Ch.372Chapter 372. Flag

Around the time Ohana was pushing the Hesna forces to their limit, “that news” reached her ears.

“Is that really true?”

“Yes, it is. What should we do? Should we report it to the lord?”

“Lupio. What do you think?”

“Well, reporting it wouldn’t be bad. Or perhaps delaying the report a bit… might be one approach…”

This was extremely important news that had reached the commander who had been ordered to explore the southern continent.

As Lupio suggested, testing the waters could be one approach, but Ohana thought it would be better to honestly report to her lord rather than risk problems later.

“No. Let’s report it.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to handle it separately?”

Ohana shook her head at Lupio’s words.

“While I’m confident I can deal with Hesna somehow… that side is burdensome. It’s beyond my sphere of influence. Isn’t it foolish to aim for something you can’t handle?”

“…Understood.”

“Rather than that, order preparations to march. Only three territories of the Hesna forces remain. Let’s end this war as quickly as possible.”

“Yes!”

* * *

While some kind of development was unfolding in the southern continent, the Brans forces at the front line were being pushed back at an incredibly fast pace by the Lunarian forces.

This was due to Lynn’s decision to focus on Anel Castle.

Each time they entered what were essentially empty territories, there was nothing to salvage—everything was barren.

Luna, after seeing the distressed territory residents, said with a devastated expression:

“They’ve taken everything without leaving anything behind…”

“I propose ordering the transfer of money and military provisions from the capital city of Madlan. If we leave the territory residents without money and provisions, there will surely be consequences.”

At Ginor’s words, Lunarian nodded.

“I approve. Then should we halt our advance here?”

“No. This is an additional request, and we still have sufficient supplies… Let’s take as much as we can. Right now, we’re in a situation where we have many more territories to manage, but ultimately, all of this will become the foundation of our national power. Considering that, quickly taking as many territories as possible is extremely important.”

“Understood.”

Following Ginor’s advice, the Lunarian forces repeatedly captured castles and immediately secured nearby territories.

“Securing” was a nice way of putting it—they were simply entering places the Brans forces had abandoned and fled from without a single battle, and reorganizing.

Despite knowing there would certainly be side effects from their suddenly increased size, Luna couldn’t stop. After all, there was no time to hesitate. She had to deal with the Brans forces as quickly as possible and then face Serpina’s forces.

How many times had they repeated this process of securing territories and stabilizing public sentiment by distributing money and provisions?

Finally—the Lunarian forces advanced to Zeilant Castle, right in front of Anel Castle.

From the Lunarian forces’ perspective, this was essentially the last territory they could occupy. To invade the remaining Brans territories, they would have to go through Anel Castle—unless they took the risky approach of breaking through extremely rugged mountain ranges.

Although Luna had been calmly securing territories until now, setting foot in Zeilant Castle was clearly very meaningful for her, as her face remained flushed all day.

The same was true for Tifa. Her already high-tension personality had her constantly making frivolous jokes and bothering the soldiers.

It was understandable.

Zeilant Castle was essentially their homeland.

The place where the dawn of the Lunarian forces had begun. A place they had to return to someday.

This small castle was the very soul of the Lunarian forces. It symbolized Luna’s starting point and original intentions.

Like the other territories before it, Zeilant Castle had a white flag planted.

They probably took all the money and provisions too. Just like our forces did back then.

Luna felt a bitterness in her mouth. She never thought she would reclaim the land that had been taken by the Brans forces after they had packed up all their money and provisions… only to now take it back from the Brans forces who had stripped it of money and provisions. In the end, the only ones who suffered through this whole process were the territory residents.

“Hey, Luna…! We’re back!!”

Tifa said with a broad smile as soon as she saw the white flag on the castle wall.

That’s right. There was no need for negative thoughts. Since things had turned out this way, they had to accept it and move forward.

Although they wouldn’t stay long due to its unsuitable position as a forward base for Anel Castle… it was still an incredibly meaningful castle for Luna and Tifa!

