Chapter 121

“Ah… Lady Iren!”

“Is it true that you’re using this room…?”

“Oh, yes! This is my room. I heard a new recruit would be arriving today… and that recruit turned out to be Lady Iren?”

Thus began Silin’s reunion.

“Um… Do you know each other?”

“Ah. We briefly worked together when I was with the Brance Army.”

“Hello, I’m Silin.”

“A-Ah… um, I’m… Reika…”

“So you’re Lady Reika. Did you join as a civil servant?”

“Ah, no… I, I, um…”

Instead of her usual stuttering in front of new people, Iren stepped forward to explain the situation.

“So, Lady Reika isn’t exactly part of our army’s armed forces but… she’s here under special permission from Lady Serpina, accompanying Lady Iren?”

“One could say so.”

“I see…! Of course, even our lord is generous enough to extend such courtesies.”

The lord Silin referred to naturally wasn’t Lin but Serpina.

There was no way I could let that pass without asking.

“So… though it feels strange for me to ask directly.”

Iren cleared his throat several times before continuing.

“How did you end up here, with the Serpina Army?”

“Ah…”

Silin sighed briefly, asked if it was okay to drink some tea, then naturally joined the conversation.

After sipping the tea, she began her story.

“Really, so much has happened.”

The sound of the teacup hitting the table.

Reika hastily wiped away the spilled water, creating white noise mixed with the story.

“Lady Iren. Though I’m saying this openly now… I understand why you betrayed Lin.”

Silin spoke with determination in her eyes.

“Whoever looks at it can clearly see Lin Brance was the one who drove Lady Iren to the edge first, right?”

“Hmm.”

He didn’t deny it since it was true.

Since it was past, there was no point lingering unnecessarily. He no longer wanted to be dragged around like before.

“After the decision to abandon Lady Iren at the fortress, even among the returning warriors, there were many discussions. If someone as brilliant as General Iren Juliat could be treated so poorly, what chance do we ordinary soldiers have? Still, since we had nowhere else to go… we just stayed as things were. Those with ambition resigned, but people like me and Jack, who cared more about eating, just kept doing our jobs. Our loyalty was gone though.”

They’re human after all.

No matter how disagreeable a commander might be, seeing them push their subordinates into certain death isn’t something easily ignored.

Rumors can be squashed and hidden, but once the commanders receive orders to “return,” those thoughts remain etched in their minds.

“But still! I heard! Something about dropping boulders from the sky to block an attack, right?!”

“Ah… Swen did most of the work, not me.”

“That’s right! It was Sir Swen! The handsome one standing nearby!”

Silin’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“He really was handsome, and I wanted to get closer, but our connection didn’t last.”

“…”

“So, by the way, what happened to Swen? Didn’t he follow you?”

“…Yes. That’s correct. He’s still here.”

“What? You mean…?”

“Yes. Currently, Swen too is part of the Serpina Army.”

“My goodness.”

Silin covered her face with one hand in disbelief.

“We meet again like this? Incredible!”

Though Iren felt something subtle he’d never experienced before from Silin’s expressions and tone, he remained silent, unsure how to describe it, merely sipping his tea.

“I should visit him when I have time.”

Iren cut off the conversation abruptly.

“Anyway, Silin. How did you end up here?”

“Me? Well… after that day, I was assigned to Reismen Castle.”

“Reismen Castle? Near Kelshtain…?”

“Yes. It’s quite small. After Lady Iren left, Anel Castle got noisy, so being reassigned wasn’t bad… As you know, after Kelshtain Castle fell, we were overwhelmed by the Serpina Army. I’ve heard they lost their troops due to some conflict with the Aishias Army, but details never reached someone like me.”

After finishing her tea,

“I… Um, this…”

“Ah, thank you.”

She munches on the snack handed over by Reika.

“We surrendered immediately upon being occupied. Since I saw Lin abandon Lady Iren, I had no attachment to the Brance Army anymore.”

“I see.”

Even though he was saved reluctantly by Swen…

Still, there were people whose hearts swayed at his sight.

Oddly enough, that fact comforted Iren now.

“How’s Jack? Is he doing well?”

“I lost contact with Jack after our assignments separated. Honestly, we weren’t that close; he was just a coworker. Not like Swen, who was a decent guy.”

“…”

Iren barely swallowed back the comment about why Swen kept coming up.

Lately, he’d realized he was becoming unusually sensitive about topics involving Swen.

“Right. May I ask one question?”

“Hmm.”

“Lady Iren, you joined the Aishias Army, didn’t you? So how did you end up here?”

“…”

For a moment, Iren pondered how to explain, but

There was no need to tell Silin everything.

“Well, various circumstances arose. As you know, it’s an era of chaos.”

“To think I’d end up serving the tyrant Serpina… I never imagined it.”

Silin smiled slightly after saying that.

“But it’s fine.”

“Fine?”

