Chapter 45
vFx5vdS“Then, let us begin the war council.”NTBCX8K
rSYC1cThe next day, Lucian was summoned again by order of the crown prince.e7Q
ecG3n3The previous day, they had only decided on the general outline and dispersed. Now that the directive was set, it was time to draw up the actual operational plan.Fsp
Fed7vyn“Please, look at the map. As you can see, on the road to the first fortress, there is nothing. For a time, we can advance quickly without worrying about enemy attacks.”U5eg27e
0qjI0bLThe one pointing at the map was Jurgen, one of the crown prince’s trusted men.RKu
J3xAs he said, the route was extraordinarily flat.ePA
8GMTThere were no wide rivers, no forests ideal for ambushes, not even mountainous areas difficult to scale.F1Z
rfmooAtOnly a few scattered rural villages near the border.vuQQTrm
HDG9“Since ancient times, Kreppelt’s periphery has been a plain with no geographical advantages, so not a single fortress was built there. It’s hard to defend, easy to lose, and not difficult to surround.”5gOQIHn
hOOk6rn“In other words, it’s practically abandoned territory in terms of defense.”JJ71D7
UK6“That’s right. The real resistance will begin after reaching the first fortress, Bodium. If we move quickly, it will take us about five days.”fYalS7
EMLQUnlike the border area, Bodium was a fortress that could be considered a natural stronghold.1tM752e
1R7yEven compared to Bornholm, where Lucian had previously been sent, it did not fall short.upDKKfB
2WMSEven mobilizing multiple siege engines, it would not be easy to take.OsN0pB
LTGaNHowever, the allied army had a secret weapon brought directly by the imperial family.8YfX
jd7“When attacking the fortress, the imperial mage Blasker-nim will take the lead alongside his five disciples. No matter how impregnable it is, it won’t withstand Blasker-nim’s magic.”3Ipw
L8lD“Hmm, on my own it would be difficult, but with my disciples, it will be more than enough.”29w
V9CThe one who replied to Jurgen was an elderly mage with a stern expression.HZMulkH
df9The dark red robe he wore and his raised eyebrows seemed to clearly reflect his character.myNqOwZ
O9HKLucian fixed his gaze on the mage upon hearing the name Blasker.Vo8
OdLUqM‘Blasker Linveil. I never thought I’d see with my own eyes the famous leader of the fire school.’qp6
BZfHe was one of the few heads of officially recognized schools by the Empire and, despite being a mage, an unusual case for his loyalty to the imperial family.sch
4sfA great mage who, sacrificing his life shortly before the fall of the imperial capital, reduced two thousand soldiers to ashes and saved the emperor.v78YB
b0AmMKWhen Lucian was working as a mercenary on the battlefield, he was already considered half a legend.0It
mRNeuVE‘If even half the rumors are true, toppling walls shouldn’t be a problem. The issue is how many times and how often he can cast such high-level magic.’Qajssf
fT2BWFProbably only once or twice before becoming incapacitated for a time.r6rJ
z8xBxuyIf he could cast magic of such power without limits, the world would already be ruled by mages.eBe
tXgt“Of course, the destroyed fortress will lose its defensive function, but since the goal is to suppress the rebellion, occupying it won’t be necessary.”H1X
WMMEWRather, it would be better to destroy it completely to prevent the enemy from reclaiming it and blocking the retreat route.mX4adJ
dkPWith only one available passage, being trapped there could lead to the worst-case scenario.GUV
ou5“From Bodium to the capital of Kreppelt, there are three possible routes, but it would be better to decide that after taking the fortress and evaluating the situation. We still don’t know how the enemy will react.”qJT2
tCPHEAfter finishing his explanation, Jurgen looked at the lords as if asking whether there were any questions.zlJSgyw
rKYrf9When no one else spoke up, Lucian, who had remained silent, opened his mouth.v86axW
zuLIiNH“Allow me to ask just one question. On the way to Bodium, there don’t appear to be any rivers. Is there any other place where we can secure drinking water?”E0g59
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zc7szThe most important thing in logistics is drinking water.47U6HC4
m3vPQxkPeople cannot live without water.Fea
1nV7But at the same time, water is also the hardest to supply.hPfQSVJ
wjY‘Surprisingly, water takes up a lot of volume relative to its consumption and is also quite heavy. It’s not easy to store it for long periods either.’m0uqn5
icom2DxFor these reasons, transporting and supplying all the drinking water for an army is practically impossible.Yz0
