Book 10: Chapter 7: Victory Conditions

A few months after the war began.

Contrary to expectations, the Calvinists were winning and maintaining the upper hand.

When the battlefield is large, as was the case this time, fleets are dispersed instead of being grouped together.

Even so, the fleet is dispersed over a vast battlefield in the tens of thousands to fight the enemy.

Which fleet took a space base or a satellite base?

Which fleet defeated the enemy fleet?

Reports come in daily, one after another, and it is my job to deal with them.

I leave all the chores to Klaus and his team.

–I was suddenly losing a lot of battles and was being outnumbered.

I am not mature enough to be sarcastic to Theodore, the military commander, and I am not mature enough to have an auspicious heart.

Now, let’s hear your excuses.

I called up Klaus, the first knight, and Tia and Marie, who are excellent, but problematic children.

Klaus has them stand beside me on a chair, while Tia and Marie sit on their haunches.

I tell them I’ll listen to their excuses, and Marie immediately glares at Tia.

“It’s this mincing bitch! Liam-sama, please give me command immediately. If you do so, I promise you victory within ten years.”

Ten years of war.

This seems like a long time, but it is short.

When you get to this fleet size, you are fighting for decades if not longer.

There are even bad joke stories of battles that lasted for centuries, making it that much more difficult to determine the winner.

In the end, it was not uncommon to determine which side had the upper hand and decide the winner through negotiations.

So, Marie’s words meant, “You promise me victory in a short period of time.”

Tia’s brow wrinkled as Marie placed the blame on her.

“Shut up, fossil! Liam-sama, I am indeed responsible for this, but if you give me the opportunity to clear my name, I promise you that I will win in ten years – no, in eight years.”

If Marie has ten years, Tia has eight.

I’m glad they’re competing with each other, but I can’t stand eight years to begin with.

“It’s too late. You have two years to get it done.”

When I set the time frame, even Klaus, who was listening to the conversation, opened his eyes.

Tia’s gaze wandered.

“I will do my utmost to fulfill Liam-sama’s wish if he so desires. However, I think two years is too short a time.

Marie, too, decided that two years was not possible and reluctantly agreed with Tia’s opinion.

“It’s frustrating, but I think the mincing woman is right. I have a good idea of who the traitors are, but it will take time to get rid of them. If my prediction is correct, it will take a reasonable amount of time to eliminate them.”

Apparently both Tia and Marie are aware of the traitor.

“I see. You also noticed the traitor? That’s very good. If you had been so stupid as not to notice, we would have reviewed our treatment of you. Isn’t that right, Klaus?”

“What?”

It was a little more uncomfortable than his usual reply, but Klaus was aware of the traitor from the beginning.

There was no doubt about it, as he was constantly on my side and glaring at Theodore.

“I also looked into it, and I saw some suspicious activity on Baron Glynn’s part as well. Marion.”

With a snap of the fingers, the door to the room opens.

Emerging from it is Marion, who has been made to change into a frilly outfit.

Her eyes are teary as she looks at me, so I compliment her on the outfit.

“It looks good on you, did you like my present?”

“As usual, senpai is in bad taste.”

When Tia and Marie found out that it was me who prepared the costumes, they looked at Marion with jealous eyes.

Marion is frightened by the two killers and hurriedly scuttles over to me.

Then she reports the story she told me to me here as well.

“I’ve been looking into it, just as senpai ordered. The Glynn barons, they are not at war. The fact that the territory is in disarray was the result of their skill. It’s the opposite of seniority, though, and they’ve failed at everything they’ve done. Then I have also met with SS Theodore many times.”

Marion, a junior in the government service, but even though she was a second-rate knight, she was good at intelligence work.

When I asked her to demonstrate this ability in the rear, she was able to catch Baron Glynn.

Everyone present must have been aware of this.

They were not surprised out loud.

It was not pretty, but I was relieved that there was no incompetence.

“That’s why. Theodore and Baron Glynn will be destroyed. You will aim for victory within two years.”

End the war within two years – and with our victory.

Klaus, who had been quiet and reserved until now, opened his heavy mouth when the conditions were set forth.

“Liam-sama, that is too reckless. Theodore-dono is the SS of His Highness Cleo, and Baron Glynn is the man to whom His Highness Cleo promised to help. Even if we were to eliminate them and their men, two years is too short a time.”

I know it’s common sense and I know it’s impossible – but I really wanted to get it done within two years.

“–This is an order. You have two years to win this war and end it.”

Klaus and Tia show some difficulty when they hear “within two years,” but only Marie’s face changes to a determined look.

For some reason, I’m irrationally annoyed by the way her eyes sparkle when she looks at me, as if she’s moved by my words.

I cross my legs to act more arrogant than usual, so as not to let them know my inner feelings.

“I ask you, what is your plan for victory within two years? I am willing to make some sacrifices.”

When I asked if they had a plan – neither Tia nor Marie said “no”.

I don’t think I can do it, but they still offer me a plan.

The first one is Tia.

“If we can deal a major blow to the enemy’s main force, we will be able to rebound from the poor showing we’ve had so far. To do so, we need to lure the enemy. Once we fall back, and when the enemy gains momentum, we will break through the enemy’s main force with a single point of attack. –If the enemy gains momentum, however, some nobles will join the battle to ride on the winner’s horse. The number of allies who leave the army will increase, and the gap in numbers will only widen, so it is not recommended.”

