episode_0013

13. Tactics of Novice Generals

After the prolonged bombardment of Wonsan, news arrived from the scout Erica had sent.

A short-statured man, moving as swiftly as a badger, approached us.

After a perfunctory salute, he handed us a piece of paper.

“Count Grace! I’ve mapped out the surrounding terrain.”

“Good work.”

After encouraging the scout, Erica gathered the generals and me.

I wasn’t sure why I was included among the generals, but… we immediately huddled around the paper Erica held out.

On the yellowish papyrus was a hastily sketched map in pencil.

It seemed like a rough draft, likely drawn by exploiting his small stature and quick movements to survey the nearby terrain.

Considering that war isn’t just about brute strength but strategy and tactics, it was a smart decision.

The existing maps—perhaps due to the absence of satellites—were unreliable and might have changed.

Honestly, should I just be relieved he didn’t mess up entirely?

Watching the drawing, I thought to myself—geniuses really are different.

It was simpler than expected, but conveyed everything we needed to know.

A castle stood at the center; the area marked with figures outside was where civilians lived.

The “R.I.P.” marking probably indicated a graveyard.

“But the gate opposite us is larger?”

“Of course! Penrose’s original role was to block enemies coming from outside Redmain.

Though who’d have thought they’d dare bare their fangs at our celestial sister…

Hey, commoner. You wouldn’t do that, right?”

Adel smirked, her tall frame rivaling Vivian’s, her long hair flowing, and sunglasses perched on her nose.

She leaned in close to me, taunting as she made her proposition.

“Then, shall we hear the plan of the ‘genius’ who dared surpass me and became Big Sis’s prized doll?”

She clearly adored Erica.

Despite being an affluent, loyal cousin and subordinate, she seemed jealous of me.

Part of me wanted to bow and resign on the spot, but…

I had enough sense to hold back.

With food supplies running low and Erica in a foul mood due to internal spies, I knew better than to provoke her.

There’s a Korean saying:

Stay silent, and you cover half your flaws.

“I’m just a petty artisan, not a general leading troops like all of you.”

“Hmm~? Good answer. I like that.”

“Hey, don’t bully our kid!”

Adel nodded approvingly, satisfied with my response, before Vivian intervened.

Just as their banter threatened to stretch longer, Erica raised a hand, silencing everyone instantly.

Even Adel, who typically never shuts up, clamped her mouth shut—except for Luna, who was quiet to begin with.

Erica pushed the map toward us and spoke.

“Our fox… no, Cain’s right. War is our domain.

State your strategies, one by one.”

Erica surprised me by asking her subordinates for input first.

This wasn’t a mock battle between knights—this was a real war, mobilizing 8,000 troops.

They were novice generals for all intents and purposes, but their enthusiasm was unmistakable.

Adel was the first to speak up.

She flung off her expensive-looking sunglasses, revealing sharp eyes akin to Erica’s, and smirked.

Our available commanders were Erica, Vivian, Luna, and Adel.

The condition was that each general would lead a division of 2,000 soldiers.

However, Adel’s proposed tactic was the brute-force charge I most dreaded…

Everyone stared at Adel as if she were insane.

Unfazed by the stares, she shrugged defiantly and defended herself.

“What’s the issue? We’ve got four S~A-rank generals here.

Plus, each of us commands an overwhelming 2,000 troops, not to mention the knights originally under us.

We should just smash through with sheer force—fast and decisive.”

Erica nodded slightly, seemingly convinced.

It wasn’t entirely thoughtless—there was logic behind it.

An ogre the size of an A-rank threat.

And here stood four women matching or surpassing that strength.

With 8,000 troops and dwindling supplies, we were on a timer.

The enemy only needed to hold out to win.

A quick, crushing victory before suffering losses made tactical sense.

Yet Vivian sighed at Adel’s reckless suggestion.

“How do you plan to breach the walls? We don’t have siege engines!”

“Oh, just smash through, bear-brain.”

“Ugh… Obviously, castle walls are made from mana-resistant stone. Without siege engines, it’s suicide.”

Countered Vivian matter-of-factly.

I glanced silently at Luna, silently asking for an explanation.

“Ordinary stone would crumble instantly against warriors or adventurers proficient in mana.

That’s why castle walls are built with materials that disperse mana efficiently—it’s common sense.”

“Physical force still works?”

“Yes. The stone only disperses mana—otherwise, it’s no different from ordinary rock.”

So no matter how much mana you slam into it, it acts like a lightning rod—channeling it harmlessly.

Then again, in a world where humans can obliterate giant ogres in one strike, regular stone walls would be meaningless.

“My plan is far better than yours.”

Then she revealed her strategy.

Vivian, Luna, and Adel would each lead troops to encircle the enemy from three sides.

Meanwhile, Erica would provide covering fire with archers from our current position.

A better plan than Adel’s, but…

“What’s the point of encircling them, blockhead?! Planning to massacre civilians?”

“Still better than your brainless charge—?!”

A classic siege tactic—starve them out—but useless for us.

Especially since we lacked supplies ourselves.

Yet… Erica’s eyes glinted darkly as she murmured something chilling.

“If we fail to conquer them this time… we’ll just kill them all.

No people, no taxes—they’ll collapse naturally…”

…She’s joking, right?

True, without taxes, even the impregnable fortress’s nobles would fall…

As we tensed at her words, the usually silent Luna finally spoke.

“The enemy knows we’re coming, but not our numbers.

So, one unit circles their gate, tricking them into thinking our forces are insignificant.

If they succeed in beheading us, they’d gain immense prestige…”

A convincing strategy.

Frankly, it was already peculiar for Erica to mobilize most of her forces just to elevate me to quasi-nobility…

In general, when disciplining rebels, overconfidence is common.

From their perspective, it’d be an irresistible temptation.

If they hole up and endure the siege—moderate victory.

If they sally out only to lose—total defeat.

But if they crush Erica’s army—they hit the jackpot.

“No doubt some nobles conspired with Penrose’s brats…

Taking my head or defeating my army would let them rise as a formidable warlord within Redfield.

If they calculated treachery… deception tactics would work.”

Erica grinned darkly, approving Luna’s words.

Just as we were refining the tactics, a knight rushed in.

A burly man clad in full plate armor saluted Erica and reported—

“Lionel Penrose has ridden out the gates with 30 knights!”

“What?”

Confused, Adel frowned at the knight.

In the distance, beyond the gates, a large man and around 30 mounted knights had indeed emerged.

“You’ve come at last, wretched Grace wench—!! Face me, Lionel Penrose—eldest son of Baron Penrose, once the Emperor’s blade!!”

“What’s his game…?”

His booming voice carried all the way to our distant hill.

He must have some trick up his sleeve…

“Ha! I’ll handle this!”

Vivian snorted, mounting her horse with a fierce grin.

Gripping a gleaming glaive, she charged ahead.

Uneasy, I turned to Erica.

“Shouldn’t we stop her?”

“Let her. Luna and Adel are here, and most importantly… Vivian never loses.”

Smirking, Erica watched calmly.

Despite her exploitative tendencies, if she trusted Vivian, so would I.

“…She’s strong?”

Honestly, my image of her was either a slacking sergeant or a fitness-obsessed older sister.

Now, I was starting to worry.