episode_0035

*

No matter how many times I came, I could never get used to the large space of Castle Annel.

Even before entering the royal castle, I felt overwhelmed by the magnificent decorations placed on both sides of the road.

When I arrived at the castle gate, a guard blocked my path.

“Tell me your business.”

It’s called “Swen. My lord called me.”

I said, showing the Brans family emblem on my clothes.

The guard confirmed this, then immediately lowered his guard and saluted me.

“Yes! Excuse me. Please come inside.”

Apparently, the guards also have similar patterns engraved on their armor. Is there a mark that identifies them as superiors?

I should ask Irene later, I thought, and walked into the castle.

Go inside, past the red carpet-

I entered the central throne room where the monarch was.

When I entered the throne room, Lin, who was sitting on the throne, saw me and raised his hand and said.

“Swen is here? Come this way.”

I walked over, took a seat among the people who were already down on one knee, and bowed.

“Swen, I came here after receiving a call from my lord.”

“Yes, yes. Welcome.”

I glanced around.

A man and two women were kneeling on one knee like me.

Two of them were faces I had never seen before, but one was old.

‘Iren?’

Did Iren call too?

Since Rin rarely looked for her, curiosity naturally arose.

“So, everyone gathered together, right?”

It seemed like I was the last to arrive.

We answered loudly to our lord.

“”Yes!””

“Yes.”

Lin said, crossing one foot and rhythmically tapping her fingers on the chair.

“Starting today, you will move to Kelstein Castle with 10,000 soldiers.”

“Are you talking about Kelstein Castle?”

The man next to me asked a question.

Although he was quite a young man… Judging by the fact that he wasn’t in the database in my head, it seemed like he wasn’t a minister with that many outstanding abilities.

In this game, the C to D level generals look similar to the real thing.

“Okay. The vanguard… … So that Irene can take charge.”

“I will obey your orders.”

After hearing Iren’s words, Lin smiled as if she was satisfied, and then spoke in a somewhat exaggerated tone.

“Actually, these are the soldiers that should be used to attack Balharat Castle, but… … Iren, isn’t it common for you to express your opinions on things like this? It may not be as many as you want, but I can give you this many soldiers. Go somewhere and try your luck. Because I’m giving you a chance.”

She smiled and spoke as if she was acting benevolently, but-

Unless you’re an idiot, it’s not hard to realize that words are full of thorns.

However, Irene didn’t mind – rather, as if she was impressed, she lowered her head even more and answered bravely.

“Yes! thank you. I will definitely do my best.”

“Okay. and… … Um.”

Her gaze, which had been on Irene, soon returned to me.

“Swen. Lift your head up.”

I slowly raised my head.

Her blue eyes look at me as if scanning me, and then she smiles brightly.

“I wanted to take more care of the soldier, but are you sorry that I couldn’t do that? As you know, we can’t accept all unreliable proposals. But, since you said something, there must be something, right? If possible, I would like to show you this opportunity.”

Right.

Gradually, I began to understand why she called me and Irene.

The proposal I brought up at the meeting was the opinion that ‘soldiers should be sent to Kelstein Castle to attack the northern territories.’

It seemed like that opinion really bothered him.

So it felt like I was putting some effort into it even now.

But, well… … .

If it is true that it is a rebellion, I think it will be insufficient even with the combined forces stationed in the north.

But what can you do?

It wasn’t my part-time job.

“I will do my best.”

I put on my most loyal expression, then bowed my head again and answered.

Lin must have liked the answer, and after smiling for a while, she stood up, stretched out her hand, and spoke.

“Okay, so we can move right now. I’ve made all the preparations for departure, so you can go and leave right away. The mission I have been assigned so far is suspended. Do you want to go and make a merit and come back?”

“”Yes, I understand!””

After saying hello to Rin, we quickly left the castle.

“I’ll give you about an hour. So that you can be ready to embark on your journey. Let’s meet at the north gate.”

Jack and Cylin, who heard Iren’s words, left first.

Irene and I also returned home and started preparing for our long journey.

What I did was take care of the maps of the North that I had drawn in my spare time.

I wondered if I might need to use it, but since I drew it anyway, it might be a good idea to keep it.

Kehlstein Castle.

This time, I was entering the castle that had once saved the Lunarien army from an invasion from the North, with my own feet.

