Ch.82Chapter 82. Their Hearts

“And after that…?”

“We fled far away, to the safest place possible. We kept running and running until finally we raised our flag near this Balhart territory. That was the beginning moment of the Aeshus Army.”

Anima explained the tragic events in an extremely calm tone.

“Having lost my arm and no longer able to wield a sword, from that day on I obtained and mastered every military strategy book in existence. I thought our army lacked a strategist. Fortunately, I seemed to have a decent talent for it, as studying wasn’t particularly difficult for me.”

“…I see.”

After hearing her explanation, I finally understood why this country operated the way it did.

The extraordinary camaraderie among the founding members of the Aeshus Army stemmed from the bond of comrades who had survived tragedy together.

For five people to establish a nation of this scale, and to have recently conquered Raclain Castle—it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call them quite successful lords.

The true circumstances behind their deep camaraderie couldn’t be explained in a single line like “they have deep bonds with their comrades.”

Their strong fellowship must certainly shine as a valuable quality in these chaotic times where deception is the norm.

But conversely, would this camaraderie eventually become the downfall of the Aeshus Army?

Just then.

Anima looked at me and suddenly spoke.

“Ginor Nighthart.”

“Yes?”

“He was the last chancellor of the United Empire. A man who ate the salt of House Einhart.”

In that moment.

Anima’s eyes flashed briefly.

In them, I could faintly read something resembling anger that she had kept deeply hidden.

“Someone who held such a position couldn’t possibly have been unaware of what happened in the Empire. If he was unaware, that would be problematic in its own way. I acknowledge his exceptional abilities. But… if I had been more capable, we wouldn’t have needed to entrust the role of national strategist to a former Imperial official. It’s all because of my inadequacy.”

‘….’

“When I think that if I had been more helpful, we wouldn’t have needed to rely on his strength… I still feel like something indescribable might rise in my throat. I can only apologize to everyone. To Epinel. To Emma and Erinandorf. And to Yurie as well…”

I see.

Only then did I begin to understand the reason for Anima’s insubordination.

Though Ginor hadn’t done anything wrong, she seemed to have an adverse reaction to him having been a “high-ranking person” in the Empire.

It was certainly Imperial soldiers who attacked the Fiviola Academy where she and Yurie had studied in the past.

And only members of House Einhart could have commanded those soldiers.

Not only she but others including Yurie must have experienced that incident, yet the fact that she alone couldn’t accept it seemed to weigh heavily on her.

Come to think of it.

Luna was like that, and so was Anima.

They both seemed to have lost something precious due to the internal conflicts of House Einhart.

Though I didn’t know the exact reason…

It felt somewhat contrived.

Wasn’t everything too focused on House Einhart as the cause?

It was as if all the world’s resentment was directed at Serpina von Einhart, rumored to be the only surviving imperial heir.

Almost unnaturally so.

Of course, Serpina was a tyrant who would capture and kill me in another dimension—

But I couldn’t shake off this strange sense of discomfort that was difficult to explain.

Is it right for everything to be resolved by simply labeling her as the villain?

‘…That’s enough for now.’

Anyway, that was a secondary issue.

Right now, it was time to return this lady to Yurie.

So, let me touch on something that might interest her.

“Lady Anima. There’s something I haven’t mentioned yet.”

“What is it?”

“Do you remember when I told you earlier about recapturing Raclain Castle?”

“Yes, I do.”

“My lord expressed his wish to appoint you as the castle lord.”

“…!”

Anima’s eyes momentarily went wide with shock.

Let me scratch that itch a little more.

“As you know, becoming a castle lord grants you certain authorities. Authorities that are unique and cannot be interfered with, even by the national strategist.”

Then.

Looking straight into her eyes, I spoke like a salesman.

“What do you think? Isn’t this the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your abilities once more?”

After hearing my words, Anima remained silent for a while, then finally answered in a somewhat subdued voice.

“…The position of castle lord, you say.”

“Yes. I’ll say it again, you can exercise unique authority that even the national strategist cannot interfere with.”

I deliberately repeated twice that the national strategist could not interfere.

Anima seemed to understand my intention and gave me a meaningful look.

“You said your name was Swen?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It seems an interesting person has joined our country.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

My response of “thank you for the compliment” seemed to amuse her, as Anima smiled and said:

“…Very well. I’ll follow you down the mountain.”

“You’ve made a wise decision.”

My words were 100% sincere.

I didn’t want to struggle back up here again.

Anima muttered something quietly, then looked at my face.

“Would you mind waiting outside for a moment? I have some things to organize. It won’t take long.”

* * *

Swen nodded at Anima’s words.

“I don’t mind if it takes a while. Take your time.”

“Thank you.”

After Swen left the house.

Anima rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.

‘Taking Raclain Castle means… the Brans Army must have fallen.’

The Brans Army had been the greatest threat to the Aeshus Army.

In Anima’s assessment, there was no way to defeat the Brans Army through their own strength.

