episode_0150

* * *

“Speed is slow! Faster!”

“Four!”

“You must not only trust your allies’ backs. It is better to assume that there is no one to protect you on the battlefield. If you want to rely on someone, you must first become that other person’s will. Do you understand?”

“Okay!”

Eingart Castle’s barracks.

Irene, who had become the second-in-command of the occupation force, was training the soldiers under his command.

The level of training that Irene required was quite high, but all of the soldiers were following her curriculum without leaving.

As it is an occupation force, all the soldiers gathered here are elite soldiers who stand out within Serpina’s army, and have accumulated combat experience through the process of suppressing rebellions in the northern continent and advancing into the central continent, so they can easily handle her difficult training. It was possible.

and.

There was someone watching this entire process from afar.

It was Lady Serpina, who had blonde hair and a unique hairpin, and Xena, her confidant and national counselor.

“What do you think?”

“Amazing. As a result of conducting a mock battle to compare with an untrained occupying force, the soldiers’ combat power appears to have doubled.”

“Really? Since he was a general who had contributed to the front lines, I thought he would not be used to training in the rear… … It didn’t seem like that was necessarily the case.”

Although they didn’t know it, the most Irene did before coming to Serpina Army was training soldiers.

It was unexpected that the female general, who conquered the central continent together with Chell Brans in the early days of the Brans army and made great contributions by endlessly expanding his territory, would have spent the longest time in the barracks where relatively unimportant generals were stationed.

It was her wish that placed her in the barracks in the first place.

Since the occupation force is not active yet, there is nothing special to do, so I said it would be good if I could help with training.

‘She is a woman whose reputation goes beyond her known reputation.’

“Okay. i get it. You will have a lot of work to do, so it is okay to go back first.”

“I… … My lord.”

“What’s going on?”

Jenna, who was looking at herself and was about to say something, soon lowered her head.

“… … no. Then let’s go back first.”

Serpina doesn’t bother to ask questions to her.

I thought that when the time came when I wanted to talk, I would talk about it then.

After sending Jenna away, I patiently waited for Irene until her training was completed.

And, as time passed and the training was over-

“Master… … ?”

I wiped my sweat and made eye contact with Iren, who was going to change clothes.

“Thank you for your hard work, Irene.”

“No. I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do. however… … What’s going on?”

“I have business for you.”

“Are you talking to me…? … ? By any chance, has a rebellion occurred?”

“It’s not like that, if you ask me… … I guess you can say that it has more to do with you than with me.”

Irene, who had no idea, tilted her head slightly, and Serpina smiled at the sight.

“Unlike what you see, you have a very feminine side.”

“Yes… … ?”

“No. It’s okay not to react to her small talk.”

Iren looked at Serpina with a puzzled expression and had two thoughts.

First, her smile is pretty.

Second, Serpina likes to joke more than you think.

at that time.

Serpina suddenly came to the barracks-

Suddenly I got to the point.

“We plan to form an alliance with Brans Army.”

“… … !!”

Brans County.

This is the place where Irene once worked, and the country where she risked everything.

She overcame all the hardships and injustices, just hoping that Rin would know, but Rin refused to look at her until the end.

In conclusion, if it weren’t for Swen, there was a high possibility that I wouldn’t even be alive right now.

“You seem to be full of emotions, Irene.”

“… … !!”

Feeling like her true feelings were revealed, Irene quickly bowed her head and apologized.

“Sorry. That’s-”

“It’s nothing to be sorry about. Speak comfortably.”

Iren lowered her head and spoke in a somewhat solemn tone.

“… … Currently, I am a member of Serpina Army. If that is what my lord wants, I will just follow it.”

“Well, I didn’t come here just to say that we would form an alliance.”

“Then… … ?”

Serpina grinned and walked closer to Iren.

The refreshing scent of citron tickled Irene’s nose.

“She will come here.”

“… … ?”

“She… … The woman who abandoned you, Lin Brans.”

“!!!”

Lynn Brans-

That woman is coming here?

“That… … Is it okay if I ask why?”

“That was the condition of the alliance I offered. She threw away all pride and came here to join hands with Nu. This body that everyone on the continent deems worthy of hatred, Serpina von Eingart.”

As soon as she heard those words, Irene was able to read Serpina’s thoughts without difficulty.

‘It looks like the lord is planning to use his image as a tyrant to isolate Rin from the continent.’

In the first place, Irene herself did not have a good image of Serpina before meeting her in person, so if she had seen it from the perspective of a third party who did not know the circumstances, she would have definitely reconsidered her thoughts about Rin.

at that time.

“Irene.”

“Yes?”

“You said it. I was abandoned by Lynn Brans.”

“… … Yes.”

“Do you mind if I ask what’s going on?”

Irene thought for a moment, then nodded and briefly explained to her what had happened.

From being demoted while serving in the military, to being repeatedly ostracized, until meeting Swen and becoming naturalized in Aishus County together… …

Serpina just quietly listened to her story.

After the story is over.

It was Serpina who brought up the story first.

“This will be a good opportunity, Irene. How about showing your face to Rin this time?”

“Do you mean me… … ?”

“Yes.”

Serpina said with a satisfied smile.

“She needs to know for sure what she did. Don’t you think so? Hehehe… … .”

“… … .”

Irene thought of her old master.

The woman who put him in danger for all his loyalty.

Although it was a little uncomfortable, it didn’t really matter since it was something that happened in the past and doesn’t matter anymore –

Nevertheless, if Serpina, the current lord, wanted to accompany him, he wanted to accommodate her.

