The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 51
Back at the academy after finishing the interview with Baeolaf.
I was in a state of mild frustration.
‘Erotic novels…. Me writing erotic novels….’
Forget about novels, I doubted if I could even write a single sentence properly.
While I had often read or transcribed books when I was young, I had hardly ever done any creative writing. If anything, my writing experience was limited to when I became a working adult and wrote numerous job application essays.
‘Well, if it’s an erotic novel, the sex scenes are the most important part. Should I try writing just the sex scenes first?’
But when I tried to write, my imagination failed to keep up. The most crucial part, the form of the heroine, wouldn’t come to mind.
I had no choice but to substitute people around me.
The first one that came to mind was Eonia.
‘If it’s Eo….’
At first, she would show a fierce side, but after becoming intimate, she would reveal an infinitely delicate side.
I thought that if I could incorporate such changes in the heroine’s mindset into the novel, it might create a good response.
As if entranced, I began to write down the sex scene.
My sentence expression skills were indeed lacking, but I decided to compensate for that part through the heroine’s emotional changes.
‘This is unexpectedly fun?’
Perhaps because I was too immersed, I failed to notice the presence that had approached to a close distance.
“Ars.”
A voice suddenly came from beside me.
“Huh!?”
I quickly folded the paper and hid it.
‘If this gets discovered and rumors spread….’
Forget about future prospects, I’d just disappear completely.
“…What are you hiding?”
It was Estelle. She was staring at the paper I had hidden with narrowed eyes.
“It’s, it’s just a letter.”
“A letter? …If I may ask, who is it for?”
“It’s really quite rude to ask that.”
“I’m sorry. But… Is it perhaps for Miss Saleon?”
“It’s for my mother.”
I tried to brush it off, but she was persistent.
“But baron Elaine mansion is not even 30 minutes away from here, isn’t it? If you have something you want to say to Claire, wouldn’t it be better to talk to her directly rather than sending a letter? I’m sure Claire would be happier with that too. Um… I’d like to talk to Claire after a long time too, how about we go together?”
When she spoke with a smile, it felt as if the surroundings brightened.
It had been 8 months since she started treatment. Estelle, who had entered the final stage of recovery, was flaunting the beauty that was said to have once stirred up the territory.
Her hair had settled into an attractive bob style, with mysterious red hair catching others’ gazes, and far from a foul odor, now a sweet fragrance wafted gently.
When she smiled, other boys were entranced. Even the boys who used to mock her as a monster were the same. That Hubert guy who used to pick fights before had the nerve to hit on her and was brutally rejected.
“Well, I lied a little. This isn’t a letter.”
“A lie!? Why would you…”
“Everyone has things they want to keep secret. Ah, come to think of it, I had other business.”
As it was break time, I tried to leave, but thump! Estelle grabbed my arm as I was about to go. The force wasn’t strong, but for some reason, I felt her grip was firm.
“…Why are you trying to avoid me?”
“Pardon?”
“You’ve been like this since then. Since you came back from Grancel! Did that woman, Erina Saleon, tell you to keep your distance? Is that it!”
“There’s no way that’s the case. This is just…”
“Just what?”
Her eyes were frightening. It felt like the surrounding temperature had dropped by at least 3 degrees.
‘Hadn’t she gotten better after making many friends?’
Her current appearance was like a boiling volcano about to erupt all at once.
Sensing the situation was not good, I decided to tell the truth.
“You have many friends now, don’t you? So you don’t need someone like me anymore.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Estelle replied coldly.
“No, I mean, if I stick around, it might be harder for you to make friends, right? So…”
“So what? What kind of stupid thought is that? How can you be so cruel and ruthless? Who told you to do this? Who is it? Is it Erina Saleon? Or did Miss Yumir tell you to do this? Who is it!”
Her scream brought silence to the classroom. Judging by the looks in their eyes, everyone seemed ready to grab some popcorn.
“You said it, Ars. You said that when my illness was cured, I would become beautiful, so that’s why you became friends with me. But why? Even though I’m cured, you’re only growing more distant. Why? Why──!”
