episode_0257

A very firm word from Jinor.

Luna remained silent without answering, and then carefully removed her lips.

“… … Is that so?”

“Yes. I don’t think I’ll ever win.”

90,000 to 200,000 people.

No matter how advantageous the defense was in a water-based battle, it was not easy to win with more than twice the number of troops.

Moreover, the enemy will definitely bring siege weapons, and if they come to intercept from this side… … Our soldiers, who are already at a disadvantage, have no choice but to be divided into two.

Tifa, the commander-in-chief, was a general who used some strength in her own way, but she was not an outstanding general with the ability to turn the tide of the war on her own, like Hernandorf, Emma, and Epinel in the Aishous Army.

Tepelo Castle was a place with a high degree of defense, but-

It wasn’t like there was an ambush nearby or there was terrain that could surprise the enemy.

Moreover, in a situation where there is such a difference in forces, if you launch a surprise attack and fail, you will inevitably suffer a huge blow, so the fact that a sit-in is ultimately the best remains unchanged.

No matter how many times I think about it.

With his talents, he couldn’t come up with an innovative strategy to overcome this situation.

I don’t think I’ll ever win… …

Luna thought about those words for a while, then looked at Jinor and asked.

“You are saying that this is a judgment made based on information known to Jinor, right?”

“Yes.”

“Let me ask you one thing. This battle is one that our military has no place to avoid, right?”

After hearing Luna’s words, Jinor thought for a moment and quickly answered.

“There is no place to run to, so for our military, this is a battle that must be fought.”

“Then it’s okay.”

Luna said something ambiguous and then slowly stood up.

“Please gather everyone, Jinor.”

“You are planning to fight back, right?”

“I think Jinor knows well that there is no other way than that.”

As Luna said, things like being at a disadvantage or having no chance of success – these were not important issues from our perspective.

Unless the rebels’ surrender would save their lives, in the end, all that was left was to fight.

However, that was not what Jinor was concerned about.

“Master. I’m sorry to hear this, but do you mind if I ask you a question? I hope that you will listen with empathy to the position of someone who has risked his life for you, lord.”

“Please tell me, Jinor.”

“Is there some variable I don’t know about?”

From Jinor’s perspective, Lunarien was not the type of person with a poker face that perfectly hid his emotions.

Rather, Luna was very emotional. When the story about Swen came up, she was the one who openly showed her embarrassment at seeing her for the first time.

The reason she can remain so calm even after being told, ‘I can’t see a way to win’ – there must be a part of her that believes it.

The fact that I just mentioned information I already knew was proof of that.

And on top of that, I thought I wanted to test what kind of person Lunarien was.

The reason why Jinor trusted her was because Swen single-handedly pointed out her as ‘the person who will become the unified monarch.’

If so, then why can someone of Swen’s caliber make such an assertion?

Wouldn’t it be natural for those on board to be curious about how to overcome this situation?

but.

The answer Luna received was quite unexpected.

“Yes. It exists.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know either.”

“… … Yes?”

Jinor, who had never been particularly embarrassed when dealing with any monarch, blurted out in surprise.

This was only the second time in his life.

The first, of course, was when I saw Yuuri saying that he would sell Swen.

“I also don’t know what variables there will be. but… … If there is no other way for our army to avoid this battle – our army will win. Definitely.”

Luna said that and smiled, her ruby eyes shining.

Beyond those eyes… … It contained a very strong trust that could never be violated by others, including Jinor.

“If we go to the end, we will ultimately win… … Because the teacher said so.”

The bookkeeper said.

If we were to say that there was a trickster that Luna spoke of personally – there was only one person.

“So, we will definitely win. I was told that an opportunity would come, so I took it.”

‘… … .’

surely.

This woman doesn’t have the exuberant energy typical of someone who bluffs.

This woman truly had no doubt that she would win.

And Swen, a man who supposedly sees the future, declared that this woman would become a unified monarch.

‘… … her.’

If I hadn’t encountered a man named Swen, I would have run away at this point –

Jinor had an auspicious feeling when she saw him. I decided to trust his judgment as he acted as if he knew the future in advance.

Isn’t it because you trusted him in the first place that you came this far?

“Zinor. Why don’t you invite everyone?”

At Luna’s words, Jinor bowed to his new master.

“I will do as you ask.”

* * *

In the conference room where everyone was gathered, Luna had laid out a map and was briefing on the situation.

“The enemy’s total number of troops exceeds 200,000, so of course we have no choice but to hold a sit-in protest… … As I said, the enemy has a lot of siege weapons, so we have to send an interceptor somehow. I think you all understand up to this point.”

“So, who is taking the lead?”

Luna nodded and responded to Tifa’s words.

“He was definitely the leader… … He said it was a man named Saad Astron.”

“… … !!”

As soon as they heard that name, some people started to get excited.

What they had in common was that they were not from the Lunarien Army, but were originally from the Karelia Army.

“… … Everyone, do you have anything to point out?”

“Well, my lord.”

Mets, who had been listening quietly on one side, raised his hand.

He was the person who received the most trust from Lord Luna among those from the Karelian Army who moved to the Lunarien County.

“Say it, Mets.”

“Master, have you ever heard of the Astron mercenaries?”

“… … Ah.”

After hearing it, it was only then that I remembered it.

Astron mercenaries.

They say that a mercenary group will do anything for money, but I vaguely remembered hearing that they were a cruel mercenary group that was purely driven by money.

Jinor also shows a slight reaction to the name. The mercenary group hired by Serpina to put Anima in danger was definitely the Astron mercenary group.

“Then… … Are you saying that Karelia entrusted the position of commander-in-chief to a mercenary group?”

