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Vol. 10 Chapter 7 - Conditions for Victory
🕑 Added 2022-04-18 09:16:47 +0000 UTCSeveral months have passed since the war began, and contrary to popular belief, the Calvin Faction has continued to clinch victories after victories, giving them the upper hand.
With how large the battlefield is this time, our fleets had to be dispersed.
They have scattered in groups of tens of thousands and are fighting against the enemies at various points of the battlefield.
Which fleet has taken over a satellite base? Which fleet has conquered a space station? Which fleet has defeated an enemy fleet?
I've been receiving an endless number of reports on a daily basis, and it has been my job to organize them.
However, I had Klaus and the others handle such miscellaenous tasks.
--As a result of leaving everything to my subordinates, our side suffered successive defeats and are now at a disadvantage.
It's no wonder that Theodore, our military supervisor, is dissatisfied.
--Having said that, I have neither the heart nor the spirit to care about his opinion.
“Now, let's hear your excuses.”
I've called upon Klaus, my Head Knight, and the problematic-yet-competent Tia and Marie duo.
Klaus is standing next to my chair whereas Tia and Marie are in a seiza.
When asked for an explanation, Marie immediately glares at Tia.
“It's all because of this minced woman! Lord Liam, please hand me the right to command the fleet. I promise to bring us victory within a decade's time.”
Ten years of war.
It's neither too long nor too short.
Wars of such magnitude can easily last for decades if you're unlucky.
To illustrate how difficult it is for there to be a clear victor, there are stories out there that talk about battles that lasted for centuries, a notion which sounds like a sick joke.
Hence, it's common to decide on the victor through negotiation where the side with the upper hand comes out on top.
That's what Marie means when she promises to bring “victory within a decade's time”.
Tia, who's been forced to take all the blame, scowls.
“Shut up, fossil woman! Lord Liam, I'm certainly responsible for our current situation, but please give me a chance to redeem myself. In ten years...no, I promise victory within eight years!”
Marie has promised victory within ten years while Tia has promised victory within eight.
It's good and all that they're feeling competitive, but I don't have eight years to spare.
“That's too long. Settle it within two.”
Hearing me put forth the deadline, even Klaus, who's been listening as a bystander, widens his eyes.
“W-we'll try our best to satisfy Lord Liam's wishes, but two years would be impossible,” Tia claims, dazed.
Marie reluctantly agrees with Tia's opinion, having come to the same conclusion.
“As frustrating as it is to admit, the minced woman is right. We've set our eyes on who the traitor could be, but getting rid of him will take some time, even if our predictions are right.”
It seems both Tia and Marie are aware of the traitor.
“So you noticed? Good. If you were too incompetent to realize who the traitor is, I would've had to reevaluate your worth. Right, Klaus?”
“Huh?”
His reply's a bit different from usual, but Klaus had sniffed out the traitor from the very beginning.
He's always been concerned about Theodore, who usually stood on the other side of me, and had his eyes locked on him.
“I've done some digging, and Baron Gurin is also suspicious. --Marion”
When I snap my fingers, the door to the room opens, and Marion, who's dressed in frilled clothes, enters.
Seeing her teary eyes, I praise her appearance.
“It fits you really well. Do you like my present?”
“Senpai's got bad taste as usual.”
Knowing that I was the one who prepared her outfit, Tia and Marie turn to Marion in jealousy.
Frightened by their killing intent, Marion hurriedly rushes to my side and starts talking about the things she told me earlier.
“I performed an investigation under Senpai's orders and learned that Baron Gurin didn't experience any sort of war. The territory is in such condition because of his horrible management. Unlike someone, everything he did ended in failure. Reports say he's met up with Theodore on several occassions.”
Marion, who was my junior during my time as a bureaucrat, is subpar as a knight, but she's good at gathering intelligence.
I had her work behind the scenes, and it seems Baron Gurin got caught in her radar.
However, everyone here knew that already, and nobody is surprised by this revelation.
