Wortenia Senki (LN) - Volume 27 - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: The Next Step

The pale light of the full moon streamed through the window, glowing steadily and acting as a guiding light in this cruel world. But no matter how magnificent the full moon was, its illumination had limits. While it could guide a traveler through the darkness of night, it seemed incapable of providing direction to a man lost on the path of his own life—such as the young man who resided in this room. Ryoma Mikoshiba was the pitiful name belonging to a young conqueror searching for the road he must walk. The only sound within the room was his measured breathing while he sat cross-legged on the mat in the center of the training chamber and meditated. A candle flickered with an eerie, unstable light before him. Maintaining a steady rhythm with his breaths, Ryoma drifted through the sea of his thoughts, which resembled what the sages called “regulating one’s breath.” However, Ryoma sought neither enlightenment nor transcendence since he did not participate in spiritual training. His purpose was more pragmatic: to analyze and reflect on the recent battle and to devise the next move to break through the current impasse. Ryoma also understood well how challenging it would be to find that next step.

But I have no choice but to find it, thought Ryoma.

This resolve arose from his desperate need to suppress the anger and regret deep within his chest and uncover a way forward.

Ryoma did not need allies or vassals to consult with but silence to allow his thoughts to flow freely. He had even stationed his most trusted companions, the Malfist twins, outside the training chamber. Only his beloved sword, Kikoku, stood silently by his side in this solitude as though watching over him. Kikoku could do nothing but wait in silence for its master to find his path. Ten days had passed since the Battle of Lubua Plains. They were in the fortress city of Heraklion, the central hub of the Kingdom of Rhoadseria’s southern region. As one of the kingdom’s key granaries, this southern expanse was a crucial line of defense. Even among the fortress cities of Rhoadseria, Heraklion was one of the largest, and was capable of accommodating Mikoshiba’s army of over forty thousand soldiers within its walls. But Ryoma saw Heraklion as more than just a strategic stronghold—it was a place tied deeply to his past.

This was once the seat of the Viscount Gelhart. Now it’s a royal domain, and I’m the one who caused that. How ironic... To think I’d return to this castle under such circumstances, thought Ryoma. After retreating west from Lubua Plains, Heraklion was the only base near the border large enough to house an army of over forty thousand soldiers. Still, it’s fortunate this place has remained under direct royal control.

The status of the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy within Rhoadseria was delicate.

While House Mikoshiba held their title from the Rhoadserians royal house, Ryoma had overthrown Queen Lupis Rhoadserians and installed the current ruler, Radine Rhoadserians, on the throne. Though technically a vassal of the kingdom, his influence far surpassed that of the reigning monarch. Of course, Ryoma had no intention of abusing his power for personal gain, unlike the late Viscount Gelhart. Indeed, perhaps no noble had done more for Rhoadseria than Ryoma. For the sake of the four-nation alliance, the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy had taken sole responsibility for aiding the Kingdom of Myest—a burden that the entire nation should have shared.

Given Rhoadseria’s unstable political situation, Ryoma knew this was the best course of action.

With Helena unavailable, there really isn’t another option.

The kingdom had capable warriors, but few could act as leaders. Even fewer could bear the responsibility of safeguarding the nation’s survival. Other than Helena, only Ryoma could fulfill that role. That was why he had taken his personal army, the forces of Mikoshiba Grand Duchy, to aid the Kingdom of Myest. A noble this devoted to Rhoadseria’s cause was unparalleled, making him a true hero of salvation and a paragon of loyalty. Yet, to most of the kingdom’s aristocrats, Ryoma Mikoshiba was no loyal vassal but a treacherous usurper. At best, they considered him an upstart who did not know his place. Many harbored deep resentment, especially those whose vested interests had been upended by his actions. For such people, the sudden arrival of Ryoma and his army at Heraklion would prompt suspicion and hostility.

They’re unlikely to outright oppose me. But welcoming me with open arms? That’s a different matter.

Rather than outright confrontation, another noble would likely make excuses—claiming the need to prepare or await orders from the capital—to delay allowing Ryoma’s forces to garrison there. Many nobles felt that demanding Ryoma follow formal protocols was a fitting way to inconvenience a despised enemy.

If that had happened, I’d have had no choice but to ask Helena or Queen Radine for written authorization, thought Ryoma, wanting to avoid that at all costs. After all, the retreat from Lubua Plains was a grueling march. I want to let my troops rest within the safety of the city walls.

Most soldiers were still sleeping in tents erected on the training grounds. Even a fortress as large as Heraklion could not provide rooms for forty thousand soldiers. In that sense, there was little difference between being within Heraklion’s castle walls or stationed on its outskirts.

But from the perspective of the soldiers, the distinction was significant.

Just the thought of being protected by sturdy walls brings a sense of relief.

This retreat had been anything but typical. Instead, it was a murky, unresolved situation that had been neither a defeat nor a victory. The soldiers of the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy were elite troops who showed little outward distress. Still, it was likely that many emotions were churning beneath their disciplined exteriors. In such circumstances, securing warm meals and safe sleeping arrangements was crucial. Heraklion’s status as a royal domain allowed the army to bypass unnecessary complications.

If this had been a noble’s territory, it would have caused endless trouble.

Indeed, it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility that Queen Lupis might have granted Heraklion as a reward to secure the loyalty of one of her vassals.

Such an outcome would have been more likely. Being granted stewardship of a fortress city like Heraklion would have elevated the recipient to the highest ranks of the nobility. It would also have been a public declaration that the recipient was among Queen Lupis Rhoadserians’s most trusted subjects. If Lupis had dangled the prospect of controlling Heraklion before them, most nobles would have wagged their tails like eager dogs, desperate to curry favor with her.

