Fortuitous Encounters in the Game Become Reality, Episode 17
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Fortuitous Encounters in the Game Become Reality, Episode 17
6. Outbreak of War (1)
There was one more watcher that Cedric had planted.
However, he was not someone who would be swayed by persuasion or threats.
So Adrian fabricated a charge against him and threw him into prison just like he had done with Dalton.
The charge was a simple yet grave suspicion of being a spy.
Although he was watching Adrian on Cedric's orders, Adrian took advantage of the fact that it was wartime and framed it as if monitoring a commander and digging for information might make him an enemy spy.
Thanks to that, the second watcher, unable to prove his innocence, was dragged helplessly off to prison.
Naturally, this greatly enraged Cedric.
The only difference from usual was that, just then, Berto's report came in, and the arrow of his anger was directed not at Adrian but at his incompetent subordinate.
[Sir Metz forced his way into Brigade Commander Adrian's room and was caught in the act. Because of that, Brigade Commander Adrian's nerves have become extremely on edge, and there are now many constraints on surveillance.]
"Tsk."
This time, his father, Viscount Lawrence, gave a strong order to cease all surveillance and intimidation against Adrian.
His mother Anna reluctantly complied with the demand, but Cedric could not.
Moreover, because of this incident, Adrian made a direct request to Viscount Lawrence for additional knights, and as a result Cedric was dragged into the office and had to listen to a scolding from his father, who was grasping the situation.
"I don't like it, but it can't be helped. Until Father's anger subsides, Sir Berto, I want you to keep an eye on Adrian."
Thanks to that, Adrian's movements were not easily relayed to the lord's castle.
* * *
I steadily recruited people with high potential abilities.
As a result, now that it has been a full month since we were deployed to the front lines, a total of 20 people are pouring their efforts into training and study to blossom their individual talents.
I have entrusted the management of the facility, which I named the "Talent Academy," to Eric Jones, a former trumpeter with talent specialized in politics and administration, and to his mentor, a half-elf who used to be an administrator of the Elysia Confederation.
Perhaps because I filtered out problematic people by using Ten-Thousand Scenes, or maybe because my pay is generous, but so far no issues have arisen on either the students' or teachers' side.
'With my future close aides working this hard, I can't be the only one slacking off.'
I poured a lot of time and passion into Chronicle Online to harvest fortuitous encounters.
What I achieved that way was level 159.
Now, if I raise my level just one more time, I can become a 6th-circle mage.
The 6th circle is a realm of talent that only a select few among mages can reach.
Since the country grants a hereditary barony and bestows a fief to someone at that position, it will feel quite different from when I attained the 5th circle.
However....
[A message has arrived.]
I was once again reminded that things in this world do not proceed according to one's wishes.
[Brigade Commander, an emergency has occurred. The Division Commander has ordered an immediate assembly.]
The place I am currently in is the very front line.
What kind of emergency could occur in a place like this?
A military clash, of course.
At the Division Commander's summons, I quickly exited the game and left my room, and seeing my adjutant Harman rushing over breathlessly, I asked him.
"What's going on?"
"They say the Croysen Empire's Sky Fortress has crossed the border! I don't know the exact scale!"
The forward deployment of a Sky Fortress is practically an announcement that war has begun.
'So the peace up until now was merely the calm before the storm?'
I sharply furrowed my brow and headed to Division Headquarters with my adjutant.
Then, after arriving at the Division Commander's office, I ordered Arcia to wait outside for a while.
All the commanders in the division would be attending, so it was better not to do anything that might give people an excuse to nitpick.
"The commander of the 2nd Brigade is here as well. Then let's start the meeting right away. Everyone, take your seats."
More than 20 people had gathered in the Division Commander's office, including the commanders of each combat unit, their adjutants, and the staff officers.
The composition of the 3rd Division of the 2nd Corps is as follows.
1st–3rd Independent Brigades (House of Viscount Resty, House of Viscount Lawrence, House of Baron Arden)
- Vanguard 13, knights 130, soldiers 3,000
1st–3rd Combat Regiments (House of Count Otis)
- Vanguard 15, knights 50, soldiers 2,000
1st Support Battalion (National Magic Tower, Rondel Temple)
- 30 mages, 30 priests
Besides these, units like the Engineer Battalion and Medical Battalion are also included, but there are only seven units directly related to combat.
"As you've been informed, the army of the Croisen Empire is on the move. The front line is currently concentrated in the center, and a battle has begun between the Sky Fortresses."
It is only thanks to the front not spreading wide that we can afford to be this relaxed.
If that weren't the case, deployment orders would have been issued immediately.
"For now, the provincial forces have been ordered to stand by at their current positions, but have your troops loaded onto the Wounded Train so they can deploy at any time. For a while, you'll have to take your rest and even your meals on the Wounded Train."
Since the transport equipment of this world is highly advanced, if one puts their mind to it, it's possible to support the front line with troops within a matter of minutes.
Therefore, even if combat preparations are made while en route, it was important to stay ready so that we could deploy at any time.
"From this moment, spatial coordinate interference will begin across the entire front line that borders the Croisen Empire, so unless you're thinking of committing suicide, don't even dream of using Teleport."
Then the Count looked at me and spoke.
"We'll cut all personal communications except for commanders at regimental level and above, so use radios for communication within the unit. Don't feel relieved just because you can use your terminal; in any case, be very careful in your actions."
I had to nod with an awkward smile.
Needless to say, cutting the communications network means I cannot log into the game.
They won't touch the nobles' communication network, but if a problem arises, I won't be able to avoid an investigation.
