The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 33
After receiving Rutger’s oath of loyalty, I decided to tell him about Estelle’s illness.
“I don’t know the name of the disease, but I know its nature.”
“What on earth is it? The nature of this hateful disease that has tormented my daughter so terribly!”
“It’s a genetic disease that occurs in human-elf hybrids.”
That’s what Ars said in the game.
“Elves…?”
“Probably your wife’s ancestors had elf blood mixed in. As it was passed down through generations, the elf blood became so diluted as to be meaningless, but unfortunately, it created an unnecessary problem in your daughter’s generation.”
“How can this be… Is there a way to cure it?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Two types of medicine were mentioned in the game.
The first was the ointment I had prepared. The second was a decoction for treating the disease, but while the herbs for the ointment were briefly mentioned, the recipe for the decoction wasn’t specifically given.
“However, I have an idea where to look.”
Ars had said he learned about this treatment in the northeastern part of the continent.. That’s where the Holy Kingdom of Kuravel was located.
“I have a genuine half-elf from the Holy Kingdom of Kuravel under my command.”
I had asked Eo recently.
─Is it an allergic reaction that occurs in human-elf hybrids?
She didn’t know the meaning of allergy well, so I had to explain it step by step.
Eo tilted her head a few times, then soon clapped her hands.
─Come to think of it, when I was young, the Holy King and Queen earnestly warned me never to touch certain objects.
─What were these objects?
─I can’t remember. It was the only time I was cautioned about it.
─I see. So it doesn’t occur after a certain age…
That confirmed it. At least the Holy Kingdom of Kuravel knew about this disease.
So when Eo said she wanted to see how people from the Holy Kingdom of Kuravel lived, I made one more request.
I asked her to bring someone who knew about this disease.
“She’s currently in contact with people from the Holy Kingdom of Kuravel, so I’ll ask her about this as well.”
“Hmm, strictly speaking, you’re saying you might not be able to find a cure.”
“Huh, do you want to withdraw your oath of loyalty now?”
“Of course not. You’re already my benefactor just for telling me the nature of the disease. I’ve just accepted that my daughter might have to live the rest of her life in her current state.”
“Well, don’t worry too much. I’m sure we can find a cure.”
I thought it would be easier now since they found out even in the game, which was set five years in the future.
“I hope that’s the case. By the way, how should I contact you from now on? If I have to be separated from my daughter, it would be quite sad.”
“There’s no need for that. I plan to stay in Rainpol for a while. You should also get a mansion in Rainpol and stay there. I’ll visit whenever necessary for the treatment of the disease.”
“Oh, that’s a relief.”
“However, not those two.”
“Those two?”
“George and Ings, was it? Send those two back.”
I decided to add one more condition to Rutger.
To cut off all previous relationships. This was a condition to guard against any possible third-party connections.
Not only Alvard, but also send back the attendants George and Ings, and have no further contact with them.
It was quite a difficult condition, but surprisingly, Rutger accepted it readily.
“Now that I’ve decided to join your ranks, turning my back on Alvard is a natural course of action. It would be good for George and Ings to break free from the constraints of being Rosenbergs and walk their own paths. It’s not a difficult task. Then I’ll need to find new servants to take care of my daughter.”
“…I’ll prepare that part. We’ll need someone to monitor the progress of the disease anyway.”
“Is that so? Thank you.”
I didn’t feel like Rutger was likely to become a traitor.
‘He doesn’t seem like the type to have hidden motives.’
I decided to keep an eye on Rutger for a while longer.
***
After finishing my business and returning to Ribel, I informed my parents about moving to Rainpol.
Ribel, the territory of the Elaine family, wasn’t in a very good location.
Being located in the southwest, it could be directly threatened if Alvard and Bulang invaded Calliper.
As such, Rainpol, located in the northeast of Calliper, was optimal. Even more so now that the connection with Crossing had solidified.
However, my father shook his head. “I guess I’ll have to stay with Max until he gets settled. I thought he was ready, but he’s completely lost.”
