Ch.255Chapter 255. The Second Magician (1)

* * *

Going back in time, to when the Aeshus forces were just beginning to stretch their reach toward the Einhart forces once more.

In the southern continent, which had maintained peace for a long time, the winds of war were gradually rising.

The capital of the newly established Lunarian forces, Castle Tepelo.

When the rebellion first broke out, everyone predicted that “something would happen soon,” and indeed, the Karelia forces had deployed large numbers of troops at the border—

But surprisingly, for a long time, not only was there no war, but there wasn’t even anything that could be called a battle or small-scale local conflict as quiet days continued to pass.

Of course, this was only in the external sense—regarding whether any nation had moved its military.

The system to lead the new nation was being built slowly but steadily.

—Among these developments, today was the day to announce the key figures who would lead the national affairs.

Luna slowly rose from her seat and approached Tifa, who was kneeling with her sword drawn, to perform a kind of “ceremony.”

“Tifa, I hereby formally appoint you as the Commander-in-Chief of our forces.”

“I humbly accept, my lord.”

This was a formal exchange and ceremony that the two would never normally engage in—

But Swen had said, ‘Showing authority to subordinates in some way is also a virtue of a superior.’

Therefore, Luna silently followed his words.

“And…”

After finishing the ceremony with Tifa, Luna slowly approached the old man kneeling beside her.

“Ginor, I hereby formally appoint you as the State Strategist of our forces.”

This decision was quite a bold personnel choice from the Lunarian forces’ perspective.

Of course, if one considered ability alone, there would be no one more outstanding than Ginor, but he was not someone who had joined when the rebellion first started, but rather someone who had requested to join midway.

From the perspective of the current Lunarian forces, which had many generals from the Karelia forces who valued loyalty, it was widely expected that Violet, the young female strategist who had assisted her from the beginning, would take that position—but that expectation had been completely overturned.

“I promise to fulfill my duties with utmost dedication to the responsibility you have entrusted to me.”

Ginor was not unaware of this atmosphere.

After all, where he originally belonged was the Aeshus forces.

No matter how important loyalty was as a virtue to the Karelia forces, the situation was much better than in that country, which showed extremely exclusive reactions to anyone outside the Five.

Moreover, from his perspective, he did have some desire to observe Luna from a close position—so there was no reason to refuse the position given to him.

After all the ceremonies were completed.

Ginor headed to the audience chamber at the appointed time, as he had been told before the ceremony.

“You called for me, my lord.”

“You’ve come, Lord Ginor.”

He was about to say ‘you don’t need to use honorifics with me,’ but then stopped himself.

For some reason, she consistently used honorifics with all her subordinates.

If that was the culture of this country, it was a matter of him adapting to it.

More importantly, it was time to get to the main point.

“May I ask why you summoned me?”

“It’s not a matter of great importance, but since you will now be taking the position of State Strategist for our country, there are a few things I need to convey to you.”

“Please speak.”

“First of all, I will not be using the title ‘Strategist’ when addressing you in the future… but this is absolutely not because I don’t acknowledge you, or because I’m trying to undermine you in any way, and I really want to make sure you don’t misunderstand that.”

Ginor himself didn’t mind not being called a strategist.

What mattered more than what he was called was how he was actually treated.

A ruler who called someone a strategist in public places but didn’t actually consult them on important matters, preferring to discuss only with those they trusted, was far worse than a ruler who was willing to discuss state affairs with them at any time.

Nevertheless, if he was going to ask a question, now was the only timing.

“I don’t mind… but may I ask the reason?”

Luna heard this and fell into thought for a moment.

“…I think I can explain that along with the second reason.”

Ginor silently nodded slowly.

Luna could easily tell that this meant he was waiting for an answer.

“Secondly… I plan to change the State Strategist in the future.”

With a very resolute voice, she confronted him with her true intentions without avoiding his gaze.

“This doesn’t mean it might happen… it means it will happen, without exception. However, this isn’t just about you, Lord Ginor, but about anyone… even if Violet had taken that position, it would be the same.”

“That means…”

Nod.

Luna slowly nodded, looking at Ginor with very straightforward eyes.

“The person who will become our country’s strategist… the person I will call ‘Strategist’ is only one person in this world.”

At those words, Ginor’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

And in his mind flashed the face of a man he knew. A strategist with white hair and gray eyes who seemed to use the ability of ‘mind’s eye’ through magic.

Changing the position of State Strategist would be an extremely sensitive and delicate issue for the person appointed as strategist.

Nevertheless, Lunarian was strongly asserting that she would “definitely change it.”

It was essentially a bombshell declaration equivalent to “you are a strategist with an expiration date,” but Ginor, who heard this, didn’t particularly feel emotional about it.

Rather, how he approached it was—well, if there was someone more capable than himself, he could willingly hand over the strategist position.

And if the man she claimed as her strategist was that person, then he was certainly someone more outstanding than himself.

“I understand.”