*

Heading towards Kelstein Castle with Irene at the forefront and 10,000 soldiers.

Since all the roads were the territory of the Brans army, they were moving comfortably without any special precautions.

During the break between trips, I introduced myself to the other two people.

Since Irene was the leader and her rank was the highest, she naturally became the leader among us.

“My name is Irene Juliette. Please take care of everyone.”

“The introduction is late. My name is Jack. It’s been about 3 years since I joined Brans County.”

“My name is Silin. Please take care of this mission.”

Surprisingly, it seemed like everyone was seeing each other for the first time.

Well, in a country this large, it would be difficult for the subjects to know each other.

It’s a bit of a pity, but Iren, the main general, and the other two, who aren’t that great, probably don’t have much chance to meet each other on the job.

“This is Swen. Thank you very much.”

“Ah, Mr. Swen.”

After my introduction, Silin came up to me and asked a question.

She was a very ordinary-looking girl with plain brown pigtails.

“Don’t you know me?”

“Yes?”

Have I ever seen this woman?

I racked my brain, but I couldn’t remember much.

Rather than pretending to know something and stepping on a landmine, it was a better choice to just be honest.

“Sorry. Because I’m not good at remembering people’s faces.”

“It’s okay. Because I didn’t know. We are working together in the market. Are you the one looking at the bar table?”

“… … Ah.”

Only then did I remember the woman behind me working the counter who was researching the commercial status of the market.

She was Silin.

I thought they were just ordinary people working in the market, but I didn’t expect them to be members of Brans County… … .

“I think I understand since you say that.”

“Hehe. It’s nice that someone as handsome as Swen remembers me.”

“You’re good at flattering people when you meet them for the first time.”

We chatted casually all the way to Kelstein Castle.

What surprised me again was Iren’s attitude toward them.

Silene and Jack.

The name that I can’t remember in my database after playing this game for 10,000 hours is that they are E-level officers, not D-level officers – no, maybe they are not officers, but like ‘James’, they definitely exist and work in this world, but in the game, they are generals. There was a high possibility that it was something that did not appear as such.

They are the ones who are chosen when someone needs to be put in an empty space and there is no one in particular to use it.

As such, it would have been natural for Irene, a strong military officer and renowned general, to treat them poorly, and even if he had actually treated them poorly, it wouldn’t be such a strange situation –

Although she may have stopped talking, she was trying to accommodate everyone, including me, throughout the trip.

He takes on chores that soldiers wouldn’t mind doing, and tries to do something himself rather than leaving it to someone else.

It made me think that people like that are popular.

He even went so far as to stand watch with the soldiers.

‘She’s a woman with great mental strength.’

Well, it wasn’t hard to tell that he was an unusual person when I saw that he didn’t kick me out when I came to his house in the first place, but instead accepted me and got along well.

How many days did it take to climb up on horseback like that?

After passing more than a few castles, we were finally able to arrive at Kelstein Castle, located at the northernmost part of Brans County’s territory and near the border with Serpina County.

‘This is Kelstein Castle.’

Although it was slightly smaller than Annel Castle, it was still the largest compared to other castles in the territory that I had encountered so far.

I entered the castle gate and looked inside the territory… … Although there were a lot of people gathered, I did not feel the peaceful liveliness that I felt at Castle Agnel at all.

On the contrary, I should say that although it is very busy, there is an atmosphere that is somewhat difficult to put into words.

Since it was a castle close to the border, it seemed difficult to unfold a peaceful scene even with empty words.

Of course, like Zeeland Castle in the early days, every single person’s expression was not in despair.

“Thank you all for your hard work. I wish I could rest right away, but I think I’ll report to the capital first.”

“I think it would be better to follow Irene’s wishes.”

“I think so too.”

After receiving our consent, Irene nodded lightly and spoke.

“Thank you. Well then, let’s do it quickly.”

With those words, we moved to Kelstein Castle in a month.

*

The Kelstein Castle was not as luxurious as the Castle of Arnel, but it was not that special either.

Each and every detail of the decoration, which was kept to a minimum, was luxurious and sophisticated, and the eyes of the soldiers standing guard were much sharper than those of Castle Annel.

We followed Iren into the throne room.

In the throne room, a man with a familiar face we had already seen once was sitting on the castle lord’s chair and greeting us.

