Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 232: Against the Aishus Army, the Retreat from the Border (3)

Some time later.

A large-scale conscription order was announced in Hisphil Castle, calling for the relocation of residents to the unclaimed lands of the northern continent.

"Does ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) it even make sense to suddenly tell us to relocate?"

"What can we do? It’s not like we have any power..."

"I won’t go, not even if they put a sword to my neck. My family has lived on this land for generations!"

As expected, public opinion was not particularly favorable—

However, surprisingly, quite a number of people seemed to prefer moving to the northern continent, where there was only a single nation, rather than remaining in the central continent, which was on the brink of becoming a battlefield.

"It’s not like we have anything left here either. We might as well go."

"Are the elderly even allowed to come along?"

In the end, about half—slightly more than half, actually—of the population gradually began relocating to the northern continent under the pretext of pioneering the unclaimed lands.

It had been Swen’s suggestion to prioritize sending those who were willing.

Even if it was an official conscription order, forcibly dragging every last person away would have caused immense backlash against Serpina. She had accepted Swen’s reasoning on the matter.

And so, the troops stationed in Hisphil Castle and more than half of the territory’s residents began their move toward the northern continent.

It was an exodus so massive that it was difficult to find any precedent for it in the continent’s history.

***

While the evacuation near the border was still ongoing, she finally reappeared in the capital.

"My lord, this is Jenna. I have completed the mission of patrolling the northern continent under your command and have just returned to Eingart Castle."

At last, the nation’s tactician, Jenna—the unquestioned second-in-command of Serpina’s army—had returned to Eingart Castle.

Even during the attempted assassination of Lady Serpina, she had been absent from the capital, meaning she had been away from her lord’s side for an exceedingly long time.

"You’ve worked hard, Jenna. Thanks to you, I was able to focus on my duties without worry. Your efforts will never be forgotten."

"It was nothing, my lord. Is there anything in particular you need to instruct me on, or anything I should be informed about?"

"Nothing at the moment. For now, get some rest and recover from your journey."

"I will humbly accept your kindness, my lord. Thank you."

After saying that, Jenna approached me, having stood beside Serpina with her head lowered.

I felt a little tense... but unexpectedly, the gaze of this brown-haired tactician carried no hostility.

"You’ve worked hard as well, Lord Swen."

'...?'

She said I had worked hard?

Jenna was undoubtedly aware that I had effectively taken on the role of tactician in her absence. By now, the rumors of Serpina keeping me close had spread far and wide.

The fact that she put it that way... Was she indirectly telling me that she had no objections to my actions?

Either way, there was no need to be foolish and say something that might antagonize her.

"I only did what was necessary."

"I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon. Until then."

As I watched Jenna turn and walk away, I became even more certain.

At the very least, she no longer seemed to view me with suspicion.

During the national council meeting, I had felt her wariness toward me as an outsider.

I didn’t know what had changed, but one thing was clear—even someone completely oblivious to social cues would be able to tell that her attitude toward me was no longer one of distrust.

Regardless—

Serpina, having fully accepted my suggestions, continued to seek my counsel.

"Do you believe it is also efficient to withdraw troops from Zelrin Castle?"

Zelrin Castle was a small territory located north of Hisphil Castle.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

[Yes.]

"I see... So that’s how it is."

"Understood. I will follow your advice."

And so, one after another, we gradually abandoned the territories of the central continent that we had barely managed to reclaim from Brans Army.

There should have been resistance to this decision, but by the time we had already given up the most critical strategic stronghold—Hisphil Castle—there was little reason to hold onto the remaining scattered territories, many of which were difficult to defend.

Surprisingly, the process moved along without much issue.

What was unexpected...

Was that Jenna, despite officially resuming her role as the nation’s tactician, never voiced any objections.

On the contrary, she actively helped persuade the senior officials who were dissatisfied with these decisions.

It was clear that, without her support, things would not have proceeded as smoothly as they had.

Even though Serpina was a charismatic monarch with absolute authority, there was a significant difference between pushing an idea forward alone and doing so alongside a tactician who had earned the trust of her subordinates.

Especially when it involved actions that appeared irrational at first glance—such as suddenly abandoning territories they had fought so hard to claim.

Whether Jenna had undergone a change of heart or whether she had an ulterior motive, I couldn’t say.

But from my perspective, as long as she was aiding my efforts without protest, I had no reason to be dissatisfied.

And so, time and again, we continued issuing conscription orders, relocating as many residents as possible while withdrawing troops from the border regions.

Then, one day—

"Swen, what do you think about pulling back the forces stationed at Kelstein Castle?"

Once again, I was being asked the same question as always.

'Would it be most efficient to withdraw the troops at Kelstein Castle to the northern continent?'

And once again, the answer came.

The fact that an answer arrived was the same as before—

[No, it would not.]

'...!'

The response that came was... slightly different.

I looked up at Serpina and spoke.

"My lord."

"...Ho."

Just from hearing me call her "my lord," Serpina seemed to understand something. She nodded before asking another question.

"Swen, do you believe that stationing troops at Kelstein Castle is the most efficient course of action?"

As expected of Lady Serpina—she always asked the exact question I wanted to hear.

Would it be an exaggeration to say that, in moments like these, we felt like the perfect partners?

'Is it most efficient to station troops at Kelstein Castle?'

[Yes.]

'Here it is.'

At last, we had found the threshold for where our retreat would stop.

Kelstein Castle.

The first Brans-held territory that Serpina’s forces had reclaimed, the gateway to the central continent—

And at the same time, a fortress positioned on the route leading to the northern continent.

There was no other land in the vicinity with greater strategic value than Kelstein Castle.

If even this place needed to be abandoned, I would have been concerned about how Jenna—who had thus far been silently aligning with us—might react.

But fortunately, it seemed I had not yet completely incurred the heavens’ wrath this time.

The heavens' wrath, huh.

Ever since I had come to stand by Serpina’s side, I found myself entertaining such superstitious thoughts more often.

"That is correct."

"I see. In that case... the plague must be beginning to spread across the central continent. Many will die once again."

"That depends on how it is handled..."

"..."

Serpina fell silent in thought for a moment before posing a simple question.

"What is the current scale of the population relocating to the northern continent?"

"More than half from Hisphil Castle, and around thirty to forty percent from the other territories."

"I see..."

Her golden eyes seemed to dim slightly.

Her reputation among the people would have undoubtedly fallen yet again.

To the residents, the conscription order must have felt like a bolt from the blue.

Even if they were not forcibly removed, commoners had no choice but to heed the will of their rulers.

But Serpina was unconcerned with the burden of such reputational damage.

She simply wanted to save as many people as possible.

She believed in my prediction of the plague... and that belief had led her to take action.

If no outbreak occurred, she would be remembered only as a tyrant who had cast her people into barren lands.

"...Lady Serpina."

"Speak."

"You cannot save everyone. I believe you have done everything you could."

Serpina remained silent for a long while before slowly nodding.

"You are truly a kind person, Swen."

"..."

"Do you have any particular engagements tonight?"

"I do not. Is there something you require of me?"

"Well, it is not exactly a command—more of a personal request."

Serpina looked at me with the faintest curl of her lips.

"Would you care to keep me company tonight and serve me some wine?"

After everything we had been through, she must have had a great deal on her mind as well.

If I could be the support she needed, sharing a drink with her was hardly a difficult task.

"I would be honored."

"Good. Thank you, Swen."

Slowly but surely, in a way that could not be denied—

I was becoming someone truly important to her.

And in the same way...

Serpina was becoming someone irreplaceable to me.