On the monitor of the grand flagship Argos's bridge, the sight of 1.8 million spaceships arranging themselves into formation was displayed.

While the Banfield family's fleet numbered around 150,000 ships, the enemy had 1.8 million.

At first glance, the numbers might seem hopeless.

However, the internal situation was different.

"A fleet that hasn't received proper supplies or maintenance is a pitiful sight."

As I muttered this to no one in particular from my seat, Eulisia, who was nearby, picked it up and turned it into a conversation.

"Even so, they still outnumber us."

"That's because the fundamental strength of the Banfield family and the Empire are on different levels."

"Please, don't say things that make me anxious like that again."

"It's a fact, isn't it? But even so, I'll be the one to win."

In response to my brimming confidence, Eulisia let out a small, exasperated sigh.

To a third party, the situation might look desperate, but for us who knew the inside story, the outcome was still uncertain—or rather, the Banfield family actually had the upper hand.

The enemy hadn't received proper supplies or maintenance and was essentially isolated in hostile territory.

Their numbers were certainly a threat, but it wasn't an unwinnable war.

"I don't know what happened on the enemy's side, but it was fortunate for us that they kept making mistakes."

"Mistakes?"

When I asked, Eulisia began listing the mistakes the subjugation army had made.

"They failed to establish a supply line adequate for their fleet size. The enemy reinforcements that arrived later were more of a hindrance than a help. And wasn't it also a bad move for their main force to target the Banfield family's home planet?"

"That's true."

I had no intention of denying that.

Eulisia continued, speculating on the cause of these mistakes.

"The story that the Commander-in-Chief, His Highness Cleo, was desperate for achievements is likely true."

I didn't like the way she made it sound—as if we won because we were saved by the enemy's mistakes.

"Whether it's true that Cleo did something unnecessary or not, my victory is unshakable. Our losses might have increased slightly, but in the end, I would have been the one to win."

There's no way I, with the Guide's protection, could lose.

In the first place, I've been preparing for the day the Empire might bare its fangs at any time.

I never trusted the Empire from the start.

I offered a smile towards Cleo, who was aboard one of the enemy ships somewhere.

"I wonder what kind of face you're making right now, facing me? ...Right, Cleo?"

◇

Facing the Banfield family's fleet of 150,000 ships, Cleo was breaking out in a cold sweat from tension on the bridge of the fortress-class vessel he had chosen as his flagship.

(Calm down. Their forces are less than a tenth of ours. Besides, we have over 500,000 combat-ready vessels. No matter how capable Liam is, there's no way he can overcome this numerical difference.)

In his mind, Cleo listed the conditions favorable to his side, ignoring the critical issues of supplies and maintenance.

(I will win—I must win, or I have no future. I've come this far; I'm not about to die here!)

If he lost, he would lose his place in the Empire.

For Cleo, that meant death.

(I will defeat Liam and become the Emperor. Today, I will surpass Liam!)

Despite his numerical superiority, Cleo couldn't overcome his fear.

Marquis Hampson's face appeared on the monitor.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, we wish to initiate the attack. We request your permission."

Cleo furrowed his brow at Marquis Hampson's request for permission.

"Why? Isn't it a bad idea to attack carelessly in a war of this scale?"

From the knowledge installed in his head, the information that one shouldn't attack recklessly surfaced.

However, Marquis Hampson replied calmly.

"Under normal circumstances, that would be correct. But this is not a normal situation. We have the numerical advantage and are in a superior position, but—if we take too long, it will become disadvantageous for us, who are low on supplies. I believe I informed you of this beforehand?"

"R-Right, you did."

He had been told, but due to his lack of combat experience and his nervousness, Cleo couldn't make a proper judgment.

It was proof of just how cornered Cleo was.

"Permission granted."

"—Leave the rest to us."

The communication with Marquis Hampson ended.

◇

Aboard his super-dreadnought, Marquis Hampson cursed under his breath so no one could hear him once the communication ended.

"What a waste of time."

He had found the previous conversation with Cleo to be a nuisance.

Then, he immediately issued an order to the entire army.

"All forces, begin the general assault! Teach the Banfields, who dared to face us with a mere 150,000 ships, the harsh reality of the battlefield!"

Simultaneously with Marquis Hampson's order, unmanned spaceships began to accelerate and advance one after another.

Their target was the Banfield family's fleet.

The unmanned ships had been programmed to ram into enemy vessels.

The unmanned spaceships charged into the enemy formation, firing their optical weapons.

Watching the scene, Marquis Hampson grinned.

"What extravagant missiles. Take them, Banfield!"

◇

"Enemy fleet, charging!"
"Their number—300,000!"

Listening to the operator's report, I narrowed my eyes as I watched the simplified holographic display of the battlefield.

"A charge with 300,000 unmanned vessels, huh. Is the Imperial army more short-staffed than I thought?"

If they had prepared 300,000 unmanned ships, it meant the crews that were on them had been moved elsewhere.

Were they transferred to other ships?

If they had that much leeway, it was highly likely they were short on personnel from the beginning.

Eulisia, for her part, was lamenting how the state-of-the-art ships were being treated so crudely.

"I imagine none of those are cheap vessels, but the enemy has certainly made a bold move."

"It's an extravagant use of them, isn't it?"

I felt a little envious, but if I treated my ships so carelessly, Amagi would get angry with me.

—Haaah, I want to see Amagi.

Or rather, I just want to get this over with and go home.

I wonder what Rosetta and Edward are doing right now?

That guy Brian is probably crying, but I guess I don't care about that.

"What's the status of the enemy's main force?"

