episode_0069

*

Not long after, we were able to arrive at the fortress.

The outskirts of the fortress, which had been roughly constructed out of wood, were soon surrounded by a solid brick wall.

It seems that they thought this fortress was important and carried out expansion work.

It was certainly a fortress built in a place that had a significant presence both from the Brans Army and the Aishus Army.

The red flag waving from the high spire strongly asserted that this place belonged to the Aishus County.

“Welcome, Irene.”

Some of the soldiers standing guard recognized Iren and greeted her.

The armor they were wearing had a symbol engraved on it indicating that they were the Aecious Army.

Just like us, the sun he worshiped had changed.

“Hmm. Thank you for your hard work.”

We immediately went to the conference room where Epinel was located.

When we went inside, we were greeted by a woman with turquoise hair tied in a ponytail.

” I, Irene Juliette, have just arrived at the fortress, upon orders from my lord.”

“Welcome, Irene. Teacher, you came too.”

She looked around at us, then looked at my face and said:

“You’re here too, Swen. I was already waiting.”

I lowered my head without saying a word.

Perhaps she was specifically waiting for an answer, she turned to look at all of us and explained the current situation in a serious tone.

“Reinforcements have arrived, so let me explain once more. The Brans army is currently marching towards this fortress with 53,000 soldiers in tow. They say the enemy’s vanguard is Chell Brans.”

When I saw Chell coming, it looked like he was using the southern troops.

Since I was a member of the Brans military not long ago, I could clearly see how things were going.

“A total of 48,000 soldiers are currently stationed in this fortress. About 3,000 more people came, so the number is 51,000. They say it’s a fortress and not a castle, but I think this amount of troops can be enough to stop it.”

Jinor, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, asked in a very serious tone.

“… … Epinel. Do you really plan to continue the resistance in this fortress?”

“Yes. Yes.”

“This is an unreasonable decision. I think it would be right to give up the fortress and return to the castle right away.”

“Master. The number of soldiers on both sides is evenly matched. Although it is not a castle, we are surrounded by a fortress. I don’t think the right answer is to just lose unconditionally in a situation where it’s worth fighting.”

“It’s not that I don’t understand General Epinel’s meaning. However, I don’t think the Brans army’s invasion will end with an attack of 53,000 people. How can I stop it? However, in the end, it is clear that our side will also suffer some serious damage rather than a clean victory. If we enter a war of attrition, our army, which lacks a territory base, will inevitably lose to the Brans army, which has overwhelming skills.”

Saying that, Jinor lowered his head.

I can’t believe I got to see a scene where a national strategist bows his head to a general.

A person of the same caliber as Jinor.

“General Epinel. Please reconsider. Currently, the best way is to concentrate troops on Balharat Castle and take advantage of its water-based nature as much as possible. Once we clear out Charam County and Alefel County, we will definitely find a way.”

Honestly, I also agreed with Jinor’s opinion.

It was not just because his intelligence was 99, but because what he said made much more sense.

No matter how much expansion was done, there was a huge difference between a sit-in protest in a fortress and a sit-in protest in a castle. Although there were a lot of troops, about 53,000, they were not unstoppable when combined with the troops of the fortress and the remaining troops of Balharat Castle.

Moreover, when the soldiers who had been dispatched to battle the Alefel army returned, they would be able to build a much stronger defense.

but.

Epinel spoke in a very firm tone.

“Master. It’s not that I don’t know what the teacher is talking about. However, if we lose this fortress, wouldn’t we just end up back in a situation of endless confrontation with the Brans army? You have to bump into them at some point. I think it’s just for now. If we continue to avoid all-out war, our military will ultimately be unable to do anything.”

Certainly, the location of this fortress itself was very appropriate.

From my point of view, I built it haphazardly because I needed a place to station the soldiers that Irene would lead, but it was an exquisite location that could be quite useful if occupied by either the Aishus Army or the Brans Army.

From Epinel’s point of view, in a situation where there was not much difference in the number of soldiers, he seemed to think that it would be more of a loss to lose the fortress he had gained just because he was afraid of the long-term war ahead.

The judgment itself was understandable to some extent.

Like the Kalinz Brands of the past, it was not an idea close to a misjudgment, and there was some basis for it.

“I also have a slightly different opinion in that the Brans army continues to invade. According to intelligence, it appears that an armistice agreement has been signed with the southern countries. Aren’t most of the soldiers flocking here probably the ones guarding the southern border? If so, they will eventually bring in additional troops from the northern border. If that happens, I don’t think the Serpina Army will stay still. What do you think?”

“Considering the population of the territory where the Brans army is stationed, there is a possibility of additional conscription. And if you bring troops from the Western Front rather than the Northern Front, it will be a different story. When judged comprehensively, giving up the fortress and staging a sit-in with Balharat Castle as a base can definitely block the invasion of the Brans army.”

“This may be true in terms of reliably blocking an invasion, but as I just said, you can’t clear the way if you keep blocking it. As long as we can suppress the Brans army in this battle, occupying Lacline Castle will not be a dream.”

“I understand how you feel, but now is not the time. If you wait, the time will definitely come.”

Epinel slowly closed her eyes at Jinor’s words and then spoke in a cautious tone.

