Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 310: The Aishus Army Disappears from the World (2)
‘...What?’
Something was off.
We had just received confirmation of a major victory, yet both Airen and Irian... didn’t look like victors at all.
And judging by the look in Serpina’s eyes, she noticed it too. Her tone turned more serious.
“We have secured a great victory. Why then do your faces look so grim?”
“It’s...”
Airen clenched her fists in frustration, then raised her head to meet Serpina’s gaze squarely.
“Generals Neian, Amin, and Miles... have fallen in battle.”
‘...!!’
Neian—I’d only known the name. But Amin and Miles... I’d met them before.
Back when I first joined Serpina’s forces, during the "Opinion Exchange Meeting."
There was a woman there too, one who had plotted rebellion—that stuck in my mind. I could still remember each of their faces clearly.
“What was the cause?”
“All three are believed to have fallen while fighting a single opponent,” Airen replied grimly.
Irian, who had been silent until now, knelt and laid a cloth-wrapped bundle in front of Serpina, bowing deeply.
“Their heads.”
“Whose head is that?”
“Epinnel Rosenkross.”
“!!!”
Once again, I couldn’t help but be shocked.
Epinnel Rosenkross.
The strongest of the Aishus Three Pillars. In practice, the second-in-command of the Aishus Army.
Airen and I had once served under her command.
Even though it should have been a possibility, I hadn’t expected to meet her again like this.
Serpina seemed familiar with the name too. She looked surprised for a moment before nodding slowly.
“I see. It seems all three gave everything they had until the end.”
“Forgive me. Had General Airen and I moved sooner, perhaps our side wouldn’t have suffered such a loss—”
“Irian. Please refrain from words that tarnish the honor of those who fought for us until the end.”
“...!! N-No, that wasn’t my intention—!”
“I understand. I know what you meant. But I believe we only managed to bring Epinnel down thanks to the strength those three showed first.”
Irian hesitated, then bowed his head again, visibly ashamed.
“...My thoughts were short-sighted, my lady.”
Serpina didn’t reply and turned instead to our commander-in-chief.
“Airen. What of the prisoners?”
“We’ve secured most of those who remained in the Aishus Army, but...”
“Judging from your face, something unpleasant has happened.”
“I’m sorry.”
Airen bowed deeply.
“We were unable to capture Baranga Yuri Aishus and Anima Ingram.”
“They weren’t in Valharat Castle?” ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
“Correct. We dispatched search parties, but... there’s been no word yet.”
They escaped? Leaving only Epinnel behind?
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
The bond between those five had always seemed borderline fanatical... could they really have fled while using one of their own as a decoy?
Too much time had passed since I left the Aishus Army, and after the plague, the country had fallen into irrelevance. I hadn’t been keeping track of internal developments, so I found it... odd.
Well, I suppose there’s some circumstance I don’t know about.
Wait.
So does that mean letting Yuri escape was the “most efficient” outcome for our army?
Or was it because the prediction I received was “It depends on what the heavens allow”—Did I miss something?
No. The chance I missed something is low. Don’t overthink it. Stick to what’s in front of you.
Even if she survived, she no longer held any position to directly threaten us. Still—better to remain cautious. Over-sensitivity was far more survivable than overconfidence.
“You’ve done well, Airen. Once again, you’ve fought bravely for me.”
“I only did what needed to be done, my lady.”
“Even so, I will never forget your loyalty.”
The look Serpina gave her was warm and gentle.
Even an outsider could see just how much she cherished her.
It was only natural. To Serpina, Airen must have seemed like a blessing from the heavens. At least for now, she was our strongest field commander, and a visionary on the battlefield. In the battle against Chel’s forces, in this war against Aishus—even if the odds were tilted in our favor, she had still delivered the greatest possible results with the least investment... unless I intervened personally, as I had this time.
They had saved each other’s lives before. It was no surprise that something deeper than a simple chain of command had grown between them.
And it wasn’t just Airen.
