Became a Strategist With an Intelligence of 100 and an Accuracy Rate of 100%

41 – Episode 41. Irene Juliette

* * *

The current location of Irene was at the top of the fortress wall overlooking the northern side, which can only be reached by climbing the stairs.

In order to treat the wounded soldier, I had to leave the conference room and go down the stairs –

Because her mind was racing, she needed to calm down for a moment.

She was looking at the vast plain.

And – she was sensing her own fate.

‘I am…’ … It’s being thrown away.’

She had predicted that a future like this might come.

No matter how much you try to beat his heart, no matter how much you try to prove his loyalty.

No matter how hard she tried, her master, who was supposed to be her sun, was all about pushing her away instead of giving her warm sunlight.

No matter what contribution she made, she was not recognized, and no matter what she said, she was not listened to.

Nevertheless, she kept her father’s words in her heart and practiced and practiced diligently so that her pride would not be broken.

Her act of slashing the scarecrow with her sword was very good at getting rid of her miscellaneous thoughts, and somehow she was able to hold on with her strong mental power.

For her master, this one body wanted to burn brightly.

The more she thought of herself as disapproving, the more she wanted to somehow show and prove this passionate loyalty to her lord.

But- she was not a superhuman.

The passion and will that had been burning so hot soon turned into a tiny ember, and it was in a dangerous state as if it could be extinguished by even a light wind.

In this situation, if she were to receive an order from her master, whom she believed and wanted to believe until the end, which was essentially the same as saying ‘go out and die’ –

No matter how strong she was, she had no choice but to break down.

But she doesn’t think like that. I calm my shaking heart again and again.

She harbors the vain hope that Lynn Brans may have given her a chance to make her mark.

‘…… Father… ….’

The face of her father, her only blood relative, came to mind.

What should I do now?

If the sword you used to protect someone can no longer protect someone…… No.

If I’m not even allowed to protect someone…… How should I live from now on?

The Juliet family exists for the Brans family.

Even if she had run all the way here with only those words as her gold and silver, she was bound to be exhausted.

‘… ….’

Will you understand if I stay here and fight until the end?

Lin-nim, in the end, I realized that I worked hard for Lin-nim…… Do you understand?

Even if taken prisoner, they do not surrender…… If I remain loyal to her until her death, will my loyalty finally reach her in the end?

When I thought about that, I suddenly felt like crying, but I held it back.

Even if you are abandoned, until the end…… Because she wanted to keep her father’s will.

Even if I die fighting for my master until the end.

If that is my fate, it would be right to accept it.

But why did her heart ache so much?

She thought.

Anyone.

If only there was just one person who recognized that I am working so hard to be recognized…….

And then.

“You were in a place like this.”

“……!!!”

Irene, who was lost in her thoughts, was startled and looked towards where her voice came from.

Standing there was Swen, a handsome man with white hair who had been with me for quite some time.

“I went to where the wounded soldier was, but he wasn’t there, so it took some time to look for him.”

“S-Swen… How can we get here…?”

“Huh? That’s right, I came to meet Irene.”

Ah.

Have you come to say your final goodbyes?

When I thought about it, I felt quite attached to Swen. She

Although she had come to live together unintentionally at first, for Irene, her memories were by no means bad.

The human warmth she always craved. Just feeling it and living with her was quite enjoyable.

Furthermore, wasn’t he almost the only person in Brans County who believed in him?

“…I see. Have you come to say your final goodbyes? I’ve felt this for a long time, but you seem to have a very kind side.”

She tried to smile.

A slightly pathetic smile that looks like it might collapse at any moment.

Nevertheless, it refuses to waver.

Because he didn’t want to burden him with the weight he was carrying.

Because of the emotions I had to endure alone, I didn’t want to make it difficult for the person who had been with me all this time.

“Swen. The time I spent with you wasn’t that bad. I’ll never forget it. I’ll make sure to watch over the fortress….But, just in case… if I can’t return to Castle Arnel…”

If you can’t return to Anel Castle.

The moment she said those words, her body trembled ever so slightly.

“You can use the things in my house as is, so please feel free to use them. There will be some money to be made if you sell them.”

The man named Swen whom I had been watching for several weeks was a very kind and kind person.

When he was practicing alone, he would sneakily take care of things for me and talk to me often.

He must not have been comfortable living with a general of a higher rank than himself, and of a different gender, but he never once expressed that he was uncomfortable.

Because he is a kind person. Rather than listening to his master’s orders, wouldn’t he ask him to go and apologize and ask for another chance?