For Lupis, whose position had remained precarious despite suppressing the aristocratic rebellion and seizing the throne, such a temptation must have been sweet.

In the end, Lupis chose to keep Heraklion as a royal domain.

Meltina likely persuaded her. She must have opposed granting such a powerful asset to the nobles after having worked so hard to strip them of their strength. 

At the time, Mikhail Vanash had been under house arrest and unable to provide counsel. This left only Meltina Lecter, Lupis’s other trusted confidant, to influence her decision.

For such a muscle-brained woman, it wasn’t a bad call.

Of course, this decision wasn’t exactly praiseworthy as a brilliant move. It wasn’t a perfect score, but it was at least above average—passable if one were grading it like an exam.

The problem is that Heraklion is far from Pireas, which makes the royal authority hard to enforce.

Lupis and her court would have found it challenging to closely monitor Heraklion’s governance, regardless of who gained control over it. Without oversight, there was a risk of breeding another Furio Gelhart.

Even from that perspective, keeping Heraklion as a royal domain wasn’t necessarily the wrong choice.

But such correctness is meaningless if it’s only theoretical. Whether a noble receives it as a reward or the queen maintains it as a royal domain, the real concern is its governance. What matters is who is sent to manage Heraklion as a royal domain and how they handle the task.

Making Heraklion a royal domain meant that Lupis had to dispatch someone to oversee it in her stead. She would have had to leave Pireas and govern Heraklion personally to avoid that outcome, but that prospect was utterly impossible.

Inevitably, she would have to delegate the administration to someone she could trust, he realized. However, selecting the right person for such a role was no simple task. Someone like Lupis Rhoadserians only trusted Mikhail Vanash and Meltina Lecter.

This was hardly surprising since the pair were her most loyal retainers, who had stood by her through thick and thin. If Lupis had merely counted on their loyalty, there would have been no issue. What complicated matters significantly was that she trusted no one else.

She took care to conceal this from those around her, but...

People in her position were expected to exercise that level of discretion. When a leader showed favoritism, it inevitably distorted the organization and led to dysfunction. Lupis surely understood this. Yet understanding didn’t always equate to control over one’s feelings. Actions often spoke louder than words, betraying far more than intended. In fact, Lupis’s approach to managing Heraklion revealed much about her mindset.

The administrator Lupis dispatched from the capital made an effort, although maintaining the status quo was beyond him. When every decision requires a messenger to run all the way to the capital for approval, it’s no wonder it failed.

From Lupis’s perspective, this might have seemed logical at the time. This had happened right after the civil war, during a period of great uncertainty. A ruler would naturally want to tighten control over a city as far from the capital as Heraklion in order to prevent any unsanctioned governance.

But her methods were woefully inadequate...

The need for approval from superiors for every single action caused the city to stagnate. This was not Japan, where one could simply pick up a phone to seek guidance. In this world, with limited means of communication, such micromanagement was crippling. As a result, Heraklion’s prosperity had begun to wane.

On top of that, many nobles in the surrounding region had aligned with the aristocratic faction. It was absurd to think they would follow Lupis’s orders. When dealing with a governor who constantly sought approval from the capital, they naturally viewed him as weak and dismissed him entirely.

Crop yields had steadily declined year after year, and lawlessness around Heraklion rose. Ryoma immediately thought about Emidio, whom he had met upon entering Heraklion. A brilliant official of common birth, Emidio served the royal court as an administrator.

Emidio’s talent and lack of any noble affiliations made Lupis appoint him as Heraklion’s governor, though it was a thankless role.

He seems sincere... Despite the advance notice, his ability to accommodate an army of forty thousand in just a few days speaks to his competence. There’s no doubt about his sharp mind.

Despite Emidio’s faint traces of timidity, he was undoubtedly a capable administrator. No matter how tirelessly such a talented individual like him worked to the bone, his efforts were destined to bear no fruit.

Naturally... No matter how sincere one’s efforts, a fundamentally flawed approach will not yield any results.

Most people believed that hard work would always be rewarded. And when their efforts failed to produce results, they quickly dismissed the effort as meaningless.

But that’s a grave misunderstanding.

Effort was an indispensable sacrifice for achieving results. But why did effort sometimes go unrewarded? It was simply because the direction of that effort was misguided. Working blindly without strategy or focus was not enough. This resembled a student aiming to excel in math but endlessly poring over literature textbooks instead, or someone aspiring to become a baseball player yet spending their days practicing soccer dribbling. Of course, such absurdities were rare. If they did occur, parents or friends would surely step in to correct them, as the mistake would be obvious to anyone. However, in some cases, the correct direction for effort was not so clear. Even when one recognized their mistake, circumstances prevented them from correcting their course.

Such was precisely the state of Heraklion now.

Someone as competent as Emidio surely understood that under the current conditions, governing Heraklion effectively was impossible.

Precisely because of his abilities, he managed to keep things afloat through sheer effort and dedication, blinding himself to the reality that his actions were worsening the situation. He probably realized this path could only lead to ruin.

It’s unfortunate for a patriot like him... But for me, it was fortunate that Emidio was Heraklion’s governor.

Due to Emidio’s circumstances, Ryoma’s army was able to enter Heraklion without resistance and secure much-needed rest. Being the governor of Heraklion might have been an unbearable burden for Emidio, but it gave Ryoma an opportunity. Perhaps it was fate, like a braided rope of misfortune and blessing entwined. With these thoughts in mind, Ryoma delved deeper into the plans for his next moves. The Battle of Lubua Plains was only a prelude.

