episode_0116

“… … I.”

As I was looking at the letter, Reika asked a question.

“Yes?”

“Why did my father ask such a question… … ? So, I mean, it’s… … Since Swen is here, I thought it would be natural for him to serve Serpina… … Should I say that I don’t really know why I need to ask that?”

“Ah.”

okay.

Certainly, if you just look at the phrase, you could have thought that way.

I am currently at Hispil Castle, and Jinor is probably aware of everything that happened in Aethus County. Because he is a national agent.

Seeing that his daughter also delivered a letter, he must have gained some breathing room, and if so, it would not be difficult to find out that he ended up under Serpina’s command.

However, there is no way a person who can sense that would ask a meaningless question just to confirm.

So this means that the person I will ‘ultimately’ serve is Serpina.

“Well, it’s a simple problem. It’s just a question about whether you will continue to serve Serpina in the future.”

“Is that so… … ?”

Reika tilted her head, but had no further questions.

I was a little worried that it would be complicated to explain, but fortunately it turned out not to be.

Jinor was the man who, of all the people I met, had the closest guess as to my true abilities.

Although it was a guess based on the wrong premise that ‘the future can be confirmed using magic’… … Because I accurately pointed out the issue of ‘I know the result, but I don’t know why it happens that way’.

Moreover, since I volunteered to come here myself, he seemed to have decided that I was thinking that joining Serpina Army would be the most efficient future.

So, the question is, ‘Is Serpina the correct answer?’

what… … Because my affiliation changed under Serpina, I couldn’t give a self-answer, but based on my experience so far, there was a different answer.

The correct answer I think is Luna.

then.

Should I share this answer with Jinor?

Sharing my true intentions was no different from saying that you would be in the same boat as me in the future.

In that sense, is Jinor a trustworthy person?

If you were to ask, ‘Is he a helpful person?’, that would be a completely natural statement. Because in this situation, the fact that they chose me instead of Yuuri, the master, meant that heads were spinning.

But as for whether he is a trustworthy person… … .

I turned my head and looked at Reika’s face who showed me the letter.

She is the person Jinor gave me. Looking at the letter, it seemed like it didn’t really matter if he didn’t return to his side.

However, no matter how you look at it, it didn’t really mean that he would stay by my side in a surveillance role.

So let’s draw a conclusion.

Jinor- wants a connection with me.

If someone asks me for something, a relationship is established by listening to it.

Therefore, wouldn’t it be okay to judge it as trustworthy?

“Mr. Reika. Do you have a feather pen?”

“Yes? ah… … wait a minute. It looks like it has the same structure as our room, so it must be in this room too… … .”

Reika rummaged through a drawer and brought out a pen and ink.

I wrote just one line on the letter, folded it up, and handed it to her.

“This is a reply. Can I ask you a favor?”

“Of course… … ! I’ll tell you. But, it seems a bit short… … .”

“I could write a few more words, but I think that will be enough for you to understand.”

“… … ?”

Reika tilted her head as if she didn’t understand.

Jinor will understand what I mean.

I asked Reika to change the subject.

“Reika, do you have any plans?”

“Yes? no… … Later this evening, I decided to have tea with Irene. Other than that, I don’t have any special plans… … .”

“Tea? Are there any tea leaves?”

“Irene seemed to always carry it with her.”

that’s right. Irene seemed to like tea and always carried tea leaves with her.

The look on her face as she drank tea used to make people feel peaceful.

Come to think of it, Reika baked cookies well.

If you can make a cake, wouldn’t it be safe to say that you have a certain level of skill?

Suddenly, I pictured a future where Irene’s tea was served with the tea she made.

I really didn’t have the ability to see the future… … It was such a peaceful scene that I thought, if I had that ability, it would be nice if the future that would be shown to me would be like this.

“Mr. Reika.”

“Yes… … ?”

“Then, until then, should I do some meditation for the first time in a while?”

Considering the situation in which my rapier spewed fire, meditating was clearly effective.

It would be a good idea to charge the battery while it can be charged.

“Ah, I guess so… … ? There doesn’t seem to be that much mana here… … Still.”

Reika said that and burst into laughter.

Although it seemed a little foolish, it was a pure and cute smile without any hidden intentions.

“It’s been a while since I met Swen… … It’s nice that we can be together.”

“Me too.”

“… … yes? That, that, that, what is that… … !!! Well, of course, it’s not that I don’t like it, but… … !”

After seeing her blushing at me and laughing heartily-

I had a peaceful afternoon with her for the first time in a while.

* * *

Balharat Castle.

The resignation rush of several of my generals has calmed down to some extent.

Even though it was Aceers who had to leave, Jinor thought that it was acceptable to control the situation to this extent.

It was rewarding that all the founding contributors, including Epinel, worked hard to protect Yuuri.

furthermore-

Following his footsteps, Anima became the new State Counselor.

It can be said that Jinor was just caught in the middle of the period in which she was a new national strategist.

