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The continent flows on, regardless of how it may turn.

In that unceasing stream, Kaya celebrated her sixteenth birthday.

It was a day filled with joy, yet the birthday girl Kaya found it impossible to smile.

“Where’s Brother Kael…?”

Not long after returning from the East, my brother had already departed for the West.

I was relieved, assuming it wouldn’t take long and I had even said my goodbyes.

(Of course, I did get caught trying to follow him and got scolded by the Duchess.)

However, unsettling news started coming in from the South.

At the same time, my brother’s deployment shifted from the West to the South.

Soon after, he would head to the Southern Kingdom, fulfilling a role as an officer with the Legion.

Upon hearing that news, Kaya couldn’t hold back any longer and let out her frustrations.

“His Majesty the Emperor is too much! Why does he keep making Brother Kael suffer!”

“Oh dear! Kaya! What treasonous words are those!”

“But it’s true! His Majesty won’t let Brother Kael come home!”

Kaya recalled her father’s busy days when she was younger.

It was painful enough back then, but now with her brother too, it was heart-wrenching.

To make matters worse, he was so busy he couldn’t even use the communication tubes.

If she had known it would turn out like this, she would have stubbornly insisted on following him.

She had surely made some contributions throughout the East; surely the Ministry of War would understand by now.

As Kaya grumbled internally and moved toward the birthday banquet, suddenly—

“Miss! Lady Kaya!”

Due to various circumstances, Alexei, who could not accompany Kael, rushed over.

“…What’s wrong?”

“Look! Look at this!”

With heavy breaths, Alexei handed her a single sheet of news.

Kaya stared at it with a sullen face before picking it up.

Then, her eyes widened as she quickly skimmed through the contents, bewildered—

“…Heh.”

As though her mood had brightened instantly, she broke into a wide smile.

[ Benito’s 50,000 troops annihilated. ]

[ The Imperial 6th Legion and 13th Legion achieve a great victory. ]

[ Kael Clausewitz lured the Benito army into a trap and then encircled and annihilated them. ]

Hearing that news brought joy not only to Kaya.

“Ha ha ha!”

The Emperor, who had been closely watching the South, let out a delighted laugh.

He had originally expected this, but it exceeded even those expectations.

Through clever strategies, he sowed division among the Southern Kingdoms and subsequently succeeded in reclaiming his land.

While not everything could be credited solely to Kael, it could not be said that his role had been insignificant either.

That alone was enough to prove his worth.

But Kael seemed to believe it wasn’t nearly enough.

The Empire had mobilized; it wouldn’t make sense to stop here.

He had quelled the momentum of Nobogord, yet there had been no victories along the way.

They had won throughout the East, but that was primarily due to their internal divisions.

Perhaps that was the reason why both the Empire and his capabilities could come into question.

Was that what Kael had thought, the Emperor pondered.

“He thinks a great victory is necessary. He surely must want a monumental achievement to showcase the Empire’s might.”

Reviewing the process, it was truly astounding.

When checking the after-action reports, it was spine-chilling.

He had separated the 6th and 13th Legions, causing the enemy to miscalculate their forces.

Meanwhile, rumors were spread that the 13th Legion was storming through Benito with overwhelming force.

In front of the flustered Benito troops, the 6th Legion stood resolute as if they would never let them pass.

Not in the usual formation, but in a defensive line.

Ordinarily, they would have picked up on such suspicion and would have hesitated to engage.

After all, the opponent was not some ragtag group but the Imperial Legion itself; would they suddenly form a defensive line for no reason?

However, Benito was too troubled by their situation to think about such things.

They had to retreat. But even retreating posed problems. It was all problematic.

If they could clear away even one obstacle in their path, they had to try.

With their defensive line formed, surely if they could just win, it would be the best outcome!

“Yes. This. This is what got me to sigh in relief.”

It wasn’t just the strategy; this time Kael showcased his talents splendidly once more.

He stirred the enemy’s hearts, forcing them into decisions, and maneuvered according to his plans.

It wasn’t that they were unaware, but rather they had to succumb to the chilling precision of his strike.

“Your Majesty.”

The Crown Princess and Crown Prince approached after greeting the Emperor.

The Emperor, smiling, shared news about Kael with the two.

Ah, no, shouldn’t he refer to them as his brother-in-law and sister-in-law now? Either way.

“The reason you insisted on sending the 13th Legion right near Benito is revealed now.”

The Crown Princess wore a gentle smile as she spoke.

Once again, she acknowledged that granting Kael the officer position was indeed the Emperor’s foresight.