“No, that won’t be the case. It is absurd to entrust so many troops to a mercenary group, and General Sade was originally in the Karelia military.”

“Is that so… … ?”

Saad, the leader of the Astron mercenaries, widely known for their cruelty, was a member of the Karelia military?

It was a strange combination that did not come to mind easily, like being forced to wear clothes that did not fit.

“Yes. Although he made great contributions in the process of establishing the nation, he was exiled by his lord Karelia due to his cruel nature. However, the fact that it has now appeared here again… … .”

At that moment, the image of a female tactician flashed through Luna’s mind.

Vanessa Trinity.

Maybe it was her suggestion.

Of course, even if she had suggested it, nothing would have changed.

In the end, it was probably the monarch, Karelia, who decided to recruit Sade again.

In other words, from Karelia’s perspective, to end us somehow… … It was like breaking his own beliefs.

“No matter how urgent it is, you can’t believe you’re reaching out to someone like that… … .”

“Karelia’s faith was eventually broken.”

“Completely corrupt. Tsk tsk.”

Even though he said that, he couldn’t hide the trembling at the end of his voice – Jinor, who was quietly listening to the story, realized this.

From the perspective of the traitors who directly betrayed, it would be difficult to easily accept that this situation is a huge crisis.

Bluff. okay. Certainly, unlike Luna, there was a clear sense that those who were originally in the Karelia army, including the man named Metz, were pretentious.

Luna slowly closed her eyes once and then continued her story.

“… … In addition, Vanessa Trinity and Cecil Lohengrin were named as advisors.”

Sade was brought in to take the ‘unmanned’ position that was lacking in the Karelia army, and Vanessa was placed on the left and Cecil on the right.

It was safe to say that this was definitely the Karelia military’s dream team.

Luna remembered Cecil’s face and closed her eyes tightly.

I had no regrets at all about seizing the ‘opportunity’ that Swen mentioned… … Still, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for the woman who trusted him.

but.

The feeling of regret was an obvious ‘luxury’.

When you think of Swen, who has to do something he doesn’t want to do under the threat of the cruel witch Serpina, isn’t it obvious that he shouldn’t be swayed by feelings like sorry?

Luna truly thought so, strengthened her resolve again, and continued her explanation in a very resolute tone.

“As the enemy uses siege weapons, we plan to form a guerrilla force with about 30,000 soldiers… … It will be a very dangerous mission that will require your life to be risked.”

If there were 30,000 people, it was about 1/3 of the total force.

From Luna’s perspective, it meant deploying as many troops as possible.

Even so, you are fighting ahead of 200,000 people. It could not have been an extremely dangerous mission.

so that-

“I, Lunarien, will personally take the lead.”

“… … !!”

I thought that I could not send only those who believed in me and followed me to a deadly place alone.

“Now, please wait a moment. It is too dangerous for my lord to step forward in person! Here, I am willing to lead the guerrilla force… … !”

Francis was embarrassed and shouted at Luna.

“No. This is something only I can do.”

“Haona… … !”

at that time.

Kyle, who was quietly listening to the story, smiled broadly and stopped Francis.

“Stop it. Because my lord’s opinion is right here.”

“Yes… … ?”

“As it is an important position, what is the problem with sending out a strong person?”

“… … ????”

Tifa’s hand came up on the shoulder of Francis, who looked like he didn’t understand.

“It’s literally like that. Let’s trust Luna here.”

what?

Lunarien… … Is it actually very powerful?

From Francis’ point of view, Luna was like a flower blooming on a cliff, so he couldn’t understand this situation… … Aren’t Tifa and Kyle the type of people who would make jokes about this situation?

“Tifa, I think you should go out with me.”

“If you didn’t say that, it would have been difficult, but it worked out!”

“Now, wait a minute! My lord! In that case, please help me, Francis… … !”

” Francis, you must guard the castle while we are away. I believe you know that it is also a very important mission.”

“But-”

“Francis. Will you listen to my request?”

When Luna answered with a smile, Francis couldn’t bear to keep insisting that she let him go.

However, is it really right to stage a sit-in protest with many troops within the castle walls when the lord is directly at the forefront? … When I thought about it.

“Master.”

Jinor, who had been quietly listening to the story, opened his mouth.

“If you don’t mind, I would like to express my opinion on your master’s strategy. How do you feel?”

“It’s as much as you want, Jinor. Please feel free to tell me.”

-Zinor thought.

“If we go to the end, we will ultimately win… … Because the teacher said so.”

And, Jinor decided to bet on Luna’s faith.

If our military ‘wins’ due to some ‘variable’――

Zinor naturally remembers what happened when he invaded Hispil Castle.

A conversation with a white-haired treacher who was absolutely trusted by this person named Runarien.

“But isn’t it true? If I could see the future, wouldn’t I have taken the lead and come up with a plausible argument instead of walking a tightrope like this?”

“It’s a different story if the future you can see is limited. For example, you can find out whether you will win or lose a war… … I don’t know why it happens like that.”

we win

But I don’t know why I won.

At that time, Swen acted as if he only knew the ‘result’ of winning and focused on the process.

It was such a strange behavior that the memory remains vivid in his mind to this very moment.

then.

If we set a fixed value that the Lunarien army will ‘win’ this battle, the most reasonable decision our army can make is――

“Please increase the number of guerrilla troops from 30,000 to 80,000, or more if possible.”

“… … Yes?”

Looking at Luna, who looked slightly surprised-

Jinor feels alive for the first time in a long time since the day the empire fell.

“Please leave only the minimum number of troops in the castle and organize all remaining troops into a guerrilla force. My lord!”