episode_0107

“It’s a game?”

“Yes.”

Serpina looked at me with her chin resting, then snorted and said.

“Interesting. How dare you bring up the word ‘victory’ to me? Even if you don’t know the topic, it’s surprising.”

“It’s a topic. If you do this, you will be in trouble. When you said you wanted me, did you just say it out of curiosity?”

Although I was facing Serpina with the most relaxed expression I could muster.

She spoke in a very cold tone, without any emotional fluctuations.

“Do you truly believe that she needs to compete with you to get you?”

“Yes.”

From the moment I first brought up the word “win,” I had no intention of losing to her.

I don’t know if it was my prediction, but fortunately, my words and actions didn’t seem to have made Serpina feel uncomfortable so far.

“Jeong: In that case, I will listen to it once. What do you plan to compete with?”

“Well, I think it would be better to see it as closer to a bet rather than a game.”

The exact moment I was about to start explaining.

Serpina looks into my eyes and raises the corners of her mouth again.

For a brief moment, I was almost captivated by that smile, but I barely managed to shake it off.

How amazing is it that you can be so beautiful just by having your lips shaped like a half moon?

“However, there is a condition. Since I am in a position to listen to your objections, I have no choice but to act in opposition as well.”

“What are the conditions?”

“Nothing much. Just one.”

Serpina crossed her legs and spoke as if giving a sentence.

“I have no intention of sending you back from here. So that whether it is a match or a bet, it can be decided directly here.”

“… … .”

Sheesh.

First of all, there was some composure on his face as if he were claiming, ‘That’s the expected range, right?’, but to be honest, it was like being attacked at a pinpoint.

I tried to make up some excuse to run away, but it looks like he has no intention of doing so.

But if there is one thing that becomes somewhat clear from this –

Maybe I should stay in Serpina County.

Basically, my ‘prediction’ reflected the position of my country.

In other words, it was a way for me to predict the most efficient method from the perspective of my master, Yuuri.

However, that does not mean that my position was not reflected at all.

At least the fact that I would not be in a dangerous situation if I acted as predicted was already proven the day the meteorite fell.

Let’s calculate backwards from there.

From Yuuri’s point of view, sending a general and retrieving Anima instead of Rakline Castle… … Was it calculated to be efficient?

Some might say, ‘A general with 100 intellect would be more valuable than a territory,’ but in the end, longevity only shines when the monarch is trustworthy.

ATHERS County was a country where the influence of the early founding members was stronger than any other country, and at least as a result of my experience as a member of ATHERS County for quite a long time –

‘There’s a good chance she won’t use me too seriously.’

Even Jinor, who has a great reputation, is unable to move.

When I wondered if Yuuri would listen to my opinion when Epinel and I had different opinions, the answer came quickly.

Regardless of whether the intelligence was 100 or other stats were high, in the end, if you didn’t use it, it was just a fancy decoration.

At least when I look at my existence calmly, considering that I am a human being who is less important than Anima to Yuuri-

The results of the prediction made some sense.

Once you had a hypothesis, it was time to take action.

If I’m right – Serpina will accept my offer.

I looked up at her beautiful face and spoke with more confidence than ever before.

“Try to make a deal with my lord.”

“Tell me in detail.”

“Instead of releasing Anima Ingram, please suggest handing over my new recruit to Mistress Serpina.”

After hearing what I said, Serpina looked down at me with bored eyes.

“Why is that a match for the ruling party?”

“If our lord accepts the proposal, Serpina will win. On the other hand, if your lordship insists that the terms are unacceptable, then it is my victory. This establishes a match. If I win, just let me go. If I lose-”

After lowering his head for a moment, he slowly lifted it again and looked straight into her golden eyes.

“I will serve Serpina.”

After hearing what I said, she thought for a moment and then nodded.

“… … It’s definitely more like a bet than a game. Then the next question is: What on earth does that mean? I say this because when I hear that story, I don’t feel the need to engage in such a cumbersome and meaningless competition. If I lock you up, won’t you become mine someday?”

“What a meaningless competition. In fact, Serpina will have more to gain from this match than I will.”

Serpina wriggled her eyebrows after hearing what I said.

“I’ll give it to you once you hear it.”

“First of all, didn’t you just say you wanted to get me? But you will gain nothing by capturing me and imprisoning me. The cause and my loyalty. If I were to be locked up, my heart might be broken, but no, before that-”

“I would like to dare say that there is a high possibility that you will not be able to easily put me in prison. You may succeed in the end, but you will probably have a lot to lose.”

