Game Opportunity Becomes Reality Episode 147
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Game Opportunity Becomes Reality Episode 147
36. The Prelude (2)
Unlike his father, the current Emperor, Imperial Crown Prince Andre rose to the position of heir without great danger or great difficulty.
Because of that, the current situation was a threat he had never felt before he had only ever moved people around like chess pieces from a safe place.
When Aura Master Count Patrit, who sometimes showed irritating speech but whose loyalty was genuine, met his death all too easily, the Crown Prince fell into a panic.
"Protect His Highness!"
Seeing the Crown Prince like that, the Guards standing around like folding screens responded swiftly.
Blue beams of light shot from Force Swords flew toward the Black Vulture, and they threw themselves forward to protect the Crown Prince.
-Pop!
But when white light flashed again from the Black Vulture, the trajectories of the Force users flying in like lightning were thrown off, failing to strike their target and only destroying an innocent balcony.
"Your Highness!"
In the meantime, white light flying from the Black Vulture covered the Crown Prince in an instant, and the Vanguards poured their Aura into their Force Armor and built a wall of bodies to block the attack.
-Creeeak.
The Vanguards' defensive power was enough to endure two or three hits from even a 7th Circle Grand Mage's high-level magic, as long as they avoided a direct strike.
But the Vanguards, who volunteered to shield the Crown Prince with their bodies, sensed death in the enormous force contained within the white light.
-BOOOOM!
With a powerful explosion, flesh and blood scattered in all directions.
"AAAAAAH!"
At the gruesome deaths of the Guard Knights whose faces he had seen for so long, the Crown Prince screamed in utter anguish, forgetting all decorum.
But as if mocking the Guards' sacrifice, the enemy's attack did not reach the Crown Prince regardless of their efforts.
The Imperial Family's treasure worn to prevent assassination protected him.
An artifact that automatically deployed an 8th Circle-level Grand Shield.
"Ah..."
Even if Count Patrit and the Vanguard Guards had not thrown away their lives for him, the Crown Prince would not have died under the protection of that artifact.
If he had only responded with a bit more composure, his subordinates would not have died so meaninglessly.
Of course, their deaths cannot be called a dog's death.
After all, they could not simply leave the Crown Prince to rely on a single artifact.
[What a pity.]
The Black Vulture, whose assassination of the Crown Prince had failed, tried to launch consecutive attacks, but...
Fortunately, there was no third attack.
-BOOM! Crash! BOOM!
The Heaven-Piercing Fortress guarding the Imperial Mage Tower had designated the Black Vulture as an enemy and begun its bombardment.
[Best to stay wary of what's behind you.]
With those final words, the Black Vulture vanished into a wisp of smoke amid the rain of bombardment, and the blood-soaked Crown Prince unconsciously collapsed where he stood.
The Vanguards surrounded the terrified Crown Prince in double and triple layers, supporting him as they began to flee.
"Wh-What happened?"
"There was an assassination attempt! We must get His Highness the Crown Prince back to the Imperial Palace at once."
Grand Mages from the Mage Tower arrived belatedly and joined the escort, further solidifying the Crown Prince's protection, but rather than relief, he wore a Dismayed Expression as he took in the blood-soaked scene of the Mage Tower office.
Just two attacks in total.
But those two attacks had plunged the Crown Prince into deep shock.
-Thud!
And so, after the Crown Prince and the others disappeared, the ruined Mage Tower office's ceiling collapsed, burying the bodies that were growing cold.
Naturally, the day's incident, which took place in the middle of the city, became front-page news.
[An assassination attempt was made on Andre de Croisen, Imperial Crown Prince of the Croysen Empire. The Crown Prince survived unharmed, but in the process, 2nd captain of the royal guard Count Patrit and eight Vanguards were killed.]
[The Emperor, the nobles, and even the citizens of the Croysen Empire are all enraged! The Crown Prince points to Duke Lawrence as the culprit!?]
[Duke Lawrence, named as the culprit, responds consistently with bewilderment, asking what trickery this is now.]
[Croysen Crown Prince: On the Mage Tower balcony, I saw a Black Vulture speaking in Duke Lawrence's voice. When the vulture's eyes flashed, an attack beyond the 7th Circle poured down. I believe it must have been the black vulture raised by Duke Lawrence.]
[Duke Lawrence: It seems His Highness the Crown Prince is in need of rest. Present clear evidence that I am the culprit.]
