Chapter 61 (1/2)

Mobilization

That Manesh’s ally had been groundlessly invaded by Cordova was immediately brought to the royal palace via various routes.

And when the rescue request comes, the preparations for the first corps’ reinforcements would be completed. For things like this, the young country moved quickly.

“Two army corps of twenty-four thousand and a supply convoy have moved.”

What the intelligence chief said corresponded to Asuka’s news.

Perhaps, the Cordova army would invade the country. The allied forces could mobilize ten thousand troops at most.

Manesh had also prepared to mobilize an army of around that size. Then, a messenger departed towards ogre village.

Alone, an ogre had the same war potential as ten trained soldiers. If even one hundred of them came, they would very likely gain a considerable increase to their forces.

There was a child sitting in the conference where people were discussing that seemed out of place.

It was Serge. As a future staff officer candidate, Guinevere had him sit in.

That Serge timidly raised his hand.

“Umm~… it’s a simple question, but…”

Urged on, Serge continued.

“Is using Carla-sama’s magic to annihilate them no good? Can’t it do it?”

Right then, the generals stopped moving.

It could do it. However, it mustn’t be done.

They mustn’t let Carla do it.

“Due to political reasons, that is impossible. Even so, if it truly comes down to it, it isn’t a time to cast away our last resort.”

(Political reasons? I don’t understand the details, but it’s probably bad to use it in a war. I somehow get it.)

“Carla is our last resort. Since it hasn’t been cast away, it has value. For if something like a group of a.s.sa.s.sins attacked in the one in a thousand chance.”

(Well, we wouldn’t die even with that though.)

Serge thought that, but didn’t say it.

Even if she was very talented, even Ria might find being hunted by a.s.sa.s.sins year-round being unpleasant.

“More importantly, I want you to take charge of logistical operations.” [1]

Guinevere appointed Serge. This was likely because she knew about Serge being able to use s.p.a.ce-time magic.

“How many days’ worth of provisions and horse fodder would you be able to move for ten thousand infantry?”

“What would the size and weight for thirty days’ worth be?”

A secretary calculated it on a piece of paper. It was an amount that Serge would be able to handle with his ability.

“In that case, I could transport around one year’s worth with some extra.”

The attending generals stared in shock. After Guinevere, who also stared momentarily, recovered, she let out a joyful laugh.

Serge’s ability to transport things. This would become the key to their war. She understood that.

“Spreading information about this child’s magic is strictly prohibited. You have a duty of confidentiality.”

Even if he didn’t directly enter the battlefield, his ability was immense. Everyone understood this.

Just, the person himself was a little late in understanding it.

“Serge will be defended by Irina and Maal. With those two, there’s no problem so long as their opponent isn’t a dragon.”

Ria also comprehended just how great Serge’s ability was.

As the nominal supreme commander, Ria would appear directly.

There was a political goal for this. First of all, for Cordova, this would be a threat that said that they would be opposing Casalia. And for their allies, this would be the announcement of the being known as Ria.

The one who would take practical command of their forces would be the generals, lead by Carla.

The same as with almost the entire continent, one hundred people made one platoon. Ten platoons made one battalion. And ten battalions made an army corp.

With the corps commander leading the army corps, the supply corps would be attached to the army corps. The general would lead more than two army corps.

But this time, three generals—Carla included—were a.s.signed to Ria. Since the tentative command order was put in place, that wasn’t a problem either.

“But really, an army’s march is slow…”

Ria muttered as she swayed on Matsukaze’s back.

“Since we don’t need to match the speed that cargo would move at, this is considerably fast.”

Next to Ria, Carla was also riding a horse as they proceeded forward. Her horse was a good match for her, dapple-grey.

The army was marching forward on a one-week journey that would have taken three days had they gone their fasted.

In order to wait for the ogre and beastkin reinforcements, they weren’t going at their fastest speed.

Being able to march faster than the enemies’ expectations could allow them to choose the battlefield in a war.

Cordova’s army held absolute confidence in itself on the battlefield.

Of course although this also included castle sieges and defensive battles, they could easily defeat enemies that doubled their numbers in a battle.

“Still, we can win with you here.”

Before they departed to the front, Guinevere said that.

Anyhow, Ria had the Divine Protection of the War G.o.d Gift. From the position of taking command of a battle, it would demonstrate its absolute potency.

Looking over the battle formation plans, Serge and the others said that they didn’t have any more to say about it.

“Isn’t it overwhelming? Mine army.” [1]

Ria immediately slammed her fists down.

Manesh’s army had set up camp on a slightly elevated hill.

Merging with their allies that had retreated towards here, they had twenty thousand troops.

Ria was making a long spear inside the command tent. It was just so that Carla and Serge could see it.

While creating the spear with her hands, Ria looked over the topographic map spread out in front of her.

“The cavalry will be a bit of a pain…”

“Have you lead an army before?”

Carla asked the question out of curiosity, so Ria told her about when she battled alongside the village.

“That’s absurd… or not. Certainly, with those conditions, the only way to win was to make use of their individual bravery.”

If Carla was there, she could have annihilated the enemy’s backbone with offensive magic from a distance.

Although that couldn’t apply to this situation, there was one thing in common.

With their army using this high ground, the enemy will attempt to encircle them.

She’d heard that although Cordova’s cavalrymen leveraged their mobility, their physical capability wasn’t that much.

It was essential that they avoided being encircled so that they wouldn’t be attacked from every direction.

On the afternoon of that day, a force of three hundred beastkin joined them.

Ria believed that still wasn’t everything. There wasn’t very many.

Then in the evening, the ogre army arrived and merged with them. They numbered two thousand.

Not two hundred. Two thousand.

For their destructive power, it exceeded even that of cavalrymen. Two thousand elite ogre troops.

Moreover, their leader was the Ogre King.

“Such an interesting thing, I can’t just leave it to the young ones.”

Baring his fangs, he laughed.

That night, officers gathered in the tent.

The beastkins’ forces would examine it in the daytime. They were currently entrusted with going out on reconnaissance.

“Since a strategy that goes too far into the details is bound to fail, I give a rough explanation.”

So, Ria explained things regarding intended enemy movements and behavior, as well as important terrain.

“Disregarding the fine details, does anyone have any questions so far?”

With that, an old general began to speak.

“I think the strategy is adequate, but be that as it may, your highness, did you study military tactics in your native country?”

“No, at most I only have knowledge concerning wars from secondhand sources.”

That is, she often saw programs on public broadcasting from her previous life.

Although she had read about Sun Tzu, that was closer to political theory.

Even so, she found it to be somewhat relevant now.