episode_0084

* * *

The royal castle of Anel Castle.

It is very difficult to build something up, but it only takes a moment for it to fall apart.

As soon as the border line was opened, the territory of Brans County, which Orlando Brans had built a solid foundation through good timing, began to collapse one by one without any time to rest.

“Master! Serold Castle and Jog Castle have fallen to the Serfina army! Racion, the temporary commander of the Northern Defense, surrendered and became part of the Serfina Army!”

Farfalle, who heard the messenger’s words, gave advice to Rin, who was sitting on the throne with a very serious expression and a blank expression.

“Master. Even now, we need to gather all the troops on the border and gather them at Anel Castle. There are rumors that it is slowly moving even in the south. It is highly likely that Aceers County will also move again. Make a decision quickly… … !”

“… … .”

“Master… … !”

No matter how many times Farfalle spoke, Lin did not respond.

She was like an empty paper doll right now.

Even when I tried to talk to him, he didn’t respond and just listened to the news that the messenger brought.

‘It’s really dangerous if we continue like this… … !’

Currently, troops were being crushed pointlessly on the border.

Farfalle thought the best thing was to give up territory and minimize borders.

If I could somehow protect this castle, I could protect the western territory that I had already taken care of.

The western land was not a very good land, no, to be honest, it was a very barren land –

If I lost all my territory, it would really be the end.

There is a chance as long as we don’t lose the capital. You will be able to spread your wings again at any time.

Even though about half of the talented people died or surrendered, weren’t the core people still protecting the Brans army?

“Lin… … .”

“… … .”

Lin didn’t answer anything and then-

Soon, looking straight ahead… … Only then did he lift his heavy lips.

“Farfalle.”

“Yes… … ?”

“I… … What did I do wrong?”

And then.

I started biting my nails roughly with my lips.

Red blood began to flow from the swollen fingertips again.

“I… … I certainly don’t think I’ve done anything to deserve this… … ? Where did it go wrong? Why am I… … Why, why were we pushed this far… … ? why… … ? Brother… … ? What happened to the brothers… … ?”

“… … .”

Chell Brans was guarding the eastern border with a body that had not yet fully recovered.

Kalinz Brands… … Although they were fighting on the northern border, they were unable to stop the Serpina army.

“Why did it become like this… … ? why? I am… … You are the person who will unify the continent, right? You’re not the kind of person who will end up like this in this small central region, right? Our Brans army… … we are… … It shouldn’t be like this, right?”

“Master. In order to prevent Branth’s army from collapsing, we must make a decision now.”

“I hate it!!!!”

After hearing Farfell’s words, Lin stood up and threw away the ceremonial sword that was lying next to him.

“This can’t be happening!!! There’s no way we can keep losing! We are Brans County! This is the country that will unify the continent in the future!!!”

“… … .”

That moment.

“… … ah. I understand.”

Lin suddenly started to open his eyes.

“Ugh, hehe, hehehe.”

He started laughing unpleasantly, as if he had lost his mind.

“You know. You.”

“Yes, old… … !”

Then, he looked at the messenger who brought the news that the castle had collapsed and said,

“You… … You know, why don’t you come over here for a moment… … ? He’s nice… … ♡”

“… … .”

The messenger trembled for a moment at Rin’s very soft, yet at the same time very scary voice.

Here in Brans County, Lin Brans’ words were absolute in themselves.

Isn’t this the place where any flying or crawling general must listen to Lin’s words?

Moreover, there was no way for a messenger who was just a soldier to have a choice.

“Well, I… … Well, that… … .”

The messenger hesitated for a while, then carefully approached Lin.

“Okay… … more… … Come closer… … .”

“… … .”

Trembling, I barely managed to arrive in front of her.

“What… … Is it work?”

“… … It’s no big deal… … Hehe… … ♡”

Rin raised her hand to the messenger’s face, lightly stroked his cheek, and then-

With a hand like lightning, he picked up the ceremonial sword lying on the floor and pulled it out.

“Lord, lord… … ?”

And then.

Shock!

“Keuok… … !”

At the spot where Farfalle is watching –

The blade was thrust straight into the messenger’s abdomen.

“State… … army… … ? why… … .”

Rin glares at the messenger, who looks at her with cold gaze and is puzzled.

The eyes containing that gaze contained no firearms or any color – they were completely dead eyes.

“You. Is this the one sent by Irene Juliet? Did you think you could fool me?”

In a voice full of madness, Lin shouted for Wangseong to leave.

“There’s no way we could have lost so pathetically, right? But what?! There is no use trying to fool my eyes with false news. You stupid bastard. Are you trying to deceive me by siding with a red-headed traitor over a mere soldier?!”

“That… … Drama.”

Slurp.

The messenger fell down on the spot without even getting a chance to respond.

Blood flowing freely from the abdomen.

The throne room, which had been filled with the sounds of soldiers writhing in agony and dying, soon even stopped making those sounds and became quiet.

‘Unbelievable… … .’

Farfalle watched the whole scene with four eyes.

Lin’s situation… … It was more dangerous than I thought.

I felt like I was going crazy because of my desire for revenge on Irene, or that I was currently unable to make a proper decision.

In the past, the intelligent female monarch who, although somewhat ruthless, could clearly see the situation and make the right decisions most of the time, no longer existed.

What’s in front of you… … It was just a crazy person who killed the messenger due to his paranoia.

