I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 172
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 172
“Commander-in-Chief, sir! The enemies have withdrawn from Adman Castle. They were completely fooled!”
General Delph’s excited report.
Right now, he was feeling an indescribable euphoria.
‘To achieve such results without spilling a single drop of blood.’
It seemed to be telling him and the other commanders who had spilled countless amounts of blood just to take a single fortress.
That they were stupid and foolish.
‘Is this the brain of the Empire?’
Delph understood why past emperors had always consulted the Seto Family whenever making important decisions.
“Contact Colonel Lant and tell him to hurry and secure the fortress. If those bastards realize they’ve been tricked, they’ll attack again.”
“Yes!!”
“The battle isn’t over yet. Don’t become complacent with victory, continue inspecting and blocking variables. Understood?”
“Yes!!!!”
The commanders answered in unison with resounding voices to the Count’s words.
“Now their eyes finally look somewhat decent.”
Until just before the battle began, the atmosphere hadn’t been particularly good.
But now, without exception, everyone had become fervent supporters of Count Seto.
“We truly respect you.”
“This is just the beginning.”
Count Seto answered in an unexcited voice while looking down at the map.
‘We must execute the withdrawal perfectly too.’
The fake army created by the illusion magical device developed by the Abiel Ducal House.
Since it was a magical device that had never existed before, the enemies had been fooled, but that wouldn’t last forever.
Especially since even with such a large army, they were only shooting meaningless arrows, they would surely become suspicious.
Then it would inevitably be exposed as fake soon.
‘At that moment, they’ll be unable to contain their anger and come charging out.’
And the Count was confident that advance would surely continue straight to Belzium Castle.
“This evening, we withdraw immediately. Be fully prepared until then.”
“Yes!!”
As soon as the order was given, the 30,000 troops led by Colonel Lant, including Lieutenant Baren, entered Adman Castle without bloodshed.
And that evening, the 10,000 troops led by Count Seto successfully retreated without a sound.
The Adits Imperial Army had accomplished everything without a single battle.
The Raikhan Empire realized the truth only after.
Kwaaaaang!
It was after the magic bomb that Count Seto had installed next to the illusion magical device exploded, revealing the truth about the 70,000-strong army.
* * *
“So, so you’re saying.”
Demian Raikan grabbed his dizzy head with his hand and spoke.
“The enemy’s large army… was actually an illusion?”
“Yes…! This is content directly announced by the Adits Empire, and seeing that magical devices were found at the scene, it’s almost certain.”
“Haha! Hahahaha!!!”
Had he ever felt such helplessness before?
Not caring about imperial dignity in the slightest, Demian threw back his head and burst into laughter.
“So we got scared of an enemy army that didn’t even exist and gave away Adman Castle for free. Rosen, aren’t we complete idiots?”
“Your Majesty…”
Had silence ever been this heavy since the war began?
No, even counting from when Demian Raikan took power, there probably hadn’t been a day like today.
“Adman Castle belonged to the Adits Empire until 150 years ago.”
The Emperor’s face with all laughter gone.
What remained on it was anger.
“The blood spilled to take that fortress was 20,000 men. But we gave it away for free.”
“Please kill me!!!”
Commander-in-Chief Bast dropped to his knees on the floor and shouted.
“Everything is my negligence as Commander-in-Chief!”
“Do you think the blood of 20,000 can be satisfied with just your head?”
“That is not the case, but…”
“Haah.”
The Emperor let out a deep sigh while looking down at the map.
‘I need to pull myself together.’
Controlling anger wasn’t an easy task.
However, the Emperor knew better than anyone that losing his composure here was exactly what the Adits Empire and Count Seto wanted.
‘To deliberately reveal that it was a magical device before leaving, how vicious. Truly vicious.’
If they had hidden it well, they could have used it once more in a small battle.
However, the man called Count Seto judged that revealing this fact would be far more advantageous.
‘What should I do?’
The fortunate fact is that while we gave up territory, there were no troop losses.
‘If we remain idle like this, public sentiment will explode, distrust will grow, and the military will collapse.’
This is a natural flow, and it cannot be stopped with just a few words.
And there is only one way to change this.
Victory.
“Commander-in-Chief.”
“Yes! Your Majesty!”
“Immediately organize the Western Expeditionary Force. Starting with Belzium Castle, we will take the enemies’ territory.”
“The Western Expeditionary Force… I will prepare it right away.”
“If we don’t move quickly and crush them, we will destroy ourselves. Do you understand what I mean?”
“Yes! I will follow Your Majesty’s command.”
The Emperor looked down at Bast with eyes that held less trust than before.
However, there was no suitable alternative to dismiss Bast.
‘This time everyone was deceived, so it’s ambiguous to say whose responsibility it is.’
Intelligence Command, the Commander-in-Chief, Rimircastle, and even the Emperor himself.
They had all been played by Count Seto and the Abiel Ducal House.
“The Adits Empire achieved a great victory by placing Count Seto, a non-military man, as their commander-in-chief. Though they are enemies, we must observe and learn from their decision.”
The Emperor’s gaze swept over the Commander-in-Chief and other military personnel.
“Rank and status do not bring victory. Recognize that the lives of you all and the Empire hang on this Western Expeditionary Force, and gather the best talent. That is an order.”
“We receive Your Majesty’s command!!”
Because they instinctively knew that this moment was either a turning point or the path to destruction.
Everyone gathered in the office answered with heavy voices.