Without Reika, this entire plan would’ve been impossible. Her very presence on the battlefield was enough to unnerve the enemy. She and Airen were easily the two most valuable assets in Serpina’s army right now—
That was when I caught myself.
...No.
I couldn’t deny it anymore.
The core of Serpina’s army right now... was me.
Airen and Reika were only here because I was here. If I left, no matter how they felt about Serpina, they’d follow me. They’d said as much more than once—and I believed them.
And that wasn’t the only reason.
I was the state strategist. Serpina trusted me—me—more than anyone else. Sometimes, it even felt like I was the one controlling Serpina’s army.
And the deeper I became a vital part of this army—the more I felt an odd sense of déjà vu twisting quietly inside me.
My original goal. And the new goal I had since created. The unspoken, intangible rift between them was growing harder to ignore.
Is this really okay, for now?
I turned silently, gazing once more at the burning remains of Valharat Castle.
And it hit me.
With the fall of the Aishus Army—
The era of fractured warlords across the continent had come to its end.
***
After seizing Valharat Castle, it wasn’t long before news arrived that both Zeta Castle and Laccline Castle had also fallen.
Yes. The Aishus Army had been annihilated, its presence wiped from the continent. The deep crimson flag—created by five people who once mingled their blood as one—was ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) now gone. Nowhere on the continent could it be seen.
From the newly conquered Valharat Castle, now adorned with a yellow flag, the very first order Serpina gave was to distribute the supplies stored at the shrine freely to the local citizens.
The situation in Valharat had been far more dire than anticipated. Under the pretense of needing constant prayer at the shrine, the citizens had been forced to continue providing resources. Until now, miracles had been said to occur, and so the people endured...
But this was no era in which military victory meant prosperity for the people.
As the saying goes, “Charity comes from full granaries.”
At first, the infamous Serpina planting her banner over Valharat had struck terror into the hearts of the people. But once they received the supplies, the fear began to wane. Gradually, they began to accept our forces.
The shrine, already constructed, was not torn down. Dismantling it would only cost more money. Instead, Serpina turned the site into a burial ground for her own soldiers.
She had tombs prepared for the three generals who died fighting Epinnel—Neian, Amin, and Miles— and one additional tomb, for the unnamed soldiers who fell in battle, their identities lost.
It wasn’t some grand monument. But considering this land could eventually fall into someone else’s hands, it was the most realistic and respectful tribute we could offer for now.
And so—before all who watched—
Flanked by her royal guard, Serpina stood before each tomb and spoke.
“Neian. I pray you may rest peacefully now, beside your family.”
“Amin. It was your keen judgment that led us to victory in this battle.”
“Miles. Your unwavering loyalty—I will never forget it.”
I hadn’t brought it up before, but even now, Serpina continued to meet personally with nearly all of her generals. She never hesitated to ask them: Who they were, what they lived for, and what they truly thought.
That’s the kind of woman she was. Serpina—scorned as a vile witch, condemned as a ruthless tyrant—was that kind of ruler.
Finally, standing before the tomb that represented the nameless soldiers, she bowed her head and offered a prayer.
“If I am ever able to unite the continent... it will be because of all of you. Those who fought and fell for me—I will never forget you.”
She closed her eyes, bowing slightly.
The solemn air weighed heavy, and no one nearby dared to speak a word.
Yet what radiated was clear—Reverence. Trust. Respect for Lord Serpina.
Even if it were just for her generals, that would be admirable enough. But for her to offer such sincere mourning for the common soldiers as well—
It was enough to move hearts. To turn fear into loyalty.
Even I felt it. No matter how many times I weighed the thought, neither Lyn nor Yuri could ever compare to Serpina.
Not even close.
And yet, despite all that—
She could not unite the continent.
***
――And the reason she could not achieve unification...
Was taking shape, even now, at this very moment.
“Is it true?”
“Yes. I confirmed it several times...”
News had arrived from those stationed in the former territory of the Aishus Army.
It was a report from the last remaining piece of the continent.
A report from the southern continent.
