The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 56

Bonus chapter 7/7. Thanks so much for the support

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The Extra Strategist’s Royal Road Chapter 56

Returning to the mansion, I was eating the food Eo had prepared while compiling intelligence from Crossing.

‘The Chimera War…. It was such a large-scale war.’

In the game, it appeared as a tutorial-level war, so it didn’t feel significant, but in reality, it was on a scale that would go down in history.

Svenner, Europe, Tunkai. The combined forces of the Chimera Alliance gathered a staggering 420,000 troops.

Of these, Svenner alone mustered 240,000, showcasing its status as a superpower.

On the other hand, Bülang gathered only 190,000, 50,000 fewer than Svenner, but Bülang’s true strength lay in diplomacy.

After the fierce battle with Svenner 10 years ago, Bülang had been creating diplomatic channels to counter Svenner’s ambitions.

This was the Central-Eastern Alliance.

Bülang requested support from Alvard, Beckavia, and Valrus in the central region, Calliper and Crossing in the east, asking them to respond together.

Currently, the central and eastern regions were not in a position to join forces due to successive wars, but Bülang had the diplomatic capability to make it happen.

Above all, it was strategically correct to help Bülang because if Bülang, which served as a breakwater, collapsed, it was obvious that Svenner’s ambitions would immediately turn to other powers.

Thus, each country began preparations to dispatch support troops.

The final scale would be about 400,000, just like the opposing side.

‘An enormous scale….’

A war involving 820,000 troops from both sides.

A great war involving all the hegemonic powers of the continent was about to break out.

As I was reading the intelligence reports, Eo appeared wearing an apron. “Did you enjoy the food?”

A question full of expectation. 

I decided to meet that expectation. “It’s delicious. To be honest, I feel like I can’t live without you anymore.”

“What!?”

It wasn’t just flattery. I couldn’t even enjoy the dishes given by Duke Hellian because they didn’t suit my taste. Somehow, my palate had become completely accustomed to Eo’s cooking.

“By the way, where’s Yumir?”

“I, I, I, I, I, I….”

“Why are you suddenly like this? As if you’re malfunctioning.”

At that moment, Yumir appeared. “Were you looking for me, young master?”

“Ah, yes. I was hoping you could deliver this letter to brother Max.”

“If it’s about that, why don’t we go to the mansion together? Madam will be happy to know you’re back.”

“I have somewhere else to go first today.”

It was Rutger’s mansion. I had something to discuss about the Chimera War, and above all, I wanted to show Estelle the completed novel.

If Estelle gave the green light, I was planning to add the pre-written erotic scene and deliver it to Baeolaf.

Rutger’s family mansion was located in the bustling area of Rainpol.

Knock knock! When I knocked on the door of the mansion, a middle-aged maid appeared. She seemed to be a newly hired slave from Kuravel.

“Who might you be?”

“Ah, yes. I came to see Miss Estelle.”

“Oh my, you must be Miss Estelle’s friend. I heard you were coming.”

It’s strange that she heard I was coming. It would be hard to predict that I was back, given that my master and Anton had caught that embarrassing scene.

“Please come in. The young miss went out with the master to buy some snacks. Please wait in the reception room with the other friends.”

“Ah…”

It seems she had a separate appointment with her friends today.

I thought about coming another day if she had prior engagements, but I awkwardly entered the reception room.

“…”

“…”

Four women staring at me with curious eyes, as if asking who I was. They seemed to be students from Crossing High Academy.

“Excuse me.”

Since it had come to this, I decided to wait here and then handle my business with Rutger first when he and his daughter returned, leaving Estelle to her friends.

I was trying to kill time by reading another novel I had brought for reference, but they approached me out of curiosity.

“You’re an acquaintance of Estelle’s, right? If it’s not rude, may I ask your name?”

“I’m Ars Elaine.”

Then a shrill cheer erupted.

They started to ask me questions in detail, as if they had vaguely heard about me from Estelle.

If that’s the case, I had something I wanted to ask too.

