Chapter 500
Destroy It? (1)
A week after Ghislain met the Marquis of Branford, as Baron Shear had predicted, the 50,000-strong Kingdom Army began marching toward the Heine Plains.
The Kingdom Army had only recently been reorganized after suffering crushing defeats at the hands of the Delfine forces. As a result, they were little more than a ragtag bunch. However, they had selected the most intact legions for this operation.
At the forefront of the 2nd Legion stood the 3rd Infantry Company with a sense of pride.
For the soldiers, however, the situation was somewhat uncomfortable. While it felt good to have secured first place, being at the front meant they would be the first to engage in battle if a fight broke out.
But the captain of the 3rd Infantry Company was simply overjoyed.
‘Ahh, I heard there’s going to be a personnel transfer next quarter. With this, my promotion is guaranteed, isn’t it?’
Having secured first place with an overwhelming infantry charge (?), it was only natural for him, as the commanding officer, to garner attention.
The 3rd Infantry Company Captain looked at Ghislain, who was walking proudly at the very front, with intense admiration.
‘Ah, what a gem. Where did such a blessing roll in from? Once this operation is over, I’ll appoint him as my adjutant. We’ll be together for life.’
The 3rd Infantry Company Captain wasn’t completely foolish. He was well aware of the achievements of Duggly’s squad.
To ensure the success of his charge tactics, he needed Duggly’s squad by his side. So, even after his promotion, he planned to keep Duggly close.
‘Thanks to me, you’ll live an easy life too. I’ll make sure you’re well-paid and secure your position. Just keep bringing me good fortune. Heh heh heh.’
Lost in such foolish dreams, the 3rd Infantry Company Captain couldn’t take his eyes off Ghislain.
Ghislain, for his part, found the man’s gaze slightly burdensome.
‘What the hell is wrong with him?’
The captain was looking at him as if he were a suitor courting a lover. It seemed he had drawn too much attention with his performance.
Fortunately, the captain’s unsettling gaze finally broke away when they arrived at the Heine Plains.
“Form up!”
At the command of the corps commander, the Kingdom Army swiftly arranged themselves in disciplined ranks. They made sure to maintain a sharp formation, unwilling to be looked down upon by the Ducal Army.
Soon, various officials arrived and set up a table in the middle of the plains, arranging seats.
These were meant for the King and the representative of the Ducal Army.
The negotiation table was surprisingly simple, a deliberate choice to show that no tricks were being played.
Moments later, a messenger rode in at full gallop and shouted,
“The Ducal Army is approaching!”
At those words, tension rippled through the ranks as all eyes turned in the direction the messenger had come from.
Before the rise of the Northern Army, the Ducal Army had been known as the most powerful force in the kingdom. In fact, the Kingdom’s Army’s southern front had once been completely obliterated by them.
In the distance, a massive army, bearing the Duke’s banner, slowly approached.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Rhythmic, thunderous footsteps echoed uniformly in all directions. Every soldier maintained perfect formation as they marched forward.
Seeing this, the commanders of the Kingdom Army turned pale.
This was different.
Those who had previously fought against the Ducal Army instantly recognized that this force was nothing like the one they had faced before.
‘This is… impossible…’
‘We were mistaken.’
‘That… that must be their true main force.’
At the forefront, astride a massive brown warhorse, was the Kingdom’s Strongest Swordsman Count Kaiyen Balzac. A giant of a man, he carried a colossal two-handed greatsword on his back.
Beside Kaiyen were robed priests of the Salvation Church, exuding an eerie presence, as well as the Ducal Army’s formidable commanders.
And it didn’t end there. Even the knights and common soldiers possessed an undeniable aura of power. Their movements were flawless, not a single step out of line.
Their sheer presence alone filled the vast plains, making it abundantly clear why they had once been called the strongest force in the kingdom.
The Kingdom Army had only caught sight of them, yet they already felt utterly overwhelmed.
Count Palantz, who had always been frustrated at being overshadowed by the Kingdom’s Strongest Swordsman, found the situation intolerable.
“Do not be intimidated! What disgraceful conduct is this before His Majesty?!”
At his shout, the soldiers gathered their wits and straightened their postures.
After all, they too had the Royal Knight Commander, a man whose renown was second to none. There was no reason to be afraid.
King Berhem, however, scowled deeply at the atmosphere.
“Tch. That level of overwhelming presence should belong to my army…”
At his murmured complaint, the Kingdom Army’s commanders remained silent.
Ghislain, meanwhile, observed the approaching Ducal Army with a secret smile.
‘As expected.’
Now, at last, he was seeing the faces of the Ducal Army’s commanders he had known in his past life. Each and every one of them was at least an advanced knight, if not among the highest-ranked.
A few of them would eventually reach the level of a Master over time. That was how high the caliber of the ducal family's generals was.
Those men had only ever fought using the armies of their vassals. The true main force of the ducal family's direct domain remained untouched.
‘Count Balzac. This time, I'll get to face you properly, won't I?’
