Ch.414Chapter 414. Swift as the Wind, Fierce as Thunder (4)

The truth that prediction points to is only one.

Lady Serpina… will die if she faces Lady Luna on the battlefield.

‘That’s why it says to accept a great sacrifice.’

Though it was truly a desperate situation, I thought perhaps it was fortunate to discover this somehow.

The reason was simple. Because I was the monarch, not the strategist.

It was simply a matter of not deploying Lady Serpina to the battlefield, and no one would question my decision as the monarch.

‘It’s fine to lose some local battles.’

I slowly checked the map and revised the overall deployment near the border.

Repeating the question-and-answer process, I made the most efficient decisions under the absolute premise of ‘saving Lady Serpina.’

This task usually took thirty minutes to an hour, but trying to maintain this special premise consumed a full three hours.

‘Done…’

I sighed briefly and leaned back.

Resting against the throne, I could feel my back had become damp with tension.

If Lady Luna’s hatred for Serpina was beyond imagination—I thought that relying solely on Intelligence 100 abilities might not be the answer.

The judgment criteria of Intelligence 100 was entirely focused on “Lord Swen achieving unification of the world.”

While evaluations could change depending on the monarch’s intentions, the absolute value was placed on whether something was advantageous for the conquest war.

When it said Lady Serpina’s death would be a “great loss,” it was reasonable to assume this was because Serpina was an irreplaceable talent for our army, rather than because I loved her.

Just like how the sacrifice of Reika, the great mage who could unleash powerful magic, would be a significant loss.

‘Now… I need to make decisions that can move Lady Luna’s heart, even if they’re not efficient.’

Yes.

If until now I’ve been fitting my actions to Intelligence 100’s answers—

From now on, I needed to act solely on my own thoughts and judgments.

‘For local battles, I’ll follow Intelligence 100’s judgments as I’ve done so far, but to win Lady Luna’s heart…’

I racked my brain once more.

Not following results, but journeying to create results.

Thinking in a different direction was quite a worthwhile endeavor.

* * *

After that.

Several more battles occurred at the border.

Surprisingly, from a certain point, the Lunarian army, which had been suffering consecutive defeats, began winning more frequently as soon as Lunarian returned to the border.

“It’s the Red-Eyed Dragon! Avoid her!”

“Beware of the Red-Eyed Dragon! Never challenge her alone! If you must die, choose a meaningful death rather than a meaningless one!”

In this situation, inexperienced generals might think the goddess of victory had returned to the Lunarian army—

In reality, this was no different from the Serpina army before it became the Swen army.

During the Serpina army era, they achieved quite a few victories against the Lunarian army.

But almost all those victories had no strategic value. To put it bluntly, they struggled to win battles they didn’t need to win, and lost important battles they absolutely shouldn’t have lost, as if by agreement.

That was exactly the situation now.

The Swen army lost battles they could afford to lose, and won all the battles they needed to win.

They were displaying the almost miraculous pattern that the Lunarian army had shown in the past.

What was even more frightening was that even in battles that objectively seemed “okay to lose,” if the Swen army won, it would later be revealed that the battle had been unexpectedly important.

The Lunarian army during the Serpina army era never displayed such miracles, which made this even more prominent.

Naturally.

Naturally, the Lunarian army’s morale plummeted as they felt abandoned by the world.

Until recently, they had been an army chosen by the gods who knew no defeat… but now they were being completely outmaneuvered by the Swen army.

Nevertheless, Lunarian herself somehow appeared to be winning. Far from being demoralized in this situation, she continued to enter the battlefield as a monarch without sparing herself.

Only a handful of close associates, including Ginor, noticed that the reason she wasn’t discouraged had nothing to do with defeat… but knowing this didn’t mean they could do anything about it.

“Are you really alright with this, Strategist? Just watching our lord…”

“Didn’t I tell you, Violet? That it’s meaningless to try to change what cannot be changed.”

Unlike Ginor, who answered while playing chess alone, Violet, who seemed relatively more emotional, shook her head as if she couldn’t understand.

“However, I cannot rule out the possibility that our lord—Lady Luna—could be in danger at this rate. If she were to lose her life on the battlefield—”

“Don’t worry.”

Clack!

Ginor placed a knight on the chessboard.

