episode_0073

As the Imperial Legions advanced south, the Academy eventually went into hiatus.

Since we don’t know what will happen, it could be said to be a decision made in preparation for the unexpected.

Although Charleroi’s schedule was ruined because of that, she was not disappointed.

Rather, I took this opportunity to gather information using my special skills.

He had not forgotten what he had to do for Novogord.

“They say all the Southern Corps are moving south. That’s why the Academy is on hiatus.”

“What about the border? Instead, the Eastern Corps has arrived. They may not know the geography well, but they can defend the border, so the burden on the Southern Corps has been reduced.”

“Have you heard the news? Benito declared war. Ha! This is ridiculous. They seem to think I’m some northern demon.”

Anyway, foreign personnel are white spies who legally collect information.

The Empire also tolerated Charleroi’s gathering of information as long as it did not cross the line.

As long as you don’t cross the line, as long as you have some value as a hostage, then that’s fine.

“The Southern War? I guess you haven’t heard the news yet. The 4th and 15th Legions came to the aid of the Holy Nation a while ago.”

“2 Her Highness the Princess has persuaded the surrounding kingdoms. Isn’t that amazing?”

“What happened to Benito? How dare they fight against our empire? He was so scared that he ran away without looking back.”

No. If that was going to happen, why did you declare war? Charlois tilted his head.

Could it be that there was some trouble between the King of Benito and the Benito Army?

… Hey. No way. Who would do something like that without consulting the military, let alone being an idiot?

Even though the military is not staying in their own country, they have advanced quite far.

‘Yeah. Surely that can’t be.’

The king is not the most idiotic person in the world. Hey. That’s ridiculous.

Charlois shook his head and focused on the next news from the south.

“Wahahahaha! Great victory, great victory! …Huh? What are you talking about? Ahahaha! Our proud legions of the empire have crushed Benito’s proud 50,000-strong army! Khahahaha!”

“Parts of the 6th and 13th legions attacked Benito from the front and rear, destroying it. It is said that less than ten thousand people returned alive, so Benito was completely destroyed.”

The news that the people of the South receive is simply that the Imperial Legion has crushed Benito’s forces.

But for some reason, Charlo felt a strong sense of Kael there.

As far as she knows, the Imperial Legion consists of about 20,000 people.

There may be fewer than the garden arrangement, but not more.

Benito, on the other hand, said it was well over 50,000. That’s almost double or triple the number.

However, the Imperial Legion suffered only 4,000 casualties, while Benito suffered far more than 20,000.

Since there were prisoners of war of that kind, it is correct to view it as a virtual annihilation.

From now on, Benito will have to remain in intensive care for at least several years.

‘No matter how well the Imperial Legion fought, this victory or defeat was not simply determined by the difference in combat power between the two armies. There was definitely something else. Definitely.’

And after a while, I heard the news from a Foreign Ministry official who came to see me.

“Congratulations on your big win against Benito.”

“Ah. Hahaha! Thank you, Lady Charlo. It seems that even Lord Runen is furious at the wicked Benito’s tyranny. The brave soldiers of the Imperial Legion, the excellent commanders, and the excellent strategist. It’s the result of all three working together.”

“If you say he is an excellent bookworm.”

“I’m talking about Prince Kael Klauwitz, who accompanied the army this time. I heard that he completely tied up Benito’s army with a great strategy and stabbed him in the back.”

“… That’s right.”

I can see it. I can guess it. I can already picture the general picture in my head.

Kael Klauwitz. A scary man who wields the desperation of others as a weapon.

Whether you fall for it because you don’t know it, or because you know it, you will eventually fall into the trap.

To lead you to become like that. To tempt you so dazzlingly.

From the perspective of the person being dealt with, you end up thinking, ‘Can’t I do it?’ and take the step.

Novogord was like that, and Burkhay was like that throughout the East.

Eliminate all options and summon your enemies whenever and wherever you want.

There are no exceptions. Because if you choose that exception, you can see exactly what you have to lose.

‘I’d like to ask in more detail, but… I guess that would be difficult.’

The person in front of you is from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the Ministry of War.

So I couldn’t tell you in detail how the situation developed.

Still, if the picture can be drawn in that rough outline, it must be really amazing.

‘I once again feel that our moderates took power at a good time.’

I think so, but it would be a problem if it showed on my face.

Charlois quickly smiled and said to the Foreign Ministry official.

“Then. Now all that’s left is to attack Benito.”

The only places in the South that had any real name value were the Holy Land and Benito.

Among them, the Holy See was completely destroyed by Benito and then saved by the Empire.

