I Am Being Mistaken for a Genius Strategist

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DeGale. If we’re talking about powerful nations on the western continent, it surely ranks in the top three.

Fertile farmland, an ocean boasting rich catches. And the splendid dishes made from the ingredients harvested there.

Leaving the empire aside, they carry the pride of being the best on the continent.

And that pride is not just limited to their cuisine.

Just twenty years ago, DeGale nearly unified the western continent.

Although not as strong as the empire, they possessed a formidable army, making it a possibility.

They even referred to themselves as the Great Army, which gives you an idea of their might.

However, that dream was shattered. Dedorant defeated them in the final battle.

Though their nation wasn’t destroyed, their proud advance came to a halt.

It was only natural that they came to view Dedorant as their mortal enemy.

By the way, the Jugel region seized by Dedorant’s Third Prince not long ago is a direct result of that war.

Although their unification of the west fell through, they managed to claim Jugel, a territory that was unclear in its ownership.

What’s more, they didn’t even take it by force; it was won through negotiation.

They immediately began transforming that region into both a defensive line against Dedorant and a valuable territory.

But then Dedorant rose abruptly and snatched it right away.

After giving up that land and taking care of various matters, why are they doing this now?

DeGale’s wrath was bound to erupt, as if it had been festering to the point of bursting.

In the end, they recognized Dedorant as a clear enemy and even formed an alliance with Ross Tanika.

“—That’s what I know about the western continent. Is that satisfactory, Legion Commander?”

“You certainly know your stuff. That’s correct, Prince Kael.”

The one nodding in agreement was the First Legion Commander who had come to greet me.

I heard his loyalty to the Emperor is exceptionally strong.

Not surprisingly, as he is of commoner origin, having risen to this position solely through his abilities—a typical example of a rise through merit.

By the way, the list of commanders is selected by the Ministry of War, but the Emperor’s approval is required for appointments.

So it’s only natural for the First Legion Commander to be devoted to the Emperor who elevated him.

Thus, treating me, who received direct appointment from that Emperor, with the utmost respect was similar.

“Did you convey this matter to the Ministry as well?”

“Of course. They should be arriving soon, I think.”

With the commander’s reply, I nodded and checked the letter I held in my hand.

[ DeGale. Inquiring about the willingness to participate in the Empire’s western front. ]

“Legion Commander, I’ve never been to the west until now. So I have a question.”

“I’ll answer it with great care.”

“Is DeGale a very friendly kingdom towards our Empire? Are they the kind of people who have no qualms in requesting our assistance?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the First Legion Commander immediately responded.

“Neither.”

“Neither?”

“Yes, Prince. While DeGale acknowledges the Empire’s order, it merely bows its head before the Empire’s superiority; it is far from sincere. The same goes for requesting the Empire’s assistance. They are people of great pride, so it would be unlikely for them to do so.”

Upon the commander’s prompt reply, I turned to him.

“In that case, am I correct in my current assumptions?”

“It seems that DeGale must be in dire straits to be lowering themselves to this extent. The situation beyond the borders is clearly unfolding more dramatically than expected.”

DeGale is asking for help. Those mad folks who boast they are the best after the Empire!

If they are setting aside their pride and dignity enough to do this, then it’s not a regular occurrence.

I immediately requested the commander for a map beyond the western border.

“….”

Unlike the east where only three kingdoms remain, the west is littered with various kingdoms.

However, only four nations truly wield significant influence: Dedorant, Atria, DeGale, and Ross Tanika.

These four have similar territories and nearly equal populations. Their national powers are on par with each other.

Amidst this, Dedorant has seen rapid growth. They could even merge with Atria.

If that happens, the balance will be disrupted. Dedorant, having absorbed Atria, would make it impossible for DeGale to stand alone.

Even if they allied with Ross Tanika, their chances of victory would likely hinge on survival rather than winning.

‘If by some chance. Really, if.’

I carefully examined the map and weighed the possibilities.

If Dedorant conquers DeGale by force after merging with Atria.

And if they don’t stop there, but manage to seize Ross Tanika as well.

“First Legion Commander.”

“Yes, Prince.”

“If Dedorant unifies the western continent, what do you think will happen?”

“I would rather not imagine it.”

I feel the same way. If that happens, a nation almost equal to the Empire will be born.

Not just in terms of territory or population, but their military power will rise tremendously.

Perhaps there could be two empires on this continent, where only one existed before.

And if that happens, a massive war will break out to determine the sole empire.

“However, they sent this message the day before your arrival.”

[ Wishing to establish a new peace treaty with the Empire. ] [ Willing to cede parts of the Atria region if the Empire so desires. ]

It is evident that Dedorant is bowing its head toward the Empire.

