Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 281: Appointed as Serpina’s Strategist (2)

That day.

After being saved by Karelia, Cecil barely managed to survive and reach the western part of the continent. The news that reached her ears was the death of Vanessa and Karelia.

'My lord...!'

In the end, they died.

And what’s worse, betrayed by the very people they trusted.

The betrayal wasn’t just toward her lord. It was also to herself. Back when she was in Karelia’s army, hadn’t she been the one strongly advocating for Luna’s acceptance?

'It’s my fault. If only I hadn’t supported Luna...'

Even though she knew it wasn’t really her fault, she couldn’t shake the thought.

But she couldn’t stay in despair forever either.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt she had to stop Luna’s rise to power, who had betrayed her lord. Her next step naturally led her to Brans' army.

Yes. Let’s go under Lyn. Aishus was essentially finished, and under Serpina, it was impossible to even approach without having a sword at your throat. The only remaining option was to join her.

Coincidentally, her family had a stronghold in the western part of the continent!

Lyn, on the other hand, had been skeptical when she first heard that Cecil wanted to join her army.

Cecil Lohengrin, daughter of the prominent Lohengrin family, which had essentially been the backers of Karelia’s army.

If it weren’t for her, it would have been nearly impossible for Karelia’s army to establish itself. Lyn knew this all too well.

And now, that same Cecil had suddenly proposed to join their ranks.

Lyn remembered that moment vividly. The seemingly gentle woman with burning eyes, pleading with her in an almost desperate manner.

"I won’t speak of avenging Lady Karelia. But please, stop Luna from rising."

From Lyn’s perspective, there was no reason to refuse such a proposal.

Cecil was a skilled politician, and backing the Lohengrin family brought multiple advantages.

True to her word, as soon as Cecil joined Brans' army, she contributed the funds of the Lohengrin trade guild in the western region.

After Brans' army lost Arnel Castle and its A-rank generals defected, that contribution was like a lifesaver.

With money, they could recruit troops, repair the castle walls, and invest in the market to revitalize the region. The effect was even more pronounced in the relatively underdeveloped western territories.

Thanks to Cecil's financial aid, she quickly rose to a significant position in Brans' army. Parfalle, however, had remarked that Cecil wasn’t someone with grand ambitions but was driven more by vengeance, so there wasn’t much to worry about.

The most surprising part, however, was that the target of her hatred was Luna.

Luna Iniang. Once, she was nothing more than a low-ranking noble from a small nation that Cecil had destroyed.

It hadn’t been long since the rebellion, and yet Luna had swiftly brought down Karelia’s army, the most powerful force in the south.

It was only a select few, including Lyn, who knew that the first ruler that the famous strategist Swen had served under was Luna.

She was no ordinary person. It was no surprise that someone like Swen had once served her, but back then, Lyn couldn’t have realized that.

For a moment, a thought crossed her mind—if she had only listened to Airen’s advice, perhaps none of this would have happened.

'...No.'

Lyn quickly shook off the unnecessary thoughts.

For Airen’s sake, and for the sake of the Brans army she once wished to protect, she had to somehow revive it.

She knew all too well that crying over past mistakes would solve nothing.

Regardless, the most important thing was the present.

Lyn fixed her gaze on Cecil, who was kneeling in front of her.

"Did you hear? From everything you’ve told me so far, it seems that the 'person' Luna has mentioned is indeed Swen."

Cecil confirmed it. She said that she and Luna had been quite close since she had joined Karelia’s army.

"I’m sure of it. During our time together, she always said, 'I owe my life to that person.'"

She had owed her life.

Lyn could easily deduce how Luna survived.

The reason Luna had survived was simple.

When Lyn had been preoccupied with capturing Swen, she hadn’t pursued Luna, and that’s why she lived.

When Luna said, 'I owe my life to that person,' Lyn realized the situation...

'It was all Swen’s plan.'

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Swen had said his lord had abandoned him, but the truth was, he had deliberately engineered the situation.

And it was none other than Swen. He must have realized that his true objective was to protect himself.

That was why he had thrown himself into danger. He had done it to protect Luna, his lord.

That was the kind of man he was.

It was only after hearing Cecil’s words that Lyn truly understood.

Maybe she had never truly possessed Swen, not even for a single moment, from the very beginning.

...Nonetheless, there was one strange thing.

—If that’s the case, why did Swen become the strategist of Serpina’s army instead of Luna’s?

A servant who had risked his life to save her lord, who had been willing to gamble with his life, had ended up accepting a position under Serpina?

The position of a national strategist was typically an appointed one, but no sane ruler would forcibly impose it on someone who refused.

