The Strategist Knows Everything

On the way to the capital of Albion.

Before the sun began to set, my convoy entered a near-field village.

"Though I get a little early rest?

"Don't be with Velis, who has less warcraft. There are many warcraft in Albion that even magicians struggle with. Suicide is what happens when the sun goes down."

Eileen shrugs like she's stunned, but that's not what I was trying to say.

Surely there will be a danger of warcraft. But we've come this far to get out of the conflicting Randall.

Warcraft is not the only thing to be wary of.

Though I think it would be better to earn as much distance as possible.

Well, is that none of my business? If Randall catches you, it will be easier to get close to Stratos.

On either side, it doesn't change how I treat you. Then you don't have to bother intervening. Just let the flow take care of you.

In a private house where Eileen took me in, thinking about that, I doubt it.

There's no one here. As a matter of course, Irene and the others are using the house, but there are no owners of the house.

If there are many warcraft, there will be no village here. With that in mind, this place should be off the Warcraft's course of action.

So why aren't you there?

The word "alienation” was on my mind.

[Neglect. Scattering soldiers during military operations and creating difficult situations to target. Or a policy of getting non-combatants out of the scourge of war]

Looking at the meaning shown on the screen, I'm convinced.

This is a place you can reach within a day of the border with the Empire.

Even though it was an all-time offensive, it's not surprising that Albion is evacuating people near the border.

"Albion evacuated all the people near the border when the warrior entered the Empire. Because it's dangerous."

"That's out-of-heart. I've never used measures to engage the general public."

"I guess so. If you're such a scumbag, he doesn't need you."

That man, that would be the head of Eileen's faction.

He would also be a fairly high-ranking man in Albion because he has a special status as Four Wise Men, and yet he follows Eileen, a trace of the Masefield family, one of the three Dukes.

As far as I can think of it, is it the owner of Leesberg or Masefield, or a relative of the Duke?

I do not know how powerful the nobility of Albion is, but the weak power of Sophia, known as the supreme maiden, or the Duke family, which is producing Irene, the Four Wise Men, would be impossible first of all.

It is my aim to eliminate Stratos and return Albion to the keeper of order. To that end, Albion must be confused. But I have trouble being too weakened.

The weakening of the Albion in the central part of the continent will become another new spark.

Confusion has to fit in as temporary a thing as possible.

Though the hands have already been struck to contain the confusion, within what is also known as the House of the Three Grand Dukes, matters such as the two joining hands and teething to the Duke will not be contained by boulders.

We have to get things under control. If possible, it would be helpful if you would cooperate fully with me, but that's not how it works.

Sitting in a wooden chair in the house, exhaling, I notice Eileen sitting face to face.

"……… Could you sleep here?

"That's right. It's very unpleasant, but you'll be with me all the way to the capital. Naturally, I'm staying with you."

"Ha..."

"It's this way that I want to sigh. Why do I have to be under one roof with you?

"Will you not ask me? I feel the same way."

"You've got something to gain, okay?"

I think a little into Irene's words.

You get to be under the same roof with a girl who wants to kill me in the heart?

I'm not kidding. Not crazy enough to please such a dangerous situation.

"What the hell do you get?

"I can't believe you're sleeping under the same roof as me, even in Albion.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I'm not an Albion, and I'm used to beauty."

It's fine to be confident in yourself, but it would be a mistake to think that your charm works for everyone.

Because I've been watching Sophia and Master Kaguya, my resistance to beauty has risen horribly.

Eileen does have a neat face, but not enough to make me cry beautifully tolerant.

"You're a rude man. Well, fine. I'm not happy if you're happy."

"You really don't like me. Why don't you tell me? What did I do to you? I guess they didn't just kill your men and your countrymen, did they?

I saw Irene interact with her men several times during the time she was here.

So I can see that Eileen cares about her men and that they are trusted by them too. But if you go, that's it.

You don't look as loving to your men as you would like to kill a human being who is an enemy.

If I am more intimate than necessary, I feel hard on the battlefield. It seemed to me that Eileen knew that.

So there's got to be another reason you want to kill me.

"... it's no big deal. A branch of the Masefield family, the son of a house that, although really small, can name nobility in form. It was my childhood tame. And a few days before I assumed command of the invading army, a unit I belonged to attacked Fort Caion. Speaking of which, can you tell?

