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The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 128

The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 128

It was when I returned to command after collecting the bodies of the wounded and dead that both sides engaged in combat entered a stalemate.

General Altior initially withdrew his troops to distance them from the enemy.

The damage from the engagement was minor on both sides.

Our army’s casualties were around 3,000, while the enemy’s were about 4,000.

Most of the casualties came from our right wing.

“General Elaine, there’s an order to withdraw the troops further back!”

“…I see. Understood.”

Altior was well aware that the fierce battle had taken place on the right wing.

That’s why he intended to make that the end of the

battle.

As we withdrew our troops, Bülang began collecting bodies.

Even from a distance, I could hear the wailing.

“Sister──!”

It was the sound of Tena crying while hugging her sister Rina’s head. In addition, Riserl’s body was being collected by the protagonist.

After collecting all the bodies, Bülang slowly began preparations for retreat.

With the West and Svenner attacking, they had no time to delay.

As they began to retreat, our army leisurely followed behind, starting to reclaim the territory we had ceded to Bülang.

‘Not bad.’

Altior was certainly more experienced compared to Dunan.

You could say he had the ability to understand and utilize the situation. That’s why he could lead the battle situation in this way.

The end point of the march was a small city called Ulcan, located near the southwestern border.

As we reclaimed Ulcan, we entered the city amid cheers from the citizens.

After completing the stationing of soldiers, I gave my close aides some rest before heading to the administrative building in Ulcan where an emergency military council meeting was being held.

In the military council chamber, discussions about future plans were taking place.

An officer made a suggestion,

“Bülang is currently in a hurry to retreat. If we keep pursuing them, couldn’t we take their territory up to the border?”

“Hmm.” Altior nodded and groaned, seemingly thinking it had merit. Then he looked at Duke Hellian. “Regnat, this would become a diplomatic issue, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes, it would. We’d be marching into enemy territory. It wouldn’t simply be an issue between Bülang and us. Probably… The Kingdom of Alvard would object.”

Currently, the Kingdom of Alvard has begun marching towards Svenner via Europe, denouncing the invasion by the West and Svenner.

This means their interests align with Bülang’s.

“If Bülang and Alvard were to form an alliance, it could become a troublesome situation. Currently, Alvard is also trying to form an alliance with Europe.”

In that case, the continent’s landscape would narrow down to three forces.

The Western Alliance of the West, Svenner, and Tunkai. The Central Alliance of Alvard, Bülang, and Europe.

And the Eastern Alliance of Beckavia, Calliper, and Crossing.

“Elaine, what do you think?”

Altior turned the arrow to me.

I was tired and wished they would treat me as if I wasn’t there… But it seems I had become a person of interest through this war.

“As Duke Hellian said, a Central Alliance would be detrimental to us.”

“Meaning?”

“Assuming the Western Alliance and Central Alliance were to sign a ceasefire agreement in the future, there’s a high possibility that the Central Alliance would combine forces to target our East. That would be quite troublesome. The combat power of Beckavia in our alliance is practically non-existent.”

If a Central Alliance is formed, the balance of power would be Central > Western > Eastern.

“So at the point when the Central Alliance is formed, the Western Alliance would likely try to withdraw by signing a ceasefire agreement.”

“And then the Central Alliance might target us, you mean.”

“Yes, so I think it’s best not to give them any pretext for an alliance if possible.”

“Hmm. Does everyone think the same?” Altior nodded and declared, “Until the direction of diplomacy is decided, our army will remain here for the time being! We don’t know when the order to march out will come, so everyone stay alert!”

─Yes, General!

The military council meeting decided to observe the situation.

I was about to go straight back to rest, but Altior stopped me.

“Elaine, shall we have a talk for a moment?”

“When you say talk…”

“Ah, no need to think too seriously. I just want to have a casual conversation. Well, are you still on good terms with my granddaughter?”

As expected of Gilbert Saleon’s father. He seemed to have considerable political acumen as well.

However, he seemed less calculating than Gilbert.

“It’s fate, isn’t it? The child of the baronial family who protected my granddaughter back then is now a general. So, when are you getting married? I’d like to see my great-grandchild before I die.”

“Haha…”

It was so blatant that I couldn’t help but laugh.

On the other hand, Duke Hellian seemed bothered by those blatant words.

“Duke Altior, I apologize, but I had a prior engagement with General Elaine on my side.”

“…”

The two stared at each other intently.

Soon, Altior spoke.

“Regnat, did you have a daughter of marriageable age?”

“…No, I don’t.”

“Huh, is that so. I see. If there’s a prior engagement, it can’t be helped.”

Altior smiled leisurely after confirming that his family was in a much more advantageous position.

Anyway, everyone always talks about marriage arrangements at every opportunity.

I was starting to get sick of it too.

* * *

After finishing the military council meeting, I moved to my assigned quarters.

My quarters were a mansion of a nobleman who had fled to escape the war.

