episode_0244

* * *

The situation going badly didn’t just apply to Aceers County.

“Jess is dead… … ?”

“That’s right. After contracting the plague as before, without any significant improvement, in the end… … .”

As for Chell, who was blinded by revenge and somehow managed to keep fighting by catching the tail of Atious-kun who was continuously trying to attack her, everything came to a halt every time.

“I see… … .”

“What do you think is the best thing to do?”

“How do I do it? Burn the corpse with minimal contact. It’s not the time to discuss courtesy or anything like that.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Jess was one of Chell’s lieutenants who had been acting as Chell’s shadow ever since he was in Brans County.

It was not that he did not spare him, but he judged that it was right to betray humanity if he was to be stabbed in the back by not quickly disposing of the body of a person infected with the plague.

These are difficult times. Hasn’t it been a long time since things like humanity became lighter than a bird’s feather?

After sending the soldier away, Chell was lost in thought.

‘If you look at the Acious guys being quiet, the situation is bad for them as well… … At this point, it might not be a bad idea to conclude an armistice agreement.’

Take Jog Castle, located right near the capital, and Rambow Castle, which is connected to it, from the Aethus army.

If we hand over Alkanwood Castle and Mirage Castle, a bait that our military can give them and that they will definitely covet, in return, anyone will say that it is a profitable transaction.

Jog Castle and Rambou Castle, currently under the control of the Aishus army, were like border crossings from their perspective. The reason they were able to withstand the Aishus army despite their relatively weak national power was because they succeeded in creating a border area.

Moreover, neither Jog Castle nor Rambou Castle were very attractive estates. From our nation’s perspective, it felt like a knife thrust right in front of the capital, and in the current situation where they could not even continue a proper fight due to the plague, I was confident that the border crossing would only feel like an inconvenience to them as well.

‘It’s unfortunate that in the end, we won’t gain anything from our perspective… … If you want to receive two castles, you have to somehow pass over two before you can even think about that.’

Overall, Chell was clearly at a loss.

Mirage Castle was definitely a castle with strategic value as it was one of the castles connected to Kelstein Castle on the northern continent, and Alkanwood Castle would also be a castle that was needed more than anything else for the Aethus Army, which now had a border area.

It can be said to be a very expensive price compared to Jog Castle, which is just in front of our military’s temporary capital, but-

‘If it were my fault that I didn’t know to turn a blind eye to someone for killing one of my colleagues, it would be my fault.’

Even now, I don’t regret killing Hernandorf. Because he thought that capturing and releasing someone like that was one of the most foolish things he could do.

Even now that I think about it, it wasn’t my job to use my brain to make a profit.

‘it’s okay. Anyway, I just have to find it again after the plague subsides.’

After organizing her hair, Chell immediately spoke to the soldier.

“Hello.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Anyone in the castle is okay, so please make arrangements to come here immediately.”

“Yes!”

Let’s try suturing first.

You can think about the rest later.

Chell, so lightly… … I just thought about ‘what happened later’.

The only thing he didn’t keep in mind-

* * *

The royal castle of Langwood Castle.

“Let’s sign an armistice agreement?”

Hearing Yuuri’s voice, the commander of the Chell army, who came here as an envoy, bowed and spoke.

“Yes. On the condition of exchanging Jog Castle, Langwood Castle, and Mirage Castle and Alkanwood Castle… … It is my lord’s will to conclude an armistice agreement.”

“… … .”

Yuuri slowly looked at the Shinigami without any change in his expression.

Anima, who asked what to do, was sick and on the brink of death. Here, it was time to make your own choice.

… … No, no. Even with the Anima, it was clear that Yuuri himself would not make any other decision than the ‘decision’ that came to mind as soon as he heard that the Shinigami had come. No one else thought that, but she herself.

“… … Hot.”

The Shinigami broke into a cold sweat as he saw Yuuri laughing.

… … What is it?

A maddening sense of discomfort, something I had never felt before as a Shinigami, enveloped the royal castle of Langwood Castle.

“Is that the end of what you have to say?”

“That’s right. I just hope that you make a wise decision for the future of both counties.”

So, silence continues again-

Finally, Yuuri carefully removed his lips.

“… … You know.”

“Please tell me.”

“Was killing Hernandov a wise decision on your part?”

“… … .”

The prisoner died, the prisoner was a very important person in the Aishus army, and of course the Shinigami knew that a war had broken out.

However, knowing something does not mean that you can decide or do something.

To the Shinigami, the choices made by all these superiors were like a whirlpool. Isn’t there something that you can’t help but be drawn into, even if you don’t want to?

I wouldn’t dare make value judgments carelessly, but… … Nevertheless, wasn’t it ordered by Chell? Make the armistice agreement a success and come back.

Therefore, the Shinigami bowed repeatedly and spoke.

“These are difficult times, Yuuri. Many people died in this war. In addition, a plague has spread, and the complaints of the territory’s residents are growing louder by the day. Don’t we all want this continent to be peaceful? We ask you once again to put aside your anger and make a decision for the future together with us.”

