Dusseyr Lubanka, Vice Admiral of the Eastern Sector of the Gillis Empire, was looking up at the cloudy sky at the Nadar military camp.


　Even though he was in front of a military meeting, he was out in the open to get some fresh air into his chest.
　Since many of the staff members, including Leon, were tobacco smokers, the tent would inevitably reek of tobacco if there was a military meeting. For this reason, Dusseyr, who does not like to smoke or even drink, only goes outside to get some fresh air before a military meeting if he has time.
　If the sky were clear and blue, his heart would be filled with a sense of refreshment, but unfortunately it was cloudy. I almost wondered if there was something bad in the air, but I quickly shook it off.


　Suddenly, I felt the presence of someone behind me.
　When I turned around, there was a woman dressed as an officer standing there in a salute.
　The way she stood there, unmoving no matter what, was reminiscent of a plaster statue.
　She had long black hair with her bangs cut into a straight line.
　His skin is white, as is typical of the clans living in the northern part of the Empire.
　He wears the uniform of an Imperial officer, with no extraneous ornaments.
　He wears the uniform of an Imperial officer and carries a leather bag and a small sword.
　If she followed the military code from beginning to end, she would probably be a woman like her.
　She was a lieutenant who had recently returned from a mission in the kingdom after graduating from the military academy with outstanding grades.


　--I should give her a taste of the horrors of the Kingdom.


　That's what Leon said when he finished greeting her on her arrival.
　She's a good student, she follows the rules.
　If you're a soldier, ...... you can't do better than that, especially if you're an officer. However, he is also a nervous person, and he often does not take the field into consideration when listening to people.
　That's why we decided to give him a taste of the real world and threw him out to the kingdom.
　...... When he came back after completing his mission, his confidence had been shattered considerably.


　Now he has overcome that ordeal and is working as one of the general's lieutenants.
　As she returns the salute to the lieutenant, she performs the "Attention" command in a brisk manner.
　The heels of her shoes hit the ground, her feet are together, her hips and elbows are stretched out, and she looks at me with a resolute gaze.
　And then.


"Lieutenant General Lubanka, your family is here to see you.

"Family?

What? Yes, I've heard that.


　But it's hard to believe.


"......, Lieutenant. Are you sure it's my family?

"Yes. It's been confirmed. General Glanz has granted us access.

The general?

Yes.


　So this is Grant's arrangement?
　I've never heard of Granz allowing family members to visit before or during a mission, but he has often made accommodations and accommodations for his subordinates.
　He has been criticized for his laxity, which is unbecoming of a general, but he is well respected by his subordinates.


　...... It was indeed Dusseyr's own sister who eventually brought him to her.
　In the event that you have any kind of questions regarding where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.


Are you okay?

"...... Yes. Yes, brother.


　I'm not sure what to say, but I'm sure you'll understand.
　But if you've come all this way from your hometown, you must have been through a lot.


What's going on?　Is there something important?

My great-uncle is in hiding.

...... I see. Your uncle?

Yes.


　Dutseyr's uncle was the clan leader. After Dusseyr's father died in the war against the empire, he took over the role and became the clan leader, holding the clan together until now.
　The death of his uncle was important to the clan.
　No wonder my sister had pushed herself to come this far.


　As I pondered over my uncle for a while, my sister opened her mouth again.


"Brother. Please return at once. Since your uncle has gone into hiding, you are the only one who can be the pillar of our clan. Please .......


　I'm sure you're right. The head of Dusseyr's clan has always been Dusseyr's family. Considering the legitimacy of the bloodline, it makes sense that Dusseyr should be the next clan leader.
　He must hurry back, unite the clans, and decide what to do.
　But...


We have a war to fight.

"Brother ......


　When I told her that it was impossible, she turned her head.
　And then, as if she was sobbing, she appealed to me.


I don't want you to push yourself too hard. I know the pride and position of the clan is important, but isn't it also a way to live in seclusion in your hometown?

I can't do that.

Why not?

Our clan has already become part of the empire. If we fail to produce tangible results, our clan will be swallowed by the empire and disappear. We must avoid that.


　The clans of Dusseya had succumbed to the Imperial invasion a few years ago and had become one of the provinces.
　Because they did not surrender immediately and resisted, they are still in a weak position in the Empire and could be swallowed by other clans at any moment.


