episode_0104

* * *

“This meal was also clean. I don’t think I will refuse food anymore.”

“I see.”

Serpina, sitting cross-legged in the castle lord’s chair and receiving the guard’s report on Anima, extended the hand that was resting her chin toward the guard.

“Good. There is no need to report any more prisoners. If something happens again that requires response, I can report it at that time.”

“Yes, I understand!”

After saluting, I look at the guard who has disappeared and become lost in thought.

‘If Anima is from Piviola Academy… then that must be the cause of her murderous intentions toward me. There might be a lot of people from that area gathered in Aishous County.’

When I went to recommend surrender, I thought the reaction was quite sharp for a small country –

Serpina closed her eyes as she felt the puzzle pieces in her head coming together one by one.

‘⋯⋯Composure.’

A word that I quietly engrave on my own every time my heart is shaken.

Now was not the time to dwell on the past.

What is important to her is not the past, but the present and the future.

It was around this time that I was reorganizing my mindset.

“Master!”

A messenger came this way.

“What’s going on?”

“The troops who sortied to Zellstrom Castle have just returned.”

The return of the troops… does this mean they were ultimately defeated?

I knew that my chances of winning were not high, so I prepared Plan B and succeeded in giving Acious a shot, but-

After accepting the result of defeat, I didn’t feel very happy.

“Okay. What about the remaining troops?”

“Approximately 23,000 people, including wounded soldiers.”

Did we lose more than half of it?

The messenger responded as if he was paying attention to Serpina, whose expression was slightly wrinkled.

“Still, it is said that they succeeded in causing massive damage to Zellstrom Castle as well. There will probably be no re-invasion this way…?”

Serpina nodded slightly.

“What happened to Villans and Nemia?”

“General Villans returned safely with the retreating troops… but General Nemia… that…”

“⋯⋯?”

When Serpina, sensing anxiety, stood up from her seat, the messenger waved his hand in surprise.

“Oh, no! You came back safely. However, you suffered serious injuries.”

“Injury?”

“Yes. The situation is now absolutely stable.”

Isn’t he dead?

I found myself feeling deeply reassured by that alone.

However, from the position of an absolute ruler who had to send his generals into battle again and again, expressing excessive emotions had the potential to harm his dignity.

But I didn’t intend to just let it go.

“Dear. Can you take me to where Nemia is?”

The messenger who heard her responded by shouting in a loud voice.

“Yes! of course. It is an honor to serve you. Please come this way.”

*

The place we went to after receiving guidance from the messenger was the military hospital at Hispil Castle.

While the doctors dispatched from the capital, Eingart Castle, were busy moving around, Nemia was lying in a corner of the bed, welcoming Serpina.

“Ah⋯⋯ Master. Are you here…?

“It’s okay to not say unnecessary things, Nemia. So that you can find peace.”

Female general Nemia.

I didn’t have any special abilities, nor did I have outstanding strength or talent, but-

In Serpina’s mind, she was a warlike general who always answered in a loud voice and had passionate eyes burning with the will to fight.

She was lying down so awkwardly, moaning softly as if in pain.

“I have no shame, my lord… I swore that I would definitely give Zelstrom Castle to you, but…”

“That story is really good.”

Serpina turns her head and looks at the doctor next to her.

The doctor noticed her unspoken question and cautiously opened his mouth.

“I heard that there was massive bleeding in the middle of the battlefield. I wonder if my life was saved because I decided to withdraw quickly.”

“Bleeding⋯⋯.”

Serpina turned her head again and looked at Nemia’s lying body.

There were no visible wounds that could have caused life-threatening bleeding.

Even though I had a bandage wrapped around my head… I instinctively thought that wasn’t the only problem.

I heard you clearly suffered serious injuries?

at that time.

Serpina’s eyes landed on the white blanket covering her lower body.

⋯⋯No way.

She slowly removed the blanket.

And only then did the decisive wound that forced her to retreat come into view.

The right leg… was gone starting from the knee.

Nemia let out a sheepish laugh while looking at Serphina with her four eyes wide open.

“Haha⋯⋯ Sorry. It ended up like this. If we had fought until the end, we would have been able to capture Zelstrom Castle⋯⋯.”

“Nemia.”

“Epinel Rosencross, just like I heard, he was a huge powerhouse. As a fellow woman, she was strong enough to make me respect her. I could tell from the clash of swords… that I would never be able to defeat her. I did my best⋯⋯.”

“⋯⋯.”

“Now with a body like this… I’m no good at being a general. After creating a peaceful world, my small goal was to return to my hometown and spend a little time with my family, but that now feels like a river that has flowed by. My lord. I am⋯⋯.”

“Nemia.”

Serpina held Nemia’s hand with both hands.

