Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 208: The Return of the King (2)

"But, Your Majesty, Lunarian Iniang—"

Vanessa spoke, her voice trembling slightly.

"I understand."

Makana Karelia raised a hand, cutting her off.

"I know exactly what you are about to say, and I understand all of your concerns."

Her deep green eyes shone as she continued.

"Yes, she is an outsider. Yes, she was once a ruler who declared herself on the battlefield as a contender for the continent. I am also well aware that there are those within our nation who already follow her more than they follow me.

But."

Her voice hardened.

"To demote someone based solely on the possibility of betrayal—before they have even committed any crime—would not be a just decision."

"This is not merely a matter of possibility—"

"Enough, Vanessa. I have made my decision, and I will not change my mind."

Vanessa fell silent.

No matter how much trust she had earned from Karelia, overturning a ruler’s decision in such a setting was next to impossible.

Even if it were possible, openly challenging Karelia’s authority in front of so many officers would only serve to weaken the sovereign’s standing.

"I remember the look in Lady Luna’s eyes when she swore loyalty to us."

Karelia’s voice rang clear through the chamber.

"Her gaze held a deep concern for the people of this continent. That is no different from the ideals of the Karelia Army.

If we share the same vision, then we are on the same side.

If even I refuse to trust her simply because she was once a ruler with ambition, then who else in our army will trust her?

How isolating would it be to bear the weight of leadership while receiving no faith from one’s own allies?"

Vanessa, sensing there was no more room for argument, merely lowered her head.

But Karelia’s tone remained resolute.

"Vanessa, I respect you.

I entrusted full military authority to you before this war began, did I not?

I want to trust every soldier who serves me as much as I trust you.

And in order for them to believe in me, I must first extend my trust to them.

No matter their origins—if they sweat and bleed for Karelia, then they deserve my faith."

"..."

"You need not worry."

Cecil Lohengrin, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke.

"Lady Luna is an honest woman. No matter how much power she gains, she is not the type to stab us in the back."

Karelia nodded at Cecil’s words before rising from her seat.

"Then it is decided. From this moment on, Lady Lunarian will serve as Supreme Commander of the invasion forces against Ohanan.

How many troops can we mobilize?"

"...Excluding those stationed at the Roland border and the minimum forces required for capital defense, we can deploy 120,000 soldiers."

120,000.

A vast army, painstakingly gathered over the past few months through Vanessa’s relentless recruitment campaigns.

"Understood. Cecil, I will have you oversee troop mobilization and logistics."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight

"Furthermore, this information must not be leaked. Not a word of this plan leaves this room."

Of course, in this era, it was impossible to completely conceal military preparations.

But even so, an explicit warning ensured discipline.

Everyone present held significant rank in the capital’s military. There would be no loose lips.

""Yes, Your Majesty!""

Then, in front of the assembled officers—

Karelia drew the sword at her waist and raised it high.

"The one to bring order to the southern continent shall be us—the Karelia Army!

For the people suffering under the incompetence of the broken empire!

For those who cry out in pain under the failed rule of the Eingart dynasty!

We will rise, and we will prevail!"

A roar of voices echoed through the chamber.

The Karelia Army was preparing to make its move.

*

After the meeting ended and the council chamber emptied, Karelia turned to Vanessa, her voice noticeably softer than before.

"Raise your head, Vanessa."

"..."

"Are you still angry with me?"

"Angry, Your Majesty? Of course not. I would never..."

"You still disagree with my decision, don’t you?"

"..."

Vanessa lowered her head further, unable to respond.

Seeing this, Karelia let out a small, amused chuckle.

"You’ve always been honest with me, Vanessa. That’s something I appreciate about you."

"...Your Majesty."

Karelia’s expression softened.

"I meant what I said. I understand your concerns.

But if I, as the ruler of this nation, cannot place trust in Lady Luna, then how can I expect anyone else in our army to follow her?"

"Your Majesty, this is an age of chaos. There is no place for such sentimental values."

"Perhaps.

But is it not precisely those values that allowed me to rise to this position?"

"..."

Just as like-minded people gravitate toward one another—

Karelia had drawn around her those who shared her ideals.

People who valued compassion, who cherished their people, and who sought to end the turmoil of the continent and bring about a new era of peace.