All my close associates were gathered there.

When I returned to the mansion, Eo seemed to have prepared dinner, as a delicious smell wafted through the air.

“Welcome back!”

Eo came out to greet me wearing an apron. Perhaps because of the tracking spell on me, Eo always came out first to greet me.

“It smells delicious.”

“Yes! I was in the middle of making the meat stew that Ars likes. Please wait a little longer.”

“Okay, I’ll be resting in my room for a while, so call me when it’s ready.”

I’m glad Eo seems to have cheered up. I headed to my room on the second floor.

In the room, Yumir was in the middle of making the bed.

“Young master, you’re back.”

“…”

I thought this was perfect timing.

“Yumir, do you have a moment?”

“Yes…?”

I sat Yumir down on the bed and lay down, resting my head on her lap.

“Phew! Now I feel alive.”

“Hehe.” Yumir gently smiles and strokes my hair.

This was, how should I put it, more like a habit of Ars in my memories rather than mine.

When Ars was a little kid, he always played following Yumir around.

Yumir would smile warmly and wag her tail as if saying ‘Try to catch me’, and Ars would run around the mansion trying to grab Yumir’s tail.

When he got tired, he would fall asleep with his head on Yumir’s lap, just like now.

That experience of Ars remained with me even now.

After I entered Ars’ body at the age of twelve, I didn’t do it often because it felt embarrassing, but on days like today when I was tired and had a headache, Ars’ memories would urge me, so I occasionally indulged.

“Whew…!”

Resting my head on Yumir’s lap like this made me feel at ease. The throbbing headache had disappeared before I knew it.

I turned my body and buried my face towards Yumir’s stomach. The touch of the clothes she was wearing pleasantly tickled my face.

I naturally moved my right hand towards Yumir’s tail. This was also something Ars often did.

Plop! When I cover the tail with my palm.

Swish! Yumir pulls her tail out and places it back on the back of my hand.

Plop! When I put my palm on the tail again, Swish! Yumir pulls it out again and places it on the back of my hand.

This meaningless and slightly embarrassing act continues to repeat.

“You must be very tired today.”

“A little.”

I hesitated for a moment but decided to bring up that topic.

“Yumir, do you remember? That guy who talked to me about justice and judgment.”

“I couldn’t see clearly because of the distance, but I vaguely remember.”

“That guy is Arios Almein.”

“…”

Yumir was silent for a moment, then.

“…Is that true?”

“Yes. Juras said so.”

Plus, there’s my knowledge from the game.

“Couldn’t you recognize him?”

“No, what I knew was young master Arios when he was three years old. If I observe carefully, I might be able to see traces of that time, but…”

“I guess it would be difficult to recognize him.”

“Even if we had a conversation, he was only three years old, so he probably wouldn’t remember someone like me. Also, since I was in a position to serve Lady Rizna, I didn’t have many chances to interact with Lady Euphemia and young master Arios.”

Since I brought up the topic, I couldn’t help but ask.

“Hey, Yumir. What if. What if, I mean. If Arios tries to kill me, what would you do?”

“I would kill young master Arios first.”

It was an immediate answer.

“I see.”

I guess the incident of Yumir’s attempted assassination of the protagonist in the game happened in this context, which seems natural.

After that, we continued the tail-grabbing game in silence.

This went on for 20 minutes.

There was a knock, and Eo poked her head in.

“Sir Ars, dinner is rea… Huh!?”

Eo stares at us with her mouth wide open as I’m using Yumir’s lap as a pillow.

“Oh, it’s ready already? I thought it would take longer since it’s stew. Alright!”

I got up and headed towards the door. Eo still had a blank expression.

“Ah, Ars, th-this is…”

“What?”

“N-no. With Yumir, that, um…”

“Oh, I guess this is the first time you’ve seen it. I do this sometimes when I’m tired. Haha, I showed you an embarrassing side of me.”

“If that’s the case, I-I-I-I also…”

“Hm?”

“It’s nothing!”

Eo runs down as if escaping.

Yumir said she would stay to tidy up the messed-up bed, so I had to head to the dining room alone.

* * *

Meanwhile, in Bülang’s hastily retreating military camp.

Prince Eldric’s face had turned pale as he finally received a detailed report.

“Dalmore has betrayed us…?”

Eldric, unable to accept reality, eventually lost his balance and fell from his horse.

“Your Highness!”

“Qu-quickly, call the medical officer…!”

Eldric gritted his teeth. Then, with a voice that seemed to be dragged from hell, he screamed.

“You bastard…. You bastard Juras! How long will you…!!”

He had no doubt that this incident was Juras’ doing.

This was Juras’ signature method.

Using everything in the world for his own purposes, and discarding them when they’re no longer useful. He doesn’t hesitate to sacrifice the small for the greater good.

Infiltrating spies was one of Juras’ specialties among specialties.

The chilling point was that it was nearly impossible to root out these spies. That’s how ingenious Juras’ methods were.

