Maou No Utsuwa

To the south of the Empire lies a volcanic zone with steep mountains.

There must be an ocean ahead, but no one has seen it. Because no one thinks about going that far through the dangerous active volcanic zone. It's a barren land where people never set foot.

Meanwhile, a lush plain stretches north of that volcanic zone. It is a rich land comparable to that of the Oriental Uncle in the Empire, and thus also a place where war has been constant for a long time.

And even now, in the eastern part of that plain, there was a feud.

"Leave! Leave!

Matthias' roar echoes. Hearing that voice, horseback riding simultaneously, leaves the front line with the Royal Army.

"Intensive formation! Line up!

"Enemy rear thousand! I'm coming after you!

"Intercept away!

A horseback riding squad, which was densely about to leave the Royal Army, flips on that decree. The horse's head was turned in the direction of the horseback riding unit of the kingdom that followed him.

Matthias and Rank, who lead from that position, each lead the horseback riding and divide left and right. From behind it, a mobile demonstrator unit showed itself.

"Let go. Yeah!

Along with Marie's decree, the magic is unleashed simultaneously towards the Royal Army's horseback riding unit.

"Flip away!

Before ascertaining the outcome, Marie flips the troops and backwards.

In the front, there was also a horseback ride already led by Matthias and Rank. The Horse Riders, as they were, crossed the hill and separated themselves from the Royal Army.

Once we get off the horse at a distance from the Royal Army, we take a break.

"Irritable"

This is Marie's first voice off the horse. I can't hide my frustration.

"Right. I didn't think the Royal Army would make such a move."

"We need to find a purpose. Keep going. Then you'll just have to swing."

"Does Marie have any idea?

"Not at all so far. You just need a little more information. Where's Uncle South from?

"He seems to be releasing scouts and letting him look, but only if he doesn't look like he's going north"

"Then go south!

Leaving the front lines to the Hildegands, the Southern Uncle is in no condition to move at all. The Hildegands have no idea what that intention is.

Send me a message and you won't hear me say that protecting the Empire is our priority.

"You say the southern border territory is not an empire? This is why Uncle Fang is here."

"I'm sorry."

Hildegand belongs to the Uncle's family.

"... bad. I forgot. But that's hard. There is no sign that the war situation will improve. What's the other situation?

"It's the same thing"

"... let's sort it out again"

That being said, Marie began to talk about reconfirming the situation in the south herself.

The invading forces of the southern part of the kingdom, which had invaded the southern part of the empire, took possession of the eastern edge of the border, based there and further attacked the adjacent border territory.

At last, at the time of the occupation of the Border Era, the southern Berjia army will begin to deploy. However, the southern Berjia army did not step into the occupied border territory and set up a defensive line to the southeast of the southern Bertian territory.

It's a similar development to the battle in the East.

The difference is that the Royal Army has spread westward to avoid the army opposite the Southern Bergamot Army.

It will not be easy for the Southern Border Army to accept it. We are pushed west without being able to support the great army. Things finally turned out better for the Empire because Hildegand arrived there and put together the Southern Border Regiment.

Five thousand for the Southern Frontier Territories Union. The Hildegands who joined them, with five hundred at their core, sought to assemble more western frontier troops.

I tried, but the Royal Army, even its five thousand and five hundred, shows a move to avoid. We've split up our troops and attacked them, targeting the thinner perimeter.

When that happens, the Hildegands can't stay in one place either. Because of this, we dispersed the frontier troops that we assembled, and each became a Royal Army. It is true that if the battlefield is dispersed, the kingdom side, which is superior to the number, is advantageous, but it has also been too dispersed to consolidate the occupied territories.

This is the situation now.

"You still don't get it."

"Simply thinking about it, I think you're exhausting this one and trying to make it irresistible."

"If you've been deprived of supplies from every territory and moving troops everywhere, it will eventually happen."

"Is this it, after all? What I don't know is what you think of the Southern Bergamot Army. The Southern Bergamot Army remains in one place. I'm not exhausted."