Even offering to give up land could lead one to feel it’s sincere.

But I quickly grasped their true intentions.

“It’s not Dedorant; it’s Atria.”

They are saying they would give the Atria land to the Empire at their discretion.

What could this possibly mean? They have already reached a decision internally.

They are entirely ready to invade Atria, the moment orders drop.

It’s tantamount to subtly informing the Empire of their intent to annex.

“Legion Commander, are all the pieces of information sent from our spies beyond the border received here?”

“Primarily, yes. It’s simply too risky for them to send directly. We’re receiving it while disguising the process appropriately.”

“Can I see the information gathered until now?”

“Of course. What has already been sent to the Ministry, so you need not worry.”

Thanks to the First Legion Commander’s cooperation and the position conferred by the Emperor, I was able to check the crucial news from the spies effortlessly.

‘Dedorant’s forces continue to expand. Atria is becoming increasingly chaotic. DeGale is also preoccupied with military expansion due to Dedorant.’

It’s clear now. A grand war will soon erupt in the western continent.

It’s not just a matter of proving superiority, like the Empire typically does.

It will be a full-scale offensive. Surrender or resistance. Annexation, occupation. Those will be the main courses of action.

DeGale’s direct inquiry into our Empire regarding the western front is precisely for this reason.

This isn’t just a squabble over territory; it’s a war to devour an entire nation.

Given Dedorant’s unusual rise, they’re sending a message to intervene before the order collapses.

The issue is, from our Empire’s perspective, there are no justifiable reasons whatsoever.

“…Has Dedorant expressed any hostile actions toward the Empire?”

“No, there hasn’t been any such matter. There weren’t even signs of it.”

If Dedorant had provoked our Empire, it would be a different story.

They seem to be putting in every effort to avoid any suspicion of aggression against the only empire existing on the continent.

They claim they will not oppose the order of the lone empire on the continent.

And they have the Third Prince officially declare it, no less.

In such a situation, it’s impossible for our Empire to launch military action to the west.

Couldn’t we simply find some pretext and force our way in?

This isn’t children’s play; without a legitimate cause, nothing will be easy.

In fact, it would only serve to elevate the morale of those who would become our enemies, making it a part to avoid at all costs.

‘No matter how much our imperial troops are not conscripts, without a justifiable cause, we’d be fighting blindly. We won’t be able to muster a proper fighting force.’

This is why our Empire waited until the last moment to engage in battles against the three eastern kingdoms.

Since they declared war, the justification is resolved. Thus, there are no obstacles to projecting our forces.

Furthermore, the atmosphere within the Empire has inclined toward war, so there’s no hurry whatsoever.

In the end, it’s one or the other. Do we interfere without justification to prevent Dedorant’s unchecked reign?

Or do we observe the situation further and move only after securing justification?

Both sides have clear pros and cons. It’s impossible to say one is definitively better than the other.

I wonder if the Emperor appointed me to the position of Military Advisor for such reasons.

‘No matter what, Your Majesty the Emperor, in this situation, I can’t just give a hasty answer.’

With a frustrated heart, I moved to meet the princess.

She was currently visiting the First Legion’s troops.

“Kael. Did everything go well?”

The princess returned from shaking hands with numerous soldiers.

With a busy schedule, a hint of fatigue was clearly visible on her face.

“It was tougher than I expected.”

I then detailed the circumstances thus far to the princess.

As time passed, her expression grew increasingly troubled.

“…It would be wise to take action before a colossal nation capable of challenging the Empire emerges. But doing so would sacrifice the justifications we’ve built thus far.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“This isn’t good. If we raised an army without justification, it wouldn’t just provoke the west but also create a negative atmosphere within the Empire.”

“The military movements have been far too frequent in the last year as well. Following Nobogord, just recently across the entire eastern region. Accurately, I’m not sure, but I suspect a tremendous amount of military expenditure has been poured into it.”

The Empire is indeed a superpower. In terms of territory, population, and military strength.

Not only can it stand alone, but it can also fight off multiple nations.

Yet it’s certainly not invincible. Like any other nation, it suffers losses and experiences bloodshed.

When accumulated, no matter how mighty the Empire is, there comes a limit to endurance.

In this scenario, how should we cope with the west?

Despite earnestly brainstorming with the princess, no good solutions emerged.

If only Dedorant were hostile towards the Empire, we could create an opening for our actions.

*

In conclusion, my worries with the princess were completely futile.

“Your Highness the Princess, and Prince Kael, I just received news from the Ministry. I believe both of you should head south immediately.”

The flames I expected to ignite in the west suddenly flared up first in the south.