Chapter 424: Use the Strongest Force (4)
Equidema was crushed under a massive hand, its body bursting apart instantly.
Kwaaahhhjjik!
All that remained where the monster had stood were a mangled corpse and a pool of blood.
Everyone who witnessed it froze in shock. Their minds couldn’t process the phenomenon they had just seen.
At that moment, Ghislain stomped his foot and shouted loudly.
“Everyone, fall back!”
When training his army, Ghislain had focused heavily on making his soldiers respond reflexively to his commands.
That training proved invaluable in this moment. The instant his words fell, everyone around him instinctively retreated.
Alfoi also reacted immediately, grabbing Piote and propelling himself backward using mana. If nothing else, the man was exceptionally skilled at running away.
Meanwhile, the massive hand once again descended slowly, slamming into the ground.
Kwaaaaaaang!
Jjeojeojeojeok!
The ground cracked, and the area shook violently as if an earthquake had struck.
Even those who had retreated a considerable distance couldn’t withstand the shock and were knocked off their feet. The Riftspawn emerging from the fissure were obliterated on the spot.
Even Ghislain and the other powerful fighters staggered, struggling to keep their balance.
The crowd stared in horror at the colossal hand emerging from the rift.
“W-What the hell is that?!”
“Something like that exists inside the rift?”
“Is that… the thing we were told couldn’t come out before?”
The rift had expanded significantly in size. It was now large enough for several enormous monsters like the Equidema to emerge.
Yet, if such a vast fissure could only let a hand through, how massive was the creature trying to emerge?
People swallowed hard, unable to speak as they turned their gazes toward Ghislain.
Ghislain took a deep breath and spoke firmly.
“That’s the master of the rift. We have to destroy it to close the rift completely.”
Belinda glanced at the rift and asked cautiously.
“Then… do we have to wait for it to fully emerge?”
“Yes. That’s the only way to shut the rift completely.”
“But the rift stopped expanding after Equidema died, right?”
“With Equidema dead, the domain will start shrinking. Riftspawn can only survive within the domain, so… they probably won’t come out anymore.”
As the domain contracted, the Riftspawn would eventually be erased. So with Equidema’s defeat, they could breathe a little easier.
Belinda looked relieved and asked again.
“Then if that thing comes out and there’s no domain left, Riftspawn won’t be able to appear anymore, right?”
But Ghislain shook his head firmly.
“No. Once that thing emerges, the domain won’t matter anymore.”
“What… what do you mean?”
“That creature can move freely, regardless of the domain. And just from the energy it exudes, it can allow tens of thousands of monsters to exist in this world. They’ll swarm around it in droves.”
Everyone’s faces twisted with dread.
Even now, they were barely holding back the Riftspawn thanks to the limited domain.
But if that gigantic monster could lead countless creatures wherever it went, it would be nothing short of a moving rift.
Ghislain let out a bitter chuckle.
“If Equidema was the vanguard, then that thing… is the main force.”
Belinda glanced at the slowly retreating hand and asked warily.
“It doesn’t have any ranged attacks or anything, does it?”
Ghislain nodded.
“Fortunately, no. It fights up close. Brutally.”
“Well… I suppose that’s a relief.”
If a creature that massive could also attack from a distance, humanity would be wiped out in an instant.
Everyone watched in silence as the massive hand gradually sank back into the rift. The scene was so overwhelming that words felt meaningless.
Belinda, who had been staring at the rift, cautiously asked.
“Is it possible… to defeat it?”
“Yes. We’d have to become much stronger, but it’s not invincible.”
“I see… So, have you fought it before, Young Master?”
“N… no.”
Ghislain nearly stumbled at her sudden question, but quickly recovered.
An awkward silence followed as Belinda narrowed her eyes, pressing Ghislain further.
“How do you know all this, anyway? You knew even before the rift opened, didn’t you?”
Ghislain responded with unwavering confidence.
“Lavierre told me. The priest of the Salvation Church I met earlier.”
“…You seem to know far too much for that to be the only explanation.”
Everyone nodded in agreement with Belinda’s words.
Ghislain had always known too much.
Until now, things had turned out well enough that people accepted it. Even when they asked, he never explained fully.
But with the situation escalating so dramatically, their curiosity had become impossible to suppress.
The scale of this threat was simply too massive compared to before.
Back when Lavierre was captured, everyone had been with Ghislain. There wasn’t a single memory of him mentioning anything about this.
Yet, whenever someone questioned him, Ghislain stubbornly insisted that he had heard it when he first met Lavierre alone.
Everyone shot him with suspicious looks, but Ghislain didn’t even blink.
He had another go-to excuse a line he frequently used on Galbarik.
“I read it in a book when I was young.”
“……”
“Everyone should read more. Knowledge is power, after all.”
“……”
Belinda crossed her arms. She had been the one who had to force Ghislain to read as a child, since he’d stubbornly avoided books.
He had only started reading later on, and that too mostly novels, thanks to his noble upbringing.
