episode_0128

“… … .”

To him who did not respond in particular, Serpina asked in a slightly cold tone.

“There is not a single enemy flag visible even across the river, let alone around Amir Castle. We’ve already sent out reconnaissance parties three times, and the conclusions we’ve all come to are the same. I think enough time has passed. No matter how much I think about it, my judgment is that it is unlikely that the Aishous army will invade through that direction without anything to gain.”

If you are attacked without knowing anything, you will definitely be shaken.

Perhaps the poorly defended Amir Castle could have been taken away momentarily.

But in the end, that’s it.

It wouldn’t take much time to block the river, cut off the supply route, and retake Amir Castle.

Well, you might be annoyed that you got punched by Acious, but that’s just the second problem.

“You told her to see what was invisible, right?”

“Yes.”

“When I think about it now, I think I just listed some plausible sentences to gloss over the situation.”

It wasn’t the first time I’d seen someone do something like that in order to somehow get ahead in front of me.

okay. It’s not my first time seeing it. If that was true, it would mean that the man named Swen was also just that kind of person.

Serpina looked down at Swen.

The agitated mind could not be read at all from the appearance of the person with his head down.

At the same time, the strong conviction even in this situation made her feel dizzy.

‘how… … ‘What are you thinking?’

When I was thinking that-

Finally, Swen slowly opened his mouth.

“Master. The first thing I want to tell you is-”

And that moment.

A soldier hurriedly ran into the throne room.

“Master, General Zephyr has come to visit. He says there is an important issue that needs to be reported right away.”

As soon as she heard the soldier’s story, she glanced towards where Swen was.

He closed his mouth and was talking to himself in silence.

‘It’s okay to let them in for now… … is it.’

Suddenly barging in during an audience could be considered rude depending on the situation –

Serpina nodded and answered as if she wasn’t particularly concerned.

“… … Come on in.”

Zephyr was a general belonging to Amir Castle.

Although he doesn’t have any special abilities, he is quite good at training his troops and is a common general who guards the barracks in the rear.

A general like that came rushing all the way to Eingart Castle because he had urgent business?

“Zephyr, I never thought I would see your face today.”

“Lord, lord… … .”

Zephyr, who was kneeling in front of her, spoke slightly out of breath.

“I have something to show you, so I came to the palace in a hurry, despite the rudeness. Please forgive me-”

“Get rid of unnecessary greetings. What’s going on?”

“This thing was discovered… … !”

Zephyr handed something over with both hands.

Serpina stood up and checked something he gave her.

“… … !!”

Unusually, her eyes became four hundred eyes.

What is in Zephyr’s hand is a symbol.

It was very similar to the double-headed eagle symbol that symbolizes the Eingart family… … An emblem with three diagonal lines diagonally below it.

This was the emblem that Serpina’s second brother, Sidmid von Eyngart, who is no longer in this world, displayed when he raised an army against his eldest brother, Argot von Eingart.

The appearance of a pattern that has now disappeared into the back of history… …

-The ghosts of the dead Sidmid had appeared and were trying to grab Serpina’s ankles again.

* * *

After the emperor of the empire suddenly dies-

It was still before the full-fledged appeal of feudal lords began.

There were forces rebelling against the eldest son, Argot von Eingart, who everyone thought would be the natural successor.

It was Algod’s second younger brother, Sidmid von Eyngart.

Sidmid, who rose up with the support of his third brother, Stadel von Eingart, and his first sister, Lilyrose von Eingart, and said that he could not hand over the empire to his eldest son, Argot, received the support of about 1/3 of the noble families of the empire. He started competing with Algot on his back.

In the scene of fierce strife between brothers who came out of the same boat and share the same blood –

The youngest sister, Serpina von Eyngart, who was the only one one step away, was making every effort to somehow unite the fallen imperial family.

However, the only reason she was able to become a kind of pigeon – because there was no foundational force at all, her efforts were largely fruitless.

The secret struggle between the brothers eventually went beyond that line and reached the point where they destroyed each other’s base forces.

The incident that was at the peak of the fire was the tragedy at Piviola Academy.

Even though it was obvious that there would also be nobles supporting him, this was an inhumane operation to massacre all the faculty and students inside the academy and then destroy the academy itself as if to erase its records.

After that incident, Algoth and Sidmid could no longer be together again.

Serpina, who had been struggling to somehow end this political conflict, found herself in a situation where she could do nothing more.

Not long after the tragedy.

Serpina was the first to rebel against Sidmid, the instigator of the incident, and her second brother.

“Brother. why… … Why did you do that?! What did the people there do wrong-”

Piviola Academy was a fairly prestigious academy, and many children of noble families belonged to it.

Among them, there were people who had been with Serpina during her childhood.

Not just yourself. Sidmead must have had an acquaintance there. Beyond his acquaintances, the children of influential families who supported him would also have been there.

It wasn’t just because of this humanitarian aspect.

Sidmid may have been vaguely aware that he had committed a move that was close to defeat politically, and he began to lose his temper towards Serpina.

“Noisy! This is the only way! In order to prevent that stupid brother from inheriting the throne, we have to organize our forces somehow!”

