episode_0076

* * *

“That… … Is it true?”

“That’s right. The damage suffered by our troops is beyond words… … General Chell is also seriously injured.”

A record-breaking loss due to a judgment error by Chelbrans.

As a result of discovering Irene Juliette and continuing the battle with her… … Time dragged on at its own pace, and the entire army that had gone on a surprise attack without any time to retreat seemed to have suffered damage close to destruction.

Farfalle, who was informed of everything that had happened on the battlefield by a messenger who rushed over, had no choice but to collapse on the spot, her legs giving out as if she had been struck by lightning.

‘why… … This is what happened… … ?’

The operation was perfect.

Considering the enemy commander Epinel’s ‘will to advance into the Central Continent’, it was a surprise attack that I thought would definitely succeed… … Why did it fail?

Moreover, the scout said that he clearly confirmed that preparations for a memorial service were being made at the fortress.

The enemy was clearly trying to defend the fortress. If you weren’t sure that many troops would be there, why bother preparing for a memorial service?

‘why… … !’

at that time.

I don’t know why, but – an image of a young man with white hair flashed in Farfalle’s mind.

“Specifically… … I am asking whether you were thinking of a plan to make a secret pact with Mr. Charam and attack them simultaneously.”

“We must gather our forces in the north and invade Serpina’s territory.”

I don’t know how he found out, but when I think about it now, I think of Swen as a man who saw everything as if he was seeing the future.

The fact that that man is in Aceas County… … I suddenly felt goosebumps.

‘no way… … .’

no. Probably not.

Doesn’t that make sense? Because it was common sense that humans could not reach the level of foresight of everything.

Although he certainly has extraordinary abilities… … You can’t know everything… … That’s right… … ?

‘… … Let’s calm down.’

Farfalle stopped thinking about Swen.

Even if it were true that he knew everything and took advantage of us, I didn’t sit in my position as a government official to admire that man.

What happened happened, and it had to be fixed now.

‘If this happens, the southern front will be empty… … .’

If the troops from the west, who had been cleared, were returned to the south, the eastern front would be empty this time.

However, bringing in troops from the north was an unreasonable thief. Because it was a place that should never be left empty.

Right now, there is a truce agreement with the southern countries that share the border… … It’s just a fleeting moment, not enough to fill in new soldiers.

‘first… … Let’s calm down. We must inform the lord of the truth as soon as possible.’

After summarizing the current situation, Farfalle ordered the messenger in front of him to immediately report to Annell Castle.

First of all, it was important for Lord Rin to understand the current situation.

“Okay! I will make sure to tell you.”

So send a messenger.

Farfalle was troubled again.

‘What do we do? How do I… … ‘How can we overcome this crisis?’

to be honest.

It was Farfalle himself who planned this operation.

This meant that it was not the fault of Chell Brandsmann, who fell for provocation, in the ridiculously large failure.

Of course, it got to this point because Chell didn’t act as she had planned and took her time… … Nothing can be resolved by asking for responsibility now.

‘How should I…’ … What should I do?… … !’

No matter how many times I think about it and think about it again-

In the end, all possibilities boiled down to a very despairing reality.

Farfalle looked up at the dark sky and thought.

‘… … ‘Has heaven abandoned you, Lin?’

Although she was more wary than anyone else about talking about the will of heaven behind closed doors.

At this moment, I couldn’t help but think that way.

* * *

A few days later, a messenger sent by Farfalle arrived at Castle Agnel.

Failure of the surprise operation and defeat of Chelbrans.

Regarding the Aishus army, the number of soldiers lost so far is well over 80,000.

The betrayal of over 38,000 people. And, about 45,000 people were destroyed.

However, it was not possible to inflict any significant damage on the Aishous army.

Literally, wasn’t it just that the soldiers were taken away and they were killed like dogs?

Crack, cluck.

Rin bit his nails roughly.

Red blood was dripping from the tip of the fingernail.

‘Nonsense, nonsense, nonsense… … .’

The defeat and injury of Chell, the number one sword of Brans.

The decisive reason for the defeat was that Chell fell for provocation.

That too, of course… … To that woman I don’t even want to think about.

‘Irene Juliet… … !!!’

bang!

Rin hit the armrest of the throne hard with his fist.

Of course.

Here again, I got some water from Irene.

Not to anyone else, but to that disgusting red-haired dirty traitor!

‘Fuck, fucking, fucking, fucking, fucking…’ … !!!!!’

bang! bang! bang!

I pounded the armrest until my fist turned red, but of course it didn’t solve anything.

And only now has her reason as a monarch returned.

‘The soldier… … What do we do? There are only a few thousand soldiers on the southern border… … ?’

Lin hurriedly sent a messenger and ordered his subjects to think of a solution to the current situation.

A few hours later, an old man came to her.

“Master. Long time no see.”

The identity of this old man was Byron, an elderly man who served Lord Brans for two generations and was the former lord of Lacline Castle.

After resigning from his position as the lord of the castle, he retired from the front line and was engaged in leisurely pursuits. He then stopped by Anel Castle to give advice to Lin on the current situation.

“Byron. You probably heard the story, right?”

“That’s right. In my opinion, this is a very dangerous situation. I think you need to make a decision quickly.”

“Decision?”

“Right now, sign an armistice agreement of at least 3 years with the Aethus Army in exchange for handing over Rockline Castle. If the northern or southern part is breached, it will be over. In the east, as long as the Aceers army is alert, there will be a way out somehow.”

“… … .”

Rin was speechless and just stared into space.

Objectively, handing over Lacline Castle and signing an armistice for more than three years was likely to be the method that would cause the least damage.

Then, with the western forces, we will be able to somehow plug the southern part of the country.

but.

Bowing down to Acious-kun means-

For her, it was like bowing down to the unlucky Irene Juliet who fell under her.

