Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 311: The Red-Eyed Dragon of the South (1)

Back when the Aishus Army still existed as a sovereign nation on the continent—

Time passed the same way in the southern continent as it did in the central and northern regions.

The newly established capital of the reborn Lunarian Army, Madralan Castle.

"My lady. All the prisoners except for three have been successfully integrated into our army."

Luna, seated in her office and focused on her duties as sovereign, gave a slow nod without looking at Jinor as she replied.

"Good work. And the others?"

"They show no sign of willingness to surrender."

"How long has it been since we captured them?"

"A little over three months, I believe."

"Then it's been about a hundred days."

Luna paused there, and in a tone as indifferent as if she were discussing tonight’s dinner menu, she said:

"Execute all three."

"Shall I proceed with their executions?"

"Yes. Ah, and here."

Jinor accepted what Luna handed him.

"It's a summary of citizen proposals compiled into the new 'City Policy.' Please distribute it to the lords of each territory. We won’t be convening a national assembly, so ensure this policy is upheld unless stated otherwise."

"......"

"Is there anything else to report?"

Jinor stood holding the papers, thinking for a moment, then cautiously met her gaze and asked:

"There is also the option of releasing them instead of executing all three."

"Releasing them?"

"Yes. Unless you intend to rule through fear like Vanessa, there’s no harm in creating an image of mercy—even toward enemy soldiers."

Especially if this army was, in effect, still the former Karelia Army.

That was the context. For example, if this were Brans Army or Serpina’s forces, they could execute captured officers like it was nothing and their subordinates wouldn’t bat an eye.

But Karelia had been different. ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) The fact that these soldiers had chosen to join Karelia rather than follow an easier path in this chaotic era meant they had believed in the ideals Luna once pursued.

In fact, Karelia was well known for never executing prisoners, not even captured rulers. The only one Luna had ever publicly vowed to overthrow was Serpina, who was considered a near-absolute evil.

Even so, Jinor didn’t offer the direct suggestion: “Many of the officers here used to serve under Karelia, and since it hasn’t been long since their submission, we should tread carefully to avoid inciting rebellion.”

This was the Lunarian Army now. Whatever its origins, that was the only truth in the present. His silence, therefore, was a show of respect for Luna’s authority as sovereign.

However—

"Are you warning me that I’d be better off following Lady Karelia’s methods?"

Luna smiled as she drew out the meaning Jinor had tried to conceal.

He felt a brief chill run down his spine, but since her tone held no threat or disdain, Jinor calmly bowed his head without panic.

"It’s not about right or wrong, but about what’s beneficial or not—that’s how I hope you’ll see it."

Luna smiled at Jinor. It was her usual gentle smile, the kind that calmed those around her.

"Alright. I’ll follow your suggestion, Lord Jinor. But there’s one thing I’d like to ask first."

"Please, go ahead."

"In your opinion, do any of the three prisoners stand out in terms of talent?"

Talent, huh.

None of the three were particularly remarkable—but one of them, Jinor did recognize by name.

"Badian Selrog is said to have considerable insight into strategy. I believe Your Highness may have heard of him?"

"Ah... you mean Lord Badian! Of course I know him!"

Luna smiled brightly, a cheerful, sunlit expression lighting up her face.

"When I first came to the Karelia Army, he helped me a great deal adjusting—alongside Lady Cecil. Most of the officers back then didn’t welcome me, and with Kyle and Tifa stationed far away in Tepello, it was an incredibly difficult time for me. I still remember when he told me not to lose courage, that if I earned merit, everyone would eventually acknowledge me."

Though she spoke as if reminiscing about a fond memory, Luna’s expression soon darkened with sorrow.

"So... Lord Badian said he couldn’t serve under me?"

"Yes. No matter what, even with a sword at his throat, it seems he refuses to surrender. He’s quite the rigid type."

"I see..."

Luna murmured sadly—

"And the other two?"

"The other two... don’t appear to have left any significant mark. It seems they simply lived quiet military lives, earning small merits here and there."

"In other words, they’re not particularly noteworthy?"

Not particularly noteworthy...

A blunt phrasing, perhaps, but technically not incorrect. Jinor didn’t recognize their names either.

If anything, the fact that they continued resisting even in this situation—perhaps that, alone, would be the most dramatic moment of their lives.

"Correct."

"Alright."

Luna turned her head and resumed working through her documents.

Then, casually—like tossing out an idle comment—she said:

"Execute Lord Badian. Release the other two."

"...You’re executing him?"

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Back then, Luna responded to Jinor’s words in an innocent, almost childlike tone, as if wondering why he’d even ask such a thing.

