Chapter 244

* * *

It wasn’t just the Aishias Army that was in a bad situation.

“Jes is dead…?”

“Yes. After contracting that plague, there was no improvement and eventually…”

Even Chel, who had been barely holding out by targeting the tails of the Aishias Army’s reckless frontal assaults fueled by vengeance, felt everything come to a halt.

“So that’s how it is…”

“What do you think we should do?”

“There’s nothing to think about. Minimize contact with the body and burn it. This isn’t the time to worry about formalities or respect.”

“Yes, understood.”

Jes had been one of Chel’s trusted aides, acting like his shadow ever since the days when he served in the Brance Army. Though he cared for him, Chel judged it correct to dispose of the corpse quickly rather than risk retaliation from the plague.

After all, this was an era of chaos. Ethics were lighter than a bird’s feather long ago.

After dismissing the soldier, Chel fell into thought.

‘The fact that the Aishias bastards have gone quiet means their situation must be as bad as ours… Maybe it’s time to consider a ceasefire agreement.’

Secure Joge Castle and Langbow Castle near the capital from the Aishias Army. In return, hand over Alcanwood Castle and Mirage Castle—enticing bait they’d surely covet.

From their perspective, Joge Castle and Langbow Castle were practically beyond their borders. The reason relatively weaker forces like ours could hold out against the Aishias Army was due to successfully creating buffer zones. Moreover, neither Joge nor Langbow Castles were particularly valuable territories. To us, they feel like daggers pressed against our capital, but given the current plague-induced inability to fight effectively, these buffer zones are likely more trouble than they’re worth for them.

‘It’s disappointing that we’ll gain nothing in this deal, but handing over two castles to secure two others seems like something they might consider.’

Overall, it was a clear loss for Chel’s forces. Mirage Castle held strategic value as part of the route connecting to Kelshtain Castle on the Northern Continent. And Alcanwood Castle would be crucial for the Aishias Army now dealing with buffer zones. Compared to Joge Castle, which merely sits before our temporary capital, they’re quite expensive sacrifices…

‘My mistake, if anything, was underestimating how recklessly they’d charge forward after losing Erhandorf.’

Chel didn’t regret killing Erhandorf. Releasing such a significant figure would’ve been one of the dumbest things he could’ve done. Thinking back, trying to scheme for profit wasn’t really his forte anyway.

‘Whatever. Once the plague settles down, we can reclaim what we lost.’

With his mind cleared, Chel addressed a nearby soldier.

“Hey!”

“Yes, Lord!”

“Summon anyone available from the castle here immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

First, let’s try to mend things. We’ll deal with the aftermath later.

Chel casually pondered the future, completely unaware of one critical oversight—

* * *

Inside the royal palace of Langwood Castle.

“A ceasefire agreement?”

In response to Yuri’s question, the armed envoy from the Chel Army bowed deeply.

“Yes. Our lord proposes exchanging Joge Castle, Langwood Castle, Mirage Castle, and Alcanwood Castle as terms for a ceasefire agreement.”

“…”

Yuri stared emotionlessly at the envoy. Anima was gravely ill, leaving this decision solely up to her. Even if Anima were well, Yuri herself knew she wouldn’t make any other choice besides the one already decided in her mind upon hearing of the envoy’s arrival.

“…Hah.”

The envoy broke into a cold sweat seeing Yuri smirk bitterly. What was going on?

An unprecedented discomfort enveloped the royal palace of Langwood Castle, something the mere envoy had never experienced before.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“Yes. We only hope you’ll make a wise decision for the future of both armies.”

Another silence followed until Yuri finally spoke.

“…Listen.”

“Speak your command.”

“Was killing Erhandorf a wise decision from your perspective?”

“…”

Of course, the envoy knew the war started because the prisoner they killed was an important figure in the Aishias Army. But knowing that didn’t give him the authority to decide anything. To him, the decisions of those above were like whirlpools—he couldn’t help but get dragged into them.

Though hesitant to judge, he was ordered by Chel to succeed in securing the ceasefire agreement.

Thus, bowing again, the envoy pleaded:

“It’s an era of chaos, Lady Yuri. Many have died in this war, and the suffering of the territorial people has only worsened with the spread of the plague. Don’t we all wish for peace across this continent? Please set aside your anger and join us in making a decision for the future.”