By that definition—

Lunarian could be seen as one of their own.

And Vanessa, too—

Had she not chosen to serve Karelia because she believed in her ideals?

"...As I said, I will not go against Your Majesty’s orders."

Vanessa finally spoke.

"I will carry out your decision. However, I have one final request."

"What is it?"

"Reduce the number of deployed soldiers from 120,000 to 90,000.

For an invasion of Ohanan, 90,000 is more than sufficient."

"...I understand your reasoning. But in the end, you still do not trust Lady Luna, do you?"

"I cannot apologize for that."

"..."

Karelia nodded slowly.

"Very well. 90,000 it is.

We will also assign the most skilled officers to oversee the campaign.

However, depending on the battlefield situation, we may reinforce our troops as needed."

"That is acceptable.

If reinforcements are necessary, it will simply mean my concerns were unfounded."

Vanessa’s response drew a small laugh from Karelia.

Even as her sovereign placed faith in Lunarian—

Vanessa refused to.

"I must prepare."

She knew it was futile.

She knew that if Lunarian truly sought to betray them, there was likely nothing she could do.

But in the off chance that Lunarian harbored any treacherous intent—

Then Vanessa Trinity would be ready.

For in a time of chaos, Karelia’s ruler was far too righteous.

And all Vanessa could do—

Was be the pragmatist in her place.

***

A few days later, at Tepello Castle—

"Huff... Huff... G-General... P-please, a moment to... rest...!"

Thud.

Francis, a golden-haired young man with a strikingly handsome face—one that would undoubtedly make countless women weep in admiration once he came of age—collapsed onto his knees, dropping the spear he had been holding.

And standing before him—

A stark contrast to his exhausted state—was Tifa, the red-haired warrior, exhaling sharply through her nose in amusement.

"You’re already tired? I told you! If you channel the energy flowing through the air while training, you can recover much faster!"

"Th-That... I apologize, but... I still have no idea what you mean by ‘the energy in the air’..."

"You don’t know? Even though it’s right there, surrounding you?"

Tifa folded her arms, clicking her tongue in disapproval.

"Close your eyes and focus again. You really can’t sense it?"

"I’ve tried several times... and it’s always the same."

Tifa sighed in frustration.

"Tsk. You look like you’d be promising, but..."

She waved a hand dismissively.

"Fine. Take a break. If I push you too hard and Luna chews me out for it, that’ll just be annoying. I’ll continue my own training."

As Francis lay on his back, catching his breath and letting the sweat on his forehead cool beneath the open sky—

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"Francis, brother!"

A voice rang out from the distance.

That voice...

It was his youngest sister, Violet.

"What is it, Violet?"

"Lady Luna is looking for you—urgently!"

She then turned toward Tifa, offering a polite nod.

"And, Lady Tifa, she has also asked you to come to the manor as well."

"Luna’s calling for me too?"

"Yes."

Tifa slung her weapon over her shoulder, glancing at Francis.

"Any idea what this is about?"

"Me? No, I don’t."

"Come on, you live in the same house as her."

"That’s... well..."

Francis’ face flushed bright red.

"I wouldn’t exactly say we live together... We only reside under the same roof, and she’s constantly busy with her duties as lord, so I rarely even see her..."

"Ugh, you’re whining too much. Just answer the damn question. Do you know or not?"

"I don’t. ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ I have no idea what this could be about."

"Hmm."

Tifa looked slightly disappointed as she shifted her weapon behind her back.

"Damn, I was just getting to the good part of my training."

For some time now, Tifa had begun to sense something different in the air around her.

She couldn’t quite define what it was, but...

Somehow, she felt that if she could grasp it, she would evolve even further as a warrior.

"If I can perfect this... I’ll finally be able to get my revenge."

She had never once forgotten that moment.

The moment she was utterly overwhelmed—forced to her knees—by the red-haired knight, Airen Juliet.

Ever since that day, she had endured every grueling training session with only one thought driving her forward: to take revenge on her.

"Would I be stronger than Luna if I mastered this...? No, probably not. She’d still have the edge. But maybe..."

Lost in thought for a brief moment, she scratched her head.

"Ugh, whatever. This is making my head hurt. Violet, lead the way."

"Yes, understood."

And so—

Francis and Tifa followed Violet toward the manor, where Luna awaited them.