episode_0101

After hearing what I said, Yuuri tilted his head in confusion.

“Swen, are you going?”

“Yes.”

“Why? No, I don’t mind going, but… … Is there some reason?”

It’s a reason.

I can’t say that I’m curious as to what’s going on in my head, because it’s so intensely demanding my involvement.

At that time when I was thinking about a sentence to answer something.

An unexpected person helped me.

“Do as Swen wishes, my lord.”

“Zinor?”

“He is a general who is good at speaking and specializes in asking others for what they want. It is said that there is a record of achieving several major negotiations in the past. Since Serpina the Serpent is your opponent, there is no harm in sending her away.”

“Really? This is my first time hearing that.”

I don’t show any signs of surprise; I keep my head down as much as possible and maintain a sly expression.

To put it bluntly, what Jinor said was something he made up on the spot.

I have done the negotiation itself a few times. The achievements achieved while belonging to Luna’s military could be said to be good achievements in their own right.

But- I never told him what I had been doing.

So, it would be safe to say that he is saying a mantra using appropriate words to help me.

No matter how much it was just a remark, his current title as ‘National Trickster’ and his past background as ‘Prime Minister of the Empire’ made it very plausible.

“Umm… … If Jinor says so. Lutz, I’ll have Swen do it for you this time, so I think you can finish the mission you were working on. Are you okay?”

“… … Is there any possibility? I will carry out your orders.”

Lutz answered with a slightly regretful look, then looked slightly in my direction.

Maybe he thinks he missed an opportunity to make a contribution?

I felt that his gaze wasn’t that kind, but I just let it go.

You won’t get the best results if you go anyway.

Rather, I wish you would thank me.

The opponent was no one else but Serpina. Wouldn’t she be the kind of woman who could just rip off the head of a Shinigami?

“In that case, Swen. As a messenger, I would like you to contact Serpina-kun.”

I bowed my waist and expressed my respect.

“I will make sure to bring satisfactory results to my lord.”

“Yes.”

Yuuri closed his eyes for a moment, then stood up from his throne and looked down at our faces.

“… … Everyone, thank you for coming together this time despite the sudden summons. We, Aceers, never abandon our families. Just as I am doing my best to save Anima right now, you are all precious family to me. I hope you don’t forget that fact and concentrate on your work until you are called. Got it?”

“”Yes! I will keep this in mind!””

The short meeting came to an end when the soldiers’ answers were heard.

“Swen. You can take a break for a while until I call you later.”

“Yes.”

So many people left the royal castle.

As I came out of the throne room, Irene spoke to me.

“Swen. Do you have any plans?”

“Plan?”

“When you want to step forward like this, it’s when you have a plan in place.”

It’s a plan.

There are only predictions, no specific plans.

There is no need to hide that fact from Iren.

“Just bump into it. Because sometimes the path opens only when we collide.”

“Is that so?”

Irene smiled slightly after hearing what I said.

It was the same smile that had supported me until now.

Her red side hair was slightly flowing, framing her white face nicely.

“Okay. I trust you, Swen. I’m worried because Serpina’s rumors are not good… … I think I can do well.”

“… … .”

Instead of answering, I gently held her hand.

“… … !”

Is it because we suddenly held hands?

She slowly looked at me with a surprised expression and then-

Within… … Accept my touch.

“Are you going to the barracks? I’ll take you there.”

“Ah? eww… … Yes.”

After saying that, he lowers his head with a red face.

When you look at her like this, she really is a really cute girl.

It made me wonder what on earth Lynn Brans didn’t like about this woman so much.

at that time.

“Sorry for disturbing you.”

I turned my head when I heard the man’s voice, and before I knew it, Jinor was behind me.

Irene let go and immediately bowed.

“Hello, Mr. ”

“Hmm. General Irene. There’s something I’d like to talk to you about for a moment, can you spare some time?”

Irene looked at me slightly.

I nodded slowly without saying a word, and she easily realized what my actions meant.

“Okay. Then please excuse me first. Swen, I’ll see you later.”

It’s a bit unfortunate that we can’t go together, but there’s nothing we can do.

“Yes. See you later.”

So Irene left first.

Instead of her, I walked slowly to the outside of the castle, following Jinor’s steps.

“Thank you for your help just now. To be honest, I had no idea how to persuade him.”

“I helped you because I thought that was what you wanted, but… … Do you have something on your mind?”

As I said nothing, Jinor nodded slowly.

“It seems like you have seen a future that you have to go to yourself.”

“Are you like that again?”

“The results of the negotiations will tell us whether it is a mistake or not. Unless you go in person. Isn’t it?”

Jinor raised the corners of his mouth as he said that.

