Ch.87Chapter 87. Encounter, Serpina’s Army (2)

* * *

“Is it true that Hisfil Castle has fallen?”

“Yes, it is.”

Upon hearing Vanessa’s words, Karelia stroked her chin and said.

“…It feels like Serpina’s army is right at our doorstep.”

Although they were still beyond the influence of Serpina’s forces due to the Rolland and Hesna armies positioned above them, the collapse of the Brans army—which they had counted on to block the central region—with the force of autumn leaves in the wind was undeniably shocking even from Karelia’s perspective.

“What an incredible blitzkrieg. As soon as Kelstein Castle was breached, they advanced like lightning.”

“We should start preparing as well.”

“Preparing for what?”

Vanessa nodded.

“Even if the Brans army hasn’t been pushed back yet, at this rate, Serpina’s forces will soon be adjacent to the borders of the Rolland and Hesna armies. We need to strike at that moment.”

“Vanessa, I understand your intention… but even Serpina’s army would struggle to maintain such a wide front. Besides, the Aeshus army, having settled matters with neighboring countries, is positioned to the east. Unless Rolland Zenis, the sovereign, is a complete fool, I doubt he would make a move before dealing with the Hesna army right beside him.”

Currently, the four nations in the south were maintaining a perfect balance.

None could strike first, nor could any propose an alliance—they were in an ambiguous relationship.

The situation that had somehow stabilized through a balance with the various lords of the continent was now being completely shaken by Serpina’s advance into the central continent.

“The opportunity will certainly come. Serpina is an extremely aggressive figure.”

“Hmm… but even if we manage to attack the Rolland army at the right moment, we would then share a border with Serpina’s forces, extending our front… Do you think our current military capacity can handle that?”

Currently, the Karelia army bordered two countries.

The Rolland army above and the Ohana army to the east.

To the left stretched rugged mountain ranges connecting to the western continent, while the south bordered the sea.

If they were to invade a country under attack from Serpina’s forces, they would inevitably clash with the Rolland army.

However.

Hearing this, Vanessa shook her head and said.

“My lord. That’s not it.”

“Not it?”

“We must not attack the Rolland army.”

“…What?”

Vanessa emphasized with a strong tone.

“When Serpina’s forces invade the Rolland and Hesna armies, we should attack the Ohana army beside us.”

“…!”

Karelia looked at Vanessa in surprise, then nodded as if realizing something.

“…I see.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Vanessa bowed her head and explained in a very respectful tone.

“The Rolland army will be too preoccupied with Serpina’s forces to pay attention to us. Of course, attacking such a distracted Rolland army wouldn’t be a bad decision either. But that would inevitably lead to sharing a border with Serpina’s forces. Therefore, we should strike the Ohana army while Rolland and Hesna are too busy dealing with Serpina to pay attention.”

If the Karelia army could conquer the Ohana army without interference from the two countries above…

The tedious standoff between the four countries that had lasted for years would end.

In other words, the chances of them becoming the hegemon of the south would increase significantly.

“I see. So the time has finally come…”

Karelia fell into quiet contemplation.

To attack the Ohana army, the most important location would be Tepelo Castle, the forward base.

“My lord. Would you entrust everything to me?”

“Entrust to you?”

“Yes. To efficiently prepare for war, I would like to temporarily borrow your absolute authority as sovereign.”

Power in the Karelia army was concentrated in the hands of Makana Karelia, the sovereign.

This was less due to her temperament and more because Vanessa, the national strategist who enjoyed Karelia’s trust and considerable autonomy, had deliberately structured the power dynamics this way.

In any case, receiving full authority from Makana Karelia in this country was essentially equivalent to becoming the most powerful person who could control the nation.

Karelia pondered briefly, but with a little thought, it wasn’t really something to deliberate over.

‘…Objectively speaking, Vanessa is far superior to me when it comes to warfare.’

Her principle was to use exceptional generals in the right positions regardless of their past achievements.

That’s why she could appoint Lunarian as the lord of Tepelo Castle despite his recent arrival.

She was simply operating under the same principle now.

“Very well. Vanessa, I leave it to you.”

“I will certainly bring you good news.”

Vanessa bowed deeply.

It was the first time in the Karelia army that someone other than Karelia herself had taken power.

* * *

“Are you saying we should conscript soldiers?”

“That’s correct.”

Luna, the lord of Tepelo Castle, showed reluctance.

“But as you know, there was recently an epidemic in our castle. If we recruit soldiers at such a time… I think many territory residents will lose their protectors.”

A severe epidemic had spread through several territories including Tepelo Castle near the Ohana army.

Fortunately, the situation had somewhat stabilized now… but the scars left by the epidemic still ran deep throughout the territory.

Conscription would inevitably pull able-bodied men away, and in this situation, gathering adult males would certainly place a tremendous burden on the residents.

However, the general who came to deliver the order spoke in a very firm tone.

“The lord’s command is to somehow secure combat-ready forces above a certain size.”

“The lord’s command? Is that true?”

Hearing this, Luna could hardly believe it.

Could Karelia, who cared about the livelihood of territory residents as much as—if not more than—herself, issue such a cold-hearted order?

At that moment.

The general casually mentioned something peculiar.

“Yes. It is essentially the same as the lord’s command, so please implement it promptly.”

“…Excuse me? What does that mean?”

