CHAPTER 3 - I - ALL ABOUT LOGISTICS AND MERCENARIES
This was a strange war.
Sure enough, we did all that ‘War Room meeting’ and everything, but then, once the plans were made and responsibilities assigned, it looked like all went back to normal.
Lily had strictly forbidden that we talk about the matters concerning the ‘Holy Coalition’ whenever we’re outside the War Room and Maddie’s personal quarters. Well, her move makes sense. After being betrayed by Eris—who, by the way, was still allowed by Maddie to work inside the Palatial Gardens to avoid the perception that she was ‘excommunicated’, I don’t think we could still let our guards down…not until this conflict was resolved.
I think the only ones who know about the ‘Coalition’ inside the Holy Palatial Gardens are Maddie, Lily, Ruro (because it’s pointless to hide it from her—she can read minds), and me.
“Hm? What about the coalition?” Her Fluffy Holiness asked me. I guess she’s been reading my mind once again. We’re just sitting idly around inside my room, with me reading a book, and Ruro was in her ‘little’ wolf-form trying to cool off the hot day.
“Well, I was just thinking that it was a weird war,” I admitted to her.
“What do you mean? This is pretty normal, for starting wars, of course.”
“Eh?”
“Oh, are you talking about wars in your world, Master?” Ruro laughed, “Well, in our world, wars are like this. 90% of it was spent in waiting, and only 10% goes to actual fighting.
Well, I’ve read about wars being fought with a large part of the time went to preparing defenses, marching, and other mundane tasks that would kill a soldier in boredom rather than in combat. But still…
“…”
If I could compare the situation, it reminded me of the ‘Sitzkrieg’, or the ‘Phony War’ of Earth’s 1940 between the Allies and Nazi Germany in Western Europe. During those times, the belligerent armies were afraid to start actual fighting and were content with waiting and intimidating their enemy. Well, I could tell that my side was preparing for the battles ahead, but what about the Empire?
Could it be that they are still preparing to invade? If so, wouldn’t this be the right time to attack them?
“…”
“That ‘Sitzkrieg’ thing was sure strange Master.” Ruro finally commented.
“Isn’t it the same here? I mean, if I’m the emperor, the reluctance of the other human kings would be my license to invade while everyone was still unprepared and disunited.”
“I don’t exactly know how the Imperial monarch thinks, but you make a good argument.” Ruro replied, “However, don’t you think he was still reinforcing his armies in Amaranth before unleashing them into the whole north of Chersea?”
“If that’s so, then we’re in grave danger since the other kings would prefer to face his armies alone, rather than fighting them in a united front.”
“You could say that again, Master.” Her Fluffy Holiness laughed, “Humans are like that; you’re united, but disunited. It’s similar to my race, the Beastmen, but only cooperating to a certain degree.”
“Hoh?”
“Yep. Unlike you humans, we of the Beastmen race would rather live and fight to ourselves. It’s how we are confident with our skills and strengths, see? That’s why you seldom see a Beastman around; we prefer to live alone.”
“Interesting…well, you’re the only Beastman I encountered so far, Your Fluffy Holiness.” I chuckled, “And, truth be told, I’m kind of glad you trusted me.”
“Oh, so does this mean that you’re accepting me as your slave?”
“Are you crazy? You’re a holy person. Think of your own race when they learn that you’re a slave to a powerless, human commoner.”
“I think that’s interesting.”
“I think not.”
“Haha! Well, anyway, I won’t argue with you, Master!” Ruro was quick to give up, “I know myself that I can’t win against you with words. But I can always force you.”
“You surely jest, Your Fluffy Holiness!”
“Oh? Are you challenging me?” Ruro then uttered a spell and transformed into her human form. Then she pulled a gun barrel from her chest, “Hey, look Master! Don’t you remember this?”
“Ah! It’s my gun that I left at the Braunhauer manor in Amaranth!” I cried out, “How did you get that?”
“Well, when I learned about what happened in Amaranth, I rushed there to help you. But you guys already left, and in a hurry too, since you left your gun and dagger there!”
“Thanks, Your Fluffy Holiness! Now can I get my weapons now?”
“Hoh? I thought we’re trying out if I can force you or not?”
“Ha? You serious with that one?”
“Yep. And I won’t hand it to you, not unless you yanked it free from my bosom…” Ruro squeezed her chest in a poorly made attempt to seduce me.
Heh! As if I would get aroused from that. Maddie’s the only girl who can make my heart race, see?
“W-We’ll see about that!” Ruro then went over to my chair and flaunted her cleavage on my face. I tried to look away, but then, there’s something strange about the Beastman Saint. It’s as if she smelled fragrant and her body exuded that weird, seductive charm.
It’s hard to imagine now that she’s a pug. A holy pug.