Because her life was still attached, her blood was still flowing, but her hands were still very cold.

“Master⋯⋯.”

“You did your best. Just coming back alive is enough.”

“But, I had to retreat due to my shortcomings. If we had had enough time, we would have definitely been able to capture the castle⋯⋯.”

“If you really feel like you’re not good enough, use the rest of your life for me.”

Nemia smiled bitterly at Serphina’s words.

“I am now in a state where I can no longer go to the battlefield. Even if I offer up my insignificant life, I am concerned that rather than helping my lord, it will hinder me.”

“War is not all about going to the battlefield and fighting. Besides, Nemia. Don’t you still have a reason to work?”

“Master⋯⋯?”

“You said you have five younger siblings, right?”

Nemia is surprised for the first time by Serpina’s words.

“⋯⋯Remember, were you doing it?”

When she was first commissioned into the Serpina military, the story about her family was brought up in front of her.

It was even more surprising because I had never thought that Serpina, who had countless generals under her command, would remember it.

As for whether he was an outstanding general who caught her eye, objectively speaking, he wasn’t.

To be honest, I’ve never done anything particularly great.

“To feed them, isn’t it time to start working? Still, it might be difficult right now. Let me rest for a while. Bongrok will be paid without interruption.”

“Yeah, but⋯⋯.”

“Once my body stabilizes, it would be nice to help train younger students. Practical training is important, but teaching theory is also important. If you become a professional instructor in the barracks and teach soldiers tactics based on your experience on the battlefield, it will be of great help. A general who comes back from the brink of death has a lot to learn in itself.”

We were talking about our experiences on the battlefield and all that, and that there was a lot to learn, but…

Nemia easily realized that this was Serpina’s consideration.

Even if you were an instructor at a barracks, it was more effective to have intact extremities to teach by demonstrating.

However, she wasn’t really the type of person who was good at theory.

However, if I retired from the military like this, there was no way to feed my younger siblings right away. Even if I wanted to work, I wouldn’t be able to even do manual labor with a body like this.

Serpina was concerned about that.

They said they would keep their employment, so it was okay to relax.

“Master⋯⋯.”

“Do you remember the moment you came under me? I told you to swear loyalty and risk your lives. If you intend to keep that oath, I will not abandon you no matter what.”

“⋯⋯.”

“Nemia. The dream of continental unification that you risked your life for, leave it to me. You will stand on your own two legs and look with your own eyes. I will never forget the dream you gave me.”

“⋯⋯Black.”

Nemia’s body trembled slightly when she heard those words.

And then, tears flowed from both eyes.

Lord Serpina is known to the world as a tyrant without blood or tears, and in reality, she is very cool-headed and makes sharp decisions…

For Nemia, she was the only monarch worth serving on the continent.

She was the only person worthy of being the absolute ruler of the continent.

Just like that, I stayed by her side as she cried and shook her head for a while…

Serpina remained silent and said nothing.

Until the moment she regains her composure.

It was the moment when another person’s unfulfilled dream was added to the two legs of the Absolute.

*

A few hours later.

After finishing the interview at the hospital, a soldier came to Serpina, who returned to the castle to focus on her mission again.

“A messenger from Acious is here?”

“Yes.”

If it is a messenger from Acious, then has it come to negotiate about Anima?

I was already planning to contact Acious-kun here first.

‘If they come here so quickly… the existence of the Anima must be very important to them.’

If that’s the case, I can’t just return it.

The way she lives in difficult times.

To be as merciful as possible to one’s own human beings, and to thoroughly consider profit and loss to those who are not one’s own human beings.

If Anima was important to the Aishous army, there was no reason not to utilize it thoroughly.

“Where is the messenger?”

“I am coming to the throne room.”

“I understand. Let’s go find it right now.”

Serpina quickly walked to the throne room.

Thinking about what to ask for.

It’s not like gold or treasure… I was thinking that maybe I could take Lacline Castle.

After entering the throne room, he sat down on a chair and spoke quietly.

“Lift your head up.”

Only then did the messenger of the Aishous army come into her sight.

That moment-

‘⋯⋯huh?’

The characteristics of the Shinigami clearly appeared in her eyes.

He is a young man with short white hair.

And, when the Shinigami finally raised his head-

‘!!!’

Her world stops for a moment.

The beautiful golden eyes became four hundred eyes and began to tremble.

White hair, gray eyes.

It’s a face I’ve seen before.

That man… … He looked exactly like the man in my dream.

No, that’s not all. In fact, if that were all it was, I wouldn’t have been so surprised.

I might know that guy.

That thought strongly stimulated something deep in her subconscious.

and.

The moment I finally saw his face, my heart started beating like it was going to explode…

Soon, a name he had never said before came out of his mouth so naturally.

“⋯⋯Swen⋯⋯???”