Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 249: Lies

Could it be?

The shock from the thought that suddenly popped into my mind was so great that I lost my words, unable to hide my expression.

"...Swen?"

Even though I tried not to show it, Serpina was eerily good at reading my thoughts.

And in this moment, I was in no position to hide what was going on in my mind.

It was no surprise that she was looking at me with a confused expression.

"Uhm... Please wait a moment, Lady Serpina."

Instead of responding or replying, she slowly nodded.

I needed to gather my thoughts.

In order to confirm whether the idea that flashed in my mind was truly correct, I needed a few more pieces of information.

What questions could I ask that would reveal these "pieces"?

It had to be within the scope of military strategy and would need to allow me to confirm my thoughts. If I could find a question that would lead to that...

"...My lord. Would it be efficient to immediately form troops and carry out relief efforts for the plague victims near Kelstein Castle? Could you ask that...?"

Kelstein Castle ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) is near the border.

While soldiers might not understand, it would certainly be an action that could help the citizens of our territories.

She looked at me with concern as I asked this question, one I had not explained.

But without any suspicion, she simply repeated my question.

"...What do you think about forming troops and carrying out relief efforts for the plague victims near Kelstein Castle?"

My brain, with an intelligence of 100, answered as it always did, simply transmitting my country’s position.

[This is a decision that offers no benefits in any aspect.]

―Ah.

Now, I understood.

I understood why such a terrible rumor had spread about Serpina.

I even understood why, despite her decision to save her people, she had not been able to dispel those rumors.

It was clear now, given that the answer came with the phrase "no benefits in any aspect."

If she took such action, it would be broadcast that Serpina didn't spread the plague but rather worked on humanitarian relief even though there was no major outbreak of the plague in her territories. This would possibly help improve her damaged reputation.

If the citizens’ evaluation of their lord improves, it would benefit the nation. There’s no way such a decisive answer would have come otherwise. It would have been more tactful to respond with something milder, like "That’s not the case."

But when the result was as definite as cutting with a knife...

Right.

My prediction wasn’t based on my own perspective, but that of my nation’s position.

I lost four territories. In return, a potentially dangerous rival like the Aishus army had collapsed. Additionally, the Chel army was swept away, and with the plague spreading, the central continent had turned into a wasteland.

'This wasn't all of it.'

And...

The most obstructive force to our nation's unification—Serpina’s reputation—had been utterly ruined by an unavoidable misunderstanding.

I felt like I was about to vomit...

'This was part of the prediction...!!!'

I accepted my prediction.

***

We stood there in the palace, silent, for a long while.

My prediction had been the best decision for Serpina's army—but it wasn’t for Serpina as a person.

I recalled the prediction once again, a blow to my mind that felt like a hard hit to the head, and I fell back into thought.

'Was I being naive...?'

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

No matter how objectively I tried to think, realizing this felt like something only a god, not a human, would have noticed.

Blaming myself first, instead of someone else, was definitely constructive, but unnecessary self-blame was not always the answer. Just like at this moment.

I had to protect Serpina.

That was meaningful to me in two ways.

First, it was the way to keep my promise to Luna.

Second, it was because it was what I truly wanted.

The unification of the continent through the Serpina army wasn’t my concern.

What sense did it make to unify this country by sacrificing Serpina?

It just felt... unfair. Even though this wasn’t something I caused, it still felt like an injustice.

A ruler who, by following an efficient strategist's plans, ends up tightening their own neck.

Despite working so hard, she was someone who would willingly save people, even knowing she might get dirty.

And this is the price?

"...Swen."

"Ah..."

Serpina's voice, close by, brought me back to my senses.

"My lord...?"

Only after hearing my voice did I realize that I was trembling.

And—

Serpina reached out her pure white hand and gently brushed my cheek.

No, she wasn’t just brushing it. She—

"Why are you crying, Swen?"

She was wiping away my tears, which I hadn't even noticed myself.

"...My lord."

"Why do you look so sad?"

Caught in the whirlpool of my thoughts, I didn’t even realize what kind of state I was in until I stopped.

I had thrown out a random question, suddenly wore a serious expression, and then, trembling, tears had started to fall.

I...

What should I say?

As soon as I realized I was crying, and as soon as I noticed that Serpina had come closer to me...

Naturally, as if it was the only thing I could do...

"...!!!"

I hugged her.

"...Lady Serpina."

I, with no hesitation, embraced my lord, committing the grave offense of hugging her without her consent, which could have cost me my head at any moment.

"Lady Serpina is not in the wrong."

I spoke the words that rose from my chest without hesitation.

"Lady Serpina... is not a tyrant who should never have existed."

I tightened my grip around her.

These words... were meant for her, and at the same time, they were meant for myself.

"No matter what, a ruler who uses their position to save people... could never be a tyrant."

"Swen..."

She called my name once, and then fell silent, before slowly... pressing her head against my chest.

And then, she reached up to hold me.

"..."

I could feel her body trembling.

I sensed the heat from her body against my chest.

She... was crying.

Just like I had cried, she too had fallen into tears.

I slowly accepted her into my embrace and leaned my face against her head.

It felt warm.

There was a scent of yuzu, a fragrance that warmed the heart.

I had to protect her.

At this moment, that was the only thought in my mind. Everything else didn’t matter. As long as I could protect her.

I didn’t know why, at this moment, I wanted to hold Serpina.

To be honest, I would never truly understand the feeling I had that day, no matter how many days or years passed.

Even so, I would never regret this action. Probably, until the day I die.

After that, we spent time together, as if the pieces that had once belonged together were finally reunited.

It was truly fortunate that no one entered the palace during that time.

***

As time passed.

After we had regained some composure, Serpina and I sat against a pillar in the palace, relaxed in a comfortable position.

For me, it was one thing, but for her, the ruler, sitting on the floor instead of a throne would definitely raise issues if someone were to witness it.

But well, at this moment, neither of us cared about such formalities. We both knew that it was no longer important.

"Swen."

"Please, speak."

"This is about the question you asked me earlier... Could you tell me why you asked that?"

"..."

I hesitated for a moment.

To be honest, if I were to speak honestly, it would mean telling her that "Lady Serpina is the biggest obstacle to the unification of Serpina's army."

So, I shamelessly lied.

"Because it’s the most efficient method for our army."

"...Why is that?"

"Well, perhaps it's because it would help quell the rumors to some extent?"

I could affirm this based on the outcome of my earlier prediction.

The phrase "no benefits in any aspect" meant that Serpina’s reputation would improve.

And as I said that, I became more convinced when I heard her next words.

"...Didn’t I tell you, Swen? In a situation where even the northern citizens have a low opinion of me, if we mobilize soldiers who are bound to be afraid of the plague and send them to conduct relief work... it won’t calm the rumors. On the contrary, we’ll only hear more bad stories. No matter what you think about it..."

―Ha.

After swallowing what almost became a hollow laugh, I once again realized the weight of what having an intelligence of 100 truly meant.

It really... terrifyingly produced only accurate conclusions.

"No. The soldiers will be fine. And this will solve everything."

I said this, smiling as I looked at Serpina.

With the most confident tone, as though saying "why worry about such things?"

"Have you forgotten, my lord? I have――"

―The ability of insight.