Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100% Accuracy

I quickly assessed the situation.

Our available fighting force currently stood at 8,000 soldiers. If we picked out those who had just returned from battle but were still in decent condition, we could perhaps add another 2,000.

That gave us a total of 10,000 men. Under normal circumstances, that wouldn’t be a completely hopeless number.

But we weren’t up against normal circumstances.

The enemy was marching toward us with an overwhelming force of over 30,000 troops.

And this wasn’t even a castle—it was a fortress. Its defenses were significantly weaker, meaning siege weaponry would bring it down much faster.

And yet, the answer was to hold our ground?

Why?

What possible reason could there be?

And what was with the specific instruction to position ourselves where the enemy could see us?

If my predictions had given that answer, there had to be a reason. That much had been true every time before.

I would have liked to take my time sorting through the possibilities, but the others were already engaged in discussion, trying to come up with solutions. For now, I had to stop thinking and make sure I didn’t miss anything in the conversation.

"It would be best to withdraw from here," Parke suggested.

Miguel nodded in agreement.

"Hmm… but what of the lord’s approval?"

"I already sent a messenger. Given the timing, we should be receiving a response soon."

"What did you report?"

"I informed them of our defeat, that General Carlints was taken prisoner, and that we have minimal remaining forces, making an enemy invasion highly likely."

"So the question is whether we wait for orders or act on our own."

Not long after Miguel voiced his dilemma, the answer arrived.

Right on cue, a soldier entered the war room.

A crimson armband stood out against his uniform.

Exactly who we needed—a messenger.

"Messenger, reporting! I bring a direct command from our lord, Lyn Brans!"

"Oh! Speak of the devil, and she appears! Well, what has our lord decreed?"

"…Here it is."

The soldier handed over a document written in Lyn’s own handwriting, his expression tense.

Miguel took the paper, reading it in silence.

And with every word, his expression darkened.

"General Miguel, what does it say…?" Parke asked hesitantly.

Miguel didn’t respond immediately.

Instead, he let out a heavy sigh before turning his gaze back to the messenger.

"Are you certain of this?"

"…Yes. It matches what I heard from our lord’s own lips."

Everyone in the room was now staring intently at Miguel, expressions taut with anticipation and unease.

He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

"…Our lord has ordered us to defend the fortress."

A sharp intake of breath swept through the room.

"T-Then…! Are reinforcements on their way…?" Parke asked, grasping at straws.

Miguel slowly nodded.

"They’ve been dispatched from Arnel Castle."

"…Arnel Castle?"@@novelbin@@

Even from Kelstein Castle, it would be a close call.

But Arnel Castle?

If that was where reinforcements were coming from, there was no way we could hold out against Serpina’s army.

What the hell is that woman thinking?

She couldn’t seriously be ordering us to stay and fight just to be slaughtered or captured… right?

And before I could come up with an answer to my own question, Miguel provided one.

"…However."

Miguel hesitated before continuing in a grim tone.

"Some officers will be reassigned to new posts. Upon receiving this command, they are to immediately leave the fortress and report to their designated locations."

"What…?"

…No way.

The uneasy feeling in my gut solidified into certainty.

"…Miguel Braun, Parke, Lilia, and Jayden. The four of you are to report to Kelstein Castle.

And—Jack, Silin, and Swen. The three of you are to return to Arnel Castle for reassignment…"

"…!!"

"The remaining officers… are to hold the fortress until reinforcements arrive. Our lord expects them to distinguish themselves in battle."

It was only then that everyone realized why Miguel had faltered before speaking.

Every pair of eyes in the room turned toward the one person whose name had not been called.

Airen Juliet.

Lyn was trying to snuff out the flame of her life.

Just as she had in every single timeline before this one.

***

Time rewinds again.

At the moment Parke’s messenger reached Lyn Brans.

"…Carlints Brans… has been taken prisoner by Ian’s forces?"

Lyn’s eyes went blank in shock. The messenger, unable to offer a response, simply lowered his head.

No… how…?

It wasn’t long before she understood what had happened.

The rebellion at Cherien Castle. Ian’s uprising.

Carlints had led 35,000 men into an overzealous battle.

Even without Parfalle to explain it, Lyn could piece together why it had happened.

So my brother… actually thought it was possible?

Was it because she had reinforced him with 10,000 extra soldiers?

"You idiot… my foolish little brother…!"

