Ch.118Chapter 118. The Test (2)

As soon as I said “Going back is the right answer,” a murmur swept through the audience.

It was obvious to everyone that Serpina von Einhart’s forces were dominating the situation.

The Brans forces were struggling, and while the Aeshus forces appeared to have a chance of winning eventually through sheer numbers, at least on the surface.

Well, it might actually be possible if they pressed forward without considering the damage they’d sustain, but that would take considerable time.

Advancing into the Central Continent had been a long-cherished ambition for Serpina’s forces.

It wasn’t strange that most of the commanders under her command wouldn’t want to withdraw their troops in what seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

So I understood their looks.

Of course, I had no intention of accepting them.

The only person I needed to convince was my lord, Serpina.

After hearing my words, she asked in the same expressionless, dry tone she had used with the other commanders.

“I’d like to hear your reasoning.”

“While our successful advance into the Central Continent is certainly encouraging, I suspect our soldiers are quite fatigued from the repeated battles. I believe now is the time to solidify the borders of our newly acquired territories.”

“Is soldier fatigue the entirety of your reasoning?”

Of course not.

If it were, I wouldn’t have spoken up like this.

“If the benefits of invasion outweighed the costs, I would certainly recommend continuing our advance, but we currently have only two possible directions: toward the Brans forces or toward the Aeshus forces. I believe we’ve already concluded from the recent discussion with General Ian why we should attack Zelstrom Castle rather than Raclaine Castle, and why we cannot attack Zelstrom Castle.”

“Well. I’d like to hear the explanation from your own mouth.”

I had tried to gloss over it, but Serpina persistently pressed for details.

Was all this some kind of test…?

Since we’d already covered this, I should just respond appropriately.

“Capturing Raclaine Castle would extend our front line, making it more logical to occupy Zelstrom Castle, but our forces currently have no reliable method to breach Zelstrom Castle.”

“Yes. Thank you for summarizing it again.”

She said this with another faint smile.

That smile was… difficult to describe with a single word.

It wasn’t simply arrogance or intoxication with the power to control me at her will—

Rather, it was a smile of satisfaction at confirming something she had known would happen all along.

Among all the lords I had served, her expressions were the hardest to read.

“Next is the Brans forces. Again, from our recent discussion, we concluded that ‘it’s better to leave the Brans forces as they are.’ If that’s the case, we should simply abandon the idea of expanding our borders here.”

“Then I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Couldn’t our forces easily occupy Brans territories that don’t border other nations? I wonder if not properly subjugating the Brans forces might leave us with future troubles? As we just discussed, even if complete subjugation is impossible, don’t you think we have enough strength to capture one or two more territories?”

I was sorry for Serpina, but her words didn’t sound sincere at all.

This was literally a test. Was she curious about how I would respond?

“No. To prevent the Brans forces from regrouping, we shouldn’t acquire any more territories.”

“Why?”

“The Brans forces have nearly exhausted their young recruitable resources within their territories. They’ll struggle to gather many soldiers for the time being. In this situation, if their territory is compressed, it might ironically provide them with a foundation for resurgence.”

“So you’re saying it’s reasonable to leave them be because their current territory is more than they can handle on their own?”

“Don’t you already know this, my lord?”

Wasn’t that the policy of Serpina’s forces from the beginning?

Thinking that she was asking despite already knowing, I bowed my head, and she let out another cold laugh.

Strangely… though it was clearly a sneer, it wasn’t particularly offensive.

If Lynn Brans had laughed similarly, I probably wouldn’t have taken it so well.

“Then, to summarize finally. Swen, should I understand your opinion to be that ‘stopping further invasion and returning to the capital, Einhart Castle, is the most efficient approach’?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

That’s it.

Based on my imagination of “if I were Serpina,” I had organized what would be the most appropriate action for the current situation.

I thought it was the right answer… but let’s check the solution.

‘Is stopping the invasion and returning to the capital the most efficient method?’

As expected, as soon as I entered it, the “absolutely correct answer” was output without hesitation.

[Yes, it is.]

‘Phew.’

I let out a sigh of relief.

I felt that my instincts hadn’t dulled, and if a strange result had come out here, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to convince Serpina immediately.

From the discussions with Ian Al Kaski and the other commanders, I had noticed that Serpina was the type of person who could never be persuaded without precise reasoning.

