episode_0316

“Yes. I think it would be a good idea to take this opportunity to invade Roland’s army, but what do you think, my lord?”

Lin slowly shook her head at the words of her subordinate.

“No, Nabi. I understand what you’re thinking, but now is not the time to move troops recklessly.”

“Is that so…? I don’t understand with my limited knowledge, but could you please explain it to me?”

An act of a subordinate daring to disobey his sovereign’s will and ask why he thought that way.

It was a situation that the old Rin would never have tolerated – but the current Rin answered the questions of her subordinate warriors in an extremely calm tone, without any emotional agitation at all.

“Yeah. There’s Serpina in the north, right?”

“Even so, isn’t there a pact with the Serpina Army? I think there’s still plenty of time left… … .”

“That’s right. We made a treaty. But the moment that treaty has great significance, there has to be a guarantee that there will be lords scattered all over the continent. No, there doesn’t necessarily have to be multiple lords. I think it would have been enough to feel secure if there was just one country with the same level of national power as the old Asus Army.”

“… … ?”

“So, just think about it simply. Everyone knows or doesn’t know that keeping an agreement is a matter of good faith. Of course it’s important. There’s nothing good about damaging the image of keeping good faith. But do you know what has a stronger binding force than good faith?”

“Are you talking about heavier binding force… … ?”

Lin said, stretching out her fingers that had been twisting her hair.

“It is a situation where we cannot conduct diplomacy with any country.”

“Because of that fear, everyone sticks to the treaty they made like a sword. Furthermore, because of the image of breaking a promise once on the continent, it feels like beating someone up is an act of justice, so everyone can easily join hands under the pretext of ‘let’s get rid of the evil first’. Do you know what I mean?”

Lin continued her explanation to the warrior who nodded silently, mixing in light gestures.

“However, that absolute fear will not be felt at all by the current Serpina army. Even if small and medium-sized countries unite, they will only be able to come forward if they calculate that they will eventually be able to win to some extent. Usually, the opponent of the united front is the most powerful country.”

“Let me explain it in simple terms. Serpina broke the treaty and invaded our military’s border. Many people will criticize her, right? But is there a realistic way to stop her? Serpina, who even devoured Aesius, would be afraid of losing the trust of the continent?”

“… … !!”

“Like it or not, Serpina’s military has already taken over half of the continent. The national power is vastly different from when they were confined to the northern continent. The soldiers and resources come from the vast territory. The scariest thing is that, strangely enough, the people of the subjugated territory don’t have such bad feelings toward the demon.”

Lin still remembered clearly the news she had heard during the time she was conquering the Northern Continent.

Because they were unable to control the public sentiment as soon as they occupied it, rebellions were constantly occurring at a rate unprecedented in history. She also acknowledged that the fact that the Bran’s army was able to gradually clear out the central continent without much threat in the past was largely due to the fact that the Serpina army in the north was unable to do anything about the continents outside the north due to the continuous rebellions.

“If it were the old days, there would have been a rebellion already… … Rather than a rebellion, there are even rumors that ‘Serpina might not be such a bad person’. Of course, it was likely organized propaganda on Serpina’s part, but in any case, we can’t deny that the result is that ‘she’s ruling successfully without any trouble’. ”

“Now, there are only six countries left on the continent, excluding the Aesir Army, which is practically on the verge of destruction. Even then, excluding our Bran’s Army and Serpina Army, all four countries are gathered in the southern continent. So, Serpina has nothing to lose even if she ignores the treaty and invades our army. Because no one will be able to restrain her.”

“Then isn’t it already a given? What should we do? Should we just watch the villainess Serpina dye the continent with the hateful Eingart flag once again?”

At those words, Lin’s expression became very serious.

“Navi. You lost your father to Serpina, right?”

“Hey, do you remember?”

Lin spoke in a confident tone, as if to ask why he was asking such a thing.

“Of course I remember. It’s the story of a man who risked his life for me. How could I forget that?”

The soldier bowed his head for a moment as if he was deeply moved, but soon his voice filled with respect.

“My father only worked for the Imperial Army, for Algot von Eingart. Serpina cruelly… … !!”

It’s a story so cruel that I still can’t believe it.

Serpina, with the sole intention of ascending to the throne, summoned her rivals, Algot and Sydmead, and annihilated them all in one place.

In the process, my father, who was a private guarding Algot, sacrificed himself―

He also had a hatred for the Eingart royal family, something that about one in ten people would harbor.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to bring up difficult topics anymore.”

Lin, with that usual, relaxed, high-ranking smile on her face-

“You’re helping me prevent that from happening again, right?”

“My lord… … !”

