New chapter of The Demon King is out! (1/2 chapters)

 

 

Battlefield Inspection*

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

Liao Rube stood on a site that was scheduled to become a battlefield in the near future. It was a small hill. Behind him, construction was underway to install cannons. Between Sibyaku and the Hou Household’s territory, there were very few hills suitable for installing cannons along the main road. The height of the hill was somewhat insufficient, but realistically, this was the only place where the cannons could be deployed.

The cannon that Yuri made was surprisingly inconvenient. Certainly, in terms of firepower, it was remarkable. It could repeatedly fire iron masses that fell from the sky and crushed soldiers in a single strike. Its power was such that even one cannon alone could deliver a tremendous shock to the morale of an enemy army. However, when actually operated, its mobility was very slow, and its range was not as long as expected. If the clash was between several thousand soldiers, that might be manageable, but in battles with tens of thousands, the formation of one’s own troops also became thick. If placed too far behind, even at the angle that achieved maximum distance, the shells risked falling right on top of their own soldiers.

Moving it required a dedicated wagon drawn by six draft horses and setting it up or withdrawing it took time. For this reason, placing it at the front line, firing, and then, quickly withdrawing once the infantry formation began fighting was not possible. To use it effectively, the simplest way to extend the range was to place it at a high point. That was the most practical method. In fact, without that, it would have been unusable.

The situation was frustrating and annoying. If the army relied on the cannon, the entire military would have to move centered around this cumbersome cannon. This meant that the army lost its freedom of maneuver. Liao felt like a fat, bloated man. War was supposed to be something where soldiers moved brilliantly, commanders gave orders with decisive skill, and at the front lines, spears and swords clashed fiercely. Instead, now, these iron masses breathed fire and crushed soldiers into chunks of flesh. If such weapons had never existed, the form of war would not have been dictated by them. However, once they existed, everyone was forced to use them.

“Your Excellency Liao Rube.” (??)

Panting heavily, a fat man appeared. He had not climbed the hill but only walked quickly around the area, yet he was out of breath.

“No problem. With this, aerial attacks should be prevented.” (??)

The cannons were protected by a thick ceiling overhead. Gertrude insisted the cannon’s weakness was attacks from the air that bypassed soldiers. All of Yuri’s ground weapons had been used against the Papal States, and countermeasures had been studied. This ceiling design was said to be able to block all weapons that the Hou family army might drop from the air, at least for the time being.

There was space under the ceiling for the artillery crew to operate, and on the sides, there was a waist-high fence. This fence was designed to prevent flammable materials from flying in when shells landed just outside the roof’s edge. With this, it was unlikely that the cannon would be destroyed by an aerial attack unless a miracle occurred. Moreover, there were four cannons. Such a miracle would not happen four times.

“The focus of the war will definitely be this hill. Ignoring it and attacking the royal capital is impossible.” (Gertrude)

“Yes, that’s true.” (Liao Rube)

Liao’s thoughts also agreed with that reasoning. There was no other road suitable for the movement of a large army, and he had closely monitored the enemy’s movements. If Yuri disliked a decisive battle at this location and attacked from the route leading from the lake instead, they would detect it in advance, and there should be time to move the cannons. The enemy main force was currently near Karakumo. If they attacked from that direction, a large military maneuver would be necessary.

“So, is the other trick you mentioned ready?” (Liao)

“Of course.” (Gertrude)

Gertrude was knowledgeable, with a sharp eye in many fields beyond the military. No one else in this country could handle the other trick. For their side, he was a reliable man.

“However, if you speak of preparation, the problem is with you, Your Excellency Liao Rube. What about the promise?” (Gertrude)

“I will manage somehow.” (Liao)

“We do not particularly mind either way,” he said indirectly. (Gertrude)

He implied that if Liao did not kill Myaro or make her his wife, he would move the army in opposition. In that case, Liao would inevitably face destruction. Although the Rube family’s main territory would be safe, the lands of the royal domain they had gained would be ruined. The Rube forces had many other tasks to do, and it was impossible to also keep watch on the Kura forces. No matter what, there was not enough manpower.

“Do you regret starting the rebellion?” (Gertrude)

“I do not regret it.” (Liao)

That was something he could say with certainty. If he had behaved as a loyal subordinate under Yuri’s rule and had half-believed in him like his father Kien, that might have been acceptable. But Liao could not endure it. No matter how many times he thought about it, he could not imagine living and growing old like that for more than 50 years. He hated the idea of bowing his knee and offering his spear to the queen, Yuri’s own child. He felt sick at how everyone else accepted without question the private appropriation of the royal family by Yuri and honored it respectfully.

Yuri had privatized the country by force. If he had been forced into submission by military power, that might have been understandable. However, for Liao, that was not the case. His father had submitted quietly, and as his successor, he was expected to follow the same policy naturally.
That was something he could never accept.

“Then, that is fine. If so, you should understand.” (Gertrude)

“What do you mean?” (Liao)

“…At the root of our country, the Papal States’ peninsula, there is a river called the Rubico River. During the Xerxes Divine Empire era, beyond this river, only the Vanguard Knights, your country’s equivalent of the royal guards, were allowed to enter, and other armies were forbidden by tradition. However, if you desire to start a rebellion, you must cross that river to reach the Vaticans.” (Gertrude)

Gertrude began speaking about something unrelated.

“By extension, the phrase ‘crossing the Rubico River’ became an idiom meaning making an irreversible decision.” (Gertrude)

That was what he wanted to say.

“You have already crossed that river. I do not intend to say foolish things like there are countless replacements for women in the world. But you are not in a situation where you can leisurely wait for the heart of the woman you love to waver.” (Gertrude)

 

—

 

The next day, Liao decided to dedicate a precious day to Myaro. When breakfast finished and he headed to the Grand Chancellor’s office, Myaro was sitting in a chair reading a book with a bored expression. She was beautiful. The small figure beyond the large ebony desk looked like a spirit beast paying homage to the king. Liao was captivated by that nobility.

