Ch.378Chapter 378. The Most Efficient Method / Lunarien Army (2)

A clear sense of murderous intent from someone I’d never met before.

And not just from an ordinary person, but a fierce emotion from the monarch—the absolute ruler of a nation!

Of course, she hadn’t come to request an audience.

I couldn’t understand Luna’s inexplicable hostility—to the point where such a foolish thought crossed my mind.

An ordinary person would have been too flustered to respond at all—

But Anima, despite her fallen status, was once a national advisor and managed to hide her expression before asking:

“…What brings you here?”

To this, Luna, her expression unchanged—

Repeated exactly what she had said moments ago.

“I said I’ve come to see Baranga Yurie Aeshus.”

“…You said your name is Lunarian? I’ve heard news about Lunarian, and I’m aware of it, but even if you are a monarch of a nation, to approach us so forcefully when we’re now living as ordinary territory residents—”

“Anima Ingram.”

“…!”

Luna’s eyes looked at Anima’s arm.

More precisely, at the side that was missing.

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t come here to make a request of you.”

“What…?”

“This is a notification.”

“…!!”

Anima gripped the sword at her waist with her remaining hand.

Though she had lost the other hand, she couldn’t simply hand over her former lord to this woman filled with murderous intent.

“If you wish to pass, you’ll have to cut off my head.”

“This bastard…!”

The soldiers beside Luna all drew their swords at once—

“It’s fine. Step back.”

“…Yes!”

At Luna’s single command, they retreated in perfect unison.

‘This woman… ordering her guards to step back in front of someone holding a sword…!’

Anima had also heard that the Red-Eyed Dragon of the South—Lunarian—had sent Seta Rolland to the afterlife in a single blow—

But facing the seemingly delicate woman before her, she had momentarily forgotten those rumors.

However, it seemed the rumors were true after all.

Even with just her standing there looking at her… Anima felt crushed by the pressure.

Despite being the one holding a sword, while her opponent held nothing in her hands!

“Step aside. I have no intention of spilling meaningless blood.”

“…Kuk…!”

Anima sensed it.

If she crossed swords with Luna here… she would die!

She realized this would be her final moment.

However, Luna had said she had “no intention of spilling meaningless blood.”

Saying “meaningless” implied there was blood that had meaning.

And she had been consistently demanding to see Yurie since arriving.

“Unless you at least give a proper reason…!!”

“Swen.”

“!!!!!!!”

The moment she heard that name, Anima’s eyes shook violently.

That person’s name… why was the name of the man who had been sold to Serpina’s army in her place coming from Lunarian’s lips?

“Anima, you must know. What your lord did. Who he sold out… to save you.”

“…!!!!!”

Cold sweat began pouring down Anima’s forehead like a flood.

This was fear—a fundamental emotion that all living beings possess.

Overwhelming fear strongly pressed down on Anima’s mind, making rational thought impossible.

“…Move.”

Luna pushed Anima forcefully.

And with that—

CRASH!!!

“AAAAARGH!!”

With a thunderous sound… she was slammed into the wall.

The wooden wall cracked where Anima hit it.

Collapsing against the wall, Anima finally realized.

There had been no need to draw a sword.

With just a push to the side… she had been sent flying like a leaf, unable to offer any resistance!

“W-wait! Stop! Y-Yurie…! Run, away…!!!!”

She flailed, trying to move—

But it seemed she had suffered a serious injury to her remaining arm from the impact with the wall.

Such incredible strength! How could a woman with such a petite frame possess such power…!!

“…”

And then.

Finally, Luna came face to face with Yurie, who sat blankly in a chair.

“…So you are Baranga Yurie Aeshus.”

“…”

Yurie… slowly nodded, not denying the name.

“You know what you’ve done, don’t you?”

“…”

“You… you… sold out Swen. With the intention of saving your subordinate… you committed the insane act of selling your own officer. And to—”

—none other than Serpina.

To the notorious villainess who turned the continent into a mess…!!!

“If it weren’t for you!”

If only you hadn’t done such a thing.

By now, Lord Swen would have come to me!

“Since Lord Swen wouldn’t have voluntarily joined Serpina’s army, by now he would be by my side… looking in the same direction as me.”

“You… ruined everything.”

—All of this happened because of you!!!

Luna glared at Yurie, the defeated figure of the era who couldn’t say a word, with burning eyes that looked ready to devour him.

Yurie… didn’t avoid her gaze. He didn’t bow his head.

He simply looked at her with a sorrowful expression.

“…”

It was a first.

For Luna to display such intense emotions in front of others.

Anyone who knew her would surely be shocked to see her showing such anger.

“…You know why I came, don’t you?”

—Shing.

A sharp metallic sound filled the room.

“N-no…!!”

Ignoring Anima’s scream, what Luna drew with her hand was—the Adina Sword.

The only companion that had been covered in blood alongside the Red-Eyed Dragon.

“…I assume you have no final words.”

“W-wait! Lunarian! Wait! Yurie is in a state where he can’t speak! But he can communicate through writing, so please calm down for a moment, and at least hear Yurie’s side first—”

“…I’m sorry.”

“!!!!”

Anima’s pupils dilated rapidly as she lay fallen.

Yurie… had opened his mouth.

For the first time since Epinel’s death. Since the fall of the Aeshus army.

“Were you the true lord that Swen served?”

“!!!”

When Swen’s name left her lips, Luna’s eyes began to tremble violently.

“Even when he was under me, he always looked beyond… like someone gazing at an unreachable place… I see now. It was because… you hadn’t raised your army yet.”

