<strong>Chapter 119: The Capital Aingardt (1)</strong>
Aingardt Castle.
It was the most bustling territory in the northern central part of the former empire, now the capital of Serpina’s forces.
“Will I be working there?”
“Yes. I need you by my side.”
“Need me?”
When I asked why, she hinted at wanting to test a few things with me for a while.
She was curious to see how true the rumors were about my ability to use magic, and though I seemed quite useful so far, she wanted to see with her own eyes if I would be useful in actual combat.
“One more question. Will I be going there alone?”
At this, Serpina looked at me amusingly and raised her eyebrows.
“It seems you’re worried about the women.”
Not wanting to lie or engage in a needless battle of wits with her, I readily agreed.
“Yes. They’re my companions.”
“You don’t have to worry. I asked Airen, and she too wishes to be with you. I tend to listen quite well to the wishes of my subordinates. Personally, I would prefer her to fight on the front lines… but being in the capital doesn’t mean there won’t be opportunities to use her strength.”
That she listens well to her subordinates’ requests was something I learned without much difficulty during my time in the annex.
What caught my attention, however, was her saying, “being in the capital doesn’t mean there won’t be opportunities to use her strength”… I suppose I would find out what she meant by that soon enough.
“This time, I have a question for you.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“What is Jinor’s daughter to you? Are you engaged?”
“That’s not the case.”
“And yet you travel together? She doesn’t seem familiar with the battlefield; maybe she really is a sorceress?”
There was no need to disclose her being a sorceress to her.
Especially if I wanted to safely send Reika and Airen to Lunarien’s forces.
“As I’ve said, where is there magic like that?”
“So, you’re saying you’re traveling with a young lady in her prime for no reason at all? A maiden of an age fit for bearing children.”
…
Seeing me silent, she smiled as if amused.
Just lifting the corners of her mouth made her truly beautiful. In fact, since she entered the room, I thought to myself more than three times how “beautiful” she was.
“I thought as much looking at you, but it seems your relationships are complicated. I won’t delve too deep, but it’s best to avoid foolish actions swayed by women. Especially men with pretty faces should be more cautious.”
“Even if you compliment me like that, I have nothing to give you.”
“Did that sound like a compliment?”
She said, slightly shaking with laughter as if she found it amusing.
Sometimes, when she visited, we would exchange seemingly frivolous words and laugh together.
Strangely, even though I hadn’t spent much time with her, I found myself easily speaking my mind.
What does the length of time matter? I hadn’t encountered her that often, but there was a comfortably strange aspect in dealing with her.
After Serpina left the room.
I took out a map.
It was a detailed map of the northern continent I had drawn out of boredom during my stay in the annex.
It had been quite some time since I had been possessed, yet the locations of castles, mountain ranges, and the flow of rivers remained vividly in my memory, which I found fascinating.
Well, having repeated this simple game for 10,000 hours, it would be natural.
“Aingardt Castle.”
In the center of the north, surrounded by a faint river, the castle sat atop an island.
It used to be the liveliest place during the empire, but much of its former glory was lost due to the civil war among the princes – that was the background setting of this castle.
I wondered what it would feel like to visit it in person.
More pressing than that curiosity was a concern.
“Is it alright to go so far north?”
Aingardt Castle was located at the northern edge of the continent. Not the utmost north, but it was a significant distance from the south, where I had sent Lunarien off.
Until now, I never doubted my ability to return to Lunarien’s forces.
But this time,
After being taken to the heart of the north, could I safely return to her side?
“Opportunity,” I reminded myself of the words I had said during our farewell.
Lunarien might seem fragile, but she was determined and stubborn. Considering her position, trusting me, a complete newbie with unproven abilities, to a full extent was an act of stubbornness.
Therefore, she wouldn’t miss the decisive opportunity I mentioned. If she were someone to let opportunities slip, the prediction of “becoming a unifying monarch” wouldn’t have surfaced.
So, I should be able to return to her side safely… right?
Somehow,
I felt a sense of unease I never experienced under other lords.
*
After days of traveling northward in the carriage,
Passing Kelstein Castle, which once belonged to Brans’s forces, and further north,
We finally arrived at Aingardt Castle in the north.
The castle, built in a distinctly different style from the Central Continent, welcomed us with its massive gates.
“Wow…”
A picturesque scene unfolded before my eyes.