In his past life, he hadn't even had the chance to fight Kaien before losing. The man had always been at the Duke of Delfine’s side.
Ghislain twisted the corner of his lips as he glared at Kaien approaching from the distance.
The Delfine forces advanced at a steady pace before stopping at a fixed distance.
From the ducal family's side, Kaien and Gartros stepped forward, while on the kingdom’s side, Berhem and Count Palantz did the same.
Kaien dismounted, placed a hand over his chest, and bowed his head slightly over the table positioned between them.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
Berhem's lips twitched at the sight. He was displeased that Kaien did not kneel and offer a proper bow.
However, Count Balzac was a man devoted to the Duke of Delfine. Complaining about it here would only make him look foolish.
“Count Balzac, it has been a while. How fares the Duke?”
“The Duke regrets that he could not attend in person due to his ill health. He offers his deepest apologies for this.”
Berhem’s expression twisted further at those words. No matter how unwell the Duke was, he couldn't possibly be in worse condition than Berhem himself.
Suppressing his irritation, Berhem took his seat without bothering to hide his displeasure.
“There’s no need for excessive formalities when both sides have something they want from this negotiation. Who is the one standing beside you?”
Gartros smiled and bowed his head.
“I am but a humble priest of the Salvation Church, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Berhem, in contrast, greeted Gartros with a friendly smile. After all, it was the Salvation Church’s Placus who had saved his life, and the item that would make him a transcendent being had also been brought by Gartros.
Gartros took out a small box and opened it before Berhem.
“This is the ‘Orb of Life.’”
Inside the box was a small, black sphere that constantly emitted a dark aura.
“Ooooh…”
The black energy rippled through the air, spreading outward.
Berhem’s face lit up with rapture at the sight.
He could tell just by looking at it this was the ‘core’ that would store his life force.
Unconsciously, he reached out with a trembling hand.
Clack.
The box snapped shut, and the black energy vanished without a trace.
With a smile, Gartros spoke.
“Your Majesty, we would like to see the royal treasure now.”
“Khhhm…”
Snapping out of his trance, Berhem furrowed his brow. He hated that he was being dragged into such negotiations as a king.
If he had absolute power, he could take whatever he wanted with ease.
‘Just wait.’
Not yet. He still needed to amass more strength and solidify his rule.
For now, he had to cooperate with the ducal family.
Berhem slipped a ring off his finger and asked,
“How will you confirm that what I offer is indeed a royal treasure?”
Thanks to Placus’s aid, he could now sense the black energy, allowing him to verify the authenticity of the orb.
But he was curious how would they confirm the royal treasure when they had no prior knowledge of what it was?
In response, Gartros pulled out a small, ash-colored cup from his robes. It had a lid, making it resemble a censer at first glance.
Opening the lid, Gartros explained,
“If we place the royal treasure inside, it will react.”
“Hm…”
It was an ordinary-looking cup, the kind any commoner might have in their home. In fact, it was so worn-out that even a commoner might not bother using it.
Could such a thing truly verify the authenticity of a royal treasure?
Curious, Berhem placed the ring inside the cup.
Clatter.
The ring rolled into the cup.
But nothing happened.
With a solemn expression, Gartros spoke.
“Your Majesty, it seems that ring is not the royal treasure.”
“With the kingdom’s long history, there are many treasures. I don’t recall specifying which one I would offer.”
“Your Majesty, surely you have something in mind.”
At those words, Berhem let out a twisted smile. Gartros didn’t seem to be making baseless guesses.
“How about this one?”
Berhem removed the necklace from around his neck.
Placus tilted his head at the sight.
He had seen that necklace every time he treated the king. It was so plain and unremarkable that he had never once suspected it to be a royal treasure.
But then…
Fwaaash!
As the necklace fell into the goblet, a brilliant light burst forth.
“Ah…”
The radiance was so sacred that everyone watching was left in a daze.
It was an energy entirely different from the dark aura emitted by the Salvation Church.
“This is…”
Even Berhem was astonished. Having been treated by priests for a long time, he could recognize it this was divine power. And an immensely powerful one at that.
“There really was a way to verify it.”
He had inherited the necklace from his predecessor with only the knowledge that it was of great importance. He had never known it possessed such an ability.
Berhem’s gaze turned greedy. He had intended to trade away the relic to obtain a healthy body, believing it to be nothing more than an heirloom with a story. But with an ability like this, the situation had changed.
“Must you insist on taking this as the price? It has been passed down since the time of the Founding King, and I feel somewhat guilty before my ancestors. I can offer something even greater.”
“Your Majesty, we apologize, but this is essential to us.”
At Gartros' firm stance, Berhem suppressed his anger.
‘You insolent wretch, should you not comply when the king himself makes such a request?!’
For now, he had to contain his fury. He knew where the relic was, and he could always reclaim it later.
Taking a deep breath, Berhem spoke again.
“Very well. It is unfortunate, but there is no choice. Let us proceed with the exchange and begin the ceasefire negotiations.”