If you try to stop me like that……

I’m sorry, but I want you to leave.

I was thinking that I would somehow not show my feelings of collapse and just say goodbye.

Yes, if a man named Swen becomes deeply involved with me in this way.

Then, Swen also ends up falling out of Lin Brans’ eyes…… Because you will face the ‘inevitable fate’ just like me.

It wasn’t enough. I couldn’t make Swen walk the same path as me.

But.

Swen said a sentence that Irene had not even expected.

“Huh? What do you mean…”

“…Huh?”

“I’m not leaving. I’ll stay here. My lord also told me to give credit to him, so shouldn’t I do it as he said? Oh, please tell Jack and Silin that I’m sorry for going back first and that I wish you luck. I was tired.”

“That… What do you mean?”

Irene was startled, and when she was within four hundred, she asked Swen.

He spoke in a very calm tone.

“This is the car I told you I would protect the fort with Irene.”

“…What?”

Iren’s voice when he heard those words…… I started to tremble more and more.

“Why? Why? To remain in this fortress…”

I finally realized what kind of situation I found myself in-

She faced the fact that had turned her eyes away.

Does not run away from the facts, but spits them out.

“…Remaining here means…Being abandoned by the lord.”

Yes.

She actually knew.

The fact that her master, Lin Brans, whom she firmly believed in, had ordered her to ‘die.’

And, as soon as we admit that fact-

In her heart, which was barely holding on, cracks slowly began to appear.

“But why… Swen, you even decided to stay here…”

“You said you were abandoned. You told me to make a contribution. Shouldn’t I do as my lord tells me?”

“No. I… Swen, if you’re doing this out of useless sympathy, stop being stupid and do it right now-“

At that time.

Swen placed her hand on Irene’s slightly trembling arm.

She flinched slightly, but she didn’t reject her touch.

“Iren. I am not staying here because I sympathize with you.”

“…!”

Iren looked into Swen’s eyes.

No lies were read at all.

Far from being a lie, I could even feel a kind of warmth.

He wanted so much from his lord, but the warm sunlight that did not shine on him-

Ironically, she could feel it from the subordinate general in front of her.

Unless you stay here out of pity.

As for Swen, does she want to gain credit by doing something unreasonable?

There were many cases where ambitious subordinates would do anything to impress their master.

“But… If you want to make merit, there must be a safer and more certain way. If you try to make merit in a place where the lord does not expect you, instead of recognizing it, he will rather-“

“Irene, I’m sorry for interrupting you.”

Swen looked straight into Iren’s eyes.

Unlike Irene’s eyes that wavered here and there, Swen’s eyes looking at her were very clear.

“I am a person who eats away Brans-kun’s rust… But I will tell you honestly. The reason I am staying here and trying to contribute is not for Lin-nim’s sake.”

“…W-what…?”

“This is Irene.”

“!!!”

Iren’s pupils suddenly enlarged.

“I want to see the results that say Irene held the fort, and that everyone has done an incredible feat.”

“I defended the fort…? Why on earth did such a result… Have anything to do with you…?”

Irene was embarrassed, her eyes trembling with nowhere to go.

Swen said something to Irene that she would probably never forget for the rest of her life.

“The person I want to protect in this country is Irene.”

“!!!”

“I want to see Irene achieve such proud success. I want to see that in person and tell everyone. Everything Irene Juliette said that you didn’t even notice was right. She did the impossible. “Then, won’t the way you look at me change?”

“……Su……Wen.”

“So, I can never leave it behind. I’m sorry.”

Irene’s body trembled sharply when she heard those words.

Yet she somehow maintained her composure.

…… If Swen really stayed here for herself and not for Rin…… Especially since she couldn’t let her lord follow her own path after being abandoned by her lord.

“……Go back, Swen.”

Swen made no reply.

Iren, slowly…… After taking a few deep breaths, she barely managed to open her mouth.

She initially tried to urge a return to a clear, refined language.

But before Iren knew it-

She was bringing up something deep inside her heart that she had never told anyone.

She was already half crying, the story she could barely tell.

“If you follow me from Brans County… You can’t do anything. Even if you want to ignite your passion and prove your loyalty, you can’t do that. No matter how hard you try, the embers in your heart are dying out. Even if I run with all my might… No one or anything will notice. Not even the lord. Even if I do my best and you prove that what I said is right… No one will notice. . Nothing.”

Yes.

In fact, she knew it too.

No matter what she does, she will never be recognized.

But, then it would be so miserable.

Because the life I had only learned to live for the Brans family was so ugly.

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So, I looked away. She worked harder and harder. She simply endured all the humiliating treatment.

