Chapter 210 - 208 Before the Decisive Battle
Duchy of Walujava, Ducal Capital
The Grand Duke, who had been ill, attended the Imperial Council.
Coughing and hacking, he attended because he said he wanted to hear.
"I ask you all. This time for sure! Can we finally win this war against Altmea, our long-cherished desire from twenty years ago? I heard from the Prime Minister that this is the military running wild. Is that true?"
The people who were told 'this time for sure' twice felt weakened.
(That Shoben! He got the first move in on His Majesty the Grand Duke! He's planning to dodge responsibility even if we lose.)
The Minister of Military Affairs, along with the generals and high-ranking military officials, glared at Shoben, the Prime Minister.
The angry Minister of Military Affairs immediately raised his hand.
"The military running wild? That's a strange thing to say. In the first place, it was the Prime Minister himself who planned the war with the Altmea Empire. You might want to say it wasn't your plan, but we don't want to wage war either! What does Your Excellency the Prime Minister think? Won't you teach us in a way we can understand?"
Many nobles had opposed the war.
But it was Shoben who created the flow of 'it can't be helped' up to this point.
"I don't want a war where many soldiers bleed! I want to achieve victory through intelligence warfare! Can you grant me a little more time?"
Then the Grand Duke asked to confirm.
"When you say 'a little more time,' how many days specifically are you talking about? I hear the Triple Alliance has been formed, we've obtained a new weapon called the great cannon, and even the nobles who opposed the war are joining in. Prime Minister, say it so everyone can understand! Do you have enough information to justify letting this opportunity slip away?"
Everyone thought that now was the best timing.
(But is that really true? Everything is going too well. There were the issues with the cannonballs, the port town, and the 'Church of Light,' but those are trivial matters. However, I can't explain it...)
The alarm in Shoben's head kept ringing 'dangerous.'
The Grand Duke didn't know, but it wasn't just nobles who were joining. Pirates and ruffians were joining the navy. Bandits and adventurers were also joining the army.
"I cannot say the exact number of days. But I think we should be cautious, even overly cautious..."
A disappointed atmosphere flowed from the Grand Duke, the nobles, and the military.
"Coward! In the end, is it just self-preservation?"
"Hmph. As long as we don't go to war, there's no conclusion! What a fine display of self-preservation!"
He was mocked, sneered at, and wryly laughed at by the military and nobles.
Seeing this, the Grand Duke spoke.
"It seems there's no need for a majority vote! Without missing this opportunity, the army and navy shall launch a total attack on the Altmea Empire! Victory and defeat depend on the fortunes of war. But if you only think about losing, you'll never be able to fight! Prime Minister. This is the war you planned! Making statements that sound like you're dodging responsibility won't do you any good either! Now that it's decided, make up your mind!"
Reluctantly, he bowed his head and said, "As you command!"
There, it was announced that the navy would go first and gather at an uninhabited island 10 km offshore from the Aegean Bay.
"We will destroy and occupy the Aegean Bay with the great cannons and build a bridgehead! After that, we will destroy each port with the great cannons. From Aegean, we will join the army along the way and head for the enemy's imperial capital!"
The nobles rejoiced at those words.
"Our victory is certain now! Leave the bridgehead to us!"
"The enemy will surely be surprised by the great cannons, right? I can picture it!"
Next, an army general revealed the plan.
"We will set up camp in the basin, line up the great cannons in front of the enemy fort, and crush the enemy holed up inside. After capturing the fort, we will use it as a bridgehead and head for the western imperial capital, joining the navy along the way!"
The nobles applauded with great cheers.
"Now then! We must return to our territories and prepare soldiers and horses!"
"We need to secure provisions too! Things are getting busy!"
Thus, the nobles left only the minimum guard soldiers and gathered in the ducal capital.
The slave traders of the Duchy of Walujava were experiencing an unprecedented economic boom.
War slaves were selling like crazy.
"Let's sell all the slaves we can while we're at it!"
"Our shop too, let's sell off the ones who came here because of debt! We'll sell the domestic slaves and the sex slaves too, taking advantage of the confusion!"
Every slave trader couldn't stop laughing at their thriving business.
Captured criminals were also turned into soldiers under the pretext of 'amnesty.'
The nobles of the Duchy of Walujava were already dreaming of which territories they could receive.
"I want land facing the sea!"
"I want fertile land! We'll make all those Altmea people into serfs!"
The greed-soaked nobles laughed while counting their chickens before they hatched.
Meanwhile, a meeting was also being held at the palace of the Altmea Empire.
His Majesty, Klaus, cabinet ministers, and bureaucrats were of course present, but many nobles also participated and asked questions eagerly. Butler pointed at the map and answered everything.
"If there are no more questions, I will end the meeting."
Many nobles applauded Butler's words.
