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    After sending off the engineering unit, I headed straight to the camp of the Kilghina front army.


    “—Yo, Gin.” (Yuri)


    “Your Excellency Yuri Hou!” (Gin)As I entered themand tent, Gin immediately dropped to his knees and saluted with an exaggerated formality that seemed out of ce for the situation. Seeing theirmander suddenly make an exaggerated gesture, the subordinates frantically followed suit and fell to their knees.


    Frankly, it left me feeling a bit taken aback. Such ceremonial salutes weren’t required during wartime. It was the kind of solemn respect reserved for royal court ceremonies. But then, as I considered the words I was about to speak, it became clear. Gin had deliberately performed that gesture to prepare for what I was about to say.


    “You’ve heard about the full retreat, Gin?” (Yuri)


    “Yes! Please, issue your orders as you see fit!” (Gin)


    “I must ask something difficult of you that the Kilghina front army will serve as the rear guard. Will you take on this role?” (Yuri)


    “It is my highest honor! To repay the debt of gratitude we owe to you for liberating our homnd, now is the time to act!” (Gin)


    The scene in the tent turned into something like a dramatic performance.


    If Gin had hesitated or shown difort at my request, his subordinates might have questioned whether the Hou Household army shouldn’t be the ones taking on such a role. Reluctantly, they might have carried out the unpleasant task. However, by bringing up a debt of honor and dly embracing the role as a noble duty, Gin changed everything. His soldiers would willingly sacrifice their lives in the fight. At this moment, Gin was the epitome of what a leader should be.


    I was fortunate to have such amander by my side. That chance encounter in the forest, it was meant to lead to this moment. The realization filled my heart with gratitude.


    “Good. Then let me speak to you privately for a moment. It won’t take more than three minutes.” (Yuri)


    “Understood! Everyone, clear the tent and wait outside!” (Gin)


    Gin rose, gave a sharp wave of his hand, and barked his orders. His subordinates quicklyplied, striding briskly past me as they exited the tent. Their actions were efficient and precise. Now alone with Gin in the spacious tent, I walked to the central table and ced my hand on it.


    “Sorry… but I want to save the Hou Household forces for the battle against that idiot Liao. They’re familiar with the terrain around the Hou Household’s territory and the capital. They’ll be more effective there.” (Yuri)


    That was a lie or at least, only a small part of the truth. The battles ahead would involve reiming the Hou Household domain, the royalnds, and eventually pushing into the Rube territory. For the Kilghina soldiers Ginmanded, it was all foreign soil. This wasn’t a fight to reim their homnd or capital from hated usurpers.


    So, I wanted to preserve the Hou Household forces and the royal guards, keeping them fresh for the battles ahead. But such thoughts were best left unspoken. Gin likely understood without me saying it, but even so, it wasn’t something to articte aloud.


    “I figured as much.” (Gin)


    Gin said, curling his lips into a wry smile.


    “Very well. I’ll give them a rear-guard performance that will be remembered for generations.” (Gin)


    “You’ll hold the line here.” (Yuri)


    I pointed to a spot on the map, marking a choke point along the retreat route with an X.


    “You mean to pass through Angelica’s domain while fighting?” (Gin)


    “That won’t be necessary. I’ve already negotiated with her camp for safe passage.” (Yuri)


    Hearing that, Gin gave me a look that questioned my sanity.


    “…You’ve got some nerve. It wouldn’t have been surprising if they’d killed you.” (Gin)


    “It’s war. Sometimes amander has to take risks that might cost him his life. That said… the bridge at this spot has just been reported destroyed.” (Yuri)


    I pointed to a bridge along the route he was tasked with defending.


    “So, we’ll all die for nothing?” (Gin)


    Looking at Gin’s face, it was clear he didn’t actually believe that. He was waiting for me to outline my n.


    “Engineers are already on their way for emergency repairs. Don’t worry.” (Yuri)


    “Then, I simply need to buy time until the bridge is finished.” (Gin)


    He was quick to understand.


    “The enemy will be desperate to finish us here. It’s going to be a fierce battle, no doubt.” (Yuri)


    I stated the obvious.


    The defensive position was on a road that cut through a slight dip in the hills. While we had the advantage of upying the high ground first, it wasn’t an overwhelmingly favorable position. Considering the disparity in troop numbers and the enemy’s desperation, it would undoubtedly be a tough fight.


    “If it weren’t a fierce battle, amander wouldn’t make history. In that sense, it’s quite convenient.” (Gin)


    Gin gave a grandiose salute, like an actor ying the lead in a drama.


    “…I understand. I’m counting on you.” (Yuri)


    I ced a hand on Gin’s shoulder as he bowed.


    —


    Eight hourster, I stood before a riverbank crowded with troops waiting for a bridge, while engineers frantically worked on the final stages of its construction in the water.


