I Am Being Mistaken for a Genius Strategist

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Three kingdoms located in the East. Among them, the most powerful is Burgai.

With the largest territory and population, it has become the biggest chunk in the alliance.

Facing the Empire with the most borders, its military power is also the strongest among the three.

Using the initiative it gained, it has been leading the alliance with the loudest voice.

Recently, it soared to new heights after defeating the Imperial 7th Legion.

Although there were significant casualties among its own troops, a victory is a victory!

It was the formidable Imperial 7th Legion, the elite that was driven back with fierce resistance!

The news brought joy not only to the Kingdom People but also to the kingdom’s leadership.

“Alright! If we push just a little more, even if we don’t win the war, we can muster enough will to endure!”

“Those good-for-nothing Kaden folks and those from Polrand who only ruined the Pavilion region can no longer challenge our Burgai’s authority. If they do, they’d be considered traitors to the alliance!”

“If we can achieve victory just once more, the Empire will surely be forced to negotiate with us!”

In any case, there’s not much to extract from the Empire. In fact, there’s hardly anything at all.

But through this advantage, Burgai can secure the most valuable of all:

Time. Justification. The name of Burgai, the victor of the East, not just the three countries of the East.

Until now, there had been an ambiguous and uncomfortable relationship among the three kingdoms.

Each side was quietly clamping down on the overgrowth of the others while ceaselessly keeping watch.

The Empire is fearsome, but what weighs on my mind even more is seeing someone similar to me suddenly flourish.

To be honest, this wasn’t the plan from the beginning. But the situation got strange.

The weaknesses of Polrand were revealed in the Pavilion region, and we immediately began to feast upon them.

Kaden also joined in on tearing into Polrand’s soft flesh.

With justification in hand, there aren’t many opportunities to act legally like this.

And now, while it is a mere technical victory against the Imperial 7th Legion, win we did!

So, Burgai has positioned itself as the leading figure of this alliance.

No, it has begun dreaming of becoming the single grand kingdom of the East, rather than merely one of the three.

“To take one more step closer to our dream, we need just one decisive victory.”
“Against the Empire, just once more. If we show our Burgai’s might once again!!”

Amidst this, a shocking piece of news reached the leadership of Burgai.

“The Empire’s Princess is with the 7th Legion?!”

“Yes. Because of her, the morale that had been depleted in the 7th Legion is now surging back!”

“Is it certain?”

“The scouts report that just getting close to them shows their fervor and cheers are so overwhelming that it’s almost impossible to approach recklessly.”

After all the hardship and losses endured, the 7th Legion they had pushed back was revived.

This was not merely a supply of resources and troops from the Empire’s secondary force.

Their morale has returned. Their spirit is sharp. As if they had never tasted defeat.

Rather, they are ignited with a burning desire for revenge and combat.

In this way, the situation for Burgai becomes quite complicated.

If they were to lose against those they had worked so hard to defeat, the morale of their own troops would truly be shattered.

Not only that, but the elevated atmosphere within their borders could come crashing down all at once.

Having issued checks all over the place with one victory, they could be facing the consequences.

Thus, from the King of Burgai to the lowest commander,

It was only natural they would all harbor the same thought in their hearts.

“We must win at all costs. By any means necessary, we must!”

“The 7th Legion is approaching again. The only fortunate thing is that there’s a considerable distance between them and the Imperial Legion following behind. This is our last chance. We must achieve victory somehow!”

As the urgency began to consume all of Burgai,

Another unwelcome piece of news arrived.

“Among the approaching 7th Legion is a young strategist. And that strategist is the same one who showcased remarkable tactics against our allied forces in the Pavilion region!”
“Before that, in the conflict between the Empire and Nobogord, they also are the one who utterly crushed the fierce Demons with just two moves!”
“It is said that they are also the one whose tactics turned the dying spirit of the 7th Legion into a volcano of fervor!!”

The 7th Legion was not the only issue. The Princess behind them was not everything.

Something larger and more serious awaited them, unseen to the naked eye.

A young strategist, said to have influenced everywhere they went, was accompanying them.

Hearing this, the military of Burgai had no choice but to heighten their vigilance.

“We need more troops. No strategy can overcome an advantage!”
“Let us concentrate all of the kingdom’s resources. Everything depends on this one battle.”
“If we win against the Empire’s Legion again, we will gain not just the recognition of defeating the Imperial forces twice but also the fame of having taken down the Empire’s Princess and a genius strategist!”

One step. Just one more step. If we can manage that, we can seize it all.

