episode_0239

* * *

How many days have passed since major measures were taken to Kelstein Castle?

There was no news of an epidemic or anything like that yet, but since Irian and Xena took my side, there was no problem in resolving internal discontent in giving up the territory so suddenly.

To be exact, rather than taking my side, I followed Serpina’s instructions without complaining at all… … Well, in conclusion, that was it.

And on this day, as usual, I walked to Eingart Castle.

“You’re here, Swen.”

When I look around, I can’t see Jenna, who was always sitting next to me.

“Where did you go?”

“There is work to be done regarding the unexplored areas of the northern continent, so I will be looking into that area right now.”

“Ah… … .”

The only problem was the territory residents who had been relocated.

It sounds good to pioneer unexplored land, but in reality, it was like moving the people of the territory to farm in barren land where it was difficult to grow anything.

Serpina said that she was providing various benefits in her own way, and in fact, she said that the benefits were very unconventional considering the times, but it was also true that from my perspective as a modern person, it did not feel like a very good benefit.

If the epidemic does not spread like this and a different result emerges, the only result will be a loss of public sentiment among the people of the territory –

‘Well, I guess it’ll be okay.’

Because there was still enough time left to watch more.

To say that a clear result has been obtained, nothing has happened so far.

at that time.

In my ears, I heard the voice of my current lord.

“Swen. I have something to say.”

“What is it?”

Serpina spoke in a very dry tone, no different from usual-

“They say Hernandov Arisian is dead.”

“… … !”

I was told some pretty shocking facts.

Hernandov Arisian. It’s a name I know. No, I knew his face too.

The days I spent in Aceh County are now just a distant memory.

One of the five heroes who silently served as the mainstay of the Aishous army.

He was such an impressive person that I still vividly remember his sturdy muscles, expression that didn’t change much, and empty eyes.

But, he died?

“How is this written in English?”

“This is Chell.”

“Yes?”

“Swen. As we expected, Hisfil Castle and Zelin Castle seem to have been taken over by the Aishous army… … It looks like Chell has taken over Mirage Castle and Alkanwood Castle.”

Did Chell move while we were emptying our forces?

Well, the Aecious County was not the only one in the central continent, nor was the Aecious County the only one facing our border.

What was originally a territory near the border of Brans County seems to have now become a territory of Chell County.

“For some reason, the two forces fought against each other, and in the process… … Looks like he got hit.”

“So, did Chell kill Hernandov?”

“That will happen.”

“Have you been taken prisoner? Or on the battlefield… … ?”

“I heard that Chell personally ordered the execution, so he must have been taken prisoner.”

“Is that really true…? … ?”

I recalled the image of Chell I saw during my time in Brans County.

He was certainly a man with a bit of a hot temper and only knew combat, but if he had captured someone like Hernandorf, there would have been a better option than killing him suddenly… … .

Rather than thinking about it in detail and taking advantage, did he just act the way he lived on the battlefield?

As if Serpina understood what I was thinking, she brought out exactly what I wanted to hear.

“They say that after cutting off his head, he hung it on the castle wall.”

“If you really did it on the castle wall… … .”

“This is obvious—”

“―Provocation, this is it.”

As soon as the flowing conversation, as if exchanging words, was over, Serpina looked at me with a smile as if she was having fun.

“Every time this happens, I feel like you are my limbs. You are the only person in our military who can see through what I thought.”

Actually, I was thinking about saying the same thing, but it seemed like a pointless thing to say, so I kept my mouth shut.

After that, I felt embarrassed and couldn’t answer, but Serpina didn’t care and asked me the questions she wanted to ask.

“So, what do you think will happen?”

“I think it would be okay to wait and see the situation for the time being. Chell and Acious will now enter a full-fledged war.”

“But at a time when the sortie route to our army is blocked, wouldn’t the most reasonable choice be to target the Hesna army below? Unless you really want to create a good situation for her. If Yuuri hated her, he would have hated her. I can’t believe he would have treated her so specially.”

“Everything was already decided when the dead person was Hernandorf.”

