Rebirth in a Ruined Nation! The Life of a New Strategist Starting From Now - Chapter 27

Unpleasant Victory and Warm Palms

?

Rays-sama listened to Captain Luzel’s report with a solemn gaze.

The Frankurlt army has begun to flee, and men from the 10th Division have been dispatched to the other shore to gather intelligence and pursue them.

Captain Luzel and I were unable to join the pursuit operation because we needed to report the situation to Rays-sama at the 10th Division headquarters.

Rays-sama sent away the messenger from the 6th Division, saying he would hear the explanation from the 6th Division later.

…Rays-sama looked furious

After we returned safely, the atmosphere in the 6th Division camp was heavy, but the pressure I felt from Rays-sama was equivalent. The current Rays-sama was terrifying.

“So, how many people didn’t return?” (Rays)

Captain Luzel straightened his back and answered, “My unit only suffered some injuries, but 50 members of the surprise attack troop and 10 members of the rescue troop did not return.”

My heart was heavy because I knew Raimaru-san was one of those ten people.

“I recall 500 soldiers, including Wickharlt, participating in the surprise attack.”

“That is correct, sir.”

“I see. The two of you did well.”

“Thank you very much, sir. However, our mission was to prevent General Wickharlt and the 6th Division from attacking the Frankurlt force, and we failed to do so. Furthermore, I decided to move the army without your consent; please punish me.” (Luzel)

“No! I was the one who requested that Captain Luzel to move the army! The Captain did nothing wrong!”

After hearing our replies, Rays-sama lifted his eyebrows slightly.

“Did you not hear me? I told you you did well. I know it will be difficult to stop Wickharlt and the 6th Division. In comparison to the worst-case scenario of Wickharlt leading the whole 6th Division into battle against Frankurlt and losing, I believe we won with the fewest losses. I’ll repeat myself. You two did well.”

“Thank you very much.”

When Captain Luzel said this and lowered his head, I quickly followed suit.

Grantz-sama seems to have concluded that the conversation had come to an end, so he shifted the subject.

“However, it appears that I must reconsider my assessment of General Frankurlt. I know he was a skilled general, but I never expected him to be this bold. Maybe defeating Nisol-sama has made him become more confident now. He also unexpectedly possesses such a good ability to make split-second decisions.” (Grantz)

“I have to agree. He became a difficult opponent.” (Rays)

After listening to their conversation, I asked what had been on my mind.

“Rays-sama, Have you ever heard of the name Sakuri?”

“Sakuri? No, I’m not familiar with that name. What about you, Grantz? Lapilia?”

Grantz-sama and Lapilia-sama shook their head, and Grantz-sama asked, “Who is Sakuri?”

I told Rays-sama that I thought this war had something to do with what had happened in Eren Village. Rays-sama listened intently. He seems to be interested in my hypothesis.

“Hm…So, who exactly is Sakuri?”

“Sakuri is a name I discovered in a personal diary of a Gorber Kingdom noble I previously read. Sakuri, according to the diary, was a Gorber Kingdom strategist who never show himself to the public.”

“A Gorber Kingdom noble’s diary? You even read something like that?”

Rays-sama asked, his face shocked.

“Well, I happened to come across that diary in an antique shop and bought it because reading a battle record written from the perspective of a noble seems interesting. But, because I obtained the book in an antique shop, I’m not sure if it’s a genuine diary of a Gorber Kingdom noble.”

“Did you bring that diary?” (Rays)

“No, I sold it after I finished reading it.”

It wasn’t a lie. I bought the diary and then sold it after reading it. This happened 20 years from now, though.

“A strategist that never shows himself to the public. That’s quite suspicious,”  Lapilia-sama replied, giving me a dubious look, “If you’re talking about a strategist, there’s that Brave Loderite, right? Isn’t possible that he was the one behind this?”

Among the Gorber Kingdom’s Generals, there was one named Loderite, who had titles such as the Wise General, the Brave, and the Hero.

He was a general well-known for his great military record and his flashiness.

“But General Loderite is…what to say…A very confident person…”

Everyone in the room was persuaded by my statements, even Lapilia-sama, who mentioned his name.

General Loderite was someone who was quite…showy. He wanted to stand out and would frequently claim he participated in this battle or that battle, despite the fact that no one saw him there.

People began to doubt the authenticity of General Loderite’s military record later on.

“You’re right, if it’s Loderite, he’ll probably make a fuss and announce his presence to the entire world. Sakuri, you say? I’m not sure if he actually existed or not, but I’ll look into him. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Still, a mysterious strategist…how troublesome.”

?

“Whatever has happened, we have won! Just drink to your heart’s content now!”

General Rays declared to the people of the 6th and 10th Divisions. 

Whatever happened, the reality that we won remained unchanged.

The victory banquet was also an important military tradition. Drink and laugh. No matter how sad you were, you had to send your fallen colleague with a smile.

I struggled at the banquet. As one of the key players in the rescue mission, I was continually poured a drink, slapped on the back, and squeezed by the crowd that had gathered around me.

It didn’t take long for everyone to get extremely drunk and start singing out of tune. When this occurred, I silently exited the banquet site and proceeded to the river.

I sat down on the riverbank and gazed at it blankly.

“What’s the banquet’s main character doing in this kind of place?”

The abrupt voice caught me off guard. When I turned around, I discovered Lapilia-sama.

“Why are you here!?” 

“I should have been the one to ask that question. I followed you because I was worried you’d fall into the water after becoming drunk. But you didn’t appear to be drunk, so what are you doing here?”

“Well, you know, I just want to be alone for a bit…”

Lapilia-sama sat beside me after I said that. Why are you sitting there when I said I wanted to be alone!?

“Let me guess. People died because of my strategy….You’re definitely thinking something along those lines, right?”

“Something along those lines, you say…Raimaru-san and the others would be alive right now if I hadn’t foolishly gone to the rescue mission! I’ve murdered them!”

“But in exchange, you saved more than 400 people.”

“It isn’t about the numbers! It’s…”

I felt a mild jolt on both of my cheeks. Lapilia-sama struck my two cheeks softly with her palms.

She then brought her face closer to mine. Even in the darkness, I could see her lovely lips.

“Listen carefully.”

Lapilia-sama’s voice sounded serious.

“That person named Raimaru requested your assistance. And you fulfilled his request by saving Wickharlt-sama. If I were him, I would feel nothing but gratitude.”

“B…But…”

“Rays-Sama was correct. You did well so you should be proud, okay? Let’s return to the banquet.”

I could sense her overflowing kindness in that gentle word.