“He’s proposing a fight because he likes what he says, but considering he’s pleading for his life in the end, he’s pretty confident. Forbearance is not courage.”

“It’s not a bluff. My guard warrior is quite strong.”

“My subjects will have subdued that side by now, so it would be better to stop hoping.”

“I will return your words exactly as they were. They are not the type of people to be suppressed in a place like this.”

“Hoo.”

Serpina smiled again.

I’m treating her with the mindset that I will never lose… … Apparently, it was the same for her too.

“I will praise you for being able to say that in front of me. okay. Please bring up the story.”

“But, if you defeat me in a match, it will be a different story. You will not have to waste unnecessary manpower and time suppressing my bodyguards, you will be able to avoid rumors that you are a senseless monarch who takes envoys as prisoners, and ultimately, you will be able to win my heart without difficulty. Since I was the one who suggested the match and I was the one who decided what kind of match we would play, wouldn’t it make sense to serve Serpina, who naturally took advantage of the situation when I lost?”

“… … .”

“It’s embarrassing to tell you directly, but Serpina has probably heard rumors about me. I don’t know exactly why you want me, but I can’t help but tell you that getting my sincerity will be the only way for you to use me in various ways.”

It wouldn’t have been difficult for her to have guessed that there was a hidden meaning in the north that there was no benefit in antagonizing those who called meteorites.

Serpina sat with her legs crossed in silence for a while, looking at my face.

It gave the impression of a very beautiful statue.

As a person, if you have a beautiful appearance beyond a certain limit, it will inevitably have an effect on those who see it.

Right now, I almost thought to myself, ‘Is that really such a beautiful woman the tyrant Serpina?’

If I had never met her in my dreams, I would 100% think that way.

“If the conversation is over, it would be okay to ask questions.”

“Please tell me anything.”

“As you said, I understand well what you get when you win a game. Well, I guess I’ll have to give in 100 times. But then, I can’t help but ask. What do you gain from this fight? I won’t say that I’m just afraid of the dungeon.”

“Is there anything else besides that?”

I lowered my head and shook it for a moment, then raised my head again and spoke in a sly tone.

“Who would enjoy being locked up in prison? Well, aside from that, if there is anything I gain-”

Is the game decided now?

The die was thrown anyway, and I had to move forward.

“Isn’t it just about being able to find out who the lord you need to serve is?”

“… … !”

“If I lose this match, it means that my master Yuuri sold me into the middle of the enemy country. Naturally, I come to the conclusion that he is not a lord worthy of my service. In such a situation, there would be no reason why I should not attend Serpina. However, if I win this match – Yuuri-sama will not be sacrificing me, who was dispatched as an envoy. As you know, the turbulent times are deepening. Don’t you think that just being able to find out my lord’s true intentions is of sufficient benefit to me?”

Yes.

Anima Ingram is probably a woman more important to Yuuri than any other general.

Even though she hated Serpina so much, she tried to negotiate by giving her as much gold as she could.

If I give up that woman and choose me, I will be able to get out of this place safely.

What if you give up on me?

Then there will be no need to leave this place. Whether it is Serpina County or Aethius County, the place I will arrive is Lunarien County. In the end, it didn’t matter which country I would pass through.

Of course, if it were like before, I might have thought, ‘But Serpina-kun is a bit different’, but-

‘There must be something to it, as Serpina keeps appearing in my dreams and I also have unknown memories of her.’

It didn’t seem like a bad choice to stay by her side to figure out what was vague in my mind and didn’t even feel like my memory.

Isn’t that why the brain with 100 intelligence sent me here in the first place?

I faced Serpina’s gaze directly at me without avoiding it even once.

She was silent for a while, then carefully removed her lips.

“I understand. I will compete with you according to your will. I definitely feel like doing that is the fastest way to bring you to your knees.”

“Thank you for your wise decision.”

at that time.

Murmurs began to be heard outside the royal palace.

Apparently, my guard had caused a commotion.

“… … .”

“Please send me. I will calm you down and come back.”

Serpina, who heard me, did not reply.

I looked at her like that… … I’m experiencing something truly strange.

For some reason… … I felt like I had some idea of what she was thinking.

It’s definitely the first time I’m seeing this person, but it made me feel like we’ve been working together for quite some time.

anyway.

I couldn’t shake the thought that now she seemed to be agreeing with what I said.

“… … I’ll be back then.”

Serpina didn’t do anything to stop me as I got up and went out without much response.

… … What on earth is this déjà vu?

With that in mind, I went to clear up the commotion outside-

The match between me and Serpina has begun.