　In order to avoid this, Dusseyr himself needed to achieve a certain position in the imperial army.


But then, wouldn't you eventually be used up by the emperor ......?


　That's true. To the emperor, a weak clan is like a disposable pawn.
　But...


"That was disrespectful.

"Brother ......

Please understand. This is also for the sake of our clan.


　Yes, now that we are part of the empire, there is no other way for our clan to survive.
　I called out to my sister, who was still anxiously keeping her eyes down, to cheer her up.


There's nothing to worry about. I won't be defeated and we can win this war. I promise.

"You will win?

"Yes.


　She nodded uneasily and closed her eyes.
　She nodded uneasily and closed her eyes, then opened them wide as if she had made up her mind.


"Brother, if you are sure of victory, please remember what your father said. Victory is just around the corner, and it is a matter of life and death.


　That's what my sister said to me.
　That's what I heard my father say one day. It was something he used to say when he was still alive, when his homeland did not belong to the Empire.
　Even now, it remains in Dusseyr's mind as a war lesson.


"...... I know.

"Brother. I'm sorry to have interrupted you.

No, it was out of concern for my safety. I'm not angry with you.


　With that, he and his sister fell silent.
　Just then, the female lieutenant approached me in a reserved manner.


"Lieutenant. I apologize for interrupting. It's time for you to go to .......

Okay, not at ....... I'll be back as soon as the war is over.

"Yes, sir.


　After a brief exchange of words, and eventually parting from my sister.
　The lieutenant who had just left led me to the tent where the staff was gathered.


　On the way, I suddenly thought of something and asked a female officer.


"...... Lieutenant, what was your name again?

She replied, "Well. "My name is River Coast, sir.

"Lieutenant Coast. I'm sure you heard the profanity my sister spoke of earlier, but please don't tell anyone about it.

What?


　He asks for her name to keep her quiet and hurries towards the tent again.
　When he reached the tent, he opened the door and was hit by the smell of cigar and cigarette smoke.
　I turned my face away and coughed once or twice.
　When his breathing calmed down, he and Revel saluted.


　...... Already inside the tent, the people who would play an important role in the current operation had gathered.


　A skinny man with waxed black hair, Leon Glantz, a member of the Eastern Front of the Gillis Empire.


　Poluk Nadar, Count of the Kingdom, who looked like the sum of a squashed toad and a pig.


　And his squire, Vile Ellyn.


　Aluas, the mage of the Silver Star, a robed woman who wears an eerie white mask.


　At the edge of the tent, some of Leon's followers and direct mages were present.


...... Sorry I'm late.

"No, we're almost there. Don't worry about it.


　When I heard Leon's words, I looked at the people gathered, but no one seemed to be annoyed by the delay. Poluk Nadar seemed to be in good spirits, so it seemed that they had indeed just arrived.


　Once in position, Revel suddenly spoke up.


I have something to report to you, General.

"What's going on?

What is it?　I have just received word from the secret service that Gadouard Belhaan has gone to Narwarond.

"Hmm?

But he didn't join the strike force, he just took it back. It seems that he may have been unable to come to an agreement and refused the request of the Crown Prince.


　Some of the people who heard Revel's report shouted with joy.
　Some people who heard Revel's report shouted with admiration, mainly Vile Ellyn and Leon's followers, the sorcerers.
　The name of Gadourd Belhaan should not be overlooked when attacking the kingdom.
　This old general had stood in front of the empire many times before, and had used all his tactics and strategies to prevent the empire from invading.
　The fact that such a great force did not respond to our request for reinforcements is a great loss to the current Nadar army.


"That's good news. This is good news.


　Dusseyr, like them, was about to say this with great joy.


What are you so relieved about?　You've just made me even more confused!


　The one who suddenly shouted was Count Polk Nadar.
　His face turned reddish-black as if he was in a hurry, and his frustration could be seen.


　I asked Poluk Nadar, his eyes peeled and snorting.


"Count ......, what the hell does that mean?

"Gadourd Belhaan!　I'm not sure what you're talking about.　It's when he doesn't make a move that I fear him!　You never know what he might do behind the scenes!

"Count, what is this ...... thing you're doing?

