Chapter 39. Viktor, Temporary Deputy Commander of the 1st Army

Like armies of other countries, when several corps of the imperial army carry out operations together, one officer commands the other corps commanders as the commander-in-chief.

If there's no commander appointed by the Empress, usually one of the corps commanders takes on the role of commander-in-chief.

As a result of a brief meeting, Gerhart Weissilt, who had led large armies as commander-in-chief several times and could encompass the support of all corps, was to oversee the 8th Corps, 10th Corps, and 1st Provisional Corps.

The main force of 35,000 men, temporarily named the 1st Army, which would engage in battle near Lake Apitello near Chenet, was also to be under Gerhart's command.

"You want to command the 10th Corps..."

Therefore, Viktor's request to hand over the command of the 10th Corps to him conflicted with that decision to some extent.

"Your specific mention of the 10th Corps' command authority sounds like a request to move the 1st Provisional Corps and 10th Corps independently."

"That's right. While I will carry out orders now that Corps Commander Gerhart has been decided as the commander of the 1st Army, I want the authority to independently command the 10th Corps and 1st Provisional Corps in case of emergency."

Viktor answered with a voice as confident as during the operation meeting.

"Hmm..."

The current imperial system emphasizes centralized command and proper execution of orders.

It's already widely known common sense that an army with divided command authority easily experiences confusion in operations and finds it difficult to efficiently utilize troops.

Gerhart could immediately recall examples of armies that collapsed due to divided command authority, and he also knew that Viktor was the very person who had achieved brilliant military results against the noble faction's imperial army with dispersed command authority.

Because he thought Viktor couldn't have made this request without knowing such points, his deliberation was long, and,

"I don't know why you're making this request, but it doesn't seem like a matter that can be decided just by request. The decision on command authority should be made in a place where all officers of the 1st Army are gathered."

He eventually expressed his intention to postpone.

Although he didn't deny Viktor's command ability, even Gerhart, who viewed Viktor positively, couldn't easily accept the request for command authority over 15,000 men, amounting to half the troops.

Instead, Gerhart was about to propose guaranteeing the command authority of the 1st Provisional Corps, but,

"No. Corps Commander's consent alone is sufficient."

Viktor didn't back down even after hearing words close to rejection.

"What do you mean?"

Because Viktor had been consistently logical and calm in the previous meeting, Gerhart felt puzzled by his appearance of blindly demanding despite knowing the dangers of dispersed command authority.

Viktor, who had been staring somewhere into space for a moment after hearing Gerhart's question,

"Given the situation, I think I can tell the Corps Commander."

"Hmm?"

"After seeing the 1st Provisional Corps' training, Corps Commander said. 'Did you use magic or something?'"

He closed his eyes for a moment and opened them again while mentioning magic.

"It is magic. I can instantly convey orders to my subordinates without needing to use any other tools."

"Huh? ...Are you serious right now?"

"Yes."

"Magic, you say? I've never heard of such magic..."

When Gerhart was flustered by Viktor's groundless words.

-Swoosh.

Before Gerhart could properly calm down, Viktor's adjutant Anna, who had let him in earlier and left her position, suddenly opened the tent flap and walked in.

"This is Anna, Adjutant to Corps Commander Viktor."

"...Did Corps Commander Viktor call you?"

"Yes. He told me to enter the tent immediately."

Seeing her salute to him, Gerhart reflexively returned the salute and looked at Viktor with surprised eyes.

He thought Viktor might have ordered Anna in advance to enter at an appropriate time, but on the other hand, he was feeling persuaded by Viktor's words.

"I'm sorry, but I need more confirmation."

"Alright."

Gerhart whispered to Viktor to instruct Anna with simple actions, and,

"It's like this. Without needing to shout to call, just by instructing inwardly, I can immediately convey my intentions."

"...Hmm."

She perfectly carried out all instructions without even looking at Viktor.

Even when Gerhart took Viktor outside the tent, whispered instructions, and then entered the tent alone to check, it was the same.

Gerhart sat down in a chair placed beside him, rubbing his forehead as if feeling a headache.

"Why did you say you only needed my consent?"

"For someone to hear my instructions, they need to recognize that they are under my command. If the Corps Commander just mentions that they should follow my instructions in case of emergency, they should be able to hear my instructions."

"Well."

Phlegethon is the legacy of the progenitor dragon Vulcanus, and other magic that can be seen in the empire doesn't go beyond simple forms like shooting fireballs or large stones.

However, Viktor claimed to have an ability like magic that could instantly convey instructions.

Although that claim was far beyond the common sense of Gerhart, who was surprised even by huge fireballs created in mid-air.

"It's hard to believe, but it doesn't seem like a lie. Was that the reason why the 1st Provisional Corps moved perfectly..."

