After The Exercise

“I feel some rather unpleasant gazes, but for that reason, cavalry does not exist in Einheria.”

Ignoring Guriel, who was subtly grinning, and Efaria, who was pretending to look perfectly serious, I told General Smark that. The general fell silent with a crease between his brows.

Naturally, I could not know what this general, whom I had just met, was thinking… but normally, if someone suddenly said, “Running myself is faster than riding a horse!” you would worry a little about whether their head was all right.

You would think they were not just a musclehead, but that their brain had completely gone.

But it could not be helped… because in Einheria, this was common sense… I would have them learn that common sense changed depending on the place.

I felt like that statement might have come back to hit me a little, but no, I had no objection to learning other people’s common sense, so there was no problem.

“Since we are at it, I shall also explain the troop types that make up the Einheria Army. Swordsmen, spearmen, and axemen are the three types of close-combat troops. Archers and magic soldiers are the two types of ranged-combat troops. Weapon categories are divided into those five types, but apart from weapons, there are also troop types with special roles, such as scouts and engineers.”

It felt like a rather game-like explanation, though I was the one saying it.

Putting that aside, we did not use summoned soldiers for scouting or engineering.

Those were troop types that Ururu, Otonoha, and the others handled on their own, so in Sword and Legions’ war screen, they had not existed as troop types.

“…There is something I am curious about. May I ask?”

“Hmm. There is no need to ask permission every time. If there is something you wish to ask, ask freely.”

“Thank you for your generous consideration.”

It was not so much generosity as me saying it because answering every request for permission was a pain, you know?

“Does the Einheria Army not have messenger soldiers? In the exercise just now, I did not see any messengers coming and going from the two commanders…”

“Indeed. Messenger soldiers do not exist. Our information transmission is… conducted through magic, so the battlefield and headquarters can communicate in real time.”

“Wh-what… So that really was the case…”

It was more my ability than magic… but naturally, I had no intention of saying something like, “I am the only one who can use it.”

If that leaked carelessly, I would be targeted like crazy… no, well, as a king, I would be targeted like crazy anyway.

Still, with this, General Smark would likely raise his evaluation of Einheria once again.

The more someone knew the battlefield, the more deeply they would understand the importance of information transmission.

And on the point of information, there was one more thing… the unfair technique known as a bird’s-eye view.

No, I thought all of the hawk abilities were unfair… Honestly, I thought having even one of them would be enough to transform the nature of the battlefield.

“…The strength of the soldiers… the speed of information… logistics… I see, supply units are unnecessary as well… no, with teleportation in the first place…”

General Smark seemed to have gone into his own world… but was that all right?

I thought Guriel had called him because he wanted him to listen to my explanation.

“Your Majesty, King of Einheria, may I ask about that magic?”

In General Smark’s place, Efaria asked me a question.

“I do not mind, but which magic do you mean?”

“Ah, my apologies. May I ask first about the magic that created those rocky hills?”

“That was Earth Area, a spell cast by Kamila, the Court Mage. As you saw, its effect is to completely transform the terrain of the battlefield. It can create mountains, hills, valleys, and such. Fundamentally, it is a spell with no attack power, but if an ordinary person were caught up in the terrain change, they might not get away with merely serious injuries.”

Back in the game, it had been a no-damage spell, but judging from what I saw today… if someone got caught in that, it would clearly kill them.

“Changing terrain… Could it possibly be used to create farmland as well?”

“It can. The fields beneath Einheria Castle were created with that magic. It can also be used to level ground.”

“A spell that can be applied not only to war, but also to agriculture and construction… That is wonderful.”

Efaria praised it, her eyes shining slightly.

For Efaria, rather than talk of war or combat strength, she probably preferred topics related to people’s lives, the economy, and industry.

“The next one was… that terribly large fire spell.”

“That too was Flame Area, used by Kamila. Well, it is an easy-to-understand, wide-area fire-element spell.”

“Lady Kamila can cast such large-scale spells in succession…”

“She is the greatest magic user in Einheria. Moreover, she is first by a wide margin over everyone below second place… When it comes to magic, she is undoubtedly the highest-ranking talent.”

“If Your Majesty, King of Einheria, praises her that much, then she must truly be wonderful. I am also interested in magic, so I would like to speak with Lady Kamila if the opportunity arises.”

“Our magic is somewhat special, but I shall try to make an opportunity next time.”

If anything, I was interested in this world’s magic.

Should I ask Fio about it sometime?

Oscar felt more like a specialist in magic tools than magic itself… and if I met that guy, I felt like I would get caught up in another strange event.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, King of Einheria. By the way, was the thing that blocked Lady Kamila’s fire spell defensive magic?”

