I Am Being Mistaken for a Genius Strategist

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The next day. Like all legions, the 7th Legion starts its day in the early morning.

This means that those responsible for the meal must rise at dawn to prepare.

Someone has to do it, but everyone would rather avoid the duty.

The soldiers rubbed their sleepy eyes and stretched their drowsy bodies, ready to receive their breakfast.

“Good morning, 7th Legion members.”

“Whoa! Y-Your Highness the Princess?!”

I heard the news. The Second Princess is personally visiting the military camp to offer her support.

Everyone had been chatting about that astonishing news all night long.

But I thought it would only be for a short while. Everyone expected she would leave the next day.

Ah, the noble Princess. Those who saw her said she looked like an angel.

Surely, there couldn’t be more of such a divine being in this harsh place. That’s what I thought.

Until now. Until I faced that angelic woman right before me.

“Oh, you’re here again today?”

“Yes. Ah, you all must be the ones who didn’t get to receive your meal from me yesterday?”

“Um… y-yes. Our meal time was the next one….”

“Is that so? Here you go. Today, I especially instructed them to add more meat. The second wave of reinforcements will arrive soon. Then, supplies will flow back in, so eat well today.”

It’s early in the morning. Plus, the princess went through all sorts of schedules yesterday.

She even did all the serving without switching out for someone else.

Was that fatigue showing on her face? It seemed a bit more haggard than yesterday.

But that very sight stirred even deeper emotions within the soldiers of the legion.

They too are struggling, tired, and in pain, yet that angelic lady stands there, overcoming it.

She reaches out her hand to them, still floundering in the shock of defeat.

Incredible. Moving. Is this a dream?

And suddenly, a thought of guilt towards that noble lady washes over me.

“Your Highness the Princess.”

After breakfast, with some spare time before the unit tasks began, one depressed soldier carefully approached the Princess, who sat with the other soldiers.

“I’m sorry. How embarrassing it is that such a noble person has come here while we have lost instead of won….”

“There is a saying. In war, victories and defeats are just part of the journey. It’s just one of the events that occur.”

“But….”

“Both the victors and the defeated fought bravely. Our Empire does not cast aside anyone just for being defeated.”

Saying this, the princess handed him a cup of coffee she had brought with her.

“Th-thank you, Your Highness.”

“Don’t be weak. You are still here in this place. There is no talk of retreating for now. You all know what that means, right?”

Of course, they know. They are the backbone of the legion.

The second wave of reinforcements will arrive, and with additional supplies and troops added.

Once again, they will take up the sword against that alliance which caused them disgrace.

This time, there will be no retreat or defeat. It absolutely won’t happen.

“And by the way.”

A playful smile spread across the princess’s face.

Naturally, it was no longer an event that was promised with anyone else.

“Do you know who is accompanying me right now?”

“I’m not sure….”

“Kael Clausewitz. It’s Kael Clausewitz of the Duke of Bertier Empire. Recently, he devised a brilliant plan for our Empire to seize the Pavilion front perfectly. He’s a genius strategist recognized by none other than Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

When the pavilion front was mentioned, the soldiers’ eyes widened in shock.

The fame of the 12th Legion had reached even here; what happened there was astounding.

In a situation where merely holding the line was fortunate, they managed to turn the tables against the alliance.

They assumed the 12th Legion had come prepared for a counterattack, but such a thing had actually occurred!

“The one who made that possible is here with me. I think you all can guess what that means, right? Can you not imagine it?”

The soldiers slowly nodded.

The Empire does not retreat with the 7th Legion. Rather, it urges them to rise once more.

For that reason, a brilliant strategist was attached to the princess so that he could come here.

To inspire confidence in winning where they suffered a defeat once!

*

I was caught off guard. Seriously, I was taken aback.

I intended to quietly prepare the event, putting the princess at the forefront.

Just before I ended up preparing the next schedule, the news spread all over town.

“The Imperial Army command has assigned a legendary strategist who reorganized the Pavilion front to our Legion!”

“We will not retreat! We can fight the alliance once more!”

“This time, retreat and defeat will not be allowed. We will repay them for our suffering!”

I suddenly became a savior dispatched personally from the Empire.

In this embarrassing situation, I had to go find the princess immediately.

“Your Highness the Princess. This wasn’t discussed with me beforehand!”

“You said we would suffer together, so this level should be expected.”

“But….”

“It was you, Prince Kael, who originally planned this operation. If I receive all the praises alone, wouldn’t that put me in quite the awkward position?”

Not at all. In fact, the princess had identified this very act considering all those factors.

I let out a brief sigh, but since it had already happened, I decided not to argue any further.

After all, speculation about me was bound to happen someday.

“What’s the next schedule?”

“A letter reading from His Majesty the Emperor and Your Highness the Crown Princess to personally comfort the 7th Legion.”

“You mean this really is something that was given by His Majesty and my sister?”

“I requested the accompaniment of Your Highness, and they granted it to you along with the letter.”

She probably figured out that I intended to make proper use of her.

Now that it had come to this, it seemed she was planning to instill even greater strength into the soldiers of the 7th Legion.

“By the way, Prince Kael.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Is it really necessary to do this by the riverside? Can’t we do this within the camp?”

