Chapter 167

“Exactly when do you plan to move out?”

“Probably about 3-4 days from now.”

“Understood.”

After roughly setting the date to vacate the accommodation, I left a short note in the room.

“Senior Jenis, it was great staying here. Thank you very much… something like that should be fine, right?”

Though I managed to save my life, having been imprisoned once means I won’t be doing anything reckless again.

That’s fortunate at least. Seeing someone with whom I’ve formed some connection die wouldn’t be a pleasant experience.

This morning,

I woke up beside Lady Serpina.

It wasn’t quite an official ceremony, but essentially I spent the night with her.

She said I was the first outsider to ever enter her bedroom.

Being the first to intrude on someone’s personal space gave me a strangely indescribable feeling.

“What was that dream I had this morning?”

They say dreams are manifestations of the subconscious.

Serpina clinging to me, begging me not to leave. Luna calling out for me to come to her.

While it might be somewhat excessive self-awareness, assuming this reflects my psychological state…

“My heart is wavering, huh.”

After leaving the Lunarien Army,

Even when I was with the Brance Army or the Aishias Army,

I never once doubted who I should serve.

Maybe because I could clearly see the flaws in the rulers I served, or perhaps due to forming relationships with people like Lady Iren and Reika instead of focusing on rulers – but this was the first real conflict I’ve experienced.

According to my predictions, the unifier of the continent would be Lady Luna as long as Lady Serpina remains where she is.

In that case, this shouldn’t even be something to worry about. I should serve the unifying ruler.

But why… does she keep coming to mind?

Why did she appear in my dreams?

Why do I feel inexplicable comfort and warmth in situations that would make me uncomfortable or unpleasant with anyone else, simply because it’s her?

I remember her looking at her wine glass with a bitter smile.

She looked so lonely, so fragile, like everything could collapse at any moment… her image keeps haunting me.

The unification of the continent by the Lunarien Army would mean the downfall of the Serpina Army.

That’s almost a certainty. After all, two suns can’t rise in the same sky.

If the Serpina Army falls… what happens to Lady Serpina?

It’s hard to imagine someone with the blood of Einhardt submitting to another.

Even in games, she never surrendered unless her country was completely destroyed, and even then only reluctantly.

So… would she be killed?

Would Lady Luna be the one to close Lady Serpina’s eyes?

Lady Luna is a generous ruler, but she lost her only sibling to Serpina in the past. She probably wouldn’t forgive her easily.

Then what should I do?

Help Lady Luna… and be the one to end Lady Serpina’s life? Is that the right answer?

“Haa…”

I never thought I’d have thoughts like these.

Honestly – when I was transported into this game, I didn’t immediately realize it was 100% reality.

With rules like “Divinity 100 strategists are always correct” being applied so vividly, I was operating half in game mode.

However…

Since meeting James, the soldier who vowed to cherish the Lunarien flag,

Meeting Lady Iren,

Encountering her loyal soldiers,

People like Lin and Yuri who act on emotion rather than gain, each with their own stories,

Rayka seeking freedom, and even Lady Serpina feeling burdened by her throne right now…

This world is undeniably real.

Therefore… it’s not easy to simply choose the “most advantageous option.”

Can I easily decide to abandon Lady Serpina since I know Lady Luna is the right choice?

If I could have made that decision easily, I would have just followed the new ruler after letting Serpina die, waiting comfortably for Lady Luna to rise without lifting a finger.

Just as I chose the longer path instead of abandoning Lady Luna back then…

Now I find myself unable to easily betray Lady Serpina, who continued to trust me despite repeated betrayals.

“Tough situation…”

Though Lady Luna hasn’t yet risen in rebellion, I don’t need to worry about this right now…

Still, it’s better to think ahead about what to do rather than face it unprepared.

With that thought, I threw myself onto the bed.

Right now, I just wanted to see Lady Iren.

When I’m with her, I don’t have to deal with these complicated thoughts – just being with her feels enough.

Perhaps the reason I resisted Lady Serpina’s advances was partly because I valued my life, but also because I couldn’t involve myself with another woman while Lady Iren was still around.

“For now, let’s rest.”

Though I had just woken up and didn’t really need sleep,

I closed my eyes anyway.

If only I could take my brain out and clean it.

* * *

“Thank you for your hard work, Lord Rem.”

“Has the strategist arrived?”

