JANUS

It has been over a week since we left Bohemia, Figaro should be within reach by now. The battle should have started already, so all we can offer is some relief.

I wonder if Alec saw the same path to victory that I did? Doesn’t matter, not until I get there myself.

However, as my soldiers marched onwards to the fateful city, something caused me to stop. Off in the distance, just above the horizon, I saw an unnatural object floating in the air. I used a telescope to inspect it further, confirming my fears. It’s a balloon, famously used by the Kythereans as an observation platform.

And if I can see them, then they can see me.

That left me with no other choice, and so I quickly rallied my soldiers to form a file. I have no idea how big the enemy is, so I’ll just have to make do with a balanced formation. Judging by the distance, we should meet by noon. They intend to stop me here, and I intend to push through them.

MUSE

Riding on a balloon has always terrified me. Fears run through my head - of falling, of the balloon popping, of the messy death that I’ll suffer. However, I cannot deny the advantages of riding on one as a commander. It provides me a wide field of view, allowing me to see farther than my soldiers down below. Allowing me to see the enemy far away from us.

Janus’ army, just as reported, was quite small. Judging from this distance, I should outnumber him 2 to 1. This is gonna be an easy victory, if I do say so myself.

He must’ve noticed my balloon, as his soldiers shifted into battle positions at some point. Doesn’t matter, he’ll have to assault my position anyways.

I positioned my units to ambush him if he ever gets too close, with my cannons as far front as I could manage so they can start raining fire as soon as he gets in range. Once I saw him go wide, I ordered my soldiers to do the same so as to not give him any inch.

It was about noon when he got in range, after which I ordered my artillery to begin their barrage. The slaughter has begun and there’s nothing Janus could do to stop it.

As they advanced further despite the heavy barrage, I ordered my slingshot unit to begin losing their “EXPLODE” stones, further intensifying the barrage. The constant fire tore through the Lorrainean army. By this point, I’d imagine a quarter of them has fallen to my onslaught. Even if they make it out of this alive, they still won’t have a shot at changing the outcome at Figaro.

Not that I have any intentions of letting them go anyways.

JANUS

I didn’t have time. I ordered my soldiers to charge blindly into what I knew would be a slaughter, but it was the only way I could win this - not when the enemy knows every move I make and I know none of them.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

This way, I can change the dynamic. I pulled her attention towards my incoming army and removed it from my actual forward force. The rain of fire and explosion that befell the bulk of my army had devastating results, but this is the only way I can win…

Slowly, my forward force of 2000 soldiers made their way to the flank of the enemy army, positioning ourselves such that they can’t see us unless they look for us specifically. However, with all eyes on the mainshow, no one paid any attention to me.

What an inexperienced commander.

As soon as I got my soldiers in an ideal position, I ordered my cavalry to charge straight at the enemy flank. They ran their forces as fast as they could, eventually reaching the target without so much as a head noticing them.

The slaughter is now on our side.

With the initial charge successful, I ordered the rest of my soldiers to attack, charging straight at the path created by the cavalry. Our actions caused chaos and confusion among the enemy ranks, causing them to panic and haphazardly form a defensive wall to stop our advance. Big mistake, I thought.

Their commander sat high up in a balloon, using a radio to deliver her commands. As soon as her eyes fell on my side of the battle, I knew my little gamble had won the day.

The enemy turned to face us and, in so doing, disrupted the sustained fire on the bulk of my army, allowing part of them to advance. Soon, they were upon the rest of the artillery and slingshot units and, once those were out of the picture, everything else became trivial. The remaining enemies were trapped between me and the bulk of my army. Plenty of them deserted, and many more died in the middle of a new maelstrom.

The commander herself was left stuck high up in her balloon, unable to do anything but watch as I took her certain victory for myself.

MUSE

The battle was over. I lost… completely lost.

Janus is more of a monster than I could have ever predicted… and I lost. The 15,000 soldiers at my command were either killed, deserted, or captured by a mere 8,000.

These are the thoughts that raced through my head as Janus and his army were pulling my balloon down to the ground. I’m now their prisoner, and there’s nothing I can do about it.

“Oh?” Janus said, amused at something. “I was sure they’d at least send Alexia after me, but you?”

What a jerk… but then again, I fell for his trap through and through. “My Lady is busy with more important matters. Delaying you here is my job, and in that I’ve succeeded.”

“Is that so? Then why look so gloomy, Muse?”

“Hmph! None of your concern, pig.”

“Fine, fine…”

It probably didn’t matter to him at all whether I was telling the truth or not. He would still proceed with utmost caution either way. I’ve faced him for some time when under the command of Lady Alexia, but… he’s completely different now. It’s not only the commander of Figaro that’s a genius of warfare, but this guy too. Still…

“There’s no way you’ll beat my lady. She’s better than you’ll ever be, in war or otherwise!”

“Really now?” he flashed a mischievous smile. Ah, I really hate this guy. “Well, let’s ask Alexia herself once I got her in chains, then? Besides, my champion won’t fall easily to her subpar talents. For now, let’s just enjoy each other’s company like the old days, alright?”