The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 39
After spending the afternoon with Erina, I saw her off as the sun was setting.
“It’s already this late?. …It seems someone from Duke Hellian’s side has arrived.”
As if waiting for our conversation to end, Eo immediately appeared.
“Lord Ars. I’ve come to escort you. As you predicted, someone requesting a meeting has arrived.”
Eo was holding a gray helmet for me to wear.
“Are you going straight to the reception area?”
“Wait a moment. I left my bag at the academy.”
The contents of the bag weren’t much, but if I left it now, I felt I might lose it forever.
“How about asking Yumir to take care of it?”
“At this hour, Yumir won’t be at the academy either. It won’t take long, so I’ll just drop by. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll provide security.”
“As if something would happen at the academy. Just stay here.”
Leaving Eo waiting, I returned to the academy and headed straight for the classroom.
Given the hour, there was hardly anybody at the academy.
‘I hope the door isn’t locked.’
Fortunately, the door wasn’t locked.
That’s because there was someone in the classroom.
“…Huh?”
The orange sunset was falling towards the window side. In contrast, the inside of the classroom was covered in deep darkness, creating quite a horror-like atmosphere.
By that window side, more precisely in my seat, someone was sitting.
“Estelle…?”
Yumir was behind her, for some reason anxiously watching Estelle’s mood.
Estelle looked towards me.
As if some magic had been cast, the surrounding air felt heavy.
“…You’ve come.”
“Why aren’t you going home?”
“I was waiting for Ars to return. I thought… You’d surely come back to get your bag.”
“Thanks to you, I’m saved. It would have been troublesome if the door was locked.”
Feeling something unsettling, I tried to leave immediately with my bag, but thump! Estelle grabbed my arm.
Though her hand was frail, due to an eerie chill, I couldn’t move at all.
“…Who is she?”
“Pardon?”
“That lady. What is she to you, Ars?”
“What do you mean…?”
Deep eyes like gazing into an abyss. Those eyes exuded a spine-chilling intensity.[1]
It was similar to the dead eyes filled with despair before receiving treatment, but unlike then when they were full of helplessness, now her gaze was more intense than ever.
“She’s a friend. A friend from my previous academy.”
“Come to think of it, you said you came from Julia Academy, right?”
“She’s actually from Grancel Academy. There are various circumstances.”
“Are you dating her?”
“Dating? I said she’s a friend. In fact, we haven’t even talked that much.”
“Is that true? You’re not lying to me, are you? I hate lies. Lies are not allowed. Please, anything but lies. Don’t lie to me.”
“it’s the truth.”
“……I see!” Estelle smiled as if nothing had happened. Her eyes cleared and the heavy air became light as if it were a lie.
She looked at the setting sun through the window with wide eyes.
“Eh, huh? When did it get so late…? What was I…?” Estelle looked around the darkened surroundings in confusion.
Flustered, she gathered her things and left the classroom.
“W-well then, Ars. See you when you return from your trip. I’ll tell you interesting stories from my travels, so look forward to it.”
Thud, Thud, Thud…
Only after she left could I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Phew! I thought my heart was going to stop. I thought this might happen, but…”
It made sense. With only me to rely on at the academy, it was natural for her to become attached.
Even so, to have such intensity. As expected of a general’s daughter, I suppose.
“Once she’s cured, it would be better to keep some distance.”
When she’s better and makes new friends, she’ll probably not even care about someone like me anymore, as if nothing had ever happened.
***
After leaving the academy and putting on the helmet Eo handed me, I headed to the government building located in the center of Rainpol.
This place, which was formerly used as the lord’s mansion, now served as a city hall.
Inside the building, in the highest administrative office, Anton and a middle-aged man with a splendid mustache were already seated.
‘That man is surely…’
One of the leading figures of the Hellian faction. Marquis Reinhardt.
Now that Marquis Millias had sided with the Saleon faction, he could be considered the undisputed second-in-command.