I don't know, that's why I'm afraid!　It's even possible that you were deliberately given that information in the first place!


　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it.
　There was an unconcealed fear in his voice, an urgency that seemed to indicate that he was convinced that his nightmare could become a reality.


　Leaving his agitation aside for the moment, he first asked Revel.


"Lieutenant Coast. Do you have any other information about it?

It's at ........ I don't know if it's relevant, but Gadouard Belhairn carried off supplies for the strike force when he left Narwhalond.

Supplies?

Supplies? That's what I've been told.


　...... If Belharn's army is only returning to its own territory, there should be no need for it to receive supplies from the vanquishing army. It's unlikely that they ran out of food for the return trip, and if it's not enough to get them back to their territory...


"Sir.


...... is the answer. Perhaps, as the Count said, they are trying to make us feel uneasy by not making a move outwardly. The fact that they went to the trouble of bringing in supplies when they weren't going to participate in the war is proof of that.

Then...

"Then we'll sit back and watch, and attack when we're outnumbered. That's what the old bastard did to us. This will force us to be on the lookout for Bel Haan's movements, and we can't afford to lose the castle. He can limit our movements without effort. It's really quite annoying.


　In other words, the defeated army was trying to play mind games with us.
　If we read too much into the situation and place troops at the base, our forces will be dispersed and we will have fewer troops to defeat. On the other hand, if we don't read too much into the situation and don't deploy troops to the base, there is a possibility that the weak base will be attacked and lost.
　If we lose those bases, we may lose our supplies and escape routes.


　As Leon said, it would be very difficult.
　As he was troubled by the invisible old general, a woman's thin smile suddenly echoed in the tent.


"So, General, what are you going to do?


　The teasing question came from behind a white mask.
　Leon replied to Aulus.


"We don't have much information yet. If you show any hesitation due to anxiety, you will be at their mercy. Therefore, in such a case, you must move with the expectation that it will often backfire. Optimism leads to death.

"Do you think Gadourd Belhaan's move was just a coincidence?

No. Especially not with that wretch. He'll certainly try to take the castle if we let him.


　Of course. I'm sure he's working on a plan that can go either way at this point.
　The only way to get out of this situation is to find and destroy the Belharn forces that are probably hiding in Nadar territory. ...... Currently, the Nadar army does not have the manpower to devote to a separate force.


　Poluk Nadar's face twisted as if he had just eaten something very bitter.


Things aren't going as planned, are they ......?

"No, not really.

"General Grant?

General Glantz? - I'm afraid we've driven a wedge between ourselves.


　The Count replied in the negative and asked Leon what he really meant.


What is the wedge, my lord?

"I used our channels to reach out to Grandshell and the Floods. Now the kingdom will not be able to devote a large number of troops to the defeat.

Oh!　Is that true?


　Poluk Nadar shouted with joy when he heard that.
　If the kingdom is pressured from the east or the south, it will have to be on the lookout.
　Whenever there is an invasion from another country, the kingdom first leaves the defense to the local nobles, and then sends the elite national army from the center as reinforcements while the battle lines are stalemated. Therefore, when there is movement on multiple fronts, the national army cannot be concentrated in one place.
　Even if there are more reinforcements to the defeating army, it will not be on a large scale.


No immediate reinforcements is a big deal. ......

There's one more thing. And there's one more thing. We let the strike force get misinformed. They'll probably come out with the idea that we're attacking with fewer men than they have.

"Did the general give them information that we had fewer men?

"Sir, why on earth would you give such information to ......?


　Poluk Nadar followed, raising his voice in question.
　And if you look at it, the others are the same. You'll be able to find a lot more information on this subject in the future.


　Then Leon looked at Revel.


"Lieutenant Coast. I'm sure you can tell me what this is all about.

It seems to me that the general wanted to control the movements of the strike force.

Excellent.



Thank you.


　As Revell replies to Leon, Poluk Nadar raises the question again.


"General, what do you mean by control?

"Count. What do you think they'll do if we tell them that we're outnumbered?

"Of course, they will try to pick a fight where they have the advantage in numbers. They will try to fight in a large terrain where they can easily move their troops even if they are outnumbered. ...... If we stay in the castle, they will attack the castle directly.

That's right. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. If we outnumber them, we won't need to do any tricks.

