episode_0104

104. The Child Prodigy

A force of 2.22 million marches forward.

Not all are mounted—some are infantry marching on foot, and there are supply units as well.

At this pace, they’d need roughly two weeks to complete the march…

“Too slow.”

Late at night, inside a temporary tent, a meeting was underway.

Erika’s complaint echoed through the space.

Everyone had gathered.

To the left sat the military officers—

Vivian, Adel, Luna, Jet, Penrose… and the newcomer, Lien.

To the right were the civil officials—

Cain, Amelie, Alice, Isobel, Lukarion, and Adela.

For Erika to voice such dissatisfaction in front of them all…

It clearly meant she wanted a solution—or at least a good idea.

This was one of Erika’s definitive strengths.

Most rulers, once they set a plan, push through with it relentlessly.

But Erika only establishes the broad framework, adapting the details on the fly.

Thus, she achieves more flexibility and groundbreaking results than any other ruler.

Anyway.

Alice, who lacked confidence in war but was called one of Erika’s twin pillars,

adjusted her glasses and spoke up.

“My liege, I believe proceeding as we are is the best course.”

“If we increase the pace, some will inevitably fall behind. We must minimize non-combat losses…”

“I agree. Before I arrived here, Ternova’s forces of over 500,000 marched ahead. If we strike first and fail, it’ll be a disaster.”

The seasoned Lukarion and Adela, who had firsthand experience,

both opposed the idea, leaving Erika no choice but to concede.

Well… not so much concede as puff her cheeks in frustration.

This was her throwing a tantrum, signaling for someone to come up with a solution.

Erika cast a pleading glance at Cain, whom she called “our fox.”

As if urging him to open his bag of tricks…

“Hmm…”

Erika stared at Cain with sparkling eyes as he pondered.

Then, the child strategist sitting on his lap, Amelie, suddenly raised her hand.

“Me! Got idea!”

The sudden interjection from the little one.

There were countless things one could scold her for, but…

Who would dare criticize the so-called heaven-sent genius’s protégé?

Amelie slapped the map spread on the table with her palm.

“Blitzkrieg! Just send a strike force to wipe them out first!”

“How would you do it?”

Erika had disliked the brat, calling her a “pain in the neck.”

Ironically, the kid’s temperament aligned perfectly with Erika’s.

She loved bold, decisive strategies—no dragging things out, just crushing the enemy.

Given the chance to speak, Amelie confidently laid out her plan.

“Look at map!”

She pointed at the map on the table.

Ternova’s forces were camped near Jarmark.

Around 500,000…

With time and non-combat losses, estimated to be about 400,000.

If the 2.22-million-strong army arrived slowly…?

“They’ll run! Enemies will spot us and flee!”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

Erika’s question sounded almost teasing.

But Amelie shook her head.

“Me not stupid! Need show of force in Jarmark! If we just go in…”

“You mean if we do nothing and demand food for 2.22 million troops, or ask them to surrender their land, they won’t comply.”

“Right?! See?!”

Amelie jumped up as if startled.

In short, marching in with 2.22 million freeloaders would get them nowhere.

As Erika had said, they’d need to bring the heads of Ternova’s soldiers to make them compliant.

For a 12-year-old, Amelie seemed surprisingly politically astute.

“So blitzkrieg! Best plan!”

“What’s your strategy?”

“Uh… need time to think!”

Amelie plopped back onto Cain’s lap to brainstorm.

Still, it wasn’t mere obstructionism—it was solid advice.

Now they had a reason to move fast.

Erika turned to Isobel.

As Alice’s relative and a dedicated military strategist…

“The best approach is indeed sending a strike force, as Amelie suggested.”

“How many?”

“15… no, 18,000 should suffice.”

Amelie and Erika pointed at the map, devising a plan.

They settled on the classic hammer-and-anvil tactic.

“Jet Grace will lead the hammer—the decoy force.”

“Leave it to me!”

“The anvil will be Vivian and the new general, Lien.”

“As many as needed.”

“A heavy first assignment, but I’ll give it my all!”

Thus, the plan was set.

Simple yet devastating.

A slight variation on the traditional hammer-and-anvil.

Jet’s 20,000 cavalry would cut through the enemy’s center, luring them toward Vivian and Lien.

Then, Jet would execute a rapid redeployment.

The three generals would charge simultaneously, piercing the enemy formation in a straight line.

A tactic to shred the disorganized ranks and annihilate them.

More like three spears thrusting through than a hammer and anvil.

A strategy specialized for breaking dense infantry formations.

“Estimated losses: around 20,000 for us… over 250,000 for them.”

“Excellent.”

A casualty ratio of over 12:1.

A well-crafted, brilliant plan, but…

The little one on Cain’s lap raised her hand again.

“Me! Objection!”

