Chapter 434
Chapter 434: Just Keep It Like This (1)
Amelia sneered, unable to hide her disgust.
“Hmph, you’re saying the Northern Army will come and attack here?”
If she didn’t help, Ghislaine would probably abandon the Northern Fortress to first deal with the Barbarians. That way, he’d be able to focus on the battle against the Rift.
If that happened, the damage to Perdium would surely be substantial. Perhaps every region north of the lord’s castle would be devoured, except for the area near the lord’s castle.
However, if the Northern Army showed up, then even if there were losses, they would eventually be able to hold back the Rift.
Then that madman would come here, saying he wasn’t granted what he demanded. He was certainly the type to do that.
Amelia swept her hair back and closed her eyes.
‘What a conceited brat.’
Her insides were boiling.
For now, she mustn’t confront Ghislaine. That would only play into the Duke Faction’s hands.
That was probably why she had prepared to migrate to the East long ago.
Even now, helping him as he demanded might be the best way to go.
She understood that…
‘How dare he threaten me?’
She knew she shouldn’t feel this way, yet the urge to strike back crept in.
Right now, Ghislaine was cornering her, forcing her to choose between fighting the Barbarians or the Northern Army.
The justification was ample. He was the commander of the Northern Army. She had left things as they were after negotiating with the Crown Prince Faction, but that couldn’t continue anymore.
Amelia narrowed her eyes. It was the first time in her life she’d been threatened by the same person twice.
As the atmosphere turned cold, Dark stammered as he spoke.
“Um… there’s something I need to pass on.”
He had clearly heard that Amelia’s mood would worsen upon reading the message. After that, there was talk of the King.
“What is it?”
Dark cautiously glanced at her and replied.
“Are you going to play along with Raoul’s intentions…? Since I know you desire something different… he said that if you get through this safely, he will support your move to the East.”
Amelia’s expression hardened. Ghislaine must clearly be aware of her ambitions and plans. She didn’t know how he found out.
But it was a rather good deal. To migrate to the East, she would eventually need to employ force. Although negotiations had occurred with the Crown Prince Faction, other nobles would not sit idly by.
Dealing with each of them one by one would be incredibly tiring.
‘…He knows me too damn well.’
It seemed he knew that tightening her grip would lead her to have other thoughts. How could he be so aware of her?
Since he didn’t know Ghislaine was a time-repeater, Amelia’s queries would never be resolved.
She closed her eyes again. She needed time to organize her thoughts.
‘Hoo…’
Calming her breath, she coldly assessed the current political situation. Helping Ghislaine felt unpleasant, but playing into Raoul’s intentions was dangerous.
‘I can’t just act on my emotions.’
Raoul must have been certain that she wouldn’t make a move. Even if she did, he probably thought she wouldn’t be able to stop the Barbarians with her current abilities.
From the Duke Faction’s standpoint, she was merely a lucky girl who acquired her territory thanks to Harold.
‘It’s about time I showed them.’
Despite having succeeded in usurping power, the prejudice of being just a noble lady lingered on. Most nobles still looked down on her.
She aimed to build her reputation from the Eastern front, but starting a bit early wouldn’t be a bad idea.
And the second reason.
‘I have to deal with the Rift completely.’
She wasn’t aiming for a world filled with rampaging monsters. She had no intention of allying with the insane Salvation Society either.
To sweep away the Rifts, ultimately, the Northern Army would need to step up.
‘It can’t be helped.’
Amelia organized her thoughts and opened her eyes to speak to Dark.
“Convey this to Ghislaine.”
“Yes.”
“Only this once, I’ll dance along with your sword dance.”
“What does that mean? Are you saying you’re coming or not? Does a sword dance mean you’ll be fighting our master? Speak clearly.”
“…”
It seemed this elemental spirit lacked a bit in social skills, among other things.
Amelia shot him a frustrated glare and gestured to the side.
“Map.”
When a retainer brought her a map, Amelia pointed to a specific location and said to Dark.
