Chapter 241: [241] Ten Strategists of the Martial Temple

Words : 1377 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

Chapter 241 - [241] Ten Strategists of the Martial Temple Roman Empire, Pisa. In the commander's tent, a general with crimson eyes slowly opened his own. His snow-white hair did not convey a sense of aging—on the contrary, the aura surrounding him was chilling to the bone. "Soldier." The man casually summoned the Roman sentry stationed outside. "What is the current situation? A brief summary will suffice." "Yes!" The young soldier, agile in his movements, stepped forward and reported, "We set up camp here last night. It is now midday of the second day." Only half a day had passed? He had spent a full three days in the magical girl world! The man—Sakatsuki, who had just "woken up"—pondered this thoughtfully. "Little Ming?" [Additional explanation: The flow of time across different dimensions is not parallel. Each operates under its own rules, fluctuating within a certain baseline.] "Understood. So the time ratio between the two worlds isn't fixed?" [Correct.] With this clarification, Sakatsuki turned his attention to the young soldier before him, recalling the knowledge he had crammed about the Roman military during his spare time in the magical girl world. Roman soldiers were divided into four types: 1. Velites (Light Infantry): The youngest, most agile, but least trained. 2. Hastati: Slightly older, more experienced. 3. Principes: Around thirty years old, mature, resilient, and the backbone of the army. 4. Triarii: The oldest, most seasoned veterans. Additionally, there were mercenaries from other regions—Balearic slingers, Aegean archers—often paired with the Velites for combat. This knowledge made the current situation glaringly obvious: First, while the adorable Emperor Nero had claimed to be using the legion to "supervise" Sakatsuki, this was merely her way of transferring military authority. During the handover, she had personally draped the crimson cloak of the Legatus Augusti (Imperial Legate)—the symbol of supreme command—over his shoulders in front of all the officers. Second, fearing his disappearance might be noticed, Sakatsuki, as the supreme commander, had ordered no guards to be stationed outside his tent before leaving. Yet upon his return, there they were. Finally, the sentry was a Velites—the weakest fighters in the legion. Rather than protection, this felt more like surveillance. "An outsider appointed as Legate... So the nobility and the Senate are resisting, huh?" Sakatsuki murmured with a faint smirk. During Nero's Principate, the supreme commander of the army was no longer the Consul but the Princeps (First Citizen). However, not every Princeps led campaigns personally, so the Legatus Augusti—appointed by the Emperor to govern imperial provinces—became the de facto military leader. A Legate with direct military authority, personally appointed by Augustus (Nero), was effectively the "Emperor's Proxy," answering only to the highest power in Rome. For Sakatsuki—a foreign Servant—to be elevated to such a position overnight was an unprecedented leap. And precisely because of this... The legion's original commander must be seething with resentment. In the Augustan era, legion and Praetorian officers were exclusively drawn from the Senatorial and Equestrian orders. Common soldiers could rise no higher than Centurion—only nobles and knights were eligible for high-ranking positions. A Legate like Sakatsuki, directly appointed by the Emperor, was undoubtedly stepping on someone's toes—likely the former commander of this legion. The two Velites stationed outside his tent were a blatant provocation: If he could defy orders today, he could lead a mutiny tomorrow and overthrow this "puppet" Legate. "...Nero, Nero. You've really handed me a thorny problem." With an irreverent sigh, Sakatsuki stepped out of the tent. Though the army had only arrived in Pisa half a day ago, trenches had already been dug around the camp, the excavated earth piled against the palisade to reinforce it. Thousands of soldiers, led by their Centurions, were lining up to receive rations of bread, lard, and salted meat from the quartermasters. Upon spotting Sakatsuki, they immediately set down their meals and saluted. After generations of refinement, the legions of the Augustan era had become highly professionalized, with meticulous standards for every aspect of campaigning. "Legate!" A scout Sakatsuki had