I could never lose to her, not to anyone else.

You can never show yourself weak!

“What is the other way?”

“… … There may be a way to cause war by dividing the southern countries… … Honestly, I don’t know if it will work out. I don’t know if I’ll be given that much time.”

“Acous-kun, we can never give in to what they want… … Think of another way.”

“… … .”

After that, Byron left the palace without saying anything else.

Several of the central officials who came after that were also similar.

Everyone brought plausible opinions, but it didn’t feel like anything was coming together clearly.

okay.

Everyone has served our military for a long time.

He was less confident in his words than Swen, who was only a newbie.

Now that I think about it, Swen has always been confident in her words.

Even when we say that we need to send troops to the north, and even when we say that the Aethus army is trying to deceive our army by conniving with the Alefel army and the Charam army.

There was only once that what he said wasn’t right. The only time they said they had to build a fortress and attack the Aishous army was at the end.

Now that I think about it, it probably wasn’t his opinion.

Isn’t it obvious that this is Irene’s opinion?

Anyway, they both betrayed each other.

In the end, it turns around and it’s Irene.

Irene became angry again at the thought that Juliet was laughing at and belittling her.

“… … Ahhh!!!”

I screamed as hard as I could, but nothing was resolved.

Now never.

I will never be dragged around by that red-headed bitch.

“Miss Lin. My name is Irene Juliet. I will do my best to become a shield that protects the Brans family’s brats, including Lady Lin.”

From the moment of first meeting.

Lin didn’t like everything about her.

No matter what he did, he did it better than me, who has much nobler blood.

No matter what he did, he achieved better results than me, whose bloodline was much nobler.

No matter what she did, she was envied by people more than me, whose bloodline was much nobler.

Still, it didn’t matter.

If this continues, I will eventually be the one who reigns over that bitch.

But even though he finally ascended to the throne and became master-slave-

The thirst from her childhood continued to sink deep in her heart, unquenched.

‘Because it was going to end up like this… … !’

When I think about it now, I guess I felt an instinctive repulsion after realizing that I was destined to become a traitor.

She quickly became convinced and began rationalizing.

If she hadn’t been in the position of monarch, everyone would have known in the end that it was a disaster that she had brought about –

Tragically for her, she was a monarch.

There was not a single person in Brans County who could challenge Lin Brans’ authority.

“… … Hey.”

“Yes, four!”

Lin spoke to the soldier standing guard.

“Callinz Brans, who is on probation, is called in.”

“That… … Are you talking about Kalintz?”

“… … What are you doing by not loading it quickly?!”

Rin shouted nervously as he pulled out the sword that was lying next to him.

The soldier, completely frightened, barely managed to answer.

“Ah, ah, I understand!”

‘… … haha.’

Calinz Brans.

Although he had made a great mistake, he was the most trustworthy general now that Chell was wounded.

If you order him to defend Castle Rachline, he will be able to stop the Aishous army.

The southern countries… … okay. If peace were to be made in exchange for a castle, it would be better to do so with one of the southern countries.

If nothing else, since the territory is the price, they might even agree to go to war among themselves.

Doing so would make Brans County’s border a little more complicated, but I absolutely did not want to give anything up to Aethus County, where Irene existed.

‘are you okay. You just have to do it step by step. I’m Lynn Brans. He is the chosen one who is destined to unify this continent… … ! In the end, I have no choice but to win… … !’

When I thought about it that way, surprisingly, I felt like my angry heart calmed down a little.

okay. Just do it again step by step.

Even if we lose a little, even if we lose a few castles, isn’t this the central region that has been conquered once?

After some time.

Kalinz came over and knelt down.

“Master. Kalinz Brands, I have come to you under orders.”

“… … Oh, welcome. Brother Kalintz.”

Lin explained his plan to Kalinz in a calm tone.

The gist of it was this. I will entrust all of the troops in the western part of the country that have been cleared out, and they will defend Rockline Castle.

Although the troops themselves were a bit lacking, Lacline Castle had such a high level of defense that it was called a natural fortress.

A general as strong as Kalintz would definitely be able to block the attack of the Aishous army.

Meanwhile, let’s gather troops as quickly as possible.

You must conscript any local people you can find, and if you can get a mercenary group, you must pay any price to bring them in.

In the meantime, public sentiment may be slightly diminished, but if everything falls apart, it will be meaningless anyway.

“If you complete this mission properly, I will restore your brother’s honor. Let’s pretend that I haven’t made any mistakes so far.”

Kalintz spoke in a very serious tone.

“I, Kalinz Brans, have been waiting for this moment. This time, I will make sure to not disappoint my lord.”

Today, I felt especially reassured by Carlinz’s words.

Lin thought. The Brans family will overcome this crisis.

It would be possible to inflict such pain on Iren, who dared to betray the Brans family, that it would be painful to be alive –

That’s what I thought.

“Okay. good. Do you like it. I’m looking forward to it?”

After giving a rough order to Kalintz, he sent him away, sat down on the throne, and bit his nails again.

‘are you okay… … Nothing will happen, you can get through it… … !’

And, at that moment.

“Lord, lord… … !”

A soldier rushed into the throne room.

Lin, who was so sensitive because she was cornered so much, almost got annoyed for a moment… … When I saw the red armband clearly tied to the soldier’s arm, I froze and became speechless.

‘west… … no way… … .’

“Master. Serpina… … !”

Fate, which had already gone astray, did not wait for the leader who had already made several consecutive mistakes in judgment.

“There is information that he is leading about 98,000 troops and is marching towards Kelstein Castle… … !”

Rin probably didn’t want to admit it.

Starting from the moment when I truly tried to kill Irene Juliet-

The Brans Army, the loser of the central region, began to fall very quickly.