"In the first place, if you go south now, the Royal Army, which spread sideways and lost thickness, should be at a disadvantage"

"So you just have to go south. What the hell are you thinking?

"That's the same for the kingdom. What are you thinking?

It doesn't make it clear to the Hildegands how much they think about the causes that are causing the current situation.

This is what happens because the Hildegands don't understand it.

It was Nicholas who threw the tip there.

"Oh, um..."

"What is it?

"No, it's good after all"

"Please don't hesitate. Now is the time for all of us to think about it, so say anything you need to know."

"Really...... Well, I think it's a stupid idea."

"Yes."

"Aren't you running away?

"Ha, yes?

"Oh, I'm sorry. I said something stupid."

"Yes, no. I'm the one who told you to talk about anything."

"Still......, sorry. Forget it."

"Yes."

I squeezed my courage and opened my mouth to see how Hildegand had reacted and Nicholas had completely atrophied. Nicholas was originally bad at asserting his opinions.

"You're running away..."

But Marie didn't want to end the conversation with this.

"Mr. Marie?

"Nicholas, why did you think that?

"No, that's good enough"

"Talk to me because it's good. I don't think it's stupid."

"What?"

"There's a tsuji. I can't imagine the kingdom moving west, or the Uncle South not going south, being afraid of battle."

"And the Southern Uncle?

"Oh, that didn't seem like a good idea. What makes you think the kingdom is on the run?

"Excuse me. For a clear reason."

"Are you kidding me?

"... somehow the battle is still scary"

I mean, look. But I can't ignore it if it's just a hunch. Because the strength of Tyrone and the other former Viscount Kreutz Army men on the battlefield is in that regard.

"... being strong doesn't change your personality. But that helped in this case. There's a good chance we're running away from each other."

"Marie, is that really possible?

"There is. Uncle Minami doesn't need a detailed explanation. For a reason, I'm just hanging around."

"But the Southern House..."

The ex-South Uncle is a samurai with his predecessor many times on the battlefield. Together with the former northern ambassador, he supported his predecessor, known as the Imperial Wu.

"If Tombi produces an eagle, the opposite is true. You know the rumors about your southern uncle, don't you?

"... said he was a tough man under his ministry"

"That's a kind expression. That's not harsh, it's abusive. How dare you yell at me in public, everyday tea meal. Sometimes it can be violent. Isn't that a vanity? That's how you hide your weakness."

"... it's possible"

"And it's the prince and the king of the kingdom. I don't know about character, but it's possible it's the same."

"Then I wish I didn't lead the army."

"I guess you don't even have the courage to defy your father. As they say, I led the army to the Empire. But I'm afraid to fight head-on. Well, I can't escape in front of my father. Properly clouding my tea and waiting for my father to win."

"... that's a terrible assessment"

"I'm talking about possibilities. Now, the problem is that I can't do anything about it because I know it. I'll just chase the enemies running around unchanged."

"Right."

"What would they do in a time like this..."

"Mr. Marie?

"Oh, recent habits when thinking. Especially useful when it's boiling. Sometimes insane things come to mind that you don't normally think of."

If this comes to mind, I'm just unconscious, and Marie's insane.

"Yes, Lord Tyrone."

"... what is it?

"Can't you think of anything? Anything at all."

Hildegand, a commonsense man, chose to listen to people.

"How would those people work, not me?

"Yes."

"... I can't be specific, but I don't know what to think."

"It!?

To be honest, I didn't expect to hear it, so Tyrone's answer surprised Hildegand.

"If you know what their intentions are, aren't you going to try to take it backwards?

"... if you're the one who runs away, don't let them get away, do you?

"A little different. Instead of running away, make him run away, is. Take the lead away from the opponent and move the opponent exactly as you think. At least in tactics, I believe this is the principle of their thinking."

"I see. You know that. But how?"

Marie also came into the conversation in an intriguing way to explain Tyrone.

"Mr. Marie?

