Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100% Accuracy

A few hours earlier.

"Huff… Huff… Haah… Haah…"
Reika woke up abruptly, beads of cold sweat clinging to her forehead.
As her mind gradually cleared, she looked around and confirmed that she was still in her room.

A dream…?
It had been a horrifying nightmare.
But it wasn’t a dream where she herself was the focus.

Instead, she had seen Swen.
In the dream, he had been walking straight into a sea of flames, willingly, deliberately.
No matter how desperately she had tried to call out to him, her voice never reached him.
No matter how hard she had tried to follow, the distance between them had been impossible to close.
She had struggled, fought against the dream itself—only to wake up, realizing that it had been nothing but a vision.

Why… why would I have a dream like that?
Reika wasn’t someone who dreamed often.
And nightmares? Even less so.
That alone made the lingering unease in her chest grow heavier.

Could something be happening to him?
Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t seen him in the past few days.
The more she dwelled on it, the more her thoughts spiraled, as if something irreversible was about to occur.
As she absentmindedly bit her nails, debating what to do, she suddenly remembered—
Her father was home today.

Maybe… just maybe, if she asked, he would know something.
Without hesitation, she changed clothes and went straight to the study, where she found her father, Jinor Nighhardt.
"Swen?"

"Yes. I was wondering when he might visit next… if there’s a set schedule…"
"Why do you ask? I thought you didn’t need to worry about your magic training for the time being."
Reika had improved rapidly under Swen’s guidance.
However, after the recent incident at Hisphil Castle, Jinor had decided that she was better off staying home for the time being—
Spending her days quietly meditating rather than going out.
At this point, she could manage her meditation practice alone.

"Well…"
Jinor studied her carefully, his expression unreadable.
"…Do you miss him, Reika?"

"…Huh?"
"I asked if you want to see him."
The moment those words left his mouth, Reika’s face turned bright red.

Her father… was asking something like this?
Jinor was usually kind in his own way, but he had never asked her anything so… personal.
Flustered, she barely managed to stammer out a response.

"N-no! T-that’s not it! I just… I just had a strange dream, so…"
"A dream?"
At that, Reika hesitated before explaining her nightmare to Jinor.

She realized it was probably the first time she had ever shared something so deeply personal with her father.
"Hmm… I see."
"Lord Swen… has he been occupied with anything recently? Is there something important he’s doing? If there’s anything I can do to help, I’d like to… of course, that is, if you permit it, Father…"

Jinor fell silent, deep in thought.
Then, as if realizing something, he nodded slowly.
"Ah. It’s today."

Today was the day Swen was heading toward Hisphil Castle for negotiations with Serpina von Eingart.
Jinor, however, didn’t think much of Reika’s dream.
Yes, Reika was an irregular, possessing magic—but she wasn’t someone who could see the future like a seer or prophet.

He did believe in the idea that dreams carried mysterious meanings, but… he wasn’t the type to put much stock in them.
Still, considering Swen’s circumstances, it wasn’t entirely out of the question that some form of magic could predict the future…
However, as far as Jinor could tell, Reika did not possess such an ability.

After contemplating for a moment, he turned to his daughter.
"Very well. If it bothers you, I’ll take you to him."
"Really?!"

Her eyes widened in shock.
She hadn’t expected him to agree so easily.
"Why are you so surprised?"
"I… I just wasn’t sure if you’d let me leave the house…"

Jinor chuckled.
"If you get married one day, it won’t be my permission you need—it’ll be your husband’s."
"…Huh?"

The unexpected comment made Reika freeze.
But Jinor simply maintained a casual tone, as if stating an obvious fact.
"What? Don’t tell me you’re worrying over a man you don’t care about."

"Ah…"
Reika lowered her head again.
Her ears burned red, and she fumbled over her words, struggling to find a coherent response.

"Th-that’s… I mean… um…"
She thought about it.
Do I… have feelings for Lord Swen?
Is that why I’m so worried?

She had never been in love before.
For someone like her, understanding such emotions all at once was… overwhelming.
Meanwhile, Jinor had already made his own calculations.

Forming ties with Swen was not a bad idea.
If Reika liked him, that would be even better.
However—there was one thing he needed to confirm.

"Reika."
"Y-yes?"
"Swen is traveling to Serpina’s territory today."

"Serpina’s…?"
"Yes. He’s going as a diplomat, accompanied by a bodyguard.
That means there is a risk.
So, I must ask you a serious question.
Think carefully before answering."

Reika nodded.
"If something dangerous happens… you could die.
For the most part, he should be safe, but Serpina is the opponent."
"Ah…"

Reika hesitated.
Jinor himself found it strange how Serpina’s name had become synonymous with danger in his mind.
He still remembered the young girl she had once been—
Bright, intelligent, a prodigy of the empire.

He had never imagined she would one day become a bloodthirsty tyrant.
And yet…
Now, even he had casually uttered the words “you may have to risk your life.”
A strange realization.

But not one to dwell on now.
Jinor refocused, looking at Reika with a serious expression.
"Do you still wish to go?"