I am wondering which other fleet to target in order to make a single point.

I am afraid of the case where I thought it was the enemy’s main force, but it turned out to be completely different.

It is also a problem that the damage to our allies will increase because we are overreacting.

Considering the future, we don’t want to lose as much strength as possible.

Marie had a slightly different strategy in mind.

“It is a hesitant method to use among domestic aristocrats, but I will have a detachment to target the enemy’s main planet. If their home planet is attacked, the nobles who have come out here will have no choice but to return. It is possible to achieve an early settlement if we launch an all-out attack when the enemy has collapsed. But I don’t recommend this strategy in the long run.”

“That’s the way the Berkleys have done it before.”

We are challenging the next emperor to a battle to decide who will be the next emperor here, and if I target the main planet of the enemy nobles, they will treat it as if I shot them in the back.

It’s not that I don’t like dirty tricks, but if I do such a thing in this battle, I will be pointed at the back of the head.

There will be opposition from my people, and in the long run, there is the disadvantage of losing my credibility.

They will call me a coward for breaking the unspoken rules.

Also, if I do this, my main planet will be flooded with enemy auxiliaries.

I cross my fingers and grin.

“Surely, neither of these are acceptable.”

When I said that I could not recruit them, both Tia and Marie seemed to be heartened and relieved.

I guess they don’t want me to hire them.

I turned my attention to Klaus, who was relying on me.

“Now, what’s your opinion?”

Klaus was expressionless and a little silent, but he couldn’t bear my gaze and opened his mouth.

(Why do you expect me to!)

Klaus was inwardly impatient.

Under Liam’s gaze, “I’m counting on your plan,” he couldn’t say, “I have nothing.”

Both Tia and Marie stated their plans properly, even though they were not adopted.

(For now, can I tell how Liam-sama will never choose it? What’s the strategy that Liam-sama wouldn’t choose? Since he said he was willing to tolerate some sacrifices, is the idea that he doesn’t mind if the military suffers more losses? Then, when it comes to Liam-sama’s personal reputation–)

Klaus is prepared and states a plan that Liam would never choose.

“How about abandoning this war over the planet Charlotte?”

“What?”

If Liam looks doubtful, Tia and Marie’s eyes grow cold as they look at Klaus.

Liam has never lost a game.

The two probably can’t stand the thought of tarnishing that myth of undefeated.

However, Klaus was aiming for this.

“Even if we win this war, the result will be that Baron Glynn will only gain territory. Then we will concentrate solely on the struggle for succession.”

Liam grimaces, but gives me a look that tells me to continue.

“The enemy is aiming for the main planet of the Barony of Glynn. If they take it, it will be our defeat, and then we will challenge them to a decisive battle. The reason is to rescue the baron…This is a bitter excuse, isn’t it?”

Klaus’ strategy, as he explained it, was to gather the enemy in one place and bury them.

The plan also incorporated the ideas of Tia and Marie.

It is a measure that came to me after listening to the two of them and, of course, has no deep meaning.

It was a statement based on the idea that Liam-sama would not choose and the two of them would not let him choose.

However, Liam was very interested in this.

“I see – if it’s Baron Glynn’s planet, it won’t hurt him to rampage as he pleases. Besides, we can bury him in the throes.”

Klaus was surprised to see Liam, who seemed to be hiring.

“Liam-sama?”

(What? Why the good feeling?)

Klaus tried to wait, but it was Marie who moved first.

“Please wait! The biggest disadvantage of this operation is that Liam-sama’s skills will be questioned. He will be in the position of being blamed for failing to protect Baron Glynn. And even if he proves later that he was a traitor, he is ostensibly defeated.”

Tia is not willing to accept that much, but Liam stands up and applauds Klaus.

“Klaus is a master. It’s a great plan to get rid of the traitors while achieving the goal. I adopt your plan.”

Klaus was donned by Liam, who made the decision.

“Are you serious?”

(If you do that, your own reputation will be ruined!)

When I re-confirm, Liam-sama smiles amusedly.

“I was just thinking that it would be a shame to give Baron Glynn the benefit of the doubt. Well then, let’s talk about the arrangements right away. –And Marion, now that you’ve heard this, you’ll be in custody for a while.”

When Marion, who had been listening to the conversation, looked resigned, she put her hands in front of her maturely.

“I don’t expect you to run away after hearing all this. When the war is over, you’ll let me go, won’t you? Oh, and if possible, the guards should be pretty girls. I’ll demand good treatment.”

“When it’s over, I’ll let you go, but you’ll have to put up with the pretty girls.”

“Senpai’s stingy.”

After hearing about the future policy, Marion was detained with Liam for a while.

Klaus regrets that he has done something terrible.

“Are you sure you want to do this? It is a wicked way to win. I have suggested it, but it is a measure that will damage Liam-sama’s reputation. I would not recommend it.”

Liam smiles provocatively at Klaus.

“Very well. If you can win by destroying my reputation, then use it to your advantage. I told you – I’m willing to make some sacrifices.”

How could this happen?)

Klaus felt his blood boil.

He had never thought that Liam would sacrifice even his own reputation.

For better or for worse, Liam is an absolute figure and often benefits from his reputation.

He would throw it away and still end the war early.

-Klaus had misjudged Liam.

(This sucks!!!)

Liam opens his hands and declares.

“Well, let’s settle the Calvin fight first, shall we?”

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