“I never expected the defensive line to be used in this manner. To throw an irresistible bait and then secretly detach the cavalry of the 13th Legion to strike Benito from behind…”

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince, Gnaius, appeared lost in thought for a moment.

The Emperor, noticing his concerns, looked at his son as if to inquire if something was wrong.

“Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Speak up. What troubles you?”

“…”

Was it right to open my mouth and disrupt this fine atmosphere?

Gnaius hesitated for a moment, but he couldn’t remain silent now.

The Emperor had given him a command, and he needed to reveal his thoughts.

“While it’s fortunate that things worked out well, I am concerned that it was dangerously close.”

“Hmm.”

“I lack knowledge about the army, but I understand that encirclement tactics are quite difficult. If the cavalry of the 13th Legion had been late, it could have been disastrous. Had the 6th Legion crumbled before that, given that they had deployed an entrenched formation…”

Gnaius’s concern wasn’t unfounded; it carried a measure of logic.

Had the 6th Legion been overwhelmed by Benito’s attack, the ensuing chaos would have been catastrophic.

In normal circumstances, they might have retreated, but with an entrenched formation, that wasn’t even an option.

A fleeting moment could spell doom, and that could sweep away the entire 6th Legion.

Even if the cavalry of the 13th Legion arrived afterward, it would be problematic.

An already crumbled 6th Legion would no longer be able to serve as a bastion.

And a hammer without a anvil would struggle to deliver force no matter how many times it was swung.

“I understand your words. It’s fortunate the outcome was favorable, but I share similar concerns about the process.”

“My apologies, Your Majesty. I merely…”

“Crown Princess.”

The Emperor called for his successor, and the Crown Princess slightly bowed her head.

“How about the opinions presented here? Do they upset you?”

“No, Your Majesty. Quite the opposite, these criticisms will serve as a foundation for even greater victories.”

“Did you hear that, Crown Prince? There is no need to feel ashamed or guilty. If a problem exists, it must be highlighted, and if there are parts that require rectification, they must be fixed. That is the true strength of the Empire.”

Moreover, advising on the areas that need improvement.

The Emperor decided to enlighten Gnaius, who still had much to learn.

“Kael must have grasped that as well.”

“Are you referring to Kael, the Prince?”

“Indeed. However, he executed the strategic move of creating a defensive line because he was aware of the weapons he possessed. Do you know what that is?”

Gnaius shook his head after pondering for a moment.

Then, the Emperor looked toward the Crown Princess.

“Crown Princess, do you know the answer?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What is that answer?”

The Crown Princess smiled and replied.

“Reputation.”

Reputation? Gnaius blinked in confusion.

Suddenly, what did that mean? Why was that word coming up here?

“The Crown Princess is correct. Reputation. Kael wielded that. Even with the same formation or strategy, the morale of the soldiers depends on the reputation of the one executing it.”

“…”

“Consider this, Crown Prince. If someone without anything attempts to deploy a defensive line, the soldiers would naturally be filled with anxiety. That could very well become a fatal weakness on the battlefield, wouldn’t it?”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

“Right. Now think in reverse. The one who established himself in the North and East, particularly one who played a decisive role in ending the war in just two months. When such a strategist engages in a defensive line, declaring it to be a chain binding the enemies, what do you think the soldiers would feel?”

Ah, it was then that Gnaius finally grasped the words of the Emperor and Crown Princess.

The critical weakness of an entrenched formation: once it begins to crumble, it’s finished.

Even with reinforcements arriving from the rear, holding out until then becomes the key issue.

In that moment, Kael instilled unwavering confidence in his soldiers.

“He would have placed an unshakeable belief in them. We can win. Just like our armies did from the North and East. We too shall lead them to victory. From legion commanders to the soldiers, everyone believed and that transformed into their tremendous fighting strength.”

“And so, the impenetrable barrier was built, waiting for the counterattack from the rear…”

Gnaius couldn’t help but chuckle.

It would usually be considered rude to laugh in front of the Emperor. However, everyone—the Emperor, the Crown Princess—could only smile along.

That was how nobles of the Empire were. They certainly should laugh, indeed.

*

“I survived. Damn. That was close.”

Though the Southern army was scrappy, Benito was strong in its own right.

It was clear that they were toughened by practical experience.

I had been worried we might get overwhelmed. That would’ve been a major disaster.

Fortunately, our 6th Legion soldiers performed their duties admirably.

On top of that, the cavalry from the 13th Legion arrived just in time.

Truly, the Imperial Legion can proudly proclaim themselves the continent’s finest army!

 

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