Ch.386Chapter 386. The Fall of Anel Castle, and…

Lunarian sat beside Tifa, barely managing to hold her hand.

“What… what happened to you, Tifa…?”

“It’s… nothing. I just… earned my keep….”

“What are you saying…!!! Tifa, you too… you too for me…!!”

“My lord!”

At that moment.

Violet, who was standing beside Lunarian whose emotions were about to flare up, desperately intervened.

“It’s alright. According to the medical examination, fortunately, her life is not in danger. Since she reinforced her body with mana while breaking through the castle wall, I can’t say there was no damage at all… but she didn’t reach the brink of death.”

“That’s not the issue…! She’s injured so badly…!!!”

“…Lunarian.”

Tifa looked at Lunarian and spoke.

Her voice, which had always been playful, was unprecedentedly serious.

“You’re planning to fight Serpina, aren’t you…?”

“…Yes.”

“You know that even you would struggle if you open a second front without dealing with the Brans forces first, right?”

“I know. But I can’t sacrifice you to…!!”

“It’s not a sacrifice.”

“!!!!”

“The general… just acted independently to achieve merit… without your approval. If you call this a sacrifice… it makes it seem like what I did was meaningless, doesn’t it?”

“Tifa….”

“I told you… I would see you… unify the continent.”

Tifa’s decision.

Whether it was efficient or not—honestly, looking at the results alone, it was an overwhelming gain for Lunarian’s forces, enough to say it had crossed the threshold of efficiency.

She had cleared Anel Castle.

The initial decision to “bypass Anel Castle for the attack” was made because there was confidence that Anel Castle could not be easily cleared.

Ginor had also said, “Rather than forcibly attacking Anel Castle, it’s better to bypass it since the Brans forces have no option but to hold out.”

But all these discussions required the premise that Anel Castle could not be conquered—and Tifa had essentially shattered that premise.

If this wasn’t efficient, what would be?

“Even so… even so.”

“So instead of talking about sacrifice or whatever… praise me for doing well.”

“It’s not like I actually died… I won’t be able to fight for a while, but still… I achieved something, didn’t I?”

“I’m a general. Fighting on the battlefield… is my destiny. You know that well, don’t you?”

“…”

Tears flowed from Lunarian’s eyes again as Tifa spoke with bandages wrapped tightly around her.

“Why are you… crying over something so trivial? If old man Cain saw this from heaven… he’d sigh.”

“Tifa….”

Lunarian firmly held Tifa’s hand.

Warmth. The intense warmth that could only be felt from someone still alive emanated from her weakened hand.

“Thank you, Tifa. I’ll never forget the achievement you’ve made….”

“Well, I’ll join you once I’m fully recovered… so take care of Serpina. Got it?”

“…Yes.”

After Lunarian left—

Violet, who had been silently watching the situation, finally burst into tears.

“Sob…!”

“Hey, what’s wrong…? Everything turned out fine. We’re… heroes.”

“But you lied. You said there was no threat to your life….”

“How is that a lie…? It’s the truth.”

“But, but… now—”

—You can barely see anymore…

“…”

The price she paid for pushing her magical power to its limit and launching herself like a projectile.

It was her eyesight.

She hadn’t become completely blind. But… her vision was no longer as clear as before.

The doctors said that since it was related to mana, they couldn’t detect any physical abnormalities.

In other words—while her eyes as organs were physically intact, somehow she had partially lost her vision.

“Hey, that’s… fine. I’ll figure something out somehow. And well… there are many blind people among great generals, right? As long as I can swing a sword, what does it matter? It’s better than… losing an arm or leg.”

“That’s not true….”

Tifa looked at the sobbing Violet, let out a short sigh, and—

“…I’m truly sorry.”

“…!!”

For perhaps the first time in her life, she apologized in a sincere tone.

“…Why?”

“Well, it’s just… I never thought I’d hear those words from Tifa’s mouth….”