    Earlier that morning, the engineers had raced to the site, using ropes made from dismantled tents to assist a vanguard team as they forded the river. Stretching the ropes across the 30-40 meter width of the river, the men waded in and began driving stakes into the shallower parts of the riverbed. Halfway through, boats began floating down from upstream. These boats had been released by eagle riders sent to upstream viges with specific orders.


    Alfred and the Papal States had carefully orchestrated this maneuver, ensuring absolute secrecy. If even one vige leader or lord had let slip the n, the operation would have fallen apart. So Alfred didn’t send out a confusing message saying “The Shanti are actually our enemies”, but rather sent out a message saying “The Shanti are our allies”, keeping his true intentions hidden.


    In other words, the vige chiefs and lords upstream were not informed of the true ns. So, when a soldier mounted on an Eagle descended and showed an order that reads, “Take the utmost consideration in the military operations of the Shanti”, every vige easilyplied. From their perspective, disobeying would mean ruthless punishment from Alfred, so disobeying was not an option.


    The boats released upstream floated down and caught on the ropes. The engineers secured them to stakes and anchored them in deeper areas with rocks tied as makeshift anchors. By connecting andying nks over these boats, a pontoon bridge rapidly took shape.


    “Your Excellency!” (Dimitri)


    Dimitri hurriedly approached, saluting as he dismounted from a swift courier horse.


    “The crossing is ready. The units have formed into two lines, and the order of passage has been strictly enforced. We’re prepared to move quickly.” (Dimitri)


    “It seems so. That’s fine.” (Yuri)


    I said this while ring at the site of the emergency bridge construction.


    They were working with all their might. Even knowing that, the progress felt painfully slow. The longer it took, the more Kilghina soldiers would die. I had just surveyed the scene from above. The valiant efforts of the Kilghina forces led by Gin were remarkable. However, they wouldn’t be able to hold out forever.


    “Your Excellency, we share your anger. We will surely deliver a crushing blow to the Rube Household.” (Dimitri)


    Dimitri remarked.


    <em>Had my grim expression made me appear furious? </em>


    “No, what I’m angry about is myself. Leaving that fool unchecked and leaving our household wide open.” (Yuri)


    <em>Had I, deep down, believed in Liao? I don’t know anymore. It feels like I did, and yet it also feels like I didn’t. Saying I shouldn’t have believed is mere hindsight after the fact. One thing is certain. When Kien died, I should have re-evaluated the Rube Household as an organization. A change in leadership naturally alters the character of an organization. Even if I couldn’t assess the danger immediately upon Liao bing the head, I should have at least re-evaluated the situation.</em>


    “My failures are being paid for now in the blood and lives of Kilghina soldiers.” (Yuri)


    “War is a realm where even the greatest geniuses, despite their best efforts, still witness loss of life.” (Dimitri)


    “That’s true. But…” (Yuri)


    <em>There is a way to die. Dying while holding the rear guard in a foreignnd is not something anyone would wish for.</em>


    “Your Excellency… With respect, if you have time to regret your mistakes, it would be more productive to devise a strategy for retaking Sibyaku. Regretting now won’t reduce the number of Kilghina soldiers dying. However, it may help save lives in the next war that lies just ahead.” (Dimitri)


    Dimitri made a painfully valid point.


    “You’re right. Entirely so.” (Yuri)


    <em>Truly, I am blessed with excellent subordinates.</em>


    “Are you feeling anxious?” (Dimitri)


    “About what?” (Yuri)


    “Heh, you’re not used to making mistakes and being resented by your subordinates. I, on the other hand, am quite ustomed to it.” (Dimitri)


    “…Well, perhaps. I have been harsh on you all.” (Yuri)


    <em>If I had detected it in time, I could have avoided shedding even a single drop of blood. Now, however, blood flows like a raging river. It is meaningless blood. Unlike before, when it was shed willingly to defend the homnd, this is different.</em>


    “The failure to detect the Rube Household’s betrayal is also on us.” (Dimitri)


    “You all need only focus on war. Watching over politics is my responsibility.” (Yuri)


    “Even so, human abilities have their limits. We wouldn’t me you, Your Excellency, for not wielding godlike foresight. Trusting arade of simr age who has fought alongside you since your first campaign. Well, that’s rather human and endearing, isn’t it? If you had trusted him not even a little, it would scare the subordinates instead.” (Dimitri)


    “Well, that’s true.” (Yuri)


    <em>Arade of simr age who fought alongside me since my first campaign. Indeed, that is undeniably true, without a single word of disagreement. Gin has been under mymand ever since being dispatched as an observation unit to Kilghina.</em>


    “Now then, it’s about time we move. We’ll cross in sequence after the cavalry unit finishes.” (Dimitri)


    “Yes. Have them procure food from the nearby viges beforehand, while they are still cooperative.” (Yuri)


    “Understood. Then, I’ll take my leave.” (Dimitri)


    Dimitri gave a casual salute and left the tent.


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