I pondered the prediction results again.
[It depends on heaven's will]?
I had seen this prediction before.
This wasn't literally about depending on heaven, but rather a prediction meaning that the outcome would vary according to my own actions, not something else.
But... what did it mean that the outcome of the war depended on my actions, not someone else's?
I had high intelligence, but ridiculously low strength. My leadership was probably low as well. Those weren't the virtues of a strategist but of a general.
Of course, it wasn't unusual for a strategist to lead a battle to victory with ingenious tactics, but I was a strategist in name only and practically useless when it came to tactics.
Yet the battle's outcome depends on my choice?
And retreating is somewhat close to the right answer?
While I was lost in thought due to two predictions that were absolutely correct but seemed to have no connection to each other.
"Swen?"
Epinel, who had no way of knowing I was confused, urged me to answer again.
Only then could I respond in a somewhat calmer tone.
"Pardon? Ah... yes, I agree with what you said, Lady Epinel."
My answer was a bit delayed, but I seemed to have managed the situation somehow.
"Everyone, listen! We've decided to make our stand at the fortress, so prepare for battle. Mussel, Jayden, and Irene. I have high expectations for you three."
"We understand!"
And so, Ginor's opinion to retreat was rejected in favor of Epinel's decision to make a stand.
"Now everyone can return to their positions."
After Epinel's final words, people filed out, leaving only Irene and me in the empty conference room.
"Swen? Is something wrong?"
"Lady Irene."
Irene was one of our key forces.
In a situation where we were short on generals, she was destined to go to the battlefield and fight.
If I couldn't find the "optimal move" here... she would be in danger.
"You can tell me if something's bothering you."
"It's nothing. I'm just a bit tense before the battle."
"I see."
Irene smiled faintly and said.
"Don't worry, Swen. Even if it means turning my back on the Aishers army, I will definitely protect you."
"Turning your back on the Aishers army? That's dangerous talk if others were to hear it."
"It doesn't matter. What's important to me isn't others, but you, Swen. Didn't I tell you? I live for you."
Irene's words weren't bravado but sincere.
Even earlier, when Epinel told me to perform a ritual, she had tried to intervene.
Despite being a newcomer who could be seen as the cause of the Brands army's invasion, she didn't hesitate to step forward and voice her opinion strongly, even though it would clearly earn her enmity.
I could easily guess the reason.
She believed that such actions—like performing rituals to create miracles—would put my life at risk.
If the only way for us to win was for me to summon another meteorite, she would rather choose defeat.
For her sake, I had to find the right answer.
"I feel the same way about you, Lady Irene."
"Yes... I know."
Irene's smile as she said this was incredibly endearing.
Perhaps that's why.
I approached Irene and gently embraced her.
It was somewhat impulsive, and I felt her body tense slightly—
But she soon opened her arms and placed her hands around my waist.
She didn't reject me but welcomed me into her world.
This feeling from her warm presence.
It made me feel alive and gave me a reason to live.
After we shared a silent embrace for a moment.
"...Swen. I'll go downstairs and do what I need to do, but feel free to come find me anytime if you need anything."
"I understand."
After Irene left the conference room, alone in the silence.
I sat down and whispered quietly to myself.
'Alright. Let's try once more.'
The very thing I had struggled with to survive as an ordinary modern person who could only make 100% accurate predictions and knew nothing about strategy or tactics.
A kind of "deduction" that I needed to perform once more.
Eliminating all impossibilities.
As a result, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
It would surely be the same this time.
I began to think calmly.
I had two "absolute truths":
Defeating the enemy here and retreating is "somewhat close" to the right answer.
And the outcome of this battle "depends on heaven's will," meaning it depends on my choice.
Let's organize them one by one.
When I first heard it, I was confused because I was flustered.
But if "my choice" here means that the predictions made by my intelligence 100 brain come out according to the position of the "Aishers army," the country I'm currently affiliated with, rather than my own position—
It would be correct to interpret this as meaning that our army can win if we make some good choices here, rather than referring to me, Swen, as an individual.
Thinking calmly, that's how it made sense.
Then, our army doing something means...
'Either we do something first... or we prepare for something the enemy might do... one of these two?'
Only then did I slowly take out the paper from inside my clothes.
This place is the western part of Valharat Fortress. In other words, it's the eastern region of Laclaine Castle, the easternmost point of the Brands army.
This means that this area is included in the "map of the Brands army's border region" that I had drawn before.
If we need to prepare for something, we should be able to find hints in the terrain.
I spread out the map and carefully checked the terrain from Laclaine Castle to Valharat Fortress and around the fortress.
'There are quite a few forests here and there, more than I expected.'
Could those surrounding forests provide some clue?