But.

Her true feelings, which she had tightly suppressed, could no longer be hidden in the face of the true feelings that the man in front of her was not hiding.

Because I wanted to prevent this man from suffering even the slightest damage because of me.

“So… Swen, I can’t make you like me… So, please. I’m already in so much trouble, I don’t have the confidence to burn any more of the little flame left for this country. Please help me if you want to help me. I can’t give it to you… Because if you stay by my side… It will definitely be difficult for you too-“

“Iren.”

Swen slightly interrupted her again, but-

Iren’s mood wasn’t that bad.

No, rather…… She even thought that perhaps she had been waiting her whole life for someone to share these words with.

“As I said before, I don’t really want to burn this body down for Brans-kun. How can I trust and follow someone who didn’t even care until the fire in Irene’s heart went out?”

“That…Thing.”

“And, the fire hasn’t completely gone out yet, right? So, you’re trying to overcome this on your own in such a courageous way without harming me. That’s just fine. I ask Irene to protect me. “I won’t do it. Instead.”

After Swen said that-

She said with a smile that she often showed herself at her house when she stayed with him.

“Please use the remaining embers to make tea for us to drink together. From now on.”

“……!!!”

And.

Only then did the tears that I had been holding back start to flow from my eyes.

Everything she had built up inside her began to fall apart.

“…Black.”

Irene buried her face in her Swen’s chest.

Swen patted her on the back without saying a word.

“…I, I…”

It’s okay if no one knows.

Someday, my heart will reach your master.

Carrying on her father’s legacy and becoming a proud daughter to her father, she will eventually gain the recognition of the Enbrans family.

Her many ‘lies’ that made up who she was were crumbling one by one.

There was no way it would be okay.

I knew I wouldn’t be able to reach it.

I also knew that they would not acknowledge it.

The truth emerged only after the armor of lies that protected female knight Iren was removed.

…… I was lonely.

She was terribly lonely.

Because of the reality that no one recognized me, I felt so lonely and lonely.

And.

It was only after she shed the lies that had been covering her up until now that she felt it.

This man in front of me is the only person who understands me like this.

“Ugh… Ugh, huh…”

Like that, Irene cried for a long time in Swen’s arms.

Swen consoled Iren until the end.

Because she had no one to come visit anyway.

So, we spent some time just checking each other’s body temperature.

* * *

Time passes.

Swen continued to pat her back after she had stopped crying.

“Are you okay now?”

“…Yes.”

After pouring out all the tears I had held back so far, I felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from my heart.

Why on earth have I endured and persevered for this goal even though I knew it was a goal that could never be achieved?

After crying next to this man, I was finally able to make a somewhat objective judgment.

Irene turned her head slightly to look at her Swen, who was patting her on the back.

Handsome. She was someone who didn’t attach much importance to a man’s looks, but she had her eyes set on them nonetheless.

But at this moment, it wasn’t his stunning appearance that shook her heart so strongly.

Friendly. Gentleness.

Strength that does not give up on me when I am pushed to my death.

Even now, his hand patting my back was so warm.

When she was abandoned by Lin Brans, she wondered how she would live now.

Perhaps the answer to how to live is not far away.

For the first time in her life, she was able to think outside of Brans’s grip.

It was a bold idea that he would never have had if he hadn’t existed.

“I’m glad you’ve calmed down.”

“Yes.”

It was good to shake off the burden on my mind and start fresh.

In fact, the situation has not changed.

In any case, it was true that a large army of over 30,000 people was marching here at this very moment.

Irene, who regained her senses and understood her situation, looked worried at her Swen.

“Swen… Wouldn’t it be too dangerous to remain here? It may be a little dangerous, but even so, I think it would be better to give up the fortress and run away. If you decide to defect to Serpina’s army, Swen, I will also follow you. -“

“No.”

Swen spoke in a very confident tone.

When I thought about it, I felt like he had always been like that.

In his discussions with Farfalle, even when he argued that ‘we must send troops to the North.’

Even when we say, ‘The soldiers we brought with us must be prepared to go out in advance.’

Even when I confidently say in front of many people, ‘Irene’s opinion is right.’

And a little while ago…… Even when I said, ‘The person I want to protect in this country is Irene.’

After recalling that, she lowered her head with a blush on her face.

Excited, excited.

Swen’s voice was heard through the sound of her beating heart.

“Didn’t I tell you just now, Irene?”

Swen said with a confident smile.

Her smile felt more wonderful to her than anyone else’s.

“From now on, it’s time to take credit.”