“… … .”

Probably, no one in Aceu-kun will be able to stop Yuuri’s decision.

Rather than trying to stop the decision, the most influential people in Aishus County will all cry out for a desperate fight against Chell.

This is a question that came to mind when I realized that the five founding contributors had a power beyond imagination, surpassing even Jinor, the national strategist, when I was working in the Aishus County.

‘If a problem arises with the identity of one out of five people, what choice will they make at that point?’

All five of them had outstanding abilities. This meant that an unusual situation occurred at the point when the life of one of them was in danger or disappeared.

I thought that if I just let my emotions get the best of me, I could end up in more trouble than I thought, so I thought I would give some advice about that, but-

I remember that Yuuri never looked for me personally, and I was also busy spending time with Reika at Jinor’s house at the time, so I couldn’t say anything in the end.

Jinor probably no longer exists there… … There must be only one path for Yuuri to choose.

“Perhaps, Acious-kun is truly in an unexpected place… … We might lose that momentum.”

Serpina smiled as if she was interested.

“Well. For a moment, Swen, you seem to have forgotten how you came to be here.”

“… … .”

that’s right. Even at that moment, Yuuri remained the same.

She sold me to save Anima, who was more important to her than anything else.

An act so absurd that no monarch could dare think of it.

Even if it is true for the person who was brought in, what on earth is the crime for the person who was sold? Considering that the general who was sold was also a general for himself, it was definitely an irrational decision.

The reason I don’t feel sorry for Yuuri is not that I have forgiven him for what happened… … It was just because I never particularly regarded her as my lord.

It’s like a personal debt, and I paid it off together with Irene.

Anyway – what would happen if she heard that she had died, even though she acted outside of common sense even on the issue of repatriating a prisoner of war?

at that time.

“I have a question for you, Swen.”

“Please tell me.”

“You may have heard that Irian is currently controlling the entrance to Kelstein Castle as the castle lord.”

“Ah… … .”

Should I say that Irian is the one who saved me from getting sick once?

As soon as they heard the command, ‘The entrance road must be blocked,’ they seemed to have felt something and were making preparations by ticking things off in their own way.

“Is your conclusion still giving the same answer?”

“… … .”

Lastly, the question I interpreted-

‘Is it most efficient to concentrate troops at Kelstein Castle?’ I try entering the question one more time.

[Yes.]

The answer is, it hasn’t changed.

I nodded slowly.

“Yes.”

“… … I understand.”

Serpina nodded and did not ask me any more questions.

I also kept my mouth shut and slowly recalled the situation.

‘There’s still plenty of time left.’

Rather than saying something has been concluded right now, it’s closer to a situation where something is just about to begin.

What we had to do now was to watch the movements of Chell and Aceers while holding the ‘perfectly suitable’ flower playing card.

Indeed, what will happen?

At this point, I might have become accustomed to interpreting situations based on predictions that are unconditionally correct, but… … After all, there is no such thing as a shaman who does not feel nervous when riding a horse.

Still, things will come to a conclusion over time. It won’t be too late to decide what to do next.

‘First of all, should I tell this to Iren and Reika… … .’

Since these two were also in Aishus County, it would be a good idea to tell them the news.

With that in mind, I spent the remaining time assisting Serpina with her work.

* * *

The royal castle of Zelin Castle.

The blue-haired female knight was running with an urgent expression.

Seeing her facial expression looking dangerous, several soldiers approach her.

“Eh, General Emma. Calm down for a moment… … .”

“Get out of my way!”

The female knight, Emma, was roughly pushing the soldier away and running towards the throne room where the monarch, Yuuri, was.

‘No way… … That can’t be possible.’

The news I heard as soon as I arrived here was unbelievable news.

I feel dizzy.

I feel my breathing becoming increasingly difficult.

What you need to do now is… … It was confirmed by Yuuri.

Is this really true?

‘please please… … !’

Just like that, with a faint hope that seemed like it would be shattered at any moment… … Emma ran to the throne room.