Plain Girl Hero of Darkness
Second Army Isolated - (2)

Brad then explains the reason, saying, "Well, this is impossible, right? It takes everything we have to defend this theater of war. And they want us to fend off an attack from the north on top of that? Captain Liz, I think you understand how absurd the orders of the higher-ups are. "

"W-Well..."

Liz lowered her gaze, unable to refute him.

Once the Imperial forces that destroyed the Ritz and Linz headed south, the Second Army would be surrounded. When that happens, Brad will soon join the Ritz and Linz in another world. The shadow of the two who greeted Brad with a timid face flashed across Brad's mind.

He's not kidding right now. Brad had no intention of dying in vain, or allowing the Second Army to be destroyed. He was more than half serious, and did not care about any of that sassiness.

(Enough. Let's see what the escape route is..）.

When Brad drew the route in his mind, he looked at Liz.

"......"

He looked at her, as if he wanted to say something.

"If there's more, can you say it all at once?"

"Please don't be so stupid. I forgot to add that the Seventh Army conquered 50,000 Imperial Soldiers in the Iris Plain, and managed to retake Kasper Castle. "

"What's!? Really that!?"

Brad asked in surprise, and Liz finally smiled.

"This. The Seventh Army won a great and overwhelming victory. "

"What an amazing victory..."

It's been a long time since Brad heard the good news. And this is not just winning the battle, but a great victory. The first since Fort Kiel fell.

When Brad hears from Liz that they only suffered casualties in single digits while recapturing Kasper Castle, he laughs and clenches his fists vigorously: the:

"Haha! As expected of Paul, the old man. To score such an incredible victory in such a terrible situation, it was no wonder they called him a demon god... "

Brad thought for a moment with his hands on his chin, then ordered Liz to take out a map of the southern Kingdom in a hurry. When he took it out, Brad impatiently put it on his desk.

"If we make a line of defense here..."

Liz silently watched as Brad busied himself in front of the map, letting him think without interruption. Be it better or worse, he thought things out desperately

"this should work."

Moments later, Brad took his eyes off the map, and steamed in satisfaction.

"Your Majesty, are you thinking of a good idea? If so, can you share it with me? "

Liz looked at him and asked. All the other officers stared expectantly at Brad.

"- Hm? Well..in addition to escaping, the only other option was the Seventh Army dealing with the Imperial Army from the north. There's no other way."

Brad said confidently. Most of the officers were confused by Brad, including Liz who asked with a frown:

"Sending the Seventh Army to fight the Imperial Army? Not the Sixth? "

"Sixth Army? That's not possible."

After suffering a crushing defeat of Full Metal Knights at the Southern War Theater, the Sixth Army consolidated their forces and is now stationed at Fort Vegeta. Liz was embarrassed when Brad reminded her of that.

"Indeed, that was unthinkable to me."

"Even if the Sixth Army is available, I don't want to ask Lieutenant General Sara for help. I don't fit in with people like the Princess. "

Sara's faint smile flashed across Brad's mind.

"Regarding His Majesty's personal preference, the Sixth Army is at a standstill right now. But wasn't the Seventh Army also pinned down in the south? Just like the Sixth Army."

"Seventh Army pinned? Why do you think so? "

Brad was unable to understand why his subordinates were unable to accept his view, and answered seriously. Liz was stunned, and her face was like saying: "You can't even know about it?".

"You really ask why? We recaptured Kasper Castle, but Kiel Fortress is still a threat, so we cannot move recklessly. "

"What does that mean?"

"That means the Seventh Army cannot leave Kasper Castle easily."

Liz said as she showed Kasper Castle and Kiel Fortress on the map, adding her analysis of why the Seventh Army could not be moved.

After listening to him, Brad smiled proudly.

"Wrong. You are wrong, quite the contrary, the Seventh Army has released their shackles. "

"Taking off their shackles? How come?"

Liz's blue eyes were filled with confusion.

"I mean it literally. The importance of Kasper Castle lies in its sturdy defensive line which can be set around it. "

"Sturdy line of defense ..."

"really so. The terrain there is complicated, and if we make good use of it, we can hold a large army with few people. But, that would only happen if an excellent commander was on duty. That's a mandatory condition. "

War cannot be easily won by a smaller force by utilizing the terrain. There was no point if the commander could not make full use of their advantage. This is the correct basis whenever you fight an enemy that is superior in numbers.

After listening to Brad's explanation, Liz looked at the map and murmured to herself, pushing her glasses up from time to time: a:

"- I get it. The river flowing to the northeast serves as a natural trench, and the cliffs to the south are extremely dangerous. The road was narrow and not ideal for deploying large armies. It was a good defensive position for us. But as you said, Your Majesty, a great commander will be needed."

Liz raised her head enlightened.

（He quickly understood, as expected of the best graduates from the Royal Military Academy. She would be perfect if she was more flexible.）.

Brad thought as he looked at Liz saying all that was as easy as a snap of his finger.

"If I remember correctly, that bald Elman is in the Seventh Army. Give him 10,000 men, and the south will be safe and secure. "

"I agree. Major General Elman is known for his defensive abilities, and can repel the Imperial Army. "

"That's fine. So, we do not need to pay too much attention to the Gaulish Fortress. In other words -"

"In other words, the Seventh Army will be free to move."

Liz finished Brad's sentence. Brad smiled awkwardly, and nodded gently.

"That's how."

"Understanding, I will send an important message to the capital."

As he watches Liz leave at a quick pace, Brad bites the cigarette again. To be honest, he hoped that the First Army would come out soon and help. But he did not list that as a possibility because he knew Alphonse would not grant permission to dispatch the First Army. After the destruction of the Fifth Army, the Third and Fourth Armies had also fallen. The Empire was fully capable of attacking the capital now.

Brad did not see Alphonse as wise and decisive enough to send the First Army to the front lines.

（Although I am the one who brought it up, I also do not want to owe it to the Seventh Army. Old grandpa Paul is really scary.）

Brad sighed as he exhaled the smoke that disappeared into the air along with the dust.

...****************...

...To Be Continue's...