It Turned Out She Wasn't a Favored Concubine - Episode 89

The former Supreme Commander’s sudden change in strategy was not only abrupt but also utterly unrealistic. He was a middle-aged man with extensive war experience, having once been a knight.

Yet, as if he had become a different person, he issued absurd orders and led thousands of soldiers into a suicidal charge.

Giscal recalled the history of war between the Empire and the Kingdom of Jaren. Though unknown to the general public, Giscal, being part of the command, had access to detailed records of how the Empire had previously lost to Jaren.

The former commander’s reckless orders and Jaren’s seemingly premeditated countermeasures—this pattern had repeated. While tactics varied by location, the trajectory of defeat remained consistent. No matter how skilled or renowned a person was, once appointed Supreme Commander against Jaren, they inevitably issued reckless and chaotic commands.

This was no coincidence. Giscal sensed it.

With their forces reduced to a tenth, the Jaren army surged forward. Giscal fortified defenses using the terrain and struck the unsuspecting Jaren troops from behind, boosting morale among his soldiers.

The hope of surviving until reinforcements arrived gave new life to troops who had resigned themselves to death.

Around that time, a wandering physician arrived at the Imperial camp and began treating the wounded. He was famous across the continent for healing the injured regardless of allegiance.

Thanks to soldiers who had seen him on other battlefields, the physician naturally settled into the Imperial camp.

Louis, too, often saw the wandering doctor. The physician always had a young boy named Eliot by his side, who looked like a doll and behaved with a maturity beyond his years.

As their reputation grew among the soldiers, word of them reached Giscal. He invited them to his tent, and Louis served tea.

It was there that a pivotal, secret event occurred—one that would determine the fate of the Kingdom of Jaren and never be revealed to the public.

“I’ve heard many soldiers have benefited from your help. As acting Supreme Commander, I offer my thanks.”

“Oh, no need for that. I simply go wherever I can be of help.”

The wandering physician, Parsen, waved his hands humbly.

“I appreciate your help, but I worry you might get caught in the fighting. Would you like me to assign guards?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. We treat both Imperial and Jaren soldiers.”

“I see.”

When Giscal accepted this, Parsen looked surprised.

“Oh? You’re okay with that? Most high-ranking officials get angry when we treat the enemy.”

“They’re not your enemies, are they? And I don’t want to divide the wounded into allies and foes. War draws the lines, not the people.”

“You’re… that kind of person.”

Parsen stroked his chin and smiled meaningfully. As Louis entered to prepare tea, Parsen raised a hand.

“Wait, I brought some fine tea. Please brew this instead. Eliot?”

The boy handed Louis a black cloth pouch. Louis brewed the tea leaves and served the cups.

“Forgive me, but I have something to say to the Commander in private. Could you step out?”

Louis was the only one who could leave. As he exited, he locked eyes with Eliot, whose gaze sparkled for the first time.

Parsen watched Giscal and pulled something from his robe. After sipping the tea, he extended his hand.

“Would you take a look at this?”

Giscal raised an eyebrow but reached out without hesitation. Just before something touched his hand, Parsen collapsed face-first onto the table. A thin needle was embedded in his neck.

“Thank you for pretending not to notice.”

Eliot bowed to Giscal. Giscal pointed his sword at the boy.

“Then you’d better explain in a way I can accept.”

Eliot calmly poured out the tea.

“Even a sip would’ve knocked you unconscious in minutes. You shouldn’t drink it.”

“I knew. That’s why I didn’t react when you pulled out the needle.”

“As expected. I’m glad someone like you is the Empire’s Supreme Commander.”

Eliot smiled faintly and retrieved something from Parsen’s hands—a transparent, glowing crystal.

“This is what he was trying to give you.”

“What is it?”

“A Motus.”

Eliot gripped the Motus and continued.

“If you had touched this Motus fragment, the Empire’s soldiers would’ve been wiped out—by your own hand.”

“What do you mean?”

“This man would’ve issued defeatist orders using your face.”

Giscal stared at Eliot’s emotionless face. Eliot met his blood-red eyes without blinking. Giscal lowered his blade slightly.

“That transparent Motus—does it change a person’s appearance?”

“To be precise, it swaps the bodies of two people who touch it simultaneously.”

“That’s possible?”

“Not with ordinary Motus. But this one was crafted by a mage.”

Eliot suggested Giscal sit, as the story would be long. Giscal didn’t scold the boy’s boldness and took a seat.

Eliot had pinpointed Giscal’s suspicions. Giscal believed the truth lay in Eliot’s tale.

“It begins hundreds of years ago.”

Centuries ago, a special clan lived in what is now the Kingdom of Jaren. They could sense Motus and crafted them to sell to neighboring nations, gaining wealth.

But the nations weren’t satisfied. They waged war to steal the clan’s techniques.

The clan was devastated. A few survivors fled deep into the Jaren Mountains. Their knowledge faded into history, leaving behind diluted bloodlines and incomplete Motus technology.

“Wait—what do you mean incomplete? Motus still allow teleportation.”

Giscal asked. Eliot shook his head.

“No. True Motus have no tiers. The core must be crafted, but due to incomplete techniques, the surface determines the tier.”

“So this transparent Motus allows unlimited teleportation?”

“Yes. Properly crafted Motus have no limits. Ever wonder why some Motus vary so much in usage? It’s due to technical errors.”

“I never thought about that.”

“Perfectly crafted Motus become transparent—hence the name ‘clear stones.’”

“So you can swap bodies with them?”

“No. You must craft it finely enough to touch the core. That’s a forbidden technique.”

The survivors in the mountains used this forbidden art for revenge.

It allowed souls to swap bodies using Motus. Originally, it was used to awaken comatose souls.

Two people touched separate fragments simultaneously. The clear stone entered their souls and swapped them.

The shock awakened the dormant soul. Returning to the original body was easy—just touch again.

But the technique was soon banned. Some used it for immortality.

They transferred their souls into young bodies before their own aged. Then they killed the young soul trapped in the old body, anchoring their soul in youth.

This inhumane method let them live forever, while the kidnapped youth died in confusion.

Eventually, they discovered their bodies could function as Motus.

The clear stone embedded in their souls was the key. They evolved to teleport without external Motus.

Evolution.

They called themselves “evolved humans”—mages.

Free from spatial limits, they abducted countless young bodies, seeking beauty and vitality.

They realized that bodies from their own bloodline—those who could sense Motus—were most compatible. So they hunted their descendants.

They forgot revenge in their pursuit of pleasure.

They remembered only after their enemies had vanished.

Instead of revenge, they expanded their targets to all non-mages.

Their first goal: the Kingdom of Jaren, built on their ancestral land. They planned to consume it entirely.

It was easy. They had forbidden magic.

They quietly took over Jaren’s palace—replacing ministers, nobles, even royalty—with young bodies over a century.

Wars with other nations were no issue. They simply took over enemy command.

“So the former commander’s reckless orders and suicide—was that your doing?”

“Yes.”

Giscal fell silent. His clenched fist showed bulging veins.

“Why are you telling me this? Don’t you like the idea of ruling the continent?”

Giscal’s voice was cold, tinged with accusation. Eliot smiled faintly.

“First, I’m not a mage. I’m just the next vessel.”

“Next vessel?”

“This man—Parsen, the wandering doctor—is a mage. And his next body… is mine.”

Let me know if you’d like a character breakdown or a summary of the key plot twists. This chapter is packed with lore.

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