Ch.236Chapter 236. Retreating to Border, Aftermath (1)

After taking over Hispil Castle, Yurie spent time with Anima making various preparations, but contrary to their worries, nothing unusual happened and peaceful days continued to pass.

Even after strengthening their vigilance for a while longer, several more uneventful days passed before scouts began reporting back one by one.

The information they brought was different from what had been expected.

“There are no troops found at Jellin Castle either?”

“That’s right. And that’s not all. The scout says there was also a major evacuation from Jellin Castle recently.”

“Really… this doesn’t make sense. Are you certain?”

“How could I possibly lie to my lord?”

Yurie made a light gesture to the soldier who knelt while speaking.

“Alright, I understand. Tell the scout he can rest well.”

“Yes!”

After the soldier withdrew, Yurie slowly approached the lord’s chair and asked Anima, who had been standing silently nearby.

“What do you think, Anima?”

“One thing is certain.”

“What’s that?”

“Serpina has completely abandoned the territories near the border, including Hispil Castle.”

“Do you have any idea why she might have done this?”

Anima shook her head with a bitter smile at Yurie’s question.

“If I did, I would have explained it first.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

Noticing Yurie’s slightly deflated voice, Anima quickly added a few more words.

“But honestly, it was strange that they were still concerned about Jellin Castle after abandoning Hispil Castle.”

Since we had recaptured Hispil Castle, Jellin Castle would have been easy for us to take.

Abandoning Hispil Castle like cutting losses, only to meet us at the difficult-to-defend Jellin Castle would have been an even stranger decision.

“I’ve been thinking that something might have happened in the Northern Continent.”

“Something happened?”

“Yes. Maybe they don’t have the resources to focus on this border…”

After days of consideration, this was the only rational conclusion Anima could reach to explain the current situation: ‘Something has gone wrong in the Northern Continent.’

They abandoned the territory and withdrew all troops because some situation prevented them from focusing here.

The Northern Continent was still experiencing intermittent rebellions due to Tyrant Serpina’s legacy. Even recently, there was a commotion when a magician appeared during the suppression of rebels.

So perhaps they abandoned the territory and forcibly mobilized the residents to send them to the Northern Continent, both to give up the land and reduce its productivity… That was the best hypothesis she could come up with.

Though it was somewhat concerning, there wasn’t enough information to come up with anything better, and she didn’t want to spend all day worrying only to miss another golden opportunity.

Sometimes the simplest answer is correct. No, rather than sometimes, it’s usually the case. The world tends to be relatively simple.

Anyway, Yurie organized her thoughts and briefly briefed Anima.

After hearing Anima’s general explanation, Yurie nodded and asked a question.

“If that’s the case, can we now occupy the territory without worry?”

“Yes. I think we should hurry.”

If Serpina has other matters to attend to, this is certainly a golden opportunity for us.

If they’ve abandoned the territory, we should move quickly.

“Tell Epinel and Erinandorf to advance immediately to Jellin Castle. And…”

“And?”

“I’m thinking of calling Emma. What do you think?”

Emma was currently managing their original territory in the capital, Valharat Castle.

“Emma would certainly be helpful, but… wouldn’t it be better to have someone remain at the capital castle?”

“No. If Serpina has truly abandoned the territories along this border, we need to mobilize our forces as quickly as possible to secure them. It’s a waste to keep someone of Emma’s caliber on capital defense. Mileina or Beliel can handle territory management.”

“Hmm… alright. Anima, I’ll do as you say.”

Yurie quickly called over a nearby soldier.

“Go to Valharat Castle and tell them I’m looking for Emma. Take any horse from the stable and travel as fast as possible.”

“Yes, understood!”

As they watched the soldier leave, Anima spoke with determined eyes.

“Yurie. Let’s move first. We’ve already wasted too much time preparing for traps, so we can’t afford to waste any more. Next is Jellin Castle! Let’s raise the Aeshus army’s flag across the Central Continent!”

“…Yes!”

And so, their occupation of the Central Continent—

The answer they had chosen at the beginning, “invade Serpina’s forces,” was starting to seem quite correct.

At least up to this point.

* * *

After successfully capturing Jellin Castle, appointing an appropriate lord, and setting up administration…

Until this point, everything had been progressing extremely smoothly.

But.

