Finding Ginor wasn't particularly difficult.
He was on the fortress wall, surveying the surroundings and occasionally sighing.
"Lord Ginor."
"Hmm? If it isn't Swen. What brings you here?"
I stood beside him and carefully broached the subject.
"Do you intend to let them engage in a head-on battle?"
"...What do you mean?"
"I apologize if my words sound presumptuous. I simply want to ask if you truly believe following Epinel's opinion is the right answer."
"...Sigh."
Ginor let out a long sigh before speaking.
"General Epinel's words aren't completely unreasonable. If we lose this fortress, we'll end up back at square one. Perhaps facing them head-on might be the right answer after all."
"I'm not so sure. My thoughts differ somewhat."
"...What are you trying to say?"
I spoke in a serious tone.
"Lord Ginor, it's quite simple. Imagine if you were the strategist for the Brands army. Would you bring troops to attack this place?"
"Certainly, 50,000 men would be insufficient, I think. But this is a fortress, not a castle. As an advance force concept, well, there's no reason not to invade at all. If it were me, I would have brought 20,000-30,000 more soldiers... but the invasion itself wouldn't have been a completely foolish act."
"Even with me being here?"
"...?"
He didn't immediately understand my words and looked into my eyes.
Then soon after.
With an "Ah," he slowly nodded.
"...You, perhaps..."
"If I were the Brands army's strategist, I wouldn't attempt a frontal assault against this fortress's forces, regardless of their number. Especially since there's a high possibility that I, 'Swen,' would be here."
He nodded, then stroked his beard.
After a moment, as if something had occurred to him, he looked at me and said:
"...But didn't you say that ability of yours isn't a 'magic' you can use freely? Wouldn't they know that too? Especially since you were once part of their ranks."
Ginor was the man who had heard the most about my abilities in the Aishers army.
Since I couldn't tell unsustainable lies, I had previously confessed to him that I couldn't use it at will.
However.
I had never revealed all my cards to anyone.
"It's not magic, but... honestly, there are things I haven't told you."
"Things you haven't told me?"
"When I explained before, I said I couldn't control any aspect of it, and that reading the flow of the heavens was my limit... but that's not entirely true."
If the Aishers army falls here anyway.
If they lose the only Balhart Castle - I would die.
Not only is my life at stake, but Irene would certainly suffer a terrible fate as well.
So here.
Once again, I had to risk my life and brazenly tell a lie.
"With a 'deeper' communication... I can intervene in the flow of the heavens."
"...!!!"
Ginor's eyes widened as he stared at me for a moment-
Then, he parted his heavy lips.
"Why... did you hide this?"
"It's simple. The price is my lifespan."
"Your lifespan?"
"To manipulate the will of the heavens as I please, I must utilize an absurd amount of mana. Naturally, accepting that much mana into my body places tremendous strain on various parts of my physique. That's why I couldn't carelessly mention this ability."
"Hmm..."
Ginor briefly frowned in contemplation, then carefully asked me:
"I wonder why you're telling me this now. If your life is precious, shouldn't this be something you keep to yourself?"
"Well, my life will be forfeit if we do nothing anyway."
"...What do you mean by that?"
I looked around, then met his eyes.
Like someone divulging a celestial secret, I moved my tongue mischievously.
"It's a surprise attack, Lord Ginor."
"!!!"
"The Brands army's target isn't this fortress. The soldiers are bait. Their real objective is... Balhart Castle, which is currently undermanned as troops have been sent to invade Alepel. If Balhart Castle falls, our entire army will become prisoners of the Brands army. And if that happens, I will certainly die."
"...What's your evidence?"
"Let me say it again. If I were the Brands army's strategist, I wouldn't have sent troops here knowing I was present. Especially since the Brands army has people who have actually witnessed me in action. Lord Ginor, do you know who the Brands army's strategist is?"
"It was definitely Farfalle."
"If you know that, this will be quicker. In your opinion, would Farfalle advance here without knowing something that even a mere general like me knows?"
"..."
He hesitated briefly, then shook his head and said:
"No, she wouldn't. From what I've observed, she's an extremely intelligent person."
"It seems you have some history with her."
"She was once my student."
Oh? This was information even I didn't know.
Given that Ginor was counted among the wisest men on the continent, it seemed his legacy was by no means insignificant.
At this point, I decided to scratch his itch.
"Of course, it doesn't matter how right a strategist is if the commander doesn't accept their advice."
Ginor's eyebrows twitched at these words.
I could scratch more, but I'll leave it at that for now.
"The current commander of the Brands army is Chel Brands. While he may be somewhat arrogant and aggressive in battle, he's not foolish enough to ignore his strategist's advice. His reputation as the First Sword is evidence of that."
"And until recently, I belonged to the Brands army. Farfalle is highly trusted within the Brands army. Starting with Lynn, the ruler herself gives her special treatment. Under the rules of the Brands army, where the ruler's influence is paramount, her opinions carry almost as much weight as Lynn Brands' own. I find it hard to believe Chel would ignore that."
"..."
After that, I presented all the logical arguments I could to convince Ginor.
From why the number of soldiers was specifically 50,000, to the fact that they didn't have much time left except for a surprise attack.
Ginor didn't respond, but it wasn't difficult to tell he was listening attentively to my words.
"What we need to do now is withdraw troops from the fortress and use their plan to surprise attack Balhart Castle to our advantage. There is no other option. I believe this is the only way our army can survive."
