Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 213: The Return of the King (7)

Under Metz’s orders, with her hands bound, Luna arrived at the audience chamber.

"General...!"

"You’ve arrived, General Gail..."

"Seria...? Even Lord Mügeldorf...?"

All of the generals who had led the troops into Tepello Castle were now kneeling, bound, and still in their nightclothes.

Gail instinctively recognized the empty space among them as his own and quietly moved to sit there before turning to look at Metz.

"What is the meaning of this, Metz?"

"Look around you. That should help you understand the situation."

At those words, he finally turned his gaze outward—

Armed officers of Tepello Castle were glaring at them, their expressions cold and unwavering.

The atmosphere.

The piercing stares directed at them.

No... could it be—?!

Just as realization was beginning to dawn on Gail—

From beyond, the ruler of this fortress—Lunarian—slowly walked forward.

"You’re all here."

"...Lady Luna! What is the meaning of this?!"

At Gail’s words, Luna gazed down at them with an unusually icy expression.

"General Gail. General Seria. And General Mügeldorf. My apologies, but for the time being, I must ask you to remain quiet.

If you cooperate, I assure you, your lives will not be harmed—so I would appreciate it if you did not harbor resentment."

"What nonsense is this? First, you bind us without warning, and now you expect our cooperation—!"

At that moment—

Gail, having reached a realization, turned his trembling gaze to Luna and spoke.

"Lady Luna... Could it be that you intend to rebel?"

"......"

"Answer me! You, of all people, who have earned the unwavering trust of our lord despite being an outsider—

Are you truly planning to stab her in the back? If no one else, surely you should not betray Lady Karelia!"

Luna did not respond.

Her ruby-red eyes were colder than ever before.

"Lady Karelia... Makana Karelia is not suited to lead in these times of chaos.

To establish a lasting peace, her methods are simply not enough. That is all there is to it."

"How dare you say such a thing...!! From your own lips...!"

Gail roared in fury.

"Lady Vanessa was right! You were never to be trusted!"

"Watch your tongue, General Gail! Vanessa—that woman was the one who—!"

"Metz."

At Luna’s quiet command, Metz immediately shut his mouth.

It was clear to him what she meant—do not speak of what Vanessa had done first.

"Francis. Assist Metz in detaining them in the underground prison until the situation has settled."

""Yes, my lady!""

"This... this is impossible! Lady Luna! You will regret this! This rebellion will never succeed—!"

Thud!

Metz delivered a swift, powerful strike to the back of Gail’s neck.

And with that, the general who had been shouting moments ago fell silent.

Metz exhaled shortly before turning to Seria and Mügeldorf.

"He is merely unconscious. If you cooperate, I have no intention of using force. Once things are settled, you will be released. For now, please remain silent."

"......"

Neither Seria nor Mügeldorf could say a word.

There was simply nothing they could do.

And so, with their commanding generals detained, they were led to the underground prison under Metz’s watch.

Alone now with Francis, Luna stepped closer and spoke in a serious tone.

"What of the captains who accompanied the generals?"

"I have already ordered them all to be detained. But... among them, there must be those who could be persuaded to our side."

At his words, Luna firmly shook her head.

"No. If they were stationed inside Tepello Castle, perhaps—but those from outside should all be imprisoned.

As General Gail said, the success of this rebellion is uncertain.

The best course of action is to trust only those who are unquestionably loyal."

Hesitation before making a decision was acceptable.

But once a decision had been made, one had ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) to remain absolutely cold and calculating.

Seeing Luna’s unwavering stance, Francis felt a renewed sense of admiration and lowered his head.

"...Understood. That was careless of me."

At his apology, Luna finally relaxed her expression and let out a faint, bitter smile.

"It’s fine. The rest... I leave to you, Francis. Can I trust you with it?"

Francis, slightly flustered by her words, hesitated for a moment before answering loudly and resolutely.

"Yes! I will ensure all of them are detained. I will take full responsibility, so please, do not worry."

After Francis, along with his men, departed to carry out her orders—

The now-empty audience chamber fell into silence.

Luna finally let out a long, heavy sigh.

Her body had been trembling all this time.

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Even now, she felt as if her legs might give out beneath her.

When Gail had looked at her with those burning, piercing eyes—

She had no idea how to respond.

Because everything he said was correct.

No matter how much Vanessa had plotted, it had only ever been a plan.

At this moment, before anything had even happened, what Luna was doing—

Was, from an outsider’s perspective, a blatantly immoral act.

