EP.224 The Disadvantaged Side Calls the Time-Out
At the Military Nation's temporary base set up on the Meta Conveyor Belt, a strategy meeting was in full swing.
Organized chaos swirled around a square table. The generals racked their brains for countless countermeasures around the single table, but no clear solution emerged to break through this situation.
Many things were mentioned, but the common underlying tone in their remarks was anxiety.
"Our forces are diminished, while theirs remain intact. Furthermore, now that it has been revealed they can interfere with the Meta Conveyor Belt, pursuing them on the belt is meaningless."
It was a crushing defeat. Had there ever been a time since the birth of the Military Nation that they suffered such a devastating defeat?
There were many excuses to be made. The opponent was a legendary existence, the Progenitor Tirkanjaka, and the King of Beasts, who was not supposed to take any individual's side, had openly taken their side.
And above all. The opponent's capabilities, especially the power of the boy swordsman wielding the invisible sword, far exceeded their predictions.
Partaksion shouted in fury.
"That brat! He hid his power when fighting me! Does he think I'm easy? I will absolutely, absolutely never forgive him!"
"...Captain. How exactly do you plan to not forgive him? I must say it again, you must not act alone."
When his disciple, Colonel Gand, asked cautiously, Partaksion gripped his spear shaft tightly and retorted fiercely.
"How else! Next time I meet him, I'll smash him with my full power. I hate guys who don't use everything they have in a duel!"
"This is not a duel! It's an operation!"
"All conflicts are a continuation, or a collection, of duels! Whatever the case, next time I'll definitely draw out that brat's full power!"
"Don't draw it out, you need to defeat him with all your might! That's the only way to recover Director Historia, isn't it!"
When Colonel Gand mentioned Historia, an uncomfortable silence lingered in the conference room.
Historia, who was more proactive in this operation than anyone else. She had taken the Gunner Corps and rushed ahead, fighting a delaying battle and holding the enemy back all day long. Even at a disadvantage, she single-handedly confronted them to protect the Gunner Corps.
No matter how much personal emotion she had for this mission, Historia fought with her life on the line, doing her absolute best. The generals felt not only admiration for Historia, but also a slight sense of guilt.
Partaksion asked back seriously.
"Director Historia? Did you just call her Director Historia?"
"I did. Is there a problem?"
While everyone was looking only at Partaksion's mouth, he answered with boundless lightness.
"Hey, didn't you used to say Historia was an immature brat who only knew how to shoot a gun and was arrogant? But ever since you got beaten up in a sparring match with her, you've been adding honorifics perfectly?"
"I'm being polite! You should keep some manners too, Captain! You're not the only one here!"
"I have the highest rank here. And the old lady Sorcery General isn't around right now..."
"So you act so carefree when I'm not around!"
The door burst open, and the Sorcery General, who had returned after finishing reconnaissance and belt repairs, came inside, fastening her collar. Partaksion, who had been lounging in a completely carefree posture, grumbled and straightened up.
"Tch, speak of the tiger and it appears. I'm not the boss anymore."
"Stop with the nonsense, shouldn't you be thinking about how to rescue the Director quickly! We don't know what kind of harsh suffering the Director is experiencing in the enemy's hands right now!"
Sorcery General Prelviyor, one of the few beings who could unhesitatingly spew out scoldings toward the Peerless Spear who did everything as he pleased.
During the Kingdom era, sorcerers, who were few in number and possessed mystical abilities, were naturally the exclusive property of the nobles. The nobles kept better and more powerful sorcerers as their guests and deployed them for tasks that needed to become 'mystical.' Sorcerers with unique sorcery upheld power in unimaginable ways according to their masters' will.
Amidst all that, Prelviyor, who took on all the dirty and hard odd jobs from construction to war, received massive support from the soldiers and the citizens. However, she herself declined the glory, claiming it was just to cover her own magic expenses.
In the Kingdom, they called her the Kingdom's Workhorse—half in mockery for a sorceress who only did menial labor, and half in sheer amazement.
Even the Peerless Spear, who was also a diehard, tended to watch his mouth in front of her.
"So go practice flying a bit more! If someone gets caught in your wind, there won't even be bones left to pick up, so unless they're a general who can survive a fall, they can't even fly! How long are you going to fly around hanging like a kite?"
"Shut up!"
Only relatively speaking, that is.
Striding in, Prelviyor stood in front of the table with the Military Nation's map drawn on it, tossed a rolled-up mana cigar onto it, and spoke.
"Regarding the King of Beasts, I've received a solution."
"What is it?"
"Avoid fighting them if possible. If we don't attack first, the King of Beasts won't show any intention to attack either. However, if the Cat King acts hostile again, they told us to smoke this calming mana cigar."
What the Sorcery General placed on the table was a hand-rolled tobacco with a refreshing scent. Partaksion picked up the mana cigar, sniffed it, and scowled.
"Who gave you this?"
The Sorcery General answered.
"Corpsman Maximilian."
"Does that guy make medicine besides weapons? Well, alchemists all have a shady side. So when is the secret weapon arriving?"
"The Corpsman is currently crafting a weapon to counter them, and he will join us as soon as it's finished."
"He still hasn't finished it? By then, we'll have already fled to the Principality. I need to get my spear fixed too, and he's never around when I need him."