“I think if that’s the case, I can’t help it. Then I’ll stay at Julia Academy for a while…”
“No, you go to Rainpol.”
“Pardon?”
“The domestic situation has changed again while you were in Crossing. As a low-ranking noble, I don’t know the details, but the atmosphere seems unusual. You might get involved if you stay in Julia, which is in the Hellian duchy, so go to Rainpol first.”
“An unusual atmosphere…”
I wondered if there was a reason for this.
At this point, when the Hellian and Saleon factions had reconciled, if there was a change in the political situation, it could only be friction with other kingdoms.
‘Perhaps the Chimera War might break out this spring?’
That would make sense, but according to the information I collected when I went to Crossing, there was no such movement in the kingdoms that would be the main players in the Chimera War.
‘There must be another reason I’m unaware of.’
The reason for the unsettling currents flowing through the Kingdom of Calliper. I would find out about it soon enough.
* * *
From the first day I transferred to Rainpol’s secondary academy, I received a lot of attention.
This academy was where students from Crossing and Calliper were taking joint classes after the alliance, but the peculiar thing was that there were almost no nobles.
Of course, Crossing didn’t have a nobility system to begin with, and even on the Calliper side, there were only four nobles.
So even a low-ranking noble like me got attention.
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ars Elaine. I’m aspiring to be an officer. I look forward to getting along with everyone.”
Peculiar gazes poured in from here and there.
As it was a familiar sight, I lightly ignored it and sat in the seat the teacher designated.
‘Anyway, this is such a bother.’
Honestly, I wanted to give up on the academy, but I had no choice if I wanted to follow the story.
I had to advance to the high school academy where I would meet the protagonist.
‘There’s no sign of Ars becoming a traitor yet.’
If the Ars in the game was really a traitor, there should be some signal to the current me.
The connection with Crossing could be that signal, but at least for now, I have no intention of betraying the protagonist.
So for now, I planned to follow the story of meeting the protagonist.
But if Ars was really in an antagonistic relationship with the protagonist, that’s a different story. From then on, I might have to walk my own path.
‘Seeing that there’s no sign so far, fortunately, it seems this year’s spring isn’t when the Chimera War breaks out.’
I rested my chin on my hand and looked out the window. The scent of spring was in the air.
Perhaps due to my recent lack of sleep, I was unknowingly getting drowsy.
“Kyaa!”
Suddenly, a scream that grated on the ears was heard.
The classroom was in an uproar.
“C-Calm down, everyone!”
The teacher, looking perplexed, tried to calm the students down.
The reason for this was simple. It was because of another transfer student who entered after me.
“Along with lord Elaine, this is Estelle Diante who will be joining our Rainpol Secondary Academy. Now, Estelle, please introduce yourself.”
“I’m Estelle… Diante. Diante is my mother’s surname. Nice… To meet you.”
Next to her was Yumir, whom I had assigned.
“I’m Yumir, in charge of nursing Miss Estelle. Please treat me as if I’m not here.”
Yumir glanced at me, and I grinned back.
‘That aside…’
Rutger made quite a bold choice.
He immediately pushed Estelle out, considering the possibility that her illness might not be cured. As if telling her to get used to living like this.
It’s a harsh choice, but I understood. After all, one can’t live relying on others forever.
And Rutger himself might die.
“As you’ve heard, Estelle has a chronic illness. Please understand with compassion.”
However, there’s a limit to understanding. When the teacher tried to assign a seat, everyone tried to avoid it. Those in the front seats were disgusted by the strange odor.
‘Even though she’s much better now.’
Well, even master who had been through thick and thin was surprised, so it must be difficult for the kids to accept.
The teacher was at a loss, not knowing what to do. Then, seeing me, his eyes lit up.
“That’s right! The transfer students can sit together.”
As my seat was in a corner by the window, he must have thought it was perfect to exile Estelle there.
Estelle sat next to me with a gloomy expression. Then she glanced at me nervously.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ars Elaine. Let’s get along well.”