Public opinion surrounding this matter was set ablaze with the naming of the culprit and the back-and-forth over the truth.
Naturally, the Emperor responded with a high-handed attitude, saying he would not let this slide, but Adrian's reaction to it stirred the Croysen Empire even further.
[I am not the culprit, but one has to wonder what drove the culprit to such lengths. Is this not all the Croysen Empire's own doing? For the record, if I had decided to dispose of the Crown Prince, he would not be alive and well moving his mouth like this right now.]
How many people in the world could dare make such remarks toward the Emperor and Imperial Crown Prince of the Croysen Empire?
As a result, Adrian's reaction became a bigger topic around the world than the assassination attempt on the Croysen Empire's Crown Prince.
And this was perceived as an event that made the shift in the Kingdom of Rhinehearts' attitude toward the Croysen Empire all the more apparent.
[The Kingdom of Rhinehearts' insolent attitude will surely be repaid in kind on the battlefield.]
Even without evidence, given the atmosphere, everyone could only view Adrian El, Duke Lawrence, as the culprit.
Even so, there was nothing the Croysen Empire could actually do about it, and with that threat as their final word, they fell silent and threw even more fervor into their war preparations.
* * *
Before the royal council meeting of the Kingdom of Rhinehearts.
With a bewildered expression, I calmly looked back at the stares of the many nobles and feigned surprise, asking if something was the matter.
At that, the nobles all shook their heads in exasperation, saying they were done for, and my Father attending a royal council meeting restricted to high-ranking nobles for the first time covered his face with both hands in embarrassment and hung his head low.
'I was just trying to intimidate them.'
In the first place, I had no intention of killing the Crown Prince.
Because if the Emperor, having lost his reason over the Crown Prince's death, were to do something unexpected, it would be a hassle.
"Now then, let's discuss how we will respond going forward."
King Mikhail clapped his hands to refresh the mood of the meeting.
The purpose of this meeting was to convey opinions regarding the war with the Croysen Empire.
That was why Lords of domains with formidable military strength, despite their lower Titles, were invited alongside the high-ranking nobles my Father was in this very seat because he possessed military power on the level of a Count.
"Is war a foregone conclusion?"
"Indeed. The time has come to put an end to the Croysen Empire's ever-worsening tyranny."
It is true that the Kingdom of Rhinehearts' hardline stance provoked the war, but we merely returned their attacks in full.
If they raise their forces over this as a pretext, it only means a war that was bound to happen eventually has come early.
Though the timing being somewhat earlier than expected is a problem, nothing else changes.
If anything, we are better prepared for war than the Croysen Empire is.
We will break free from the Croysen Empire's outrages at this opportunity.
"This war will not end at the level of a localized conflict. It will be an occupation war to seize territory."
At King Mikhail's words, every noble present hardened their expression.
"Judging by the Croysen Empire's situation, they seem intent on ending the war at the point of taking our Kingdom's western lands."
"Sh-should we not seek help from our allies?"
That is a reasonable opinion.
That has been the way of our Kingdom until now.
But the new King, Mikhail, is a man whose very way of thinking differs from previous dynasties.
"No, this time we will fight the war with our own strength alone."
"Why?"
"Because if Croysen's war goal is to weaken our Kingdom's national power, then Rhinehearts' war goal this time is the Empire's destruction."
At the declaration-like announcement, the nobles swallowed air and stirred in murmurs.
Naturally.
King Mikhail had just proclaimed he would conquer the Croysen Empire.
"Is that even possible?"
"If it weren't possible, I wouldn't be putting on such airs right now."
Then King Mikhail's gaze turned to me.
A reaction asking me to continue the explanation.
At that, the nobles wore expressions saying, "So it's because of you again that he's making such claims."
I subdued those nobles with a sharp glare and then explained the plans for this war.
"Our army's concept is 'astonishing and unconventional.'"
Though no one said it, everyone's reaction was that it was truly a concept that suited me well.
However, the atmosphere of the room shifted with the following explanation.
One and all, they were taken aback, saying it was far too dangerous.
"We are under no obligation to fight a war on the date they set. So let's be the ones invading, not the ones being invaded."
"Th-That means we attack first before the Empire moves...?"
"Simple, right?"
"That's far too reckless!"
