Outbreak of the Great War

Even after deciding to subjugate Cordova, that didn't mean military action could be taken immediately.

First, steady logistical preparations had to be made.

This meant improving the roads within Ogress, as well as cultivating farmland that would serve as the rear base. Serge's space-time magic could be used for transportation, but there was only one Serge.

Four main routes were being considered for the invasion of Cordova. Of those, three were intended solely to disperse Cordova's forces.

The main force would consist of the Manesh army, the Casalia army, the ogre army, and the beastkin troops.

The beastkin in particular were expected to excel outside of the battlefield. When it came to reconnaissance, humans couldn't hold a candle to them.

"I want more budget～"

At the meeting, Guinevere groaned like a spoiled child.

Guinevere's golem cavalry project required an enormous budget.

The problem was where to get that budget from. Ogress was a new country without any bloated, wasteful parts to its organization. Its predecessor Manesh had once had its center of political power destroyed by a dragon, so they had built a lean organization.

Guinevere had apparently thought of a means for this.

"A commercial route project!"

Guinevere's plan was to stimulate commercial trade within the newly unified Ogress Archduchy and collect taxes from it.

"There's also the issue of cultivating uncultivated land."

Ria objected quite reasonably.

"Cultivation takes time. The golem unit is absolutely necessary. This will change the nature of warfare in this world."

Serge actually agreed with Guinevere's opinion.

In this world's battlefields, golems would likely play the same role as tanks did in his previous life. If they were to fight against Cordova, which relied on infantry as its main force, golems would be a formidable countermeasure.

"There's also guns, but this world has magic after all."

A means of one-sided annihilation from a distance wasn't easily achieved. Even so, the number of magic soldiers dispatched from Casalia would pose a threat to Cordova.

While having a tea party, the fate of this country was being decided. Serge was at that table.

Serge had been elevated to nobility in recognition of his perfect logistical management during the recent battle.

Rising from nothing in a single generation, and at such a young age at that, was unprecedented, but such status was necessary to participate in discussions with Ria and the others.

Incidentally, his rank was knight. It was the lowest noble rank, but a noble was still a noble. And what made it impressive was that he had risen to this position through his own efforts.

"Since the distribution of magic stones and magic crystals from the labyrinth has increased, we can also increase golem operation tests～"

And thanks to Serge, transporting these golems to the front lines had become much easier.

Until now, they had been considered only for base defense, but if giant golems could be used in pitched battles or siege warfare, what kind of results would that bring?

While Cordova's strength could be attributed to many factors, the most significant was surely the strength of their basic infantry.

Having actually fought them, she had been surprised by their stubbornness.

They would neutralize that infantry. Neutralizing the enemy's main force was important to winning battles.

"I want to deploy them in a major battle right from the start to secure a decisive victory, but I also want to do operational tests～"

That should be done in some defensive battle. Cordova would likely attack somewhere to dispel the image of their defeat.

And that prediction turned out to be completely correct.

"An inspection?"

Fio asked with a puzzled expression.

"Yeah, I want to see how the city is doing."

"That's… certainly important, but isn't it dangerous?"

"To eliminate danger, I'm bringing powerful escorts."

A formation to completely eliminate danger. It was certainly complete.

Ria and Carla. The two strongest in this country, plus Irina. And as attendants, Fio, and finally Serge.

"Somehow I'm really feeling out of place here."

"Don't worry, me too."

In the back, Serge whispered to Fio. Frankly speaking, compared to the three in front, the two of them were representatives of ordinary people.

Those three were hiding their faces deep under hoods. Since their faces were too well known, it couldn't be helped, but they looked extremely suspicious.

If they were questioned by guards, Fio would handle it. That was why she had been brought along.

There was also one other reason she should be here.

"I really wanted to bring Guinevere too."

Ria said, but Carla concisely opposed.

"It would be best to avoid that. There's no telling where she might wander off to."

So she had done things like that in the past.

The group proceeded through the town as the sun set.

Manesh was a city, and sunset didn't mark the end of people's activities.

Light spilling from food stalls and shops illuminated people's faces. Their expressions were all bright.

"What a good country…"

Fio found herself murmuring.

"Since Ria defeated Cordova, hope has been overflowing among the people."

Carla responded with those words.

But tonight, Ria had left the palace not to show her this.

A bat flew through the darkness of night.

Following it, Ria took a path away from the main street.

For Fio, who had poor night vision, Serge cast a light spell.

"Um, where are we…"

Fio's anxious voice and the appearance of that girl happened simultaneously.

"Oh, are you doing well?"

Since Ria called out to her, Carla and Fio, meeting her for the first time, didn't raise their guard.

A beautiful girl with flax-colored hair was there.

Incidentally, what Fio thought was: could this person possibly be one of Ria's lovers?

"Things aren't going well with a colleague on my side."

It was the usual honest Asuka.

"Did you have a fight with Rei?"

"No, it's someone you don't know. Well, let's set that aside and move to another location."

And where Asuka led them was one of the finest high-class inns in Manesh.

"Welcome back, Ojou-sama."

"Bring drinks for everyone."

Giving orders in a practiced tone, Asuka invited everyone to her room.