“Look closely and convey this. I’ll be stopping the Barbarians from this point. It’s the entrance leading into the Northern territory.”
“Yes.”
“…Tell them to send at least a small troop to back me up as I hold them off. I won’t put myself at risk alone and suffer any losses. Got it?”
Ghislaine hadn’t shared any strategy with Amelia. He believed she would know what to do by herself.
Indeed, Amelia swiftly envisioned the situation in her mind, formulating a strategy. She thought if she conveyed it this way, Ghislaine would understand.
Though they were not on good terms, both recognized each other’s capabilities, making this possible.
Dark nodded. If he just conveyed it like this, his job would be done.
The negotiation was successful. Dark slipped out of Bernap’s presence, bowing and creating some distance.
Sneaking quietly closer to the door, Dark yelled out.
“You insolent wretches! I will definitely unleash my curse upon you! Just you wait! Especially you, Cat! I will exact my revenge for this humiliation today!”
Hah!
“Farewell!”
As Bastet stood up, Dark left a farewell message and dashed outside.
“…”
Amelia and everyone in the war room fell into silence.
The one who threatened his fiancée to extort money, the strange chief officer receiving bribes of 1 gold each, even the lunatic elemental… There was simply no one normal in Penris.
It still felt unbelievable that such people had swept through the kingdom, claiming the title of the strongest in the North.
Letting out a sigh, Amelia stood and spoke to Conrad.
“Move immediately. It seems time is of the essence.”
“Understood.”
The Raybold Army was already fully prepared to move at any time. They could deploy at a moment’s notice.
Amelia decided to finish internal security matters that she had left unattended during this opportunity.
She gave particular secret orders to the leader of the lynx smuggling group, Caleb.
“Handle it properly. Got it?”
“Leave it to me.”
Caleb smirked wickedly and bowed his head.
Amelia sighed softly. With the decision made, her mind felt a little more at ease. Though still displeased, she had no intention of moving on the board Raoul had laid out.
“I need some fresh air.”
Whether it was because Dark had been so loud or she had thought too much, her head was beginning to ache.
Stepping outside, Amelia turned her gaze to the northern sky.
For a very long time.
*
Zvalter stared seriously at the dense blue mist approaching the fortress from afar.
The mist filled the horizon. It was endless.
“How can it grow so large?”
He had heard that the more abundant the spirit of nature, the faster the rift expanded.
The northern lands had few artificial structures and minimal environmental damage. So, indeed, the spirit of nature was likely more abundant there than in other places.
But even understanding the reason, the expansion speed was incomprehensibly fast.
And soon, that area of the rift would engulf this place.
Zvalter spoke to Randolf beside him.
“The Barbarians won’t miss this opportunity.”
“Yes. As soon as the battle with the Rift begins, they will certainly flank through the North.”
“That idiot has gone crazy.”
“He’s lost his mind, partnering with the Salvation Society to pull something like this.”
“Is this how it ends up?”
Zvalter’s expression remained bitter. Woroka’s greed had led to an absurd situation.
How many tribesmen had been sacrificed to create that rift? What use was the power obtained in such a manner?
Zvalter could only shake his head, unable to understand that thirst for power.
“What about Ghislaine?”
“He should be arriving soon.”
“Good. Blocking that rift is essential for handling the Barbarians.”
Perdium had grown far stronger than before.
Food and equipment were abundantly produced, and the number of knights and soldiers had significantly increased. It was no exaggeration to call it the level of a great territory now.
Nevertheless, they couldn’t stop that rift. Ultimately, only Ghislaine’s army could block it.
“Didn’t someone say Amelia would be holding them back?”
“Yes, we just received word that the Raybold Army is mobilizing.”
“Thank goodness. I never expected that child would act personally.”
Although the relationship had grown somewhat awkward after the Count of Raybold was ousted from his position, Amelia had completely dropped the marriage talks after starting her rebellion. The retainers argued that they could not take such a terrifying woman as the daughter-in-law of the Perdium family.
