Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100% Accuracy
Chapter 314: The Red-Eyed Dragon of the South (4)

Not long after, Luna finally stood before all her officers and declared her resolve.

"Our enemy is Setta Roland! By defeating Roland’s army, we will rescue even more of our people! Follow me!"

The news of this sweeping declaration of war spread rapidly across the continent.

The first to hear it, of course, were the four nations of the southern continent.

The southern continent housed four major cities:

First, Madralan Castle—the former capital of the Karelia Army and now the capital of the reborn Lunarian Army.

Then, Dopher Castle—the capital of Roland’s army and a naturally fortified stronghold.

Next, Mertian Castle—the capital of Hesna’s army and the largest, most historically rich city in the south.

And lastly, a former backwater transformed into a dazzling capital by the rise of a new nation: Iekaeida Castle, capital of Ohana.

Inside the royal palace of Iekaeida Castle—a city that had, as they say, risen to fame overnight—Navidos Ohana, ruler of the Ohana Army, was lost in thought, idly stroking his poor, innocent beard.

"I really don’t know what the right move is..."

The rebel Lunarian had drawn her blade toward Roland.

Navidos had privately expected that once things settled down, she would turn her army on him.

That was why he had ordered troops to be stationed along the frontlines in preparation.

But he had never imagined that the chance to roll the dice—to make a decision—would fall to him so soon.

"My lord! Now is the time to act! Send troops to Tepello Castle!"

Even under pressure from his aggressive national strategist, Navidos couldn’t make up his mind.

"Hold on a moment. You heard it too, didn’t you? That the one stationed at Tepello Castle is that magician."

"Even so, war is won with numbers. If magic were truly that all-powerful, we wouldn’t need armies—just two mages would’ve already conquered the south by now, wouldn’t they?"

"That’s just speculation. And what if you’re wrong? What if this whole thing is just a bluff by those rebel bastards?"

"A bluff?"

"Yes! Think about it! Doesn’t it seem strange? Leaving so few troops behind and just one mage—it reeks of bait, doesn’t it? I can see it plain as day. If we bite, we’re going to choke on it! You say there are limits to a mage’s power, but what if they’ve been hiding their true strength just for this moment? You can’t rule that out, can you?!"

"My lord...! I understand we must be cautious, but if we miss this opportunity too, unless we move against the Hesna Army, our Ohana Army won’t have any room left to grow—"

At that, Navidos exploded in frustration.

"Argh, enough! It’s easy for you to talk like that from behind my back! But not me! A single mistake—just one!—and the Ohana Army I built from nothing will be wiped out in an instant! Do you not remember how Makana Karelia was destroyed so pitifully by that mage?! And you dare speak to me like this?!"

"My lord! I agree that caution is necessary, but if we keep doing nothing like this, we’ll never make any real change! You must see that!"

"Silence! I’ve heard enough! You, who bear none of this burden, how could you possibly understand the weight pressing on my shoulders?!"

"My lord...!!"

"On these shoulders of mine hang the lives of all my people and all the warriors who follow me! And that includes your life, Lupio!!"

"......!"

"If I make the wrong choice, I won’t die alone! You’ll die too! Everyone who follows me will die! That’s what this means!"

The strategist had no response.

Navidos Ohana had come from nothing.

He’d led a band of thieves, drifted through life, and in the chaos of war had lucked into becoming a lord—and from there, stumbled into founding a country.

He wasn’t a terrible ruler; he valued pragmatism over pride.

But his greatest flaw was his paralysis at critical moments—his inability to make decisive calls when they mattered most.

He was good at keeping the country alive by riding the tide of others’ choices.

It was no accident he’d survived wedged between the righteous Karelia Army and the overwhelming power of the Hesna Army.

But this time, it was his decision to make.

Would he strike at the Lunarian Army, now occupying Karelia’s former position?

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Without that mage, it would’ve been an easy choice.

But with that unknown force waiting behind the walls...

Even he knew that expecting Ohana to make an assertive move now was a stretch.

Still... no matter how he looked at it, this was their last chance.

If they let this pass, it wouldn’t just be Ohana’s future at stake—

The fate of the entire southern continent could be decided in an instant.

"Lupio, you’re too reckless. You still act like you’re leading a band of thieves. But this isn’t the time for that. We must be cautious—extremely cautious. Even if we gain nothing, it’s still better than losing everything. War has already begun. Amidst this chaos, a moment will come where we can strike and rip off a piece for ourselves. We only need to wait for that chance! Why can’t you understand that?!"