“Huh…?”
Her expression asked why I wasn’t showing disgust towards her.
“You’re sick, right? That can’t be helped.”
I could tolerate the odor because I knew this was much better than before.
‘Besides.’
In the game, she had committed suicide. It means she was under a lot of mental stress. Probably still is.
That’s why I removed the useless George and Ings and assigned Yumir as her full-time caregiver.
‘What can I do? I’ll have to become her buddy since I’m close by.’
Estelle replied after a bit. “N-Nice to meet you too… Mr. Elaine.”
“Just call me Ars. I’ll call you Estelle too.”
“Y-Yes…!”
So I decided to focus quietly on academy life for a while, but that night, shocking news reached me.
The reason for the unstable internal situation in Calliper.
Its true nature quickly came to my ears.
* * *
Returning to the academy and hearing that news, I had to doubt my ears.
“…What did you say? I must have heard wrong, right?”
Anton, who brought the information from Crossing, said, “You didn’t hear wrong. It’s said that the Kingdom of Calliper has declared war on the Kingdom of Alvard and is organizing its army.”
“So this is what Father meant by ominous currents….”
Calliper pointing its sword at Alvard.
That flow made sense.
It’s because of the Three Lions War that Crossing waged.
Crossing magnificently won the war while facing Beckavia and Alvard simultaneously.
As a result, Beckavia received a blow that shook the foundation of the kingdom, and Alvard also suffered no small damage.
It was natural for Calliper, which had preserved its strength during this time, to have different thoughts.
– If Crossing did it, couldn’t we do it too?
Such an arrogant thought.
It wasn’t simply an arrogant thought. Even from a rational judgment, now was the perfect time to invade Alvard.
At first glance, it seemed like a good move. But there’s a big problem here.
“Anton, isn’t this a time when even Crossing can’t send reinforcements?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Not only are we in a situation where troops have been temporarily disbanded after the Three Lions War, but it also coincides with the farming season, so it would take at least two months to gather a large number of troops again.”
In other words, it means that Crossing, Calliper’s ally, cannot dispatch troops either.
It means it will become a one-on-one confrontation between Calliper and Alvard.
“Isn’t it a good choice?”
It was my master’s words.
“Even if Calliper can’t receive support from Crossing, the same goes for Alvard. Because Beckavia won’t have the capacity to send reinforcements.”
“Yes, Alvard is also in a situation where war fatigue has accumulated, so objectively, the war situation is clearly favorable for Calliper. However, if they fail to achieve victory, a big problem arises.”
“Problem?”
“The situation could reverse like dominoes.”
“What are dominoes?”
“I guess I need to explain that first. Simply put, if they lose the war, Calliper could suffer an even bigger blow. In contrast, even if they win, there’s not much special to gain.”
I spread out the war situation map and explained to my master.
“If Calliper loses the war, Alvard will immediately launch a counterattack. Because they know that Crossing, Calliper’s ally, doesn’t have proper capacity.”
“…!”
“Moreover, in that case, Beckavia will also try to gather troops somehow and make a motion to reclaim the Carrington Plains they lost. To prevent Crossing from being able to help, you see.”
If that happens, Calliper will face a critical crisis.
“If that situation is created, Alvard will try to draw in other kingdoms to completely destroy Calliper.”
If they win, tangible benefits. If they lose, they face a situation where the kingdom could be ruined.
If this isn’t a bad move, then what is?
“Then shouldn’t we stop it?”
“I don’t have that level of influence. If we’re to do something, Crossing, as the ally, should stop it. What do you think, Anton?”
Anton shook his head as if feeling ashamed.
“Lord Juras seemed satisfied, finding it interesting.”
“That madman, as always…!”
Probably the King of Parain will also just watch. Because Calliper revealing its ambition for conquest in this way is desirable from his standpoint.
“Sigh! Do I have no choice but to move…?”
In case Alvard counterattacks, since our territory, Ribel, would be directly in the danger zone, I decided to prepare countermeasures as far as my hand could reach.
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