The position of victor in the East and the authority of being a great power that even the Empire cannot ignore.

Complete obedience from neighboring countries that have always meddled every time the kingdom tried to rise.

This was the future that Burgai had long dreamed of, desired by everyone from the King to the ordinary Kingdom People.

Thus, it became all the more clear that it was only natural to not look back in pursuit of that possibility.

“Gather all rear forces and reserves.”

“However, if we do that, the rear guard will…”

“The main forces of Kaden are nearby anyway. And Polrand’s capabilities are already greatly diminished. No matter what schemes they may be plotting, they cannot threaten our Burgai. What matters now is dealing with the Empire’s Legion that has just appeared before us!”

They redirect reinforcements that were to be sent to the Pavilion region.

After all, that area is currently stagnant, so it is more than sufficient as is.

They gather all troops except for the basic forces stationed at the Kaden and Polrand borders.

The 7th Legion is coming. With the Princess’s presence and the genius strategist joining them, their morale has surged.

Even behind them, the Empire’s secondary forces are likely to arrive. An additional two legions will follow.

The pressure from that is tremendous. Burgai ignited the will to resist to the utmost.

“Everyone, recall the recent battle! We achieved victory against the Empire’s Legion. It will be the same this time! Let’s show them yet another defeat!”
“The might of the Empire’s Legion is all a façade! You made it so, and it will be the same this time!”

Observing the situation, it seems the 7th Legion is preparing to attack Burgai once more with their spearhead.

So obviously, there will be a Princess and a strategist involved. Everyone in Burgai was convinced of that.

Thus, they clumped their forces together as much as possible. First to defend, and then to immediately counterattack.

This time, they were resolved to pursue and annihilate them completely.

If fortune smiles upon them, they might even be able to capture the Princess.

If that happens, negotiating with the Empire would become much easier.

“Report! The Imperial 7th Legion has revealed itself!”

Finally. Finally, the time for the decisive battle has come. The moment to determine fate arrives.

So once again, all of Burgai prepared to rekindle their will.

“Urgent news! A crisis has arisen in the Pavilion region!!”

*

It all began with Kaden, the right flank of the alliance stationed in the Pavilion region.

“It’s the Imperial Army! The Imperial Army is approaching!!”

“What?!”

“What are you talking about! The Imperial Army?!”

Currently, the attackers in the Pavilion region are the coalition of the three kingdoms.

The Empire is focused on defense, as their grand strategy is to maintain the region.

But now they’ve shifted to offense? No, even before that?

“There’s been no news from the Polrand camp! When the Imperial Army moves, aren’t they supposed to encounter Polrand first?!”

The middle forces of the coalition, Polrand. They had been responsible for the Imperial 12th Legion’s stronghold.

With a clear route of advance, the enemy had to encounter the coalition’s center.

Whether Polrand won or lost, any news should have reached them.

But why? Why hasn’t there been any communication from the Polrand camp?

‘…Could it be, they really have switched sides?!’

A flicker of hope emerged. It was unbelievable. The Polrand folks aren’t so foolish.

Their territories are blocked by both Burgai and Kaden from joining forces with the Empire.

Even if they had a sea route, they would still have to pass through the navies of both kingdoms.

For that reason, suspicion towards Polrand remained shadowed, but no military action was taken.

They were convinced that provoking them would lead to nothing good.

In this way, Kaden considered it quite rational.

The one thing they failed to understand is that from Polrand’s perspective, this was not rational at all.

Once suspicion arises, negative scenarios naturally come to mind.

If the issue is between individuals, it might be different, but this is about nations.

Ultimately, there’s no choice but to think of the worst. They must choose the path that favors survival.

‘Could they really think the Empire would offer them a better price for their services than the alliance?’

Grasping the situation is one thing, but for now, they must deal with the Imperial troops that have closed in.

At that moment, as Kaden’s commanders and soldiers were about to engage in combat with stern expressions…

“….”

“…”

Gazing at each other, the two armies began to stand off without any fighting spirit.

In the distance, the Polrand troops were retreating. The Empire did not pursue them.

They don’t even fight against them. They merely block them, while the rest move towards Burgai.

Thus, while Kaden fell into chaos, the command realized the Empire’s intent far too late.

“Stand back.”

And soon they could see.

The Empire’s secondary force, which they had thought would remain behind the 7th Legion, was now entering this place, the Pavilion region.

Surely they believed it was stagnant here. Surely they thought it wouldn’t break through.

This very Pavilion region was the stage heralding both the start and the end of this war.