"...Hmm."
Ginor stared blankly at the horizon, lost in thought for a while-
Then turned to face me.
"The fact that you're telling me this means..."
"Yes. I believe you're the only one who can convince Epinel."
Of course, no matter how hard I tried to persuade her as a newcomer, she wouldn't listen.
In the end, the only person with even a slight chance of convincing her was Ginor, the national strategist.
...Or so I thought.
But Ginor said something unexpected.
"...I see. Despite being here for such a short time, you seem to have figured out the situation I'm in."
'?'
He said something very meaningful, but... honestly, I don't know what he's talking about.
Yet somehow, my intuition was strongly telling me.
That this was going to be a turning point.
I nodded and replied in the most composed tone I could manage.
"Your thoughts are correct."
"I see."
Good.
There was a bit of delay in my response, but... it seemed to have gone over well enough.
I don't know what circumstances Ginor was in, but from my position, I couldn't help but take advantage of it.
'For someone who can only make predictions, I need to use whatever I can get my hands on.'
"Alright. I'll try to persuade her once more."
"I'll come with you."
"However, I have a favor to ask."
Huh?
A favor?
"What might that be?"
"If things work out well, I'd like you to grant me one request."
"A request? That's quite sudden."
"I promise it won't be burdensome or unreasonable for you."
A request from Ginor that wouldn't be burdensome to me?
Nothing specific came to mind, but... honestly, I wasn't in a position to have options.
Still, it would be good to have some insurance.
"If it's a request I absolutely cannot fulfill, I might not be able to grant it, but if that's acceptable to you."
"Do as you wish. My request won't be of that nature."
"In that case, I have no reason to refuse."
With our conversation concluded.
Ginor and I immediately headed to where Epinel was.
She was busy training soldiers.
As we approached her, she noticed us coming and tilted her head curiously.
"Strategist? And Swen, you're here too. What's the matter?"
"General Epinel. I'd like to have another conversation with you."
"A conversation?"
"Yes."
After that, Ginor conveyed our opinion to her based on what I had told him.
He explained that the deployed soldiers were likely bait, the real target was Balhart Castle, and that we should withdraw troops in anticipation of a surprise attack.
Ginor even included my story about not speaking up earlier due to fear of shortening my lifespan.
Perhaps because he was truly intelligent, he had an excellent ability to explain things clearly.
"Is that so? A surprise attack... hmm."
Epinel fell into thought for a moment, then looked at us and said:
"If we withdraw troops and there's no surprise attack, this fortress will be taken by those 50,000 soldiers... in that case."
"As I mentioned, I'll risk my lifespan and try to open a path through the heavens."
"Hmm..."
Epinel pondered for a long time, then looked straight into my eyes.
"Swen. I don't want to force you to do something that puts your life at risk."
"...Pardon?"
"No, why are you so surprised? I mean exactly what I said - I don't want to burden you unnecessarily."
"But without this method, everyone will be in danger."
"I understand what you're saying. I'll specifically send scouts. If the Brands army plans to divide their forces, won't the scouts confirm it? We can decide what to do then; it's not too late."
'We can't waste time unnecessarily...'
Since this was a prediction made with Intelligence 100, my words would prove correct, so there was no need to be so cautious.
Rather, if we delayed and missed the timing, it would be a disaster.
Of course, Epinel wouldn't know my circumstances, but... that caution seemed like it would become poison.
"Um... well."
I was tempted to say she could have my head if I turned out to be wrong.
But I knew that my "insistence" had worked before only because Luna was the ruler.
There was no way I could convince Epinel now.
"Anyway, we can't withdraw troops right now, so understand that. I've already sent messengers to Emma, who has set out to conquer the Alepel army. If necessary, Emma's army can protect Balhart Castle. We Aishers have always been warriors of reversal who somehow overcome such chaos."
"But there's no guarantee they'll return to Balhart Castle in time-"
"I believe in Emma's judgment. Swen, you may not know, but she's a great warrior who makes the impossible possible. I, Epinel, guarantee it. Perhaps you should see for yourself this time."
Epinel said, patting her chest.
Perhaps the results they've achieved with longtime comrades are her pride.
Pride is good, but... I wondered if prioritizing trust in comrades above all else was truly the right path.
"Strategist, I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't worry too much and prepare for battle."
'Sigh.'
I don't understand why she's so fixated on the fortress...
In the end, even bringing Ginor didn't convince her.
I had thought this might happen since Ginor's initial proposal to "withdraw all troops and send them to Balhart Castle" was rejected, but it really did turn out this way.
'Should I secretly flee with Irene?'
Looking at it objectively, the Aishers army's downfall wasn't my concern.
Fleeing before battle would spread unsavory rumors about us, but weren't we already branded as traitors?
Simply ensuring our survival wouldn't be so bad.
As I was thinking this... Ginor spoke in a serious tone.
"General. Withdraw troops now to prepare for the surprise attack. On the condition that you do so, if there is no surprise attack as you say and we lose this fortress, I will immediately step down from my position as national strategist."
"...!!!"
At that moment.
Epinel, who had been unmoved by any argument, looked at Ginor in shock for the first time.
'Step down from his position as national strategist?'
Is that condition so appealing to Epinel?
As I was wondering about this, Ginor continued speaking as if it were nothing.
And after hearing what he said next.
I could somewhat guess what he meant by "the situation he was in."
"And I will pass this position to Anima, who was the original national strategist."