Chapter 50

And so, after Lady Luna bowed repeatedly to Karelia and withdrew…

In the audience chamber left with only the two of them, Vanessa finally spoke up.

“Lord.”

“I understand. I know what you’re about to say. It’s fine if you don’t bring it up.”

Karelia said this in a playful tone, but Vanessa replied without a single smile, her expression extremely serious.

“I feel like I must speak nonetheless. Please do not trust Lady Lunarien Iniyan too much. She was once a vassal lord herself. She’s not someone who would be satisfied staying under another.”

“…”

When Lunarien first came with Cain and Tifa, pleading for us to accept their presence…

While there were those who supported, including Karelia and Cecile, there were also those who opposed receiving them.

Vanessa, as one of the leading opposers, strongly argued that taking in someone like Lunarien was akin to adopting a tiger cub—something that absolutely should not be done.

Of course, she secretly thought it might be better to just kill Lunarien outright since she’d come crawling here on her own two feet. But knowing Karelia would never approve of such a suggestion, she refrained from saying so.

Even now, Vanessa didn’t trust Luna at all.

Karelia sighed briefly upon hearing this before looking at Vanessa with a slightly calmer expression.

“Vanessa, are you aware of the rumors surrounding where Lady Luna worked?”

“I am. The people who worked alongside her unanimously praise her, do they not?”

“That’s right. She possesses the ability to win over others’ hearts simply through short periods of working together. Moreover, her achievements in agriculture, commerce, wall repairs, and soldier training have been outstanding.”

Just moments ago, Luna had said she doubted she could achieve results—but that was merely due to weather conditions. Her abilities themselves were incredibly exceptional at everything given to her. Not only skilled, wherever she went, she naturally captured people’s hearts.

“Tevelo Castle is located at the forefront of our army and is an extremely important territory for our future. With Lady Luna’s abilities, she will surely manage Tevelo Castle wisely. Wouldn’t it be a great loss for our army not to value such talented individuals?”

“It could also become a great threat. All we need is for the hearts of the territorial people and those within our Karelia Army to remain solely focused on Lord Karelia. I believe there shouldn’t be anyone in this country capable of becoming the second-in-command under an absolute ruler.”

“As our nation grows larger, wouldn’t that become less difficult?”

“It doesn’t matter. I intend to make it so anyway.”

“…”

In most nations, the role often played by strategists was essentially that of the second-in-command. They were the ones closest to the ruler, aiding in the most intimate decisions.

But the Karelia Army was different. Her strategist, Vanessa, desired no power for herself, choosing instead to remain firmly in Karelia’s shadow. Any accomplishments achieved were made sure to reflect solely on Karelia.

To run a nation, virtue alone can’t solve everything. Sometimes bloodshed was necessary, and that fell to Vanessa as well. Naturally, the Karelia Army became known for its unity under Karelia’s benevolent leadership. Every bit of her popularity owed itself entirely to Vanessa’s efforts.

In Vanessa’s eyes, Lunarien shared too many similarities in character with her own lord, Karelia. Thus, she believed even more strongly that Lunarien shouldn’t be given any opportunity to grow further.

Karelia scratched her head awkwardly before speaking plainly.

“It’s fine. In fact, if someone like Lady Luna rises to claim the world, and if she becomes a greater vassal lord than me… I wouldn’t think it wrong for her to create her own realm then. As long as peace prevails in this world, who rules above it truly matters little, does it?”

“…I only wish to serve under my lord. Such words add yet another reason why I must protect your side, nothing more or less.”

“…Is that so?”

Karelia chuckled a few times good-naturedly before continuing. Indeed, she did possess a somewhat softer disposition. Expanding their influence in the south to this extent was largely thanks to her strategist Vanessa, a fact she fully acknowledged.

“Let’s change the subject. Did you hear that story?”

“What story would that be?”

“They say a man has appeared in Brance Army, performing miracles.”

“You mean… the incident where a massive rock fell from the sky and covered Serpina Army?”

“So you’ve heard as well. Looks like the rumor has spread far and wide already.”

“Considering the scale of the disaster, it’s understandable.”

A rock suddenly fell from the sky. Fine, maybe that part makes sense, but what really caught attention was the tale that a white-haired man had performed some kind of strange ritual beforehand. News reached even the southern Karelia Army, so surely none of the continent’s lords remained unaware.

“A man with the ability to drop rocks from the heavens, hmm? Could it be a legendary mage finally emerging from the tales?”

“Hmm… while I find it hard to believe without seeing it with my own eyes, I disagree somewhat.”

“Differ?”

“For instance, what if the man didn’t directly use magic-like powers to drop the rock but instead staged a ritual to make it seem like his doing, knowing in advance that the rock would fall?”

Karelia’s emerald eyes sparkled upon hearing this.

“Ho, that’s quite an interesting perspective. Why do you think that way?”

“It’s simple. Isn’t it impossible for magic to drop rocks from the sky? Since mages are just mythical beings, I find it more plausible that he simply predicted the timing and acted accordingly.”

Vanessa’s words caused Karelia to ponder again.

“If that’s true, then ‘predicting the timing’ is impressive enough regardless of whether it’s magic or not.”

“…”

Indeed. At this point, even Vanessa found herself momentarily speechless. Whether the man summoned a rock from the heavens or accurately predicted its time and location, both were close to miraculous feats. Honestly, she wasn’t even sure how he managed it.

