Ch.284Chapter 284. An Inefficient Path

“Zenith Al Kaski… Are you referring to Irian’s younger brother?”

“Yes.”

After somehow getting caught up with a group of traitors and saving his family from extinction, he had finished serving a light prison sentence and was now stationed in an outlying region, performing ordinary administrative duties.

While his abilities themselves couldn’t be considered exceptional, the position of guard knight didn’t require outstanding capabilities to begin with, and under the premise of “someone who can be trusted completely,” there was no better choice than him.

After all, he was a man who, despite having plenty of opportunities to betray if he had wanted to, never did so until the end.

Since loyalty was a far more important virtue than exceptional ability, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he was the optimal candidate to take Irene’s place.

Serpina, having received the report, seemed to quickly grasp the general context and nodded.

“I understand. Let it be as you wish.”

“Good. Then let’s settle this matter and… move on to the main topic.”

As I spread out the map, Serpina stepped to my side with perfect timing.

From the intense citrus scent, I realized that she and I were now working quite well together.

“First of all, in my opinion, dealing with Chel Brans would be the best choice. But before that, there’s something I’d like to ask of you, my lord.”

Serpina responded with a faint smile.

“I think I know what you’re going to say.”

“Oh? Really?”

“What do you take me for?”

Serpina smiled amusedly and asked me with her usual queenly demeanor.

“Do you think occupying Chel’s army is the most efficient method?”

Indeed, she had perfectly grasped my intentions.

Perhaps because she knows about my ability, she can read what I’m trying to do.

It seemed that becoming familiar with each other wasn’t something that applied only to me.

Anyway, having been asked the question, my answer flowed quickly.

[Yes.]

‘Yes… is what it says?’

My thoughts were correct, but there was still something I needed to check.

“My lord. May I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“Do you intend to personally participate in the occupation force?”

Serpina shook her head without hesitation.

“I would like to, but there are things I need to finish.”

“Finish, you say?”

“You were recently appointed as strategist. While many, including Jenna, seem to have accepted this fact, there still appear to be some who are dissatisfied.”

“Oh… really?”

Unlike me, who was surprised by this unknown fact, Serpina calmly nodded.

“It’s something that always happens when the balance of power shifts. When sitting in this position, one needs to understand what the generals are sensitive about.”

Come to think of it, Serpina had been leading the administration by personally interviewing each of her many generals, understanding their aptitudes, and placing them in appropriate positions.

Perhaps because she constantly faces them, she can read even unexpressed dissatisfaction.

“And also… I’m concerned about something else.”

“Concerned?”

“The settlers who were sent to the northern frontier. I think it would be good to visit them for encouragement.”

By settlers, does she mean those people whose lives she saved?

While they should be grateful just for having their lives saved, the direction of public sentiment doesn’t always follow the ruler’s intentions, so it was difficult to blame anyone for this issue.

Watching her, I felt a heaviness in my heart.

What kind of reaction would it cause throughout the continent if people learned that the woman widely known as a tyrant was worried about the subjects whose lives she had saved?

No, such fairy-tale reactions wouldn’t happen. Only rumors questioning her motives or claiming the news was fabricated would spread.

“So you won’t be participating in the occupation force?”

“That’s right.”

‘Hmm…’

After talking, it seems there might be more to her reasons…

After pondering for a moment, I looked at her and said:

“In that case, would you consider participating in the occupation force this time?”

“…What?”

Her eyes widened slightly in surprise at my words, giving a strangely cute impression.

“I mean exactly what I said. I would like you, Serpina, to have the will to participate in this occupation force. Not just ‘maybe I’ll try,’ but firmly thinking ‘I will definitely participate in the battle.'”

Serpina fell into thought for a moment.

“I remember you saying something similar before. I suppose this is related to using your ability?”

“You’re quick to catch on.”

“As I said, I don’t know what you take me for. Hehehe…”

She laughed with crescent-moon eyes and then:

“Very well.”

“Thank you. Please wait a moment.”

I entered the question she had asked me once more.

‘Is attacking and occupying Chel’s army through an occupation force the most efficient choice?’

And the answer rolled out quickly, just like before.

[No, it is not.]

‘….’

To the test question I had entered, I received an answer within my expected range.

I thought I wasn’t particularly surprised since I had anticipated it, but—

“Something’s wrong, Swen.”

“…Can you see that?”

“I’m always watching your face. Who else could read your mind if not me?”

Given that Serpina detected my agitation, it seemed I still needed to practice my poker face.

—Let me organize my thoughts.

With Serpina’s participation, the “efficiency” of this occupation changes.