A way to use them, or maybe...
'...No.'
Let's change perspective.
This is the time to think from the opponent's perspective, not ours.
'If I were in the Brands army, how would I act?'
If I were Chel Brands.
If I were Farfalle, the strategist of the Brands army, what would I be thinking?
On what basis would I make the decision to "send 50,000 troops to the fortress"?
I slowly cleared my mind and focused on my thoughts.
If I were in the Brands army's position...
'...I wouldn't send soldiers.'
When I thought about it, the sudden deployment itself seemed incomprehensible.
The reason.
It might sound a bit ridiculous to hear, but... I couldn't help but think it.
'Because... I, "Swen," am here.'
'Because they can't ignore Swen's existence... they wouldn't just send soldiers head-on.'
I had predicted natural disasters and acted as if I had caused them.
And that was when I was with the Brands army.
It seemed unlikely that the Brands army, of all people, would overlook this point.
Farfalle, the current national strategist of the Brands army, wasn't stupid enough to not consider such a basic thing.
She would have certainly taken this into account.
Yet they still sent soldiers because...
* * *
Laclaine Castle.
There, Chel and Farfalle were having a private conversation.
On the table was just a single map showing the surrounding terrain.
"Strategist. I'm glad to see you've been well without any troubles."
"I've heard. Your lord ordered you to occupy the Aishers army's territory?"
"That's right. I feel reassured having you with me, Strategist Farfalle."
"Likewise, I feel like I've gained a thousand troops with General Chel at the forefront."
After the appropriate pleasantries.
Chel immediately got to the point.
"First of all, the enemy commander defending the fortress is Epinel Rosenkroz."
Epinel Rosenkroz.
A woman regarded as the most excellent general in the Aishers army, with well-rounded abilities without any weak points.
One of the famous Three Ladies of Aishers that Farfalle knew well.
Among them, Erinandorf had the strongest combat ability, while Emma had excellent leadership and intelligence.
And Epinel was the one who could unite these two with her leadership.
The fact that if something happened to Baranga Yuuri Aishers, Epinel would almost 100% be the one to succeed as the ruler, should be sufficient explanation of what kind of person she was.
"According to our intelligence, they have about 48,000 troops. Of course, since it's a fortress rather than a castle, if we bring plenty of siege weapons and clear out the troops that come out to intercept, we certainly have a chance of winning... But my lord said that as soon as the western front is settled, he'll send additional troops here. I'm wondering whether we should wait for those troops or go in immediately without giving the enemy time to prepare."
After finishing his words, Chel looked straight at Farfalle and said.
"I'd like to hear your esteemed opinion."
"...May I share my thoughts?"
Farfalle pointed to the map in front of her and said.
"In the current situation, I believe it's impossible to capture the fortress no matter what strategy we use. It's unreasonable to engage in a full-scale battle in the first place."
"Impossible? I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand what you mean."
"Have you forgotten, General? What happened at the northern fortress?"
"...!"
What happened in the north.
Within the Brands army, it had long been established as "that incident where rocks fell from the sky."
And hearing that, Chel seemed to understand what Farfalle was talking about.
"Ah..."
"The traitor isn't just Irene Juliet. Under her, there was a commander named Swen. He's an extremely insightful man, smart enough to see through the Aishers army's schemes. According to rumors, Swen performed rituals at that fortress, communicating with the heavens to create such miracles. If our army were to expose all our forces and charge straight at the fortress, would they simply intercept and fight us? Or would they perform rituals again to knock on heaven's door once more?"
Chel couldn't answer and listened to her words with a serious expression.
"We don't know exactly how his abilities work, whether it's really magic as the rumors suggest or not—but from our army's perspective, there's no need to test his abilities, is there?"
"...Hmm."
"Of course, thinking that way raises the question of 'why didn't they attack earlier with that ability,' but as I said before, we have no reason to experiment with his abilities."
"Then what should we do? Doesn't this mean we essentially have no chance of winning?"
"It's not that there's no way at all."
Farfalle moved her finger to where Laclaine Castle was located.
"First of all, to achieve ultimate victory in this battle, we need to deploy to the fortress immediately. Or more precisely... the fact itself that we've deployed is what's needed."
Having heard that far, Chel seemed to realize something and nodded, saying.
"Then what you're saying is..."
"That's right."
Farfalle nodded.
"The soldiers marching toward the fortress are—"
* * *
"...The soldiers marching toward the fortress are bait to keep me tied down... is that it?"
I found myself muttering out loud.
After thinking deeply about 'what would I do if I were the Brands army,' this was the answer I came up with.
Bait.
The thought that the advance force approaching this place might be bait wouldn't leave my mind.