“… … Farfalle.”

“… … Yes, old.”

“You have to be careful. The spies planted by that damn bitch are still here and there in our military. Huh?”

“… … .”

Rin grinned and pulled out the knife stuck in his abdomen.

Toad!

In the process of wiping off the blood from the knife, drops of red blood splashed onto her pure white skin.

“I don’t want to mess around with this, so can you filter it out for me? Got it?”

When Farfalle heard those words, she felt like the sky was falling.

Would it have been better not to have told Iren to be moderate at that time?

If Master Rin knew that she was someone he could not accept, would it have been right to take the initiative and expel her?

Now they didn’t matter.

“You’re not answering?”

“Ah, that… … Ah, I understand.”

“Okay. He’s nice. Farfalle. Then hurry up and tell your eldest brother. Gather as many troops as possible and retake Lacline Castle, which was taken away by the Aishous army. Got it?”

“… … Yes.”

After leaving the throne room, Farfalle went to a general waiting outside and spoke.

“Excuse me, what is your name?”

“Yes? I, that… … It is called poetry, silin.”

Silin was trembling as if she was scared and could barely reply to Farfalle.

The atmosphere in the castle was very chaotic due to the continuous defeat, and it was not surprising considering that Lin’s condition was not good in this country where Lin’s word is law, so generals like Silin were naturally very anxious.

Farfalle said with a very serious expression.

“Mr. Silin. I’m sorry, but can you do me a favor?”

“That… … Would it be okay if I ask what kind of request you are making?”

“You can send a messenger, or you can say it in person. Please arrange for all troops, including General Kalinz on the northern border and General Chell on the eastern border, to return to Annell Castle immediately.”

“Yes? that… … Lord, can I say it is your command?”

“… … .”

Farfalle slowly shook her head.

“Please tell them that this is the arbitrary judgment of National Intelligencer Farfalle. I said I would take full responsibility.”

“Yes? Yes, but-”

“Please. We will make sure that no harm comes to Mr. Silin.”

Doing something the monarch did not order based on one’s own judgment could not have been an extremely outrageous act in this era.

This is even more so since he is not an ordinary general but a person with the power of a state strategist.

He had to have that much power in the first place to be able to say, ‘I will take responsibility.’

Farfalle thought that, in the worst case scenario, her head might be blown off.

However, the destruction of Brans’ army meant that he would become the national strategist of a failed country.

I’m sure I can’t get any higher than this.

Although she had a human side that cherished her life, she was basically a very proud woman.

He wanted to prove that his insight in choosing Lin Brans over other monarchs was correct.

This was the only way to avoid the destruction of Brans County.

He believed that if he knew Rin, who had that gun, he would definitely know.

“I want to go see you myself, but I feel like if I leave my lord’s side right now, something big will happen. Please ask again.”

“… … Ah, I see. Since it is the inspector’s order anyway, it is okay not to ask for it.”

“… … Thank you. Then.”

Protecting Annel Castle.

Farfalle, whose feet were on fire, quickly began to shake her head.

To somehow prevent the Brans Army from disappearing from the map.

That was the only thing on her mind.

* * *

The day after I had a special evening with Irene.

“Then, I will come back.”

“Yes. Let’s see later.”

After saying a quick goodbye to her, I headed straight to the Knighthart family mansion.

After passing through the now familiar streets, I arrived at the mansion.

“Swen. I was waiting.”

“Yes?”

The maid was especially welcoming to me.

“Zinor is looking for Swen.”

“Are you Jinor?”

Why is Jinor looking for me?

Could it be that something went wrong?

‘In fact, have you even noticed that I can’t even feel mana, let alone anything similar to magic?’

Feeling pricked for no reason, I slowly headed to the living room where Jinor was.

When I entered the living room-

‘… … uh?’

Reika is sitting on the sofa inside.

Jinor was sitting at a place similar to the head table, reading a book.

When he realized I had come, he opened his mouth.

“Are you here, Swen?”

“Yes. I heard you called me.”

“First, take a seat.”

As I sat down, the composition naturally turned with Reika sitting across from me.

What was strange was Reika’s attitude.

She couldn’t even make eye contact with me, just blushed profusely and lowered her head.

‘what?’

Is this a story about some magical achievement?

Currently, Reika’s abilities are growing day by day.

Then, of course, this shouldn’t be such a stressful situation… … Why are you so shy?

at that time.

Jinor’s voice reached my ears.

“Swen. Do you remember what I said?”

“What do you mean?”

“It means that you will grant my request.”

Please.

I nodded and said.

“Yes, I remember. However, I also remember saying no to things I cannot listen to.”

“I remember that too.”

Jinor spoke to me in a very harsh tone.

I felt this every time, but Jinor was the type of person who would never tell a joke in his life.

If it had been Kane instead of Jinor, I think he would have said, ‘Is there really a need to even consider such a thing?’

Anyway, speaking of favors, I guess he called me to ask for something.

“So, what is your request?”

I was secretly thinking that if someone asked me if I could actually show them a miracle just once, I would have to refuse.

‘That word’ was heard clearly.

“Do you have any intention of becoming my son-in-law?”

“… … Yes?”

what?

Looking at me dumbfounded, not even able to properly respond to the unexpected word.

Jinor spoke in a very serious tone without a hint of playfulness.

“Swen. If it’s okay with you, I will give you the names Reika and Nighthart, my daughters. How about it?”