Ever since his humiliating defeat at Lunarian’s hands, he had been desperate to reclaim his honor.

And now, it had driven him to disaster.

Lyn had believed in him as a competent general. She had granted him full authority to act without needing her approval.

Compared to Chel, who was brash and reckless, Carlints had always been the more reliable commander.

And yet, after seeing the reinforcements, he had miscalculated.

If she had sent more troops, he might have actually succeeded in capturing Cherien Castle.

There was a world of difference between attacking Serpina’s forces and targeting a freshly rebelled minor faction.

Had Carlints succeeded, the Brans Army could have finally planted their long-desired banner across the northern regions.

As that thought formed in her mind, another face surfaced.

The man who had argued that sending troops north was the right call.

Swen.

"……!!!"

Lyn’s eyes went blank again.

This is just like before…

He had been right.

No… this is absurd…!

And worse, Swen hadn’t even suggested a defensive stance.

He had argued that they needed to gather as many troops as possible and attack the north outright.

A chill ran down Lyn’s spine.

She had felt this exact sensation before.

When she first met Swen, when he arrived as an envoy.

When the messenger brought word of Serpina’s invasion.

Now, once again, he had foreseen the rebellion at Cherien Castle.

Swen… how? How do you know?

But it was too late now.

No—half-measures were what had led to this disaster.

Had she refused to send reinforcements at all, Carlints, no matter how desperate, wouldn’t have made such a reckless move.

The reason she had only sent some troops instead of a full reinforcement was, ultimately, very simple.

Because the person who had first suggested sending troops north…

Was Airen Juliet.

And I didn’t like that.

So… this was her fault?

"No… no. This isn’t my fault…!"

Airen Juliet.

Just the name alone irritated her.

Lyn had never trusted that woman.

She had disliked her ever since childhood, back when their father was still alive.

Admitting fault now would mean acknowledging that Airen had been right all along.

And that was something her pride would never allow.

After years of overcoming her own inferiority, after finally proving herself as the rightful heir, she refused to let herself be shaken by something like this.

And yet, the realization gnawed at her, rattling her composure.

"Fine. If you were right, then prove it."

Her mind, consumed by frustration and rage, lurched toward a twisted conclusion.

Why hadn’t she listened to Swen?

Because Airen was the one who had spoken up first.

If someone else had brought it up, she wouldn’t have cut off the debate.

Then the decision—and the outcome—would have been different.

So the one who should bear responsibility for this mess wasn’t her.

It was Airen.

It was an utterly self-serving rationalization.

But absolute rulers could afford to be self-serving.

And besides, who would dare question her judgment?

She would send reinforcements.

But the only available troops were from the capital’s garrison.

It wasn’t her fault that it wasn’t enough.

And, surprisingly, after placing the blame elsewhere, her mind felt significantly clearer.

At that moment.

A distant memory surfaced—Airen’s voice, from years ago.

"My lord, please trust me just this once. I will prove myself."

Prove yourself, huh?

If that’s what she wanted, then so be it.

"Go ahead, Airen. Prove that you weren’t just talking."

Lyn smirked.

Falling out of favor with the ruler of the Brans Army was as good as a death sentence.

And Airen Juliet…

Had just been sentenced.

***

The silence that gripped the war room was finally broken by Airen.

"I understand. I, Airen Juliet, shall carry out my lord’s command."

"General Airen…"

"I will devote myself entirely to this battle and defend this fortress with my life until reinforcements arrive."

This fortress, hastily built under Carlints' command in his rush to claim glory, held little strategic value for the Brans Army.

Yet, Lyn was using it to send Airen to her death—and, as always, Airen pledged her undying loyalty in return.

It had always been this way.

In every timeline, Airen had followed orders without question.

And if she survived, she would eventually meet her end at her lord’s hands.

"You must all leave this fortress as soon as possible. It will become too dangerous soon."

"……."

Miguel looked at her but said nothing.

Seeing his hesitation, Airen simply smiled, as if she understood.

"Do not worry. I am a warrior who wields her sword for Lyn. Until my body burns away to nothing, I shall serve my lord."

"……."

Miguel must have known.

He must have understood how Lyn viewed Airen.

But there was nothing he could do about it.

He had no power to defy Lyn’s will.

But I did.

I could.

My instincts screamed that an opportunity had presented itself.

My intelligence of 100 had made a prediction: "Hold the fortress and establish a defensive position where the enemy can see you."

