News arrived in Novgorod. It was the news that the moderates had finally taken control of the Demon Council.
The first resolution passed after ousting the hardliners who were calling for war with the Empire.
It was the withdrawal of the troops located near the border, who were in conflict with the Empire's Army.
"Are you sure? The Imperial Army could attack us from behind."
[ We have delivered our council's resolution to the Empire. It states that we will refrain from future military activities and seek a diplomatic solution. If they don't want to throw ashes on that, they will also restrain themselves. ]
Caland of the Estonia family, who took the chairman's seat this time as the head of the moderate, was busy delivering internal news to his one and only daughter.
[ This is how it is on our side. What about the reaction on your side? ]
"You know how it is... While most of the field commanders are against fighting the Empire, the operations staff and commander are suppressing their anger. They are angry that they have to retreat without being able to show the Imperial Army a lesson, or something like that."
[ Huh. They should be grateful that they're not killing someone else's precious children. I heard that morale is hitting rock bottom. ]
"...Yes. That's right."
Sharlua, Caland's only daughter nodded, as she recalled the events of that day.
Honestly, she's still dumbfounded when she thinks about that day. Wondering if this is some kind of divine prank.
A few days ago, a meteor appeared, splitting the night sky, and fell towards the Imperial Army's military camp.
Seeing that, the commanders and staff officers shouted that the Fighting God Anvar had revealed their victory.
The soldiers were also swept away by it, and the atmosphere was such that they looked ready to rush towards the Imperial Army at any moment.
'Thanks to that, the faces of the field commanders were not good.'
This isn't an unavoidable all-out war like in the past. Both countries are locked in a kind of power struggle.
But if one side strikes first...Then war will truly begin.
In the end, it is the soldiers who die, so the reactions of the commanders who have to lead them are not very good.
Sharlua herself was not looking forward to battling the Empire. It's good that morale was up, but she was worried about the battle.
After all, the results of this battle would decide if the Moderates or the hardliners take power.
So, while she was watching the situation a little longer, 'that incident' happened.
'Seriously, it was unbelievable. How is that possible?'
The meteor, which was racing with a red tail and falling, rose again from the direction of the Imperial Army's military camp.
It burned brilliantly and soared into the sky, then disappeared among the stars.
The soldiers who saw it whispered, 'The fallen star rose again. This is a bad omen.'
Just the day before, the commander and staff officers had been excitedly saying, 'A meteor fell, so it's a decisive proof that the enemy will be defeated!'
Then, anyone could infer that if the opposite situation occurred, the result would also be the opposite.
[ Whatever it is, it's good for us. I was worried that it would be difficult to control them if their morale was high. If the current state is a mess, wouldn't everyone want to go home? ]
"Indeed. Everyone is waiting for the order to withdraw."
[ ... ]
The chairman on the other side of the communication device tilts his head and opens his mouth.
[ Is something wrong? Sharl? ]
"Huh? No. Not really?"
[ Oh, come on. Your face is full of worries. Don't even think about deceiving this old man. ]
She's his only daughter, how could he not recognize the look on her face?
When the chairman said that, Sharlua smiled bitterly and answered.
"It's a little strange."
[ Strange how? ]
"Honestly, it doesn't make sense. How can a fallen meteor rise again? You know that's impossible, Father."
[ Hmm. ]
"The Empire must have used some kind of trick. There must be a veteran strategist within their midst."
There is a saying in Novgorod, 'When an old man dies, a library burns down.'
It means that the wisdom of an old man is immense. It means that they are rich in experience and knowledge.
In Sharlua's view, this was clearly the work of such a wise and outstanding veteran.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to come up with such a quick and ridiculous idea!
"Even thinking about it again, it's absurd. It's as if they predicted that something like that would happen."
[ Well. Whether an old man did it or a rookie did it. In the end, it's a good thing for us, isn't it? If we had fought needlessly, it would have been very difficult to create a place for negotiations with the Empire. ]
"Will the Empire really let us go peacefully?"
[ At most they'll pretend to attack. ]
Because that's what they would have done if they were in their shoes. The chairman lit his cigar and continued.
[ But I heard it's foggy. In that situation, no one moves the entire army recklessly. ]
"Father..."
[ Are you going to say they might move? I don't think so...At most, they will mobilize a small detachment...But even then... ]
"How many times have I told you to quit smoking?"
