Ch.94Chapter 94. Battle of Hispil Castle (4)

* * *

After making the prediction that “we will win anyway.”

Unlike Irene, who became relatively busy after starting more intensive training in preparation for the future, my schedule hadn’t changed much.

I was still helping Reika with her training.

“Um, does this kind of thing really improve my skills…?”

“Indeed it does. Aren’t you, more than anyone else, feeling your skills improve, Miss Reika?”

“Well, yes, but… Oh, I’m absolutely not doubting you, Swen!”

What Reika and I were doing was a posture where she balanced on one foot while stretching her arms forward and backward.

The goal was to maintain balance in that position.

Since there wasn’t much else to do, and I was worried about arousing suspicion if we just meditated all the time, I was trying various approaches—this posture being one of them.

Fortunately, despite these somewhat forced training methods, Reika’s skills were improving day by day.

And she, who had initially been quite closed off, seemed to be developing a strange sense of camaraderie with me as she followed my peculiar training methods. I could feel her gradually opening up and sharing more about herself.

“So you really stayed only inside the mansion all that time?”

“Yes… Father didn’t allow me to go outside…”

After our training sessions—which could be described as eccentric rather than traditional—listening to her stories had become part of my routine.

We sat side by side in the garden, talking.

“So when I first met you, you had indeed snuck out, hadn’t you?”

“…H-how did you know…?”

Reika looked at me with genuine surprise.

Well, considering the atmosphere at that time, her subtle expressions, and her seemingly troubled appearance, it wasn’t a difficult conclusion to reach.

“Well, it was rather obvious.”

“I see… Ugh.”

“It’s fine. I have no intention of scolding you, nor will I mention it to anyone now.”

“…”

Reika didn’t answer and half-buried her face in her knees.

‘But why did Ginor keep Reika confined to the mansion?’

From what I’d observed so far, Ginor didn’t seem particularly affectionate toward Reika.

He didn’t dislike her either, and I could tell he valued her in his own way… but it wasn’t the kind of family affection one would have for an adopted daughter. It was more like he treated her as an important strategic tool.

In fact, he didn’t seem to care about her personal matters at all.

It would be accurate to say he was focused on her abilities as a magician.

But keeping her from going outside seemed almost like… well, like an overprotective father worried about his daughter.

‘Is there some other reason?’

While I was pondering this, she gently broke the quiet air.

“…Still.”

“Still?”

“I’ve been happy lately. I could go outside with you, Swen… And while getting stronger in magic was good, it was also the first time Father allowed me to do something like this… So, in many ways, I’m… grateful, I suppose… That’s it.”

“You don’t need to explain in detail.”

I smiled at Reika as she hesitated, searching for the right words.

“I’ve enjoyed it too. You’re someone worth teaching, Miss Reika.”

“Oh… th-thank you.”

She said that and then fell silent again, this time completely burying her face in her knees.

I couldn’t see her expression, but… I could tell her ears had turned bright red.

Come to think of it, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

“That reminds me, Miss Reika.”

“…Yes?”

“Have you thought about what you’ll do about the marriage issue?”

“…!!”

She jerked her head up quickly, then exclaimed with a gasp.

“M-m-ma-marriage!”

“No, well. Since it came up. You don’t need to decide right now, but there’s no need to think of it as difficult.”

I spoke carefully, trying not to make her feel pressured.

“Since it’s your life at stake, I’ll convey whatever you decide. If you don’t want it, please feel free to say so. I’ll withdraw the marriage proposal.”

“…”

Reika stared at my face without saying anything for a while.

Then, carefully, she moved her lips.

“What do you… think, Swen…?”

“…Pardon?”

“Do you… want to… m-marry… me?”

“…”

Was it my imagination?

Did her pink eyes look clearer than ever before?

And also… was it my imagination that I was hesitating to answer?

Marriage to Reika?

Of course, there was nothing wrong with it.

In this regard, my thinking might not have been much different from Ginor’s, which I had just been contemplating.

Simply put, she was an excellent magician, and having a connection with her would be convenient—that kind of thought.

In fact, the reason I initially tried to make a good impression on her was because I thought, ‘It would be convenient to have a magician like Reika in the Lunarian army.’

But.

Had my heart changed while spending time with Reika?

Somehow, it felt strangely difficult to simply say “I’d be happy to” in a glib manner.

It didn’t seem like the right way to respond to her feelings.

‘…’

I slowly examined her.

A girl who loved making cakes but was confined to her home with no one to make them for.

She had no one to share her dreams with, no friends to spend time with, yet she never complained and said she “wanted to help the world with magic” while silently following my absurd training methods.

So now it was time for me to question myself.

Did I… want to marry Reika?

Would I want her as my wife, as a lifelong companion, even if she weren’t a magician?

“I…”

Just as I was about to answer her.

“Swen. Here you are.”

A now-familiar voice came from behind me.

The voice of an old man.

“Father…!”

“Lord Ginor?”

