Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 235: Against the Aishus Army, the Retreat from the Border (4)

Inside the Audience Hall of Eingart Castle, the Capital of Serpina’s Army

"They’ve declared war?"

"Yes. Just as you predicted, they’re targeting us, the Serpina Army."

Listening to Serpina speak from the throne, I nodded and immediately offered my advice.

"Send an immediate decree to Kelstein Castle."

"A decree?"

"Yes. Issue an order barring entry and exit—not just for our forces, but for every civilian and soldier on the continent."

"..."

She was more than capable of understanding the implication. After a brief pause, she slowly nodded in agreement.

"Will that be sufficient?"

"Fortunately, the terrain surrounding Kelstein is treacherous. If we block the key passageways, we can effectively cut off any movement from the central continent. And—"

"And?"

"If the illness begins spreading in earnest, make sure to enforce strict travel restrictions."

"Understood."

It had to be an epidemic.

Considering how events were unfolding according to expectations, the likelihood of anything other than an epidemic was practically nonexistent.

The real concern was its severity.

At the very least, our army should be safe.

If it weren’t, this wouldn’t have been considered "the most efficient course of action."

"Oh, and one more request, if I may?"

"Speak."

"Appoint General Irian as the temporary lord of Kelstein Castle."

A few months ago—

Irian had managed to contain a massive crisis thanks to my advice.

That incident had solidified Serpina’s trust in me, making it unforgettable for both of us.

Unless my memory was faulty, that crisis had been... a plague.

I wasn’t sure how he had done it, but I was confident that his intelligence would be an asset once again.

"Very well. We were already in the process of redeploying forces along the border. This will fit into our restructuring efforts."

"Then I’ll leave it in your hands."

For better or worse, the dice had been cast.

Now, all that remained was to wait and see—

What exactly was about to happen that made this "the most efficient" method?

Well then—

What will your next move be, Lady Yuri?

***

Aishus Army Base Camp

Epinnel, having led the vanguard, turned her horse around and rode back into camp to report to Yuri.

"Is what you’re saying true?"

"Yes. There weren’t any stationed troops—only a white flag fluttering above the watchtower."

"Surrender? Serpina’s army?"

At Anima’s reaction, Epinnel scratched the back of her head.

"That’s what I’m saying."

"..."

Anima knew the significance of Hisphil Castle all too well.

Even after Serpina’s forces had halted their advance, border skirmishes had been avoided largely due to Hisphil’s strategic location.

It wasn’t as formidable as Kelstein or Anel Castle, but it was still an incredibly defensible position.

She remembered how desperately she had fought to seize the castle in the past.

Of course, the outcome hadn’t been favorable.

But now?

Serpina was just handing it over?

Of course, she had doubts.

A trap...?

But what kind of trap would justify using such an important fortress as mere bait?

Even as she racked her brain, she couldn’t come up with an answer.

And it wasn’t just her—

Even the smartest tactician wouldn’t easily deduce that Hisphil Castle itself was the bait.

"What do we do? Do we just march in?"

"Could it be a trap...?"

Yuri turned toward Anima.

"It’s certainly suspicious, but... even if it is, predicting what kind of trap it might be is impossible. Besides, would it even make sense for Serpina’s army to set a trap at the cost of losing Hisphil Castle?"

"We did officially declare war, didn’t we?"

"Yes."

"...Then what? Did they really just abandon the territory?"

"...Haa."

If they had been dealing with an ordinary lord, they might have concluded that Serpina had simply surrendered out of fear.

But this was Serpina.

They couldn’t jump to conclusions so easily.

Something feels wrong... Should we really just advance like this?

Just as Anima hesitated—

"Why don’t we just go in?"

Epinnel’s words made Yuri tilt her head.

"Go in?"

"Yeah. They raised a white flag, so they won’t resist. That means we just have to take it. What if we hesitate and let Chel’s army or Carlints’ forces swoop in and claim it instead?"

"This situation is far too strange, no matter how you look at it..."

