Ch.345Chapter 345. Al-Kaski’s Rebellion (9)

“Before I say anything, I’d like to hear what plan you have in mind first, Ian.”

“I do have a few ideas. Are you offering your opinion, Advisor?”

“Since you’re asking and I’m answering, I suppose that’s correct.”

“Indeed.”

“That’s very reassuring. Then I’ll briefly explain my plan.”

Ian spread out a map and enthusiastically explained his strategy to me in detail.

It wasn’t particularly unique as strategies go. A clean, direct approach. It made sense since our army had the overall advantage.

Even with troops stationed in the Central Continent, the difference in military strength was clearly about two to one.

“I will lead the vanguard. Kalintz will be in charge of the rear. Advisor, you should also position yourself in the rear… If you have any good suggestions during battle, I’ll give you the title of Chief of Staff, so feel free to implement them directly without reporting to me first.”

After finishing his brief explanation, Ian looked at me and asked.

“These are my thoughts, but what do you think, Advisor?”

I quite like it. What I appreciate most is how he appropriately includes questions like this.

I immediately processed Ian’s plan in my mind.

The result was—

[Despite significant sacrifices, we should still achieve victory without much trouble.]

‘Huh?’

This talk of “significant sacrifices” wasn’t the first time I’d heard it.

Didn’t something similar come up when preparing for the final battle against the Aeshus army?

“Advisor?”

“Please wait a moment, Ian.”

“Of course! Take your time to think.”

Fortunately, Ian didn’t seem to mind how much time I spent thinking.

Being the National Advisor has its advantages at times like this. When I worked under the Brans army before, I had to go through more troublesome processes.

Anyway—since I had a result, I needed to work backward to understand why.

‘Significant sacrifices… sacrifices…’

I felt I lacked sufficient information to work backward.

Yet it seemed inappropriate to ask Ian to “ask me questions” like Serpina, who knew all the secrets.

I considered calling for Serpina, but that should be a last resort. I couldn’t blindly rely on her forever.

Let me calculate based on the given situation.

“Significant sacrifices” probably didn’t refer to troop losses. If there were major troop casualties, the statement “achieve victory without much trouble” wouldn’t make sense.

Even though their side had only one mage instead of three, and our mage Reika was stronger, ultimately battles were decided by soldier numbers.

So… does someone die?

I slowly examined the positions of the commanders Ian had placed on the map.

Ian was at the very front. Four of our armed officers on the left, two armed officers and Reika on the right.

Kalintz and I were positioned at the rear.

Is this arrangement what leads to “significant sacrifices”?

If so—

‘Perhaps… there might be a way to figure this out.’

Finally breaking my silence, I looked at Ian, the strategy’s creator and commander-in-chief, and spoke.

“Ian. The strategy itself is fine… but there are several things I’d like to investigate. In that sense, I have a request.”

“Please tell me anything, Advisor.”

“It’s not difficult. Please prepare the same strategy but with one element changed—the positioning of the commanders. I would appreciate if you could apply realistic variations.”

“…Pardon?”

“In other words, you’re currently positioned at the front… please create formations where you might be moved to the left, right, or rear. Please do the same with the other commanders, mixing up their positions.”

Ian wore a very puzzled expression, as if wondering ‘what’s the point of this?’—

But then he bowed his head and said.

“I’ll do that. Please wait a moment.”

Fortunately, he didn’t question me and did as I asked, using several more maps to create multiple strategy variations.

Only one thing changed: the positions of the commanders.

“Here they are. What do you think, Advisor?”

I glanced at Ian and asked.

“You’re asking what I think of all these strategies, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

‘Thank you.’

I examined each strategy with satisfaction.

Most predictions remained unchanged: significant sacrifices, but still a fairly straightforward victory.

As I was reviewing each strategy—

[Victory is impossible in this battle.]

‘Huh?’

A prediction of “victory is impossible”—something I hadn’t seen in a long time.

I picked up the map to examine that particular strategy in detail.

I sensed something different, but to understand it, I needed to review the remaining strategies.

Only after examining all the strategies Ian had prepared could I determine when we would lose.

It was when—Reika Nighthart was positioned in the rear.

‘So if Reika is in the very back of the formation, where Kalintz and I are positioned, we cannot win this battle…?’

I didn’t understand why, but my Intelligence 100 was saying so.

Regardless, there must be a reason. When Reika was in the rear we would lose, and when she wasn’t in the rear we would suffer significant sacrifices—

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.

The phrase “significant sacrifices”—I’d seen it before. Reika was on the battlefield then too.

And now, every scenario where Reika wasn’t in the rear indicated significant sacrifices.

‘This… could it be.’

I looked at Reika, who was quietly standing behind us.

She seemed to notice my gaze but didn’t speak, likely due to the serious atmosphere.

Could it be… she dies?

Reika… dies?

To win this battle… does Reika have to die?

‘That can’t be…’

As my mind became overwhelmed with confusion, Ian asked with concern.

“Are you alright, Advisor? You don’t look well…”

“Ah… it’s nothing. I’m just thinking.”

Ian may have said something after that, but it didn’t register in my mind.

Should we postpone the battle? But that would not only affect our troops’ morale but also give the rebels justification to devour the Central Continent.

Moreover, there was no guarantee that the next battle would present a more favorable situation for us. Avoiding this battle because Reika’s life was in danger didn’t mean her safety would be guaranteed in the next one.

Realistically, quickly reinforcing our troops was nearly impossible.

Yet we couldn’t exclude Reika. Even if they had only one mage instead of three, a battle where only the enemy side had a mage while we had none—

Even with some knowledge about “magic,” it was obvious without further thought that the battle would be disadvantageous.

In other words, to quickly suppress the rebels, we should engage in this battle—

—but doing so would put Reika in danger. She could die.

No… given the emphasis on “significant sacrifices,” it was almost certain she would die.

‘I absolutely cannot allow that…!’

I cannot sacrifice Reika under any circumstances…!

Win with significant sacrifices? Or lose if I don’t want to make sacrifices?

That’s ridiculous. There must be a way to win without sacrifices!

But the predictions of Intelligence 100 are absolute. It’s impossible to go against them…!

As my head began to overheat and my thoughts became disorganized, I let out a short sigh.

At first I thought this was a terrible situation, but thinking about it, isn’t this actually quite fortunate? The difference between knowing she might die and her actually being dead—that difference was enormous.

Reika was still alive and well. Rather, this gave me a chance to “save” her, which helped cool my overheated mind.

‘Think calmly. There must be a way.’

My predictions are always correct. The inability to defy them was a harsh reality.

However—it was also true that results change based on actions. Hadn’t I already saved Serpina’s life multiple times through similar processes?

I can do it again.

First, why Reika specifically?

The keyword that quickly came to mind was “mage.” Does this mean the enemies are specifically targeting the mage in this battle?

Whatever the case, in scenarios involving magic, factors I couldn’t anticipate often emerged, making it impossible to be certain about anything.

Like Reika’s healing magic or the rapier at my waist.

The variety of magic types. And that ceremonial treasures could have such abilities.

These were facts I could only learn after being transported to this world.

—Wait.

Just a moment.

The rapier at my waist…?

‘….’

Magic and magic.

A rapier that can store magical power.

The existence of mages. A mage in danger.

Perhaps…

“General Ian.”

“Yes, Advisor. Please speak.”

Only then did I realize that Ian had been standing beside me, frozen in silence, quietly waiting for me.

Normally I would have appreciated this, but… right now I had no capacity to care about such trivial matters.

“Could you bring me another map?”