Chapter 506
Chapter 506: I Shall Demand Justice from the King (4)
The Capital Defense Commander hid atop the castle walls, nervously biting his nails.
‘What should I do? Should I open it? Or not?’
Count Penris and the Northern Army’s power was notorious, and he had only recently taken office without any combat experience.
No matter how formidable Cardenia’s castle walls were, he lacked the confidence to stand against them.
‘Damn it, why did you have to come a little later?’
Right now, all forces in the capital were preparing for withdrawal. They planned to flee in two days, but nobody expected Count Penris to arrive before that.
As he pondered, a loud shout rang out from below.
“Open up!”
Count Penris continued to repeat the order to open the gate as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The Capital Defense Commander was sweating profusely.
The knights and soldiers around him looked at him as if he were pathetic.
Then, a thunderous voice boomed.
“If you won’t open, I’ll come up myself!”
“What?”
The Capital Defense Commander was startled. He intends to climb these high castle walls?
Just as he was beginning to think he misheard, another loud shout echoed.
“Anyone who tries to stop me will die!”
“……”
The Capital Defense Commander just rolled his eyes in disbelief. Soon, a soldier rushed over.
“Count Penris is coming up!”
“What? How? How is he climbing up?”
“He stabbed a dagger into the wall and is using it as a foothold to jump high up……”
“……”
“It seems he’ll be here soon.”
Hearing the soldier’s words, the Capital Defense Commander turned pale and shouted.
“Stop him! Block him! No, if he comes up, capture him! Why isn’t the castle wall magic activating?!”
As the last line of defense for the capital, a considerable number of soldiers remained here, and the quality of the knights and wizards was high.
If Count Penris managed to climb up alone, there might be a chance of winning.
Thud!
Just then, Ghislaine appeared atop the castle wall.
The Capital Defense Commander yelled like mad.
“There’s only one enemy! Hurry and capture him! Attack!”
But nobody moved. It was only natural. No one in their right mind would want to fight Ghislaine directly.
“W-what are you doing? Are you disobeying orders? Capture that traitor immediately!”
The Capital Defense Commander trembled and stepped back.
No matter how much he yelled, nobody seemed to be listening. He couldn’t understand why this was happening.
Ghislaine approached him with a smirk. The soldiers automatically stepped aside to make way.
Ghislaine casually glanced around and tossed in a remark.
“Hey, you all are still alive. It’s been a while.”
Ghislaine had frequented the capital, and many of the knights and soldiers recognized his face.
As Ghislaine acknowledged them, the knights and soldiers forced awkward smiles.
The Capital Defense Commander watched the scene in a daze.
Ghislaine, who approached him, grinned.
“Didn’t you know we were all friends?”
“T-this traitor…”
The Capital Defense Commander gritted his teeth.
He should have eradicated all the knights and soldiers completely. Who would have thought Count Penris had such close ties with the defenders?
But he couldn’t die like this. He had obtained this position with a lot of bribery. He had enjoyed a few months of happiness, and he didn’t want to leave this world so emptily.
Regaining his composure, he immediately fell to the ground and shouted.
“P-please spare me! I will surrender…!”
Slash!
Before he could finish his plea, his head was severed by Ghislaine’s sword.
Wiping the blood off his blade, Ghislaine muttered.
“So, you should have just opened the gate when I asked nicely.”
The capital, known as the kingdom’s strongest fortress, Cardenia, fell surprisingly easily.
No matter how strong a fortress is, if the soldiers defending it lack the will to fight, there’s no way it can withstand an assault.
Boom, boom, boom……
Cardenia’s castle gate required simultaneous operation of twelve mechanisms and wizards manipulating a magic circuit to open.
That difficult-to-open gate slowly began to creak open.
Through the open gate, the Penris Mobile Army confidently entered, holding their banners high. There were no forces to block their advance.
The capital remained desolate. Everyone was trying to avoid stepping outside their homes as much as possible.
Once the army entered, several people quietly slipped away, holding their breath. They hurriedly averted their gazes, fearing they’d be captured if they made eye contact.
Those who had secretly hidden indoors peeked out at the troops through their windows.
And several among them recognized the Penris banner.
“Th-that banner is…”
“It’s Count Penris! It’s Count Penris!”
“The Saint has come!”
When someone shouted, everyone hidden in the houses rushed to the windows. Those outside looked up to confirm the banner of the army.
“It’s really true…”
“It’s really Count Penris…”
“It’s the banner of the Penris Mobile Army!”
This imposing figure at the front riding a massive black horse was Count Penris, someone they had seen many times before. Everyone recognized Ghislaine’s face.
“Count Penris has come!”
People began to emerge from their homes one by one. Those who had been fleeing returned to crowd around the army.
They looked at the Penris banner and Ghislaine’s face, shedding tears. Some even collapsed on the ground, weeping.
They were all waiting for someone to save them.
And rumors spread. The Northern Wolf, Perdium, would come to save them. Ghislaine would come to defeat the beasts of the Rift and fend off the Duke Faction’s army.
People waited while harboring a flicker of hope. Finally, that hope turned into reality as Ghislaine appeared.
“Count Penris!”
“Count! Please save us!”
“Please save us!”
Everyone rushed forward, bowing before Ghislaine and shouting. The cries grew louder and spread further.
Hearing those sounds, even more people ventured outside. Soon, the streets of the capital were filled with crowds.
Screams erupted everywhere. Everyone was crying out for someone to save them.
In silent contemplation of the cries, Ghislaine clenched his fist and raised his arm. For a moment, all the shouting ceased.
In the quiet stillness, Ghislaine’s voice rang out powerfully.
“There’s no need to worry any longer! The tyrant’s oppression ends today!”
