Ch.344Chapter 344. Al-Kaski’s Rebellion (8)

I took Reika to Serpina and explained everything she had deduced.

“I see? So there’s likely only one true mage, and the rest are merely some kind of ‘medium’… is that right?”

“Yes. Though I’m not entirely certain…”

“But according to your eyes, you’re confident?”

Reika slowly nodded and replied.

“…Yes, I am.”

“I see.”

Serpina stared directly into Reika’s eyes, then soon smiled as if amused.

“When we first met, you couldn’t even meet my gaze, but now you can look at me with such clear eyes. Reika.”

“Ah, th-th-that’s…”

“I’m not scolding you. I’m simply encouraged to see that you too are changing.”

“I-I… is that so…?”

‘….’

There seemed to be many implications in their conversation, but I chose not to interject at this moment.

“Very well. I, Serpina, believe in you, Reika. How do you think our army should respond to this situation?”

“W-well—”

“I’ll discuss that separately with Reika and determine our approach.”

There was no need to burden Reika, who struggles with explanations, with this responsibility.

Serpina immediately understood and nodded.

“I understand. Entrusting full authority to those I can trust and providing maximum support, while bearing the responsibility as the decision-maker—that is indeed what an excellent leader must do.”

Then, while seated on her throne, she extended her arm.

That gesture she made when issuing commands carried enough dignity to affirm her authority with just a simple movement.

“Swen. Reika. For this matter only, I grant you full authority. As soon as our troops arrive, swiftly suppress the rebellion at Einhart Castle and ensure that Nathan, who harbors false hopes, pays the appropriate price.”

“Yes!”

“Y-yes, understood…!”

Now all that remained was to wait for the troops to arrive.

It was time to prepare for a race against time.

* * *

Einhart Castle.

On that glorious throne where only the continent’s supreme rulers had ever sat, a man with excessive dreams had taken his place and was listening to a soldier’s report.

“So? You’re saying the witch has arrived at Rose Castle?”

“Yes! Multiple informants have confirmed it, so we consider this information reliable!”

Nathan Al Caski.

Since handing over the family headship to the young legitimate heir Ian, he had spent over ten years curled up like a turtle in its shell, focusing on appearing “without ambition” while enduring his time patiently.

He turned to Merry, the national strategist of his rebel army—the Al Caski forces—and asked:

“It wouldn’t be right for us to attack first, would it?”

“That’s correct. While we do have Lady Marilyn on our side, Reika Nighthart has countless war experiences and appropriate military achievements. Moreover, according to Lady Marilyn’s testimony, her magic is significantly inferior to Reika’s.”

“So there’s a difference between skilled and unskilled practitioners in magic as well…”

Marilyn Al Caski.

Nathan’s second daughter and, as far as he knew, the third woman to awaken to magical talent.

Having stepped back from central politics, pretending to collect treasures while actually gathering highly liquid assets and waiting for the right “moment,” Nathan had thought this when he realized his own daughter was a mage:

—This is a sign from heaven.

Heaven has finally favored me and given me this opportunity!

Nathan was a man who stood with the majority, not the minority. In other words, he was someone who couldn’t acknowledge Serpina.

Though he never openly showed it, he emotionally supported Sidmid’s reform theories, and to him, Serpina—who suddenly appeared and seized all authority—was like a thorn in his eye.

The reason he chose to hide himself and disappear in the first place was because he was certain she would eventually fall.

The consecutive military rebellions, the hostility toward her that kept emerging even after suppression after suppression.

At first, he literally thought Serpina’s downfall was just a matter of time. No matter how close to superhuman she might be, no person could overcome such malice.

But strangely—far from falling, she gradually established her foundation.

With the outstanding talent Jenna at the center, she somehow suppressed the rebels in the early stages and expanded her influence. Finally, she began to advance into the Central Continent.

Rather than suddenly collapsing, she was advancing triumphantly, rebuilding the unified empire with remarkable stability, walking the royal road of an emperor.

A situation where perhaps he might never get the chance to rebel against her.

This was the main reason Nathan decided to strike now rather than bide his time further.

‘Yes. I wasn’t wrong.’

It was a rare opportunity when a monarch leaves the capital with most of their elite troops.

