Ch.361Chapter 361. Lunarien vs. Brans (3)

“Yes, that’s right!”

After hearing the news delivered by the messenger, Lynn rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.

The declaration of war from the Lunarian army.

Honestly, it wasn’t that she hadn’t anticipated it at all—but of course, she had never seriously considered it.

After all, the Hesna and Ohana armies still remained.

From Lunarian’s perspective, fighting while leaving two countries in the southern continent would be an extremely inefficient choice.

The fact that they were advancing anyway meant they clearly had something they were counting on.

Had they made a secret agreement with Serpina’s army? …No. That possibility was too slim. To begin with, Serpina had already formed a pact with our army.

Even if she broke the agreement and backstabbed us, there would be no reason for her to help Lunarian to that extent. There would be nothing for Serpina’s army to gain.

Then…

“What will you do, my lord?”

Farfalle’s voice brought her back from her thoughts.

Lynn answered while twirling her hair with her fingers.

“They were enemies we would have to face eventually anyway. This might actually be fortunate. Serpina’s army won’t bother us now. Speaking of which, how are things over there?”

“Are you referring to the rebellion at Einhart Castle?”

“Yes.”

It was quite ironic that Serpina was witnessing another rebellion during this golden opportunity. If she had broken the agreement and backstabbed us while our army and the Lunarian army were at war, the Brans army would have been surrounded like a sandwich with no chance to respond, falling into great peril. While this was unfortunate for her, it was truly a stroke of luck for Lynn.

Even in Lynn’s eyes, Serpina was not someone beloved by the heavens. It was as if the world itself did not want her to achieve unification.

Well, Lynn didn’t feel sorry for her, considering this was karma for what she had done. How many people had suffered under the name of Einhart?

“To reach the central continent, they must cross treacherous mountains, a wide river, and then mountains again. We don’t even need to intercept them. We can build fortresses at their likely arrival points and simply deal with the exhausted Lunarian army. What concerns me is the magician and…”

“The monarch Lunarian himself, known as the Red-Eyed Dragon.”

“Yes.”

Seta Rolland, whose head was severed in a single exchange.

At first, she thought it was just a baseless rumor, but cross-verification confirmed it was true.

Lynn knew that Rolland was quite a powerful warrior. That made it even harder to believe… but if Lunarian had the guts to make such a bold decision to wage war so quickly, perhaps it wasn’t impossible after all.

Suddenly, Irene’s advice to be careful of Lunarian flashed through her mind, making her eyes tremble…

‘…No.’

She knew all too well that it was too late to think about that now.

“Anyway, Lunarian is a monarch I’ve crushed once before. I just need to do it again. What about the Hesna army?”

“They seem to be sending reinforcements as per our treaty.”

“Any movement from Ohana?”

“No. I wish they would take this opportunity to invade the Lunarian army… but considering Nabidos Ohana’s character, it’s best not to expect that.”

“Right. That man is petty.”

He had opportunities many times.

When the Karelia army was divided. And when the Lunarian army was pouring all its resources into the war with the Rolland army.

But he let all those opportunities slip away. Focused solely on defense, he gathered and trained troops but never used them.

It was like spending all day sharpening a knife but being reluctant to cut anything with it—a foolish behavior.

This time would probably be no different. He would surely enter a defensive posture, placing even more troops at the border out of fear.

“Such a man should have been born in peacetime, not in an age of chaos.”

“Then he might have made a name for himself as a moderately renowned lord.”

“…Anyway, gather everyone. I’ll build fortresses on all routes the Lunarian army might use to invade.”

“Yes!”

After sending Farfalle away, Lynn once again twirled her hair with her fingers.

‘I don’t know what you’re thinking… but I’ll make you realize that provoking me first was the biggest mistake of your life.’

* * *

The Lunarian occupation force was crossing the first gateway to the central continent—the mountain range.

One or two, or even dozens of people could move quickly by utilizing mobility.

