While Marshal Yu stood deep in thought, clutching his old blade, his comrades—none lacking in initiative or ability—exchanged puzzled looks for a moment before seamlessly switching into a military briefing.
"Wasn't he a civil official?"
"All electors hold military posts. The line between civil and military duties among the Empire's nobles isn't all that clear to begin with."
"Rising from the ranks to the highest office... Heh, doesn't that sound a bit old-fashioned?"
"Imperials firmly believe that a good soldier can become a good bureaucrat. The two fields are closely related."
"Fine. It sounds a little uncivilized, but it's still more reassuring than someone whose background is in law or journalism."
Objectively speaking, everyone agreed that King Vellent was certainly a highly capable Dragon King.
Throughout the war, he had coordinated the Empire's military-industrial production and troop mobilization. Thanks to a certain invincible demon dragon, the Empire had suffered heavy losses on the front lines, but it had never run short of troops or warships. It had maintained overwhelming pressure on Earth right up until Earth finally buckled under it.
...Of course, King Vellent had actually handled all of this alongside Chancellor Valporis. But even as his deputy, he had demonstrated the ability of a statesman.
And considering that he was also a top scientist and engineer, he was nothing short of a once-in-an-age talent.
If one overlooked the queen, who outshone everyone else, he might well have been the best of the current Dragon Kings.
The only problem was that he lacked the military achievements most prized by the Tirillo warmongers.
"Still, I've never heard that he has the makings of a great commander."
"He was the Empire's commander during Operation Serpent Slayer."
"That operation was large-scale, sure, but at the end of the day, wasn't it just a