The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 294
Shocking news from the kingdom.
After returning to Belen, I was listening to the situation report in a flustered state.
“Olaf has been captured, how could this happen…?”
Duke Hellian spoke with a somber expression.
“It seems he fell into a trap.”
The situation was simple.
General Sophia, the commander-in-chief responsible for defending the southern territories, had divided 100,000 troops into three branches: northern, central, and southern, and instructed them to hold the siege.
She appointed Rutger to the north, herself to the central region, and Olaf as the general in the south. Her plan was to buy time using military fortresses until my return from the Tunkai direction.
However, the southern fortress of Bülang, where Olaf decided to hold the siege, had characteristics unknown to us.
“A secret underground passage?”
“Yes, the western army was aware of it. The leadership of Bülang was inside, so a special forces unit infiltrated through that underground passage. Olaf quickly responded and succeeded in pushing back the troops, but he himself was captured.”
Inside the western forces were the first and second princes of Bülang, along with major nobles.
I had anticipated that their influence would not provide a geographical advantage, but I never expected they would have such a critical weakness.
“Tell Sophia immediately. Order her to re-examine all military fortresses in the south.”
“She’s probably already doing that. More importantly… What can we do?”
The question of what to do with the captured Olaf.
I couldn’t give any answer. After all, if the other side refuses to exchange prisoners, there was no solution.
It might be better not to panic.
The enemy would not quickly make a judgment about Olaf’s identity. They would think he held a high position within the military due to his important role, but they wouldn’t immediately consider him my crucial vassal.
I might be able to subtly arrange a prisoner exchange by leveraging that aspect.
‘This is an optimistic observation, but…’
I wasn’t at ease, but right now, this was the only thing I could believe in.
At that moment, Gaspar speaks.
“How about sending a special forces unit?”
“Sending a special forces unit right into the enemy’s center is madness. There’s a high possibility we’ll just get more people captured.”
“A few can serve as decoys. I’ll be the decoy and rescue Olaf.”
“Yumir and Ryuna will be sad. I don’t want that either.”
“… Damn it!”
Gaspar leaves the room, bursting with frustration. Duke Hellian also departed, saying he would prepare for my expedition.
I covered my forehead and closed my eyes tightly.
A captured vassal. This was the very situation I most feared.
“Olaf….”
Boom! At that moment, my sister Julia burst into the office. Meissen was behind her.
“Little brother! Please do something about our lord!”
My sister pleaded desperately. Meissen also looked like she was about to cry and begged, but I had no clear solution at the moment.
Now, I could only collect information through the spies who had infiltrated.
I had already asked Anton to handle this.
“Sister, I understand your feelings, but please wait calmly.”
“But…!”
“I know the situation is not good. But if we move hastily, we’ll invite even greater disaster.”
“Sob…! Sob!”
Julia was crying. Meissen comforted her by patting her back.
Recently, after Meissen gave birth, Julia had been helping her in every way, and they had grown close. If Olaf returns safely, they would probably live happily together.
Meissen says to me with tear-filled eyes, “Ars, I believe you’ll make the best decision. Even if Lord Olaf doesn’t return… I will understand.”
“Don’t push yourself.”
Yumir had come to check the situation, so I entrusted the two to her.
After they left, and I was alone, I began to plan the upcoming war strategy while clearing my mind.
With Olaf breached and our southern front completely broken, our frontline was significantly collapsed.
The enemy was establishing supply routes in the south and beginning to target Renova, the region’s most crucial point.
If Renova were to be lost, the western and northwestern territories would naturally fall, so this area had to be defended at all costs.
‘This will be the battlefield.’
I stared at the map of the Renova region for a long time.
Then, unexpected guests arrived to see me.
It was the Dragons, Vandalin and Altron.
Vandalin in the form of a human elder and Altron in the form of an elven grandmother.
I guided them to the garden and received them.
“You two look well-matched. Anyone seeing you would think you’re a couple.”
They both explode at my joke.
“Why would we be a couple!”
“Stop talking nonsense!”
Although their compatibility seemed exactly like a married couple, anyway.
Vandalin shook his head and said, “I heard you found Omeron.”
“Yes, he was in the underground of the Elrich Mountains.”
“Was the Florand tribe guarding it… I should have noticed earlier.”
“Even if you had noticed, it wouldn’t have changed much. Apparently, to unseal that door, a descendant of Mirabel is needed.”
“Mirabel? Why is that?”
After I explained the details, they both sighed.
“As expected, it was like that. Omeron also acted for the continuation of life….”
“You were all out of sync.”
Except for Mepatra, the four dragons acted individually for their future.
“If we had communicated together, perhaps a different result would have emerged.”
“That’s because this guy was shut away on an island!”
Altron jumps up at Vandalin’s criticism.
“You were the first to go into seclusion!”
“What did you say!?”
The two start a childish argument.
As my head began to hurt, I demanded they go and meet Omeron.
I assigned Elena as their guide.
Elena grimaced, not wanting to go with the constantly bickering pair, but she had no choice.
After seeing them off, Duke Hellian’s battle preparations were complete, and we began our journey to the south.
***
On one side, the camp of the West and Svenner.
Here, they were enjoying the victory of the first battle.
By capturing the fortress and gaining control over the southern territories, the West had fully revealed its malevolent fangs.
Tetora Anistri, one of the army’s major generals, was preparing her revenge.