This place is Jeilrant Castle.

A small territory several castles west of Anel Castle, currently under the control of the Brance Army.

Using Anel Castle as the central point of the Central Continent, this area could be considered part of the Western Continent without exaggeration.

Lady Aneca Rem bowed her head to Parphale.

“Our lord…”

“…is currently resting in the side wing.”

“I see…”

“…We will likely remain here for a while longer. Since he’s just resting, please continue with your duties as castle lady.”

“Understood.”

Parphale exchanged brief greetings with Lord Rem before departing from Jeilrant Castle’s royal palace.

After forming an alliance with the Serpina Army,

As Parphale predicted, concentrating all northern continent forces in southwestern areas allowed them to easily repel the Hesna Army’s offensive.

The Roland Army, positioned next to the Hesna Army, seemed to have planned an invasion originally, but appears to have postponed their attack upon assessing the situation.

In any case, enduring that humiliation proved worthwhile.

The problem was Lin.

Since that day, Lin has been like a wax figure, issuing no commands whatsoever.

Though Parphale had been managing state affairs since Lin’s rampage began, preventing immediate government paralysis, at that time Lin was gradually regaining composure while listening to Parphale’s advice. But now…

Having finished her report, Parphale headed to the annex outside Jeilrant Castle.

Originally used as a warehouse, it was converted into a villa for Lin’s use.

Jeilrant Castle wasn’t a developed territory with separate villas, just a minor land connecting to the Western Continent, so there was no need for such accommodations.

Lin mostly stayed here instead of returning to Anel Castle.

Upon arriving at the annex, an old man dressed as a priest greeted Parphale.

In a world where religion is a joke, this elderly man in priest robes was quite unusual.

“Ah, Parphale.”

“Is our lord well?”

“She’s resting… but…”

The priest closed his eyes and shook his head silently.

Without responding directly, Parphale nodded respectfully and slowly knocked on the door to her room.

“…My lord. It’s Parphale. I’ll enter.”

Though no voice came from beyond the door, Parphale carefully opened it to find Lin sitting at the desk, grinning widely.

“Oh? Parphale, you’re here!”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Hey. Any word from the search party?”

“You mean the search party…”

“Yeah! The search party! Anything new?”

Seeing Lin speak childishly, Parphale bit her lip and replied in a subdued voice.

“Yes… not yet…”

“Hmm? Sorry about that. Could you ask them to keep trying? I swear he’s still hiding somewhere in this city! He doesn’t have enough time to escape, and our troops surround the area completely. Didn’t I tell you? There was this one time he spoke extremely properly in front of me. Remember?”

“…Yes.”

“That’s right. So tell the search party again. White hair, young, and quite handsome. You’d be surprised too, Parphale! You’d definitely wonder why such a guy was serving someone so insignificant like me!”

Lin spoke excitedly with a bright, childlike smile.

Watching her, Parphale could only slowly bow her head, unable to respond.

After a few minutes,

Lin began complaining while biting her fingernails.

“It’s taking too long even though I assigned both Brother and that annoying woman to the search. We need to quickly recruit that man and return to Anel Castle, right?”

“…”

The reason she was fixated on Jeilrant Castle:

This was the former base of the insignificant Lunarien Army, and the place where she met the white-haired strategist Swen.

“Certainly, he’s not just talk. I do have an eye for people, you know? Even I can recognize talent, Parphale. Don’t you agree? I’m better at finding capable individuals than my brothers, aren’t I?”

“Yes, my lord. I understand…”

“Now he’s probably hiding somewhere, but we’ll find him soon with the search party! Good. I’m not that bad of a person either. If that annoying woman finds Swen quickly, I’ll give her an important position! Since she follows my every word, she’ll surely be moved to tears! See how generous I am.”

Her blue eyes sparkling, she spoke enthusiastically.

On surface appearance alone, she seemed no different from her past self – the charismatic ruler who once dominated the Central Continent and prepared to advance north.

“Hehe… Swen, what kind of expression will you make when you come under me? You might initially resist, but eventually we’ll share the same dream… Our Brance Army will unify the continent! Ufufu♡”

‘Lord…’

–Currently, Lin suffers from deep trauma-induced mental illness,

Her consciousness has regressed to the period just before meeting Swen, and she exhibits abnormal obsession while searching for Swen who has already left Jeilrant Castle.