“…Huh?”

Things began to go awry when they sent troops to invade Alcanwood Castle, one of Serpina’s border territories located northwest of Jellin Castle.

The scouts had clearly reported that only white flags were fluttering there.

“That’s…”

Epinel, who was at the vanguard, confirmed the flag waving on Alcanwood Castle’s spire.

It wasn’t white. It was… a sky-blue flag with a brown X drawn on it.

She was familiar with sky-blue flags—the banner of the Brans forces. But that… wasn’t the Brans forces’ flag.

Recently, the Brans forces, which had been practically the second most powerful in the continent, had split into three different countries.

The original Brans forces led by Lynn still used the sky-blue flag.

The Brans forces led by Kalintz, who had swept up valuable territories including Anel Castle, used a sky-blue flag with a yellow cross.

And the flag of the Brans forces led by Chel, which contained the most excellent generals…

“…Chel Brans?”

The flag flying on Alcanwood Castle’s spire belonged to Chel’s forces.

* * *

Turning back time, a few days earlier.

At the royal castle of Haizel, the temporary capital of Chel’s forces.

“Damn it!”

Bang!

Chel roughly threw the helmet he was holding.

Crash!

The metal helmet split in two.

“Does it make any sense that we still haven’t captured Anel Castle?!”

“B-but… they’re concentrating a lot of resources on defense, and my lord, you’re well aware of Anel Castle’s fortifications.”

“…Haa.”

The plan had been perfect.

Take over Anel Castle, which his foolish younger brother occupied, capture Lynn, and become the true legitimate heir.

Lynn Brans had deteriorated to the point where she could no longer be considered the wise sister he once knew. He had followed her because she was worth following, but that was no longer the case.

As for Kalintz, well, he had always been the inferior student of the Brans family, unable to match Chel in any aspect.

So.

He thought this would be the perfect opportunity to prove that his father’s judgment had been wrong.

“Leave.”

“B-but… my lord.”

“It would be better if you weren’t in my sight right now. I might kill you. …I don’t want to do that.”

“…!!”

“Leave. Now.”

The general who had brought news of the third defeat to Chel bowed his head apologetically and hurriedly left the royal castle without saying anything more.

Setting aside the goal of capturing Lynn Brans to claim legitimacy over the Brans forces.

The situation of being unable to subdue even that fool Kalintz, wasting time and depleting troops…

This situation itself was extremely difficult for the proud Chel to bear.

‘I can’t even take the field myself.’

Though he wanted to go personally, honestly, his body was quite different from when he was called the First Sword of Brans.

The demanding duties that came with becoming a ruler and the stress from situations not going as planned made it nearly impossible to spend all day training his body without worry.

Like an unused sword grows dull, Chel’s physical form had no choice but to gradually forget the sensations of a warrior.

While it was disappointing not to go to the battlefield, he understood. After all, it wasn’t particularly desirable for a ruler to always lead from the front lines.

‘How frustrating, truly.’

One day, while spending time unable to defeat his younger brother whom he had always dismissed, or more precisely, always considered pathetic:

“Is that really true?”

“Yes, it is. How could I possibly lie to my lord?”

From a scout who had gone to patrol the eastern area, he heard very unexpected news.

Word that Serpina’s forces were withdrawing troops from near the border.

“…What do you think, Daltrick?”

“Well…”

Daltrick, who had once served as the lord of Jog Castle but now somehow ended up as the national advisor to Chel’s forces, bowed his head deeply and spoke in an uncertain tone.

“I suspect something unusual must have happened in the Northern Continent.”

“Unusual?”

“There would be no reason to withdraw troops otherwise.”

Daltrick, who was considered quite talented within the Brans forces but objectively closer to an ordinary person, gave his answer quickly without much deliberation.

Chel didn’t ask for additional explanation either.

After all, why would anyone do something as crazy as abandoning territory if that weren’t the case?

‘…Then…’

Could this be an opportunity?

Instead of the stagnant siege of Anel Castle, they could focus on expanding territory.

In a situation where extensive territory meant national power, he thought he might be able to overwhelm his siblings from a completely different angle.

“Go and call everyone, Daltrick.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“I’m thinking of setting out right away. And also.”

Chel spoke with a confident expression he hadn’t shown in a while.

“This time, I shall participate personally.”