Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 214: If We Go to the End

Raising her sword high and declaring it boldly was a meaningful action in its own way—

but in the end, it was nothing more than words.

To start a rebellion, everything had to be put into action.

"Luna— no, my lord."

Hearing Metz refer to her as "my lord" instead of "castle lord" or "Luna-" caught her slightly off guard.

However, knowing that this was a title she would eventually have to get used to, she slowly nodded and responded.

"Go ahead and speak."

"What will you do with those who refuse to cooperate?"

The ones gathered here had already shifted their allegiance to Luna.

However, the rest of the generals—the ones diligently working in their respective positions—were a different matter.

They had joined the Karelia Army and worked for Karelia.

Just because the castle lord had suddenly declared rebellion didn’t mean they would follow Luna without hesitation.

Of course, due to Vanessa’s tyranny and Karelia’s indifference toward it, the generals’ loyalty toward Karelia wasn’t as strong as before.

Even so, if they weren’t dealt with properly, it would be nearly impossible to take over Tepello Castle cleanly.

Tifa, who had been quietly listening, scratched her head and spoke.

"Isn’t it obvious? Just round them all up. If we let them go, they could ruin our entire plan."

Tifa’s words were a solid argument.

The longer the news of the rebellion and castle takeover was delayed, the greater the advantage for Luna’s side.

The more time they had, the better they could prepare and organize.

Besides, Karelia’s army wasn’t the only thing they had to worry about.

Luna, lost in thought for a moment, slowly parted her lips.

"...Violet."

"Yes, my lord."

Even with her youthful voice, there was unmistakable strength in the way she spoke the word "my lord."

For a brief moment, Luna wondered if the book-loving, absent-minded Violet had always been such a lively girl—

but now wasn’t the time for such musings.

"I’ll leave the right side to you, is that alright?"

Understanding Luna’s intent immediately, Violet bowed her head.

"I will personally send a letter to the Ohana Army."

"I’ll leave it to you."

Just as Violet had said, they had to consider the Ohana Army to the right.

It was unclear how they would react, but before they had a chance to ally with Karelia’s forces and turn against them,

Luna’s side needed to win them over first.

Luna then turned her gaze toward Metz and Tifa.

"Everyone, please summon all the stationed officers."

"Shall we capture them all?"

At Metz’s question, Luna slowly shook her head.

"There’s no need. Don’t use force, just bring them here."

"Wait. What exactly are you planning to do?"

"Leave this part to me, Tifa."

After saying that, Luna looked around at everyone once more.

Then—

A ruler, standing before her subordinates, bowed her head once again.

"Please entrust this to me. I ask for your help."

If Swen found out about this, he would be furious. He would tell her that she shouldn’t do this.

Luna was well aware of that.

However, she didn’t know any other way to sincerely ask her comrades for their support besides putting her heart into it.

He would definitely scold her later—

but that was fine.

If she could still hear his scolding, it would be a relief in itself.

"...I will bring them immediately."

Metz nodded before leaving the castle with Francis and Tifa in tow.

It was time to negotiate one last time.

***

Some time later.

Upon hearing that "the castle lord is urgently summoning everyone,"

all the generals stationed at Tepello Castle gathered in the audience chamber.

And not long after—

their faces contorted in shock as they barely managed to speak.

"Are you saying that the castle lord... is founding a new nation?"

"That is correct. As of today, I declare the formation of the Lunarian Army to open an era of peace for this war-torn continent."

"No matter how you phrase it, this is still an act of betrayal, is it not?"

"...."

Faced with the pointed accusation, Luna closed her eyes and remained silent.

Seeing this, Metz burst out in anger.

This time, Luna did not stop him.

"We already explained everything! Vanessa ordered the execution of our lord for the sake of so-called loyalty!

Why should we stay loyal to someone who was never going to trust us in the first place?"

"If this was not our lord’s will but rather Vanessa’s command,

was there truly no way to resolve it through direct discussion?"

"Even if we talked, considering what kind of person Vanessa is—"

"Moreover, how can we be certain that this isn’t just Lord Metz’s one-sided claim?"

