A message arrived from Nobogorod. Finally, the Moderates had seized control of the Demon Council.
After pushing out the warmongering Hardliners, this was the first resolution they proposed.
It was an order for the unit stationed near the border, currently facing off against the Empire’s ground forces, to retreat.
“Is that wise? The Imperial Army might counterattack.”
[We have communicated the council’s resolution to the Empire. We will refrain from further military actions and instead seek diplomatic resolutions. If they don’t want more salt rubbed in their wounds, they will do the same.]
As the leader of the Moderates and newly appointed Chairperson of the Demon Council, Kalande of the Estania family was hard at work relaying internal information to his one and only daughter.
He was busy sending updates to her, and she was just as busy responding.
[This is the internal situation. What’s the status on your side?]
“You know very well. Most of the field commanders are against fighting the Empire, but the tactical advisors and the Commander are furious. They’re upset that we have to retreat without showing the Empire’s soldiers what we’re made of.”
[Hmph. They should be thankful we’re not killing their precious children. I heard their morale is rock bottom anyway, didn’t you?]
“…Yes. That’s right.”
Kalande’s only daughter, Charlotte, nodded as she remembered what happened that day.
Honestly, she still couldn’t believe it. It felt like some divine joke.
A few days ago, a meteor tore through the night sky and plummeted toward the Empire’s camp.
The commanders and their advisors had declared it a divine sign of their impending victory.
The soldiers were swept up in the excitement and were brimming with eagerness to charge at the Imperial forces immediately.
“Because of that, the field commanders weren’t thrilled.”
This time was different from past conflicts; it wasn’t a war that could be avoided. Both sides were in a standoff, a sort of game of chicken.
If either side struck first, it would end badly for both.
Ultimately, it’s the soldiers who d*e, and the commanders were less than thrilled about leading them to a massacre.
Charlotte herself felt conflicted. Morale was up due to the meteor, sure, but she still fretted about the potential battle.
Depending on whether the Moderates or Hardliners were in charge, the outcome varied greatly.
And just as she watched the situation closely, ‘it’ happened.
“Seriously, it was ridiculous. That can’t be possible, right?”
The meteor, streaking with a luminous red tail, which had fallen toward the Empire’s camp, began ascending back into the sky.
It rose majestically, just as it had the previous day, before vanishing into the starry heavens.
Upon seeing this, the soldiers whispered amongst themselves: “The star that fell has risen again. It must be an ill omen.”
Just the day before, the commanders and advisors had excitedly proclaimed the meteor as a sign of a certain victory over the enemy.
Now, anyone could predict that the opposite outcome would follow.
[Regardless, it works to our advantage. If morale is too high and out of control, it could be problematic. But if morale is this chaotic mess, everyone will simply want to go home.]
“Father is right. Everyone is just waiting for the retreat order.”
[…]
The Chairperson paused, tilting his head on the communicator, before responding.
[What’s wrong? Charlotte?]
“Huh? Nothing in particular?”
[My goodness, your face is full of worry. Don’t try to deceive your old man.]
After all, it’s a father’s duty to know his only daughter inside and out.
Upon hearing this, Charlotte gave a wry smile and replied.
“It’s just… strange.”
[Strange?]
“Come on, it doesn’t make sense. How can a meteor fall and then rise back up again? You know that’s impossible, Father.”
[Umm…]
“It’s clearly something the Empire has schemed. There must be an exceptionally wise old man within their ranks.”
In Nobogorod, they say that when an elder dies, it’s like a library going up in flames.
This signifies how the knowledge and wisdom of the elderly are invaluable—full of experience and profound insight.
To Charlotte, it seemed that only someone of such deep wisdom could have orchestrated this bizarre event.
“Even when I think about it again, it’s surreal. It’s like they predicted this situation would occur.”
[Well, whether it was an old man or some upstart, ultimately it’s working in our favor. If we had engaged in unnecessary combat, it would have complicated negotiations with the Empire.]
“Will the Empire really send us allies willingly?”
[They’ll at least pretend to follow up.]
If we were in their position, we’d do the same. The Chairperson lit a cigar as he continued speaking.
[Though, I hear the fog is thick. In such conditions, no one risks moving their entire army recklessly.]