When I asked about the enemy's movements, an operator replied.

"They are increasing their distance from the charging fleet."

Hearing that, I nodded.

"So they're not charging in with them—in that case, we'll retreat while carefully destroying the incoming fleet. Change formation, and don't forget to scatter mines."

The entire fleet began to change formation while opening fire on the charging unmanned ships.

As our allies fired their optical weapons, countless beams of light stretched forward.

Explosions erupted at their destination, and numerous small lights flickered.

"The one in command is Marquis Hampson, right? If it were me, I'd have charged in using the unmanned ships as a shield. Is he a coward?"

When I tilted my head, Eulisia, who was beside me, looked utterly astounded.

"In the Empire, only you, Lord Liam, and the Banfield family would do something like that."

"—I think it's a good move, though."

Charge in using the unmanned ships as a shield, punch a hole in the enemy lines, and wreak havoc.

Since they have the numerical advantage, that kind of brute force push should be possible.

As I was thinking they lacked guts, one of the staff officers aboard the Argos spoke to me.

"Perhaps the current enemy fleet lacks the level of training required to make that possible."

"They'd at least conduct training before invading, wouldn't they?"

"Considering the size of the subjugation army and the preparation time, they must have pushed themselves considerably. There are probably regular soldiers, but there must also be no small number of conscripts who underwent only short-term training."

I was convinced by the words of the staff officer, who was a former Imperial soldier.

"While we're over here working steadily, that's an enviable method."

Hearing me mutter that it was enviable, Eulisia asked, already knowing the answer.

"Lord Liam, do you not use conscription?"

"We recruit, but I have no intention of resorting to conscription."

We are recruiting soldiers on a large scale and offering preferential treatment.

Thanks to that, there are many volunteers.

Or rather, I couldn't do it because conscription would create other problems.

Part of the reason is that I've overextended myself, but conscription would cause problems in various areas, starting with the economy.

Even if you only strengthen your military power, you can't maintain a strong army if the situation within your territory, which supports it, deteriorates.

I envy the Empire for being able to push itself like this—but at the same time, I felt like I'd seen the bottom of the Empire's barrel.

"—I thought there were a lot of poorly moving ships. So they're not unmanned, just a gathering of amateurs."

There were sluggish parts in the enemy fleet's movements, so I had assumed they were unmanned ships.

Well, either way is fine.

Striking the enemy's weak points is a fundamental of warfare.

An operator, noticing a change in the situation, raised their voice.

"The enemy fleet is changing formation!"

Looking at the simplified holographic display of the battlefield, the enemy fleet had taken up a charge formation.

They probably intend to pierce through the Banfield fleet, which had spread out like a wall to strike the unmanned ships.

Eulisia looked slightly panicked.

"It seems the enemy will charge using the unmanned ships as a shield. Just as you predicted, Lord Liam."

"Is that sarcasm? More importantly, call up Tia and Marie."

The operator immediately called them, and the two appeared before me as holographic images.

The slight static was because the communication conditions on the battlefield were deteriorating.

"Tia, Marie, we're splitting the fleet into three. We'll circle around behind the charging enemy and regroup there."

When I said we would disperse our forces, Tia's expression turned grim.

"But won't that increase the possibility of us being defeated one by one?"

If they were capable of that, Hampson probably wouldn't be having such a hard time.

"It's not a problem. Or are you worried?"

When I said that provocatively, Marie gave a faint smile.

"If it is your command, I shall see it done."

Tia hurriedly declared that she would carry it out as well.

"Tch! Understood. I will execute the order immediately."

As the two holographic images disappeared, I crossed my legs and clasped my hands on my knee.

"You should have thinned your numbers more, Cleo—no, Hampson."

◇

The subjugation army charged using the unmanned ships as a shield, but they lost their target when the Banfield forces split into three.

Seeing this, Hampson wore a bitter expression.

"Those bastards have good intuition."

Three fleets of around 50,000 ships each.

If the subjugation army were to strike one of them with all its might, it would bring them much closer to victory.

However, unfortunately, the subjugation army could not maneuver skillfully.

One reason was that the fleet size was too large, but another was that the unmanned ships and the vessels crewed by conscripts were positioned on the outside of the formation.

Because their movements were sluggish, accidents would occur if they tried to maneuver with any dexterity.

After all, even during a simple charge, collisions were occurring between allied ships.

When they were winning, they had momentum and leeway, but faced with a battle of uncertain outcome, their mistakes were increasing.

An operator reported the situation.

"The enemy fleets are breaking through our outer formation and heading for our rear!"

In addition to the sluggish allied ships, the presence of unmanned ships made it impossible to move freely.

(I was too focused on attacking with numbers. If anything, these hindrances are just getting in the way. It might have been better to challenge them with 300,000 ships—no, if I did that, I wouldn't be able to stop the Banfield family.)

Regretting his choice, Hampson issued an order.

"Move ahead of the unmanned ships and use them as a shield against the enemy fleet that has circled to our rear. All ships, full speed ahead!"

They advanced at full speed to create distance from the Banfield fleet.

But this order seemed to throw a part of the fleet into confusion.

The operator let out a pained cry.

"Multiple collisions are occurring between allied ships!"

"Ignore them! We'll reform the formation with the surviving vessels. More importantly, proceed with caution to avoid getting caught in the accidents!"

No one voiced any objection to Marquis Hampson's merciless order.

They couldn't afford to get caught up in it themselves.

With that in mind, the super-dreadnought advanced, avoiding the surrounding ships.

Along the way, they ignored allied ships that had become immobilized and were calling for help.