"What did you just say...? Did you really just say that?

You know full well what kind of person Vanessa is, and yet you still—"

"Metz. It’s alright."

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At Luna’s words, Metz finally took a deep breath and stopped speaking.

The man who ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) had been questioning them sighed deeply and looked around before speaking again.

"So, why exactly did you summon us? Are you planning to imprison us?

Do you truly believe that everything will go smoothly after breaking faith in this way?"

"That is not the case."

Cutting him off mid-sentence, Luna lowered her head with an expression filled with remorse.

"I apologize for interrupting. However, I wish to persuade you.

I merely want to ensure that you have the freedom to make your own choice."

"A choice?"

"Whether you will stand by me or return to your original lord, Karelia...

Please, make your decision freely."

At those words, murmurs spread through the gathered officers.

Not only among the ones who had been summoned,

but even among those who had already pledged allegiance to Luna, expressions of doubt flickered across their faces.

However, that was all.

No one openly opposed Luna’s words.

Because she had spoken.

Because she had asked them to trust her.

And so, they trusted her.

They trusted in Luna’s actions and stood by her.

"...And if we choose to return?"

"You will be allowed to leave safely."

"How am I supposed to believe that? This is coming from someone who is willing to stab the lord who trusted them in the back!"

"......."

Seeing Luna remain silent, the officer raised his voice and pressed further.

"Then let’s do this. If you release me, I will immediately go to my lord and report everything about Tepello Castle’s weak points. Even so, will you still let me go?"

"Yes. I will release you."

"......Ha, unbelievable...."

"However, please allow me to say just one thing."

At Luna’s words, the officer fell silent.

Sensing that his silence was not a rejection, Luna bowed her head once more and spoke.

"Please, I beg you. Believe in me and follow me. Be my strength. I desperately need the hands of those who have worked alongside me in Tepello Castle."

"......."

"I will not say that Karelia is a corrupt ruler. However, the current Karelia... is powerless against that woman, Vanessa. You all know full well what Vanessa has done."

The moment Vanessa’s name was mentioned, the expressions of the officers changed.

Yes.

The deeds Vanessa had carried out under the banner of military authority were so extreme that even among all the armies, nowhere else had dared to implement such ruthless measures.

It wasn’t just about how she had acted dishonorably toward Luna.

None of them had served under Karelia for so many years just to witness such cruelty.

That was why Luna’s words shook them.

"The current lord, Lord Karelia... is someone who should be a ruler in peaceful times, not a sovereign in this era of chaos. So, everyone, will you entrust your dreams not to Karelia, but to me, Lunarian?"

After Luna finished speaking,

A heavy silence filled the audience chamber, packed with people.

Truthfully, it was an audacious thought—

but no one had any positive feelings toward Vanessa.

Especially here, in Tepello Castle, located at the border.

The public sentiment toward Vanessa among the castle’s citizens had already crumbled to pieces, and even the officers under her command had only followed orders because they were obeying their sovereign’s decree.

But in truth, they harbored immense resentment toward the brutal commands she had issued.

And the one who had empowered her to do all that—

was none other than Karelia.

Rebellion was not the right thing to do.

For those belonging to the Karelia Army, such thoughts were even stronger.

However, if their sovereign would continue to be someone who was merely dragged around by Vanessa—

Then perhaps, this path was the right one.

They could not say that the thought hadn’t crossed their minds.

The officer couldn’t open his mouth carelessly.

If he truly had no doubts, he would have simply walked away without hesitation when given the choice.

But the fact that he was standing here, listening to Luna—

meant that he had already half-stepped into betrayal.

At that moment.

"I would like to ask Lord Luna a question."

A senior officer cautiously raised his hand and spoke.

It was Shane, a veteran who had served at Tepello Castle for over forty years since the imperial days.

It was no exaggeration to say that he had been the one who had helped Luna the most when she first took office as the castle lord.

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"Please speak."

"If the only reason we should follow you is Vanessa’s tyranny, then isn’t that lacking?"

