Chapter 500
Chapter 500: Will It All Be Destroyed? (1)
A week after Ghislaine met Marquis Branford, the Kingdom Army, numbering 50,000, began their march toward Heine Plain, just as Baron Share had said.
The Kingdom Army had recently been restructured after being shattered by the Delphine Army, and they were close to a rabble, but they selected the formations that were in relatively good condition to move out.
Standing proudly at the forefront of the 2nd Corps was the 3rd Infantry Division.
Honestly, it was a slightly uncomfortable situation for the soldiers. It felt good to be in first place, but being at the front meant they would be the ones to fight first if a battle broke out.
However, the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division was just chuckling to himself.
“Ah, they say there will be personnel changes next quarter. With this achievement, my promotion is assured, right?”
Having gained the top spot with an overwhelming infantry charge, it was only right that he would be in the spotlight.
The commander of the 3rd Infantry Division gazed at Ghislaine, who was confidently walking ahead.
“Oh, such a pretty thing. Where did this lucky charm come from? Once this event is done, I must appoint her as my deputy. Let’s stick together for life.”
The commander of the 3rd Infantry Division wasn’t completely foolish either. He was well aware of the contributions of Dugly Squad.
To succeed in his charge tactics, he needed Dugly. So, even if he got promoted, he was planning to bring Dugly along as a close associate.
“Thanks to me, you’ll also be living a charmed life. I’ll pay you well and set you up nicely. Always bring me good fortune. Hehe.”
With such foolish dreams, the commander kept his gaze fixed on Ghislaine.
Ghislaine felt somewhat pressured by that gaze.
“What’s up with him?”
It looked like he had his sights set on her like a suitor. She must have made quite an impression.
The commander’s creepy stare didn’t fall away until they reached Heine Plain.
“Squad, align!”
As the army commander shouted, the Kingdom Army formed up neatly. They couldn’t afford to appear inferior in front of the Duke’s soldiers.
Soon, several officers emerged to set up a table in the middle of the plain for seating.
It was a space for representatives of the King and the Duke.
Contrary to expectations for a negotiation table, it was quite simple. This was to show that no trickery was involved.
Soon, a messenger rode in and shouted.
“The Duke’s army is approaching!”
At that, everyone tensed slightly and focused on the direction from which the messenger had arrived.
The Duke’s forces were known as the strongest in the Kingdom before the Northern Army showed up. In fact, the Southern front had seen the Kingdom’s army utterly crushed by the Duke’s forces.
Far in the distance, a great army bearing the Duke’s banner slowly approached.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The rhythmic sounds of the ground reverberated with perfect precision, as every soldier marched in perfect formation.
Seeing this, the expressions of the Kingdom Army commanders darkened.
This was different.
The commanders who had fought against the Duke’s forces quickly realized that this army was unlike any they had previously encountered.
‘What the…’
‘We were mistaken.’
‘So that was the true main force.’
The enormous brown horse at the forefront carried the Kingdom’s Greatest Sword, Count Kayen Valjack. He bore a two-handed greatsword that matched his size.
Beside Kayen were the priests clad in black robes from the Salvation Society and fierce generals from the Duke’s side.
Moreover, both the knights and soldiers prayed with a seriousness that was anything but ordinary. Even their steps showed not a single sign of disorder.
The momentum they exuded filled the vast plain. It was clear why they were called the strongest force in the Kingdom.
The Kingdom Army found themselves completely overwhelmed by their seemingly unobtrusive opponents.
Count Palantz, who had always been called the second-in-command due to the fame of the Kingdom’s Greatest Sword, didn’t take this lightly.
“Don’t shrink back! What a disgrace is this before His Majesty!”
At his shout, the soldiers straightened up and aligned themselves.
There was also a knight commander of the royal family whose fame matched that of the Kingdom’s Greatest Sword. There was no need to be afraid.
Seemingly displeased by the atmosphere, Berhem frowned repeatedly.
“That kind of overwhelming presence should be shown by my army…”
At his mumbling, the commanders of the Kingdom Army could muster no response.
Ghislaine, too, secretly smiled as she watched the approaching Duke’s army.
“Just as expected.”
She could finally see the faces of the Duke’s officers she had seen in her previous life. Each of them was at least an upper-grade knight, if not higher.
Some were poised to reach the master level with time. Such was the high caliber of the Duke’s officers.
They had only fought with vassals until now. The true main force of the Duke’s direct control remained intact.
‘Count Valjack. This time, can I finally have a go at you?’
In her previous life, she had never even faced Kayen and lost. He had always been at the side of Duke Delphine.
As she glared at Kayen approaching from afar, a cruel smile crept across her face.
The Delphine Army, which approached slowly, soon stopped at a certain distance.
From the Duke’s side, Kayen and Gathros emerged and, from the Kingdom Army’s side, Berhem and Count Palantz stepped forward.
Placing the table between them, Kayen stepped off his horse, placing a hand over his chest and bowing his head.
“I present myself before His Majesty.”
Seeing this, Berhem’s lips curled in a sneer. He disliked that the gesture didn’t involve getting down on one knee.
However, Count Valjack was a loyal servant to Duke Delphine. It was utterly foolish to nitpick here.
“Count Valjack, it’s been a while. So, how fares the Duke?”
“I deeply apologize for not being able to visit in person due to ill health during this negotiation.”
At that statement, Berhem’s expression crumpled even further. Ill health? Surely he couldn’t be worse off than him.
Without hiding his displeasure, he took his seat.
“This is a negotiation born of mutual need; do we need such pleasantries? Who is this by your side?”
Gathros smiled and bowed his head.
“I am Gathros, currently serving as a priest of the Salvation Society, humble as I am, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Unlike Berhem’s reaction to Kayen, he flashed a warm smile toward Gathros, for after all, it was the priest Plakos who had saved his life and Gathros who brought the items that could turn him into a superhuman.
Gathros produced a small box and opened it before Berhem.
“This is the ‘Pearl of Life.’”
Inside the box was a small black orb, constantly emitting black energy.
“Oooo…”
As the black energy surged and spread into the air, Berhem’s face broke into an ecstatic smile.
It was clear just by looking at it. This item would serve as his ‘core’ to store his life force.
As he involuntarily stretched out his trembling hand—
Clack.
The box snapped shut, and the black energy disappeared without a trace.
Gathros, still smiling, spoke.
“Your Majesty, I would like you to see the royal treasure.”
“Cough….”
Recovering from his moment of ecstasy, Berhem narrowed his eyes. The fact that he, as a king, was being dragged into such negotiations was highly displeasing.
If he wielded absolute power, he could easily obtain anything he desired.
‘Just wait.’
Not yet. It was still not the time to bolster his strength and secure his power.
For that, he would need to join forces with the Duke for a while longer.
Berhem removed a ring from his finger and asked.
“How can I verify that what I am given is the royal treasure?”
Thanks to Plakos’s assistance, he could sense the black energy. So he could check whether the pearl was genuine.
But he wondered how those who had no knowledge of royal treasures would verify it.
At that point, Gathros produced a small grayish-white goblet from his robes. With a lid that made it resemble an incense burner at first glance.
Opening the lid of the goblet, Gathros said.
“If you place the royal treasure in here, it will react.”
“Hmm…”
It was an ordinary goblet that was about as common as one might find in a peasant’s household. In fact, it looked so worn down that even a peasant might not use it.
Could they really verify the royal treasure with such a thing?
Berhem, receiving the goblet, placed the ring inside with a curious expression.
Clink.
The ring rolled into the goblet, but nothing happened.
Then, Gathros spoke with a heavy expression.
“Your Majesty, that ring does not appear to be a royal treasure.”
“As the royal history is long, the treasures also vary. You did not express what you wanted.”
“Your Majesty, do you not have an inkling?”
At those words, Berhem twisted his lips into a sardonic smile. It didn’t seem like Gathros was clueless.
“How about this?”
Berhem took off the necklace around his neck. Seeing him do that, Plakos tilted his head.
It was the necklace he had seen whenever he received healing from the king. It was surprisingly plain and ordinary, so he had never suspected it to be a royal treasure.
However…
Bam!
As the necklace entered the goblet, bright light erupted forth.
“Ah…”
The light was so sacred that everyone watching stared with blank expressions.
It was a power that completely differed from the black energy emitted by the Salvation Society.
“This is…”
Berhem also appeared shocked. Having been treated by the priests for so long, he understood. This was divine power. Very powerful divine power at that.
“So there was a way to verify it.”
He had inherited the necklace from his predecessors, having only heard that it was vital. He had never known it possessed such capability.
Greed colored Berhem’s eyes. He had intended to give up the treasure for a healthy body but had thought it was just a necklace with some backstory. With such a power, the stakes had changed.
“Must it strictly be this? I feel a bit sorry for my ancestors since it has been passed down since the founding king. I can offer something greater.”
“Your Majesty, we truly need this.”
With Gathros’s firm stance, Berhem suppressed his anger.
‘Those ungrateful pests. Shouldn’t a king’s request be considered and granted?’
For now, he had no choice but to swallow his anger. He knew the item’s whereabouts, after all; he could recover it later.
Sighing deeply, Berhem continued.
“Very well; regrettable, but it cannot be helped. Let us proceed with the exchange of items and the ceasefire negotiations.”
As Berhem placed the lid back on the goblet, the divine power ceased to flow.
Kayen glanced at Gathros. Was the item indeed correct? Excited, Gathros nodded.
Kayen slightly bowed his head toward Berhem and said.
“Your Majesty, then we shall exchange the items.”
A knight from each side stepped forward to carry the items. Their knights placed their swords against each other’s throats.
They would take one step at a time at the signal. Otherwise, the nearby knight would immediately strike.
They held this exchange in high importance.
As Ghislaine listened to the conversation, her eyes sparkled and she secretly unleashed strands of mana.
“At least I’m glad to be at the front.”
Though she stood at the very front of the 2nd Corps, knights blocked her view of the table. So she couldn’t properly see it.
However, she had confirmed the position via the Dark sent up high.
Kayen glanced around the knights and opened his mouth again.
“Then, on the count of three…”
Bang!
As Kayen was speaking, he suddenly stood, drawing his sword from its sheath.
“What are you doing!”
Count Palantz drew his sword as well. Surrounding knights rushed to shield Berhem, and all soldiers grabbed their weapons.
Of course, the knights holding the items were immediately surrounded by both forces.
In an instant, the atmosphere grew grim. Gathros and the priests of the Salvation Society erected their energies.
This was in case anything went awry and they needed to snatch back the items.
But the instigator of this affair seemed uninterested.
“What is this?”
Kayen frowned while glancing to the side. He couldn’t see anything, but he sensed that something was approaching.
Count Palantz, the royal knight commander, also sensed the same and turned his head.
Both men had reached a master’s level through their own efforts.
They were receiving the peculiar aura picked up by powerful figures of the kingdom.
Kayen’s sword sliced through the air in a flash.
Snap!
Something was severed. Kayen could feel it. At the same time, Count Palantz also slashed through the approaching aura in the air.
Boom!
Kayen gazed fiercely at the Kingdom Army and shouted.
“Who is it!”
There was someone there. Whether a mage or a knight, they wielded mana with extraordinary skill.
This was a technique he had never seen before. They had surely reached an eminent level.
All eyes turned in that direction. Count Palantz also turned around.
Bam!
Just then, Kayen’s eyes widened as he stared at the air.
Hundreds, thousands of glowing threads spread like spider silk in every direction.
“How dare you!”
Boom!
As he swung his sword, all threads of mana enveloping the air vanished in an instant.
Yet, the threads of mana sprang forth from somewhere, covering the sky again. Unable to pinpoint the enemy’s location, Kayen sliced through the threads of mana.
Count Palantz also aimed to find the enemy’s position by slicing through the more widely spread threads of mana.
And that turned out to be their blunder.
As the two swung their swords, searching for their opponent, threads of mana snaked up from the ground and suddenly descended upon the knights.
Only then did Kayen realize the situation and urgently shouted.
“Hold on to the items tightly…”
Snap!
Two items soared high into the air.
Flames flared in Gathros’ eyes.
“Stop!”
He unleashed his energy and leaped. But before him, a soldier in the Kingdom Army jumped out and snatched the box and goblet.
“Grab him!”
Whoever it was, Gathros emitted energy.
Boom!
But the other party released their own energy, blocking it. Instead, they used that very force to retreat further.
Thud.
A soldier dressed in Kingdom Army attire landed on the ground. All eyes were on him.
Kayen glared at him and questioned.
“Who are you?”
The soldier straightened up confidently and said.
“I am the squad leader of the 3rd Infantry Division, Dugly Squad of the 2nd Corps of the Kingdom Army.”
“…”
Kayen looked toward Count Palantz. Count Palantz shook his head.
“I do not know this person.”
“Right, if you’re not here to fight us, there’s no reason for you to pull such a stunt.”
At this point, things were becoming clear. Only one person in the Kingdom would dare to pull such a stunt.
“Count Penris.”
At those words, Ghislaine smirked and revealed her true face.
If she could hide her identity, she would, but frankly, it was so absurd she couldn’t wrap her mind around it.
After all, she would soon be found out in the fight anyway.
“Were you surprised?”
In a relaxed tone, Kayen’s eyebrows twitched. This was the second time he was seeing her live, but she was a familiar face. He had seen her portrait multiple times.
Memories of the intel he had received surfaced late. Count Penris fought using fallen weapons on the battlefield with incredible agility.
She must have used that ability to snatch the items away.
“How dare you…”
It was so unbelievable he could no longer find words. To boldly snatch items while hiding among the Kingdom Army alone—it was insanity in his eyes.
Gathros shouted with an expression filled with rage.
“You little brat! You’re dead now! I’ll kill you here!”
Boom!
Just as he was about to burst forth, he was forced to stop by the suddenly heard words.
“I’ll break it all!”
With a wicked grin, Ghislaine held the box and goblet tightly with both hands.
