Ch.309309. Sirah Relocation War (3)

Another day passed just like that.

But there was no progress. The officers still refused to accept Junon’s opinions.

Michelle was beginning to question whether these meetings even had any meaning anymore.

“…Let’s end here. We can’t continue the meeting in such a heated atmosphere.”

She decided to adjourn, feeling there was no other choice.

While it was true that Junon’s proposed Sirah relocation operation faced significant opposition, what really hindered every meeting was the officers’ complete unwillingness to even listen.

“Tsk, such a green youngster. I wonder why Count Zelbarten handed over the commander position to that fellow.”

“I asked you to stop there.”

“…Understood.”

When Michelle gave him a warning look, the officer left the meeting room with a sour expression.

Green youngster, indeed.

Lately, she’d been hearing such sneering remarks made in voices just loud enough to be heard.

‘I understand, but aren’t they being too negative?’

Even so, Junon had been handpicked by Professor Muniher, the former commander, and Professor Jake, who had taught at Lebrant Academy, had agreed to pass the commander position to him.

Those two survivors of the Mirum Decisive Battle wouldn’t have placed such a heavy burden on Junon without good reason.

Yet whenever Junon presented an agenda at meetings, it was never accepted. Every time, only negative opinions circulated, claiming his ideas lacked practicality or were otherwise flawed.

Every proposal was met with opposition, and any attempt to push an opinion was met with complaints.

Given the situation and the former commander’s reputation for competence, these people showed absolutely no respect for Junon. It was as if he had been branded with a negative image.

‘Wait.’

Could that actually be the case?

Normally, no one questioned the former commander Muniher’s decisions. The only exception was their dissatisfaction with his choice to pass the commander position to Junon.

If that was true, it meant Junon really did have a negative image attached to him…

‘I can’t say that’s entirely wrong.’

She had seen this pattern several times before.

‘There were times when Erika spread rumors that made people misunderstand Junon.’

The current atmosphere felt exactly like that. No matter what opinion he tried to express, no one supported him, and no one helped him. It wasn’t much different from situations Junon had faced in the past.

‘If that’s the case.’

She needed to find the source of the rumors and deal with it quickly, before Junon’s plans were further disrupted.

So far, they hadn’t questioned Junon’s qualifications directly. Thanks to Renias’s promotion of his achievements at the Battle of Pimpert, those stories had spread throughout the Imperial Army, making it difficult for anyone to directly call him incompetent.

If Junon’s image deteriorated further among the officers, they might try to remove him by questioning his qualifications.

“So? What happened after you brought him the gift?”

“Huh? Well… that’s…”

“Oh come on, Renias. Do you still not trust me?”

“It’s not that. It’s just that things went in a slightly different direction than I wanted…”

“Now you’re making me even more curious! Tell me quickly! What happened?”

Outside the building, Renias and Senia were having a conversation, as Renias hadn’t been allowed into the meeting room.

Senia seemed to be giving Renias advice, but from another perspective, it looked like Senia, full of curiosity and mischief, was teasing her.

‘Oh Senia. I should go over there and tell her to stop with the strange pranks…’

“Well… I fell asleep next to oppa, so I couldn’t confirm anything.”

Huh?

When Renias said “oppa,” she must be referring to Junon. Falling asleep next to him? What was that about?

“Mm-hmm. And then?”

“When I woke up, I was already using his thigh as a pillow. I thought I might have disturbed him, but… he said I could come make coffee for him again tomorrow…”

Listening to Renias’s hesitant explanation, it seemed she had been with Junon yesterday.

She was checking whether he was eating properly, getting enough rest despite staying up all night, and not trying to stay awake through strange methods like chewing chicory.

Michelle had worried that Senia might play a mischievous prank on the shy Renias, but it seemed she had her own intentions.

As Michelle watched, Senia noticed her and said to Renias:

“The meeting seems to be over. Why don’t you go in now? Just bring coffee like yesterday.”

“Then I’ll go make coffee right away!”

As Renias hurried off to make coffee for Junon, Senia immediately approached Michelle and asked:

“Still no progress in the meetings?”

“None at all.”

“That’s not good. Peltibourgos will definitely awaken.”

Both of them knew from their glimpses of the past that they didn’t have much time. They wanted to support Junon’s opinions, but the immediate problem was that they couldn’t due to other major issues.