The general hesitated briefly, then bowed his head and said.

“Lord Luna. All I can tell you is that this is the lord’s command. Please understand that much.”

“…”

Though he ultimately called it the lord’s command.

Saying it was “essentially the same as the lord’s command” implied that it wasn’t an order directly from Karelia’s mouth.

That part bothered her greatly.

If not Karelia, who could have issued such an order?

After thinking that far, Luna slightly shook her head.

Right.

This person was simply here to relay orders from above.

Luna knew well that pressing him further would only make things more difficult for him.

“…I understand. I will obey the lord’s command.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Lord Luna. Well then.”

After the general withdrew.

Luna sat in the lord’s chair, lost in thought.

‘Troop reinforcement…’

Conscripting adult males from the territory residents right now wasn’t something she was keen on doing.

But she wanted to follow Karelia’s orders, who had accepted her without any conditions.

Besides, regardless of whether she wanted to or not, fulfilling the lord’s commands was her role.

‘Is there any good solution…?’

As Luna pondered, that man’s face flashed through her mind.

The white-haired person who always illuminated her path when she didn’t know what to do.

‘Lord Swen… what should I do in this situation…?’

Luna repeated the unanswerable question in her mind several times.

Was it simply that she wanted his advice, or was she missing the atmosphere of Zeilant Castle where they had danced hand in hand?

Although she wasn’t sure of the exact reason, one thing was crystal clear.

Luna missed Swen.

Very much so.

* * *

After the discussion about marriage with Reika.

Quite a lot had happened since then.

Erinandorf had moved to Raclaine Castle where Anima was the lord, and Epinel and Emma were assigned to Zelstrom Castle, which had been a territory of the Charam army.

Epinel was appointed as the lord of Zelstrom Castle.

The reason for this division was probably because both castles bordered Serpina’s forces.

Valhalart Castle where I was also shared a border, but it was the farthest away and had Yurie, the sovereign, so it could be considered somewhat prepared.

Essentially, Aeshus’s core generals were divided to guard the border like an iron wall.

Originally, there were opinions to quickly gather soldiers and attack the Brans army’s castles—

But with Serpina’s forces coming down and bordering us, we didn’t have that luxury.

If we engaged in battle with the Brans army and got attacked by Serpina’s forces first, we would be the ones in danger.

‘That said… it seems like Serpina’s army’s advance has slowed down a bit.’

After Kelstein Castle was breached.

Serpina’s army had been advancing southward with tremendous momentum, as if intending to swallow the Brans army that ruled the central continent in one go.

But from the moment they occupied Hisfil Castle, the front seemed to have suddenly quieted down.

There was no news of battles between Serpina’s and Brans’ forces either.

‘It’s a bit concerning.’

They say the calm before the storm is the most quiet.

As I was thinking this, I heard a now somewhat familiar female voice.

“Um, Lord Swen…?”

“…Ah.”

I turned my head toward the source of the voice.

Reika’s pink eyes were looking at me intently.

“Do you… perhaps… have something on your mind…?”

“Huh? Well…”

We were in the garden of the Nighthart family mansion.

I was meditating with Reika.

I had considered going outside, but the weather wasn’t very good, so we were spending time in the garden today.

“It’s nothing. Rather, you should focus on meditation.”

“Ah, I’m, I’m sorry… it’s just that… you seemed to be worried about something…”

“You could tell?”

“Yes… I’m good at reading people…”

Reika answered in a shrinking voice.

Had our relationship changed since the marriage proposal? Not particularly.

We just continued with our usual training and I checked her magic as before.

She was now quite successfully casting “Ice Spear.”

She seemed to think of it simply as “a spear made of ice” for now, but in any case, the fact that she could use more magic was an extremely encouraging development.

The next one was “Thunder Storm.”

A magic that strikes lightning, which along with “Fire Ball” (a magic that shoots fireballs) made up the three most basic elemental magics in this world.

They might seem amazing and impressive now, but when the time comes that magicians appear everywhere, these won’t be particularly powerful spells.

Of course, I wasn’t worried about that.

Someone like Reika would naturally grow and use more advanced magic.

Even now, mastering two spells at this stage showed an incredibly fast rate of growth.

“Anyway, don’t worry about me. Isn’t Reika the one with the issue?”

“Me…?”

“About the marriage proposal.”

“Ah…”

Her face turned bright red at my words.

She lowered her head, not knowing what to do… and then again said nothing.

Was it really that embarrassing?

Well, the only men she interacted with in the mansion were female servants and her adoptive father Ginor, so it made sense that she might find men difficult to deal with.

“You don’t need to overthink it. Just decide as your heart tells you. Whatever decision you make is fine.”

“…I’m, I’m sorry…”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

As we were talking.

In the distance, a maid came running toward us.

“Lord Swen…!”

“?”

Since it was a maid coming, I thought she was looking for Reika, not me.

“So you were here…!”

“What’s the matter?”

“They’re looking for you at the royal palace.”

“For me?”

She was visibly flustered, sweating despite the cold weather.

If it were just a simple summons for me, the maid’s expression wouldn’t be this serious.

Shortly after, as I expected.

She delivered very bad news.

“It’s… it’s war…!”

“!”

Reika was startled by the word “war” and looked at me.

And right at that moment, I had a feeling I knew what she was about to say.

“It seems… Serpina’s army… has invaded our territory…!”