“There’s one thing I’d like to ask, is it true that Prime Minister Juras Pamilion is teaching at the Crossing Academy?”

“You mean Teacher Pamilion.”

They smiled brightly when Juras was mentioned.

“He’s a very witty and gentlemanly person. We always look forward to his classes.”

Listening closely, I learned that he didn’t teach military studies. The classes he taught were general courses, focusing on liberal arts and dance.

“It seems like there might be some intention behind what that guy did, but….”

On the other hand, it might have been done just for fun without any meaning. That was the chilling aspect of Juras.

It’s frightening to think about what kind of trouble an unpredictable eccentric who is terrifyingly capable might cause.

“By the way, Sir Elaine? Are you engaged to Estelle?”

“No, we’re just friends.”

“Oh my.”

Suddenly, the atmosphere seemed to change. For some reason, the distance between us felt reduced.

“What kind of classes do they have at Calliper Academy? Since there are many nobles, do you have parties every day?”

“Of course not. Besides, as a cadet, I don’t know much about those social affairs.”

“A cadet! How cool!”

As we continued chatting.

Suddenly, I felt a chill down my spine.

“…What. Are you doing.”

Estelle, holding a package of snacks, was emitting an intimidating aura. Rutger, who was beside her, seemed startled, as if seeing this side of his daughter for the first time.

“Everyone, step away from Ars.”

As if an imperial order had been issued, the girls hurriedly returned to their seats and sipped their tea cups with embarrassed faces.

Estelle glared at them intently before turning her gaze to me.

“When did you return?”

“This morning.”

“Then you should have told me in advance.”

“I came back right away without having time for that.”

“You have business with me today, right?”

“That’s right. But it seems you have a prior engagement, so I’ll wait. Since I’m just waiting, it would be fine for me to join the conversation, wouldn’t it?”

“No.” Then she speaks to Rutger. “Father, please take care of the guest. Please treat Sir Ars respectfully so he doesn’t feel ‘uncomfortable’.”

“O-Okay.”

She strongly emphasizes this, seemingly aware of how Rutger usually treats men who approach her.

Left alone with Rutger as planned, I talked about the war, but Rutger seemed out of it, barely listening.

“Sigh…”

“What’s wrong? Why the deep sigh?”

“It seems Estelle is becoming more like her mother…”

“Isn’t that a good trend?”

“Maybe… Well, I guess I don’t need to worry since you’re the one who has to deal with it.” Rutger had a resigned, enlightened expression on his face as he said that.

***

Estelle’s tea party ended around sunset.

Estelle appeared before me, who had been waiting, with a complex expression.

“I’m sorry. I lost control of my emotions for a moment. Ars was just trying to fit in with the conversation.”

“No, I enjoyed it too.”

“You… Enjoyed it?”

“Well, I got to know how you’re doing at the academy.”

“I-I see. I’m such a…”

Estelle put the leftover snacks from the tea party on the table and wanted to talk about academy life, but given the time, we went straight to the main topic.

Although she pouted, she seemed curious about the completed version I had written and started reading right away.

After a while, she speaks coldly.

“What is this? This silly-looking blonde woman.”

“She’s a new heroine. A device to deepen the plot development.”

“This character whose only redeeming quality is her family is the new heroine? And her name is Irina Paleon… Don’t tell me, Sir Ars. Did you ask Erina Saleon for advice?”

“She’s the only friend I have to consult about these things.”

Estelle looked at me reproachfully but seemed to understand and continued reading the rest.

“The content has improved a lot, hasn’t it?”

“Yes…” Estelle nodded, as if unable to deny that. “But the ending is not acceptable. It’s unbelievable. Why does he end up with this woman?”

“It’s a shocking twist.”

“Even twists need to make sense. In this case…” Estelle started to suggest improvements. The content was shocking.

“A third heroine?”

“Yes, a girl who has always been watching the protagonist from the sidelines. This girl has reddish-brown hair and is skilled in reading and writing. Plus, her father is an incredible general. That’s it! Let’s make her father the protagonist’s superior. The girl’s name is Ertel Dionte. It turns out that Irina Paleon was actually a villain, and in the end, he ends up with Ertel.”

