Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 138: The Balance Breaks (5)

For a brief moment, Luna’s entire world froze.

A young man with white hair—hailed as a miracle worker—once a strategist under the Brans Army.

It has to be Lord Swen...!

Luna was certain.

But if that was true, then why was Swen being associated with the Aishus Army?

He had been under the Brans Army—hadn't he sworn loyalty to Lyn Brans?

Had he somehow ended up in Aishus after leaving the Brans Army?

Luna didn’t know the full details, but she did know that the Brans Army had lost a significant amount of territory.

If he had been taken prisoner during that period and transferred to Aishus, the story would somewhat make sense.

But—

if the rumors were true, then Swen had been under Aishus, only to be sold to Serpina’s forces by Baranga Yuri Aishus herself...?

That could only mean one thing—

Swen is now part of Serpina’s army...?

Serpina von Eingart.

The woman who had murdered her only sister.

And now, the strategist who should rightfully be hers—

was serving under that woman...?

Not only that—he had been sold off by another ruler like some mere commodity?

Luna felt an overwhelming rush of emotions, her mind unable to keep up with the shocking revelation.

"Um... Lady Luna? Did I... say something wrong...?"

Ah.

Luna, whose thoughts had gone completely blank, finally registered Violet’s presence again.

"No... No, it's not that. It's just..."

She took a breath, trying to compose herself.

"Violet."

"...Yes?"

"Can you tell me everything you know about this rumor?"

"You mean... about the White-Haired Mage...?"

Violet’s voice wavered slightly, seemingly taken aback by Luna’s sudden intensity.

But Luna didn’t notice. The moment she heard "White-Haired Mage," all traces of her usual composure vanished.

Grasping Violet’s hands tightly with both of her own, she leaned forward, her expression desperate—like a predator fixated on its prey.

"Yes! Anything—everything! Please, tell me everything you know!"

"A-Ah, um... I..."

"Quickly! What happened?! Is it true? Is he really... really being held by Serpina’s forces?!"

Only after seeing Violet’s face—completely overwhelmed, beads of cold sweat forming on her brow—did Luna finally register what she had done.

The most prominent emotion on Violet’s face was—fear.

"...Ah. I... I’m sorry. I think I got a little... overly excited."

"Ah... No, I-it's fine... really..."

Right.

Violet had simply heard a rumor and was curious about the idea of a "mage"—that was all.

She hadn’t intended to throw Luna into a spiral of confusion and panic.

Regaining her composure, Luna apologized several more times before finally answering Violet’s original question.

"Magic... I don’t know for sure, but I believe it may exist."

"Really...?"

Luna closed her eyes, recalling moments that now felt like distant memories.

When they had discovered the treasure chest and used it to aid the people—

When they had allied with the two mercenary groups—

When they had secured a deal with the Brans Army, saving their nation from the brink of collapse—

Every single one of those events had been made possible because of Swen’s guidance.

If someone had called those miracles, she wouldn't have disagreed.

In fact, if one were to describe Swen as a mage, it might actually explain a lot.

But—

"Magic itself isn’t what’s important."

"It’s... not important?"

"No."

Because to Luna, Swen was not someone she valued because of his miraculous insight.

—He was the one who saved her.

Swen hadn’t just saved himself. He had saved the entire nation, time and time again.

When the country had been on the verge of ruin, he had rescued it.

When her own life had been in danger, he had ensured her survival.

So that they could keep moving forward, he had stayed behind alone—offering himself up to the Brans Army.

He was the only one who had ever believed in this weak, insignificant country—a nation so powerless it wasn’t even considered a proper state.

Looking back, Tifa and Cain had only begun fighting with real conviction after meeting Swen.

A small warband—one that was doomed to vanish into history without a trace—had, through his guidance, become something that could stand on ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) its own.

And at Zeilant Castle, it had even achieved a fleeting success.

He was the only one who had ever dreamed with her—

the only one who had ever acknowledged her ambitions.

Even now, it felt like if she reached out her hand, she could almost touch him again.

Her own strategist.

"Lord Swen..."

Do you still remember?

The autumn wheat fields, where wolves once ran free—where we walked together.

The moment, after the battle, when you held me in your arms.

That night, when we abandoned the royal capital and fled—do you remember what you whispered to me?

"Lady Lunarian. If you place your trust in me, I will give you the world in return."

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

I trust you.

No matter how unbelievable your words may seem—

I will always believe in them.

Even if the entire world turns against you—

I will be your one and only ally.

Because you gave everything for me.

Simply thinking of him made something warm and thick rise within her chest.

It was heavy. Suffocating.

