episode_0245

* * *

The royal castle of Annell Castle, the former capital of Brans County and the current capital of Calinz County.

Several military officers were kneeling and pleading with her second brother, Kalinz, who was sitting on the throne where Lin was originally sitting.

“Carlinz! Stock up now… … It’s too dangerous to sortie like this! The plague has already spread to the outskirts of Annel Castle… … If we are not careful, there is a possibility that all of our troops will be in danger-”

“Noisy! How many times have I told you that now is your chance! As long as we can suppress the Chell army that is targeting Anel Castle, the Lin army with its bamboo squad will fall without much difficulty! Why don’t you know that this is an opportunity to rebuild the Brans Army in the true sense of the word!”

“It’s not too late, my lord! Immediately impose a blockade order like Hessna, Roland, and Lin did. Even if there is nothing we can do about the outskirts of Annel Castle, the center is still safe. For the sake of the future of our Calinz County, I implore you to reconsider… … !”

“… … For the future?”

Carlinz, who heard those words, asked in a sharp tone.

“In other words, I was told that my decision would not be helpful in the future?”

“No, I absolutely didn’t mean that… … .”

“In the end, you all have the same reason for not trusting me. It was like that originally. Whether it’s Lynn or Chell… … I can never catch up with those great people! Even in the situation where Lin collapsed, do you think I don’t know the look in the eyes of those who fell under Chell and said that I, Kalinz, cannot be trusted?!”

“Master… … !”

In the end, if you take a closer look at the fact that he is still under Carlinz, it is not something to be excited about.

Unfortunately for Kalinz, he only continued to prove that the judgment of those who excluded him and chose Chell or Lin was correct.

“My name is Kalinz Brans! The Brans family’s blood flows through me too! I heard that this plague has a low infection rate. If we wait for this situation to calm down, we will end up repeating the past period of blocking the gates and continuing to defend ourselves. The opportunity is now, now!”

Kalintz said that, looked down at the officers, and pointed his finger at them.

“Retreat right now and prepare for war! If you do not comply, I will personally kill you on the spot for disobeying orders!”

In this situation, there was no one who could stop Kalinz’s runaway.

All those with upright character or outstanding ability remained in Chell County.

All those who were foolish and did not know how to calculate gains and losses remained in Brans County, that is, Lin County.

Now, the only people left here in Kalinz County are ambiguous people who do not belong to any of them.

All I knew was that Kalinz’s choice was reckless. Assuming his life is not in danger, he is willing to stop him.

But – it’s a different story if there’s a knife to your own throat. From the perspective of the absolute values they have pursued so far – stability and security – what is the need to do so?

Fortunately, Kalintz himself will step forward as commander-in-chief, and the only ones who will be dragged away will be a few warriors. Most of the generals just managed to survive within the walls of Anel Castle.

Well, honestly, it didn’t matter if the Kalinz army collapsed. Then just serve another lord and that’s it.

Therefore – I no longer give unreasonable advice.

It becomes so quiet that I feel like if I could just do this, it would be enough.

So, Kalinz Brans personally led an army of about 60,000 men and marched towards the Chell army, whose national power had rapidly declined due to plague and war.

and… …

* * *

Some time passed after I confidently said to Serpina, ‘In the end, we will win.’

In the end, just as Serpina and I had expected, the plague began to spread in the central continent.

Just when the situation was calming down to some extent, the Kalinz army invaded, causing more and more chaos as more people were sacrificed, and it seemed like hell had unfolded.

Fortunately among misfortunes, the infectious disease did not seem to have a very high infection rate. Instead, the fatality rate would have been high.

In any case, while the central continent was being devastated, the north was able to enjoy a peaceful time for a while.

This meant that the strict lockdown in Kehlstein Castle was worthwhile.

Simply continuing the chaotic situation between countries could not have been the ‘most efficient way’. There must have been a much more efficient method than that.

But, paradoxically enough… … The answer to why this is the most efficient method was, of course, far beyond my thoughts.

What I guessed was just a plague. How could I have predicted that, due to that plague, as many as three countries began to fall into decline simultaneously?

The girl before my eyes, Serpina, also knew that this would happen…

“Your advice has always felt like this, but this time the results are truly scary, Swen.”

-I would have never imagined it.

The first shocking fact I heard was Hernandov’s death.

