Episode 29. Entrusting Myself to the Brans Army (4)
Yes.
To my knowledge, in this game, giving gold without a reason, 99 out of 100 times, it was for betrayal.
If there’s an offer for a joint attack soon, it’s almost 100% certain they’re planning to betray.
It was a strategy that could be used if there was a character with an intelligence of 95 or above and a special skill [Betrayal] among our strategists.
Giving money was also part of this ‘betrayal’ strategy within the game.
To detect this in advance, one needed an intelligence of 99 or above and a special skill [Insight]… Parfalle was a good strategist, but his intelligence was only in the early 90s, not even 95, so he couldn’t have noticed.
Moreover, it was pointless to explicitly inform those who had been betrayed several times, as they would inevitably catch on.
Now that it’s the real world, it could have been purely for ‘promoting friendship’ that money was given, but-
Seeing that everything my intelligence of 100 predicted came true, I couldn’t ignore the situations that were commonly accepted in the game.
However.
To perfectly explain all these hypotheses, there was one essential piece missing.
That was – “There exists a strategist-type talent with intelligence over 95 and the special skill [Betrayal] in a minor country like Charlam.”
‘In such a minor country? Why?’
Of course, it wasn’t an impossible proposition, but- the likelihood was too low.
However.
No matter how low the probability, wasn’t my ability intelligence 100?
Perhaps if I input this question, would I get an answer?
“Uh… Lord Airen, I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor?”
Airen, who had been waiting quietly as I pondered, tilted her head and asked.
Despite her tone, her actions were undeniably cute.
However.
“It’s a bit awkward to suddenly ask a question here.”
As I hesitated, struggling to speak, she spoke first.
“Swen?”
“Ah… Yes.”
“Is there something? You suddenly became silent……”
Airen said with a worried look.
I then gave in.
“…It’s nothing.”
Instead of pressing further, she nodded and continued to explain.
It seemed she was just going to let it pass.
I felt oddly grateful to her.
“…Anyway, we’re moving to the south. Aside from the four nations here, there aren’t any countries that pose a significant threat.”
The southern side was the structure I roughly knew.
Roland Army, Hesna Army, Karelia Army, Ohana Army.
If left to the CPU, due to the difference in talent pools, Karelia Army was highly likely to survive and conquer the south, but there were quite frequent scenarios where Ohana Army or Hesna Army conquered the south.
Victory for Roland Army was as rare as rain in a drought, and the other minor countries were doomed to destruction unless a player took them over.
“That’s all. And finally-”
She pointed to the top of the continent.
The northern part of the continent.
At this point, the only region united by a single country.
“The entire northern continent is owned by the Serpina Army. You knew that, right?”
“Of course.”
Minor countries attached to the Serpina Army were instantly annihilated as soon as a year passed in the game.
In this world without deployment restrictions, they would have been destroyed even faster.
Thanks to Airen’s help, I was able to clearly check the current power structure.
There was a small harvest from confirming the structure.
“Thank you.”
After a brief thank you, I took out a new piece of paper and picked up the pen again.
“Hm? What are you doing?”
“Thought I’d sketch out a map of the surrounding areas as well.”
All the major battlefields in this game.
Having played for 10,000 hours, even though I’ve been in this world for a few months, they were vividly remembered.
It seemed handy to organize them.
After all, there wasn’t much else to do.
Airen nodded and then placed her hand on my shoulder, saying,
“Leave the lantern on. Just turn it off before you sleep.”
“Wouldn’t that bother you?”
“I’m used to sleeping in front of a campfire.”
After saying that, Airen smiled lightly and moved to lean against the wall, sitting down.
Was she going to give up the bed again today?
As always, it was best to gratefully accept kindness when it was offered.
“Goodnight.”
First, was it the battlefield around the border of the Aeshers Army in the east?
I slowly began to draw the line.
*
The next evening.
Airen had stepped out for a moment, and I was alone, drawing the map of the surrounding battlefields.
“There are more mountains around here than I thought.”
While they weren’t steep cliffs, there were quite a few hills.
Although the area around Anel Castle was a wide plain, interestingly, just around the border, there seemed to be many difficult terrains to cross.
I planned to check on the battlefields even after organizing them.
You never know when you might need to spill this information.
Then.
The door opened, and Airen, wearing armor, returned from outside.
“Have you returned?”
“Hmm.”
She was holding something in both hands and placed it on the desk.
I checked it.
“Is this… meat?”
Raw meat, and it was beef at that.
Various ingredients were also included.
Airen looked at me, smiled, and said,
“Thinking about it, Swen, since you’ve become a new member of the household, it’s only right to treat you properly, isn’t it?”
So, she bought meat?
Surprised by the unexpected kindness, I replied awkwardly.
“There was no need to go to such lengths.”
“It’s fine. It’s more comfortable for me this way. Plus, you look quite frail. Is that right?”
“…”
Honestly, I had no response.
If I followed Airen’s routine, I’d be exhausted and collapse in less than two hours.
Not refusing her offer to give up the bed, because lying down to sleep in a bed helped in the recovery of my weak body, was also for this reason.
“Don’t be disheartened. No one is born with strength from the start. At times like these, eating meat is the way. Eat meat and gain strength. Sit down. I’ll prepare it quickly.”
Airen said this and took off the armor protecting her chest.
Her large breasts momentarily jiggled.
Then, she changed into comfortable clothes for cooking and started with the knife.
“…”
Living together, I realized she had a remarkably high vitality.
Moreover, she possessed a mental strength that didn’t succumb to even the most miserable situations.
Honestly, when a man like me arrived- she must have felt humiliated.
Being sent to live as a roommate in her own house by the monarch.
Although obeying the monarch’s command is a subject’s virtue, it was undoubtedly a humiliating situation.
Yet, she didn’t show any of that to me.
Instead, she’s preparing a welcome meal by cooking meat.
“Why?”
Regardless of compatibility, Rin’s behavior towards someone of Airen’s caliber was utterly incomprehensible.
Perhaps Rin’s inability to become a unified
monarch lies in this peculiar narrow-mindedness and gloominess?
While I pondered this-
“It’s ready!”
Airen came over with a plate, looking somewhat proud.
The plate, which usually held just hard rye bread or dried fish, felt incredibly sophisticated with freshly cooked meat chunks on it.
