episode_0038

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How many days has it been since the Calinz army left to attack the castle?

It was only natural to hear that it was bad news.

“Are you saying that our military’s defeat is grave?”

“Yes. Currently, about 18,000 people have become casualties, and we are preparing to retreat using about 5,000 troops who have already secured a retreat route. Kalintz hasn’t made a decision yet… … I think they might retreat.”

“Huh… … Right. Did that happen in the end?”

Parc, who was in charge of the fortress, sighed briefly.

The price of recklessly going into a battle that even an ordinary general like Parc thought he would lose was terrible.

‘There are about 10,000 troops remaining.’

At least somehow, it seemed that Irene was able to persuade him and deploy 5,000 soldiers to the rear to secure a retreat route.

It was a blessing in disguise.

You should give up and retreat as quickly as possible, but hesitating on a decision means –

‘The defeat is dark, but it seems like we’re barely catching up.’

Kalintz was an S-class general in his own right, and Iren had a special skill in ‘siege’.

So it seemed like they were rubbing together somehow.

Just a little more and you can break through the castle gate. If you just break through the castle gate, you can reverse the situation… … Is that why you keep pushing forward with that thought?

It would have been better to retreat right away, but considering that they had sent a separate messenger instead of retreating, it seemed unlikely.

“… … I understand. We will prepare to receive wounded soldiers here as well. I want to send support, but there are only about 3,000 troops left… … I’m sorry. First, let’s deliver the news to Kelstein Castle.”

“Okay.”

After sending the messenger with the news, Parc sighed heavily and then looked at us gathered in the conference room and said,

“I don’t know what to do now.”

“… … .”

Parque took a deep breath.

A total of six generals here, including me, Jack, and Silene, said nothing.

In the first place, all the generals with decent abilities who guarded this fortress had participated with Kalinz, and only C-class generals who were not very capable remained in the fortress.

Even if you don’t come up with a sharp number, there’s no point.

at that time.

Jack next to me cautiously raised his hand.

“Me, Fortress Commander.”

“Tell me.”

“I was anxious from the beginning… … There are too few troops in the fortress. It looks like we’ll be taken over quickly if we’re invaded, so wouldn’t it be a good idea to send a request for support to Kelstein Castle now?”

I was thinking about that too.

In a way, there was no way Serpina would just ignore us, who had stabbed us in the back first.

If they had succeeded in taking the castle, they would have focused their efforts on regaining the lost Cherien Castle without worrying about fortifications like this, but that was not the case right now.

“Hmm… … I don’t know if Racion will send it to me, but I’ll try to say it first.”

After that, of course, no further opinions were expressed.

We, who had just disbanded, were organizing generals to provide support as soon as possible.

It seemed that they had decided to send about three generals, including Jack, to meet our fleeing soldiers.

I have only one interest.

It was whether Irene would survive or not.

Irene was a very strong general, and I told her in advance that I was going to lose the battle anyway, so I wouldn’t overdo it.

However, it would have been very difficult if Irene had been taken prisoner by repeating this meaningless war.

‘If we come back safely, it would be better to tell Kalinz that we should just go to Kelstein.’

It was very dangerous to keep repeating the close battle here.

Now that Kalinz is so broken, it won’t be stubborn anymore.

Although he may be arrogant, he is a person with a basic head, so he will make a cool and calm judgment this time.

His pride may have been crushed once he was completely shattered, but considering the soldiers who lost their lives because of his judgment and the expected value of what he was able to accomplish with those soldiers, it would only be cheap pride.

Thinking like that, how many days had passed while waiting for our army to retreat?

One of the soldiers watching from the castle wall shouted loudly.

“I see the flag over there!”

Soldiers were running toward the fortress, holding sky-blue flags with the Brans military symbol on them.

Still, seeing as there were quite a few troops, it seemed like they had fortunately retreated safely.

We ran out to meet them, following Parque.

“I heard the news, General Miguel. Was it a rout?”

Miguel, the man in front, responded to Parc’s words.

It’s a face I’ve seen several times.

He was a B-class general who was good to have as an adjutant.

“… … exactly. Fortunately, they didn’t form a chase unit, so we were able to arrive safely. but… … It doesn’t change the fact that you lost.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad you came back alive.”

Miguel bowed his head without saying anything at Park’s words.

at that time.

We, including Parc, noticed a subtle change.

The point was that Kalinz, who was supposed to be at the forefront, was not visible.

“Well, General Kalinz… … ?”

“… … .”

Miguel couldn’t say anything, but then spoke in a miserable tone.

“General Kalinz… … You have become Ian’s prisoner.”

“What… … ?”

Since he was at the forefront, he must have led the fight deep into the depths, and that is why he was captured.

And then.

‘… … ?’

If you look closely, you will see that Kalinz is not alone.

Irene’s appearance as well… … It’s not visible.

‘no way… … !’