It was Rathion, the lord of Kelstein Castle.

“Irene Juliet, and the following three people. After receiving orders from the lord, I arrived at Kelstein Castle with 10,000 soldiers.”

“You’re here. General Irene. I was already waiting.”

Rasion sat down and spoke in a slightly disapproving tone.

“I’m grateful to have received the medical history, but… … Unless something happens or we receive an order from our lord, I and the soldiers of Kelstein Castle will concentrate on defense. I may be dispatched to General Kalinz’s fortress, but there are no plans to invade directly, so I hope General Irene will keep that in mind as well.”

Rathion was one of the few people who closely followed the discussion I had with Farfalle.

Since we sent troops here, including Airen, who was the planner, it seems natural that we couldn’t help but think about the ‘Northern Invasion’.

She could have said that it was not her opinion but that of Swen next to her, but instead of saying that, she lowered her head and answered.

“Yes, I understand. Just give me an order.”

“Well, I would appreciate it if you just stay quiet. Something as absurd as an invasion… … Tsk.”

Racion clicked his tongue once and then briefly looked at my face.

Even if you look at it intently, nothing comes out.

“From what I heard from my lord, you were not officially assigned to Kelstein Castle. So, there is no need to take charge of missions within the castle, and I will call you when I need you, so you can rest well until then. I hope you can stay quiet.”

“”Yes!””

After such a short audience with Seongju.

Jack came out of the castle and said with a short sigh.

“Phew… … Racion, just like I heard, you look very scary.”

“I want to go back to Annell Castle quickly… … .”

Silin answered as if she agreed, but I just couldn’t agree.

Scary?

What about Racion, the representative migratory bird of the Garland Eternity Saga, who can be recruited unconditionally by capturing him as a prisoner and pressing ‘Recruit’?

“Racion… … No, is Rasion the person rumored to be scary?”

“Ah, Swen, you may not know because you just arrived. Why is there so much war in Kelstein Castle? … I guess it’s military discipline? That’s because it’s much more severe than other genders. It is not a preferred workplace among subjects.”

“I see… … .”

For some reason, I feel like I’m watching the misery of a civil servant rather than a subject of the state.

At that time, Irene spoke as if to brighten the mood.

“I’ll get a room at a nearby inn. As the Lord of Seong said, it is okay to remain free for the time being. It must have been difficult to move around for quite a long time, but it’s okay to take a good rest until the order is given.”

“Ah, then I will go to the market for a while. I have something to see.”

“Me too. Is it okay?”

“Of course. Come to the inn later, give me my name and you’ll get a room.”

So Jack and Silene left the place.

‘Stay free for the time being, okay? But if my prediction is really correct… … .’

Something will definitely happen soon.

I approached Irene, who was hinting at taking the lead.

“Hmm?”

“Irene. I think it would be a good idea to tell the 10,000 soldiers we brought with them to be ready to go out at any time.”

“… … !”

Irene listened to me, looked around for a moment, and then opened her mouth.

“Do you think there is a reason to go to war?”

“Yes. Maybe.”

“… … Hmm.”

“It’s just preparation. If nothing happens, that’s it. There’s nothing wrong with preparing for the future, right?”

okay.

It wasn’t like I was telling them to take me out right away, I was just getting ready.

“I understand.”

I slowly took a step away from her.

Well, anyway, 10,000 people were not enough to play a meaningful role even if a rebellion broke out –

I wanted to let Irene know that her suggestion was not wrong.

‘The problem is what comes next… … .’

So we moved from Arnel Castle to Kelstein Castle for a while.

* * *

A bedroom with a bit of sunlight.

A curtain with very beautiful decoration and luxurious silk embroidery.

Meanwhile, there was a huge bed carved from luxurious mahogany wood, like something you would see in an imperial court.

And, in the middle of the bed-

There was a woman sitting with long blonde hair that was so bright that it made her eyes bleed.

Skin like white jade.

A beautiful appearance that is closer to a goddess and makes people who see it worship it.

Eyes that seem to contain the golden light reflecting from the sunlight, and large breasts that seem to pierce through pure white pajamas.

A perfect beauty in every way who seemed to have been sculpted by God with all his might – she muttered, having just gotten out of bed.

“… … dream… … Is it.”

Today too, she had the same ‘dream’ she had had over and over again without being able to sleep soundly.