episode_0160

Irian looked a little bitter, but then spoke in a stern tone.

“Say it clearly. No matter what position I hold, my loyalty to my lord never changes. Also, I think Irene is someone who deserves to be in that position. My comrades who went through the battlefield with me didn’t seem to be that happy about me not being there… … .”

I looked closely at Irian’s eyes as he spoke.

The feeling of telling a lie… … I didn’t hear it.

“I’m also a military officer. Even at a glance, I can tell who is better than me. It wasn’t that difficult to hear about the legendary activities of Irene, a red-haired female knight who was a siege specialist and one of the two generals who made Branth’s army the loser of the central continent.”

‘I expected it, but Irene seems to be a much more amazing person than I thought.’

Of course, her stats should have been very good, but in the first scenario of this game, Lin Brans had already taken over the entire central part of the continent, and she had already been demoted.

Thinking about it now, Rin, who gritted his teeth and ignored Iren, who played such an active role, did not use her, and eventually abandoned her, was not an ordinary person.

Well, even when I was in Aishus County, I was able to successfully tie up Chelbrans’ ankles to some extent.

Anyway, now she was by my side assisting me. That alone made me feel reassured.

“So, at least I have no complaints about that decision. What matters is not my position, but what I can do for my master. but… … .”

Irian took a deep breath and said.

“Zenice was very dissatisfied with that. I used to get angry, asking who else could be elevated to that position if not me, who had sworn loyalty to the imperial family for generations and had made the most military achievements on the battlefield for the conquest of the Central Continent.”

There were days when Zenith was away and didn’t come back to the dorm, and on those days, she was talking about that with Irian in the mansion.

“I’ve said this many times, but Swen. I support your decision. Irene is a very outstanding general. If I share the spear and sword with him on the same battlefield, I will definitely be able to grow just as much. Things like intra-power strife, success, etc. are just things that don’t matter to me.”

“Brother… … .”

“But, as I said, it has nothing to do with this matter. I don’t think I can be of much help. Well, that guy is also an adult. Don’t you need time to sort out your emotions on your own?”

Irian said that and stood up.

I thought about just being honest with him, but I felt like that would only escalate the situation and not be of much help.

Anyway, there was a harvest.

The fact is that Zenith is dissatisfied with Irene taking that position.

And if that scenario was that Zenith was found to have participated in some kind of rebellion and was exterminated, then it would make sense that I don’t know any of the Al Kasky family members-

‘But it would be too much to think of treason just because of that.’

Irian, who is the person involved right now, is also maintaining his calm, but no matter how much he cares for Irian, he acts alone and puts everyone in danger?

No matter how much you think about it, it’s such a stupid move.

This is even more so considering that without the premise that ‘I, who played this game for 10,000 hours, do not know of their existence’, I would never have been able to infer that they would have participated in the rebellion.

Of course, Yuuri and Rin have proven that humans sometimes act very foolishly before their emotions… … Zenith, whom I watched for a short period of time, was not a person with such a sharp mind.

‘There’s definitely something there.’

“Excuse me first if you have nothing more to say. Ah, Swen.”

“Please tell me.”

“Next time, I hope you come to say hello formally instead of like this. As long as you don’t proceed suddenly, I can listen to as much as you want.”

“Brother, stop it… … .”

Irian left the room, leaving behind a blushing Iolin.

In the quiet living room, there are only two of us left.

“Do you mind if I ask you one thing?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m curious as to why you came to visit me.”

“Yes?”

“Actually, if you had figured out the situation before consulting, I think it would be more natural to go to Irian first and organize a search party on your own rather than coming to me.”

It’s not that I particularly doubt her true intentions, but I still felt comfortable pointing out the parts that needed to be pointed out.

After hearing what I said, she nodded and said that she understood.

“Actually, I have heard roughly what kind of person Swen is.”

“Did you hear that?”

“Second brother… … So, I heard it from Zenith. It seems like his roommate is the famous white-haired wizard.”

“Really?”

“That’s right. And, after spending time with him, I could see that he was a very nice person… … I’m sorry, but I thought I could rely on you.”

A white-haired wizard.

No matter how many times I hear that name, I never get used to it.

But when they were together, Zenith didn’t really emphasize that fact… …

It seemed like it was out of consideration for Zenith and me.

If you keep bringing up things like wizards and all, both sides will definitely be in trouble.

‘Of course, no matter how much you think about it, he’s not just a villain.’

I sat down and racked my brain, but nothing came out.

I knew well from my experience so far that in cases like this, sleeping overnight is often the right answer.

“First of all, it’s late today… … Let’s meet tomorrow morning when the sun rises.”

“Okay. Where should I go tomorrow?”

“I think you can come to the small square near the accommodation.”

“Yes. I will do that, but… … .”

I guess I’m worried about spending my time like this.

Nothing much would have happened yet, and if anything had happened, looking at it calmly, it would already be too late.

But since there is no conclusion, the right answer would be to reassure her.

“Don’t worry. As long as you are within the territory, you will be able to find it quickly.”

“… … Okay.”

After saying goodbye to Ioline, the sky had already darkened when I left the Al Kaski mansion.

As I returned to my lodgings in the carriage prepared by Iolin’s, I was lost in thought.