The only option had seemed to be to somehow endure while hoping for something to happen.

While in the mountains, she had spent her time mastering various strategy books and rewriting them as a form of review.

News from the outside world had been completely cut off, whether she wanted it or not.

She had turned away everyone from the Aeshus Army who came looking for her. Having left for spiritual training, she wanted to achieve meaningful results.

But.

If the situation had changed drastically, that was a different story.

Had something happened internally within the Brans Army?

Or had Ginor made some kind of breakthrough?

‘…I can think about it after I return.’

She had done a lot of thinking while secluded in the mountains.

She no longer intended to stubbornly object based on someone’s Imperial origins.

Nevertheless, if an opportunity came to prove herself—then she would gladly demonstrate her abilities.

‘….’

Anima recalled the white-haired young man who had confidently asked her if it wasn’t “time to demonstrate her abilities once more.”

That look in his eyes. She had seen such a look before.

It was the kind of look she had only seen in Yurie back in their academy days.

That clear, confident gaze that only someone who was certain everything would go their way could possess.

Though it was too early to judge him in many ways, she felt he wasn’t just an ordinary person you could find anywhere.

A time when talented individuals gather.

The fallen Brans Army.

‘Perhaps… an opportunity has come for the Aeshus Army.’

Honestly, even more than obtaining the castle lord position—

This feeling that “an opportunity had arrived” was what motivated her.

She had lived her entire life thinking only about the Aeshus Army’s unification of the continent. Wouldn’t it be a shame to miss an opportunity when it presented itself?

Having organized her thoughts, Anima rose from her seat, packed minimal belongings, and left the room.

* * *

In the Nighthart family mansion.

Reika was rolling around on her bed, hugging a doll in her room.

‘He didn’t come today…’

She had been eagerly waiting to go out with Swen, but it seemed he couldn’t come today due to a summons from Lord Yurie.

‘I wanted to show something to Lord Swen…’

Last night.

Reika had finally managed to create not just a fireball but something like an ice spear in her hand.

For someone who had never thought she could use any magic other than fire and had assumed that creating fireballs was the only magic she could do, creating something other than a fireball was incredibly shocking in itself.

Feeling much more mana in the mountains and during meditation—she distinctly felt something “opening up” inside her.

From that moment, somehow, when she closed her eyes and gathered mana, she felt she could create something other than fire.

She had tried to create the “ice spear” Swen had mentioned, and succeeded brilliantly.

‘He really is an amazing person…’

By now, she found it impossible to believe he wasn’t a mage.

How could someone who wasn’t a mage educate her so excellently?

Thinking about this—

She suddenly remembered what her adoptive father had said.

“What do you think of him as a husband?”

‘….’

Unconsciously, her arms tightened around the doll.

Reika blushed as she mouthed the word “husband.” A husband—a life partner to spend her life with.

Reika closed her eyes and imagined life as Swen’s wife.

Making bread or cakes for him, preparing his meals.

Taking care of the household while he worked hard, raising about three children.

Although she sensed that as a mage she was destined to go to the battlefield someday—that didn’t mean she hadn’t thought about having a happy family life with a man.

She’d heard that Swen was also a warrior who fought on the battlefield. Perhaps her magic could help him.

That certainly wouldn’t be a bad life.

Reika herself didn’t dislike the idea of building such a future with Swen.

But.

‘Is this… really okay as it is…?’

There was a clear difference between “not disliking something” and “liking something.”

At present, she couldn’t be certain about her feelings.

She still didn’t know what kind of person Swen really was.

Of course, she would get to know him after marriage, but… there was also the possibility that he might be different from what she imagined.

Perhaps he had some strange fetish that she could never satisfy with her abilities.

She felt somewhat pathetic for having such thoughts at this timing, but when people get married, wouldn’t they naturally do what couples do?

She wasn’t too young to understand such things.

‘What… do I want to do?’

Her father had said that if she really disliked it, she should say so.

Of course, she had no intention of refusing. She wanted to repay the kindness of the father who had taken her in.

Decisively, it seemed that no formal marriage proposal had been made to Swen yet, so it wasn’t something she needed to think deeply about.

Nevertheless—for Reika, who had lived a life detached from such matters until now, it was impossible not to think about it.

Becoming the wife of a man named Swen.

If that happened… could she do well?

And so Reika spent a long time thinking about her white-haired teacher.

In this moment, Reika was not the first mage to awaken to mana on the continent.

She was just an ordinary twenty-year-old girl spending the night thinking about a man who might become her husband.

* * *

“It’s been a while.”

At the gates of Balhart Castle.

Anima stood there, staring for a long time at the red flag fluttering atop the spire.

I could naturally sense countless emotions surging like a tidal wave in her eyes as she gazed at the flag.

I said nothing and waited beside her during this brief reunion.

“…Thank you for waiting.”

“Not at all.”

I nodded lightly, then followed Anima as she entered the castle.