Ch.75Chapter 75. Defense of the Western Fortress of Bhalharat (8)

* * *

At the same time, near the Western Fortress of Balhart.

“Enemy troops spotted over there!”

While I was pretending to perform a ritual at a hastily constructed temporary shrine, a soldier’s shout reached my ears.

‘Is that the vanguard acting as bait?’

They had impressively brought along siege weapons, but as I predicted, there wouldn’t be many troops in the main force that actually made it here.

Just under 10,000 soldiers remained at the fortress.

“General Epinel. Don’t worry and proceed with the interception.”

Epinel nodded at Ginor’s words.

“If their forces seem numerous, I’ll retreat immediately… Swen, I’d appreciate it if you could prepare for that moment.”

“Understood.”

And so Epinel set out to intercept with several thousand soldiers.

Before long, it wasn’t difficult to determine that the enemy forces were few in number.

Just as I said, the enemy’s main force had gone for a surprise attack, and they hadn’t sent many soldiers here.

‘Phew.’

I breathed an inward sigh of relief.

Somehow, every time, even when making “absolutely correct predictions”…

I couldn’t feel at ease until I confirmed the results with my own eyes.

Well, it was nice to call it “predictions that are always right,” but in reality, I was just repeatedly trying to fit the knowledge I had into educated guesses.

Whether these would be correct or not could only be known once the results were revealed.

‘If I was going to be possessed anyway, it would have been nice to get a more certain and accurate cheat.’

While I was having these trivial thoughts, Ginor approached me after assessing the situation and said:

“It seems you were right after all, Swen.”

I replied with an expression full of confidence that made it impossible to believe I had just been thinking “I’m glad I was right” moments ago.

“Didn’t I tell you? From Brans’ army’s perspective, that was the only decision they could make. Anyone thinking about it would have reached a similar conclusion.”

“No. That’s not true. You have the insight to see through situations. You might have talent as a strategist who discusses tactics.”

“Flattery won’t get you anywhere.”

Ginor snorted at my words and said:

“I don’t flatter just anyone. Anyway, the landscape of the continent will change quite a bit now.”

He was right.

The delicate balance that the Brans army had been maintaining on four fronts had collapsed.

Whether we liked it or not, the power structure of the continent would clearly be reorganized.

From atop the fortress walls, I watched Epinel’s forces clean up the Brans army’s vanguard.

He was definitely… strong.

As Ginor said, Epinel was a talented general.

They say an exceptional general can change the course of a battlefield just by being deployed.

It would be fair to say that Epinel exemplified this perfectly.

It wasn’t for nothing that he had managed to hold out against the Brans army until now with limited resources.

‘The central continent will soon be thrown into chaos.’

While it was quite regrettable for the territory’s residents who desired peace… this was an ideal situation for me.

Until the Lunarian army could rise and make its mark, I needed to prevent any particular faction from becoming too powerful.

While Serpina’s domination of the north might be unavoidable, having a powerful force in the central region as well would be a dangerous situation.

But I believed.

That ultimately, even for the territory’s residents, having Luna unify the continent rather than someone like Lynn would be the only path toward a golden age.

With such thoughts… I organized my own ideas.

*

As soon as we returned to Balhart Castle, Yurie welcomed us at the front gate.

“Welcome back, Epinel! Ginor! You really worked hard!”

“What about the soldiers who launched the surprise attack?”

“Irene did the hard work. Emma and Erinandorf arrived on time too. And Ginor, you worked hard as well. I heard it was you who insisted there would be a surprise attack?”

“To be precise, it wasn’t me but the opinion of Swen here.”

“Really?”

Hearing this, Yurie approached me with a smile and extended her hand.

I grasped her hand in return.

“Thank you so much, Swen! If we hadn’t noticed the surprise attack, we would have been in serious trouble… You saved us!”

I smiled and replied with a slightly joking tone:

“If this has repaid the kindness you showed in accepting Irene and me, then I’m satisfied.”

Of course, it was only half a joke; I was quite serious.

I would eventually leave this place, and regardless of the reason, I wanted to do my part for her at least once, since she had accepted our surrender.

Naturally, this aligned with my own interests as well, but was there any need to make that obvious here?

Yurie accepted my somewhat impertinent words with a smile.

“Of course! Not just you, but Irene has worked really hard too. I heard from Emma. There was something very dangerous that happened.”

“Pardon…?”

Something dangerous happened?

The moment I heard those words, I felt my heart sink.

“Could I hear the details…?”

I was able to hear a general account of what happened from Yurie.

From how Irene provoked Chel Brans to buy time, to how she nearly got seriously injured in a one-on-one battle with Chel.

Thanks to Emma’s intervention, things turned out fine, but… if that hadn’t happened, she could have been in real danger.

I couldn’t help but be flustered because her being in danger wasn’t a situation I had anticipated.

‘To think such a thing happened…’

I’ll definitely have to question her about this later.

“Anyway, we’ve dealt with all the remnants of the Brans army. They won’t think of invading this area for a while now.”

“No, Yurie. An opportunity has come!”

Epinel spoke with a spirited tone.

“Now is the perfect chance to plant the red flag on Raclaine Castle! Just give the order! I’ll take the remaining troops and advance to occupy Raclaine right now!”

‘I think it would be better to observe the situation for now.’

It was true that the Brans army was now certain to be attacked from all sides, and an opportunity had indeed come for our army—

But there was no need for the Aeshus army to take the vanguard role.

Serpina’s army, which was eager to advance into the central region, would almost certainly make a move.

When the Brans army was at war with Serpina’s army, that would be the easier time to invade.

