episode_0279

* * *

“I see. The Lunalian Army… … .”

“They said they occupied it.”

The road to the palace.

Today, apart from Reika, who was on duty, Airen and I were talking about the situation on the continent.

“After the defeat in the great battle at Tepel Castle, well, it was already a set course of action.”

As I expected, it seemed like Luna was doing pretty well without me.

No, thinking about it again… … my advice was just to fit the bill, and to be honest, I felt like whatever I did would end up working out this way.

“What happened to Makana Karelia?”

“What would be special about the fate of a defeated and conquered feudal lord?”

“… … Yes? Are you saying he died?”

“That’s what I heard.”

This was a bit surprising. Luna killed Karelia?

I don’t know the exact circumstances of her rebellion, but considering her nature, she would have made her subjugated if she wanted to, and she wouldn’t have gone to the extent of killing her.

If I had to kill him, would that mean that it would have been absolutely impossible to coexist with Karelia?

It wasn’t surprising, considering the way she came to prominence was ‘rebellion’…

‘Something… I feel a sense of foreboding.’

She may be an excellent choice as a monarch, but… …something about her feels a little different from the Luna I know.

I mean, I think she could have come up with a better way.

Of course, now that I think about it, the time I spent with her was so short that I was hesitant to confirm it.

But I kept thinking that there would be more places to use someone like Karelia rather than kill him.

As a member of the Lunalian Army, I was limited in the methods I could come up with, as I couldn’t even ask her questions directly.

When I heard the news, I thought everything was back to optimal condition, but it seems that wasn’t the case.

At that moment, Irene asked me a question in a cautious tone.

“I… …Swen.”

“Yes.”

“Is it okay if I ask when you are thinking about it?”

It was not hard to figure out what she was talking about, given the context of the conversation.

When will you return to the Lunalian Army?

“Not right now.”

“Is that so? You’re waiting until she unifies the Southern Continent?”

“No, that’s not it either.”

“… … ?”

Irene tilted her head and stared at me.

To me, it felt like that sight was saying, ‘So when are you going back?’

“Since the result has already been decided, I think we can move after ensuring Serpina’s safety.”

“Securing the safety of your lord?”

“Yes. As Irene knows better than anyone, Serpina secretly doesn’t have anyone around her. There might be a few more assassination attempts… …That’s why I think it would be okay to cross over after we reach the border with Luna.”

After the plague, the advance into the Central Continent was almost like a burglary.

I was a little worried about the bad luck Serpina had been experiencing up until now… … but I predicted that since the Lunalian Army was continuing to advance like that, there wouldn’t be any major problems.

Now that I think about it, I have a strange conviction that the reason her actions were always being held back was because Luna hadn’t shown up yet.

“… … Well, I don’t really understand complicated issues. I’ll just follow the path you want to take. ”

“Thank you for trusting me, Irene.”

“Hmm.”

After parting ways with Irene, I walked alone to the audience room, lost in thought.

Although she is still performing her duties as a bodyguard… … if we form an occupying force, she will inevitably have to quit her duties, and then we will have to hire someone new―

‘You need someone you can trust… … .’

Considering that the knight who had attempted to assassinate her was the person she trusted the most, she was worried about who she should put in that position.

I opened the door, thinking that it would be a good idea to talk about this today, and my eyes met with Jenna’s, just as she was about to leave the audience room.

“Meet the bookstore owner.”

“This is Lord Swen. I guess you have business for your lord?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Jenna looked at me quietly for a moment, then placed a hand on my shoulder.

“I am on the side of Lord Swen. Please take good care of my lord.”

And then he quickly left the place.

‘… … ?’

Although I was a bit concerned about the meaningful words she left behind, I didn’t need to make a fuss about it since she wasn’t wary of me anyway, so I went straight to where the throne was.

Sitting on the throne is Serphina. The blonde witch, the tyrant, the most cruel woman on the continent.

“Meet my lord.”

“You’re here, Swen. I’ve been waiting for you.”

There was a rather subtle thing going on with her on the day of the welcome ceremony a while ago-

Now, neither she nor I are particularly conscious of what happened back then.

Anyway, since I had to keep doing work like this, it would only be inconvenient to keep bringing it up.

“There are many things I want to suggest today―”

“Wait a minute. Before that, I have something to tell you.”

“?”

Serpina slowly rose from her throne and approached me.

The sound of her footsteps fills the quiet audience room.

