Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100% Accuracy

Chapter 24

In front of the gates of Castle Zeilant, Gustav, the commander of the Raven Mercenaries, and Aaron, the leader of the Chilean Mercenaries, stood before Luna, exchanging final farewells.

"Then, I leave our soldiers in your care," Luna said.

Gustav bowed his head slightly before responding, "There’s no need for such formal speech."

"For now, I am no longer a ruler," she replied.

At her words, Gustav’s expression darkened slightly. Then, with a serious tone, he spoke.

"The day you return to the stage of history, Lady Lunarian, we will come to your aid."

"Until that moment arrives, please take care of yourselves."

Aaron also lowered his head in a show of respect.

"Then, until we meet again, Lady Lunarian."

With that, the two mercenary commanders led their forces in separate directions.

Each mercenary company had taken in half of the Lunarian Army’s remaining soldiers—about seventy percent of the original force. Those who wished to retire were allowed to remain as ordinary citizens, while the rest, wanting to continue their lives as soldiers, had chosen to join the mercenary ranks. They would likely adapt well to their new roles.

Now, Luna had roughly 3,000 soldiers remaining.

That was the number of troops who would accompany her southward across the continent.

Any more than that, and logistics—such as food supplies and movement speed—would become exponentially more difficult to manage.

As she watched the mercenary commanders depart, Luna reflected on their situation.

The soldiers who remained had trained under Tifa, so they should be able to hold their own.

For some reason, as she observed them, Swen’s voice echoed in her mind, whispering to her as it often had during their time in the barracks.

Swen…

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

Could she truly rebuild a nation?

Would she survive long enough to establish a new domain?

Luna closed her eyes for a moment and made a firm decision—she would no longer entertain those doubts.

She would succeed.

No matter what, she would believe in Swen’s words.

Because Swen had said so, she knew she could do it.

"Lady Luna, the troops are ready to depart," Cain’s voice called, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Ah…"

A small army of 3,000.

The same size their forces had been before Swen joined them.

Was it mere coincidence?

At that moment, Tifa scratched her head and muttered.

"Damn it. It’s really bothering me."

"What is?" Luna asked.

Tifa clicked her tongue in frustration before sighing.

"…Is this really the best course of action? Leaving behind a scrawny little guy like Swen in that castle? Are we really doing the right thing? Feels like we’re just abandoning him. And I hate that."

To Tifa, this choice felt like a cowardly act—preserving their own lives while sacrificing another.

But Luna shook her head.

"No, Tifa. Swen said it himself—this is the answer. I trust him. No matter what."

Tifa looked into Luna’s eyes.

Her crimson gaze shimmered with unwavering belief.

"Hah. Well, I guess I wouldn’t get it. I’m too much of a brute to follow all that strategist talk. But you’re right—he has always been right. If he says to believe in him, then I guess we should. If we don’t, who the hell else will?"

"Precisely, Lady Tifa," Cain agreed. "Lord Swen possesses an exceptional talent. If he says an opportunity will come, then we must believe it will."

Hearing Cain’s words, Tifa gave a small nod.

Their absolute trust in Swen.

To Luna, this was the only way they could repay him.

Yes.

Then, all that was left was to escape as swiftly as possible.

That was how she could honor the faith Swen had placed in her.

Luna mounted her horse and turned to address the 3,000 soldiers before her.

"Listen well!"

At this moment, every soldier focused entirely on her.

"We are heading south. We may come under the protection of another lord. Some of you may choose to leave along the way, and that is fine. If you wish to settle in our new domain, that is also fine. However—"

Her voice carried power.

It commanded attention.

Despite her small frame and somewhat gentle demeanor, in this moment—she stood as a true leader.

"If you choose to follow me to the very end… then I will take full responsibility for your lives. If you place your trust in me, I will never abandon you. I will never treat you as disposable pawns. That, I promise you!"

"UOOOOHHHHHH!!!"

A roar erupted from the soldiers, their cheers shaking the very air.

As they prepared for their long journey ahead, this was the greatest morale boost they could have asked for.

"Mount your horses! We move out immediately!"

And so—

Luna, with Tifa, Cain, and 3,000 soldiers at her side, departed from Castle Zeilant.

She left behind her first home.

She left behind her first strategist.

For now, it was farewell.

But even so—she had no doubt.

She knew he would return to her.

Swen… I will rise again. No matter what. And we will meet again.

On this day, Luna, the ruler of the Lunarian Army, vanished from history.

***

The worn-out seat reserved for the ruler inside the castle hall.

I was slumped against the pillar beside it.

More precisely—I was tied to the pillar, my wrists bound with rope.

On the surface, it had to appear as if I had been abandoned by Lunarian.

Since I would inevitably be taken under Brans Army, I needed a convenient excuse—one that explained why the castle was in ruins, why I had no troops, no gold, no resources. This made my eventual surrender all the more believable.

And the soldier who had tied me up, the same one who had stayed to listen to my last instructions and made the necessary arrangements, was now kneeling before me, delivering his final report.

To an outsider, this would have been a bizarre sight.

I couldn’t help but smirk at the absurdity of it.

"Swen, sir. As per your orders, the white flag has been raised over the castle."

The white flag signified surrender.

Since it had been placed where it was most visible, the enemy wouldn't attack unnecessarily.

