Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100% Accuracy

After a long time, I finally met Airen again. As always, she was the radiant knight, shining brightly.
Perhaps it was the traces of recent training—her slightly sweat-dampened appearance only added to her charm.
Before I knew it, a smile crept onto my face, my heart warm with familiarity. The realization struck me: I was quite attached to her.

Not that I minded, of course.
"Lady Airen. I apologize for coming unannounced."
"Oh…."

"I actually have a favor to ask today… Lady Airen?"
No matter how many times I called her name, she seemed dazed, unresponsive. Her expression wasn’t particularly good either.
Had something happened?

I studied her face and asked again.
"Lady Airen."
"Uh?! A-Ah… O-Oh, S-Swen. Y-You… You’re here. Ahem."

"Did something happen? You seem a little off…"
"N-No, no! Nothing happened. It’s just… um, Swen, you caught me off guard by showing up out of nowhere… that’s all. I’m fine."
"If that’s the case, I’m relieved."

"But…"
Airen stepped closer, lowering her voice into a whisper.
"Who… is that?"

Her gaze fell on the woman standing behind me—Ioline.
"Ah, well—"
As I hesitated, wondering where to begin explaining—
"Swen, what is your relationship with her? Are you introducing her to me… like you did with Lady Reika? Is she… another woman you’ve discussed marriage with…?"

"What? No."
The unexpected mention of marriage threw me off, and I quickly waved my hands in denial.
Yet, Airen seemed to spiral into a mild panic, mumbling to herself in disbelief.

"When I first heard from Lady Reika, I was already shocked, but now… could it be…!"
"Lady Airen, please calm down."
I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Only then did she stop trembling.

"The explanation is a bit complicated, but… it’s definitely not about marriage."
"Really…? Truly?"
"Of course."

"…Alright."
…?
Something about Airen felt oddly different today.

She was usually straightforward, easy to read, but today… she felt unfamiliar somehow.
Regardless—
I took a moment to explain the situation between Ioline and me, detailing what had happened so far.

"So… she is the younger sister of your missing roommate?"
"That’s correct."
"A-Ah, hello…! My name is Ioline al Kasky."

After hesitating for quite some time, Ioline finally introduced herself, her tone unsure.
Airen, in contrast, smiled warmly.
"It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Airen Juliet. Al Kasky… so you are General Irian’s blood relative?"

"Yes, he’s both my family head and my eldest brother."
With brief introductions settled—
"So, what do you plan to do now?"

"We know he’s somewhere within the territory, so we’ll continue searching. But… I believe I’ll need your help, Lady Airen. And having some authority in matters like these never hurts."
"It won’t be an easy task for just the two of you. And… you’d rather keep this from your lord, correct?"
"Yes."

Since I had already explained everything in detail, she understood without much trouble.
"In that case, I’ll help as soon as I finish my duties for today. That should suffice, right?"
"That would be best."

I glanced at Ioline. She also nodded, realizing she had little choice in the matter.
"Just wait a little longer, Ioline. I’ll be back {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} soon."
"N-No…! I’m already grateful that you’re willing to help."

Ioline bowed her head multiple times in gratitude.
"Oh, right. Lady Airen, when will your training be finished today?"
"Hm? It should be done in about two hours or so."

"Then we’ll just wait here. That’s alright, isn’t it?"
This was the barracks’ reception room. It seemed more reasonable to stay here than to wander around needlessly.
Besides, I was technically still affiliated with Serpina’s army, and as for Ioline, claiming she was Irian’s kin would be enough to smooth things over.

"Alright. I’ll finish up and return soon."
"Take care."
As Airen left, I fell into thought.

Then, Ioline hesitantly asked,
"That was Lady Airen, correct?"
"Yes."

"At first, she seemed like she was wary of me, so I thought she’d be really scary… but she’s actually quite kind."
Wary?
‘Was she?’

I hadn’t particularly noticed anything, but I supposed everyone perceived things differently.
Then—
"Uhm… Are you and Lady Airen… in a romantic relationship?"

"…Huh? Where did that come from?"
Just like Airen before her, Ioline suddenly dropped an unexpected question.
"Well… the way you two looked at each other… it was just so… um, how should I put it? Intense…!"