“Father…”
[Are you suggesting they might move? At most, they’ll send a few scouts to probe us.]
“That’s enough, Father. I’ve told you many times to cut back on that nasty cigar habit.”
[Ack!]
Charlotte narrowed her eyes, causing the Chairperson to hastily extinguish his cigar.
But it was too late. She was already glaring.
“Stop this smoking nonsense.”
[Hmm… Well, you know, with all the stress… A man needs his vices, especially with the Moderates being troublesome and the Hardliners treating me like public enemy number one.]
At least stop, okay? Why do you keep smoking such harmful stuff?
Charlotte’s next words got caught in her throat.
—Dingdingding!
“I’ll contact you again later. That’s the enemy raid signal.”
[Enemy raid?]
“Yes, don’t worry. Given the fog, it seems the Empire is merely making a probing attack as you said.”
[Nevertheless, don’t let your guard down. The battlefield doesn’t permit rash assumptions.]
“I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll go check now.”
After ending the communication, Charlotte swiftly donned her armor and exited the tent.
“What’s the matter?”
“There are Imperial forces approaching from the front of the camp! The exact numbers are still unclear, but we’ve heard voices and wheels!”
Horses? Wheels? What could they possibly be up to? Charlotte cocked her head.
After receiving orders to retreat, and now with visibility obscured by the dense fog, it was unclear what their goal was.
“By the sound, they’re about within short-range distance!”
Cries erupted around her, asking what to do. The field commanders immediately issued orders to hold their ground and not respond.
However, the Commander barked a different command.
“What are you all waiting for? Fire! If they’re the enemy, we must repel them before they get too close! We don’t know what they’re planning with this fog as a shield!”
“We don’t have a clear view yet! Let’s assess the situation further….”
“That’s the Commander’s order! The Imperials know we’re retreating! This is their one chance to test us! If we don’t respond strongly, they will underestimate us!”
The field commanders, seeing no fault in this argument, hesitated and stepped back.
“Should we initiate a magical attack?”
After a moment of thought, the Demon Race Commander shook his head.
“We don’t have a clear view. Casting magic first will only expose our wizards’ positions. No magic. Pour arrows on them to prevent further approach.”
“Besides, what if the Empire gets riled up by the arrows and charges? If that happens, the fighting could reignite. If so, the Moderates will lose influence anyway, so it might be worth the risk!”
“Archers, prepare!”
“Fire the ready archers! Fire!”
With the fog obscuring their vision, the tension only fueled the archers’ release.
Thinking more arrows would drive the enemy to retreat peacefully, they fired with even more urgency after recalling the meteoric phenomenon.
“Guys! Fire moderately! Moderately!”
Of course, the field commanders were visibly worried about this reckless use of resources.
Some even looked to Charlotte for help.
She could do nothing, though. The Commander held supreme authority here, and interfering would violate her role.
As the daughter of the Chairperson, she’d face countless whispers and suspicions if she overstepped.
“Cease fire.”
“Cease fire!”
After a few minutes of arrow showers, the commanders peered into the fog.
“…”
“…”
Have they retreated from the damage, or did they heed our warning not to advance further?
Not a single Imperial soldier approached their lines.
“The enemy has retreated.”
“Maintain vigilance until the fog clears.”
Standard responses followed by predictable decisions.
They would soon understand they weren’t normal.
“What the…”
“What is that?”
When the fog finally dissipated, all they saw was an empty carriage and a letter.
– We’ll gladly accept your parting gift. Thank you.
Gift? What gift?
Only then did they realize that the countless arrows they had fired earlier were nearly all missing, save a few stray ones left behind.
“Ha! Hahaha! Hahahaha!”
Charlotte couldn’t help but burst out laughing upon hearing this news.
“Good grief. What kind of terrifying human is this?”
Taking into account the mutual non-aggression agreement, predicting the side would respond with arrows instead of magic, and walking away with the spoils while throwing in a mocking note—it was insane.
An extraordinary strategist was nestled deep within the Empire’s camp.
With a mixture of sigh and admiration, Charlotte could only wear an expression as if she saw a ghost.
And there it was—a legend of a cunning mastermind in the Imperial Camp.