[ Oh, right... ]
When Sharlua glared at him, the chairman hurriedly cut the cigar.
But it was already too late. His daughter was already glaring fiercely.
"You said you'd quit so many times."
[ That's.... Sigh. You know.... Looking at this old man's situation, I can't live without smoking. Even the guys from the same moderate faction don't listen to me. And the hardliners treat me like an enemy. ]
But you should still quit. Why would you smoke something like that?
Sharlua's next words never came out.
―Clang clang clang!
"I'll contact you again later. It's an enemy attack signal."
[ Enemy attack? ]
"Yes. There's nothing to worry about. If they were detected by the sentries even though it's foggy, it seems like the Empire is just poking around appropriately, as you said."
[ Still, don't let your guard down. The battlefield is a place where you should never make reckless predictions. ]
"I'll keep that in mind."
After ending the call, Sharlua immediately put on her armor and left the barracks.
"What's going on?"
"The Imperial Army is approaching from the front! The exact number is not yet known, but we have confirmed that we can hear voices and the sound of wheels!"
Voices? Wheels? What the hell are they up to? Sharlua tilted her head.
In a situation where both sides should be retreating, and with such a thick fog...She couldn't figure out what they were aiming for.
"Judging by the sound, it seems that they have entered within range!"
Shouts of what to do are erupting from all sides. Then, the field commanders give orders to wait and not respond.
But the commander who appeared behind them gave a completely different order.
"What are you doing?! Shoot! We must repel them before they get this close! Who knows what they are plotting behind that fog!"
"We still can't secure visibility! Let's observe the situation a little more..."
"It's the commander's order! The Empire knows that we are trying to retreat! So they came to poke us like this! If we don't respond decisively, we will be looked down upon even more!"
It wasn't entirely wrong, so the field commanders sighed and stepped back.
"Should we launch a magic attack?"
At the words of the staff officers, the commander of the demon side thought for a moment and shook his head.
"If we shoot magic first in a situation where visibility is not secured, it will only make the position of our magicians stand out. No magic, first pour arrows to prevent them from approaching further."
Perhaps, if enough arrows reach the Imperial Army, they might restart the hostilities.
If that happens, the power of the moderates will naturally decline, so it was a worthwhile gamble for the Commander.
"Archers, ready!"
"At my signal! Shoot!"
The enemy is not visible because of the fog. That point further fueled the archers' drawing of the bows.
Because they believed that the more they shot, the more likely the enemy beyond would give up their tricks and return quietly.
The sight of the fallen meteor rising again came to their mind, and the firing speed became even faster.
"Hey, you guys! Shoot moderately, moderately!"
Of course, the field commanders were worried about this ridiculous consumption of supplies.
Some even looked at Sharlua for help.
But there was nothing she could do about it.
No matter who Sharlua is, the commander is the one in charge here.
If he decides, that's how it should be done. Stopping that is a clear overreach.
If the daughter of the chairman, of all people, does that, all kinds of rumors will spread.
"Cease fire."
"Cease fire!"
After raining down arrows for a few minutes, each commander glares beyond the fog.
"..."
"..."
Whether they retreated after being damaged. Or whether they responded to the warning not to approach further.
Not a single Imperial soldier approaching their side was seen.
"The enemy seems to have retreated."
"Maintain vigilance until the fog clears."
A perfectly normal response, and an obvious next decision.
But they realized that they were the only ones who were normal.
"W-What is this."
"What."
Finally, the fog cleared and revealed a single empty wagon and a letter.
- We will gratefully accept the farewell gift. -
Gift? What gift? What is this sudden nonsense?
"...Could it be?"
"These damned...Humans..."
Only then did they realize that almost all the arrows they had shot earlier were gone.
Only a few unrecovered arrows were rolling around.
"...Ha, haha! Hahahaha!"
Upon hearing the news, Sharlua burst into laughter without realizing it.
'My god. What kind of terrifying person is this?'
Taking into account that they would retreat after doing something appropriate without an all-out war.
Predicting that this side would shoot arrows, not counterattacks or magic.
And at the end, to take advantage without a single battle, while mocking them...
What an unbelievable monster...Suddenly, the tale of a Genius Strategist in the Empire's army began to spread even further...
And Sharlua sighed...In admiration, of such a person...While making a strange face.