"Maybe this is the way it is. Let them escape where they think they are. Simply put, an ambush."

"That's......, that's hard. Even in ambushes, the difference in numbers is too great. Because we disperse our forces, we can fight in individual battles."

"To the southern uncle...... I can't do this either. To do that, we need to move the Southern Uncle Army once and for all. I don't think so."

"Right. But if we gather all the southern border troops, it will be 10,000."

"... so how do you invite me? After all, you're on the chase. Teiron, do you have another tip?

"Exactly that. I can't fight on a broad battlefield, anything close to strategy. I did something to help you by throwing it away and focusing on your unit leader."

"I didn't say specific measures. What would the Kamuis think? I just want that tip."

"What do you think…"

After a little thought, Tyrone showed her the way she had come up with something.

"What?

Quite simply, Marie asks.

"I don't know if it helps. I remember when he was teaching Lord Lutz."

"To Lutz?

"Lord Lutz is not a troop leader, he must stand on top of it. You need to have the same perspective as that one."

"I see. I mean, a general."

"Well."

"So?"

"These are the words. Tie the dots together with a line and capture the line face to face. That way, it spreads naturally"

"... Huh?

Marie as well as the others have a bewildered look. I have no idea what that means.

"Let it be thick to that, add to the passage of time, and if you look at it, you need to be that different from the battlefield"

Furthermore, Teiron continues his words. But the results are the same.

"... at all, I don't know. What is it, that abstract representation?

"Because he's a genius."

"I'd be mad if I said that. 'Cause I hate it more than anything I can get rid of with a word of talent."

"I know. But it's true. I know you're working twice as hard, but the scope of your efforts is political, strategic, tactical, and personal martial arts. It was even more diverse with management. It's not something you can do with effort alone."

Now they are all taken lightly by the very difference between Kamui and what they have done.

"... then you were a lord. Ma'am, is that beyond that too? But in those words, you didn't get Lutz, did you?

"Yes, I was struggling a lot"

"... and Alto, by the way?

"I was making fun of Lord Lutz who was struggling..."

"Oh, that was genius, too. Damn."

"Damn it?

"It's nothing. Did you get that?

"Refreshing"

"In the end, what about Lutz?

"That's what I seem to have figured out while Lord Alto handed me the clay and rubbed or stretched it. Words didn't seem to explain it well. Is it sensible?"

"Again, that's not the same type... But clay. Why, there Alto gave the clay..."

As it was, Marie sank into deep thought. When this happens, Marie is already caged in herself until her thoughts are wrapped up.

Lord Tyrone.

Even though I know I should think about it myself, Hildegand doesn't have enough ingredients to just think about it. Until Marie's thoughts were gathered, I decided to listen further to Tyrone.

"What is it?

"Was Maria and Ignatz listening to that, too?

"Ah, yes."

"Did you two understand?

"Lord Ignaerts was as troubled as Lord Lutz, but after thinking about it, he seemed to understand."

"Yes. And Maria?

"Maria... It's subtle to say that you understand that."

"What do you mean?

"Maria was also making fun of Lord Lutz. When Lord Lutz changes the shape of the clay, I wonder why he doesn't know by pointing his finger."

"What does that mean?

"I didn't know what that meant. Your instincts will tell you something."

"Until Maria..."

For Hildegand, Maria only has the image of a young girl. That Maria is doing something she can't. Plus Hildegand gets a little rushed.

"Would you like to see it?

"What?

"Oh, it was speechless. It's their form of battle. When I was with you, it was a long way from finished shape, but maybe I can do quite a bit now."

"What form is that?

"We are now directing the movements of each unit by decree."

"Yes."

"I won't do it"

"... Yes?

"Synchronize what the commander thinks and coordinate troop-to-unit movements without a preaching or decree. That's what I was aiming for."

"Can you do that?

"I don't know. But I was aiming for that. That's what I like to play with. But when it comes to play, it is a threat to the enemy if it can be achieved. Because there are quite a few parts of the drum that predict the next movement of the enemy from the voice of the decree."

