Episode 147: Dream in the game becomes reality

36. Skirmish (2)

Unlike his father, the current emperor, Prince Andre ascended to the position of successor without much risk or difficulty.

Therefore, to him who had only been moving people around like chess pieces in a safe place until now, the current situation was a threat he had never felt before.

When Count Patrick, the Auror Master who sometimes displayed harsh language but was genuine in his loyalty, met death so easily, the Crown Prince fell into a panic.

"Protect Your Majesty!"

The guards standing like a folding screen quickly responded to the sight of the crown prince.

A beam of blue light emitted from the Force Sword flew towards the black eagle, which flew to protect the prince.

-Pot!

However, when white light flashed again from the black eagle, the trajectories of the forces that flew in like lightning were distorted, failing to hit the target and only destroying the balcony.

"majesty!"

Meanwhile, the white light flying from the black eagle instantly attacked the prince, and the Vanguards poured auras into their force armor and built a human barrier to block the attack.

-Go go go.

Vanguard's defense is enough to withstand two or three rounds of 7th circle anti-magic magic as long as it avoids direct hits.

However, the Vanguards, who took up hand-to-hand defense to protect the crown prince, sensed death from the enormous energy contained in the white light.

-Quaaaaaang!

With a powerful explosion, flesh and blood flew everywhere.

"Aaaah!"

The crown prince forgot all his pain and screamed desperately as he was met with a barrage of fire from the guards who had been face to face for a long time.

However, as if mocking the guards' sacrificial spirit, despite their efforts, the enemy's attack could not reach the crown prince.

This is because the imperial treasure he wore to prevent assassination protected him.

An artifact that automatically deploys an 8-circle grand shield.

"iced coffee… … ."

Even if Count Patrick and his Vanguard guards had not sacrificed their lives for him, the Crown Prince would not have died under the protection of the artifact.

If he had reacted a little more calmly, his subordinates would not have died in vain like this.

Of course, their deaths cannot be described as dog deaths.

I couldn't just trust the artifact and neglect the prince.

[It's a shame.]After failing to assassinate the crown prince, the black eagle attempted to launch a series of attacks... … .

Fortunately, there was no third attack.

-Quaaang! bang! Quang!

This is because the Sky Fortress, which protects the Imperial Magic Tower, defined the Black Eagles as enemies and began bombing them.

[You'd better always watch your back.]With that last line, the black eagle disappeared into a puff of smoke amidst the pouring bombardment, and the blood-covered crown prince collapsed on the spot without realizing it.

The vanguards surrounded the frightened prince in double and triple circles, supported him, and began to run away.

"W-what's going on?"

"There was an assassination attempt! "We must quickly bring His Highness the Crown Prince to the imperial castle."

The crown prince's protection became even stronger as the magic tower's great wizards arrived late and joined the guard, but rather than being relieved, he looked tired and took in the blood-covered sight of the magic tower's office.

Just two attacks.

However, those two attacks greatly shocked the crown prince.

-thud!

Just like that, the people, including the crown prince, disappeared, and the ceiling of the ruined Magic Tower office collapsed, burying the cold bodies.

Naturally, the incident of that day, which took place in the middle of the city, made headlines.

[Assassination attempt against André de Croesen, Crown Prince of the Croesian Empire. The crown prince survived safely, but in the process, 2nd Guard Commander Count Patrick and eight vanguards died.] [The emperor, nobles, and people of the Croesian Empire were all angry! The Crown Prince points out Duke Lawrence as the culprit!?] [Duke Lawrence, who has been pointed out as the culprit, is reacting consistently, saying it is absurd and asking what kind of trick this is.] [Crown Prince of Croisen: On the balcony of the Magic Tower, he sees a black eagle speaking in the voice of Duke Lawrence. saw. As the eagle's eyes flashed, attacks of more than 7 circles poured out. I think it was the black eagle raised by Duke Lawrence.] [Duke Lawrence: It looks like the crown prince needs medical treatment. Please present clear evidence that I am the culprit.]Public opinion related to this heated up with the naming of the culprit and a battle over the truth about him.

