Several months have passed since the war began.

Contrary to expectations, the Calvinist faction had been racking up victories and maintaining the upper hand.

When the battlefield is as vast as this one, the fleets don't stick together; they disperse.

Even so, they scatter across the immense battlefield in units of tens of thousands to fight the enemy.

Which fleet captured a space station or a satellite base.

Which fleet defeated an enemy fleet.

Reports came in one after another every day, and it was my job to process them.

However, I've left all the miscellaneous tasks to Klaus and the others.

—And as a result of leaving it to them, we were suddenly piling up defeats and being pushed into a disadvantageous position.

I'm not mature enough to be so virtuous as to think, 'It can't be helped if the military inspector, Theodor, makes sarcastic remarks.'

"Now then, let's hear your excuses."

The ones I summoned were my head knight, Klaus, and the two troublemakers, yet brilliant, Tia and Marie.

I had Klaus stand beside me as I sat in my chair, while Tia and Marie were made to sit formally on their knees.

The moment I said I'd listen to their excuses, Marie immediately glared at Tia.

"This minced-meat woman is the cause! Lord Liam, please grant me command at once. If you do, I promise you victory within ten years."

Ten years for a war.

This seems long, but it's actually short.

With a fleet of this size, a misstep could lead to fighting for decades.

There are even stories that sound like bad jokes about wars lasting for centuries; that's how difficult it is to settle a match.

It wasn't uncommon for the victor to be decided through negotiations after determining which side had the advantage in the end.

So, Marie's words meant, "I promise you victory in a short period of time."

Tia, having had the blame pushed onto her by Marie, furrowed her brow.

"Silence, you fossil! Lord Liam, while I do bear some responsibility, if you give me a chance to redeem myself, I will surely promise you victory within ten—no, eight years."

If Marie says ten years, Tia says eight, huh.

It's good that they're competing, but I can't stand to wait eight years in the first place.

"Too slow. Settle this within two years."

When I set the time limit, even Klaus, who had been listening, widened his eyes.

Tia's gaze wandered.

"W-well, if that is what Lord Liam desires, I will make the utmost effort to grant it. B-but, two years seems far too short."

Marie, too, must have judged two years to be impossible, as she reluctantly agreed with Tia's opinion.

"It's frustrating, but I suppose the minced-meat woman is right. We have an idea of who the traitors are, but it will take time to eliminate them. If my predictions are correct, it will take a considerable amount of time to get rid of them."

It seems both Tia and Marie are aware of the traitors.

"I see. So you two were also aware of the traitors. Excellent. If you were fools who hadn't noticed, I would have had to reconsider your treatment. Isn't that right, Klaus?"

"Huh?"

His reply felt slightly off compared to usual, but Klaus had been aware of the traitors from the beginning.

He was constantly watching Theodor by my side, keeping a sharp eye on him, so there's no doubt.

"I did some investigating myself, and Baron Gurin has also been making suspicious moves. Marion."

When I snapped my fingers, the door to the room opened.

From there appeared Marion, who had been made to change into a frilly outfit.

His eyes were teary as he looked at me, so I complimented his outfit.

"It suits you, doesn't it? Did you like my present?"

"You have terrible taste as always, Senpai."

Tia and Marie, realizing I was the one who prepared the outfit, shot jealous glares at Marion.

Marion, frightened by their murderous intent, hurriedly trotted over to me.

And then, he reported the same story he had told me earlier to everyone present.

"I've investigated just as you ordered, Senpai. As for the House of Baron Gurin, they aren't fighting any war. The disarray in their territory is a result of his own skill. Unlike you, Senpai, he fails at everything he does. Also, he has met with Theodor of the Imperial Guard multiple times."

Marion was my junior from my days as a government official, and while he was a second-rate knight, he was suited for intelligence work.

When I had him use those abilities in the rear, we managed to bait Baron Gurin.

Everyone present must have been aware of it.

No one even gasped in surprise.

They may not be cute, but I was relieved that there were no incompetents among them.

"So that's how it is. We'll crush Theodor and Baron Gurin. I need you all to aim for victory within two years."

End the war within two years—and with our victory, no less.

Faced with this condition, even Klaus, who had been quiet and reserved until now, opened his mouth to speak.

"Lord Liam, that is far too reckless. Lord Theodor is a member of His Highness Cleo's Imperial Guard, and Baron Gurin is someone His Highness Cleo promised to assist. Even if we were to eliminate those two and their subordinates, two years is too short."

I know it's impossible by common sense, but—I absolutely wanted to end it within two years.

"—This is an order. Achieve victory and end this within two years."

Hearing the two-year deadline, Klaus and Tia showed their disapproval, but Marie's expression alone changed to one of determination.

For some reason, the way her eyes sparkled as she looked at me, as if moved, was intensely irritating.

To hide my inner thoughts, I crossed my legs to act more arrogant than usual.

"I ask you all. Tell me a strategy to win within two years. I will tolerate some sacrifices."

When I asked if they had a plan—neither Tia nor Marie said they didn't.

They didn't think it was achievable, but they still presented their strategies to me.

Tia was first.

"If we can deal a major blow to the enemy's main force, we should be able to turn our current disadvantage around. To do that, we'll need to lure the enemy in. We'll retreat once, and when the enemy gains momentum, we'll break through at a single point and crush their main force. —However, if the enemy gains momentum, other nobles will likely join the war to back the winning horse. The number of allies defecting will increase, and the numerical gap will only widen, so I can't recommend it."

