Another year had passed. Vonn still hadn't earned the worth he was aiming for, but he already saw opportunity rising each day. Relentless, he wasn't going to accept this doomed reincarnation.
"Ah… Young master, that is wrong. You shouldn't do that." The old tutor raised an eyebrow in thought, studying Vonn's suggestion as he presented a scenario. "Dividing your power like that will make your infantry struggle. The cavalry should always be hidden from view, not placed in public."
Vonn stared deeply at the 3D model of the terrain and soldier blocks. Without pausing, he pointed to the hill sections of the battlefield. His men faced a thousand soldiers, while he had only half that number and ten cavalrymen.
"Teacher, in a battlefield, no one can see everything—not even our men. That's why, with a small number of soldiers, it's crucial to divide them, rather than face a thousand enemies, depending solely on our men's strength."
The tutor stayed silent, letting Vonn share his thoughts. For some reason, he was intrigued by the confidence in Vonn's voice, his lack of hesitation. It was as if he had already envisioned this.
Unbeknownst to him, Frain had already faced many wars, from his days as a novice warlord until he became one. Vonn used these memories as leverage, aiming to earn recognition as a strategist in the Silverfein family.
"This infantry," he continued, focusing on the line he created, "and the enemy packed in squares, will press forward. They won't expect our men in the center to fall back while the five cavalry on each side move forward. The cavalry will draw the enemy commander's attention, but will they really be visible? In the heat of battle, with dust obscuring the battlefield? And do our cavalry need to take a longer route when they are crucial to turning the tide?"
The tutor nodded, realizing he had almost forgotten to account for real scenarios on the battlefield. He couldn't help but smirk at Vonn's sharp reasoning, impressed by the thoughtfulness behind his strategy.
"We have a small number of soldiers. Let's say the enemy spots our cavalry—they would likely divide their forces and move to higher ground to locate them. But they won't find any, as our troops on the flanks will encircle the enemy. The enemy will fall into a trap, with no space to maneuver, while our men strike at their back lines."
The tutor's jaw nearly dropped. 'This kid… he understands how his strategy would work in this terrain. He knows his outnumbered soldiers can still turn the tide, even in a disadvantageous situation. Even without physical strength, his mental prowess is exceptional. Underestimating him would be a mistake.'
Vonn observed his tutor's expression, sensing the impact of his plan. Even if it was flawed and situational, lacking the precise realism of a true battle, it was still remarkable for a kid his age. 'How about that? A five-year-old planning a battle setup. Will he report this to my mother? Hopefully, he'll see I have potential, even if it's borrowed from Frain's memories. Maybe I could still pass as a genius, right?'
Meanwhile, the tutor was still deep in thought, impressed by the quality of Vonn's strategy. 'It would be a waste if his talent isn't nurtured early. This level of insight isn't ordinary. If other kids' physical skills are intimidating, then the second young master's mind is just as formidable. He's a rare talent.'
The tutor had seen how quickly Vonn grasped arithmetic and even literature, easily recalling details. Of course, he didn't know Vonn had learned them from a novel, but he was astonished by the ease with which Vonn remembered them.
'I can't let this talent go to waste. I'll support this kid and see how far he can go,' he thought, looking determined.
Seeing the tutor's expression, Vonn felt a surge of excitement. He had succeeded in winning the tutor's favor.
The tutor smiled at Vonn. "Let's continue our session tomorrow. I'll prepare a larger model so we can simulate historical battles. You're a genius, young master, and it seems you have a real interest in this."
Vonn, his small frame radiating determination, nodded. "I understand, teacher. But next time, can I expect a reward?"
"A reward?" The tutor raised an eyebrow.
"Yes! I've read that loyalty is stronger when rewarded." Vonn declared confidently. "Not that I'm basing my loyalty on rewards, but I think my family should include the basics. Don't you agree, teacher?"
The tutor paused, then nodded. "You have a point. I'll make a request to the matriarch about it. But don't expect it right away. I'll do my best."
Vonn smiled broadly. 'Seems he's warming up to me.'
As soon as the tutor left, Vonn hurried to his backyard. He sat in a lotus position, meditated briefly, and opened his eyes, glowing with a yellow hue.
A grin spread across his face. "Thank you, Frain and Noire."
Since last year, Vonn had been searching for ways to merge with his souls. After countless attempts, he'd finally made contact, unlocking Frain and Noire's powers as a mage and exorcist in this world.
"How about trying these powers?"
This was Vonn's first opportunity to access them. No longer concerned about lacking mana, he could draw from his exorcist reserves. Even more, he had learned to absorb mana from his surroundings, bypassing the need for a Mana Heart, which he didn't possess.
He snapped his fingers, and blue flames ignited above them. Staring at the flames with excitement, he murmured, "This is it. My power! Just wait, Diana… soon, I'll have my worth recognized!"
The blue flames flickered, casting an eerie glow across Vonn's focused expression. He rotated his hand slowly, watching the fire follow his command, bending and twisting with each subtle movement of his fingers. Testing its weightlessness, he extended the flame forward, feeling the pull of energy within him that connected him to the blaze.
With a small grin, Vonn pushed the flames higher, willing them to spiral. The fire curled into a thin, controlled coil, forming a burning loop above his hand. "Even better. I don't need to worry about lacking power. But I still need to chisel my plans with precision."