Fort Caion, the central fort that was the point of the defensive line. We did defeat the troops that attacked there.

Without skin completeness.

"The letter said he was entrusted to the general's deputy... He was a dodgy, guzzly, careless, useless man... but an important childhood tame for me!

Almost at the same time as the cry reached my ear, the great sickle that was standing on the wall was in Irene's hand.

And that blade was pointed at my neck.

Behind the green eyes, Dos black emotions must be swirling.

In the screen in my eyes, my fighting power keeps rising.

However.

With Eileen's arm, it wouldn't be that hard to snap my neck.

I don't do it right away because I'm lost. And Irene won't be able to snap my neck any more than she couldn't do right away.

Irene lowered her sickle after the stiffness.

Irene restarts her sickle against the wall and heads to the exit.

"…… I'll see how the soldiers are doing. I don't think I'm going to run away."

"I'm not willing to commit suicide like that. I know you're sorry, but it's a common story on the battlefield, and I'm losing some of my comrades I've been fighting for a long time too. I have no sympathy."

"So what!? Are you willing to say that killing yourself is wrong!?

"No, I don't. I'll just tell you the facts I know."

"………… What?

Irene looks surprised.

Honestly, I want that face.

The troops that attacked Fort Caion did beat it by the time it was skinless.

"We, Knox, are undermining the General that day."

"!?... Don't say anything stupid...! We're getting reports of death in action!

"That's what I doubt. I did aim for the general. But despite the ambush, that unit's command withdrew quickly. This one was a perfect ambush with two troop leaders in it. I didn't think I could get away with it, so much so that I switched my mind to a sweep fight, this one was so overwhelming. But then, after reading the report, I realized that the enemy general was on the run. I was just lucky, but on second thought, a commander who didn't even notice this ambush and couldn't get back on his feet couldn't possibly escape these two troop leaders."

"…… My childhood training took command of the retreat?

"I just thought it would be possible for a deputy. It's just... there's no way a general could have died in battle. At least, Knox was in jail, and the Imperial Army didn't have that record."

"... I see. If your story is true, it won't be the reason my childhood is alive. It is possible that you burned mercilessly with a combination of sorcery."

You're absolutely right.

Just because you're a deputy doesn't mean you're beside the general.

The generals in the rear escaped, but the soldiers who were attacking the fort almost swept it away.

If he's in front of us, we're definitely killing him.

Besides, if I could have killed Eileen's childhood, it would only sound like a blame escape.

It's not like I wanted to break a situation where people resent me. I just wanted to tell you that Irene looked so painful and hopeful.

No matter how much hope that holds, it would be better than not.

"Absolutely right. And it doesn't change the fact that I killed Albion's soldiers. You have the right to kill me."

"... I don't need that right. I can't believe I had the right to kill them, I wouldn't take their lives while making excuses. Don't lick it. I am the guardian of Albion entrusted to you by His Majesty the Duke of Albion. Don't go with you."

I felt painful.

It's not a word that came out so consciously, but maybe, somewhere in my mind, I'm craving an excuse when I take someone's life.

So I got into words.

Maybe that's my sweetness.

"Right. You are not like me. [M] You are much stronger than me..."

"Not now. To a pitiful man like you or something............!?

Irene stops her hard words to me on the way and looks back.

Why Irene separated the words and looked back. It took me a while to realize why.

As I concentrated a little, I heard a dog howling.

[Saberwolf. A four-legged warcraft, communicating with howls. Its intelligence is high, it acts in at least a dozen herds, and when hunting it is highly collaborative]

At times like this, this skill is useful.

It's just called magic.

But where I got the knowledge, there's nothing I can do about it right now.

"You're Saberwolf. Stay here. They're not as nice as we are, so they don't want to run away."

"I know. But why don't you leave me alone for a little while?

"Rest assured. 'Cause I'll keep it safe in front of the village."

"I'm not, I don't like being attacked by humans, multiplied by this mess"

"... you think my men have traitors?

"Come on? Maybe we're not on our side from the start, are we? Well, as far as I'm concerned, I don't care which faction you're in, because I care about your master."

"Yes. Then I'll send an escort. And my lord is His Majesty the King."

That's all that's left to say, Irene jumps out of the house with momentum.

The rest of me exhale.

Warcraft is an animal after all.

I have my own territory. It would be hard to get into the human territory from yourself, even if you would ever attack a person who would break in there.

