Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100% Accuracy
Chapter 320: The Red-Eyed Dragon of the South (8)

"......?"

Jinor looked confused, glancing between Kyle and Luna with a puzzled expression, but Luna calmly met his gaze and spoke in a steady voice.

"I'm not stepping forward just to boost morale."

"My lady...?"

"I'm simply doing what is most efficient. Please revise the formation accordingly."

Jinor watched her closely. There was no lie in her eyes.

Could it really be true? That the strongest warrior in the Lunarian Army was this delicate-looking woman?

He recalled the few battles during the rebellion in which she had taken the vanguard. Despite being at the front, she had always returned unscathed. It would’ve made sense if her subordinates had fiercely protected her behind the lines—but no. Could it be that she needed no such protection?

At that moment—

"My lady. I believe you’ve made up your mind, but this old man... finds something bothering."

It was Kyle who spoke. His sunken eyes were fixed on Luna’s silent form.

"Seeing you speak with such clarity... may I assume you’ve steeled yourself?"

"......"

Luna was quiet for a moment, then nodded slowly.

"Yes. I’m prepared."

There was no hesitation or tremor in her voice. It carried only resolve—a willingness to walk forward, unwavering. Even Jinor, who still didn’t fully understand, felt a chill of awe pass through him.

"Then there’s nothing more to say."

"Jinor. Once more, I ask that you revise the assignments. We plan to depart within the week."

Jinor swallowed the question rising in his throat, and gave a short nod.

"Understood, my lady. I’ll list you at the head of the vanguard, as you wish."

"Thank you."

Luna then turned to the others in the room—the core members of the Lunarian Army—and addressed them one by one.

"Everyone, do your utmost in your respective roles. Francis, Charlotte—please come with me. There’s something I’d like to discuss regarding strategy."

"Y-Yes...!"

"Understood."

***

After Luna departed with the two, and the others had dispersed, Jinor finally turned to his old friend and voiced the question he’d been holding in.

"Kyle. You already know why I’ve pulled you aside."

"Of course. You want to ask about the Lady."

"Sharp as ever."

Kyle stroked his beard and chuckled.

"My lady... Luna’s skill with the sword surpasses anyone I’ve ever seen. You know the legendary spearman of House Al Caskey, don’t you?"

"Of course I do."

"Would you believe me if I said she’s on par with him?"

"That’s hard to believe. Our sovereign hardly looks the part of a warrior."

Something about hearing that in Kyle’s serious tone made the empty meeting room fill with laughter.

"She really does look like nothing more than a frail noble’s daughter, after all. But you know this too, don’t you? The body and mind are more closely linked than we’d like to think. Even wisdom dims as the body declines. The strength of one’s will is reflected in their physical strength, in a sense."

"And our sovereign—Luna—has a will stronger than anyone I’ve ever seen. Even after losing her homeland, she rose again and proved herself worthy to stand among the lords of the continent."

So that was it. She was strong, in every sense of the word.

"You chose to serve her because you saw that potential?"

"Hah! Potential, you say? If I had an eye for such things, I’d be the one wearing the imperial crown right now. No—I was just looking for a quiet place to disappear. Got lucky, really. Never imagined I’d end up serving the one to upend the world at the very end of my life."

"You look like you’ve got another ten years in you."

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

"No, I doubt I’ll last even a year. You still seem sturdy enough, Jinor, but you’ll understand eventually—what it feels like to have death quietly following behind you. It’s not like being sick. Food stops tasting right. Every morning, you wake wondering if today’s the day you won’t get back up."

"......"

Jinor didn’t argue. Everyone ages. Everyone dies.

To even reach old age in this era was, in itself, a miracle.

"We’re drifting off. Let me get to the point. Our sovereign is resolved—she’s ready to stain her hands with blood."

"Blood...?"

"In war, killing is unavoidable. But our sovereign... she never struck to kill. Even with that power, she always held back. Letting wounded enemies bleed out, yes—but never delivering the final blow herself. She fought while bearing that penalty."

"That’s... difficult to believe. And from a sovereign—or a general—unforgivable on the battlefield."

"Hahaha! I thought the same."

Kyle grinned, lifting his chin and pointing upward with one finger.

"But not anymore. She’s no longer afraid to let her blade taste blood."

"And the world—

the world will finally come to know—that the most powerful being on this continent has been hiding her claws all along."

***

Several days later, the Lunarian army finally deployed their intercepting force.

Their marching route ran directly opposite to the advancing Roland army. And at last—they came close enough that the flags on either side could be seen with the naked eye.

"That brown flag..."

"It’s the Roland army’s standard."

Charlotte, who accompanied Luna, answered promptly.

"It seems they’ve recognized our presence. They’ve stopped advancing."

The atmosphere was tense—a hair-trigger situation, where the slightest spark could ignite the clash.

"What shall we do? Should we build a camp in the rear?"

Luna shook her head without hesitation.

"No. We’ll advance as is. Charlotte, Francis—are you ready?"

"Yes!"

"...No matter what happens, I will die on the battlefield for my lady."

Luna gave a small smile at Francis’s words.

"Then, just as we discussed. I’ll be counting on you."

And just as they were about to begin the advance—

"...Huh?"

***

A short while earlier—

"My lord! A bright green flag has been spotted. It’s the Lunarian army’s standard!"

Roland’s officer responded to the report, standing alongside him at the front.

"Any word from the scouts?"

"Yes, sir. It appears that Lady Luna Iniang herself has taken the vanguard. At her sides... a young man and woman—likely Francis von Eingart and Charlotte von Eingart."

"So those are the brats of royal blood left behind to back a rebel girl."

Roland spat on the ground, his voice filled with disgust.

"They must really think I’m a joke. Sending out greenhorn kids like that to the front lines—even knowing full well that I, personally, have taken the field."

"Perhaps they have something up their sleeve?"

"Something up their sleeve?"

"Yes! Like... maybe there’s another hidden mage in reserve, or perhaps some clever strategy—"

"Sounds like nonsense, but hell, a mage existing in the first place is nonsense enough."

Their side held a slight advantage in numbers. That didn’t guarantee victory—but what really unsettled him was the idea that Luna might be acting without understanding the gravity of her move.

"What are your orders?"

"Before we clash, we should break their morale. Whatever they’re plotting, all we can do is fight back. And if there really is another mage, it’d be better to force a chaotic melee anyway."

"Break their morale...?"

At that, Roland curled his lip in a mocking grin.

"I’ll play the wise old veteran and teach that clueless young lady some etiquette on the battlefield."

"Excuse me...?"

Roland didn’t bother replying to his officer. Instead, he called out to a nearby scout.

"Hey, you!"

"Sir!"

"Move forward and call out Luna Iniang by name."

"Sir, beg your pardon...?"

"Did I stutter? Call her by name—Luna Iniang. And deliver this message:"

He was challenging her—

***

"...Huh?"

In Luna’s line of sight—along with Charlotte and Francis—a single soldier clad in the enemy’s armor came running toward them. His equipment suggested he wasn’t a fighter. More likely a scout.

‘What is this...?’

Before they could make sense of it, the soldier arrived within shouting ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) distance. Planting his feet, he raised his voice and bellowed:

"Luna Iniang! A message from Lord Seta Roland! He challenges you to a one-on-one duel!"