Luna was not a bold person.

If anything, she was timid.

She was not a cunning person, either.

If anything, she was the type to be devoured by cunning people.

Like an herbivore lost among predators.

She had decided to start a rebellion—

But she had no idea how to go about it.

After all, she was someone who had never even considered such a thing before.

And yet—she had a guide.

Someone who had walked a completely different path than hers.

Someone who had always remained composed.

Someone who had only been with her for a short time—

But had left an indelible mark on her mind.

Swen...

If it were you, I know exactly what you would have said.

She had already relied on him—

To decide against rebellion.

And then, to choose rebellion.

Every time, she had followed the answer she reached by asking herself—

"What would Swen have done?"

The choice to imprison only external officers and keep the rebellion internal—

It was one she had made because she knew Swen would have advised it.

Of course, her time with him as his sovereign had not been long.

He was, ultimately, another person, so she could never know his mind completely.

But just thinking as he would have,

Just acting as he would have—

Made her fearless.

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Even if his body was not beside her,

His presence remained always with her.

With Swen by my side, I have nothing to fear.

With Swen by my side, I can do anything.

The mere existence of Swen—

A man long gone from her side—

Had now grown even larger within her heart.

Even more than when he had stood by her in person.

And so—

Luna cast herself into the violent torrents of this era.

Without hesitation, she plunged her once-pure hands into the filth of war.

All to keep her promise to him.

At this moment, Swen’s presence loomed larger than ever—

Dominating her thoughts, her heart—

Far more than he ever had before.

***

Once the situation had been settled—

Late at night, in the audience chamber, every member of the so-called Lunarian faction had gathered without exception.

They stood beside Luna, who was seated in the lord’s chair.

And before long—

Two men stepped forward, knelt, and spoke.

"We have returned, Lady Luna."

"All of them have been imprisoned without exception."

Luna turned to Metz and Francis, the ones who had carried out the task first, and bowed her head slightly.

"You both did an incredible job. Thank you."

At that moment—

Violet, who had been silently listening, cautiously spoke up.

"Lady Luna. There is one important order you have yet to give."

"An order?"

"It concerns the treatment of the prisoners—should they refuse to relinquish their hostility and attempt to overturn the situation."

"......."

Understanding the meaning behind Violet’s words, Luna lowered her head.

She had already set everything in motion—there was no turning back.

Even so...

Facing the weight of the responsibility she now bore—

That was no easy task.

"Please make your decision, Lady Luna."

Yes.

What was there to hesitate about now?

If she wished to stand before Swen without shame, she had to take full responsibility.

"Lord Metz. You are in charge of overseeing the underground prison, correct?"

"Yes, my lady."

"If any prisoners show suspicious behavior or display unwavering defiance—

I grant you the authority to execute them on the spot.

I will take full responsibility for all consequences."

At Luna’s decree, Metz bowed his head deeply and responded with a resounding voice.

"Understood!"

Now that she had chosen treason—

She could not afford to waver in any aspect.

If she faltered, she would simply be devoured.

Having reached her decision at last—

Luna slowly rose from the lord’s chair.

And at this moment—

She looked upon those who stood by her side.

Tifa, her childhood friend, who had always remained by her.

Cain, who had come to her nation and aided her in countless ways.

Francis, Charlotte, and Violet—the three young talents whom Cain had taken in and raised.

The generals who had followed her after arriving with Karelia’s army, including Metz.

"Everyone."

Luna engraved the sight of their faces deep into her heart.

And though he was not here at this moment—

She once again recalled the face of the man who would one day become her strategist.

"I hereby declare my intent to break away from Karelia’s army and establish a new nation within Tepello Castle.

Will you all leave Karelia’s side and follow me as your sovereign?"

""Yes!!""

Their resolute voices resounded through the hall.

Luna held that determination close to her heart—

Then unsheathed the sword at her waist and held it before her.

She could not entrust the world to Serpina.

She could not entrust the world to Lyn.

And... she could not entrust it to Karelia, either.

Holding onto that belief, she carefully parted her lips and spoke—

"I, Lunarian Iniang, hereby declare the founding of the New Lunarian Army!

From this moment on, Tepello Castle shall be our capital.

Lend me your strength!

For the countless people suffering in despair—

I vow to bring an end to this age of chaos and usher in an era of peace!"

Once, the Lunarian Army had risen in Zeilant—

Only to be swiftly erased from the stage of history.

Now, after long years—

It once again revealed itself upon the lands of the Southern Continent.