Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 306: Blind Spot of a Hardcore Player (6)

Serpina fell silent for a moment, lost in thought after hearing my words.

There was no reason to deny it now.

I had always liked the elegance in her profile when she sank into contemplation.

Just lightly biting her nail and the faintest furrow of her brow was enough to reveal a strange kind of beauty she didn’t normally show.

"Using the eyes of others... to create a miracle..."

"And then, self-destructing by showing that miracle..."

She murmured to herself for a long while, lost in thought, until something seemed to dawn on her. Her pupils narrowed slightly.

She slowly turned her head and looked straight into my eyes.

"Don't tell me... you're planning to personally reflect the 'result' they desire back at them?"

"Sharp as ever. You truly are the sovereign."

What I was about to do—

It was to give meaning to something completely worthless: Yuri’s act of building an altar and praying to the gods.

I didn’t know what she was thinking when she did it, but at the very least, I was certain it was a meaningless and pointless gesture.

But everyone except me had been speculating, wondering if there was some hidden meaning behind it. They were doing their best to infer the real intention behind her actions.

Yes. Everyone but me was completely convinced that all of this had to lead to some kind of result!

So much so that they’d find it more suspicious if nothing came of it. In fact, the situation was such that I didn’t even need to prepare any convincing evidence.

"You yourself said it naturally, Lady Serpina. That there must be some other reason behind it."

"That’s because I knew about your prophetic insight."

"Even without it, now that mages exist on this continent, it’s no longer easy to deny the existence of supernatural forces. Compared to the past, far fewer people would outright dismiss the possibility. Most of them will assume Yuri’s actions—or Aishus Army’s actions—have some kind of reason behind them."

The only ones who knew that Yuri had committed a forbidden act as a ruler were Serpina and me.

There had been rumors that she sold a subordinate commander to an enemy state, but those were just rumors. And since the other party in the rumors was the infamous Serpina, most people would’ve doubted the story rather than believe it outright.

In times like this, her notorious reputation really came in handy.

"But what if her actions do produce a result? Then no one would question the cause and effect. Most of them would probably fool even themselves. What about you, Lady Serpina? Even without my prophetic insight, if such a thing had ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) happened... what kind of judgment would you have made?"

"...!"

"Now do you understand what I’m getting at?"

At my words, Serpina slowly nodded.

"I see. Swen, I think I understand what you’re planning. But even if you create a miracle—what exactly do you intend to do with it?"

For the first time since I met Serpina, I wore the most confident expression I’d ever shown her.

"My liege. From this moment on, entrust everything to me. And keep everything we discussed today strictly secret."

***

"Are you saying... the fortress will collapse, tactician?"

"That's correct."

At Swen’s words, Irian looked shocked as he asked again.

"I apologize, but I really don’t understand. We were just about to dispatch our vanguard to Valharat Castle..."

Just then—

With his eyes closed, Swen slowly extended a hand and pointed up at the sky.

"This was a few days ago. I was observing the movements of the sky, as I always do."

He said he had observed the movements of the sky.

Anyone hearing that for the first time would probably call it nonsense. But for Irian, a commander in Serpina’s army, if those words came from Swen’s mouth, they carried undeniable weight.

After all, when the northern fortress of Kelstein Castle was destroyed by a falling boulder from the sky, it was Swen—who stood before him now—who had conducted a ritual under Brans Army and brought about that miracle.

He still vividly remembered how, back when Swen had first joined, some officials had questioned whether they should really take in someone capable of such a thing.

As for Irian, he’d always prioritized practicality.

He was on the side that insisted there was no need to discriminate against someone like Swen if he had that kind of power.

Looking back now, that decision had been nothing short of excellent.

After all, the one who had protected both his family and his life was none other than Swen.

"And I’ve confirmed it. Three red stars—symbols of misfortune—are aligned and pointing toward this location. A major disaster is certain to occur."

"I... I see..."

Irian immediately grew visibly serious as he asked,

"Then what do you suggest we do? Should I first report to the commander—"

"You don’t need to worry about that, Irian."

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Right on cue, Airen came walking over from beyond.

"You’re here, Commander."

"Swen never speaks nonsense. And I’ll personally vouch for the fact that he has a connection with the heavens."

Irian also knew that back then, Airen had been the Brans Army’s commanding officer at the scene.

With the strongest witness’s endorsement, and considering Swen’s almost divine ability, there was no room to question him.

"I’ve already heard the rough details. Start preparing to withdraw our forces immediately."

"Yes! Understood! Then, tactician, I’ll take my leave. Don’t worry about things here—focus on the evacuation!"

And just like that, as Irian grew more and more distant from the two of them—

***

Haa.

I let out a short sigh.

Of course, that bit about observing the sky had been a lie.

I was wondering how I’d dodge it if someone asked for specifics, but I guess it worked out fine.

“Swen.”

Airen approached me as I exhaled in relief.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I don’t mean to scold you, but... isn’t communing with the heavens a strain on your body?”