“You just need to be by my side. That alone will give her a lot to think about… … Isn’t it up to her whether she can overcome it or not? And-”

Serpina spoke in a very serious tone.

“This is the person who abandoned the general who came under me in such a cruel way. I just can’t get over it.”

“Master… … .”

I could feel the sincerity in Serpina’s words.

I had no choice but to admit it.

She took the best care of Irene out of all the masters I had ever met.

“Okay. I will do as my lord wishes.”

“Okay. Oh, and I want to ask one more question.”

Serpina placed her hand on Irene’s shoulder and then casually mentioned the name.

“What is Swen to you?”

“… … Yes?”

As soon as she heard the name Swen, Irene’s eyes began to tremble rapidly.

Seeing that, Serpina thought to herself, “She is truly a woman whose thoughts are easy to read,” and asked.

“Literally, what kind of being is Swen to you?”

“Swen… … That, that… … My colleague… … Yes.”

“You mean a colleague?”

“Yes.”

“… … .”

Serpina didn’t reply much, then put her hand on Iren’s shoulder again and-

“Irene, I think you and I could be good colleagues.”

After saying those words, he slowly disappeared from her sight.

Iren stared blankly at Serpina’s back as she turned around –

Soon, I reflected on the story we had just shared.

‘… … To be honest, I didn’t think we’d meet again.’

Irene closed her eyes and thought of her old master.

It seems like they are running away in a hurry… … In conclusion, I couldn’t say goodbye to that face.

‘If you think of it as your last farewell, there’s nothing wrong with it.’

There were no longer any lingering feelings about Rin.

Because there was already someone else in her heart.

So, this will really be the last time.

With that in mind, I walked to my living room to wash my sweaty body.

… … At the end, I was really bothered by Serpina’s comment that she could be a good colleague, but-

I didn’t really pay attention to that.

* * *

For Rin, heading to Eingart Castle was not a very pleasant experience.

There was also the fact that he had rarely traveled such a long distance since becoming monarch.

Above all, the most difficult thing was that every time I passed by a place that was originally the territory of Brans County but no longer belonged to Brans County, a feeling of regret that was difficult to explain in words came from deep in my heart.

The time when I felt this feeling the most was when I passed by Kehlstein Castle, which was considered a gateway to the north.

It was torture for Rin to see that the yellow flag of the Serpina Army, rather than the sky blue flag of the Brans Army, was hanging on the tall spire of Kelstein Castle, which she had no doubt would never collapse.

All of these unfortunate events happened because of one’s own stubbornness.

Even if I hadn’t decided to kill Iren at that time.

‘It’s painful… … .’

At night, when she was whining when she should have gone to sleep, Farfalle came closer and comforted her.

“Master. Be strong-minded. You must not appear weak. Right now, we are recommending an alliance, but if we wait for the right time, the opportunity will surely come.”

“I know… … .”

Just like that, I moved to the northern continent.

Why on earth did this happen?

I ran all the way here to plant our flag here.

That opportunity was right in front of me.

That moment.

If only I had listened to Swen… … We would have been able to advance into the North.

The opportunity that was in front of me was ruined by my own wrong decision.

And the Brans Army, which was once considered the loser of the central region and the only rival of the Serpina Army, ended up losing its territory to the Hesna Army.

Although he was now acknowledging that everything was his fault, looking back at his mistakes once again was an act that was extremely damaging to his mental health.

If Serpina thought of all this and called her here… … .

‘Damn bitch… … !’

Rin bit her lip hard, thinking and thinking with the blood soaked in it.

Although we are now enduring all this humiliation for the national interest of our military-

Someday, when an opportunity comes to Brans County again… …

‘Serpina von Eyngart… … I cut your head with these hands… … !’

The result of moving for another few days.

“Master. Arrived.”

I was finally able to reach Eingart Castle.

As soon as we arrived, a soldier from Serpina’s army approached this place.

“Is this Lin Brans of Brans County?”

This is clearly a situation where a monarch from another country has come to form an alliance.

Of course, it was right for a soldier to show respect, but he didn’t necessarily do that.

difference in power.

The thing that is disappointing anyway is the leisure of those who know that this is the side.

After Rin swallowed the thousands of dollars boiling inside him, he managed to put a smile on his face and answered in a relaxed tone.

“… … okay. that’s right. Where is Serpina?”

“Please wait. Because you have to go through a body search before entering.”

“What? What are you doing now-!”

The moment when the Brans military officer behind him couldn’t bear it anymore and was about to say a word –

Farfalle strongly stretched out her hand to stop him.

“Please be patient. Do you want to turn your master’s efforts into vain?”

“… … Pfft… … .”

Lin nodded and silently agreed to the soldier’s body search.

A few minutes later.

“Is the inspection finished?”

From far away, a woman’s voice was heard.

“Yes!”

‘… … uh?’

Rin, who has finished searching her body, freezes when she hears a very familiar woman’s voice for some reason.

‘This voice… … ‘I know that voice?’

Beyond, among the soldiers, a woman walked.

A female general with red hair and wearing a silver circlet.

The armor has the emblem of the Eingart family engraved on it.

Loyalty for the person serving was engraved in those purple eyes.

‘!!!!!!’

and.

Lin… … Why was that voice so familiar? I recognized it as soon as I saw her face.

“Seo… … No way.”

“This can’t be right… … !”

It’s not just Lin.

The military officers on the Brans army side, including Farfalle, also froze in place when they saw the female general walking towards them.

“Ai… … wren… … !!!”

Irene, a red-haired female knight.

She said she would dedicate her whole life to herself… … He was wearing armor with the Eingart family symbol engraved on it, and was looking at himself.