episode_0294

* * *

Rumors tend to spread faster than people.

The news of the destruction of the Chel Army quickly spread throughout the continent without anyone having time to do anything about it.

“Brother Chel… …died?”

“Yes. He died a heroic death in the final battle with Serpina… … .”

“That can’t be… …So you’re saying that Serpina’s side had someone who was capable of taking down her brother?!”

“I, I’m also good at that… … .”

After sending away the soldier who brought the news with a serious expression, Kalintz leans back on the throne in Castle Anel and becomes lost in thought.

‘Now that the Chel Army has been destroyed, Serpina will definitely turn her sword towards this side… … .’

Even though the plague had shaken the army once, the Kalintz army was not hit as devastatingly as the Chell or Aishus armies.

In addition, he had already taken over most of the golden lands that could be said to be the core territory of the Bran’s army.

If the only country that had to prepare was the Serpina Army, then maybe we could somehow continue the war, but-

“Fuck!”

What reached Kalintz’s ears was the desperate news that the battles against the Bran’s army were being lost one after another.

Objectively speaking, the Bran’s and Kalinz armies were similar in that they did not have any outstanding generals. All the capable men had followed under Chell.

Anyone can see that Kalintz has the upper hand in terms of national power based on resources and territory. Furthermore, according to rumors, Lin is in a state of near-weakness of mind and body.

So, of course, it should have been easy to destroy the current empty shell of the Bran’s Army…

‘Why… why is it like this?’

Far from being destroyed, all the strategic points were taken over by the Bran’s army.

Before we knew it, Lin’s soldiers had set up camp right in front of the capital, Castle Anel.

Not everything was going according to plan. It was a series of situations where it seemed as if he was avoiding the right answer, without being stubborn or blindly following his subordinates’ opinions.

He couldn’t keep up with his brother in martial arts.

Compared to ordinary people, he was certainly a powerful general, but it was no longer a despairing thought that he could never surpass the person who was born into this world first, sharing the same hair and blue eyes.

It’s not like she had a brain that was more brilliant than her younger sister in terms of strategy.

My younger sister was not only smart, but also had the charm to win people over to her side. That is definitely the best virtue that a person who becomes a monarch should have.

Even when his father, Orlando Brand, designated his youngest daughter, Lin, as the successor rather than his older brother or himself, Kalintz was able to accept it without difficulty.

As he continued to suffer defeats despite having good conditions, Kalintz felt as if the world was trying to instill something in his head.

The fact that ‘this is happening because someone who is ambiguous and indifferent dared to covet the throne.’

Is that really… … ? I, I am… … a human who can’t do anything?

‘… …Fuck!’

If things continue this way, 2/3 of the territory of the country that was the Bran’s Army will be dedicated solely to Serpina.

When I rebelled, I thought I could handle everything, but as soon as reality hit me, the weight I had to bear suddenly felt heavy.

If things continue like this, we may not be able to protect Castle Anel before then――

‘If my wrong decision leads to the situation where the Bran’s Army will never be able to defeat the Serpina Army… … !!’

For Kalintz, who had neither the sword nor the strategy, and who had no choice but to cling to the honor of the Branth family itself above all else, this was a situation he absolutely wanted to avoid.

The fall of the Brance family because of him.

That too, by the cruel Serpina!

That moment.

Kalintz recalled that just before the war began in earnest, he had received a ‘surrender recommendation’ from an envoy from the Bran’s army.

What kind of surrender is this? We continued to fight while snorting, and the result is this situation right now.

‘Lin… is not a stupid woman. She would choose immediate benefits over personal grudges.’

Kalintz was not a particularly ambitious being.

If I think about it, the rebellion was just something I was pushed into by chance.

‘Rumor has it that Lin is mentally and physically weak and not in her right mind. If things continue this way, the Branth Army will be destroyed. Instead of Lin who has lost the people’s support, the one who can lead the Branth family is not the simple-minded and ignorant Chell, but Lord Kalintz.’ That was the consensus.

That’s why I was able to change my mind easily.

It’s not hard to bring up possibilities that Chel would never have thought of.

‘Even now… … it might be wise to surrender.’

If we surrender now, it will be over before we ever cross swords with Serpina’s forces.

If it became the territory of the ‘Branth Army’ and not the ‘Kalintz Army’ – then the peace treaty that was humiliatingly concluded at that time would certainly become a shield for the Branth Army.

What if Anel Castle falls into Serpina’s hands, even if everything else is taken away?

In this situation where even the Asius Army was in disarray, Kalintz’s judgment was that there would be no one left who could stop Serpina from unifying the world.