Finally, His Majesty said, "We will achieve a perfect victory on both sea and land! You all, do your best! The rewards will be as you wish!" and a great cheer arose.
"As expected of His Majesty! I'll fight risking my life this time too!"
"This time for sure, I'll take the enemy general's head! And get a promotion in rank and territory!"
The meeting ended, and the faces of the nobles who would lead their troops to the western fort from the next morning were bright.
Among them, Klaus was the only one with a dark face.
"Lord Klaus! It'll be fine! Windam is alive and well somewhere! You don't need to worry!"
Klaus was told this with a smile by Butler, but he raised his face and shook his head.
"I don't care about that guy. Even if he's alive. More importantly, I have a request for Butler... It's hard to say... but is that okay?"
"That's so distant of you! Tell me anything!"
"I see! Please take care of Aqua, my concubines, and my mistresses!"
His wife Leen, who was beside him, was stepping on Butler's shoe while still smiling.
"I-I have Leen... That's right! Gale! Ben! You guys are still single, right?"
"That's dirty, boss! I like being single! Then you should leave it to the boy, right?"
Gale argued back, but Ben seemed somewhat interested. Ben, who didn't say anything clearly, was ignored and the conversation moved on.
"That's right, Lord Klaus! If you leave it to Shivan, he'll manage somehow!"
"You... are you planning to dump everything except fighting on your son? Well, Shivan-kun probably wouldn't do anything bad..."
Butler nodded 'uh-huh' and finally his shoe was no longer being stepped on.
"Shivan-chan might even take the lead with older women! Let's leave it to him!"
Leen said something carefree with a smile, and it was decided. Klaus also gave a wry smile.
"Shivan-kun in times of trouble, huh."
"That's right! I'm sure it'll be fine!"
Butler said with a smile, but there was Ben, looking dejected.
"What are you doing, Ben? You've been pointing at yourself this whole time."
He was laughed at by Gale and got depressed.
"But... the talk about getting a wife... everyone forgot about me..."
"Don't cry! Ask the boy! He'll do something about it!"
Somehow or other, it was a family that dumped everything on Shivan.
As for me, I had brought Aristo and the others and was heading to the Gran Territory.
"Well done coming, Shivan-kun! And Lord Aristo and Lady Aria too?!"
Gran was surprised, but welcomed us warmly.
There, I decided to talk about the situation of the naval battle.
"The enemy is building a secret base and port on an uninhabited island 10 km south of the Aegean Bay."
"What! Let's attack immediately!"
Gran got worked up, but I made him sit down.
"Now, now. They're kindly spending money to build a port for us. If we leave it as is, eventually Your Excellency Gran can use it. If we cultivate pepper and fruit on that island, it will be more effective use than receiving a mediocre territory, and if we make it into a beach resort, seaside houses, or villa area, it will generate enormous amounts of money, you know?"
"Oh my! That sounds wonderful!"
Rose said that and hugged me from behind.
While I was enjoying the feel of her breasts without a bra, Chris, who had somehow followed us, tried to show off her breasts which had grown to about a B cup, so I stopped her.
Still being hugged, I continued talking.
"As we approach the Aegean Bay, the waves will become calmer. The enemy's great cannons have an effective range of at most 1 km. In reality, it's probably about 500 m. So, when we get within 4 km, we'll sink the enemy's large ships with our cannons. However, leave only the flagship as a hostage. If the large ships are sunk, the enemy should lose their will to fight. Some ships will try to escape."
People nodded 'uh-huh' while staring at the map.
"Captain Rose will call for surrender, and if they raise a white flag, we'll capture them. For those who try to escape or fight back, we'll shoot arrows without mercy and throw in hand grenades. If you have any questions, please ask."
Rose, called Captain, was in a good mood and squirming, when Aristo asked a question.
"Shivan, aren't there ships that pretend to surrender and then try to fight?"
"For such ships, Captain Rose will find them and crush them with the cannons immediately."
"That's right! I'll smash them to pieces!"
There, I told them to thoroughly ensure that ships raising a white flag stop and have everyone raise their hands, and everyone nodded.
"Well, they won't be able to escape. Not from those ships!"
It's impossible to shake off a hovercraft-type ship.
After the bombardment, once they understood the plan to surround the enemy fleet, Gran, in high spirits, said, "Let's have a pre-celebration!" and served alcohol.
"This is a special Tarsel Wine!"
It seemed Gran was confident of victory.
His heart was already on vacation on that uninhabited island.
"Please stay the night tonight!"
Gran served a lavish meal and said that, so I specified a room.
I asked to be with Kate, Aria, and Chris, and for Aristo and the others to be together as five, and he seemed to understand.
"Soon, you should include Rose too, okay?"
"Only if she wishes it, you know?"
"I know! Rose is probably feeling that way too!"