And then, this old officer—

began pressing Luna with a very realistic argument.

"Even if you have expanded your forces, the difference in territory is undeniable. You also have no countermeasures prepared for the neighboring Ohana Army. No matter how just your cause may be, betrayal is still betrayal.

Setting aside the moral implications, the fact remains that we are overwhelmingly at a disadvantage. That doesn’t change."

"......."

"I do not doubt Lord Metz’s words. They are likely true. After all, Lord Luna is not someone who fabricates lies."

Shane let out a brief cough and continued.

"Moreover, I wouldn’t say that the castle lord lacks strengths entirely. If Karelia is a setting sun, then you are a rising sun. If the two had similar qualities, then as you say, in these chaotic times, a ruler like you would be the more suitable choice to lead. However, if we are to entrust our dreams to a new ruler, I believe that ruler should have more strengths."

"What kind of strengths... are you referring to?"

"There are many possibilities. But at this moment, those strengths are clearly lacking.

To put it bluntly, betraying Lord Karelia to entrust our dreams to Lord Luna... is not yet an appealing choice."

To sum up Shane’s words:

Give us something more to make us take that final step.

It’s not that we have no grievances with the current Karelia regime.

But as things stand, we cannot risk our lives to follow you.

Luna instinctively realized that this conversation was the true moment of persuasion,

and that this was the most critical turning point.

"That is..."

Up until now,

She had reached this point by constantly thinking, "What would Lord Swen do?"

But now, when she needed to emphasize her strengths, she had no words to offer.

This persuasion was, from the beginning, a plea.

She was begging them to trust her.

Even though everything was against her, she would try her hardest to succeed—so please help her.

But what strengths did she have to claim, "This is how we surpass the Karelia Army"?

The only difference was that there was no one like Vanessa here.

And that was it.

At that moment, the only thing that surfaced in Luna’s mind, foolishly enough—

was the words Swen had once said to her.

"Do not worry too much, my lord. No matter how dire the situation may seem, in the end, we will win."

‘Lord Swen...!’

She might be ridiculed if she simply said, "In the end, we will win."

But if those words had come from no one other than Lord Swen himself—

Then, just as she had that foolish thought.

"Legitimacy."

"......?"

"If I were to say that we have a legitimacy that the Karelia Army does not possess, how would you feel about that?"

The one who answered Shane’s question was not Luna.

It was Cain, the old man who had always been part of the three by Luna’s side.

"Did you say... legitimacy?"

"Yes. Legitimacy.

Our army possesses an overwhelming legitimacy that Karelia does not.

At least, if we are to discuss the justification for uniting this continent."

"Wait... Cain, what are you saying...?"

Luna looked at Cain, startled.

His eyes were shining clearer than ever.

The same gaze he had shown when he spoke with Swen on the final day.

"Shane, you understand why the tyrant Serpina continues to reign despite her oppressive rule, don’t you?"

"I do not see the relevance of that question."

"Then what if I told you that Serpina was not the only surviving member of the Eingart bloodline?"

"......!!!"

"What if a rightful heir of Eingart were to declare their support for Lord Luna?"

Everyone gasped in shock.

The only ones who remained unfazed were the three children Cain had brought—

Francis, Charlotte, and Violet.

But the one who was the most astonished—

was Luna herself, who had always stood by Cain’s side.

――In the end, we will win.

The seemingly ordinary old man, Cain Nerkis,

as if to prove the words that Swen had once said to Luna—

finally spoke.

"I will reveal the truth now. My name is not Cain Nerkis."

And then, instead of looking at Shane—

Cain turned his gaze toward Luna.

At this very moment.

He was no longer the man who had used a false name to escape persecution after the fall of his imperial house,

no longer the one who had chosen to idly waste away in hiding.

"My name is Kyle von Eingart.

The former king—Serpina’s father—was my elder brother.

And I have undeniable, physical proof to prove it!"

At this moment—

The overwhelming legitimacy that once belonged to no one but Serpina,

rolled its way toward Luna without her doing anything.

And once again, she thought of the white-haired man.

His words...were right once again.