Ch.235Chapter 235. Anti-Aeshus Army, Retreating to Border (4)

* * *

Inside the royal audience chamber of Einhart Castle, the capital of Serpina’s army.

“So they’ve declared war, you say?”

“Yes. Just as you predicted, it seems they’re targeting our Serpina army.”

After hearing Serpina’s words from her throne, I nodded and offered my suggestion.

“Please issue a blockade order for Kelstein Castle immediately.”

“A blockade order?”

“It should prohibit all entry and exit for continental citizens, our army’s generals, and all soldiers.”

“…”

She understands exactly what I mean and slowly nods her head in agreement.

“Will that be enough?”

“Fortunately, the area around Kelstein territory has rugged terrain. If we block the routes around it, we can effectively prevent influx from the central continent. And—”

“And?”

“When the disease begins to spread in earnest, please don’t forget to order people to refrain from going outside as much as possible.”

“Very well, I understand.”

It’s probably an epidemic. Considering how things are unfolding according to plan, the possibility of it being anything other than an epidemic was now quite slim.

The question was how severe this epidemic would be. At least our army should be safe. If it weren’t safe, there’s no way the conclusion would have been that ‘this is the most efficient method.’

“Ah, may I make one more request?”

“Speak your mind.”

“Please appoint General Ian as the temporary lord of Kelstein Castle.”

Several months ago.

Ian had managed to contain a terrible crisis early on based on my advice. Because that incident had deepened Serpina’s trust in me, I couldn’t possibly forget it.

If my memory serves me correctly, that terrible crisis was an epidemic. I don’t know what methods he used, but I judged that his wisdom would undoubtedly be helpful to us.

“I shall do so. I needed to reorganize forces anyway as we withdraw all troops from around the border.”

“Thank you.”

Like it or not, the die has been cast.

All that remains is to intuit exactly what will happen that makes this ‘the most efficient’ method.

Well.

What are you planning, Lady Yurie?

* * *

At the Aeshus army’s base camp.

Epinel, who led the vanguard, had returned to camp on horseback and was now reporting to Yurie.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. Not only were there no troops, but there was just a white flag fluttering on top of the tower.”

“They’re surrendering? The Serpina army?”

Epinel scratched the back of his head and responded to Anima’s words.

“That’s what I said, isn’t it?”

“…”

They knew all too well the importance of Hisfil Castle.

In fact, even after the Serpina army stopped advancing, they had been able to avoid fighting at the border partly because Hisfil Castle itself was in a very advantageous position for defense, though not on the level of Kelstein Castle or Anel Castle.

That’s why she herself had memories of struggling desperately to capture that castle.

Of course, the result wasn’t… particularly good, but still, it was natural to question why Serpina, of all people, would simply give away territory for free.

‘A trap… perhaps?’

But what kind of trap would use an entire important territory as bait?

At least in Anima’s mind, she couldn’t easily come up with an answer.

Not just Anima—even the smartest person wouldn’t be able to deduce “a trap with Hisfil Castle as bait.”

“What should we do? Just enter as is?”

“There’s a possibility… it could be a trap, right?”

Yurie turned her head toward Anima and asked.

“It certainly feels suspicious, but… if it’s a trap, it’s impossible to predict what kind it might be. No, from the Serpina army’s perspective, does it even make sense to set a trap when they’re losing Hisfil Castle?”

“They definitely declared war, right?”

“Yes.”

“…What? Then, did they really abandon the territory?”

“Haah…”

Any ordinary lord might easily conclude that they abandoned the territory out of fear of us.

But since the opponent was Serpina, it wasn’t easy to make such a determination.

‘Something feels wrong… but is it right to push our forces in like this…?’

Just as Anima was struggling to make a decision:

“Why don’t we just push in?”

Yurie tilted her head at Epinel’s words.

“Push in, you say?”

“Yeah. They’ve raised a white flag, so they won’t start a fight. So we should accept it. What if Chel’s army or Kalintz’s army takes it instead of us?”

“But no matter how I think about it, this whole situation seems too strange…”

Looking at the hesitant Anima, Epinel spoke in a serious tone.

