Ch.336Chapter 336. Al-Kaski’s Rebellion (2)

“Three magicians… you say?”

“That’s correct.”

No, wait a minute.

From the moment the first magician Reika appeared, it was within expectations that late-blooming magicians would emerge.

In fact, in this game, once the first magician appears, it marks the beginning of numerous other magicians starting their activities.

Some existing generals like Tifa awakened to magic, while many new characters revealed themselves on the continental stage after magic was discovered.

In any case, it was inevitable that those awakening to magic would spring up like mushrooms after rain once Reika revealed herself to everyone.

But even so, three appearing simultaneously in one place?

No matter how I think about it, this doesn’t make sense.

Of course, there were systems even I didn’t know about despite being a veteran player, like rapiers that could hold magic. But it hardly seemed coincidental that three magicians would appear from the Alkaski family—a clan that would have been extinct without my intervention.

“I asked several times because I couldn’t believe it either, but if that’s not the case, I can’t explain why everyone chose to follow my uncle… no, Nathan, instead of me, the family head.”

“So, Irian, you believe Miss Iolene is correct?”

“I dare say that seems the rational conclusion.”

After hearing Irian’s words, Serpina von Einhart stroked her chin with her hand and turned to look at the soldiers standing in formation in the distance.

“I see. They rebelled because having three magicians gave them an advantage… Do you have any idea how this happened?”

“None at all. I don’t even know how my uncle became connected with magicians… I can only offer my deepest apologies.”

Irian bowed again at a 90-degree angle in apology.

“Enough, Irian. You need not worry further. If you truly feel remorseful toward me, then deal with those who made this misguided decision with your own hands. Wouldn’t that be extremely important not only to me but also to you as the family head?”

“Of course. I will personally slaughter those fools who made the stupid decision to turn their backs on me as their family head, by any means necessary!”

Though Irian answered with force in his voice, I could easily notice him trembling slightly.

That trembling wasn’t from fear. Rather, it was anger—overwhelming anger that seemed ready to explode at any moment.

Well, while this was rebellion from Serpina’s perspective, Irian’s face as family head was also at stake. The anger he couldn’t hide was leaking from his face.

Serpina turned her gaze away from Irian and looked at Irene.

“Irene.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“It will take quite some time until the scouts return. The soldiers will inevitably fall into panic because of the rebellion news. This applies not only to the soldiers here but also to those in the rest of the Northern Continent. Therefore, I intend to travel ahead of the soldiers around the Northern Continent for a while, tending to public sentiment and meeting with castle lords.”

After saying this, Serpina extended her snow-white hand toward Irene.

Her gesture was so elegant that it carried the aura of a queen, naturally making others want to submit to her.

“During this time, I wish to bestow upon you the position of Legion Commander.”

“…!”

“Irene Juliette. I hereby grant you authority over all castles in the Central Continent, including Valhart Castle, Raclaine Castle, and Zeta Castle. While I deal with the foolish ones in the Northern Continent, I shall entrust the future of the Serpina Army to your shoulders.”

Irene was startled by those words, her face turning pale as she stared at Serpina.

I was a bit surprised as well.

Legion Commander.

A key position that could exercise authority over specific regions, equivalent to—no, perhaps even greater than—a national advisor in terms of power.

A Legion Commander could do anything within their assigned territory. It was essentially like becoming the new ruler of that region!

In the game “Garand Eternity Saga,” which formed the basis of this world, legions were rarely formed except right before unification. It was just a function that automatically managed rear territories that were troublesome to administer—nothing more, nothing less.

For forward areas with many stationed soldiers like this, it was usually more convenient for the ruler to manage directly. Commanding battles in person was much more efficient, and crucially, it didn’t require taking a major risk.

What was that major risk?

The betrayal of a Legion Commander.

A Legion Commander’s betrayal wasn’t simply about one person taking a single territory.

Legion Commanders also had the authority to appoint castle lords in their assigned territories. It was trivial for them to place their own people in those positions.

Essentially, if a Legion Commander decided to betray, it was reasonable to assume that all territories under them would participate in the betrayal.

That’s why the safer playing strategy was to distribute two or three territories each to multiple people, creating several legions, rather than entrusting many territories to a single Legion Commander—a strategy I still remembered clearly.

