Ch.47Chapter 47. Northern Fortress Defense Battle (6)

Looking at Irene who was frozen in shock at the sight of Kalintz, she spoke to me in a gentle voice.

“Ah, Swen. You were unconscious, so… you wouldn’t know.”

I turned my head to look at Irene.

And then- I was able to hear from her about what happened while I was unconscious.

* * *

Turn the clock forward.

Having successfully escaped from the prison of Cherien Castle, Kalintz had stolen a soldier’s horse and was quickly riding toward the fortress.

From what he’d heard, Serpina’s army was marching with 50,000 soldiers toward Cherien Castle, where defenses had been lowered and troops withdrawn after he had tricked his own soldiers.

He had managed to escape by taking advantage of the inevitable chaos, but… the problem was what came next.

‘I was foolish.’

Imprisoned with a cooled head to think, he finally realized just how stupid his actions had been.

First of all, the morale of Cherien Castle’s soldiers hadn’t decreased at all.

Serpina had conquered the north, but hadn’t completely won the hearts of the people throughout the northern region, resulting in various disturbances—something Kalintz himself clearly knew.

Thinking about that, he could have deduced that the rebel army might unexpectedly remain loyal to Ian.

In any case, the result of the battle he had started was devastating.

An enemy general who had done the work Serpina’s army would have had to do!

Thanks to Kalintz—no one else but himself—Serpina’s army would easily suppress the rebellion.

He had achieved the military merit he so desperately wanted.

Except it wasn’t for the Brans army, but for the enemy nation of Serpina.

‘Damn it!’

How humiliating was this situation?

Only after everything had passed did he finally feel his own arrogance and foolishness.

Moreover, having ruined everything, he would inevitably lose the fortress he had personally led the construction of.

This fortress had been built because Kalintz himself had strongly advocated for it.

After being humiliated in battle against the small nation of Lunarian and failing to achieve any notable results in the north, he needed to do something, to show something.

He wasn’t just any general—he was blood-related to Lynn Brans, the ruler of the Brans army.

Already constantly compared to his brother and sister, he didn’t want to hear that he was “an incompetent man who rose to his position because of his bloodline.”

Objectively, he was an extremely capable general, but being constantly undervalued compared to his siblings had made him impatient.

In that situation, to lose a fortress whose strategic value had been questioned from the construction stage, and so soon after it was built?

And as a result of recklessly starting a battle that only benefited others?

When this fortress was being built, he had repeatedly been advised that “if captured, it would likely benefit the enemy, so it would be better not to build it.”

At the time, his vision had been clouded, and he had ignored the advice and proceeded—but now he understood.

They had been right.

Looking back, he had consistently chosen to do only useless things.

‘Damn it!’

Kalintz thought.

Having fallen so low, he should at least not beg for his life.

He would rather die fighting at the fortress.

For the honor of the Brans family, he needed to die on the battlefield.

If he had done something so stupid, shouldn’t he at least take responsibility himself?

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have the courage to face his lord and sister, or his brother, the greatest swordsman of the Brans army.

But.

No matter how he thought about it, he was anxious that his sister Lynn would have ordered a retreat.

It was in her nature not to cling to battles that couldn’t be won.

If upon arriving at the fortress, the flag flying was not sky blue but the bright yellow symbolizing Serpina’s army.

Kalintz was even considering the extreme option of fighting the fortress alone.

‘Please… just hold out a little longer…!’

Perhaps Kalintz’s wish had been granted.

Fortunately, the flag flying over the fortress was sky blue, proving it still belonged to the Brans army.

However.

The atmosphere seemed strange somehow.

‘…What is that?’

On top of the wall, some man was doing something strange.

He seemed to be shouting loudly between two drums.

Getting closer, Kalintz saw it was a white-haired man.

There was definitely a young white-haired man at the fortress, wasn’t there…?

But he wasn’t given more time to think.

“…Huh?”

When he looked up at the sky.

There——

* * *

After hearing the situation from Irene, I was able to understand the current situation.

‘I see. An escape.’

Generals with high stats not only rarely get captured, but even when they do, they often escape with surprising frequency.

That’s why they’re usually quickly recruited or swiftly used as diplomatic bargaining chips.

Given the circumstances, Ian’s army apparently hadn’t been able to handle the situation wisely.

Well, I understood. How could they manage prisoners properly when a newly raised rebel army had just fought a battle?

Most likely, Serpina’s army forces had been dispatched.

Kalintz nodded as if overwhelmed by something and spoke to me.

Somehow, the look in his eyes toward me was unusual.

“Swen! Your name is Swen, correct?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Right! Your name… I, Kalintz Brans, have remembered it clearly. I will never forget it from now on.”

?

I wondered why he was suddenly acting like this, but I didn’t want to dampen his spirits, so I decided to just go along with it.

“Thank you.”

“Thank me? I should be thanking you! I heard that when everyone else abandoned the fortress, you were the only one who disobeyed orders and volunteered to fight personally, even without receiving direct orders…?”

I don’t know when he heard that story.

But since it was true, I might as well confirm it.

“That’s correct.”

