Seeing me frozen in shock at the sight of Kalinz, Irene approached with a gentle voice.
"Ah, Swen. You were unconscious, so... you probably don't understand what's happening."
I turned my head to look at Irene.
And then- I was able to hear from her about what had happened while I was unconscious.
* * *
Turn the clock back.
After successfully escaping from the prison at Cherien Castle, Kalinz had stolen a soldier's horse and was quickly riding toward the fortress.
From what he'd heard, Serphina's army was marching with 50,000 soldiers toward Cherien Castle, where defenses had been lowered and troops withdrawn after he had sent his own soldiers there.
He had managed to escape by taking advantage of the inevitable chaos, but... the problem was what came next.
'I was foolish.'
Thinking with a cooler head while imprisoned, he finally realized just how stupid his actions had been.
First of all, the morale of Cherien Castle's soldiers hadn't decreased at all.
Serphina had conquered the north, but since she hadn't completely won the hearts of the entire northern region, various disturbances were occurring—something Kalinz himself was well aware of.
If he had considered that, he could have deduced that the rebels might be unexpectedly loyal to Ian.
In any case, the result of the battle he had started was disastrous.
A general from an enemy country who had done Serphina's army's work for them!
Thanks to none other than himself, Kalinz, Serphina's army would easily suppress the rebellion.
He had achieved the military merit he so desperately wanted.
Except it wasn't for the Brands army, but for their enemy, Serphina.
'Damn it!'
How humiliating was this situation?
Only now, after everything had happened, did he feel his own arrogance and foolishness.
Moreover, having ruined everything, it was inevitable that the fortress he had personally led the construction of would be lost.
This fortress had been built because Kalinz himself had strongly advocated for it.
After being humiliated in battle against the small Lunarienne army and failing to achieve any notable results in the north, he needed to do something, to show something.
He wasn't just any general—he was a blood relative of Lynn Brands, the ruler of the Brands army.
Already constantly compared to his brother and sister, he didn't want to hear people say, "That incompetent man rose to his position only because of his bloodline."
Objectively, he was an extremely capable general, but being constantly undervalued compared to his siblings had made him impatient.
In such a situation, to lose a fortress whose strategic value had been questioned from the construction phase, and one that hadn't even been built that long ago?
And as a result of recklessly starting a battle that only benefited others?
When building this fortress, he had repeatedly been advised that "if captured, it would likely benefit the enemy, so it would be better not to build it."
At the time, his vision had been clouded, and he had ignored the advice and proceeded—but now he understood.
They had been right.
Looking back, he had consistently chosen to do only useless things.
'Damn it!'
Kalinz thought to himself.
Having fallen this low, he should at least not beg for his life.
He would rather die fighting at the fortress.
For the honor of the Brands family, he needed to die on the battlefield.
If he had done something so stupid, shouldn't he at least take responsibility himself?
Otherwise, he wouldn't have the courage to face his lord, his sister, and his brother, the greatest swordsman of the Brands army.
But.
No matter how he thought about it, he was anxious that his sister Lynn would have ordered a retreat.
It was in her nature not to cling to battles that couldn't be won.
If, upon arriving at the fortress, the flag flying was not sky blue but the bright yellow symbolizing Serphina's army...
Kalinz was even considering the extreme option of fighting the fortress alone.
'Please... just hold on a little longer...!'
Perhaps his wish had reached them.
Fortunately, the flag flying over the fortress was sky blue, proving it still belonged to the Brands army.
However.
The atmosphere seemed strange somehow.
'...What is that?'
On top of the wall, some man was doing something strange.
He seemed to be shouting loudly between two drums.
Getting closer, Kalinz saw it was a white-haired man.
There was definitely a young white-haired man at the fortress, wasn't there...?
But he wasn't given more time to think.
"...Huh?"
When he looked up at the sky.
There------
* * *
After hearing the situation from Irene, I was able to understand the current situation.
'I see. He escaped.'
Generals with high stats not only rarely get captured, but even when they do, they often escape.
That's why they're quickly recruited or used as diplomatic bargaining chips.
Given the circumstances, Ian's army apparently hadn't handled the situation wisely.
Well, I understood. How could they manage prisoners properly when they had just raised a rebellion and fought a battle?
Most likely, Serphina's army had been dispatched.
Kalinz nodded as if overwhelmed by something and spoke to me.
Somehow, the look in his eyes toward me was unusual.
"Swen! Your name is Swen, correct?"
"Yes, it is."
"Right! Your name... I, Kalinz Brands, have remembered it clearly. I will never forget it from now on."
?
I wondered why he was suddenly acting this way, but I didn't want to pour cold water on his enthusiasm, so I decided to go along with it.
"Thank you."
"Thank me? I should be thanking you! I heard that when everyone else gave up on the fortress, you were the only one who disobeyed orders and said you would fight personally, even without receiving direct orders...?"
I don't know when he heard that story.
But since it was true, I might as well confirm it.
"That's correct."
