Ch.125Chapter 125. Prediction, and Result (1)

* * *

After sending Swen away from the audience chamber.

Serpina sat in her chair, lost in thought for a long time.

“……My lord.”

“……”

Though no particular answer came, Jenna continued with her question regardless.

“I would like to speak about the opinion just presented, if I may?”

Serpina slightly turned her head to look at Jenna.

Having spent many years with her, Jenna easily recognized this as a silent signal to continue speaking.

“It certainly has merit. Though it’s just a hunch, it seems credible. Since he was part of the Aeshus army until very recently, he would know much more, which makes it even more plausible. However……”

“I’m not convinced that Yurie would act purely on emotion to that extent. If his explanation is correct, it essentially means an invasion will come our way……”

Jenna bowed her head slightly and spoke carefully.

“I find it difficult to accept his claim that this is the most efficient approach when he speaks with such certainty. Wouldn’t it ultimately result in wasting our troops?”

“But she is also a woman who actually handed over her own subordinate to me. It would be arrogant to assume humans always act within the bounds of common sense.”

“That’s true… but at that time, Anima Ingram was at stake, whereas now there’s nothing particularly at stake, is there? As mentioned earlier, there isn’t just one way to divert attention.”

“You make a valid point.”

“There’s something odd about Swen’s opinion. How should I explain this… I get the feeling he’s deflecting on important points. I have the impression he’s developing his logic from somewhat peripheral aspects rather than the essence…”

As Jenna struggled to find the right words, Serpina slowly turned her head and asked:

“You mean to say that the central part of his opinion isn’t about ‘the invasion of the Aeshus army’?”

Jenna looked slightly surprised at those words.

Sometimes, Serpina could articulate Jenna’s thoughts in clear sentences even when Jenna herself couldn’t explain them.

“Yes, that’s right. Rather than the Aeshus army’s invasion being the issue… listening to his opinion…”

“He was more focused on stationing troops at Amir Castle.”

“As you said, Swen’s opinion seemed less about stopping the Aeshus army and more about stationing troops at Amir Castle. Perhaps that’s why his earlier points were based merely on hunches…”

Jenna and Serpina had quite sharply grasped the situation.

They had identified the key point that the central focus of Swen’s opinion was not the ‘surprise attack by the Aeshus army’ but rather ‘reinforcing troops at Amir Castle’.

But that was as far as it went. Jenna was certainly an excellent advisor, but she wasn’t that brilliant.

Rather, the smartest person in this country would undoubtedly be Serpina, who reigned above her.

“Um.”

“Yes?”

“Could this be some kind of magic?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, like magic that can see the future… He’s likely to be a mage, isn’t he?”

“For someone saying that, Jenna, even you don’t seem convinced.”

“Well… he is a man with the ability to drop stones from the sky, so there’s a possibility he has some ability we don’t know about… but considering that someone who can use such magic would be abandoned by their lord, or constantly move between countries, it seems very strange…”

If he could really see the future, it didn’t make sense that he would have been abandoned like this.

Currently, Jenna judged it more likely that he wasn’t a mage.

“It seems my wisdom has reached its limit in drawing conclusions.”

After listening to Jenna’s words, Serpina remained silent for a while, then let out an amused laugh.

“Did you notice, Jenna?”

“Notice what, my lord?”

“Swen’s expression. More precisely, his eyes.”

That moment when Swen was lost in thought before presenting his opinion at the meeting.

In that fleeting instant—Swen’s eyes suddenly flashed as if he had realized something.

Even if others hadn’t seen it, Serpina had clearly observed it with her own eyes.

“What do you think?”

“Even if you mention his eyes… I’m not sure.”

“That’s fine. I thought you might say that.”

Jenna knew this wasn’t just empty words from Serpina.

She was uncannily perceptive, able to read people’s thoughts almost like a ghost.

Wasn’t Serpina the one who could detect hidden emotions no matter how well one tried to conceal them behind a poker face?

“Jenna. What’s the current status of troops at the border?”

“Most castles have an even distribution of forces. Even if war breaks out, we should be able to hold somehow.”

“So we have some leeway at the moment?”

“Yes, but……”

Only then did Serpina turn her head toward Jenna.

“Jenna. Issue a conscription notice for Amir Castle immediately.”

“Yes. What should be done after issuing the notice?”

“Have them stationed there without any withdrawals to prepare for defense.”

“Then…?”

At Jenna’s question, Serpina smiled slightly and tilted her head.

It was like the smile of a nine-tailed fox who had devoured several livers.

“I’m going to bet on that look in Swen’s eyes.”

“You mean you’ll do as he suggested?”

“Yes. But before quietly trusting him, I should verify a few things.”

Magic, huh.

If such magic really existed as Jenna suggested, why not test it?

Serpina let out a slight amused smile, and this time thought to herself without speaking:

‘How could he be so certain…?’

* * *

“You had an opinion proposal meeting?”

At Jenis’s words, I nodded normally.

“Yes.”