It was a luxurious room, the kind where nobles or wealthy merchants would stay.

"Have a seat anywhere."

Following her words, everyone sat down, but only Carla remained standing.

Her gaze was observing Asuka. She could probably tell Asuka was no ordinary person. But she couldn't determine her true identity. That was making Carla more cautious.

"Carla, it's fine. She's our collaborator."

"That's right, Dragonslayer-san. If you got serious, you could easily kill me, couldn't you?"

Carla hadn't released any killing intent at all, but only after hearing that did she finally sit down on the sofa.

"Now then, let me tell you about the situation in Cordova."

There was a small city-state called Saraf in the north. Cordova was apparently mobilizing to capture it.

"Three legions."

One more than last time. It was more than enough force to capture Saraf.

Saraf was a trading relay city and wasn't in an especially important military position.

"Well, if they rely on their walls and focus on defense, they won't fall that easily. In the meantime, our forces will tear their supply lines to shreds."

Saying that, Asuka glanced at a corner of the room.

"Pineau, come out."

"Yes."

Until then, no one had noticed someone was there.

It was a male cat beastkin with tiger stripes. His eyes were sharp.

"This is Pineau, one of the captains of our black ops forces. He's still young, but his skills are certain."

That would be the case. The fact that Ria, being in the same room, hadn't noticed him meant his concealment abilities were extraordinary.

Still, young, she said… Compared to a vampire, wouldn't any beastkin be young?

"This child's unit and the colleague I mentioned earlier will carry out sabotage operations against Cordova. We'll probably deal enough damage to make prolonged warfare impossible for them."

Beastkin units were indeed suited for such activities. Ria's forces had also primarily used them as reconnaissance troops.

That was fine regarding Cordova, but Asuka had one thing troubling her.

"There's some big movement in the central part of the continent, so Rei and I will probably have to leave here for a while."

The central part of the continent. Word had reached them that Lemdria was annexing the various city-states that had once belonged to the empire.

If they were to investigate movements there, they would indeed need manpower.

"Great King Hollyn is also elderly. Even Lemdria, which seems stable, could instantly descend into civil war if something happens to him."

During the Millennium, they might need to cooperate with Lemdria to repel the demon tribe's invasion. But for now, that wasn't an immediate concern.

Still, what exactly was the Millennium? Seeing Rei and Asuka, coexistence between humans and the demon tribe seemed possible.

"Anyway, I'd like to make Pineau our liaison, so who should he contact?"

"I can do it."

"I'm fine too."

Fio and Serge raised their hands. Indeed, in terms of being close to Ria, both were well-suited.

"Serge and…"

"Fio. Fione. I serve as Her Majesty's secretary."

Originally, Fio was planned to become Ria's wife, but due to the pressing issue of having no replacement, she was still serving as Ria's secretary.

So Ria hadn't yet embraced her. Not in a physical sense, but in a sexual sense.

"Understood. From now on, pass information to those two. Pineau, I'm counting on you."

"Acknowledged."

The cat beastkin nodded coolly.

Sending Irina and Fio back first, Ria decided to tell Carla everything, with Serge present.

They borrowed a private room at a nearby restaurant, and Ria began to talk.

First, about meeting Serge when she started her journey.

That she and Serge were reincarnators from another world.

That she was originally male, which was why she had no interest in men.

That she had conquered the labyrinth and met Labyrinth and Valis.

That Irina was the successor of the golden dragon Claris, and that she herself had been chosen as Valis' successor—she told her everything without hiding anything.

After hearing everything, Carla thought for a while.

But eventually, in her usual voice, she asked:

"Who else knows about this?"

"Several people know parts of it, but the only one who knows everything is probably Irina. Though I get the feeling that girl doesn't quite understand it."

Valis had probably had her come along with Ria specifically so she would come to understand.

"Then why are you telling me?"

"Because I thought it would be fine to tell you."

Truthfully, she had wanted to tell all her companions with whom she entrusted her life.

But whether they had the ability to keep the secret hidden if it leaked was another matter. Carla had that ability.

"Ria, you trust me too much."

Carla said with an unusually troubled expression.

"For example, for Guinevere-sama's sake… I might tell someone what I just heard."

"If that's your judgment, then it can't be helped. Trust is like that."

"Yeah yeah, if I were tortured, I'd spill everything immediately."

Serge interjected with a joke, and Carla smiled.

At the next day's meeting, the Cordovan army's invasion of Saraf was announced.

It was information that even the intelligence bureau hadn't yet obtained, but if it came from the queen's own connections, they would move the army based on that trust.

Of course they would verify it, but that was only to confirm the information's accuracy. The same information arrived one day later.

Ria declared that she would personally lead 3,000 cavalry as an advance force and rush to Saraf.

Opposing opinions were naturally raised, but she wouldn't bend her position.

"Saraf will have to fight a siege. In such cases, what's needed is to maintain the morale of allies."

And for that, it was indeed most effective for the queen herself to sortie.

Separately from that, an invasion force against Cordova's homeland was also being assembled. Instructions for assembly and advance were sent to the lords bordering Cordova.

The great war that would later be called the Cordovan Upheaval was now about to begin.