“The plan’s already set. Or do you dislike it?”

“No! Great! But why not use teacher’s weapon?!”

A pure question.

Why not use the newly developed “Divine Artifact”?

Alice patted her head and explained.

“Weapons are usually tested in safe, controlled environments before deployment.”

Using untested gear in a life-or-death battle could spell disaster.

But Amelie had followed Cain like a duckling during the two-week war prep.

She knew exactly what the Divine Artifact was and its capabilities.

After extensive mental simulations, she’d concluded it was battle-ready.

Still, being young and inarticulate, Amelie resorted to slapping the table.

“Me! Have better plan! Trust me!”

“Oh?”

A child throwing a tantrum in a war council.

Under normal circumstances, it’d be met with frowns, but Erika raised an eyebrow in interest.

Even Cain, who held unwavering faith in the “heaven-sent genius”…

“Well, no harm in hearing her out, right?”

“Right!”

“But if it’s unconvincing or refuted, no more tantrums.”

“Deal!”

The kid obeyed her teacher well.

Even Alice, the epitome of textbook strategy…

“If the elder says so…”

…was persuaded.

Amelie began explaining: Lure the enemy into a wide canyon and deploy the Divine Artifact.

The space could hold 300,000, so the enemy would let their guard down.

Especially in a place where even thrown rocks posed no threat—they’d relax completely.

“So use Divine Artifact!”

“How will you lure them?”

“Uh… um…”

But even a prodigy was still a child.

When Isobel, a professional strategist, threw a curveball, Amelie stammered.

Like a computer lagging from too much code…

Yet, seemingly impressed, Isobel bowed to Erika.

“It’s a viable strategy.”

“Isobel, how would you handle the lure, as you asked?”

“Simple. Appear weak, then offer a reward if they pursue.”

A cavalry unit of under 10,000.

Elite riders would strike the enemy’s center, then feign retreat.

With their small numbers and the uncertainty of Erika’s main force’s arrival, the enemy would take the bait.

They’d chase Jet, hoping to negotiate or crush him.

Where Jet paused to rest,

they’d leave a large stock of rations—slightly spoiled.

A small sacrifice to cloud the enemy’s judgment and morale.

Blinded, unaware of the Divine Artifact, they’d enter the canyon.

“Boss?! Genius?!”

“Hehe. This is what a pro looks like.”

“So cool!!”

Isobel had brilliantly fleshed out Amelie’s plan.

Adela even suggested mixing oil and gunpowder into the rations.

Thus, the new plan was complete.

“10,000 vs. 400,000 (estimated)…”

“Is it feasible?”

“Totally!”

A strategy crafted by Erika’s finest minds.

And if the enemy didn’t take the bait?

“Then we send a second strike force and proceed with the original plan…”

A full-fledged Plan B.

If the enemy ignored Jet, they’d be crushed by the hammer and anvil—no, the three spears.

Soon after, Jet and the Divine Artifact unit set out ahead of the main force.

────────────────────

Now, the present.

Erika stood atop the canyon’s edge.

Below, a blazing hellscape unfolded.

Chewing on dried squid as a snack, Erika Grace inhaled the stench of burning corpses.

“Casualty report.”

“Report! Strike force losses… two from falls.”

“Jet’s cavalry?”

“51 missing. Likely captured.”

Erika patted his back in acknowledgment.

She then gazed at the inferno below, raising a toast with her liquor.

“*Gulp*! Scenery’s to die for!”

“My liege, the captured soldiers…”

Jet knelt and posed the question solemnly.

Erika took another sip to soothe her exhilaration.

After some thought…

“High chance they’re prisoners, you said?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… still with the enemy’s main force?”

“Most likely…”

Erika drank again.

“How many remain?”

“Estimated 40,000 to 60,000.”

“Just chaff now.”

Closing her eyes, Erika made her decision.

Then, she offered Jet her cup.

As if to share a drink.

Jet fully knelt, accepting it with both hands.

Erika poured him a glass of sweet liquor.

“Killing them all might spread bad rumors.”

“…”

“Demand surrender first. We’ll need population when we take Ternova.

And if we’re too brutal, the enemy will fight to the death…”

“As you command.”

The Ternova forces holding the prisoners…

Erika chose to spare them—for now.

Of course, if they refused surrender, they’d share the fate of the charred corpses below.

After draining her cup,

Erika stood, dusting dirt off her rear.

Then, she surveyed the slaughter below.

Countless soldiers burned alive.

The survivors were cut down by the strike force.

No point sparing those who escaped hell—they’d only cause trouble.

“Well then…”

And her white coat.

A symbol of high rank in the Grace army.

Erika let it flutter as she stood against the moonlight.

“Shall we enter? My land.”

Erika Grace marched into Jarmark.

The rightful ruler of this small territory.