Moreover, the number of troops coming this time was just enough to consider a defensive battle. If all the occupying forces were brought in, the rebellion would be suppressed within hours, but considering the troops needed for the Central Continent territories, his prediction that they couldn’t all come at once had proven correct.

The biggest hurdle was the upcoming defense of Einhart Castle.

Still, if he could somehow win this battle, he was confident he could conquer the Northern Continent.

For a while, they would have to face off against Serpina’s forces, who now held significant territory in the Central Continent… but compared to the situation where there seemed to be no hope at all, the importance of this current opportunity remained unchanged.

“I understand. Then what do you think we should do?”

“I do have a plan in mind… but I’m somewhat doubtful whether you’ll fully follow my opinion.”

Nathan carefully examined Merry’s face.

An ambitious woman who had studied under Jenna and then killed her with her own hands after Jenna was pushed out.

The fact that she could kill even her own master without hesitation meant she was desperate to prove herself to this world.

And Nathan was someone who knew well how to handle women with such strong “desire for recognition.”

“You needn’t worry about that. No one under me would dare go against the words of the national strategist. Besides, isn’t it publicly known that we have three mages? No one else could come up with a more plausible opinion at this point.”

“Even if it goes against ethics?”

“Ha! You dare use such a word in times like these, Merry.”

Having already become rebels, what wouldn’t they do to defeat Serpina?

“…In that case, please come closer for a moment.”

Merry conveyed her plan to Nathan.

It was…

* * *

Knock knock knock.

“Come in.”

The one entering was Nathan’s second daughter and the third mage to appear on the continent, Marilyn Al Caski.

Lying on the bed were her younger sister Yupia and younger brother Reilan.

Her siblings who were publicly known as part of the “three mages” along with her, sharing the same blood.

“How are you both feeling?”

“I’m fine. How about you, sister?”

“And Yupia?”

“She’s still sleeping.”

Marilyn sat down on a small chair next to Reilan’s bed and said:

“Are you really okay?”

“Yes. I told you, didn’t I? I’m just a bit tired from doing something I’m not used to…”

“…”

Having awakened to mana, Marilyn knew how much strain it put on the body to first channel magical power and then accumulate it.

While she had learned the method through training, it was inevitably taxing on her siblings’ bodies.

But—

“Sister. What about Father?”

“He was very satisfied. He said we can save the territory’s people suffering under Serpina’s tyranny with our own hands. He said he’s very proud of us…”

“I see…”

Marilyn knew but had to ignore the fact.

The very existence of three mages was the only way they could stand against Reika.

Besides, seeing her father, who had always been depressed, regain his vitality held great meaning for her.

Though she didn’t know the details, he had been constantly sighing since the death of Emperor Sidmid, the one person who could truly lead the continent to prosperity.

“A valuable talent has died. By a witch driven mad with lust for power who murdered her own blood…”

To drive out Serpina who had killed him cruelly… shouldn’t we siblings do something?

Father had said that from the moment I awakened to this power, my life was not just my own but for all the people of the continent—and that was the destiny bestowed upon the Al Caski family.

So it’s okay.

Even though I know it’s harmful to my siblings… this is the destiny of those born to high positions.

“Sister. Don’t worry. I’m… fine. The great mage is coming now, right?”

“I think so.”

“Father said it too. No matter what happens, we’ll defeat the great mage, the apostle of the wicked witch, and rebuild the true Einhart Empire. Both I and Yupia will do anything for that.”

“Reilan…”

Marilyn firmly grasped her brother’s hand.

Yes. Let’s restore it to its original state. Our great empire that the witch has completely ruined…!

* * *

Just as the elite troops arrived, Ian and Kransis, who had been patrolling the northwest, also joined us at Rose Castle.

And the person I appointed as commander-in-chief of the rebel suppression forces, having been granted full authority by Serpina, was—Ian Al Caski.

Ian, who took it as a sign of his determination to handle the wrongdoings committed by his family with his own hands, accepted the position without complaint.

“My fellow soldiers! The rebels are enemies of our nation! Focus not on who they once were, but on what they are fighting for!”

After the basic speech ended, we gathered in the conference room of Rose Castle.

“Now, let’s begin the meeting. Anyone with an opinion, please speak freely.”

‘Good. Shall we start now?’

This was just doing once more what I had done several times before coming here.

I carefully raised my hand.

“Strategist, please speak.”