If he had just a little more strategic insight, he would have sensed that something unusual was happening on the southern continent-

Unfortunately, it was nearly impossible for him, who had merely taken on the responsibility, to even think that far ahead.

And crucially – he didn’t want to die.

I don’t want to die yet. If I don’t leave some big mark on this world, I won’t be able to close my eyes in peace even after I die.

Since you have committed treason, if you are caught you will be killed without exception.

Because there was no monarch who spared a traitor who was his own relative, a traitor, or someone who had a sword pointed at his own neck.

When he thought about it that way, surrender suddenly seemed like his only chance, and it started to seem very reasonable from his perspective.

‘… … Okay. Let’s surrender. If it’s Lin, I’m sure… … she’ll see my ‘usefulness’ and forgive me.’

Once you’ve made up your mind, it doesn’t take long to put it into action.

“Isn’t there anyone there?”

Kalintz called his soldiers in a hurry.

and……

* * *

The Kalintz Army has conveyed its intention to surrender to the Branz Army―

Lin, who was at the front line fortress, heard the news and was lost in thought with a complicated expression on his face.

‘You’re surrendering now…?’

If you still want to fight, you can fight enough, but you are offering surrender, which you once refused?

“What do you think? It doesn’t seem like a trap.”

“It’s probably not a trap. He’s not that smart, and it’s not like the lord would go there alone.”

Lin nodded slowly at Parpale’s words.

“What do you think, Cecil?”

“I think it’s more important to consider why he reversed his offer of surrender, which he had not accepted, rather than whether there were any traps… … ”

“That’s true too.”

In fact, if you think about it that way, there are some parts that make sense.

After the war with the Kalintz army began, the Goddess of Victory was smiling at even children passing by.

Thanks to Farfalle’s efforts and Cecil’s efforts, the friendly forces began to overwhelm the plague-stricken Kalintz army in terms of numbers – it was something he had known since childhood that Kalintz, who had no outstanding strategist, could not defeat him when he set his mind to it.

There, a big fact that can never be missed – the story of Chevrans.

Anyone who was a part of Bran’s would have been shocked by the death of a man who seemed like he would never die no matter what happened on the battlefield.

The thoughts that were established in my head could have been turned over as easily as turning the palm of my hand.

“After Chel died, and Serpina’s invasion became a reality, I guess we decided that it would be unreasonable for us to fight among ourselves.”

Lin nodded in agreement to Farfalle’s words, as if he had read Lin’s thoughts.

“So, what are you trying to say? Parpale.”

Parfalle bowed his head and gave advice calmly.

“My lord, you must think carefully about what Kalintz wants. And whether what he wants is something that can be ‘given’ to him, or something that ‘should not be given’ to him.”

“… … Huh.”

What Calintz wants.

Since she is his sister who has spent a long time with him, it is not difficult for her to notice.

“This may be considered a test of a monarch. Whatever decision you make, I will follow your will.”

A test as a monarch.

Lin already had a history of making wrong decisions on top of that.

Now, I can’t afford to make a single mistake. So, if I have to make the right decision for the Bran’s Army… …

* * *

“Wow, you’re here! Lin! ”

“It’s been a while, little brother.”

This is the chatroom of a fortress located near the border.

Kalintz and Lin were looking into each other’s blue eyes for the first time in a long time.

“You said you would accept my surrender, but there was a condition, right? You can say anything! I came alone, just as you told me to! I have no intention of hurting you!”

As the saying goes, while Lin had several soldiers guarding her, Kalintz was alone.

It’s okay. If Lin was wise, there’s no way he wouldn’t use me in a situation where one general would be wasted… … That was a kind of ‘corner of trust’ for Kalintz.

“… … Brother. I’ll say it once. Listen carefully. There’s only one condition for us to surrender. If you don’t accept this condition, we’ll fight until the end. Even if a few territories fall to Serpina’s army in the process, I don’t think it can be helped. ”

“Okay, so tell me the conditions quickly! Don’t you think Serpina wants to run wild like this?”

“… … .”

Lin said nothing―

He pulls out the sword from his waist and throws it at Kalintz.

“… … Lin?”

Kalintz looks puzzled as he sees the longsword flying towards the floor.

Why are you giving this to me?

“What, are you suggesting we spar? All of a sudden―”

“Brother Kalintz. As your younger brother and as the leader of the Branth family, this is my last request to you.”

Lin slowly closed her eyes, then fixed her blazing blue eyes on Kalintz and spoke in a very cold tone.

“… … Commit suicide here.”