Ch.257Chapter 257. The Second Magician (3)

Ginor’s words were utterly resolute.

Luna maintained her silence without answering, then carefully parted her lips.

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. I simply cannot imagine us winning.”

90,000 versus 200,000.

Even with the advantage of defending a fortress, such a difference in numbers was not easily overcome.

Moreover, the enemy would surely bring siege weapons, and if our forces went out to intercept them… our already disadvantaged troops would have to be split into two.

Commander Tifa was a capable warrior in her own right, but she wasn’t an exceptional general like Erinandorf, Emma, or Epinel from the Aeshus army who could single-handedly turn the tide of battle.

While Tepel Castle had relatively strong defenses—

There was no terrain suitable for ambushes or surprise attacks on the enemy.

Besides, in a situation with such a disparity in forces, if an ambush failed, it would deal a devastating blow. Therefore, holding the fortress remained the best option.

No matter how many times he considered it.

With his abilities, he couldn’t think of any innovative strategy to overcome this situation.

“I simply cannot imagine us winning…”

Luna pondered these words for a while, then looked at Ginor and asked.

“You’re saying this is your assessment based solely on the information you currently have, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“Let me ask you one thing. This battle—from our army’s perspective, it’s one we cannot avoid, isn’t it?”

After hearing Luna’s words, Ginor thought briefly before answering quickly.

“With nowhere to flee, it’s a battle our army must fight.”

“Then that’s fine.”

Luna left this puzzling statement and slowly rose from her seat.

“Please gather everyone, Ginor.”

“You intend to resist, I presume?”

“I believe you understand well that we have no other choice.”

As Luna said, whether the odds were against us or success seemed impossible—these weren’t the important issues from our perspective.

Since rebels wouldn’t be spared even if they surrendered, resistance was the only option left.

However, that wasn’t what Ginor was concerned about.

“My lord. Forgive my impertinence, but may I ask a question? Please consider it as coming from someone who has pledged his life to you.”

“Go ahead, Ginor.”

“Is there some variable that I’m unaware of?”

From Ginor’s perspective, Lunarian wasn’t the type of person who perfectly concealed her emotions behind a poker face.

Rather, Luna was quite emotionally expressive. She had openly shown her surprise to him, a stranger, when Swen was mentioned.

For someone like her to remain so calm after hearing “I cannot imagine us winning”—she must have something she believed in.

Her earlier comment about “information you currently have” was evidence of this.

And incidentally, he wanted to test what kind of person Lunarian was.

Ginor trusted her solely because Swen had specifically designated her as “the one who would become the unifying monarch.”

So why would someone of Swen’s caliber make such a declaration?

How would she overcome this situation? It was natural for someone in the same boat to be curious.

But.

Luna’s answer was quite unexpected.

“Yes. There is.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know either.”

“…Pardon?”

Ginor, who had never been flustered before any monarch, blurted out in surprise.

This was only the second time in his life.

The first time, of course, was when he saw Yurie offering to betray Swen.

“I too don’t know what variable there might be. But… if there is absolutely no other way for our army to avoid this battle—our army will win. Without fail.”

As Luna said this, she smiled with her ruby-colored eyes shining.

Beyond those eyes… there was an incredibly strong trust that no one, including Ginor, could penetrate.

“In the end, we will be the victors… because the strategist said so.”

The strategist said so.

When Luna directly mentioned a strategist—there was only one person it could be.

“So, we will definitely win. Because I’ve seized the opportunity that was said would come.”

‘….’

Certainly.

This woman didn’t have the floating air typical of someone putting on airs.

She genuinely believed without a doubt that she would win.

And Swen, a man presumed to see the future, had declared that this woman would become the unifying monarch.

‘…Hmph.’

If he hadn’t encountered Swen, Ginor might have fled in the night at this point—

But Ginor decided to trust the judgment of that man who had acted as if he knew the future, and the auspicious feeling he had when he met him.

Wasn’t that why he had come this far, believing in him?

“Ginor. Won’t you call everyone together?”

At Luna’s words, Ginor bowed to his new lord.

“As you command.”

* * *

In the meeting room where everyone had gathered, Luna was briefing the situation with a map spread out.

“Since the enemy’s total forces exceed 200,000, we naturally have no choice but to hold the fortress… but as I mentioned, since the enemy has brought numerous siege weapons, we must somehow send an interception force. I believe everyone understands this much.”

“So, who’s going to lead the vanguard?”

To Tifa’s question, Luna nodded and answered.

“The one leading the vanguard is… a man called Sard Astron.”

“…!!”

As soon as that name was heard, several people began to stir noticeably.

Their common trait—they were originally from the Karelia army, not Lunarian’s forces.

“…Do you all know something about him?”

“My lord.”

Metz, who had been quietly listening from one side, raised his hand.

Among the former Karelia soldiers who had joined Lunarian’s army, he was the one who had earned the most trust from Luna.

“Please speak, Metz.”

“Have you heard of the Astron Mercenary Group, my lord?”

“…Ah.”

Now that he mentioned it, she remembered.

The Astron Mercenary Group.

While mercenaries would do anything for money, she vaguely recalled hearing that this group was particularly cruel, driven purely by monetary gain.

Ginor also showed a slight reaction to the name. Indeed, the mercenary group hired by Serpina to corner Anima was the Astron Mercenary Group.

“Does this mean… Karelia has entrusted the position of commander to a mercenary group?”

