CHAPTER 21: THE FÜHRER AND DEBRIEFING

Of the approximately 10,000 Ieneko inhabitants, 7,000 died and 2000 were injured. 

Our forces have suffered 3 casualties and 12 wounded. 

In terms of numbers, this is all there is to it. 

This is the result of the battle that has taken place on the island over the past few days. 

Once you put the results in numbers like this, the results are almost too boring… It’s like a strategy game. 

Do all commanders experience this kind of feeling? 

It seems that during World War I a commander will order an attack, even though it was expected that the operation would result in tens of thousands of casualties, and say “It’s a small price if the casualties are that small.” 

Even if the target of the attack is a small town of little strategic value. 

　……In fact, I thought the same thing when I was playing the strategy game Rasbata. 

“I wonder if 100,000 people will die in this war. However, it might be a small price if it only causes that much damage. After all, people will recover in a while.” 

What was I thinking. 

That might be fine if it were a game. 

But when it happens in reality, it’s… What do you think? Is it really necessary to be that ruthless as a person in a position of authority, or should we value human life more? 

It’s a difficult issue. 

Ie Catvania was reduced to a pile of rubble after only one minute of bombardment. 

Fugaku is anchored offshore. I walk down the corridor with Ayame-san. 

“Eryu-san, regarding the captured beastkin…” 

Ayame-san asks as she reads the notepad in her hand. 

About the beastkin… There are 3,000 or so, ones that are still alive and being captive. It would be a problem for them to stay on this island, and more importantly, it would be a waste of food to feed them. 

Then… 

“Please have the boat ready.” 

“You want them to row their boats back to the mainland on their own? Understood.” 

Well, that’s what I’m saying. 

Ieneko Island is not that far from the mainland of Beastvania, so I think it is possible to somehow cross by boat. 

No guarantee, though. 

I think you can get there if you are as determined as if you were crossing the Straits of Dover. 

Also, I will definitely have them leave the island. This place is going to be an important military base for our country in the future, and we don’t want to keep hostile elements on the island. 

“Next, there is the half-beastkin… It seems that they are grateful to Eryu-san, and called you their ‘savior’.” 

“Savior, is it?” 

“Yes, it seems that they were treated badly by the beastkins. So as a token of their gratitude and obedience to Eryu-san, they send one of their own as a slave…” 

“Even if they gave me a slave, I don’t want one.” 

“They, too, want to flatter their new ruler, Eryu-san.” 

Good grief, seriously. 

We don’t need such an outdated concept like slavery. 

Before we talk about human rights and such. It seems that their work efficiency and productivity are low. 

“Now, Eryu-san. Let’s put aside dealing with the slave for later. After this, we have a meeting with the relevant officers.” 

“Erm, where is the place?” 

When I asked this, Ayame-san silently pointed to a door just next to us. 

Ah, so this is the conference room. 

This is a room that is needlessly spacious with unnecessarily elaborate decorations. 

When I asked Ayame-san to open the heavy door and let me in, I found the Commander of the Army’s Eastern Continental Army, the Commander of the Navy’s Combined Fleet, and the four chiefs of staff of the Army and Navy had already gathered. 

Reviewing the recent battle, we have a strategy meeting around the table. 

“These are the reports from the Army. Your Excellency, it’s not a very desirable situation.” 

“Indeed, I agree with you.” 

After a brief battle report, the army commander looks as if he is biting a bitter bug, saying, “This is a disaster.” 

Yes, I agree with him. 

Certainly, we won this battle. There is also little damage on our side. We were also able to save the half-beastkin, who was being held hostage. 

From a tactical point of view, it would be a 100-point great achievement. 

But I can’t just throw my hands up in the air and rejoice. 

Because the number of casualties inflicted on the enemy is just too great. 

“Ieneko Island originally had a population of 10,000… Of those, 90% were killed or wounded, which is terrible.” 

“Yes, I think so too, Eryu-san.” 

When I said this, Ayame-san, who was standing behind me, nodded her head. The Army and Navy all seem to have a bitter looks on their face. 

Here is a brief summary of the combat progress of this battle. 

First, we launched an amphibious landing, and then engaged with the islanders who turned into guerrillas in response to our attack. 

While defeating the guerrillas, the beastkins were cornered and surrounded into Ie Catvania. 

Afterward, a massive bombardment was fired at them as they were holed up in Ie Catvania with the half-beastkin as hostages. 

Even they could not resist the bombardment by six battleships, and the island of Ieneko was now in our control. 

　……And, that’s how it goes. 

What we are doing is extremely straightforward. But the results were disastrous. 

When they surrendered, most of the beastkins who lived on the island had passed into the afterlife, and only about 1,000 survived without injury and were in good health. 

“If this had not been a small island… I shudder to think about it.” 