“Lady Serpina. I think she’s a lord worth serving. There’s an excitement here I never felt under Lin.”

The subsequent conversation mainly revolved around Serpina’s role here and how she treated the territorial people.

The information wasn’t particularly surprising. Serpina wasn’t committing the atrocities rumored. She only showed ruthlessness during rebel uprisings; otherwise, she ruled strictly based on reward and punishment, stabilizing internal affairs.

When internal affairs stabilize, the economy activates, and when the economy activates, it leads to the loyalty of the territorial people. There’s nothing more important than solving basic survival issues.

“So, I’m considering putting down roots here.”

“Putting down roots?”

“Yes. Looking at the continent’s situation, it seems our lord will become the unifying sovereign. Brance has fallen, and the remaining nations aren’t significant threats.”

‘…’

Can Serpina truly become the unifying sovereign?

But wasn’t it Swen himself who affirmed it?

“I serve the sole person capable of conquering this continent and becoming the unifying sovereign.”

“Ho? Who’s that?”

“Someone Lady Iren probably knows. Didn’t you meet them a few months ago?”

Lunarien Iniyan.

Swen had declared that the ruby-eyed woman, full of vitality, would become the unifying sovereign.

Having spent considerable time with her, Iren understood. Even if the claim initially seemed incomprehensible, Swen’s words always turned out to be true.

Though she hasn’t reappeared on the historical stage yet…

Can she really defeat Serpina, who already has the support of her people?

‘…Never mind.’

It doesn’t matter anyway.

Isn’t the ultimate person Iren serves Lunarien?

‘My life belongs to that man.’

If Swen commands it, she’ll wield her sword to protect his chosen sovereign.

Iren no longer wavered.

As long as Swen stood by her side, she could become the strongest knight.

* * *

‘This is Einhardt Royal Palace, huh.’

Indeed, the former capital city of the empire.

Its grand and vintage decorations and sculptures held something that overwhelmed anyone who looked.

Though the style felt slightly more modern at Anel Castle…

The old-world charm and elegance, making it feel very prestigious, placed this Einhardt Castle a step above.

Entering here gave a stronger impression of ‘being somewhere incredibly important.’

After being assigned dormitory quarters, Serpina summoned me for the first time.

She called me simply to “ask for opinions,” which was unusual compared to the lords I’d served before, making me slightly tense.

‘Well, probably just gathering bureaucrats for some casual Q&A.’

With that thoughtless assumption, I entered the audience chamber designated by Serpina.

“…”

“Ah, Swen, you’ve arrived.”

Serpina greeted me while lounging in her chair, legs crossed lazily, gazing ahead.

Today, she wasn’t wearing the officer’s uniform of the imperial army I’d seen before.

Instead, she wore a dress fit for a queen—quite alluring.

A somewhat provocative design revealing her shoulders but without any vulgar or cheap feeling.

Her dazzling platinum hair accessory stood out against her entirely golden appearance.

…Beautiful.

Regardless of the master-servant relationship, as a man, I couldn’t help but admit her beauty moved me.

And beside her…

About five warriors stood facing each other across the red carpet.

All unfamiliar faces, except for the brown-haired woman next to the throne, whose face was familiar.

The national strategist of the Serpina Army, who appears first in the game to explain basic controls.

‘Jena.’

Recalling her name brought that moment back vividly.

* * *

[Serpina Army Strategist / Jena]

[My lord, do not fall for sweet words.]

* * *

Because of Jena’s advice, Serpina imprisoned me.

How could I forget that moment?

She wasn’t an extraordinary general, but starting with Serpina, Jena was one of the few reliable civil officers.

Seeing her in person felt different from her pixelated image.

Though relatively plain next to Serpina, who embodied beauty itself, Jena had a pretty face.

After scanning her face briefly, I prepared to kneel.

“Let’s keep formalities brief.”

“…Swen, greeting my lord.”

Following her wishes, I gave a light bow and took a seat opposite the only empty space.

“Good. Now everyone’s gathered.”

Despite starting on time, somehow I ended up being the last to arrive.

Maybe I should leave earlier next time for a smoother start.

While I entertained such thoughts,

“Then, let’s begin the twenty-eighth opinion proposal meeting of the year.”

…What?

Even ignoring the opinion proposal part, twenty-eighth?

Counting the current date, we haven’t even passed the halfway point of the year yet?

So, this isn’t the regular council meetings I’ve been attending in my previous lethargic states—it’s more like a casual club meeting?

Does this mean the Serpina Army prepares this thoroughly for battle?

Contrary to my slight shock, everyone here listened calmly to Serpina’s voice.

Some even showed obvious pride and gratitude at being called to offer opinions.

Being summoned here to give opinions… is this a joy for them?

“Alright.”

Serpina extended her pale hand toward us.

Her smooth skin adorned with gold jewelry extending to the sleeve near her armpit exuded a mysterious allure.

“How should our army proceed from here? As always, feel free to speak your minds.”