Rather than respond further, I chose to just keep my mouth shut.

It was difficult to understand his true abilities by adding unnecessary words.

It was helpful to me to misunderstand just this level.

Jinor didn’t say anything more, probably because he didn’t want to offend me.

Instead, he spoke about a slightly different topic.

“Good longevity.”

“Yes?”

“I’m talking about General Irene.”

Jinor said, looking in the direction where Irene turned.

“It is common among soldiers to praise her personality. When you become a national officer, you have no choice but to know what kind of evaluation the generals are receiving in the field, even if you don’t want to. Even in the case of Emma, who was very prestigious in Aceh County, she was not praised to that extent. It seems she truly succeeded in winning the hearts of the soldiers.”

“Well, you are someone who always works hard. A person who treats soldiers with sincerity, does not regret his life when going into battle, and is loyal to his master.”

“Is that why?”

“Yes?”

I suddenly wondered what he was talking about, so I turned my head and looked at him.

“I mean, I was chosen by you.”

“… … Yes?”

“Swen, who will be your first wife.”

“… … .”

I looked at him, momentarily speechless.

He spoke with a serious tone throughout, as if he didn’t know why I was reacting this way.

“Was I wrong? No matter how you look at it, it looks that way. Don’t you guys already live in the same place?”

“… … That’s true, but.”

“In that case, it would be the same as deciding to merge. Surely you’re not saying you don’t have any thoughts?”

I have no idea… … la.

no.

He was right.

It’s not like Iren is here… … There’s no need to hide it.

“As Jinor said, I have Irene in my heart.”

“I see. The person who will become your wife will also be the person who will become your sword and shield to protect you.”

“In that case, yes, but… … Well, it’s just something I have in mind unilaterally.”

“Swen.”

Jinor hears what I say and immediately looks straight into my eyes.

“A woman doesn’t make that kind of expression towards someone she doesn’t like.”

“Yes?”

“I saw it from behind. General Irene smiling at you. That was the look of a person in love.”

“… … .”

When I heard those words, the smile of the woman I had just met came to mind.

It was definitely a very lovely face.

If it is true that that face contains love… … Does Irene also care about me?

“No, more than that, why are you suddenly saying this?”

“Well, it’s an old man’s whim. The older you get, the less interesting things in life become. And.”

Jinor smiled lightly and looked at me.

“Sword and shield are good, but I also want to tell you that it wouldn’t be better to have an additional person by your side who uses magic like you.”

“Now you’re talking so blatantly.”

“What do you have to hide now? If I become a family member with you, then General Irene also becomes my relative. Although her training may be lacking compared to General Irene, my daughter will be able to be of help to you. Of course, he has a true nature that allows him to help you. How about thinking positively?”

“Zinor.”

“What is it?”

“Were you always like this?”

“Hot!”

When Jinor heard what I said, he laughed for a while again, slapped me on the back a few times, and walked ahead.

“No matter what you thought of me, I’m just a weak old man who doesn’t want to deal with you. Then excuse me.”

After I stood there and saw that Jinor had disappeared-

I sighed softly.

Really, you don’t know anything about a person until you meet them in person.

Lunariendo, Rindo, and Yuuri.

Iren, Reika, and even Jinor.

Information about them. their age. Even if you know their abilities a hundred times over… … Until you meet them, it’s like you don’t know them.

So, maybe I… …

‘You might not know anything about Serpina either.’

With that thought in mind, I left the royal castle.

* * *

The royal castle of Hispil Castle.

“The repair work on the castle wall is complete, my lord.”

Serpina, sitting in the castle lord’s seat, looked satisfied as she listened to the castle lord Yuan’s report.

“Thank you for your hard work. I would like you to inform all the generals who were assigned to the work so that they can each carry out their original duties.”

“Yes, I understand!”

Just as Yuan was about to leave.

“Wait.”

“Please speak, my lord.”

“What is the current situation of the captured prisoners?”

“You are talking about Anima Ingram. Well, the situation is the same. Keep your mouth shut and say nothing.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I heard that you tried to appease me a few times, asking if you would like to serve my lord… … He said he didn’t eat and kept silent.”

“… … .”

Is this something like a silent protest?

Well, they probably hate me.

Because I hate you, you may have stepped into the trap I set for you.

It would be difficult if I continued to eat and died.

It was not because his life was precious, but because it was not a very efficient method to just kill the captured prisoners.

“Yuan.”

“Yes.”

“Guide me to the dungeon.”

“Are you planning to interrogate him directly?”

“Yes.”

Yuan bowed his waist and answered loudly.

“Yes, I understand! Please come this way.”

“… … .”

After Serpina got up from her seat-

Following Yuan, I walked towards the prison where Anima was being held.