"This is a new round of war between the Empire and The Church."
"The battlefield is a land that has already lost its faith."
"This is a conflict over hegemony and interests, and it has another name."
"Preaching."
"So, in this exercise, your opponents are not only the Demons of the Abyss, but also the Empire's Legion of Light Faith and the Church of Dawn's Holy Kingdom Knights."
Before the sand table, Ryan looked at the knight cadets standing before him with bewildered eyes. Ninety-nine percent of them were unqualified to inherit a Noble Title. Unable to become nobles, their education would not teach them to look at politics.
They only needed to fight, but that was not what Ryan needed. He needed these knight cadets to consider every factor that could bring victory or lead to defeat in war.
"If I gave you an army of thirty thousand, could you seize this land's faith from the Abyss, the Empire, and The Church?"
"Furthermore, the Demons of the Abyss must be completely eliminated. That evil Deity must also be driven from this world and sent back into the Abyss."
Just hearing those names made the knights' scalps tingle. One knight timidly raised his hand and asked.
"Lord Baron, aren't we from the Empire? Why should we turn them into enemies?"
"That question is simple. Because I hope all the people of that land will serve the teachings of Dawn, rather than worship Light or Dawn."
"However, you are right. The Empire is not our enemy. But what I am asking you to consider now is how you would win under such circumstances."
Castor Winter felt his heart race as well. No matter how hard he thought about it, he could not find an answer to this question.
The thirty-thousand-man army