Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 273: Same Mistake

Before the interrogation of the prisoners—

Luna was consulting with Jinor about what was to come.

“Then... Lady Vanessa...”

“She must not be allowed to live. And more than that—she cannot be allowed to live. She’s on a different level from the other prisoners who no longer have the strength to resist. No matter what form it takes, she will drag you down, my lord.”

“...So it really is that way.”

It was the answer she had expected, and yet, she couldn’t help but sigh.

Perhaps Vanessa’s choices hadn’t all been just, but at the very least, her hostility toward Luna—when looked at purely in terms of result—had been a way of acting on what she believed needed to be done.

In the end, just as Vanessa had said, Luna had betrayed Karelia.

Noticing the shadow that fell across Luna’s face, Jinor gently shook his head and said in a firm tone,

“Do not feel sympathy. And besides, your rebellion had justification, did it not? From what I understand, it was Vanessa who sent spies to eliminate you first. You have no reason to feel guilt—nor does her perspective being understandable make her actions any less wrong.”

Though Jinor had joined after the rebellion, he had, by now, learned everything about how Luna’s forces had come to be and what had transpired.

And he too believed Luna was not at fault.

It was Vanessa who had pushed her to the point where she had no choice but to rebel.

That was something anyone, even an outsider—or even Makana Karelia—would be forced to agree with.

But Luna shook her head softly, a sad expression on her face.

“No... That’s not it.”

“My lord, I—”

“I’m not sympathizing with Lady Vanessa.”

Luna raised her eyes and met Jinor’s gaze with a resolute look.

A certain clarity—only found in those who have accepted all consequences—glimmered in her ruby eyes.

“I never... intended to remain under Lady Karelia’s command. Not from the very first day she took us in.

There was someone I made a promise to—

That I wouldn’t miss my opportunity. Lady Vanessa... may have just been the trigger. That’s honestly how I feel.”

“My lord...”

“In order to raise an army, you need land. But there isn’t a single territory on this continent untouched by the influence of the major lords.

And what? Raise private troops from scratch? It’s not impossible, but it would take too much time.

The fastest, most efficient route... was only one.

So the result—rebellion—might have happened no matter what.”

Jinor said nothing more.

He understood.

So long as she held ambition in her heart, Luna could never be content as a mere vassal of the Karelia Army.

In that sense alone, Vanessa had shown a keen insight.

The problem was that her method had been disastrously wrong—and because of that, Luna had seized the chance.

“It’s alright. You once told me—if we don’t stain our blades with the blood of others, then eventually, they’ll be stained with our own. I haven’t forgotten those words, Lord Jinor.”

“Then I believe you already know what you must do moving forward.”

“Moving forward...?”

“Yes.”

Jinor bowed his head slightly, his eyes gleaming.

“Vanessa is not the only one we’ve captured.”

“...!”

“From what you’ve said so far, I believe you know what I’m referring to...”

“W-Wait a moment.”

Luna’s expression began to tremble—visibly different from how she had faced Vanessa.

She was a righteous and compassionate person, yes.

But she was also human, not a saint.

Depending on who it was, the weight of their life would always feel different.

But Jinor showed no intention of going easy on her.

His voice was sharp. Decisive.

“Execute Makana Karelia.”

“But...! If we execute Lady Karelia, there will be people who resent it! Won’t that become a long-term liability...?”

“The people’s hearts—especially here in the capital—are not with Karelia, but with you, my lord.

As for the commanders, those with the strength and reputation to be a real threat were lost in the battle at Tepello Castle.

Had Karelia’s death posed more of a risk than a gain, I would have advised her release.

But this is not such a case.”

“E-Even so... The reason the people’s sentiment soured in the first place was because of Lady Vanessa...”

“Which is exactly why she must be dealt with now.

If the people start believing things like ‘Karelia wasn’t that bad,’

it will serve no purpose to your rule.

On the contrary—executing the ruler they once obeyed and not being condemned for it—this is the perfect moment.”

“But still...!”

At that moment—

Jinor, who had kept his head low in strict deference, suddenly looked up and locked eyes with her.

“Forgive my impudence, my lord. But there is something I must say.”

“Lord Jinor...?”

“Makana Karelia was one of the few lords on this continent who staked her life on her ideals.

In the southern continent, she stood out as a formidable presence.

People gathered around her like clouds, simply to serve her.

A person with that kind of pull... whether she wants it or not,

will always find herself standing on this stage again.

You must remember that. Even if she doesn’t wish to.”

“......”

“Lyn Brans executed every lord she captured, regardless of ability.

Why? Because simply being a ruler meant harboring ambition.

She feared that ambition, and so she cut it off at the root.

And Karelia—she isn’t even incompetent.

You, too, have a goal you refuse to yield, do you not?

