Ch.70Chapter 70. Defense of the Western Fortress of Bhalharat (3)

I reflected on the prediction results again.

[It depends on heaven’s will]?

I had seen this prediction before.

This didn’t literally mean it depended on heaven, but rather that the outcome would vary according to my own actions, not something else.

But… what did it mean that the outcome of the war depended on my actions, not someone else’s?

While I had high intelligence, my combat ability was ridiculously low. My leadership was probably low as well. Those were virtues of a general, not a strategist.

Of course, it wasn’t unusual for a strategist to lead a battle to victory with ingenious tactics, but I was a strategist in name only and practically useless when it came to tactics.

Yet the battle’s outcome would be determined by my choices?

And retreating was somewhat close to the right answer?

I was lost in thought due to two predictions that were definitely correct but seemed to have no connection to each other.

“Swen?”

Epinel, who had no way of knowing I was confused, urged me to answer again.

Only then could I respond in a somewhat calm tone.

“What? Ah… yes, I agree with what you’re saying, Lady Epinel.”

My answer was a bit delayed, but I seemed to have handled the situation well enough.

“Everyone listen! We’ve decided to make our stand at the fortress, so please prepare for battle. Musel, Jayden, and Irene. I’m placing great expectations on you three.”

“We understand!”

And so, Epinel’s opinion to make a stand prevailed over Ginor’s suggestion to retreat.

“Now everyone can return to their positions.”

After Epinel’s final words, people filed out, leaving only Irene and me in the empty conference room.

“Swen? Is something wrong?”

“Lady Irene.”

Irene was one of our main combat forces.

In a situation where we needed every general we could get, she was destined to go to the battlefield and fight.

If I couldn’t find the “optimal move” here… she would be in danger.

“You can tell me if something’s bothering you.”

“It’s nothing. I’m just a bit nervous before the battle.”

“I see.”

Irene said with a faint smile.

“Don’t worry, Swen. Even if it means turning my back on the Aeshus army, I will definitely protect you.”

“Turning your back on the Aeshus army? That’s quite a statement to make so casually.”

“It doesn’t matter. What’s important to me isn’t others, but you, Swen. Didn’t I tell you? I’ll live for you.”

Irene’s words weren’t bravado but sincere.

Just earlier, when Epinel told me to perform a ritual, she had tried to intervene.

Despite being a newcomer who could be seen as the cause of the Brans army’s invasion, she hadn’t hesitated to step forward and voice her opinion strongly, even though it would surely earn her enmity.

I could easily guess the reason.

She believed that such actions—like performing rituals to create miracles—would put my life at risk.

If our only way to win was for me to summon another meteor, she would rather choose defeat.

For Irene’s sake as well, I absolutely had to find the right answer.

“I feel the same way about you, Lady Irene.”

“Yes… I know.”

Irene’s smile as she said this was so lovely.

Perhaps that’s why.

I approached Irene and gently embraced her.

It was somewhat impulsive, and I felt her body flinch slightly—

But she soon spread her arms and placed her hands around my waist.

She didn’t reject me but welcomed me into her world.

This feeling from her warm presence.

It made me feel alive and gave me a reason to live.

After we shared a silent embrace for a moment.

“…Swen. I’ll go downstairs and do what I need to do, but feel free to come find me anytime if you need anything.”

“I understand.”

After Irene left the conference room, alone in the silence.

I sat down and whispered quietly to myself.

‘Alright. Let’s try once more.’

The very thing I had struggled with to survive as an ordinary modern person who could only make 100% accurate predictions but knew nothing about strategy or tactics.

It was time once again for a kind of ‘deduction.’

Eliminating all impossibilities.

The result—the truth—would be what remained, no matter how implausible it seemed.

It would surely be the same this time.

I began to think calmly.

I had two “absolute truths”:

That repelling the enemy and retreating from here was [somewhat close] to the right answer.

And that the outcome of this battle [depends on heaven’s will], meaning it depended on my choice.

Let’s organize them one by one.

When I first heard it, I was confused because I was flustered.

But considering that the predictions made by my intelligence of 100 came from the perspective of the “Aeshus army”—the nation I currently belonged to—rather than my own position—

It would be correct to interpret this as meaning that if our army made some good choices here, we could win, rather than referring to me, Swen, personally.

Thinking calmly, that’s how it made sense.

Then our army doing something means…

‘Either we do something first… or we prepare for something the enemy might do… one of these two?’

Only then did I slowly take out the paper from inside my clothes.

This place was west of Valhart Castle. In other words, it was east of Raclaine Castle, the easternmost point of the Brans army.

This meant that this area was included in the “map of the Brans army’s border region” that I had drawn before.

If we needed to prepare for something, surely I could find hints in the terrain.

I spread out the map and carefully checked the terrain and surroundings from Raclaine Castle to Valhart Castle.

