episode_0094

* * *

After predicting ‘I will win anyway’.

Unlike Irene, who became relatively busy by starting more intense training in preparation for the future, my schedule did not change much.

It was to help Reika with her training.

“Um, are you really improving your skills through things like this? … ?”

“That’s right. Doesn’t Reika feel that her skills are improving more than anyone else?”

“Yes, but… … Ah, I’m definitely not doubting you, Swen… … !”

What Reika and I were doing was supporting the ground with one foot and stretching our arms forward and back.

It was about striking a balance in that state.

Not only did I have nothing to do, but I felt like I would be suspicious if I continued to meditate every time, so I was trying various things – and taking this posture was also an extension of that.

Fortunately, even while training like this, Reika’s skills were improving day by day.

She, who had never opened her heart, seemed to feel a strange sense of comradeship with me as she followed my strange practice, and I felt that she was gradually opening her heart and telling her story.

“So you were just staying in the mansion?”

“Yes… … . My father doesn’t let me go outside… … .”

After a series of times that I wrote as a practice and read as a travelogue, it became part of my schedule to not just go back and listen to her story.

We sat side by side in the garden and talked.

“Then, I guess you secretly went outside when we first met?”

“… … Uh, how did you know… … ?”

Reika looked at me in genuine surprise.

Well, if you take into account the atmosphere at the time, the subtle facial expressions, and the look of trouble, it’s not a difficult conclusion to come to.

“Well, you showed it off.”

“I see… … Ugh.”

“It’s okay. I have no intention of blaming you, and I have no intention of saying anything now.”

“… … .”

Reika didn’t respond, but buried her face half in her knees.

‘But why on earth did Jinor hide Reika in the mansion?’

As a result of what I observed, Jinor did not seem to have that much affection for Reika.

It’s not that I don’t like it, but I felt that I valued it… … In any case, it would be correct to say that it is not a feeling of familial love toward his adopted daughter, but rather a feeling of treating him as an important strategic tool.

In fact, I didn’t even care about her personal details at all.

It would be correct to say that she is focusing on her abilities as a mage.

However, moving around so that you can’t even go out feels like… … Isn’t that the typical feeling of a father worrying too much about his daughter?

‘Is there some other reason?’

Just as I was thinking that, she slightly broke the quiet air.

“… … Still.”

“Still?”

“It was fun these days. I could have gone out with Swen… … It was nice to have my magic become stronger, but it was also the first time my father allowed it… … So, in many ways, the… … Should I say thank you… … That’s it.”

“It’s okay if you don’t go into detail.”

I said with a smile to Reika, who was hesitantly choosing a word to say.

“I had fun too. Ms. Reika is a person worth teaching.”

“Ah… … Thank you… … C.”

She said that and again said nothing, this time burying her whole face in her knees.

I couldn’t see his expression, but… … For some reason, I could feel my ears turning bright red.

Now that I think about it, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

“That’s right. Ms. Reika.”

“… … Yes?”

“Have you thought about what to do about the marriage issue?”

“… … !!”

Jump up!

She quickly raises her head and then shouts with a gasp.

“Kyeogyeo, Gyeol, Gyeol… … Marriage!”

“No, whatever. Because something came up. You don’t have to decide right now, but you don’t have to think about it too hard.”

I spoke carefully so as not to put any pressure on her as much as possible.

“Because Reika’s life is at stake, I will tell you whatever Reika decides. If you don’t want it, please let me know. Because I will stop talking about marriage.”

“… … .”

Reika continued to look at my face without saying anything.

Carefully, move those lips.

“Swen… … what do you think… … ?”

“… … Yes?”

“Swen… … Marry me, Gyeol… … Do you want to do it? … So.”

“… … .”

Was it because of my mood?

Why do her pink eyes look brighter than ever?

And again… … Is it also because of my mood that I am hesitating to answer?

Marriage to Reika?

Of course there was nothing bad.

In this regard, my way of thinking could have been no different from that of Jinor, who I just remembered.

It’s just that she was an excellent wizard, and I thought it would be convenient to have a connection with her like that.

In fact, the reason I wanted to impress her in the first place was because I thought, ‘It would be convenient to have a magician like Reika in the Lunarien army.’

but.

Did something change in my heart while living with a woman named Reika?

It felt strangely difficult to just say straight up, ‘I like it’.

Because it didn’t seem like I was responding properly to her feelings.

‘… … .’

I slowly looked at her.

A girl who loves making cakes, but was stuck at home and couldn’t make them for anyone.

Although I had no one to pursue that dream and no friends to hang out with, I did not express any complaints and said, ‘I want to do something helpful to the world with magic,’ and silently followed my ridiculous practice.

So, is it time to ask me a question?

I am… … Do you want to marry Reika?

Even if she is not a wizard, do you have any intention of having her as your wife and lifelong companion?

“I… … .”

Just as I was about to answer her.

“Swen. It was here.”

A now familiar voice came from behind.

An old man’s voice.

“Father… … !”