They had hardly interacted, yet here she was moving in such a crisis.
“Well, that girl is a Northerner too. Just as well.”
Zvalter didn’t know how Ghislaine had persuaded her, but having known Amelia since she was little, he was glad for her assistance.
“We must do our utmost to handle the rift. It won’t be easy for Amelia to hold back so many Barbarians by herself.”
Dealing with the rift came first. Amelia just needed to endure until they could manage the situation.
Perdium’s entire army had already gathered and was prepared for action. The 10,000 reinforcements and war machines sent by the chief officer of Penris had also arrived.
Since they weren’t far away, they could reach faster than the Mobile Army coming from the West.
The blue mist steadily advanced towards the fortress. At this rate, it would engulf the fortress in less than a week.
All the soldiers in the fortress watched the advancing mist with tense expressions. Unfortunately, there was not a single person here who had experience fighting against a rift.
“Damn, they say there are at least 500,000 in there…”
“Can we really hold it back by ourselves?”
“With that many, wouldn’t merely charging in cause the fortress to crumble?”
“They’re all saying this is all Skoban’s fault… That guy was a bit unsettling.”
Having heard all about the dangers of the rift, everyone was slowly growing more fearful.
The unknown enemy is always terrifying. Everyone was gradually succumbing to fear.
Diminished morale before battle can be dangerous, but Zvalter refrained from pushing them.
“The Penris Army’s spirit is different.”
Contrary to the somewhat fearful Perdium soldiers, the Penris Army seemed to have a look of anticipation.
Of course, they were equally tense, but their fear was less significant.
Knowing the reason behind it, Zvalter waited in silence.
Indeed, the atmosphere would completely shift when Ghislaine arrived a few days later.
“The Grand Duke has arrived!”
“Our lord has come!”
“The Penris Mobile Army is here!”
Clank, clank, clank.
As Ghislaine, accompanied by his close associates and the Mobile Army, entered the fortress, the faces of the people lit up.
Penris was an undefeated army. Ghislaine, leading them, could be called an invincible lord.
With him arriving, having already eliminated many rifts, the morale soared on its own.
“Father.”
Ghislaine stood before Zvalter and slightly lowered his head. Zvalter surveyed his son and his associates with a contented smile.
Belinda avoided Zvalter’s gaze and lowered her eyes slightly. He had no plans to leave her be while making that son the Grand Duke of the North, after all.
Zvalter placed a hand on Ghislaine’s shoulder and said.
“I’ll leave the command to you.”
“Understood.”
The words weren’t many. Zvalter didn’t intend to take command directly as he used to.
His son had already proven his skills abundantly.
In another situation, it might have been different, but in the battle against the rift, Ghislaine needed to lead. Everyone would want that.
Ghislaine climbed up to the top of the fortress and raised his hand.
With a strong voice, he addressed everyone.
“All forces, prepare for battle!”
“Waaah!”
Even just that one line caused the soldiers to erupt in cheers.
Belief in victory. That was the most powerful strength Ghislaine provided.
The soldiers took their positions. The Penris Army stationed 100 Galbarium catapults atop the fortress.
Kiiiiiing…
Dozens of catapults prepared by Perdium were also placed behind the walls of the fortress.
Both territories had gathered everything they had developed so far. This amount could completely devastate an ordinary territory in no time.
Drum, drum, drum.
The ten large ballistae on the fortress completed their loading.
A hundred mages and over eighty priests who followed the Mobile Army took their positions in safe areas atop the fortress.
As preparations concluded, the blue mist had approached quite closely.
It looked a bit distant, but the catapult’s attacks could reach that far.
Kaaahhh!
The screams of the Cracked Beings echoed from all directions.
The soldiers swallowed dryly, waiting for their orders with tense expressions.
Ghislaine had no intention of waiting until that blue mist engulfed them and the Cracked Beings pounced.
He extended his arm forward and gave the command.
“Fire!”
“Fire!”
With the knights echoing back his command, the catapults began to hurl stones fiercely.
Booom!
