Ch.342Chapter 342. Al-Kaski’s Rebellion (7)

* * *

While Serpina and Swen were circling the northeast, Irian was touring the northwestern territory with Kransis.

“I’m deeply ashamed.”

“Not at all, Lord Irian. Even the head of a family cannot fully comprehend what all family members are thinking. Besides, didn’t our lord already decide to let this matter pass? I believe you understand that our lord’s will becomes all of our will.”

“Even so, I feel sorry for causing harm.”

“No. There’s no need to discuss it further. Rather, I’d appreciate if you could relay our lord’s orders.”

“Understood.”

After hastily concluding his meeting with the lord of the castle, Irian stepped out of the royal castle and let out a long sigh.

“This is truly humiliating…”

“Still, someone of your stature is accepted without much trouble by the castle lords. The fact that you’re a general who has made great contributions to the nation remains unchanged.”

“But Commander—”

“You still call me Commander. Since my injury, I’ve essentially stepped down from that position.”

“But you still maintain the position of Commander, don’t you? It’s the same principle as when I received honorifics during my time as a castle lord.”

“And didn’t I tell you? I’m going to retire soon.”

Kransis had suffered a life-threatening injury in the battle with Chel’s forces.

Fortunately, he managed to survive—but for someone elderly who had sustained such wounds, it was no easy task to roam the battlefield as before.

If he had been skilled in strategy, he might have contributed from the rear, but Kransis had always been someone who focused on taking orders from others and turning them into reality on the battlefield.

From a cold assessment, he had noticed that he could no longer be of much help.

“Does our lord know about this?”

“His Lordship doesn’t know yet.”

“Then perhaps you should ask for his opinion before deciding—”

“No. I know our lord wouldn’t demote me even after realizing my usefulness has diminished. That’s why I’m retiring. I don’t want to become a burden to Serpina’s forces.”

“…”

Kransis gazed straight ahead with eyes filled with some regret as he spoke.

“I thought General Irene would be suitable as the next commander… but now the General has flown to a place we cannot reach.”

“Brigade Commander Irene would certainly have been an appropriate choice. She’s currently the person with the most military achievements in our army.”

Indeed, in Serpina’s forces, where most renowned generals had withered away after being caught up in the rebellion, Irene was the only figure who had noticeably accumulated many military achievements.

Despite not being much older than rookie Irian, who was being “groomed” as the next commander due to his youth, she was already a complete and outstanding talent.

These were the representative words that secretly described Irene among Serpina’s soldiers.

“That’s right. Although she started as an outsider who betrayed her lord and came to us, she has now become an invaluable talent that our army cannot do without.”

“We’re fortunate to have her in our army. It would have been a serious problem without her.”

“Are you saying that, Irian? In some ways, the Brigade Commander could be seen as blocking your path. In fact, many people were discontented because of that.”

“If it’s true that she blocked my path, then I should have achieved far more distinguished merits. In the end, everything is proven by results. If someone who isn’t exceptional takes a higher position just because they’re not an outsider, wouldn’t that be something we should rightfully be discontented about?”

“…”

Instead of answering, Kransis slowly turned his head toward Irian.

“The Advisor… I mean, Jenna was an extremely intelligent person.”

“I understand you spent quite a long time close to her.”

“During the period when Serpina’s forces were being established, there wasn’t a single place untouched by her hand. Fortunately, as I was in the position of General, I had no choice but to meet her frequently.”

“What kind of person was Jenna back then?”

“She was a very unique and unusual woman in many ways. Even when she had to oppose many people’s opinions, she would logically express her intentions without backing down. When she was first appointed as Advisor, many questioned how a woman with no name could rise to that position.”

“Is that so? At least when I was commissioned, it seemed like no one dared to treat Jenna carelessly.”

“You were at the academy then, so it’s understandable you wouldn’t know. Anyway, she deserves much credit for making everyone acknowledge Lady Serpina, whom no one had recognized. Of course, Lady Serpina is far more intelligent and fair than people know, so she would have eventually stabilized the northern continent even without Jenna… but no one can deny it would have taken much more time.”

And then—

Kransis suddenly stiffened his expression and lowered his voice.