“We won’t lose. Serpina seems to be doing well right now, but – rapid expansion of power will inevitably lead to chaos. We’re just waiting for our time. If we can hold out, the opportunity will surely come. So until then, please take care of us, Nabi.”

“I… … I! I swear to give this body for Bran’s sake… … !!”

“Yeah.”

After a brief interview in the audience room-

Cecil, who had been staying by Parpala’s side while she was away on business, approached Lynn and asked.

“How do you see it?”

“Are you talking about Roland?”

“Yes.”

Lin answered without any hesitation.

“Lunarien will win.”

“Is that so? Is it because of the wizard? But considering the difference in troops, Roland’s army, which continued to stockpile troops and did not waste resources, was more-”

“No, Cecil. The reason I thought that way wasn’t because of things like supplies and resources. Maybe it was for a more fundamental reason?”

“Are you talking about the fundamental reason?”

Lin said that, then sighed and mocked herself.

“It’s a bit of a ridiculous reason, even to me.”

“What is that… … ?”

“Lunarien was that man’s first master.”

“When you say that guy… …are you talking about the white-haired wizard?”

“Yeah.”

Now he was sure. The white-haired wizard—Swen—had always served Lunarien, at least while he was under his command.

And every time she saw the situation unfold, Lin would often feel as if all of this—Luna’s rebellion, her uprising, and the engulfing of the Karelian army—was all in the palm of Swen’s hand.

Lindo Lin was aware of Swen in his own way. He couldn’t help it. There was no place on the continent that his hands had not touched, no matter what was moving.

‘I don’t know why I’m still under Serpina… … but it’s true that she’s never treated me as her real master. So what’s her plan now… … .’

“It seems like they were really great people. Both Parpala and Rin, and… …that woman, they continue to exert influence even though they don’t exist here.”

Lin thought for a moment.

The woman Cecil is talking about is probably Lunalien.

Although it was something that had already happened, it seemed that deep down he still hated her as the enemy of Karelia.

“Looking at it objectively, there is nothing our military can do directly right now. If we had enough troops, we could have deployed enough troops to the north and attacked Roland or Hesna… … But there is no need to make the same mistake of losing existing territory while trying to expand it for no reason.”

“Then… … .”

“I have to survive somehow with my three-inch tongue. I already joined hands with Serpina to survive. And, since I drank the blood of my brothers, I can’t just collapse in vain.”

Cecil thought as he looked at her profile.

I don’t know exactly what kind of future Lin is drawing, but it felt like I was once again realizing one truth that applies to everything in the world at any moment.

“You are definitely different from what I’ve heard.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Arrogant, self-righteous, and an absolute being who looks down on others. When I was under Lady Karelia, the stories I heard about my master were full of negative things. However, now that I meet him in person, he seems like a completely different person. The way he remembers each and every one of his subordinates’ stories, and the way he is so careful in everything he does… … Even though I came here by chance, I think that Lady Lin is someone worth serving. ”

Lin smiled bitterly at those words.

“That assessment was right. That’s why I fell all the way here. I’m just a kid who realized how great things I had been holding on to after I was thrown to the ground. ”

“No. Even if that were true, the important thing is that they have changed. Karelia’s habit was that people can change at any time.”

“Really? From what I’ve heard, it seems like Karelia is exactly as rumored.”

“… … .”

Lin didn’t urge Cecil, who didn’t respond with a sad expression, but instead tangled her blue hair with her fingers again.

‘It’s unfair, but… … Since I realized it too late, I have no choice but to wait. I have to survive somehow. If I extend the agreement as much as possible and cause animosity between the Serpina Army and the Lunalien Army, I’m sure I’ll be able to open a path.’

Unfortunately, it was too late for Lin to take her fate into her own hands.

Because I destroyed all the given choices with my own hands, the answers I could choose from became limited.

Still, I had no intention of giving up.

Serpina was now somewhat confident in her ability to deal with it, so the problem was ultimately Lunalien.

Her fate will depend on what kind of woman she is.

Hold on as long as you can, but don’t curse the fate you’ve twisted with your own hands, no matter how it ends.

It was an atonement for those who had died for her, and for Irene, who had believed in her at all times.

* * *

At that time, when each person was figuring out the current situation with their own calculations-

Far from understanding the situation, the man who felt as if he had been set on fire was sitting on the throne, lost in agony and brooding.

“Damn it! You dare point a knife at us? You’re such an insolent bitch… … !”

That man was none other than Seta Roland, the Vice-Captain of the Third Knights of the former Eingart Empire and the current Lord of the Roland Army, a natural born warrior who had lived a longer life as a lord than as a warrior.