A strain, huh.

The truth was, I collapsed back then from sheer overwork and tension, but Airen firmly believed it was because I had exhausted some kind of power while communicating with the heavens.

There was no need to correct her on that. But to ease her worries, I figured it wouldn't hurt to be a little honest.

I briefly explained my plan to Airen.

“I see. You mean... you’re going to destroy the fortress yourself?”

“Yes. As I mentioned, Yuri is exhausting her nation’s entire strength to build altars and console the souls of the fallen. If we toss her a seemingly divine result, the Aishus Army will be so convinced it's the ‘right path’ that they'll destroy themselves.”

“Indeed... With magic now widely known to exist and you standing as living proof, it's not so far-fetched to believe that something could be achieved through a connection with the heavens. But then—why didn’t you tell Irian the truth?”

“That’s a simple matter.”

The reason I fed Irian that plausible lie

was because if even our own side wasn’t fooled, this entire plan could fall apart before it even started.

The worst possible outcome for me would be for Yuri to sense something was off and back out early.

A 100-Intelligence prediction answered, ‘It depends on what happens in the heavens.’ That means the result will vary depending on what I do.

Which meant I had to eliminate as many variables as I could—personally.

Still, this was Airen. Of all people, she didn’t need to be deceived.

It was far more efficient to pull her firmly to my side right away than to try fooling her with a half-baked excuse.

“Understood. I’d ask if there’s anything else I can do to help, but...”

“Just withdraw the troops as quickly as you can.”

“Got it. If there’s anything else I can do, just say the word.”

I had been planning to repeat the cycle of building up the front line and pulling back, and I was honestly relieved that Airen was the commanding officer.

Come to think of it, the same Airen who arrived in Serpina’s army with me had now risen to the rank of commander.

Time really had passed, hadn’t it... As that thought crossed my mind, I briefly recalled the face of my true liege—

...No.

Deal with what’s in front of you first.

With Airen at my side, I quickly made my escape from the fortress.

***

Once all the troops had fully withdrawn from the fortress—

“Miss Reika...?”

“Ah, hello...! Hehe.”

I barely managed to recognize Reika in disguise.

“Wow... Who did this for you?”

“I-I did it myself, just like Miss Janis taught me. She said this is how you’re supposed to do disguises... She taught me a lot.”

Both Ioline and Janis had seriously unique talents.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they both had ‘Espionage’ skills active.

I quickly got to the point.

“Miss Reika. We’re about to destroy this fortress, but there’s no need for you to expend enough magic to do it singlehandedly.”

As I spoke, I drew the rapier hanging from my hip.

This was the item that instantly amplified the magic Reika gave me. I had already charged my meditation time to about 24 hours in preparation.

Reika’s magic was as close to omnipotent as you could get,

but it was also a forbidden power that drained her lifespan.

If possible, it was far better to use the magic she’d already imbued into the rapier.

“Just toss a small fireball at the place like you did last time. That’s all it takes, alright?”

“Ah, um... actually, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“If it’s for destroying the fortress, I think I have something better than a fireball...”

“Something better?”

As far as I knew, Reika could use healing magic, ice pillar magic, and fireballs.

I gave her a puzzled look, but she simply smiled, then slowly knelt down and placed both hands on the ground.

And then—

“...!!”

“Did you feel that?”

I definitely felt it. A very faint tremor.

The earth had clearly shifted just now.

“Well?”

“Wh—when did you learn that?!”

“Just... during meditation, a new formula suddenly came to mind. I thought, maybe this could make the ground move...”

She learned an earthquake spell just from meditating?!

I’d forgotten, but Reika was the first and strongest mage on the entire continent.

She was a monster who had grasped fireballs, ice, and healing magic all in a single moment like it was nothing.

“This is perfect. But... how do we amplify this spell with the rapier?”

“Oh, that! I thought about that too...”

Hm?

Suddenly, Reika started fidgeting awkwardly.

Then, with her fingertips pressed together and a hand over her mouth, she quietly said—

“I-I just... wasn’t sure if it’d be inappropriate or not...”

“I don’t mind.”

“...Really?”

I had no idea what could be so bad—

but the moment she moved, I understood, whether I wanted to or not.

Reika gently placed her hands over mine, the ones holding the rapier.

Warm. Her hands, full of circulating life, gently wrapped around mine.

“Hehehe... Swen, your hands are warm...”

...I couldn’t help but smile too, realizing I wasn’t the only one thinking that.

“Now... just try pressing the rapier into the ground, gently...”

Following her words, I slowly drove the rapier into the earth.

And not long after—

――Ruuuuuuumble!!

The earth shook violently, birds flapping into the sky.

A chorus of disastrous sounds followed—

and the fortress, once filled with soldiers, began to collapse.

Reika and I watched from a distance as the entire structure fell.

Soon, the tremors faded, and we were left staring at the ruins of a fortress, shattered and desolate.

We had succeeded.

It was the first brilliant step of a grand deception—one that could fool even our own allies.