For now, minimizing our losses was a good outcome. It must have been an unexpected result for the enemy too.

Detecting Alexis Duran’s treachery and withdrawing from the front lines before the Kingdom of Myest’s army could reach the fortress city of Jermuk had been a bold and decisive move.

On top of that, Ryoma’s forces had dealt a significant blow to the combined armies of Brittantia and Tarja. After all, they had slain the coalition’s vice commander, Raul Giordano, and come within a hairbreadth of taking the head of the supreme commander, Bruno Accordo.

Though Ryoma and his forces had ultimately failed to kill Bruno, the damage to his reputation and prestige was undeniable and a major strategic success. This outcome must have been deeply unsatisfactory for whoever had orchestrated this scheme.

In that sense, my early decision to withdraw was undoubtedly correct.

The king of the Kingdom of Myest, Phillip, had unexpectedly died. While the details of his death remained unclear, the sudden assault on the capital and the king’s demise were no ordinary matters. Moreover, his successor was his half brother, Owen Spiegel, a skilled chancellor. That alone cast enough doubt to make treating Myest as an ally far too risky without understanding the truth behind these events.

Regardless of Alexis Duran’s role in this conspiracy, it’s certain he’s allied with the new king, Owen Spiegel. We might have been annihilated if I’d stubbornly pursued a strategy of supporting the Kingdom of Myest.

Had that happened, the outcome would have been disastrous. If Ryoma had fallen, everything would have ended. Even if he had survived, heavy losses to his forces would have left him unable to plan his next steps. This would have made it impossible to aid Myest and defend Xarooda from the ongoing O’ltormea Empire invasion.

Such a scenario would have been the worst-case outcome for Rhoadseria, Xarooda, and Helnesgoula.

Only Ryoma’s keen strategic mind and his refusal to cling to the hope of victory at the cost of a well-timed retreat had averted that disaster. This was unmistakable proof of his qualities as a masterful commander. Anyone with battlefield experience or a basic understanding of tactics and military strategy would have recognized the wisdom of Ryoma’s decision. But the world often twisted truths to suit its narratives. Particularly, the ignorant masses, who praised the achievements of heroes, swiftly turned against them when their fortunes changed. This would have been the perfect opportunity for nobles who despised Ryoma to attack his reputation. Fortunately, this particular threat had been avoided.

At worst, I thought they might strip me of command of the expeditionary force. But judging by the letters from Helena and the others, the sentiment in the capital seems more favorable toward me than I expected, thought Ryoma. Letters of commendation had already arrived from Queen Radine Rhoadserians and Helena Steiner, expressing their continued trust and authorizing Ryoma to maintain full command. This clearly indicated that Radine had no intention of altering her initial policy. She’s far more composed than I’d anticipated. If Lupis were the ruler, she would’ve likely called me back to the capital to demand an explanation.

Had that been the case, she might have jeopardized the opportunity to launch the next move, even if it cost the kingdom dearly. Times of crisis revealed a leader’s true nature. In situations like this, most rulers would instinctively place all blame on the general in charge of the army. But Radine Rhoadserians was different. Far from seeking explanations, she maintained unwavering trust in Ryoma.

No doubt Helena and Prime Minister McMaster advised her, but it’s still impressive that she followed their counsel... It’s a pleasant surprise, to say the least. Ryoma considered how this demonstrated the difference in leadership qualities between her and others. And it’s a relief that even the nobles’ reactions haven’t been negative.

Reports from Charlotte, who monitored the nobility within Rhoadseria, confirmed that the aristocracy showed no signs of unrest or opposition to Ryoma’s decisions.

While taking Charlotte’s reports at face value is dangerous, Count Zeleph has sent similar assessments. So I can be about ninety percent certain there’s no trouble brewing.

At least for now, no nobles in Rhoadseria seemed inclined to challenge Ryoma’s capabilities or exploit the situation to undermine Queen Radine’s rule.

Well, I’ve already intimidated them plenty... Is there no one left with the backbone to defy me now?

Many, including Viscount Gelhart, had been sent on their final journey by Ryoma’s hand. At this point, no one was foolish enough to underestimate Ryoma or rise against the Rhoadserian throne simply because the tides of war had briefly turned against him.

Calling it a disadvantage might have been overly self-deprecating. At the very least, the enemy’s tactical objectives had been thwarted. However, this explanation only held up because Archduke Mikoshiba’s army had retreated to the Kingdom of Rhoadseria without sustaining major losses.

Certainly, the four-kingdom alliance had become practically defunct due to the Kingdom of Myest’s division. Given the course of this war, it’s highly likely that their true aim was my head. From that perspective, thwarting their goals could be seen as an achievement.

Of course, whether this analysis was accurate was beyond Ryoma’s knowledge at the moment. If viewed critically, believing someone instigated an international conflict just to target his life might seem narcissistic. However, when considering Bruno Accordo’s refusal to move while besieging the fortress city of Jermuk, the upheaval within the Kingdom of Myest, and the sudden return of Alexis Duran to active duty, it was hard to believe this was merely a ploy to divide the nation.

It makes more sense to see this as a plot specifically targeting my life.

This might not have been a clear victory from that perspective, but calling it a draw wouldn’t have been an exaggeration either. If Ryoma’s hypothesis was correct, then the enemy had only partially achieved their strategic objectives. Given the elaborate scheme involving Alexis Duran’s return from retirement had been foiled with almost no casualties, one might even call this Ryoma’s victory. At the very least, there was room to interpret it as such, and Ryoma was not blind to this reasoning.