But it’s different with an army exceeding one hundred thousand. Naturally, their movement speed would be burdened, and if they maintained a forced march only to arrive at the battlefield with morale at rock bottom, they would be cut down like autumn leaves by enemy troops without accomplishing anything.

Moreover, this wasn’t the end of their journey. After crossing a very wide and large river, they would have to cross another mountain range. It would be no exaggeration to say that the southern continent had maintained its own order largely due to these geographical factors.

As for Luna—she never forced anything.

She prepared provisions generously, almost to the point of excess, and advanced very slowly, as if restraining herself despite being capable of moving faster.

Ginor didn’t think this was such a bad decision. After all, the Brans army wouldn’t come all the way here to intercept them.

The problem was the Hesna and Ohana armies.

‘My lord…’

Slowly following beside Luna on horseback, Ginor mentally reviewed the border situation.

The Hesna army was manageable. Their shared border was much narrower compared to the Ohana army’s, and while not as challenging as the route to the central continent, there were still fairly difficult terrain features crossing between the borders. On Ginor’s suggestion, General Francis had been appointed as the vanguard commander of the defense force.

The real problem was the Ohana army. While blocking Tepello Castle would be sufficient defense, if Tepello Castle were to fall, the Lunarian army would be helpless. Considering that over one hundred thousand troops, all elite soldiers, were marching toward the central continent, plus the forces stationed at the border with the Hesna army, our army was at a disadvantage.

Previously, General Tifa had been guarding Tepello Castle, but now she had joined the main occupation force.

No matter how petty Ohana might be, the possibility that he had formed some kind of agreement with the Hesna army and might attack could not be ruled out.

Of course, all of this would unfold if his prediction—that Lunarian had done ‘something’—was wrong.

If things went as expected… probably all the lords of the continent would be greatly surprised.

All he could do was trust Lunarian.

More precisely, trust the monarch that Swen had chosen.

Ginor, with his eyes closed, quietly spoke to the white-haired strategist.

‘I only hope that the future you saw is the correct one.’

* * *

Mertian, the capital castle of the Hesna army.

“Lunarian has moved?”

“Yes. I believe we’ll soon receive a request for support from the Brans army.”

Hesna smiled amusedly at the report from Tera, the national strategist.

“Let’s see. A few days ago, there was a rebellion at Einhart Castle, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then we can exclude Serpina. She might feel left out of the party, but well, if that’s her fortune, there’s nothing to be done. What about Lynn?”

“I believe she will request reinforcements…”

“Yes. Reinforcements…”

Hesna traced her lips with her finger, then lightly licked it with her tongue.

“Tera. Remember the operation I mentioned recently?”

“I remember.”

“How many surplus troops do we have, excluding those needed to execute that operation?”

“Approximately 36,000, I believe.”

“Good. Send exactly that many to the Brans army. It will take a long time to get there anyway, so I’m not sure how helpful it will be, but we should show our sincerity since we agreed to it, right?”

“Understood. …More importantly, from the way you speak, it seems you’re prepared?”

“Of course. Do you think such an opportunity will come again? Lunarian rushing at Lynn while ignoring us—such a golden opportunity!”

Hesna smiled with interest.

Someone like Rolland would have been angered by such a peripheral matter as being ignored and would have uselessly worked himself up, but I’m different.

“We’ll strike the Lunarian army from behind.”

“However, we alone cannot do it. You know that.”

“Of course. I’m quite a coward myself, so I’m not the type to undertake reckless endeavors alone. I’d prefer to avoid battles altogether if they can’t be won.”

After saying this, Hesna smiled broadly and continued.

“But, there’s another coward like us in the southern continent, isn’t there?”

“…!”

Hesna had confidence.

Since establishing herself in the southern continent, she had been confident that she could manipulate everything according to her will if she set her mind to it.

And now, that confidence was moving her hand.

“Now, shall we go? To cast the bait that will make Mr. Coward take the bite.”