The owner of the voice, Ginor, was looking at us with a very serious expression.

This was the first time he had personally appeared during our training sessions.

“What brings you here?”

“I have something I’d like to discuss with you… What does your schedule look like today?”

“I’ve finished all the important tasks.”

“Is that so? Then I’d appreciate it if you could come with me for a moment.”

After saying that, Ginor looked at Reika and spoke in a stiff tone.

“You’ve worked hard today as well. You may go and rest.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

Reika bowed to Ginor, then gave me a subtle look.

It was disappointing that I couldn’t answer her, but there would be time for that later…

With that thought, I followed Ginor to his study.

*

“You’re saying they’ve marched from Raclaine Castle?”

“A messenger just arrived with the news. It seems they’ve launched an attack on Hispil Castle with about 50,000 troops.”

Hearing Ginor’s words, I fell into thought.

‘They’re engaging in battle in this situation?’

Currently, Serpina’s army was deployed at Zelstrom Castle.

Hispil Castle, where they would have sent troops, would be empty, so were they targeting that opening?

It wasn’t necessarily a bad decision, but… was it right for our army to make the first move?

Given the overall numerical difference between our forces and Serpina’s army, it would be more advantageous for us to conserve our troops and defend our existing territories rather than trying to expand.

“Did they not receive our lord’s approval?”

“It seems not. Well, Miss Anima must have been given certain authority. Our lord didn’t take issue with that aspect.”

‘…’

I had somehow thought that might be the case, but hearing it confirmed made me feel somewhat deflated.

I recalled Anima’s eyes when I had met her before.

She wanted to be of help to Yurie. Perhaps this decision was made out of a desire to achieve merit?

In this battle against Serpina’s army, ultimately our side would win.

After all, a brain with an intelligence of 100 had predicted “we will win,” so it was already a determined future.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t shake the sense of unease rising in my mind.

The result wasn’t [we will win] but [we will win for now].

Would the prediction’s scope include even this development—that ‘Anima would act on her own’?

Considering what happened at Zeilant Castle before, it was highly likely.

We will win for now.

We will win for now…

‘…!!’

Wait a minute.

Could it be… that’s what “we will win for now” meant?

As I seemed to realize something, Ginor posed a question to me.

“Swen. I’d like to hear your opinion. Do you think Miss Anima’s choice is appropriate in this situation?”

‘Is Anima’s choice correct?’

Even if I tried inputting that question, the result would be as expected.

[Unknown.]

Just like when I couldn’t predict the strategies of the Charam and Alrepel armies, my predictions didn’t produce proper answers when asking about specific, pinpointed matters.

But it didn’t matter if no result came out.

I could think based on the results that had already been produced.

“…”

“…Swen?”

“Lord Ginor. May I ask a question before answering?”

“A question for me? …What do you want to ask?”

“You might think this is somewhat unrelated, but please answer sincerely. When do you use the phrase ‘for now’?”

“…What?”

To Ginor, who looked puzzled, I asked again with a truly serious expression.

“Let me rephrase. There’s a sentence: ‘It will be achieved for now.’ In this case, what do you think would appropriately follow?”

Ginor stared at my face strangely for a while, then finally parted his heavy lips.

“‘We will win for now,’ so… Well, it will be achieved, but wouldn’t something different from winning be presented?”

As I continued questioning Ginor—

The “unease” I had been feeling gradually began to take concrete form.

“Now a question about that different result. Between these two sentences: [It will be achieved for now. Additionally, another good result will occur.] and [It will be achieved for now. However, an unfavorable result will occur.]—which one sounds more natural? Assuming there is a much more efficient solution than the achievement itself.”

“In that case, obviously the latter. As you said, if there’s a more efficient solution than that answer, it would be more natural for a negative result to follow. But why are you asking such things in the current situation?”

“So you think so too?”

I had asked him the question because I thought the same way.

Yes. It wasn’t just me who thought like that.

Having heard Ginor’s answer, I recalled one more sentence in my mind.

My prediction about the battle with Serpina’s army wasn’t just [we will win for now].

There was also the prediction [Negotiate with Serpina’s army. That is the most efficient method].

If we met with Serpina’s army and negotiated, the battle itself wouldn’t happen at all. The negotiation would result in the withdrawal of troops.

Initially, I thought the result was “we will win for now” because “we’re expending soldiers on an issue that could be resolved without fighting.”

It wasn’t the cleanest explanation, but it was all I could deduce with the information I had at the time.

However, if Anima had independently raised an army from Raclaine Castle, the story changes.

Assuming my prediction based on the Zelstrom Castle battle is 100% accurate, since that battle hasn’t ended yet… there’s only one conclusion to be drawn.

I stood up and said:

“There’s no time. Can you come with me to the royal castle right now?”

“The royal castle? Now?”

I spoke with the most serious expression I’d ever shown to Ginor, who seemed unable to follow the situation.

“Miss Anima will be defeated in that battle.”