“… … Is that all the answer to your question?”

“… … .”

The Reaper remains silent.

“Peace. You want peace… … Those are great words.”

Yuuri muttered the word peace for a while longer… … After standing up.

I approached the Shinigami with footsteps, step by step.

‘… … !!’

At that time, the Shinigami was able to instinctively understand.

Maybe now is the last time he can speak out.

“Yu, Yuuri. Calm down for a moment―”

――After that, the Shinigami’s last sentence was never completed.

Instead, with a thud, his head hits the floor.

“… … There is no place for you in my peace. Stupid guy.”

Yuuri spit out an answer he couldn’t bear to hear, wiped the sword stained with Shinigami blood, and called for a soldier.

“It’s there, right?”

“Ah, I… … Yes, yep… … !”

“Send this man’s head to Chell. And, never again… … Including a letter requesting that the word “armistice agreement” not be mentioned.”

“Ah… … .”

The soldier trembled at what happened so quickly.

“What are you doing? I don’t do what I’m told.”

“Ah, ah, I understand… … !”

Armistice agreement?

I never thought about anything like that for a single moment.

Many people died in the ensuing war, but our Aishus army still overwhelmed Chell’s army.

If only this damn plague would pass. If Anima recovers safely and there is some lull as the days get a little warmer… … The plan was to retake Alkanwood Castle, secure a supply route, and then charge straight into the capital.

‘Hernandorf… … I will definitely, definitely let you close your eyes in peace. Hang in there… … .’

So, I refined and refined the blade of revenge once again――

* * *

――To the point where her wishes were meaningless.

Tragedy kept coming to her without stopping.

“That… … What are you talking about, Epinel?”

“It’s exactly as I said. Emma… … .”

Epinel swallowed her tears and spoke in a trembling voice.

“Emma… … I started showing symptoms of high fever. 3 hours ago, I coughed up blood.”

“Why is Emma suddenly acting like this? You were healthy, right? You weren’t even in contact with the patients, let alone the Anima… … !”

“I don’t know, me too. just… … It seems clear that he showed symptoms, the doctors said… … .”

Following Anima, who is on the brink of death-

Emma, who worked harder than anyone else to avenge Hernandorf, contracted the plague.

Unfortunately, the infection rate is not that high.

After all, it is a disease with a high fatality rate.

Two people.

‘iced coffee… … !!!’

Slurp.

“Yu, Yuuri… … !”

Yuuri sat down with dead eyes, losing strength in his legs.

Our oath. A resolution. memory.

The world of the five of us… … It was collapsing beyond control.

* * *

“What a damn bitch!”

After checking the supply and demand of the Shinigami, Chell struck the armrest of the throne with his fist in anger.

‘Even after suffering the humiliation of having a messenger killed… … I can’t do anything because of the plague… … !’

He tried to solve it as wisely as possible, but even from his perspective, the golden time had long since passed.

Because my pride couldn’t allow me to just suffer like this.

Who was at fault first and who provided the cause are now secondary issues. Just like Yuuri, Chell was also so angry that he couldn’t live in the same world as someone like Yuuri.

‘If only the plague subsides, I will personally step up as commander-in-chief and slit that damn bitch’s head.’

at that time.

“Lord, lord… … !”

A soldier ran to where Chell was with an urgent expression on his face.

Chell immediately frowned and shouted.

“What is it? Have you forgotten the order not to touch me at all?!”

“That… … !!!”

As soon as she saw the soldier, Chell’s eyes filled with anger turned into four hundred eyes and began to tremble.

I wasn’t surprised to see the soldier. To be exact… … I was surprised to see the red armband he was wearing on his right arm.

messenger.

The fact that a messenger, not someone else, rushed to us in such a hurry means only one thing.

“Kalinz-gun… … They say they are advancing to Heisel Castle with about 60,000 troops… … !!”

‘Kalintz, you stupid bastard… … !!!’

Chell lowers her head in disbelief.

‘There is a plague going around… … You said you went into battle? Was he crazy because he wanted to die? … !’

In a situation where it was not enough to take any measures to prevent the spread of the plague, wouldn’t it be an act of suicide to charge in with a large number of troops?

‘Kalinz… … You must… … This me… … … !!!!!’

But- there was nothing he could do.

Just like Yuuri did, the only thing left to do was to swallow this humiliation and somehow resolve the situation.

Chell was hit in the back by an unexpected situation.

And Yuuri, who just made the decision to ‘attack Serpina’s army’, has already lost two precious colleagues.

They could never know.

All of this is just a question that the monarch asked the strategist, the only question that fits unconditionally――

[Is it the most efficient way to retreat the border troops to Kelstein Castle?]

[Yes.]

――It started from here.

And, from the point when I made an undeniable, unconditionally correct prediction with an intelligence of 100… … That countries other than ‘Serpina County’, the country to which the Tactician belongs, were unable to achieve something.