“Zinor?”

Jinor, the person responsible for the voice, was looking at us with a very serious expression.

This was the first time that he came and showed himself in person during the training.

“What’s going on?”

“There is something I would like to discuss with you… … What is your schedule today?”

“The important work is all done.”

“Really? Then, I would like you to follow me for a moment.”

After saying that, Jinor looked at Reika and spoke in a stern tone.

“Thank you for your hard work today. You can go and take a rest.”

“… … Yes, I understand.”

Reika bowed and greeted Jinor, then gave me a subtle look.

It was a shame that I couldn’t answer her, but there will still be time in the future… …

With that in mind, I followed Jinor to his study.

*

“Are you saying you went on a mission from Lacline Castle?”

“This is the truth that a messenger just came and delivered. It looks like he led about 50,000 soldiers and attacked Hispil Castle.”

I was lost in thought at Jinor’s words.

‘Are you going to fight in this situation?’

The Serpina army is currently deployed to Zellstrom Castle.

Hispil Castle, where the troops were presumed to have been sent, was probably empty, so did they take advantage of that opportunity?

It’s not that bad of a decision… … I wonder if it is really right for our military to move first.

Since the overall number of troops was different from Serpina’s army, it was more advantageous for us to protect the existing territory while conserving troops as much as possible rather than increasing the territory.

“You did not receive the lord’s approval?”

“I think so. Well, there must be some authority given to Ms. Anima. The lord also did not take issue with that part.”

‘… … .’

For some reason, I thought that was the case, but when I heard that it was actually like that, I felt like something was missing.

I recalled the eyes of the Anima I had encountered before.

She wanted to be of some help to Yuuri. Perhaps this decision was made out of a desire to make a mark?

Ultimately, our army will win this battle against the Serpina army.

That’s right, since the brain with 100 intelligence said ‘win’, it was already a decided future.

Still, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of discomfort rising in my head.

Because the result was not [win], but [win for now].

Ultimately, is this development – that is, even ‘the anima acting as it pleases’ – fully included in the scope of prediction?

Considering what happened in Zeeland Castle back then, it was highly likely that was the case.

First of all, you win.

For now, we will win… … .

‘… … !!’

wait for a sec.

no way… … Is that what the saying ‘first win’ means?

As I seemed to have realized something, Jinor asked me a question.

“Swen. I’d like to ask your opinion. Anima Yang’s choice, do you think it is appropriate in this situation?”

‘Is Anima’s choice correct?’

Even if you enter the question just in case, the results come out as expected.

[I can not know.]

Just as I was unable to predict whether or not Charam and Alefel were planning in the past, my predictions were not properly answered when pinpointed and asked.

However, it doesn’t matter if there are no results.

This is a problem that can be considered based on the results that have already been derived.

“… … .”

“… … Swen?”

“Zinor. Can I ask a question first before answering?”

“A question for me?… … What are you trying to ask?”

“You may think this is a slightly unrelated question, but please answer it seriously. Jinor, when do you use the word ‘first’?”

“… … What?”

I asked Jinor again, who had a puzzled look on his face, with a very serious expression.

“I will change the question. There is a phrase that goes, ‘Once it is done, it comes true.’ In this case, which of the following words do you think is appropriate?”

Jinor looked at my face strangely for a while, then lifted his heavy lips.

“First of all, we win, so… … Well, it will happen, but won’t it present a different result than winning?”

While asking questions to Jinor-

Naturally, the ‘sense of discomfort’ I felt began to become more and more concrete.

“This time, it is a question about the other result. [Once it is achieved, it will happen. In addition, other good results occur.] and [Once it happens, it happens. However, a bad result occurs.] Which of the two sentences do you think is natural? This is assuming that there is a much more efficient answer than the result itself.”

“In that case, it would definitely be the latter. As you said, if there is a more efficient answer than that answer, it is natural for a negative result to come out. But why on earth are you asking such a question in this situation?”

“Do you think so too?”

I thought so too, so I asked him the question.

okay. I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks that way.

After hearing Jinor’s answer, one more sentence came to mind.

My prediction was not just that we would win the battle against Serpina’s army.

[Negotiate with Serpina Army. There was also a prediction that “that is the most efficient method.”

If you meet and negotiate with the Serpina army, the battle itself will not take place at all. As a result of the negotiations, the military would have been defeated.

At first, I thought that the result was that they would win because ‘soldiers were wasted on problems that could be ended without fighting.’

It wasn’t a neat explanation, but that was the only result I could come up with with the materials I was given at the time.

However, the story would be different if Anima had raised an army on her own in Lacline Castle.

Assuming that the Battle of Zellstrom Castle is not over yet, and that my predictions based on that battle are 100% correct… … There is only one result.

I said, getting up from my seat.

“I don’t have time. Can you come with me to the castle right now?”

“To the capital? Right now?”

I spoke with a more serious expression than ever before towards Jinor, who seemed unable to keep up with the situation.

“Anima will lose that battle.”