The Strategist Knows Everything

The border between the pre-war empire and Albion.

So, the Albion army was standing by.

With 50,000 troops.

"If the promise is not kept, does that mean an immediate invasion begins?

"Even if you keep your word, there's a possibility of an invasion. If you strip me from the empire and make Fio a deceased here, the Albion army will be as good as Ligal Taishou."

To Charlotte's whining, that's what I answer.

Charlotte looks blatantly disgusted.

"Would you stop saying that? I don't want to fight here."

"Well, the odds are low. If there's a truce out there, you'll want to."

"What do you mean? Albion's Imperial Invasion Army should be almost intact, though?

Charlotte's questions are paramount.

Sure, even the 30,000 we fought, the damage would be insignificant.

Plus, the 40,000 that was in the march is literally intact.

If only the “Empire” is dealt with, the likelihood of another invasion increases.

But the Empire is not the only opponent of Albion.

Although Velis and I are engaged, and the Empire is attacking Velis from the sea, there is still room for battle power. There is no possibility of breaking the alliance with Albion and invading it.

In addition, the Republic is also at war with the islands and has not joined the wars of the continent, but when may it change its mind and attack Albion?

Assuming a short-term showdown and adding the Republic's side of the defense to the Imperial Invasion Army, the numbers have been aligned, but they have been engaged with the Imperial Army and Knox for over six months before that.

In the meantime, there must be more damage than the Empire.

At the very least, there is no room in Albion today to attack two countries at the same time. And the soldiers won't have that much energy either.

If we commit another invasion, we will undoubtedly ignite Velis' rebellion and his imperial ambitions. And there's no guarantee I can bounce it back.

No, it is impossible to accept the invasion of Velis and the Empire. There is no chance of another invasion.

That's how I decided to exhale and look around.

border line between the Empire and Albion. There are two fortifications in the form of facing each other.

Both are at the forefront of both countries. No, should I say it was?

Until then, the fort on the imperial side had been taken by Albion. Even now, for once, there are guards, but there are no numbers who can defend the fort. And the fort itself was also heavily attacked, destroyed everywhere, and the restoration hasn't caught up.

This is the status quo of the Empire. The invasion of Albion has reduced the number of soldiers and does not satisfactorily protect the fortifications on the front line.

How long will it take to build the original line of defense? That's all you need a soldier to protect you from.

And no more people that easy. I'm going to need time.

Exhale slowly.

I'm outside such a fort. Right in front of the fort gate.

From now on, Fio and I will start exchanging.

Between the fort and the fort is the exchange place.

As an escort and surveillance, the knights follow.

Although.

"If you have a plan, let me know! Master!"

At this rate, I would have to say that it is ineligible for surveillance.

The knights of the escort who followed me from the Imperial Capital are now locked in a room in the fort.

In front of me, it was the work of the young knights who cared. Well, when it comes to being young, they're young enough to be the same against me and my age.

They were knights who kept fighting in the fortifications on the front line, unhappy to sell me to Albion. And that dissatisfaction came the same day, and it exploded.

To them, I was a comrade who fought through the harsh frontiers together before I was commander of an alliance, and I didn't seem to want to gain peace until I sold me like that.

"We have been saved by you! I'll return the favor here! Please use us!

"That's right! With your orders, we will storm the enemy army as well! You're the one who shouldn't die here!

Not at all.

What takes place here is an exchange of hostages, not an execution. What's more, if there's a battle here, an empire that hasn't got a defensive net in place will soon allow it to invade as far as near Ferenol.

It's not that I don't know.

It is a knight disqualification, such as giving precedence to human beings of other countries over their own people and territories by leaving them to mere emotions.

Well, in that regard, I'm not the brother-in-law I could have told you about. I'm not a knight, and you shouldn't mind.

With that excuse in my heart, I sigh so that the knights don't notice me. When I look at the side, I get a look at Charlotte next door and she can't even say anything.

I'm scared, too, but I can't stay scared.

It would be counterproductive to say the truth about the knights in front of them, who are having a runoff of their youth. No, to them, honesty would be unacceptable as honesty.

They have been saying for a long time now that it is against morality.

Indeed, it would be against morality to sell human beings in allies, but it is also against morality for knights who pledge allegiance to their country to defy the country's decisions.

I'm happy with the feeling. But if you ride them, the Empire will be burned by Albion's sorcery.

That must be avoided.

"Master!!

