Chapter 319

“Impressive.”

Ignoring the dry admiration heard from behind, the 98th class vice-leader entered the strategy room and sat down with a displeased face.

First of all, he didn’t particularly like strategy games. However, when actually asked to play, he wasn’t exactly bad at it, and since he had strong pride in his strategic skills, it could be seen that another reason occupied a larger part of his current bad mood than the strategy game itself. In the 98th class vice-leader’s own thought, the reason was that the 101st class vice-leader had entered as a sub-player.

‘…To think I have to do this with Askanian of all people.’

Didn’t he, the 98th class vice-leader, take charge of all the punishments inflicted on that junior so far? Although they were punishments that didn’t feel like punishments, even so, if asked to pick the senior with the worst image among the 98th class for that junior, it would be him.

‘Not that it matters.’

Rather, Askanian is the one who needs more mental education. We couldn’t fail to recognize his rebellious temperament. His cynical reaction every time he dealt with the 98th class, and his attitude of letting Albert’s words flow in one ear and out the other were unbearable. That brothers could be diversely unlucky in perfectly different directions… there probably isn’t another family that grates on people’s nerves this much.

[Round 1 will start in 1 minute.]

Thinking about it made him even more displeased, but now he had to focus his mind. The 98th class vice-leader sat in front of the strategy table, clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. Askanian’s voice, leaning against the glass railing and looking around the Mimesis, was heard.

“It seems even under our feet is glass. To think of placing the game board under our feet like this….”

“…….”

“The scenery is wonderful. Is it covered with clouds because the game hasn’t started yet?”

“Would you be quiet? You have to focus your mind before the game.”

Askanian acted like someone trying the Mimesis strategy game for the first time. We are currently in the sky. At least in Mimesis. There is a field where the real world has been moved under our feet. Instead of a traditional wooden board, we use the real world as a game board, and the pieces are Mages embodied on the ground.

Askanian smiled faintly and tilted his body slightly.

“You used Duzen often when training us, but now you use Siezen. More importantly, what should I do now?”

“When I give an order, you just have to write it down exactly and send it to that ultimatum table. Haven’t you tried it?”

I heard all the manuals were given, though. The 98th class vice-leader took out a yellow paper placed on the strategy table and pointed to where the ultimatum table was. Calling it a table is just an idiom. There was a round glass railing controlling movement far away, and the empty space inside it was called the ultimatum table. Thinking he would act like a Non-Mage this time too, fortunately, Askanian understood the words.

“If it’s an ultimatum table… it seems I just have to send it flying into the empty air. Is that correct?”

“Right. Now quiet…. By the way, how accurately you transcribe my words is also a decisive factor in winning or losing.”

“I know.”

Askanian answered briefly. Since his expression seemed as if the 98th class vice-leader’s words sounded almost like the wind, he hit the table with his palm. Feeling stubborn for no reason, he frowned without realizing it and changed his tone.

“Did you come here after studying Clausewitz’s On War?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a relief. If you don’t know even that basic level, it seems you won’t understand my orders properly. You can write it down correctly and send it, right?”

“Yes, I will do it without error.”

Askanian straightened his body, making an expression like his brother. Even that didn’t feel particularly good. It was partly because he ended up saying things he didn’t need to say, but in that situation, even a slight smile felt like he didn’t respect him. A strong conviction struck him that he smiled because that was actually the case.

[Starting.]

Beep―

Along with the start buzzer, a map and various pieces appeared on the strategy table.

The 98th class vice-leader had to be thankful that the start buzzer rang just then. Otherwise, the determination to go out and properly educate his mind would have dominated his head. He briefly thought he might have paranoia, but it wasn’t something to think about for long.

“So I’m the Pleroma side.”

The flag created on the strategy table with the start buzzer is black. Generally, if you receive the position corresponding to the enemy of the state, you get the opportunity to attack first.

‘Attacking first is good, but my pride is hurt a bit.’

Since the first and second attacks are divided according to skill, if he wins this time, he will move to white in the next game.

First, the field is 10*10 squares, and you can just apply the first quadrant of the coordinate system as is. Although Askanian is directly looking at the situation of the Mimesis field, the 98th class vice-leader establishes a strategy through the coordinate system placed on the table without looking at that to plan operations.

The opponent has 11 Mage pieces, 5 Old Human cavalry unit pieces, and 6 Old Human infantry unit pieces, and the 98th class vice-leader himself had 16 Pleroma side Mage pieces. Unless utilizing specific terrain features, a Mage can attack up to 3 diagonal squares in all directions at once centering on themselves, and an Old Human can attack 2 squares.

