Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 270: What It Means to Be Reborn as a Ruler (5)

Think.

Cecil’s mind raced.

But even as she struggled to formulate a plan, Violet pressed her for an answer, showing no mercy.

"Decide quickly. Honestly, is there even a reason for hesitation?"

"What...? This isn’t right—"

"If you break a contract, you compensate. With the price we’re offering, you’ll have more than enough to cover any losses and still make a profit."

"I told you! This is about trust—"

"Use our army’s name."

"...!!"

Violet’s gaze remained unwavering as she spoke.

"I am Violet of Lunarian’s Army. Say that I took it from you. This is an era of chaos. Losing goods to the war is common. Since we are responsible for this, your credibility won’t suffer too much."

"You—are you saying that Lunarian’s Army is nothing more than a band of thieves who plunder the supplies of common merchants?"

"Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying."

"...!!!"

Cecil was at a loss for words.

So easily—so naturally—Violet admitted to looting? Why?

Cecil had already accepted that Lunarian prioritized practicality over honor.

But was this truly the way Luna operated?

Had Metz and so many others followed a woman who would brazenly steal from merchants?

That didn’t make sense.

Cecil knew the real reason behind this.

"This is strange. If it’s just fabric, you could simply take it and pay me off. Why are you so insistent on this?"

Violet’s firm questioning only solidified Cecil’s suspicions.

They knew.

They knew that Karelia was attempting to escape.

There was no way that information could have leaked. The only ones aware of it were herself and Vanessa.

Vanessa was cautious, the type who wouldn’t have carelessly spoken about the mission.

The soldiers knew Cecil was disguised as a merchant, but they couldn’t possibly know that Karelia was hidden inside the cart.

Which meant—

Vanessa’s entire scheme had been seen through.

Were they just dancing in the palm of someone’s hand all along?

But to this extent...

'...Wait.'

Hadn’t a soldier earlier said, "Just as the strategist predicted"?

Cecil knew exactly who Lunarian’s strategist was.

A man she was all too familiar with.

Jinor Nighhardt.

The final chancellor of the Unified Empire.

Luna had launched a rebellion, only for a noble of the Eingart bloodline to declare their support for her.

And now, the wisest man of the empire, its former chancellor, had pledged loyalty to her.

Mercenaries appeared out of nowhere to aid her in battle.

One of her generals even awakened as a mage.

What the hell was this?

It was as if Luna was some inevitable fate—a force Karelia could never overcome.

As if they had been doomed from the start.

Had Cecil been nothing more than a background character in this grand narrative?

A fool whose only role was to be deceived by Lunarian?

What do I do?

Cecil assessed the situation.

They were outnumbered.

Since they were disguised as merchants, they couldn’t have brought many soldiers—doing so would have raised suspicion.

If they fought, they would lose.

If they handed over the cart containing Karelia, they would fail.

Caught in a scenario where no option was viable, Cecil hesitated, unable to find the right words—

"That’s enough, all of you."

"...!!"

From the direction of the cart, someone walked toward them.

A voice rang out—

The very person she and Vanessa had fought so desperately to protect.

Makana Karelia.

"So it seems this is as far as we go."

"My—my lord...!"

When had he woken up?

Vanessa had said he would remain unconscious until they left the castle...

No, more importantly—

Did he just say this is as far as we go?

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

"I do not know the full details, but it appears you and Vanessa went through a great deal of effort."

"My lord, I—"

"Makana Karelia."

Violet drew her sword and pointed it at him.

"Do not resist. It will only bring you harm."

Karelia stared at her for a moment—

Then, he smiled.

It was a warm, gentle smile.

"You are still but a child... I do not wish to stain your blade with my blood."

"......."

"I assume your goal is me. I will not resist. I will not beg for my life. But—"

He turned, gesturing to the soldiers behind him.

"I ask that you spare their lives. That is my final request."

There was no way their forces could win against Lunarian’s Army.

Their side had no mages. No miracles.

Violet remained silent for a moment.

Then, she gave a slow nod.

"Very well."

"Thank you."

"My lord!"

Karelia turned to Cecil, who had cried out in desperation.