If you're a human being, you're the bait of outfits for a warcraft, but humans are numerous. Numbers are power. Animal instincts know that. Besides, there are two thousand soldiers here, and Eileen.

It's hard to imagine a warcraft with wild instincts attacking you like it. Besides, it said that Saberwolf was highly intelligent.

Would such a warcraft challenge enemies who are not enemies in their own flock?

If you were so hungry, I know, but it's so good timing, it's hard to imagine running into a hungry warcraft.

I also feel like I'm overthinking it.

But there's a chance it's not.

Whichever faction you're in, it doesn't change what I do. Although. With all the flushing into the situation, none of them will be able to do anything.

There are noises coming from outside the house.

The sound of armor.

Perhaps the escort Eileen sent in, or an inside man on Randall's side.

"Excuse me!

It was the blonde-haired boy who came in without even hearing this reply.

He wears Albion's controlled armor and has a sword in his hand.

If I could only see him, I would have decided that he normally came as an escort.

Unless the sword is stained red.

Eileen said she would stop Saberwolf outside the village.

And it hasn't been that long since Eileen left.

More to the point, this is the middle of the village.

If you slay a warcraft and come here, it means you have a special means of travel.

If you think calmly.

"Is that Randall's order? Or is it Stratos?

"It's Master Randall. Can you come, please?

"Even if the factions are different, they're from the same country, aren't they? Why did you kill him?

"It's okay. Maybe because he's alive. So, can you come?

He's the right guy.

The light grin that is on your face irritates this one.

But the fighting power is late sixties. There's no weapon. They won't fight where I fought.

"What happens if I say no?

"I will be forced to take you. I think it's gonna be a little rough."

"That's scary. Okay. I'll follow you. What am I supposed to do?

"Please follow me quietly. A little further away, this unit is standing by."

"Are you going to attack Eileen's troops who are relieved to get rid of the Warcraft in that unit?

The boy smiles and nods at my words.

After all, wasn't the Warcraft raid a coincidence?

But even though this is such a chat, how well a spy or something has been served.

Doesn't Randall's people have the ability, or is he in good shape now, but is this guy usually good?

No, I'm usually good, but is this guy incompetent at the point where he's in good shape right now?

This is the middle of the enemy land. So you're talking to me, and they're pulling information.

"If you hear that, you can't just follow it."

"…… is that so? Okay, so I'm gonna need you to look a little sore in the eye, okay?

"I won't let you!

A voice can be heard from behind the boy.

The boy turns in a hurry.

My vision also shows the Lord of my voice.

Has he slept before? A boy with a terrible sleeping habit in his brown hair was there.

"XVIII Battalion 3rd Platoon Deputy Platoon Leader, Zach Williams! By order of Master Eileen, of!? How cowardly of you to attack all of a sudden!?

"Funny! Die!!

A boy named Zach Williams was attacked while he was long named.

Well, it will, I thought, but Zach is instantly pulling his sword out of his sheath and accepting the insider's sword.

"But! I thought this might happen! of wow!?

He was attacked while talking again.

But that attack is inhibited by something, before it reaches Zach.

"Huh!?

"I'm ready for defensive magic!!

In the belly part of his sword, Zach slapped his surprised insider as hard as he could.

Like a shaved doll, the insider collapses to the ground.

"Okay!"

All right, it's not.

To Zach, who decides to pose as Gatspaw, I go into my mind like that.

If you look at the status, you have a well-balanced number at seventy. With this number, they would have captured the insider in a conscious state.

I was hoping to get some information on the unit this insider kid was on.

Well, that's luxury.

"Thank you, thank you."

"No, it's a mission."

He says that with a crisp face, but even if he gets hit with an exploding head with a sleeping habit, he can't decide at all.

With a small sigh, I begin to walk to a place where the Warcraft would be attacking to tell Eileen the possibility of an ambush.

"Which way!? If you don't stay here, I'll be awkward!?

"We need to go tell them there are other enemies. You're my escort, aren't you? Then follow me."

"Er..."

"I'm going to leave you, okay? You want to protect your people, don't you?

After a short tour, Zach followed me like he had decided to.

Well, no matter how urgent, you won't be spared the scolding more than you freely moved me, a prisoner, but you better not say that.

Decided to give you as much cover as possible, I speeded up my walking legs.