Volume 2 Chapter 30 (1/2)
Chapter 2 Episode 30
Editor:CptCruiser
Day 175 after being summoned to another world: (Decisive Battle 2)
”Sudou... Please lend me your wisdom.”
Irachion’s castle had been dyed red by the setting sun and within one of its rooms Duke Gerhardt lowered his head to a hooded man.
”Duke-sama, please raise your head. A n.o.ble person like you should not have to lower your head to commoner like me.”
The tone was very courteous but such tone left an impression that the man was disgustingly polite.
”I beg you! I have no one else to depend on but you!”
Usually, it was unimaginable for Duke Gerhardt to lower his head like this and hidden by the hood was Sudou’s sneering face, since the cause of Duke Gerhardt sudden gestures began like this.
Because the reason why Duke Gerhardt lowered his head like this.
This story all began in the morning.
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”Are you seriously going to replace me and command the army instead ?! Hodram!”
”Of course... Since you took command, even in battles where the situation is favourable to us, you have lost. Don’t you understand your situation, your Excellency Duke Gerhardt.”
”You b.a.s.t.a.r.d! For someone who ran away from the enemy what nonsense are you spouting!”
The meeting to decide the future of duke Gerhardt and Hodram had turned sourv where the peaceful atmosphere was now slowly filling with pressure from both of them.
”However, if I'm the one who takes command, we can win you know? This might sound rude, but I don't see any talent of commanding an army inside of Duke Gerhardt. With that being the case, isn't it better for me to do so?”
Initially, Duke Gerhardt was thinking of using Hodram by only giving him only some rights of a commander..
However, for Hodram, does not want an inexperienced person standing as the commander.
After all, it would be more efficient if he took command by himself.
The meeting turns into chaos due to Hodram nonchalantly brus.h.i.+ng off Duke Gerhardt's suggestion.
”What are you saying! Within Duke Gerhardt army, there are lots of good warriors! There's no need to leave the command to Hodram-dono!” One of Duke Gerhardt’s adjutant retorted.
“Hou? This is the first time I’m hearing this but despite anything you say, you still lost to an army even with an army four times larger. If the person your talking about is strong like Kyle then I expect that he’s someone with average abilities.”
Hodram plainly ridiculed Duke Gerhardt’s way of command by comparing is abilities as a leader to be poorer than Kyle, this left the adjutant speechless.
”T-That is...”
”In the first place, appointing such an incompetent person as a military commander also show how bad Duke Gerhardt’s ability is, no?”
”Wha-!”
”How rude!”
Listening to Hodram's remark, Duke Gerhardt's adjutants got angry.
”Hou? I just pointed out the truth so that they can understand your ability, right? Your Excellency Duke Gerhardt!”
Hodram’s tone of voice was filled with ridicule and although it was in a polite manner, it was filled with a rude intent directed at Duke Gerhardt.
”You b.a.s.t.a.r.d... What are you aiming?” Duke Gerhardt asked Hodram.
(How? How can he be so confident? He was only able to bring 2,000 of his knights and even though he knows that I have more 20,000, how is he so confident?)
It is true that Mikos.h.i.+ba Ryouma's existence caused the situation around Duke Gerhardt to turn sour. However, Duke Gerhardt couldn’t understand, why Hodram was able to show such confidence.
”I was hoping to win this war. Everything I do is for the sake of winning.”
(That much I can understand... There must be something more, something I’m missing!)
In all fairness, what Hodram had said is true.
From the point of view who has the most commanding ability then Hodram stand above.
But then,
”I agree with General Hodram opinion!”
The conflict was broken by the man sitting in the corner of the room.
”””Wha-!”””
All eyes turned towards the man.
”Did none of you hear what I said? Then let me say it once again! I said I suggest leaving full command to General Hodram.”
The meeting room turned silent all of sudden.
Noone had an immediate reply.
”What are you doing? Are you betraying me? Kyle!”
Duke Gerhardt's voice is flat and cold.
With Kyle showing approval toward Hodram suggestion.
Duke Gerhardt was unable to suppress his anger anymore.
”What are you saying! your Excellency! I'm doing my best to do my duty you know!”
”What did you say?”
Gerhardt asked Kyle.
”In the first place, I join Duke Gerhardt because you wanted my military talents! That's why I want Duke Gerhardt to win this war!”
Kyle then looks around at the n.o.bles inside the meeting room.
”That's why, since we're facing an enemy that can even beat me, we should leave command to a person who's better than even me!”
”K-Kyle... You b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”
Gerhardt understood what Kyle's aim.
(This b.a.s.t.a.r.d... He's planning on changing sides, that's why he is trying to curry some favor with Hodram! d.a.m.n it! I should've never allowed him to attend this meeting!)
Kyle who realizes that he had lost Duke Gerhardt trust due to his previous defeat ran for self-protection.
One can say that this is a blunder for Duke Gerhardt since even though Duke Gerhardt had received the report of his previous defeat, Duke Gerhardt still let Kyle attend the meeting.
Duke Gerhardt never expected Kyle to notice, that Duke Gerhardt wanted to use Kyle as much as possible until the
(d.a.m.n it! Why did I let Kyle attend this meeting!)
Duke Gerhardt's gaze was directed toward his adjutant who is sitting next to him.
Like this, the situation turns worse for Duke Gerhardt.
He can't blame the adjutant. After all, his adjutant had advised him to punish Kyle,instead he decides to postpone the punishment and also did not forbid Kyle from attending the meeting.
This is the result of it.
The treatment toward Kyle still the same as before, and only his punishment end up being postponed.
He should never let Kyle attend the meeting with Hodram.
Furthermore, this meeting was where they had to decide the direction their faction was heading to.
”Hou! So you're Kyle-dono! I guess I can't rely on rumors only. I never thought that you're someone who was able tojudge the situation.”
”Your praise is too generous for me.”
The mouth that had ridiculed Kyle until recently is spouting words which were the complete opposite now..
And although Kyle was around when Hodram ridiculed his abilities, he acted as though it was never mentioned.
”I see... If Kyle-sama said that much then I also agree!”
”Wha-!”
”This can't be! What are you saying Earl Aldeheid!” <tln: earl's=”” name=”” ”アーデルハイド”=””>
Gerhardt asked the person who show an agreement toward Kyle's suggestion.
Duke Gerhardt's adjutant’s face turns pale.
It was a natural reaction. After all, the one who agreed was the second most powerful person in the n.o.ble faction.
In other words, the right-hand man of Duke Gerhardt who had supported him for many years had approved Hodram leaders.h.i.+p.
”Don't be mistaken. Duke Gerhardt... We're responsible for our va.s.sals after all so I can’t just sit down and wait for our deaths to come.”
His tone of voice seems to indicate that he had made a difficult choice, but Duke Gerhardt was not going to be deceived.
For many years, the Earl had exploited Rozeria Kingdom.
Va.s.sals?
Gerhardt had known the Earl for sometime and in that span of time he never once heard of the Earl having such admirable thoughts.
But, if the Earl shows such a regretful face and voice, the surrounding will easily be deceived by it.
(This... This is hopeless...)
While hostility and anger dominating his heart, Gerhardt tries to calm his mind and a.s.sess the situation.
He thought that if Earl Aldeheid the second most influential person within the faction approve Hodram leaders.h.i.+p, then it would be just a waste of time for him to argue more.
In a matter of fact, the n.o.bles within n.o.bles' faction seem to have approved Hodram leaders.h.i.+p.