Many justifications must be made, and it’s not necessarily wrong to interpret events this way.

This narrative was worth presenting to those around him. Regardless of the reality, the reputation of being a hero of salvation and an undefeated master tactician held significant value.

But no matter how I sugarcoat it, the fact remains that I fell into the enemy’s trap and was nearly killed. Although I safely withdrew from the Battle of Lubua Plain and brought the situation to something of a draw, I lost strategically. 

This truth weighed heavily on Ryoma’s mind. A metallic, rusty taste spread through his mouth as he became acutely aware of it. He had tasted defeat for the first time since being summoned to this world. Tactically, the outcome might have been a draw or even a slight advantage, but while the enemy’s plans had been disrupted, it was undoubtedly a loss for Ryoma from a strategic perspective.

Ryoma’s ultimate goal was to save the Kingdom of Xarooda, which was threatened by the O’ltormea Empire. The deployment of reinforcements to the Kingdom of Myest, attacked by the allied forces of Brittantia and Tarja, was merely a stepping stone for the larger goal of aiding Xarooda. To stumble at this preliminary stage was an undeniable failure. No matter how much Ryoma rationalized it, he couldn’t escape that reality. What he needed most now was to determine the cause of this defeat.

Ultimately, the biggest reason was that I couldn’t take the initiative.

Though others often called Ryoma a war god or a military genius, he had a much lower opinion of his abilities. His undefeated record stemmed from the advantage of having access to a certain level of knowledge while living in Japan. This had allowed him to acquire various insights into politics and military strategy. In extreme terms, it was simply a matter of knowing the correct answers beforehand. Certainly, selecting the right course of action from the vast array of decisions made by historical heroes to suit specific situations reflected Ryoma’s talent. But his undefeated streak wasn’t solely the result of his abilities. Above all, there was a secret to Ryoma’s consistent victories.

It was because I always struck first, catching my enemies off guard.

This involved launching an attack when the opponent was unprepared. On the surface, it might seem cowardly, but the element of surprise was often the deciding factor in victory in actual combat. One could argue that battles rarely, if ever, were won without catching the enemy off guard. This principle applied equally to street fights and wars between nations, although striking first required thorough preparation.

Recognizing this, Ryoma had always prioritized and executed strategies that allowed him to surprise his enemies and take the initiative. This was how he had risen from an unknown mercenary to the rank of archduke.

But this time, I fell behind.

While Ryoma had anticipated an invasion of Xarooda by the O’ltormea Empire, he hadn’t expected it to happen at this particular moment, let alone that Brittantia and Tarja would attack Myest in unison. Either way, it was perhaps inevitable to some extent. While the flow of information about Rhoadseria was manageable, acquiring intelligence about neighboring countries like Myest or Xarooda was far more challenging. Even when such information was obtained, Ryoma had to endure an unavoidable time lag before receiving it.

No matter how diligent the Igasaki clan or Simone Christof were in gathering intelligence, there were physical limitations.

The biggest blow was having half of the Kingdom of Myest turn against us.

If the Kingdom of Myest, which controlled the seas off the eastern coast of the western continent, had been an ally, Ryoma could have focused solely on Xarooda’s situation. Even if Brittantia and Tarja had formed an alliance with Myest, there would have been options, like sheltering Julianus and establishing a Xaroodian government-in-exile within Rhoadseria. However, Ryoma wished to avoid that worst-case scenario.

Establishing a government-in-exile would mean we’ll need a significant amount of time to liberate Xarooda from O’ltormea’s occupation.

Meanwhile, Archduke Mikoshiba’s family would bear the economic and military burden of supporting the government-in-exile until Julianus and his people could return home. Even with the family’s immense financial strength, such a responsibility would be no small weight to bear. While taking Julianus out of Xarooda might have been a last resort, merely having the option available was crucial for strategic planning.

Options provided a psychological advantage. But the situation had drastically shifted when the southern half of the Kingdom of Myest allied with the enemy.

It’s like losing a corner square in a game of Reversi, flipping the entire board, thought Ryoma, forming an involuntary smirk. On a map of the western continent, the Kingdom of Myest was indeed in a corner position. Losing it to the enemy had completely altered the balance of power. The only saving grace is that unlike Reversi, it’s possible to reclaim lost ground.

From this perspective, the situation was slightly better than in Reversi, where a captured corner was irrevocable. At least there was still a chance to turn things around.

The question is, how to proceed from here?

However, Ryoma had already arrived at the answer. The O’ltormea Empire already held greater national strength. On top of that, the Kingdom of Myest had lost the southern half of its territory and was on the brink of descending into civil war. In such circumstances, maintaining a defensive stance until the Kingdom of Helnesgoula took action would lead nowhere.

I cannot afford to fall back into defense. The sheer force of their numbers will eventually crush us if I retreat. In that case, I have no choice but to take the offensive, even if it means risking everything!

Just then, Ryoma’s half-closed eyes shot open wide. His resolve was evident. And his beloved sword responded to that determination with a cry of joy, seemingly anticipating its blade being stained with blood once again.

The following day, Ryoma summoned the Malfist sisters and key officials who supported the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy, including the guest commanders Ecclesia, Chris, and Leonard, to his office. This meeting was to discuss concrete measures for their future strategy. The lavish room, which had once served as the office of Duke Gelhart, the former ruler of this fortress city of Heraklion, featured a large ebony table at its center. Spread across the table was an expansive map depicting the eastern to southeastern regions of the western continent.

Ryoma Mikoshiba spoke of his resolve and took a deep breath. Then, he cast a gaze on the individuals gathered in the room and said, “As I explained earlier, the general direction has been decided. The issue now is how we should proceed... I want to hear your candid opinions.”