As his former head maid and tutor, Belinda had personally supervised every book he read during that time. Not a single one mentioned anything about rifts or otherworldly monsters. The mysterious knowledge he often revealed wasn’t from any of those books either.
“Are you still going to keep secrets from us?”
“You’re the one who taught me that a man with secrets is more attractive, Belinda.”
“……”
Belinda couldn’t help, but reflect. Had her own teachings made Ghislain turn out like this?
As the suspicious stares continued, Ghislain let out a soft chuckle and shook his head.
‘They wouldn’t believe me even if I told them the truth.’
He had tried explaining a few times. But instead of believing him, people had only grown more suspicious, thinking he was lying. It was exhausting.
Ghislain flashed a relaxed smile and continued.
“Besides books, I’ve gathered information from various sources. I’ll explain everything when the time is right, so don’t feel too down.”
Explaining things now would only create more confusion. Once the situation settled, there would be time to clarify everything.
Everyone nodded. There was no trace of resentment or disappointment.
They had followed Ghislain’s lead this far, and they would continue doing so. That faith had never led them astray.
Among the knights, Arel discreetly pulled out a pen and paper, jotting something down.
“‘A man with secrets… attractive…’ Noted…”
He was truly an exceptional student, determined not to miss any wisdom from Ghislain. It seemed Belinda’s teachings had rubbed off on Arel too.
Kaor, watching the scene, clicked his tongue.
“Hey, you’re even taking notes on that?”
“Hm? Is there a problem?”
“…Never mind.”
Trying to reason with a follower as devoted as Arel felt pointless. It was better to just let him be.
Ghislain clapped his hands loudly, changing the mood.
“All right! This rift is dealt with. With Equidema defeated, the domain will shrink, and things will be safe for a while. All forces, prepare to move to the next rift!”
“Waaaaah!”
Curiosity aside, victory was still victory. The troops finally broke into cheers.
No doubt, the rest of the Northern forces would be equally elated. They had closed a rift without significant losses a feat no other army in the kingdom had achieved.
The master of the rift was a terrifying concern, but that could wait.
‘Our lord will know how to handle it.’
‘He’ll solve it, just like today.’
‘All we have to do is trust him.’
That unshakeable faith in Ghislain was the true strength holding the North together.
Everyone prepared to return to the camp. The eerie blue mist was already starting to dissipate, likely a result of Equidema’s death.
Before leaving, everyone took turns expressing their admiration toward Piote, who, in many ways, had been the hero of this battle.
“That was incredible!”
“As expected from the Holy Maiden no, Holy One!”
“You survived that attack without a scratch?!”
Piote scratched his head, clearly embarrassed.
In truth, he hadn’t done anything. He had just taken a hit.
At first, he hadn’t even understood why he’d been attacked. Only when he felt his divine power resonating through the relic had he realized his role and the artifact’s true ability.
Even Ghislain’s closest aides came over to offer praise.
Equidema had shown an unnatural fixation on Piote, and without him, defeating it wouldn’t have been so easy.
Alfoi clapped Piote on the back with a grin.
“It was thanks to you and me. We should both be proud.”
“……”
The others nodded. Since Alfoi had been the one to literally throw Piote into danger, it wasn’t exactly wrong. The burden of Piote’s suffering had also been placed entirely on Alfoi’s shoulders.
Ghislain joined them and patted Piote on the shoulder.
“Well done. You were a huge help. I’m counting on you in the future too.”
“……”
Even though Ghislain was clearly planning to use him as bait again, Piote couldn’t refuse. He knew full well that he was the best lure for these creatures.
He wasn’t against it, but there was something he needed to know.
“Why is it… Why do these monsters seem to hate divine power so much?”
Equidema, in particular, had radiated pure hatred toward divine energy. Even while being slain, it had been fixated on Piote.
It puzzled him.
Ghislain shrugged.
“Who knows? Maybe they’re like dark mages or demons instinctively repelled by it. I don’t have all the answers either.”
“I see…”
Indeed, these creatures couldn’t even speak. They weren’t from this world. Perhaps their very existence was incompatible with divine power.
Everyone nodded, accepting the explanation.
Suddenly, Alfoi smirked and chimed in.
“Or maybe the gods scammed them, like how so many people fall for my odd or even magic trick.”
Piote pouted at the blasphemous joke, but the others bursted into laughter.
“Ahahaha! Yeah, I’d hate the gods too if that happened!”
“Pfft, you’re right. That would be annoying!”
“Don’t worry! We have our Holy One with us!”
So, what if divine power annoyed them? Piote would be the bait anyway from now on.
Everyone celebrated their victory with such thoughts in mind.
And Ghislain… found Alfoi’s comment oddly convincing.
Though he wasn’t sure why.
* * *
The Northern Army wasn’t the only one celebrating victory.
The leadership of the Royal Faction, who had been receiving updates on the Northern Army’s successes, couldn’t hide their joy at the series of triumphs.
“As expected of Count Fenris!”