Eldric never even dreamed that Dalmore could be a spy.

Unlike Cassius, he hadn’t been with him since childhood, and he wasn’t from the West, but he thought he was trustworthy.

He thought he clearly understood his character. And yet.

“Ge-get out! All of you get out!”

In his panicked state, everyone around Eldric seemed like Juras’ spies.

Eldric, in a frenzy, writhed.

“Calm down!”

Slap! Cassius struck both of Eldric’s cheeks with his palm. The surrounding people widened their eyes at this disrespectful act.

Eldric seemed to calm down from this shock therapy, his shaking pupils coming into focus.

“Ah… Cassius.”

“Have you calmed down?”

“Yes. Hoo…! I showed an unsightly appearance.”

As Eldric got up with support, Cassius said to him.

“It’s sad, but we must move on. As for Dalmore’s betrayal…. We should think of it as something we discovered early. I’m rather relieved that he wasn’t able to target you, Your Highness.”

“The deaths of Rina and Riserl… Even Claus is dead!”

“We can avenge them someday. Your Highness, the greater cause is with us! Justice doesn’t lose! We are the ones who judge! If everyone unites and combines their strength, we can certainly win!”

Eyes burning with passion.

Meeting that gaze, Eldric felt exhilarated.

“Yes, you’re right. It’s not over yet. This is just the beginning! We’ll overthrow evil and establish our nation! Without fail!”

A statement that Ars would have sneered at as the height of hypocrisy.

Eldric believed without a doubt that they were the epitome of  justice.

And for good reason, as the true evil, Juras, was the opponent.

With evil as the opponent, he must be justice. That was the conclusion he reached.

Thanks to Cassius, Eldric regained his composure and carefully organized the situation.

“The one who made Dalmore betray. It must be that general. Ars Elaine, was it?”

“Tena said so. She said that when he uttered a strange password, Dalmore betrayed us.”

“The fact that he used Juras’ spy means that he too is a pawn of Crossing.”

This conclusion relied on the premise that the spy was from Crossing, but Eldric no longer doubted that part.

“What? The direct general of the Calliper royal family is a pawn of Crossing…? From what I know, he even has independent operational authority.”

“It’s not difficult if Juras decided to take measures. He has inserted his own limb into the core of the Calliper military.”

Thinking this way, it also made sense that Calliper suddenly appointed a cadet to the position of 2nd General.

“Juras must have arranged it. It’s clear!”

Although this part was off the mark, he would approach an unexpected truth based on this false information.

Cassius nodded and said, “I see. If we assume he’s a spy directly educated and raised by Juras Pamilion, it makes sense that he would have such abilities. This battle, and even in the previous battle… They say he took down Army Commander Christian Peltz.”

“……What?” Eldric groaned in shock.

At the mention of education, he recalled another fact.

When he met Ars at that time.

Far from being educated by Juras, Ars was receiving butler training at the Saleon Duchy.

Would a major spy from Crossing bother to receive butler training at the Saleon Duchy?

If it was to target the Saleon Duchy, it wouldn’t be strange, but if they were going to infiltrate a spy, methods other than a butler, who undergoes thorough background checks, would be more stable and efficient.

‘Was the attempt to kidnap the young lady of the Saleon family by instigating thieves all part of a pre-arranged plan? No, if that were the case, he would have insisted on having that young lady as his fiancée, or asked to be made her butler.’

Instead, he accepted money as a reward. This meant that there were no other purposes to those actions. It meant he came purely to receive butler training.

Eldric felt a deep sense of discomfort about Ars’ actions. There were too many odd points to consider him a simple spy.

‘Moreover, they said he personally made Dalmore betray.’

Spies usually make their decisive betrayal at the final stage. Ars triggered that final stage.

In other words, he received that level of authority from Juras.

Eldric was skeptical about whether Juras would give such authority to a mere pawn.

At the very least, it meant that Ars had influence and ability that ranked among the top of Juras’ subordinates.

‘Wait.’

Thinking this way, a figure flashed through Eldric’s mind.

A mysterious general who sometimes worked in Crossing’s army, and other times in Calliper’s army.

What if that person was Ars? Then everything about this situation makes sense.

Crushing Christian Peltz and annihilating the army at the northern gathering point.

Having capable subordinates who could handle Rina, Riserl, and Claus all at once. Even using Dalmore’s final password.

“…It’s him.”

“Pardon?”

Eldric shouted, trembling.

“He is none other than the mercenary Wade!”


TL NOTE:

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The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road

The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road

Score 9.2
Status: Completed Type: Author: Released: 2022 Native Language: Korean
I ended up possessing Ars Elaine, a supporting character in the game. Struggling to prevent my death, I pave my way.

Comment

  1. Jay Crowler says:

    Goddamnit Author. You give us the cute moment with Ars and Yumir then immediately ruin it by having Cassius realize Ars is Wade.

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