By now, everyone present was fully aware that taking the offensive was their only viable path forward. And yet, no one in the room objected to Ryoma’s plan. This was not out of blind obedience to their lord.

After all, everyone present in the room was a commander with exceptional strategic insight and situational analysis skills. They analyzed the same information, so their conclusions were unlikely to differ. Thus, even when asked for concrete measures, no brilliant ideas came to mind immediately. A heavy silence filled the room. Amid this tension, Chris finally spoke up.

“This time, we withdrew our forces to Heraklion. However, it’s undeniable that we inflicted significant losses on the allied forces. If we replenish our supplies here, wouldn’t launching another expedition into the Kingdom of Myest be possible?”

Yet, Leonard shook his head in response to Chris’s suggestion. “As you say, Chris, it’s possible in terms of feasibility. Whether we should launch another expedition is another matter entirely. At the very least, we should not act immediately.”

“Is that because the situation within the Kingdom of Myest remains unclear?”

“Yes. As Lady Ecclesia suggested, Myest’s intentions are still uncertain. Launching another expedition under these circumstances would be far too dangerous.”

At those words, Ecclesia responded, “Indeed... Even though Uncle Phillip has been killed and Prime Minister Spiegel has taken the throne as the new king, their subsequent actions remain unclear.”

Leonard continued, “Exactly... According to reports from the Igasaki spies, the allied forces have entered Jermuk. Based on that and as His Excellency predicted, it seems almost certain that Alexis Duran had been colluding with the allied forces from the beginning. However, what’s puzzling is the lack of any movement from General Duran since then. After returning to Endesia, he has made no visible moves. Normally, one would expect him to mobilize his forces to unify the Kingdom of Myest, but...”

“True... He may be wary of Lady Cassandra in Pherzaad, but it is certainly unsettling,” Ecclesia remarked.

“The nobles around Endesia seem to revere General Duran and have pledged loyalty to King Owen. I can’t imagine the northern nobles, branded as traitors in the king’s assassination, will remain silent. We should send a letter to Cassandra Hellner, as you suggested, Lady Ecclesia, and confirm the situation before taking any action.”

“You’re right. Until then, we shouldn’t direct our forces toward the Kingdom of Myest.” Ecclesia nodded at Leonard.

Ultimately, the Kingdom of Myest’s current state wasn’t as clear-cut as a game of Reversi, where black and white pieces were clearly defined. In essence, it was impossible to determine who was an ally and who was an enemy.

Launching another expedition into the Kingdom of Myest under such uncertain conditions would be fraught with danger. As Ryoma listened to the exchange between the two, he nodded inwardly but also contemplated another potential risk.

“You’re both correct,” Ryoma said. “However, assuming that only allies and enemies exist could be a dangerous oversimplification.”

Everyone in the room showed expressions of surprise. But soon, they grasped the possibility Ryoma had pointed out, and their faces grew tense.

What’s truly frightening is the possibility of a third faction reaping the rewards.

To put it bluntly, on a board that was supposed to have only black and white stones, yellow or red ones could suddenly appear without anyone noticing. Even more unexpectedly, black stones could transform into white stones.

Unlike a game, reality is complex and unpredictable. The moment you let your guard down and show your back to someone you think is an ally, they might drive a knife straight into your side.

One could not neatly divide sides into allies and enemies, nor could one assume the relationship between allies and enemies would remain fixed forever. Depending on the circumstances, allies could become enemies, and enemies could become allies.

“To avoid such a situation, we’ll need to focus even more on gathering intelligence from within the Kingdom of Myest... But the question is, can we manage it? If we proceed, I imagine the Igasaki clan or the Christof Trading Company would be the ones to act, but wouldn’t that overburden them?” said Laura, tilting her head slightly in concern.

The Malfist sisters, who followed Ryoma like his very own shadow, often interacted with the Igasaki clan. Knowing the precision of the information they gathered, Laura questioned whether it was realistic to increase their workload further.

Her concern was valid. Even Ryoma shared her apprehension on this matter.

Relying solely on the Igasaki clan or the Christof Trading Company would be difficult. At their current size, it’s simply unfeasible.

Neither the Igasaki clan nor Simone would admit defeat. Both were bound by extraordinary loyalty and devotion to Ryoma Mikoshiba.

Given the dire situation the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy currently faced, they would strive to fulfill their lord’s orders, no matter the sacrifices required of them. While such dedication was admirable, it was not without complications.

This loyalty was, in principle, something to be celebrated.

After all, when retainers devoted themselves to their liege’s cause, there was no reason to reject or criticize their efforts—only to praise them.

However, allowing them to push themselves to such extremes will inevitably lead to collapse in the future. And when that happens, it will surely affect the intelligence network we’ve already built.

Should Ryoma order it, they would carry out the mission, even at the expense of their own well-being.

Ryoma and his forces worked recklessly without reflecting on their own capacity to handle things. If this behavior were temporary, it could serve as a useful response in times of emergency. However, given that this situation required prolonged efforts, relying solely on willpower could instead worsen the circumstances. Though the idea of relying on willpower wasn’t inherently wrong, there was no way to resolve everything solely through determination.

As a countermeasure, we could ask Nelcius and his team to develop a long-range communication tool like Wezalié’s Whisper or work on expanding the information network.

Still, neither of those options offered an immediate solution. Perhaps they could be resolved in a few years, but they were not measures that could address the problems Ryoma was currently facing.

