episode_0340

* * *

“You have come, my lord.”

“Yeah. It looks like there aren’t any problems.”

Starting with the lord of Kehlstein Castle, Serpina and I were touring the territories located on the northern continent one by one.

Since it was difficult to tour the entire northern continent alone, I ordered Irian, who had come with me, to tour the left side of the northern continent on my behalf.

Since the one who betrayed this time was the Al Kaski family, Irian was left with the former commander of the occupation forces, Crancys, who had recovered from his injuries to some extent. In such a situation, there would probably be no one who would have the guts to shoot an arrow at Irian.

Not far from the castle of Eingart, as expected―

“Are you saying that a letter came asking you to support the rebellion?”

“Yes. Here… … .”

Serpina read the letter the lord had given her, then returned it to the lord without changing her expression and said.

“I guess it will be difficult to be lenient.”

“My lord, my lord. I never thought of betrayal at all. This point, definitely―”

“I know. I’m not saying that I’m going to do anything to you. I’m not that stupid of a woman.”

After looking into the situation, it seemed that all the lords around Eingart Castle, including him, had been asked to ‘join the rebellion’, but-

Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. It seemed that no one listened to his suggestion.

“I will never forget that you made the right decision at this moment. As soon as the rebellion is suppressed, I will make sure that you pay the price for your right decision.”

“My, my lord… …! I just did what I had to do!”

One day, while appeasing the lords of the castle who had suddenly become the front line, I continued to head upward.

That story was heard when we arrived at Rose Castle, located not far from Eingart Castle.

“Are you saying that the castle of Yutiner has fallen?”

“That’s right… …!”

The Castle of Yutiner.

It was the only satellite city of Eingart located close enough to be identifiable outside the walls of Eingart, and the very area that Serpina had once said she would bestow upon me.

It appears that it eventually fell because it was attached to Eingart Castle.

I turned my head and asked Serpina a question.

“How many soldiers are there in the Yutiner Castle?”

“It won’t be any different from the Eingart Castle. They had already taken care of things so that nothing bad would happen right before the battle.”

That is, there was no such thing as an overwhelming difference in military force.

If so, there is something that cannot be ignored.

“Where did the defeated allies head?”

“Some of the troops are heading to Castle Leonard, and the rest are here at Castle Rose.”

Fortunately, there seemed to be no need to move.

Serpina knew exactly what I was thinking just by listening to my question once.

“You seem to be planning to question me?”

“Yes. If you fought, you would have likely seen the presence of a wizard. ”

The wizard who appeared in three numbers.

Even just to find out if it was true or not, we had to talk about it.

“My lord, inspect the Rose Castle. I will interrogate her.”

“That’s right. It’s obvious that it would be very burdensome for a soldier to approach Leisure directly. Then I’ll ask you, Swen.”

“Yes.”

As I was saying that, my wrist was about to move—

With a thud, Serpina grabs him.

“Master?”

Serpina whispered so quietly that only I, who was right in front of her, could hear her… … while looking at me with trembling eyes.

“… … Come back quickly. Do you understand?”

I guess she’s anxious about being separated from me.

After Jenna died, Serpina had been showing signs of extreme anxiety. It was either because of the accumulated rebellions and misfortunes up until then, or because of the shock of losing Jenna, whom she had trusted so much. The important thing was that she was more unstable than ever.

It’ll probably feel like this until the rebellion is suppressed.

It was an inevitable problem. Just because he was a monarch didn’t mean he wouldn’t get hurt.

Besides, I also thought that there was a high probability that in her current world, the only person she could completely trust was me.

At times like this, what I had to do was decided.

I held Serpina’s hand tightly.

“I’ll be right back. Serpina, you’re not the only one carrying the burden of Eingart.”

“… … !!!”

As soon as she heard me, her eyes began to tremble violently.

I quickly gave her as smug a smile as I could to put her at ease.

“You know, right?”

No matter how heavy the burden attached to that name is, I will share it with you―

I just hope that my feelings are conveyed well.

“I’ll be back.”

I slowly walked away from her.

She didn’t catch me this time.

* * *

Serpina, it was as if time had stopped.

I stood there, staring blankly in the direction in which Swen had left and disappeared.