The Emperor’s gaze that swept over them finally turned to the Crown Prince.
“And the Crown Prince will also participate in this Western Expeditionary Force. Go and risk your life to bring victory to the Empire.”
“Yes! I will definitely return victorious!”
The Crown Prince bowed his head once more.
Since it was such a dangerous position, Rosen would normally have opposed it, but given the circumstances, no voice of objection emerged.
As the Western Expeditionary Force was planned, personnel were quickly assembled starting with the command structure.
* * *
“Haha! How wonderful this is! Today feels like my birthday!”
Had there ever been a time when he was this happy since the war began?
Emperor Simon of the Adits Empire was smiling like a young child.
“You really worked hard. You truly worked hard.”
The Emperor personally came down and patted the shoulders of Count Seto, who had returned victorious.
“This is all an achievement made possible by Your Majesty’s strong support.”
“I know well enough that’s not the case. To capture a fortress without spilling a single drop of blood. Thanks to you, the military’s morale is now soaring to the heavens.”
A victory achieved through mysterious tactics.
And with zero casualties.
It was only natural for the soldiers to be ecstatic about a victory without death.
“Now the tide belongs to Your Majesty. Everything has returned to its proper place.”
“Yes, those Lycans must have realized their mistake by now. They must be very anxious. Haha!”
The Emperor laughed heartily once more and returned to sit in his seat.
“I heard that magical devices developed by the Abiel Ducal House were used in this operation. How reassuring it is that both ducal houses are so capable, so reassuring.”
A victory where both ducal houses achieved merit, so there was no need to favor one side.
The Emperor’s mind couldn’t be more at ease.
“It’s fortunate that the results obtained through countless research and effort have finally seen the light.”
Duke Abiel showed a dignified smile.
“So where do you plan to use that illusion magical device?”
“While it could be used in various fields, I believe there are many applications in culture and arts.”
That was the original development purpose anyway.
It was just used in combat due to coincidence and timing.
“Ho, I’m already looking forward to it.”
“Once it’s ready, I’ll make sure to start first at the Imperial Palace.”
“If you do that, I’ll hold a grand banquet so we can all enjoy it together.”
Probably if anyone asked for something right now, most reasonable requests would just get approved.
“Additionally, I will bestow rewards on all those who achieved merit in this battle. Count Seto, compile a list and let me know.”
“Yes!”
“The research team that developed the illusion magical device are also heroes of the war, so Duke Abiel, please compile their list as well.”
“I will do so. And Your Majesty, there is something I would like to request.”
Duke Abiel stepped forward and looked up at the Emperor.
“Speak.”
“The information control by Reconnaissance Command played a truly significant role in this battle. Without them, the enemies wouldn’t have been deceived by the magical device.”
“That’s certainly true. They’ve really changed a lot.”
The Reconnaissance Command, which had always fallen behind and slipped compared to the Raikhan Empire’s Intelligence Command.
However, in this battle, they proved their capabilities.
And at the center of that change was.
“I would appreciate it if you could review the merits of Lieutenant Robin, who commanded this operation. He is a talent the Empire will need in the future. Don’t you think so, Count Seto?”
Duke Abiel asked Count Seto with a raised corner of his mouth.
He was demanding a predetermined answer.
‘Tsk, cunning fox.’
To say no here would be impossible, as they had benefited far too much from the Reconnaissance Command in this war.
Among them, Robin’s ability to find all the Intelligence Command agents hidden in Belzium Castle was not something that could be falsely concealed.
“That’s correct. The collaboration with the Reconnaissance Command played a major role in this battle.”
“Ho, if both Dukes say so, then I understand. I shall personally review and commend his merits.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Having obtained what he wanted, Duke Abiel showed his characteristic smile and bowed his head.
A few days later, Robin and Baren Seto’s promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, among others.
Merit rewards were distributed like a festival.
* * *
“Section Chief, this is a supply plan for thirty-six items starting with the barracks. Please review it.”
“I don’t know, just stamp it.”
“But you should at least check…”
Captain Dennis scratched his head at my increasingly reckless attitude.
“Sigh, leave it. I’ll check it.”
“Yes sir!”
Thud!
Captain Dennis threw down the documents and ran away before I could change my mind.
The pile was so substantial it made a sound when placed on the desk.
‘This is really a mess.’
I thought the work would decrease once the battle ended.
But what do you know.
After stupidly losing Adman Castle, the Western Support Unit is now a battlefield trying to extract supplies for the troops and citizens who were there.
‘No, really, there’s a limit to stupidity. Falling for some illusion magical device or whatever.’
I thought only the idiots from Romance of the Three Kingdoms would fall for fake troops.
But surprisingly, such stupid bastards actually existed.
And on our side, no less.
‘Really shit, the Empire has no future. No future.’
If it weren’t for our Diamond Spoon Clan, I would have already defected to the Adits Empire.
‘But then again, if we lose the war, clans and such become meaningless. Should I flee now…?’
I was briefly conflicted, but if I went, it would definitely be execution for me.
Given all the karma I’ve accumulated so far.
“Sigh, I’m trapped. Completely trapped.”
And it seems I’m properly trapped at a peak that will never come again.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Fishwantstolife
Why does the author makes the battle always losing? Like the rimircastle one where the mc becomes the mess hall captain and nearly get killed and now this. Well of course after navy battle it could be said that the battle other than when the mc was there, then it’s good as lose