The strategist bowed his head in silence.

Can we really just sit here... and do nothing?

***

In the royal palace of Mertian—the capital of Hesna’s army and the largest city in the southern continent—

sat a bronze-skinned beauty with long, flowing brown hair: Aski Hesna.

Wearing clothing far too revealing for a sovereign, she leaned back in her chair and spoke with a sultry smile.

"The little rebel girl picked a fight with Roland, did she?"

"Yes, that is correct."

"That’s surprising. I figured she’d go after some petty coward like Ohana first."

The middle-aged woman beside her, the national strategist of the Hesna Army, bowed her head respectfully.

"Lunarian has Jinor Nighhardt under her command. That old man is well-versed in unorthodox plays."

"So you’re saying this isn’t the girl’s idea—but Jinor’s?"

"Yes."

Aski Hesna let out a soft laugh, brushing a hand across her lips.

"Tera. You used to be Jinor’s student, didn’t you?"

"That was a long time ago."

"Still. Even if it’s in the past, you once served under him. You should be able to read his thoughts. What do you think the girl’s next move is?"

Tera, the national strategist of the Hesna Army, raised her eyes to meet Aski’s and declared firmly:

"Prepare for war. We’ll be next."

"Knew it."

Aski nodded slowly, as if that was exactly what she’d expected.

"If the Ohana Army strikes Lunarian from behind, things might play out differently. But Navidos Ohana’s not the type to make that kind of decision. Which means we’re next."

"Right. That guy’s the last person I’d want as a friend. Petty to the core."

She’d noticed it during a few trade exchanges as well—

Ohana was the epitome of a selfish, small-minded man.

And with zero boldness to his name, there was no way he’d start a war himself.

"What’s the situation on the Roland border?"

"I doubt they’ll pull back their troops. Roland must know we’re not going to stay quiet."

"What do you think would happen if we proposed an alliance?"

"...An alliance?"

Tera, who had been replying without emotion, finally looked a little surprised as she turned to Aski.

"Yeah. You think Roland would accept?"

Tera pondered for a moment, then shook her head.

"Highly unlikely. Setta Roland is a man with far too much pride. He sees us as rivals. He’d consider an alliance with our army to be an insult."

"Thought so. So he’s still the same. Hmph... I remember thinking he used to have some flexibility in his youth. A simple man like that won’t be winning any popularity contests in times like these."

"Did you actually intend to form an alliance with Roland’s army?"

"Mmhmm."

"May I ask why?"

It was at that moment—

the playful tone Aski had carried all this time suddenly sharpened into something far more serious.

"Because it’s more important to take down the real threat than to screw around with someone I can mess with any time."

"The real threat being..."

"Who else but the rebel girl?"

Aski’s voice was grave.

"Karelia fell without a fight. Everyone’s obsessed with the magician, but that mage is only effective because the one commanding her is that girl. She’s the one we need to watch. And if Roland falls now... it’s highly likely we won’t be able to stop Lunarian either. That’s why I want to get ahead of it."

"I understand... but without an alliance with Roland, we don’t really have many options, do we?"

"Why not? We still have a few left."

Tera paused, thinking for a moment, before her eyes widened in realization.

"You’re thinking of joining forces with Lyn Brans...?"

The Brans Army had, until very recently, been an outright enemy.

Border skirmishes had been ongoing between the two factions.

Even so, if the goal was to counter a Lunarian Army that had just devoured Roland—there really ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ was no better option.

Then—

"Ufufufu."

Aski let out another amused laugh.

"That’s right. An alliance with the Brans Army is one of the cards we’ve got left."

"...Excuse me?"

"Tera. You remember what I said? That we still have a few options. It’s not just Brans. There’s another alliance we could form."

"Another option? But the Aishus Army is essentially collapsed now. They’ve lost so much strength, it wouldn’t even be worth forming an alliance—"

She trailed off.

And only then, did Tera’s eyes go wide in shock, realizing what her sovereign was truly suggesting.

Among all the nations in the southern and central continents—

leaving out Brans and Aishus—there was only one remaining power.

The one everyone avoided.

The one no one dared speak of.

The absolute evil of the world—

"Surely... you don’t mean... you intend to ally with Serpina von Eingart...?"

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.