“Old man Cain, looking down from the afterlife, must be having a stomachache over this, don’t you think?”

“…”

While Tifa was reminiscing about Cain, Luna thought of that man.

Swen—her personal strategist who had protected Zeilant Castle numerous times and brought about miracles.

‘Lord Swen…’

I’m back.

Finally, to our shelter.

To the only castle where we worked together… I’ve returned…

Luna repeatedly recalled Swen’s name in her heart as she slowly made her way to what was once her capital.

* * *

The interior of Zeilant Castle maintained its old appearance.

The wheat fields she had inspected during patrols with Swen, the plaza where she had danced hand in hand with him—everything existed just as it had been, as if time had stopped.

This was natural, considering it wasn’t a particularly important strategic point and had been spared from the ravages of war.

The faces of the territory residents showed deep concern.

That was understandable. Despite the Brans forces having ruled for so long, they had abandoned everything and fled in the night, which couldn’t have been good for the residents.

When they first established themselves here and planted their flag, the expressions of the territory residents had been quite poor due to consecutive natural disasters.

The memory of resolving all those issues together with Swen was still vividly engraved in her mind.

‘…’

Luna immediately headed toward the royal castle.

* * *

Arriving at the small, cozy royal castle of Zeilant, Luna sat down on the dust-covered throne and reclined.

That’s right.

Sitting here… in this place, I listened to everyone’s opinions.

Me and Tifa, Lord Cain, and Lord Swen… the four of us discussed various national policies and dreamed of the future together.

Now when the Lunarian forces called a “national assembly,” dozens of warriors gathered to listen to her words.

It wasn’t like that back then. They could only gather four people, including herself.

It was truly an insignificant time, yet why did she miss it so much?

The fact that only Tifa remained by her side at this moment was stirring her heart particularly strongly today.

‘It’s too… late.’

She should have come back sooner.

Somehow, before falling into Serpina’s forces’ grasp, she should have returned to the central continent by any means necessary…

As she sat on the throne in the empty audience chamber thinking about the past:

“There you are, Luna.”

“Tifa…?”

Just like in those days, Tifa was walking steadily toward where Luna was sitting.

The difference was that she wasn’t alone.

An unfamiliar boy was walking alongside her, approaching this place.

“Tifa. Who is that…?”

“He said he saw our flag on the castle wall and confirmed we were the Lunarian forces, and that he had something he really wanted to deliver.”

Although she wondered what this was about—communicating with territory residents was more important than anything else.

While Ginor had advised this, Luna herself considered it important, so without any particular resistance, she immediately crouched down to meet the boy’s eyes.

“What brings you to me?”

“Are you… really Lunarian?”

“Yes. I am Lunarian Ineanne, the lord of the Lunarian forces.”

At Luna’s kind words, which made her seem more like a friendly older sister than a lord, the boy hesitated awkwardly…

Then, he handed over something large that he had been preciously holding.

“Please… take this.”

“What is this…?”

“If you unfold it, you’ll understand… that’s what my late father said.”

Luna unfolded the scroll-like object she received from the boy.

And—as soon as she confirmed what it was, she froze in shock, her face turning pale.

“…!!!”

—It was a flag.

A faded light green flag symbolizing the Lunarian forces.

Although slightly different from the one they currently used, with an extremely simple design, it was indeed a Lunarian forces flag.

—From long ago, when they were a small nation with Zeilant Castle as their capital.

The old flag used by the Lunarian forces when there were only four members.

“Where… where did you get this…?”

“My father kept it very preciously. He said it was entrusted to him by the strategist who protected this castle until the very end…”

“!!!!!”

Hearing those words, Luna fell to her knees.

Tears flowed from her eyes.

‘Lord Swen…’

Finally.

After a long time since that moment when she escaped from Zeilant Castle, using his sacrifice as a stepping stone, at this very moment—

—She had finally reached something that connected her to him.