Chapter Index

    We Failed

    We Failed

    Even if he was responsible for the defeat in war, Lina’s father was once a man who commanded Bern’s army groups. Having been exposed to military knowledge much earlier compared to other students, everyone couldn’t help but have high expectations for her.

    What would the report prepared by the daughter of the imperial family be like? Lina calmly began her presentation under everyone’s attention.

    “As with the previous cadets, the materials were prepared based on the books provided by the department as well as documents approved for handling by Instructor Gartel, Officer Derian, and Officer Rommer.”

    Flutter─!

    “The topic I researched this time is…”

    Lina continued speaking while attaching prepared visual aids to the blackboard.

    “‘The Schlieffen Plan: A Strategy Doomed to Fail’.”

    The Schlieffen Plan (Schlieffenplan).

    This plan, commonly known as the Gallic Bypass Invasion Operation, was the only measure for victory that the Bern Empire had prepared when the Great War broke out.

    Its main point was to avoid the strong border defense line of the Gallic Republic and invade by detouring through the Kingdom of Holland. Some called it the Hammer Operation because the shape of attacking the Republic by going around resembled a hammer.

    Judging by the definition of the tactic alone, it was innovative enough to be a worthwhile research topic. It wouldn’t have been strange for it to appear as part of a research project.

    That is, if you only look at the strategy.

    “Hmm…”

    “Ahem, ahem!”

    As soon as she finished speaking, the instructors revealed their uncomfortable inner thoughts.

    As can be seen from the victor of the Great War, the Schlieffen Plan failed completely, to the point where there was no room for excuses.

    Even though they were allowed to freely research and write reports, for mere candidates to discuss the rise and fall of tactics – they were the losers themselves. Just the fact that a mere cadet was criticizing their actions would crack their pride.

    Is it because she grew up in a family where power struggles were everyday occurrences?

    She’s got guts.

    Lina was boldly presenting without paying attention to the blue-eyed instructors. This was an action only possible for someone absolutely brave.

    “The supply lines that were incredibly crude, not considering wartime at all, the low-level communication system that made proper communication between units impossible, commanders who opposed joint attacks out of petty pride, weakening of the front line due to troop movements that lost strategic purpose, etc.

    I have commented that there were four main factors that decisively contributed to the failure of the ‘Schlieffen Plan’. First, let me explain the first one…”

    She pointed to the drawings on the paper she had spread out earlier and meticulously pointed out the problems.

    Tap!

    “…The ratio of troops between the right and left wings was wrong from the start. More force should have been put on the right side…”

    Thud!

    “…The available forces should have been calculated considering the narrow terrain of the Kingdom of Holland…”

    Tap─!

    “…The moment we failed to break through in a short period and entered into trench warfare, defeat was the natural course…”

    It was an unparalleled boldness. Even if the person who had devised the tactics she was pointing out was one of the observers, she relentlessly revealed the uncomfortable truths of the Great War.

    “So the gist of your argument is that it was a method with an extremely low probability of success?”

    “Yes. Ultimately, the ‘Schlieffen Plan’ was a tactic doomed to fail from the start. Considering the transport capabilities of the time, the supply of the Bern army detouring through the Kingdom of Holland was at an unmanageable level.”

    “Hmm, what would have been the best way to organize the army?”

    “I think that even if the empire of that time, that is, today’s Federation, had lost some territory, the main force should not have retreated from the Gallia-Bern front.

    Even if such a bold decision had been made, I can’t guarantee that the war situation would have changed.”

    While other children couldn’t freely express their views for fear of offending, Lina was almost too honest.

    “…The root responsibility lies with the Emperor who ruined the relationship with the Federation that had continued since the monarchy era. If the diplomatic war had not failed, we would have avoided the classic problem of fighting on two fronts.”

    Lina smiled gently at Rommer, who was asking questions consecutively, while holding the pointer with both hands.

    She even went as far as to openly criticize the Emperor at the center of the military, which was steeped in aristocratic ideology.

    But what can you do?

    When a daughter says her father was wrong.

    To be fair, it wasn’t incorrect. The Emperor had made a fatal mistake, which is why he was exiled to the distant land of the Kingdom of Holland.

    “Haha…”

    However, actually saying this in reality is different.

    I opened my eyes wide enough to see my entire pupils and,

    ‘Clap clap clap.’

    Gave silent applause while watching Lina, who was already running towards the last page of her report with a clear voice.

    I had expected her to choose a safe topic and just say things the instructors would like to hear, caring about reputation. But this was completely miscalculated. She had no hesitation in giving the officers a dressing-down.