It's a rather boring response, but I'm glad that none of them are incompetent.
“And that's why I'll have Theodore and Baron Gurin crushed. You guys are to bring me victory within two years.”
To end the war in two years with our side emerging as the victors.
Upon hearing the conditions, Klaus, who's been silent until now, opens his mouth with a heavy heart.
“Lord Liam, that's too reckless. Theodore-dono is a member of His Highness Cleo's personal guards, and His Highness has promised Baron Gurin that we'd help. Even if we elimiate these two and their subordiantes, ending the war in two years is unrealistic.”
I know full well that it goes against common sense, but I really want to end the war within two years.
“--This is an order. Win the war within two years.”
Klaus and Tia are still troubled by my fixation on two years, but Marie's expression becomes determined.
For some reason, her eyes are shining, and she's looking at me as if she's moved, which is kind of annoying.
I cross my legs and behave more gradiosely so as to hide my true intentions.
“Now then, how can we win in two years? Tell me your ideas. I'll tolerate some degree of sacrifice.”
When asked for a plan, neither Tia nor Marie claims to not have one.
Though they don't think it would work, they tell me their plans nonetheless.
Tia goes first.
“If we can land a powerful blow on the enemy's main face, we can overturn the situation in one go. To do that, we would need to first lure them in by pretend like we're retreating. Once our enemies start gaining momentum and become complacent, we'll counterattack by focusing on a single point in their formation, breaking through and striking their main force.--However, the problem with this plan is that when people see that our enemies are gaining momentum, some aristocrats will join in the fray, wanting a piece of the pie. Some of our allies will probably desert the battlefield, futher widening the difference in numbers. For these reasons, I wouldn't recommend going with this plan.”
Not to mention, we would have to decide on which point in their formation to breath through, and what we thought of as the enemies' main force could turn out to be something completely different.
Another problem is that doing something so forceful would lead to further casualties on our part.
Considering what's to come in the future, I'd like to preserve my strength as much as possible.
Marie thinks up a slightly different strategy.
“Though it's not an ideal plan to use against fellow aristocrats of the same nation, we can form a strike force that would attack our enemies' home planets. If they hear that their home planets are under attack, the aristocrats will be forced to return. By taking advantage of their absence, we can launch an offensive with our full force and bring an early end to the war. However...looking at it from the long term, I don't recommend this strategy.”
“It's similar to what the Berkeley Family did in the past.”
This is a battle to determine the next Emperor.
If I were to launch an attack on the enemy aristocrats' home planets, it'll be as if I shot them while their backs were turned.
I don't mind dirtying my hands, but if I do that in this battle, people would point fingers behind my back.
People on our side would also disapprove of what I did, and I'd lose my credibility, which makes this plan detrimental in the long run.
I would be labeled a coward who broke the unwritten rules, and our enemies will also form strike forces of their own to use against me.
I cross my fingers and grin.
“Indeed, both plans have flaws in them, so we can't adopt them.”
Tia and Maire seem relieved that their plans weren't implemented.
They must have been hoping for this result.
I turn towards Klaus, my reliable knight.
“Well, what's your take on this?”
Klaus remains silent for a moment without revealing any emotions, but he eventually opens his mouth, unable to withstand my stare.
◇
(Why is he asking me!?)
Klaus was panicking in his heart.
He couldn't reply with a quick “No clue” after seeing Liam's eyes which screamed “I expect great things from you”.
Tia's and Marie's proposals were rejected, but they still presented their ideas to him.
(For the time being, should I think of a plan that Lord Liam would definitely reject? What kind of strategy would Lord Liam never implement? He said he'll tolerate some degree of sacrifice. Does he mean that in terms of soldiers? Then if it's his personal reputation--)
Klaus made up his mind and presented an idea which he believed Liam would never accept.
“What if we withdraw from the battle over Planet Charlow?”
“What?”
Liam was perplexed.
Tia and Maries stared at Klaus with cold eyes.