"Hm? Well, isn’t it obvious? If they’ve refused to surrender even now, it means they can’t accept me as a person. If they were talentless, I wouldn’t care if they were released... but if even one of them is remotely capable, there’s a high chance they’ll end up under another ruler and cause us trouble later. So—"

—isn’t killing them the most efficient option?

"......"

"Was I wrong? If so, I’ll follow your suggestion, Lord Jinor."

Jinor gave a small nod and answered.

"If we’re talking efficiency, your judgment is sound."

"Then let’s proceed as discussed. Is there anything else you need to report?"

"Nothing further."

With that same sunny smile, Luna said,

"Great! Thank you as always for your hard work. Please make sure everything I asked is taken care of."

After stepping out of the office,

Jinor confirmed no one was around before letting out a short sigh.

‘Something about her... feels different.’

Ordinarily, the conversation might have gone: Jinor suggesting that someone like Badian could be executed, Luna hesitating, and him nudging her again.

But now, it felt as though Luna no longer avoided the blood that needed to be shed. She faced it without flinching.

And truthfully—this was closer to the ideal image of a monarch.

Of course, "ideal" here meant someone suited to be a unifying sovereign.

When he first met Luna upon Swen’s suggestion, she had seemed so fragile that Jinor wasn’t sure she could even handle governing a single city, let alone rule a nation.

The only reason he’d followed her back then was because he trusted Swen—not Luna herself.

But if the Luna he had met back then had been like the Luna she was now, he wouldn’t have had any doubts to begin with.

She always chose the most rational, efficient path—almost startlingly so.

And she never clung to her own opinions. Luna’s favorite phrase, almost a habit, was:

"Would it be alright if I asked for your opinion, Lord Jinor?"

Which, Jinor well understood, really meant:

"If you think my idea isn’t efficient, please say so—I’ll listen."

A ruler who never hesitated to choose the most efficient course.

And yet, one who didn’t stubbornly force her will, but always listened to others.

To her, it wasn’t about what she wanted—it was about what decision was most effective.

And in Jinor’s eyes, that was the single greatest virtue of someone destined to unify the continent.

He had seen too many would-be dragons lose everything—not just what they could’ve gained, but even what they already had—because they refused to listen, locked in the prison of their own arrogance.

So by all rights, he should be satisfied with how things were now.

And yet, why was he—

‘...feeling uneasy?’

Was it simply because she suddenly seemed like a different person?

Or was it...

Was it what Violet had said to him a few days ago?

Yes.

Violet had brought it up when she returned to Madralan Castle after completing external affairs following the fall of Karelia.

***

"You’re saying Her Highness has changed?"

"Yes. No matter how I look at it... something feels wrong. I just can’t shake the feeling that she’s not the same Luna I knew."

According to Violet, Luna had been seen repeatedly doodling in the air with an inkless pen—doing nothing else for long stretches of time.

"You mean doing the same thing again and again?"

"No, it’s not just repetition... I saw it myself, so I’m sure of what I’m saying."

"Couldn’t it just be a complicated emotional response? She did, after all, personally destroy the very nation—Karelia—that had once saved her. And despite everything, she’s still managing state affairs rather competently, from what I hear."

"Even so..."

"Violet. It’s our duty to stop a ruler from going down the wrong path, yes. But shaking the foundations of their authority over something that might just be a passing concern—that’s not a servant’s place."

"......"

Violet said nothing for a moment. Then, wearing an uneasy expression, she cautiously spoke.

And what she said—

***

—was that it seemed Swen was somehow involved.

Violet had told him: whenever the name Swen came up, Luna would suddenly falter.

And more than that, just mentioning anything even remotely connected to him... changed her completely. As if she became someone else entirely.

Violet had asked Jinor in a trembling voice,

"What kind of person must Swen be, to shake Her Highness to that extent?"

And her eyes—those eyes filled with fear—Jinor was sure they would linger in his memory for a long time.

"......"

Jinor coolly assessed the situation.

If what Violet said was true, and Luna was indeed being shaken by Swen’s existence, then the wisest course of action would be to keep Swen out of her sight as much as possible.

But that didn’t mean they had to change their current course of action.

No matter what changes she’d undergone, to Jinor, Luna still had all the qualities a ruler needed—especially decisiveness.

She wasn’t reckless, either. She listened well to his advice. He was confident that if she ever did go astray, he could still rein her in.

Perhaps that was overly optimistic—but Jinor had good reason to feel so assured.

And just a few days later, once again—

"Is it true?"

"Yes! We investigated thoroughly... There’s no mistake!"

—yet again, another reason was added to his growing belief that Luna’s future was something to feel hopeful about.