Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100% Accuracy

"A duel?"

"That’s right."
Serpina rested her chin on her hand and stared at me. Then, with a slight smirk, she let out an amused scoff.
"How intriguing. To think you would dare to bring up the word 'duel' before me. The extent of your ignorance is almost impressive."

"Ignorance, you say? That would be a problem. Or was it just an empty statement when you said you wanted me?"
I maintained the most relaxed expression I could muster.
Serpina, however, responded in a cold, emotionless tone.

"Do you truly believe that I need to test my strength against you in order to take you?"
"I do."
From the moment I had uttered the word 'duel,' I had no intention of backing down.

I didn’t know if it was due to my prediction, but so far, my words and actions hadn’t provoked Serpina enough for her to act against me.
"If you insist, I suppose I can entertain you. What sort of contest do you have in mind?"
"Well, rather than a duel, it's closer to a wager."

Just as I was about to explain, Serpina’s lips curled into another smile as she locked eyes with me.
For a brief moment, I nearly lost myself in that smile.
I barely managed to snap out of it.

How could someone’s lips simply forming a crescent shape be so mesmerizing?
"However, I have a condition," she said. "Since I am humoring your nonsense, it is only fair that I impose my own."
"What condition?"

"Nothing too troublesome. Just one thing."
Serpina crossed her legs, her voice taking on the weight of a declaration.
"I have no intention of letting you leave here. Whether it’s a duel or a wager, the outcome must be settled right here and now."
"…."

Tch.
I kept my expression composed, as if this were all within my calculations.
But honestly, she had struck precisely at my weak point.

I had been hoping to use this as an excuse to get away temporarily, but she wasn’t going to let that happen.
Still, this also confirmed something for me—
I might actually need to stay within Serpina’s army.

My predictions typically reflected the best possible outcome from the perspective of the country I served.
In other words, my ability worked by calculating the most efficient course of action for my lord, Yuri Aishus.
That didn’t mean my own safety wasn’t factored in.

My predictions had already proven that I would never be placed in genuine danger as long as I followed them—like that time when a meteorite nearly struck me.
Reversing that logic, let’s think about it.
From Yuri’s perspective, was sending me instead of capturing Raklein Castle and retrieving Anima the optimal move?

Some might argue that a general with 100 Intelligence was far more valuable than a single fortress.
But at the end of the day, a strategist was only useful if their ruler trusted them.
The Aishus Army was heavily influenced by its founding members, making it one of the most politically rigid factions I had seen.

And after spending a considerable amount of time there, I had come to a conclusion—
She won’t value me highly.
Even someone as highly regarded as Jinor Nighhardt was constantly on thin ice.

If my opinions ever clashed with Epinnel’s, could I really count on Yuri to take my side?
No matter how high my intelligence stat was, if my advice was ignored, I was nothing more than a fancy decoration.
Given that, it made sense that my predictions deemed my capture by Serpina to be an efficient move.

Now that I had a working hypothesis, it was time to act.
If I was right, then Serpina would accept my proposal.
Looking up at the beautiful woman before me, I spoke with complete confidence.

"Make a deal with my lord."
"Explain."
"Offer to release Anima Ingram in exchange for my transfer to your command."

Serpina stared at me with an unreadable expression.
"And how is that considered a duel between us?"
"If my lord accepts the deal, you win. If she refuses, I win. That will be the contest. If I win, you let me go. If I lose—"

I lowered my head for a brief moment before meeting her golden eyes head-on.
"I will serve you, Lady Serpina."
She fell into a brief silence before nodding.

"…Indeed, this is more of a wager than a duel. Then let me ask—what meaning does this wager hold? As it stands, I see no reason to entertain such a pointless game. If I wanted you, I could simply imprison you until you became mine."
"A pointless wager, you say? But in reality, this wager benefits you far more than it does me."
Serpina's brow twitched slightly.

"Go on."
"First, just now, you claimed that you wanted me. But simply capturing me and locking me away achieves nothing. It earns you neither legitimacy nor my loyalty. Sure, I could be broken eventually—but before that—"
I paused for a moment before continuing with conviction.

"You would struggle to detain me in the first place. You might succeed in the end, but you would lose much in the process."
"You speak as if you are offering a fair contest when, in truth, you are merely pleading for your life. Bravado is not the same as courage."
"This isn’t bravado. My escort is rather strong."