"It's thanks to them following my training and instructions well, but yes, that's right."

Gerhart remembered Viktor's overwhelming command ability that could be seen in the Northern War records and the near-perfect movements shown by the 1st Provisional Corps in training.

Moreover, he had just somewhat proved it by calling Anna.

Rather than the staff's hypothesis that each member of his corps possessed tactical vision, Viktor's claim of using magic sounded much more realistic.

"Is it alright even for those who haven't experienced your command?"

"As long as they recognize my command authority, there's no problem. It might be difficult to move as nimbly as the 1st Provisional Corps since there's no time to train separately, but it will be much more efficient than the command system using messengers, whistles, and flags."

"Yes, I suppose so."

"I think the 10th Corps officers have seen the 1st Provisional Corps' training, so they will accept my command relatively without resistance."

Gerhart weighed the pros and cons of believing Viktor's words in his mind.

If Viktor's ability is true, this could change the paradigm of the battlefield.

If the 10th Corps could show even part of the movement shown by the 1st Provisional Corps just by handing over command authority, this is a request that must be unconditionally accepted.

However, the horrible examples seen in manuals and common sense held him back.

Gerhart felt uneasy just imagining 15,000 troops moving out of his control.

Moreover, because they had to depart as soon as possible for the operation, there was little time to think.

"Hmm..."

As he was wracking his brain in thought, suddenly,

"Ah."

"...?"

He let out a sigh as he gained a strange realization.

"Haha. Hahahaha!"

"...What's wrong?"

Gerhart looked at Viktor, who had an expression of not understanding, while laughing heartily.

"I'm pathetic for worrying about something I didn't need to worry about! There's not just one way to unify command authority."

"Pardon?"

He recalled Viktor's appearance logically explaining his strategy in the meeting room.

His strategy was too well-structured to have been thought up quickly, and it couldn't have come without knowing the local terrain and the situation of the Brotan Kingdom's army to have been planned in advance.

Either way, it showed Viktor's competence, and he had already proven his worth through two years of actual combat.

"Corps Commander Viktor. I'll appoint you as temporary deputy commander of the 1st Army."

According to records, the Rus Kingdom army led by Viktor was also famous for having unusually few casualties.

Thinking it would be good for the soldiers as well, he could entrust the 1st Army troops to Viktor without hesitation.

"Corps Commander."

"You're also a proper corps commander, so the officers won't find it strange to appoint you as temporary deputy commander."

He expected that he could easily convince the officers just by using a little of his authority.

And apart from his personal desire to have an excellent successor to lead the empire and the magic of conveying orders, he thought Viktor qualified to be appointed as deputy commander based solely on the strategy, tactics, and command ability he had shown.

"Can you handle it well?"

"...I'll show you a perfect victory."

Depending on the result, he might not end his deputy commander position as temporary.

"That's the answer I was waiting for. I'll gather the officers, so let's go together."

"Yes."

Gerhart left the tent with Viktor.

---

Although I'll continue to hide the mini-map and simulation functions that I consider the core of my abilities, the uniqueness of my command through the tactical map is a fact that will inevitably be revealed as soon as I command the imperial army.

It's just that they couldn't know until now.

When I command the imperial soldiers, they will experience my instructions being transmitted in real-time in their heads.

So, I chose to reveal that fact in advance to Gerhart, who is relatively trustworthy in the empire, to gain solid support.

Setting aside whether saying it was magic to help understanding was actually revealing the truth.

It would be strange for me, who hasn't even had a debut battle in the empire, to demand command authority, but if there's the merit of being able to receive real-time command just by nominally placing soldiers under my command, the story changes.

Seeing that he immediately appointed me as deputy commander of the 1st Army when he was deliberating just over the command of the 10th Corps, it can be seen as successful.

Finally, I informed the gathered officers of my appointment as deputy commander and explained the detailed plan.

"Corps Commander Viktor... Understood."

"Hmm... If it's Corps Commander Gerhart's decision."

Perhaps because Gerhart's will was firm and they were the ones who had directly conversed with me in the meeting room, there wasn't much backlash despite my appointment as deputy commander when I hadn't been in the empire for long.

Probably the fact that the deputy commander position was temporary also played a part.

While the soldiers were preparing for the march, after finishing explaining the strategy and giving instructions to the officers.

"We depart! Our destination is Chenet!"

With Gerhart's declaration, the 1st Army began marching towards Chenet.

"Let's go!"

"Yes!"

To explain the strategy in advance to the 8th Corps soldiers stationed in Chenet, I rode quickly to Chenet with a total of 4,000 cavalry combined from the 8th Corps' 2nd Cavalry Regiment and the 10th Corps' Cavalry Regiment.