“Yes! Swen… you fought to defend this fortress, risking your life and even disobeying orders! For me, Kalintz Brans!”

???

What on earth is he talking about?

Why would I fight for you?

But.

Kalintz, unaware of my thoughts, spoke with high tension, seemingly overwhelmed by something.

“Swen! I also witnessed the miracle you created with my own eyes! I saw it while riding my horse toward the fortress!”

‘Ah.’

Hearing that, I suddenly felt clarity.

When making my deductions—I had thought that maybe I could somehow twist the story to make it seem like Kalintz had backed my insubordination.

But it wasn’t that—he had actually seen me performing my show with his own eyes.

Which meant—

Kalintz Brans had gone beyond recognizing me as “an extremely impressive person” to being completely convinced of it.

‘…That’s frightening.’

The prediction of Intelligence 100.

Even though I had made it myself, there were times when it was eerily accurate to a chilling degree.

“Building an altar, barely surviving each day on minimal food to communicate with the heavens… and beating drums to continuously knock on heaven’s door—that must be true!”

Somehow the story seems to have gained some embellishments.

It sounds interesting, so I’ll just stay quiet.

“Ha! That expression asks how I knew.”

Kalintz continued excitedly without even waiting for my response.

“The soldiers who fought alongside you at the fortress! I heard the details from them! Swen! I am truly proud of you! To have such an incredible talent join our army, our lord’s eye for people was not wrong after all!”

“Thank you.”

“Yes! That’s right!”

Kalintz said with a broad smile.

His confident tone suggested he was certain I would be moved by his words right now.

“I will never forget that you risked your life for me in this battle! As long as you’re in the Brans army, no one will ever dare disrespect you! I promise on the name of Brans!”

“……”

Honestly, I felt somewhat annoyed, but—

It was probably easier to let him praise me as he pleased than to antagonize him.

After Kalintz caused a commotion and left the room.

Once again, only Irene and I remained.

I turned my head to look at Irene.

She was looking at me with worried eyes, as if something was making her anxious.

“…Swen. I would like you to rest for a while.”

“I’ve slept for about a day, so I’m fine.”

“Please listen to me. I’m asking you.”

“……”

I felt like I could get up now…

But I might as well accept her kindness here.

It seemed like a good idea to replenish my already low stamina.

“Alright. But please call me if anything happens.”

“Yes. I will.”

And then, silence fell again.

Only then did I sense something odd and asked:

“Um… Lady Irene.”

“What is it?”

“Are you going to stay here the whole time?”

“Yes.”

Irene nodded and answered immediately.

“Swen, taking care of you is my job. As for fortress matters, General Kalintz has returned, so he’ll handle them.”

“…Is that okay? Don’t you have other duties?”

“No. For me right now… taking care of you, Swen, is the most important task.”

She spoke in a very firm tone.

However, her eyes were warm rather than cold as she said this.

Her attitude seemed somewhat different from before I lost consciousness…

Honestly, I didn’t dislike this attitude of hers.

“Then I’ll be in your care.”

“Yes.”

She smiled at me.

That smile, I was able to protect it—

At this moment, for the first time, I felt grateful that my Intelligence was 100.

*

After several days at the fortress.

News arrived that all of Ian’s castles, including Cherien Castle and Marti Castle, had fallen to Serpina’s army, the Ian army had been destroyed, and Ian Lishfalt, who had raised the rebellion, had been executed.

Not just Ian, but all the rebel generals who had joined the rebellion, including Solana Lishfalt, had been beheaded.

It really was a short rebellion.

It couldn’t have lasted long anyway, but I wondered why they had rebelled knowing this.

I became newly curious about such things, but there was no way to know now.

Because Ian was gone.

‘What will happen to the north now.’

This suppression of the rebellion and execution of everyone involved sent a clear message.

The message that anyone who defies Serpina’s army will die without exception.

Serpina’s influence in the north would grow even stronger.

If the north becomes completely stable… the sword tip would naturally point toward the Brans army.

‘My lord will need to prepare well.’

Well, she’ll handle it properly, I’m sure.

I just needed to find the right timing to escape with Irene.

And after several more days.

Reinforcements sent by Lynn from Anel Castle had finally arrived at the fortress.

I welcomed the newly arrived people with Irene in the conference room where Kalintz was.

“I, Taltin, have just arrived under our lord’s orders, General Kalintz.”

“Hmm, yes.”

“I was truly relieved to hear that General Kalintz had successfully escaped. Our lord must have been pleased to hear the news as well.”

“……”

Kalintz didn’t respond and changed the subject.

“So. The reinforcements are to be deployed at this fortress from now on?”

“About that, it seems that won’t be the case.”

“What?”

In response to Kalintz’s question, the officer who called himself Taltin spoke in a resolute tone.

“These are orders from our lord. General Kalintz Brans and all officers under your command are to return to Anel Castle immediately.”

“What? Return? Then who will remain at this fortress?”

“……”

Taltin hesitated very slightly, then carefully began to speak.

“And secondly, after gathering all the supplies you can… she ordered the fortress to be destroyed.”