Towers reaching the sky as if piercing through it, surrounded by streams like fences.
The buildings spread around the tower, straight out of a fairy tale in their beauty.
And fluttering above the tower, the golden flag symbolizing Serpina…
Along with the giant shield-shaped emblem of the former empire on the castle walls, everything about this territory screamed that this was indeed the capital of the continent.
“Amazing. It’s a highly developed place.”
“Really… I didn’t know such a castle existed.”
“Not just that. If they decided to defend, it would be incredibly hard to penetrate this position.”
“Is that so? I don’t know much about that… but if Airen says so, then it must be.”
Airen and Reika were also overwhelmed by the scenery, uttering exclamations of amazement.
Even compared to the best castle I had seen, Anel Castle, this place was far superior.
If this is considered “destroyed and lost its former glory,” how magnificent was it originally?
The interior of the castle was as peaceful as Anel Castle had been.
Perhaps because it hadn’t suffered much damage since the princes’ civil war, the residents didn’t seem to carry the same weight of worry on their faces.
Then.
The carriage carrying us stopped.
A soldier opened the door.
“Swen?”
“Yes.”
“We’ve arrived. Please, come out.”
I gave Airen and Reika a nod as a sign of farewell.
“I’ll go ahead then.”
“Swen…”
Airen looked at me with a sense of reluctance.
Yes.
Having lived together for so long, we were finally parting ways.
Serpina mentioned that there was a sort of dormitory for new commanders who had no accommodations due to being from far away.
Until a vacant house became available, we would live there in a group setting.
I heard that Reika was the first non-commander to enter that place, a kind of special consideration from her.
Since
we were all new commanders, we ended up there, but naturally, the accommodations were divided by gender –
Thus, we had no choice but to say our goodbyes like this.
“If what Serpina said is true, they’re continuously building houses for commanders, so let’s just manage until then.”
“…Okay. I’ll be waiting… yeah.”
…
Reika, sensing the atmosphere between me and Airen, looked towards the soldier and awkwardly attempted to smooth over the situation.
It seemed the soldier’s gaze upon us was a bit peculiar.
“I… I’ll contact you! So, um… see you again!”
After parting with them and getting off the carriage,
Another soldier approached me.
Wearing armor with the royal emblem, it was clear he was dispatched by Serpina to guide me.
“Are you Swen?”
“Yes.”
“Please, follow me.”
Walking down the avenue lined with trees, a dreamlike fragrance filled the air.
What kind of flowers were these?
Eventually, we arrived at a 4-story building not too far from the castle.
“This is the place. You will be using room 303. Your roommate will explain the basic rules of living here.”
“Roommate?”
“Yes.”
Right, it was mentioned that it would be 2 people per room.
With such a large number of commanders under her command, it was said that only a few could even enter this arrangement.
“Understood.”
“I’ll take my leave then.”
After a brief salute, the soldier turned to leave but then stopped and looked back at me.
“By the way.”
“?”
“Welcome to Serpina’s forces.”
With that, he bowed slightly and turned away again.
Soldiers differ from commanders. They can freely switch allegiances and are merely paid to work, so not many feel a sense of belonging.
Yet here, even a simple soldier exuded a sense of belonging and pride in Serpina’s forces.
The soldier who had threatened me before could only have behaved that way towards me, a diplomatic envoy and commander from an enemy country, due to such pride.
Was this strong organizational control a reason for her continued success?
Just arriving at Aingardt Castle, I’ve already sensed several strengths of Serpina’s forces.
And yet, the destiny to unify the continent belongs not to her but to Lunarien?
“Interesting.”
I wanted to make a prediction, but since changing sides, I hadn’t been asked any questions, making that difficult.
Should I subtly prompt Airen to ask, or wait for a natural moment for Serpina to inquire… With such thoughts, I headed to room 303.
Reaching the door and knocking a few times, a voice called from inside.
“Come in.”
“Hm?”
The voice was… somewhat peculiar.
That is, it sounded male but… somehow androgynous.
Well, voices vary widely among individuals, I thought as I opened the door.
And there –
A man who looked oddly like a beautiful courtesan greeted me.
“Are you the new commander?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“I heard from our lord that a new recruit would be arriving. We won’t be living together long, but I hope we get along well during our time.”
He extended his hand towards me.
I took it and introduced myself.
“I’m Swen.”
“Jenis Al Kaski. Nice to meet you.”