Though he didn’t use particular force, there was a resonance that came simply from the fact that it was Ginor who placed it.

“Lady Luna will absolutely not die.”

Ginor said this while looking at the chessboard.

—A meaningless move.

A move that gave up capturing the piece thrown before him.

“What…?”

“As long as we’re facing the Swen army, not the Serpina army, Count Lunarian will absolutely not die. Don’t worry.”

“Strategist…”

The expression “Count Lunarian” wasn’t particularly appropriate for addressing a monarch—

But Violet noticed that it wasn’t meant to disrespect her, but rather came from viewing the situation objectively.

Ginor quietly rose from his seat and approached the window.

“It’s alright. All we can do now is believe in Count Lunarian… and believe in Swen. He claimed to me that he would ‘achieve the best outcome for everyone, without a single person being left out.’ So… just watch.”

And so, after several more days of continued battles between the Lunarian army and the Swen army—battles overwhelmingly favorable to the Swen army—

“My lord! Laclaine Castle and Valhart Castle… have fallen…!”

With the messenger wearing a red armband shouting thus.

Finally, at least on the map, the territories of the two nations—the Lunarian army and the Swen army—were divided almost equally.

* * *

Entering Valhart Castle, I gazed at the yellow flag fluttering atop the spire and fell into contemplation.

I’ve returned.

When I first came here, the red flag symbolizing the Aeshus army was fluttering.

If the Lunarian army had been active at that moment, I would have taken Lady Irene and headed to the Lunarian army without looking back.

After understanding the situation somewhat, I would have persuaded Ginor. Including Reika, the Lunarian army could have started with overwhelmingly advantageous cards.

If that had happened, our army would have swept through the continent’s castles with unstoppable momentum. The Rolland army, Ohana army, Hesna army, Brans army, Aeshus army… and even the Serpina army.

I would have been by Lady Luna’s side, overthrowing Serpina, the culprit who plunged this continent into despair. I might have shed tears remembering the old days at Zeilandt Castle, standing beside Lady Luna as she proclaimed that she had avenged herself by publicly executing Serpina and established true peace on the continent.

And now, I—

‘I’m glad it didn’t turn out that way.’

—For the first time, I felt genuinely grateful to Yurie.

Without her, I wouldn’t have met Lady Serpina.

Without knowing the truth about Lady Serpina, I would have made her a sacrificial lamb.

“My lord. Serpina von Einhart has arrived.”

“Tell her to come in.”

“Yes!”

No sooner had the soldier finished speaking than Serpina approached, walking on the red carpet of the audience chamber.

“I come before my lord.”

“Serpina. This isn’t a formal occasion, so you don’t need to use honorifics.”

“How could I speak casually to my lord?”

“Please. I want to see you being confident.”

Serpina remained silent for a moment—

“…If it’s my lord’s request, I suppose I have no choice.”

She said, then raised her head and smiled at me.

“So, what’s the matter, Swen?”

As soon as she dropped the formalities, I felt a sense of ease.

I had the foolish thought that perhaps I had become addicted to Lady Serpina’s commanding presence.

“I heard you’ve been questioning why I haven’t been utilizing you on the battlefield lately.”

“Yes. At first I did. I was concerned about not being able to help you, but… I’m fine with it now.”

“Are you really?”

“You wouldn’t keep me from being useful without a reason.”

It seemed she had been bothered by being kept away from the front lines despite her abilities… but fortunately, she had reached some level of acceptance.

“I called you today because there’s something I really want to tell you.”

“Tell me.”

I slowly bowed my head.

Yes.

Not the predetermined correct answer of Intelligence 100.

Even if it’s wrong, to create a world where everyone can smile.

I needed Lady Serpina’s cooperation.

“Lady Serpina.”

Therefore.

“It seems Lady Luna’s goal isn’t continental unification.”

“…What?”

“I’ve detected numerous actions that would be unnecessary if unification were her only goal. Moreover, according to intelligence, the national strategist Ginor has been in seclusion for quite some time. She’s not listening to her strategist’s advice at all.”

“But that’s strange. Then why is she continuing the war?”

“Because Lady Luna has a purpose.”

“A purpose?”

I could no longer hide it.

“It’s you, Lady Serpina.”

“…What?”

“Lady Luna is after your life.”

“!!!!!!”

The truth that was too cruel for her.