episode_0235

* * *

The throne room inside the royal castle of Eingart Castle, the capital of Serpina County.

“You mean you declared war?”

“Okay. As expected, it looks like they are targeting our Serpina army.”

After listening to Serpina sitting on the throne, I nodded and proposed an opinion.

“Issue a proclamation to Kelstein Castle immediately.”

“A proclamation?”

“You can make sure that all people, including the people of the continent, our military generals, and soldiers, can never enter or leave.”

“… … .”

She has no idea what I’m talking about, so she slowly nods her head in agreement.

“Is that okay?”

“Fortunately, the situation near Kelstein Territory is rough. If we just block the roads around it, we will be able to effectively block the inflow from the central continent. And-”

“And?”

“If the illness begins to spread in earnest, please do not forget to order the person to refrain from going outside as much as possible.”

“Okay, I understand.”

It’s probably the plague. Considering that things had worked out as expected, the chances that it wasn’t a plague were now even slimmer.

The question was how strong the plague was. First of all, it will be safe, at least for ‘our military’. If it wasn’t safe, there would be no way to conclude that ‘this is the most efficient method.’

“Oh, and may I ask you one more favor?”

“Tell me anything.”

“Please appoint General Irian as the temporary lord of Kelstein Castle.”

A few months ago.

Irian once prevented a huge situation early based on my advice. Because of that incident, Serpina’s trust in me grew, so I couldn’t forget it either.

Unless my memory is faulty, that great event was a plague. I don’t know what tricks he used, but I decided that there was no way his wisdom could help us.

“Let’s do that. In any case, it was necessary to reorganize in the process of removing all troops around the border.”

“Then, please ask.”

Like it or not, the die has been cast.

Now all that remains is, what happens and is this the most efficient way to do it? … It’s just a matter of intuition.

ruler.

How do you plan to get out, Yuuri?

* * *

The base camp of the Aceers Army.

Epinel, who was in charge of the vanguard, turned around and returned to the camp to have an audience with Yuuri.

“Is that true?”

“Okay. Far from the presence of troops, there was only a white flag fluttering on the spire.”

“Surrender? Serpina?”

Epinel scratched the back of her head in response to what Anima next to her said.

“So?”

“… … .”

I knew very well the importance of Hispil Castle.

The reason why fighting on the border was avoided even after the Serpina army stopped its advance in the first place was because Hispil Castle itself was in a very advantageous position for defense, even though it was not on the level of Kelstein Castle or Arnel Castle.

That’s why he also remembers how he struggled to take that castle.

Of course, the result is… … It wasn’t a very good thing, but in any case, Serpina, not someone else, just gave the territory for free, so it was natural to have doubts.

‘trap… … is it?’

But what kind of trap is this to use an entire important territory as bait?

At least in Anima’s mind, it wasn’t easy to come up with it.

Not only Anima, but no matter how smart someone was, there was no way they would be able to deduce something like ‘a trap with Castle Hispil as bait.’

“What should I do? Go straight in?”

“Could be a trap… … Wouldn’t it be?”

Yuuri asked, turning his head towards Anima.

“I’m definitely reluctant… … If it’s a trap, it’s impossible to predict what it is. No, from Serpina’s point of view, at the point where Hispil Castle is lost… … I wonder if setting a trap is meaningful.”

“You definitely declared war, right?”

“Yes.”

“… … what? Then, have you really given up your territory?”

“Ha… … .”

If he had been a decent feudal lord, it would not have been difficult to infer that he gave up his territory because he was afraid.

Since the other person was Serpina, it was not easy to come to a conclusion.

‘I feel uneasy about something… … Is it right to push in troops like this? … ?’

The exact moment when Anima was having trouble making a decision.

“Why don’t you just push in?”

Yuuri tilts his head at Epinel’s words.

“Let’s push in?”

“Okay. Since we have raised a white flag, there will be no fighting. Then you should submit it. What are you going to do if it’s not us, but Chell or Kalintz?”

“But no matter how much I think about it, this situation itself seems very strange… … .”

Epinel spoke in a serious tone while looking at the hesitant Anima.

