After that event.
I was dispatched with Reika to the front lines, at Kelstein Castle.
My request for the dispatch was approved with unprecedented speed, and in just a few days, the day to depart was fast approaching.
"My lord. I, Swen, will be departing for Kelstein Castle early tomorrow morning to carry out the mission you entrusted to ."
After finishing the formal greetings and looking at her face, it was clear that Serpina still hadn’t shaken off her worries.
"Today is the day you leave, Swen."
"It has already co to that."
I forced a composed smile.
As ti passed, the rumors spread—worse than I had anticipated.
First, the citizens of the northern territories had started to view Serpina with disdain, almost as badly as when she first took the throne.
When the youngest daughter, not Algott or Sidmid, suddenly ascended to the throne, there were countless rebellions because people couldn’t accept it.
If the reputation at that ti was similar, it could be said that it had truly hit rock bottom.
My 100 Intelligence had provided an answer that was efficient, but the weight of it was becoming painfully clear.
"..."
Without saying anything, Serpina looked at with eyes full of uncertainty.
I felt uneasy leaving her like this.
"My lord. While I am away, you can rely on General Airen."
As long as the most trustworthy Airen was by Serpina’s side, there wouldn’t be much to worry about.
After all, the action I was about to take was one that would bring [no benefits in any aspect] for Serpina’s army.
I almost laughed at the irony that this action was, in a way, ensuring Serpina's safety. But even so, I swallowed that feeling.
"So, please don’t worry too much, my lord. I already told you, didn’t I? This is all within the range of what I expected."
"..."
"Swen..."
At that mont, Serpina ca closer, took my hand in hers, and spoke.
I couldn’t tell whether she was asking not to go, and I found myself unable to either tighten or pull my hand away from hers.
"I... have I done the right thing?"
"Of course."
"But... as it’s been until now. My life has always gone in the most unexpected directions, like I’m hurting soone I despise every ti I reach out... So, if this causes you to get caught in strange rumors—"
"My lord. In the end, sincerity always shines through. And, unlike before, I’m here beside you now, aren’t I?"
"...!"
"So, trust . I will prove that my 'insight' was right and that the path I’ve chosen will lead to what’s best for you."
Only then did Serpina slowly loosen her grip on my hand.
"I’ll be back."
"...Go, and return. I’ll be waiting for you."
For a mont, I wanted to pat her head, but even though she cared for , I knew that placing my hand on her noble head without permission would not be appropriate for either of us. So, I bowed deeply and slowly left the palace.
Once outside, the sky seed especially high and blue.
I wondered how I could protect Serpina.
How could I defy the "most efficient" thod?
The truth was, the answer ca to more simply than I expected.
'Why not just not follow the orders?'
They told not to do this? Fine. I’ll do it anyway.
It was clear that if I ignored the prediction, the backlash would follow, but I had no choice.
So this ti, I would turn my "always correct prediction" against itself. I would make sure Serpina could ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) keep her throne safely, by continually taking the path that "offers no benefits" at all.
Whether or not Serpina's army could unify was no longer my concern. My concern was Serpina’s life. Serpina’s safety. And Serpina’s smile.
'Let’s try it.'
To keep my promise to Luna.
To protect Serpina’s life.
From this mont forward, I――
Would willingly beco a strategist whose predictions were always wrong, even with an intelligence of zero.
***
The Day of Departure
"My lord, please take care of yourself, Airen."
"Don’t worry too much, Swen. I will risk my life to protect the lord from any threat, no matter what."
"No need to go that far. Please, don't overdo it."
After all, with my predictions in place, there shouldn't be much danger for Serpina.
"......"
After that, neither of us spoke.
I... understood what this silence ant. I didn’t want to pretend and cowardly avoid it.
"Airen."
"......!!"
So, I took the first step forward.
I embraced her tightly.
"I’ll be back soon. You need to wait for , alright? I... have nowhere else to go but here."
I said this and slowly stroked her red hair.
Her scent, which now felt quite familiar, gently touched my heart, warming it.
Unlike when I held Serpina, the firm feeling of Airen’s body against mine strongly asserted that she was a woman who lived on the battlefield.
"Hey, you know..."
"Yes?"
"It’s a bit sad to part like this... but I’ll wait for you... will you really co back?"
"......"
What was she thinking?
As soon as I heard her words, saying she didn’t want to part like this, it felt like a switch in my mind was flipped.
