I Became the Strategist the Monarchs Obsess Over

Chapter 25

Meanwhile, Duke Chronor's army stationed longbowmen along the riverside.

The longbows made from the special cedar trees unique to the North boasted incredible range and destructive power, enough to hit enemies across the river.

"Fire!"

Duke Chronor shouted the signal to fire, and the duchy's longbowmen began firing their arrows all at once.

Despite being fired from a distance, the arrows, imbued with magic, were incredibly powerful. Even though the Crown Prince's Army had many heavy infantry and heavy cavalry, they couldn't easily advance under the overwhelming rain of arrows.

"You damned cowards! What are you afraid of? If you don't advance, I will cut you down myse—"

The Crown Prince was about to lose control while wielding his sword.

"Your Majesty."

Dian de Balboa calmly pushed the Crown Prince back and spoke.

"It would be a grave matter if Your Majesty, who is destined to become the Emperor, were to be injured. Please step back."

"Dian..."

"Everyone, focus on me!"

With those words, Dian charged toward the enemy on horseback.

The countless arrows pouring down on Dian. However, not a single arrow touched her. She deflected all of them with her sword enveloped in an Aura Blade.

"Oh, that's..."

"The symbol of the world's only Sword Master!"

Indeed, Dian de Balboa's Aura Blade, as the sole Sword Master in the current world, was a presence that seemed almost fantastical to the soldiers.

The soldiers' morale soared instantly. Then Dian shouted to them.

"Charge, everyone! Follow me!"

At last, the hesitant soldiers began stepping into the river. Dian, cutting down the falling arrows relentlessly as she charged. Watching Dian, the Crown Prince realized he was fortunate. Fortunate that she was his subordinate and not serving under someone else.

The way to push soldiers forward was not by threatening to cut their heads off from behind but by shouting 'Follow me!' from the front. The Crown Prince, realizing this, decided to reward Dian greatly after this battle ended. And soon...

-Boom! Boom! Boom!

The vanguards of both sides began clashing. The Crown Prince's Army, with Dian de Balboa leading at the forefront, started crushing the enemy. Watching this, Karl von Chronor ground his teeth.

"Dian de Balboa...!"

From Karl von Chronor's perspective, the Crown Prince wasn't a particularly frightening opponent. His numbers were large, and his equipment was good, but at the end of the day, they were just Central folk. If Northerners fought with the advantage of their geography and determination, they could fend off twice or even three times the number of Centrals.

But that one, Dian de Balboa, was an exception. That woman is inherently strong. Just look now. With only Dian's performance, the Crown Prince's Army is elated and running wild, isn't it?

"Damn it, do something! Kill Dian de Balboa!"

The moment he shouted that, someone rode out on horseback. It was Emilia von Chronor, Karl von Chronor's second daughter and the North's strongest swordsman.

Emilia von Chronor was the most promising second-year student in Arcadia Academy. If the most promising first-year was Princess Leonia, then the second-year was undoubtedly Emilia. Dian had even taught tactics to Emilia at one point. Because of this, when Emilia rode toward her from afar, Dian immediately recognized her.

"Ah, my student! Have you come seeking guidance?"

"I have always wanted to face you at least once."

With those words, Emilia charged toward Dian. Dian and Emilia. The two riders charged at each other.

-Clang!

When their swords clashed for the first time, the one who fell off the horse was Emilia.

"Posture, 100 points. Swordsmanship, 100 points. Horsemanship, 100 points!"

Dian charged at Emilia, who had fallen off her horse. Emilia, avoiding the oncoming horse, rolled to the side with all her strength.

"But you're still not enough to face a Sword Master!"

Dian repeatedly changed directions, driving her horse toward Emilia. Yet every time, Emilia kept rolling on the ground, desperately trying to escape.

Emilia's pure white cadet uniform became coated in mud and dirt. And soon, Dian shouted.

"You were a promising student. Perhaps as much as Charles Jean Rochefort. But consider it your misfortune to meet me here!"

With those words, Dian sprinted forward at full speed. However, in the next moment, a dense Aura Blade began to form on Emilia's sword.

"An Aura Blade?"

The density of the Aura on Emilia's sword was on a completely different level from what Dian had known. Realizing the anomaly, Dian quickly leaped off her horse and rolled on the ground. The neck of the horse Dian had been riding was severed by Emilia. Having rolled onto the ground like Emilia, Dian stroked the head of her fallen, teary-eyed steed.

"You've endured so much until now. I will avenge you."

With those words, Dian dragged her sword forward.

"When did you become a Sword Master? Have you been hiding your skills until now?"

"You, who do not understand the goddess's grace, cannot comprehend."

"Arrogant. At best, you've only dealt with my horse. I am still standing here, alive!"

"I'll take your neck as well."

