Ch.231Chapter 231. Anti-Aeshus Army, Retreating to Border (2)

“You’re saying there was an order to withdraw all troops?”

“That’s correct.”

Kransis, the commander-in-chief of the occupation forces and current temporary lord of Hisfil Castle, replied in a tone of disbelief.

“Didn’t I clearly inform our lord that the movements of the Aeshus army were suspicious?”

“Well, I certainly delivered that message, but…”

“And the response was to withdraw our troops?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm…”

Kransis sat down on the lord’s seat with a very serious expression.

‘I know that our lord wouldn’t give meaningless orders without reason. However…’

Ordering a retreat from a defensive battle with sufficient chances of victory?

Does this mean… our lord doesn’t trust me?

It wouldn’t be strange to think such orders were given because the current castle lord—myself—wasn’t deemed trustworthy.

But this hypothesis collapsed ridiculously easily.

If she didn’t consider him reliable, why would she have placed him as temporary lord of Hisfil Castle, the most critical stronghold?

If we lose Hisfil Castle, we’ll have to retreat northward again.

Considering that the territories above were small and difficult to defend… we could be pushed back to Kelstein Castle in no time.

Wouldn’t that mean everything would revert to how it was before we advanced into the central continent?

The advance into the central continent had been achieved with the blood of countless people as sacrifice. No matter how many times Kransis thought about it, he didn’t want to retreat like this.

‘Or is it because of that white-haired man again?’

Swen, the white-haired advisor who had recently become very close to Serpina.

Since he joined our army, Serpina’s inexplicable directives had increased.

Swen was a man Kransis had met before. He had opposed the invasion back then.

While that was understandable given the rebellion that had occurred, it seemed like mere coincidence, and seeing how he was again advising against invasion, it appeared he had little interest in continental unification.

From the beginning, Kransis was among those who didn’t trust Swen.

How could one trust a man who had changed lords multiple times?

Moreover, he clearly remembered the battle at the northern fortress of Kelstein Castle—the decisive event that led to Julian’s retirement after becoming too devastated to continue as a general.

It was that man who had dropped the boulder during that battle.

Of course, changing sides during chaotic times wasn’t necessarily a flaw, but how could one fully trust such a person?

A man who came to our army and consistently advocated for merely defending the northern continent.

Frankly, Kransis didn’t believe he was working for Serpina’s benefit.

Looking at how he kept delaying continental expansion, Kransis wondered if perhaps he was truly serving a different lord.

He hadn’t just sat idle—he had investigated whether there might be evidence of secret communications, but—

The man seemed to avoid contact with the outside world, not even exchanging letters.

Without any evidence, the female knight Irene Juliette who came with him and the mage Reika Nighthart whom he seemed to have discovered became key figures in Serpina’s army.

Though it felt suspicious… Kransis was in no position to say anything about it.

‘I’d like to consult with the advisor about this…’

While Kransis was deep in thought.

“Ah, and there’s another message to deliver.”

“What is it?”

The soldier before him bowed his head deeply and answered.

“There was also an order to mobilize not just the troops but also the territory’s residents to relocate them to the undeveloped lands of the northern continent.”

“…What?”

The moment he heard those words, all his previous thinking became meaningless.

Was her order not about avoiding battle?

“Did you hear the reason?”

“Well, all that was said was that it was for developing the undeveloped lands…”

“Hmm.”

Moving residents who had put down roots and were living well in their territory would inevitably cause a significant drop in civilian morale.

Of course, it wasn’t without benefit for our side. The new owners of this land would feel empty seeing the depleted population. Strategically, it wasn’t a foolish choice—assuming we were abandoning this castle and fleeing.

‘But there’s too much to lose for that…’

Could this incomprehensible directive also be connected to that man Swen?

After thinking a bit more but realizing he couldn’t solve this problem with his own mind, Kransis immediately asked the soldier:

“Where is the advisor now?”

“I believe she should be at Kelstein Castle by now…”

Fortunately, she wasn’t too far away.

“I’m sorry, but could you head directly to where the advisor is? If possible, I’d like you to tell her I wish to meet immediately. I’ll respond to our lord separately.”

“Yes, understood!”

After sending the soldier away, Kransis stopped thinking and leaned back on the throne.