As Anima continued wavering, Epinnel spoke in a more serious tone.

"Anima. I understand why you’re hesitant. But unless you can give me a solid reason why we shouldn’t move forward, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) it’ll be hard for me to agree with you."

"...Ugh..."

"If this is Serpina's trap, then explain exactly what she stands to gain from setting it up this way."

Epinnel's words were indisputable.

An enemy standing before them with a white flag.

If they didn't act, the situation wouldn't remain this way forever.

And this wasn't just any location—it was Hisphil Castle.

The very place where Anima had risked her life to capture, only to suffer humiliating defeat.

There was no guarantee that the Carlints Army, Chel Army, or even the nearby Hesna Army wouldn't swoop in and claim it for themselves.

If they hesitated, the opportunity might be lost forever.

"Well, the decision is Yuri’s to make, after all. If you feel the same way as Anima, we won’t go in."

"..."

Ultimately, the one who had the final say—and the one who would bear responsibility for all consequences—was Yuri, the supreme commander.

She pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"We're going in."

"Yuri..."

"Anima, you may be right. Serpina might have set something up. But if she has, then I want to face her head-on—I refuse to run away."

Yuri looked at both Epinnel and Anima with unwavering resolve.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

"If I can't crush Serpina, then I can’t hope to claim the world. If this is her trap, then I’ll fight her for real."

For some reason—

Seeing Yuri declare this so confidently made Anima question whether her concerns were even worth considering.

That’s right. With the five of us together, what is there to fear?

If Serpina’s schemes had been something they could logically predict, then avoiding them would be the smart move.

But right now, the situation was too ambiguous to draw any conclusions.

"Fine. We’ll proceed. No objections?"

"None. Let Hernandorf know as well."

"Got it. See you soon, then."

With that, Epinnel mounted her horse and galloped off, disappearing from view.

And thus—

Hisphil Castle, the stronghold that had once pushed Anima to the brink of death yet remained out of reach, was finally about to fall into the hands of the Aishus Army.

***

When Epinnel led her troops past the wide-open gates and into the castle, nothing seemed off.

Or rather—

Nothing seemed off if this situation wasn’t a trap.

That didn't mean there was nothing unusual.

"The civilians were forcibly relocated to the northern frontier?"

"Yes... That’s what happened."

Inside Hisphil Castle, there wasn’t a single Serpina Army soldier to be found.

No soldiers. No officers.

Even the white flag had been hoisted by the remaining civilians, who had heard that the Aishus Army was advancing and had raised it in desperation.

"Then this place is... empty?"

At Epinnel’s question, one of the townspeople bowed his head.

"Essentially, yes. I do not know the full details, but..."

...What is this?

Did Serpina plan to abandon this land?

It was strange enough that she had withdrawn both her officers and soldiers.

But forcibly relocating the civilians?

What possible reason could she have for that?

Forget it. It’s not the first time Serpina’s actions have made no sense.

Overanalyzing the erratic decisions of a mad tyrant was a fool’s errand.

Epinnel chuckled dryly at the thought.

In any case, after securing the castle, she quickly reported the situation to Yuri and Anima, who had arrived from the base camp.

"What do you think, Anima?"

"...What do I think?"

There was only one reason Anima was struggling to make sense of this.

Serpina had nothing to gain from this.

Forcing an entire region’s population into the undeveloped northern frontier was an action with zero tangible benefit.

More importantly, no matter how erratic Serpina was, she wasn’t stupid.

Anima despised her, but she had never thought of Serpina as a reckless brute.

"Forget it."

Lost in thought, Anima felt a hand on her shoulder.

Yuri.

"I don’t know what she’s up to, but we’ve taken Hisphil Castle. We’ll keep pressing forward against Serpina’s forces. And we’ll win. Once we win, everything will be settled."

After a brief hesitation, Anima slowly nodded.

"...Yeah. I’ll always follow your decisions, Yuri."

"Thanks."

And with that—

She forced down the unease creeping into her thoughts.

Praying that all of this was nothing more than baseless paranoia.