Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 301: Blind Spot of a Hardcore Player (1)

Let’s just admit it.

The fact that I involuntarily pictured Lady Serpina’s face—meant that, subconsciously, I had feelings for her.

It wasn’t all that surprising. Just... unexpectedly sobering.

I wasn’t so dense that I wouldn’t notice something like that. I was always quick to pick up on subtle undercurrents between men and women.

The reason I hadn’t allowed myself to fully think about it—was because she was a sovereign ruler.

Someone of such high status that even speculating about being her third or fourth husband would be considered blasphemous.

Even if Serpina herself had once said she wanted to marry me... for someone like me, who had a place I needed to return to someday, becoming entirely bound to her would’ve been a discourtesy in itself.

But this wasn’t the time to be thinking about Serpina.

So, to put it simply—let’s say, despite everything, I did end up marrying Lady Serpina, and somehow wound up with three wives.

That still meant there was one spot left, so accepting Ioline wouldn’t pose any issue at all.

Even with three wives, I still technically had one place open, and objectively speaking, it would be no easy task to find another woman like Ioline.

Then why...

Why did I feel like I couldn’t breathe?

Why couldn’t I just accept that proposal at face value?

This wasn’t some nervous flutter of a young man swooning from a sudden marriage proposal.

It was—something more. Something sticky, shadowy, a kind of instinctive, unknowable dread that felt like it might threaten my life.

Not a deduction drawn from experience, but a raw, primal instinct.

An overwhelming fear, as if making this decision would warp the entire trajectory of my life.

As if something buried in the depths of my mind was warning me—

Never accept a fourth wife so easily.

“...Swen?”

“...Ah.”

“Are you alright? You look pale.”

Crackle, crackle.

The sound of the campfire snapping brought me back to my senses.

“It’s nothing. Just... I must be more tired than I thought. I think I should turn in early tonight.”

Ioline looked at me with concern, then slowly nodded.

“Alright. Please take your time thinking about the marriage. Whatever your answer ends up being, I promise I won’t hold it against you.”

“I’m sorry.”

At my words, Ioline gave a small smile.

“It’s alright. Good night, Swen.”

After Ioline climbed into the carriage to rest—

I was left alone, staring into the flickering flames for a long time.

The moment I’d even entertained the idea of having a fourth wife, what was that sensation, like something was tightening around my throat?

Was it just anxiety?

The human body can be absurdly irrational. Sometimes, even just fatigue is enough to throw everything out of sync.

And this body wasn’t exactly the strongest to begin with.

After the long trip to Valharat Castle, it wouldn’t be strange for it to send out meaningless warning signals.

Then why, even so...

‘......’

Even if I agonized over it for hours, I probably wouldn’t come up with a convincing answer.

Realizing that, I decided to just empty my mind and stare at the fire.

Maybe something I didn’t yet know—

Was putting me in danger.

For the first time, I found myself afraid of something in this world I couldn’t predict with certainty.

***

At daybreak the next morning, I did another patrol just in case—

But aside from the ongoing construction of the altar, I found nothing unusual.

I had enough resources to stay a few more days, but with nothing else to gain, there was no need to waste time.

So I left Valharat Castle ahead of schedule.

After another stretch of travel, I returned safely to the frontline camp.

“Please take care of yourself and stay healthy, Swen. Until we meet again.”

After seeing Ioline off on her way to Eingart Castle, I immediately headed to report to Serpina.

It had been a while since I last saw her.

She was in the war room, calmly jotting something down with a quill while gazing at a map.

Scratch, scratch.

Her golden hair shimmered like a wheat field in the sunlight filtering through the window.

The sound of her quill scratching across the parchment was a surprisingly pleasant sort of white noise.

“My liege. I have completed the reconnaissance mission and just returned.”

“You’re back, Swen. I know it’s sudden, but would you mind coming a bit closer?”

As I stepped forward, I noticed she’d marked the map in several places.

“While you were away, I did my own investigation. I marked the locations where a rebellion would most likely occur if it were to happen.”

Just as she said, the map was filled with neat circles over several areas of our territory.

Next to each mark were the names of the local lords and the reasons a rebellion might arise there.

It was all organized so clearly that I didn’t even need to read it properly to understand it.

But instead of focusing on the contents, I suddenly felt a surge of emotion well up and raised my voice without meaning to.

“But my liege, didn’t I say the likelihood of rebellion was low?”

“Of course, I believe you. I don’t think you’re wrong, Swen.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

But even you only said it was ‘unlikely.’ You never said it was ‘impossible,’ did you?”