“…Ha, you disrespectful brat….”

Tifa laughed emptily.

A crucial piece for the unification monarch Lunarian—

She had fulfilled that role extremely faithfully.

* * *

“You’ve arrived, my lord. I request your decision regarding the prisoners.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Metz.”

Metz, who had been serving as the temporary castle lord, brought all the Brans prisoners.

There were a total of 9 captured generals. Unfortunately, it seemed they couldn’t secure Lynn Brans, the monarch.

Lunarian dealt with them one by one. Of course, it didn’t take long.

“Release… you say?”

“Yes, Beluga. You may return to the Brans forces.”

Lunarian deliberately chose not to punish them.

There was no need. The Brans forces, having lost Anel Castle, were now like cornered rats no matter what they did.

Rather than killing them and creating resentment, keeping them alive opened the possibility of them becoming subordinates in the future—Ginor also agreed with Lunarian’s opinion.

“…You’ll regret this, Lunarian.”

“Will I? Then make me regret it.”

Some among them changed their allegiance.

“From today, I swear to serve Lunarian.”

“Meeting a new lord like you makes me feel clear-headed.”

“I see. I look forward to working with you until we defeat Serpina.”

Lunarian smiled and sincerely welcomed their defection.

The real enemy was Serpina’s forces. Even a single ally was crucial for Lunarian’s army.

And then.

“…”

Finally, one of the most prominent prisoners was brought out and made to kneel.

“…Hello, Cecile.”

Cecile Lohengrin.

The woman who had most fiercely opposed Vanessa, arguing that “we must trust Lunarian” while Vanessa insisted “we must never trust Lunarian.”

The fact that she had been captured by Lunarian was truly an irony of these chaotic times.

“…Kill me.”

“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of doing that.”

“What?”

Cecile, who had been hanging her head, raised it and glared at Lunarian.

Killing intent.

In front of the Crimson-Eyed Dragon who instilled fear in everyone, Cecile glared at her with murderous intent.

“If you don’t kill me now, you’ll be the one to die next, Lunarian. Did you think you could stab Karelia in the back—the person who trusted and employed you despite the opposition of her ministers—and get away with it?!”

“Cecile. Think about it. Did you approve of Vanessa’s governing style?”

“How could I?! But no matter what, how can a retainer justify stabbing their lord in the back?!”

“…The same mistake.”

“!!!”

“Karelia told me. Not to make the same mistake. I just listened to those words. That’s all.”

“If Karelia hadn’t allowed herself to be manipulated as if Vanessa had taken all her authority, this wouldn’t have happened. Vanessa’s blade was aimed at me… and I just responded to it. That’s all.”

“Lunarian Ineanne…!!!”

Cecile muttered Lunarian’s name for a while, then shouted in a voice filled with anger.

“If you’re so great, then kill me! Isn’t it obvious that keeping me alive will be a mistake for you?!”

At that moment.

“No.”

“What…!”

Lunarian, with the life drained from her eyes.

Like an empty doll, she spoke nonchalantly.

“Cecile. You are not a threat to me.”

“What…?”

“Rather, killing you would only create unnecessary friction with the widespread Lohengrin family and Lohengrin trading company in the west. So, I have no intention of killing you.”

“Not… a threat…?”

“Yes.”

Lunarian nodded repeatedly, then—

In an extremely cold tone that felt suffocating—

“You can’t kill me even if I release you, can you?”

“!!!!!!”

“So, for my sake… keep on living. Understood?”

After saying that, Lunarian gave a slight eye-smile.

…It was benevolent.

A warm smile no different from the benevolent one that had once shaken Cecile… Cecile was so terrified she couldn’t even speak.

“Release this person.”

“Yes!!”

After Cecile, who had ultimately saved her life—

“This is the last one.”

“Yes.”

At Ginor’s unusually solemn words, Lunarian nodded with determination.

Yes.

There was one more prominent prisoner remaining.

