After parting with Swen, who had said he would join her soon, Airen arrived at Racline Castle, located at the easternmost part of the territory. Fortuitously, she encountered Parfale, who was about to leave the castle.
"General Airen?"
"It's been a while, Advisor. Are you on a mission?"
"I was just about to head back... But what brings you here, General?"
Parfale asked, and Airen responded with a slight bow.
"By the lord’s command, I have been assigned here. I will be carrying out my duties at Racline Castle from now on."
"Is that so…?"
Parfale tilted her head, deep in thought. Lyn had assigned Airen to the eastern border? Placing soone at the border usually ant that in Brans Army, that general was trusted and considered competent for important positions. Indeed, the generals stationed at the borders were often far more capable than those stationed at non-border castles.
However, Lyn had a deep dislike for Airen. So much so that despite nurous advisories, she had never really considered using her earnestly. Parfale herself had often advised but felt halfway resigned about it. And now, Lyn had placed Airen in what was currently the most critical frontline in the eastern sector? Parfale had been stationed in the east, so she hadn’t had the chance to advise Lyn separately.
"What in the world…?"
Was it the advisor’s intuition? Pondering over sothing unexpected, Airen greeted her lightly.
"I'll take my leave first, Advisor."
"Ah… Understood."
After Airen left, Parfale pulled out a letter from her pocket. This letter… was sent by Swen.
[Advisor Parfale, it seems sothing unusual might happen at the southern border. I’d like to check it out myself, but I need the lord’s permission and have other duties that prevent from going. Since you have the freedom to act without the lord’s direct permission, I ask that you please check as soon as possible.]
Initially, Parfale wondered why he hadn’t spoken directly to the lord but understood given her long service under Lyn in Brans Army. Lyn had a particularly finicky nature. Having been thoroughly outmaneuvered by the north, she was likely in a bad mood. For a new general, expressing their opinion freely to such a lord would be difficult. Although Swen had perford so unbelievable miracles and had even seen through Aishus Army’s strategies with his sharp intelligence—
The ruler of a nation was not an advisor or a general; the trust of a monarch did not necessarily correlate directly with one's abilities.
Initially, when she received the letter, she thought to ignore it and return to Arnel Castle to assess the situation before heading south. But having experienced certain events in the east, Parfale had co to trust Swen considerably.
"It’s not too far; I guess it wouldn’t hurt to check it out."
Besides, wasn’t Chel Brans, the greatest swordsman of Brans, at the southern border? If there was an issue, she could likely provide a solution quickly.
Yes. A quick visit should be fine.
The trust Parfale had in Swen, earned by seeing through strategies, was prompting her to move according to his wishes.
Not long after her assignnt, as expected, Airen was ordered to build a fortress.
The fortress was constructed very quickly. Unlike the ticulously built brick fortresses of the north, this one was roughly made of wood fras and barely had a roof—a structure that could at best be described as a 'camp' rather than a fortress.
For Airen, it hardly mattered. There were no significant issues with stationing troops, and the longer the construction took, the more likely her position would beco precarious.
"Good work, everyone. Stay on standby until further orders."
"Yes, sir!"
The robust shouts of the soldiers pierced the sky.
Typically, building a fortress was the soldiers' responsibility. Commanders were literally just supervising; they didn't handle materials or partake in construction. But Airen had sweated it out with the troops throughout the construction, eating and sleeping no differently than her soldiers. For the troops, just seeing her participate was likely enough to boost morale. Especially since there was a recent instance where a newly built northern fortress was imdiately demolished. It was inevitable to compare her with commanders who seed to exploit their positions.
On the very day the fortress was established, a soldier riding a horse approached. The insignia of Brans Army was visible, marking him as a friendly.
"A ssenger…?"
Airen sensed unease.
Had Lyn noticed sothing? If she was ordered to return, what should she do? While she pondered her next steps—
The soldier approached Airen and removed the helt covering his face. Airen knew very well who this soldier was.
"…Swen?"
***
I arrived in front of the startled Airen and slowly dismounted from my horse, saying,
"Lady Airen, you've successfully constructed the fortress. Well, it looks more like a fortification than a fortress."
She listened to my words and smiled broadly as if she was very pleased to see .
"I was wondering when you would join… I didn't expect you to co as a soldier."
"It would be problematic if it seed like I had disappeared on that side. They probably think I'm making contact with the heavens inside a cave."