There were many points I wanted to object to.

“But if there are three heroines, won’t the content become disorganized?”

“Not at all. Look, we can do it like this.”

Then Estelle started to plot out the story. The content was so dramatic that even I became interested.

The novel was taking shape and nearing completion.

However, I slightly changed the ending so that the protagonist, who was torn between Ertel and Irina, decides to go on a journey with the female knight who was the main heroine.

With the addition of an erotic scene to this final version, the writing of the sensual novel for Baeolaf was complete.

Now I just needed to deliver it, but due to the impending Chimera War, most land borders were closed, so I couldn’t go myself. Therefore, I decided to send the item through a maritime merchant guild entering Europe via Beckavia.

* * *

The continent where the atmosphere of war has begun to loom in earnest.

This could be felt intact even at the academy.

The Kingdom of Calliper organized an army of 70,000, mainly consisting of nobles’ private soldiers, for dispatch, and cadets were also set to go to the battlefield.

A military official provided an explanation about this. General Dunan seemed to have become busy, so General Ironheart appeared instead.

“There’s no need to worry too much. The higher-ups predict that actual combat won’t occur.”

It’s suggested that Svenner’s march this time is to demonstrate a kind of political division.

“The timing of the war itself is like that. An army that marches in March is bound to not fight for long.”

This is because it’s getting to the main farming season. More than half of Svenner and Bulang’s armies are conscripted soldiers, so if they’re on the battlefield, a year’s harvest could be ruined.

“It will be a month at most. You should accompany the army from your respective families with the mindset of learning.”

At this, the cadets from high-ranking families raised their noses.

“Huh, I’d like to praise you for not being afraid. The army will start full-scale mobilization in a week. Until then, there will be no academy classes, so return home, organize your issued military equipment, and prepare yourselves.”

As Ironheart left, the classroom buzzed with conversation.

“To think that I’d be participating in such a great war…”

“Won’t it be dangerous?”

While some were scared, most were expressing excitement about participating in a big war. There were even some dreaming of gaining merits for promotion or capturing enemy generals.

‘Going to the battlefield with such vanity.’

Such vanity tends to turn into greater fear in the face of the horrors of war.

“Hey, Ars. Did you hear that?”

It was Bannings, a classmate.

“They say Juras Pamilion will be the commander-in-chief from Crossing!”

“So?”

“What do you mean so! Zemuto, the evil brain of Svenner, and Juras, the invincible of Crossing! It’s the first time two of the Ten Heroes will face each other! I want to bet on Zemuto. Even Juras must feel fear at the reputation of the undefeated evil brain, right?”

“That guy would probably be happy about it.”

He’s surely grinning maliciously, wanting to test his skills.

“And they say Kaien of the Four Strategies will be the commander-in-chief of Alvard. This has become a big deal.”

It was essentially an all-star game.

Even excluding the above three, there was a high possibility of more of the Ten Heroes appearing, and eight of the 20 Heroes, a lower-tier concept, had already confirmed their participation.

Naturally, attention was also focused on Wade.

Whether Wade, the mercenary who appeared like a divine being, would show up on the battlefield.

“Hey, Casper. Are you really going out as a commander too?”

The cadets were surrounding Casper.

“They say if you just make up your mind, you could get a position as a great general on par with General Dunan.”

“But there’s still hierarchy, so maybe you’ll take on the role of chief military officer assisting General Dunan?”

Everyone was talking as if they had confirmed Casper as Wade.

Casper didn’t hesitate at all.

He firmly believed that Gilbert would clean up after him no matter what happened.

“I received an offer but declined. Right now, I’m just a cadet.”

“Whew, as expected! But if things go bad, we’re counting on you, Casper… no, Wade!”

“Yeah, leave it to me.”

I told him that a castle built of sand would crumble. That it would be better not to pretend to be Wade.

Despite my advice, Casper made the foolish choice to reign from a castle built of sand.

If that’s his thinking, I had nothing more to say to him.

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