‘There are quite a lot of forests here and there, more than I expected.’

Could those surrounding forests provide some clue?

A way to use them, or perhaps…

‘…No.’

Let’s change perspective.

Maybe it’s time to think from the opponent’s point of view, not ours.

‘If I were in the Brans army, how would I act?’

If I were Chel Brans.

If I were Farfalle, the strategist of the Brans army, what would I be thinking?

On what basis would I make the decision to “send 50,000 troops to the fortress”?

I slowly cleared my mind and concentrated on my thoughts.

If I were in the Brans army’s position…

‘…I wouldn’t send soldiers.’

When I thought about it, the sudden deployment itself seemed incomprehensible.

The reason.

It might sound a bit ridiculous to hear, but I couldn’t help but think it.

‘Because… I, “Swen,” am here.’

‘Because they can’t ignore Swen’s existence… they wouldn’t just send soldiers head-on.’

I had predicted a natural disaster and acted as if I had caused it.

And that was when I was part of the Brans army.

It seemed unlikely that the Brans army, of all people, would have overlooked this point.

Farfalle, the current national strategist of the Brans army, wasn’t stupid enough to not consider such a basic thing.

She would have certainly taken this into account.

Yet they still sent soldiers because…

* * *

Raclaine Castle.

There, Chel and Farfalle were having a private conversation.

On the table lay only a single map showing the surrounding terrain.

“Strategist. I’m glad to see you’ve been well without any troubles.”

“I’ve heard. You said the lord ordered you to occupy the Aeshus army’s territory?”

“That’s right. I feel reassured having you with me, Strategist Farfalle.”

“Likewise, I feel like I’ve gained a thousand troops with General Chel at the vanguard.”

After the appropriate pleasantries.

Chel immediately got to the point.

“First of all, the enemy commander defending the fortress is Epinel Rosenkroz.”

Epinel Rosenkroz.

A woman regarded as the most outstanding general in the Aeshus army, with well-rounded excellent abilities.

One of the famous Aeshus Three Ladies that Farfalle knew well.

Among them, Erinandorf had the strongest combat ability, while Emma was intelligent with excellent leadership.

And Epinel was the one who could unite these two with her leadership.

The fact that if anything happened to Baranga Yurie Aeshus, Epinel would almost 100% succeed as the ruler, should be sufficient explanation of what kind of person she was.

“I’ve confirmed they have about 48,000 troops. Of course, since it’s a fortress rather than a castle, if we bring plenty of siege weapons and clear out the intercepting forces, we certainly have a chance of winning… But the lord said he would send additional troops to this area as soon as the western front is settled. I’m wondering whether we should wait for those troops or go in immediately without giving the enemy time to prepare.”

Having finished speaking, Chel looked directly at Farfalle and said:

“I’d like to hear your esteemed opinion.”

“…May I share my thoughts?”

Farfalle pointed to the map in front of her and said:

“In the current situation, it’s impossible to capture the fortress no matter what strategy we use. It’s unreasonable to engage in a full-scale battle in the first place.”

“Impossible? I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“Have you forgotten, General? What happened at the northern fortress?”

“…!”

What happened in the north.

Within the Brans army, it had long been known as “that incident when rocks fell from the sky.”

And hearing that, Chel seemed to understand what Farfalle was saying.

“Ah…”

“Irene Juliette isn’t the only traitor. Under her was a general named Swen. He’s an extremely insightful man, smart enough to see through the Aeshus army’s schemes. According to rumors, Swen performed rituals at that fortress, communicating with the heavens to create such miracles. If our army were to charge straight at the fortress with all our forces exposed, would they simply intercept and fight us? Or would they perform rituals again to knock on heaven’s door once more?”

Chel couldn’t answer and listened to her words with a serious expression.

“We don’t know exactly how his abilities work, whether it’s really magic as the rumors say or not—but from our army’s perspective, do we really need to test his abilities?”

“…Hmm.”

“Of course, that raises the question of ‘why didn’t they attack us earlier with that ability,’ but as I said before, we don’t need to experiment with his abilities.”

“Then what should we do? Doesn’t this mean we have no chance of winning?”

“It’s not that we have no options at all.”

Farfalle moved her finger to where Raclaine Castle was located.

“To achieve ultimate victory in this battle, we need to march toward the fortress right away. Or more precisely… the fact itself that we marched is what’s needed.”

Hearing this far, Chel seemed to realize something and nodded, saying:

“Then what you’re saying is…”

“Yes.”

Farfalle nodded.

“The soldiers marching toward the fortress are—”

* * *

“…The soldiers marching toward the fortress are bait to keep me tied down… is that it?”

I found myself muttering out loud.

After thinking deeply about ‘what would I do if I were the Brans army,’ this was the answer I came up with.

Bait.

The thought that the advance force now approaching this place might be bait wouldn’t leave my mind.