“…”

The one brought out was an intellectual-looking woman with distinctive purple hair—Farfalle.

“Hello. You’re Farfalle, correct?”

“…Yes. It’s unfortunate that my first meeting with the Crimson-Eyed Dragon is under these circumstances.”

Farfalle spoke in a calm tone, then—

Turned her head toward Ginor standing nearby.

“It’s been a long time, Master. This is the first time we’ve met since my days studying at Einhart Academy.”

“…Indeed.”

“As expected of my master, you’ve chosen your lord well. When I heard you were serving under Yurie, I honestly wondered why someone of your caliber would serve under that woman.”

“What about Lynn? I didn’t think she was the type to be swayed by your words.”

“She was brilliant enough that no one could stop her when she was clear-headed. …The problem was that it was too late.”

Farfalle nodded lightly, then—

Addressed Lunarian.

“Please decide my fate, Lunarian.”

“Farfalle. Would you consider serving under me and raising your name—”

“I decline.”

“…I heard you had many hardships under Lynn Brans.”

“Since I chose those hardships myself, it’s fine.”

Would recruitment not be possible?

If she would join, Lunarian could build a much better advisory team than the current situation where she relied on Ginor and Violet—

But it seemed impossible as expected.

“…”

Lunarian glanced lightly at Ginor.

Ginor silently nodded three times slowly.

Two nods meant she could be released. Three nods meant… imprison her.

Farfalle was a capable general. No matter how much they had pushed back the Brans forces, releasing a skilled enemy general was dangerous.

Moreover, although she was currently under the Brans forces, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t join Serpina, was there?

It would be more efficient to imprison her and take time to persuade her. It would be hell for Farfalle, but isn’t that what defeat meant?

Lunarian closed her eyes and thought.

Should she make the efficient choice Ginor suggested?

Or…

“…Farfalle.”

“Yes?”

“You know Swen, don’t you?”

“…!”

Farfalle was startled and looked at Lunarian with a pale face.

Of course she knew. Swen was… a general they had taken from Lunarian.

“You know him, right?”

“…Yes.”

“What kind of person was he?”

“He was a strange person. He made absurd claims, but looking back, they were all correct. Because of his ability, my judgment was clouded, and I ended up being betrayed. But I don’t understand why you’re asking about this…”

Since she was the original monarch, Lunarian would likely know about Swen’s abilities, wouldn’t she?

However, rather than answering Farfalle’s words, Lunarian only asked the questions she wanted to ask.

“A misjudgment, you say?”

“I trusted him deeply. I wanted to use his abilities for the Brans forces. If I had doubted him even a little, the Brans forces wouldn’t have collapsed to this extent.”

“…I see.”

Lunarian closed her eyes and nodded slowly.

And then—

“I will release you.”

“…Pardon?”

Unlike the surprised Farfalle—

Lunarian spoke in an extremely calm tone as if it were only natural.

“Thanks to your trust in Swen, he was able to achieve what he wanted. I don’t know the details, but if Swen truly wanted to leave the Brans forces, there must have been a reason.”

“No… you’re releasing me for such a reason…?”

“Yes.”

It was truly strange.

Her heart, which had been calm even though she was prepared to die, began to race, and she suddenly felt goosebumps.

What was Swen to Lunarian?

Looking at it objectively, even if he was once under her command, isn’t he now serving Serpina?

Moreover, as a national advisor, the fact that he hasn’t returned to Lunarian’s forces even in the current situation suggests he should be nothing more than a “former subordinate”…

That question remained unresolved.

Lunarian had no intention of continuing the conversation.

“Release this person.”

“Yes!”

“…”

Thus, the treatment of prisoners at Anel Castle came to an end.

The result was that everyone was released except those who were recruited, without a single person being imprisoned or killed.

Nevertheless, one thing became certain—

—The downfall of the Brans forces had become a foregone conclusion, just like the former Aeshus forces.