He had embraced many women who were beautiful alone. For Liao, who had high status and superior intellect and appearance, women were creatures to call out to, embrace, and replace when bored. However, Myaro was different. She did not serve anyone other than the man she recognized as her master, and a man who was not a king would never be accepted as master by her.

“What is it, Liao-san?” (Myaro)

Her small mouth spoke words. Although she was in the king’s castle controlled by Liao, she paid homage toward her master in the southern lands. Gossips said this rebellion was started to steal another man’s woman, but that was wrong. If he had obtained Myaro earlier, he would have started the rebellion sooner. If Myaro recognized someone as her master, that person should be more suitable as king than Yuri.

“Is something wrong? Have you forgotten your business? This is no time to be absent-minded.” (Myaro)

“No, that is not it. I came because I want to consult.” (Liao)

“Please, talking alone is fine.” (Myaro)

Recently, Myaro’s attitude seemed to have softened. Acceptance, or rather, the stubbornness like a hard shell had started to disappear.

“This is the plan to defeat Yuri. When you feel like it, please listen.” (Liao)

 

—

 

“What do you think?” (Liao)

After explaining the plan, Liao asked Myaro.

Myaro showed no signs of being impressed, no surprise, and no fear for Yuri’s safety. She seemed indifferent as if it was none of her concern.

“Is it not a good plan?” (Myaro)

“Do you think it is insufficient to defeat Yuri?” (Liao)

“Well… as you know, Liao-san, I am the Chancellor of this country, not a military strategist. Planning operations is Yuri-kun’s role, and I have never done it.” (Myaro)

That was not a lie. To Liao’s knowledge, Myaro had never actively planned strategies or worked like a general. If anything, only recently during the defense of the royal castle had she commanded part of the royal guards for the first time.

“But at least it does not seem to be flawed. Actually, since gaining superiority within cannon range is desperate in battle, Mr. Gertrude’s assertion also seems accurate.” (Myaro)

Hearing that from Myaro gave Liao more confidence that his thoughts were correct. Even if Yuri did not want to engage within the cannons’ range, the idea of bypassing and directly attacking Sibyaku with a large army was nonsense. In the past, there was a battle where they ambushed and defeated an enemy army that pursued them after doing that. However, Liao had taken that into account. If that happened, he would use eagles to quickly coordinate and trap the enemy with a separate unit that would deploy from Sibyaku. Either way, he could lead the situation advantageously.

“I feel a little relieved.” (Liao)

“Relieved?” (Myaro)

Myaro looked at Liao curiously.

“What is it?” (Liao)

“No, I was just thinking that Yuri-kun never once felt relieved before a decisive battle.” (Myaro)

Why mention Yuri now? (Liao)

“Are you saying I lack the mindset of a commander?” (Liao)

“No, it is not criticism. Isn’t it fine? After all, you invited Mr. Gertrude to compensate for your shortcomings. He must be desperately thinking about how to defeat Yuri-kun instead of you now. That is his only merit.” (Myaro)

Myaro seemed to genuinely believe so, or at least that’s how it appeared to Liao. In truth, Gertrude was neither relieved nor careless and was likely focused solely on finishing off Yuri here. She was carefully monitoring the movements of the Papal States’ army that had already landed. However, there was no underhanded move to allocate some troops while considering what would happen after the regime changed following Yuri’s defeat.

Of course, Gertrude must have expected betrayal after winning the battle. A man like that would not overlook such a basic precaution. However, it seemed she did not care if that happened. The higher priority was the major goal of defeating Yuri, and she probably thought it would be pointless if that goal failed because of distractions. In other words, they underestimated him. They thought that once Yuri was defeated and Liao took command of the military, everything afterward could be managed however they wished. That intention was clearly visible.

“…That’s right. I am aware of my shortcomings.” (Liao)

He could not defeat Yuri by himself. That was the reality. But so what? When you look through history, there have been very few kings who made their names by relying on just their own power.

“That is one of your strengths, Liao-san. However, I do wonder about relying on a general from an enemy country.” (Myaro)

Myaro still seemed displeased about that matter.

“I do not trust Gertrude. But I am certain he will give his all to defeat Yuri.” (Liao)
“Well, that much is true.” (Myaro)
“As for everything else, he is the enemy. If I do not confuse that boundary, I can use him. His ability as a strategist, and the Papal States’ army he brings, should be applied against Yuri. After all, it will be me fighting after we defeat Yuri.” (Liao)

Liao predicted that after Yuri was defeated, they would not relax. Although they said they would guarantee peace in the eastern region including Shantinion, there was no way they would keep such promises. Therefore, they would inevitably have to fight. In other words, the Papal States’ army, which would fight alongside them this time, would eventually be the army Liao would have to annihilate. If the only difference was whether he fought them now or later, then fighting Yuri on his own and fighting the Papal States later was an absurd strategy. It was obvious the army should be used against Yuri.

“Well, just don’t make the wrong judgment. They are troublesome people.” (Myaro)

“Then, I want you to advise me.” (Liao)

“Eh?” (Myaro)

Myaro asked with a tilted head as if to confirm.

“I do not ask for advice regarding Yuri. I do not trust him. But you can give advice about Gertrude. I can trust that without question. Just as that fat man is dedicated to defeating Yuri, you surely do not want this country to fall into chaos either.” (Liao)

“Well, that is true.” (Myaro)

“So, please advise me, so that I do not make a mistake in judgment.” (Liao)

“Haah…” (Myro)

Myaro gave a light sigh.

“Well then, very well. I will think on it a little.” (Myaro)

 

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