"Yes! Swen... you disobeyed orders and risked your life to fight and protect this fortress! For me, Kalinz Brands!"
???
What on earth is he talking about?
Why would I fight for you?
But.
Kalinz, unaware of my thoughts, spoke with high energy, seemingly overwhelmed by something.
"Swen! I personally witnessed the miracle you created! I could see it as I was riding toward the fortress!"
'Ah.'
Hearing that, I suddenly felt clarity.
When I was making deductions earlier—I thought I might be able to somehow explain that Kalinz had backed my insubordination.
But it wasn't that; he had actually seen me performing my show with his own eyes.
Which meant—
Kalinz Brands had gone beyond recognizing me as "an incredibly impressive person" to being completely convinced of it.
'...That's frightening.'
The prediction of Intelligence 100.
Even though I had made it myself, there were times when it was eerily accurate.
"Building an altar, barely surviving day by day on minimal food to communicate with the heavens... and continuously knocking on heaven's door by playing the drums—that's true, isn't it!"
Somehow the story seems to have gained some embellishments.
It sounds interesting, so I'll just stay quiet.
"Ha! That expression asks how I knew."
Kalinz continued excitedly without even waiting for my response.
"The soldiers who fought alongside you at the fortress! I was able to hear the details from them! Swen! I am truly proud of you! To think that such an incredible talent has joined our army—indeed, our lord's eye for people is never wrong!"
"Thank you."
"Yes! That's right!"
Kalinz said with a broad smile.
His confident tone suggested he was certain I would be moved by his words right now.
"I will never forget that you risked your life for me in this battle! As long as you're in the Brands army, no one will ever dare disrespect you! I promise on the name of Brands!"
"..."
Honestly, I felt somewhat annoyed—
But still, it was probably easier to let him praise me as he pleased than to antagonize him.
After Kalinz caused a commotion and left the room,
Once again, only Irene and I remained.
I turned my head to look at Irene.
She was looking at me with worried eyes, as if something was making her anxious.
"...Swen. I would like you to rest for a while."
"I've slept for about a day, so I'm fine."
"Please listen to me. I'm asking you."
"..."
I felt like I could get up now...
But I might as well accept her kindness here.
It seemed like a good idea to replenish my already low stamina.
"Alright. But please call me if anything happens."
"Yes. I will."
And then, silence fell again.
Only then did I sense something odd and asked:
"Um... Lady Irene."
"What is it?"
"Are you going to stay here the whole time?"
"Yes."
Irene nodded and answered promptly.
"Swen, taking care of you is my job. As for the fortress, now that General Kalinz has returned, he'll handle things."
"...Is that okay? Don't you have other duties?"
"No. For me right now... taking care of you, Swen, is the most important task."
She spoke in a very firm tone.
However, her eyes were warm rather than cold as she said this.
Her attitude seemed somewhat different from before I lost consciousness...
Honestly, I didn't dislike this attitude of hers.
"Then I'll be in your care."
"Yes."
She smiled at me.
That smile, I was able to protect it—
At this moment, for the first time, I felt grateful that my Intelligence was 100.
*
After several days at the fortress.
News arrived that all of Ian's castles, including Cherien Castle and Mati Castle, had fallen to Serphina's army. Ian's forces had been destroyed, and Ian Lishfalt, who had raised the rebellion, had been executed. Not only Ian but all the rebel generals who had joined the rebellion, including Solana Lishfalt, had been beheaded.
It was truly a short-lived rebellion.
It couldn't have lasted long anyway, but I wondered why they had rebelled knowing this.
I became newly curious about such things, but there was no way to know now.
Because Ian was gone.
'What will happen to the north now?'
The suppression of this rebellion and the execution of all involved sent a clear message.
The message that anyone who defied Serphina's army would die without exception.
Serphina's influence in the north would grow even stronger.
If the north became completely stable... the blade would naturally point toward the Brands army next.
'My lord will need to prepare well.'
Well, she'll handle it properly, I'm sure.
I just needed to find the right timing to escape with Irene.
And after several more days.
Reinforcements sent by Lynn from Anel Castle had finally arrived at the fortress.
I joined Kalinz in the conference room with Irene to welcome those who had arrived as reinforcements.
"Under our lord's orders, I, Taltin, have just arrived, General Kalinz."
"Hmm, I see."
"We were truly relieved to hear that General Kalinz had successfully escaped. Our lord must have been pleased to hear the news as well."
"..."
Kalinz didn't respond and changed the subject.
"So. The reinforcements are to be deployed at this fortress from now on?"
"About that, it seems that won't be the case."
"What?"
In response to Kalinz's question, the officer who had introduced himself as Taltin spoke in a firm tone.
"These are orders from our lord. General Kalinz Brands and all officers under his command are ordered to return to Anel Castle."
"What? Return? Then who will remain at this fortress?"
"..."
Taltin hesitated very slightly, then carefully began to speak.
"And secondly, after gathering all the supplies you can... she has ordered the destruction of the fortress."