“I decided this after much thought. I hope you’ll follow along.”

“What do you mean… … ?”

“… … .”

She closed her eyes once.

He looked at me with his bright eyes as if he had made up his mind about something.

“Come be our military’s new national strategist, Swen.”

“… … Yes?”

You’re offering me the position of national strategist, which I’ve already turned down once?

Before I could say anything, she snapped at me as if she was going to shut my mouth.

“The story with the existing bookstore, Jenna, has already ended. She is also convinced. It’s embarrassing to say, but there are almost no people left who want to keep you in check.”

“Ha, haona lord-”

“You said it, right? Many people will point fingers at that decision. However, that is not the case now. Irian, who is trusted by the soldiers, also expressed his approval, and Crancys, the commander of the occupation forces, said that he would follow the will of the strategist, Jenna. It goes without saying that Irene and Reika, who have achieved great military achievements, are also waiting for you to become the national strategist.”

“But… … .”

“I won’t ask you to stay by my side for the rest of your life. Just, for a little while… …come by my side, and become my light.”

“… … .”

Only then did I realize why Jenna had just said to me, ‘Please take good care of my master.’

A new librarian was announced. That meant she was stepping down from her position as national librarian.

If we think about the examples of Anima and Jinor in the old Aesir army, it would not have been a pleasant thing for the existing national strategists to give up their position, which was practically second in command, to someone else.

So you still accepted me?

Serpina Army… … Aside from Lunalian Army, which was like a club, it was the only country I had ever been a part of that acknowledged me, whether I liked it or not.

“I remember what you said. You said you were taking responsibility for the woman and that you were looking for a way to achieve your intentions, right? ”

“… … !”

“No matter how many times I think about it, I can’t help but think that the power given to you as a national strategist within our military would be beneficial to your cause. So, if you won’t accept it… …tell me why clearly.”

As Serpina spoke, the inexplicable fear she had felt on the day of the welcoming ceremony a while ago disappeared from her eyes.

The eyes of one who is prepared for anything. Those eyes are enough to move a person’s heart.

“If you refuse with a reason, I will not bother you again. I swear that this will be the last offer I make to you, and I swear on my name that there will be no retaliation.”

――Then, what should we do?

This was in fact the second time that Serpina had offered to be a national treasurer.

At first, it was in the carriage. At that time, I refused. I also thought about returning to the Lunalian Army, but I didn’t want to give her unnecessary hope since I was going to have to leave anyway.

But maybe things are a little different now. I wanted to give her hope. I had no intention of leaving her.

I… … cannot give up on either Lunalien or Serpina.

So, didn’t you decide to draw a future where the two could coexist?

Moreover, she was a person who was hated by a great many people.

Rather than just continuing to act in the background, if she was given the authority to command Serpina’s army to some extent, she would be able to protect her more easily without Irene having to be her escort knight.

okay.

It was a problem that didn’t need any further thought.

“Okay, I will accept the position of National Bookkeeper.”

“… … !!!”

As soon as she heard my words, Serpina looked at me with greatly constricted pupils as if she was greatly surprised.

“… … My lord?”

“Really… …? Are you really thinking of becoming the country’s strategist… …?”

“Didn’t your lord command you to do so?”

“No, that’s, but… … That’s… … .”

Serpina, who had been looking like she could chew up the sky just a moment ago, soon hesitated and lowered her head, blushing.

It seemed like the sentiment was something along the lines of ‘I made a big decision and bought it, but I didn’t know it would actually work out.’

That sight was strangely amusing, so I laughed without realizing it and said.

“Was that just a comment? I wonder if I got excited for nothing… … .”

“No, no! I’m not just saying this. I’m being sincere. More than that… …are you excited?”

“That’s right. Who wouldn’t like a seat?”

“But… …No, no. Forget what she said. The past is the past, and what’s important is clearly the present.”

Come to think of it, I feel like I’ve gotten used to joking around like this with her now.

The symbol of the Eingart Imperial Family engraved on my cloak, has somehow become engraved in my heart.

“Then, this would be your first proposal since becoming a bookworm, even though it was sudden.”

“… … Now that I think about it, I guess I said I had a lot to say? ”

“I’ll listen to you as much as you want. It’s my job to listen to the stories of state strategists.”

Serpina quickly regained her momentum as a monarch, and spoke to me with interest, saying-

I’m just blurting out everything that’s been on my mind all day.

“Form an occupation force immediately and subdue the Chell army.”