Yet what Serpina had entrusted was the entire Central Continent under the Serpina Army.

It included the vast domains where the Chel Army and Aeshus Army had previously been stationed.

Having already realized that major systems operated based on the game due to natural disasters and such, it wouldn’t be impossible for Irene to betray if she wanted to.

If an “Irene Army” were to emerge, the continent that was being stabilized would fall into chaos again. With all the quality troops included in the occupation forces, Serpina might suffer an irrecoverable blow.

Despite this—could it be that Serpina trusted Irene that much?

“I…”

As Irene struggled to answer, Serpina spoke with an unwavering voice.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to hear any refusal. Only you, Irene, are suitable for this position. Someone I can strongly trust and who has the skill to lead territories of this scale… I can think of no one else but you.”

“But my lord—”

Instead of responding to Irene’s words, Serpina looked at me standing beside her and asked.

“Swen, don’t you think so too?”

“…Pardon?”

I answered somewhat blankly, not expecting to be questioned, but Serpina, seemingly unconcerned about that, asked again with a remarkably fresh smile.

“I’m asking for your opinion on my decision that General Irene is suitable as Legion Commander.”

If she’s asking for my opinion, does she want me to use my divine sight?

Well, as she said, if there was someone here who wouldn’t betray, it was only Irene, and there was no one else with outstanding abilities, so I wondered if I needed to provide input—

But since the question had been posed, there was no harm in using my ability.

‘Is appointing Irene Juliette as Legion Commander to govern the Central Continent the most efficient option in the current situation?’

And when I confirmed the answer—

[It depends on the will of heaven.]

‘…!!’

—I barely managed to swallow my surprise.

“It depends on the will of heaven.” The meaning was quite simple.

The one thing that Intelligence 100, which predicts all futures, cannot predict—my own will.

Whether this decision was efficient or not depended on how I would act.

I easily noticed the true meaning hidden in this sentence.

‘Lady Irene would immediately betray if I told her to.’

Along with the strange chill I felt from that realization, the emotion touching my heart was—relief.

The certainty that I could trust Lady Irene no matter what.

But simultaneously, I felt sympathy for Lady Serpina.

Despite her trust in Lady Irene, she could ultimately be abandoned because of my will—a sad thought.

“…Swen?”

Hearing Serpina’s voice, I immediately bowed my head and answered.

Had she noticed my surprise?

“I agree with my lord’s opinion. There is no one else who could fill that position except General Irene.”

It’s fine.

There was no need to sympathize with her.

I had no intention of telling Lady Irene to “please betray” or anything like that.

The fact that it depended on my will meant, conversely, that appointing Irene was the most efficient answer.

I will protect Lady Serpina. Didn’t I swear that just recently?

“Swen…”

“The advisor also says so, Irene. I believe you know that excessive modesty is worse than inadequacy.”

After hesitating for a moment, Irene finally seemed to make up her mind, bowing her head respectfully.

“…I understand. I, Irene Juliette, accept the position of Legion Commander by your command.”

“Good. I believe you will show the people of the newly acquired territories that Einhart’s rule is the most rational form of governance on the continent.”

“Leave it to me!”

National advisor, Legion Commander, and the only magician.

Looking at the situation alone, the Serpina Army was definitely falling into my grasp.

* * *

After parting with everyone, I made my way back to the building where Serpina resided.

“You all guard this area.”

“Yes!”

“Swen. Continue to attend to me.”

“As you wish.”

After positioning the knight guards around the mansion, I silently followed her.

The door opened, and now only Lady Serpina and I remained in the mansion.

I honestly had a good guess as to why she had called me here.

‘She probably read my hesitation when she asked about Lady Irene.’

At that time, I momentarily paused after confirming the unexpected answer “It depends on the will of heaven.”

No matter how much I hid my expression and swallowed my emotions, it was difficult to believe that Serpina, with her extremely sharp intuition, had missed that fleeting moment.

In fact, she had seen through all my attempts at poker faces until now.

Perhaps not questioning my behavior on the spot was Serpina’s own form of consideration?

So, until this point, I had been contemplating how to explain things to her in a way that would reassure and convince her.

“…Swen.”

“Yes? …Oh?”

Until Serpina suddenly turned around and threw herself into my arms.

“Did I… do well?”