episode_0286

* * *

The plague has receded for a time.

The news that Chell, who had barely managed to organize the menstrual period of the Aishus Army, heard was by no means pleasant.

“The Serpina Army… … is advancing here?”

“That’s right… …!”

‘Fuck… … !’

Chel let out a long sigh.

Even without that, he was unable to secure Yuuri, Anima, and Epinel, who had attempted to escape across the border due to his own poor judgment.

Although they had somehow succeeded in acquiring the territory, in the end, it meant that they had simply acquired an additional territory that had been devastated by a plague – nothing more, nothing less.

“What would you like to do?”

“Just wait a minute. Aren’t you thinking about it?”

At the soldier’s words, Chel openly expressed her anxiety by rubbing the corner of her mouth with her hand.

‘There’s no way I can defeat Serpina like this.’

No matter how much I thought about it, I didn’t have the confidence to handle her large army while maintaining my current territory.

The troops had been completely exhausted in the meaningless war of attrition with the Aesir and Calintz armies, and the few remaining soldiers had been used up in the process of clearing the Aesir army’s border area.

If he had had enough soldiers to begin with, there would have been no reason for Yuuri to be lost – right now, it was as if he had no means of stopping Serpina’s large force.

‘Fuck!’

bang!

Chel nervously threw down the sword that was hanging on her waist.

Where on earth did it go wrong?

Sure, certainly there was hope at first.

Most of the talented people in the Branth Army had followed him and become the servants of the Che Army, and Lin was just a lord of the frontier who had been pushed out to the point where he could no longer fulfill his role as a monarch. If he could just get rid of Kalintz, it was clear that the new leader of the Branth family would return to his place.

It was right before my eyes. That road was right before my eyes.

When on earth did things start to go wrong? When we fought the Aesir army? When we cut off Hernando’s head? Or when the plague started?

Maybe… … the very act of raising a new flag and revolting… …?

After thinking that far, Chell shook her head strongly.

‘That’s a useless thought.’

Thinking deeply about the past was not in Chell’s nature.

If you have time, I think it’s right to think about the future.

Whatever choice he made, Chell never regretted it. Yes. Even now, he doesn’t regret cutting off Hernando’s head. He knew better than anyone else what would happen if he didn’t deal with a powerful general who would not be subjugated right away, having been on the battlefield.

“… … Call in the armed forces.”

“Yes… … ?”

“I told you to gather the troops! Can’t you hear me?!”

“Oh, I see!”

The soldier quickly relayed Chell’s words to his subordinates.

Soon, all the talented people supporting Chel gathered in the audience room.

“I think you all know what’s going on. I’ve called you all here to discuss what to do next.”

The soldiers watched the situation quietly without saying a word.

Since the national strategist who should have been the first to come forward and offer his opinion in such a situation had died of the plague, no one was able to come up with an opinion first.

no.

Rather than saying that they couldn’t think of anything, the more important issue was that they couldn’t bring themselves to bring up the most likely idea.

at that time.

An elderly courtier who had served the Bran family for quite some time cautiously raised his hand.

“… … My lord.”

“Tell me.”

“To be honest, this is a battle you can’t win. It may be time to make a decision for the future.”

“A decision for the future?”

“Surrender.”

“… … !!”

“After surrendering, plan for the future. It is said that people who have been lords of a country are usually not spared, but you were not originally the lord of Branth County, and you were once called the First Swordsman of Branth. I believe that even the wicked Serpina will accept you if you bow down to help me. I beg you to survive and take the opportunity to strike after Serpina.”

“So you’re telling me to bow down to that Serpina bitch right now?”

“Make a wise decision, my lord. It is not bravery to be reckless in the face of death.”

At the subject’s blunt words, the air in the audience room instantly became heavy.

His gaze was fixed on the subject as if he was looking at someone who had said something that should never be said.

But everyone knew that there was no other way than surrender.

A situation where a well-fed and well-trained army several times larger than the army of their own country, exhausted from the plague and continuous battles, is coming in like a wave.

The magician who could be called a one-shot reversal card existed not in their own country but in the enemy’s army, Serpina’s army.

No matter what I did, I couldn’t objectively defeat her. If fighting would only lead to death, then it was obvious that the only answer was surrender.

However, it was a story that could not be brought up carelessly… … It was as if that subject had shouldered everything and brought it up.

“… … .”

Chel said nothing, then spoke in a cold tone.

“If it were normal, I would have beheaded you and made you pay for your foolish opinion. But I’m not that stupid.”

“… … .”

“Besides, even if Rin is there, I am also a lord who has spent time. Even thinking about Serpina saving me is like gambling.”

“I understand what you are saying, but I am sure Serpina will not kill her lord.”

“What does that mean?”

The old minister’s eyes lit up at Chell’s words.

“Your Majesty, it is not that you have any particular ambition to rule the continent.”

“What?”

“Wasn’t it your priority to rebuild the Bran’s army that was collapsing due to Lin’s tyranny?”

“… … .”