Reika fell into thought.
If this was merely a simple diplomatic mission, perhaps she wouldn’t need to worry.
But after that dream…

If she did nothing, she felt like she would be drowning in anxiety all day.
And if something did happen to Swen…
She would never forgive herself for standing by, doing nothing.

He had been the first person to offer her freedom.
The first person to show her that there was more to life than just magic.
That made her answer clear.
"…Yes. If I can be of help, I wish to go with him."

Jinor nodded.
"Then return to your room and prepare for departure.
I’ll send the attendants—they’ll handle the arrangements."
"Yes…! Thank you!"

***
"So… this is how it happened?"
"Y-yes…! S-so… I was waiting at the palace for the bodyguard assignment, and then, um… the person I met before showed up…"

So that’s how this strange combination had come to be.
At that moment, Airen stepped closer to me and asked in a low voice—
"Swen."

"Yes?"
"I know it was the strategist’s command, but… she looks like an ordinary young lady. Isn’t it too dangerous to take her into enemy territory?"
"Oh, don’t worry. Reika is a lot stronger than she looks."

"Really? She looks far too delicate to be someone who lives on the battlefield…"
I considered simply revealing that Reika could use magic.
But since it was Airen, I figured she would trust me even if I didn’t explain.
She’d find out sooner or later, anyway.

"She’s actually stronger than me."
"…Is that so? Well, if you say so, Swen…"
"And worst case scenario, you’re here too, Airen. What’s there to worry about?"

Airen chuckled at my words.
"That’s true. Even if Serpina is our opponent, I am more than capable of protecting you."
"I trust you, Airen."

"Mm."
With that, the three of us boarded the carriage.
Our destination—Hisphil Castle, where Serpina was staying.

It was going to be a long journey…
But with these two beside me, I didn’t think it would be a bad one.
The only concern was that Reika was incredibly shy.
She had met Airen once before, but only in passing.

Will they get along?
Turns out, my concern was completely unnecessary.
"So, Lady Airen… have you been wielding a sword since childhood?"

"Yes. This path was the only one available to me."
"Wow… that’s incredible. No wonder you have such a strong presence—you’ve been training since you were young!"
Reika had very quickly opened up to Airen.

The way she looked at her… her eyes sparkled, like a child meeting their idol.
For someone who usually stammered and struggled with conversation, she was suddenly speaking smoothly, completely engrossed in her discussion with Airen.
"Oh! And… is that black tea at your waist?"

"Hm? You can tell?"
"Yes! It’s the best kind to have with sweet pastries, isn’t it? We have some at home too!
There are a few variations with slightly different flavors!"
"Is that so? That’s rather interesting."

The two were completely lost in their conversation.
So I decided to step in.
"You two got along really quickly, huh?"

"…Ah."
Reika suddenly froze, realizing that I was still there.
She quickly lowered her head.

"Ah, I-I’m sorry…! I-I didn’t mean to leave you out…"
"Were you lonely, Swen?"
"Airen, why are you saying it like that too?"

"Fufu."
Airen laughed softly, her cheeks slightly flushed.
I could tell from that little joke just how relaxed she had become.

She wasn’t someone who usually spoke that way.
Now that I thought about it, this was the first time I had seen her talking casually with another woman her age.
The battlefield was a place dominated by men.
Maybe this was what it felt like to finally meet a kindred spirit.

Either way, seeing them get along was… nice.
If the concept of peace could be visualized, I imagined it would look something like this.
Just watching them filled my heart with a quiet warmth.

Back then, when I had gone alone to negotiate for Lunarian’s army, I hadn’t had this kind of companionship.
And suddenly, I recalled something Jinor had said to me.
"Having a sword and shield is good… but wouldn’t it be even better to have someone beside you who can use magic?"

…
If Airen accepted my proposal and became my wife…
And if I accepted Jinor’s suggestion and took Reika as my second wife…
Would I be able to see this peaceful scene every day?

For the first time, I wondered—
Maybe… having more than one wife wouldn’t be so bad.
Hisphil Castle.

"So this is the place."
The castle walls, which we had once breached, had been fully repaired.
Serpina was inside this castle.

Had she been here even when I used magic to scout the area?
I bribed one of the guards to let us inside.
The atmosphere of the castle was tense.

Given that it had been under Brans Army’s control for so long, the people’s loyalty to Serpina likely hadn’t solidified yet.
Especially after having their walls breached in battle.
With those thoughts in mind, we arrived at the entrance to the royal palace.

So Serpina is inside.
I swallowed dryly.
And just then—

"Swen."
"Yes?"
"Are you… nervous?"

"Me?"
"Yes. Your expression is different from usual."
Nervous…?

Was I really nervous?
This was just a negotiation.
There was no real reason to be tense.
But…

Maybe it was simply because the opponent was Serpina.
As I wrestled with the thought, I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Don’t worry, Swen."

It was Airen.
"You don’t need to be afraid.
I am by your side.
And I will protect you."
It wasn’t just anyone saying this.

It was Airen—the person I trusted the most in this world.
I smiled.
"Airen. Please take care of Reika while I’m inside."

"Of course. Go and come back safely, Swen."
The strange anxiety stirring in my heart…
Would it finally fade once I faced Serpina?

With that thought, I stepped forward—
And entered the royal palace of Hisphil Castle.