The Commander in Chief of the Combined Fleet, with a magnificent mustache, mutters with a blue face. 

I’m sure your name is… What was it again? 

All I remember is that the first letter of his last name was ‘Toh’… I forgot. I am sure it was not Togo. 

Anyway, I understand his point. This battle on Ieneko Island is a kind of test for the upcoming attack on the Beastvania mainland. 

How many of them will be guerrillas and how many we have to defeat to get them to surrender? 

What strategies do they use and what kind of mindset do they bring to the fight? 

This battle was meant to investigate such things. 

And the answer we got was, ‘the majority of the population became guerrillas and did not surrender until 90% of them were killed or wounded.’ 

If we apply this percentage to the entire of Beastvania… Their population is 10 million, which means that 5 million people will become guerrillas, and in order to make them surrender we need to kill or injure 9 million people. 

I can’t help but utter, “Are you kidding me.” 

“As your excellency said, this is the worst possible joke imaginable. Considering our future global strategy, it would be a bad move to reduce Beastvania’s national strength more than necessary at this point.” 

The Commander in Chief of the Combined Fleet… I see that Toh-san seems to be thinking the same way as I do. 

Massacre the enemy and bring them to absolute submission. I believe that there is nothing that cannot be done with the might of our Yamato Empire. 

However, if we do that, the market value of Beastvania would plummet after the war. 

It’s like putting the cart before the horse, we are fighting a war for markets and food if we burn everything down. 

It would be foolish to do so. 

Moreover, wasting precious time and supplies on something like this would be a major blow to our future global strategy. 

Because the Beastvania Beastkin Nation is not the only nation that is hostile to us. 

There are many targets, such as elves and barbarians, that must be defeated in order to establish a world order led by us. 

“In that case, we must find a way to ensure the beastkins to surrender. Eryu-san, do you have any good ideas?” 

“If there were, we wouldn’t have a hard time… Also, please stop putting your boobs on my head.” 

“Oh, you don’t like it? My breasts?” 

“I don’t hate it, but… Look, there are people looking at us…” 

I sigh in reply to Ayame-san, who is standing behind me and casually resting her breasts on my head as I sit in my chair. 

I don’t hate boobs. 

I was a healthy boy before I became Eryutheia. 

But there are times and situations, and it’s not something you should do during a serious meeting… 

“Hahaha, isn’t it wonderful that you two get along so well, Your Excellency. It really makes me smile.” 

“Even the Army agrees with the Navy.” 

Goodness, Toh-san and the rest of the military officers are smiling and stretching out their noses… No, it’s not. 

The Yamato Empire’s citizens may be perverted because of their national trait of ‘Perversion’. 

But I’m different. 

I don’t want to be a pervert, I want to live seriously. 

I mean, if you do that, it will slide off, Ayame-san. 

The padding. 

Lately, I’ve been dealing with people with big boobs, such as the Saint Roshana-san and the Captain of Fugaku Yozakura-san… I’d say that Ayame-san is trying to compete with them… 

Ayame-san, you seem to be very concerned about your small breasts. 

Sometimes, one of the pads is missing… It’s just so awkward. 

　……Oops, no, I shouldn’t. 

I don’t care about Ayame-san boobs right now. 

Somehow, we have to figure out a way to get the enemy to surrender effectively. 

　……Mmm. 

After thinking for a while, the army chief of staff raised his hand as high as he could. 

It was like a confident ‘swoosh’. 

And when I said, “…Go ahead” He stood up with a ‘bang’ even more vigorously than when he raised his hand. 

“Your Excellency, as Chief of Staff of the Army, I request the capture of the enemy King Lycan II.” 

Lycan II, King of the Enemies… That is… 

“That’s a good idea. We still have that hand to play, Suji-san.” 

“I am Tsuji, Excellency Eryutheia.” 

Ah, that’s right…? 

I’m sorry… Everyone in the Army is either shaved or bald, so I couldn’t remember too many names… 

No, it’s not about that, it’s ‘Operation Capture the King’. I think it’s a great idea. 

“It would be much easier to pinpoint the king and bring him to surrender than it would be to attack the entire population of the enemy and force them to surrender.” 

“There would be less sacrifice. Not bad, I like it.” 

“It is my greatest honor just to have you say so, Your Excellency.” 

Tsuji-san, makes a firm salute. 

Yes, the other party has a king. The same dictatorship as our Yamato Empire. We’re not a democratic nation, which is all the rage on Earth right now. 

You don’t have to go out of your way to make the entire population to surrender, just the king. 

If the king surrenders, that means the entire nation surrenders. It saves us the trouble of killing everyone. 

　……I think I’ll take this idea. 

The question is how to capture the enemy king and make him surrender… 

That’s difficult, isn’t it. We need to think about it…