Of course, the emperor responded high-handedly, saying he would not leave it alone, but Adrian's response further excited the Croesian Empire.

[I'm not the criminal, but I wonder if the criminal was like that. Aren't these all the profits of the Croesian Empire? For your information, if I had decided to kill the crown prince, he wouldn't have been able to keep his mouth shut like this.]How many people would dare make such remarks against the Emperor and Crown Prince of the Croesian Empire?

Thanks to this, Adrian's reaction became more of a topic of discussion around the world than the attempted assassination of the Crown Prince of the Croesian Empire.

And this was recognized as an event that made it possible to more clearly feel the change in the Reinharts Kingdom's attitude toward the Croesen Empire.

[The Kingdom of Reinharts will definitely pay for its wanton attitude on the battlefield.]Even if there was no evidence, everyone had no choice but to believe that Duke Adrian L. Laurence was the culprit.

Nevertheless, there was nothing else the Croesian Empire could do, so they closed their mouths for the last time and began preparing for war even more.

* * *

Reinharts Kingdom royal conference.

I reacted calmly to the many nobles who looked at me with puzzled expressions, asking what was going on.

The nobles all shook their heads in disgust, and my father, who was participating for the first time in a royal meeting that only high-ranking nobles could attend, lowered his head, covering his face with both hands as if embarrassed.

'I was just scaring you.'

In the first place, I had no intention of killing the crown prince.

It would be bothersome if the emperor, who lost his temper over the death of the crown prince, did something unexpected.

"Now, let's talk about future responses."

King Michael applauded and revived the atmosphere of the conference hall.

The purpose of this meeting is to convey opinions on the war with the Croesian Empire.

So, lords of territories with low titles but strong military power were invited along with high-ranking nobles, and the reason my father is here now is because he had military power at the level of a count.

"Is war a fait accompli?"

"That's right. "The time has come to put an end to the tyranny of the Croesen Empire that is getting worse every day."

It is true that the Kingdom of Reinharts' hard-line response incited the war, but we simply returned their attacks.

If we raise troops as an issue, it only means that it was a war that would eventually break out.

Although the timing was a little earlier than expected, it was a problem, but it didn't change anything.

Rather, we are better prepared for war than the Croesen Empire.

We will use this opportunity to escape from the tyranny of the Croesen Empire.

"This war will not end at the level of a local war. "It will be a war of occupation to steal territory."

All the nobles attending the meeting hardened their expressions as they heard King Michael's story.

"Looking at the situation in the Croesian Empire, it seems like they are planning to end the war by taking control of the western part of our kingdom."

"Shouldn't we get help from our allies?"

It is a valid opinion.

That is the way our kingdom has been until now.

However, the new King Michael had a different way of thinking from the previous dynasties.

"No, this time we will fight the war with our own strength."

"Why?"

"If Croesen's war goal was to weaken our kingdom's national power, Reinharts' war goal this time is the destruction of the empire."

The nobles swallowed their breath and became agitated at the declaration-like announcement.

It was natural.

King Michael had declared that he would conquer the Creusen Empire.

"Is that possible?"

"If it wasn't possible, I wouldn't be so proud."

And King Michael's eyes turned to me.

A response asking for further explanation.

The nobles looked at him as if 'Is it because of you again' that the king made such a claim.

After easily subduing those nobles with the help of my eyes, I explained the plan for this war.

"Our military's concept is 'extraordinary.'"

Even without saying anything, everyone responded that it was a concept that suited me well.

However, the following explanation changed the mood of the audience.

Everyone was embarrassed, wondering if it was too dangerous.

"We are not obligated to fight the war on the date they set. Therefore, let's try to be the aggressor rather than the invader."

"Well, what you're saying is that we attack first before the empire moves…" … ."

"Simple, right?"

"That's too reckless!"

The Marquis of Trenton, who had played the role of a traitor helping the Crown Prince during the last civil war but was unable to do anything and had not gained much after the war ended, objected to my remarks.

At that, I let out a small sigh.

"Everyone knows that home ground has an advantage in war. Even our military is more accustomed to defensive warfare than offensive warfare."