“That’s true, but...”

“I just don’t want to be the kind of woman who places all her hopes on one man and burdens his shoulders alone. That’s how I truly feel.”

I understood Serpina’s reasoning, but still, I couldn’t help feeling upset.

Not because she didn’t trust my judgment completely.

Just... the fact that she was preparing for rebellion at all made me sad.

Even if I agreed it wasn’t realistic to be optimistic based on a few words—

It still didn’t sit right with me.

But since she was the ruler, I knew I couldn’t argue too much about it.

“...You’re kind, Swen.”

“...Excuse me?”

“I know why you raised your voice.”

With a faint smile, Serpina looked at me.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that... without this kind of preparation, I feel like I’d be too scared to do anything.

But still, as long as you’re by my side... I believe I can keep moving forward.

Didn’t you say it yourself?

That our fates... would intertwine.”

“......”

The fates intertwining, huh.

Suddenly, I was reminded of the moment I’d been talking with Ioline about marriage—when Serpina’s face had flashed through my mind without me realizing it. My cheeks flushed with heat.

If it were Serpina, she surely would have noticed that subtle change—

But instead of pointing it out, she moved straight to the point.

“And take a look at this as well. I’ve noted down which invasion routes would be the most efficient—if no rebellion occurs.”

Looking at the map again, I could see that, just as she said, several invasion paths had been meticulously marked and laid out.

“This is...”

“I thought that if I prepared some questions in advance, even before you used your 'foresight,' it would help both of us avoid unnecessary confusion.”

Was this her way of trying to help me in her own way?

I gave her a small bow, offering some light praise for her efforts.

“You’ve worked hard, my liege.”

“No, you’re the one who’s worked harder. Now then, it’s about time you told me—what is the Aishus Army up to?”

It was unfortunate for Serpina, but—

No matter how much she’d prepared, the news I brought was bound to carry more impact.

“They’re building an altar.”

“An altar?”

“Yes.”

“...Are you speaking metaphorically?”

“No, not at all. Literally. They’ve mobilized war supplies, soldiers, even civilians from the territory to construct a massive altar... the kind used for rituals or prayers. A full structure.”

“???”

Serpina tilted her head in disbelief.

...Even Lady Serpina has moments like that, huh.

“You’re telling me... ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ they’re undertaking a massive civil engineering project right before a war?”

“Yes.”

“......”

She rested her chin in her hand and murmured softly, almost to herself.

“Baranga Yuri Aishus... I’ve always known she made decisions one could hardly believe came from a ruler, but this time—I can’t read her at all.”

“The altar is supposedly for the deceased—Emma and Hernandorf.”

“No... Even if that’s true, from her perspective, isn’t she preparing for a final battle against me, her sworn enemy? Just like Chel, who refused to bow to me even in certain defeat—shouldn’t she be preparing for war by any means necessary?”

“Well, Yuri already sold me out, remember.”

“Even so... she and her companions despise me. Perhaps more than anyone else on the continent.”

That must’ve been from the academy incident.

Even I could guess what Serpina was referring to.

Back when I was under the Aishus Army, Anima had told me everything during her self-imposed exile in the mountains.

I knew now that Serpina wasn’t the one responsible for what happened...

But to them, she was.

There was nothing I could do about that part.

After a long pause in thought, Serpina finally looked at me and asked,

“Wouldn’t it be more reasonable to assume they’re preparing something else?”

“I looked around, but I saw no signs of anything like that.”

“Then what does your foresight mean, when it says now is not the right time to invade?”

“......”

She hit a sore spot.

To be honest, I had no idea why now wasn’t the time.

Which meant I had no answer to give.

“Your foresight only predicts futures that are certain. So wouldn’t it be logical to assume that ‘the Aishus Army is preparing something’ is a fixed variable? The fact that they’re building an altar of all things is suspicious in itself.”

“No, as I said—there’s no indication of a trap or hidden plan—”

At that moment, Serpina stepped in close.

“Can you say that with certainty?”

I could tell she was trying to reason her way through it. But unfortunately, the truth was what it was.

“Yes. I can.”

“And why is that?”

Because... something like constructing an altar shouldn’t trigger anything in the original game system—it wasn’t even a mechanic.

—That’s what I was thinking, right before it hit me.

‘...Wait.’

It was like getting clubbed in the head.

Like lightning had struck me out of nowhere—I froze in place.

And then—

Only then did I begin to see what I had missed.