The power granted to a national strategist was immense, yet no one would be foolish enough to try and control someone who didn’t want that power.

That meant—Swen could have rejected it easily.

Of course, it was Serpina, a wicked ruler, and there might be factors Lyn didn’t know. But then, why hadn’t Swen returned to Luna’s army even now?

"...What do you think?"

At Lyn’s question, Cecil, with her newfound position under the blue-haired ruler, answered with respect.

"I don’t know the full details, but I think I can make an educated guess."

"An educated guess?"

"Before I heard this story, please understand that I didn’t know that man well."

"I understand."

"Firstly, he's likely scheming under Serpina's command, deceiving her. But this is a less likely hypothesis. Serpina is not only cruel but also a very intelligent woman. No matter how great he is, someone like Serpina would easily catch on to any plotting, and if she decided to, she could take his head with ease."

Lyn could understand this point.

If Serpina were an incompetent woman, she would have fallen long before she even conquered the northern continent.

Before that, Lyn had once led a country that bordered Serpina's, so she knew firsthand what kind of ruler Serpina was.

When she thought about how Serpina’s forces had operated, it was clear that she wasn’t someone who relied solely on her bloodline.

"Secondly, the man changed his mind."

"Changed his mind?"

"It’s simple. He chose Serpina as his new lord. Changing lords in troubled times isn’t such a rare thing, right? Just like how I’m now before you, Lyn." freёweɓnovel.com

Could it really be so?

Was this man, who had been willing to risk his life to save his lord, so easily abandoning her?

No. He wasn’t that petty. Lyn, who had been with him once, was certain there was something she didn’t know.

‘There’s something missing...’

The missing link between Brans’ army and Serpina’s forces.

‘Perhaps I need to find out more about Swen from his time in Aishus’ army.’

Whatever it was, learning more about Swen was crucial.

Whether she liked it or not, Luna’s forces would be bordering her, and knowing more about Swen could serve as effective leverage against Luna.

This was Lyn’s intuition.

Two facts that only she knew.

One was the strange obsession Luna had with Swen, and the other was how Swen seemed to constantly switch lords, as though he could foresee the future.

Both were considerations that led to Lyn’s conclusion.

"I understand. I’ll meet Luna soon enough. When that happens, I’ll stop her, just as you want, Cecil."

"Eh? Meet her soon...?"

"The southern continent will be unified. Under her name."

"...!!"

Cecil was stunned, her eyes widening as she stared at Lyn.

Parfalle, who had been listening quietly, carefully interjected.

"So, my lord, you think that?"

"Of course. It’s none other than Swen’s woman. The hidden bloodline of the royal family and the second sorceress have emerged by her side. The once-esteemed Karelia, which was said to be the best ruler of the southern continent, collapsed in no time. Do you think the likes of Roland, Hesna, or Ohana can stop Luna?"

Parfalle agreed with her opinion.

The balance of power in the southern continent had been maintained because the four nations had similar strength, but also because the rulers themselves weren’t particularly capable.

Karelia had some charisma, but the other rulers were just opportunistic nobles who had gotten lucky with the timing.

That’s why they sought to conquer ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ Serpina’s forces first.

Although, everything had gotten twisted when Aishus was dealt with.

"And besides, I can’t let Luna’s forces just have a free path. If that happens... they’ll regret it even in hell. I can’t let the Brans army, which Airen tried so hard to protect, end like this."

"...!"

"So— I will stop Luna. I’ll clear the central continent, defeat Luna’s forces, and restore the former glory of the Brans army. And then, I’ll personally take care of Serpina, the mastermind behind this disaster."

"I will follow you to the very ends of hell, my lord. Give the word anytime."

"I too will do whatever it takes to stop Luna."

Upon hearing their words, Lyn smiled confidently, the same assured smile she always had.

There was no arrogance in her sparkling blue eyes.

"Then, shall we begin moving, Parfalle?"

"...!"

Parfalle, slightly surprised, quickly nodded.

The plague had subsided. It was only natural that the time had come.

"Give the orders, my lord."

Lyn’s blue eyes sparkled as she spoke.

"Tell my second brother. If he surrenders, I’ll spare him for old times' sake. But if he doesn’t, it will only mean war."

Serpina von Eingart’s blade is for Chel Brans.

Lyn Brans’ blade is for Kalints Brans.

For those who lost everything due to the plague, the second chance they were offered was— naturally— nonexistent.

Such was the era they lived in.

***

Southern continent, Luna’s army / Former capital of the Karelia army, Madralan Castle.

The ‘news’ from Serpina’s forces, as expected, had reached here as well.