It was vengeance against Ars, who had previously humiliated her.
She intended to start a civilian massacre, led by Casper Millias.
“Casper! I’ll give you 3,000 troops! Pillage and kill all the villages within the territory!”
“Yes!”
Casper also accepted the order with a face filled with madness.
The people of Svenner tried to stop them.
“Stop, Tetora!”
They were the princes and nobles of Bülang.
“This land is a place we have reclaimed and will govern! These citizens are our property and resources! We will not allow them to be destroyed!”
Although the people of Bülang had joined them, strictly speaking, they were attached to Svenner.
They still had a tense relationship with the West due to past events.
Tetora responded with a sneer.
“What are these fools intoxicated by past power saying to me? Do you think Svenner will return the land to you? You’ll just be used and then discarded.”
“What did you say?”
“Prince Eldric knew this and stepped back. Yet you fools are still talking nonsense about rebuilding Bülang, which is just ridiculous.”
In response to Tetora’s sharp remark, Svenner’s second general Hasikuran warns her.
“Tetora Anistri, Svenner has decided to cooperate in rebuilding Bülang. This is not something for you to comment on.”
“You speak such sweet words so well?”
“These are not sweet words, but the truth. Bülang will be rebuilt.”
Surprisingly, Svenner really did have such a plan.
This was due to the mother goddess’s influence.
Mother goddess’s plan was to drive this Central Continent into chaos.
After the division barrier disappears, they would deploy the Alliance’s forces from the outside to destroy all kingdoms and eliminate life.
In that sense, Svenner unifying the continent was also an undesirable form.
Therefore, they wanted to revive Bülang to further incite more confusion.
“Well, okay. Since we have many toys to play with, you haven’t forgotten that the treatment of prisoners was left to us, right?”
“…Do as you wish.”
“Hmph.”
Tetora, accompanied by Casper, headed towards where the prisoners were being tortured, eager to enjoy the sound of bursting blood and screams.
She discovers Olaf, who sits in prison, having completely surrendered to his fate.
His serene demeanor irritates Tetora.
She asks Casper, “This guy was the military commander?”
“Yes! We haven’t discovered his relationship with Ars Elaine yet, but he is believed to be one of his close associates.”
“Oh… Wouldn’t it be fun to skin him completely and send him salt-covered to him?”
“Will you do it directly?”
“Huh, no, you do it. I don’t want to dirty my hands.”
“Yes!”
Casper immediately prepares the torture tools.
Olaf closes his eyes tightly.
‘I’m sorry, Ars. Please take care of Julia and Meissen…!’
Casper approaches Olaf with a knife designed to strip animal hide.
At that moment,
“Stop.”
An armored interruption by a light cavalry. Tetora furrows her brow.
“You are…”
“I am Svenner’s special military general Calvern. We will take that prisoner.”
“Stop talking nonsense! We were entrusted with the treatment of prisoners!”
“It depends on the circumstances.”
Calvern throws a document with the Svenner royal seal at Tetora.
Then he orders his subordinates to secure Olaf.
Tetora strongly protests, and her close guards draw their weapons.
Calvern smirks.
“Are you thinking of trying something? If so, I won’t stop you.”
“Ugh…!”
Tetora swallows her dry saliva. She is slightly overwhelmed by the martial spirit Calvern exudes.
Calvern ridicules the subdued Tetora and gives instructions to his subordinates.
Thus, Olaf narrowly escaped torture, though the situation still seemed pessimistic.
He thought his fate would be the same, only with the main actors changing from West to Svenner.
However, shortly after being transferred to Svenner’s officers, a subtle change occurred.
Calvern dismissed all the officers except one and whispers,
“This is a one-time thing. If I do more, I’ll be suspected.”
The remaining officer politely shows his respect.
“Thank you, Calvern.”
“Hmph.”
Calvern stares at Olaf for a moment and then turns to leave.
The remaining officer begins to untie Olaf’s bindings.
The bewildered Olaf is whispered to by the officer,
“Long time no see, Mr. Olaf.”
“That voice… Aggert!?”
“Hehe, lower your voice. We’ll be in trouble if we’re discovered.”
Aggert, who has untied the bindings, hands Olaf a prepared Svenner soldier’s armor.
“Put this on and follow right behind me.”
Olaf nods like a chick and changes clothes as instructed.
Aggert leads Olaf, now dressed as a Svenner soldier, out of the military camp from a distance.
Only after reaching a safe, unpopulated area does Olaf speak,
“Aggert! Where have you been and what have you been doing?”
“Didn’t Ars tell you?”
“I heard. That you were caught by slave traders while trying to save Ars’ mother and sold to the Alliance.”
“That’s right.”
“But how…”
“Who am I! I survived against all odds!”
“Huh…!”
Aggert winks.
“Tell Ars I’m doing fine. And that I’ll return someday.”
“We should go together right now!”
“No, it’s better for me to stay here for various reasons.”
Olaf clicks his tongue. As he said, Aggert remaining as an internal spy would be more advantageous.
“I’m really grateful, Aggert. I’ll treat you to a big drink later.”
“Hehe, when that time comes, let’s invite Master Gaspar and Brother Anton too.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
After hugging Aggert once, Olaf departs.
Aggert looks around and then returns to the military camp.
Hi guys, please check out the new novel I picked “I killed the Demon King. It was a mistake.”
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