“Swen was truly an exceptional person. He acted as if he foresaw everything. I thought he was too good to be in my hands…”

“You… do you have the right to say such things?!”

“…”

“Because you sold Lord Swen to Serpina… I… I…!!!! Do you think you can resolve this with a mere apology now?!”

Of course not.

“How dare you shamelessly utter words of apology?! It’s too late for regrets now. You will…!!!”

At that moment.

Yurie looked at Luna, who seemed ready to devour him.

And then he smiled.

“…You know, Lunarian.”

Though they were indoors, rain began to fall on her face.

“When I said I was sorry… it was indeed for handing over Swen, but I don’t regret it.”

“What…?”

“Swen must have been very precious to you. But, you know.”

“Anima was a truly precious person to me.”

“!!!!”

“Yu… rie…?”

“So… I would make the same decision over and over again. Still, I am genuinely sorry about it…”

Luna stared at Yurie with a pale face, unable to say anything.

He would repeat the same decision?

He doesn’t regret selling out Lord Swen…?

“…AAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!”

Luna raised her sword.

And swung it to behead Yurie——

“No matter what our lord does, his unwavering conviction is that he will never lose his noble ideals.”

‘!!!!!!’

“If that heart remains unchanged, I’m certain you can create the future for the continent you’ve been dreaming of.”

In that split second.

As Swen’s voice flashed through her mind, stopping her hand—

From behind, Anima cried out with a voice close to a scream.

“It was Swen’s wish!!!!”

“…Huh?”

“Going to Serpina’s army as an envoy… it was Swen’s decision!”

“He volunteered himself! It wasn’t Yurie who sent him… he volunteered to be the envoy!!!”

What?

Lord Swen… volunteered?

“I… I don’t know much about Swen…! But he has extraordinary abilities, right? Yes, he’s like someone who can foresee the future!”

“Such a person voluntarily went to Serpina’s army! Swen being chosen as the subject of the deal… it wasn’t Yurie’s intention…!!!”

“…”

What is this?

Lord Swen… always… only said the right things, didn’t he?

Luna knew this better than anyone.

Even at Zeilant Castle.

Even when she rebuilt her nation like this.

Everything had happened exactly as Lord Swen had said.

Then.

Did Lord Swen… know?

Did he knowingly… go to Serpina himself…??

“It’s true! What would I gain by lying…!! So please forgive us…! Our comrades, many people have died. But Swen is alive. He’s working as the national advisor for Serpina’s army!”

“As you can see, Yurie no longer has the ability or will to act as a lord. We’ll just live quietly, like dead mice, so please… please… have mercy…!!! Lady Lunarian…!! Please, please show mercy…!!!!”

Anima was saying something—

But none of it reached Lunarian’s ears.

Her head… felt like it was about to split open.

* * *

In the end.

Without blood on her hands, Luna left Yurie’s hut.

When she first heard from Ohana that “Baranga Yurie Aeshus has been found,” she had been burning with revenge for the fact that he had sold out Lord Swen…

But after hearing Swen’s voice in her head and Anima’s story, none of that mattered anymore.

“Welcome back, my lord.”

Ginor bowed to greet Luna as she returned to the base camp.

“Have you dealt with Yurie?”

“Yes.”

“Is she now…?”

“…I heard her say she would live quietly.”

“I see.”

He had thought she would kill him, but apparently not.

The correct answer for those with experience as lords was to cut off the sprout—

But there was no need to bother with someone who had already lost their will.

From what he heard from Ohana, the former lord Yurie had been beyond recovery for a long time.

He simply hadn’t stopped her because of Lunarian’s desire for revenge against Yurie.

Ginor knew that while she followed his orders well in other matters, she wouldn’t listen to him regarding Swen, so he hadn’t bothered to say anything.

Ginor silently recalled his former lord—

‘That relationship is already over.’

He had done enough for Yurie, and she had done enough to him.

There was no need to drag out the relationship any further.

At that moment.

“…As soon as we return, we will prepare for a military expedition.”

“By expedition, you mean…?”

“Serpina’s army.”

Luna slowly uttered that name.

…Yes.

Lord Swen couldn’t have betrayed me.

Even if, as Anima said, Lord Swen volunteered himself, ultimately it must have been for my sake.

So… even if I attack Serpina’s army, Lord Swen will understand.

After all, Lord Swen is my advisor.

My advisor Swen choosing Serpina over me…? This is absurd. The world must be wrong.

But I’m not worried. Because Lord Swen couldn’t be wrong…

“I will declare war on Serpina’s army.”

“Have you decided?”

“Yes.”

Even to rescue Lord Swen as quickly as possible—

It was time to point the sword at Serpina.

“…Understood.”

“Ginor. There’s something I want to ask.”

Though it was a bit surprising that Luna suddenly changed how she addressed him, having always called him Lord Ginor—

They were in a lord-subject relationship to begin with. This was actually more natural.

“What is it, my lord?”

“When Yurie sent Lord Swen to Serpina’s army as an envoy… was that Lord Swen’s voluntary decision?”

At this point, lying would be the more foolish thing to do.

“Yes, it was.”

“…I understand.”

Looking at Luna’s back as she turned and walked forward, Ginor thought:

‘Swen. I don’t know what your plan is, but I hope you proceed with it quickly.’

And so, Yurie barely escaped with his life—

While Lunarian and Ginor returned to Ashan Castle at a rapid pace on horseback, accompanied by the small contingent of escort soldiers who had come with them.