"I have a plan. However, it is only after entering the Albion that we will carry it out. I don't need your help right now. I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm not going to let you betray the Empire."

In the form of answering the call, I tell them so.

I would have chosen the words not to be too exciting. The number of knights in front of me is about ten. But there are many knights in the fort who agree with them.

That's enough people to make a gap to get me out of here.

I have trouble getting moved.

If the timing is wrong, Fio will be in danger. And most importantly, it gives Albion a pretext for aggression.

As an albion, I guess I don't mind either.

If only Knox and I could be eliminated, the Empire could attack early. That's what I was thinking, so he got rid of me.

Strategically, Albion is best served by a truce with the Empire and peace. But the development of a pretext for aggression and another attack on an unprepared empire, even if not the best, is a Better.

Either way, it's convenient for Albion. However, for me, it's not convenient for the Empire and Albion to bump into each other again here.

If this opportunity is missed, the opportunity to enter the centre of Albion will never come around again. If that happens, the war will never end.

And if the war doesn't end, there's a good chance Velis will lose.

Velis doesn't have the stamina to fight through long battles. There have been frequent wars in the predecessors' days, and these days, from civil unrest, there has been a war with the Union of Small States and a battle.

The first of the great powers to raise its roots is Velis.

As soon as possible, there's a rush in me that I need to end the war.

So I don't have any trouble getting you to fight here.

"But! Bye!

"Thanks, but I'm fine. Besides, there's Princess Fiona over there. Just to make time for me to break up with my people, he's the benefactor who took me hostage. You want to help me, and I want to help you, just like you think."

"Now let's aim for the moment when the Empress Fiona and the Master's Hall will be replaced!

A knight shouts out all the ideas.

Hear that, and the knights around you shine their eyes. Surely you wouldn't be wrong where you're aiming.

But.

"During the exchange, the other side should come out with Si Xian. Plus, they bring in the same number of escorts over there. Besides, the exchange place is a great flat with a great view. An ambush is impossible."

"If you move from the fort first, this one will stand in a few favors!

"Have you forgotten that the enemy is Albion? The exchange between the fort and the fort is within the range of magic. Consolidated magic will wipe you out once and for all."

In response to the opinions that emerge, I will explain why I do not adopt them each time.

Before hiring or not, I was willing to go to Albion, so there's no point in this exchange.

But the knights will not perceive my intentions.

"Do you have any other hands?!?

"Think! There's got to be something!

"No, if it's impossible, I can't help it! This is our place to stop Albion!

The will of the knights does not screw up.

Please, Charlotte sighed heavily when I thought it was time to give up.

The knights hear the sigh.

"There seems to be some discontent though?

"I'm full of dissatisfaction. What country are you people from?

"It would be decided by the Empire!

All I'm saying is, what are you asking for the obvious? A knight returns the answer.

Hearing that, Charlotte exhales a sigh even more.

"Then what country are you a knight in?

"The Empire! Are you making fun of me!?

To the knight's question, Charlotte does not return an answer.

Charlotte, who was often silent, slowly, and sighs loudly, starts talking.

"If you're an Imperial man, and you're an Imperial knight, what's the most important thing to think about, not the Empire?

"There must be no such thing as selling off the generals of our allies! Sure, the Empire is important, but there would be something called reason as a person! Plus... pride as a knight makes you tolerate the peace you get by such means!

"As people, as knights, although splendid... if you want your personal feelings to take precedence over national decisions, you are no longer... knights of the Empire. No, more importantly, enemies who put the Empire at risk? You know what I mean?

Hearing Charlotte's words, the young knights explode their anger.

"As knights of the Empire, we are going to defend the pride and prestige of the Empire!

"If the empire is invaded again, hundreds or thousands of times as many people as you've killed so far will die? There may be family and loved ones among them. Still, can you say that it's for the Empire to help the Velis warrior?

The worse he replied, the more he thought he would slash and throw it away on the spot, Charlotte told the knights, murderously.

Though young, the knights have crossed the dead line on the boulder.

I have a strong sense of Charlotte's killing.

Charlotte shifts her gaze from the knights to me, seeing that no one can answer.

"I don't need any more. It's time and we'll head to the exchange."

"Okay. Say hello to your escort."

"I understand that. Stay away from the exchange and wait. If you do anything stupid, I'll kill you all."

Charlotte, who is supposed to be on his side, is shook up by the knights with a clear kill intent.

With this amount of money, it will be fine.