If they did, they would surely lose the favor of the people.

"Well done."

"And… here."

The soldier handed me a neatly folded flag.

When I unfolded it, I saw the bright green banner that had once symbolized the Lunarian Army.

It must have been the one originally flying before the white flag was raised.

"What should we do with this?" he asked.

For a brief moment, I considered keeping it.

But what kind of commander, after surrendering, would personally hold onto the banner of their defeated army?

That wouldn’t exactly inspire confidence in my new liege.

"Dispose of it as you see fit."

It had no significance now, at least for the time being.

"Understood! But rather than throwing it away… if it’s alright, I’d like to keep it."

The soldier carefully tucked the old flag away.

"Any other orders, sir?" he asked.

"No. You're free to go now. Move as you see fit. Thank you for your service to our army."

"Please, it was only my duty."

As I listened to him, I looked at his face closely.

And then I realized—

This was our army's messenger.

The soldier who would always rush to the ruler’s side whenever war broke out.

For the first time, I truly saw him as a person, not just a function of the army.

I asked him a question.

"You didn’t go with the mercenary corps or Lady Luna?"

"No. This is my homeland. My parents' and grandparents' graves are all here. My family is here. It didn’t feel right to uproot them and wander."

"So you’re staying behind?"

"Yes. Though I’ll be taking off this armor."

The former messenger chuckled.

"If I keep wearing it, the Brans bastards will just recruit me into their army. I’d rather quit being a soldier and return to farming. If they try to conscript me again, I might just cut off a finger or two."

"I’d rather you didn’t," I said dryly.

"Haha, just a joke."

The soldier removed his helmet as he spoke.

"I’m just a simple man. I never received any formal education, never stepped foot in an academy. I was just a farmer. But even I can tell—if anyone is meant to unify this world, it’s Lady Lunarian. She didn’t hesitate to spend her fortune to aid the people. She refused to force conscription, unlike every other ruler."

"……."

"That’s why… I believe in Lady Luna. In you. In our commanders. I have no doubt that she will rise again. Until then, I will do my part."

I looked into his eyes.

They were steady. Clear.

This man was just an extra.

Not a leader. Not even a C-rank officer.

Just a single number in the army roster, a soldier recruited at the push of a button.

And yet, in this moment, he stirred something in my chest.

The soldier slowly stood up, then bowed deeply—even though I was the one tied up.

"So, please, stay alive, Swen. I will wait for the day we can serve Lady Luna together again. Farewell."

"Wait."

I stopped him before he could leave.

"May I know your name?"

"Me? It’s James. I don’t have a surname—I’m just a commoner."

James.

A name so generic, it felt like a placeholder in some grand narrative.

Yet, in this moment, the world of this man—this soldier named James—shone with brilliance.

"Please, survive, James."

James smiled at my words, then turned and left the castle.

Now, I was alone.

Not a single guard remained.

Not a single soul but me.

Lunarian Iniang.

She had been just another forgettable ruler of a weak, insignificant nation.

Even in the game, she was nothing special.

Players only touched her for gimmick playthroughs, not because she was actually viable.

She wasn’t even one of those meme-worthy hardcore challenge rulers.

Just another disposable leader, buried among the many.

And yet, there were still people in this world who wished for her to rule.

And my predictions still told me—she would be the one to unify the continent.

I thought of her.

The way her ruby-red eyes had gleamed when we danced.

We will meet again.

But first, I had to survive.

If I wanted to return to my original world, I had to be standing beside the unified ruler—Luna.

Until that day, no matter what happened, I would survive.

I would not be swept away by history and die like some nameless extra.

My 100 Intelligence would guide me.

Now, all that was left was to wait.

Whether I liked it or not, the future was coming for me.

And it was time to meet my new master.

***

Lyn Brans herself led the grand army of 81,000 troops.

It was rare for her to personally command a force of this scale.

A ruler should not be marching on the battlefield—unless they were a combatant monarch.

But she couldn’t sit still.

Not when such a tempting prey awaited her.

Staying idle at Arnel Castle had driven her mad with impatience.

At the head of her army were Chel and Airen.

Initially, she had planned for Chel alone to lead the vanguard.

But her strategist, Parfalle, had repeatedly urged her otherwise.

"Make full use of General Airen. She will be of great help. If nothing else, at least assign her to the vanguard alongside Lord Chel. She is not someone who should be left idle behind the safety of Arnel Castle’s walls."

Parfalle had always advised her to utilize Airen better.

But Lyn’s response had been simple.

"I just don’t like her, alright?"

Sure, Airen was good at siege warfare.

But Brans Army didn’t need her to function.

And despite her reputation, she had failed to take Castle Zeilant.

Still… refusing to use a skilled commander just because of one failure?

That would make her look petty.

So, begrudgingly, she had brought Airen along.

Whether it was the right choice or not—it didn’t matter.

In Brans Army, Lyn Brans' will was absolute.

At that moment—

"Your Majesty!"

A soldier galloped toward her on horseback.

"What is it?"

Had the Lunarian Army prepared something?

With that strategist Swen among them, she hoped for something.

A trap, an ambush—anything to make this battle more entertaining.

But—

"A white flag has been raised over Castle Zeilant."

"…What?"

Lyn knew exactly what that meant.

Surrender.

And for a nation with only one territory—

The Lunarian Army had fallen.