The Great Powers Strike Back
The conference room of the Luine Kingdom. The king and other dignitaries gathered for a meeting.
Naturally, the topic of discussion is a strategy for the future. How to confront the Northern Alliance. There is also the option of not paying attention to the alliance and turning the army to the south. But before the discussion could get into it, the meeting was in chaos.
"That's why I'm saying I'm going to attack again."
"We are having this meeting because that failed."
"I didn't fail. If I had fought, I would have won."
"You were in no condition to fight. That's why you withdraw."
"I could have fought."
"Even if the Polaris Knight Commander can fight alone, the battle cannot be won."
Yuya, who did not want to admit his defeat, appealed to him to leave it to him once again. The exchange of denial by Commander Hutton, who was accompanying Yuya, has continued throughout. It is a completely meaningless argument, but the people around them refuse to stop it.
"In the first place, it was a mistake to skip the towns on the way and march forward. If we had dropped the towns properly, we wouldn't have had any trouble finding food."
"Our role is to measure the strength of the enemy's main force. There was no need to waste time fighting."
"But as it turned out, it was a mistake."
"If we had dropped the towns, it would not have gone so well. The enemy was after our rations. I don't think they would have left food in the towns along the way."
"That's speculation."
"What you are saying is just a guess."
Even Hutton, the leader of the Black Iron Knights, can't accept Yuya's accusation because it's clear that Yuya is trying to push the blame onto him.
"So we should try again."
"How can you reason that way?"
Selfish reasoning is Yuya's specialty. And once he starts talking, he never listens. The King of Luine, who is the owner of the proof of the pledge, is the only one who can stop Yuya, but he is not going to talk about it, while making a dumbfounded face.
In this way, time passes without the important agenda being discussed at all.
"That's enough. We should have finished such discussions beforehand. I'm tired of just listening to you two. The meeting will be held again tomorrow. Until then, make adjustments where you can."
With these words of King Luine, the meeting was closed.
◇◇◇
At the same time that a meeting of the chief ministers was being held, with the king in attendance, another meeting was being held in a different location. All the faces were young, and none of them held any important position. Except for one person, Crown Prince Albert.
"I concluded that the Nord's plan was a large-scale Defence in Depth."
"Large-scale Defence in Depth?"
Prince Albert replied with a question mark to Hank's statement.
"From the west to the east of the northern part of the continent. They will set up several defensive lines there to wear down the invading army. Besides, the further east we go, the longer our supply lines will be. If those supply lines are cut off, the invading army will not be able to stand in hostile territory."
"Large-scale... that's certainly true. In that case, we have no choice but to put the countries that were dropped from the west one by one under our control."
"That is the way it should be. But that is exactly what Nord wants. All they want is time."
"If they have time, they think they can line up with our country, right?"
"If they can absorb the Lemberg Empire, we can say that we are lined up."
"Are they heading to Lemberg first?"
"Because they are geographically close, the first one they will run into is the Lemberg Empire."
"Are they going to compete with Lemberg with the territories of the two countries of Nord and Former Saint Miriam? That's something. In the comparison of national power, they still won't be able to match Lemberg."
"Probably. But I really don't know."
"Absorbing Lemberg. In what way do they intend to absorb Lemberg?"
"As far as we know, Saint Miriam's situation has been reconstructed. I think that's the right word."
"It was like destroying everything once and then rebuilding it again."
"Yes. But we don't know how they plan to rebuild."
"Can we find out in Saint Miriam?"
"It seems so. It does not seem to be as bad as Nord."
Compared to Nord, the former Saint Miriam Kingdom has wider borders, and it is not difficult for spies to infiltrate. The main base is still an iron wall. It is still protected by the same ironclad counterintelligence system.
The Luine Kingdom is no match for the Nord Empire in information warfare. The human casualties suffered by the Luine Kingdom in the intelligence department were still far from recovering.
"We don't even have an accurate picture of Nord's military power. It's his hobby to hide his strength."
"In any case, we need to find a way to weaken it as much as possible."
"What about the undermining of the Northern Alliance?"
"We're using the ruling powers in the East to hit them. They don't seem to be listening to us at all. Maybe they think they can keep winning until the end."
"Are you saying they want to show their strength and surrender on the best possible terms?"
