Book 14 (2 of 5)
Mariams pyjamas had rolled up to her waist, exposing the lower half of her body.
Freij shielded his eyes with his hand.
She was already of marriageable age.
And had a very feminine body.
Hence, when she acted crudely without any sha befitting a maiden her age, her father felt uneasy about her future.
She then started taking off her pyjamas. It was troubling that she didnt think of her father as a mber of the opposite gender, and didnt she feel any sha at all?
Freij started regretting that he dumped the responsibility of educating her to her grandfather.
She was just like an eight year old boy.
Although she was already sixteen.
Mariam reached for her blouse unhappily. She prefer clothes without buttons, the type she could just pull over her head.
Freij said resignedly:
Put on your underwear.
She took pen, ink and paper from the side of the bed:
n dont wear underwear.
You are a woman! And you are already old enough for marriage.
Father, you are too stubborn on tradition.
You are the one who lacks common sense! Enough, put on your clothes! You want to spend the day naked?!
An interesting proposition.
Huh?!
Freij glared at his rebellious daughter.
She shrugged, and picked up her underwear.
She still had so sha in her, and turned around to cover her breasts like a bashful mimosa.
Freij wasnt interested in watching his daughter change, and cast his gaze out the window.
Last night, the Belgaria Empire finally attacked.
After putting on her blouse, Mariam started writing with one hand.
Im mute, but Im not deaf. The cannons are so loud that I couldnt sleep.
Yes, thats true.
None of the soldiers in this fort slept properly.
Any losses?
No, because the Belgaria army charged at us with torches in hand. We repelled them easily. The fleet cannons blew them away, and they retreated without even coming near the fort.
Mariam fell into deep thought.
Freij glanced at her, then looked out the window again.
Wear the bottom half too.
Hey, Mariam?
She ignored what her father said, and started writing.
The enemy is the elite of Belgaria. The Gnralissi that defeated High Brittania. Wasting the lives of her n like this looks suspicious.
She will fail sotis too. Our enemy is just human, not god.
Dear father, the commander should always consider the worst case scenario.
Hmm No matter how I think about it, the Belgaria soldiers all died in vain. Our losses are just oil and ammunition.
Our supplies?
For sothing similar to last night, we can keep it up for a month.
Freij suddenly thought of sothing.
Speaking of which
There are very few corpses on the road. Maybe the Belgaria forces are smaller than we expected.
Maybe its a feint night raid.
Hah! He finally realized it.
I get it! Belgarias plan is to attack with small numbers every night, and make us exhaust our ammunition!
NO
He was refuted by a single word from his daughter, which made Freij turn stiff.
He said through gritted teeth:
How can you be so sure? Its plausible, right
The troops wont follow such a retarded strategy.
Ugh
Indeed, if the soldiers were ordered to charge to make the enemy expend their ammunition, there was no telling how the soldier who received such an order would react.
Retarded commands could only be executed forcefully once.
If they kept it up indefinitely, morale would plumt.
Mariam continued writing.
The Belgaria armys plan is still the sa, like what we deduced a few days earlier. The situation didnt change, so its expected They want to take this fort with minimal losses. We cant ignore this precondition.
Charging to make the enemy waste ammunition was a battle of attrition that goes contrary to this plan.
Freij understood that.
However, he still couldnt figure out his opponents intention.
If they had a plan it would be to make us numb to the danger. They want to make us relax by sending non-stop waves of fake night raids, and launch the real attack when we let our guard down. Is that it?
Thats much better than the joke earlier.
Ugh...
He was speaking with his daughter, but he felt like a cadet in the Military Academy waiting for a trainer to grade his answer.
Freij ended the conversation.
He said with a wave of his hand:
Well, in any case, we just need to be wary of a night raid. We wont relax our vigilance either. So put on your skirt! And go to church, its almost ti for mass.
She wanted to continue writing, but put down her pen after a short pause. She sighed and picked up her skirt.
Freij turned around.
Sigh, just what is my daughter thinking?
If she was really a God child, then God must have a hard ti caring for this kid.
The way the father and daughter sighed really resemble each other.