“Anima. I understand why you’re hesitating. But unless you can provide specific reasons for your concerns, it’s difficult for me to follow your thinking—you as a strategist should know that best.”

“…Hmm…”

“If this is Serpina’s trap, you need to explain exactly what Serpina gains by setting such a trap.”

Epinel’s words were logical.

An enemy force with a white flag right before our eyes. It won’t remain that way forever if we don’t invade.

Moreover, this is Hisfil Castle. The very place she had risked her life trying to capture but failed and had to taste humiliation!

We couldn’t rule out the possibility that Kalintz’s army, Chel’s army, or perhaps even Hesna’s army within range might take Hisfil Castle if we don’t.

“Anyway, the decision is Yurie’s. If you agree with Anima, then we won’t enter.”

“…”

In the end, the decision-maker who had to take responsibility for all decisions was Yurie, who stood above everyone else.

She fell into thought for a moment, then slowly nodded and said:

“Let’s go in.”

“Yurie…”

“Anima, as you said, Serpina might have prepared something. But if she has, I want to face her head-on rather than run away.”

Yurie looked at Epinel and Anima’s faces with a very serious expression.

“If we can’t defeat Serpina, we won’t be able to conquer the world anyway. If this is her trap, I’ll face her directly.”

Why was it?

Looking at Yurie speaking so confidently, Anima thought that perhaps all her worries were meaningless.

Yes. What is there to fear when the five of us are together?

If Serpina’s trick was truly something that could be logically deduced, it would be foolish not to avoid it—but in the current situation, it was impossible to reach a conclusion.

“Alright. Then we’ll enter as planned. No objections?”

“Yes. Please let Erinandorf know as well.”

“Got it. See you later then.”

With those words, Epinel mounted his horse and quickly disappeared from view.

Hisfil Castle.

The territory that once pushed Anima to the brink of death but couldn’t be captured was finally about to fall into the hands of the Aeshus army.

* * *

When Epinel led his forces through the wide-open castle gates and entered the royal castle, there was no sign of anything unusual.

Of course, this lack of unusual signs was only in the context of suspecting the situation itself might be a trap, not that there were no abnormalities at all.

“The territory’s residents were… forcibly mobilized for northern continent development?”

“Yes, that’s right…”

Inside Hisfil Castle, there wasn’t a single Serpina army officer.

Not just officers—not even a single soldier remained.

The white flag had apparently been hastily raised by the remaining residents when they heard that the Aeshus army was advancing.

“So this castle is empty, you’re saying?”

A man who appeared to be a resident bowed his head and answered Epinel’s question.

“Effectively, yes. I don’t know the details myself, but…”

‘…What’s going on?’

Did they intend to abandon this land?

It was strange enough that they withdrew all officers and soldiers, but forcing the residents to relocate made no sense at all—what could they possibly be thinking?

‘Whatever. It wouldn’t be the first time Serpina’s actions made no sense.’

Thinking it would be foolish to try to find meaning in each action of an abnormal tyrant, Epinel let out a hollow laugh.

In any case, after taking control of the castle, she reported this fact to Yurie and Anima who had entered from the base camp.

“What do you think, Anima?”

“What do I think…”

The one reason Anima couldn’t organize her thoughts:

There seemed to be nothing Serpina could gain from all these actions.

Even forcing residents to relocate to undeveloped northern territories was an action with no practical benefit.

Crucially, no matter how arbitrary a tyrant she might be, it was incomprehensible that Serpina would make such a foolish decision.

While she still hated Serpina, she didn’t think of her as a common thug.

“It’s fine.”

Yurie’s hand came to rest on Anima’s shoulder as she was lost in thought.

“Whatever her scheme might be, we’ve taken Hisfil Castle. We’ll continue to fight against Serpina’s army. And we’ll win. When we win, everything will be resolved.”

Hearing Yurie’s words, Anima hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“…Yes. I’ll always follow your decisions, Yurie.”

“Thank you.”

And so, she once again suppressed the inexplicable anxiety that continued to smolder in a corner of her mind.

Along with the hope that all of this would prove to be just needless worry.