81 Episode 80: Imperial Vice-Generals Concern (1/2)

Dusseyr Lubanka, Vice Admiral of the Eastern Sector of the Gillis Empire, was looking up at the cloudy sky at the Nadar military camp.

Even though he was in front of a military meeting, he was out in the open to get some fresh air into his chest.

Since many of the staff members, including Leon, were tobacco smokers, the tent would inevitably reek of tobacco if there was a military meeting. For this reason, Dusseyr, who does not like to smoke or even drink, only goes outside to get some fresh air before a military meeting if he has time.

If the sky were clear and blue, his heart would be filled with a sense of refreshment, but unfortunately it was cloudy. I almost wondered if there was something bad in the air, but I quickly shook it off.

Suddenly, I felt the presence of someone behind me.

When I turned around, there was a woman dressed as an officer standing there in a salute.

The way she stood there, unmoving no matter what, was reminiscent of a plaster statue.

She had long black hair with her bangs cut into a straight line.

His skin is white, as is typical of the clans living in the northern part of the Empire.

He wears the uniform of an Imperial officer, with no extraneous ornaments.

He wears the uniform of an Imperial officer and carries a leather bag and a small sword.

If she followed the military code from beginning to end, she would probably be a woman like her.

She was a lieutenant who had recently returned from a mission in the kingdom after graduating from the military academy with outstanding grades.

--I should give her a taste of the horrors of the Kingdom.

That's what Leon said when he finished greeting her on her arrival.

She's a good student, she follows the rules.

If you're a soldier, ...... you can't do better than that, especially if you're an officer. However, he is also a nervous person, and he often does not take the field into consideration when listening to people.

That's why we decided to give him a taste of the real world and threw him out to the kingdom.

...... When he came back after completing his mission, his confidence had been shattered considerably.

Now he has overcome that ordeal and is working as one of the general's lieutenants.

As she returns the salute to the lieutenant, she performs the ”Attention” command in a brisk manner.

The heels of her shoes hit the ground, her feet are together, her hips and elbows are stretched out, and she looks at me with a resolute gaze.

And then.

”Lieutenant General Lubanka, your family is here to see you.

”Family?

What? Yes, I've heard that.

But it's hard to believe.

”......, Lieutenant. Are you sure it's my family?

”Yes. It's been confirmed. General Glanz has granted us access.

The general?

Yes.

So this is Grant's arrangement?

I've never heard of Granz allowing family members to visit before or during a mission, but he has often made accommodations and accommodations for his subordinates.

He has been criticized for his laxity, which is unbecoming of a general, but he is well respected by his subordinates.

...... It was indeed Dusseyr's own sister who eventually brought him to her.

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Are you okay?

”...... Yes. Yes, brother.

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm sure you'll understand.

But if you've come all this way from your hometown, you must have been through a lot.

What's going on?　Is there something important?

My great-uncle is in hiding.

...... I see. Your uncle?

Yes.

Dutseyr's uncle was the clan leader. After Dusseyr's father died in the war against the empire, he took over the role and became the clan leader, holding the clan together until now.

The death of his uncle was important to the clan.

No wonder my sister had pushed herself to come this far.

As I pondered over my uncle for a while, my sister opened her mouth again.

”Brother. Please return at once. Since your uncle has gone into hiding, you are the only one who can be the pillar of our clan. Please .......

I'm sure you're right. The head of Dusseyr's clan has always been Dusseyr's family. Considering the legitimacy of the bloodline, it makes sense that Dusseyr should be the next clan leader.

He must hurry back, unite the clans, and decide what to do.

But...

We have a war to fight.

”Brother ......

When I told her that it was impossible, she turned her head.

And then, as if she was sobbing, she appealed to me.

I don't want you to push yourself too hard. I know the pride and position of the clan is important, but isn't it also a way to live in seclusion in your hometown?

I can't do that.

Why not?

Our clan has already become part of the empire. If we fail to produce tangible results, our clan will be swallowed by the empire and disappear. We must avoid that.

The clans of Dusseya had succumbed to the Imperial invasion a few years ago and had become one of the provinces.

Because they did not surrender immediately and resisted, they are still in a weak position in the Empire and could be swallowed by other clans at any moment.

In order to avoid this, Dusseyr himself needed to achieve a certain position in the imperial army.

But then, wouldn't you eventually be used up by the emperor ......?

That's true. To the emperor, a weak clan is like a disposable pawn.

But...

”That was disrespectful.

”Brother ......

Please understand. This is also for the sake of our clan.

Yes, now that we are part of the empire, there is no other way for our clan to survive.

I called out to my sister, who was still anxiously keeping her eyes down, to cheer her up.

There's nothing to worry about. I won't be defeated and we can win this war. I promise.

”You will win?

”Yes.

She nodded uneasily and closed her eyes.

She nodded uneasily and closed her eyes, then opened them wide as if she had made up her mind.

”Brother, if you are sure of victory, please remember what your father said. Victory is just around the corner, and it is a matter of life and death.

That's what my sister said to me.

That's what I heard my father say one day. It was something he used to say when he was still alive, when his homeland did not belong to the Empire.