The Belgaria Empire perford the night raid again and again. Aside from nights when the moon was clear without any clouds, they did so three tis.
And on the fifth evening
The commander of the infantry, Second Grade Combat Officer Balasko barged into headquarters with his face flushed.
You want us to charge the fort tonight too?!
Regis laid planks onto the floor, making the place into a large table. He then laid paper as big as a carpet onto it, strung them together with threads, and wrote numbers on it.
Ah, dont step there.
Ohh
Balasko took a step back.
But he was as aggressive as before.
Sir Strategist! Please explain what is going on! My n didnt train so hard to conduct such retarded night raids!
Of course.
If you think so too, then explain what your strategy is!
Regis looked at Balasko.
And considered it.
Theres no need, we have moved on to the next stage.
You dont trust ?!
Regis stopped writing.
He looked at Balasko while squatting:
I think you are the one who doesnt trust .
Ah, no
Balasko took a step back.
He was the officer with the most years of experience under his belt. He had seen Regis strategies with his own eyes so far. He believes that Regis was a capable strategist.
He said tremblingly:
B-But, sending the soldiers to their death without any explanation I cant take that anymore.
Regis put down his pen.
He then stood up and looked at Balasko in the eye.
Im sorry, but you have to tell them its the strategists orders. After all, the troops might get taken prisoner.
Thats true I wont tell my subordinates, so can you share the plan with ?
Hmm but since you wont be telling your n, then theres no need to tell you about the plan, correct?
Ughh I see.
At this mont, the headquarters drapes were pulled open.
The one who entered was the young girl with vermillion hair Altina.
She must have heard the conversation from outside. She looked briefly at Regis, then turned towards Balasko.
You are dissatisfied about sothing?
Ah, no
I know how you feel. But Regis is doing this for your sake.
Balasko couldnt stand it anymore:
If its for my sake, then please tell the plan!
Altina admonished him:
If you know the plan, and is faced with a situation where you have to send your n to certain death, your attitude towards them will change, right?
Ehh? Thats
Right now, you dont know what Regis is thinking so you are on the sa side as the troops. Thats what you tell them too, correct?
Balasko nodded:
You are right, Mdm.
But what if you learn of the plan? And you cant tell them? Despite knowing the plan, you can only order them to move out without explaining anything to them. What do you think the troops would think of such an officer?
Ugh?!
He thought about how his subordinates would feel.
And fell silent.
Regis scratched his head.
You will reveal your attitude if you think that, which is the troubling part.
Altina said to Regis with a similar tone:
Dont keep playing the role of the villain. Not everyone can conceal their emotions completely.
Her actions felt really mature.
It was true that if people get too emotional, they would act irrationally.
Maybe I was too anxious Regis thought.
When he realized the girl under his tutelage was teaching him, he felt a little surprised and moved.
The corner of Regis eased naturally.
Mdm Gnralissi is right Concealing the fact that there is even a plan is going too far.
Thats right.
Balasko asked:
As expected, all the night raids so far are a part of a grand sche the strategist thought up, correct?
Regis nodded.
Although he wanted to refute the term thought up.
However, he knew there was no point in saying he has no confidence.
Since I already told you, please keep it a secret. We cant let the troops realize that everything they are doing is part of a sche.
Balasko nodded seriously and saluted:
Yes Sir!
His face was filled with resolve, and there wasnt any doubt in his eyes.
Unfortunately, just this change in facial expression was enough to tell the troops that there was a plan.
Regis told him a part of the plan, and Balasko understood it despite being surprised.
He then left the headquarters.
Regis then looked down at the map.
Well, its ti to advance the plan to the next stage.
He disclosed so of the content, but the enemy shouldnt have seen through this plan.
Altina flicked her hair.
Then I will sleep for a while. Its a night operation, right?
Yes.
Regis rembered what Clarice said.
He wanted to chat with her a little, but he couldnt make any ti for the two of them to be alone.
She waved her hand.
Im not a kid anymore, and I wont get in Regis way.
Is that so? Then will you stay in the headquarters tonight to issue commands?
Altina said with a smile:
I. Re. Fuse.
That was the only thing that didnt change Regis shrugged.
Tonight was a new moon.
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