At those words, Chel is left speechless.

If I had to choose one, the subject’s words were somewhat accurate.

It was true that he quickly raised his forces after seeing Rin, who had been making only the worst choices, and his younger brother Kalintz, who had taken over Castle Anel and betrayed her while Rin was away, considering that if things continued like this, the Bran’s army would be in shambles.

I didn’t have things in mind like ‘I will unify this continent’ or ‘What kind of world will I create as a monarch’.

All he had in mind was for the Bran’s Army to regain its glory. That was all.

Although he did acknowledge it at one point, he judged that it was impossible to revive the Bran’s Army under the current Rin and his younger brother Kalintz, so he took over the throne.

“Serpina is a woman who is as quick-witted as she is vicious. Furthermore, my lord is not an irresponsible person who spits out opinions that he does not hold in his heart like a snake. So, it is not difficult to figure out that my lord does not have great ambitions.”

“… … You really have nothing to say today.”

“I’m going to lose my head anyway, and whether I die now or get caught by Serpina, isn’t that the same thing? I don’t have much time left to live, so it’s my duty as a subject to speak up.”

Upon hearing that, Chel laughed loudly and left the audience room.

And then, with his blue eyes shining with blazing blue flames, he revealed his plan to everyone.

“Tell the lords of each territory. After confirming this letter, gather all the supplies and troops you can and move to Alkanwood Castle. ”

“… … !!”

At the order to move to the Alcanwood Castle, all the gathered vassals look at Chel with surprised expressions.

“We already have insufficient troops. If we are divided, we will not be able to deal with Serpina’s army even if we die and wake up. All we can do is unite. We will set up a final defense line at Alkanwood Castle.”

“This battle will most likely cost you your lives. However, from my perspective, I don’t need a general who won’t participate in the battle just because he thinks his life is precious.”

“You know what I’m talking about by now, right?”

“That, that word… … .”

Chel nodded to the question of the relatively younger minister next to the older minister.

“If you value your life, resign from our military right now. I won’t stop you.”

For a while no one’s voice was heard.

“… … It seems like there is no such person here.”

“I will fight my lord to the end.”

“The pride of the Branson Army, I will never forget it.”

All the ministers nodded and added a word each.

No matter what, these people are called the elite of the Branson Army.

Moreover, the opponent was none other than the villainess Serpina. Although I acknowledged in my head that it was reasonable to surrender, my heart could not accept it.

“Do you think the same thing?”

In response to Chell’s words, the elderly courtier who had first expressed his opinion bowed his head and replied.

“If my lord decides to fight, so will I.”

“According to your words, it’s not a rational choice?”

“Because the relationship between a ruler and his subjects cannot be explained by reason alone.”

At those words, Chel smiles with satisfaction.

It’s highly unlikely that it can be stopped, but it still won’t be stopped.

If I could somehow catch Serpina’s ankle… … .

Chel clenches her fists and reflects on her resolve.

‘… … I will do whatever it takes to make you regret touching this Chevron.’

* * *

As the occupying forces advancing from Eingard Castle passed Kehlstein Castle.

“Are you only sending 10,000 soldiers?”

“That’s right.”

Irene, who was riding along with Serpina, asked her a question as if she was curious.

“But wouldn’t it be difficult to occupy Jogseong with that number of troops?”

“No. If Chel is someone worth fighting with, this is enough to take over Jog Castle.”

“… … Yes? Sorry, I don’t know what you mean… … .”

Serpina smiled faintly at Irene’s words.

And then- he turned his head towards me on the other side and said.

“Swen. Can you explain for me?”

“That means if you gathered your troops in one place, it means that it is not the front line, Jog Castle.”

“Gathering troops… … you say?”

“Because they have very few options before our army invades. The best option is to gather all of their troops far away and hold out for a last stand. Even then, the odds of winning are low, but from their perspective, they have no other choice, so it’s an inevitable choice. If it were me―”

“Alkanwood.”

“―I thought we would gather at the Alcanwood Castle… … .”

I was startled by Serpina’s voice that I suddenly heard, so I stopped talking and looked at her.

“What are you so surprised about, Swen.”

“… … No.”

It’s been said before, but Serpina was definitely a very outstanding person.

It’s hard to believe that he couldn’t be a unified monarch.

“Anyway, if they have withdrawn their troops as we think, then sending a thousand men would be fine. It will be an empty castle anyway.”

“I see… …So that’s why you added, “If there’s someone worth considering”?”

“Yes. If there are still troops stationed there and our army is struggling, that is not a bad thing for us. No, it is a good thing. We can defeat them individually.”

As she said, sending ten thousand soldiers was also meant to test what kind of person Chell Brands was.

And after a while, the test results came in.

―A little bit, in an unexpected way.

“… … Is that true?”

“Yes! As you said, the small castle was empty… … .”

The messenger spoke to the surprised Serpina in a tone of disbelief.

“As if a fire had broken out… … All the buildings within the territory were burnt down and in ruins… … !”