Even after that, he was overcome by evil and began to vent out his anger in front of his youngest brother.

“Wherever you go, Algoth, Algoth! Isn’t there an uproar as if the next emperor has been decided from the beginning? okay! The dean of Piviola Academy! Do you know what that guy is talking about? It seems like everyone is making false claims that Algoth will be able to ascend to the throne without difficulty sometime next year, and that everyone should prepare for that time. It’s a blessing to be self-employed!”

He was screaming as if he was going to eat Serphina with his eyes wide open, but-

She somehow overcame the intimidation and looked straight into his eyes.

“But… … Killing people senselessly like this… … A person who is going to become an emperor shouldn’t do that!”

That moment.

slap!

Serpina’s cheeks turn bright red.

Sidmid spoke coldly, as if he would strangle her if she said one more word.

“… … Don’t say anything off topic. Do you understand?”

“… … .”

Serpina can’t say anything and lets her tears fall on the floor.

It’s not because of the pain that comes from being hit…

This was due to frustration that the issue could never be resolved peacefully again.

** *

I remember.

Brother Sidmeade’s eyes that tried to eat me.

I couldn’t do anything.

Nothing could stop it… … I couldn’t protect anything.

And now again.

It appeared before my eyes again.

As if laughing at me for not being able to accomplish anything, he raises his head again and glares at me.

While he was giving up, those eyes soon sank into the abyss-

Staring at me fiercely in the dark.

Those eyes become increasingly powerful.

Before long, it turns red.

It is the color of bloody fresh blood. It is the color of fading life.

Serpina… … Four years… … Your years made me… … !

no.

No, brother. I am-

Your bitch killed me!!!

That’s not true, brother! I, I just, Brother Argot… … !!

you!!! Me, my younger siblings… … ! You really intended to do this from the beginning… … !!

no.

no no! I’m not!

I didn’t do that.

Brother Algot, me… … !!!!!

like that.

In this dark place.

The moment when all eyes and all voices rushed to bite you –

-Master!!!!!

Suddenly, a somewhat warm voice enveloped Serpina.

This… … I’m not saying this to stab me.

These are the words that hold me back.

The moment you realize that in an all-black place, there is only pure white light… …

* * *

“… … Ah.”

When I come to my senses-

I realize that the white-haired man, Swen, is holding my wrist and looking at me.

“Master. Please calm down.”

“… … Swen… … ?”

that’s right.

I called Swen to talk to him.

On the way, Zephyr suddenly invades… …

“Calm down, my lord. Nothing happened.”

“Ah… … .”

“Are you okay?”

Only after hearing Swen’s voice one more time did Serpina realize.

That he had fallen into a state of temporary panic for a moment.

The very moment when I saw the pattern used by Sidmid and the trauma of what happened in the past surged… … He even said that it was Swen who called him.

And strangely-

I felt that my body, which had been constantly shaking, had calmed down.

Why?

for what reason… … Why does that voice make me feel so warm?

At that moment, a scene from a dream I had dreamed of over and over again flashed through my mind.

Smiling and talking with Swen in a place with a beautiful view of the sea… …

“Master… … ?”

It was only after I was asked the question again that I felt my senses quickly coming back.

“… … I’m sorry. for a moment… … I guess I was in a bit of a bad mood.”

“No. I’m glad you’ve calmed down.”

As Swen naturally took a step away, the figure of Zephyr kneeling came into view again.

“Forgive the sudden change, Zephyr.”

“Master. I am okay. Rather, I have to tell you… … .”

“Okay… … Where was that pattern found?”

When Serpina asked with a trembling voice, Zephyr lowered his head and said as if he was sorry.

“With the newly added troops to Amir Castle, we were able to patrol the territory in earnest. It seemed like it was discovered by chance, so after looking around the place… … Impurity molecules were found.”

“What… … ?”

An impure molecule was discovered.

No, to be precise – ‘With newly recruited troops, while patrolling the territory in earnest’, impure molecules were discovered.

‘no way… … !!!’

Serpina realized something and froze in place.

“However, it would be better to deploy the conscripted troops to the territory where they were conscripted. That seems to be the most efficient method.”

“Are you saying that stationing troops in such a remote place is an efficient method?”

“Yes.”

After the scene at the opinion proposal meeting, Jenna’s voice passed through her mind.

“Swen’s opinion is a bit puzzling. therefore… … I don’t know how to explain this… … I have to say that I feel like I’m being diverted from an important point. Should I say that I have the impression that the logic is being developed from somewhat peripheral aspects rather than the essence… … .”

“Swen’s opinion was not that the Aethus army should be stopped, but that troops should be stationed at Amir Castle.”

The puzzle pieces in my head began to fit together one by one.

‘It will be like this… … I knew everything… … Called?’

She slowly turned her head and looked at the face of Swen, who had helped her.

His expression does not waver at all.

As if he knew it would turn out like this from the beginning-

There was even a sense of leisure in those gray eyes, as if they were a noble crane.

How did Serpina feel when she saw that? It was as if she had been struck by lightning.

His body trembles again and he mutters as he realizes what the white-haired man was really saying.

Swen- knew everything, he said.