“Is that all you have to answer my question?”

“…”

The envoy remained silent.

“Peace… you desire peace… what a beautiful word.”

Yuri muttered the word ‘peace’ repeatedly before rising from her seat and slowly approaching the envoy.

‘!!’

At that moment, the envoy instinctively realized this might be his last chance to speak.

“Yu… Yuri-sama, please calm down…”

But the envoy’s final sentence went unfinished. Instead, his head rolled across the floor.

“…In my vision of peace, there’s no place for fools like you.”

Spitting out an unspeakable reply, Yuri wiped the bloodied sword and called out to a soldier.

“Are you there?”

“A, I… Yes, sir!”

“Send this man’s head to Chel. And include a letter stating I hope they never mention ‘ceasefire agreement’ again.”

“A…”

Shaken by the sudden turn of events, the soldier trembled but…

“What are you waiting for? Do as I say.”

“A, a, yes sir!”

Ceasefire agreement?

She hadn’t even considered such a thing for a moment. Despite the deaths caused by the ongoing war, the Aishias Army still dominated the Chel Army. Once this damn plague subsides, if Anima recovers and spring brings some relief, they planned to retake Alcanwood Castle, secure supply lines, and launch a direct assault on the capital.

‘Erhandorf… I’ll make sure you rest in peace. Just wait a little longer…’

* * *

And yet…

Her hopes were shattered without warning.

“What… did you say, Epinal?”

“That’s right. Emma…”

Epinal choked back tears, voice trembling.

“Emma started showing high fever symptoms. Three hours ago, she spat blood…”

“How could Emma suddenly…? She was healthy! She didn’t even come into contact with patients…!”

“I don’t know… but the doctors confirm the symptoms are unmistakable…”

Following Anima fighting for her life…

Emma, who worked tirelessly for revenge against Erhandorf, contracted the plague.

Unbelievably, despite its low infection rate…

It happened to be a disease with a high mortality rate.

Two of them.

‘Ah…!!!’

Thud.

“Yu… Yuri…!”

Losing all strength in her legs, Yuri collapsed, eyes vacant.

Our oaths. Our promises. Our memories.

The world of the five of us…

Was collapsing uncontrollably.

* * *

“Damn bitch!”

Upon confirming the envoy’s severed head, Chel slammed his fist into the armrest of the throne in rage.

‘How dare I endure the humiliation of having my envoy murdered while being powerless due to the plague!’

He tried to resolve matters wisely, but the golden opportunity had long passed from his perspective. His pride couldn’t allow him to just sit there and take it. At this point, who started it or who was at fault mattered little. Like Yuri, Chel burned with fury, unable to coexist with someone like her under the same sky.

‘Once this plague subsides, I’ll lead the charge myself and sever that damn woman’s head!’

Just then…

“Lord… Lord!”

A soldier rushed toward Chel with urgency. Irritated, Chel barked.

“What is it?! Did you forget my order not to disturb me unless it’s urgent?!”

“But…!!!”

Chel’s fiery gaze locked onto the soldier, whose right arm bore a red armband—the insignia of a messenger. Seeing this, Chel froze in shock.

Messenger.

No one else but a messenger rushing in meant only one thing.

“The Kalintz Army… with over 60,000 troops… is advancing on Haizel Castle!!!”

‘Kalintz, you idiot…!!!’

Chel lowered his head in disbelief.

‘With a plague spreading… and they’re initiating battle? Have they gone mad?’

At a time when measures to contain the plague were desperately needed, deploying large forces for an attack was nothing short of suicidal!

‘Kalintz… you’ve forced my hand…!!!’

Yet, there was nothing he could do. Like Yuri, he had no choice but to swallow this humiliation and somehow manage the situation.

Neither Chel, caught off guard by unforeseen circumstances, nor Yuri, who lost two dear comrades simply by deciding to attack the Serpina Army, could have known…

That all of this stemmed from a single question posed by the ruler to their strategist—a question that always yielded infallible answers…

[Is it most efficient to retreat border troops to Kelshtain Castle?]

[Yes.]

…From that moment, the moment the strategist with Divinity 100 made an unshakable prediction, every nation except the strategist’s own, the Serpina Army, became powerless to achieve anything meaningful.

* * *