I don't know if she's feeling that way yet...
When I entered the room with Kate, Aria, and Chris, Kate invited me, "There's a bath! Let's get in!"
"That sounds nice! It's good to be together as four!"
When Aria agreed, Chris, despite her complex about her chest, also agreed.
"Sigh... That Rose-san had big breasts too..."
Chris said sadly, letting out a sigh.
"I think she's probably bigger than me."
"She seems bigger than Kate. I'm a D, but Kate, what about you?"
"Now? I'm an E cup. Rose is about an F or G, I think?"
While my breasts were being groped from both sides, Kate and Aria were talking.
"I failed to become Shivan-senpai's wife... I couldn't make it into the top ten..."
When Chris said that regretfully, Aria comforted her.
"It's still okay! You have over a year until graduation! And you just need to convince your parents, right? I have the hurdle of divorce, you know? Compared to that, can't you do your best? More importantly, if you're not going to do fellatio, I'll suck him first, okay?"
Chris looked happy at being encouraged and said, "No! I don't have breasts, but I want to be told I'm good at fellatio!" and took him in her mouth.
"Then I'll lick Chris's naughty pussy and clit!"
"Ah... Kate-sensei... you're too good!"
"I'll lick Chris's breasts and nipples!"
"Ahhn♡ Aria-senpai... that spot is no good! I won't be able to suck Shivan-senpai's delicious dick... I can't♡"
Chris trembled and squirted.
"What do you want, Chris? In your mouth?"
"I-I want to... drink your sperm..."
I held Chris's head, moved it up and down, and released a lot.
I held her head down and made her drink it, then kept her mouth on it and got hard again.
"This time, here! I want you to put it in my wet pussy♡"
"Then let's go to the bed!"
After wiping clean, we headed to the bed.
When I assumed the reverse cowgirl position, Kate spread her legs in front of Chris's face and said, "Chris... lick my pussy♡"
"Kate-sensei♡ Play with my breasts and nipples♡"
"Sure♡ Let's cum together♡"
"Sensei... your anus is weak too, right? I'll put my finger in♡"
"Good, Chris! I feel like I'm about to cum soon♡"
Aria was straddling my face and receiving cunnilingus.
"Hey, you♡ If I work hard on the divorce, let me have your baby♡ Of course, even if I can't get divorced, I'll only make a baby with you! Okay? I'll raise it together with Kate! And let Kate have one too, okay♡"
"That sounds nice! I want to have senpai's baby too! I'll break off the engagement and become senpai's woman! Definitely! Even if I get disowned!"
Chris joined the conversation while climaxing many times.
When I came inside Chris and finished the cleaning fellatio, Aria said to Chris, "Should I tell you a secret?"
"Huh? I want to know!"
"Before, you wanted to know what I do as a thank you, right?"
Chris nodded eagerly.
"I get tied up and turned into a pervert! The emperor's daughter gets tied up with ropes, calls him 'Master,' gets trained, and becomes lewd! I'll show you!"
Aria was tied up, given orders, and let out cries of pleasure.
"Look, Chris! A total pervert and completely lewd! And she's only for her beloved Master! The slight pain feels good... and she goes crazy cumming!"
Chris watched, a little taken aback, and asked Kate a question.
"Sensei too? You get trained like that?"
"No. I'm more the type that gets teased! I can't handle pain! Just barely touching or not touching with caresses. I'm being trained in a way where I feel like I'm about to cum but can't! Want to see?"
Chris nodded with a face full of curiosity.
After Aria was thoroughly trained, Kate lay down.
"Aaah♡ Aahn♡ Ah, ah, aah♡ It feels good♡ Hey♡ I want you to let me cum now! It feels good♡ Aaah♡ Please♡ It's overflowing from down there♡"
She spread her legs and a 'plop' sound was heard.
"Please, Master! I want to... cum♡"
When she begged with teary eyes, she suddenly started cumming wildly.
"My body feels like an erogenous zone♡ No matter where I'm touched, I cum♡ I'm cumming again♡ Aaah♡ Ah, ah, aah♡ I'm cumming♡ I keep cumming♡"
Chris gulped.
Kate's naked body convulsing and writhing was alluring.
"When you cum inside her like this, the climax is amazing! Watch Kate's pussy!"
Aria explained.
Kate was already shaking her hair wildly and had no leeway to speak.
"I'm going, Kate!"
"Aaah... I'm cumminggg――――――!"
With a 'whoosh' sound, Kate squirted all the way to the ceiling.
"See? Isn't it amazing?"
"Yahn... Aria-senpai... if you grope my breasts from behind, I'll feel like I shouldn't... my nipples are too sensitive... I feel like I'm going to cum..."
"Sweet Chris! Stick out your tongue! I'll lick it!"