When Serpina doesn’t participate, battle with Chel’s army is the “most efficient” method for our army.

This is from the perspective of our army—that is, “Serpina’s army.” It’s different from “Serpina’s” perspective, which wasn’t difficult to discern from the previous questions and their implications.

But with Serpina’s participation alone, this decision becomes “inefficient.”

If I were a general loyal to the state, I would naturally choose the most efficient method…

The problem was that, as long as I belonged to Serpina’s army, “efficiency” wasn’t necessarily something that would make Ruler Serpina smile.

‘In the worst case, Serpina could be in danger.’

If Serpina’s life were truly threatened, there would have been more direct expressions like “the fate of the Unified Empire would be at stake,” but even so, considering how choosing “inefficient” had improved Serpina’s reputation before, it wasn’t difficult to determine what I should choose.

“My lord. It seems you must participate in the occupation force and fight alongside us this time.”

“Is my participation the most efficient method?”

“Well…”

At that moment, my words caught in my throat.

No, it’s the opposite. It’s not efficient. The efficient method would put you in danger.

I could never tell her that putting her in danger would be beneficial for our army.

So, I decided to brazenly gild my tongue and smiled knowingly.

“It seems that way.”

“…Really?”

She said that as if unconvinced, then turned her head to look toward the window.

Her somewhat lonely profile entered my view.

“Swen.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Did your results truly show that my direct participation would be efficient?”

“Yes. Do you not trust me?”

“No! That’s not it at all… I trust you. I’m just afraid.”

“…Pardon?”

“Afraid of ruining everything again. Like I always have…”

She slowly turned her head to look directly into my eyes.

“Swen, as you probably know… it’s always been this way. Whenever things seemed to be going well, something always tripped me up. If I join the occupation force this time and a rebellion breaks out, or if the misfortune that follows me strikes our occupation force again…”

Seeing her tremble with fear as she spoke, I finally realized the decisive reason why she didn’t want to participate in the occupation force.

I see.

There were several reasons, but that seemed to be the biggest one.

Fear. The terror of ruining everything again.

That’s how her life had been until now. Whenever something was going well, she would either be hindered or hated by everyone for crimes she never committed.

“Swen. You have a place to return to, don’t you? You don’t need to risk everything for me. I’m satisfied just having you by my side at this moment.”

She might not know it, but I had no intention of being satisfied with just being by her side at this moment.

Therefore, I…

For Serpina’s sake, I would walk the inefficient path.

I placed both hands on her shoulders.

“…!”

It was an extremely rude action to lay hands on the ruler’s body, but I knew by now that she would tolerate this much.

“It can’t be helped. My lord is absolutely necessary for this occupation. You must participate.”

“…I’m… necessary?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

I noticed her golden eyes trembling slightly.

“But… what if my cursed fate swallows even your divine sight and puts you in danger? If you, of all people, Swen, were to be placed in a dangerous situation…”

She bit her lip slightly.

I’ve been feeling this lately—she was a more fragile woman than I thought. She seemed to be showing me this side of herself more often these days.

Is it too presumptuous to think she’s opened her heart to me?

“Well then, I’ll just have to die, I suppose.”

“What…?”

“If you feel that bad about it, give me an extremely lavish funeral.”

“…Swen, what are you saying—”

“Or.”

I slowly lowered my hands and took her snow-white hands in mine.

They’re warm.

The tyrant’s hands are so warm that…

I think I understand why she wanted to save me.

“Die with me.”

“…!!!”

Instead of saying “please stay alive with me no matter what”—

“Wouldn’t that solve the problem?”

Brazenly, I ask her to die with me.

“Swen…”

She stares at me with a stunned expression, looking more like a young girl than a ruler.

I recall the woman in my dreams looking at me with such eyes.

“But don’t worry. There won’t be any dying.”

“Huh…?”

To Serpina, who was looking at me with wavering eyes,

I uttered the taboo words that a strategist should never say.

“Because what I say is always right.”

“!!!”

“So, please just do as I say.”

Back then.

When I first possessed this body, I blindly trusted my Intelligence stat of 100 and would brazenly say “just do as I say” without even trying to persuade.

In Brans’ army, in Aeshus’ army, and here in Serpina’s army—I gradually learned that I couldn’t do things that way.

And now.

Once again, I become brazen before the woman I want to protect.

As for Serpina, she silently stared into my eyes for a long time, looking and looking and looking…

When her eyes were filled with nothing but my existence from all that staring, she drew a beautiful crescent on her face.

“…Yes. I—”

—will do as you say, Swen.

Whatever it is… I trust you.