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Volume 4 Chapter 2 Part 2

「You do realize that it is being universally feared as the Demonic Sea? 」

「Of course I realize that. 」

The Knight Captain who expressed the suggestion sounded as if he was offended.

「Speaking of The Rotten Sea… 」

Terious then proceeded to demonstrate the amount of knowledge that he possessed about The Rotten Sea.

The tidal flat with accumulated sludge that spreads to the east of the Isthmus of Penelope is called the Rotten Sea. A long time ago, it was said to be a place rich in nature, but during the Extreme Chaos period, a giant worm appeared there, and it is said that it was polluted with the feces it constantly discharged from its body. Ever since then, it turned int an area where the otherworldly projections with a high Chaos density and a preference for mud converged frequently. In addition, the sludge seems to contain various harmful substances, and it is constantly stirred by worms moving at high speed on the bottom of the sludge.

As a result, a poisonous mist called miasma often occurred there, causing great damage to the surrounding area and all living organisms in its vicinity.

「A surprise attack through the Devil’s Nest is an intriguing strategy, would you not agree? 」

Terius ended the conversation by saying that.

「It would, but if a worm finds you, it will swallow your boat whole, so unless you want to end your life by being turned into a sludge at the bottom of The Rotten Sea, then I advise you to not be reckless. 」

Baron issued Terius a warning.

「It seems that we have no choice but to attack from this one-way road, prepared to make some necessary sacrifices. 」

Gerhardt said as if he had already made up his mind and moved the pawn of the Knights to the road along the sea so that Terius would follow along.

Then everyone was silent for a while. It seemed that everyone was beginning to think that there was only one way for them to attack: a straight-up assault.

「If our army’s casualties increase, even if we kill Pavel, it will increase the forces that are trying to rebel against Waldrind. 」

However, Marine, who had been silently listening to the military council until then, spoke up for the first time and objected to the flow of the meeting.

「That is true… 」

The knights nodded their heads. This time, achieving a victory was not as simple as it always was. If the sacrifices on Waldrind’s side are going to be too big, it is going to be the same as defeat.
「In that case, the only way to win with less sacrifices on our end is to take our time! 」

Terius screamed again.

「It is going to be the same thing… 」

Marine pointed out.

「We have to achieve an overwhelming victory in a short period of time. It is your job to come up with a plan that will make that possible. 」

「Such a measure… 」

… is not necessary, is what Terius was trying to say, but before the words left his mouth, he reconsidered them and turned to the Head Mage Aubest instead.

「I think I have an idea. 」

Aubest glanced at Terius, then at Marine, then back at Terius and he ultimately said:

「Alright, let us listen to it then. 」

「Well then… 」

Encouraged by Marine, Aubest pointed at The Rotten Sea on the map.

「In this tidal flat, miasma, which is a type of Chaos Disaster, occurs frequently because the conditions that make it easy to occur are all in place. In other words, as long as all of these conditions can be fulfilled, it should be possible to create it artificially. 」

「And what are you going to do with the artificially created miasma? 」

「Send it on the wind to the fortress on the Isthmus of Penelope. 」

Asked by the knights, Aubest answered with his usual expressionless tone.

「What?! 」

The knights groaned as if they could not believe what

「The Castle soldiers will have no choice but to abandon the castle or be overwhelmed by the miasma. And if we attack when the miasma clears, even a strong fortress such as this is going to fall easily. 」

Aubest knocked down the fortress pieces sideways while explaining his strategy indifferently.

「But using a Chaos Disaster like that is… 」

「Even if we do manage to win with that kind of strategy… then is it really going to be worth it? 」

「Yes, exactly. Not to mention that Lady Marine might get herself stigmatized because of it. 」

「Or the number of forces that are hostile towards her might increase under the pretext of her using such underhanded means. 」

The knights were expressing their worried opinions one after another. Of course, not a single one of them wanted to agree to Aubest’s plan. However, the Head Mage of the Kraische family did not voice any counterarguments to their objections at all, since his role as Marine’s contracted Mage is to keep making proposals, regardless of whether they end up being approved or not.

「This sounds like a good plan. 」

Marine said with a smile on her face.

「Lady Marine?! 」

The knights around her all looked at her in sheer astonishment.

「Will the entirety of Waldrind not be accused of committing war crimes if we win through the usage of such underhanded tactics?! 」

Knight Commander Gerhard spoke on behalf of all the other Heavy Knights.

「It will. 」

Marine nodded her head.

「But if you say that we are going to be despised by using everything at our disposal to cover up the overwhelming difference in strength between ourselves and our opponents, then going by the same logic, the Heavy Knights of Waldrind might be despised by others for being a Knight Order that uses heavy crossbows as their main weapons instead of swords and shields. And let us not forget that my grandfather, Jurgen Kraische was the one who ordered the Mages to fight on the frontlines with their magic, and he was also despised and criticized by those around him for making that decision. So as you can see, the only way in which we could have a fair fight wouldf be to pit the Lords themselves between one another. 」

「That might be true in Theory, but… 」

「The Heavy Knights of Waldrind are universally feared by the Lords all over the continent for the strength that they possess. That is the main reason why so many Lords joined the Factory Alliance in the first place, but now that I have become the head of the family, I cannot help it but to think that the members of the Alliance keep looking down on me while pretending to respect me. In that case, I think I should demonstrate to everyone that I am not just a good-looking leader they take me for, but a terrible slayer just like my grandfather. I do not intend to be a good but incompetent ally to anyone. I intend to claim total supremacy over the continent, even if it means that I am going to be looked down on and despised by everyone. 」

Marine declared while looking at the Knights around her, but no one dared to say even a single word more after they heard such a bold declaration. Instead, there was only a long and heavy silence.
「… If you really are prepared to go that far, Princess… 」

Knight Commander Gerhart opened his mouth gravely.

「Then we shall all fight in accordance to the will of our Lord! 」

Marine nodded in satisfaction.

「Then here are my orders for you. Even if the Lord of Stark, Pavel Murad and his allied soldiers and Lords will try to surrender themselves to you, do not accept their surrender. If shown, half-hearted mercy will only be viewed as a weakness. Show the world exactly what kind of fate will await all those who will dare to defy Waldrind, and present the indecisive Lords of Ozer and Veltava with a simple choice: either they are going to obey me… or they will die. 」

「Your wish is our command! 」

All of the knights then saluted Marine with radiant expressions on their faces, almost as if their hearts have finally been settled on the right path that they were looking for so desperately.

From that point onwards, the council of war shifted its attention to how exactly Aubest’s plan should be carried out. And once everything has been decided, the knights have all returned to their respective units.

Marine also entered her tent together with Aubest. As soon as she entered it, two maids appeared and helped her take off her armor.