I Became the Strategist the Monarchs Obsess Over

Chapter 36

"Because I fear you."

This was an answer I had not expected at all. Fear me? Why?

"I do not fear the Crown Prince or the Duchess of Flos. The Crown Prince is nothing more than a clown with a large and well-equipped army, and the Duchess of Flos lacks personal strength and leadership, making her unable to take the battlefield herself. One day, that will be her Achilles' heel. But if you were to side with the Crown Prince or the Duchess of Flos... that is what I fear."

Ah... now I understand. If I were to align myself with the Crown Prince, I could fully exploit the numerical advantage of his army. And if I were to side with the Duchess of Flos... I could provide the entire army with expensive firearms and literally crush the opposition with money.

"I spent all night thinking of a way to win. I stayed up for days and nights imagining a fight with you that has not yet occurred. The conclusion I reached is that if you were to join another faction, I would lose."

"..."

You've given me quite the generous overestimation.

"But."

She smiled at me.

"If you and I were on the same side, we would be the only ones in this world possessing new technology, allowing us to monopolize it. That would lead to victory."

That... might be true. At present, only the Princess and I recognize the value of the musket. Sure, there might be some technicians who understand it, but among the future military leaders, it was just the two of us.

"I won't ask you to join my forces immediately. Joining a small faction would be a burden for you too, right? Especially one that could collapse at any moment. So..."

"So?"

"I decided to make a good impression for now. This key is proof of that."

Ah... so that's what it was.

Honestly, I'm not sure if I will be able to repay the Princess's goodwill. That depends entirely on her, not me. I will join her faction if it grows strong enough, but if another faction comes closer to world conquest, I will join them. However...

"Your Majesty."

"What is it?"

"I cannot promise to join Your Majesty's forces, but I will repay this debt someday."

In some form or another, I must repay this favor. That thought crossed my mind.

-----

"This is Professor Eckhart von Mercatz, the new Tactics Major professor. Professor Dian de Balboa suffered severe injuries in the previous battle, and until Professor Dian recovers, Professor Mercatz has been invited from Petrio Academy to temporarily take on the position."

Due to Professor Dian de Balboa's injuries and subsequent recuperation, the Tactics Major position was left vacant. It was decided that a professor from another academy would temporarily fill the position until Dian returned.

Eckhart von Mercatz was a dignified old man. He was slightly tall, around 175 to 180 cm, with a generally muscular build. His age was ambiguous—too old to be middle-aged, yet too young to be elderly.

And I knew Professor Mercatz's story well. In his youth, he was a prominent figure who traveled to various border regions, excelling in suppressing rebellions. Although he was now retired and serving as a professor.

"I am Eckhart von Mercatz. I don't know if I am qualified to teach the Empire's finest elite gathered here, but I will do my best until Professor Dian de Balboa returns, so please take care of me."

Though he spoke humbly, this man was no ordinary individual. In the storyline, he was capable of landing a blow against Princess Leonia at her peak.

In the original game's storyline, Professor Mercatz taught for about three months before returning to his original academy. When he left, it was said the students greatly regretted his departure. While the previous Professor Dian de Balboa was somewhat strict and tight with grades, Professor Mercatz treated the students like a neighborhood grandfather.

And thus, his first lecture began. As expected, it was about mercenary tactics and strategies. The class involved revisiting past battles and discussing what choices generals leading each force should have made.

Professor Mercatz's class was quite fascinating. While I already knew a lot about the game through its story and lore, hearing it from one of the game's top generals left a lasting impression.

However, there was something odd. When Professor Mercatz posed questions to the students during class...

"Here, General Hihon won two battles but was still labeled a failed commander. Why do you think that is?"

When no one answered,

"Hmm, let's see... Student Charles Jean Rochefort? Can you answer?"

He skimmed through the attendance sheet and called my name.

"Uh... it was because the fundamental strategic plan was flawed from the beginning. After winning the battles, General Hihon planned to immediately march to the capital and capture it, but this plan was doomed to fail. The first problem was the defensive strength of Capital Arcadia's triple walls, and the second was the extended supply lines between the fallen Aspania Empire and the Arcadia Empire. As a result, although they besieged Capital Arcadia, they couldn't take it and wasted time without achieving any significant accomplishments. Eventually, the prolonged campaign drained Aspania's national power, leading to its destruction. If General Hihon had focused on an overwhelming victory in the battles to intimidate the enemy, then pursued territorial negotiations, Aspania might not have fallen. Instead, it could have been the Arcadia Empire that collapsed."

I shared my thoughts, and Professor Mercatz broke into a wide grin, nodding in satisfaction.

Honestly, I thought this was a coincidence. But as the class continued...

"At this point, General Pairo's battle against the Eastern Continent is considered the worst blunder of his career. Does any cadet know why? Hmm... Student Charles Jean Rochefort?"

He called on me again.

"At this time, the Empire was almost divided into three parts, but thanks to the efforts of Duke Flegel, a subordinate of the Second Prince, the Empire was reunified. Does any cadet know the main strategy Duke Flegel used to achieve reunification? Hmm... Student Charles Jean Rochefort?"

And then he called on me again.

I could manage a couple of answers off the top of my head, but as the questions continued, my brain became fatigued. By the end of the class, I was utterly drained.

"What's with this guy... Does he have a grudge against me?"

It was strange. In the original lore, Professor Mercatz was depicted as a man of great character. So why was he picking on me? Exhausted and perplexed, I went to the campus cafe to drink coffee. That's when an unexpected individual spoke to me.

"Student Charles Jean Rochefort."

The person addressing me was none other than Professor Mercatz.

"Y-Yes?"

While silently cursing him in my head, I hesitated momentarily, and then he asked,

"Would it be rude if I sat here for a moment?"

"Please, sit."

He sat across from me. An awkward silence lingered for a while. He kept observing me, and I awkwardly drank my coffee under his gaze.

Just as I thought I might choke from the tension, Professor Mercatz spoke.

"I've spent my entire life on the battlefield."

I already knew that. General Mercatz's story was quite dramatic. Born into poverty, he had to start as a common soldier to avoid starving. Yet, his talent was undeniable, and through continuous accomplishments, he eventually became a general.

"At times, I've served as a common soldier, other times as an officer, sometimes as a strategist, and sometimes as a general. I pride myself in having experienced more diverse roles than anyone else in the military."

"Yes..."

That was true. Rising from a common soldier to a general was no small feat. While there were many famous generals, most of them were privileged individuals born into good families. Few started as common soldiers.

"This old body has lived a long time, but I've never met someone like you."

"Yes."

"But now, I feel like I've encountered someone for the first time."

"Pardon?"

What was he talking about now?

"I apologize if I've made you uncomfortable, but one can't help but hear rumors. I know a little about your background, Student Charles Jean Rochefort. They say your family lost its territory in your grandfather's time and was already in decline by your father's era."

"Yes, that's true..."

"Even in such circumstances, your determination and accomplishments have made you a figure of interest among many rulers. Seeing your indomitable spirit reminds me of my younger days."

"Ah..."

Maybe I had misunderstood him all along. I thought this old man was grilling me with questions to torment me, but it seemed he was actually impressed by me.

"So here's my proposal."

After a brief pause, he continued.

"Have you heard of Petrio Academy?"

"Yes. It's not as prestigious as Arcadia Academy, but I've heard it's still a highly regarded institution."

It's an academy for those who lack the background to enter Arcadia Academy.

"I also teach there as a professor. Would you have any interest in joining my lectures as a guest lecturer?"

Huh? What does that mean?