episode_0270

Think about it.

Cecil quickly shook his head on the spot.

In the meantime, Violet pressed Cecil for an answer without mercy.

“Please decide quickly. In fact, there is no reason to even think about it, right?”

“No, where is this law… … .”

“If you can’t keep your contract, all we have to do is pay compensation. If it’s the amount we’re offering, we’ll be able to make a lot more money even after paying compensation.”

“Didn’t I tell you! This is a matter directly related to trust-”

“Please tell me the name of our army.”

“… … !!”

Violet looked at Cecil with clear eyes and said.

“I am Violet of the Lunalian Army. State my name and claim that I stole it. These are troubled times. It is common for supplies to be stolen during wartime. As long as the responsibility is on us, we will not be able to completely undermine your trust.”

“No… …The Lunarian army is a group of bandits who pillage the supplies of the people of the territory like us?!”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“… … !!!”

Cecil is at a loss for words.

So obviously… … they commit looting? Why?

He even admitted that Lunalian was not as godly as he had thought.

But, the person named Lunalien who stayed with him… …was he really that reckless?

Many of your colleagues, including Metz, are attached to a woman who is eager to empty the back pockets of the top?

That doesn’t make sense.

In fact, Cecil knew too.

Why are they making such suggestions?

“That’s strange. If it’s just a piece of trash anyway, you could just hand it over and take the money… …Why do you resist to the end?”

Looking at Violet who asked firmly, Cecil’s thoughts became even more firm.

These are… …they know.

That Karelia is trying to escape.

There was absolutely no way it could have leaked out. Only he and Vanessa knew about this fact. Vanessa was a very cautious person, so there was no way she would have told anyone about this mission.

The soldiers knew that I was disguised and going out, but they did not know that their master was hidden inside this wagon.

So, there is only one reason why I know that fact even though it didn’t leak out――

――Vanessa’s plan was completely read by someone.

So, we were… …dancing on the palm of your hand?

But, no matter what, there is no one who can do this… …

‘……for a moment.’

Didn’t the soldier just say, ‘As the scribe said’?

As far as Cecil knows, the person currently serving as a national strategist for the Lunalian Army is… … a man Cecil also knows well.

The last prime minister of the unified empire-

‘Zinor Nighthart… …!’

She had simply rebelled, but suddenly the Eingart bloodline declared its support, and the wise man who was the prime minister of the empire joined her.

During the battle, a mercenary group appeared out of nowhere to help her, and one of the generals even awakened as a wizard.

what’s this?

It’s like… Karelia is being unilaterally pushed back by something like a fate that can never be defeated by Lunalian.

I, too, was just a supporting actor. My role was that of an idiot who was fooled by Lunalien… …!

‘What should I do?’

Cecil slowly assessed the situation.

The number of soldiers… is… lacking on our side. In the first place, we were disguised as the upper class, so we couldn’t mobilize many soldiers. It would look strange.

If we continue like this, we will definitely lose. But can we hand over the carts that our lords have to them? We couldn’t do that either.

In a situation where he couldn’t choose anything, when Cecil couldn’t bring himself to say anything…

“Everyone, get there.”

“… … !!”

From the direction of the wagon, someone walked towards this place.

The owner of the voice is the person she and Vanessa wanted to protect so badly… …Makana Karelia.

“I guess this is it.”

“My, my lord… … !”

When did you come to your senses, my lord?

Vanessa said she would stay asleep at least until we left this castle… … ?

No, more than that… … up to here, you say?

“I don’t know exactly what happened, but… …it looks like you and Vanessa worked hard.”

“I… … over there.”

“Makana Karelia.”

Violet drew her sword and pointed the blade at Karelia.

“Please refrain from any unnecessary resistance… … It will not benefit you at all.”

Karelia looked at Karelia who was saying that… …

Then, he said with a kind smile.

“You are still a child… …I don’t want to stain your sword with my blood.”

“… … .”

“Your target is probably me. I will not rebel. I will listen to your wishes. I will not beg for my life. However, please guarantee their lives. … … That is my last request.”

Karelia pointed to the soldiers behind her.

Anyway, with these numbers, we couldn’t defeat the Lunarian army. Our army didn’t even have anyone like a magician.

Violet didn’t say anything for a moment… …and then slowly nodded.

“Let’s do that.”

