WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 224: The Side at a Disadvantage Calls Operation Time

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An operations meeting was in full swing at the military state's temporary base atop the Meta Conveyor Belt.

Orderly chaos surrounded the rectangular table. The generals devised countless countermeasures, but none offered a decisive way to break the impasse.

Many points were raised, but unease underlay every statement.

"Our strength has been reduced, while theirs remains intact. Now that it is clear they can interfere with the Meta Conveyor Belt, pursuing them along the Belt is meaningless."

It was a crushing defeat. Had the military state ever suffered one so miserable since its founding?

There were plenty of excuses. Their enemy was the legendary Progenitor Tyrkanzyaka, and the Beast King, who should not have favored any particular individual, had openly taken their side.

More than anything, their abilities, especially the young swordsman's strength with his invisible blade, far exceeded all predictions.

Partlaxion shouted in rage.

"That brat! He held back when he fought me! Does he think I'm a pushover? I'll never, ever forgive him!"

"...Commander. How exactly do you intend to not forgive him? I must repeat myself, but you cannot act alone."

When his disciple, Colonel Gand, cautiously asked, Partlaxion tightened his grip on his spear shaft and answered heatedly.

"How? I'll smash him with everything I've got next time. I hate people who don't use everything they have in a duel!"

"This isn't a duel! It's an operation!"

"Every conflict is a series of duels, or a collection of them! Either way, I'll make sure to draw out that brat's full strength next time!"

"Don't draw it out. Defeat him with your full strength! Otherwise, how are we supposed to recover Major General Historia?"

The moment Colonel Gand mentioned Historia, an uncomfortable silence settled over the meeting room.

Historia had been more committed to this operation than anyone. She had rushed ahead with the rifle corps, waging a delaying battle that held the enemy in place for an entire day. Even when the situation turned against her, she had faced them alone to protect the rifle corps.

No matter how personal her feelings about the mission were, Historia had done everything she could and fought with her life on the line. The generals felt not only admiration for her, but a measure of debt as well.

Partlaxion asked seriously.

"Major General Historia? Did you just call her Major General Historia?"

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

As everyone watched Partlaxion, he answered lightly.

"Hey, weren't you the one who said Historia was a young punk putting on airs and firing a gun? Ever since she beat you senseless in that spar, you've been using proper honorifics?"

"I'm showing respect! You should try it too, Commander! You aren't the only one here!"

"I'm the highest-ranking person here. The War Mage granny isn't here right now..."

"Is this the time to lounge around just because I'm not here?!"

The doors burst open. The War Mage, having finished reconnaissance and repairs to the Belt, entered while straightening her collar. Partlaxion, who had been sitting in a thoroughly relaxed posture, grumbled as he straightened up.

"Tch. Speak of the tiger and it appears. Guess I'm not the big shot anymore."

"Stop talking nonsense and think about rescuing the major general! For all we know, she may be suffering unspeakable hardships in enemy hands!"

War Mage Prelvior was one of the few people who could freely reprimand the self-willed Absolute Sonata.

During the age of the Kingdom, mages with their rare and mysterious powers had naturally been the exclusive preserve of nobles. Nobles kept more capable and powerful mages as retainers, deploying them whenever they had a need to seem more mysterious. Mages with innate arcane upheld power in ways no one could imagine.

Prelvior, on the other hand, took on every filthy and arduous task, from construction projects to war, earning immense support from soldiers and citizens alike. She turned down glory, saying she had to cover the cost of her magic.

People in the Kingdom called her its workhorse, half in mockery because she was a mage doing menial work, and half in awe.

Even Absolute Sonata tended to watch his words around her.

"That's why I keep telling you to practice flying! If I get caught in your wind the wrong way, there won't be a bone left to collect. No one but generals who can survive a fall can fly! How much longer are you going to keep flying around dangling like a kite?"

"Shut it!"

That was only relative, of course.

Prelvior strode to the table bearing a map of the military state. Tossing a rolled mana herb cigar onto it, she spoke.

"I have received advice on how to deal with the Beast King."

"What is it?"

"Avoid fighting whenever possible. If we do not attack first, the Beast King will not feel any need to attack us. If the King of Cats becomes hostile again, burn this calming mana herb."

What the War Mage had placed on the table was a mana herb cigar with a refreshing scent. Partlaxion picked it up, sniffed it, and frowned.

"Who gave us this?"

The War Mage replied.

"Confectioner Maximilien."

"That guy makes drugs as well as weapons? Well, alchemists all have a shady side. So when is the secret weapon arriving?"

"The Confectioner is making a weapon to counter them. He will join us as soon as it is complete."

"He still hasn't finished it? By then, they'll already have run off to the Duchy. My spear needs repairs too, but he's never around when I need him."

"You insolent brat! Don't interrupt when your elders are speaking. If you have nothing to say, listen quietly!"

