episode_0258

Luna, the Silk Monarch, wasn’t the only one surprised by Zinor’s shocking claim.

“… … Wait a minute. Hey, old man. You want me to minimize the number of troops guarding the castle? You want me to send them all to intercept? ”

“That’s right.”

Tifa shook her head as if she didn’t understand.

“You know, sir. It’s 90,000 vs. 200,000. In order for this battle to be even a little successful, we absolutely have to defend the castle. However, since the enemy is bringing siege weapons, we can’t use all 90,000 men just for defense, so we have to somehow attack the siege weapons, so we’re sending out 30,000 men!”

“I know what General Tifa is talking about. But, I have a question. Is it possible to pinpoint the enemy’s siege weapons with 30,000 troops?”

“I’m here, and Luna’s here, so what can’t I do!”

“What the old man is talking about is not a question of possibility. It’s a question of whether you can do it or not, a question of confidence!”

Jinor looked straight at Tifa with his eyes wide open and asked her a question.

“Can you catch it or not? Tell me for sure!”

“… … No, that… … It was definitely on the battlefield in the first place, so even if you take out the same thing… … .”

“Probably impossible. This is not because Princess Tifa or her lord lacks ability. It’s just a prediction within the realm of common sense that 30,000 soldiers can’t normally defeat 200,000 soldiers.”

“Tsk… … .”

Tifa seemed dissatisfied, but ultimately did not respond to Zinor’s words.

Even I, who wasn’t very smart, could tell.

Now, I’m saying things like, ‘I’ll definitely do it’ with a lot of enthusiasm… But, as Jinor said, it was a battle that I couldn’t win unless a miracle happened, and it was basically like going to my death.

Of course, it’s not that I’m afraid of losing my life. If I was, I wouldn’t have followed my reckless childhood friend who was trying to establish a country in Zeeland Castle.

Jinor slowly looked at Tifa’s face, then turned his head towards Luna.

“My lord. Although it is a bit sudden, I would like to ask you. Will our army win this battle?”

The room was in an uproar for a moment at the question whose intention was unknown, but-

Luna answered in a very calm tone, without being flustered at all.

“Yes, we will win the battle against the Karelian army as promised.”

“I am telling you this because I stake my life on my lord’s confidence. Organize as many interception units as possible. It is okay to leave only the minimum number of soldiers to protect the castle. ”

“… … .”

Luna thought for a moment, then looked at Jinor and asked in a serious tone.

“What is the basis for that?”

“The claim that the lord said, ‘We will win the battle’.”

‘… … !’

Luna looked at Jinor in slight surprise.

He… … trusted my faith. More precisely, the reason he was sure he would win – he trusted Swen.

Luna, who realized what Jinor meant, nodded slowly and said.

“Okay, I will do as you wish, Genor.”

“Hey, Luna! Are you out of your mind?”

Tifa was surprised when she heard Luna’s declaration and asked-

Luna’s expression as she spoke was incredibly calm.

“Don’t worry, Tifa…. … The bookseller couldn’t be wrong, right?”

“No, I’m worried and sleepy… … ?”

……what?

Tifa chewed over the last words Luna had uttered.

There’s no way the bookworm could be wrong.

As the person closest to Luna was Tifa, she knew that Luna only called one person her advisor.

I don’t know the exact circumstances, but if this decision is like a ‘decision of a strategist’ to Luna―

“… … Okay. Well, I was planning on doing what you said anyway… … Oh my.”

Even though I said that, I felt a sense of uneasiness, but it didn’t feel bad at all.

It’s always been like this. In the old days, whenever I would put into practice the plans that Swen had laid down, I would be overcome by a sense of elation that was both absurd and heart-pounding.

anyway-

Now, the big picture has been decided.

Luna quietly looked at the faces of everyone gathered there.

Thank you to my precious comrades who followed me here with only their eyes on me.

I can’t say that it’s not hard to see half of the hope that was once placed on Karelia now weighing on my shoulders –

Luna was certain that no matter how hard it was for her, it would not be harder for her than Swen, who was suffering under the ruthless witch.

“… … Please take good care of me, everyone.”

Luna bowed at a 90-degree angle and greeted everyone.

‘If Lord Swen had seen this, he would have said something about it being unbecoming of a monarch… …?’

As soon as I think about him, I feel the tension building up in my heart ease a little.

He was always helpful to her. Whenever she had to make a choice, his figure, who would light the way forward without any hesitation, was still Lunalien’s only light.

Luna’s longing for Swen, who kept coming to mind at every moment of her life, naturally grew.

In this battle, we’re going to kill a lot of people.

That’s okay. Anyone’s blood could have been spilled. If I could meet you, I’m confident I can do whatever it takes, so I thought―

――I miss you, Swen. My one and only, irreplaceable bookseller.

I will become the ruler of a powerful nation as quickly as possible… … and I will definitely save you from suffering under the Serpina army.

So please… wait a moment, he said.

The existence known as Lunalian Inian was about to make its full-fledged appearance on the continent.

* * *

and

In the palace where everyone has disappeared-

“Can you explain it to me now?”

At Luna’s words, Jinor nodded slowly and said.