It was an emotion far too raw, too human, for the kind Luna that everyone knew.

He was hers.

So precious—so unbearably precious—

Yet they were apart.

And the pain of that separation was too much to bear.

'...This has to be just a baseless rumor.'

Logically speaking, it made no sense.

A nation—especially one ruled by someone as renowned as Yuri Aishus—would never hand over a vassal in exchange for prisoners.

Think about it. What kind of ruler in their right mind would trade a high-ranking subordinate just to get some captives back?

It had to be nonsense.

"White-Haired Mage" had become a buzzword across the continent, spreading alongside tales of miracles.

Aishus being dragged into a scandal like this was just too convenient.

And if there was any ruler in the world who would orchestrate such a scheme—

it was Serpina von Eingart.

This was likely just another one of her ploys.

But—

If this rumor was true—

If Baranga Yuri Aishus had truly... handed over her Swen to Serpina—

"I will never... never forgive her!!!"

Luna’s ruby-red eyes burned with an intensity unlike anything before.

Violet, who had been casually chatting with her just moments ago, suddenly found herself frozen—completely overwhelmed by the sheer presence radiating from her guardian.

For the first time in her life—

she felt as though she was seeing a completely different Luna.

***

Crunch.

"Swen, what are you eating?"

Janis was staring at me as he asked. Without much thought, I answered plainly.

"This? It’s chocolate."

Ever since the day I received chocolate from Airen and Reika, my snacks had been exclusively the chocolates they had made.

That’s right. Surprisingly enough, they were handmade.

Reika had always had an interest in baking pastries and cakes, so that wasn’t too surprising. But the fact that Airen had personally made chocolates for me... It left me with a strange sense of contentment.

"Chocolate? Ah, right. Saint Valentino’s Festival was just a few days ago. Wait... Did you actually get chocolate from someone?!"

"Yes."

"From a woman?!"

"Yes."

Hearing my response, Janis covered his mouth with his hand, looking at me with an amused expression.

...I had always thought this, but for a man, his mannerisms were oddly refined and elegant.

"Wow... Swen, I guess you really do live up to your looks, huh?"

"If you’re trying to flatter me, it won’t get you anything. Didn’t you get any chocolate, Senior Janis?"

"Hm? Me? Well... no, I suppose not."

That was unexpected.

He was fairly good-looking, and even if his noble family had lost much of its influence, it was still recognized within Serpina’s forces. I had assumed he’d have gone through at least three or four formal marriage proposals by now.

"How is it? Tastes good?"

"Would you like one?"

Without much thought, I picked up one of the chocolates—shaped like a tiny human figure—and handed it to him.

"Oh? Really? Thanks! Let’s see... Mmm, not bad!"

Seeming to enjoy the taste, Janis extended his pale hand toward me again.

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It didn’t take much effort to realize he was asking for another. I handed him a broken half of one.

"By the way, did you hear the news?"

"What news?"

"A delegation just arrived from Roland’s army."

"A delegation?"

...Wait.

From Roland’s army?

Roland was one of the four major nations in the southern continent, maintaining a delicate balance with the Ohana, Karelia, and Hesna armies.

"You know about this, right? Hesna’s forces just launched an invasion into Brans’ territory."

Right.

That news had come in just yesterday.

Hesna’s invasion of Elgaim Castle.

It would take time for detailed reports to reach us, so I wasn’t sure if the battle was still ongoing or if it had already ended.

But one thing was certain—this moment marked a fundamental shift in the balance of power in the southern continent.

Come to think of it, Karelia’s army was positioned just below Roland’s territory.

If nothing had changed, that meant Lady Luna was still there.

...Was she doing well?

Opportunities didn’t come during peaceful times.

They emerged in moments of upheaval—when everything was being overturned.

All I could do was hope that Lady Luna would seize the opportunity when it arrived.

"My guess? I bet this delegation has something to do with that. Not sure exactly what, though..."

I nodded in agreement.

To be honest, I already had a strong suspicion about why they were here.

"They’re probably seeking an alliance."

If they secured a military pact with Serpina—a dominant power in the north—it would give them a strategic edge in the southern continent, where Hesna had just disrupted the fragile equilibrium.

The real question was what they were willing to offer us in return.

No doubt, sometime soon...

"Hm? Hold on a second."

Janis was interrupted by a faint tapping sound.

He walked over to the window and checked.

A messenger falcon had arrived.

After carefully retrieving the letter and scanning its contents, he turned to me.

"Swen. Looks like our lady is calling for you."

"As expected."

...It had been well within my predictions that Lady Serpina would summon me soon.