Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 279: The Second Offer

"Is that so? So Lunarian's Army has taken over Karelia..."

"They said it’s been occupied."

On the road toward the royal capital.

Today, since Reika was off duty, it was just me and Lady Airen discussing the current state of the continent.

"After that massive defeat at Tepello Castle, well... it was more or less inevitable."

As I’d predicted, Lady Luna seemed to be handling things decently enough even without me.

No—if I really thought about it... my so-called advice had just been guesses that happened to land. Maybe everything would've gone smoothly regardless of what I did.

"What happened to Makana Karelia?"

"What happens to any defeated lord after being occupied?"

"...Wait. Are you saying she’s dead?"

"That’s what I heard, at least."

That caught me off guard. Luna killed Karelia?

I didn’t know the full circumstances behind the rebellion, but knowing her temperament, I couldn’t imagine her going so far as to kill someone she could've just subjugated.

If she had killed her, then it must have been because there was no possible way they could coexist.

Considering that her uprising had been branded "treason," maybe it wasn’t that strange after all...

Still... this feels familiar somehow.

As a ruler, it might’ve been the most logical choice, sure...

But something about it didn’t feel like the Luna I knew.

Part of me felt like she could’ve found a better solution.

Then again, if I thought about how little time I’d actually spent by her side, maybe I had no right to speak with such certainty.

Still, someone like Karelia—someone of her caliber—seemed far too useful to just discard.

But with no way to speak to Luna directly now that she was officially with Lunarian’s Army, there was only so much I could do.

When I first heard the news, I’d assumed everything was falling into place perfectly.

But maybe not.

That’s when Airen cautiously asked me a question.

"Um... Swen."

"Yes?"

"Would it be alright if I asked when you plan to leave?"

It wasn’t hard to guess what she meant, given the flow of the conversation.

She was asking when I intended to return to Lunarian’s Army.

"For now, I don’t plan to."

"I see... Are you waiting until she unifies the southern continent?"

"No. It’s not that either."

"...?"

Airen tilted her head and stared at me, like she was silently asking, Then when are you going back?

"Since the outcome is already set in stone, I figured I could wait until Lady Serpina's safety is guaranteed before I move."

"You're saying you want to ensure your current lord’s safety first?"

"Yes. You probably know better than anyone, Lady Airen—Lady Serpina doesn’t have many people she can truly rely on. There could be more assassination attempts... So I thought it might be best to cross over after Luna reaches the border."

After the plague incident, advancing into the central continent had been like looting an abandoned house.

And although Lady Serpina had seen nothing but misfortune until now, with Lunarian’s Army winning so decisively, I had a feeling there wouldn’t be any major issues.

Looking back on it now, maybe the reason all of Serpina’s plans had kept falling apart...

...was simply because Luna hadn’t arrived yet.

"Well, I don’t really get all the complicated stuff. I just follow the path you choose."

"Thank you for trusting me, Lady Airen."

"Mhm."

After parting with Airen, I headed alone toward the audience chamber, lost in thought.

She was still technically serving as a bodyguard, but once the occupation forces were formally organized, she’d inevitably have to step down.

That meant someone new would have to take her place—

I need someone I can trust...

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Especially when the last bodyguard who tried to assassinate her had been the person she trusted most.

Even deciding who to put in that role again was already giving me a headache.

I figured I’d bring it up with her today.

And just as I opened the doors to the chamber, I happened to lock eyes with Jenna, who was just leaving.

"Strategist."

"Ah, Lord Swen. You’ve come to see our liege?"

"Yes, I have."

Jenna stared at me silently for a moment, then placed her hand lightly on my shoulder.

"I’m on your side, Lord Swen. Please, take care of Her Majesty."

With that, she quickly stepped away.

...Huh?

Her cryptic words stuck with me for a moment, but since it was clear she wasn’t wary of me, I decided not to stir the pot.

I stepped forward, toward the throne. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

There sat Serpina.

The golden-haired witch. The tyrant. The cruelest woman on the continent.

"I greet you, my lord."

"You’ve come, Swen. I’ve been waiting."

Not long ago, we’d had an... awkward encounter during the welcoming ceremony.

But now, neither of us brought it up.

We both had work to do, and dwelling on that would only get in the way.

"I have quite a few suggestions to make today—"

"Wait. Before that, there’s something I must tell you."

"?"

Serpina slowly rose from the throne and approached me.