"Your escort has likely been subdued by now. You should abandon any expectations."
"I could say the same to you. My escort is not the kind to be easily overpowered."
"Oh?"

Serpina smirked again.
She was determined to win this just as much as I was.
"I must commend you," she said. "To speak so boldly before me… Fine. Continue."

"However," I continued, "if you defeat me in this wager, the situation changes. You wouldn’t need to waste unnecessary manpower and time trying to subdue my escort. You wouldn’t risk being labeled as an untrustworthy ruler who imprisons envoys. And most importantly—"
I met her gaze firmly.
"You would gain my loyalty effortlessly. Since I proposed the wager and set the terms, losing would mean that I would serve you willingly. Would that not be a far more satisfying victory, Lady Serpina?"

"……."
"It’s a little embarrassing to say this myself, but Lady Serpina, I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors about me. I don’t know exactly why you want me, but I have to tell you—if you truly wish to use me to my full potential, the only way is to earn my loyalty."
She had to understand the underlying meaning of my words.

There was no benefit in making an enemy of the one who could call down meteors from the north.
Serpina crossed her legs and continued to gaze at me in silence.
She looked like a sculpture—an impossibly beautiful masterpiece carved from the finest marble.

It made me realize something—when someone reaches a certain level of beauty, it has to affect those around them.
Even I had nearly thought to myself, Could someone this breathtakingly beautiful really be the tyrant Serpina?
If I hadn’t seen her in my dreams before, I would have been completely convinced that this woman couldn’t possibly be the same ruthless ruler.

"If you’re finished talking, may I ask you a question?"
"Anything, my lady."
"I now understand what I stand to gain should I win this duel of yours. Well, at least to some degree. But now I must ask—what is it that you hope to gain from this? I doubt you’re doing this simply because you’re afraid of a dungeon."

"What else could it be?"
I dipped my head slightly before shaking it in mock defeat. Then, lifting my head again, I spoke in a tone filled with feigned nonchalance.
"Who in their right mind would enjoy being locked away in a dungeon? But beyond that, if there’s something I gain from this wager—"

This was the moment.
The die had already been cast.
Now, I had to move forward.

"—it would be the chance to find out who is truly worthy to be my lord."
"…!"
"If I lose this duel, that means my lord, Yuri Aishus, has chosen to sell me out to an enemy nation. That would naturally prove that she isn’t someone worth serving. In that case, there would be no reason for me not to serve you, Lady Serpina."

I paused for a moment before continuing.
"However, if I win, then it means Yuri Aishus isn’t willing to sacrifice her envoy so easily. As you know, the world is descending further into chaos. From my perspective, just gaining insight into my lord’s true nature is more than enough of a victory."
That was the heart of it.

Anima Ingram was likely more important to Yuri than any other general.
Despite her disdain for Serpina, she had still tried to negotiate, offering as much gold as possible to secure Anima’s release.
If she was willing to abandon Anima to keep me, then I would be able to walk out of here unscathed.

And if she abandoned me instead?
Then there was no need for me to leave this place. Whether it was Serpina’s army or Aishus’ army, my final destination would be the Lunarian Army.
Since I had to pass through another nation anyway, the path I took didn’t really matter.

Maybe in the past, I would’ve thought, But Serpina’s army is the last place I’d want to end up…
But—
Serpina keeps appearing in my dreams. And on top of that, I have these strange, inexplicable memories of her.

If those fragmented thoughts—memories that didn’t even feel like my own—held some kind of truth, then staying by her side might not be the worst choice.
Maybe that was why my 100 Intelligence brain had sent me here in the first place.
I didn’t avert my gaze.

I met Serpina’s eyes head-on, unwavering.
She remained silent for a long time before finally parting her lips.
"Very well. I shall accept your challenge. Indeed, this seems to be the fastest way to make you kneel before me."

"I appreciate your wise decision."
At that moment—
A commotion erupted outside the palace.

It seemed my escort had caused quite a stir.
"……."
"Allow me to go and settle things."

Serpina didn’t respond right away.
As I watched her, I felt something strange.
For some reason… I felt as though I understood what she was thinking.

It was bizarre. This was our first proper meeting, and yet, I felt as if I had worked alongside her for a long time.
Regardless—
I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was agreeing with me, even without saying a word.

"…Then, I will take my leave."
Serpina didn’t stop me as I stood up and left.
…What was this strange sense of familiarity?

With that lingering thought, I stepped outside to settle the chaos.
And so, the duel between Serpina and me had begun.