Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100% Accuracy

After seeing Serpina off as she returned to the royal capital, I headed to the place she had directed me to.

After explaining the situation to the guards, I opened the door and finally reunited with them.
"Swen!"
"Swen-nim...!"

"I’m glad to see you all safe."
It had only been a few days, but it felt like an eternity since we last met.
It seemed I wasn’t the only one who felt that way—both of them welcomed me with great enthusiasm.

Especially Airen… she looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"Airen-nim, please, calm down."
"But… Swen. I thought I might never see you again… sniff."

"Why would you think that? It’s not like Serpina was going to devour me."
Well, considering I had decided to serve her, one could argue that I had been ‘devoured.’
"But Swen, when I asked what happened to you… they said you had fallen into despair, refusing to eat and starving yourself… I was so worried."

"…"
I had assumed it was just a joke, but Serpina had actually said that?
She remained as enigmatic as ever.

"Swen… you need to eat properly… You’re already too thin. If you keep skipping meals, your health will be in ruins."
She was crying, but her sincerity touched me, making me feel strangely emotional.
Airen was always composed and dependable, but at times like this, she seemed almost childlike.

"Ah, Airen-nim… There, there… Please don’t cry."
"Hngh."
Honestly, if I had to guess, I would have expected Reika to be the one getting teary-eyed. Seeing their roles reversed made it amusing.
After calming Airen down, I was finally able to hear about how they had been doing.

"Did you two stay together?"
"Yes. Well… Serpina-nim arranged it for us. We were originally kept separate, but when I told her I was worried… she said that if we were fine with it, she would allow us to stay together."
I had only spoken with Serpina a few times, yet she was already proving to be vastly different from the rumors.

In fact, she might have been even more compassionate than Yuri.
"Was it comfortable?"
"Yes… We were provided regular meals, and with Airen-nim around… But did you really stop eating?"

"No, I ate well and took care of myself, so you don’t need to worry."
Saying that, I carefully observed the two of them.
I briefly wondered if they would feel awkward without me acting as a mediator between them, but then I recalled…

These two had already grown quite close since traveling together in the carriage.
In life, there are people you naturally get along with and people you simply don’t.
With those who match your wavelength, friendships form quickly, sometimes even with just a few words.

On the other hand, with those who don’t, no matter how much effort you put in, discord inevitably arises.
Judging from what I was seeing, the two of them had a good dynamic.
Once Airen had fully calmed down, I finally brought up the real issue.

"Your lord… exchanged my release for Anima-nim’s freedom?"
"It seems so."
"I see…"

Airen looked shocked, as if she had been struck speechless by Yuri’s decision.
After all, it wasn’t common sense to trade one general for another—especially the general who had been sent as an envoy.
"So in the end, you were abandoned."

"That’s how it turned out."
Airen’s gaze held both sympathy and something akin to understanding.
Now that I thought about it, she had also been abandoned by her former lord, Lyn.

Unreasonable decisions that defied logic weren’t uncommon, and it wasn’t unusual for some of those making such choices to hold high positions.
"Ah, um…"
Reika, clearly struggling to speak up, fidgeted awkwardly.

Placing a hand on her shoulder, I reassured her.
"Eep…!"
"Reika, please calm down and listen carefully."

"Ah, I-I…!"
Seeing her eyes dart around in panic, I spoke as clearly as possible.
"I feel like I put you through a lot because of me. I’m truly sorry."

"Huh? No, no… I mean, it’s… fine."
"I’ll arrange for you to be safely escorted to Valharat Castle immediately."
"…What?"

The moment I said that, she flinched and looked at me with the expression of an abandoned kitten.
I had anticipated this reaction, which was why I warned her not to misunderstand.
"I’m not saying that you’re useless or unwelcome. But… I’m no longer part of the Aishus Army."

"What? That means…!"
Reika’s eyes widened in shock, and I nodded.
"Yes. As of today, I serve under Serpina."

"I see… Well, I suppose even if you did return to the Aishus Army, you wouldn’t exactly receive a warm welcome."
Airen immediately grasped the situation, nodding in understanding.
She was sharp enough to see the implications right away.

"So that means we can’t travel together anymore. It’s unfortunate, but…"
"B-but…!"
Reika’s voice trembled as she squeezed out a response.

"A-Airen-nim, then…?"
"That’s right. Airen-nim, what will you do?"
Though I was fairly certain of her answer, it was still best to ask.

As expected, she didn’t even hesitate for a second.
This translation is the intellectual property of .
"I already told you, didn’t I? No matter what happens, I will stay by your side, Swen. I will also serve under Serpina-nim."

"Aren’t you worried? My new lord doesn’t exactly have a good reputation."
"If you have chosen to serve her, then whoever she is, she is also my lord."
I had expected this, but hearing her say it so clearly left me feeling oddly proud… and strangely warm inside.

"Alright. I’ll speak to Serpina—our lord—about it. You are an exceptional warrior, Airen-nim. I don’t think she’ll refuse you, so don’t worry too much."
"Mhm."
Airen, as a warrior, had the freedom to choose her master.