“In that case, we have no choice but to manage with the resources at hand... Now, what to do?” said Ryoma, crossing his arms and gazing upward. His words drew the attention of those around him. At the current stage, a few potential options could be considered. The issue was that each one seemed like a compromise—neither short enough for a sash nor long enough for a full wrap. One option would be to follow Leonard’s suggestion and refrain from moving the troops until the situation becomes clearer.

Without a well-established information network, delaying action while waiting to assess the situation could lead to irreversible damage.

Should we aim to remove General Duran and actively intervene to unify the Kingdom of Myest? Although Cassandra Hellner’s presence in Pherzaad is a concern, we could justify our actions by rallying behind Lady Ecclesia, who bears the royal bloodline. We might even win over the northern nobles to our side.

If that were to happen, they could confront Alexis Duran, who controlled the southern Kingdom of Myest, on equal or superior footing. At the very least, Ryoma would gain the initiative, but he quickly dismissed that idea.

Choosing that course would undoubtedly worsen the situation in Myest in the short term... It could take years to resolve.

The problem with confronting Alexis Duran was that it would further delay providing substantial relief to the Kingdom of Xarooda, whose king—the linchpin of the nation—lay bedridden and unable to command from the front. Lione and her forces’ valiant efforts left the battlefront in better shape than expected. Yet it remained uncertain how long they could hold out.

There was even a risk of the Xarooda nobility defecting en masse to the O’ltormea Empire. The gravity of the situation, with a foreign invasion threatening the nation’s survival while the king could not lead, was enormous.

“Wouldn’t it be better to return to our original objective and focus on providing aid to the Kingdom of Xarooda? It has already been several months since the O’ltormea Empire resumed its invasion. Although Lione’s efforts have kept the front lines in a stalemate, there’s no telling how long that will last. If possible, wouldn’t it be best for you, Lord Ryoma, to lead the army to Xarooda?” said Sara, who had been quietly observing the proceedings since the meeting began.

Ecclesia couldn’t help but frown, as Sara’s suggestion likely sounded like abandoning her homeland, the Kingdom of Myest. However, Ecclesia was not so foolish as to voice such concerns openly. In truth, Sara’s proposal was the most logical way to break the current stalemate.

However, there was still a significant problem with choosing that option.

“Certainly, the primary objective is to repel the invasion by the O’ltormea Empire. In that sense, going to the Kingdom of Xarooda as reinforcements would be the best solution. But if I choose that now, there’s a risk of being struck from behind by General Duran. Realistically, it’s a tough call,” Ryoma said, frowning. As long as Helena Steiner remained in the Kingdom of Rhoadseria, it was hard to imagine their territory being easily overrun. However, the enemy is Alexis Duran, a legendary figure reputed to be the strongest among the Kingdom of Myest’s three generals.

Even if Helena, known as the Ivory Goddess of War, were to counterattack, there was no guarantee that Rhoadseria’s defensive line wouldn’t be breached. That said, this was merely a possibility. For Duran to strike Ryoma’s rear while he headed to Xarooda, he would need to abandon the unification of Myest and invade Rhoadseria—a strategic move that seemed unlikely.

“Well, the possibility is almost negligible. Considering the Kingdom of Myest’s interests, it would be a poor move. It would unnecessarily expand his front lines and create an outright hostile relationship with the Kingdom of Rhoadseria.”

“That’s true. I share the same opinion,” Ecclesia responded, nodding slightly along with the others.

That’s right. It’s unlikely from a common-sense perspective. But...

As long as Alexis Duran’s true intentions remained unclear, one couldn’t completely dismiss the possibility. From what Ryoma could tell, General Duran wasn’t an overly ambitious man who sought power beyond necessity. Based on the intelligence Ryoma had previously gathered, that was the conclusion he reached. General Duran’s desire for promotion or power likely wasn’t the sole driving force behind the recent upheaval in the Kingdom of Myest. If that were the case, General Duran’s actions might not align with the interests of Myest or its new king, Owen. This misalignment would pose a major obstacle in formulating future countermeasures.

“In that case, should we proceed as planned and have Lady Lione withdraw alongside Rhoadseria with His Majesty Julianus to reduce the battle lines?” This proposal from Laura referred to a contingency plan Ryoma had shared with Lione before sending her to the Kingdom of Xarooda.

However, Ryoma shook his head at her suggestion. “No. That plan was only valid if the Kingdom of Myest were an ally. If Lione and the others retreat from Xarooda now, O’ltormea might press on from Xarooda and invade Rhoadseria.”

If that happened, enemy nations would surround the Kingdom of Rhoadseria from the east, west, and south like a rat in a trap. Recovering from such a dire situation would be extremely difficult.

“In that case, how about dispatching reinforcements to the Kingdom of Xarooda and holding a defensive stance until Helnesgoula can move?” Chris suggested hesitantly.

But Ryoma shook his head again. “That’s not a bad idea. However, the timing of Helnesgoula’s intervention is far too uncertain to rely on.”

When Ecclesia heard this, she asked, “It was mentioned that sandstorms and soaring commodity prices are making it difficult to procure supplies, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, the letter we received recently stated as much.”

“Is that true?”

Her question carried an implicit distrust of Queen Grindiana Helnescharles of the Kingdom of Helnesgoula. She naturally harbored such doubts. As the leader of the four-kingdom alliance, Helnesgoula had shown no signs of dispatching troops to Xarooda.

I’ve heard the reasons...