“That was Fire-Resistance Formation, used by Kiriku. As the name suggests, it grants strong resistance against fire-element attacks.”

Strictly speaking, it was not magic but one of his stratagems, but there was no need to explain that in detail.

Its effect was almost like magic, after all.

“Lord Kiriku did that? Even though he was on this hill in order to command… Did he use magic from here?”

“Indeed, that would be the case. Our magic can be activated without difficulty at this level of distance.”

“P-please wait just a moment!”

General Smark, who had returned to this world, cut into the conversation without thinking.

No, I personally did not mind… but was it all right for a general to interrupt a conversation between kings?

“M-my sincerest apologies!”

Ah, apparently it was not all right after all.

General Smark prostrated himself with a stiffened face.

“General, I do not mind. I was the one who said you may ask questions freely. For that reason, Holy King, would you refrain from blaming General Smark?”

“…If Your Majesty, King of Einheria says so, I do not mind. But General, there will not be a next time.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

There would not be a next time, huh… Efaria in Holy King mode really would not forgive him… I thought she definitely had more dignity and pressure than my Overlord act.

Even though she was tiny…

“So, General Smark, was there something that concerned you?”

“Yes, sir… Well… You said earlier that the Court Mage changed the earth and immediately after that cast the fire spell… Did one magician cast that ritual magic?”

“The part about one magic user casting it is correct, but that was not ritual magic. It was ordinary magic cast by an individual.”

…I felt like I had said something reminiscent of some great demon lord somewhere, but it was the truth, so it could not be helped.

“…A spell of that scale was cast not as ritual magic activated by a large number of people performing a ritual, but as an individual spell…? No, considering how many magicians would be needed to cast ritual magic like that in succession, certainly…”

Huh? Had the general gone into his own world again…?

I really did not want to make Efaria issue an order to punish the general.

“Are you all right, General? Are you finished asking what you wanted to ask?”

“Ah, no, one more thing… Earlier, you said that the one who blocked the fire spell was the person commanding from this hill… Did he make magic reach from this distance?”

“That is correct. Is it something to be that surprised about?”

“…At least, the defensive magic that exists in our common sense cannot protect a location that far away from the caster. That is precisely why magic soldiers need to be stationed at key points throughout the army in order to defend against enemy magical attacks.”

“Hmm… I am interested in your common sense… or rather, the way your army operates. Shall we hold an exercise between our armies sometime?”

“Eh? No… that is… I wonder…”

I smiled at the general, whose complexion had clearly worsened.

“Do not worry so much. I am fully aware that our army is beyond standard. We are capable of holding back enough to avoid injuring our exercise opponents as much as possible.”

“M-my apologies.”

“Heh heh… Do not mind it. I understand why you would feel uneasy after seeing the exercise. But, yes… Would you participate in a tactical study group, General Smark? I am requesting participation from military personnel among the people from the countries that have come under Einheria’s umbrella. It is not that we will teach our tactics, but rather a study group for existing tactics known to you generals. Since they were originally military personnel from different countries, it should be a good opportunity to learn the tactics of other nations.”

Well, since we had dismantled their militaries, whether there would be any opportunity to put that knowledge to use was another matter.

“That is an extremely attractive offer, but would it truly be all right…?”

“I do not mind. The reason I am having the Lufelon Holy Kingdom’s army dismantled is not because I wish to reduce your military power. As General Smark has seen, our army is strong, and above all, it costs no money. Military affairs are an extremely expensive field even when no fighting takes place… General, you likely did not get along very well with those in charge of finances, did you?”

“…No.”

The general nodded with an awkward expression.

In every world, those in charge of finances were disliked… It was probably something like, “Give me more money,” and “There is no money to give you.”

“If military expenses can be reduced, money can be directed elsewhere. Developing the people’s lives while defending against other countries is extremely difficult, but splitting those tasks makes it very easy. Military affairs will be handled by us, and domestic administration by the Holy King… That is the true meaning of this treaty.”

“…”

It was not exactly because the general had once again fallen into thought with a serious expression, but as though that were the signal, the exercise that day ended without any further incident.

Viewpoint of Guriel-Falk, Regent of the Lufelon Holy Kingdom, Efaria’s Uncle

After the Einheria Army’s exercise the other day, I had been unable to make time and had not been able to speak with General Smark.

I had asked General Smark to judge the strength of the Einheria Army… but honestly, even I, who was ignorant of military matters, clearly understood that strength.

