Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 96: The Battle of Hisphil Castle (6)

Jinor stroked his chin for a long while, his expression troubled after hearing my explanation. Then, he met my gaze directly and asked,

"Alright. Everything you say makes sense. If Anima loses, things will likely unfold that way. But... how do you know all this in such detail?"

"If we assume her defeat, the number of possible outcomes naturally becomes limited."

"That's not what I mean."

Jinor's sharp gaze locked onto me. No... to be precise, he wasn't exactly glaring at me. He was certainly looking at me keenly, but there was something different about his stare.

I had seen that kind of gaze once before.

Back in Arnel Castle, after the Northern Fortress Defense Battle.

At that time, Lyn, my former liege, had looked at me the same way.

Fear.

I caught a fleeting trace of fear in Jinor’s slightly trembling pupils.

"How can you be so certain she will lose? How do you know that’s how it will turn out?"

"......."

"Since we're on the subject, let's discuss this further. You act as if you know everything. This isn’t the first time. Back when you predicted the surprise attack on Valharat Castle—it was the same. Even then, your words carried an unshakable confidence, as if you were absolutely certain. And in the end, you were right."

"I'm not omniscient. No one is. But when discussing matters of great importance, what kind of man would accomplish anything if he lacked confidence?"

"Deflecting the most critical part of the question isn't a good habit, but if I were in your shoes, I would have answered the same way."

Jinor let out a small scoff, and for the first time, I felt a peculiar sense of kinship with him.

"Alright. Since you've made deductions, allow me to do the same. Do you mind? I promise it won't take long."

"Go ahead."

"I still believe your prediction is highly likely to be correct. Your explanation is logical, everything aligns, and, most importantly, it comes from you—Swen. Just like last time, your words will probably be proven right. In fact, I’m starting to wonder if your accuracy didn’t begin only after arriving here."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I’ll be frank. People think Lyn Brans suffered a devastating loss when she lost Airen Juliet... but I suspect that losing you was far more damaging to the Brans Army."

"Me? Ha! You're exaggerating. I was nothing more than a minor aide to General Airen."

"The Brans Army's decline began after you left."

"So did General Airen’s."

"You were the one who brought a meteor down from the sky."

"I told you before—I’m not a mage. I don't know how to use magic. You've seen your daughter, haven't you?"

"That daughter of mine is making remarkable progress ever since she started following your training methods."

"Training is just a formality. Her talents are simply starting to bloom."

"......Ha!"

Jinor let out a long sigh before suddenly tilting his head back and laughing heartily.

"You really don’t let up, do you?"

As he laughed freely, I realized something.

This was the first time I had ever seen him smile.

Minutes passed.

"Swen. This may sound insane, but I have to ask."

"What is it?"

"Can you see the future?"

The moment he finished speaking, he fixed his gaze on me.

The brief flicker of fear from earlier was gone.

Instead, in the eyes of this seasoned scholar... I saw pure, burning curiosity.

"......."

"Is it magic? Are you using magic to see the future, Swen?"

Seeing the future, huh.

If simply knowing an outcome before it happens counted as seeing the future, then sure, I suppose that definition could apply.

But I couldn't accept that.

How could this be magic when I could only predict outcomes within a limited range, and only if I was first asked the right question?

"Pardon my rudeness, sir."

"There's no need for formalities now. Just speak your mind."

"Thinking that I can see the future through magic... that's quite the wild fantasy."

"Hah! That’s quite amusing, coming from you—especially to someone with a daughter who actually wields magic."

"But think about it. If I could truly see the future, would I really be walking such a tightrope? Wouldn’t I be making far bolder claims?"

"If your foresight was limited, that would change everything. Say, for example, you could predict whether a battle would be won or lost—but not why."

'......!!!'

Damn it.

I barely managed to keep my expression neutral, narrowly avoiding a reaction.

Just from this conversation, he had reached that conclusion?

Had I underestimated him?

'Do you think an intelligence of 99 is a joke?'

Suddenly, the phrase that had brought me into this world resurfaced in my mind.

Come to think of it, wasn’t Jinor the one who had said that line?

Maintaining a calm expression, I replied,

"That’s an interesting hypothesis."

"Well, looking back at our conversations, I’m not so sure it's just a hypothesis anymore."

Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com.

He smirked slightly.

I never imagined Jinor Nighhardt to be someone with such expressive features.

It felt as if the mask of diplomacy he always wore had momentarily slipped away.

'He reminds me of old man Cain.'

Cain, too, had only shown his true self to me at the very end.

I wonder if he's still doing well.

Jinor, unaware that my mind had wandered elsewhere, exaggeratedly nodded before speaking.

"Of course, I understand why you have to deny it. You can’t just reveal everything to anyone. What kind of gambler shows their hand before the game is over?"

"......."

"Alright, I’ll stand by your side and help you persuade our liege. No more delays—let’s head straight to the capital."

It seemed Jinor had convinced himself that I was some kind of mage capable of foreseeing the future.

It was a fundamental misunderstanding—one that was both close to the truth and completely off the mark.

But rather than explaining everything, it was far easier to let him continue believing it.

After all, I hadn’t actually confirmed anything.

And in the end, how many times had I survived in this world precisely because others had misinterpreted my abilities?

Silently, I followed Jinor as he led the way.

*

"You’re saying there’s an ambush?"

"Yes. Please grant permission for the operation, my lord."

Jinor bowed his head slightly, pleading with Yuri.

As soon as we arrived at the capital, the situation was quickly explained. What surprised me most was Jinor’s eloquence.