"I wish we could draw it out to that extent. It won't be so easy."
The authority of those present here would not normally be able to move a ruling power. But now they have the authority to be the center of the national government. They are positioned as a shadow government to cover up Nord's intelligence.
"We need something to make them give up the fight."
"To win"
"Aren't we in trouble because they won't fight head-on?"
"Yes."
"Make them think they can't win. Force them to fight."
"...I still think there's only one best course of action."
"I wonder if it can be done… But there's another problem if we're going to go ahead with it."
"What?"
"How long can we hide like this? The bigger the movement, the harder it will be."
"There's one thing."
"What is it?"
"There is someone who has applied for an alliance."
"Which country is it from?"
"Not with a country... with a Demon King."
"……What?"
It was out of the blue, but Hank's face was in no mood for joking. Still, Prince Albert did not immediately accept it.
"A messenger from someone claiming to be the Demon King has come to me."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious."
"...Why the demons?"
"I have not yet heard anything about that. They are ready to cooperate with us in the fight against the Nord. If we are willing to do so, we were told to come and meet them."
"...That's fine. Let's meet."
"Are you sure!?"
"If there is any malicious intent, they have already done something. Sending a messenger to use means that they have grasped our whereabouts."
"Indeed."
"If they intend to deceive us, we should already be... I am more interested in why and how the demons intend to cooperate."
"...I understand. Then I will accept the meeting. I just need to know how."
"Don't worry. I've already told them."
"Who are you!"
A voice suddenly came down from the ceiling, causing everyone present to stand up and draw their swords.
The owner of the voice was on the ceiling. The man, who had been hanging from the ceiling in an upside-down posture, landed on the floor without making a sound.
"I was granted permission to visit, right?"
"...A demon. It doesn't look that different, does it?"
The man who appeared was dressed like a chamberlain. He had a face like an emotionless doll, but there was no doubt that he was beautiful.
"I have mixed feelings about being told that I am the same as humans. But I guess that's true for our race."
"You look like him, too. Only the hair color."
"...That's an insult."
"Do you hate the Nord Emperor?"
"I don't like people who pretend to be Demon Kings, and I can't accept their existence."
"Fumu. That's new to me. When did the Nord Emperor call himself the Demon King?"
"...That's something the humans don't need to know."
"I see. I'll get to the point now. Why don't you take your seat first?"
"How about having your subordinates sit down before that?"
"I see. Alright. Everyone, go back to your seats."
The people who were surrounding Prince Albert sat down on their seats while showing some hesitation. Their swords are still drawn.
"Now then, when it comes to cooperation, is the reason for your offer of cooperation because the Nord emperor pretends to be the Demon King?"
"The reason is that he is pretending to be a demon king and deceiving my own people."
"And as the Demon King, he cannot allow that.."
"That's right."
"Is that Demon King real?"
"...Do you want to die?"
The demon's eyes narrowed. It's just that change in facial expression, but the atmosphere he's wearing makes them feel cold bloodlust.
"No, I just heard it because I'm interested. It's the first time I've heard that a Demon King has appeared."
Prince Albert shrugged off the bloodlust and continued the conversation as if nothing had happened.
"Recently, he was recognized as a Demon King."
"By whom?"
"...It's not something the humans should know."
"So many secrets. Well, it's fine. So what are you willing to help us with? And what do you want in return?"
"Espionage is your biggest problem right now."
"Counterintelligence."
"Yes"
"Is that all?"
This was Prince Albert's response to the details of the cooperation, which he told them in a pompous manner.
"...Pulling out the demons"
The demon added. However, the response to this is also similar.
"If you pull them out, they will not serve our country, will they? It is for your own benefit."
"...The head of the Nord emperor"
Added more. In fact, he offers up more to this point.
"I'm glad to hear it. And what do you get in return?"
"Eternal Inviolability to the Nord."
"I can't promise eternity. Humans have a shorter lifespan than demons. As the generations go by, there will be those who will break it. It would be irresponsible to promise that."
"……Fumu."
"I'll promise to formally conclude a treaty as the Luine Kingdom. However, mutual non-aggression. Please do not get involved with the Luine Kingdom either."
"...Under those conditions, it should be fine."