"He who knows… … ."

"But to put it another way, the Croesian Empire Army is an army accustomed to offense, just as our army is accustomed to defense."

After meeting with me, Marquis Otis, who had become one of the four marquis, responded that he did not know what the problem was.

"How can that be a reason for a war of aggression?"

"For our kingdom's army, which is behind the empire in military power, to win, we must not fight a war that the enemy can predict. We must go on a thorough attack, push them back, and force the panicked Croesen Empire army to focus on defense. In other words, we are taking the lead in the war."

"But didn't you say that our military is not used to attacks?"

"Wouldn't it be somewhat resolved if we just thoroughly practiced our attacks during the remaining preparation period? Even if we practice attack, the enemy will not practice defense."

A reaction that seems understandable at first glance, but is difficult to accept.

I said I understood and added further explanation.

"You must not forget. "In terms of one-point attack power, we have no choice but to have an advantage over the empire."

I looked at Grand Master Gabriel Duke Duke and Arsia.

Then, the nobles above the Marquis who received the information that Arcia had become a Grand Master showed an expression of understanding, but the nobles below that level tilted their heads.

"Well, it seems like if you catch the enemy off-guard and catch them off guard, you could inflict a lot of damage... … . "Isn't there another reason why our kingdom insisted on defensive warfare?"

When the Marquis of Trenton pointed it out again, I nodded, saying I knew.

"The size of the army?"

"That's right. "Our army is only 65% ​​of the strength of Croisen's."

It is absurd for a small army to choose to invade.

But I smiled and said that it was a problem that could be easily solved.

"That's only when comparing the entire military."

"yes?"

"Unlike our kingdom, which is surrounded by allies, they are surrounded by hostile countries everywhere. "It even borders Dragon Land to the south."

When the Marquis of Trenton responded that he did not understand, the Marquis of Aragon, the current king's maternal grandfather, spoke for some reason.

"Are you really saying that we should not look back and project all the power of the kingdom towards the Croesian Empire?"

"That's right."

The nobles all widened their eyes at that.

They deny it, saying it cannot happen.

Well, of course.

My argument was to raise all the border forces of other countries and use them in the war against the Croesian Empire.

"Isn't it too dangerous for you? "Then wouldn't it be the same as opening our kingdom's borders to the other four bordering countries, excluding the Croesian Empire?"

"Unlike those guys, most of our neighboring countries are allies. "Would they attack an ally with whom they were friendly just because they temporarily evacuated their troops from the border?"

A crazy operation that really suits the concept of extraordinary circumstances.

"On the other hand, it is not easy for them to take out the armies from Dragon Land, Lucias Kingdom, and Jordi Kingdom. Excluding the armies in these three regions, our kingdom's army will temporarily gain the upper hand in size."

"In the end, if they thought they were at a disadvantage, they would mobilize their army too… … ."

"If that happens, it means that the victory has already been in our favor. Then the Kingdom of Lucias and the Kingdom of Jordi will also try to take advantage."

High risk, high return.

Isn't this an expression that perfectly suits the current operation?

The nobles who heard my shocking plan eagerly tapped their calculators.

I encouraged those nobles and helped them with their calculations.

"Our military's preemptive strike that the enemy didn't expect. A fighting method unfamiliar to the enemies. And if we had the superiority in troops, wouldn't it be harder to count defeat?"

Even those who had reacted negatively to the easy cleanup swallowed their saliva and nodded without thinking.

I finished explaining the strategy with a grin, and the nobles trembled at that.

"Then it has been decided."

The nobles who were suddenly persuaded did not object much.

It seemed quite possible.

Once the situation was somewhat settled, King Michael, who had been silent, came forward.

"The key to this war is speed and protecting information to prevent operations from leaking out. Sorry, but until the war begins, you will remain in the castle and your every action will be controlled. "Do you understand?"

The expressions on the faces of the nobles attending the meeting became distorted.

To maintain confidentiality, they were a kind of hostage to easily control each territory.

Although it was not revealed in advance, the active support of the lords was a basic element of this war.