Strategy

Horace Loux looked at the "golden duo" before him, one who could only hack away and another who could only recite, and felt his temples throb.

He had never considered that Marika might not be very educated and might be severely lacking in practical experience.

But when his peripheral vision swept over the unusually dense shadow at Marika's feet, that absurd sense of helplessness subsided again.

Maliketh.

That shadowbound beast-if the information in the game was correct, this shadowbound beast should already be with Marika at this point, serving as her strongest guardian and watcher.

With an overpowered monster like that backing them up, even if the lord was a battle maniac and the god a broken record, their chances of winning seemed pretty good?

He silently let out a pent-up breath and decided to accept reality-rather than expect this duo to devise some brilliant strategy themselves, he might as well expect the Crucible to suddenly turn into a Gundam, stand up, and fly into space.

"All right." Horace Loux rubbed between his brows, a trace of resigned weariness in his voice.

"Since you're asking me... I'll share my thoughts."

His gaze first settled on Hoarah Loux. "Brother, you're right. Whoever our enemies are, we fight them. But before we fight, we need to know why we're fighting and how to get the most out of it."

Then he turned to Marika, trying to explain in terms she could understand. "Marika, to become the god who governs the Order, you need two crucial things. First, to prove you're the only qualified Empyrean. Second, to obtain the Divine Gate. The Hornsent currently hold it, and it's essential to the ritual of becoming a god."

Marika nodded with only a vague understanding.

"So, on the surface, we have two kinds of enemies: the other Empyreans who are qualified just like you, and the Hornsent civilization, which currently rules the Land of Shadow and controls the Divine Gate."

"But if we go straight to war, especially against the entire Hornsent civilization, we have no chance of winning. They have numbers, home ground, and abundant resources. Throwing our handful of people at them wouldn't even make a splash."

Hoarah Loux's brows knotted, but this time he did not argue, only snorted heavily through his nose.

"So we can't confront them head-on." Horace Loux drew a circle around the word "Hornsent."

"We need to win people over and divide them. There must be sages and warriors among the Hornsent who are dissatisfied with the status quo or disagree with the current rulers. Find them, make promises, and get them to help us from within."

"As for the other Empyreans..." Horace Loux tapped the tip of his pen in the air.

"They're also potential targets of Hornsent suppression. When it comes to opposing the Hornsent, we could share common interests in the short term. We can try making contact. Even if we can't form alliances, we can at least create chaos and keep the Hornsent from concentrating their forces against us."

He looked at Marika. "Your vision of the Golden Order will appeal to Hornsent who are unhappy with the status quo, as well as other races who might be oppressed by them. That's our weapon too, not just axes and fists."

Marika's eyes widened slightly, as though she had realized for the first time that the words she recited could serve such a practical purpose beyond sounding nice.

Hoarah Loux stroked his chin. Although those tangled relationships irritated him a little, his experience with hunting and tribal warfare still let him understand basic strategies like "winning over opponents within the enemy's ranks" and "joining forces with temporary allies."

"So we find friends while getting the enemy to fall into chaos? Then we pick our moment to strike?"

"More or less." Horace Loux nodded. He knew explaining overly complicated schemes to his brother was futile; he had to give him clear, direct objectives.

"I need more intelligence to determine which Hornsent tribes we can approach and which Empyreans we can use. But that takes time, and we need to grow stronger ourselves."

At this point, he shifted the subject and revealed his true purpose.

"Brother, Marika, to achieve all this, our warriors need to become stronger. Not just brave, but disciplined and resilient, able to carry out more complex tasks and persevere through adversity." Horace Loux's voice grew solemn.

"I've been researching a kind of... ancient oath ritual. I call it 'Great Runes.' It allows people to gain certain enhancements after paying a price."

Hoarah Loux's gaze shifted. "That thing you mentioned before? I told you, you can't use that carelessly."

"Yes, you did." Horace Loux admitted it openly.

"But now it's necessary. Before, the tribe was secure, and hunting and our natural strength and courage were enough. But now we're facing wars between gods and the crushing pressure of vast civilizations. We need every bit of strength we can get." He looked at Marika, his tone carrying a hint of persuasion.

