𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟓: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐭
The news of the Royal Army’s march arrived about a month later.
They reportedly numbered around twenty thousand.
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“That’s small.”
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General Kytes, who seemed as disappointed as a worker checking his thin paycheck, said this.
The remark was made at a strategic military meeting.
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“The nobles apparently haven’t sent out their armies.”
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Count Doros, his arms crossed, reported this.
The devastating loss of the initial battle has spread throughout the nation. As a result, the nobles have been non-responsive to the call to war by the royal government.
Moreover, due to this bad news, rebellions are reportedly happening all over the kingdom.
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This is a pleasantly unexpected turn of events.
We had expected between eighty and a hundred thousand, but upon checking, it was only twenty thousand.
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“Still, this means the kingdom will likely fight with their backs to the wall.”
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I muttered to myself.
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Twenty thousand is a number that far undercuts the mobilization limit.
There is the aspect that they could not move the whole army to keep the rebels and nobles in check, and could only prepare that much. However, it could also be true that they have selected only the most elite.
If you’re going to move a small number, it has to be the elite, otherwise, it doesn’t make sense.
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“We may have the advantage in numbers, but in terms of training and coordination, the Royal Army will likely come out on top.”
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These were the words of General Grant, a demon with horns like a bull at his temples.
He was, of course, a person dispatched as a reinforcement from the Masrur Kingdom.
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He leads ten thousand, General Kytes’ forces also number ten thousand, and volunteer soldiers number five thousand. In terms of numbers, we are twenty-five thousand, exceeding the Royal Army’s twenty thousand.
However, as General Grant says, we are a mixed force.
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We are so uncoordinated that we have never even held joint exercises.
The best we can hope for is not to get in each other’s way during battle.
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After all, having two generals leading ten thousand soldiers each is a recipe for conflict.
Who will take overall command hasn’t even been decided.
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In theory, General Kytes should give the orders, and General Grant should move accordingly. After all, they’re reinforcements.
It would be problematic if the reinforcements were to take center stage.
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But, the Masrur Royal Army has its own pride. Why should they take orders from humans?
If the situation was reversed, humans would feel the same.
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So, the only option left is to communicate the strategy and let them fight as they see fit.
It would be a miracle if we could execute a perfect combo play with this arrangement.
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In other words, there are weaknesses in our camp.
The Royal Army, on the other hand, is acting solely on its own, without the noble armies, and will likely have their elites lined up. We can assume they are completely unified.
Simply outnumbering them isn’t a reason to celebrate.
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“Does the Strategist have any ideas?”
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As I was grumbling and studying the strategic map, General Grant asked me.
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“The Royal Army absolutely must win, I believe.”
“What are you talking about? There’s no such thing as a battle that’s okay to lose.”
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Raising my face from the map to respond, General Grant looked incredulous.
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Yes.
I hadn’t said enough.
I scratched my head.
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“What I mean is, if they lose here, the authority of the Lintrite Kingdom will hit rock bottom.”
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Unless something significant happens, the fate of a country isn’t usually determined by a single battle.
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Researchers often critique that that battle was the turning point, but only in hindsight.
This is indeed something you only understand later on.
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But, this time, it seems clear.
If we lose here, the rebels will gain momentum. Even the lords might raise the soldiers of rebellion.
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And there will be no military power left in the kingdom to punish them.
It would crumble like a sand castle washed away by the waves.
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So, they must win at all costs and widely publicize what happens to those who oppose the kingdom.
They need to display the heads of Count Doros and General Kytes.
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“It’s self-evident, yes. But what are you trying to say, Strategist?”
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The demonic general tilts his head.
His eyes are saying, why does this Strategist speak in such a roundabout way?
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“I’m thinking that it might not be difficult to trip up people who are desperate to win at all costs.”
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People who sprint with all their might without looking sideways, don’t notice the pebbles at their feet like those who are strolling leisurely.
And when they trip, they fall spectacularly.
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“I was thinking there might be some room to pull off some trickery there.”
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“Welcome back! The war council’s over, right?”
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Upon returning to the clan’s hut, for some reason, Asuka, who is cooking in an apron, greeted me. She was cooking at the outdoor kitchen in front of the cabin.
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Are you on cooking duty?
According to your mother’s memory, wasn’t today’s turn for Meg?
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“Meg is heating up the bath! Mei and Lili are cleaning the house!”
“It’s sudden. What happened?”
“We have two months until the end of the year, so we decided to clean the house once!”
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Is it already that time?
Since I met these guys, we’ve been so busy that I completely forgot.
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“Also. . . . . . .”
“It’s better to have a clean place to come back to.”
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I interrupt her words and stroke her red hair.
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You want to give back a clean cabin to Mrs. Mary in case we die in battle, right?
I won’t say something silly like it’s only a nuisance to have such a thing returned.
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And more importantly, you can’t think about not being able to come back.
We must return here alive.
To eat and make noise with everyone again.
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“Yes! Mom!”
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Asuka smiled brightly.
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Good.
A nice face.
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Translator’s Blog
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- Isekai’d: From Hero to Zero (and Back to Reality, Kinda)
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