Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 287: Back to the Central Continent (2)

What greeted us upon arriving at Castle Zog was a scene of devastation almost too horrific to witness.

“...How could this happen...”

The houses were completely burned down.

The farmlands had been so thoroughly ruined that they couldn’t grow a single crop.

People of the territory lay scattered along the streets, moaning in pain.

It wasn’t just the soldiers who had vanished. That part, we’d expected.

Even the complete removal of supplies was within the range of prediction.

But—what we hadn’t anticipated at all was that they would destroy the entire territory just to make sure we couldn’t use it.

This place... wasn’t it part of the central continent, long under the Brans Army?

“This is... too much.”

“It’s unforgivable... I really, truly can’t forgive this...”

The voices came from Airen and Reika.

It made sense that Reika, who had lived far longer as a civilian than a soldier, was on the verge of tears.

But even Airen, who had walked through countless battlefields and hellscapes, was reacting like this—

which showed just how far beyond expectations this level of destruction really was.

Then—

Someone who appeared to be a local grabbed my leg and pleaded.

A woman in tattered clothes, looking barely better than a beggar.

“P-please spare us, General! W-we will never, ever cooperate with that witch Serpina, no matter what! So please, please... please have mercy...!”

“......”

It seemed she had mistaken me for one of Chel’s people.

I slowly knelt down on one knee and looked her in the eye as I replied.

“Do not worry. We won’t harm you.”

“R-really...?”

“Yes. The Serpina Army does not slaughter innocent civilians without cause.”

Her face, which had just relaxed in relief, immediately twisted the moment she heard the name “Serpina Army.”

“W-wait... what did you just say...? Did you say—?”

“Please, calm down.”

I placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I understand what you want to say. But we have no intention of hurting you.”

“A-ah...”

“It’s all right. You can take your time. We’ll wait.”

I didn’t rush her. I just met her eyes and waited.

Airen and Reika, who had followed behind me, also stood quietly, giving the woman space.

Finally, the woman opened her trembling lips.

“T-then, what about Lord Chel...?”

“He fled.”

“What about the story that there was a traitor in the Serpina Army...?”

So that was the justification he gave to the people.

He’d burned their homes and destroyed their livelihoods for that?

No—surely that wasn’t the real reason.

He must have done this so that, even if we captured Castle Zog, we wouldn’t be able to resupply—not even once.

Seeing this level of devastation, it felt as though he’d decided to throw everything he had at us in one final act, without any thought for what came next.

After all, doing something like this would destroy any trust the people had in him.

And if Chel truly had ambitions to unify the continent, it was an action he never should’ve taken.

“...There is no traitor in our army.”

“But, then—why... why did my husband... why did my children...!!!”

“Please, calm down! First, we should—”

“Swen.”

A familiar voice came from behind me.

“Serpina...?”

“If you would, let me speak with her.”

I stepped aside silently, making room for her.

Just as I had done, Serpina knelt on one knee and met the woman’s gaze.

Caught off guard by the sudden shift, the woman froze mid-breakdown and stared at Serpina in a daze.

“Y-you’re...”

“Serpina von Eingart. That is my name.”

“!!!”

“You don’t need to be afraid. I have no intention of harming you.”

“...!!”

“Don’t judge just from what you’ve heard. Look at me. Look directly into my eyes.”

“What do you see? Are you still afraid of me? Do I look like some wicked witch to you?”

The woman trembled, unable to answer.

But—even I, standing beside her, could see that she had calmed significantly more than when she’d spoken with me earlier.

“Chel Brans abandoned you. He burned your homes to the ground with the sole intent of dealing a blow to our army.”

“H-how could he... Why would Lord Chel...?”

“That’s just the kind of man he was. From the start.”

Upon hearing Serpina’s words, the woman’s legs gave out beneath her.

She collapsed to her knees, her lifeless eyes staring out across the barren, ruined land where no hope remained.

“Why... why would he do this...”

She began to cry bitterly.

Airen bowed her head in silence. Reika turned away, wiping her tears.