He studied her for a long moment before speaking, still smiling.

"I do not recognize your face. My apologies. You must have been one of those working for my sake..."

"......??"

Cecil knew—disguise or not—anyone who had even the slightest familiarity with her would recognize her instantly.

There was no way her lord would fail to recognize her.

She had even been too flustered to properly conceal her voice.

And yet...

'My lord... you're lying, aren't you?'

Cecil was quick-witted.

The reason behind the lie was obvious.

If Lunarian’s Army realized she was Cecil Lohengrin, they would never let her go.

"Regardless, you must take these soldiers somewhere safe... I ask this of you."

"That... that’s..."

Karelia gave no answer. Instead, he turned back to Violet.

"Now, take me. I will not resist."

"Restrain him."

"Yes, ma’am!"

And just like that, Karelia—the last hope of Karelia’s forces—was taken away under Violet’s orders.

Cecil... could do nothing.

She simply stood there, staring blankly as he disappeared.

'My lord...!'

That last lie...

It had been to protect her.

Just thinking about it made her heart feel like it was being torn apart.

But she couldn’t afford to drown in emotion.

If she truly wished to honor Karelia, she needed to obey his final command.

She had to lead these men to safety.

"...Let’s go."

"A-ah... yes!"

The soldiers, still dumbfounded by the unexpected appearance of their sovereign, followed Cecil without question.

In the end—

At least one person had managed to escape from this bloodbath.

***

"The gates have fallen! Charge!"

"Advance! Engage the enemy inside!"

"Target the archers on the walls!"

Despite the Karelia Army’s desperate resistance, the castle gates had fallen all too easily.

The overwhelming difference in military strength—

The stark contrast in morale between the two armies—

The will to fight.

Madralan Castle, once the most peaceful stronghold of the southern continent, was now engulfed in flames.

A blazing beacon in the dark night.

'It’s over...'

As Luna steeled herself, trying to suppress her complicated emotions, Jinor approached her.

"My liege."

"Speak."

"A new era is upon us. A new history will be written on this continent. Many will bleed because of your decisions."

He continued, his voice firm.

"You have held steadfast to the belief that we must never harm the common people. It is... an idealistic notion. But look over there."

Jinor pointed toward the burning remains of Madralan Castle.

"Ideals are noble, but this is an era of war. Ideals without power to uphold them lead only to ruin. Never forget the sight of Madralan Castle before you.

To avoid shedding blood—

We must stain our own swords with it.

If we don’t, the ones whose blood will be spilled... will be ours."

Jinor had observed enough to know—

The loyalists of Karelia wouldn’t want to admit it, but Luna was just like Karelia in many ways.

If Karelia had fallen today, Luna could meet the same fate tomorrow.

The only difference was—

Swen had chosen Luna.

That alone was reason enough for Jinor to believe she would not collapse.

Still, he had to say it.

Perhaps, even his warnings, his thoughts... had already been accounted for by Swen.

Jinor let out a bitter smile at the thought.

"When the time comes to make your next decision, do not forget this lesson.

A ruler must not be swayed by their beliefs—

They must wield their beliefs as a weapon.

And one day... that will feel completely natural.

That will be the moment you truly become a sovereign."

"Jinor..."

"I have spoken too much, haven’t I? Still, my liege... I wished for you to understand.

You are the only one who can plant the seeds of peace in this continent."

Luna clenched her fists, staring at the burning castle before her.

Karelia...

Perhaps, had she acted sooner, she could have crushed this rebellion before it ever took root.

If she had been harsher, if she had embraced brutality—

It might have been her, not Karelia, who was being erased from history today.

But she had failed.

And now, she would be cast aside by history.

She would not forget.

To repay her debt to Swen—

She would not allow herself the luxury of complacency.

Once, long ago—

She had been nothing more than an inexperienced noble, unable to properly command her own soldiers.

But now—

She was walking the path of a conquering sovereign.

***

Not long after—

At the heart of Madralan Castle—

A single flag was raised.

It was not the deep green banner of Karelia’s Army.

It was pure white.

A flag of surrender.

"WAAAAAAAAAH!!"

The capital of Karelia—Madralan—had fallen.