‘Am I doing well?’

If you think about it, a lot has happened so far.

Anyway, until the day I meet Luna again… … I will definitely protect Serpina.

For now, let’s think and act only on that.

With that thought in mind, I headed to the dormitory alone with no one around.

*

next day.

Together with Ioline, who arrived early in the morning, we toured all the places Zenith might have gone, as if on a pilgrimage.

Since my body was too weak to move around for a long time, selection and concentration were of the utmost importance.

After talking with Ioline to narrow down the areas to search –

Surprisingly, it seemed that I was the one who had the most human conversations with Janice.

I conducted a search focusing on places I assumed he frequented, which I inferred from chatting with him.

I kept walking around like that all morning, but-

“Are you saying you’ve never seen it?”

“That’s right. It’s true that you visit often, but you haven’t visited in the last few days.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

There was no trace of Zenith anywhere.

Should I say that it feels as if the only person named Zenith has evaporated?

‘Do you think it would be better to just be honest with Serpina and ask for help?’

However, wouldn’t it be ridiculous to say to her, ‘We are looking for someone who may have been plotting treason’?

I had to think that he would listen if I earnestly asked for it, but there was a difference between ‘I think he would listen’ and ‘I will listen unconditionally’ as much as 99 intelligence and 100 intelligence.

Still, I didn’t want to see the people I had a relationship with get brutally killed.

If Zenith was really thinking about treason, even if he died, I couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable about Ioline and Irian being killed.

I don’t know if Irian will remember, but in any case, he owed him a small debt when he first came to Serpina County.

Irene, the rolled stone, didn’t seem like a very villainous person just because she neatly admitted that she had taken up a position that she could have ascended to.

Of course, I intended to be on Serpina’s side at the crucial moment… …

In any case, if it was possible to avoid the dog’s death that seemed to be scheduled right before our eyes, it would ultimately be beneficial not only to me but also to Serpina herself.

Then second.

Be honest with Irene and ask for her help.

This plan was much less burdensome than speaking directly to Serpina.

She and I had crossed three countries together, and we developed a bond along the way.

‘As expected, it would be a good idea to go see Irene.’

To me who was thinking like that –

“Swen.”

Ioline came here, carrying something.

“What is all that?”

“It’s a side dish. Because you worked hard all day today… … .”

“Thank you.”

I accepted it.

Inside was food that looked quite appetizing.

“Did you make it yourself?”

“That’s not true. I’m sorry for something.”

Well, she was still a girl from a prosperous family even in difficult times.

Unless you have a hobby like Reika, there is no need to cook with your own hands.

While eating, I shared a brief Zen question with her.

“Are there any more places worth visiting?”

“It’s supposed to be there, but it’s difficult to get it all done today and I can’t be sure… … I think it would be better to go to someone who can help.”

“Someone who can help you?”

“Yes. I know someone who can help me quietly without causing a fuss.”

“That person… … ?”

I said, casually chewing the white bread.

“This is the person who came up in the conversation with Irian yesterday.”

* * *

Every day in the barracks was always the same, without much change.

Holding a sword, a spear, each weapon, and continuing to train.

To be honest, maintaining military discipline and continuing training may be difficult for the soldiers located in the capital city.

Of course, after Irene took over training-

“The movements are slow! Remember what I told you!”

“Yes! Okay!”

Discipline had to be maintained more than ever.

The soldiers, who made up the majority of the occupying forces, had long since opened their hearts to Irene, who had an excellent reputation as a human being and who treated the soldiers with more sincerity than any other general.

As a result, morale was skyrocketing just by Iren leading the training.

At that time, training was going on as usual.

“Irene.”

“What happens during training?”

“A guest has arrived.”

Iren said, looking at the general who gave her the news.

He was one of the military officers who managed the barracks together, and he followed Iren’s orders quite faithfully.

“I think you said that the policy is to tell anyone other than the lord to wait until training is over?”

“Well, Irene said that if I told her her name, she would definitely come out… … .”

“Who is it?”

Who on earth is calling out to one who is in training?

Unless the lord is looking for you, it is the duty of a knight to not go out when carrying out orders… …

“My name is Swen.”

“!!!”

Swen?

What brought you to me?

… … Just hearing his name made Irene put aside the duties of a knight and all that.

“It seems like it’s a bit of an urgent business. Could I be training the soldiers for a while?”

I wanted to finish it with my own hands if possible, but… …

If Swen, and not just anyone else, was looking for her, wouldn’t she have to go out?

Before serving Serpina, he was a knight of Swen.

“Then, please. I’m sorry.”

“No. Thank you for always working hard. Please come back.”

Irene left immediately and headed to where Swen was waiting.

‘for a moment. I sweated a lot… … Don’t you want it to smell like something?’

I wanted to take a bath, but seeing as he rarely came to visit me like this, it seemed like the situation was quite urgent… …

I always walked around briskly with the girlish thought of wanting to show only good things to Swen.

“Irene.”

“Swen!”

A handsome man with white hair that suits him well, someone I must protect – Swen appeared before Irene’s eyes.

okay.

It was good up to that point.

however… …

‘… … huh?’

Irene stops right on the spot.

next to him… … There was a woman I had never seen before.