As a result, a large-scale war broke out between the Chell army and the Aishus army. As the battle continued, the Aethus army, which had continued to gather strength in the central continent, began to decline at a very rapid rate.

More than 80% of the potential to declare war against our Serpina army was consumed by the meaningless war with the Chell army.

In this situation, it could be that the Aicious army devours the Chell army, or vice versa, the Chell army goes against everyone’s expectations and makes the Acious army submit… … If that were the case, there was a possibility that it might not have been the ‘optimal outcome’ for us.

There is no way for our military to have a strong player emerge in the central continent.

Yes. Indeed, as if it were planned, the plague began to spread at just the right time.

This terrible plague, which killed most of those infected, spread so quickly that even the slightest gains from the meaningless war in the central continent were reduced to dust. It was a disaster because the infection rate wasn’t that high, and if the infection rate had been high, there was a possibility that even our military would have been in danger – that was the moment I thought about it.

‘… … No, I guess this idea is meaningless.’

If our military had become dangerous, the outcome would have been different. Either retreat the border further, or employ another unusual method.

This was the power of 100 intellect. They just said, ‘Do it like this,’ but things often happen that you can’t even predict from the criminal’s perspective as to what the result will be.

“Didn’t I tell you? If we make it to the end, we will win. The lord’s decision… … It was right.”

“… … .”

This was a bit of a personal thought, though.

When Serpina made the decision to relocate Yeongjimin, fearing that she would be stigmatized.

It would be a lie if I said I didn’t have the slightest hope that her actions wouldn’t be in vain.

If it’s a plague that’s bound to spread anyway, wouldn’t it be a good thing if at least the fact that she took action to save people gives meaning?

“Are you satisfied, my lord?”

When I asked if she was satisfied, Serpina smiled bitterly.

“I’m satisfied… … .”

Serpina couldn’t answer for a while… …

Soon, he slowly smoothed his golden hair with his fingers.

“It’s just a pity.”

“To say it’s unfortunate… … ?”

I wondered if they were not satisfied with the situation where ‘the three powers of the central continent fell into the abyss side by side without our military even doing anything’.

Her answer was the exact opposite of what I expected.

“In the end, if the plague had hit, a little more people… … I felt like it might have been right to bring him in, even if it meant using a more forced method.”

“Ah… … .”

“If I had done that, I could have incurred more resentment towards Yeo… … In any case, many people could have saved their lives. Because they were once under the flag of the Serpina army.”

Serpina… … It didn’t seem like he was lying.

A tyrant who regrets not being able to save Young Ji-min more.

If I were to think about it based on the character settings I knew well, it was as if Serpina, and no one else, was saying things that Karelia would say.

I’m not sure what kind of person Karelia is because I’ve never actually met her.

“… … Well, anyway.”

Serpina said that and then looked at my face and smiled.

“I am satisfied that at least those people were able to avoid disaster. Because I didn’t do this because I wanted someone to know.”

“… … .”

“I know. No matter what the ruler thinks, he has no choice but to end up with blood on his sword. All of this is just an act of self-satisfaction… … I am aware of it.”

Without answering anything, I just stayed by her side.

“… … Swen.”

“Yes.”

And again.

As always… … The citron scent she gives off seeps into places I didn’t expect.

“Thank you for your advice.”

“… … Yes?”

“All of this is thanks to your advice.”

I bowed my head slightly, at a loss for words for a moment.

He is an intellectual general who acts as a strategist and gives advice to the monarch.

Just like eating when you are hungry, it was a very natural thing in this world.

However, when I was simply thanked for giving me advice… … Something felt a little strange.

“… … no. I just did what I had to do.”

“I see.”

Serpina said, extending her hand to me.

At first, when I saw her stretching out her white hand like that and giving orders, it felt like she was above me. A noble being that is difficult to even describe, rising to a place that can never be reached.

When I felt that she was clinging to me a little too much, I even felt anxious that I couldn’t leave her side of my own will.

But now it’s a little different than then.

I feel like I can grab it as much as I want, if I stand face to face and stretch out my hand… … That kind of feeling.

I feel like I can shake off that hand as much as I want.

The feeling that the decisive choice in our relationship came to me, not to her…

“Someday, you will leave. It’s okay though. Until then, please take good care of me, Swen.”

―I realized again through Serpina’s words that it wasn’t just my mood.

* * *

After that, time continued to pass aimlessly.