That was… not on a level where one could speak of judging it or anything of the sort…

As I sat with my hands folded on the desk and recalled the exercise I had seen that day, I heard a knock at the door.

“Regent, it is Smark.”

“Enter.”

While loosening my hands, which had somehow grown tense, I called out to the other side of the door.

I offered a chair to General Smark, who entered the room with a grave expression, and prepared tea, though I was not very good at it.

“I am not very skilled at this, but forgive me.”

“No, thank you.”

After waiting for General Smark to take a sip of tea, I brought up the main subject.

“I think you understand why I called you today… How was Einheria?”

“…To speak honestly, that is absolutely not an opponent we should ever make an enemy of. I would say they are on a level where the Great Empire of the Central Plains… that country which possesses multiple heroes, might finally be able to fight them.”

“A small country… no, its territory is already on par with a mid-sized country, but you are saying Einheria, which has only that much territory, possesses military strength comparable to the Great Empire?”

“I have only heard rumors about the Great Empire, and I do not believe Einheria showed everything in that exercise either. This is only what I personally felt.”

“I see… But at the very least, General, you felt that a small country or a country of middling scale would be no match for Einheria?”

“I believe there is no doubt of that. It would not become anything that could be called a battle. Small countries could not stand against the existence known as summoned soldiers alone.”

“Soldiers who do not get wounded and do not die, huh… He said there were more than five hundred thousand…”

“Even the Kingdom of Sorakil, which possesses outstanding strength among mid-sized countries, would be unable to assemble five hundred thousand soldiers. It might be possible if they forcibly conscripted the people, but the Einheria Army has that number of trained, elite soldiers… And on top of that, those many great spells… This is only my guess, but I believe Einheria’s Court Mage is a hero.”

“A hero, huh… Most of them are kept by great powers, and even for a mid-sized country, having one would already be notable… So that is the power of a hero… Certainly, it lived up to being called monstrous.”

If the great magic I had seen the other day was wielded by an individual, then it was understandable that one person could possess enough power to change the course of a battle.

“The Lufelon Holy Kingdom has no experience in actual warfare, and we have had no opportunities to see heroes from other countries, so I cannot say for certain… but honestly, I would rather not imagine anything beyond that.”

“Indeed…”

“However, I believe the regent was not mistaken in deciding that entering under Einheria’s umbrella was the path to the Lufelon Holy Kingdom’s survival.”

General Smark said that with a serious expression, but I felt somewhat awkward.

“…To be honest… the strength of the Einheria Army was beyond my imagination. No, rather than beyond my imagination, it was something that defied imagination…”

When I said that, General Smark looked slightly surprised, then opened his mouth with a wry smile.

“As a result, I believe it was the best possible choice. Now, if the words the King of Einheria said at that time were his true feelings, there would be nothing more to say…”

“That man is an approachable person… but at the same time, an extremely frightening one. However, he takes responsibility for the words he speaks. He is a different type of king from His Majesty the Holy King, but he is a very noble king. If he was the one who said it, then I believe he can be trusted.”

“…Regent, you seemed to be interacting with him rather casually.”

At General Smark’s words, a wry smile and a sigh escaped me at the same time.

“…That was only because I was desperate. His Majesty, the King of Einheria, seems to enjoy that sort of jest. As I said earlier, he is an approachable person, and he does not seem to care too much about etiquette or authority, but treating an overwhelmingly superior king that way feels like it shaves years off my life.”

“That is a response I could never manage. I would like you to continue doing your best for the sake of both countries, Regent.”

General Smark said that in a slightly joking manner… It was an extremely rare sight, but it seemed he would not take my place.

“…In truth, His Majesty the Holy King seems better suited to this role. Unless something extraordinary happens, I believe the current Holy King and His Majesty the King of Einheria will get along well.”

Where exactly had Efaria cultivated that courage…?

My niece, who interacted with that king more casually than anyone else, was without doubt someone with the qualities of a ruler.

“Despite being called a vassal state… after hearing that king’s words, I felt as though things would not become so bad. At the very least, there should be no worry of being threatened by other countries.”

As General Smark said that with a softened expression, I shifted my own expression to a more serious one and opened my mouth.

“General Smark… I am sorry, but can you somehow bring the military together?”

“Understood. However, regarding occupations after the army is dismantled…”

“I have already thought of several options for that as well. Would you look at these documents…?”

After saying that, I laid the documents I had prepared in front of the general.

Most of the upper ranks of the military had seen that exercise, but even so, dismantling the army would not be a simple matter.

It seemed I would not be able to rest at ease for a while yet… but perhaps I should ask His Majesty, the King of Einheria, to provide me with a little more of that medicine.