Looking at the blue faces of the knights, I judge them so.

Problem is, Fio is on the Albion side.

Charlotte expected that Fio was willing to take me away, but she wouldn't want me to do that if she could.

I said I wouldn't ride the invitation, but can I actually push it away when I'm in front of Fio and desperately wished for?

Honestly, it's suspicious.

That's why I want Fio to be quiet.

Maybe that's an impossible wish.

■ ■ ■

Charlotte and I arrived between the fort and the fort designated for the exchange.

As Charlotte put it, the knights are waiting a little behind them.

You've confirmed our arrival, and the Albion side is headed this way.

The knights on horseback and the carriage make up one.

"Is Fio in that carriage......"

"Alas? You look worried?

"You bet. They were caught by enemy forces, weren't they?

"Until now, I didn't think you'd be worried because you didn't make me look worried."

Charlotte had an unexpected look on her face and said so.

I'm worried. At the same time, however, there was confidence that no harm would be done.

So I wasn't worried enough to put it on the table.

But it's not like I wasn't worried at all.

I'm not going to be that flirtatious of a man.

"I'm worried. It doesn't change how smart Fio is and how strong he is."

"You'd be happy to tell him yourself, wouldn't you? And they'll try to get you away with it."

"Well, I'm going in the wrong direction."

As I speak so lightly with Charlotte, the carriage stops nearby.

A knight opened the carriage door.

The first person who came out was Randall.

With a cane, an unrestrained foothold, I descend from the carriage. If you look supported by a knight, you can't think of Albion as the proud Four Wise One.

But judging by people, I see painful eyes.

Four wise men of Albion, the land of sorcerers, all four of them, are the finest sorcerers.

Even when it comes to old Randall, if it's about me, you can kill him without moving a step. That's what the finest magicians are.

Then it was Fio who came out.

Ignoring the knight who offered his hand, he comes out of the carriage alone.

From the look on his face, he seems grumpy.

Did Randall say anything in the carriage?

"You've come a long way. If you're not, you're gonna get away with it, right?

"The fate of the country is at stake, so you can't do that on your own."

"Interpretation is from another country. If you don't mind, you run away."

"I'm not Lord Randall."

"Fuh... the reason I didn't run away was because there was Princess Fiona?

To Randall's words, Fio moves his eyebrows a little and reacts.

Shake it. I know that. That's why it's not a good idea to lie.

"It's one of the reasons. But that's not the only reason."

"Foffofo. What do you mean, for a woman, on a boulder?

Fio stares at Randall in a way that makes sense.

Shoulder to shoulder at how Fio looks like that, Randall turns his back on me.

"You need as much as a goodbye greeting? As briefly as possible."

So, with the knights of Albion, you take a distance from me and Fio.

I see. If you want to run away, something like that.

At this point, you're stirring up Fio.

"Yuki…………"

"Fio. Are you okay? Nothing?

"Yeah. I'm fine."

Fio smiled back at me and seemed to be anticipating some timing.

Charlotte also calls out to Fio if she feels something is wrong.

"Fiona. You're not supposed to think weird, are you?

"It's okay. Char."

Fio smiles at Charlotte while approaching me in a natural motion.

My mouth is moving tightly. He seems to be crushing something, but his voice hasn't arrived here.

Then.

"Because I won't fail"

"Fiona!?

When he came this way, his mouth was moving, I guess it was a chant.

Fiona twirls and turns half a turn, turning her back on us.

Keep your hands up and shout out loud.

"Fresberg!!

A strong light is born on Fio, taking away my sight.

The next time I opened my eyes, a giant bird was floating in the sky.

Divine bird Fresberg.

An unreasonable divine beast, with all the defenses that have prevented the combined magic unleashed towards the fort and just wings, with the offensive power to blow the formation.

That was summoned.

During the exchange of hostages, a condition of a truce, at the hands of the Imperial Princess.

"Oh, my God, the whole army! Prepare to attack!!

"Prepare the coupling magic! There's a horseback squad out there!

From the fort on Albion's side, a loud rage echoes.

The fort on the Imperial side will also be noisy if it loses.

"Here, here we go, too!

"Protect the Empress Fiona and the Master!!

The young knights, who were waiting a little backwards, are running this way without any doubt.

Once they arrive, it's over.

The war resumes from that moment on.

Randall's purpose should be to fan. If you can get away with it here, it won't make any sense that you bothered to bring a ceasefire.