Next, each base is currently at coordinates (5, 0), (5, 10), and their respective pieces are also standing in a line on rows 0-1 and 9-10 where the bases are. Naturally, if you occupy the base or eliminate all opponent pieces, the game ends immediately.

‘First, mark it.’

The 98th class Mage placed a piece signifying the opponent’s base on the coordinate system and erased the coordinates where warping was impossible from there. Warping is impossible for all coordinates within 3 rows from the opponent’s base, and it is only possible to march directly one square at a time. In other words, from the 98th class Mage’s perspective, warping is impossible from rows 10 to 8 where the opponent’s base is.

Mage pieces can warp anywhere to all other squares, Old Human cavalry can move two squares at once, and infantry one square. The maximum number of pieces that can be moved to one spot in one ‘move’ is five, but although it seems generous, it’s not really so because it’s a game assuming actual combat, so it’s not a system like chess where you remove the opponent’s piece and sit in that spot. This means 1. moving to a certain spot and 2. attacking from that moved spot or taking action to prevent the opponent from using a warp point, etc., does not happen in one move but is divided into two moves.

Furthermore, since 1 point is assigned per piece, to remove an opponent, you must sum the scores of all opponent pieces in the attack range and compare it with their scores.

While thinking it’s a bit strange to have such thoughts from the position of the Pleroma side, the 98th class vice-leader’s goal to annihilate all of them became firm.

Askanian, who was looking down at the field leaning against the railing, returned to the strategy table and stuck pins signifying terrain features into the coordinate system. He pointed into the air with his finger and placed green pins signifying mountains from (0, 7) to (2, 6) and (5, 5) on the coordinate axes. Currently, the mountain reaches from the y-axis downward to the right to the center of the first quadrant.

‘…Of all things, a mountain….’

If done well, it can be turned to an advantage, but since they know we can utilize it advantageously, they will also desperately block it. When attacking a place with obstacles like mountains or forests, only half of our attack power effective against opponent pieces is recognized. This is because attacks don’t work well in actual environments either.

Just in time, Askanian took out an orange pin and stuck it in the lower right.

“There is a cliff at point (7, 3). The height is considerable.”

“It’s very close to the (5, 5) ridge.”

“That is correct.”

The 98th class vice-leader, nodding satisfactorily at Askanian’s words, closed his eyes and began muttering to himself.

“Since the cavalry unit cannot enter the mountain, they will strike through the right side to block the Vitriol instead… and if I place Pleroma on the high ground like that, they will pour attacks there.”

At this time, even in a situation expecting their attack, one must weigh whether the benefit of placing Pleroma on the high ground is greater than the loss, and of course, it’s a gain! Would magic be faster, or would they be faster? Since all Pleroma used here are Mages, they can quickly kill dozens of Old Humans. Provided those Old Humans aren’t just wrapped in Vitriol.

Furthermore, if you occupy the high ground, the range a Mage piece can attack widens drastically. This was also a rule reflecting reality.

The problem is the state side’s New Human unit. Where on earth can the opponent place Mages? Even if grouped as a unit, Mages will all move separately due to their characteristics. Since their individual power is strong enough to suppress multiple Old Humans, inefficiency occurs when they are clustered together, unlike Old Humans.

The 98th class vice-leader stroked his chin and opened his mouth.

“First, it is certain that preempting the high ground is the priority. Then, are these all the terrain features I need to know?”

“There are private houses behind the mountain range.”

“…….”

Askanian took out a gray pin and stuck it.

In this case, one must consider the local residents becoming partisans. Depending on where the private houses are, the direction they can be utilized changes; if close to Pleroma, they can be made to go berserk and mobilized, and if close to the state, they become militia. If you step on an area where they are speculated to be, with a certain probability, the militia acts as a trap and our side takes damage. Invading and making them Pleroma or causing them to go berserk is also good, but if that happens, it’s practically the same as reaching the opponent’s barracks.

‘What is this, just as I was happy about the high ground while being troubled by the mountain, now I have to consider the militia too.’

“If you give the order, I will convey it.”

“…….”

Even if there is a disadvantage in visibility, every mountain has a certain influence on the flatland spreading from it. Therefore, it is important to prevent the opponent from using the mountain while taking the initiative of the field.

‘The answer is out.’

To have the initiative, one must occupy the high ground first. Due to the characteristic of magic being capable of ranged attacks, occupying this place secures influence over most of the field.

“Move five Pleroma from row 1 to the high ground (7, 3).”

“Yes.”

Askanian took out an order sheet and scribbled with a pen containing Magic Power.

