I Became the Strategist the Monarchs Obsess Over

Chapter 21

When we returned to the Crown Prince Legion's camp.

We received a huge reward from Dian de Balboa.

I, who had issued the orders, received a medal along with 100 Ducats, and the rest of the soldiers also received their respective rewards.

This was because we achieved an overwhelming victory with almost no casualties against an enemy nearly three times our size.

Additionally, something important: reports came that Duke Chronor of the North employed scorched earth tactics and that several villages were plundered.

We had completed the reconnaissance mission perfectly and, moreover, returned victorious from battle.

Dian de Balboa was astonished by our flawless execution.

"Charles, to be honest, I didn't expect you to accomplish this much."

"You probably thought the same during the mock battle."

"Haha, yes. I can't quite fathom your limits."

My limits? It's still far too early for that.

"When I saw you during the mock battle, I thought you were unpolished but could become an excellent strategist if refined. But now, perhaps you're not unpolished at all but already a finished product."

What's with all the flattery...

"Not just for this vacation, but going forward, would you consider working under me? As you know, I'm the right hand of His Highness the Crown Prince. If you work under me, your career advancement won't be difficult."

It's an attractive offer. Indeed, working with Dian might make my career path easier. However, the Crown Prince makes me uneasy. That's because, according to the original history, the Crown Prince leads an army of 35,000 and gets utterly defeated by the Northern Duke's 15,000 in this battle. Therefore...

"I'll think about it a bit more before deciding."

Meaning, if the Crown Prince doesn't get defeated and seizes dominance over the continent, then I'll serve him.

"I don't understand why you're being so cautious."

I have to be cautious. There's no second attempt at life.

"Well, I understand your thoughts. In any case, your performance this time is commendable. Soon, you'll be awarded a prize along with the medal."

"Yes."

"Even at the Academy, this achievement will earn you extra credit."

"Yes."

"You've worked hard."

Strangely, those words gave me a slight sense of relief.

"Yes. Thank you."

I bowed my head in greeting to Professor Dian, and Dian, looking satisfied, patted my shoulder before leaving.

Then Scout Officer Gabriel, who had been watching from the side, asked in astonishment.

"Do you know the General personally?"

"We have a teacher-student relationship from the Academy."

"A teacher-student relationship with the General... Please forgive all my prior disrespect!!!!!!"

Gabriel, saying this, knelt on the ground.

Well, it is true that a mere officer and a general are worlds apart.

I helped Gabriel to his feet and said.

"Mr. Gabriel, you've been incredibly kind to me. Of all the people I've worked with here, you are the first not to disregard me. I look forward to working with you."

"I will devote my loyalty!!!!!!!!!"

No, I mean devote your loyalty to the General, not to me, an interim strategist.

Regardless, with Gabriel's overreaction, this matter came to an end.

-----

Meanwhile, Duke Karl Chronor of the North was furious upon hearing that his scouts had been extensively defeated.

"Our scouts were defeated by the feeble scouts of the Central Army?"

"It's nothing significant, Your Grace. Only 40 were lost."

"Our side had 60, the enemy had 20."

"..."

"The report stated that we were unilaterally attacked while retreating."

"Y-yes, that's correct."

Duke Chronor let out a deep sigh and spoke to his strategist, Usami.

"Listen carefully, Usami. The North is vast."

At the Duke's abrupt words, his strategist tilted his head in confusion.

"The North is vast! Yet, the arable land is very limited. That is the problem of the North. It's vast, but the population is small. That's why we've been continually invaded by the Central Army and have been pushed back."

Such history indeed existed. The Arcadia Empire had repeatedly invaded the North, and the North had barely managed to fend them off.

"Despite that, the reason we've been able to maintain autonomy is because Northerners have a strong temperament. Northerners are large in stature. Northerners are strong. Northerners are fearless. That's why Central Army soldiers can't easily underestimate Northerners. Do you know why Northerners are strong?"

"Because they grow up learning about honor."

At the strategist's response, the Duke laughed.

"Nonsense. Learning about honor doesn't make one strong. It's simply that those who aren't strong couldn't endure and perished!"

That's correct. The North is not a place fit for human habitation. Yet, there are people who survived even in such places. It's because they were strong.

"The reason the Central Army hasn't easily meddled with the North until now is that Northerners are strong. Those who aren't strong have died. Only the strong remain! However, if we lose our momentum in this preliminary battle, the Central Army will start to look down on Northerners. They'll look down on us, saying Northerners aren't strong. This will adversely affect future battles!"