"What does ...... mean? So you're saying that the general wants to fight on the plains and that's why he's giving out this information?


　Leon nodded in response to Poluk Nadar's question.


I'm sure the defeating army is now thinking that they can choose the battlefield at will. They'll probably be waiting for us on the Mildare Plains to take full advantage of our numbers.


　Certainly, if they attacked at this speed, there was no doubt that the defeating army would choose the Mildare Plains as their battlefield.
　But that requires one more condition.


But, my lord. But, my lord, isn't that only possible if the vanquishing army knows the purpose of our army correctly?　If they are unaware that we are targeting the Ceylan and are closing in on Fort Tab, ......

If they are a bunch of incompetents who can't even notice that, it would be easier to set them off on the march. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to be doing and how you're going to do it.

"............


　I'm not sure what to make of that.
　I'm not sure what to say. These are the mages that represent the power of the kingdom. Their power is more than just a threat, and once they land on the battlefield, they have the power to overturn even an inferior force.


　Poluk Nadar immediately opened his mouth.


But even if the battle is to be fought on the Mildare Plains, it will not be to our advantage. It will still be a clash of equal numbers in the end.

"No. It's better for the Count if we choose to fight on the plains.

What do you mean?

It's a big game. Seyran will always come out ahead. There's a better chance of defeating him than fighting a defensive battle or defeating him sporadically and sporadically. We can invest a lot of strength to defeat the Ceylan.

"Well, that's also true ......, isn't it? That would be convenient for us. Mm. ......


　That's true.
　If it is a small battlefield battle, not to mention a siege, there is a possibility that Ceylan will not go into battle. But when it comes to a decisive battle, Leon is right, it's a big stage. This is his first battle, and he will need to be evaluated, so Ceylan will certainly come forward, or at least he will have to.
　And if the first battle is a decisive one, we have the full force of our army to defeat him.
　As Leon said to Poluk Nadar, it is not meaningless.


　Poluk Nadar's blood color will improve visibly, though.
　I still have my doubts.

　Is that really all Leon has in mind?


　What Leon just told you is only to Poluk Nadar's advantage.
　There is no benefit to the Empire at all.
　I wonder if Leon will be satisfied with only that level of strategy.


　...... There is nothing wasted in this man's moves.
　I'm not sure what to make of it.
　If this is the case, then this plan must also contain something that the empire must do.


　In the midst of his thoughts, Leon asks Revel for a report.


"Lieutenant. What is the current status of the strike force?

"At the moment, there are no troops ahead of us. No reports from patrols or reconnaissance units.

Any breakaway operations?

A few letters of that nature. But we got rid of them before they arrived.

Who's trying to move troops?

None so far, sir.

What about the mercenaries we hired?　Are they acting suspiciously?

No. There's nothing suspicious. There's been no talk of bribery from the strike force.

I see. I'm not sure what to make of that.


　Leon lets out a sigh.
　There is an air of disappointment around him.
　It is true that the defeating army has placed the weight of Gadourd Belhaan, but that is all they have done. That level of tactics is probably not enough for Leon.
　He is a man who believes that when it comes to war, he will do everything in his power to separate himself from the enemy.
　To a man like him, the lazy maneuvers of the defeating army might seem like a lazy attempt.


　Then, he suddenly realized.


(Come to think of it, isn't His Excellency Leon working on the separation ......?


　If Leon had such beliefs, he would have conducted detachment operations in the current operation.


　If Leon were to make a serious move, it would be difficult to disperse the defeating army, but he should be able to stop it from reaching Rastinel territory unprepared. If Leon were to make a serious move, even though it would be difficult to disperse the vanquishing forces, he should be able to make the vanquishing forces stand still in the Rustinelle territory due to lack of preparation.


　Once that happens, all we need to do is to attack.
　The fact that the defeating army was attacked by the defeated side would destroy Ceylan's credibility, and that alone could hurt the kingdom.
　For the Empire, Poluk Nadar taking Ceylan's head is not important.
　The true goal of the Empire is to reduce the power of the Kingdom.
　But even though such a victory is at hand, Leon will not take any steps to disengage.


　And that means...
　Leon really wants to fight on the Mildare Plains.