a3VEven so, the issue of water usually doesn’t come to light easily because humans live near water sources.Gjx
KXyWhether occupying a fortress or a village, if it’s an inhabited place, there’s always water. As long as no one deliberately destroys the sources, it’s not difficult to obtain.fZIi
yJacnsC‘Yes, as long as they aren’t destroyed on purpose.’DnMtUdo
V9qIf it’s a river, there’s nothing to worry about.ZMF
nHHUnless an entire nation moves over years, destroying or polluting it is nearly impossible.YyMEu
8hVBut if we’re talking only about wells or streams, the story is different.5vV
DT86oJurgen answered Lucian’s question with hesitation.E4bO
4FODi8“According to the map, there are three villages along the way. All of them have wells, and near the second village there’s also a small stream. It won’t be difficult to get water.”UIhwGrp
tRN“Hmm.”w6Uyd
AgeFaced with the worst possible answer, Lucian frowned. These were places that could be destroyed in an instant if someone wished it.7tvDD6D
ovIgwHowever, Marquis Bernhardt Roglan let out a mocking laugh at Lucian’s expression.rU7rs5
4Hec“Contaminating drinking water is a violation of the Grand Agreement.”c5H175
eMc“It seems you still believe Kreppelt will honor the Grand Agreement.”CA6l
FB0YjiP“And you think otherwise. Unfortunately, your opinion was already rejected. There’s no need to continue speaking based on a discarded opinion.”HBdR
f9GSl6k“That’s true.”jQuo
cFII4IThe crown prince nodded, backing the marquis’s words, then looked at Lucian with a cold expression.96kwO6v
3tW“The assumption that the enemy will not violate the Grand Agreement is the premise of the plan decided yesterday. I expect you to stop insisting on an argument that’s already been dismissed.”XPexTP
ILI8“I’m sorry.”59JDRIE
X8qNFLucian apologized without protest and stepped back.2DIQJ
0NWDpQHe had ignored even the final warning, so whatever happened now would be their own responsibility.Kyr
js0F7From that moment on, even if problems arose, no one could blame Lucian.Oycs
QCo7DsoSince there were no more opinions, the crown prince stood and addressed the lords.BPlXrS
sS5mQ“If there are no further objections, this meeting is adjourned. Let us advance as quickly as possible to Bodium and take the fortress.”kZLv0
SUlkp***e7B
51qsAn allied army, no matter how elite, inevitably acts in a disorganized manner.y94Y
RTjBbgTheir affiliations are different and so are their training systems, so when they are mixed, everything becomes chaos.l6F
XG7GONThat’s why, before the march, it was necessary to decide in advance what position each would take.AuiDghL
BkAZ3YX“Count Rakmo and Viscount Montel will take charge of the left wing; Viscount Bran and Count Saibon, the right wing; and the rest…”MHZ7
bQ9eMxBefore the actual advance, Jurgen announced the positions assigned to each force.aJHd6
USDZIt was a formation that complexly considered each lord’s individual power, political prestige, and inter-house relationships.ohF0Km
Uwfw“Duke Lucian will take charge of the left front flank alongside the marquis. His Highness the crown prince will lead the personal guard from the rear of both.”MyZjfGU
1JNh8“Understood.”Gk0
LO8DxwLucian nodded lightly.zwoG
XkjSkThe vanguard is where one encounters the enemy first, but also where it’s easiest to earn merits.0D9D1
5mnCiIt was a coveted position, and no one was more suited than the marquis and Lucian.WC6I7
ebpJust as Lucian was about to move his troops to the assigned position, a voice rang out.AeTkE
h0A“If you wish, I can place Duke Lucian in the rear. It seems he’s still worried that Kreppelt will violate the Grand Agreement.”sXA7
8SsX“…!”6NSHc
P5VtZkpThe crown prince’s blatant mockery from the rear froze everyone.mRyb
rfWbbl8In practice, it was like saying, “If you’re scared, stay back and watch silently.”pqCrj3t
LQTjANot even Marquis Bernhardt Roglan could smile this time.i9Aop5
bNcRAHTo humiliate the most powerful ally just before heading into battle?dOnSHBO
S2fsEveryone looked at Lucian nervously, but he instead smiled calmly.VmNT
22n7“No problem. It’s not that I lack courage, I’m simply cautious. In fact, the people of House Valdeck are so brave it’s sometimes excessive. I worry that later on, I might end up surprising Your Highness.”3UntTuA
zJDp“…Oh really? Then let’s see later how brave you are.”DLWQo
y163ArSeeing Lucian accept the humiliation so smoothly, the crown prince turned and walked away, clearly bored.upZl5K