Even now, it remains in Dusseyr's mind as a war lesson.

”...... I know.

”Brother. I'm sorry to have interrupted you.

No, it was out of concern for my safety. I'm not angry with you.

With that, he and his sister fell silent.

Just then, the female lieutenant approached me in a reserved manner.

”Lieutenant. I apologize for interrupting. It's time for you to go to .......

Okay, not at ....... I'll be back as soon as the war is over.

”Yes, sir.

After a brief exchange of words, and eventually parting from my sister.

The lieutenant who had just left led me to the tent where the staff was gathered.

On the way, I suddenly thought of something and asked a female officer.

”...... Lieutenant, what was your name again?

She replied, ”Well. ”My name is River Coast, sir.

”Lieutenant Coast. I'm sure you heard the profanity my sister spoke of earlier, but please don't tell anyone about it.

What?

He asks for her name to keep her quiet and hurries towards the tent again.

When he reached the tent, he opened the door and was hit by the smell of cigar and cigarette smoke.

I turned my face away and coughed once or twice.

When his breathing calmed down, he and Revel saluted.

...... Already inside the tent, the people who would play an important role in the current operation had gathered.

A skinny man with waxed black hair, Leon Glantz, a member of the Eastern Front of the Gillis Empire.

Poluk Nadar, Count of the Kingdom, who looked like the sum of a squashed toad and a pig.

And his squire, Vile Ellyn.

Aluas, the mage of the Silver Star, a robed woman who wears an eerie white mask.

At the edge of the tent, some of Leon's followers and direct mages were present.

...... Sorry I'm late.

”No, we're almost there. Don't worry about it.

When I heard Leon's words, I looked at the people gathered, but no one seemed to be annoyed by the delay. Poluk Nadar seemed to be in good spirits, so it seemed that they had indeed just arrived.

Once in position, Revel suddenly spoke up.

I have something to report to you, General.

”What's going on?

What is it?　I have just received word from the secret service that Gadouard Belhaan has gone to Narwarond.

”Hmm?

But he didn't join the strike force, he just took it back. It seems that he may have been unable to come to an agreement and refused the request of the Crown Prince.

Some of the people who heard Revel's report shouted with joy.

Some people who heard Revel's report shouted with admiration, mainly Vile Ellyn and Leon's followers, the sorcerers.

The name of Gadourd Belhaan should not be overlooked when attacking the kingdom.

This old general had stood in front of the empire many times before, and had used all his tactics and strategies to prevent the empire from invading.

The fact that such a great force did not respond to our request for reinforcements is a great loss to the current Nadar army.

”That's good news. This is good news.

Dusseyr, like them, was about to say this with great joy.

What are you so relieved about?　You've just made me even more confused!

The one who suddenly shouted was Count Polk Nadar.

His face turned reddish-black as if he was in a hurry, and his frustration could be seen.

I asked Poluk Nadar, his eyes peeled and snorting.

”Count ......, what the hell does that mean?

”Gadourd Belhaan!　I'm not sure what you're talking about.　It's when he doesn't make a move that I fear him!　You never know what he might do behind the scenes!

”Count, what is this ...... thing you're doing?

I don't know, that's why I'm afraid!　It's even possible that you were deliberately given that information in the first place!

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it.

There was an unconcealed fear in his voice, an urgency that seemed to indicate that he was convinced that his nightmare could become a reality.

Leaving his agitation aside for the moment, he first asked Revel.

”Lieutenant Coast. Do you have any other information about it?

It's at ........ I don't know if it's relevant, but Gadouard Belhairn carried off supplies for the strike force when he left Narwhalond.

Supplies?

Supplies? That's what I've been told.

...... If Belharn's army is only returning to its own territory, there should be no need for it to receive supplies from the vanquishing army. It's unlikely that they ran out of food for the return trip, and if it's not enough to get them back to their territory...

”Sir.

...... is the answer. Perhaps, as the Count said, they are trying to make us feel uneasy by not making a move outwardly. The fact that they went to the trouble of bringing in supplies when they weren't going to participate in the war is proof of that.

Then...

”Then we'll sit back and watch, and attack when we're outnumbered. That's what the old bastard did to us. This will force us to be on the lookout for Bel Haan's movements, and we can't afford to lose the castle. He can limit our movements without effort. It's really quite annoying.

In other words, the defeated army was trying to play mind games with us.

If we read too much into the situation and place troops at the base, our forces will be dispersed and we will have fewer troops to defeat. On the other hand, if we don't read too much into the situation and don't deploy troops to the base, there is a possibility that the weak base will be attacked and lost.

If we lose those bases, we may lose our supplies and escape routes.

As Leon said, it would be very difficult.

As he was troubled by the invisible old general, a woman's thin smile suddenly echoed in the tent.

”So, General, what are you going to do?

The teasing question came from behind a white mask.

Leon replied to Aulus.

”We don't have much information yet. If you show any hesitation due to anxiety, you will be at their mercy. Therefore, in such a case, you must move with the expectation that it will often backfire. Optimism leads to death.

”Do you think Gadourd Belhaan's move was just a coincidence?

No. Especially not with that wretch. He'll certainly try to take the castle if we let him.