Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100% Accuracy

Chapter 23

"Of course, as you said, it's undoubtedly a dangerous method."

When a good opportunity presents itself, I can't afford to let it slip away.

That was the only way I could survive when all I had was the ability to predict.

"But it's fine. The probability of me dying is extremely low."

Even if I knew with absolute certainty that I wouldn't die, I deliberately chose to use the word "probability." It would reassure Cain that I had no intention of betraying them.

"Lyn is after me as a person. She'll likely keep me alive. But if I disappear, and she fails to obtain what she wants, she'll use her overwhelming forces to hunt you down relentlessly. You won’t last long. And if Lady Lunarian were to fall into Lyn’s hands, she would be executed without fail. No matter how minor a nation's ruler she may be, Lyn never forgives those who dared to stand against her."

I looked Cain straight in the eyes.

The momentum had shifted to me.

"As you said, raising an army anew is incredibly difficult. It could take years. But if you're dead, it's over. Everything ends. However, if you’re alive, anything is possible. Even if it takes time—if the breath of life still remains—then as long as Lady Luna, the heart of our army, survives, we can achieve anything. Right now, with the Lunarian Army on the brink of destruction, we must ensure that its light does not go out. That means we must retreat."

"……."

Cain let out a short sigh as he listened to my words. Then, after a brief pause, he gave a faint smile.

"You really are putting your life on the line."

Well, technically, I'm betting my life on a 100 Intelligence brain, so it's not exactly a risky asset.

"I understand. I’ll trust you."

"You won’t regret it."

Saving Lunarian. Saving Cain. Saving Tifa. Preserving both mercenary groups.

The only way to achieve all of that… was to stay behind in the castle alone and surrender to Lyn Brans.

This was undoubtedly the best course of action.

I turned and looked at the two mercenary leaders.

"Sir Gustav, Sir Aaron. I ask that you take your mercenary forces and leave the central region for the time being. When the Lunarian Army returns to the battlefield, please rejoin us."

"……Understood."

"Well, it's not too difficult a request…."

"And, as I just mentioned, I will allocate half of the Lunarian Army’s forces to each of your mercenary groups. Please take them with you."

The two commanders' eyes widened in shock.

"Swen… Are you truly serious about this?"

"I am."

"……."

Gustav slowly nodded before speaking.

"We are mercenaries. We belong to no nation and take on commissions as they come. And if the Lunarian Army ceases to exist, we may have to take contracts from other nations with those very same soldiers."

"That’s fine. The Lunarian Army will return to the battlefield. You can help us then."

"Such confidence… Swen, you truly are an interesting man."

Aaron nodded at Gustav’s words.

"Understood. We’ll leave this place for now. Your soldiers will be treated the same as our own."

"That is something I’m grateful for."

I turned to Tifa and Cain.

"Tifa, assist Gustav in integrating our soldiers into the Raven Mercenaries. Cain, help Aaron do the same for the Chilean Mercenaries. The enemy forces will be here soon, so move quickly."

"Got it."

"…Damn it, is this really the only way?"

With that, the four of them left.

I was left alone in the castle, facing my final task.

I turned to Luna and issued my command.

"My liege. Gather as many forces as you can without hindering the retreat. Take Tifa and Cain with you and plan for the future. If you do that, a new opportunity will come to us."

"………."

Luna hung her head in silence.

"My liege?"

I called out to her once more—

And that was when I saw it.

A sorrowful expression, fragile like glass on the verge of shattering.

"…Swen."

"Please, speak."

"Do you truly have to stake your life? Can’t you come with us?"

"……."

If going with them had been the right choice, I would have done so.

But my 100 Intelligence dictated otherwise.

For the future to unfold as it should, I could not be by their side at this moment.

"Yes. Lyn Brans' true objective… is neither Castle Zeilant nor the destruction of the Lunarian Army. It is me."

"Why…?"

"As I said, she wants to recruit me into the Brans Army."

Luna’s voice trembled as she squeezed out her words.

"But… I…"

She slowly lifted her shaking hands and grabbed the hem of my sleeve.

Only then did I realize.

She was crying.

"I… I can’t leave you behind. I can’t run away alone while you’re left behind in danger."

"It’s not dangerous. I will survive. And I will return to your side, my liege."

"But… but still… Even so, even if it’s for the future, I can’t sacrifice you—!"

At that moment—

Perhaps, I felt something stir inside me.

Had I grown attached to this woman over our time together?

I placed a firm hand on her trembling shoulder.

A sharp sound echoed through the empty castle halls.

Then, I shouted.

"Lunarian Iniang!!!"

"……!!!"

She looked up at me, startled.

Her ruby-red eyes quivered like a lost puppy’s.

"…Didn’t you say you would bring peace to this world? That you, and no one else, would unify the continent? That was what you told me when you entrusted me with your cause, wasn’t it?"