"Well..."

"When they do that on a military basis, can the enemy be fat? Each moves together for the same purpose according to the situation, even if it is apart, without the need for communication, etc."

…………

Our own efforts, which we thought were finally bearing fruit. But maybe the back I was chasing is moving further than I thought. Everyone on this occasion was reminded of it.

"The Empire is not to misrespond. I hope so, too, as an Imperial."

"It's..."

"Okay!

Marie shouted as Hildegand tried to overlap her questioning of Tyrone.

"What!?

"You know what, I see. Thanks, Tyrone. That was helpful."

"Ha, ha"

"Clay, and fingering behavior."

"Were you listening?

"You might have some clue, right? It actually did."

"I mean, what is it?

"Troop the dot, tie it up and you're on the front line. I'll tie it even further and see it on the face."

"What's the face?

"Enemy range of action."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Thickness there. This is probably troop strength or strength. When you look at the whole shape of it in the course of time."

"What do you know?

"I understand the purpose of the enemy. Where the thickness moves in one direction, the enemy thinks it's important. Thinning is a place of weakness. That's not all. If there is thickness in an unnatural place, that means something there. You can say you have a plan."

"But that's what the marching moves are like..."

"Yes, I missed the southern invasion because I couldn't grasp the thinness of the center of the kingdom and the thickness of the south. Assuming that the size of the clay remains the same, the missing amount should be thickened somewhere. It was in the south."

"But getting that much information..., right. The Kamui can do it."

The Hildegands know the intelligence-gathering capability, which is the Kamui's greatest weapon. And that is something that can never be imitated.

"Between us, you should call it a scourge. The Demon Clan stands out in its ability. You'd be fine to step deep into the enemy land and get information. And it's quick to pass on."

"With the Demons, you can do it."

"Yes, you will."

"But then we are"

"No, it helps enough. Look, think about the positioning we've been fighting for."

"... come and go from north to south. I'm tapping where I left off, so I will."

"Yes. I can't see the thickness, but I have something I can see with a change of shape. It is possible that there is something at equal intervals between the elongated tips."

"The center of the enemy's chain of command"

It's where you point your finger.

"You weren't at the rear, were you?

"Maybe even being in one place is scary. No, this could be the way things are going."

"In any case, if you take there"

If it is the neck of Prince Wang, it weighs differently than that of one general. If it can be taken, the battle in the south will almost certainly be settled.

"I knew you'd think so. But it'll arrive."

"It's hard in this number. We need a few more."

"Identify your goals and assemble the Southern Frontier Army at once. I'd like to identify the thin spots. If you sew it up there and go back, you might also get less sacrifice"

"Pass the word to the peripheral territories everywhere. First, you collect enemy unit location information. From there, infer the target point. On top of that, timing, assemble in one place. I'll poke the enemy."

"Because. Skip the transmission!

"Ha!"

At Marie's command, a few horseback rides ride away from the scene. To the nearby Border Lords' Army.

"... could it work"

"That's an adventure. But you have to believe Hilda's gonna make it. Hilda ordered the soldiers to move."

"Yes."

"... you see the Empire too?

The kingdom is not the only enemy for Kamui.

"You'll definitely be watching."

"What's thin?

"... the Imperial Knights are gone royal capital. The army stopped to the east, west of the southern realm. Western uncle territory will probably be thin as well. For the Knights of the Empire to fall out, we should stop by the center."

"... suddenly there's no center."

"Is it the Imperial Capital? I don't think we're going to make the Imperial Capital a battlefield."

"Why? The vengeful opponent is in the Imperial Capital, right?

"If that's what you're after, it's assassination. Again, it won't be a battlefield."

"You're confident, aren't you?

"Yes, because the Imperial Capital also has something to protect Kamui"

"Right. Well, that's reassuring."

"For now, though."

The Hildegands did not know that the Empire had thinned the north and west to give it extra thickness in the centre of the east.