Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 144: For the First Time, Conveying One’s Feelings

"Did you get a house?"

"Yes. My lord was kind enough to grant me one. Reika was overjoyed as well. She said she was happy just to have a kitchen where she could cook freely."

"Oh, right. Reika bakes really well."

A small park within Eingart Castle.

There, on a bench, I was spending a peaceful moment chatting with Airen.

From what I had heard, it seemed she had been appointed as the deputy commander of the occupation forces.

It was only after hearing that that I fully understood the conversation Serpina had been having with her subordinates earlier.

A position like deputy commander might not be as high as commander, but it still meant receiving a share of military authority. Naturally, to the existing officers, it wouldn’t be an entirely welcome appointment.

Especially considering Airen—no matter how one looked at it—had already changed rulers twice.

And since I had done so three times, it was only natural that we would be grouped ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) together and regarded with a certain wariness.

That was likely why Serpina had been making statements to protect us.

‘Still, it’s a relief that she seems to be taking it well.’

Honestly, a bit of murmuring behind our backs was nothing.

After all, she had been through far worse in Brans Army.

As we talked, my gaze naturally drifted to her neatly fitted red knight uniform.

The silver chest plate that bore the emblem of the Eingart family had become a familiar sight.

‘But... it really is fascinating.’

I had already noticed that Airen wore a compression bandage around her chest—

But considering her original chest size, that armor must be incredibly restrictive.

Well, since she was managing just fine, it probably wasn’t too bad.

Or had she trained herself to endure even that level of discomfort?

Come to think of it, there was a time when my lord—Serpina—had accidentally pressed her chest against me.

It was undeniably large, overwhelming even, but...

After spending so much time with Airen—who had a size capable of shattering the world's logic—it hadn’t felt that astonishing.

"Swen...?"

"Yes?"

"Are you troubled by something? I feel like I’ve been rambling without considering your thoughts..."

I noticed it immediately—her hesitant expression, unsure of what to do.

Apparently, my contemplation of Airen’s chest had made me appear lost in thought.

There was no way in hell I could admit I had momentarily zoned out because I was analyzing the tactical challenges of her proportions.

"It’s nothing. Really, nothing to worry about."

"Is that so? If something is troubling you... I’d like you to talk to me. If not me, then at least Reika."

"I’ll keep that in mind."

With that, our conversation naturally wrapped up.

"Ahem, hem."

"...?"

She suddenly cleared her throat, and I could immediately tell what was on her mind.

It had been a while.

Since we rarely had the chance to just talk like this, even reading her small gestures felt nostalgic.

"Do you... have something to say?"

"Uh?! No, it’s just..."

"You do, don’t you?"

Airen turned red, lowered her head, and remained silent for a while—

Then, as if resigning herself, she looked up at me with a small, almost shy smile.

Her pink lips, slightly parted as she prepared to speak, seemed particularly soft.

"Swen... You really do see right through me."

"Of course. We’ve been together for how long now?"

"I suppose so. Anyway... that is..."

Even after that, she hesitated for a long time.

I waited patiently, not pushing her.

As long as she wasn’t out on the battlefield, where I’d be anxiously hoping for her safe return—any kind of waiting was fine.

"Swen. What I mean is... right now, things are still unsettled, so I’m not suggesting anything immediately. But once things calm down... once there’s some stability..."

Finally—

She looked directly into my eyes, and her emotions hit me like a wave.

"Would you... live with me?"

"Live with you?"

"I mean, um... The house is big! Much bigger than I expected. There are plenty of spare rooms, and the maids are very helpful, but it still feels... lonely. B-but! It’s not like I’m inviting you just because there’s extra space! I—I..."

Watching her flustered, waving her hands, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

New novel chapt𝒆rs are published on ƒгeewebnovёl.com.

"I’d like that. I’ll just have to inform the barracks that I’m moving out."

"Really? ...That’s a relief."

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

As she let out a breath of relief, a small curiosity surfaced in my mind.

"But why were you so nervous about asking?"

"Huh? About what...?"

She tilted her head, causing a strand of her red hair to slide over her shoulder.

Her violet eyes looked up at me—oddly endearing.

"We’ve lived together since we first met, haven’t we? If anything, this is just returning to the way things were before."

"That’s true, Swen. But..."

She hesitated, looking almost embarrassed—

Then, she spoke softly.

"Before, it was just... circumstances."

"Circumstances?"