“What’s causing this?”

“The officers refuse to narrow their differences of opinion. It’s strangely severe.”

“Strangely severe?”

“It’s like… whenever Junon makes a proposal, no one accepts it. As if…”

“As if someone spread rumors?”

“…Yes.”

Senia clearly articulated what Michelle was trying to say. Then she sighed deeply.

“I had a vague suspicion. There were strange rumors circulating among the Imperial Army that painted Junon in a bad light. I guess someone has already made their move.”

“What kind of rumors are spreading to create such an image?”

“They’re using the fact that he knew how to deal with Shanbereshu and Pimpert beforehand but didn’t share that information.”

So rumors were spreading that he had obtained information but kept it to himself? It was infuriating.

“…It must be Erika.”

“Right. It seems the rumors were already spreading when we headed to Sirah.”

Once suspicion takes root, people tend to doubt.

Goden’s death and Junon being found right beside him. And now rumors that he had been hiding information for his own benefit.

“So that’s why the officers have been acting that way…!”

It was a claim based on flimsy suspicion without any evidence, but in times like these when it’s not appropriate to investigate incidents thoroughly, there’s no way to counter it. There’s no evidence to refute it either.

If such rumors were circulating in the Imperial Army, who would trust the commander? The more these rumors spread, the more disadvantaged Junon’s position becomes.

“But this is exactly when we shouldn’t act hastily. You understand what I mean, right?”

“…”

“Michelle.”

“…I understand.”

This was nothing short of a trap. The more people who defended him, the more it would seem to prove that the number of people he had deceived was increasing. The moment anyone stepped forward, his position would diminish exponentially.

“Still, I don’t think you need to worry too much.”

“What?”

“I have a feeling Junon already knows. Why else wouldn’t he bring Renias to the meetings?”

Renias is currently Junon’s most influential ally. If she wasn’t allowed into the meeting room…

“You mean he already knew what was going on?”

“I think so. He even gave Renias direct instructions about it.”

That means Junon already knew.

‘So it’s not that he knew but didn’t solve it… he deliberately ignored it.’

Perhaps Junon had a plan in mind.

“Make sure Aris doesn’t step in without thinking. I’ll talk to Charlotte.”

“Good idea.”

The two of them prioritized informing the other members to avoid interfering with Junon’s plans.

***

‘What a mess.’

He was referring to the meeting, of course.

From any perspective, it was hard to see it as a meeting; it was more like a garbage dump of conversation where one person was treated with contempt.

‘Even though the former commander was quite influential, they all seem to be steeped in prejudice.’

Dusen, who had once served as the captain of the royal guard, shook his head.

After leaving the meeting room, he visited his direct subordinate who was staying with the Imperial Army and asked about the new commander.

He learned some surprising facts.

“He became commander at just twenty years old?”

“Yes. I heard he’s a student at Lebrant Academy.”

Indeed, at the young age of twenty, there’s still a mountain of things to learn and countless experiences to gain.

‘Professor Muniher. I heard he was eccentric, but even so, does it make sense to entrust such an important responsibility as commander to someone so young?’

It was an incomprehensible choice.

“I still can’t believe that green youngster is the commander. How did our country come to this…”

“It’s because most of the higher-ups were incapacitated or killed. With named monsters like Shanbereshu and Pimpert appearing one after another…”

With the leadership in such a state, the country couldn’t help but be in this condition.

“A country without proper leadership can’t possibly have the strength to wage war. Some take out their frustrations on innocent soldiers and then flee when they realize their mistake, while others still haven’t come to their senses and try to seize power in the empire by putting forward the Mirpark Law School or attempting to turn humans into mana vessels. There are too many such people in this empire.”

Those who should have taken over the leadership had all fled or given up.

So all that remained were young people like him. Perhaps the former commander had no choice but to put him forward. That was Dusen’s speculation.

‘There’s no one left. No one to fight the monsters.’

Those who had even slightly set foot on the battlefield had lost their mana circuits and become powerless. The only usable troops were the young people brought from Lebrant Academy.

Most of them were individuals who hadn’t completed their education, and the majority of the Imperial Army consisted of students who were close to graduation and could barely be used as soldiers.

“The future of this country is so dark.”