　When I looked at him as if I had noticed him, he smiled wryly for a moment.
　After all, he must have something in mind.
　Then, Leon asked Polk Nadar with an indifferent face.


What about the Count?　How is the Count's campaign against the vanquishing army going?

The generals know better than we do how difficult it is to undermine the royal family's prestige.

Yes, he does.

How's the general?

Same here. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been bothered by the unity of the kingdom's nobility for so many years.


　Leon replied to Poluk Nadar's question with a clear face.
　That's just how thick-skinned he is.


　Poluk Nadar, on the other hand, still has an impatient look on his face.


Count. You don't feel well, do you?

"Of course!　We're still waiting for the 'right' move!　Why does the general have such a relaxed attitude?

"Of course, because he has his reasons.


　When Leon said this, Poluk Nadar looked perplexed.
　When Leon said that, Poluk Nadar looked at him with a scowl.


"Count. Be happy. I've called for reinforcements as well.

"More reinforcements?　What the hell is that?


　It was right after Leon had given some kind of signal.
　Just after Leon gave some kind of signal, a huge shadow suddenly appeared in the tent where they were discussing the army.


"Bwahahaha!　So that's why they called me!


　Perhaps it was because of his height that he bent down crampedly at the entrance of the tent.
　The man who appeared was a giant of a man, no taller than two meters.
　His hair was abundant, his hairline reached below his cheeks, and he had a beard. He had a fur coat that made his face look hairy. His arms and legs are as thick as logs, and his hands are so large that they could hold two or three human heads together.
　When it appeared, it looked as if it were a bison.
　The rotund Count Polk Nadar looked so small.


　But does his appearance look familiar to you?


"This is .......

"Hey, hey!　Why is this man ......


　Not only Poluk Nadar, but even Aluas was surprised by the appearance of the raging bull.
　I'm not sure what to make of this.
　And a much higher ranking one than Dusseyr.
　It was imperative to respond accordingly, so I immediately gave the order.


"First Officer and all others!　"Salute His Excellency General Barg Gulba!

"Mmm!　Mm-mm-mm-mm!　Good, good!　Good spirit!　This is how it should be before a battle!


　Leon, Polk Nadar, his followers, and all but Aluas saluted in unison, and the bull-like man nodded in satisfaction.
　I bow to him again.


"Sir.

"Oh!　You are ...... Dussair Lubanka, I believe!　Long time no see!


　The raging bull calls out to me.
　A ranger general in the Central Army of the Gillis Empire, Bargh Gulba. He is a soldier of the same rank as Leon Glanz in the Imperial Army.
　He smiled a sarcastic smile at you and said.


I'm sure you've seen me before at ......, when I destroyed your homeland?　Hmm?　Huh!


　Barug Guruba gushed as if he had just cracked a funny joke.
　The bitterness of the story that was suddenly thrown at him caused his teeth to grind in his mouth - but he could not show it on his face.


...... No, once, during the battle in Cassia.

"Hmm?　I'm sorry.　I don't know. Well, it doesn't matter!




　Balgu Guruva said, laughing wildly and foolishly.
　The laughter was so roaring that the fabric of the tent began to shake on its own.
　To be honest, Dusseyr had mixed feelings about it.
　As Balug Gulba had said, when the Empire conquered his homeland, it was this Balug Gulba who had laid waste to it as a general. How could he not be bitter?


　When I looked at Poluk Nadar, he seemed to be frozen in place, looking at Balgu Gulba.
　The reason for this must be surprise. Of course, Poluk Nadar must have known about him.
　He is a fierce warlord who is feared in the empire and has invaded the kingdom many times before.
　There is no way that someone who has a territory on the border of the Empire does not know him.


　Leon gives Polk Nadar a sly look.


"Count. Instead of 10,000 troops, we have the strongest soldiers in the empire, who are known to be unjust. I can think of no better ally than that.

"Oh, yeah, ......, that's right. Yes, that's right!　We can win this war!　We can win this war!


　Polk Nadar's excitement reached a fever pitch.
　With the addition of a powerful force, he was convinced of victory.
　The impatient look on his face that he had seen earlier seemed to have disappeared.
　But now, the battle will go his way.
　Advance the army to the plains.
　Fight the vanquishers.
　Threaten the Ceylan.


　All without realizing that they are in the hands of a man named Leon Glanz.