Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 271: What It Means to Be Reborn as a Ruler (6)

Around the same time.

Karelia, her entire body bound with rope, was being escorted by Violet.

“Without a doubt, during the battle, there will be those who attempt to flee the territory. Inspect everyone. If it’s a merchant caravan, confiscate their goods and charge them based on the transfer rate by ship.”

'To think the strategist was right...'

Jinor spoke. Vanessa had insisted that she would try to let Karelia, the ruler, escape no matter what.

As per his orders, troops had been deployed at every route that led into Tepello Castle from other territories.

Given that our forces already vastly outnumbered theirs, even splitting them up this way didn’t affect the outcome of the battle. In that sense... it had been a brilliant move.

If not for Jinor’s judgment, we might have let the enemy’s ruler slip away during a decisive moment. That thought alone sent a cold sweat down one’s back.

‘I suppose it’s safe to relax now...’

Makana Karelia.

A mature woman with gentle, deep green eyes.

The one Lord Luna had originally served.

A woman praised by many for her virtue and benevolence.

As for Violet—she had always thought Karelia was overrated.

Being dragged around by Vanessa, who started the rebellion, without standing her ground... that didn’t seem kind so much as just plain foolish.

But now, facing her in person—she began to understand why so many had flocked to serve under this woman.

Why so much effort had been needed to convince them to rebel.

There was a regal air about her. A natural calm that overwhelmed those around her.

A ruler. This woman existed high above the clouds. freēwēbnovel.com

‘If Vanessa hadn’t run amok with military authority, most of the Karelia soldiers now fighting for us probably wouldn’t have taken part in the rebellion...’

Violet was looking at Karelia, thinking just that—when their eyes met.

Karelia smiled gently, as if to reassure her, and spoke.

“Hoho, there’s no need to be so tense. Like I just said, I have no ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) intention of trying to escape.”

At those words, the soldiers escorting her flinched slightly.

Even though she was a prisoner now, she had once been a ruler.

There was a kind of unapproachable dignity about her that clung to her like a second skin.

Violet felt it too—there was no way the soldiers didn’t sense it.

Violet stared silently at Karelia for a moment, then spoke in a somewhat sharper tone.

“Don’t try anything foolish. I told you to come quietly.”

“Ahaha! Foolish, you say? Look at me. I’m just a woman tied up from head to toe—what could I possibly do at this point? Still, with you and the soldiers all so tense, it’s hard to even breathe.”

“......”

“Even if you untied me, I’d still follow along... though I won’t ask you to. Well then... it’s not much of a favor, but if you’re willing, perhaps a bit of idle chatter wouldn’t hurt?”

“Know your place. You won’t sway us with your sly words.”

“Ahaha! Sly, is it? You make it sound like I’m some sort of Serpina. That’s rather disappointing. If we had more time, I could’ve shown you I’m quite a decent person.”

Karelia laughed cheerfully, as if amused, and in the lightest, most casual tone—like she were commenting on tomorrow’s weather—she said,

“This will likely be my final outing... so I figured, why not make the most of it?”

“...!”

Violet widened her eyes in shock for a moment before regaining her composure and responding in a calm voice.

“Our lord does not deal lightly with matters of life and death.”

“Your lord... You mean Lady Luna, yes? Heh. That’s right. Lady Luna is not someone who draws her sword carelessly. I know that. She is a woman of gentle character. However...”

Karelia studied Violet’s face for a moment, then turned her head aside and spoke faintly.

“...You’re still young. Poor thing. For someone like you to be sent to the battlefield... it’s a tragedy of the times. I raised my sword to stop Serpina because I couldn’t bear the thought of such a world.”

“......”

Violet didn’t quite understand what she was getting at.

But she could feel herself being drawn into the pace of this woman’s conversation, and that alone was enough to make her decide to end it here.

“In any case, I have no intention of wasting time talking to you. You’d best behave and come quietly, Karelia.”

“As you say.”

After that, Karelia said nothing more... but Violet couldn’t let her guard down.

This woman... she was dangerous. There was something about her that drew people in.

‘My lord...’

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

For a moment, her mind began to wander, but Violet immediately cut the thoughts short.

Yes. Everything would be decided by her lord.

No matter what her lord chose, she would follow. That was the duty of a loyal subject—what Violet had learned to uphold.

And so, with this valuable “spoils of war” in hand, Violet headed toward the burning Madralan Castle.

***

After the battle, the moment Luna entered the gates of the capital castle Madralan—

The people of the territory, who had gathered like clouds before she even realized it, began to shout her name.

“Lady Lunarian! Welcome back!!”

“Thank you for freeing us from Vanessa’s tyranny...!”

“Long live Lunarian’s Army! Long live Lady Lunarian!”

“Everyone...!”