“Jenna told me. That we must make Lord Swen… the current Advisor, our ally. She also said that if we lose him for some trivial reason, Serpina’s forces would never be able to take the world.”

“Jenna said that…”

“I’ve seen Jenna express her opinions quite often. She was a flexible person with no particular stubbornness, willing to abandon her intentions if they didn’t seem right. Yet she stated it definitively. That the era of Lord Swen would come to Serpina’s forces.”

“And look at our army now. Advisor Swen, Brigade Commander Irene, and Mage Reika…”

“Jenna was right. All the core positions in our army are connected to Lord Swen, whether we like it or not. That includes you too, Irian, doesn’t it?”

“…”

Irian nodded without denying it.

“The Advisor is like my life’s benefactor. Though I’m not fond of factions, if I had to choose someone to trust and follow, I would choose the Advisor.”

“I’m not criticizing that. However, what concerns me is that this is Serpina’s forces, not Swen’s forces. If Lord Swen shows any sign of betraying Lady Serpina—”

“—then I hope you won’t betray our lord.”

“This is my last teaching as your mentor. Well, you just arbitrarily called me your mentor even though I haven’t taught you anything.”

“Why do you think you haven’t taught me anything? Everything I learned about surviving on the battlefield after my commission was thanks to you, Kransis. And…”

Irian said with a faint smile.

“I’ll do whatever I can to ensure that Lord Swen doesn’t betray our lord.”

“You mean you’ll choose the ideal path? If it can be achieved, that would be best. However, it’s still difficult to judge what kind of person Lord Swen is, as I don’t even know him well yet…”

“Well, wouldn’t it be fine if we could bind him with various relationships?”

“Bind him?”

Irian turned his head slightly and looked up at the sky as he spoke.

“For instance, through marriage.”

“What?”

“My younger sister admires the Advisor. I also think it would be excellent if we could welcome the Advisor into our family. Although the situation has turned out like this, and rather than being a prestigious family, we’re in a position where we should be grateful just for not being exterminated… still, if an outstanding person could bear our name, wouldn’t that somehow ensure our family’s continuation into the future?”

“By your sister, you mean Lady Iolline. Indeed, she is a virtuous and beautiful woman.”

Kransis said this and then laughed heartily.

“I thought you would be discouraged by this incident, but you’re already making future plans.”

“Since our lord has already forgiven me, there’s no need to dwell in the pit left by past scars, is there?”

“…”

Kransis turned his head away and ended the conversation.

Jenna had acknowledged Swen. She wanted to make him our ally by any means.

In other words—Swen, if not on our side, would become someone who must be eliminated.

Nevertheless—

To Irian, who deeply trusted Swen as his life’s benefactor… Kransis couldn’t bring himself to say what he really wanted to convey:

‘If Swen shows any sign of trying to eliminate Serpina and aiming for the ruler’s position, you must eliminate him without hesitation.’

‘For now, can we only hope that Lord Swen remains favorable to us…’

Clearly, it should be the rulers who play with the world.

Yet somehow, Kransis couldn’t shake the feeling that the entire continent was being manipulated by a single person named Swen.

* * *

Finally, the patrol of the northern territories was complete.

We were waiting for the elite troops of the occupation force, who were the rear guard, to arrive at Castle Rose.

Since there would inevitably be a difference in speed between the small number of people who came directly on horseback and the advance of a large force, all we could do now was wait and monitor the situation.

We were maintaining strict vigilance in case they might attack first with three mages, but they didn’t make any moves, perhaps noticing that Mage Reika was on our side.

Perhaps because of this, we were spending what appeared to be a very peaceful time.

And what arrived before the soldiers I was waiting for was—

“A visitor has come?”

“Yes.”

‘Who could be looking for me?’

I couldn’t think of anyone in particular…

“Was there any mention of where they came from?”

“Well… I’m sorry to report this, but…”

The soldier hesitated for a moment, then bowed his head and said:

“The visitor said that if I mentioned they were sent by someone who might be Advisor Swen’s elder, you would understand.”

“…!!!”

In my entire life, there was only one person who would brazenly use such a term with me.

——Ginor Nighthart.

After a very long time, I had received contact from him.