Her eyes sparkled, her hands clasped in front of her face—a rather girlish gesture.
I shook my head slightly.
"I wouldn’t mind, but I’m not sure about Lady Airen."

"Really…?"
"Yes. Outside of battle, she doesn’t think too deeply about other things."
They say the best way to avoid disappointment is to keep expectations low.

I’d rather approach her in a sure and stable situation than rush in and ruin things.
But… was my expression so obvious that even Ioline, an outsider, could see it?
‘Maybe I should be more careful.’

After all, I’d heard that overly eager men weren’t particularly popular.
With that thought, I idly passed the time, waiting for her training to end.
***

At the same time.
"……."
Thump. Thump.

Airen halted her steps as she returned to the training grounds, leaning slightly against the corridor wall.
Her face was burning. The emotions she had just felt… it was as if a storm was raging inside her.
Ever since learning that Reika had discussed marriage with Swen, something inside her had begun to shift.

Every time she saw a woman Swen brought with him, an emotion she had never once experienced in her life wrapped around her like a suffocating cloak.
If Swen hadn't calmed her down just now, hadn't she nearly lost her reason altogether?
‘What’s wrong with me…?’

This isn’t like me.
This isn’t proper behavior for a knight.
No matter which woman Swen brought along, no matter what kind of relationship they had, she was supposed to support him and be the sword and shield that protected him.

Letting personal emotions complicate things like this was utterly meaningless.
And yet…
Why… Why couldn’t she stand firm? Why was she being overtaken by these disgraceful feelings?

‘Just remember what Father taught you.’
Move for the sake of the one you wish to protect—
That was the lesson her father, Kafka, had instilled in her.

Of course, the one he had intended for her to protect was the Brans family’s heirs—
But for Airen, that person was Swen.
Even if she and Swen never became anything more, even if he married another woman, she would dedicate her life to protecting him. That was the unwavering compass guiding her existence.

She had reaffirmed this decision.
And yet…
Why wouldn’t her heartbeat settle?

‘Swen…’
Do I want to be his knight?
Or… do I want to be his woman?

"……!"
Smack!
This translation is the intellectual property of .

Airen slapped her own cheeks with both hands.
Alright. That helped clear her head a little.
‘First, I should handle Swen’s request.’

Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Airen took a deep breath and resumed her steps toward the training grounds.
A woman who had spent her entire life learning only how to protect others—nothing more than a shield—
Had met Swen.

And little by little, yet undeniably, she was beginning to change.
She was becoming a woman.
***

"Are you still staying at the barracks?"
"Hm. Most likely, I’ll be moving into the residence assigned by my lord next week."
"Alright. I’ll join you once I’ve sorted everything out on my end."

"Sounds good."
As soon as Airen finished her duties and returned to prepare for the investigation, we were greeted by yet another familiar face.
"Ah, Lady Airen…! Oh… Lord Swen, you’re here too?"

"Hello."
It had been a while since I last saw Reika—since Saint Valentino’s Day, to be exact.
She had stopped trembling as much around us, and now, she was even speaking relatively normally.

"Lady Reika? Did you come to greet us?"
"Yes. I wanted to show Lady Airen something… but…?"
"?"

Reika’s gaze landed on Ioline, who was standing beside me with a blank expression.
"……?"
"Uh…?"

"What’s wrong, Lady Reika?"
"No, it’s just… that person is…?"
"Ah, I am Ioline al Kasky."

What was this about?
Airen had stiffened briefly when she first saw Ioline, but she hadn’t reacted this strongly.
"Uh… She’s a woman, right…?"

"……!"
And then—
The moment Reika said those words, I instinctively realized something.

"Lady Reika!"
"Kyaa…!!"
I grabbed both of Reika’s hands, my voice urgent.

"Have you… seen Lady Ioline somewhere before?!"
"L-Lord Swen…???"
"Calm down, Swen!"

Airen quickly intervened, pulling me back. Only then did I realize that I had gone a little too far.
"Ahem. I apologize. But… when you said, ‘She’s a woman,’ that means… you thought she was a man? Which means you’ve met her before, correct?"
"U-Uh, well, um… I-I…"

Damn it.
I had just been thinking she was improving, but in mere minutes, she had reverted to her usual nervous, stuttering mess.
I gently patted her hands, trying to soothe her.