“That’s…”
“If I had known this would happen, it would have been better not to be cured at all!!”
I had to urgently stop her as she brought her nails to her face as if to harm herself.
“Whoa! Calm down! I understand. I’ll explain properly. Let’s move somewhere else first.” I somehow managed to calm her down and moved to a less crowded place.
Estelle shot a cold glare, demanding that I confess everything.
“Well, we’ll have to separate when we go to high academy anyway, right? That’s why I kept my distance. I’ll be going to Calliper Academy, and you’ll have to go to Crossing. So I kept my distance to allow you to make more friends from Crossing. In fact, when I was with you, the kids from Crossing didn’t approach much, did they?”
“Is it just for that reason?”
“It’s not just for that reason, is it?”
“It is just for that reason. I feel like I’m going to cry that it was such a trivial reason.”
For someone saying that, her eyes were still frightening.
“Okay. I’ll understand that lord Ars consideration was excessive. It’s true that I need to go to the Crossing Academy…. But from now on, please don’t show such cruel consideration.”
Seeing her attitude, I realized I had been too insensitive. Or rather, I had been unconsciously avoiding it.
Until now, I had been keeping a certain distance in human relationships. It was because I prioritized the mission I had.
It was the same with romantic relationships. Considering Ars in the game, I shouldn’t have been doing things like making lovers.
After all, in the game, Ars becomes lovers with Saint Alicia, one of the seven vassals.
I was following the story, and since Alicia was also my favorite character, I was vaguely waiting for the time to meet her regarding romantic relationships.
It was unthinkable in the story to have a deep relationship with Estelle, who was supposed to die in the original game, or Erina, who didn’t even appear, so I was keeping an appropriate distance.
‘I was thinking too rigidly.’
After visiting my birth mother’s grave, I changed my mind.
I decided not to think too hard for the sake of Ars happiness, but for my own happiness. If unexpected problems arise, I can solve them then.
“I’m sorry. I ended up hurting you unintentionally. I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
“Phew…! I’m sorry for shouting too. Sometimes I can’t control my emotions. It feels like my heart is being torn apart and I can’t see anything else.”
Was she aware of it?
“So, Ars? Please help me not to become like that.”
It sounded almost like she was telling me to behave properly.
Having overcome her illness, she was emitting a kind of pressure, perhaps becoming more like Rutger.
‘No, even Rutger doesn’t feel quite like this.’
When I didn’t answer immediately, Estelle pressed once more. “Please… I’m asking you?”
“Yes.”
“And, what was that writing you were working on earlier?”
“You still remember that!?”
I decided to mix in some truth and explain that I was writing a novel.
Then Estelle clapped her hands and said, “If that’s the case, I can help you. You see, when I was ill, all I did was read books. I’ve also written a lot.”
For me, it was an offer that perked up my ears. I was also feeling overwhelmed doing it alone.
“Then will you help me occasionally?”
As long as she doesn’t find out it’s an erotic novel, it should be fine.
And so, I promised to learn writing from Estelle every weekend.
* * *
Autumn passed and winter came at Rainpol.
I found myself spending more time in Crossing’s office after the academy ended.
This was because the signs of the Chimera War were starting to appear around this time. Although I had decided not to care too much about the story, I couldn’t ignore the situation that was actually happening.
“I see. In the Kingdom of Europe…”
“Yes. It is said that both kingdoms are withdrawing their troops simultaneously.”
The traditionally antagonistic kingdoms of Europe and Tunkai.
The armies that had been stationed long-term in their border regions were withdrawing.
Two kingdoms that are desperate to kill each other are simultaneously withdrawing their troops? There must be something else going on.
“An alliance between Europe and Tunkai…. I suppose that’s how it’s going to play out.”
This was undoubtedly a sign of the Chimera War. Of course, the real power behind it is separate.
Tunkai with its territory shaped like a snake’s tail, and Europe like a cow’s body. That means there must be a lion’s head at the core.
“What does Juras say?”