There's no way they're gonna let me get away with this.

I incited Fio and let him move into action this way because that's what he gets most for Albion.

Albion, no, for Randall, the best development is that the fans are available, me and Fio are gone, and yet we can attack the Empire.

If only you could capture me, it would all come true.

They get fans, and Fio will stop resisting. If we get caught, we'll still be like Randall.

And I can attack the empire that broke the negotiations without question. In an empire that thinks a ceasefire has already been established, it will not be possible to prevent it.

"Yuki won't give it to you!

"Fio......"

"Fiona! You know what you're doing!?

"I know! I'll take the blame! Yuki, the Empire, because I will protect you! Help me!

Charlotte bit her lips into Fio's words.

Charlotte can't stop Fio any more than this has happened. And if you don't cooperate with Fio, both the Empire and Fio will be in danger.

Whatever it is, Charlotte has no choice but to help Fio.

Fio knew and must have moved on to action. I want it all calculated, with good odds.

But there is madness in two calculations.

First of all, I don't want to run, which means I can stop Fio.

Why did Randall stir up Fio?

Perhaps Randall wanted to be sure.

I don't know if I'm really bringing the Fan Claus.

Small, I punch my tongue.

To stop the invasion of Albion, there is the power of Fio. The Empire, which has no choice but to rely on Fio, can only forgive Fio.

And, Fio will think, the Empire will probably not forgive Fio. No, I can rub it about punishment.

While we're at it, we should be invaded by Albion to the point where we can't take it back.

We can get the king's escort into trouble. In the upper echelons of the Empire, some will be connected to Albion. Fio hasn't been able to calculate human behavior like that.

And that's why I have to stop Fio here.

So far, Randall reckoned, he must have stirred up Fio. Fio has been distant from politics, so he is oblivious to politics.

Lack of experience can't help but predict and calculate.

I can't help it, but I can't help it any more than the fate of the Empire will ever be.

"Fio!"

"Yuki! Get in the Berk! After I go to Ferenol, I'll send it to Velis!

"It's not. Fio, solve Fresberg's summons. In Fio's way, the Empire will perish."

To my words, Fio stiffened, with his hands on me.

The eyes were incredible.

It hurts my heart, and I don't want to tell you from now on if I can. But I have to tell you.

"So Fio. I can't take Fio's hand... for the Empire, for Fio."

"Yuki... honey...?

"Sorry. I'm going to Albion. That's the best part."

"... no..."

"What?"

"It's not the best thing! Why would Yuki go that far for the Empire!? If you go, you'll never die!?

Fio is approaching me.

If possible, I want to talk more slowly and find mutual satisfaction. But we don't have time.

Albion's cavalry is out.

The knights of the Empire will also arrive soon.

We have to finish everything by then.

"It's okay. I'm not gonna die or anything."

"I'm lying... I know..."

With tears in my eyes, Fio touched my chest.

The weight hangs on me. Because Fio is falling in.

Grabbing his shoulder and accepting, Fio looks up.

I had eyes with Fio in tears.

"Please... Yuki... I'll take care of it"

"I'm sorry...... I'm really, really sorry"

I hug Fio hard.

The Klarus I have works from the top of my clothes.

If only this closely followed.

"Ah..."

Fresberg emits light and disappears because of the interruption of the magic line with Fio.

I stroke Fio's head.

"Fine. So don't cry"

"... that fan... it's terrible... it's terrible... I've been thinking about it and I've decided hard..."

"I'm sorry. But I want to protect Fio, too. Keep it up, Fio's in a bad position."

"... fine... if Yuki would be saved then I wouldn't mind..."

"It's okay with me. I'm sure I'll regret it."

"... how can you... get that far? Is Yuki worth it in the Empire...?

"Come on, I don't know. I don't like and defend the Empire."

So I smile at Fio.

Fio, the crying face, questions my words.

"So, for what………?

"At first, for Velis. But if it's the way things are, if you just think about Velis, running away is one of your hands. But I don't have that choice. Because you won't be able to abandon the empire that Fio loves, will you? Protect it because it is the country where you are. It's a country like you, because it's a country I fought with and tried to protect with... I'll protect it."

I said what I should do.

I want to wait until Fio stops crying like this.

But.

I don't have much time left.

I leave my crying fio with Charlotte, and I see more of the Imperial Army heading this way.

I have to put the Imperial side together first.

"I tell all the Imperial Army! Stop on the spot!