Chapter 251
Southern Front ⑦ — The Princes' Calculations
Translator : PolterGlast
At the Kyle Kingdom's southernmost tip, the Southern
Gate Fortress had fallen due to the First Prince's new tactics and Viscount
Kyrias's betrayal, and the two Princes had entered the fortress.
The fact that they captured in just one day a fortress
initially thought impregnable—one considered a dagger at their throats
obstructing their supply lines—and that they had slain Margrave Hastburg,
whose name was known even in the Empire; these two points surprised many even
within the Imperial Army.
This became an evaluation of Glorious, the First
Prince, and it must be said that he took a significant lead over the Third
Prince in this war.
First Prince Glorious was taking a brief rest in a
room within the fortress, in high spirits.
"Hahaha! Harry, this battle could truly be
called a complete victory. So that creepy old man was finally useful, eh? I can
just picture that guy (Grat)'s frustrated face."
"Your Highness, the victory in the opening battle was splendid.
However, the main event lies ahead. Please do not let your guard down."
"But according to intelligence, the Mages held
by that guy (Demon Territory Count) supposedly don't even exceed thirty,
do they not? We have fifty specialized in siege warfare; don't you think this
difference is significant?"
"With all due respect, please do not let your guard
down regarding the Principality's Mages. Eventually, we will meet the
Principality Army on the battlefield. Whether as allies or enemies... Although
we are currently fighting together, there is also the danger of being
betrayed."
"True. Speaking of betrayal, that man is the same. I
assume you have calculations to use him until he breaks?"
"Yes. When attacking that land, he will know various
internal details. Appointing him as the vanguard to be consumed in fierce
battle and letting him fall there... seems best."
"Fufufu, betrayal is a harsh thing. To constantly have
to kill one's own compatriots to secure one's place. It is a thorny path he
chose himself. It cannot be helped."
"Indeed. If only he would disappear along with that old man..."
"Thus, we have successfully secured a stronghold from
which to destroy the kingdom. From here on, while reaping the rich harvest the
kingdom boasts of, we shall subjugate the surrounding regions and advance slowly toward the Royal
Capital. We will do so by treading the path paved by those from neighboring
nations seeking to snatch the profits while others fight."
"Hoh? Your Highness had thought that far?"
"Naturally. It is obvious they are waiting for us to
clash with the Kingdom's soldiers, mutually depleting our forces and tiring
ourselves out. The Principality's lot likely sent gifts to our camp expecting
the same."
"As you will."
"There is no need for us to become sacrifices for them.
Since we have started moving, they will likely start squirming with peace of
mind. However, our pace is not as fast as they expect. After all, we too expect
them and the Kingdom soldiers to strike each other."
Glorious, the First Prince, elated by the great victory in the
opening battle, re-established his plan for conquering the Kingdom.
After capturing the Southern Gate Fortress and the
frontier where the Demon Territory Count and others were barricaded, he
intended to seize the wealth and harvest of the Demon Territory Count's
domain, renowned for its richness, and settle down for a while.
He had absolutely no intention of picking chestnuts out of
the fire as expected by the neighboring countries.
Separately, in a room on the left wing side of the fortress,
which had been a fierce battleground, there was a man speaking displeasedly.
"Sieghart, we let that guy take the credit this
time, but what do you think? I believe this is a situation where we must make
not a few changes to our plan."
"Fufufu, Your Highness. If you ask me, His Highness Glorious
is an idiot after all. Getting carried away with victory is fine, but His
Highness has committed at least four blunders."
"Hahaha, you calling royalty an idiot is interesting as
always. So, what are his blunders?"
"First, he used tactics that should originally have
been kept secret to capture a fortress that our expedition plan determined
didn't necessarily need to be taken. His tactics are effective precisely
because they are seen for the first time. To begin with, regarding the tactical
operation of Mages, even the brave Margrave Hastburg is a small
fry. The big fish is waiting in the right-wing camp of the Kingdom Army. This
information will almost certainly have been conveyed to him."
"But numbers are a threat. Even the rumored Demon
Territory Count is said to possess only a few dozen Mages,
right?"
"According to information I procured independently,
there are reports that he secretly trained several hundred Mages within
the Demon Territory Count's domain in preparation for this battle. In
terms of numerical threat, His Highness will be overwhelmingly the smaller
force."
He said so, but even Sieghart, who controlled trade
merchants and excelled in espionage, had uncertain elements. Certainly, what he
said was fact. But he had no confirmation of where that legion was deployed.
What Sieghart feared was the Third Prince getting
eager for merit upon seeing the First Prince's results and expanding the
battlefront.
"Hmph, is that so? Well, that should be fine. By the
way, what are the remaining three?"
"Second is pressuring the traitorous Viscount Kyrias
to kill his allies. If it were me, I would have kept his betrayal secret and
utilized him internally until the end. Surrender might be one thing, but with
this, the enemy army has surely gained confirmation of his betrayal. What
happens then?"
"Naturally, they would be wary that there is a traitor
among them who knows internal affairs."