"At first, you stayed with me because Lyn ordered you to. Then, later, Yuri gave you a place to stay. But... I never had the chance to ask you myself."

"This is the first time. The first time I’m telling you... how I truly feel."

"..."

The moment I heard that—

My head felt hot.

A warmth spread through my body.

—She’s so lovable.

This person... she’s unbelievably lovable.

"That’s why... it was difficult. Because it’s the first time."

She smiled gently as she said that.

"Holding a sword and staking my life on the battlefield... is easier for me than saying a single word to you. It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? I spent my life chasing after someone who never looked back at me... So now, dealing with people feels like the hardest thing in the world."

"No."

"It’s not foolish at all."

"I don’t think it’s foolish."

Not for a single moment had I thought of Airen as someone ridiculous.

"You are an incredible person, Airen."

To withstand everything without breaking, even in situations where an ordinary person would have already fallen into despair—

No one had the right to look down on her.

"I’m glad you told me this first."

And also—

Thank you for trusting me and following me the moment you realized you had been abandoned by your lord.

"Alright."

"Alright...? Does that mean—?"

"Yes. Let’s live together."

"...!!"

Her violet eyes gleamed at my words, shimmering like a starry river in the night sky.

It was the first time I had ever seen such clear, dazzling eyes.

"I’m so relieved... Really, truly relieved."

"Was this something to be so relieved about? I thought it was only natural."

"But... given the circumstances, I assumed you only lived with me before because you had no choice. That’s what I always thought."

Her voice trembled slightly with emotion.

To me, it was nothing special, but I realized now that she had carried a lot of burden in her heart.

For all her strength, Airen was more vulnerable than she appeared.

When we lived together before, she had constantly apologized to me.

That it must be uncomfortable for me because of the difference in our status and gender.

That it must have been awkward to be forced into cohabitation by our lord.

But—

"That’s not true."

Without hesitation, I could say with certainty that not once had she ever made me feel uncomfortable.

I enjoyed seeing her smile.

It made me happy to see her regaining her confidence.

If anything, the past few days had felt empty.

It made me realize just how important she had become in my life.

Hoping that she would truly understand my feelings,

I quietly placed my hand over hers.

She flinched for a brief moment—

—but she did not pull away.

"To be honest, this may not be our final destination. But no matter where we end up, I want to be with you, Airen."

"I feel the same..."

"Wherever we are, stay by my side. If you’re not there, things will be difficult for me in many ways. You understand, right?"

"...Yes."

She nodded, and I squeezed her hand gently.

The Airen Juliet of the Brans Army—

The woman who had contributed the most to Brans' conquest of the central continent, only to be cast aside.

The one who had fought endlessly to prove herself, fragile and precarious, as if she might shatter at any moment—

That Airen no longer existed.

Instead, before me stood—

A woman stronger than anyone, unwavering, with a heart filled with certainty as she looked at me.

***

That night, while everyone slept,

Serpina remained awake in her chamber, lost in thought over the test Swen had set before her.

She was wearing a sheer, almost translucent négligée.

It was a garment she would never wear outside the privacy of her quarters.

No one had ever seen her dressed like this before.

The delicate fabric clung to her, highlighting her near-perfect feminine silhouette.

At that moment, she was studying a map, analyzing the state of affairs between the nations.

If they were to form an alliance, the country that would benefit the most was—

"Brans Army."

By shortening the frontlines, they would be able to fend off the grand southern offensive without worry.

Aishus Army did not have the forces to launch an all-out attack on Brans.

And yet, Swen had argued that an alliance with Brans would also be beneficial for them.

Moreover, he had claimed that he was in a position to understand exactly why.

"If the situation overwhelmingly favors Brans, yet Swen insists it benefits us as well... could it be that Brans itself does not see it that way?"

Serpina tried to imagine what it would feel like to be part of Brans Army.

Not from a strategic perspective, but as someone within their ranks.

If she were Lyn Brans—

If she were one of Lyn’s commanders—

"...!!"

A realization struck her, and she shot up from her seat.

"No way...!"

"If you put yourself in that position, you will inevitably feel it."

"Serpina, I believe you will understand soon enough. I trust you."

"Now I see why you said that, Swen...!"

A plausible conclusion had been reached.

Now, it was time to put it into action.

"If— If everything unfolds as I suspect it will, then—!!!"

Serpina’s cheeks flushed red, and a quiet, triumphant smile spread across her lips.

Her heart swelled with an emotion she had never experienced before in her life.