"Marika is about to lead us toward glory. For that future, if our warriors accept some temporary 'restrictions' and 'discomfort' in exchange for the strength to realize the Golden Order, isn't that an honorable sacrifice?"

Marika was moved by those words. She did not quite understand what the brothers were discussing, but she could feel the solemnity and necessity in Horace Loux's words.

She looked at Hoarah Loux and said softly, "If... if this can help everyone, and help you... I think we could try?"

Hoarah Loux looked at his younger brother, then at Marika.

He instinctively felt something was off. His brother seemed too eager, and those "Great Runes"...

But faced with a few simple, direct objectives, his combat-minded brain actually understood very clearly what that vague unease was.

In the end, he pretended to give up thinking through that tangled mess and waved his large hand. "Fine! Hesa, you handle it! If it really works, we'll spread it further!"

It worked! Horace Loux felt reassured.

As long as his brother agreed, the Great Runes system could quickly spread in the name of "necessary sacrifices for a golden future."

The tangible strength the warriors gained would make them gradually adapt to it, even depend on it, while their resentment over the long-term "burden" and lack of freedom imposed by the Great Runes would naturally fall on Marika, the "outsider" who had proposed the idea, and the "war" she had brought, rather than the chieftain or him, the one implementing it.

Even if they did not resent Marika, he would steer them toward her...

This was crucial to his subsequent plans.

"One more thing, Brother." Horace Loux struck while the iron was hot.

"Once war breaks out, the Land of Shadow is bound to fall into chaos. Our warriors will follow you on campaigns everywhere, but what about the tribe's elderly, women, and children? They can't keep up with forced marches or endure the brutality of the front lines."

Hoarah Loux's expression dimmed. This was also a proposal he had long prepared himself for.

"I think we should split our forces." Horace Loux spread out the crude leather map and pointed to the lakes of Liurnia.

"Send a detachment. I'll lead some warriors willing to stay behind and escort the old and weak here-to Liurnia. It's far from the future main battlefield, with lakes, water, a mild climate, and the Carian Royal Family and the True Magic Academy maintaining basic order. We can find somewhere on the outskirts to settle temporarily and establish a new settlement. That way, the warriors can fight on the front lines without worrying about those behind them, and the tribe's bloodline and traditions can be preserved. If... I mean if the front needs support or something unexpected happens, this place can also serve as a fallback and supply point."

"Split our forces? You want to take some of our people away?" Hoarah Loux frowned again.

"Not take them away. Protect them," Horace Loux corrected earnestly.

"Brother, your battlefield is at Marika's side, on the front lines of conquest and glory. Mine is preserving the tribe's seed and providing a stable rear for the front. We each have our role. Besides, Liurnia has the academy. I can try making contact and learning what they know. Knowledge is power too. Maybe it can help you in the future."

His final words moved Hoarah Loux, who was not surprised in the slightest.

His brother's intelligence was recognized throughout the tribe. If he could learn something useful at that academy or whatever it was, that would indeed benefit the tribe.

Besides, settling the old and weak was itself perfectly reasonable in Marika's eyes.

Marika watched the conflicted Hoarah Loux.

Hoarah Loux rubbed his head, putting on the appearance of someone sensing something was wrong.

He tried to boot up his brain.

But brain not responding.jpg.

Hoarah Loux knocked on his head and switched to giving up.

Marika felt he would trust his external brain unconditionally.

"...All right." Hoarah Loux finally nodded. His brother's reasons were impeccable.

"Pick your people and get ready as soon as possible. Plan the route and where you'll settle. Tell the storehouse keeper what supplies you need."

"I will." A great weight lifted from Horace Loux's heart.

The migration plan could finally be brought out into the open.

He looked at his brother, who was full of fighting spirit again and had begun discussing with Marika exactly which Hornsent stronghold to attack, then at Marika, who was still somewhat bewildered but trying hard to play her role as an "Empyrean," and silently added a plan known only to himself.

Education. We have to start educating people.

He was sick of being "the smartest person" among a crowd of illiterate and barely literate people.

Once they reached Liurnia and settled down, the first thing would be teaching those children to read, do arithmetic, and learn basic knowledge of nature.

The tribe's future could not depend on muscles and axes alone. It also needed what was inside their heads.

He turned, ready to leave the tent and begin preparations.