“You’ve come.”
He narrowed his eyes as he looked at me wearing the helmet.
“Don’t do anything unnecessary. Ars Elaine.”
“Ha, that’s fine. It’s more comfortable for me to breathe too.”
I took off the helmet, handed it to Eo, and sat opposite him.
“So? What brings you here, Marquis Reinhardt?”
“I told you not to do anything unnecessary. You must know why I’m here.”
“Even so, I can’t be the one to bring it up first, can I? After all, you’re the ones who came to propose a deal.”
“Hmph. You’re an annoying fellow. Fine, mercenary Wade. I’ve come to propose a deal to you. The content of the deal is exactly as you expect. Lead the army and drive out the foreign forces invading our territory.”
“Before hearing the terms of the deal. How large is the army I’ll be leading?”
“5,000 regular troops. And about 15,000 hastily gathered conscripts.”
“A total of 20,000… And how many troops are we facing?”
“At least 30,000, I’d say.”
“Is that the best you can do?”
“What?”
“I asked if 20,000 troops is the best you can do. I said I’d lead an army, not perform miracles.”
“What, are you scared? I thought the mercenary Wade could easily overcome such a disadvantage in numbers?”
“If you’re trying to provoke me, it won’t work. I’m not that arrogant.”
Reinhardt twitched his mustache, clearly displeased. “It should be fine. What we want you to do isn’t to advance and defeat the enemy, but to firmly hold one region.”
With that, Reinhardt spread out a topographical map and pointed to a spot.
“The Setes Intersection?”
“Yes, one of the plains in the west. You just need to defend that place.”
“Why there? If we’re just thinking about defense, the Jumelt Gate would be much better. We could even withstand a siege there.”
“But that would allow the enemy to establish supply lines.”
“…So that’s the strategy.”
“Yes. That’s the strategy.”
The key point of this defensive operation was to prevent the enemy from establishing supply lines within Calliper’s territory.
If supply lines are created, supply depots will be built using those lines as roots, and military fortresses will be constructed.
In that case, we’d inevitably lose control of that territory to Alvard.
‘On the other hand, if the defense forces are deployed at the front like this, it becomes difficult to create supply lines.’
The enemy would have to create supply lines in their own territory and establish a new front line.
This puts them under time pressure. Crossing might come with reinforcements after completing preparations.
As such, from the enemy’s perspective, it’s urgent to quickly establish supply lines and military bases within Calliper. This is to gain tactical advantages even if Crossing comes with support.
The areas that Duke Hellian had selected as base camps, including the Setes intersection, were positions to cut off these supply lines.
“So you’re not going to concede even one bit to the enemy.”
“That’s right. The Duke intends to prevent both Alvard and Madon from gaining any advantage in our territory.”
“Even so, isn’t this too aggressive? I don’t think the Calliper army has the strength to succeed with such a strategy.”
“That’s why we’re even lowering our heads to ask a detestable fellow like you.”
“Lowering your heads? For someone doing that, your attitude towards me is quite poor, isn’t it?”
“I was against this idea from the start. In the first place, you… As a man born thanks to Calliper’s grace, shouldn’t you have volunteered for this without any compensation?”
“If you’re demanding patriotism, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
“Hmph, it seems so. …Have you already joined hands with Crossing?” Reinhardt sneered, looking back and forth between Anton and me.
“You little rat.”
At this, Eo became furious. “You dare! How dare you insult Lord Ars!”
“Calm down, Eo. I don’t feel insulted at all.”
If anything, it became easier to talk since they acknowledged my connection with Crossing.
Reinhardt makes a face as if he’s chewed something sour, seeing no reaction from me.
“Why would the Duke associate with such a scoundrel…”
“Because we have value to each other. Isn’t it better for you than if I sided with the Saleon faction?”
“Such petty fellows are of no concern to me.”