Soon, the coordinate system on the strategy table turned red. It is the range the pieces just placed can attack. Centering on (7, 3), attack authority was secured for a range connecting 5 squares up, down, left, and right. At this time, attacks are recognized only for parts where a whole square is filled. Just as having a significant attack range of 5 squares on the high ground now, similarly in the mountain, one has attack authority for all ranges connecting 4 squares up, down, left, and right. Being cut by 1 square is because securing visibility in the mountain is difficult compared to simple high ground.

Therefore, the opponent will now move to the mountain.

The reason the 98th class vice-leader emptied the five in row 1 from (1, 1) to (5, 1) despite having row 0 is also because they each have an attack range of 4 squares. While it is true that up to five can be moved at once, actually moving many isn’t unconditionally good. When trying to deploy troops elsewhere, troops moved to completely different places from the initial position cannot be grouped and moved. Let’s say there are three Mages moved to point A and two Mages moved to point B. To move all of them to C, you have to wait two turns.

But why did he move five? Now those guys will naturally move to the ridge at (5, 5), but as thought earlier, calculating the score when attacking (5, 5) from (7, 3), our side has an attack power of 2.5, so the opponent is also bound to send at least 3 Mages to block our attack and protect the (5, 5) ridge.

‘Let’s see if it goes as expected.’

It’s the opponent’s turn to make a move now. We can’t hear what they command, and Askanian will now watch the field and tell us. Askanian, who was carefully observing the field under his feet leaning against the railing, straightened his body and opened his mouth.

“The opponent side sent five Mages to the (5, 5) ridge. They drafted Mages from (0,10), (1,10), (2,10), (9,10), (10,10).”

Beep―

The light came on. It was the 98th class vice-leader’s turn.

Since it went as expected, it is now rational to target the (2, 6) ridge instead of targeting the (5, 5) mountain. There is no need to consider the flatland immediately.

The 98th class vice-leader closed his eyes and thought. Relying only on coordinate numbers without looking at the game board had an aspect of stimulating insight a bit more.

“Four from (0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0), (7, 0) to the (2, 6) ridge.”

Askanian wrote the order on paper silently and took it away.

This time, the buzzer didn’t ring even after time passed, perhaps because the opponent side was contemplating for a long time. It was understandable. Having already drafted Mages to the (5, 5) mountain, there is no manpower to defend against the 4-square attack sent to the left side of rows 10-9 from the (2, 6) ridge. In other words, if they don’t return the Mages at (5, 5) to their original positions or move Mages or Old Humans from the right side to the empty spots here, there is a possibility that the left side of row 10 where the base is will be breached.

At that time, Askanian came to the front of the strategy table and removed one piece at (2, 6). As expected, it seems one died from a militia attack. However, at the same time, now there is no militia either. Because the premise is that the militia died after 1 attack.

If the five opponent Mages at (5, 5) attack the three Pleroma at (2, 6)… since the place where Pleroma is located is a mountain, their effective attack power is 2.5 and Pleroma’s defense power is 3, so the attack goes to waste. It was obvious what choice they would make now.

Beep―

“The opponent side moved the Mage at (8, 10) to (2, 10).”

“…….”

That’s how they should come out. It would have been better for Pleroma if they had returned the Mages at (5, 5) to their original positions, but the 98th class vice-leader decided to be satisfied at this point. If not for this move, they would have manipulated the warp point at the (5, 5) ridge so the enemy couldn’t use it, and then they could keep warping there but we would have no way to warp there. Preventing them from doing that was enough.

‘Now the best choice is for us to warp to (5, 5), but….’

There is no manpower for that. Having already sent many, I can’t send more Pleroma guarding the base here. I must be cautious.

‘I have to enter the opponent’s base directly, but how can I do that?’

The left half of the game board is blocked by the mountain, and there is a possibility that the opponent side will move Old Human pieces to invade the right half. Fortunately, visibility was secured for the right half with the high ground. But the problem is that they might destroy the warp point from the mountainous area and launch an attack on our Pleroma in row 1. We can also attack up to row 8 from the high ground in row 3 now, but the problem is that the opponent’s basic pieces are also all in rows 10 and 9 only. How would another person act in this situation….

“Move two Pleroma from the (7, 3) high ground to (10, 6).”

The 98th class vice-leader decided to cut down the opponent’s troops. At the confident declaration, Askanian stopped his hand taking out the order sheet and looked at him.

“…….”

“What are you doing not transmitting it?”

“What will you do after that?”

What will I do? The 98th class vice-leader frowned with a face asking what he just heard.

“I don’t know why you need to know that.”

“Do you intend to strike the opponent’s Old Human unit after moving to (10, 6)?”

“…….”