"Your Grace, I apologize, but this was merely a minor skirmish..."

"Silence! I will hear no more excuses."

At the Duke's words, the room froze. Then the Duke called out the strategist's name.

"Usami!"

"Yes!"

"Hang the heads of the defeated deserters from yesterday's battle at the military gate. Let it serve as an example of what happens to those who flee without fighting. And summon Emilia."

"Yes!"

Soon after, a young woman wearing the uniform of Arcadia Academy appeared outside the tent. She was so stunningly beautiful that one might think the Goddess of Beauty herself had descended.

Nevertheless, the gazes of the vassals watching her were filled with fear. This was because there had been an incident where Duke Karl von Chronor had gouged out the eyes of a subordinate who leered lewdly at his daughter.

"You've arrived,"

"Your Grace."

Despite being father and daughter, their voices carried a sense of distance. Then the Duke spoke.

"Emilia, I have a question for you."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Who is the most outstanding knight in the North?"

At that question, Emilia von Chronor thought for a moment before replying.

"It's me."

At Emilia's calm words, the Duke rose from his seat. Then the Duke, also calm, began walking toward her.

Emilia von Chronor. At 170 cm tall, she was taller than most women and wasn't easily outmatched by men. But her father, Karl von Chronor, stood over 2 meters tall. A height difference of more than 30 cm. When the two stood side by side, it looked like a beauty standing before a giant beast. And then...

-Smack!!!

Duke Chronor slapped Emilia's cheek with full force.

"I told you not to be arrogant just because you have some meager skills. Yet you disobey that order and overestimate your abilities again."

"I merely stated the truth."

"Ha! Since that's the case, I'll give you a chance to prove that truth. I hereby grant you command of the reconnaissance unit. Lead the honorable Northerners and demonstrate the difference in class to the Central Army."

"Your Grace! Sending the heir of the Chronor Family to such a place is too dangerous..."

At those words, the strategist tried to intervene hastily.

-Swoosh

Emilia immediately knelt on one knee before the Duke.

"I accept your command."

The daughter of Duke Chronor, Emilia Chronor, joins the battlefield.

-----

Usami Akra, Duke Chronor's strategist, called out to Emilia.

"Lady Emilia!"

Instead of replying, Emilia stopped quietly. Then Usami Akra hurriedly ran up to her and said.

"Why did you accept such a mission! The reconnaissance unit is the most dangerous assignment. You could die! Refuse it even now."

"The Duke will be furious."

Usami Akra was exasperated by this father-daughter relationship. Duke Chronor had treated Emilia with near-abusive behavior since her childhood, and Emilia always treated him as a duke, not a father. Usami resolved never to have such a relationship with his own children.

"Lady Emilia, it's true that if you refuse now, the Duke will be furious. Judging by His Grace's temperament, he might lock you up and beat you for several days and nights. But think about it. Being beaten for a few days is better than dying."

"..."

At this, Emilia remained silent for a while, then began gazing into the distance. Usami followed her gaze.

"Usami, someone is always whispering in my head."

"Excuse me? What do you mean..."

"The being that whispers in my head. At first, I thought it was a demon trying to deceive me. But recently, it feels different."

Emilia drew her sword and raised it toward the sky. Around the sword, a pure white Aura Blade formed. Usami could only stand in shock. And for good reason—the Aura Blade was the symbol of a Sword Master. The world had believed there was only one Sword Master, but with Emilia's emergence, a second Sword Master was born! With this, it would not be an exaggeration to call Emilia the undisputed leader of the North, just as she claimed.

"Lady Emilia, when did you achieve such a feat..."

"Last month, while I was at the Academy."

Emilia's expression began to fill with joy. Her face flushed as if the mere thought of it was intoxicating.

"The Goddess of War appeared to me. That day was the best day of my life. And since then, my sword has become stronger than ever before."

"That's..."

Usami was at a loss. Should he take her words at face value? Or should he point out that this might be her delusion?

One thing was certain—Emilia had grown stronger than ever before and was filled with conviction.

'Is it pointless to try to stop her...'

Emilia von Chronor. Her appearance bore no resemblance to her father, but her stubbornness was identical to his.

Usami could only watch Emilia's departing figure and sincerely hope that the Goddess of War would protect her.

And one week later.

"Messenger!!! Messenger!!! Lady Emilia has returned!"

At Duke Chronor's tent, the messenger shouted.

And on Emilia's returning wagon were hundreds of enemy heads.