"Exactly. At this point, the information he knows
becomes useless over time. The Southern Gate Fort and such, where they
surely won't make it in time to deal with it, are likely empty castles by now.
Leaving aside the idiot floating on victory, I recommend Your Highness go out
quickly to receive the fort."
"Wha-... Why didn't you say that first! And what is the
third?"
"The enemy army, whose supreme commander was killed and
was in chaos, had neither the composure to take out supplies nor the wisdom to
burn them. His Highness Glorious should have secured those first thing
upon entering."
"Hm? I heard the supplies were already taken away and
the storehouses were empty? ...Wait, you!"
"Yes. Amidst the confusion while fighting was still
continuing, I have already secured them accompanied by a Space-Time Mage. As
valuable supplies for His Highness Grat."
"Hahaha! So that's why you slipped out saying it was a
front-line inspection and went to the battlefield! And what is the last
one?"
"The more foolish one is, the more they rejoice in the
war results of the opening battle and end up showing off their military might
ostentatiously. The idiot is probably raising a toast right about now. If he
really intended to destroy this country, he should leave such a fortress to the
rear guard and hurry ahead. What is required of their Left Wing Army, attacking
up from the enemy's vital point, is lightning speed; originally, they should
march in rapid succession without letting the enemy breathe, advancing deep
into the Kingdom. Because this is merely an entrance. While we celebrate victory
here, the enemy army will recover from the shock of the opening battle,
organize their system, and further solidify their defenses."
"Idiot, fool... you're calling him all sorts of things,
huh?"
"After all, His Highness Glorious is a resident
of the court. His thinking, policies, and caliber are completely different from
Your Highness, who has traveled back and forth on battlefields and shared food
and sleep with soldiers on the front lines."
"Hoh? Praising me? That's rare. It gives me the
creeps."
"In my own way, I value Your Highness. Your Highness,
who considers cutting off the Empire's long-standing abominable customs and
coexisting with neighboring countries if possible."
"Hmph, that's because I had excellent staff who could be
called eccentrics, and a strange Baron—no, now a Viscount—who sided even with
enemy soldiers. I learn what I should learn from my subordinates too."
"Then, Your Highness, please propose three things at
today's banquet. First, acknowledge the First Prince's merit in capturing the
fortress. Second, request to capture the Southern Gate Fort in exchange
for yielding the vanguard. Third, to secure the occupied area, devote yourself
for the time being to pacifying the surrounding area starting from the seized Southern
Gate Fort. These three points."
"What is the intention?"
"If you convey that, the First Prince's camp will be
relieved that they have gained a grace period to aim for the Royal Capital slowly. Your Highness can
take a nap to your heart's content inside the fort."
"You're the one who wants to take a nap. But if that
happens, won't we lose the leeway to lay a hand on the Royal Capital area? I think there's a possibility he might take the
prey..."
"The fall of this fortress and the death of the Margrave
will be a huge shock to the Kingdom. More than we imagine. Surely the Kingdom
side will gather soldiers regardless of appearance, starting with the Royal
Capital Knights, and come out. If that happens, they will inevitably clash
with us moving north. Even if we can win, the sacrifices will not be
negligible."
"But I think the defense line will become stronger
while we sleep... Didn't you say earlier we should advance with lightning
speed, in rapid succession?"
"The movements of the right wing and left wing are
rather opposite. The right wing faces several difficulties as it advances. But
the left wing has the hardest defense just beyond the entrance, and from there,
it's just gouging out the soft belly. The strategic situations are completely
different."
"Hmm... I'm also concerned about the movements of other
countries..."
"As you fear, given time, other sectors—West and
North—will surely start moving. Originally, they stopped their advance and were
deliberately waiting for us to move. If that happens, the spears extended
toward us will be forced to change direction."
"But isn't that a scenario where we might end up giving
them the advantage?"
"No, it is different. If we go on the offensive and break
those spears, that will benefit other countries. We need the spears to head
toward the armies of other countries without being chipped. Only when both
spears are broken and damaged can Your Highness make a free choice."
"Hmph, I see. In that case, the entire situation
depends on the movements of the left wing?"
"Yes, exactly as you say. I do not know if he is aware
of it himself, but the Demon Territory Count is the key holding the
future of this country. Perishing, surviving, forming a friendship with
us—everything depends on the Demon Territory Count's command."
"Hmm... The more I hear, the more I want to meet that
man. When everything leads to the path we desire, Sieghart, shall I ask
you to arrange it?"
"Ahahaha, he is an interesting man. Even if we occupy
this country, I believe he has the caliber to be entrusted with domestic
administration. My true feeling is that I want to be friends with him. I think
so. I wouldn't want to deal with a fool, but dialogue with him stimulates
intellectual curiosity, and there are many points to learn and things to be
surprised by. Well, right now, we are enemies."
"Heh, calling a man you are currently fighting a
'friend'... Glorious would make a huge fuss if he heard that."
Takuhir naturally did not know that such a conversation was taking place amidst the war, in a place unknown to him. And it was no exaggeration to say that whether this meeting would be realized or not also rested on his shoulders.
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