Ashpern and Peltibourgos. Even though the trusted commander had sacrificed himself and survived, the path ahead was still pitch black.

─Woah!!

As he closed his eyes, momentarily shutting out the bleak reality, he suddenly heard the admiring voices of soldiers.

“What’s that sound?”

“Um… should I go check, sir?”

“No need. It seems to be nearby, I’ll go see for myself.”

What kind of commotion could cause such exclamations? After all, this was still a wartime situation. He thought there must be something unusual happening.

But…

An unbelievable sight unfolded before his eyes.

Crackle- Crackle-

“The, the communication device…!”

The mana communication device was responding.

The same device that had repeatedly failed despite numerous attempts to request support from the Empire after Ashpern’s appearance was now responding.

However, what made Dusen doubt his eyes the most was the man who was working on the mana communication device.

“Now, do you understand why we need to relocate to Sirah?”

The young, twenty-year-old commander who had been designated as the next commander by Professor Muniher and Professor Jake, the survivors of the Mirum Decisive Battle.

He was working on the communication device and confidently presenting his argument in front of the nobles.

Dusen pushed through the officers who stood with their mouths agape and asked Junon:

“How, how did you do that?”

Unfazed, he explained his theory.

“Everyone has a range within which they can interfere with mana. I simply applied the same principle to monsters as well as humans.”

“Applied the same principle to… monsters?”

“More precisely, to all living beings. Each must have its own way of adapting to magical energy.”

What an absurd theory. He had never heard of such a thing in his life.

“Anyway, the reason signals from Lebrant couldn’t reach the Empire was because of the monsters. I’ve proven it with this communication device. If it’s Ashpern, it would know how to send interfering signals, and being a named monster, its area of influence might be quite extensive.”

But that confident attitude was undoubtedly based on solid evidence. The proof was that no one could refute his theory.

“…Explain. Why should the empire abandon Lebrant and relocate to Sirah?”

“First of all, shouldn’t we escape Ashpern’s sphere of influence? If we want to receive support from the Empire, we need to let them know our location.”

Junon pointed to the mana communication device as he spoke.

The fact that this was the first reason implied that there was a second.

“What’s the other reason?”

“To eliminate Ashpern more effectively.”

“What, eliminate Ashpern…?”

At the mention of eliminating Ashpern, the officers collectively voiced their criticism.

They said it was nonsense, that if that were the case, it would be more appropriate to stay in Lebrant rather than move to Sirah.

The chaotic scene from the meeting room was recreating itself.

This would once again devolve into a mud-slinging fight.

However, the young commander showed a different side this time.

“I think I’ve been quite patient until now.”

Shing-

Drawing another soldier’s sword, he suddenly held it to an officer’s neck.

The officer’s eyes, reflected in the blade, widened. It wasn’t just him who was shocked; everyone seemed stunned.

“Do you remember how many times you’ve disobeyed my orders?”

“…”

“I remember. Four times in total. The same as the number of meetings we’ve had. But don’t you all think you’re disrespecting my position too much?”

That’s right. Although he was young, he was the commander. He had the authority to execute anyone on the spot, whether they were officers or new recruits, if they disobeyed his orders. He was the supreme commander of the Imperial Army.

‘He might have been competent back then, but he didn’t give off that impression in the meeting room.’

Was he not utilizing his position enough? Did he lack the charisma needed to command an army?

Perhaps, being young, he was swayed by the opinions of adults.

But this black-haired youth fearlessly drew his sword and pointed it at an officer.

‘With this much…’

He possessed sufficient qualities to command an army.

Now, what remained was justification. It was time for the basis of his actions.

“What’s your specific plan to eliminate Ashpern? I’d like to ask about using the Ripol River as your first basis.”

The commander, who had instantly taken control of the atmosphere, thrust the sword into the ground with a thud and said:

“Do you know how threatening water can be?”

Then, approaching Dusen, he added something in a voice only one person could hear.

“Heh. You really…”

Ripol River. Ditch. Sirah. Broad front line.

All these clues began to align.

“Ha, haha…!”

“Lord Dusen?”

“Hahaha!! So that’s it. Yes… that’s what you meant!!”

Dusen laughed loudly in front of everyone, including his puzzled subordinate and the other officers.

Perhaps.

This young man had already completed all calculations in his mind.

That was the meaning behind his hearty laughter.