I had no idea why that was the answer.

But one thing was certain.

If we followed this path, we would win this battle.

No matter what.

And I was fully prepared to twist Lyn’s wretched, conniving will to my advantage.

"…Then, I leave this to you."

"Understood. If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to continue tending to the wounded."

"Of course."

"Then I shall take my leave."

With that, Airen slowly exited the war room.

A heavy silence fell over the room once more.

Then, finally, I raised my hand.

"I have something to say."

Miguel, looking exhausted, turned to me.

"…A suggestion?"

Strangely enough, despite the situation, I felt no fear.

No anger.

In fact, it felt as though a great burden had been lifted from my shoulders.

Airen would not die here.

She had been thrown into a death trap by her lord, but this place…

This place was not a death trap.

Not for her.

Because the absolute answer had already taken root in my mind.

I spoke slowly, deliberately.

"I will stay here."

***

"What did you just say?"

Miguel looked at me, stunned.

Then, after regaining his composure, he asked:

"…Forgive me, but may I have your name?"

"Swen."

"I see. Swen. You must be one of the officers who recently arrived with General Airen. But… what do you mean by that?"

"I intend to stay and assist General Airen in the defense of the fortress."

"What?!"

The war room erupted into murmurs.

Miguel, too, was visibly taken aback.

"He intends to stay and fight?"

Calling it a "defense" was one thing.

But anyone who had served under the Brans Army long enough knew what was really happening.

Lyn Brans was throwing Airen to her death.

It was no secret that Airen was out of favor with their lord.

The fact that reinforcements were coming from Arnel Castle rather than Kelstein Castle made it painfully obvious.

It was Lyn’s way of performing the bare minimum—just enough to show that she had "tried."

No one was naïve enough to believe otherwise.

And yet, despite seeing all of this, this man was choosing to stay?

"I mean… sure, maybe you’re just someone who truly wants to fight for our army. But do you understand what you’re doing?"

Miguel’s voice was grave.

"Our lord has summoned you. If you refuse to obey, it is the same as defying her command. This is about more than just your patriotism."

"But wasn’t this fortress personally overseen and constructed by Lord Carlints?" I countered. "For that very reason, I would rather fight to the end than abandon it."

"……."

Miguel let out a sigh.

At that moment, Parke, who had been listening quietly, narrowed his eyes in thought.

Now that I think about it… this man spoke highly of Carlints before, didn’t he?

If Parke had been a sharper man, he might have realized that Swen had cleverly maneuvered Airen into a dangerous frontline position in Carlints’ place.

But he was not that insightful.

Instead, he simplified the situation in his mind.

"Is he trying to get in Carlints’ good graces?"

Carlints Brans.

A prisoner of war—but unlikely to be executed.

Executing him would certainly send a message, but from Ian’s perspective, the risk of backlash was too high.

Even if Serpina’s army recaptured Cherien Castle and took Carlints into their custody, they would still be more likely to use him as a bargaining tool rather than dispose of him outright.

So in all likelihood, Carlints would survive.

And if Swen remained loyal to him, he would have a powerful patron once Carlints returned.

"Is he betting on Carlints’ survival for his own career?"

It was an unlikely gamble, but if it paid off, Swen would gain a strong backing within the Brans Army.

Young officers like him sometimes took such risks in hopes of rising through the ranks.

Parke himself had grown too old to make such bold plays.

But perhaps that was why…

He wanted to help this ambitious young officer succeed.

If he died, that was his own burden to bear.

Of course, everything Parke assumed was completely wrong.

"General Miguel," Parke said suddenly. "I believe we should let him do as he wishes."

"What?"

"Reinforcements are coming, even if they’re from Arnel Castle. And General Airen is undoubtedly a capable leader. If he’s willing to fight for our army, why stop him? Miracles do happen, after all."

"……."

Miguel fell silent, contemplating Parke’s words.

But ultimately, he knew time was not on their side.

And he could not waste more of it arguing with a man who was choosing to throw himself into the fire.

"…Fine. I will do my best to inform our lord of your decision."

***

Yes.

That was exactly what I wanted to hear.

I bowed deeply.

"I will return with a victorious report."

"Hmph. I’ll hold you to that."

He didn’t seem convinced.

But he would be.

Because we would not lose this fortress.

There was no turning back now.

It was time for me to do what only I could do.

Let's go.

To protect Airen Juliet.

To keep the flame of her life from being extinguished.