Yes. Why did I regularly go there for several hours, sotis even a whole day? It was to create the impression that 'Swen ditates there often to make contact with the heavens.' Eventually, it would be found out, but from our perspective, buying even a little ti was enough.
The key was indeed to buy ti. To buy ti, I sent a letter to the advisor Parfale to make her take a fruitless trip, and I endured the boring ti inside the cave. We had to surrender as quickly as possible before Lyn noticed.
"Has there been any news yet?"
"Not yet. No orders to advance either. A ssenger seems to be arriving soon though."
"That's good. Let's make contact with Aishus Army quickly."
"Yes. But before that, there's sothing I need to do."
"What do you need to do?"
Airen nodded.
"I need to talk to the soldiers. I'm thinking of changing our lord. If they disagree with this, I plan to send them back."
"What…?"
Caught off guard by the unexpected word, I couldn't hide my confusion, but she spoke in a very upright tone.
"Isn't it obvious? The right to choose a lord isn't just for you and ."
'….'
Wait a minute. By system, if a general who has obtained full authority surrenders, the subordinates automatically change allegiance. Given the rebellion in Ian Army, this system adherence had been proven to so extent, so was there really a need to go this far—
…And as I thought about it, I realized how flimsy that thought was.
After all, wasn't it the sa for Airen? Who knows what she thought, what insults she endured while serving under Lyn.
Her pride. The pride of a commander who does not mistreat her soldiers.
'…Maybe I'll trust Lady Airen here.'
Giving the soldiers a choice might cause a bit of deviation, but this was still a world where the predictions of an intelligence of 100 ca true. Here, I wanted to choose supporting her pride over efficiency.
"Understood. Then, those who want to stay may stay, and those who wish to leave may do so."
"Mm."
She said this and then began to walk slowly.
I followed behind Airen.
At the highest point of the fortress. Although it was only about the height of a two-story building, given its small scale, it was just the right place for Airen to catch the soldiers' attention and start her speech.
"Listen up, everyone!"
The soldiers all looked up at Airen. It was still quiet, but as the next sentence ca out, murmurs began to ripple through the crowd.
"I am thinking of changing our lord from this mont!"
The soldiers showed a variety of reactions, all confused. So looked at the faces of the soldiers next to them, so gazed at Airen as if lost. Airen, with her commanding presence, continued to expound her intention.
"I know it might just sound like excuses of a traitor, but I don't ask for your understanding. I understand that this decision is difficult to accept for you who have diligently served under Brans Army. Therefore, those who do not wish to follow may leave this fortress!"
"…."
"You are free to leave imdiately! Don't feel pressured to stay!"
"…."
And, surprisingly. Not a single soldier left their spot; they just looked up at her.
"Airen."
I gently placed my hand on her shoulder from beside her, helping her regain her composure, and she shouted again with a loud voice.
"Those who remain will be considered as agreeing to follow . No complaints, right!"
And with that call— Finally, the voices of the soldiers erged from the crowd.
"No complaints!" "We will follow General Airen!" "We will follow you, General Airen!" "Please take us with you!"
"…."
I thought to myself, Was this the force of a 'system'? Definitely not. This was a world based on a ga, but it was a real world. Like the private universes each of the Jases had I t, these soldiers had the right to choose their rightful superiors. And Airen… had truly captured their hearts. Traveling long distances with her, I knew how much the soldiers trusted and followed her.
Her trajectory and the soldiers' desire to follow it were not a matter of 'system.'
As the speech ended. Ultimately, not a single soldier defected, securing a force of 38,000 troops.
Now, only one thing remained. eting with Baranga Yurie Aishus.
***
On the day of the speech. A soldier, carrying a letter of intent to surrender, rode a horse towards Balharat Castle. And a few days later.
"There is a soldier from Aishus Army coming!"
A single soldier rode towards us, carrying the red flag of Aishus Army preciously.
When he reached the fortress and passed through the gate without difficulty, he stood before Airen. His attire was distinctly different from that of Brans Army, though if there was a familiar insignia, it was the red armband he wore.
He appeared to be a ssenger sent as an envoy to convey Aishus Army's stance.
"Are you General Airen?"
"That I am."
"Lord Baranga Yurie Aishus wishes to speak with you. Not far from here, she has set up a light camp with her troops. Shall I escort you there?"
"Mm."
Good. They were willing to listen. If they were willing to listen… there was a chance to find a breakthrough.
'Let’s go see the new lord.'
I followed the ssenger of Aishus Army, along with Airen and a small contingent of soldiers.
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