And Benito was crushed by that empire and practically became paralyzed.

In this way, the southern part, following the eastern part, would come under the direct control of the empire.

There Charlois thought of the hardliners in Novogord.

It’s unfortunate for them, but the gap with the Empire is likely to widen further.

If the East and the South were stable, then a major war for that great empire would be suicidal.

It is probably absolutely impossible for them to regain power… .

“Hmm. Maybe not.”

The Foreign Ministry official, who had been fiddling with his teacup, continued speaking cautiously.

“The news will spread sooner or later anyway, so it won’t be a problem if Miss Charloa finds out.”

“… Is something wrong?”

Instead of answering right away, he takes a sip of tea.

Charlois, sensing something serious in that action, froze.

“Dedorant intervened.”

“Dedorant. Ramen. Are you talking about the kingdom that has been dominating the West lately?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But how did that Dedorant intervene?”

“That’s right. They stationed troops near Benito.”

At that moment, Charlois’s head started spinning like crazy.

First of all, Dedorant. I know that you recently annexed Atria, the upper country.

Before that, in the war with D’Galle, first the Jugel region was taken away, and then the western territory was taken away.

It is a powerful country in name and reality. It is not just because of its territory or population.

The number of troops, which have been trained through a great number of battles, is well over 100,000.

However, that is only a standard when evaluating from a ‘Western’ perspective.

Even if we annex Atria and occupy some of Degal’s territory.

Even though they have the best fighting force in the West in their hands.

If the Empire starts to show its true colors, they too will have to risk everything.

And, of course, the odds of victory are overwhelmingly higher on the Empire’s side.

‘Even if Dedorant devours Atria, Dgalle, and Los Tanica, it won’t work for the Empire. The gap in population and land fertility is so large that it’s impossible to produce enough goods.’

In other words, whether or not Dedorant intervenes, the Empire can say, ‘What should I do?’

What I’m saying is, if they try to rush at you with their shoulders tensed, you can just break them.

‘And yet the Empire reacted like that to Dedoranta’s intervention?’

I would like to know more detailed reasons, but it is risky to dig any further.

The first condition for not being ostracized as a foreigner is not to cross the line.

And to avoid crossing the line, you have to be perceptive. You have to be able to read the situation.

If you look closely, this Foreign Ministry official right in front of you is actually an errand boy for those high ups.

The conversation we had here, the words we uttered, the questions we asked, everything will be made public.

“You must have a headache.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Thanks to you, it’s not a big deal.”

Charlois looked at the Foreign Ministry official who was finishing his teacup, lost in thought.

Surely Dedorant would not have been mad enough to threaten or stand up against the Empire.

If they were that foolish, they wouldn’t have been able to become so big in such a short period of time.

It must have been an attempt to tie down the empire through clever means and give it a moment to catch its breath.

‘The path they will take will, of course, be to kneel down and seek the Empire’s consent.’

Charleroi learned a great deal from the Council and its members.

Although she doesn’t have as much military prowess as other demons, she does have other weapons.

That he is better than anyone at discussing and predicting the next move in politics.

‘The empire must be in a difficult situation in many ways.’

How on earth would things go? Charlois began to discuss the next step by himself.

*

“Kael!”

“Your Highness the Princess.”

As soon as the princess saw me, she ran over and grabbed both my hands.

At first I was a little surprised, but I smiled because I was also happy to see her.

“Thank you for your hard work. You were really great!”

“Thank you. Your Highness the Princess, you did a great job too.”

“What? I just did what Kael told me to do.”

The princess spoke with an awkward expression. I immediately shook my head at her.

Doing what others tell you is actually the hardest thing in the world.

Needless to say, it is a great achievement to have done that without any mistakes.

“More than that… I feel sorry, what should I do?”

“Ah. If it’s about Benito’s advance, I’m fine with it.”

“It’s okay. To be honest, I’m also angry at Dedorant.”

It’s true that Dedorant is a bit cocky.

But there is a justification. Aren’t Dedorant and Benito allies?

They avoid conflict by bowing down to the empire while taking care of their own cause.

So, what they’re saying is that they’ll just take what they need and won’t go beyond that.

‘Those kinds of people are the scariest.’

In that sense, the empire’s withdrawal of its troops from the south is an extension of that.

It wasn’t a surrender. It wasn’t a show of mercy. It wasn’t a concession.

Dedorant’s body has grown considerably in the blink of an eye.

There are quite a few areas that are difficult to attack right away, such as the East or the South.

So, our empire also meant to take a breather for a moment before being defeated.