If something didn’t make sense to her, she wouldn’t budge, and saying “I just think this is the right answer” wouldn’t work on her.

Anyway, until Lunarian made her move, I needed to avoid trouble as much as possible.

To do that, proving my usefulness to Serpina was the easiest path.

“I’m certain of it.”

“Oh? Certain, you say.”

“Yes, I’m certain. Even beyond those reasons, considering all circumstances, I believe it’s the only answer.”

At my confident voice, she raised the corner of her mouth as if amused.

I could be confident. What was there to fear when the prediction said [Yes, it is]?

Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to give her the impression that ‘my words are always right.’

At that moment.

Serpina rose from her seat as lord and addressed everyone.

“You’ve all heard everything, haven’t you? I understand your desire to continue fighting, but now is not the time. Victory in war isn’t always determined by acquiring many territories. Now is the time to temporarily set aside battle and regroup.”

After saying this, she extended her pale hand while looking at my face.

Amusingly, with her arm slightly raised as she looked at me, she reminded me of a goddess bestowing baptism.

“Swen. You are the first to voice an opinion that perfectly aligns with my thoughts. I want to thank you for speaking the words I needed to say.”

So, did Serpina also think from the beginning that the army should be withdrawn?

Given that my intelligence of 100 said it was right, it would be fair to say that Serpina was also quite intelligent.

After all, Serpina was a superhuman with high stats in everything except politics.

I could somewhat understand why even a beginner user could easily achieve continental unification once they became familiar with the game, though it might be different for the CPU.

“And.”

Serpina’s gaze, which had been on me, suddenly turned to the other commanders.

“I am not one to pry into the past of those who can give me sincere advice at this moment.”

“…!!”

And only then did I realize—

Why Serpina had bothered to conduct this “test.”

“You all know that the legitimate ruler of this country, and indeed this continent, is I, Serpina von Einhart, who carries the blood of Einhart. My will is the will of the nation. And now, I myself am saying that ‘I do not pry into the past.'”

Everyone listened quietly to her words, holding their breath.

No one dared to speak carelessly, overwhelmed by her presence.

“This doesn’t apply only to Swen. Whoever is here, at this moment, I will never betray those who serve loyally by my side. Surely there is no one foolish enough not to understand what I’m saying?”

She was—

…in her own way, looking out for me.

By deliberately questioning my reasoning in front of everyone, she had saved face for me and taken my side, saying ‘if you have ability, your past doesn’t matter.’

After all, I was someone who had already changed lords three times.

Even if my time with Lunarian didn’t count because the country fell, I had still betrayed Lynn.

Though Yurie had abandoned me first, but then Irene had betrayed her.

From an outsider’s perspective who couldn’t know the details, we two would appear as faithless commanders who changed lords as we pleased.

I had thought the strange looks toward Irene and me were simply wariness of new faces, but it seemed there was more to it.

And Serpina, being as perceptive as she appeared, couldn’t have missed those looks.

Just then, my eyes met her golden ones.

From that expressionless, cold face, I strangely felt warmth.

I could understand.

—I will protect you and Irene.

That’s what she was telling me now.

‘Haa.’

After a short sigh, I finally admitted it.

From my position of not having received proper treatment from any ruler except Lunarian, her every action like this was dangerously appealing, I had to admit.

“I remember… your gaze, Swen. The way you look at me.”

‘She remembers my gaze…’

Even if all this was simply calculated behavior, my heart was still moved.

‘I really need to keep my head straight.’

My place is not by Serpina’s side.

It’s by Lunarian’s side, who will surely reveal herself someday.

As long as I promised her that, and as long as the “prediction” continues to hold—that fact will never change.

…It had to be that way.

*

Around the time I was getting used to life in the annex, Serpina visited my room after a while.

“Welcome, my lord.”

Serpina just looked at me without answering.

Though in some situations this might seem like being ignored, strangely it didn’t feel unpleasant.

I thought that might be part of her charm as a human being. After all, her charm stat was quite high.

“Prepare to depart.”

“Are we leaving today?”

“Yes.”

Even though she said to prepare, I didn’t really have anything to pack.

The 7900 gold I had brought for diplomatic purposes, the carriage I had ridden in, and the minimum number of soldiers to escort the carriage had all returned to Valharat Castle with Anima.

“I ask just in case, but where will I be going?”

Hearing this, Serpina looked straight into my eyes and said:

“You will come with me to Einhart Castle.”