We weren't training Shiyun just for the sake of it.
It was the result of analyzing mortality rates and their causes among non-military lords who died during the Zork War.
Our data showed that other planets with high civilian death tolls had failed to conduct proper evacuation drills.
Recovery on those worlds was sluggish; on planets where the lord died, they were in such a sorry state that a new Head of House still hadn't been chosen.
Conversely, planets governed by hardcore military lords saw far fewer civilian casualties and enjoyed rapid recovery.
You might think it was because they belonged to the Veronica faction and received a larger budget.
...But that wasn't it.
We simply couldn't justify allocating a budget to a planet that hadn't even settled on a leader months after the war ended.
When Wifey returns, there will likely be a storm of purges.
Wifey is soft on her lords... or rather, so many died that she has to be.
But even her patience was reaching its limit.
"Hurry up and pick a lord. If you don't clarify who's in charge, I can't send you the budget."
How is that even difficult?!
I’m just stating the obvious!
Ultimately, the scale of a tragedy grew depending on how those at the top conducted themselves.
I’d been drumming the minimum basics of troop movement, how to handle oneself when attacked, and fundamental weapon knowledge into Shiyun.
Also, battleship specs and armaments.
Since we were currently receiving military aid from Latarnia, I had her memorize the specs of Latarnia ships.
Just having that knowledge tucked away in the back of her mind would lead to different results.
I had her learn it all as if it were a game.
Another month or so passed this way.
Actually, it stopped being a matter of preparing for war.
Refugees were swarming the Latarnia border area of the Taikyoku Nation.
Hahaha!
The panic had spread way further than I anticipated!
I didn't think it would turn out like this.
It was the fault of the Taikyoku Nation's half-baked information control.
It was a dance of rumors across the word-of-mouth network.
The refugees were one thing.
But other countries treated people from the Taikyoku Nation as if they were all infected.
They weren't about to accept refugees, and the panic led to the rise of armed militias.
It appeared that everything from witch hunts to executions was taking place.
On this side, things were progressing in a worse direction than planned.
Those shouting "Revere the Emperor" on the Latarnia side accepted humanitarian aid and moved to treat all citizens.
The middle-aged Leader of the Revere the Emperor Forces was moved to tears when he had a remote meeting with Shiyun.
Why?
I honestly thought he’d be pissed at me for training her as a regular soldier.
"From their perspective, it seems they've interpreted it as: 'From the position of a single soldier, she studied military affairs in another country while negotiating with the Galactic Empire and Latarnia to secure favorable terms.' They see her as a benevolent ruler who would even bow her head to other countries to save her people from parasites and invaders."
"I see~."
Actually, that wasn't wrong.
If Shiyun hadn't stepped up, the Taikyoku Nation would have been forced to accept terrible terms.
Dealing with the Third Prince would have cost far more in political maneuvering, money, and military resources.
We didn't necessarily have to recover the money we spent, but if the amount was astronomical, we'd have an accountability to the taxpayers.
From the taxpayers' point of view, it was a matter of: "We're being repaid with resources or territory, right?"
Stabilization likely wouldn't happen for decades.
In that regard, with Shiyun, it could be justified as being "for the political stability of a neighbor and our own nation's safety."
That provided enough legitimacy.
A girl?
I didn't care.
The Galactic Empire Emperor was a woman, and Latarnia didn't particularly forbid it either.
In fact, we could even make that part of the negotiations.
Because of all that, we were stuck.
Latarnia was in a frenzy over the quarantine.
Since it was purely a Latarnia internal issue, we couldn't exactly help them.
And so, today was training day for the boys: sparring with Katori-sensei.
For some reason, the Officer Academy girls had come to watch.
Even Lady Hanazawa and her group were there.
"Why did you guys come to watch? There’s nothing fun about this."
"Well, Shiyun said she wanted to observe," Melissa said with a smile.
"Ehh... fine. Isono, you go first."
"You go!"
No way. My hands will get calloused!
I faced the predator with a relaxed expression.
"Ho, I see you've fixed yourself up," Katori-sensei said, looking pleased.
"I wasn't really aware of it myself, though~."
"Come on, release your bloodlust!"
"Fiiiine."
I let out a burst of bloodlust with a loud "Don!"
I actually said the "Don!" part out loud.
For some reason, a vein throbbed on Katori-sensei's forehead.
Did I piss him off? Or was my output not enough?
"Heh, huhahahaha! This is getting interesting!"
He seemed happy for some reason. Unusually, Katori-sensei was the one to attack first.
I brushed it aside—parried it. When I parried, the momentum usually increased and it would swing back around for a second strike, so I smoothly decelerated the blade before knocking it down.
It was like taking a heavy impact and using my arms as a cushion, stopping it with friction as I folded into the blow... that was the image?
Because I was constantly applying the brakes, Katori-sensei's attacks slowed down.
"Y-You're doing that to me?!"
"I have no choice since I'd lose on speed otherwise!"
I had a slight edge in power, but I couldn't hope to match Katori-sensei's optimized speed.
So, I used those "slushy" parries to lower the overall tempo. I varied the rhythm, deliberately mixing in standard parries.
Eventually, openings appeared.
But Katori-sensei showed those openings on purpose. They were traps.
Since I had to judge in a split second, I was bound to step on a trap.
So, knowing I'd step on them, I attacked every opening simultaneously. Since I was hitting the real openings along with the traps, his counterattack speed slowed down.
The 'I've Stopped Thinking' Technique.
After that, it was just a matter of how long my stamina would last...
In the end, maximizing attack speed and endurance made you the strongest. For tactics, you just stack up experience and make instant calls based on past patterns.
But this was Katori-sensei; I couldn't break his guard, and even the hits that should have been perfect were evaded.
"Dammit! I can't hit him!"
Even that statement was a feint!
A thrust was coming!
I knocked it upward. Snap.
"Huh?"
The wooden sword had snapped in two. Katori-sensei's had too.
"That's enough!"
Whew.
My body craved air, ignoring my will.
I panted heavily, sweat pouring off me like a waterfall.
"You've got to be joking... Leo, you've actually reached the level of a master!"
Not really~. I'm no master~.
I don't know anything about "Truths" or "Secret Arts." It was all within the scope of basic offense and defense.
I flopped down on the floor. Katori-sensei was down on one knee too.
"Wait, what? What happened?"
Shiyun hurriedly asked Melissa.
"That... was His Excellency the Grand Duke, right? Does he always do such ascetic training?"
"Yeah, the Captain is the Strongest of the Imperial Army, after all~. Despite how he looks, he's also quite the commander."
Hey, stop lying! I've told you a thousand times I can't handle large armies!
"He's... he's incredible..."
Please stop! Don't look at me with those eyes of respect! It was a fluke! Sto-o-op it!
Incidentally, after this, Eddie, Isono, and Nakajima became Katori-sensei's sacrifices.
But for some reason, the fiancées of Isono and Nakajima were looking on entranced.
Well, whatever. As long as they're on good terms...
The one that shattered such a peaceful life was the Taikyoku Nation.
Ah, I hate this.