Reika, however, was bound to Jinor, so there was no reason to take her along any further.
"I-I… then I…!"
"Reika, I would like to stay with you as well, but if something were to happen to you, I wouldn’t be able to face Jinor."

"That doesn’t matter…! I want to stay with you, Swen…!"
"Of course it matters. How could it not?"
"No, it really doesn’t! I mean it… it doesn’t matter at all. So please…"

Reika was desperately trying to get her point across.
"I have permission! My father… gave me his permission!"
"…What?"

"He told me, if it comes down to it, I should stay by your side, Swen… He told me before I left! So it’s okay for me to be here…! Besides, I’m not serving anyone in particular. As long as I have my father’s permission, then… then it should be fine…!"
Her tone was stronger than usual—uncharacteristically so.
But when I thought about it carefully, she wasn’t wrong.

She had only been studying magic at Jinor’s estate, never officially belonging to the Aishus Army.
The only one who could truly claim authority over her was her father, Jinor.
And if Jinor had given his consent, then there was no real reason to send her to Valharat Castle, was there?

"…Is that really true? You’re not lying to me, are you?"
"Of course not…! I-I would never lie…! Not that I blame you for doubting me… I understand why you’d think that, but…"
"No, it’s fine. As long as you’re telling the truth… Then stay with us for now."

"Do as Swen says, Reika," Airen added. "As long as we’re with you, at least you’ll be safe."
Only after hearing Airen’s words did Reika’s face finally brighten.
"Swen-nim… Airen-nim…!"

As I comforted Reika alongside Airen, my mind drifted to my former lord.
Not Lyn, not Yuri—the only one who had ever truly believed in me.
Lunarian.

There was no news of her yet, but if she were to raise her banner in rebellion…
If I could return to her side at that moment—
With Airen, the knight, and Reika, the mage, by my side—

They would both be invaluable.
And when the time was right, I would propose to Airen.
And after that… should I also propose to Reika?

It still felt too soon to be sure about Reika’s feelings, so that part would have to wait.
Everything had been thrown into chaos right when I was in the middle of arranging a marriage proposal.
But now that we’d be together for a while longer, I would get a better grasp of the situation.

And so, we officially joined the ranks of the Northern Tyrant, Serpina.
For Airen, this was her third lord.
For me, it was my fourth.

***
"I’ll come see you again soon."
After Swen left the room, Airen sat down on the sofa, lost in thought.

According to him, Serpina would soon decide their new assignments, and until then, they were to stay in this separate residence.
Though technically, they were still captives, it wasn’t an uncomfortable arrangement, so she didn’t mind too much.
That wasn’t what was bothering her.

What really troubled her was—
She hadn’t asked him about it.
"I didn’t get to ask about the marriage proposal…"

She was curious about the arrangements between Swen and Reika, of course.
But even more than that, she wanted to know—
Why had Reika made that comment?

Why had she said, "Airen-nim would be the first wife"?
Reika had explained her reasoning, saying, "After hearing what Swen-nim said, I couldn’t think otherwise."
But what exactly had he said to make her think that?

"Swen…"
Not as his comrade.
Not as his subordinate.

But as his wife.
Airen had long abandoned any thoughts of settling down and starting a family.
Her life was one of bloodshed, wielding a sword to take lives.

If she could take a life, that also meant she could lose her own at any time.
She had sworn never to love, never to tie herself to someone, and instead devoted her entire life to her blade and her lord.
But now—

Just imagining herself as Swen’s wife made her heart race.
At first, she had been flustered by the thought.
But the more she considered it…

If Swen wanted it—
She would gladly be his wife.
She wanted to bear his children.

She had lived her entire life fighting for lords who never truly valued her.
But living for this man, who acknowledged her, who relied on her, who was also her pillar of support—
That didn’t seem like such a bad life.

And at that moment, she finally realized—
She was in love.
Of course, with things as chaotic as they were, it wasn’t the right time to bring it up.

But—
"Next time… I have to ask him."
As Airen wrestled with such thoughts, deep in a dilemma that could only be described as "maiden-like"—

Reika’s worries were far more practical.
"I already said it, but… now what?"
Jinor’s permission hadn’t been a lie.

But still…
Wouldn’t he be worried if she didn’t send word to him?
…Though, to be honest, he wasn’t the type to worry too much.

Still, she owed him at least that much, after everything he had done for her.
"I should at least send him a letter."
If she explained that she was staying with Swen, it should be fine… right?

Not too long ago, she had been confined to Jinor’s estate.
Yet ever since meeting Swen, she had been gaining more and more freedom.
And if her father ordered her to return immediately…?

"I’ve never done it before, but… I should think of a good way to refuse."
Despite her frail demeanor and soft-spoken nature—
She wasn’t about to let go of the freedom she had finally obtained.

Not when the one who had given her that freedom—
The one she wanted to spend more time with—
Was right in front of her.

Because when a woman wants to protect her happiness—
She can be stronger than anyone.