“… … Assuming that what Luna said is true, let’s start by talking about the path our army can take to victory.”

* * *

This place is on top of the castle walls.

When he looked down… … he saw a huge number of soldiers all looking up at him.

The monarch’s gaze. The monarch’s view, which only the monarch can look down on!

This is the moment when the wishes and hopes of countless people are visualized through gazes and focused on the absolute dignity of a single person.

Lord Lunalian slowly looked at those numerous gazes.

I took a deep breath and remembered the speech I gave when I ran away, leaving Swen behind in the castle.

It seems like only yesterday that he was pouring out his heartfelt story in front of 3,000 soldiers… … Now, he had this many people he had to take responsibility for.

But I don’t avoid it.

Luna closes her eyes slightly.

Strangely enough, just by closing my eyes… … I felt like Swen was standing next to me.

Because you have always been by my side and protected me.

Even now, if I’m with Swen… … I can do anything.

Open your eyes slowly and shout.

“Gentlemen! The battle will begin in a few days. As you know, our army is in a very disadvantageous situation. The Karelian army is rushing here with the intention of trampling our army.”

So many people were listening to Luna without even making a sound.

“But, we will definitely win this battle. I, Lunalian, will risk my life and fight with you on the front lines until the end. It will not be us who will disappear from history, but Makana Karelia, who has become the puppet of the ruthless Vanessa! So, please help me until the end! And… … Please, until the end… … Survive. In the new world I will create… … there will be a place prepared for you and your family! ”

――Waaah!!!!

A loud noise so loud that the castle of Tepel was shaken.

And as he watched Luna’s back as she took it all in alone, Jinor, who had been far behind, felt like he could understand for the first time what his close friend Kyle had said.

“You will probably find out soon enough. My lord is a man of greatness.”

If you add in the strange confidence that you will definitely win, then definitely-

I thought that Lunalian Inian was a great person who could not be known just by looking at him.

* * *

“I’m so bored. Can’t we speed up our advance?”

Vanessa, riding along beside him, answered Sade’s words as he rode ahead.

“How many times do I have to tell you this? If you are leading an army of 200,000 men, you must advance as slowly as possible. You must be someone who knows that, right?”

“No, can’t you do something? You’re a bookworm, right? Come up with something groundbreaking, that’s what I’m saying.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Sade snickered at Vanessa’s words.

“Oh, right! She’s a woman who doesn’t have a single cute side, whether in the past or now. Her face is half-and-half, but she’s pretty. Tsk.”

“It is still the same now as in the past, that vulgar words make an already dirty tongue even dirtier.”

“Your skills are the same as before. Your sleeping technique is also the same. How about trying it out?”

“You still have the skills, so it looks like you gave one of your eyes to the bastard?”

“Ha! You don’t say a word, you damn woman.”

Sade laughed loudly as if he found it funny, but the corners of Vanessa’s mouth didn’t even move.

The talk was the worst, but THAAD was the best card our military could play at the moment.

The conditions for bringing him to the mercenary group were extremely simple.

‘The condition is that Karelia recognizes that at that time, it was Sade’s own decision, not that of the monarch, that was correct.’

The reason THAAD was kicked out was because he plundered the local people during the supply process during the battle.

It was certainly the best decision from the Karelian military’s standpoint, but at that time, Karelia was a human being who could not possibly tolerate such an act.

Even now, it must have been something she absolutely did not want to admit… … Vanessa was glad that she understood that if she insisted on things like faith and belief, she could really blow the chance to remove Lunalien from the map.

Anyway, what Vanessa was concerned about was not the nonsense he was spouting in front of her, but Cecil, who was completely out of breath and not saying anything.

“… … .”

“Cecil, the battle is imminent. You’d better brace yourself.”

“Ah… … Chae, Mr. Books… … .”

In fact, Cecil’s behavior wasn’t something that happened just for a day or two.

After Lunalian actually betrayed him at Tepel Castle, he stopped eating and drinking and couldn’t even properly talk to people.

Since she was such a great talent when it came to distribution, it was very difficult for Vanessa to see her continue to spend her time like a wreck – so she was taking care of her mental health like this.

“Forget the past. What matters is the present we are in now. Trusting people is not a sin. So, there is no need to be a sinner.”

“I guess so… … .”

Cecil let out a long sigh.

In her opinion, Luna was someone who would never do something like betrayal… … and the shock she received from being so close to Luna was bound to be similar to or greater than the shock received by the monarch, Karelia.

“… … .”

I thought about talking more, but now is not a good time.

Vanessa thought as she slowly walked away from her.

‘Lunarien Inian… …!’

In her view, there was no one on this continent who could replace Karelia.

It was the same for Luna. I could never bear to see such a woman become the monarch of humanity in place of Lady Karelia.

Vanessa was confident that she would do anything to take Luna’s life. She didn’t even care about her own life. After all, it was a life that was already thrown away, and Karelia had just taken care of it.

I will certainly hang that abominable woman’s head on the walls of the Château de Madeleine.

Vanessa suppressed her boiling fighting spirit as much as possible and marched towards the Tepel Castle.