The Count's warning was clearly directed at me.
'It's not like I'm going to stop playing the game because of that, though....'
At the very least, outwardly I acted like I understood.
Anyway, once an important operation begins, it's obvious they won't show leniency even to high-ranking commanders and will cut all communications.
After that, the Count checked the principles for troop deployment when entering the battlefield and the military communications system.
"Now, it's war! Everyone, maintain your tension!"
Count Otis skillfully stoked the mood.
"Yes, sir!"
The staff officers, myself included, responded loudly.
"Everyone, return to your posts."
But there is one fact here that must not be forgotten.
If the war had broken out right after Count Otis returned home, we would have faced this situation without a division commander.
I can't begin to say how fortunate it is that those bastards from the Croisen Empire politely chose to attack during the daytime.
* * *
[You have reached Level 160.]
[You have subjugated the named monster Twin-Head Ogre Tajit.]
Letting Count Otis's warning go in one ear and out the other, I entrusted command of the unit to my adjutant Harman and, as always, logged into Chronickl Online.
In the first place, I had chosen and brought Harman because he was a capable commander who could take my place, so the unit would be run without any major issues.
'Sir? You're going to play a game?'
Harman added that, while the subordinates' use of personal communications was prohibited, seeing their commander enjoying a game might affect morale.
However, to me, the game was more important than the nation's war, so I cleanly ignored him.
I felt a bit sorry, as if I were putting Harman through emotional hardship, but from my perspective it was a choice I couldn't avoid.
In the end, by brazenly thickening my face and immersing myself in the game in my private room on the Wounded Train, I successfully reached Level 160, at which I could create a 6th Circle, and also completed the subjugation of the named monster.
- 7th floor of Manuel Lucas's Magic Tower.
Without indulging in long contemplation, I immediately opened the treasure chest.
[You have acquired 10 trillion Root.]
[An account at the Elysia Union Bank in which the amount is stored will be issued.]
[An account for the Union Bank will be additionally registered on your terminal.]
With this, my current cash assets became 12.5 trillion Root.
Seeing how the cash rewards are being inflated by about five times each time, won't it be 50 trillion next?
With 50 trillion, you could buy a company that ranks among the top five in the Reinharts Kingdom in cash.
Just imagining it is enough to make you feel full.
In a good mood, I waited for the rewards to continue.
[You have acquired the Sub Supporter Sonic Black Eagle.]
A special reward as important as cash.
But seeing the eagle appear amid dazzling light, I had to tilt my head.
The pitch-black eagle looked almost like a floating shadow.
If not for its eyes, which held a faint emerald light, it might not have looked like a living creature at all.
"Is it something like an archer's pet?"
There is no such concept as a sub supporter in this game.
There is a battle-support eagle among the pets an archer can possess, and I checked the information to see if it was the same concept, but there wasn't any meaningful detail.
All it said was that its level was 160, the same as ours, and that its maximum flying speed reached supersonic levels.
'Still, if it were completely useless, they wouldn't have given it to me for no reason.'
In any case, Black Eagle would be a guardian created by the great mage Lucas Duke, just like Arsia.
Maybe checking information through Mangyeong in reality would be more accurate than through the game system.
[Circle 6 is being formed.]
Compared to last time, when I got as many as twelve pieces of equipment as rewards, this reward was only one Black Eagle.
As soon as the circle formation was complete, I logged out of the game for now, because I thought if a huge black eagle suddenly appeared like it had with Arsia, it would cause a commotion.
"It's not here?"
But even after I exited the game and looked around the room, there was no change at all.
So, with a "maybe?" feeling, I stepped out of the Broken Train.
"There it is."
Following Arsia's finger as she pointed into the air, I turned my gaze and saw a black shadow circling the sky.
-Whoosh!
"Huh? Oh! Brigade Commander, please move aside!"
Soon after, it plunged down toward me on the ground with ferocious momentum.
Thanks to that, the soldiers on guard duty were so startled that they raised their gun barrels, but they couldn't keep up with the shadow's speed.
[Sonic Black Eagle]
As expected, it was the Black Eagle sub supporter I had obtained as a reward this time.
I gently stroked the head of the obediently standing bird and held the soldiers back.
Then I checked the information through Mangyeong once more.
-A chimera made from the bones and skin of a Black Dragon
It has a body that is not easily damaged even by Aura Blade, and it possesses extremely high recovery ability from injuries.
Basic option: melee attack
First skill: shared vision
Second skill: -
Third skill: -
Fourth skill: -
Rough information on how to use it was displayed.
'Does that mean additional skills unlock when certain conditions are met?'
Just as Arsia grows stronger together with me, maybe this one also grows by unlocking skills one by one according to my level.
Then that "certain conditions" were most likely clearing the stage-by-stage fate quests.
'The first skill is shared vision.'
I didn't know how strong the basic melee attack was, but shared vision would be a huge help.
That's practically the same as obtaining a supersonic reconnaissance aircraft.
"Brigade Commander?"
I had been so focused on the Black Eagle that I failed to notice soldiers and knights gathering around me at some point.
After letting out a pointless cough to steady the people around me, I held out my hand to the Black Eagle and said in an acting tone,
"Do you want to come with me?"
In response, as if it understood me, the Black Eagle placed its beak on my hand.
A moment later, my face flushed red with regret at having wondered, 'Did I really need to do such a cringe-worthy bit of acting?'...
To the subordinates who didn't know what was going on, it apparently looked like we were sharing a heartfelt moment.
It might have seemed mysterious to others.
But to me, it was black history worthy of making me kick my blankets in embarrassment.