Ch.311Chapter 311. Red-Eyed Dragon of the South (1)

* * *

When the Aeshus Army still existed as a nation on the continent.

The same time was flowing in the southern continent, just as it was in the north-central region.

The new capital of the nascent Lunarian Army, Madlan Castle.

“My lord. All prisoners except for three have been successfully recruited into our army.”

Luna, who was focused on her duties as ruler in her office, slowly nodded without looking at Ginor who was addressing her.

“Good work. What about those people?”

“They show absolutely no willingness to surrender.”

“How long have they been captured?”

“Just over three months now.”

“So about 100 days then.”

After saying that, Luna continued in a casual tone as if discussing the evening menu.

“Execute all three of them.”

“You want them executed?”

“Yes. And here.”

Ginor received what Luna handed over.

“This is the ‘City Policy’ that summarizes the suggestions from the territory residents. Please deliver it to the lords of each territory. Since I won’t be holding a national council, please ensure these policies are followed unless there are other matters to discuss.”

“……”

“Do you have anything else to report?”

Ginor, holding the documents, fell into thought for a moment, then carefully met her eyes and asked.

“Rather than executing everyone, there is also the option of releasing them.”

“Release them, you say?”

“Yes. If you don’t intend to rule through fear like Vanessa, showing mercy even to enemy forces could help with image-making, which wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

Especially since this army was essentially the former Karelia Army.

That was the point. For example, if commanders from the Brans Army or Serpina Army routinely executed enemy officers, their subordinates wouldn’t waver.

But Karelia was different. The fact that people chose to join under Karelia in these chaotic times, giving up easier paths, meant they were drawn to the ideals she pursued.

In fact, Karelia was famous for never executing a single prisoner, even if they were rulers. The only person she publicly declared she would defeat was Serpina, a woman close to absolute evil.

Nevertheless, Ginor refrained from directly advising that ‘since many officers are from the Karelia Army and it hasn’t been long since they were subjugated, it would be wise to consider their feelings to prevent rebellion.’

This was the Lunarian Army. Whatever its origins, at this moment, that was the only truth. In other words, his restraint was out of respect for Luna’s authority as ruler.

However—

“Are you warning me that it would be better to follow Lady Karelia’s methods?”

Luna, with a smile, pulled out exactly what Ginor had tried to hide.

Although it sent a chill down his spine, there was no sense of threat or contempt in her tone—so Ginor didn’t panic and slowly bowed his head.

“It’s not a matter of right or wrong, but rather a question of benefit. I would appreciate if you could see it that way.”

Luna smiled at Ginor.

It was no different from her usual smile that made people feel at ease.

“I understand. I’ll follow your opinion, Ginor. However, there’s one thing I’d like to know.”

“Please speak.”

“In your view, if any of the three people show outstanding talent, who would it be?”

Talent.

None of them were particularly exceptional—but one of them was someone even Ginor knew by name.

“Badian Selog is known for having some insight into strategy. Haven’t you heard of him, my lord?”

“Ah… Lord Badian! Of course I know him!”

Luna smiled as if pleased, with an incredibly bright, sunny smile.

“When I first joined the Karelia Army, along with Cecile, he was someone who helped me adapt tremendously. When I first arrived, most of the generals didn’t think much of me, and with Kyle and Tifa sent far away to Tepelo, it was really difficult. He advised me not to lose courage and that everyone would recognize me if I achieved merit. It feels like just yesterday.”

Though Luna was speaking of pleasant old memories, her expression quickly filled with sadness.

“So… Lord Badian said he couldn’t work under me?”

“Yes. It seems he’s determined not to surrender no matter what, even with a blade at his neck. He appears to be quite principled.”

“How could that be…”

Luna uttered with regret, then—

“What about the other two?”

“The other two… they don’t seem to have made any significant achievements. They appear to have lived earning small merits here and there.”

“You mean they’re rather unremarkable?”

Unremarkable…

Though somewhat harsh wording, strictly speaking, it wasn’t wrong. Both were names he’d never heard before.

If anything—the very fact that they refused to surrender even in this situation was probably the most dramatic moment in their lives.

“That’s correct.”

“I see.”

Luna turned her head and resumed her paperwork.

Then, she casually dropped:

“Execute Lord Badian, and release the other two.”

“…Execute him?”