“I’d like to meet him someday. I hear he’s a young man with white hair.”

“If such a person existed in Brance Army, wouldn’t Lin Brance, being fond of showing off, have already placed him at the forefront by now?”

“Well, perhaps he was an undiscovered talent unearthed recently. Like how I met you. If we talk to him properly, he might share our ideals, don’t you think?”

“…”

Vanessa thought deeply. Whether it was magic or predicting timing, encountering someone capable of causing such unbelievable ‘miracles’—

It would be safer to eliminate him rather than try to tame and control him. A person with such abilities wouldn’t possibly be content staying under someone else.

‘When we eventually oppose Brance Army, we must tread carefully.’

She and her nation had more pressing matters to attend to first: the conquest of the south. Matters concerning Brance Army could wait until later.

‘I will certainly ensure our lord becomes the unifying ruler.’

Despite her softer side, she was undoubtedly the only vassal truly thinking of the welfare of the territorial people and the peace of the continent. To Vanessa, a world where Karelia fails to unify is fundamentally flawed.

…

‘So, shall I depart now?’

Just as she finished preparing to leave and was heading toward her horse, snippets of soldiers’ chatter reached Lunarien’s ears.

“Did you hear? A mage has appeared in Brance Army.”

“He summoned a rock from the heavens and dropped it, right?”

A mage?

Now that she thought about it, though she hadn’t paid much attention amidst her focus on work, rumors of a ‘mage’ appearing in Brance Army had indeed circulated. She vaguely remembered hearing that the miracle he performed didn’t align with any known magical legends.

Rather than such rumors, when Lunarien thought of Brance Army, another image lingered in her mind.

‘Swen… Are you doing well?’

Swen, practically sold off to Brance Army, worried her deeply. Was he faring alright under Lin Brance?

At that moment,

An undeniable word reached her ears.

“A young man with white hair, they say. He conducted a ritual facing the heavens.”

“!!”

Young men with white hair weren’t exactly common across the continent. Among those Lunarien had encountered, there was only one.

“Excuse me! Pardon me!”

“W-what?! L-Lady Lunarien…?”

The soldiers, recognizing her, hastily bowed.

“Wh-what is the matter?! Have we done something wrong…?”

“Is the information about the white-haired man accurate?”

Though they initially tensed, upon hearing the keyword ‘white-haired man,’ they relaxed and responded.

“Yes, that’s the rumor you’re referring to. Indeed, the man has white hair. It’s said he conducted a ritual facing the heavens.”

“Afterward, the skies darkened dramatically, and a colossal rock, akin to divine punishment, fell directly onto Serpina Army.”

“Is that so…?”

The young man with white hair from Brance Army, performing unfathomable miracles. For some reason, she felt certain it was the person she knew.

‘Swen… You’re alive…!’

Summoning a miracle?

It wasn’t surprising at all. Swen had always been like that. Even when she was with him, he had repeatedly performed acts that could only be called miracles. So if someone accomplished something absurd like this—it couldn’t possibly be anyone other than Swen.

“Uh… Lady Lunarien, we have somewhere we need to go. Is it alright if we take our leave?”

“…”

“Very well, we shall take our leave. Please forgive our rudeness.”

With that, the soldiers excused themselves, leaving behind a silent Lunarien. Unaware that they had already departed, she slowly collapsed onto the spot.

‘Swen…! Thank goodness, thank goodness you’re safe… Swen…!’

How long had it been since she last heard news of Swen? Though she trusted his promise to return to their lord’s side and hadn’t worried excessively, unease still lingered. Reflecting on it, Swen tended to express his opinions with strong conviction, which might not always be perceived favorably by others. Especially before Lin Brance, known for arrogance, it could pose dangers.

Yet, it seemed he was alive. Alive and once again—

Performing unfathomable miracles, just as he had done under her.

Summoning a massive rock from the heavens.

It was an absurd tale, but upon realizing Swen was the one behind it, doubts vanished instantly. She firmly believed Swen had summoned it because he always had.

Whenever he declared “I’ll do this” or “This will happen,” he followed through—impossible things included. That was Swen.

Luna slowly rose from her seat. Her ruby eyes burned fiercely.

Knowing Swen was alive—

Any hesitation on her part would now be sinful.

‘I must prepare myself to stand tall when I meet Swen again.’

When the time comes.

When an undeniable moment arrives.

She would seize it with certainty. For Swen, who had survived until today.

‘…’

Thus, Luna mounted her horse, heart brimming with resolve, and headed toward her new destination, Tevelo Castle. She must relay Swen’s news to Tifa and Cain as well. For the first time since losing their country, her heart raced wildly.

* * *

And.

The person who lost their composure upon hearing the phrase ‘young man with white hair’ wasn’t limited to Luna in the southern continent.

“Is it true? A young man with white hair and gray eyes?”

“Grrr…!”

Serpina grabbed Julian, the defeated general, by the collar and interrogated him furiously. She was unusually flustered.

Out of a force of 33,000, an absurd number of 30,000-plus soldiers died from a falling rock.

General Julian, barely surviving, returned with only around 3,000 soldiers. Moreover, according to reports, before the rock fell, a lone man had been conducting a ritual atop the fortress, facing the heavens.

Even these events were incomprehensible enough, but astonishingly, none of it mattered to her right now.

‘White hair, gray eyes… This person…!’

Serpina had rarely encountered a young man with white hair.

If she had, it was only once.

In her dreams.