After making the prediction that we would win regardless—
While Airen had become relatively busier, having started even more rigorous training in preparation for the future, my schedule had not changed much.
My primary task remained assisting Reika with her training.
"Um... Will I really improve by doing this...?"
"Of course. Reika, you must feel it yourself more than anyone else, don’t you?"
"Well, I guess... Ah, I-I’m not doubting you, Swen!"
What Reika and I were doing was balancing on one leg while extending both arms forward and backward.
Holding that position steadily.
Since I didn’t have much else to do, and constantly meditating would probably raise suspicion, I had been trying out different things. This posture was just another extension of that experimentation.
Fortunately, despite these rather unconventional training methods, Reika’s skills were improving by the day.
And perhaps because she had initially been so closed off, she seemed to develop a strange sense of camaraderie with me as she followed along with my eccentric training. Little by little, she began opening up and sharing more about herself.
"So, you’ve always stayed inside the mansion?"
"Yes... My father wouldn’t let me go outside..."
After these so-called "training" sessions, which might as well have been called absurd experiments, it had become part of my routine to stay and listen to her stories instead of just leaving.
We sat side by side in the garden, talking.
"Then, when I first met you, you must have sneaked out, right?"
"...H-how did you know...?"
Reika looked at me, genuinely surprised.
Well, considering the atmosphere at the time, her hesitant expressions, and the subtle air of unease she had given off, it wasn’t a difficult conclusion to reach.
"It was obvious."
"I see... Ugh."
"It’s fine. I’m not going to scold you, and I have no intention of telling anyone about it now."
"......."
Reika didn’t respond, simply burying her face halfway into her knees.
‘But why exactly is Jinor keeping Reika locked up in the mansion?’
From what I had observed so far, Jinor didn’t seem to harbor deep affection for Reika.
He didn’t dislike her, either. I could tell that he valued her in some way, but...
It didn’t feel like familial affection toward an adopted daughter.
Rather, it seemed more like he regarded her as an important strategic asset.
After all, he had never once shown any concern for her personal matters.
If anything, his focus was entirely on her potential as a magician.
But restricting her from going outside... That was more like...
The kind of excessive protectiveness typical of an overbearing father.
‘Or is there another reason?’
As I was pondering this, Reika broke the silence.
"...Still."
"Still?"
"These past days... have been fun. I got to go outside with you, Swen... Of course, getting stronger at magic was great, but it was also the first time Father allowed me to do something like that... So, in many ways, um... I guess I should say... thank you... or something..."
"You don’t have to put it into words if you don’t want to."
I smiled at Reika, who was fumbling over her words.
"I had fun too. You’re a student worth teaching."
"Ah... Th-thank you..."
After that, she fell silent again, burying her entire face into her knees this time.
I couldn’t see her expression... but for some reason, I could tell that her ears had turned bright red.
Come to think of it, a thought suddenly struck me.
"Oh, right. Reika."
"...Yes?"
"Have you given any thought to your marriage prospects?"
"...!!"
She bolted upright. Then, with a gasp, she stammered,
"M-m-m-m-marriage?!"
"Well, it was brought up before. You don’t have to decide right away, but you shouldn’t overthink it either."
I tried to be as gentle as possible, making sure she didn’t feel pressured.
"It’s your life, Reika. Whatever you decide, I’ll respect it. If you don’t want it, just say the word, and I’ll make sure the proposal is withdrawn."
"......."
Reika didn’t say anything. She simply stared at me.
Then, cautiously, she parted her lips.
"What about you, Swen...?"
"...What?"
"Do you... want to... marry me?"
"......."
Was it just my imagination?
Her pink eyes seemed clearer than ever before.
And also...
Was it just my imagination that I was hesitating to answer?
Marriage to Reika?
There was nothing bad about it.
In this regard, my thought process wasn’t all that different from Jinor’s.
Reika was a powerful magician, and having a connection with her would be advantageous—that was my initial thought.
In fact, the first reason I had wanted to make a good impression on her was because I had judged that having a magician of Reika’s caliber in Lunarian’s Army would be incredibly useful.
But.
Had my feelings changed while spending time with her?
For some reason, simply saying, "That sounds good to me," in a casual, playful tone felt... oddly difficult.
As if doing so wouldn’t be a proper response to her emotions.
‘.......’
I slowly observed her.
A girl who loved baking cakes but had no one to share them with because she was locked inside her home.
A girl who had no friends to confide in, no one to share her dreams with—yet still never complained.
A girl who, despite everything, had said she wanted to use her magic to help the world, and who had patiently followed along with my absurd training without protest.
So now... was it my turn to answer a question?
Did I... want to marry Reika?
Even if she weren’t a magician, would I still want her as my wife, as my lifelong partner?
"I..."
Just as I was about to answer her—
"Swen. So this is where you were."
A voice called out from behind. A familiar one by now.
An older man’s voice.
"Father...!"
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"Jinor?"