“Thank you.”

“My lord!”

Karelia stared at Cecil, who was crying pitifully as he looked at her, then smiled as usual and said.

“You… … I’m seeing your face for the first time. I’m sorry. You must be someone who works for me… … .”

“… … ??”

Even though he was disguised, if you consider that anyone who knew Cecil even a little bit would easily notice… …

There was no way the lord would not recognize him.

Were you so flustered that you couldn’t even hide your voice?

But, speaking like that… …

‘My lord, are you… lying right now?’

Cecil was quite quick-witted.

Reasons for lying.

Perhaps, the Lunalian Army would not just let him go if they found out that he was ‘Cecil Lohengrin’… …?

“Anyway, you take these soldiers to a safe place.… …Please.”

“That, that can’t be… … .”

Karelia approached Violet again without answering Cecil.

“Come on. Take me. I won’t resist.”

“… … Arrest this guy.”

“Ouch!”

So, Karelia herself, who was the last hope of the Karelia Army, was eventually escorted by Violet.

Cecil… … said nothing, just blankly watching her disappear.

‘My lord… … !’

The last lie I told was… …to save myself.

Just thinking about it made my heart feel like it was going to break, but if I really thought about Karelia, I shouldn’t be sentimental.

At the very least, her final command… …was to get them to safety.

“… … Everyone, let’s go.”

“Ah, old… … !”

The soldiers, who had never expected the monarch to appear, followed Cecil in a state of dumbfounded amazement.

Anyway – in the end, at least one person was able to escape this mess.

* * *

“The gates are breached! Charge!”

“Go in! Go in and fight!”

“Concentrate your attacks on the archers on the castle walls!”

Despite the Karelian army’s best efforts, the gates were breached with great ease.

The overwhelming difference in power, and the morale of the two armies as different as heaven and earth – the will to fight.

The watchtower that guarded the Madlan Castle, once the most peaceful castle in the South, was ablaze, illuminating the dark night.

‘It’s over… … .’

While Luna was struggling with her complicated feelings, Jinor came up to her and spoke to her.

“My lord.”

“Please speak.”

“Now, the era will change. A new history will be written in the Southern Continent. Many will shed blood because of the lord’s decision. In the process, only the people of the territory will never be touched… … It may be a very idealistic thought. But, look over there. ”

Jinor pointed his finger at the burning Madlan Castle.

“The ideal may be noble in itself, but these are troubled times. A vague ideal without the power to protect it is likely to destroy everyone. Do not forget the image of the Madlan Castle before your eyes. In order to avoid bloodshed, we must stain our swords with blood. If we do not, the blood that stains our swords will be our blood, not theirs.”

As Jinor saw it, those who had previously followed Karelia would not want to admit it, but Lunalian was a monarch who had many similarities to Karelia, to the point that it could be said that he was the successor to Karelia.

That is, I thought that the reason Karelia has now collapsed could also be applied to Luna.

Of course, I was sure that Luna wouldn’t break down since Swen had pointed her out… … but still, I thought I had to say it.

Jinor let out a bitter laugh at the thought that perhaps all of his thoughts and advice were part of Swen’s calculations.

“When you have to make a decision in the future, please remember this. Don’t be swayed by your beliefs, but rather, wield your own beliefs – there will definitely come a time when it feels very natural. And that moment… …is the moment when you are reborn as a monarch.”

“Mr. Jinor… … .”

“The old man has a lot of useless talk. Still, I thought it would be good if you knew. You are the only one who will bring peace to the continent in the future.”

Luna clenched her fists and looked at the burning Madlan Castle again.

Karelia… …perhaps, would have had ample opportunity to subdue our rebels.

If we had used cruel methods a little earlier, perhaps it would have been us who perished, not her.

But she couldn’t do that. So now… … she was finally in a position where she was being kicked out of the flow of history.

Let’s not forget.

I promise that I will not become complacent, even if it means repaying my debt to Swen.

――That old time.

The rookie lord who could not even properly treat his soldiers in his small territory was gradually being reborn as a conquering monarch.

* * *

And shortly after-

On the royal palace of Madlan Castle, a flag is raised.

What flutters in the sky is not the green flag that is the symbol of the Karelian Army, but a pure white flag.

―Waaa …

It was the moment when the capital of the Karelian army, Madlan, fell.