“He’s already closed three rifts! The speed is incredible!”
“And with barely any casualties, too! Truly remarkable!”
The forces of the territories where rifts had opened were struggling. Even the lords of unaffected regions had to send aid.
Despite that, they couldn’t even handle the endless Riftspawn pouring out, let alone a monster like Equidema.
Against such a backdrop, the Northern Army’s overwhelming achievements were no longer just impressive they were awe-inspiring.
Marquis Maurice McQuarrie thumped his chest proudly.
“I knew he’d pull it off! The boy’s practically my nephew. He’s always been extraordinary since he was young. Remember how much I doted on him?”
“……”
The other Royalist nobles grimaced as if they’d bitten into something bitter.
Was this not the same man who had once been desperate to tear Ghislain down? He’d done a complete turnaround the moment support started flowing in his favor.
Still, given that Maurice was using his authority as Supreme Commander to empower Ghislain, there wasn’t much they could say against him.
Meanwhile, Marquis Branford, reviewing the incoming reports, nodded in approval.
“This is good. It means the Royal Army can focus more on keeping the southern front in check.”
Currently, most of the regional armies were tied up dealing with the rifts. That left the task of watching the south entirely to the Royal Army.
In reality, a portion of the Royal Army also had to assist with rift defense. However, the Northern Army’s success had been so remarkable that they could afford to concentrate the Royal forces solely on the southern front.
Marquis Branford surveyed the gathered nobles and declared:
“At present, the only force capable of handling the rifts effectively is the Northern Army. Therefore, we must grant them full authority and provide maximum support.”
Everyone nodded. There was no opposition after all, the North was their only hope right now.
The territories near the rifts were in near-economic collapse. Even the regions that traded with them were beginning to suffer.
It wasn’t just trade disruptions causing the strain everyone had mobilized their armies, and wars were expensive.
In short, the kingdom’s entire economy was steadily deteriorating.
This would inevitably weaken their ability to maintain strength in the ongoing conflict with the ducal families.
Marquis Branford turned to Count Aylesbur.
“Ensure the production of the medicines Count Fenris requested continues at full capacity. Support must be provided across all regions. Is production proceeding smoothly?”
Count Aylesbur, holding a report, began stammering through the details.
“W-Well… we’re doing our best to gather the materials… The capital’s forces have received their share, but… some territories still lack supplies… My wife mentioned something about that…”
Though Count Aylesbur led the family and attended these meetings, the real administrative work was handled by his wife, Countess Mariel Aylesbur.
She managed the entire production process and would simply brief her husband afterward.
The nobles, fully aware of this dynamic, watched Aylesbur with thinly veiled boredom as he fumbled his way through the explanation. Feeling their stares, he blurted out:
“What? You all know how it is. Don’t act so smug! What, like you’re all so different?”
“Ahem, ahem.”
The nobles cleared their throats and averted their gazes. Truthfully, most of them weren’t doing much either just providing resources and troops while others handled the logistics.
It would have been ideal for Mariel herself to attend these meetings, but she was far too busy managing production alongside Rosalyn.
Marquis Branford, the only one fully focused on the reports, frowned deeply.
“Why are we still short on materials? I told you to secure them by any means necessary.”
“Well… the Fairy’s Blessing herb is extremely rare and expensive… No one wants to part with it…”
“If they can’t even contribute properly, then what use are they?!”
Bang!
Branford slammed his fist on the table in frustration.
The Northern Army was handling the rifts, Mariel and Rosalyn were producing the medicine, and Branford was coordinating the national response.
All that remained for the other nobles was to provide resources, troops, and money. If they couldn’t even manage that, the entire effort would collapse.
As Branford’s temper flared, Maurice sighed and retrieved a small vial from his coat, placing it on the table.
“This stuff… is it really effective? Are we sure there’ll even be a plague? Producing this much will cost a fortune. The entire Royal Faction is already bleeding money over this.”
The vial contained a shimmering purple liquid Ghislain’s plague-preventing elixir.
Though they were manufacturing it under Ghislain’s urgent orders, many nobles still doubted its necessity.
If no plague occurred, they would face catastrophic financial losses, so hesitancy was natural.
A noble beside Branford spoke up.
“But didn’t the priest from the Salvation Church confess to that conspiracy? That’s why we’re trusting Count Fenris, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but it still feels sketchy. An unproven formula with an unknown origin… We’re not even sure if this plague will happen.”
“Weren’t you just calling him your nephew a moment ago? Trust him.”
“Tch. In a world where sons kill their own fathers for power, you expect me to trust a nephew? What if I drink this and something happens to me, huh?!”
‘Ugh, what a fool…’
The noble next to him resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Conversations with Maurice always felt painfully circular.
Just as Maurice continued grumbling, a knight burst into the room, panting heavily.
“P-Plague! The plague is spreading in the kingdom!”
Everyone’s faces paled.
Maurice, quicker than anyone, grabbed the vial he’d just questioned and drank it on the spot.