“He expressed a similar view to Lord Ars… That what was bound to come has finally arrived.”
“Then we don’t need to worry about Crossing’s preparedness.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off the place where Europe had pulled back its army.
“Is there perhaps something else on your mind?”
“No. Just remembering a person.”
It was clear. The point where Europe was now withdrawing its troops was where Baeolaf had first gone to the battlefield.
“For now, let’s consider that we’re monitoring the situation…. What’s the next agenda?”
“It’s about building an academy for the people of Kuravel. Permission has been granted to use the profits from the gold mine.”
“As expected, Juras has a big heart. Isn’t that enough money to build an academy and have some left over?”
“Yes, so Officer Bisketa suggested using the remaining funds to expand the residential area. This is the projected residential zone plan she drafted. Please take a look.”
“Hmm. So that large waterway we built earlier was aimed at this. Plus, it surrounds the planned academy site, so it can grow into an education district in the future.”
As expected of someone who served as a prime minister of a kingdom. Bisketa Kren showed unparalleled domestic governance capabilities.
“Tell her to handle it. However, make sure to thoroughly inspect how the funds are used.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Is that all? Phew!”nA sigh of fatigue escaped involuntarily.
Recently, I’ve been so busy with writing erotic novels and whatnot that I just wanted to go back and rest. However, at that moment, Anton changed his tone and said, “…My lord, please put on your helmet. Someone is coming.”
His gaze was directed outside.
‘Who could it be at this hour?’
I put on the helmet I had taken off.
Knock knock. A calm knocking sound. It was Yumir’s.
“Lord Wade, there’s a guest… It’s Duke Regnat Hellian.”
“Duke Hellian? Show him in.”
Duke Hellian had covered his face with a deep hood, perhaps making a secret visit.
“What brings you here at this late hour?”
“I apologize. It’s an urgent matter.”
“Let’s sit down first.”
I took off my helmet again. As Yumir brought in tea, he spoke.
“I wanted to consult with you about something. No, it would be more accurate to say I came to hear your valuable opinion.”
“Haha, valuable opinion? You’re being quite humble.”
His words made me even more curious.
“What are you planning to do? Is the political battle with the Saleon faction becoming difficult?”
“I don’t care about those guys. Rather, they’ll be helpful in this matter. They and the fake Wade they put forward.”
“…Don’t tell me you’re planning to wage war?”
“You’re truly impressive. To deduce that much just from these words. Then you probably know where we’re going to attack too.”
“It must be Madon.”
“Exactly. I intend to root them out this time.”
It was a good move.
The southern region where Madon is located is warm enough that it doesn’t snow even in winter, so war could be waged even in winter.
“But is the food situation alright? This year’s harvest was poor, so there won’t be much stored food. Even if you’re importing from other kingdoms, it’s not perfect. The Bulang Alliance might cut off food exports using the outbreak of war as an excuse.”
“We have measures in place for that aspect as well.”
Judging by the look in his eyes, it seemed they really did have countermeasures.
‘How did they prepare this thoroughly?’
If everything is prepared, this Madon expedition was an excellent strategy.
It’s different from when we went to attack Alvard.
Calliper has already signed a one-year non-aggression treaty with the Kingdom of Alvard as a result of the war.
So even if Calliper attacks Madon, Alvard cannot move.
‘Above all, there’s a high chance Madon isn’t predicting this attack.’
As I said, since Calliper is facing food shortages, it’s hard to think they would suddenly start a war in winter.
Moreover, with Julian Craig, who was Madon’s grand general, under house arrest due to the responsibility for the defeat, the military’s atmosphere is also unsettled.
Unless Calliper suffers an unexpected defeat after invading, it was a war where they would at least break even.
The one thing that bothered me was who exactly had come up with this meticulous plan.
“Did you plan this, Duke?”
“No.”
“Then was it the Saleon faction?”
“Not them either. It wasn’t planned by the King either. This war…”
I had been thinking it was strange too. He had been too quiet in the last war.
“Juras Pamilion. That man orchestrated everything.”
TL NOTE:
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