“Master. I don’t want to bring up the old story, but I still remember how you promised to plant the Aethus County flag on Castle Rockline. But what happened in the end?”

“… … !”

and.

It seems that Epinel’s influence was clearly strong, as he was able to present his opinion to a strategist like that.

For your information, I was the one who stopped that ‘rant’.

However, there is nothing good about revealing that fact, so let’s just leave it alone for now.

“In some ways, this battle is a golden opportunity for our A-Chers army. As you said, targeting Lockline Castle now may certainly be unlikely. but… … .”

Epinel spoke in a very emotional tone, as if she was reminiscing about the past.

“You may not know this since it has only been a short time since you came here, but our Aceers first met each other to discuss the cause, and to avoid Serpina’s formidable surveillance in the northern continent, we settled in Balharat Castle in the central region. Countless things were accomplished, from planting a flag to raising an army. Nothing seemed very likely. But we did it. Our brothers, who share Yuuri’s blood, can be seen as always taking opportunities in times of crisis and developing to this point.”

“… … .”

“And, no one in our military would have considered the option of giving up the fortress and retreating now.”

Epinel said that and then turned her head towards us and shouted in a loud voice.

“I guess I’m right? Anyone who thinks it would be better to give up the battle here and now and retreat to Balharat Castle, raise your hand!”

While no one raises their hand-

I breathed a sigh of relief.

I felt like toasting the fact that her performance was a ‘question.’

‘Is giving up the battle and retreating the best option?’

I quickly typed Epinel’s question into my head.

No matter what the two thought, each had a good reason.

An ordinary person would not be able to raise anyone’s hand. Unless you have the ability to read the future, you can’t be sure who is right.

But I am different.

Somehow, just by entering the question, I was able to get the correct answer.

Will Jinor’s opinion, who boasts an intelligence of 99, be correct?

And the result is.

[It is somewhat close.]

‘… … ???”

huh?

Almost close… … You say so?

It’s not the right answer, but how close is it?

The answer was ‘close’. It wasn’t the first time I had seen it. During Brans County’s regular meeting back in the day, Irene’s opinion was ‘almost close’.

Then it was strange.

If it means retreating to a certain extent, does that mean you have to take out your soldiers anyway?

why?

Regardless of the confusion in my mind, Epinel continued with what she was saying.

He must have been very satisfied that no one raised his hand, and I could feel the tone of voice he spoke was powerful.

“Master. We must win this battle. That is the only way to enter the central part of the continent. Our brothers can do it this time too. I have been given full authority to command this fortress from Yuuri. What I mean is, these are the words of Yuuri, the monarch. I have no intention of giving in as of now, so I hope you will cooperate with me.”

Jinor closed his eyes and was lost in thought, then nodded and said.

“… … Okay.”

No matter how much Jinor was a national strategist, the leader and absolute leader of this country was the monarch, Yuuri.

And Yuuri trusted Epinel very much. Even if it’s not a level of trust but more of a drag.

Anyway, that wasn’t important right now.

If Jinor’s opinion is ‘somewhat close’, Epinel’s opinion –

In other words, what about ‘fighting against the Brans army without leaving the fortress’?

‘Is there no way to ask questions more naturally?’

at that time.

With perfect timing, Epinel opened her mouth to me.

“Okay, Swen. This time, I want to see your ability with my own eyes.”

“Are you talking about my abilities?”

“It’s no use playing around now. This is a story about the miracle you performed. You asked for a blessing from the sky and dropped a rock, right?”

Now that I think about it, he looked at me and said, ‘I was already waiting for you.’

Are you asking me to use that ability?

“Hey, Epinel. Swen’s ability is… … .”

I stopped Iren from saying something with a wave of my hand.

Here, it meant leaving it to me.

She completely understood what I said and kept her mouth shut.

“Sorry for notifying you, Epinel. Communication with heaven is not something I can do whenever I want. I am a person who only knows how to read the energy of the sky, understand the flow of stars, and direct the flow to my advantage. I have a great desire to help, but the path to that path is currently blocked.”

“Really? How about holding a ancestral rite similar to that time this time?”

“You can do something about that, but… … There is no guarantee that heaven will respond. It’s not a bad idea if it’s to blur Brans’s eyes, but I’m very sorry to say that it has practical utility, but I can’t give you a definitive answer.”

Well, since the ritual itself is Brans and not another opponent, it should be able to act as a bluff to some extent, but in the end, if nothing happens, the problem is what comes next.

“Hmm… … Really?”

Epinel looked somewhat disappointed, but then shook her head to both sides and said.

“Well, even if we don’t rely on your miracles, our army will be able to beat Brans’ army here. Isn’t it?”

At Epinel’s very timely question, I breathed a sigh of relief.

‘good!’

It wasn’t my intention, but somehow I was able to answer the question I was curious about.

Second question. ‘Can the Aceers army defeat the Brans army in this battle?’

Depending on what the outcome was, what I would do would be determined.

And again.

A brain with intelligence of 100, so casually.

As if introducing tonight’s dinner menu, he just blurted out the results.

[It depends on the will of heaven.]

‘??????’

Again, unexpected results.