Ryoma recalled the apology letter from the Kingdom of Helnesgoula that had arrived before his expedition to Myest. The reasons were twofold. First was the weather issue: for two months, the central region of the Kingdom of Helnesgoula, encompassing nearly one-tenth of its territory, had been experiencing a season of frequent sandstorms in the Dorsch Desert. The second reason was the extraordinary rise in food prices within Helnesgoula. While price hikes during the sandstorm season were routine, this year’s increase was reportedly unprecedented. The reasoning for delaying deployment to Xarooda was sound.

The Dorsch Desert experiences frequent sandstorms during this season, and rising prices for goods are natural.

Having once traveled to the harsh environment of Helnesgoula while seeking a way back to Earth, Ryoma fully understood the difficulties posed by the desert.

Even when it wasn’t sandstorm season, it was incredibly harsh. Marching an army through that during a season of storms would be madness.

While Helnesgoula’s troops were likely accustomed to desert conditions, leading a large force through frequent storms would still be foolhardy. Furthermore, rescuing Xarooda from the O’ltormea invasion would require at least one hundred thousand troops, a force that couldn’t endure such a journey. Transporting this force by sea wasn’t practical either. Considering the shortage of food supplies, Helnesgoula’s inability to act was understandable.

Yet, Ryoma couldn’t shake the doubts about the authenticity of the situation. Even if Queen Grindiana wasn’t outright lying, the timing of these events seemed too convenient to be natural.

Someone is orchestrating this. It’s too perfectly timed with O’ltormea’s invasion of Xarooda.

If someone had engineered these circumstances, they likely wouldn’t sit idly by once Helnesgoula attempted to act. Further interference seemed inevitable.

“Frankly, Ecclesia’s doubts are entirely valid. I’m not without my own suspicions. But regardless of the truth, it’s certain that the Kingdom of Helnesgoula won’t be able to intervene immediately.”

The key role Helnesgoula’s military could play in turning the tide of war remained unchanged. However, it was better to formulate plans on the assumption that they wouldn’t intervene, at least until there was a more definite timeline for when they would act.

“Indeed, we shouldn’t count on Helnesgoula’s troops. But in that case...”

“Our usable cards are down to those two,” Ryoma replied, nodding deeply at Ecclesia’s remark. One was a card Ryoma had prepared. The other was a fortuitous asset that had fallen into their hands by chance.

Both could potentially break the current stalemate if used effectively. However, they were also cards that were difficult to play. Sensing Ryoma’s inner turmoil, Leonard spoke up.

“In that case, the priority should be Bruno Accordo, right?”

At those words, Ryoma gave a small nod. Despite a few considerations that needed to be addressed, this option allowed for a clearer strategy compared to the other card in hand.

After all, Accordo’s options are limited, Ryoma thought.

Ryoma hadn’t originally planned to set a scheme in motion against General Accordo. At the very least, that plan would have never crossed his mind if Chris hadn’t defeated Raul Giordano. Given the current circumstances, Ryoma’s decision to spare Bruno rather than killing him could only be described as a stroke of divine inspiration.

I agonized over whether to let him go or kill him, but sparing him turned out to be the right choice. If I use the seeds of doubt I planted back then wisely, I can disrupt our enemies’ unity.

To defeat an enemy, surpassing their strength is essential. Most people would think about strengthening their own forces to achieve this, whether in sports or in the workplace. But that didn’t mean there were no other options.

If I can’t surpass their strength, I can weaken it.

Deceiving and undermining the enemy, commonly known as scheming, was necessary. Such actions wouldn’t go unpunished in sports or workplace contexts, and depending on the method, could lead to criminal charges. Even if the act didn’t result in legal consequences, being ostracized was almost guaranteed. Even in the best-case scenario, one could be certain it wouldn’t be taken kindly. But in the extreme circumstances of war, the rules changed. When the survival of a nation was at stake, refraining from such methods was the real mistake. If the enemy had vulnerabilities, failing to exploit them would be a greater issue. Whether the seeds Ryoma planted would bloom as he expected remained a gamble.

However, if the seeds sprouted and caused doubt to blossom in the hearts of Bruno and those around him, it could drive a wedge between Brittantia and Tarja. This would significantly reduce both nations’ military power.

Should that happen, General Duran will lose the support of Brittantia and Tarja’s combined forces. Depending on the situation, he might even have to deploy Myest’s troops to both nations.

Inevitably, it would take Alexis Duran longer to gain complete control over the Kingdom of Myest if he also had to occupy the other two kingdoms at the same time. Even for General Duran, such a development was unlikely to be favorable, making Bruno’s value evident.

But if that’s the case, someone will need to water the seeds I planted. The question is, who should I assign to do it?

The seeds of doubt, being metaphorical, didn’t grow like actual plants. But leaving them unattended wouldn’t let them flourish either, as they needed nourishment and environmental adjustments. The real problem was deciding who would nurture the seeds of doubt planted regarding Bruno within the Kingdom of Brittantia until they bloomed.

Now, who should I entrust with this?

Names of potential candidates flashed through Ryoma’s mind, appearing and disappearing. For this kind of work, the first name that came to mind was always the Igasaki clan.

“But Gennou and Sakuya can’t be moved. If I absolutely must rely on the Igasaki clan, it would mean sending Ryusai or Jinnai undercover, but that’s not feasible,” Ryoma said aloud, dismissing the idea.

The Igasaki clan was already burdened with numerous tasks. While they would never refuse an order from Ryoma, it was evident they were operating at full capacity. As he voiced his thoughts, Laura nodded in agreement. Seated beside Laura, Sara also nodded, indicating she shared her elder sister’s opinion.

“I think so too. Besides, this time, we need someone to infiltrate the Brittantian royal court and spread rumors. Even for the skilled members of the Igasaki clan, preparing for that would take time.”