“But isn’t the kingdom about to collapse because of those petty fellows?”
“Hmph.”
“Anyway, shall we get to the main point? What are the terms of the deal you’ve brought?”
“100 million sillan. I’ll give you 50 million as an advance.”
“Indeed.”
It’s attractive. Considering that I received 40 million sillan for fighting in the Three Lions War, they’re offering more than double.
“I refuse.”
“…What?”
“I’m already financially well-off.”
Frankly speaking, if I had asked King Parain for support, I could have received much more money.
Moreover, with Anton becoming the top administrator of Rainpol, I could indirectly manage Rainpol’s taxes. The scale approached 100 million sillan per quarter.
‘Well, using that would be an embezzlement of public funds.’
What I wanted was beyond monetary compensation.
“Give me Rainpol. Transfer the currently vacant position of Lord of Rainpol to my brother, Baron Max Elaine. It shouldn’t be difficult for you now that the Saleon faction has lost power, right?”
“You…! How dare you spout such nonsense! Are you really going to abandon Calliper and side with Crossing!” Reinhardt, having read my intentions, stood up abruptly and pointed at me.
This way, they wouldn’t be able to threaten me by holding my family hostage. Rainpol has borders within the city, making it incredibly easy to seek asylum if necessary.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I’m just asking for the vacant lord position, aren’t I?”
“You detestable bastard!”
“Heh, judging by your expression, you’ve already received word about this from Duke Hellian, haven’t you? Of course, you would have. You would have noticed my intentions from the moment I took Rainpol as my base.”
“Tsk!”
“So what did Duke Hellian say about this condition? Did he say to accept it?”
“…He said to accept it.”
“As expected.”
They must have done their calculations as well.
“Just to ease your concerns, I have no intention of submitting to Crossing. However, I have no intention of being used by you either. This matter of the Rainpol lordship is just insurance for that.”
Given the diplomatic situation, the alliance between Calliper and Crossing is likely to continue for at least another 10 years.
So regarding me, they’re probably thinking of not pushing too hard to prevent me from completely siding with Crossing, aiming for a win-win situation.
“It can’t be helped. The deal is made.”
“Yes, you’ve succeeded in hiring me, at least.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s my turn to propose a deal now. It won’t be unfavorable for you either.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“First, to obtain the position of Lord of Rainpol, a victory in battle is a prerequisite condition, right?”
“Of course. Such administrative work wouldn’t be possible without a victory.”
“Yes, so for that victory, there’s something additional you need to pay.”
“What is it?”
“Pay 800 million sillan. If you do that, I’ll arrange for 20,000 support troops from Crossing.”
“But Crossing wouldn’t have such resources to spare while keeping Beckavia in check, would they? And they wouldn’t conscript ordinary citizens either. Crossing wouldn’t take the farming season lightly.”
“According to Prime Minister Juras Pamilion, it’s not entirely impossible. Besides, there are many people in Crossing with special circumstances. Many who desperately want to escape their slave status.”
“…!”
“If we hire those slaves with money, we could gather about 20,000 troops. Of course, we’d need to persuade Crossing’s leadership for this. It’s a loss for Crossing too. I’m saying I can do that persuasion on your behalf.”
“…Can it be done within the timeframe?”
“Of course.”
“……”
Reinhardt closed his eyes tightly. He soon nodded. “I accept. However, the payment will be made to Crossing, not to you. Through official diplomatic channels.”
“Do you think I would intercept it?”
“Yes.”
“Can’t be helped then. Let’s do it that way.”
It was fortunate that the other party accepted, even under these conditions.
After all, since the last meeting with Juras, we had already decided to utilize the slaves of the Kuravel Holy Kingdom as soldiers and had already organized the support troops.
If Hellian’s side had refused this, Crossing or more precisely, that guy Juras might have had to bear the full deficit of 800 million sillan.
It wouldn’t have been bad to see Juras making a crying face, though.
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