MwzjrEveryone sighed in relief. Especially Jurgen at the front, who bowed his head repeatedly with a moved expression.erqeIh
FJnx7g“Sir Lucian, truly, thank you. I don’t know how I could ever repay you…”GHL
Jmi4“I did nothing worthy of thanks. It’s almost time to depart, so I’ll go deploy my troops.”WRDP
rBYS4“Ah…”umhC
GFBf3Watching Lucian walk away with a smile, Jurgen let out a sigh of admiration.bhztBw6
IxJfnuSuch a humiliation would’ve made a novice explode, and even a seasoned noble would’ve shown displeasure.GNx
tWZIau‘I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but now that I’ve seen him, they were actually too mild.’6Bj8
fZCTOWith such composure, he wouldn’t end up being someone ordinary.mIwBml
PGr5w2LWhen they returned after quelling the rebellion, Jurgen was determined to report Lucian’s significance to the emperor.zR7BJ6W
VNwbWV‘Damn, that lion cub is already sharpening his claws.’X8Wk2
PW5While Jurgen sincerely expressed his admiration, Marquis Bernhardt Roglan frowned.Zcgmfmd
6yzUFWHe had believed Lucian was just a well-spoken, decent-looking youth, but at that age, he already had a mind far from negligible.upd
wRBMRcIf he kept growing like this, he’d clearly become a huge wall blocking the Roglan family’s future.yqi
KiBxkis‘Sigmund, that bastard was born lucky with his sons. While others must choose between mediocrities.’Ag2X
dzoxDIn truth, not all were mediocre. There were some useless ones, but among the strong candidates for head of house, there were several promising ones.Rw4p
871hfEven so, after seeing Lucian, even those sons no longer seemed enough.E55
iAt0NThinking about it, if Lucian became Grand Duke, there’d be no one truly capable of standing against him.VrNG
nLVz“I’m worried about the future of House Roglan.”sw3
qLiSWith that brief murmur, Marquis Bernhardt Roglan headed to his assigned position, wondering whether, once this campaign ended, he should impose a harsh trial to temper his sons.JuF
sbQ***NIAaX
3ntqgxJust two days after starting the march, the allied army reached its first destination the first village.5GIB
iGReILwAlthough it was close to the border, perhaps because of that very reason, the government’s control was looser, and the village was of considerable size.jACtP
fkQgXdeAs soon as the army appeared, the village chief rushed out along with the villagers and bowed repeatedly.Vcd3n
xMk3H“Y-you’re welcome! Tell us what you want, and we’ll give it all! Just… please, don’t let the soldiers plunder…!”nX46N
JfEuBDLooting wasn’t covered by the Grand Agreement, so it happened frequently during war.DZx
JebNobles cared little for commoners’ lives, and resupplying through looting was sometimes not a choice but a necessity.8QQa
O47gIt was natural that, upon hearing an army was approaching, the villagers could do nothing but tremble in fear.LakbDx
8UXiL“We won’t touch you, so don’t worry. To begin with, what is there to steal in such a small village?”i6cO4
v5ztVhThe crown prince scoffed at the chief and villagers.mWS3
80HNIf they were mercenaries or a disorganized rabble, it’d be different, but what were the finest soldiers from each house going to loot here?AO4
hxnq460Official supplies were infinitely better than any loot, and even if they stole, it wouldn’t amount to a fraction of their pay.BHi
vQ3040P“That’s enough. Just take good care of the soldiers. As long as you don’t disrespect us, we’ll stay just one night and leave immediately.”pMB
RNIaFn“Thank you! Thank you so much!”5rUiF
vR5LThe village chief shed tears as he expressed his gratitude.hNc
4hP3smHe then hurriedly gave orders to the villagers to do everything—clear out houses to prepare lodgings, draw drinking water, gather in one place all the women who still looked presentable, and more.BJfO5P
SljSDThe lords were about to order the soldiers to rest, satisfied with the chief’s diligence, when—na3D
oE8“Hey, village chief. Let me ask you something.”3qhhu
v3hULucian called out to him with a subtly strange expression.YGxNl
JocL19JThe chief, who had been rushing back and forth, flinched and immediately fell to his knees.CO3ItF0
Lb3ubkA“Y-yes! What do you wish to know, my lord?”sWYr
i7bxg“I don’t see any children in this village. Everyone here seems to be adults. What happened?”je85K3e
Hz6N9D“T-the children? When we heard war had broken out, we evacuated them.”sW2
AHX“Evacuated? Where to?”jqM8cUG
gfls“We sent them to Bodiam. After all, it’s the safest place…”unFT
00ICk9nAt that answer, Lucian smiled coldly.Z3DFerQ
3IjSm3“That’s a pretty clumsy lie.”gvA
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