Liam had never known defeat before. Putting a stain on this legend of the undefeated was something they could not tolerate.
However, that was precisely what Klaus was aiming for.
“Winning in this war would only be to Baron Gurin's benefit, so we will focus our attention solely on the succession war.”
Liam didn't look pleased with this, but he told Klaus to continue.
“The enemies are currently heading for Baron Gurin's home planet. Losing it would signify our defeat, but we can challenge them to a decisive battle afterwards, justifying it under the excuse of rescuing the Baron--though I admit it's not the best excuse to come up with.”
Klaus's strategy, which he fleshed out as he talked, was to gather the enemies in one place before annihilating them.
This plan incorporated both Tia and Marie's ideas.
It was something he came up with after hearing the two's plan and held no deeper meaning.
Liam would defintely reject such a plan, and the two girls would make sure of this.
However, Liam showed a strong interest to this idea.
“I see--if it's on Baron Gurin's home planet, it wouldn't matter even if we were to go wild, and we'll be able to eliminate him admist the confusion.”
Klaus was shocked when he realized that Liam was about to adopt his plan.
“L-Lord Liam?”
(Eh? What's happening?)
Klaus tried to stop Liam, but Marie beat him to it.
“Please reconsider! The biggest flaw to this plan is that people would start suspecting Lord Liam's skills, and people would blame Lord Liam for failing to protect the Baron. Even if we prove that he's a traitor later on, the fact that we lost would not change.”
Tia was of the same mind, but Liam stood up before applauding Klaus.
“As expected of you, Klaus. It's a great strategy where we can get rid of the traitors while achieving our goals. We'll be adopting your strategy.”
Klaus was horrified by Liam's decision.
“For real?”
(If you do that, what would become of your reputation!?)
To that, Liam showed a happy smile.
“I was getting annoyed that we're doing all this to benefit Baron Gurin. Now then, let's start going into the specifics. --As for you, Marion, you've heard too much, so you'll have to be detained for a while.”
Marion, who had been listening to their conversation, gave herself up easily and quietly put her hands forward.
“I knew I wouldn't be able to leave after hearing so much. I'll be released after the war ends, correct? Ah, if it's possible, I'd like a cute girl as my prison guard. I demand a good treatment.”
“You'll be released when everything's over, but you'll have to do without a cute girl.”
“Senpai's stingy.”
Marion would be detained for hearing their future plans.
Klaus was lamenting the fact that something so ridiculous was happening.
“Are we really proceeding with this plan? It's not a very commendable method of winning, and Lord Liam's reputation would suffer a hit. I don't recommend it.”
Liam showed Klaus a daring smile.
“It's fine. If my reputation is all it takes to win, you can take as much advantage of it as you'd like. As I said--I'm willing to make some sacrifices.”
(Why is this happening!?)
Klaus was drained of all his blood.
He didn't think Liam would sacrifice even his own reputation.
Liam, who was considered absolute for better or for worse, often benefitted from his reputation.
Yet he was willing to throw that away to end the war early.
--Klaus had misunderstood Liam.
(This is the worst!)
With arms spread, Liam made a declaration.
“Now, let's start by bringing a closure to our battle with Calvin.”
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Wakagi-chan ( ゜д゜): “Naegi-chan is shocked to see such daring moves from the protagonist of another work. Liam-chan is so scary it's make me laugh...not.”
Brian (´；ω；｀): “It's painful. Lord Liam wants to fight the personal guards. However, it's relieving to hear that he's trying to finish the war and return in two years. A blessing indeed!”
Brian (*´ω｀*)ノ: “Also, Volume 3 of 'I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire!' has been popular, this Brian is relieved. However, we shouldn't let our guards down, so we'll continue to promote to the best of our abilities!”
Wakagi-chan ( ゜∀゜): “Leave it to me! Naegi-chan's spirit won't break even if you yell at her to 'Begone!' She'll advertise the novel until everyone's sick of them.”
Brian (；´ω｀): “That's a bit too far...”