Aria lifted Chris's chin, kissed her, and played with her tongue.
The four of us enjoyed ourselves all night.
The Next Morning
The birds watching the Walujava army began to stir.
It was while we were having breakfast and chatting amiably.
"It seems the enemy has started moving! If this continues, the Walujava navy will arrive at that uninhabited island in three days. They'll stay one night and then, early the next morning, they'll break into this Aegean!"
For a moment, it was silent.
But immediately, cheers arose and Gran said, "Is that true, Shivan-kun?"
"Unless there's extreme bad weather or a storm, they'll come."
Aria spoke to the trembling Aristo with a smile.
"Don't be so nervous, it's fine!"
"Th-this is a fighting spirit shiver! It's my first battle! Thinking that the enemy is people, not monsters..."
Carla and Limone hugged the trembling Aristo.
"Then, I will head to the palace and inform His Majesty and Lord Klaus!"
"Yeah! I'm counting on you, Shivan-kun! Rose! Departure is in four days! Inform the crew!"
"Of course, big brother! You bastards! Are you ready?"
Rose looked happy as she called out to her subordinate crew members.
(The great war is finally starting. If we win this, we shouldn't have to fight a war for a while.)
Thinking such things, I headed to the palace.
"I am Baron Shivans von O'Brien! I urgently request an audience with Lord Klaus!"
When I said that with a flustered face, the secretary said, "I will inform him immediately!" and hurriedly ran off.
"What's wrong, Shivan-kun?"
"The enemy... the enemy has finally started moving!"
"What! Inform His Majesty and Butler immediately! And the cabinet ministers too! Gather everyone involved right now! Hurry!"
Everyone was forced to change their morning plans and were gathered in the great hall.
"Shivan! Is it true that the enemy is attacking?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The enemy's army and navy have started moving simultaneously!"
"When will the enemy come?"
I spread out the sea map and pointed.
"The enemy will come aiming for this Aegean port early in the morning four days from now!"
"And the number of enemies?"
"Probably around 400 ships, large and small."
"That's more than I thought?"
"However, when they arrive at a point 4 km from the port, we will bombard them simultaneously from sea and land. After that, we will surround and annihilate them. Or demand their surrender."
"Hmm! What about the land?"
I took out the map of that old Sekigahara battlefield site and explained.
"It seems they are having difficulty because there are no roads. They will arrive at that basin at the earliest in a week. At the latest, I think in ten days!"
The meeting hall buzzed with noise.
Then, while looking at the map, the positions of each noble were decided.
"Good! We will join our army!"
"This time for sure! I'll make a name for myself! I haven't slacked off in training for that!"
The nobles who couldn't make a name for themselves in the previous war were eager.
"This will surely be the last war. This is the last chance!"
"Hmph! No doubt about it! We must fight a battle that our descendants will be proud of!"
While feeling the pressure, some nobles also thought of future generations.
(I won't let there be any wars while I'm alive!)
When the meeting ended, Klaus called me over.
I was thanked by the secretary who was the husband of that B woman and by my brother's administrative officer.
"I'm sorry for the trouble..."
"No one knows about it. After this, please talk to her well."
They were extremely apologetic, but for me, it was already over.
Just when I thought the conversation was over, I was told, "There's a private matter," and went to the office.
"It's nothing else. It's about Windam."
"Has he been found?"
Klaus shook his head and sighed, so I said words of comfort like, "I hope he's found soon," but he shook his head again and sighed.
"I don't care anymore. Whether he's alive or dead... More importantly, the problem is the aftermath. I thought about summoning Kaoz, but he's not interested. He's probably attached to his territory and doesn't want to enter the political world at this late stage. In terms of suitability, he's not suited for Minister of Military Affairs. Of course, Windam wasn't either..."
There, I made a proposal.
"If Lord Aristo does something noteworthy in this war, wouldn't it be fine to make him the young Minister of Military Affairs? He is facing this with an extraordinary resolve. And as for remembering faces and names, it's still the same, but depending on his effort, it might work out. If Lord Klaus acts as his guardian during that time, I don't think anyone would complain."
"That's a valid point. But Aristo is still young, you know?"
"If you're going to say that, I am too, you know?"
Klaus looked at me and gave a wry smile.
"It depends on His Majesty's approval, of course. But if Lord Klaus and my father Butler join forces, no noble should think of opposing."
"Hahaha! That's certainly true! Interesting. The rest is up to Aristo. The problem is Aqua, the concubines, and the mistresses. I've been wondering what to do about them..."
"Why don't they all take a good rest at my place? It's a once-in-a-lifetime life. Even if Lord Windam has passed away, how should they live? How about letting each of them think about it?"
Klaus crossed his arms and thought.
"Not bad! Let's talk about it again after the war is over!"
A smile escaped Klaus, and we shook hands.