The sound of her footsteps echoed through the silent audience chamber.

"After much deliberation on my part... I’ve come to a decision. I’d like you to accept it."

"What decision, exactly...?"

She closed her eyes for a moment.

Then, as if bracing herself, she looked straight at me with eyes that shone with a sharp, unwavering light.

"Become the new national strategist of our army, Swen."

"...Excuse me?"

She was offering me the position of national strategist again? The one I’d already refused once?

Before ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) I could even form a reply, she cut me off, firing her words with force.

"I’ve already spoken with the current strategist, Jenna. She accepted it. Embarrassing as it may be to admit, there are hardly any left who wish to keep you in check."

"B-But, my lady—"

"You said it yourself, didn’t you? That many would criticize this decision. But that’s no longer the case. Even Irian, who commands immense trust among the soldiers, voiced his support. Cransis, the commander of the occupying force, said he’d follow Jenna’s will. As for Airen and Reika, who’ve both accomplished great feats—need I even mention them? Yes. Everyone, including myself, is waiting for you to become our national strategist."

"But still..."

"I won’t ask you to stay by my side forever. Only for a while... Just for a short time, be my guiding light."

"..."

Only then did I understand why Jenna had told me to "take care of Her Majesty."

The announcement of a new strategist meant she was stepping down from her post.

Thinking back to what happened in Aishus, with Anima and Jinor—having to surrender that position, one so closely tied to power and prestige, must have been painful.

And yet she accepted me.

Of all the nations I had worked under—excluding Lunarian’s Army, which was more like a close-knit circle—Serpina’s forces were the only ones to truly acknowledge me, for better or worse.

"You once told me you would take responsibility for me... that you were searching for a way to achieve your ideals, remember?"

"...!"

"No matter how I look at it, the authority that comes with being our army’s strategist will only serve to further your goals, not hinder them. So if you’re going to refuse... at least give me a clear reason."

The look in Serpina’s eyes no longer carried that inexplicable fear I’d seen during the welcome ceremony.

They were the eyes of someone prepared for anything. Eyes capable of swaying another’s heart.

"If you reject this with a reason, I won’t press you again. I swear it. This will be my final offer—and I vow on my name that there will be no retaliation."

——So, what should I do?

This was actually Serpina’s second offer to make me her national strategist.

The first had been in the carriage. I turned it down then—not just because I planned to return to Lunarian’s Army, but because I didn’t want to give her false hope when I knew I’d eventually leave.

But now... things were different.

I wanted to give her hope.

I had no intention of leaving her behind.

I couldn’t give up on Lady Luna. Or on Serpina.

That’s why I’d resolved to create a future where the two of them could coexist.

Besides, Serpina was hated by far too many people.

Rather than continue working from the shadows, it would be far more effective to protect her properly if I had real authority over the army—even without Airen serving as her bodyguard.

Yes.

There was no need to think any further.

"Understood. I accept the position of national strategist."

"...!!!"

As soon as I said it, Serpina looked at me, stunned. Her pupils contracted in shock.

"...My lady?"

"Truly...? You truly intend to become my strategist...?"

"You commanded it yourself, did you not?"

"I... I did, yes, but... I mean..."

Just moments ago, Serpina had spoken with the confidence of someone ready to devour the heavens.

Now, she was stammering, lowering her head, her face flushed red.

It seemed like one of those cases where someone makes a bold move, never thinking it would actually succeed.

The look on her face was oddly amusing, and I couldn’t help but smile as I responded.

"...Was it something you just said on a whim? I hope I didn’t get carried away for nothing."

"N-No! It wasn’t just a whim! I’m being sincere. More importantly... carried away?"

"Of course. Who wouldn’t be happy to be offered such a prestigious position?"

"Well... no, wait, forget it. What I mean is—what matters is the present, not the past."

Thinking about it now, it was oddly natural, joking with her like this.

The emblem of the Eingart Empire stitched into my cloak—had it somehow been etched into my heart as well?

"In that case, I suppose this will be my first proposal as your newly appointed strategist."

"...That’s right. You said you had a lot to discuss, didn’t you?"

"Go ahead. Listening to the strategist is part of my duty now."

As Serpina quickly reclaimed her composure as a sovereign, I met her gaze—now filled with intrigue—and spoke the words I’d been contemplating all day:

"Form the occupation force immediately and launch a campaign against Chel’s forces."