"That… that was…"

"I also remember you saying you had absolute trust in me. Was that a lie?"

"…N-No. I… I just…"

I spoke to her with complete sincerity.

"I am not offering myself up as a sacrifice. As your strategist, I am simply choosing the best possible move. I will survive. And we will meet again."

Then, gazing directly into her tear-filled eyes…

I made a promise that could not help but be fulfilled.

"Lunarian. If you believe in me, I will place the world in your hands."

"!!!"

Her pupils shrank in shock before my eyes.

I wasn’t lying.

This decision would hasten her unification of the continent.

"So… for the sake of the future, you must flee now. Leave Brans Army to me."

"…Hk."

Drip, drip.

Tears streamed down her face once more.

And then—without a word, she embraced me.

Naturally, I returned the embrace.

I soothed her, offering whatever comfort I could, allowing her to regain her composure.

"It’s alright, Lady Luna. Trust me. I will return to you."

"…Alright."

She slowly pulled away.

Wiping away her tears, she looked at me, her lips trembling.

"…You must. You absolutely must return."

"I promise. I will return to your side."

This was not a lie, either.

Since the one to unify the continent would be Lunarian Iniang, standing by her side was the only logical conclusion.

"…Then."

As she turned to leave, I called out to her once more.

"My liege! Stay healthy! And when the opportunity arises, do not let it slip away! I will return to your side, no matter what!"

She stopped in her tracks and glanced back at me.

For a brief moment, she simply looked at me.

Then, without another word, she turned and rushed out of the castle.

'…….'

Now that I thought about it—

Perhaps Luna was the only ruler who would trust me completely, based on nothing more than my word.

She didn't need an explanation. She didn’t need proof.

Now, I realized it.

If I had told her, If I am wrong, take my head, she wouldn’t have even questioned whether my life was worth that gamble.

No matter how small her nation was, no matter how lacking she was in talent, in the end, trust was a ruler’s sole prerogative.

The only reason I could push my plans so forcefully was because she trusted me, without hesitation.

Even the perfect advice of someone with 100 Intelligence was meaningless if their lord refused to listen.

As I reflected on that—

I realized something was welling up in my eyes.

I wiped it away roughly with my sleeve.

'This isn’t the time for sentimentality.'

I had work to do.

With that thought, I stepped forward to fulfill my final duty as the Lunarian Army’s strategist.

***

Luna sprinted through the castle gates, heading straight for the barracks where the soldiers were gathered.

Even as she ran—tears wouldn’t stop streaming down her face.

Swen… Swen…

Swen had spoken with absolute confidence.

That Lyn Brans would keep him alive.

But—Luna had heard it.

A single phrase, uttered in his heartfelt conversation with Cain.

"The probability of me dying is extremely low."

For the first time, Swen had not spoken with certainty.

He had never used vague phrases like probably or most likely before.

And probability—was not certainty.

It was not 100%.

It meant that there was still a chance, however small, that he would die.

So right now, Swen was…

Sacrificing himself for the Lunarian Army, fully aware that he might not survive.

I’m sorry, Swen. I… I’m just… a powerless ruler. A leader too incompetent to do anything in this situation…

The first person who had ever chosen to come to this small, struggling nation.

No matter how many recruitment offers she had made, no one had ever accepted them.

Yet Swen had come.

He had never once opposed her decisions when she chose to use the sudden influx of gold to aid her people.

He had understood why she hesitated to conscript more soldiers, why she prioritized her people’s welfare.

If she had been a little more ruthless as a leader—

If she had invested everything into city development, conscripted as many soldiers as possible, built a stronger army—

Wouldn’t Swen’s sacrifice have been unnecessary?

Of course, she knew that even if she had, nothing would have changed.

The enemy had over 80,000 troops.

From the moment Lyn set her sights on them, their downfall had been inevitable.

…Swen…

She whispered his name again and again.

And then, she realized something.

Regret would not change the past.

Apologizing, mourning, cursing her own weakness—none of it would reach him.

If she truly wanted to honor his sacrifice—

Then she had to believe in him.

Believe in his words.

Believe in his promise.

Swen had told her.

"If you believe in me, I will place the world in your hands."

And he had warned her.

"Do not miss your opportunity. If you do, I will not survive."

I’ll believe in you, Swen. I’ll survive, no matter what it takes. Even if it means making ruthless decisions—when the opportunity comes, I won’t let it slip away. I’ll remember everything you said today. Every single word, I will engrave into my soul, Swen…

And in that moment, Luna understood.

If there was a single person in this world truly worthy of ruling it—

That person was Swen.

So, please, no matter what—let us meet again, Swen. And if you can’t find your way back to me, then I’ll find you, no matter what it takes… I swear it.

At that moment—

A piece of Swen, something unshakable, something that could never be removed—

Embedded itself deep within the heart of Luna, ruler of Lunarian Iniang.