“M-Master…I’d f-forgive you now for thinking of me as that ugly dog.” Ruro whispered seductively in my ear, “However, in exchange, I’d like you to hold me…”
Your Fluffy Holiness, I think this is getting out of hand.
“I told you before, right? I’m S.E.R.I.O.U.S.”
Oh? W-Well…that’s…too bad. Honestly, I could feel my heart beat wildly as Ruro of the Wolf continued trying to attract me. The Beastman Saint removed her clothes so that her smooth, brown skin was exposed to my eyes. As if not to let me rest, she drew her erotic face nearer to mine while she bit her lips in the sexiest manner. She looked so different now, and her body exuded that erotic charm that no man in the world could resist…
Well, except for…ME!
“!!!”
Ruro was suddenly brought back to her senses when I took a firm hold of her shoulders and made her sit on the floor. Then, the gun on her chest fell as well, and I grabbed it. Finally, I removed my overcoat and wrapped it around her.
“Sorry, Your Fluffy Holiness.” I apologized, breathing heavily, “As much as I wanted to admit that you’re attractive to me, I would like to remain faithful to Maddie. Please don’t joke like that anymore.”
Ruro remained silent and seemingly in a daze. However, now that I got my gun, I patted her head and rushed out to cool my head off. I couldn’t blame myself for getting aroused, after all.
“…”
Her Fluffy Holiness was left inside my room. Unbeknownst to me during that time, her desire to ‘connect’ with me grew even stronger within her…
Anyway, so much for that episode. As I was saying before, we’re now at war with the Empire, and yet nothing extraordinary was happening. Maybe because it was the preparations being done by our respective sides that were delaying the explosive phase of this conflict?
That I won’t know…
Regardless, our plan was put into action. On January 10th Lily and I secretly went to the city of Stadtsberg, which was located to the north of Amaranth. In my place, I left the vice-captain, Dame Atkins, in-charged of Maddie’s security.
Well, it’s not because of hidden enemies we’re worried for her. It’s more of, we’re afraid that she would come with us, even though Lily had expressly forbidden it. That will not allow us to conceal our presence in Stadtsberg.
The other nobles also arrived by the 10th and 11th, so the Prince of Stadtsberg welcomed us in his personal palace, which serves as our headquarters and assembly point. While the rest of the members of the coalition were given preferential treatment, Lily and I were disguised as newly hired servants of the Prince.
I guess it’s because we’re the heart of the team, that’s why they really want us to hide until it is too late for the Empire to react against us…
On the 12th of January, agents were sent out to the borders of Amaranth to spread misinformation and prayed it would work.
The first batch of soldiers from Nerfes came to the city by January 14. As per our plan, with limited cooperation from the city of Stadtsberg’s prominent citizens (they weren’t aware of our goals here), we took care of the provisions for the assembling army, with a bit more reserved for the incoming people.
On January 16th, another group arrived, followed by the first soldiers from the kingdoms of Colveente and Amarth. The men from Amarth also brought in valuable information (since they were disguised as merchants), like the rumors we began sending to the Amaranthine borders were causing movement of Imperial legionnaires to the north, east, and west…
A clear sign our plan is working.
By January 20th, our numbers swelled to almost 8,000. And since it’s hard to keep the huge concentration of men in one place from the scrutiny of the local population, the Prince of Stadtsberg temporarily dispersed the soldiers into nearby places—towns and villages, with strict orders not to say anything about their real aim.
The others were ‘employed’ as farmers for the Prince of Stadtsberg.
We projected that one week was enough in our battle plan to get the preparations done. However, on the 22nd, we realized a major mistake in our timetable…
We failed to expect the possibility of the slowing of movements of men from their point of embarkation to our place of assembly. Intelligence reports showed the Imperials had set-up patrols and checkpoints along the routes towards the northern borders. It was a bad precedent, for maybe the enemy was suspecting unusual traffic movement, and thus verifying it by counting the caravans plying the roads to the north.
And so, for precaution, I asked Lily (through our agents) to order some men from Amarth to divert towards the east and then head north once they exited Amaranth. The same goes with the other soldiers marching from their countries towards Stadtsberg, just to avoid detection and suspicions…
Because of that, the numbers promised to us by the other supporting coalition members didn’t materialize, or were way below their committed count.
On January 24th, the day before the planned commencement of hostilities, Lily convened a ‘council of war’. Since the prolonged presence of armed men—albeit disguised as peasants—wouldn’t keep our enemy in the dark for long, we asked half of the Nerfes contingent and the men from Colveente to march to the kingdom of Colveente, in the Duchess of Henristone’s land. Not only would it diminish our problems with concealment, but their move would also position our forces to strike south with minimal preparations.
Also, the offensive Lily originally set for January 25th had to be postponed while waiting for the rest of the men to arrive…
“…”
…which is bad because the longer we delayed, the greater the chance our movements would be detected.