The longer a person served in the Aishous military, the deeper their affection and trust for Anima. There seemed to be a few people who expressed satisfaction just because Anima had returned.

It was not surprising that it was impossible for the founding public figures to show off their power unless there were many people in this country who looked up to them.

Or, you know, I’m just flattered. It’s probably one of two things.

At that time, the work Jinor was ordered to do was commercial.

Yuuri had originally tried to be considerate by telling him to write the book comfortably without asking him to do anything, but he decided to do it himself.

It was a place where I would quit anyway, but considering the situation was just an emergency, there was no need to leave regrets by quitting in a bad way.

No matter how many times I thought about it, Yuuri was a person who could not become a unified monarch, but how many people in this world can 100% guarantee that he will?

Unlike Swen, who is presumed to be able to see the future, Jinor, who cannot see the future, had no choice but to act as a basic principle, considering all the possibilities.

One day, after taking care of the market, I returned home and was looking through a book on military service that had just been released.

“Master.”

The maid brought a letter.

It seemed like there was a reply from Reika.

“Thank you.”

“No, master.”

The maid who handed me the letter was smiling brightly, so I got a little nervous and asked.

“You look like you’re in a good mood.”

“Yes? No, that’s-”

“I’m not blaming you, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

“… … It’s just that, no matter what, I feel like the owner cares a lot about Lady Reika. I was feeling fortunate.”

“… … Me?”

Nod.

“Well, as soon as she saw Reika’s letter, her expression brightened up as if she had been waiting for it.”

“… … .”

“You seemed to be treating me so coldly, so I was really worried… … As expected, I don’t think it’s a matter for someone like me to judge rashly.”

Actually, there’s no need to say that I was waiting for something other than Reika’s reply.

After dealing with the maid appropriately and sending it back, I immediately checked the contents of the letter.

In that letter-

*

A few days have passed since I read the letter.

In the throne room of the royal castle, Jinor was kneeling and saying something to his lord Yuuri.

“… … okay. You want to resign.”

“Yes.”

“The market merchants must be very disappointed. Even though I hadn’t worked much, I was happy that they had completely changed the system. They ask if he is really a tactician and if he is a wealthy man who made a name for himself through business.”

“Unfortunately, as you can see, we were not able to accumulate that amount of finances. However, if you go that far, you may want to consider changing your career path after retirement. Living off of war will be limited to difficult times.”

Yuuri smiled when he heard that.

After that, we exchanged a few lame jokes, and then asked with a somewhat lonely expression.

“Swen… … Is it because?”

“… … .”

Jinor thought.

I think it would be neater to just say a few words that she would like to hear and then part ways.

but… … Nevertheless, wasn’t she a woman who once risked her own fate?

In fact, it was true that a lot of convenience had been provided to me since I came to Aceers County.

From her perspective, it must have been a huge decision just to drive out Anima, who was trusted by everyone, and appoint me as a tactician.

At the last minute, it might be okay to offer some advice for her.

“Mr. Yuuri. It cannot contain water that has already spilled. I understand Yuuri’s decision. In my own way, I have served Yuuri by my side for quite a long time. Is the decision right or wrong… … That’s something no one can know for sure.”

“… … .”

“Accept what has already happened and the consequences of your decisions. Only by accepting the results will we be able to move forward. This is the final advice I can give you as someone who once served as a clergyman.”

Yuuri nodded without answering.

“I wish you good luck, my lord. I will never forget the warm treatment you gave me. Stay healthy.”

So, leaving Yuuri behind, who couldn’t decide what to say-

He gave up all of his duties as Lord Aceers within the castle and left Balharat Castle as a free man.

I’ve entrusted the cleanup of the mansion to trustworthy people, so they’ll take care of it.

Since everyone took care of me without any worries, my life won’t be difficult.

So now where I have to go is-

‘It wouldn’t be a bad idea to go into the mountains for the first time in a while.’

Before I joined the Aishous Army, I originally planned to train younger students in the mountains.

Even though I was old, I wasn’t afraid of living life.

The important thing is to survive for the new times to come.

To save one’s life, it was safer to stay in the back rather than go to the front.

that day.

To Reika, no.

Just one sentence from Swen.

[Go to Runarien Inian.]

Runarien Inian.

It’s a name I’ve never heard of. Although there were several nameless monarchs during the time when small warlords were proliferating, they have all been long ago destroyed by Branth’s army.

However, this is the correct answer presented by Swen, who sees the future like no other.

There was no way he would have written a meaningless name in a letter.

Since he decided to stay with Reika rather than send her back, trusting his words was likely the right choice.

I’m going to use someone to inquire first, but I’m not in a hurry.

Even if we can’t find it, that name will definitely appear on the continent someday.

‘Until a new time comes, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to spend some time writing a book.’

In these difficult times, it is foolish to fight against an opponent you cannot defeat.

He knows better than anyone else that he does not have the power to outwit someone who can see the future through magic.

If you can’t jump over it, shouldn’t you join it?

Just like that, the man whose name was once again thrown into history for a moment disappeared once more.