"So? When will we get the head of the Nord Emperor?"
"That's……"
"Could it be that you can't do it alone? That's why you asked our country for cooperation."
"…………"
He hit a bullseye. Many demons are not good at such negotiations and bargaining. They don't have the experience and don't learn because they don't feel the need.
On the other hand, the other party is Prince Albert, who received an emperor's education. From the beginning, the story is progressing as Prince Albert intended.
"He just became the Demon King and your power is small. So you thought to borrow the power of our country and defeat the opponent, the Nord emperor. Is that about right?"
"Nowadays, even a small power will grow quickly. All demons must obey the Demon King."
"Quite, taking the head of the Nord emperor seems doubtful."
"I don't think so. If we can face the Nord Emperor head-on, we will surely take his head."
"It's necessary to bring him out to the battlefield... If that's the case, I think we can cooperate."
"Let's do it."
"In exchange, I'll have you do a good job of counterintelligence. If our information leaks to the Nord, we won't be able to draw him out to the battlefield."
"Of course."
"Then that's it. When can we start dealing with this? And how do you distinguish between friend and foe?"
"You don't need to be aware of that. We are watching you where you cannot see us."
"...I see. Understood."
Even if he could keep the information from leaking to the Nord, the Demon King would know about it. Prince Albert felt a little fed up when he learned that he had to hold the meeting under such a premise.
Still, he must be grateful for this unexpected stroke of luck. Because the missing piece came by itself.
◇◇◇
Ren had returned to the former Saint Miriam Kingdom. Every day is as busy as ever. With their experience in Nord, he was able to entrust most of the domestic affairs to Ralph and other civil officials, but he ended up spending most of his free time on military affairs.
The restructuring of the former Saint Miriam army had finally settled down, but the soldiers of the former Mercenary had to be incorporated into it.
Moreover, many of the soldiers of the former United Kingdom of Mercenary were high-ranking officials. Furthermore, since there is even a former king, there is no way the reorganization will go well if Ren is not involved.
"Whether it's a former king or a general, I'm going to have them adapt to the Nord ways anyway."
"I understand that you want us to join the Nord army, but to start with a soldier position?"
"I'm just asking you to take the training of a soldier properly. You are allowed to lead an army only when you know what it feels like to be a soldier. That is the rule of the Nord army."
"But"
"If you have a problem with it, show me that you have completed your training."
"......You say that?"
Of course, the training that Ren was talking about was the absurd training that didn't end until they fainted. Even the former King Wallenstein, who had confidence in his martial arts skills, was unable to complete the training.
"Well, that's impossible. That is the kind of training you can only do if you have been doing it since you were a child."
Not so. Those who can't do it can't do it, even if they have been doing it since childhood. Those who can do it are extraordinary. After all, Ren's training is a training that can only be accomplished by those who do not fear death.
"Training is good, but training the soldiers is essential. Grasp the movements of the five-man unit, learn the movements of the 100-man unit, and lead 1,000 men. Sometimes you are in a position to lead a thousand men, sometimes a hundred, two hundred, five hundred, depending on the situation at the time. That is the general of the Nord army."
"That thing..."
Wallenstein is in a position to take the Nord army's fighting style seriously. They were divided and then united, and then divided and then united again and again. This was repeated over and over again, and without being able to catch them at all, they were one-sidedly overrun. It is a bitter memory, but he is looking forward to leading it himself this time.
"The repeated spreading out method requires a certain degree of predictability in the movements of the separated side. So you have to know how small groups behave. You don't plan to follow them all the way?"
"But is it possible?"
"No."
"Oi?"
"A general has to be able to find holes in the enemy. That's the weak spot. You have to have the guts to find it and go in there without hesitation."
"Is it possible to do that?"
"I can do it. I used to think that the military was a job for geniuses, but it seems that many things are acquired through experience. In fact, many of the generals who are now generals did so through training."
"What makes the military a job for geniuses?"
"I read something like that in a book from my original world. I actually thought it was true. Minamoto *sune, Oda *naga, Omura *jiro, Kodama *taro, all of them I learned from historical novels, but they all seemed to me to be geniuses."
(TN: Minamoto Yoshitsune, Oda Nobunaga, Omura Masujiro & Kodama Gentaro.)