Caught off guard by the unexpected reaction, Luna spotted a familiar figure among the crowd—

A farmer she had once worked the fields with.

“You did it, Lady Lunarian...!”

“Hello, Mr. Cage! It’s been a while!”

Cage.

A middle-aged farmer she used to farm alongside when she worked at Madralan Castle.

There was no way she could forget.

He was one of the very few people who had ever opened their heart to Luna, back when so many still regarded her with suspicion.

Luna dismounted her horse and extended her hand to him as a gesture of friendship.

Farmer Cage bent ninety degrees at the waist and took her hand in both of his.

“From the moment I heard you had risen up at Tepello Castle, I waited for this day to come.”

“Is that so...?”

“Of course! I knew there had to be a reason. Lady Lunarian, even back when we were tilling the fields together, I could tell—you were meant for something greater.”

It seemed public opinion of Vanessa among the people of the territory was practically at rock bottom.

And no wonder—she had demanded more than double the usual military service from the citizens, and the harsh enforcement of martial law had claimed many lives.

Even if military strength had increased, she had completely lost the hearts of the people.

To make matters worse, the fact that Karelia never made any move to restrain Vanessa’s arbitrary actions must’ve left a bad taste as well.

“I’ll come help again sometime.”

“No, please! What are you saying? You have more important things to do now... Leave this kind of work to us! All you need to do, Lady Lunarian, is focus on doing what only you can do!”

While Luna was exchanging warm greetings with the citizens,

Jinor approached her quietly.

“My lord.”

“Ah, Lord Jinor.”

“A message from Violet. She says... they captured her, at the northern riverbank.”

“...!!”

The moment she heard those words, Luna’s pupils contracted.

“Then... just as you predicted, Lord Jinor?”

“Yes. It seems so.”

“......”

Yes.

You tried to escape, didn’t you, Karelia?

Or perhaps, just as Jinor had said, you were forced to flee—against your own will.

But the fact that she had been caught now—

“......”

Luna smiled again and gave her farewells to Cage and the others.

“Stay well! Lady Lunarian! Bring peace to the continent!”

—Long live Lunarian!!!

As the cheers of the people echoed behind her, Jinor sank into thought as he watched Luna.

‘I heard the rumors, but I never imagined she had earned this much of the people’s trust.’

To so overwhelmingly surpass someone like Karelia in terms of public support from the territory’s people... Where had this woman been hiding all this time?

And Swen... how on earth had he managed to find her?

Either way, the sound of those cheers told him everything he needed to know.

From now on, the one who would command the attention of the continent—

would not be Lyn Brans, nor Baranga Yuri Aishus, nor Serpina von Eingart...

It would be Lunarian.

***

“This way.”

Guided by Francis and the soldiers, Luna entered the royal castle of Madralan—

And was greeted by a short-haired woman glaring fiercely at her: Vanessa Trinity.

“...”

Before Luna could even give an order, the soldiers surrounded Vanessa and began to restrain her.

Naturally, she was bound without resistance.

“Don’t bother with that pleasant face. You filthy traitor.”

“You bastard! Watch your tongue! It was you who—!”

“It’s alright, Francis. Calm down.”

“B-But my lord...!”

“Calm down. That’s an order.”

“...!”

Lunarian calmed the furious Francis, then approached the bound Vanessa.

“You were unlucky. Both of us were, really—Ms. Vanessa.”

“Ha! A novel way to mock the defeated, I’ll give you that.”

“It’s not mockery. I mean it. I just... I wonder if maybe it would’ve been better if we’d never met at all.”

“What...?”

Luna said this while staring down at Vanessa, who trembled with clenched teeth and visible fury.

The moment their eyes met, Vanessa’s expression froze in shock.

Those eyes—she’d seen them before. Eyes that truly regarded the other person... Eyes that reminded her of Karelia.

‘W-What is this...!?’

No.

There was no way someone like this despicable woman could have the same kindness as Lady Karelia.

Vanessa shook her head hard to clear her thoughts—

But in that act of mentally acknowledging Karelia’s name, she finally realized what had been bothering her.

This was the royal castle.

And yet, Karelia was not here.

In that case, wouldn’t Luna be questioning her absence?

Then why...

Why could she stay so calm?

‘No way...!’

“...We’ll meet again soon.”

Luna slowly nodded her head.

“Francis. Please take her into custody.”

“Yes, my lord!”

“W-Wait! Luna—no, that can’t be your real name, right? Don’t tell me...!!”

“Move.”

Vanessa was dragged away before she could finish her sentence.

After she disappeared, Lunarian closed her eyes and recalled the words Jinor had told her earlier.

If you do not stain your blade with the blood of others—

Someday, the one it will be stained with... will be your own.

“......”

Lunarian steeled herself once more.

A renewed resolve—

To be reborn as a true ruler.