"I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to pressure you. I just need you to tell me honestly. Right now, Lady Reika, you might be able to help us in a very significant way."
"Help…?"
"Yes! You’d be a huge help!"

At my words, the hesitation in Reika’s pink eyes gradually faded.
Then, with newfound determination, she nodded and spoke with surprising enthusiasm.
"If I can help… I’ll do whatever I can…!"

Good.
Now, let’s hear what Lady Reika has to say.
***

"You've seen him before?!"
Ioline couldn’t hide her excitement as she leaned in toward Reika, pressing for an answer.
"Y-Yes…! I, um, saw someone who looked exactly like him in the market alley a few days ago… but…."

The date she mentioned overlapped with the time I had been sharing a room with Ioline.
Which also meant—it was during the period when Janis had gone missing.
"That must have been my brother!"

"Ioline, calm down."
As I tried to hold her back, I realized my own face was heating up.
Just moments ago, I had acted the same way toward Reika.

I hadn’t meant to pressure her like that, knowing how easily flustered she got…
"A-Ah… I’m sorry. But, um… when exactly did you see my brother?"
"It was… a few days ago, in the alley…"

"Do you remember the exact location?"
Reika nodded firmly.
"Yes! If we go there, I should be able to find it."

"Do you remember the people who were with him?"
Airen asked the next question, and Reika nodded once again.
"Yes. They had very distinct appearances… I’d recognize them for sure."

'This might go more smoothly than I expected.'
I had been considering sweeping through the entire residential area under the pretense of a patrol with Airen.
But if Reika could lead us straight to the place, our search would be significantly faster.

And if she could identify the people Janis had been with, then this was practically a done deal.
I grasped Reika’s hands again and spoke with gratitude.
"Lady Reika, thank you. This is a huge help!"

"H-Huh? Ah… it’s nothing. Ehehe… It just… makes me happy to be useful…."
She smiled bashfully, her head lowered.
She really was an adorable girl.

Even without her title as a mage, she was simply charming in her own right.
"Then, let’s head out immediately. Lady Ioline, you may return for now."
"No…! I should come—"

"No."
I turned to Ioline and explained the situation.
"If someone who looks exactly like Janis is already in the area, it would only complicate things if you were spotted. I think it’s best for you to return to the estate. I promise I’ll bring back good news."

"Ah…"
Understanding that her presence could become a hindrance, Ioline quickly relented.
"Alright. Lord Swen… everyone… please, take care of my brother."

With that, we sent Ioline back.
Once Airen had finished her preparations, we followed after Reika, letting her take the lead.
It had been a long time since the three of us had worked together—

Not since the day we broke through Aishus’ walls.
Following her lead, we entered the market alley inside Eingart Castle.
As expected of a capital city, the place was bustling with people.

Street vendors lined the pathways, selling all kinds of exotic goods I had never seen before.
"This way!"
Reika pointed toward a dimly lit alley, tucked away from the main street.

Despite the castle’s grand reputation, this place seemed untouched by sunlight, eerily silent, as if even footsteps dared not linger.
Taking the lead, Airen strode forward with unwavering confidence.
I leaned toward Reika and whispered.

"Lady Reika, you remember what I told you, right?"
"Yes…!"
She nodded vigorously.

I had given her two simple instructions.
First, if she spotted any of the men who had been with Janis, she should pinch my arm.
And second—

Knock, knock, knock.
"Is anyone there?"
Airen’s voice was clear and composed as she rapped on the door of the first house.

Reika and I stood on either side of her, eyes locked forward, tension running high.
A few moments passed.
"Who’s there?"

A gruff voice called out from inside. A man.
"We’re the patrol unit. There’s been an incident in the area, and we need to ask a few questions. Please step outside for a moment."
Without the slightest hesitation, Airen followed my script, lying flawlessly.

Her serious tone was so convincing that even I might have fallen for it if I were on the other side of that door.
Soon enough, the door creaked open.
A large man stepped out.

"What do you want?"
He was built like a boulder, his presence alone exuding intimidation.
And then—

"……!"
Reika pinched my arm.
‘Already?!’

No need to search further.
We had struck gold on our very first try.