“Anima. I know why you hesitate. But, as a strategist, don’t you know best that unless you give me the exact reason for your reluctance, it will be difficult for me to follow?”

“… … Umm… … .”

“If this is Serpina’s trap, you need to explain exactly what Serpina gains by digging this trap.”

Epinel’s words were correct.

The enemy is holding a white flag in front of you. Just because we don’t invade doesn’t mean it will last forever.

Moreover, it is Hispil Castle, not any other place. The very place he risked his life to obtain, but failed and had to experience humiliation!

We cannot rule out the possibility that the Kalinz army or Zell army, which heard this news, or perhaps the Hesna army that was within range, could occupy Hispil Castle as is.

“Anyway, the decision is up to Yuuri. Do you have the same thoughts as Anima? If so, I won’t enter.”

“… … .”

In the end, it was Yuuri, the one who was above everyone else, who was the decision maker and responsible for all decisions.

She thought for a moment, then slowly nodded and spoke.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yuuri… … .”

“Anima, just as you said, Serpina may have prepared something. But if she’s prepared something, I don’t want to run away from it, I want to confront her.”

Yuuri looked at Epinel and Anima’s faces one at a time with a very serious expression.

“If you can’t trample on Serpina, you can’t win the world in the end. If this is her trap, I will fight her head on.”

Why?

Watching Yuuri speak confidently, Anima thought that all her worries were meaningless.

okay. If the five of us are together, what do we have to fear?

If her trick was visible in an area that could be inferred logically, it would be foolish not to avoid it – but it was also true that no conclusion could be drawn in the current situation.

“Good. Then I’ll just go in. No complaints?”

“Yes. Please tell this to Hernandorf too.”

“Okay. Well then, see you later.”

Epinel said that, got on the horse she was riding, and quickly disappeared from sight.

Heathfield Castle.

The territory that I was unable to obtain even though I once pushed Anima to the brink of death… … It was the moment when it was finally in the hands of Aceers.

* * *

When Epinel led his troops through the wide open castle gate and entered the castle, there was no sign of anything unusual.

Of course, the fact that there was no sign of this only presupposed that this situation itself was part of a trap, and did not mean that there was no abnormal phenomenon at all.

“Territory residents… … Were they forcibly mobilized to pioneer the northern continent?”

“Yes… … .”

Within Hispil Castle, there was not a single military officer belonging to Serpina’s army.

There wasn’t even a single soldier left, let alone an armed man.

It is said that the reason the white flag was erected in the first place was in a hurry after the residents who remained here heard that the Aishus army was pushing in.

“So this is an empty castle?”

A man who appeared to be Youngjimin responded to Epinel’s words by bowing his head.

“Actually, that’s true. I’m not sure about the details, but… … .”

‘… … what?’

Have you tried to abandon this land?

It was strange that all the armed forces and soldiers were removed, but when it came to forcibly relocating the people of the territory, I couldn’t even figure out what they were thinking.

‘it’s okay. It’s not the first time that I didn’t understand Serpina’s behavior.’

Epinel burst into laughter, thinking that it was foolish to attach meaning to each of the abnormal tyrant’s actions.

Anyway, after taking over the castle, she also informed Yuuri and Anima, who entered the castle from base camp.

“What do you think, Anima?”

“No matter what you think… … .”

The only reason Anima can’t organize her thoughts.

Serpina had nothing to gain from all of these actions.

Forcing the fiefdoms to move to the unexplored areas of the north itself was an action without any benefit.

Ultimately, I couldn’t understand how Serpina, no matter how arbitrary a tyrant she was, could make such a foolish decision.

I still hate Serpina, but I didn’t think she was a street bastard.

“That’s it.”

Yuuri’s hand came up to Anima’s shoulder as she was lost in thought.

“I don’t know what the plan was, but I took Hispil Castle anyway. We will continue to fight against Serpina Army like this. And, I will win. Because if you win, everything will be solved.”

Anima hesitated for a moment after hearing Yuuri’s words, then nodded.

“… … okay. I will always follow your decisions, Yuuri.”

“Thank you.”

In this way, I once again calm the unexplained anxiety that continues to creep up in a corner of my mind.

With the thought that all of this is just unfounded.