dispatched earlier hurriedly swallowed his bread and jogged over. The white-haired youth waved casually, signaling him to follow. "Your name, soldier?" "Vadim Rosario, sir!" The man—a former Praetorian under Nero who had voluntarily demoted himself to serve as a scout under Sakatsuki—struck his chest in salute, barely concealing the fanaticism in his eyes. "Then, Rosario, I look forward to your report." "At once!" After a brief circuit of the camp—enough to send a clear message—Sakatsuki returned to his tent with Rosario. Meanwhile, news of the Legate's awakening and his meeting with the scout quickly reached a certain someone at the far end of the camp. *** "I traveled north along the Mediterranean coast. Before the stars faded, I spotted enemy ships and a makeshift camp by the shore. Then, venturing inland at dawn, I followed their supply train and discovered a second stronghold hidden within a village." Rosario unfurled two roughly sketched maps as he spoke. "The first camp was lightly guarded, so I gathered detailed intelligence. But the second was heavily patrolled—I couldn't get close. I could only estimate its layout. My apologies." "No matter. You've done well." To Sakatsuki's surprise, Rosario's eyes blazed with fervor. "Thank you for your praise, Legate!" "...Right." Sakatsuki suppressed a twitch at the dark circles under the man's eyes and his zealous expression. His Spirit Origin was, after all, derived from a legendary general. After briefly leading Nero's Praetorians, dozens had voluntarily resigned their elite posts to serve as common legionaries under him. And these weren't just any soldiers—they were men of distinguished birth or unparalleled merit, the very best of Rome's military! The reason wasn't some overwhelming charisma, but a skill embedded in his Spirit Origin: [Ten Strategists of the Martial Temple: A] As one enshrined in the Martial Temple, this Avenger was a figure of reverence and dread—a fusion of strategic brilliance and battlefield command condensed into a passive, ever-active skill. This skill combined the standard abilities of tactician-type Servants: "Tactician's Command" and "Tactician's Advice"—the very talents that forced a certain Zhuge Liang into perpetual overtime. The former analyzed battle conditions to provide advantageous guidance; the latter maximized the combat potential of all soldiers under his command. At Rank A, the unified skill [Ten Strategists of the Martial Temple] was borderline brainwashing. Any legion under Sakatsuki's leadership would rapidly develop fanatical loyalty—especially after he led a ragtag force to crush a superior enemy in a decisive victory. Clearing his throat awkwardly, Sakatsuki studied the scout's maps. "Camp One by the shore, and Camp Two hidden in the village. How many enemies would you estimate are stationed at each?" "Based on tent counts, Camp One holds around 500. Camp Two has roughly 2,000." "I see..." Sakatsuki frowned. Logically, if the United Roman Empire—the faction under Lev Uvall (Grand Bomber)—was transporting troops by sea, they had two options: 1. Establish a fortified beachhead with overwhelming numbers to repel Roman counterattacks, then methodically expand their foothold to stretch Nero's forces thin. 2. Disperse immediately after landing, using mobility and stealth to infiltrate key cities, preparing for a future pincer attack when the main force arrived. But 500 men at the beachhead? Even if they chose the first strategy, this was a pitifully small garrison. Did the United Roman Empire truly believe a single Cohort could hold the line? Not even the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae had held back the Persian tide forever! Then it hit him. Sakatsuki stared at his hands, realizing a terrifying possibility. "Dispatch orders. The First Cohort (over 2,000 men) is to prepare for departure this afternoon. We march on the enemy's second stronghold. Also, send—" "I object!" A voice dripping with defiance cut him off. The tent flap was thrown open as a man in scaled armor—radiating martial pride—strode in, meeting Sakatsuki's gaze without flinching. "Why ignore the enemy's landing point? Have you forgotten Emperor Nero's command?!" *** Hey readers! Want to read ahead? ???? Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance Chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster. ????/aarvan????

Chapter 241: [241] Ten Strategists of the Martial Temple

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