordingly.”
Around the ti fifteen days had passed since declaring the civil war against the nobles, I called the retainers together and proclaid.
“It is a matter where we cannot just stand by and watch the situation forever. Supply lines are secured, and the people seem to have found stability to so extent, so I plan to move slowly.”
At my unexpected bold policy, the retainers looked at each other's faces with flustered expressions.
“At this yard where the enemies’ response is being delayed, we cannot just look at the good opportunity they gave us. Now is the ti for us to move first and produce results.”
I ordered the movent of troops with a determined tone.
“Sir Timon, and Sir Santana, I will give you 2,000 soldiers, so lead the knight order and besiege Viscount Sono's territory.”
“……!”
At the unexpected large-scale troop movent, Timon and Santana's eyebrows twitched.
“Sir Larmus, lead the Hels Knight Order and 1,500 troops, cross the Abstein River, and garrison at the Larm Plains. And press both Baron Natal’s territory and Baron Ramis’s territory from there. Since they must feel the burden, I hope you take a bold step forward.”
My bold instructions did not end with this.
“Sir Vector, you along with Vice-Commander Asolam…….”
I organized five corps and ordered them all to advance.
The knight order executives who received the orders looked at each other with expressions where their flustered deanor was evident.
“Young Master, it is a presumptuous question, but weren't you going to base the defense in the territory?”
Eventually, Bohvelt, who was like the leader of the knight order executives, threw the question.
If things proceeded according to my instructions, about half of the Reichart territory’s troops would be leaving on an expedition.
For this bold expedition, all knight orders except Haken and Ares were scheduled to be mobilized.
“Of course, the headquarters for defense and interception warfare will be here. But we must occupy strategic points in advance.”
Of course, as I said, there was a need to secure defensive strongholds.
But the key to this civil war was defense.
The commanders, who thought they would focus only on defense for at least about 6 months, raised objections in cautious voices.
“If a large-scale Subjugation Force is expected, how about dispersing the power after repelling the forces once?”
“If we disperse troops hastily and get defeated individually, it will be a big blow.”
However, despite the commanders’ dissuasion, I firmly shook my head.
“No. As of now, this is the best. I hope the generals trust and follow the decision just this once.”
“We understand. Young Master.”
The commanders had no choice but to nod in the end.
Because there had never been a single ti when my choice missed the mark in the two wars Reichart recently fought.
Looking at the knight order executives who solidified their resolve to obey the order, I spoke.
“From now on, it will be the earnest beginning. From now on, I intend to take what needs to be taken and step on what needs to be stepped on to lay the foundation for victory.”
I looked at Bolpar, who was keeping silent, and spoke.
“Tower Master.”
“Please speak. If there is work for this person to do, I will follow the Acting Family Head’s order with my life.”
I took out a letter prepared in advance from my bosom, held it out toward Bolpar, and spoke.
“Will you take this letter, go to Adela, and et Baron Pollak?”
“Adela, you say.”
Bolpar, who heard the na of ‘Comrcial City Adela’, fell into thought with a sowhat stiff expression.
‘Was he talking about this when he said he would take what needs to be taken and step on what needs to be stepped on?’
Adela, ruled by Baron Pollak, was a comrcial city counted on the first finger in the entire northern part of Zodiac, and was a city boasting abundant supplies befitting its reputation.
Now I am trying to ‘take’ this Adela.
‘Indeed, Adela is a place that cannot be obtained by sword, nor should it be.’
Bolpar nodded.
The reason I did not launch troops toward Adela was simple.
If a war occurred in the process of obtaining Adela, Adela would lose its value as a comrcial city.
There would be no rchants remaining in a comrcial city with paralyzed distribution networks, and a comrcial city from which all rchants have left would not escape the fate of being an empty husk.
There would be no benefit even if one obtained such an empty husk.
‘Indeed, if we can just obtain Adela, not only its role as a defensive stronghold but also supply procurent will beco much smoother, so long-term operation execution will also be possible.’
Baron Pollak, befitting his nickna Fox, was walking a tightrope without revealing a clear line even though fifteen days had passed since the civil war started.
I had chosen Bolpar, who currently had the highest reputation in Reichart, as the envoy to end that tightrope walking.
“I understand. I will go to Adela and et Baron Pollak as soon as preparations are done.”
Bolpar nodded with an expression full of determination.
Of course, visiting Pollak’s territory, who had not yet revealed a clear line, alone was a very dangerous thing.
However.
“Well, since it is a matter of this person going alone, is there a need for preparations? I will depart imdiately as the sun sets today.”
At least for now, he had no thoughts of worrying about his own life.
“Thank you, Tower Master.”
“Hoho! There are many who lead soldiers on arduous journeys. I will surely bring good news.”
Bolpar waved his hand and showed a hearty laugh as if it was nothing.
And the next morning.
“All troops, sortie!”
Hiii-hing!
Along with the rough sound of horses’ hooves, the expedition toward each respective goal began.
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