Besides, it's difficult to decide which fleet to target for a single-point breakthrough.

It would be terrifying if we thought we were hitting their main force, only to find out we were completely wrong.

Also, because we'd be forcing the issue, the heavy casualties on our side would be a problem.

Considering the future, I want to avoid losing as much of our military strength as possible.

Marie, on the other hand, had a slightly different strategy in mind.

"It's a method one would hesitate to use between nobles of the same country, but we could have a detached force target the enemy's home worlds. If their home bases are attacked, the nobles who have come out to this battlefield will have no choice but to return. If we launch an all-out attack as the enemy crumbles, an early conclusion is possible. It is, but—I can't recommend this strategy in the long run."

"That's the same method the Berkley family used before."

Even though we're here fighting a battle to decide the next emperor, if I were to target the enemy nobles' home worlds, it would be treated as if I'd shot them in the back.

It's not that I dislike dirty tricks, but if I did something like that in this war, I'd be scorned for it.

There would be opposition from within my own ranks, and in the long term, there's the demerit of losing my credibility.

I'd be called a coward who broke the unwritten rules.

Also, if I do this, enemy detached forces are bound to pour into my own home world.

I interlocked my fingers and smirked.

"Indeed, both have their problems and can't be adopted."

When I said they couldn't be adopted, both Tia and Marie seemed somewhat relieved.

They probably didn't want me to adopt them.

I turned my gaze to the reliable Klaus.

"Now then, what's your opinion?"

Klaus remained silent for a moment with a blank expression, but unable to bear my gaze, he opened his mouth.

◇

(Why are you expecting something from me!)

Klaus was panicking inwardly.

Receiving Liam's gaze, which seemed to say, 'I'm counting on your strategy,' he couldn't just say, 'I have nothing.'

Both Tia and Marie, though their plans weren't adopted, had properly stated their strategies.

(For now, should I just suggest a method that Lord Liam would never choose? What kind of strategy would Lord Liam not choose? He said he would tolerate some sacrifices, so does that mean he doesn't mind if the army's losses increase? In that case, if it affects Lord Liam's personal reputation—)

Klaus steeled himself and stated a strategy that he was sure Liam would never choose.

"How about we abandon this war over the planet Charleau?"

"What?"

As Liam made a dubious face, the looks Tia and Marie gave Klaus grew cold.

Liam had been undefeated until now.

The two of them probably couldn't stand the idea of tarnishing that myth of invincibility.

But this was what Klaus was aiming for.

"Even if we win this war, the only result is that Baron Gurin gains territory. In that case, we should focus solely on the succession struggle."

Liam looked displeased, but his gaze urged him to continue.

"The enemy is aiming for the home world of the House of Baron Gurin. If it's taken, it will be our defeat, but we will challenge them to a decisive battle afterward. The reason would be to rescue the Baron—which would be a poor excuse, I admit."

Klaus's strategy, which he came up with as he explained, was to gather the enemy in one place and bury them.

It incorporated elements of Tia's and Marie's plans as well.

It was a strategy he'd thought of after hearing their two plans, and naturally, there was no deeper meaning to it.

He had said it with the thought that Liam wouldn't choose it, and that the two women wouldn't let him choose it.

But Liam showed a strong interest in it.

"I see—if it's Baron Gurin's planet, we can rampage as we please and it won't hurt us one bit. Plus, we can bury him in the confusion."

Seeing Liam looking like he was about to adopt the plan, Klaus was shocked.

"Lord Liam?"

(Eh? Why does he like it?)

Klaus tried to put a stop to it, but Marie moved first.

"Please wait! The biggest demerit of this strategy is that Lord Liam's skill will be doubted. You will be in a position to be blamed for failing to protect Baron Gurin. Even if you later prove he was a traitor, on the surface, it's a defeat."

Tia also showed that she couldn't accept it, but Liam stood up and applauded Klaus.

"As expected of Klaus. It's a wonderful strategy that achieves our objective while disposing of the traitors. I'll adopt your plan."

Klaus was completely taken aback by Liam's decision.

"Are you serious?"

(If you do that, your own reputation will fall!!)

When he confirmed it again, Liam gave a cheerful smile.

"I was just thinking how irritating it would be to give that Baron Gurin any benefit. Now then, let's discuss the arrangements at once. —And Marion, since you've heard this, you'll be detained for a while."

Marion, who had been listening, made a face of resignation and obediently held out his hands.

"I didn't think I'd be able to get away after hearing all this. You'll release me when the war is over, right? Oh, and if possible, I'd like the guard to be a cute girl. I demand good treatment."

"I'll release you when it's over, but you'll have to do without the cute girl."

"You're so cheap, Senpai."

Having heard the future plans, Marion was to be detained under Liam for a while.

Klaus regretted that he had done something terrible.

"Are you truly certain? As a way to win, it's unorthodox. I may have proposed it, but it's a strategy that will damage Lord Liam's reputation. I do not recommend it."

Liam gave Klaus a provocative smile.

"That's perfectly fine. If victory can be obtained at the mere cost of my reputation, then we should make full use of it. I told you—I will tolerate some sacrifices."

(H-how did it come to this!?)

The blood drained from Klaus's face.

He never thought that Liam would write off even his own reputation as a minor sacrifice.

For better or worse, Liam was an absolute presence, and he often benefited from that reputation.

To cast that aside to end the war early.

—Klaus had misjudged Liam.

(This is the worst!)

Liam spread his arms and declared.

"Now then, let's start by settling this fight with Calvin, shall we?"