“That’s true... It won’t be easy to arrange quickly.”

For the skilled operatives of the Igasaki clan, infiltrating the royal court of Brittantia and spreading rumors would not have been a difficult task. If the question was simply whether it was possible, the answer would be a resounding yes. However, accomplishing such a task would undoubtedly require years of preparation. Ryoma did not have the luxury of time to dedicate to such preparations.

At the very least, I’d like to see results within six months.

This constraint, however, left him without a suitable candidate. When considering other options, the Christof Company came to mind.

Simone is well-connected... She might even have ties in the southern kingdoms...

Even so, achieving results within the limited time frame required relying on someone with strong connections to the Brittantian royal court. Just then, the faces of Rodney Mackenna and Menea Norberg appeared in Ryoma’s mind.

“Now that I think about it, weren’t those two originally nobles from the Kingdom of Tarja?” murmured Ryoma.

Upon hearing this, the Malfist sisters exchanged surprised glances. They realized who Ryoma was referring to when they heard of their origin in the Kingdom of Tarja.

“Lord Mackenna and Lady Norberg?”

“I see... Rather than attacking Brittantia directly, you aim to approach from Tarja, a potential enemy state. That could indeed be effective.”

Ryoma nodded in response to their observations. Of course, directly scheming within Brittantia’s royal court would have been ideal. But when attacking the heart of the enemy was too difficult, it was sometimes necessary to start with the outer defenses. Naturally, at this point they couldn’t guarantee Mackenna and Norberg would cooperate, since the two were members of the Church of Meneos. However, Ryoma was confident they wouldn’t refuse his request.

If I offer them the information about the Organization that I got from my grandfather, there should be room for negotiation, thought Ryoma. He had learned some details about the two from his grandfather Koichiro and Asuka. Ryoma also had a good understanding of the deep-seated desires hidden in their hearts. In that case, having Asuka approach them first would be better than talking to them personally.

Frankly, Ryoma felt conflicted about involving Asuka. But in this situation, he couldn’t afford to hold back. If involving her increased the odds of success, Ryoma had no choice but to proceed. Left with no other option, Ryoma had no choice but to take risks and pursue greater rewards.

“Then, the remaining issue is...those two?” asked Sara.

Ryoma nodded slightly. The two in question were a girl from the border tribes and the man who loyally followed and protected her. He knew them as Harisha and Rahizya, respectively.

Harisha is the daughter of a tribal chief, and Rahizya is the son of a tribal elder. Both of them are significant figures among the border tribes. If I remember correctly, their tribe was called the Manibhadra. Wasn’t that another name for the Hōken Yaksha, one of the Eight Great Yaksha Generals and followers of Bishamonten? Does their self-identification as yakshas imply some connection to Earth? Ryoma considered the border tribes to be humans like himself. But based on Rahizya’s words, they were not human at all. They are probably better classified as demi-humans, like Nelcius and the dark elves.

Whether they were a kind of oni, as they claimed, or demi-humans didn’t make much difference to Ryoma. What mattered was how to handle these individuals, who were clearly significant figures within the Manibhadra tribe.

Killing them would be a terrible move, especially after going to the trouble of capturing them.

Laura and her group had risked a lot during the retreat to take these valuable prisoners. Ryoma couldn’t waste such a critical asset. Besides, Harisha was still comatose. Executing someone in her condition without ever giving her a chance to speak would leave a bitter aftertaste and scuttle efforts to negotiate with the border tribes and extract concessions. Merely releasing them in exchange for a ransom felt far too wasteful.

The best outcome would be to forge an alliance with them.

Achieving such an alliance would expand the Mikoshiba Grand Duchy’s influence to the southern regions of the western continent. Moreover, there would be significant economic advantages.

According to Rahizya, the Manibhadra tribe inhabits the forested borderlands between the Kingdom of Brittantia and the Kingdom of Tarja. There are also other tribes of the border people living along the southern coastal areas of the western continent. The Manibhadra could act as our intermediaries for negotiations with these other tribes.

If the Manibhadra tribe could serve as a gateway to establish connections with other border tribes, the Mikoshiba family stood to gain immense wealth. Setting aside the economic benefits, the Manibhadra tribe held immense strategic value.

Those war elephants of theirs are extremely impressive. While our strategy worked this time, sparing us any damage, a direct confrontation with them would result in more than minor casualties. And if Rahizya’s claims are true, the yaksha warriors are formidable fighters.

Such a force was exactly the kind of military asset Ryoma desperately wanted to acquire.

Even if we form an alliance, how could we deploy them effectively? he thought. Sending these border tribespeople, who lived in the southern part of the western continent, to the Kingdom of Xarooda was hardly feasible. Overland travel would take far too long, and worse, the enemy would become aware of our intentions.

This reality left sea transport as the one of the only realistic options for deploying the Manibhadra tribe. However, there were clear limitations to maritime transport.

We could try gathering ships from the trading city of Pherzaad and transport them all at once. But considering that the southern half of the Kingdom of Myest is under the influence of King Owen and General Duran, it’s not a realistic strategy.

With General Duran’s intentions still unclear, treating him as an enemy seemed the safest course of action. In doing so, logistical issues like the lack of ports made the large-scale transport of troops nearly impossible. In practical terms, Ryoma could only move small units. Strategically, that held little significance. Suddenly, a possibility surfaced in Ryoma’s mind, an idea so audacious that it bordered on absurdity. Yet, as the thought took shape, it began to feel less outlandish and more like a viable strategy. Ryoma then opened his mouth to speak because he believed this plan could carve a path for himself and his people into the future.