"Try it if you can!"

As Dian charged forward, their swords soon intertwined. At first, they clashed through sheer skill. Dian twisted her sword paths intricately, swinging her blade with complexity, while Emilia struggled to block.

"Even with an Aura, swordsmanship without skill is useless! You're still far from reaching me!"

Dian's words were no exaggeration. Dian's sword techniques were overwhelmingly faster and more complex than Emilia's. Fighting Dian left Emilia flustered and constantly retreating.

'So there is indeed a gap in class...'

When Emilia first became a Sword Master, she thought that with this level of achievement, she might be able to defeat Dian de Balboa. But that was her miscalculation. Even among Sword Masters, there was a difference in class. But at that moment.

"Goddess...?"

"Huh? What did you say?"

Emilia muttered while gazing into the air. Then, shortly after.

-Whoosh!

As Emilia swung her sword, the wind generated pushed Dian de Balboa backward. Dian was taken aback. Emilia was strong. But not to this extent...!

"Are you still hiding more strength?"

Unable to withstand Emilia's suddenly enhanced sword, Dian retreated backward. Then Emilia addressed Dian.

"Child."

Dian was bewildered by Emilia's sudden remark.

"Huh? Child? What are you talking about, Emilia? I am eleven years older than you."

"The child who trembled in fear under the blankets at night has grown so strong."

At those words, Dian frowned. She couldn't understand why Emilia was suddenly saying such things.

"You've transformed the fear etched deeply in your heart into an obsession with the sword. It's a joyous occasion that the weakest has become so strong."

"Emilia, I seriously doubt your sanity. Why don't you consider seeing a doctor?"

"How much hardship did you endure from your two cruel older brothers? The sword you started to escape from them has now changed your destiny. Child, I am proud of you."

At that moment, Dian froze. Indeed, Dian did not start practicing the sword for the same reasons as others. In her childhood, Dian's two older brothers used to abuse her, and Dian learned the sword to protect herself from them. Her obsession with the sword had transformed into pure dedication, bringing her to the rank of Sword Master.

But only a select few knew that fact. How could anyone have spoken of it? Was it the head butler? Or perhaps another family member?

No, she thought it couldn't be. Her two older brothers would never speak of their disgrace, and the head butler would have no reason to inform Emilia, who lived so far away.

"How do you know this?"

"Child, you still don't know what I am."

"Shut up, Emilia! I will kill you!"

Dian's Aura Blade began to intensify. It was a completely different level of output than before. It was a true Aura, born only when one resolved to completely annihilate a foe.

"Child, accept me. If you do, then you too shall—"

"Silence!"

With those words, Dian raised her sword high.

"It seems you have more to learn."

Emilia sneered as she sheathed her sword.

"What are you doing? Draw your sword."

"This will suffice."

"If that's the case, then prepare to die."

Dian charged at Emilia. Her opponent had sheathed their sword, with one hand resting on the hilt, seemingly preparing for a draw-cut to counter the strike. But in a clash between a downward strike and an upward slash, the downward strike had the advantage. Dian thought. She considered Emilia a brilliant gem but had no intention of sparing her after touching on her painful past. While it was unfortunate to lose such talent here, Dian saw it as atonement for delving into her darkest memories.

"Emilia!!!"

Dian, thinking so, charged toward Emilia.

"This ends now!"

Whoosh. Dian swung her sword downward from above, and simultaneously, Emilia drew her sword from its sheath and cut Dian down. But in the next moment, it was Dian who fell. Regardless of the advantage of a downward strike over an upward slash, Emilia's sheer speed far surpassed Dian's.

"W-what?"

Dian was puzzled. Ever since Emilia's tone had changed, she had grown exponentially stronger.

"How did you become this strong...?"

Thud.

With that question, Dian collapsed, and Emilia's expression gradually returned to her usual calm demeanor.

And those who had been watching the fight between Emilia and Dian were all astonished.

"Dian... lost?"

"Emilia won?"

The Crown Prince and Chronor each experienced contrasting emotions. The clash between the vanguard commanders had a significant impact on the battle's direction.

No one had expected Emilia to defeat Dian. They had only hoped she would stall for time until the outcome was decided.

However, there was one person who had predicted it.

That person was none other than Charles Jean Rochefort.

While everyone else was unaware, only Charles knew the future.

Just before the battle started, Dian de Balboa was known as the strongest in the world, but in truth, Dian de Balboa was merely second in the worldview.

Then who was truly the number one in the world? The answer was simple.

The third strongest swordsman in the worldview, Glasia Ehrenberg.

The second strongest swordsman in the worldview, Dian de Balboa.

The strongest swordsman in the worldview, and the greatest psychopath in the worldview. The daughter of the Northern Duke, Emilia Chronor.

That was the information about the future that Charles knew.