Just in time, the New Human unit on the right side of row 10 had disappeared, and since the attack range of Old Humans is smaller than the attack range of Mages, naturally, that was the intention. They will retreat in the next move, but since the range movable at once is small, there are still pieces remaining in the attack range, so damage can be inflicted. It would be a good choice in many ways to kill their pieces before the opponent builds up strength. Perhaps knowing such thoughts, before the 98th class vice-leader could answer anything, Askanian put down the order sheet and said.

“You will be defeated soon.”

The 98th class vice-leader couldn’t understand what he heard.

Silence flowed. Soon, he widened his eyes in disbelief and opened his mouth.

“…How do you know what my plan is….”

“It must be the same plan as I mentioned earlier. If you move there, instead of evacuating the Old Human unit as Your Excellency expects, the opponent will sacrifice them and destroy the warp point at (5, 5) so our Pleroma side cannot come. The moment that happens, it will be drawn in your head without explanation that the situation becomes one where you handed this game over to them.”

Askanian snatched the baton rolling on the desk and drew a line across the map.

“In a state where the warp point at (5, 5) is destroyed, since Your Excellency already dispersed Pleroma to (10, 6), there is only one unit of 5 people that can be moved at maximum. You have no choice but to take the five Pleroma guarding the base. But where will you go?”

“…….”

Where will I go? I had nothing to say. No matter what simulation I ran in my head, there was nowhere to go. The moment I move, the base becomes defenseless, those at (5, 5) will come in front of our base, and even if I return belatedly, the base will have been occupied by them. As if reading his thoughts, Askanian started speaking from the point where the 98th class vice-leader’s thoughts cut off.

“If that happens, there is no choice but to pour all efforts into defense from now on. In preparation for the attack coming to row 1 from the (5, 5) ridge, Your Excellency will have to move the Mages remaining in row 1 to row 0 first. Otherwise, they will be eliminated. Fortunately, there is no limit to how many can enter one coordinate. At this time, we have to calculate their next move; first, they will bring troops from elsewhere. Second, they will move to a point where they can warp as close to the base as possible. The first is more likely, but for Your Excellency, I will downgrade their judgment. Now they will warp from point (5, 5) to (5, 3). Your Excellency must return all three Pleroma moved to the (2, 6) ridge or the Pleroma at the (7, 3) high ground to row 0.”

“…….”

“From then on, repetitive work will continue to the point where counting how many more moves are made is meaningless. Since the resistance line made of the mountain has already been breached, they will continue to bring troops, fight a bit, bring more troops again, and bring more again….”

Not incorrect words. The question of whether we couldn’t somehow dig into their weakness between those moves and induce a reversal came up to his throat, but he couldn’t let it out. In fact, the 98th class vice-leader himself hadn’t even thought of removing the row 1 Pleroma in the attack range of (5, 5). Thinking that if he had continued this game with his own strength, he would have died faster than the scenario Askanian is talking about now, an unexpected shock swept through his whole body.

Askanian, looking down at him quietly, struck point (5, 5) with the baton.

“Your Excellency started wrong from the first move.”

“…What?”

“You should have sent Mages to the (5, 5) ridge from the start. Your Excellency probably put the mountain second because of the thought that you must occupy the high ground first. At this time, the opponent can make three responses for their benefit. First, since the best base was occupied, occupy our side’s high ground where they can get a better view than the mountain. Second, the opponent side also warps to (5, 5) together to prevent us from blowing up the warp point. In the first case, even if the opponent warps to the high ground, the high ground is in our Pleroma’s attack range, so we have a chance of winning. In the second case, if they warp to the (5, 5) ridge, the next turn has already passed to us, so we get an opportunity to smash the warp point. They cannot warp additional troops, but we become able to.”

“…….”

“Third, give up the (5, 5) ridge and choose the (2, 6) ridge first. There is a militia too, and since it can block our entry into (2, 6), it’s not bad, but Your Excellency would know since you’ve tried it. The opponent would have also known that progress would become sluggish. Even knowing that, the opponent can eventually only take this option. Why these three possibilities are the most likely for their choice, and why the third hypothesis among them is the most likely, I omitted thinking Senior would already know well. If my judgment is wrong, I will tell you.”

“…Why this only now…!”

“Did I have the right to speak?”

“…….”

“Excluding that fact, I thought you would know.”

Thought I would know…. His words made me lose all will to fight. The 98th class vice-leader just looked at the coordinates with a dazed expression. Askanian’s emotionless voice was heard.

“The opponent is trying to secure the plain using the mountainous area.”

Who doesn’t know that obvious thing? The problem is himself, who almost made a mistake even while being wary of that obvious thing all along. Thinking that it was completely twisted, his mind was turning white. So, if I…. What must I do. Nothing came to mind.