After barking the rebuke, the War Mage looked around the room and raised her voice.

"Listen. The operation has been drafted. The next battlefield will be the Far Eastern Terminal! They will likely head for the Duchy along the coastal road from the Far Eastern Terminal. We will fight them there and prevent them from reaching the coastal road!"

The Far Eastern Terminal was the military state's largest terminal. It also housed numerous control facilities for maintaining and repairing the Meta Conveyor Belt. The point where the Belt moved slowest within the military state had been chosen as the next battleground.

As everyone nodded at the sensible operation, a staff officer cautiously asked,

"But aren't we behind them? How do we get ahead of them?"

"You there, the one who just raised his voice! Raise your hand when you ask a question!"

"I-I will correct that."

The staff officer raised a hand and asked again. Only then did Prelvior turn toward him and answer in a booming voice.

"Exactly! You must identify yourself so I know whom to look at when I answer! Remember it. Identifying yourself is the foundation of a report!"

"I will keep that in mind."

"Quick correction. Good attitude!"

Prelvior nodded with satisfaction before continuing.

"The multipurpose armored corps, Bernartern, is waiting at the Far Eastern Terminal. They will conduct a delaying battle."

The name Prelvior had spoken belonged to the military state's finest corps. The staff officer replied in surprise.

"Bernartern? The Level-5 elite unit directly under headquarters, prepared solely for war? They are being deployed for something that is not even an international war?"

"Progenitor Tyrkanzyaka is a one-woman legion. She is an enemy that warrants it. Considering her ability to summon darkness and turn it into troops, we will fare far better by meeting her with a legion of our own. Bernartern will engage the Progenitor while we attack from the rear."

It was a hammer-and-anvil tactic. Bernartern would hold them in place while the Meta Conveyor Belt crawled along, then the War Mage, Absolute Sonata, and the other generals would strike and finish them.

It was a perfect plan. Like every plan, provided it went according to plan.

The staff officer naturally pointed that out.

"What if they avoid a battle at the Far Eastern Terminal?"

"If they come down from the Belt, we gain the advantage. A legion can show its strength more fully on open ground. We will wage a maneuver battle and finish them."

"That is true, but they are individuals with corps-level power. It will become troublesome if they hide somewhere and wage guerrilla warfare."

"All personnel, led by the communications officers, have been mobilized for surveillance. They will not be able to leave this country, nor will they be able to hide anywhere."

"Hmm..."

After thinking for a moment, the staff officer glanced around before presenting one final possibility, as though shouldering the burden alone.

"What if... they take Major General Historia hostage...?"

Even Prelvior, who always maintained an attitude of steel, hardened her expression further.

Sorcerer Lankart and riflewoman Historia. Of the two talents believed to lead the military state's future, only Historia remained whole.

Historia did not have an especially endearing personality, but Prelvior had grown fond of her respectful yet reasonably flexible attitude toward everyone. Their fields differed, but Prelvior privately thought more highly of Historia than Lankart.

She wanted to rescue Historia by any means possible, but...

"...There will be no negotiations. Attempt a recovery, but abandon her if necessary."

The military state did not negotiate. Bow once, and one would bow again. It was a domino that would eventually collapse the nation.

Do not endanger the state for an individual. That was the identity and fundamental principle of the military state.

As the generals nodded grimly, Absolute Sonata alone wore an inscrutable smile. The War Mage gritted her teeth and tried to ignore him, but his expression irritated her too much in the end.

"Commander Partlaxion. If you have something to say, stop grinning like an idiot and say it!"

"Heh. The people here don't understand."

With a mischievous smile, Partlaxion answered.

"That little daughter of the military state, that delinquent. She got captured on purpose."

"...What did you say, Partlaxion?"

"Historia. Even when things turned against her and it was time to run, she deliberately charged in. She infiltrated them."

The unexpected statement left everyone stunned. Partlaxion alone nodded to himself and continued.

"She put on a convincing act, but she couldn't fool me. She could have simply fallen off the Belt, but she insisted on fighting the King of Cats first, then pretended to be exhausted."

"Why would she take such a dangerous risk?"

"Who knows? Is it dangerous? Those people haven't done much besides razing a few bases, raiding the Capital Command, and causing a disturbance."

"That is more than dangerous enough! They cut off Jiseon's arm and burned down five supply bases! For no reason at all!"

"It wasn't without reason. In any case, they don't seem to kill people indiscriminately. She clearly pretended to be captured so she could sneak in."

Deliberately being captured was dangerous. It was even more fatal when an individual's power surpassed that of a group, because becoming a prisoner tilted the balance of power.

It was too extreme to call it an impulsive act. The staff officer cautiously spoke again.

"Could she have... defected entirely?"

At that moment, every general's gaze turned toward him.

Footnotes:

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