Compared to my explanations—where I hastily strung together plausible sentences to craft a "most convincing scenario"—his arguments were far more persuasive, compelling enough to make even skeptics nod in agreement.

"But isn’t this ambush theory still just speculation? I doubt Anima would have rushed in so recklessly without considering the possibility."

"My lord. I say this with utmost caution, but I once personally served as an aide to Serpina von Eingart in my younger years."

"......!"

Well, he did serve as the empire’s chancellor. It wasn’t surprising that he had ties to the royal family.

"She is a cunning woman, like a serpent. Among the imperial family, none were as cold-blooded as Serpina. She excels in deception, in setting traps to mislead others. There’s a high probability that she manipulated Anima into a false sense of security."

At those words, Yuri’s tone shifted slightly, betraying emotion.

"Are you saying that Anima is gullible enough to be deceived by Serpina?"

"......."

For the first time, Jinor’s smooth, unbroken explanation faltered.

No matter how intelligent one is, it’s hard to counter pure emotion with logic.

Maybe it was time for me to step in.

"It is precisely because it’s Lady Anima that we must act now."

"......What?"

For someone who prioritizes emotions, the key to persuasion is striking an emotional chord.

I put on a sincerely apologetic expression.

"As you said, there is a chance that no ambush exists. If we act unnecessarily, we risk wasting provisions and, worse, time. But Lady Anima has always stood by your side, always supported you. If there is an ambush, the consequences will be irreversible."

"......!!"

At the word irreversible, Yuri’s expression changed, visibly shaken.

I liked people who were easy to read.

The easier they were to read, the easier they were to persuade.

"Provisions can be bought. Time, once wasted, cannot be reclaimed—but isn't that far better than the alternative? Lady Anima’s life is at stake here."

Yuri remained silent, deep in thought.

It was Jinor who gently pushed her further.

"My lord. Please heed Swen’s words this time. I, Jinor, earnestly request this of you."

"......Jinor."

Yuri gazed at him for a moment—then, with a faint smile, she spoke.

"I never thought I’d see the day when you plead so desperately for someone else."

"I simply devote myself entirely to your service, my lord."

Instead of responding to that, Yuri turned to me and asked in a serious tone,

"......So, what do we do?"

"There are two actions we must take simultaneously."

"Two?"

"First, we must send reinforcements. However, preparations will take time, and even once deployed, the troops won’t arrive quickly. By the time they reach the battlefield, the battle will likely already be over."

"Then what’s the point of sending them?"

"It would be pointless—if not for the second move."

I put on an expression of absolute confidence.

"We will force Serpina’s troops—who are presumed to be positioned ahead of Anima’s forces—to retreat back to Hisphil Castle."

"What?"

Force them to retreat.

Jinor and Yuri both immediately grasped what I meant.

"You plan to spread false information?"

"Exactly."

I nodded at Jinor’s deduction.

"We will spread a false report that Hisphil Castle is under attack. That will force Serpina’s troops to pull back."

*

Leaving the capital, I mulled over the plan.

Spreading false information—the feigned report strategy.

In the game that served as this world’s foundation, it was a tactic used to deceive enemy troops into retreating.

Much like how Jinor had once used the betrayal strategy against the Brans Army by allying with the Aleffel and Charam forces, the feigned report strategy was bound to exist here as well.

The problem was... how was I supposed to pull it off?

In-game, it was simple. You just clicked on "Strategy," selected "Feigned Report," clicked on the enemy troops, and ended the turn. The success or failure was determined by intelligence stats.

But this wasn’t a game.

This was reality.

If I didn’t take concrete action, nothing would happen.

It was the same with my verbal duel against Parfalle.

In the game, it had been little more than a numbers-based minigame—like rock-paper-scissors, where intelligence determined whether I took more damage or not.

But in reality, I had needed actual reasoning and logical arguments to win.

‘If I just send spies to spread the rumor that Hisphil Castle is under attack... will they even believe it?’

For false information to have any effect, it needed credibility.

How could I ensure that credibility?

As I was lost in thought, Jinor casually spoke up.

"Well, we succeeded in convincing our lord. Let’s hope you’re right."

"Don’t worry about that."

"Of course, you wouldn’t be worried. You’ve opened your ‘inner eye’ with magic, after all. You must be right."

......Excuse me?

‘Inner eye?’ What in the world was he talking about?

Ah, whatever. Let him believe whatever he wants. It’s less of a hassle that way.

"Do you need my help with anything else?"

"No. From here on out, this is something I need to figure out myself. You’ve already done enough by helping with the persuasion. Don’t you have other commitments?"

"A tactician’s duties are all the same. Aside from observing Reika’s progress this evening, I have nothing urgent."

"Observing her progress?"

"Yes. Once a week, I assess her growth—to see how much she’s improved. Her magic has advanced considerably. She can now knock down a few trees without trouble. She’s still far from ready for the battlefield, though."

"Is that so?"

Since I only ever meditated with her or engaged in seemingly pointless activities, I hadn’t actually seen her magic in action.

But if she had progressed that much already...

At this rate, she’d likely become a proper mage far earlier than she did in the game’s timeline.

Talent was truly terrifying.

As I was idly thinking about that—

‘......Huh?’

A thought suddenly struck me.

She could knock down trees?

Wait. That... that might actually be useful.

"Jinor."

"What is it?"

"I have a request. Not for you directly, but it does involve you."

"What is it? If it’s within my power, I’ll oblige."

I turned and looked him straight in the eye.

"Could you lend me your daughter for a moment?"