The owner of the voice, Jinor Nighhardt, was looking at us with a serious expression.
It was the first time he had sought me out in person during training.
"What’s the matter?"
"There is something I wish to discuss with you... What’s your schedule like for today?"
"I’ve finished all my important tasks."
"Good. Then come with me for a while."
Jinor said this and then turned to Reika, addressing her in a stiff tone.
"You’ve done well today. You may go and rest."
"...Yes, I understand."
Reika bowed to Jinor before turning to look at me with a slightly complicated expression.
I regretted not being able to answer her just now, but...
Well, there would be other opportunities.
With that thought, I followed Jinor to his study.
***
"They've set out from Raklein Castle?"
"The messenger just arrived with the report. It seems they’ve launched an attack on Hisphil Castle with around fifty thousand troops."
At Jinor’s words, I fell into thought.
‘They're engaging in battle in this situation?’
Currently, Serpina’s forces had already mobilized to Zelstrom Castle.
That would mean Hisphil Castle, from where the troops were likely sent, must be empty.
So they were aiming to exploit that gap?
It wasn’t the worst decision, but...
Was it really the right move for our army to act first?
Given the sheer difference in troop numbers between us and Serpina’s forces, we were better off conserving our soldiers and defending our current territory rather than aggressively expanding.
"Did she receive approval from our lord before making this decision?"
"It doesn’t seem so. But I suppose Anima was given a certain level of authority. Our lord didn’t raise any issues about it."
‘.......’
I had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed still left me feeling somewhat deflated.
I recalled the look in Anima’s eyes when I had met her before.
She had always wanted to be of help to Yuri.
This decision was probably another attempt to prove herself.
In the end, our forces would win against Serpina’s army.
After all, if a mind with 100 Intelligence declared ‘we will win,’ then that future was already set in stone.
And yet—
I couldn't shake the lingering sense of unease rising in my mind.
The predicted outcome wasn’t [We win].
It was [We win... for now].
Could it be that this entire sequence of events—including Anima making an independent move—had already been accounted for within the prediction?
Thinking back to what had happened at Zeilant Castle, it seemed highly likely.
We would win.
We would win... for now.
‘......!!’
Wait.
Could it be that ‘We win... for now’ meant something entirely different?
As I came to that realization, Jinor spoke up.
"Swen. I’d like to hear your thoughts. Do you think Anima made the right decision in this situation?"
‘Was Anima’s choice the right one?’
I had a hunch, but I input the question just in case.
The result was exactly what I expected.
[Unknown.]
Just like how I couldn’t precisely predict whether Charam and Aleffel’s strategies were traps back then, my ability wasn’t suited for pinpointing specific yes-or-no answers.
But that didn’t matter.
I could deduce the answer based on the results I already had.
"......."
"Swen?"
"Lord Jinor. May I ask you a question before I answer?"
"A question? ...What do you want to ask?"
"It might seem unrelated, but I’d like a serious answer. Lord Jinor, when do you use the word ‘for now’?"
"...What?"
Jinor looked at me with a puzzled expression, but I remained completely serious.
"Let me rephrase. Consider this sentence: ‘It will be achieved, for now.’ What kind of phrase do you think would naturally follow?"
Jinor studied my face for a long moment before finally speaking.
"If you say ‘for now,’ doesn’t that imply... there will be a different outcome afterward?"
As I asked Jinor these questions—
The vague discomfort I had felt started to take shape into something more concrete.
"Now, let me ask about that ‘different outcome.’ Between these two sentences, which one sounds more natural to you?"
[It will be achieved, for now. And after that, something good will happen.]
[It will be achieved, for now. But after that, something bad will happen.]
"Assuming there’s a more efficient answer than simply achieving it, which of these two feels more likely?"
"If there’s a more efficient alternative, then of course, the second one makes more sense. If a better solution exists, then naturally, an undesirable result would follow."
Jinor’s answer solidified my suspicions.
It wasn’t just me who thought this way.
I recalled another prediction I had received.
My ability hadn’t only stated [We win... for now] in regard to the battle against Serpina’s forces.
It had also stated: [Negotiate with Serpina’s army. That is the most efficient method.]
If negotiations with Serpina’s army were successful, there wouldn’t be a battle at all.
The enemy would have withdrawn without a fight.
At first, I thought the reason I had received the prediction [We win... for now] was because we were unnecessarily wasting troops in a battle that could have been avoided.
It wasn’t the cleanest explanation, but at the time, it was the only logical conclusion I could reach.
However, if Anima had independently mobilized troops from Raklein Castle—
That changed everything.
The battle at Zelstrom Castle hadn’t ended yet.
If my predictions regarding that battle were still 100% accurate...
Then there was only one possible conclusion.
I stood up.
"We don’t have time. Lord Jinor, can you accompany me to the royal castle immediately?"
"The royal castle? Right now?"
Jinor looked at me, still trying to piece things together.
I turned to him with a gravity unlike ever before.
"Anima will lose that battle."