The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 312
After repelling the enemy’s main force and reorganizing our formation, I turned my gaze towards the unit led by Sophia.
Since the enemy’s purpose was revealed to be hunting officers, the detached units with dispersed troops would inevitably suffer the most damage.
“….”
Anton was restless and at a loss for what to do.
He had been like this ever since receiving the news that his wife, master Ilya was captured by the enemy’s ambush troops.
Ash says, “Why don’t we send Anton as reinforcements? It seems like he wants that himself.”
“No, the enemy’s main force is not far away yet…. They might be targeting the reinforcement troops. Right now, we need to move slowly while ensuring our reconnaissance.”
“I know that, but….”
Ash’s expression changed during the next report.
“Reporting! It is said that Gaspar’s unit tried to support Ilya’s unit but is currently engaged in battle with another ambush unit!”
“Urgent news! Lysithea’s cavalry unit is providing support! They have entered into battle with the unit that has captured Gaspar!”
With the news that even Lysithea was now involved, Ash’s expression hardened.
“B-but since Gaspar is with them….”
He seemed to find some comfort in that, but the subsequent report made not only him but also Anton and myself surprised.
“The weapons of the enemy in the battle have been identified! One is Guderian Chester! The other calls himself Todolam Dorlen!”
Two key enemy commanders.
They were hunting our officers.
“Damn it, I can’t stand this! Ars! Give me 100 cavalry! I’m going right now!”
“….”
“Ars!”
“If you do that, you’ll give the impression that we’re being swayed.”
“Is this really the time to argue about such things?”
“We must argue. I’m the commander. Moreover, even if we provide support now, it would be meaningless. So…. I’ll give Ash 10,000 troops to attack the enemy’s main force and completely drive them away. Anton, Elena, both of you follow Ash.”
After giving them these instructions, I called for Gunther.
He, who had been working as a training officer since losing an arm, looked at me with wide eyes at my sudden call.
“What’s happening all of a sudden?”
“I’ll give you 500 troops. Go to where Sophia is right now.”
“…!”
Gunther understood the intent of my instructions and began to move quickly.
Fluctuating battle situation.
‘To hunt officers while sacrificing nearly 10,000 troops…. Rancia Galeron is not an ordinary general.’
To me, he felt more alien than any general I had encountered so far.
* * *
Sophia was busily giving instructions.
“Tell the nearby units to provide reinforcements immediately! Ilya Anfei’s unit is in danger!”
She was continuously dispatching units by splitting up the troops in her main camp.
Naturally, this meant the defense network around her main camp was becoming increasingly vulnerable.
She was confident that the enemy troops would not reach this rear position, but the enemy had already been hiding in nearby villages disguised as civilians for several days.
As the defense of Sophia’s formation weakened, they launched a surprise attack by shooting fire arrows and setting fire to the area.
With winter approaching and the weather being dry, the tents caught fire, throwing the formation into chaos.
“What is this…!?”
“Enemy infiltration! General Sophia! Please evacuate quickly…!”
There were no skilled commanders left in her camp.
They had all been sent out as support.
Under such circumstances, the enemy’s elite troops easily reached her.
“Enemy commander located. Definitely Sophia Veron!”
“Capture her alive!”
Realizing there was no hope, Sophia tried to commit suicide, but fortunately, Gunther’s reinforcements arrived at the right moment.
“Uaaaah!”
Swinging a log as thick as a person with one hand, Gunther pushed back the enemies and formed a defensive formation to protect Sophia.
However, Gunther judged the enemy elite troops to be of a higher level than expected and began to slowly retreat towards a nearby military fortress.
The enemy troops were also forced to withdraw from the pursuit.
Gunther let out a sigh of relief.
“They were trying to capture her alive, thank goodness, otherwise who knows what would have happened…. Are you okay, Sophia?”
“I’m fine. More importantly, Gunther, you should go and support Ilya Anfei right away. Time is of the essence!”
“I’m sorry, but Ars’ order to me is to protect you. I cannot move until your safety is completely secured.”
“Ugh…! Then go quickly!”
Certain that Gunther would not back down, she quickly made her way to the fortress.
The fortress she arrived at was a gateway fortress bordering the central region.
It was where Alvard’s army was stationed, guarded by Rutger.
Rutger nodded after hearing the situation.
“Hunting officers…. What an absurd thing to do.”
“But that’s precisely the point. If Ilya Anfei dies, not only will the military suffer a loss, but we know exactly how Ars will react.”
“That’s right. Ars will lose his composure. That would be exactly the situation the enemy commander is hoping for.”
“Please give me troops. I’m going to provide support right now.”
Though it might be too late, she felt she had to do something.
Rutger nodded and quickly dispatched 1,000 troops, but the situation there was already at a critical point.
Ilya, caught by her ankle by Guderian, was in a massive disadvantage.
Not only was the situation not good, but she was also significantly overwhelmed in her confrontation with Guderian.
Guderian’s skills were marginally better, and more importantly, Ilya was not using her full power.
Kang! After Guderian strikes his sword and pushes Ilya back, he speaks.
“What are you doing? This cannot be your full power.”
“….”
“If this is about showing respect to your master, it’s a useless act. What would you do if you were in the same situation? What if Ars Elaine hesitated to point a knife at you?”
“…I would tell Ars to use his full power.”
“If you understand that, then use your full power against me right now.”