What was Serpina’s true intention…

At some point, Kransis had begun to find it difficult to read Serpina’s thoughts.

* * *

Several days later.

“I heard you were looking for me, Lord Kransis.”

“You’ve arrived, Advisor.”

After greeting the national advisor Jenna who entered the audience chamber with a handshake, Kransis consulted her about his concerns.

“You’re saying our lord ordered all troops to withdraw behind the border?”

“That’s right. And not only that—”

“She also ordered the relocation of not just soldiers but territory residents as well, correct?”

“…That’s right.”

“…”

Jenna fell silent, deep in thought.

As far as she knew, there was no need to relocate people to the undeveloped northern lands. Those lands remained undeveloped precisely because they were barren, and there was little point in establishing populations there when the land was unsuitable for farming.

It wasn’t appropriate for establishing mines either.

While she was thinking about this truly puzzling directive, Kransis’s voice broke the silence.

“Could it be Swen’s influence?”

“You mean Lord Swen?”

“You know it too, Advisor. How strangely our lord keeps Swen as her closest confidant.”

There was no way Jenna, as the national advisor, wouldn’t know about Swen and the rumors surrounding him.

Yes.

When he raised this question, Kransis firmly believed he and Jenna would discuss how to persuade their lord to engage in a defensive battle against the Aeshus army.

However, the answer he received was completely different from what he expected.

“Then we have no choice but to withdraw the troops.”

“…Pardon? Advisor, what do you—”

“Lord Kransis.”

Jenna nodded as if she understood what he was trying to say.

“I understand. However, now is not the time to check him. It’s time to thoroughly utilize him.”

“Utilize him? But… is this really utilization? Retreating from a battle with good chances of victory and surrendering Hisfil Castle to the enemy without a fight—a castle we barely acquired with the blood of our comrades?”

“I can’t explain with clear evidence, but… based on my experience so far, I don’t think he’s deliberately acting to harm our army. If he truly wanted to harm us, wouldn’t there be more definitive methods than abandoning a territory or two?”

“More definitive methods?”

“If we assume Lord Swen is truly hostile to our army and that Serpina is being manipulated by his silver tongue and following all his advice, I think you could easily imagine more certain ways to bring about our downfall rather than these ambiguous methods.”

“Well… you’re right about that…”

“Additionally, both General Irene and the mage Reika maintain close relationships with him. In this situation, rather than needlessly antagonizing him, actively supporting him and making him recognize that he’s essential to Serpina’s army would be much more beneficial for our army in the long run.”

“Even so, is it right to abandon the battle?”

“No.”

Jenna answered firmly.

“If it were just about abandoning the battle, I would think the same as you, Lord Kransis… but hearing about relocating the territory’s residents made me change my mind.”

“What…?”

“Our lord’s true intention might not simply be abandoning Hisfil Castle itself.”

“…???”

“I apologize. I wish I could explain in detail, but at this stage, my thoughts aren’t fully organized. Still, I don’t think you need to worry too much.”

He wanted to probe further, but well… if it was the word of Jenna, the national advisor who had consistently dedicated herself to our army—not someone like Swen—he could trust it.

“…I understand. Then I will proceed as our lord has ordered.”

“Please do.”

He was only hesitant because he suspected Swen’s involvement, but Kransis had no intention of continuing to defy Serpina.

He knew well how diligently she was fulfilling her duties in her position.

As Jenna left the audience chamber, she was deep in thought.

‘Perhaps…’

Perhaps Serpina was once again creating a miracle that no one else could imagine.

And if, as Kransis suspected, all of this was not from their lord Serpina herself but truly connected to Swen—meaning she was acting based on his advice—

‘…There’s no need to speculate prematurely. First, let’s see the results.’

Having toured all the way to Kelstein Castle, it was time to return to Einhart Castle.

Like it or not, once back at the castle, she would be able to understand what was happening.

Having been away for so long, there would be much to hear.

“Ah, Advisor.”

As she left the castle, Merry was waiting to greet her.

She seemed to have waited here the whole time during Jenna’s meeting with Kransis.

“Sorry for taking so long, Merry.”

“Not at all. It’s my duty.”

“Shall we go then?”

“Yes!”

And so Jenna, finally completing her rather long dispatch mission—

Took steps to return to where a national advisor should be, right beside her lord.