“General Epinel. I understand your feelings, but it doesn’t seem to be the right time yet.”

Fortunately, Ginor seemed to share my thoughts and briefed her on the current situation, advising her to wait a little longer.

After listening to Ginor’s explanation, Epinel pondered for a moment, then nodded and said:

“I understand, Strategist. I know that thanks to your opinion, we avoided a major disaster this time.”

Fortunately, she didn’t seem like she would stubbornly insist this time.

“As I’ve mentioned several times, it wasn’t my opinion but…”

Ginor momentarily rolled his eyes toward where I was standing.

I slightly shook my head.

It was a nuance of ‘there’s no need to mention me specifically.’

Fortunately, he seemed to understand my intention and didn’t mention my name further.

‘It’s probably not good to stand out too much.’

To stay out of trouble in the Aeshus army, it was important not to flaunt one’s achievements unnecessarily.

Even Ginor, whose fame was widely known across the continent, was being checked by the founding contributors just for securing the position of strategist—how much more so for a general like me who had merely “dropped a meteor from the sky”?

Of course, that “dropping a meteor from the sky” part was quite remarkable, but if I kept relying on that reputation without being able to do it freely, I would inevitably face difficult moments someday.

Anyway, after the meeting with Yurie ended.

I hurriedly made my way.

My destination was where Irene was.

*

Irene was always the same person, regardless of her affiliation or position.

This time too, just as she had done in the Brans army—

She was spending time treating the wounded soldiers who had played a major role in repelling the surprise attack.

While Emma, Erinandorf, and Epinel were nowhere to be seen… she alone was always there at the frontline, caring for the soldiers who had fought alongside her.

“Lady Irene.”

“Oh? Swen! You’ve returned safely.”

She smiled at me with great delight, but I couldn’t return her smile.

Noticing that my expression was subtly different from usual, she cautiously asked me a question.

“…Swen? Did something happen? Are you feeling unwell—”

“Lady Irene. …I heard you engaged in a duel with Chel Brans.”

“Ah, that. Yes, I did. I needed to buy time.”

She spoke as if it were nothing—

But because of that nonchalant attitude, I spoke with emotion, feeling somewhat upset.

“Why did you engage in such a reckless duel? I’m not underestimating you at all, but Chel Brans is a warrior with no equal in the Brans army. Objectively speaking, Lady Irene, you had a high chance of not being able to defeat him. Couldn’t your life have been in danger if something had gone wrong?”

Irene listened to my emotionally charged words, closed her eyes briefly to think—

Then, slowly opening her eyes, she spoke in a solemn tone:

“…A knight who wields a sword must fight when it is time to fight.”

“This wasn’t that time. Don’t we… have somewhere to go?”

It might be a bit presumptuous, but…

I suddenly thought that if Irene were to perish fighting for the Aeshus army, I might resent the Aeshus army from that day forward.

To me, who was having such somewhat childish thoughts, she smiled gently and said:

“That’s why I fought, Swen.”

“Pardon…?”

“Because I want to go to that place I must go to with you. Because you shouldn’t be in danger before that.”

Irene was looking at me with clearer eyes than ever before.

That gaze. The look of someone wanting to protect something… was momentarily overwhelming me.

“If I hadn’t kept Chel occupied there, he likely would have turned his troops around and retreated. That would have inflicted some damage on the Brans army, but… as you said, it wouldn’t have been enough to tip the balance. If we had missed this opportunity that came to us, there’s no guarantee we would get another chance, is there?”

“…”

I couldn’t say anything.

Because Irene’s words were the correct reasoning.

Because Chel fell for Irene’s provocation and fought her, meaning the commander was distracted by a fight with a single general rather than commanding—

The Brans army, which had been preparing for a surprise attack only to be surprised themselves, fell into unrecoverable chaos and suffered great losses.

If anything, the problem might have been that I didn’t give her such instructions through Ginor.

Without her quick thinking, we wouldn’t have been able to fully capitalize on the opportunity we had gained.

But why…

Why is my heart racing like this?

Why is something inside my heart thrashing about as if it’s suffocating?

“Swen. I am truly happy that my abilities have been of help to you. Don’t worry too much. From the moment I left the Brans army, I decided to live solely for you.”

To live solely for you, she said.

The moment I heard those words, my true feelings hidden inside burst out:

“…If you’ve decided to live for me, please don’t die no matter what happens.”

“…Huh?”

She looked at me slightly surprised by the words I had blurted out without thinking.

But what could I do? This was my true feeling.

“I don’t care about what’s advantageous or what opportunities there are. It’s fine to miss opportunities. Lady Irene… I just don’t want you to die no matter what happens. I don’t want you to be in danger.”

“Swen…”

“So, next time, please don’t recklessly go into battle alone like this. Please. If it seems impossible, just run away. Don’t risk your life in any situation. It might sound ridiculous to ask this of a knight who goes to the battlefield… but I’m serious.”

What was I thinking as I said those words?

What’s certain is that the current me wasn’t speaking as directed by a brain with an intelligence of 100—

I was speaking as directed by the heart that was still beating in my chest.

She listened to my words and stared at me silently for a while…

Then, with a flushed face and slightly bowed head.

With a girlish expression that was very unlike a knight… she spoke in a small voice:

“…Yes, I understand, so… that look in your eyes, it’s…”

“What?”

“It’s… it’s embarrassing… yes.”

Looking at Irene, who was blushing intensely and glancing at me from time to time…

At that moment, I thought that perhaps, much more than helping Luna unify the world—

I simply wanted to protect this woman.