Sensing my heart pounding for a moment, I quietly left to check the rear, and walked among the remnants of the soldiers who had entered the fortress, looking for her.

no.

Things like Kalinz didn’t really matter. Ji got caught for being so stupid, so who can blame him?

But Irene should not have been caught. I need to increase my favorability so that I can defect to the Lunarien army, but if I get caught here… … !

no.

That’s not it.

It was only after I thought about it that much that I noticed.

If that was the only reason, there was no reason for my heart to pound and feel anxious.

Because there are many outstanding generals besides her.

In the first place, if Tifa, who already deeply follows Lunarien, opens her eyes to magic, wouldn’t she be able to become an SS-level general who can’t even be compared to Iren?

I am-

I was worried about her herself.

He was not an S-class general who would play an active role in the Lunarien army in the future, but was just hoping that a woman named Irene Juliet would be safe.

‘Iren… … !’

I was out of breath and running around frantically.

How long did he wander through the gaps between the soldiers?

Among the painful groans of the wounded soldiers, a now familiar female voice was heard.

“Please be patient. Because we arrived at the fortress.”

“… … !!!”

I looked towards where the voice was coming from.

Irene, wearing her proud armor, was caring for a wounded soldier.

“… … Haa, haa.”

Only then did I realize that I had been running around like crazy, and a deep sigh came out of me.

I already had poor physical strength, but I was a little dizzy from running around so hard.

And the woman who was taking care of the wounded soldier noticed my gaze and turned her head towards me.

“… … Swen?”

“Irene.”

I slowly approached her.

When I reached her nose, my legs became weak and I almost fell down, but she caught me.

“S, Swen?! Are you okay?”

“Irene… … I’m so glad you’re safe.”

Damn it.

I felt like crying.

I felt similar to when I broke up with Lunarien.

Was I really that emotional?

Iren looked at me with a surprised expression and accepted me out of breath.

Soon, with a very benevolent smile –

He quietly patted my back.

“Didn’t I promise you? To come back alive.”

“… … .”

warm.

I could feel this woman’s body temperature.

S-class general, siege specialist, general persecuted by the monarch, etc., removing all such modifiers-

The fact that a woman named Irene exists and breathes here was conveyed to me.

and.

That fact was a huge comfort to me.

“… … That, that.”

“… … ?”

“That… … It’s not that I don’t like it, but how long are you going to keep doing this? that… … It’s a little embarrassing.”

“Ah.”

It was only then that I realized that I was leaning my face against her chest.

Anyway, I was wearing armor that protected my chest, so it was hard to the touch, so I didn’t feel much… … From her perspective, it seemed somewhat embarrassing.

After getting some distance away from her, she cleared her throat a few times and spoke.

“Keuhum. More than that… … Although we retreated safely because there were no pursuers, in the end-”

“Are you saying that Kalintz has been taken prisoner?”

“It looks like you heard the news.”

“What on earth happened?”

Iren said with a dark expression.

“That’s literally it. The soldiers of Cherien Castle were much more powerful than I thought. There was no sign that morale was low or that the ranks were broken. Of course, it was able to cause quite significant damage, but of course the damage on this side was greater. I somehow persuaded them and deployed 5,000 men to the rear, but it was a shame, the soldiers who were at the forefront were almost completely wiped out.”

“Then the casualties… … ?”

“… … There are a total of 28,000 people.”

So does that mean that the number of troops who returned alive, excluding the wounded, was about 2,000, excluding the 5,000 who were deployed to the rear to retreat?

“It was a narrow defeat. If there were just a little more soldiers, maybe we could have captured the castle.”

Iren smiled bitterly as she said that.

She realized it too.

In the end, this battle only did good things for Serpina.

After hearing that, I looked around.

There are only soldiers here and there moaning in pain.

If you capture this scenery alone, there is literally nothing like hell.

‘It’s a crushing defeat.’

Once again, I thought it was a good thing that they suggested not having Irene as the vanguard.

If that were the case, it might have been Irene who became the prisoner.

“Anyway, I’m glad you came back safely. It’s good to take care of wounded soldiers, but first, let’s go report to Parque.”

“Hmm. Sure.”

The moment I tried to take a step back.

“… … Ah.”

Because I was so weak, I tripped and almost fell, but Irene caught me.

“Are you okay, Swen?”

“Thanks to you, I survived. Thank you.”

A body with low strength is really uncomfortable.

While I was thinking that, she blushed slightly and said.

“That… … If you don’t mind, I’ll take your hand… … I can hold you and walk you.”

“Hands?”

“No, I mean, that… … Should I say that I support you? Swen, there you are. Even walking seems very difficult right now. Well, I… … are you okay. Even if I hold your hand.”

I thought it was cute how he seemed to be desperately trying to hide his embarrassment while clearing his throat.

Should I be honest and receive favor here?

“Then, please ask.”

“Um.”

I held her outstretched hand.

It was warm.

I could feel the warmth I wanted to save.