“It’s not too late even now, so withdraw the decision and gather five Pleroma from row 0 and row 1 who are not in the attack range of (5, 5) and warp them to the (2, 6) ridge.”

“…….”

“If that happens, now there are only eight Mages on the (2, 6) ridge. While attacks sent from inside the mountain to the outside enter as is, attacks sent from outside into the mountain work only half, so you know you must hold the warp point unconditionally. Since you buttoned the first button wrong, Your Excellency will also have to go through a sluggish combat process from now on, but….”

“Th, then the probability it won’t work is….”

The question of whether to abandon the warp point at the (5, 5) ridge, and when to use the Mages at the (7, 3) high ground rose to his throat. There were still many things he wanted to ask, but for the same reason as before, he couldn’t ask them. To the 98th class vice-leader’s crawling question, Askanian answered with a smile.

“Well. If you do as I say, the one who holds the initiative of the flow anyway is Your Excellency, not the opponent.”

***

He didn’t understand at the time he heard it, but those words were correct.

[Round 1, 98th A Erich Reichenau’s Pleroma won.]

The 98th class vice-leader wasn’t particularly happy even though his name was heard. He was just dazed, unable to even understand what had happened. His gaze, looking only forward with a vacant face, quietly turned to Askanian. Askanian just tilted his head as if telling him to handle it on his own now.

‘…I can’t.’

Inwardly, anxiety surged. Clearly, he started boldly at first, but listening to the words Askanian spat out at crazy speed, he now lost confidence to do it alone.

[…3, 2, 1. Round 2 starting.]

Beep―

‘No, let’s try.’

Whatever strategy test he took so far, he had always been in the upper-middle ranks. He just got tense for no reason because he messed up from the start, but if he finds his original pace, he will be able to manage somehow.

And 5 minutes later.

The 98th class vice-leader despaired.

‘…This time I definitely improved the mistake from earlier as is?’

Even so, the number of Mages the 98th class vice-leader himself had now was absurdly small compared to the enemy. The hit was big as numbers died off in parts he didn’t expect to die. Only then did Askanian, who was watching with folded arms from the side, open his mouth expressionlessly.

“The time has come to use a feint operation. Send two Mages in front of the river first. Since our Mages are numerically inferior, all our actions will appear sincere.”

“…….”

“Now they will predict that we, driven into a corner, will set up a barrier in the river and then mobilize the cavalry unit. Your Excellency must properly smash that expectation.”

The 98th class vice-leader bit his lip realizing he was relieved the moment Askanian opened his mouth. But anyway, since it was helpful advice, it was worth a try.

In the next Round 3, Askanian was the same.

Just when he thought he had seized the victory for a while this time, only to gradually mess it up, he said indirectly.

“You should have given up the infantry first. How can you give up the cavalry when it moves two spaces.”

“…….”

“We will also take damage, but there is no way now. Break the embankment and remove the central warp point.”

The fourth game was the same. Every time the 98th class vice-leader dug his own grave step by step and was just about to reach a point of no return, he intervened. Instead, from the start of the fifth game, he also began to show his true colors.

“Since it’s come to this, let’s go to the end.”

“…….”

There was no choice, and Askanian stood right next to him and used the coordinate system together. Strategy meetings close to notifications continued.

How much time passed?

[…Round 9, 98th A Erich Reichenau’s Prussian Army won. With this, all matches are concluded.]

Only after hearing the announcement of victory nine times did the Mimesis lights go out. As the wide plain forming the floor disappeared, the tension in his shoulders finally released.

Beyond the thin glass wall, sitting on the opposite side of the strategy room, the face of the Mage who checked her opponent only after the Mimesis turned off began to show embarrassment and doubt. Golden letters as if typed by a typewriter began to be written in rows on the glass in front of her.

[1. 98th A Erich Reichenau (B-Klasse)]

[2. 91st A Magdalena Witzleben (A-Klasse)]

[3. 91st C Frederica Hannover (A-Klasse)]

Whose name is written next to the number 1? The 98th class vice-leader just stared blankly at his name written at the very top. This had never been here and wasn’t going to be in the future, and therefore, it now seemed only uncertain what this list meant.

Askanian’s red eyes turned to the 98th class vice-leader. His mouth began to draw a light arc.

“We won.”

“…….”

That gaze was close to an urging to be happy. At the red eyes feeling alien anew, the 98th class vice-leader avoided his gaze and awkwardly pulled up the corners of his mouth.

That was the only thing he could do now. He knew better than anyone that ‘we’ didn’t win.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep