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Chapter

228화 내가 모든 걸 차지할 시간이다. (2)

Swoosh!

First, Caleb and the gray assassins leaped in.

“Waaaaah!”

Following them were Ulkan and the bandits, with the remaining troops quickly joining the fray.

Boom!

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, the Guard Commander drew his sword and shouted loudly.

“Emergency! We’re under attack! Call for support! Young Lady Amelia has started a rebellion!”

The blaring horns echoed in all directions. The guards stationed in front of the castle immediately took battle stances to counter the attackers’ assault.

“Support will arrive soon! Calmly fend off the enemies!”

The Guard Commander bellowed, encouraging his soldiers.

True to its great territory, the number of guards protecting the lord’s castle reached several hundred. They believed they could repel the attackers or hold out until reinforcements arrived.

However, the attackers were not to be underestimated. Especially those at the front were stronger than most upper-class knights.

No one could match Caleb’s speed, and every time Ulkan swung his steel mace, several soldiers were swept away in one stroke.

Boom! Bang!

“Ahhhh!”

“Where’s the support?!”

“Block them! Don’t let them enter the castle!”

The guards were slaughtered in an instant, the power difference too vast to comprehend.

The Guard Commander stumbled backward, murmuring.

“W-what the hell? Who are these guys? What was everyone doing to let such monsters gather here?”

Reinforcements were nowhere in sight. There was no movement from the public order unit either. He should have sent for the local defense but had no resources to do so.

The opposing force was overwhelmingly powerful. Not a single soldier was given a chance to flee.

Though they had started with an equal number, the difference was now stark.

And throughout all this chaos, Amelia was commanding from the back.

The Guard Commander watched the unfolding situation in disbelief.

“W-how could the Young Lady lead like this…?”

With every gesture she made, someone would blow a horn, causing the attackers’ positions and formations to change skillfully.

The guard soldiers were surrounded and dying without even realizing how they fell into this situation.

This wasn’t just a simple attack. The enemy was already engaging in a proper war. The guards’ mistake was trying to fend them off without any real plan.

In a moment of distraction, the Guard Commander met his demise at the hands of Bernap’s sword.

That left the guards with none remaining.

It was a flawless victory. Yet Amelia showed no change in expression, as if this was expected.

Bernap shook off the blood from his sword and said to Amelia,

“Shall we enter?”

Meow.

Bastet marched ahead, tail and head held high, entering the castle before Amelia.

As Bernap observed, he couldn’t help but twitch his lips.

‘I really need to get rid of that cat one of these days.’

As the blood-soaked soldiers appeared suddenly within the castle, the servants panicked and scattered in all directions.

Passing through the long, silent corridor, the attackers arrived at the banquet hall, closed off by thick doors.

Creeeak…

When the doors opened, all eyes turned towards the commotion.

Meow.

As Bastet gracefully entered the banquet hall, people smiled. However, their expressions froze upon seeing Amelia and her subordinates follow.

Everyone present was heavily armed and stained with blood, indicating they had broken through the guards.

The music that had filled the banquet hall abruptly stopped, and silence descended.

A handsome middle-aged man glaring at Amelia twisted his smile and asked,

“What’s the meaning of this, Amelia?”

Amelia returned a beguiling smile and replied,

“I’ve come to receive a title. Father.”

The middle-aged man was Count Raybold, the great lord of the North. He burst into hearty laughter at Amelia’s words.

“Wahahahaha! Have you finally lost your mind? You, not even the heir, want a title? By force, no less?”

The Count’s sons beside him joined in the laughter.

“Spent too much time reading books, have you gone mad?”

“We should’ve married you off sooner. Why did you break off your engagement to Count Penris? Tsk tsk tsk, with such poor judgment…”

“Brother, is she even someone who would listen to your words? Isn’t she just dragging her feet over her previous engagement? Now she’s too old; no one will take her. Wahahaha!”

They all laughed uproariously, mocking Amelia. Even with only a handful of guards in the banquet hall, they weren’t frightened at all.

Count Raybold stopped laughing and surveyed the attackers.

“Here’s this filthy little rat, who only indulges in dirty deeds around this territory. I should’ve gotten rid of you sooner since you’ve paid your taxes.”

Caleb, showing no interest in any of this, remained expressionless with arms crossed.

“Seems like the famous bandit I thought had been wiped out was still around.”

“Wahaha! The Young Lady helped smuggle me out!”

Ulkan, resting his steel mace over his shoulder, laughed heartily.

“Aren’t you the prosperous Merchant Leader Aktium? Who would’ve thought you’d be on the same side?”

Conrad placed a hand over his chest and bowed politely.

Count Raybold chuckled and continued,

“Looks like all the scum are gathered here to follow this crazy daughter. If you wanted to get a meal, you should have sided with me instead.”

Amelia smiled slightly at Count Raybold’s demeanor.

“Hmmm, you seem to have prepared something, haven’t you?”

There’s no way he would have this kind of reaction without having something up his sleeve. In a situation like this, one should be trembling and begging for their life.

Count Raybold raised a mocking hand.

Boom! Boom!

The emergency doors of the banquet hall burst open, and a troop surrounded them.

All of them held powerful crossbows, cocked and ready to fire.

If an assault happened simultaneously, the damage to the attackers would be severe.

Amelia nodded as she observed the encircling troops.

“You’ve certainly done your preparations. How did you know?”

“Hehe, do you think seizing power is easy? A powerful person must always be suspicious and observant of their surroundings. I’ve kept this level of readiness habitually. I received some unsettling rumors about you rascals, so I reinforced just a bit.”

With Count Raybold’s words, Amelia giggled. Truly, a characteristic response from a father who is paranoid and self-preserving.

Surely, his sons must be eyeing the position, causing him to be overly cautious.

Everyone seemed relaxed, suggesting they must have been given some prior warning. Indeed, sitting for a long time seems to sharpen one’s instincts.

After Amelia paused in thought, Count Raybold waved his hand haughtily.

“Just turn them all into hedgehogs. Even if she’s my daughter, I cannot let her threaten my position. There are plenty of daughters to marry off, so it’s fine.”

However, the knight who brought his troops didn’t move at all. He simply stood there with a blank expression.

Count Raybold wondered if he hadn’t heard and urged again.

“What are you doing? Get on with the killing!”

There was no hesitation in killing his daughter. Upon seeing this, Amelia smiled and spoke.

“Change direction.”

Snap! Snap! Snap!

Before the words finished, as the knight raised his hand, all crossbows shifted towards Count Raybold.

“W-what! W-what is the meaning of this?!”

Everyone in the banquet hall, including Count Raybold, was bewildered. If the crossbows fired, they’d all become hedgehogs.

The knight slightly bowed to Amelia and said,

“My apologies. I couldn’t inform you in time due to the sudden summons.”

“It’s alright; I expected this much. This is how everything my father does turns out, anyway.”

“Thank you.”

Amelia had lured and coerced many influential figures of the territory. If it proved difficult, she would even threaten them using family as hostages.

That way, most of the forces guarding the lord’s castle, along with their commanders, had turned to Amelia’s side.

The territory’s Exclusive Mage and other wizards also sided with her. They had already been persuaded to observe the situation from the sidelines.

While making various excuses, they had been absent from the banquet hall, keeping watch.

As the situation flipped, Count Raybold shouted in anger.

“You traitors! What in the world is this?! Kill that girl! Kill her quickly!”

Yet his struggles were futile. All the armed forces present belonged to Amelia.

Only the guards who had followed the nobles remained. With so few in the banquet hall, it was impossible to cope with her forces.

Watching Count Raybold writhe in frustration alongside the terrified princes, Amelia chuckled again.

“Now you all look somewhat presentable.”

The tide of victory had shifted towards Amelia. However, there was still one person left who could be a variable.

“Hmph, it seems you’ve gone too far, Young Lady.”

A plump middle-aged man stepped forward. He looked like someone who hadn’t trained a day in his life.

But if anyone knew his true identity, they wouldn’t dare say such things.

He was Jurgen, the Knight Commander of Raybold, known as the “Greatest Sword of the North.”

Jurgen slowly unsheathed his sword and said,

“If you withdraw now, I can assure the Lord that your life will be spared.”

Swish!

The moment he finished speaking, an overwhelming presence surged forth. Indeed, he lived up to the title of the Greatest Sword of the North.

“Oooh, Jurgen! Hurry! Get me out of here! Bring the army, and kill them all immediately!”

Count Raybold displayed a hopeful look. He only needed to survive, even if everyone else perished. He could always produce more offspring.

Jurgen nodded slightly and spoke to the surrounding guards.

“Form the combat formation. I will escort the Lord out of here.”

The guards gathered around Jurgen, readying their battle formation. Though their numbers were few, they would surely try their utmost to save the Count.

The others wore expressions of despair. If a battle broke out, they would likely face certain death.

As Jurgen stepped forward, Bernap, who had been beside Amelia, took a step ahead and said,

“Before you go, let’s have a little duel.”

“Who are you…?”

“I am Bernap.”

“Ah, now I remember. The one chosen because of his looks to guard the Young Lady?”

Jurgen smiled in disbelief, finding it absurd.

Costing Raybold’s approval, Bernap had barely made a name for himself based on appearance alone. Most thought he looked the part but lacked substance.

He hadn’t even been formally knighted and simply hung around Amelia, earning laughs about “the Young Lady picking up a stray.”

But now this fellow was challenging him, the knight commander known as the Greatest Sword of the North.

If he didn’t retaliate, he could no longer call himself a knight.

Jurgen stepped forward firmly, saying,

“Very well, I have time to take you down. Draw your sword.”

His words carried the confidence of strength. Bernap grinned, gripping the hilt of his sword and slowly bending his body to prepare.

Bernap’s left foot pivoted slightly more, lowering his stance to the point just before drawing his sword.

Jurgen awaited with a strong sense of superiority, letting him draw his sword first.

“What now? Are you going to draw or what? What’s that strange position?”

“I’m coming.”

“What?”

Swish.

In an instant, the sound of the sword being drawn echoed, bursting with light.

“Gah!”

Jurgen staggered back, gritting his teeth. Blood erupted from the long wound on his chest.

Had he been even a moment slower, his head would have been severed.

Looking at this, Bernap clicked his tongue.

“Ah, truly worthy of the Greatest Sword of the North. To have used a special move right from the start.”

Meow!

It seemed like Bastet was questioning why he hadn’t killed Jurgen. Bernap thought internally,

‘Really should get rid of that cat.’

Filled with fury, Jurgen gritted his teeth. It was humiliating to receive such an injury from a brat he thought unworthy of a knight’s status.

Looking closely, his sword was unusual. One side was sharpened, the blade bent slightly for easier cuts as it was drawn.

“You dare play tricks?!”

Boom!

Jurgen charged like lightning, and Bernap raised his sword to block him. Soon, the two began exchanging blows with incredible speed.

Boom! Bang!

The storm of mana spread, shattering the floor. Those unable to withstand the shock stumbled back.

Boom! Bang!

The duel between Bernap and Jurgen seemed evenly matched. Everyone in the banquet hall looked on in shock.

No one ever imagined that the so-called slacker Bernap would hide such abilities.

But even so, Bernap bit his lip and grimaced.

‘To think he’s really not easy to beat. I thought I could win easily, but he’s stronger than I expected! Given he spends every day lazing around, it’s surprising he’s in this shape!’

Even at a young age, his skill was impressive, but Bernap felt a complicated mix of emotions. He needed to finish him quickly, but given who he was up against, that wouldn’t be simple.

The years of experience stacked behind Jurgen, the Greatest Sword of the North, were not something to be underestimated.

Time would turn this into a brawl if they weren’t careful.

Watching the battle with a relaxed expression, Amelia finally opened her mouth slowly.

“I think I’ve given you enough chances. I allowed this because you insisted, but it’s taking too long.”

She wasn’t one to enjoy dragging things out unnecessarily. It was better to handle matters as efficiently as possible.

Having given ample opportunity, she saw no reason to wait any longer.

The reason Bernap insisted on facing Jurgen alone was plainly to impress Amelia.

As Amelia slightly raised her hand, Caleb pulled a sword from his belongings. It was a ‘Swordbreaker’ with numerous serrated edges along one side.

Conrad drew his rapier from his waist, and Ulkan swung his steel mace around casually.

Amelia’s hand pointed towards Jurgen.

“Take care of it.”

The three rushed towards Jurgen.

 

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