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The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 143

The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 143

A military council meeting convened in Belen, a medium-sized city located in western Platon.

This happened on the 5th day of the festival.

‘This is no different from a festival right now.’

The war was that noisy. The invasion of foreign enemies itself was bait.

‘The real war is happening in the shadows….’

The Saint and the protagonist’s group preparing for a coup. The Balas royal family trying to prevent that coup. And other kingdoms moving according to their own interests.

What results came from that side was important, so I was merely a supporting actor making this festival glamorous.

The role given to me was also like that.

Maintain the front line and don’t let the enemy approach the capital. That was the operation assigned to me.

Since this wasn’t such a difficult instruction, I attended the military council meeting without much worry.

“It seems everyone has gathered.”

[…..]

The officers greet me with stiff silence.

New faces who have newly joined are noticeable.

First, from Beckavia, Sophia Veron came with Gunther as her escort. Gunther is one of the top powerhouses among 2nd-year students, and it’s said that Sophia personally selected him.

Next, from Tunkai, the hastily dispatched 4th General Landon Crow was present. As his adjutant, Ash, who has a close relationship with Landon Crow, is attached.

Third, from Europe’s side, the 3rd General and Olaf’s father, Count Jurgen Dresden, joined along with Meissen.

“Ahem!”

Jurgen kept making uncomfortable coughs. Although Olaf had grown his hair and beard shaggy to hide his identity, it seems he couldn’t deceive his father’s keen eye.

Jurgen glared at Olaf as if demanding an explanation, and Olaf’s expression wasn’t good, as if he was in a miserable state.

In addition to these officers from the three kingdoms, Mainz Armstrong, the 3rd General of Balas, is participating in the military camp.

The rest are my vassals. Except for Yumir and Master Ilya who returned to Rainpol, everyone is gathered.

‘It’s quite a sight.’

Compared to when I only had Eo and Master Ilya as suitable vassals, it’s enough to make my chest swell with pride.

I sat at the head seat and announced the start of the meeting.

“Rutger, start the briefing you’ve prepared.”

“Understood.”

Even Rutger, who usually speaks down to me, addresses me respectfully given the nature of this place.

“The enemy’s numbers are roughly between 70,000 and 80,000. Considering the number of soldiers that need to be deployed for supply depot defense and management of occupied territories, the actual enemy force we’ll face is estimated to be around 70,000.”

“What’s the current position of the enemy?”

“The enemy is currently positioned in the Sadban Mountains.”

“Sadban Mountains…? This is new to me.”

“It’s information just confirmed from intelligence that came in a moment ago. It’s not unreasonable that you didn’t know.”

I checked the war map.

Sadban was a rugged mountainous area. It’s an awkward terrain for those who have invaded to set up camp.

To this, General Armstrong of Balas says, “They’re probably camped on the flat ground located mid-slope. It’s an area that was developed to build a military fortress during the ancient Fensillon Empire era, and it’s exceptionally flat within the mountains, making it suitable for setting up camp and countering the enemy. I know they practiced slash-and-burn agriculture there last year. Many wells have also been dug to draw groundwater, making it suitable for deploying troops.”

Looking closely at the war map, it was indeed a strategic point as he said.

The mid-slope plain area was surrounded by high mountains to the east, west, and north. To attack the enemy positioned on the mid-slope, the only option was to assault from the southern hills, but proper advancement was impossible because we’d have to climb up the hills.

Sophia says, “If the enemy sets up camp there, we’ll have no way to sweep them out. That’s the kind of area it is. But since the invading enemy won’t stay put and defend, I don’t think we need to worry too much. Right, Elaine?”

“…”

“Elaine? What’s wrong?”

I felt like I’d been hit hard.

“Don’t tell me…” I immediately turned my gaze to Rutger. “Has the identity of the enemy commander been determined?”

“Not yet. At least the Balas military doesn’t have such information.”

This is because much about the Western people is shrouded in mystery.

“Anton! Use the power of Crossing’s intelligence department to find out the identity of the enemy commander immediately! The same goes for Europe and Tunkai. Mobilize all intelligence capabilities to identify the enemy commander! Move now! We’ll start with that first!”

At my order, people from each kingdom moved. They seem to have things to discuss, as Landon Crow took Ash and Lysithea with him, while Olaf was dragged away by his father.

On the other hand, Sophia glared at me sulkily. “Why aren’t you asking us from Beckavia?”

“That’s because I already know your intelligence capabilities.”

“Hmph! At least we know more about the Western people than Europe does! Gunther! Ask the intelligence department about this matter!”

Gunther, not showing his usual frivolous demeanor at all, saluted sharply and left the conference room.

Sophia scrutinized my expression and cautiously asked. “You’re uncharacteristically impatient. What’s wrong? We have no reason to hurry.”

“I thought so at first too.”

But after seeing the enemy’s first move, I was certain.

If the enemy moves as I think they will, this war would be a one-way street, for better or for worse.