Isn’t that why you spoke as you did about Vanessa earlier?”

At those words, Luna could only lower her head, unable to respond.

I must do this.

With my own hand... I must kill the one who took me in.

“It’s an age of chaos, my lord.

There’s never been a time when loyalty meant more than it does now.

I will follow you, no matter what decision you make.

But never forget—

The reverence directed at you today...

Will not always be yours.”

***

Seeing Jinor’s firm expression—the one he wore when he gave that answer without the slightest hesitation—Luna couldn’t help but recall their conversation once more.

Execute Makana Karelia.

And even now, as if to remind her of that moment again... Jinor spoke with an unyielding tone.

Luna looked at Karelia with trembling eyes.

Karelia, bound and looking back at °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° her, wasn’t shaking.

There was no fear of death in her presence.

But it wasn’t the calmness of someone who believed she would be spared.

Rather, it was the serenity of one with no intention of resisting anything.

“...Lady Karelia.”

“It’s alright. I’ve never held any grudge toward you.

If anything, I’m the one who tried to have you killed. You know that, don’t you?”

But even before Luna could argue that it was all Vanessa’s doing—

“It was one of my subordinates who acted. So it’s my responsibility.

From the start, I took on the role of a ruler with the intent of bearing the consequences. Isn’t that how it should be?”

—Karelia cut her off first.

“I tried to eliminate you, who loyally served me, simply because I feared you.

And I failed. If I had won the battle at Tepello Castle and crushed your rebellion, then you would be the one in ropes now, not me.

Having the authority to throw soldiers’ lives onto the battlefield—this is what that means. So no, I do not resent you.”

But still...

Aren’t you even a little bitter?

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Even if, in the end, the person who took her in was betrayed...

Even if her own strategist had continuously made the wrong choices and hastened her downfall...

Even now, she was trying to shoulder everything alone.

A feeling Luna couldn’t quite name twisted itself around her heart.

If she had just said one thing—

Just once, if Karelia had asked how Luna could dare betray her after all she’d done—

If she had blamed Vanessa, even in a single breath—

Would it have made this pain feel even slightly easier to bear?

At that moment—

“Lady Luna.”

“...Yes.”

“You’re wearing a face that looks like it might start crying at any moment.”

Only then did Luna realize that her eyes had grown moist.

“When I had just started ruling, I used to hear that a ruler should never show tears.

Hard to believe that was already years ago...

Just as Vanessa said, you really are quite similar to me in many ways.”

“...My lord...”

Karelia let out a light, untroubled laugh.

Then, with unwavering deep green eyes, she met Luna’s trembling gaze.

“It’s a bit ridiculous for a prisoner to say this, but... allow me to offer one final piece of advice.

Don’t make the same mistake I did.”

“!!!”

Luna immediately grasped the meaning behind her words.

The same mistake—

Bringing another ambitious noble into one’s fold. freewebnσvel.cøm

“A mistake...”

“My dream hasn’t ended.

For the sake of those who gave their lives for me...

I will never abandon that dream. Even if you let me live, I cannot say I would forsake it for your sake.

And isn’t that... exactly why you and I ended up like this, Lady Luna?”

A mistake...

After holding herself together for so long, Luna finally broke—tears rolling down her face.

“Because of that mistake... I... we were able to survive...”

Karelia’s mistake.

If she hadn’t made it—

If she had sided with the majority opinion, with Vanessa and the others...

If she had handed Luna over to Lyn Brans under the pretext of diplomacy...

So many possibilities that never happened passed through her mind.

“Lady Lunarian... You are someone who can surpass me.

I imagine that’s the reason Vanessa feared you so much.

To the people, if the war ends, it doesn’t matter who sits on the throne—

as long as it’s not Serpina.”

“And I... I’m truly glad.

If it’s you, Lady Luna...

I feel like you can stop that villainess Serpina, who’s thrown this continent into chaos.”

Watching her speak, Jinor could feel it clearly—

his judgment hadn’t been wrong.

To be able to offer such composed advice even at the edge of death...

Makana Karelia was a dangerous woman.

The kind who could never serve beneath another.

“So don’t cry...

Take my head.

And if you feel sorry for me—then promise me this.”

“Promise me that you will bring this war to an end, defeat Serpina, and restore peace.”

Luna trembled, speechless for a long while—

Then slowly wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve.

Finally, she met Karelia’s eyes without looking away.

“...I promise.”

“Thank you.”

“Take her away.”

“Yes, my lord!”

At Jinor’s command—spoken in Luna’s place—

the soldiers led the bound Karelia to where Vanessa had gone.

Just before she was taken away, Karelia turned to Luna with a smile—

bright and carefree, like that of a child.

And that was the last expression Luna ever saw on Makana Karelia’s face.