Unmotivated Hero’s Tale (WN) - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Defeat

“Crary Amu and Huth Nommic reporting for duty”
“Oh, it’s you guys. Come, come, take a seat”
The sleepy Huth, whose eyes are hardly opened as usual, and Crary, who had taken away Huth’s sword and put it in the sheath in his right hand both reported their arrival at the entrance of the Elite Guard Corps office.
As Yui urged the two to sit on the chairs that he offered, Crary’s serious expression until a while ago disappeared, then looked around the room while holding his hands on his bald head as usual.
“Boss, excuse me for saying this, but this is a really terrible room. Carlin’s Tactics Division is much better than this”
“Do not say it like that. I pretty much like it. Is there something wrong in here that doesn’t calm you down?”
“Well, above of not just being the chair and the desk, the whole room altogether is in pieces. Don’t you think it is not strange at all?”
Crary who had worked for the central facility of the military before felt considerable strain in his body just by looking at the musty, decrepit room. However, what unsettles him more is that Yui, who has even remained same as before, is completely relaxed as it is.
“And, what about Nanya and Kureha?”
“Nanya went straight to the bar as soon as we stepped into the capital, and should be drunk by now. Kureha, on the other hand, says that she will hold a meeting with the informers in the capital and went on it. Probably, she will come here in the afternoon”
“Well, it’s impossible for those two to act as a group after all”
Blurting out his thoughts, Yui could only smile wryly.
“That aside, about that Elite Guard Corps, is it true?”
“Yup, including Kynes who has been sent as the princess’ escort, as of today, you are all now affiliated as Elite Guard Corps’ Eight Rank Officers”
Yui explained in a casual tone, however, Crary raised his voice in surprise.
“E-eight Ranked Officer? For a mere countryside soldier of Carlin?”
“That’s not it. You are already a military personnel in the Elite Guard Corps Office. Normally thinking, the lowest ranking should be in the Eight Rank at the lowest. Though in the future, I tend to have you promoted in order to lead a platoon at least”
As Yui casually informed him, Crary could only mutter “seriously?......” as he covered his bald head with both of his hands, as if lost in his thoughts.
Meanwhile, the other person who has also been told about her promotion, Huth, was already leaning on the desk and sleeping peacefully, as if she didn’t care about it at all.
After waiting Crary to recover, Yui explained to them the recent events that happened to him and Kynes in the capital then suddenly, the door of the Elite Guard Corps was opened.
“Yui, this is bad……”
“Has something happened, Alex?”
Alex usually kept a smile on his face at all times, but now, there was no trace of it in him at all. With this, Yui had a foreboding that the situation is really, really bad.
“Our defensive troops was defeated. The Royal Castle is in an uproar since a while ago. I think that a report will be coming soon to the Military Affairs building, but I intend to tell you this as early as possible”
“I see, they lost, huh. Teacher Ahmad’s prediction really had come true”……”
Still having difficulties to accept the news of defeat, Yui, realizing something, rose up from his seat and quickly approached Alex.
“Alex! What about Sir Ahmad? Teacher Ahmad is safe, is he not?”
“I don’t know. What I know is, most of the defensive forces have surrendered, and other than being dead, they may have become captives, or they ran away from the battlefield. Only the soldiers assigned as messengers returned from the kingdom”
“I……see”
After receiving Alex’s words, Yui lost the strength in his shoulders and hung his head down.
“……One thing I know is that the Imperial Army seems to have used a spell synergy using over 10 000 magic soldiers against our army”
“A spell synergy of 10 000 people! Spell synergy is usually done only with few people at most, but if it’s on that scale……”
Yui who have heard a massive magic spell synergy could not hide his surprise. That is because for the basic common sense, spell synergies can only be performed with a limit of five magic soldiers at most.
Magic, in the first place, is but a method to add a new law to the existing laws of all things in this world. In order to add one’s own intentions to the law of the world, one must use his own magic powers as catalyst, add it to the law of magic, which in turn synchronizes it to all the laws of the world. By doing so, one can make a phenomena such as fire, water and ice that does not exist in the place originally appear in to the world.
When using such magic spells, the key is to synchronize one’s own magic law to the world’s laws. For that example, Yui who cannot handle most magic spells could not synchronize his own magic law with that of the world. In other words, even there are magic soldiers who can produce excellent laws, it is impossible to change anything unless they can synchronize with the world.
Conversely, it is possible to greatly rewrite the laws of the world if one can synchronize with a large number of people all at the same time. That is the principle of Spell Synergy.
“What should we do, Yui?”
“We need a plan. To win in the easiest way possible. However……”
“However?”
“Putting aside how the upper management will use me……It is still much easier if we surrender. Maybe perhaps, life under the Empire should be more comfy, you know?”
Yui spoke with a bitter smile as he scratched his head twice.