* * *

The army of the Western people who set up camp in the Sadban Mountains.

They were moving busily.

It wasn’t preparation for invasion.

Rather, it was the opposite.

“Hurry and move the supplies! We don’t have much time!”

Soldiers began to build fortresses inside the camp. The one in overall command of this fortification construction was a woman.

A slender woman. Despite her age, her bewitching beauty was enough to captivate men’s hearts.

However, no one dared to steal glances at her with impure thoughts. Rather, they were desperate not to make eye contact. They knew well what would happen if they accidentally made eye contact.

“Heh.”

The woman, Tetora Anistri, was enjoying this atmosphere.

Beneath her buttocks, a middle-aged man was sprawled.[T/N: WTF]

The man was enduring Tetora’s weight, kneeling with his legs stretched out. For a full hour.

“Ugh…!”

Finally, as his arms trembled and collapsed, Tetora, still sitting on his back, spoke to him.

“Hey, trash.”

“Yes, yes… Sky Mother.”

Sky Mother. That was the name Tetora was called by her followers.

Mother given by the sky. Called one who received divine revelation, she had no hesitation in deifying herself.

“What do you think is the true intention of this operation? I’ll listen, so go ahead and tell me.”

“That, that is…”

Tetora, who invaded and immediately set up camp, building fortresses and preparing for defense.

The man couldn’t easily grasp her true intentions.

‘Why are we setting up defensive positions after infiltrating enemy territory?’

In this case, the most dangerous situation would be getting surrounded and having supply lines cut off, but Tetora was transporting a massive amount of food with this situation in mind.

As if to say she had anticipated this scenario, she began storing a month’s worth of food in underground storehouses built within the camp.

Moreover, there were many wells here that were made during slash-and-burn agriculture, so there was no worry about water.

Even if the enemy surrounds them, they can easily hold out for a month without supplies.

Then why?

“Perhaps you have other reinforcements. For example, forces planning to stage a coup…”

“Hmph, right. That’s about as far as a common soldier’s mind can think.”

“Guh…!”

The man was by no means in a position to be called a common soldier.

He was Zeck Wilter, who had been the 5th General of Bülang.

He had been dispatched to stop the Western people’s invasion during the last Tail War, but was defeated in battle by Tetora and captured.

Not wanting to lose his life, he promptly surrendered and was living as Tetora’s slave.

“This is, you see, a test for that Wade fellow.”

“A test…?”

“That Wade bastard made no preparations at all for our army’s invasion. Of course, that’s natural. Balas isn’t his kingdom after all. Even the Balas bastards who should have been prepared were dumbfounded and couldn’t respond at all. In contrast, I knew beforehand and prepared. Everything from start to finish! That’s why this situation comes about. The opponent is caught in a one-way street, unable to do anything.”

At the mention of a one-way street, Wilter furrowed his brow, not understanding.

How can a one-way street come about just by defending?

“Heheh, heheheh…! I’m dying to know how that Wade bastard will deal with this situation that has no answer.”

Thinking about Ars being troubled and frustrated by the problem she posed, she writhed in ecstasy.

Just then, a man wearing black armor approached her and spoke.

“Sky Mother, I’m told all preparations are complete. We can start the operation immediately if you give the signal to begin.”

“That was fast. As expected of the Diellum werewolves hungry for blood? What about Guderian?”

“…He refused this operation.”

“Hmph, pretending to be proper. Fine, begin. Let’s send a bloody toast to that Wade fellow.”

“Yes!”

The signal to start the operation. As soon as her order fell, 10,000 troops from the 70,000-strong army camp vanished without a trace.

* * *

The 2nd day of the war and the 6th day of the festival.

I felt in my skin that the worst-case scenario had become reality.

“The identity of the enemy commander has been determined! She’s a woman called Sky Mother in the West, and her name is Tetora Anistri!”

The person Guderian had warned me about. One of the leaders of the Western people and the overall commander of the enemy who invaded Bülang.

I closed my eyes tightly.

‘So the level of preparation for this war was different.’

Well, I had been too indifferent about Balas’s war. It was because there was nothing I could do even if I took interest.

Whatever the case, I took a big hit.

Noticing my expression, Sophia asks, “What’s been wrong with you since yesterday? Is the identity of the enemy commander importantly related to this war?”

“It is related, very much so. Although it’s a rough guess, I can figure out the enemy’s methods.”

“Then you’re saying you’ve figured out the enemy’s methods. Tetora Anistri… Tetora Anistri…?”

That’s when it happened.

“No way!?”

It was Ash.

He asks me with a grim face. “Ars, don’t tell me it’s that?”

“I’m the commander-in-chief right now, you know? Speak formally.”

“That’s fine anyway! What you’re trying to say…. Is it related to Klaus Forkner?”

General Klaus Forkner, who came from a thief background.

It is said that he learned military strategy from Tetora Anistri. This information was obtained from the Calliper military, who had captured and interrogated Klaus.

It seems that Tunkai, to which Klaus belonged, also knew this information.