Kkuk! Ilya grips her weapon with force and fills herself with poison, but soon her expression crumbles and she looks like she’s about to cry.
“I cannot do it. To have to kill the master who saved me from the depths… Such a thing….”
“I saved you from the depths…. Is that really so?”
“Yes…?”
“It’s the opposite. I was the one who pushed you into the depths. To correct that, Ilya Anfei, I need to kill you.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Ilya, shall we talk about the old days for a moment?”
Guderian plants his spear in the ground and continues with a sorrowful gaze.
“I first met you when you were eight years old, a war orphan. At that time, you asked me: how can people become happy, how can they find peace?”
Ilya shook her head. She couldn’t remember what she had asked. But she remembered her master’s response.
“Master said that strength itself is the way to protect oneself. Only by being strong can one protect their own happiness and find peace.”
Believing those words, Ilya trained in martial arts. As a war orphan who had lived a desperate life, she believed her master’s answer was the truth.
Guderian smiled with a look of regret.
“Even so, Ilya, what are you doing now?”
“Yes?”
“Despite finding your happiness and peace, why have you come to the battlefield?”
“That is….”
“Loyalty to Ars Elaine? That could have been entrusted to your husband.”
“….”
Ilya could not refute him.
Guderian speaks as if counseling her.
“You probably thought it was natural because that was your life. And I was the one who made you like this. Me, who was desperate to obtain an outstanding disciple at that time.”
He grabs the spear again.
“Attack me with full power. Throw yourself at me with everything you have. Only then can you kill the ghost I’ve cast upon you.”
“…!”
“Hurry!”
Ilya bites her lip hard and puts strength into her hand holding the weapon.
Then she rushes towards Guderian and launches her best possible attack.
But Guderian deflects even that attack and with a seratch! cuts off the banner attached to her chest.
That banner proved she was a mercenary and an officer of Liande.
Guderian laughs and says,
“With this, the mercenary Ilya Anfei is dead. So from now on, never return to the battlefield. Take care of your children and share love with your husband. Leisurely watch your descendants grow and enjoy small happiness. That is the answer you have been seeking all along.”
“Master….”
“I’m sorry for the delayed response. Only after 20 years can I give a proper answer. I am disqualified as a master.”
“That is not true! Master, you are…”
“No more words are needed. Leave now.”
The soldiers were stunned by this instruction. It meant they were letting the key enemy officer go.
Ilya could not move either. She knew exactly what would happen to Guderian if things proceeded this way.
He would surely be branded a traitor and executed.
‘Master must have known this would happen from the beginning…!’
Saving his disciple and making the battlefield his own tomb. This was the conclusion Guderian had reached.
Because he had been leading a group of radical beastman prisoners and could not avoid hostility with Ars, he had decided to exit in this manner.
He could avoid hostility with Ars, and if the fact of his betrayal became known, the influence of radical beastman prisoners within Svenner would be greatly reduced.
In this case, it would also be a favorable situation when Ars would unify the continent in the future.
The radical beastman prisoners abandoned by Svenner would ultimately have no choice but to bow and enter the opposite side of Ars.
He had already given a heads-up to some beastmen who shared this understanding.
Guderian, having finished everything, was standing calmly, ready to accept death, when an interruption appeared.
“What is happening right now?”
It was Todolam Dorlen, who had chased away the enemy troops after severely injuring Gaspar and Lysithea.
Covered in blood, he narrowed his eyes looking at Guderian’s actions.
“I told you to eliminate the enemy officer, not to let her go!”
“I have eliminated her. The armed officer Ilya Anfei will never return to the battlefield again. Isn’t that enough?”
“Of course it’s not enough! I hear this woman is Ars Elaine’s master. Killing her is the only way to shake that guy.”
That’s why the forces were concentrated towards where Ilya was. Rancia Galeron had intentionally targeted Ilya.
“Can you turn a blind eye if I kill her now?”
“Unfortunately, that’s not possible. My disciple is meant to enjoy the happiness that will unfold in the future.”
Guderian confronted Todolam, raising his killing intent.
Todolam lifted the corner of his mouth.
“I’ve wanted to fight you once, so this is perfect…! Everyone! Eliminate her right now! Do not let her escape!”
The soldiers had no choice but to follow Todolam’s orders.
The soldiers, holding their weapons, were closing in on Ilya’s breathing space.
Ilya could only wait for her final moment with fewer than 100 soldiers remaining.
At that moment, Guderian nodded his head.
“You didn’t arrive too late, it seems.”
“…?”
Thud! Boom! An unidentified cavalry breaks through the encirclement.
The heavily armored rider at the forefront quickly approached Ilya.
“Miss Ilya! Get on this horse!”
“You… Aggert?”
“No time for chatter! Are you going to waste master Guderian’s sacrifice?”
Aggert had been waiting in advance after receiving Guderian’s request.
Todolam frowned at this sight.
“Do you think you can escape?”
He tried to throw a dagger loaded with Aura, but Guderian struck the dagger away and targeted his neck.
“Kuk!”
Todolam was pinned down by the threatening offensive.
Guderian speaks to Ilya one last time.
“Citria, this is your original name.”
“…!?”
“I happened to meet a survivor from the village where you were born. Well, I thought you might be curious. Now go, quickly!”
Since Ilya still didn’t want to move, Aggert had to forcibly put her on the horse.
“Iyaa!”
Aggert and Ilya escape.
Guderian smiles at their backs and then enters his final battle.
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