When Berhem placed the lid back on the goblet, the divine power ceased to leak out.
Kaien looked at Gartros, as if to ask whether the item was genuine. Gartros, his face flushed with excitement, gave a firm nod.
Kaien slightly bowed his head to Berhem and spoke.
“Your Majesty, then let us proceed with the exchange.”
A knight from each side stepped forward, carrying the respective items. At the same time, the knights standing beside them placed their swords against their necks.
Now, they were to take only a single step at a time. Any deviation, and the one beside them would strike without hesitation.
That was how much both sides valued this exchange.
Observing the conversation, Ghislain’s eyes gleamed as he discreetly released threads of mana.
‘Good thing I’m standing near the front.’
Though he was positioned at the forefront of the Second Legion, knights still blocked his view of the table.
However, he had already confirmed the location using Dark, which he had sent ahead into the air.
Kaien surveyed the knights from both sides and then spoke again.
“Now, take one step…”
Clang!
Kaien, who had been speaking, suddenly stood up and drew his sword from the sheath on his back.
“What is the meaning of this?!”
Count Palantz, who had been watching, also drew his sword. The knights nearby immediately surrounded Berhem, and every soldier grabbed their weapons.
Naturally, the knights carrying the items were instantly surrounded by both sides.
The situation had turned dire in an instant. Gartros and the Salvation Church’s priests began gathering their energy.
They were ready to seize the items the moment anything went wrong.
However, the one responsible for this situation had no interest in them.
“What’s this?”
Kaien frowned, looking to the side. Nothing was visible, but something was definitely approaching.
Even Count Palantz, the commander of the royal knights, sensed the same thing and turned his head.
Both men had reached mastery through their own efforts.
They were among the kingdom’s finest warriors, and their instincts were detecting something strange.
Kaien’s sword sliced through the air in an instant.
Slash!
Something had been cut. Kaien could feel it. At the same time, Count Palantz also struck at the creeping presence in the air.
Boom!
Kaien turned toward the kingdom’s forces, his expression fierce.
“Who goes there?!”
Someone was present. Whether a mage or a knight, their mastery of mana was extraordinary.
Even he had never seen a technique like this before. Whoever it was, they had undoubtedly reached the realm of superhumans.
All eyes turned in that direction. Count Palantz also turned to look.
Flash!
At that moment, Kaien’s eyes widened as he stared at the air.
Hundreds no, thousands of energy threads spread like a spider’s web in all directions.
“How dare you!”
Boom!
As he swung his sword, all the mana threads that had filled the air vanished in an instant.
Yet, more threads emerged from somewhere, blanketing the sky once again. Unable to pinpoint his opponent’s exact location, Kaien focused on cutting down the mana threads.
Count Palantz also slashed at the expanding threads, trying to track their source.
And that became their mistake.
While the two men swung their swords, searching for the enemy’s position, mana threads slithered along the ground like snakes and suddenly enveloped the knights.
Kaien finally grasped the situation and turned his head in haste.
“Hold onto the items…!”
Slash!
Two objects soared high into the sky.
Gartros’ eyes flared with fury.
“Stop them!”
He released his energy and leaped forward. But before he could reach them, someone from the kingdom’s army lunged forward and snatched the box and goblet.
“You bastard!”
He didn’t know who it was, but Gartros immediately unleashed his aura.
Boom!
However, the opponent countered with their own energy, using the force to retreat even further.
Thud.
A soldier in the kingdom’s uniform landed on the ground. All eyes turned toward him.
Kaien glared at the man and asked.
“Who are you?”
The soldier straightened his posture with confidence and declared.
“I am Duggly, squad leader of the 3rd Infantry Company, 2nd Legion of the Kingdom Army.”
“…”
Kaien looked at Count Palantz. Count Palantz shook his head.
“I do not know him.”
“Well, if they were really with us, they’d have no reason to pull something like this.”
By now, the answer was clear. There was only one man in this kingdom bold enough to attempt such a stunt.
“Count Fenris.”
At those words, Ghislain grinned and revealed his true face.
If he could have kept his identity hidden, he would have. But even he had to admit, this was absurd.
He would have been exposed soon enough anyway.
“Surprised?”
At his relaxed response, Kaien’s eyebrow twitched. It was only the second time he had seen him in person, but it was a familiar face. He had seen his portrait multiple times.
A memory resurfaced from past reports Count Fenris was said to wield fallen weapons in battle as if they were his own.
That must have been the technique he used to seize the relics.
“You dare…”
Kaien was too dumbfounded to finish his sentence. To think he had the audacity to infiltrate the kingdom’s army and steal the relicsalone.
Did he seriously believe he could escape from here?
He was absolutely insane.
Gartros, his face twisted in rage, bellowed.
“You wretch! Perfect! I’ll kill you here and now!”
Boom!
As he gathered his power to charge forward, he was stopped by the words that followed.
“Destroy them?”
Ghislain grinned wickedly, clutching the box and goblet tightly in both hands.