Without thinking, I kissed her cheek.
"......?!?!"
With a soft "smack," Airen was startled and looked at , her face turning bright red.
She was flustered, but... she didn’t look like she hated it.
Today was strangely unusual.
Maybe I had beco a little bolder.
In an impulsive mont, I stuck out my lips, teasing her playfully.
"...Did you not like it?"
"Huh? A-a, no... I didn’t... dislike it..."
"Then, would you do it for too?"
"Huh? U-uh... e, eh?"
"Sleep well."
With a fluttering heart, I slowly closed my eyes.
Soon after, I could feel her breath so close to —
Smack.
The sensation of her lips brushed against my cheek.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Airen standing there, her eyes cast down, her face flushed with embarrassnt, unable to say a word, stumbling over her own thoughts.
Looking back, it felt like my life since I was reincarnated had been a grand saga of protecting her.
I had t her because of Lyn’s mischief, abandoned Lyn to save her, then went over to Yuri’s side.
She, too, had beco a traitor willingly to help , after being abandoned by Yuri.
In all those monts, for both her and ... for us to be able to exchange such a simple farewell was nothing short of a miracle.
Considering that she was a general on the battlefield, it made it all the more remarkable.
"......"
As I thought about it, silently watching her, did I misinterpret sothing?
Airen seed flustered, stumbling over her words, as if unsure of what to do.
"...If, if... I wasn’t good enough, or if sothing was lacking..."
"Was it lacking?"
"But...! Swen, you haven't said anything... and, well, that's... I an."
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
She, who had shown such a strong presence while leading everyone, was now speaking with a voice so fragile it hardly resembled that of a general.
A woman's voice. It sounded sowhat immature, but there was no better word to describe Airen in that mont.
"I-I'm sorry... This is... my first ti... I don't really know what n like, or... that sort of thing..."
"This is exactly why I like you."
"...Huh?"
"n... like this kind of thing. So, you can be confident."
I said this with a smile.
"Re... really? I-I see..."
"Of course."
"Mm... well... then... Swen, do you... like this sort of thing too?"
...Ha.
I couldn't help but let out a deep sigh inwardly.
If we continued this conversation, I felt like I wouldn’t want to leave.
It was probably ti to wrap things up.
"...Of course."
After saying that, I realized that my voice had trembled slightly.
Having spent so much ti so close to her, I had forgotten how beautiful she was.
Even standing beside soone as unmatchable as Serpina in terms of beauty, Airen still held her own. In fact, in terms of feminine features like her chest and hips, Airen might have even slightly surpassed Serpina.
I had always thought of her as cute, but when she acted like this, with such sincerity, I couldn’t help but beco tongue-tied.
"Really? Uh, mm... I’m glad."
"So, don’t worry and wait for . I’ll take responsibility and bring Reika back safely."
"Mm. I’ll trust you. You said you’d co back safely, so I’ll believe those words."
"Alright."
After saying goodbye to Airen, I was finally able to face Reika in the carriage.
"Alright. Let’s go."
"Yes!"
As the carriage began to move, Reika, sitting across from , tilted her head slightly and asked.
"Did sothing happen?"
"Huh? ?"
"Yes."
"Why? Nothing happened."
"Is that so...?"
She looked very puzzled, so I asked her what was wrong.
"Swen... your face looks really red... are you feeling hot?"
"...?"
"Yes. Ah, um..."
Reika rummaged through her things and then pulled out a small hand mirror, handing it to .
When I looked into it... I saw my face, completely flushed red.
'......'
I had thought I had been composed while talking to Airen, but...
This was how I must have looked in her eyes.
That thought made chuckle bitterly.
"...Swen...?"
"It’s nothing. Just, it’s funny."
"Huh? Ah, yes..."
Reika looked at strangely, but she didn’t seem to mind.
Then, she spoke again.
"Anyway, if you’re tired, would you like to take a little nap?"
"I can’t sleep while sitting. I’m fine."
"You could lie down...!"
"In this small space? How would that work?"
"Well..."
Reika shifted her body slightly, moving herself as far as possible into the corner, then tapped her knees.
Her voluminous chest swayed with her movents, beautifully accentuating her figure.
"Here...!"
"...?"
I understood what she was saying, but at the sa ti, I didn’t.
Reika looked at with a very bright expression and said:
"You can lie down here...!"
...Today was definitely turning out to be a very strange day.
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