“No. It absolutely must be done by the riverside.”

When I said this in an intentionally stern tone, the princess looked startled and stared blankly at me.

Seeing her eyes rolling around, she seemed to notice something was off.

“I can’t explain it right now, but all of this is for the Empire’s sake. Please understand, Your Highness, even if it seems a little puzzling and uncomfortable.”

“Ah, okay. I understand, just don’t look at me with such a serious face.”

“My apologies.”

Perhaps I had unintentionally stiffened my expression too much.

The princess had treated me well, so I had unconsciously exaggerated my reaction.

That was my mistake. I should be more cautious. After all, I’m dealing with the Princess! The Princess!

“It’s about time. Let’s move, Your Highness.”

“Yes, yes. Prince Kael, let’s go.”

*

I was surprised. Really, very surprised.

Isabelle forced herself to hold down her racing heart.

Kael, who always showed a gentle demeanor and relaxed atmosphere.

But suddenly, seeing him with a serious tone and expression was a fresh shock.

She wondered what she had done wrong, but what shocked her even more was.

‘Is it possible for someone’s demeanor to change so drastically…?’

It didn’t feel bad. Instead, it came as a very positive shock.

Is this not a completely different side from the Kael she had known until now?

That sight struck her as remarkably impressive. She thought it was cool.

“Your Highness the Princess. Everything is ready.”

“Ah. I see.”

At the escort’s words, Isabelle took a breath and climbed up to the makeshift stage.

Though she couldn’t see Kael anywhere, at this moment, she had to convey the Emperor and Crown Princess’s words of comfort to them.

“You have bravely fought against the enemies of the Empire. Until now, you have and will continue to do so. The Empire knows this. Do not doubt yourselves. Do not lose yourselves.”

The Emperor’s words were not long, but they were deeply impactful.

It commanded the 7th Legion not to fall into self-pity and self-blame.

“Rise up, sons of the Empire. Instead of despair, let it be rage. When you face those vile enemies, who have tarnished your glory, unleash all that rage without reserve.”

Meanwhile, the Crown Princess spoke the words the Emperor had not expressed.

Not only comforting the 7th Legion but also declaring how they should repay their defeat.

If they were to fight again, this time, let it be the enemies who flee.

At that, the soldiers silently roared in fervor, igniting their fighting spirit.

“This has been the message left for you by His Majesty the Emperor and Your Highness the Crown Princess. Imperial soldiers of the 7th Legion, what you lost is indeed true. Do not run from that fact. Stand tall, and turn that into a brighter, more valuable victory that you can give back to our Empire.”

That should be good enough. Yes, with this, the 7th Legion should rise again.

Just as Isabelle thought that, Kael reappeared, having vanished for a while.

Where had he gone? She thought she would ask soon.

“W-whoa!”

Suddenly, Kael let out a strange sound as if he were bewitched by something.

“Your Highness! Princess! Look, over there!”

“Prince Kael?”

“The river! The river is strange!”

What do you mean the river is strange? Isabelle reflexively turned her head.

Not just her, but the soldiers began murmuring and gazing towards the river as well.

“…Huh?”

And they all witnessed a scene unfolding before their eyes.

The river, which had been quite ordinary just yesterday, was now emitting a brilliant array of colors.

With the sunlight shining upon it, a resplendent aura spread all around.

“What is that….”

“This must surely be God’s sign of encouragement for our Empire. His Majesty the Emperor, Your Highness the Crown Princess, and the kindness with which she truly comforts the soldiers of the 7th Legion have touched this magnificent being, and this is how they show their intentions!!”

“…???”

Isabelle was baffled by such an absurd statement and wondered what had gotten into Kael.

However, as the situation unfolded, she instinctively fell silent.

“God is with us! God is supporting the Empire!”

“Whaaaaaaa!!”

“Rise, 7th Legion! Behind you stand His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire! God promises our victory!!”

“7th Legion! 7th Legion!!”

Behold the spectacular sight, as if about to erupt at any moment.

In front of this, Isabelle unconsciously joined in chanting the name of the 7th Legion.

*

“Oh dear, that was tough.”

Throwing those oil-drenched stones was even harder than I thought.

As far as I know, they threw oiled rice cakes, but there were no rice cakes here.

More than that, the situation unfurled better than expected.

Indeed, the goddess of fortune smiled upon me once again.

If the Emperor and the Crown Princess hadn’t provided a message to uplift the 7th Legion.

If the princess hadn’t worked hard yesterday and today to encourage the soldiers’ hearts.

With just floating some oil on the river, I wouldn’t have achieved anything.

“Let’s show those Burgai what we’re made of this time!”

“Waaaaa! 7th Legion! 7th Legion!!”

Shout louder! More! More! So that I don’t feel bitter about struggling alone.

I fed off the energy and subtly slipped back while smiling.

‘After all, I’m not some genius strategist. That’s ridiculous.’

For a brief moment, I thought that, but it was true that everyone elevated me so high that I thought, ‘Could it be? No way??’

But I realize again; I’m neither a genius nor a strategist.

I’m just… well, yeah. A guy who knows how to stir things up a bit.

Nothing more, nothing less. A genius strategist? Pfft!