Episode 77: Strategic Value

「Crush the enemy’s fort… you say?」

　Deputy Commander Almants murmured, repeating Siegfried’s words.

「That’s right. I don’t know the fort’s official name, but… it seems our soldiers call this fort the ‘Forssa Fort.’」

　Forssa is a word that means surveillance or reconnaissance. In other words, it’s a nickname implying a watchtower fort.

　Siegfried added further.

「As the name Forssa the watchtower suggests, it’s a small-scale one built on a narrow flat area midway up the mountain. Capturing it shouldn’t be too difficult.」

「However… even if we take such a small fort, it won’t have any impact on the war situation.」

　Almants interjected with a sour expression.

「Oh… no meaning, you say?」

「That’s right. That fort has no strategic value.」

「‘No strategic value’—I see, that’s a convenient phrase.」

　A cold smile appeared at the corners of Siegfried’s mouth.

「‘Tactically meaningless,’ ‘no strategic value’—line up words like that, and it sounds like there’s some deep insight. As if one is behaving like a great general… even if, in reality, they’re a third-rate commander.」

「Wh… y-you…!」

「Ah, to avoid misunderstanding. I’m not saying Deputy Commander Almants is third-rate. It’s just that there are such people in the world—that’s all I’m saying.」

　Taking a breath, Siegfried continued.

「However, allow me one question. Why does capturing this fort have no strategic meaning? Surely you don’t truly think ‘it’s a small fort, so it’s meaningless’?」

「Uh…」

　Almants was at a loss for words.

　In truth, he didn’t have any thoughts beyond what Siegfried had pointed out.

「In that case—before hearing Deputy Commander Almants’ answer, allow me to state my view.」

　Said Siegfried.

「As it’s called the Forssa watchtower fort, this fort is positioned to monitor our army. If it remains during an advance, our movements will be completely exposed to the enemy. Also, even if the enemy soldiers are few, as long as there’s a risk of arrows flying from the flank, it will affect our marching speed. To eliminate that concern, I believe we should capture this fort beforehand.」

　Having said that much, Siegfried smiled pleasantly and asked.

「Now then, Deputy Commander Almants. I’d love to hear the basis for your judgment that it ‘has no strategic value’—there must be some profound reasoning that a novice like me couldn’t possibly reach.」

「Guh… uh…」

　Almants shook his shoulders with anxiety, humiliation, and anger. But—no words came out.

　The earlier statement about no strategic value wasn’t said with any deep thought behind it.

「—I’ve understood Earl Kreving’s opinion.」

　The one who spoke as if throwing a lifeline to Almants was Commander Bertram.

「Indeed, attacking the Forssa Fort is one option. Let’s consider that proposal here.」

「Consider—huh.」

　Siegfried kept his composed smile and turned his gaze to Bertram.

　In response, Bertram nodded slowly.

「As for whether it truly has strategic value, what scale of troops and how to attack—that requires time to think about. We can’t decide immediately. We must judge cautiously.」

「How leisurely.」

　With that single remark from Siegfried, the air in the room tensed sharply.

　The officers’ faces twitched slightly. But Siegfried added more words. Calmly, as always.

「—That’s what King Luverios might say. We’ve left the Forssa Fort alone all this time, and now you’re going to take even more time for lengthy consideration? What is this…」

「Earl Kreving, you…!」

　Almants glared at Siegfried with his large, frog-like eyes.

　But Siegfried himself remained unruffled.

「I merely said that His Majesty the King might say such a thing—that’s all, Deputy Commander.」

　Having responded so, Siegfried turned his gaze back to Bertram.

「I’ve understood Your Excellency the Commander’s thoughts. —I await your decision as swiftly as possible.」

　Leaving those words, Siegfried leisurely departed, leading Beatrice and Leon.

 

◇

 

「That man… Siegfried! I-I’m a marquis! And the deputy commander of the Eastern Front Army… to take that attitude toward me…!」

　After Siegfried left, the one who raised his voice was Deputy Commander Almants.

「…Well, calm down.」

　The one who soothed him was Commander Bertram.

　Last time, Almants had soothed Bertram, but today the roles were reversed.

「Your Excellency the Commander! Why are you letting a man like that run wild! We should crush him right away!」

「I thought so too. But—that composure, that attitude. Somehow, he doesn’t seem like just a young upstart anymore.」

「…You think there’s something behind it?」

「Yes. For example—I suspect that man was sent by His Majesty the King to monitor us.」

　Siegfried had killed Gregor before arriving.

　Even after arriving, he showed no sign of intimidation before Bertram, the commander.

　Furthermore, earlier he even spoke as if representing King Luverios’ intentions.

　It didn’t seem like the attitude a mere earl would take.

「In addition—I’ve heard talk that Siegfried destroyed the officer academy. I suspect that too had His Majesty’s will behind it… that’s what I’m eyeing.」

　How exactly Siegfried drove the officer academy to ruin—the details hadn’t reached the Eastern Front Army.

　But for an individual to destroy an officer academy is impossible by common sense.

　However—if one assumes the king’s will was behind it, it makes sense. …In reality, that speculation was completely off the mark.

「If he’s a man dispatched by His Majesty the King… we can’t lay hands on him carelessly. That said, I’ve started gathering information on him. We can only wait for a response from the capital.」

　Bertram is one of the five great nobles.

　With that power, the relationship between Siegfried and the royal palace should come to light eventually.

　However—this is the remote eastern front.

　It inevitably takes time for information to arrive from the capital.

「…In other words, until then, we have no choice but to let him run free?」

「That’s right, Deputy Commander Almants.」

　Silence fell over the operations room.

　For a while, we’ll have to let that man do as he pleases—such dissatisfaction was contained in the silence.

　But at that moment, as if timed to that silence, a voice echoed from outside.

「—Excuse me during the meeting.」

　It was the voice of a soldier attached to headquarters.

　Bertram responded.

「What is it?」

「Yes, actually… there’s someone who wishes to have an audience with Your Excellency the Commander.」

「With me? Who is it?」

「…They claim to be a messenger from the royal palace.」

 

◇

 

　Bertram ordered the one claiming to be a messenger from the royal palace to be shown into the operations room.

　Soon the door opened, and a young man appeared.

　He was a person with well-defined features, wrapped in a modest coat.

　With distinctive white hair and a soft smile on his face. But at the same time, there was an unfathomable air about him.

「—Pleased to meet you, Your Excellency Commander Bertram. And to all the officers of the Eastern Front Army headquarters. I am—Shemhazai Raguzarudo, a court secretary.」

　A court secretary is, as the name suggests, a high-ranking civil official serving in the royal palace.

　They are upper-level bureaucrats who often interact with people of the king, prime minister, or minister class.

「Today, I have come bearing a directive jointly signed by His Majesty King Luverios and His Excellency Prime Minister Joachim.」

「His Majesty the King and Prime Minister Joachim…?」

　Bertram’s voice was tinged with suspicion and wariness.

　He and Joachim belonged to opposing factions, and never once had a messenger been sent from Joachim before.

「Yes. The precise contents can be confirmed in this letter… but first, allow me to convey the main points verbally.」

　Shemhazai presented a sealed envelope. The wax seal bore—a laurel wreath emblem. It was undoubtedly a directive from the king.

　While handing it over, Shemhazai continued in a gentle tone.

「Your Excellency Commander Bertram. We would like you to—kill Earl Siegfried von Kreving with your own hands.」