Hearing this, Lunarian bowed deeply with a very apologetic expression and said:

“…I’m sorry for telling you this right after your appointment. However, I thought it would be deceptive to you, Lord Ginor, if I didn’t mention this when my mind is made up and only expected you to fulfill your duties as strategist.”

Ginor quickly bowed in response.

“Not at all, my lord. The right to appoint a strategist is entirely at your discretion. Please don’t worry too much. I will strive not to burden the strategist you have in mind.”

His words were not empty.

Sincerely, someone like Swen would surely show much more outstanding insight than himself.

Luna offered him a respectful handshake and said:

“I look forward to working with you, Lord Ginor.”

* * *

After finishing his audience with Luna and leaving the royal castle, a familiar face was waiting for him.

“…Kalle.”

“Haha, it’s hard to get used to, isn’t it? It seems like just yesterday you were calling me ‘Your Highness Kalle.'”

“I don’t think you were waiting just to say such nonsense.”

Kalle, who had been joking, soon spoke with a very serious expression.

“What do you think?”

“About what?”

“About our lord.”

“…I don’t think I have enough information yet to make a judgment about her.”

“Surely you must have some first impression, after all.”

“…”

He was about to give a vague answer, but thinking it would be better to be honest here, Ginor lightly revealed his thoughts.

“She doesn’t seem like a ruler who will achieve unification.”

“Why?”

“Whether a tyrant or a wise ruler, the position of monarch is ultimately one that must willingly be covered in people’s blood. I can highly appreciate her strong will, but… I don’t really see that somewhat cruel aspect that is common to all rulers.”

“Well, our lord is the type who does what needs to be done when it needs to be done. That’s the difference from Karelia.”

Ginor easily understood those words. If it were Karelia, they would never have rebelled no matter what happened.

Even if injustice occurred, taking everything upon oneself was a commendable spirit, but… it wasn’t a virtue of a ruler seeking unification.

“You’ll probably come to know before long. That our lord is someone who will achieve greatness.”

Instead of agreeing with that opinion, Ginor continued their earlier conversation.

“Objectively speaking, I wonder what can be done with just one castle in Tepelo and about 90,000 troops. I honestly think we could never win if war broke out with the Karelia forces tomorrow.”

“That’s quite a cold assessment.”

“Isn’t it an obvious conclusion? I think even you would easily reach the same conclusion.”

Hearing this, Kalle laughed loudly a few times, then asked an interesting question.

“Then why did you join our forces?”

“That’s…”

“Yes. I know too. It was because of Swen’s recommendation, wasn’t it?”

Yes.

The reason he willingly took on the position of State Strategist for this precarious nation—a rebel nation where he would certainly be executed if captured—and even accepted it as temporary was—

All because Swen had said, “Lunarian Ineanne will become the ruler who unifies the continent.”

“…Come to think of it, what was Swen like when he was with the Lunarian forces?”

“I can explain it very simply. He… achieved impossible miracles, over and over again.”

Kalle’s eyes, as he explained about Swen, sparkled with a youthfulness that belied his age.

“The battle with the Brans forces, and then the agreement… asserting his own will and proving it right. He kept repeating this very simple proposition. It’s the same now. Didn’t our forces finally get another chance?”

According to Kalle, it was Swen who had insisted on recommending Luna’s group to the Karelia forces.

If one considered it an opportunity that a once-fallen lord had somehow declared his own country again in these chaotic times… then his words were proving correct this time as well.

“However, there is one thing that concerns me…”

“Tell me.”

“The fact that Swen hasn’t returned here.”

Swen was currently working under Serpina.

This was almost certain based on what Ginor had seen and heard, and rumors circulating near the northern regions.

If he had decided to come down after hearing the news of Lunarian’s uprising, enough time had already passed for him to have arrived, so it wasn’t strange for Kalle to have doubts.

‘…’

Hearing this, Ginor fell into thought.

Ginor was the person who had most recently been in contact with Swen among them.

The reason he went to the Einhart forces was because of the incomprehensible strange “exchange” by Lord Yurie, but… the fundamental reason that situation unfolded was because Swen had gone to the Einhart forces as an envoy.

And considering that it was none other than Swen who volunteered to be the envoy—

‘It seems he has something to do within the Einhart forces.’

Since he recommended the Lunarian forces to me, he must also think of Luna as the lord he should serve.

Considering that, isn’t the conclusion easy to reach?

“Well, knowing Swen, he must have something in mind.”

Ginor nodded at Kalle’s words.

Yes. He probably has something to do there for the great cause of the Lunarian forces…

Although he couldn’t know what it was, Swen had the ability to always find the right answer, so it was clear that the continent would be shaken again in ways no one could imagine.

[He is staying with the Einhart forces because he has something to do there].

Just up to here.

This was the optimal conclusion Ginor could reach with the information he had.

Anyway, what he needed to do now was to solve the immediate problems in front of him.

‘Well, I hope we have a long period to consolidate our internal affairs.’

Since there was no clear prospect of victory yet, he hoped that nothing would happen until a situation arose where they could gain the upper hand—

* * *

But situations don’t always move as one wishes.