“Already? You haven’t been here that long! Even I haven’t done one yet!”

“Are there many people who want to do this?”

Jenis nodded at my question.

“Of course! It’s one of the few opportunities to meet with the lord privately and make an impression! If you catch her eye there, it’s not just a dream to advance to an important position. So many people want to do it!”

“I just thought all newcomers did it.”

“Everyone does do it once… But there are so many warriors serving our lord. It takes quite some time, you know? Anyway, Swen, you’re really lucky!”

I scratched my head, wondering if it was really such a big deal, when he started chattering again.

After spending a few days together, I’d learned that Jenis had quite a talkative personality.

“Oh right. I need to tell you about this too. You know, those tea leaves on the table!”

“Ah, those?”

The tea leaves Irene had given me.

Since Jenis seemed interested, I had permitted him to brew a cup.

“How did you get something so incredibly expensive? Are you more of a gourmet than I thought?”

“Someone I know gave them to me.”

“Someone you know? A friend?”

“Yes.”

I was about to say “a precious person,” but stopped myself.

There was no need to share such personal details.

“Those tea leaves are certified by the Clament family, famous for their black tea. The peach aroma is truly artistic! It would have been even better with something sweet, what a shame.”

“Senior Jenis, you seem to know a lot about black tea?”

“Huh?”

He tilted his head questioningly.

I answered casually, just making small talk.

“I mean, most men aren’t usually interested in such things.”

But.

For some reason, Jenis’s expression suddenly changed upon hearing those words.

“…Huh?”

“?”

After a moment of silence between us—

He finally broke the silence.

“No, well! That’s… even men can be interested! I’m from the Caski family, you know! This level of knowledge is basic cultural education that any noble family should know! Being able to serve good black tea to a lady is a quality of a noble gentleman!”

Sensing his desperate attempt to explain himself, I decided to just go along with it.

“I guess you’re right. I wouldn’t know since I don’t have a family background like that.”

“It’s okay! What’s the big deal about noble families these days? It’s just a name, really.”

Jenis said with an awkward laugh.

It was a bit uncomfortable, but he certainly wasn’t a bad person.

However, the only thing that bothered me was—

‘Neither Irian nor Jenis exist in my memories.’

It bothered me that I had never encountered either of them in the game.

While Jenis was one thing, from what I’d heard, Irian Al Caski was from a prestigious family and seemed to be a promising talent in Serpina’s army… why couldn’t I remember such a general?

Considering his decent appearance, he should have been memorable, but he wasn’t in my memory at all.

While Serpina’s army didn’t have any S-class generals, there were still a few who appeared regularly as figureheads, so I should have seen him at least once.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Huh?”

“You just seemed lost in thought.”

Realizing that I must have looked spaced out, I nodded and returned to reality.

“It’s nothing. I’m just a bit tired.”

“Really? Maybe I’ve been talking too much… sorry. I won’t bother you anymore, so get some rest. I’m on night patrol today, so don’t wait up for me.”

“Alright.”

Well, he probably wasn’t in my memory because he didn’t have any special abilities…

Thinking about it simply like that, I lay down on the bottom bunk of the bed.

And naturally, as I lay in bed, I thought:

…I missed Irene.

It seemed quite funny that she was the one I ended up thinking about in the end.

I wonder who she thinks about.

Hoping it might be me, I rested in bed.

* * *

The next day.

After hearing from Jenis, who had returned from night patrol, that Serpina had summoned me, I left the quarters as he went to sleep.

The place she summoned me to wasn’t the royal palace, but a separate building near it.

Though curious about what this was about, I figured I’d find out when I got there, so I hurried my steps.

“Mr. Swen, we’ve been waiting for you. This way.”

As soon as I arrived, a guard wearing impressively ornate armor greeted me.

Passing through the main gate, I was welcomed by a quaintly decorated garden.

While it certainly gave off a beautiful impression, it seemed rather modest from the perspective of someone of royal status like her.

Opening the door and entering the building, I was guided to—

‘A basement…?’

Going down the stairs into the basement—

In the middle of a very spacious room, she was standing.

“Welcome, Swen.”

She was wearing the combat uniform for officers that she had worn when I first met her.

She emanated a different aura than when she wore a sparkling dress.

Even in such clothes… her abundant femininity that simply couldn’t be hidden made my gaze waver.

“I greet you, my lord.”

Bowing my head and looking around, the atmosphere in the room was peculiar.

Several dummies dressed in armor.

And various weapons hanging on the walls.

In the middle of the empty space was something like a circular arena.

“My lord, this place is…?”

“Swen.”

Serpina looked at me and spoke in a cold tone without changing her expression.

“Will the weapon you carry be sufficient?”

At the end of her gaze was the green rapier I always carried at my waist.

“What? Weapon? What do you mean…?”

Instead of answering, she walked over to where the weapons were hanging and picked up a rapier similar to mine.

Then she walked steadily toward me… and casually whispered to me:

“Sudden as it may be, I’d like to request a match, Swen.”