episode_0141

I opened the door, went in front of her, and greeted her with a more special heart than usual.

“Swen, I came here at your master’s call.”

As soon as she saw me greeting her, she smiled and said that she was quite satisfied.

“Welcome, Swen. It’s going just as you said.”

“Has there been an alliance proposal again?”

“This is an envoy from Hesna County. He said he wanted to form an alliance with us for 9 months.”

Hesna County.

It was a country that took the lead in breaking the balance of the southern continent.

There was no news yet about what happened to Elgaim Castle – but it seemed like the messenger had arrived here one step ahead.

Since you hit the player first, are you saying you want to join hands with this side and take over the southern continent?

In order to avoid unnecessary disturbances later, they may also need to prevent us from moving.

“So, what are the conditions?”

“They said they would give 20,000 gold.”

20,000 gold.

28,000 gold in 12 months, is it 20,000 gold in 9 months this time?

If you only think about the amount, this condition is a bit disappointing, but if you think about the period, I think this is a condition that can be easily received… … At the time I was thinking that.

“That’s not the end.”

“Yes?”

“Swen. Are you perhaps well-versed in treasures?”

When you say treasure, you’re talking about items, right?

Well, considering I’ve been playing this game for 10,000 hours, there aren’t any items I don’t know… …

“Yes. To some extent.”

“Then you also know about the holy sword Rashtar, right?”

“… … Yes?”

Holy sword Rashtar.

It was the best sword in the game.

The effect was extremely simple. Force + 12.

Although it only increased the strength, it was the ultimate treasure of a weapon-type item with a value of 12 each.

Isn’t it true that what is truly powerful is a law whose explanation is simple and without unnecessary words?

Carl A. The chance of being deceived by the enemy’s plans is reduced by 30%. Only on battlefields where it snows, the attack power against enemy units increases. What are you talking about, blah, blah, blah.

And the holy sword Rashtar. Force + 12.

When I compare it like this, it feels even more overwhelming.

The value of the great holy sword, which instantly increases one’s strength by 12 without any conditions, became even more prominent.

It’s an item that spawns in a random location every time, but did it fall into the hands of the Hesna military in this world line?

No, wait. no way… …

” Are you saying you will hand over the holy sword Rashtar? ”

“Yes.”

really??

If it was real, it couldn’t have been a deal that had to be accepted.

In this game, force was power, strength.

The higher the force, the stronger it was. If your military power is low, your chances of winning against a general with high military power decreases.

Of course, as it became the real world, it was obvious that the numbers would not work as absolute values like mine –

Nevertheless, as long as the rules work, it is safe to say that it is a very powerful weapon.

‘Is this a prediction of 100 intelligence?’

This weapon was especially useful to Serpina’s army.

The downside of Serpina’s army is that there is no S-class weaponry, but it was a sword that was tailored so that it could vaguely imitate an S-class weapon if given to only A-class weapons.

However, if he had been blinded by the 28,000 gold and had accepted Roland’s offer without much thought, this opportunity would not have come.

‘The saying that you will suffer losses in the future is somewhat absurd if you think that you almost lost the holy sword Rashtar.’

Serpina said, extending her white hand towards me.

The movements were so elegant that they had the magic power to make people stare at them in fascination.

“20,000 gold and holy sword Rashtar. On that condition, a nine-month alliance with the Hesna army. What do you think, Swen?”

I think we can form an alliance this time. About 9 months is not a very long time, and it will be of great help if you get your hands on the holy sword Rashtar.

Before answering without thinking, I typed a question in my head just in case.

‘Is it efficient for our military to form an alliance with the Hesna military?’

I was thinking to myself that the answer would be yes.

[It is an alliance that does not have much benefit in the long run.]

‘… … ????’

uh?

what?

A holy sword and 20,000 gold aren’t worth much profit??

‘why???’

It’s not a conclusion that can be said to result in a loss, but… …

The fact that the benefits weren’t that great meant that there was clearly a better decision for us.

Even though it is an alliance that will end in 9 months anyway, the profits are not great?

Will another offer come in during this time?

Well, if there was no proposal, the conclusion would have been ‘yes’ rather than the vague conclusion ‘the benefit is not large’. Because this prediction was absolute.

So should I just let this go too?

“Swen.”

“Ah… … Yes.”

“Your complexion has changed.”

Did you fail to hide your expression?

I bowed my head slightly and answered in a semi-serious tone.

“No. Just think about it.”

“Hoo. Are you claiming that we should think about it even when we have the holy sword Rashtar and 20,000 gold in front of us?”

“… … .”

I haven’t even expressed my opposing opinion yet… …

Somehow, I felt like they read that my thoughts were ‘not to form an alliance.’

Sometimes Serpina would say things that made me wonder if she was reading my thoughts.

Are you quick to notice, or are you good at reading other people’s facial expressions? …

‘anyway.’

How should I talk here?

Honestly, I thought about just saying I should get the holy sword Rishtar.

Of course, it may not be the optimal answer – but again, it was convenient to avoid the pattern of saying ‘this is the optimal answer’ and then somehow establishing a basis for it to persuade them.

And no matter how much the benefit is greater than that, the holy sword Rishtar would actually be quite helpful. At this rate, there’s no need to feel guilty about lying to her, right?

but.

Two reasons held me back.

“Hehe… … .”

The first was Serpina, who was looking at me with a silent, charming smile.

Even if I tell you, ‘This is the best way,’ will you just go along with it?

She was quite perceptive, so there was a chance she could tell that I was lying.

Like when you were at Hispil Castle and when you talked to me… … Serpina was a woman who could read thoughts like a ghost.

Moreover, a few days ago, someone asked me a meaningful question like, ‘Is it really me in your heart?’

And secondly… What happened just before.

Serpina was on Iren’s side.