At Ginor’s question, Luna replied in a childlike innocent tone as if wondering why he would ask such a thing.

“Yes? Well, seeing how they’ve persistently refused to surrender, it seems they can’t accept me as a person. If they have no ability, I wouldn’t mind releasing them, but… if someone is even slightly talented, the possibility of them joining another ruler and continuing to interfere with us increases. So—”

—isn’t killing them the most efficient option?

“……”

“Am I wrong? If I am, I’ll follow your opinion, Ginor.”

Ginor nodded silently and said:

“If we consider efficiency, it’s a reasonable opinion.”

“Then please handle it that way. Is there anything else you need to report?”

“No, there isn’t.”

Luna smiled that sunny smile again and said:

“Good! Thank you for your hard work as always. I’ll leave those matters in your hands.”

After leaving the office.

Ginor, making sure no one was around, let out a brief sigh.

‘Somehow… she seems like a completely different person.’

Normally, he would have suggested that executing someone like Badian would be acceptable, then Luna would hesitate, and he would have to urge her again—

But now it felt like Luna herself was not avoiding the blood that needed to be spilled.

In truth, this was much closer to the ideal image of a ruler.

Of course, “ideal” here was premised on being “material for a unifying ruler.”

The Luna he first met after hearing from Swen honestly seemed so fragile that he worried whether she could even perform the duties of a city lord, let alone a ruler.

Nevertheless, he served her not because he believed in Luna, but because he believed in Swen.

However, if the Luna he first met had been like her recent self—he probably wouldn’t have had any doubts.

She consistently made surprisingly rational decisions.

She also had no stubbornness. Luna’s habitual phrase was, “Would it be alright if I asked for Ginor’s opinion?”

Ginor knew well that this essentially meant, “If you think my idea isn’t efficient, tell me anytime, I’ll listen.”

A ruler who always chooses the most efficient method without hesitation.

Yet she doesn’t force her will and always listens to others. What mattered to her wasn’t her own will, but “how efficient this decision is.”

That was, at least in Ginor’s opinion, the foremost virtue of someone destined to be a unifying ruler.

Didn’t he know all too well about the sleeping dragon who, trapped in obstinacy and refusing to listen to others while insisting on his own way, lost not only what he could have gained but also everything he already had?

Then he should naturally be satisfied with the current situation, but why—

‘Am I feeling anxious?’

Was it because she seemed to have suddenly changed?

Or was it because of what Violet had said to him recently?

Yes.

Violet had brought up that matter to Ginor when he returned to Madlan Castle after completing external duties following the fall of the Karelia Army.

* * *

“Are you claiming that our lord has changed?”

“Yes. No matter how I look at it… something seems strange. I can’t shake the feeling that she’s not the Luna I knew.”

According to Violet, Luna kept repeatedly scribbling in the air with a quill pen that had no ink on it.

“The same thing, you say?”

“No, rather than the same thing… I’m certain because I saw it myself.”

“Perhaps she’s feeling conflicted after killing Karelia, who was practically her benefactor? Besides, from what I understand, she’s managing state affairs quite well.”

“But still…”

“Violet. While it is our duty to prevent a ruler from going down the wrong path, it’s not a retainer’s place to make a big issue out of every small problem and threaten their position.”

“……”

Violet said nothing for a while, then carefully brought up with an anxious expression.

It was—

* * *

‘She said it seemed to be related to Swen.’

Violet had said this: The normally composed Luna would become severely shaken whenever Swen’s name was mentioned.

Moreover, she added that Luna changed into a completely different person just by things associated with him.

The fear in Violet’s eyes as she asked what kind of person Swen was to have such an effect on their lord would surely remain in his memory for a long time.

‘……’

Ginor assessed the current situation with a cool head.

If it was true that Luna was being affected by Swen as Violet claimed, the wisest approach would be to keep Swen out of her sight as much as possible.

However, there was no need to change the current direction. Regardless of how she had changed, at least in Ginor’s view, a ruler should have the decisiveness that Luna now displayed.

She wasn’t acting recklessly, and she listened to his advice quite well, so he was confident he could control her if needed.

This might be considered somewhat optimistic thinking—but in fact, Ginor had some basis for such optimism.

And a few days later, once again—

“Is that really true?”

“Yes! I’ve investigated it several times… it’s certain!”

—once again, another “basis” was added for him to remain optimistic about Luna’s future.