“Yes, Tetora Anistri, the military strategy teacher of Klaus Forkner. Their basic tactics are probably similar. Judging from that, I can guess what operation the enemy is trying to do now.”

It’s a civilian massacre.

Sure enough, a messenger rushed into the military council chamber with a pale face.

“Urgent news! The territory of Horadim near the front line has been plundered! The enemy occupying Horadim has reportedly executed all residents, regardless of gender or age!”

A moment of silence fell over the military council chamber.

That wasn’t the only urgent report.

Reports of massacres kept coming in.

The enemy had begun to plunder all the surrounding territories using separate units at the point where their main force had settled.

The number of these separate units was approximately 10,000 to 17,000.

That wasn’t the end of it.

The plundering seems to have started at dawn, and by noon when we received the report, three or four wagons were entering Belen, where our troops were stationed.

Bizarre wagons without drivers, pulled by three horses each.

These wagons were covered in blood, and flesh and bones were stuck in the windows of the wagons, with blood dripping down.

The soldier who opened the door of one of these wagons collapsed in shock.

Chunks of flesh slid out. There were heads, legs, arms, and even internal organs mixed in.

“Ugh, uwaaa──!”

The soldiers recoiled in horror, distancing themselves from the wagons.

And this procession of wagons wasn’t over.

Wagons loaded with corpses continued to be delivered to our camp.

“What in the…”

Even the experienced Rutger couldn’t find words to continue.

Eo and Lysithea involuntarily turned their eyes away from the horrific scene, and in Sophia’s case, she couldn’t hold back and was vomiting.

“W-what is this…?”

Aggert cried out. Being a commoner, he knew well who these dead people were. Friendly uncles, grandfathers, aunts from nearby. Little kids. These civilians had been indiscriminately murdered.

“G-General, w-what… What is this all about?!”

“What else could it be? It’s war. Olaf!”

I called him and gave instructions.

“Please select seasoned soldiers from among our troops. I’ll entrust them with handling these wagons.”

“But Ars, there aren’t many such soldiers in Balas.”

“Then we have no choice. Balas is probably in the process of hiring many mercenaries right now. Find mercenaries among them who can handle the wagons. This is an urgent matter. Please hurry.”

“Understood!”

A sore spot had been hit.

Most of Balas’ soldiers lack combat experience. If they were to witness this horrific scene that even our officers are shocked by, they might be overcome with fear and desert.

Even rumors spreading could lower morale.

As such, managing these corpse wagons was essential.

The problem is that this isn’t the end of it. These corpse wagons are just supplementary, merely the enemy playing around.

Sophia, who had been vomiting for a while, seemed to have finally understood everything and said to me, “I see…! That’s why you were in such a hurry. In this situation, there’s nothing we can do!”

Ordinary kingdoms have response systems in place for situations like this. Fortresses functioning as shelters are built throughout the kingdom, and residents typically evacuate to such places to buy time.

But Balas was vulnerable in this aspect. It was a kingdom that hadn’t waged war since its founding.

The residents didn’t even know if such fortresses existed, and even those fortresses weren’t properly maintained.

Even Balas Kingdom’s initial response wasn’t good. They were so preoccupied with preventing a coup that they didn’t pay proper attention.

They did declare an evacuation order, but they didn’t properly guide the evacuation or even explain how to evacuate.

They neglected the tasks that should have been done in advance, as if leaving everything to me would suffice.

“…”

As I remained silent, Gunther swallowed hard and asked Sophia, “Princess, what does that mean? We can’t do anything?”

“It means exactly what it sounds like. We can only watch this massacre happen. To stop this massacre, we’d have to dispatch a separate rescue unit.”

However, given our numerical inferiority, if we form a separate unit, we’re likely to be counterattacked. Or the enemy’s main force might organize a new pursuit team targeting our separate unit. In such a chaotic situation, we, with fewer troops, would be at a disadvantage.

Therefore, to dispatch a separate unit, we need to first eliminate or surround the enemy’s main force.

But the enemy’s main force has settled in the Sadban mountains and is fortifying their position. To break through this defensive advantage, we’d need at least 1.5 times their forces.

That number is roughly 90,000 to 100,000. But we only have 60,000 troops.

“W-wait a minute!”

It was Jurgen, Olaf’s father.

“Doesn’t this mean the enemy won’t invade either? At the very least, we can achieve the objective of our operation.”

The goal of our operation is to hold this front line and prevent the enemy from advancing to the capital. So Jurgen’s words weren’t wrong.

And that was the enemy’s aim too.

They’re saying, ‘We’ll let you succeed in your operation, so just sit there sucking your thumbs while watching over a million civilians being massacred’.

Therefore, for better or worse, there’s only one path.

It’s a situation with no way out.


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. gary says:

    I mean, why should ars solve this problem? why not pass on the information to the supposed protagonist. it’s the kingdom he wanted to take for himself isn’t it? and he’s letting his supposed allies butcher the people.

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