And – I chew over the words he just said over and over again.

“The name of Eingart, Serpina is not the only one carrying it.”

What does that… mean?

Are you saying you will carry this name on your shoulders?

Swen von Eingart said… … that he would be… …?

Thump, thump.

Even as my heart was pounding without stopping, my mind was giving me a clear answer.

It’s nonsense to see that sentence as a proposal.

Serpina was a very intelligent woman. It was not just an expression of confidence, but an objective evaluation that had been cross-checked by many people since childhood.

So, if she was her usual self, she wouldn’t have done something stupid like getting excited and thinking of other meanings for something like this.

but.

Serpina was now slowly collapsing.

Swen’s mind, which only says the right things, had been whispering this until recently. I, Serpina von Eingart – could not become a unified monarch.

So is it really right for everyone if I continue to seek to rebuild the empire?

Is it really the right thing to do to maintain Algot Orabeoni’s legacy, even if it means getting blood all over my body?

In the midst of such agony, the capable strategist Jenna, who had been his only support in a situation where he had nothing, died. Because of him.

Because I was away, it felt like he was dying in my place.

Even though I knew in my head that it wasn’t true, my heart had no choice but to accept it. The more I struggled like this, the more unhappy people would become, and the more chaotic the world would become.

Now the name Eingart felt like a chain, beyond burdensome.

I didn’t have the confidence to live up to that name. I felt like I was going to ruin what Algot and Sydmead had been so passionate about.

That is why Serpina had no choice but to cultivate vain hopes based on arbitrary interpretations.

Swen becomes Swen von Eingart.

Jenna’s last piece of advice before she died: marry him.

‘Swen… … .’

I will protect you, Serpina – When I close my eyes, I can hear your voice from back then.

Now the only light left for me is you.

So no matter what happens――you have to marry him.

Even if it means giving up something you’ve held onto until now.

With that… … I can be ‘complete’ in the true sense of the word.

Serpina, who had thought that far, slowly closed and opened her eyes.

The trembling in my body disappeared. It felt like the fear of not knowing English had flown away.

Was this fate?

As it turns out, she wasn’t the only one ‘targeting’ Swen.

Two monarchs were trying to get one strategist into their hands somehow.

One very obvious fact.

There was only one Swen.

What that meant――neither Swendo, Serphina, nor Lunalien knew.

* * *

I walked to the ward where the wounded were, taking Reika, who was resting, with me.

‘When I see the wounded, I think of Irene.’

Even though he was a commander, the image of him treating the wounds of each and every soldier was still vivid in my mind.

I hope you are doing well, Irene.

‘What’s so special about being a legion commander? I’m sure you’re doing well.’

So, I guess I have to take care of my work properly while I’m thinking about this.

I immediately approached one of the soldiers.

“How is your condition?”

“Yes? Oh… … Oh, are you a bookseller?”

I stopped the soldier who was trying to get up in a hurry.

“Greetings are fine. Please prioritize your health. More importantly, do you recognize me?”

“Well, I’ve seen you from afar.”

Well, as a national strategist, he held external events, so it wouldn’t be strange to see his face in the soldiers near the capital.

It occurred to me that I had risen to a really high position, but that wasn’t important at the moment.

“I know it’s hard, but I’d like to hear your testimony about the battlefield.”

“Is this your testimony… … ?”

“Anything is fine. As long as it has something to do with ‘wizards’.”

“Ah… … .”

Only then did the soldier seem to understand what I said and nodded.

“Do wizards exist?”

“… … Yes.”

“How many people were there?”

The soldier answered with a dark expression.

“There are three people.”

‘Is it true that three people showed up?”

“Have you ever seen those people use magic?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

That moment when I was speechless at the unbelievable truth.

“I, I… … .”

Reika, who had been quietly listening to our conversation from the side, carefully raised her hand and spoke.

“I have a question, I just want to ask you one thing… … this… … .”

“Please feel free to ask questions.”

Reika hesitated for a while, perhaps because she was very nervous about talking to someone she was meeting for the first time, but she finally very carefully opened her lips.

“Oh, by any chance… … Those three, weren’t holding hands or… … or… …?”