At my words, Marquis Trenton who had played the role of a traitor aiding the Crown Prince in the last civil war, only for the war to end before he could accomplish anything, leaving him with nothing to show for it objected.
At that, I let out a small sigh.
"Everyone knows that fighting on home field is advantageous in war. Even our own army is more accustomed to defense than offense."
"You, who know that...!"
"But if you look at it differently, just as our army is accustomed to defense, the Croysen Imperial Army is accustomed to offense."
Marquis Otis who, after meeting me, had risen again and again to become one of the Four Marquises looked as if he didn't understand what the problem was.
"How does that become a reason to wage an invasion war?"
"For our royal army, which is inferior to the Empire in military strength, to win, we must not fight a war the enemy can predict. We must go on the offensive relentlessly, driving them back, and force the flustered Croysen Imperial Army to focus on defense. In other words, we seize the initiative in the war."
"But didn't you say our army isn't accustomed to attacking either?"
"If we focus solely on offensive drills during the remaining preparation period, wouldn't that solve it to some extent? Even if we train for offense, the enemy won't be training for defense."
The reaction was one of half-conviction, yet reluctance to readily concede.
Nodding in understanding, I added further explanation.
"Don't forget this. In terms of elite striking power, we are bound to be superior to the Empire."
I looked at Grand Master Duke Gabriel James and Arcia.
At that, the nobles of Marquis rank and above who had been informed that Arcia had become a Grandmaster wore looks of understanding, but those below that rank tilted their heads in confusion.
"Well, I suppose if we exploit the enemy's complacency and strike at their weak point, we could inflict heavy damage... But wasn't there another reason our kingdom insisted on defensive warfare?"
As Marquis Trenton pointed that out once more, I nodded, saying I knew.
"The size of the army, right?"
"Indeed. Our military is only at 65% of Croisen's strength."
A smaller army choosing to invade instead it was absurd on its face.
But I smiled, saying it was a problem that could be easily solved.
"That's a comparison of the armies as a whole."
"Pardon?"
"Unlike our kingdom, surrounded by allies, those bastards are surrounded by hostile nations on every side. And to the south, they even border the lands of Dragonland."
As Marquis Trenton looked bewildered, Marquis Aragon the current King's maternal grandfather spoke up, which was rare for him.
"You're not suggesting we throw our entire national strength toward the Croysen Empire without looking back, are you?"
"That's correct."
At that, every noble widened their eyes.
They all denied it, saying it was impossible.
Well, naturally.
My claim was to pull in even the border garrisons facing other nations and use them all for the war against the Croysen Empire.
"Isn't that too dangerous? That's essentially opening our borders to the other four nations we share borders with, aside from the Croysen Empire!"
"Unlike them, most of our neighboring nations are allies. Would an allied nation that's been on good terms suddenly attack just because we briefly vacate our border garrisons?"
A mad plan that truly suited the concept of "astonishing and unconventional."
"On the other hand, it's not easy for them to pull troops from the Dragonland, Kingdom of Lucias, and Jordy Kingdom fronts. Excluding those three regional forces, our royal army would temporarily hold the advantage in numbers as well."
"In the end, if they sense they're at a disadvantage, they'll mobilize even those troops..."
"If that happens, it means victory has already swung to our side. Then the Kingdom of Lucias and the Jordy Kingdom will want to join in too."
High risk, high return.
Isn't that the perfect phrase for this operation?
Having heard my shocking plan, the nobles furiously tapped away at their calculations.
I spurred them on, helping them with the math.
"If we have the element of surprise in our preemptive strike, a fighting style they're unaccustomed to, and even numerical superiority, wouldn't it be harder for them to argue defeat?"
At the clean summary, even those who had been showing negative reactions up until now swallowed dryly and nodded along in a daze.
I finished the operation briefing with a grin, and at that, the nobles flinched.
"Then it's decided."
The nobles, having been persuaded almost without realizing it, didn't put up much resistance.
After all, it looked plausible enough.
Once things had settled to a degree, King Mikhail, who had been silent, stepped forward.
"The core of this war is speed and protecting information so the plan doesn't leak. I'm sorry, but until the war begins, you will all remain in the Royal Palace and have your movements controlled. You understand, right?"
At that, the faces of the nobles in attendance twisted visibly.
It was a nice way of saying it was for secrecy in truth, they were hostages to keep their domains under easy control.
It hadn't been stated beforehand, but the active support of the Lords was a basic requirement for this war.