*****

“Lies! Tell me that report isn’t true!”
Inside a room of the royal castle, Elise received the report from Lute.
“It’s true, your highness. Our army has almost been annihilated. Including His Majesty the King, Military Affairs Minister Mepler and Deputy Director of Ministry of Magic Nexim are confirmed to have been killed in action. Ahmad, the Chief of Staff, went missing. The casualties’ amounted to more or less 40’000 people which is approximately 70% of the whole defense force”
“F-Father……”
Elise, still in shock of the arrival of the bad news was unable to hear his following words, as she held her head down to the ground.
A figure of Orado, from the time when she was still young ran through her mind, sometime sweet and sometimes harsh to herself. Among those figures was the Orado who is often looking troubled by her tomboyish personality, but still took good care of her till the very end.
Princess Elise stood still for a long while, but then, light gradually formed in her unfocused eyes, and from them, a sense of responsibility for the future was shown to Lute as she asked him for further report.
“And so, what is the Empire doing right now?”
“The Empire’s troops are slowly advancing towards the kingdom as we speak. The Duke of Meniel is currently building the final defensive line with his private soldiers, but if they break through it, it is likely that they will reach here in about four more days”
“Then there is no other way. Make defensive preparations along the capital immediately. Now that Mepler is gone, who’s the highest bureaucrat in the current Ministry of Military Affairs?”
To Elise’s question, Lute’s gaze faltered.
“T-that is Ministry of Defense Vice-Minister Winedrihi and Ministry of Tactics Vice-minister Mionen……”
“What’s wrong?” We will arrange a meeting for defense preparations soon, so shouldn’t you be calling them?”
Seeing Lute’s faltering gaze, seeming to avoid her question, she understood that something bad has happened, but still pressed further.
“A-about that Your Highness, we can’t find either of them right now”
“What did you say!?”
The two people - being recognized as the top officials in the current military have now gone missing, abandoning their duties altogether. Elise could not help not to raise her voice from this.
“We went over the Military Affairs Building to check, but they didn’t come at their respective offices today, and the soldiers whom I sent to their homes said the place was already empty……”
“How could they, who are the center of the army leave just like that? More so abandoning the people of this country!”
“It is very hard to say this, but……”
Elise was about to fly into a rage for a moment, but upon hearing Lute’s voice tinge with sorrow because the responsibility was on him, she reconsidered.
“I understand. Now that father is gone, the highest position in this country now falls on to me. With my authority, those two are now dismissed. But still, we need people, to the extent that no matter what they are, as long as they can be of some use. Every single one is necessary. That’s why I want you to call someone – anyone that can be of help right away”
She said so as she entrusted Lute to contact the needed personnel and then ordered him to leave.
“Father……”
Then, when everyone have left other than herself, a cry of a 17 year old girl resounded in that place.

*****

Few hours after receiving the report of defeat from Alex, Yui received a call to report under the order of the Military Affairs Minister. Now that the position of Military Affairs Minister is now vacant due to the death of Mepler, accompanied by Crary, Yui wondered who will it be as he knocked on the door of the Office of the Minister of Military Affairs on the fourth floor.
“Get in”
Receiving permission to enter the room, they opened the profound door of the Military Affairs Minister Office. From there, they saw a back of an old man with ash-gray hair peeking out of the window.
“So it was you……It has been a long time, your Excellency Rheinberg”
“Oh, excuse me for calling you at this time, Yui”
Rheinberg then turned his back and faced Yui. For the first time in three years, Deep emotions were coming out of him as he saw the figure of this old man.
“Keeping yourself well, Sir?”
“Of course. You are also still the same as ever. By the way, as for the notion of calling you here, you already understand, right?”
“More or less, sir. I was called to report under the order of the Military Affairs Minister. Congratulations on your promotion”
Yui gave a salute as he said so. Crary hurriedly followed through.
“Haha, be at ease. Even though I have become the minister, with everything about to collapse at any moment, I don’t know if I can really call this a promotion or not. Either way, it was all brought from the capricious whim of the princess”
“Hahaha, that already is a good reason for me”
Yui couldn’t help but laugh in the words of Rheinberg, trying to ease the glum atmosphere in the place.
“By the way, Yui. I have called you here today because there is something I want to request of you”
“A request, huh……”
“Once more, Yes, just one more. Can you work for me again?”
Rheinberg said so, then bowed his head at Yui.
“Please stop. My subordinate is also present here you know?”
Rheinberg, who was his boss in the past, and now the Military Affairs Minister of the state at present, seeing that man in a high position bowing in front of him, even Yui wasn’t able to hide his unrest.
“I know you have done so much for me, so much that you have been chased out of the central district all for my sake. I may not have the qualification to ask you for such thing, however, I think that I can ask only you and no one else but you”
Rheinberg spoke, still lowering his head in front of him. With a forward step, Yui put his hand on the old man’s shoulder and slowly stopped lowering his head.
“You have always evaluated me too much, your Excellency. Even I from back then worked for my favorite boss only just to make my life easier. This time, under my favorite boss, I will work to make your life easier after this war. Simply just that”
Smiling bitterly as to hide his embarrassment, Yui said so to Rheinberg. The old man’s bitter expression then softened, then returned to him an awkward smile, too.
“Then, Yui, can I request something from you?”
“Director, no, Your Excellency the Military Affairs Minister. Despite my poor abilities, I will do as much as I can”
Yui, by his own will, decided to fight and give it all for the sake of this man, which is unusual in him.
“I see. Really. Thank you very much”
“Then, your Excellency, in turn, I also have a request from you after this. Is it alright?”
“Request, huh. Indeed, if it’s within the range of my capabilities. Just ask anything”
Yui’s unexpected request caught Rheinberg in a surprise, but then, he thought of really granting it.
“To tell you the truth, I have already thought of several strategies we could use for the next skirmish. If you don’t mind, I would like to receive permission……”
“Several strategies? Let me hear it quick!”
Having already put up several strategies, moreover in a span of only about six hours just after the report of the Royal Army’s defeat in the defensive battle, Rheinberg could not hold back in surprise and urged Yui to spread its contents right away.
“Yes sir. The defense troops left in the royal capital didn’t even reach up to 5’000. There is no way we could charge head on to the Empire’s forces of 40’000 strong and has a spell synergy as their trump card. So, in order to counter this, we need to try out some countermeasures”
Looking at Yui’s expression filled with determination for the first time, Rheinberg decided to risk the fate of the kingdom on this plan.
“Understood. I’ll leave everything to you”
“Thank you very much. I will explain the strategy. But before that, Crary, call Kureha here right now”