I don’t know the details of the situation, but it can be said that Iren, who is receiving undeserved attention from his military officers, is being protected as much as possible by using the authority of the monarch.

Still, he is a person who treats me, Airen, and Reika well… … If I say that I didn’t want to pursue only the highest efficiency too harshly, would it be too regressive?

‘… … no.’

Here, gratitude was not the only reason to help her.

Rather, it was highly likely that the correct answer here would be to help her without any hesitation.

She was planning to return to the Lunarien Army – but there was no time when she would be able to raise her army.

Even if she said she was destined to become a unified monarch, she didn’t say exactly when.

Moreover, although she has not shown any sign of that at all until now, Serpina was a woman whose name was widely known as a tyrant.

In this situation, it seemed like it would be better to help her in order to survive.

And crucially.

“Hoo. Are you claiming that we should think about it even when we have the holy sword Rashtar and 20,000 gold in front of us?”

she is… … He was predicting my answer in his own way.

If her prediction was wrong here, there was a possibility that she would be questioned further.

‘There is no need to create a confrontation with her.’

I was convinced that just saying what I thought was the only way to avoid raising a question mark in her mind.

In any case, it was up to the lord to decide whether to listen to the tactician’s words and put them into practice.

“How about waiting a little longer?”

“Do you think there is a possibility that conditions that are much better than these will come?”

“Yes.”

“… … .”

Serpina was lost in thought for a moment, then nodded.

“I thought you would say that. This time, Swen, I will follow your opinion. Although the Holy Sword is a waste, the future of our military will not change much just because it is not there… … Because there is something you have shown me so far.”

‘I thought you were going to say…’ … is it.’

I succeeded in choosing the correct answer and bowed my head without saying a word.

just… … I just hoped that the answer wouldn’t be ‘yes’ when a condition that seemed much less valuable than this appeared.

*

Time passes again.

Roland’s army sent an envoy again.

This time, the amount was reduced to 15,000 gold.

But – the period was also shortened. A whopping 3 months.

If you maintain a short alliance for just 3 months, you can earn 15,000 gold.

12 months is a short time in the grand scheme of things, but it is also a secretly long time.

And the result.

[It is an alliance with absolutely no benefit.]

‘her.’

I thought this might be the right answer since the amount was at least short and the period was short.

The longer the alliance period, the longer our military will inevitably be tied down.

Of course, it was a bit of a waste to skip receiving the holy sword, so I would have liked it even if it turned out to be beneficial… … Anyway, isn’t this the case either?

“I understand. I will follow your opinion this time too.”

Serpina covered her mouth and laughed as she said that.

It’s quite annoying that she always asks for evidence, but these days she listens strangely to my story… …

Well, the decision is up to Serpina anyway. I just do what I have to do.

And again a few days later-

This time, a messenger came from Ohana County, located below Hesna County.

The people in the southern village were all in an uproar because they all wanted to join hands with the tyrant Serpina.

It’s surprising, but I thought that in times of turmoil, things like loyalty and the law don’t seem to be recognized as very important values.

“Are you talking about 8,900 gold for a 12-month alliance?”

“Yes.”

There is nothing to see in this.

Because it was the worst condition out of all the conditions so far.

‘… … for a moment.’

but.

If I think about the pattern of my predictions so far… … In times like this, wouldn’t you just spit out an answer like “It’s efficient?”

I was wracking my brain with the prediction results that came rolling around like a random drawing, thinking, ‘Why on earth is this the most efficient??’ I used to do the math backwards like this.

‘No way, this time too…’ … ?’

As a strangely ominous energy creeps up my spine…

Serpina asked, looking straight at me.

“Now. Swen. What do you think about this proposal?”

Even though it seems like the worst possible suggestion, why are you calling me and asking about it?

Thank you for asking the question, but… … I couldn’t figure out what she was thinking or doing.

Anyway, let’s try typing it in.

[This is an alliance that will suffer great losses if it comes to fruition.]

‘… … phew.’

I sighed deeply as I saw the conclusion that had formed in my head without me even realizing it.

Oh my, it’s cool. This is a prediction.

How common sense is this conclusion?

What if you cut out 28,000 gold in 12 months, 20,000 gold and Holy Sword Rashtar in 9 months, and 15,000 gold in 3 months and claim that 8,900 gold in 12 months is the most efficient?

Serpina will definitely say, ‘If you think so, give me reasonable grounds to persuade me’… … It was clear that I would find myself in a very difficult and awkward situation where I would have to think over and over until my head started cramping again.

‘Still, I’m glad I didn’t cross the line.’

A few times, I was frustrated because they just gave me the answer and didn’t do anything… …

As long as it came from common sense, there was nothing more to do.

If possible, I hope to come up with a positive prediction so that I don’t have to persuade Serpina.

For example, of course, something that can’t happen at all – something like an offer to form an alliance for 12 months in exchange for 4,294,967,296 gold.

There is no need to explain this. ‘Oh my lord. What do you have to worry about? You can take this. Isn’t 4,294,966,296 gold the name of your dog?’ This would be a reasonable explanation that anyone would applaud.

‘by the way… … ‘What on earth is it that keeps bouncing?’

It seems like all the princes who are expected to come have arrived now.

Since Karelia was famous for being a virtuous leader, it seemed unlikely that he would come to join hands with Serpina, who was reputed to be a tyrant, and the other two countries – Aethus and Brans – also had a bad relationship with our military.

Why do Roland, Ohana, and Hesna ask me why my predictions keep coming back negative?

With that in mind, I was waiting for the next offer.

*

okay.

Obviously, I was thinking like that and waiting for the next offer.

[It is an efficient alliance that provides a great opportunity for our allies.]

‘… … ??’

The prediction of 100 intelligence began to fly into space again on a rocket at will.