We didn’t know exactly what had happened when Chel fled—but judging from this woman’s reaction, it wasn’t hard to imagine just how horrible things had been.

The only one in the room who remained composed... was Serpina.

After a few minutes passed and the woman’s sobbing began to subside—once she had finally calmed down—

“Do not worry.”

Serpina looked at her with a gentle gaze, her voice softer than ever.

“You will be under the protection of the witch now.”

“...Pardon?”

“As long as you live under my rule, I promise—nothing like this will ever happen again.”

“!!!”

“Whether or not I am a ruler worthy of trust... judge that for yourself. In a world as cruel as this, the right to resist someone unworthy is one of the few rights you have left.”

With those final words, Serpina slowly rose to her feet and looked down at the woman she had just spoken to.

“But I am not afraid of that judgment. And in time, you will come to understand for yourself—whether Brans or Eingart is the better path to follow.”

“Serpina... my lady...”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

To the woman who, for the first time, uttered her name—Serpina gave no reply.

She turned and walked away, her pace steady and sure.

Airen, Reika, and I gently helped calm the woman and then followed behind Serpina.

***

The first thing we did after occupying Castle Zog was begin restoring order.

In a way, Chel’s scheme had worked.

In the long run, it would cost him dearly, but for the time being, he’d succeeded in slowing our advance.

Elite troops from our occupying forces were assigned to begin rebuilding the burned-down homes, and plans were set in motion to revive the local markets.

It reminded me of a time not long ago—when we were rebuilding Zeilant Castle, torn apart by repeated battles and storms.

“Today’s food supply. There’s plenty, so you don’t need to worry for now.”

“Thank you so much...”

Even distributing food wasn’t too difficult.

During the plague that swept through the central continent, we had spent that time reinforcing our internal stability.

There were no problems with the supply lines, no shortage of provisions, and beyond that, winning the hearts of the territory’s people was essential if we were to become their new rulers.

As we handed out basic rations to the civilians, a voice came from behind me.

“Strategist, thank you for your hard work. Allow me to take over.”

It was Irian.

Since I’d become the national strategist, he had begun addressing me with honorifics.

Technically, my rank as national strategist was higher than his as a general, so it wasn’t strange—but still, hearing someone who used to speak to me casually now speaking formally felt... odd.

Airen still spoke to me informally, and I’d told Irian he didn’t have to be so formal either, but he’d insisted on it, so I didn’t press further.

“How’s the situation?”

“The repairs at Castle Zog are nearly complete. However... a scout just returned.”

“The one we sent out a while ago?”

“Yes. Just as you predicted, all the castles that were under Chel’s control have been burned to the ground—every last one. Except for a single place... Alkanwood Castle.”

So they had gathered in Alkanwood after all.

It wasn’t surprising. If they wanted to stall for time, there weren’t many better options...

Still, we couldn’t just bypass every ruined castle, so it was going to slow us down a bit.

“I see. Do you know where General Airen is right now?”

“She’s at the barracks.”

After switching off with Irian, I headed to the barracks and found Airen encouraging the soldiers.

“You’ve worked hard, Swen.”

“Same to you. How’s it going?”

“The soldiers’ morale is sky-high. You can see it in their eyes—they’re sharper than ever during training. After witnessing the state Chel left this territory in, they’re all fired up. Soldiers notice things too. Burning down homes where civilians live... Chel made a critical mistake. He tried to slow us down, but all he did was fuel our will to fight.”

“You’re right.”

He slowed us down, sure. But if this helped turn public opinion toward Serpina, even just a little...

I didn’t dare say it aloud, because it felt like an insult to the people of the territory—but I couldn't help but think it.

Then—

Airen looked at me with a serious expression.

“...Swen.”

“Is something on your mind?”

“Yes. Well...”

She hesitated for a brief moment. Then, with a determined nod, she asked—

“What kind of person is Lady Luna?”

“...Huh?”

The question caught me off guard.

It was about someone I hadn’t expected.

“I’m asking what sort of ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) person Lady Luna truly is.”