    Did the incident of severing ties with the imperial family have a big influence?

    If there was a reason for her sudden change from always being careful and mindful of the instructors’ gazes to an active personality, that was the only explanation.

    How much must she have wanted to live according to her own will?

    That will has finally manifested.

    She’s finally able to spend the rest of her life without any surveillance. She’s finally found freedom from her stifling life. Wouldn’t she want to live for herself now?

    As someone who knows Lina’s life history, on one hand, her current presentation sounded like a declaration that she would never again conform to injustice.

    Well, this isn’t injustice, though.

    Click!

    “…This concludes the report on ‘The Schlieffen Plan: A Strategy Doomed to Fail’ by Lina Victoria Wilhelm Hohenzollern. Thank you.”

    She finished speaking at about the same time as Erika and took a step forward on the podium. Then, she placed both hands on her lower abdomen, bowed at a right angle, showing at least politeness in her greeting.

    “Ahem, it, it was of good quality.”

    “Not… bad.”

    The instructors maintained silence for a moment, and only after Lina had descended to the corridor did they give a brief applause.

    At least she’s not getting scolded.

    It certainly wasn’t at a level deserving criticism. She had produced a high-quality report using the proficiency gained from long-term education in the imperial family. Given the subject matter, while the atmosphere was a bit unsettled, it seemed everyone recognized Lina’s skills.

    It could be seen as a successful conclusion.

    She had also handled the sharp questions thrown by Derian and Rommer well, so even if she didn’t surpass Erika, she would rank in the upper tier.

    “Wow, Lina, you did great!”

    “Phew… thank you.”

    Only after returning to her seat did Lina release the tension she had maintained all day. The sight of her sitting in the chair with her head reaching the middle of the backrest was an exact copy of how Erika had been resting earlier.

    “Good job.”

    “It’s nothing, Yena will be soon too, so do your best.”

    Sometimes, a simple word of praise was more encouraging than an objective evaluation. I didn’t particularly comment on Lina’s report, just patted her shoulder and gave her a thumbs up.

    “Thump thump! Everyone, please be quiet.”

    Derian silenced the scattered instructors by gripping and releasing the microphone with his hand.

    “Next, Candidate Number 22. Joseph Hans.”

    Once things had settled down somewhat, he continued with the evaluations.

    ‘Describing the Diplomatic Direction the Empire Should Take in the Future’

    ‘The Effectiveness of Submarine Attacks on Transport Ships’

    ‘Analysis of Dwarves, Elves, and Humans from an Ethnological Perspective’

    ‘How Weak is the Mountain Division of the Kingdom of Itria?’

    ‘On the Need for Improvement of Combat Rations’

    As befitting a department that values diversity, various topics were discussed without any overlap between individuals. Some were so interesting that I wanted to take the reports back to the dormitory to examine them in detail.

    “The last cadet.”

    Around the time when black shadows were cast on the scenery outside the window, Derian finally announced the end of the schedule. He seemed tired too, twisting his head and wrists left and right before calling the student’s name.

    Derian and Rommer had been writing evaluation sheets all afternoon. As shown by their slumped backs compared to lunchtime, they were exhausted.

    “Candidate Number 42.”

    Well, should I get up now?

    “Yena Freud.”

    I stood up as soon as I heard Derian’s gruff voice.

    “Yes.”

    Is there a reason for the saying that the protagonist appears last? After dozens of candidates, the one decorating the last of the long-awaited research report presentations was none other than me.

    “She’s finally here.”

    “Let’s see.”

    Maybe that’s why. Normally, about half of the observers would have left midway by dinner time, but when I checked behind, it was still packed.

    The faction supporting the Workers’ Party, the anti-Workers’ Party faction who thought I was partly responsible for the dissolution of the Communist Party and were sharpening their knives in their hearts, and even people who came out of curiosity about the person who broke Wolf’s arm, not caring about politics.

    All of these were keeping their seats to see one cadet’s presentation.

    At the beginning of the semester, the candidate who was on everyone’s lips was overwhelmingly Lina, the Emperor’s daughter, but today, a commoner had replaced her status.

    “Yena, fighting─!”

    “I’ll look forward to it.”

    I stepped forward confidently, encouraged by my friends.

    “I’m Yena Freud. I will begin my presentation.”

    If all these generals truly endured this long time to see me, I should rightfully meet their expectations so they won’t be disappointed.

    “The topic is ‘Tactics of Storm and Lightning, commonly known as: Blitzkrieg’.”

    I will decorate the end of the day brilliantly.

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