"...I don't know about them."
"Ah, that's right. A historical figure in the original world. Is there such a person in this world?"
"...I only know one person."
"What kind of person is it?"
"Thunder Emperor"
"...Damn it. Was Master a genius too?"
"Are you really a disciple of the Thunder Emperor?"
"Magic only. I should have learned strategy and tactics as well. It's a failure."
Ren looks depressed. Seeing Ren, Wallenstein let out a big sigh. You don't need that. Wallenstein muttered in his mind.
After his military duties are over, Ren devotes himself to analyzing information and formulating strategies. There is no one he can entrust this work to. As far as this area is concerned, Ren's demands are too high.
The high demands are due to his low self-esteem, as usual. There are not many people who are on the same level as Ren. He is looking for someone who can do it better than he can. As a result, there is no one.
The situation is right now because Ren, who can produce the best results, should be the one to do it.
"...Revenge of the hero. Invasion with a large army of 50,000. Did we receive completely different information?"
"I'm sorry."
"It's not Rin's place to apologize. This is not the work of the Vampires. It's the intelligence department's job."
"Yes. That's right."
"So, it's like telling me that the Luine Kingdom is passing on false information in order to keep their secrets."
"And they're reporting back to us with that false information."
"What's going on? But there is no report of it."
"Ren-sama..."
Rin also understands well that information is the most important thing for Nord. Moreover, the role of obtaining that information is the responsibility of the vampires. As for Rin, she is worried.
"They are passing on false information, and it is working. In other words, the Luine Kingdom is trying to do something different from what the information is saying. Is it safe to assume so much?"
Ren begins to mutter to himself. It's a habit he has when he's deep in thought. And when he does this, he looks like he's really enjoying it. He is completely unaware of this.
"I see. The Crown Prince is not present at the meeting. So the Crown Prince is in charge. Are they underestimating us? This is the result of a failed invasion. That's not true. What will the Crown Prince do? I should have made some contact."
He looks for clues based on the little information he has. From there, he again develops his thoughts. He creates a hypothesis and then tests it. He repeats it over and over in his mind.
"They decided that the Crown Prince would conquer the continent. Then they will steadily increase the number of countries they control. That's because they don't realize that we need more time. The Luine kingdom is not that stupid."
When he senses a clue in a hypothesis, he moves on with it.
"To what extent do they consider our side to be dangerous? That's a high praise from the Crown Prince so far. If I'm the Crown Prince, would he put it off...... Will he do it? No. Can I do it?"
Hypotheses arrive at one conclusion. At this stage, it is just one of many hypothetical conclusions.
"...It can't be helped, let's move. Send a message to Bear."
"Ha"
A reply from an unseen person. It's the one from the Intelligence Department that's waiting around Ren.
"Allow the use of Zero. Find L and I. That's all."
"...Ha"
The words are unintelligible even to the teller. It is not such a difficult code. Zero is rei, and rei is spirit. L is the first letter of Lemberg and I is the first letter of Izrim. Permission to use spirits. It means to search for Lemberg and Izrim using a necromancer.
(TN: The standard way to say zero in Japanese is to use the term "rei" and 霊, "rei" in Japanese means spirit, ghost, soul.)
But this simple thing is surprisingly difficult for people in this world to understand. All the horizontal letters in this world are katakana, there is no alphabet, and as long as one doesn't know the letter L, el is el and not connected to L.
(TN: The el here is written as エル. They are pronounced the same so there is no problem when it is orally unless it is written xD)
Ren has been terribly depressed about this before. The cipher he had thought of in his haste was too difficult to be useful, and this one, which he came up with in his haste, was really effective.
As a side note, Ren went to gather information to verify his tentative plan. Ren's ability to analyze information is highly regarded by those in the know, but this is actually a mistake. Ren is not analyzing information. Information is merely an opportunity to think about things and a tool to prove a hypothesis. Ren's thinking does not stop without information.
This is a big miscalculation for the Luine Kingdom, which is plotting to keep information secret. However, there is a big drawback to this. It means that anything outside of Ren's imagination cannot be hypothesized. This leads to a miscalculation on Ren's part.
The silent war has resumed, with both sides at risk of having different ideas. The situation is still chaotic.
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