"Insolent brat! Don't interrupt when adults are speaking. If you have nothing to say, just listen quietly!"
The Sorcery General, who had just yelled at him, surveyed the room and shouted.
"Listen up. An operation has been proposed. The next battle location is the Far East Station! They will likely head up to the Principality along the coastal road from the Far East Station. We will fight a decisive battle there and stop them from heading to the coastal road!"
The Far East Station is the largest station in the Military Nation, and at the same time, a space with various control facilities for the repair and maintenance of the Meta Conveyor Belt. The point where the Meta Conveyor Belt flows the slowest in the Military Nation was selected as the next battlefield.
Just as everyone was nodding at the reasonable operation, a staff officer asked cautiously.
"But aren't we behind them? How do we overtake them?"
"You, the one who just raised his voice! Raise your hand when asking a question!"
"I-I will correct myself."
The staff officer raised his hand and asked again. Only then did Prelviyor turn her body toward the one who raised his hand and answered loudly.
"That's right! You have to identify yourself so I can look at you and answer! Remember this. Identifying yourself! This is the basics of reporting!"
"I will keep that in mind."
"Quick to correct yourself. Good attitude!"
Nodding with satisfaction, Prelviyor explained again.
"The multi-purpose armored unit, Bernartein, is standing by at the Far East Station. They will fight a delaying battle."
What came out of Prelviyor's mouth was the name of the Military Nation's most elite corps. The staff officer answered in surprise.
"Bernartein? The Level 5 elite unit directly under the headquarters, prepared solely for war? For something like this, not even an inter-state war...?"
"The Progenitor Tirkanjaka is a one-woman army. She is an enemy that fully warrants it. Also, considering her ability to summon darkness and turn it into troops, it's much better for us to clash with her using a corps as well. We'll leave the battle against the Progenitor to Bernartein, and we will attack from the rear."
It was the so-called hammer and anvil. While Bernartein held them off and the Meta Conveyor Belt moved sluggishly, the generals, including the Sorcery General and the Peerless Spear, would strike and finish them off... Such was the operation.
It was a perfect plan. Like all plans, if it went according to plan.
Naturally, the staff officer pointed that out as well.
"What if they avoid the fight at the Far East Station?"
"If they get off the belt, it's to our advantage. The power of a corps can be properly demonstrated on flat ground. We just need to finish them off with a mobile battle."
"That's true, but they are individuals with corps-level power. If they hide somewhere and wage a guerrilla war, it will become troublesome."
"All personnel, led by the signal corps, have been mobilized for surveillance. They won't be able to escape this country, and they won't be able to hide anywhere either."
"Hmm..."
After pondering for a moment, the staff officer briefly glanced around, and with the feeling of taking the bullet, presented the final possibility.
"What if... they take Director Historia as a hostage...?"
Even Prelviyor, who usually showed an iron-willed attitude, hardened her face even more.
Sorcerer Lancart and Gunner Commander Historia. Of the two talents believed to lead the future of the Military Nation, only Historia remained whole.
Historia wasn't a charming personality, but Prelviyor had grown somewhat attached to her always respectful yet appropriately flexible attitude towards everyone. Although their fields were different, she inwardly considered Historia more praiseworthy than Lancart.
In her heart, she wanted to save her by any means necessary, but.
"...There is no negotiation. Aim to recover her, but if it comes to the worst, abandon her."
The Military Nation does not negotiate. Bending once leads to bending twice, and eventually becomes the domino that causes the nation to collapse.
Do not put the nation in jeopardy for the sake of an individual. This is the very identity and grand premise of the country called the Military Nation.
Just as the generals were nodding in dismay, the Peerless Spear alone was wearing an inscrutable smile. She tried to grit her teeth and ignore it, but it annoyed her so much that the Sorcery General eventually called him out.
"Captain Partaksion. If you have something to say, say it with words instead of smirking!"
"Keke. You people on this side probably wouldn't know."
Partaksion, wearing an impish smile, answered with a face full of mischief.
"The Military Nation's daughter, that delinquent girl. She got captured on purpose."
"...What did you just say, Partaksion?"
"I'm talking about Historia. Even when the situation turned unfavorable and it was time to run, she deliberately charged in. She infiltrated them."
Everyone was taken aback by the unexpected remark. Among them, Partaksion nodded alone and said.
"She pretended to fight quite hard, but she couldn't fool my eyes. She could have just rolled off the belt, but she insisted on fighting the Cat King and then pretended to be exhausted."
"Why take such a dangerous risk?"
"Who knows? Is it dangerous? Those guys, aside from razing a few bases and attacking the capital command headquarters to cause a disturbance, haven't really done much, have they?"
"It's dangerous enough! They cut off Jiseon's arm and burned down five supply bases! Without any reason!"
"There probably wasn't no reason. Anyway, it seems they don't kill people indiscriminately. It's obvious she snuck in by pretending to be captured."
However, getting captured on purpose is dangerous. It is especially fatal when an individual's power surpasses that of a group. Being taken as a prisoner tilts the balance of power.
It's too much to be considered a sudden action. The staff officer spoke with a faint hope.
"By any chance, is there a possibility that she has completely defected...?"
At that moment, the gazes of all the generals turned toward him.