“No, that’s unlikely. It would be absurd to entrust such a large force to mercenaries, and General Sard was originally part of the Karelia army.”

“Is that so…?”

Sard, the leader of the notoriously cruel Astron Mercenary Group, was part of the Karelia army?

It was a strange combination that didn’t readily come to mind, like forcing someone to wear ill-fitting clothes.

“Yes. Despite his tremendous contributions during the nation’s establishment, he was banished by his lord, Karelia, due to his cruel nature. But the fact that he has reappeared here now means…”

At that moment, the image of a female strategist flashed through Luna’s mind.

Vanessa Trinity.

It was probably her suggestion.

Of course, even if she had suggested it, nothing would have changed.

In the end, it was the monarch Karelia who decided to recruit Sard again.

In other words, even from Karelia’s perspective… she had broken her own principles to somehow finish us off.

“Even in desperation, to reach out to such a person…”

“So Karelia’s principles finally broke.”

“Completely corrupted. Tsk tsk.”

Despite saying such things, they couldn’t hide the trembling in their voices—Ginor, who had been quietly listening, realized this.

From the perspective of direct betrayers, it would be difficult to readily accept that the current situation was an extreme crisis.

Bravado. Yes, indeed, from those who were originally in the Karelia army, including Metz, there was definitely a sense of putting on airs, unlike Luna.

Luna closed her eyes once slowly, then continued her story.

“…Additionally, Vanessa Trinity and Cecile Lohengrin have been named as advisors.”

With Sard filling the ‘warrior’ position that the Karelia army had lacked, and Vanessa on the left and Cecile on the right—

This was certainly what could be considered the dream team of the Karelia army.

Luna recalled Cecile’s face and closed her eyes tightly.

She had no regrets about seizing the “opportunity” Swen had mentioned… but she couldn’t help feeling sorry for Cecile who had believed in her.

But.

Such feelings of regret were—clearly a “luxury.”

Thinking of Swen, who had to carry out unwanted tasks under the threats of the cruel witch Serpina, it was obvious that she shouldn’t be swayed by mere feelings of regret.

Luna truly believed this and, renewing her determination, continued her explanation in a very resolute tone.

“Since the enemy will use siege weapons, I plan to form a guerrilla unit with about 30,000 soldiers… but it will be an extremely dangerous mission that requires risking one’s life.”

30,000 was about 1/3 of their total forces.

From Luna’s perspective, she was committing as many troops as possible.

Even so, fighting against 200,000 was undeniably a dangerous mission.

Therefore—

“I, Lunarian, will personally lead the vanguard.”

“…!!”

She couldn’t send only those who believed in and followed her into danger alone.

“W-wait a moment, please! It’s too dangerous for you to go personally, my lord! I would gladly lead the guerrilla unit…!”

Francis pleaded anxiously to Luna, but.

“No. This is something only I can do.”

“But…!”

At that moment.

Kyle, who had been quietly listening, let out a chuckle and stopped Francis.

“Let it be. The lord’s opinion is correct here.”

“Pardon…?”

“For such an important position, what’s wrong with sending the strongest person?”

“…????”

As Francis wore an expression of incomprehension, Tifa’s hand landed on his shoulder.

“It’s exactly as he says. Let’s trust Luna here.”

What?

Is Lady Lunarian… actually incredibly powerful?

From Francis’s perspective, Luna had the image of a flower blooming on a cliff, so this situation was completely incomprehensible… but neither Tifa nor Kyle were the type to joke around in this situation.

“Tifa, I think you’ll need to come with me.”

“I was worried you wouldn’t ask—this works out perfectly!”

“W-wait a moment! My lord! Then please allow me, Francis, to also help…!”

“Francis, you need to protect the castle while we’re away. I believe you understand how important that mission is as well.”

“But—”

“Francis. Will you grant my request?”

Faced with Luna’s smiling response, Francis couldn’t insist on being sent out.

But as he wondered if it was really right to stay behind the walls with many troops while his lord personally led the vanguard…

“My lord.”

Ginor, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to offer my opinion on your strategy. Would that be acceptable?”

“By all means, Ginor. Please speak freely.”

—Ginor thought.

“In the end, we will be the victors… because the strategist said so.”

And Ginor decided to bet on Luna’s belief.

If, due to some “variable,” our army were to “win”—

Ginor naturally recalled what had happened during the invasion of Hisfil Castle.

The conversation he had with the white-haired strategist who received absolute trust from Lunarian.

“But isn’t that right? If I could see the future, I wouldn’t be walking this tightrope—I’d be making more plausible claims upfront, wouldn’t I?”

“It’s different if the future you can see is limited. For instance, you might know whether you’ll win or lose a war… but not why it happens that way.”

We will win.

But we don’t know why we will win.

At that time, Swen had acted as if he only knew the “result” of victory and was trying to make the process fit that outcome.

It was such a strange behavior that it remained vivid in his memory even now.

So.

If we set the “victory” of Lunarian’s army in this battle as a fixed value, the most rational decision our army could make is—

“Please increase the guerrilla force from 30,000 to 80,000, no, if possible, even more.”

“…Pardon?”

Seeing Luna’s slightly surprised expression—

Ginor felt truly alive for the first time in a very long time, since the day the Empire fell.

“Leave only the minimum necessary forces in the castle, and assign all remaining troops to the guerrilla unit, my lord!”