People held their breath, waiting for Ghislaine’s next words. He declared in a resolute voice.
“My father, Marquis Zvalter Perdium, will usher in a new era!”
“Waaahhh!”
At Ghislaine’s proclamation, the crowd erupted in cheers.
The Northern Wolf, Zvalter Perdium, was well-known to them as well. He was reputed to be responsible and caring towards the territory residents.
If he were to become king, life would become much better. Moreover, his son was Ghislaine, whom the people revered as a saint.
It was obvious that the next king would be Ghislaine, so they couldn’t help but rejoice.
Belinda whispered to Ghislaine.
“Are you sure it’s okay to announce it already? I thought the marquis would be troubled by this.”
Even if one were to usurp the throne, they wouldn’t make such a bold announcement to take over.
After suppressing the tyrant by force, proper procedures and support from the nobility would be needed to sit on the throne indirectly.
But to boldly declare one’s intent to ascend the throne like this was bound to embarrass Zvalter, given his personality.
However, Ghislaine responded nonchalantly.
“He’s going to sit anyway, right? Closing my eyes and pretending wouldn’t do anything but waste time. Look, the people like it.”
“Hmm, that’s true.”
People worn out by tyranny responded even more enthusiastically to Ghislaine’s words. In fact, such affirmations seemed to resonate well with them.
It was truly the first time in a long while that the capital was abuzz with excitement. Everyone was busy cheering and crying.
Even so, no one came to capture the people. The defenders and the constabulary had all surrendered.
Now only the royal castle garrison and the royal knights remained.
“Let’s head to the castle!”
“Waaahhh!”
The furious crowd picked up their weapons and followed Ghislaine. It was a bizarre situation, blending rebellion and a popular uprising.
The number of people gathered continued to grow. They endlessly chanted Ghislaine’s name, causing the capital to buzz with anticipation.
Just then, someone blocked Ghislaine’s path.
“Huh?”
Ghislaine blinked several times. The person standing in front of him shouldn’t have been there.
“Bishop Porisco?”
The archbishops and bishops of the four major sects had fled long ago. The priests who had remained to help the people had all been captured and killed.
So, he assumed Porisco would have fled as well. There was no way that shrewd individual would be lingering around.
But surprisingly, he was still present in the capital.
Looking quite famished, the thin Porisco’s eyes gleamed with tears.
“You really came! You really did! I’m alive! I’m alive!”
Ghislaine, a bit surprised, asked.
“Weren’t you going to run away?”
“I was going to!”
“Then why didn’t you?”
“……Because of the children.”
“Children?”
Looking closely, Ghislaine could see dozens of scruffy children behind Porisco. The children also looked starved, all appearing frail and weak.
Sighing, Porisco spoke.
“I was going to escape, but when I saw the children from the poor district running away… I tried to hide them but ended up…”
Porisco hesitated to say that they held him back because there were too many people around.
Ghislaine looked at him incredulously.
“You were going to hide the children? You, Bishop?”
“……Yeah.”
When the king was sweeping through the poor district, Porisco had planned to grab his remaining possessions and run away.
However, when the fleeing children saw him, they cried out.
— Saint! Please save us!
Having met Ghislaine, Porisco’s hunger for honor had soared to the skies. Hearing the title of ‘saint’, he couldn’t turn his back on the children.
He had hidden the children in a secret place in the temple, intending to escape alone, but ended up getting trapped with them due to a missed opportunity.
He had been waiting for a chance to escape when he heard the people shouting and cautiously stepped outside.
The outcome was astonishing.
“Waaahhh! It really is the Saint!”
“You saved the children!”
“I knew it would be like this!”
This time, the people turned their cheers toward Porisco. Most priests had fled, yet he alone remained to protect the children!
If this man wasn’t called a saint, who could possibly be one?
Porisco looked confused.
“……?”
He had truly intended to hide the children and escape on his own. He had no intention of taking responsibility whatsoever. He thought there was enough dried food in the secret place to last for a while.
What he could provide was just about that much. The soldiers had simply arrived, forcing him into this predicament. Ghislaine had arrived and rescued him.
Yet, people were cheering for him. Porisco wasn’t one to miss such an opportunity.
Suddenly, he changed his expression dramatically and shouted loudly.
“How could a priest serving the divine leave little children behind and run away!”
“Waaahhh!”
“If not me, who will go to hell for them!”
“Waaahhh!”
“Today! In the name of the divine, I shall punish the wrongful king!”
“Waaahhh!”
“……”
Ghislaine silently observed the scene. In an instant, the atmosphere shifted to favor Porisco.
He had felt it before, but it was certain that he was not an ordinary person.
Ghislaine beckoned the Defense Army knights who were trailing behind him.
“Distribute the Defense Army’s rations to the children and the hungry.”
“Understood.”
As Ghislaine prepared to advance to the royal castle again, Porisco hurriedly followed him.
“I’m coming too!”
“Hmm? Why?”
“I’m the only bishop left in the capital! I’ll testify to the king’s mistakes and officially support the Marquis Perdium! This is the will of the Juana Sect! I’m truly a saint now!”
“Oh really.”
Even if they were going to force Zvalter onto the throne, having the sect’s bishop supporting him would be better for optics. After all, the priests were qualified to judge a king who had succumbed to heresy.
Porisco, as the only bishop remaining who didn’t flee, was guaranteed to become an archbishop. He would surely receive the title of ‘saint’ that he had been denied before.
If he officially lent his support, it would be easier to suppress any backlash from other nobles and maintain legitimacy as well.
Ghislaine nodded willingly.
“Very well. Come along.”
“That damn king, the bastard, he’s really going to die.”
Porisco seemed to be genuinely angry at how hard things had been for him, cursing as he followed Ghislaine.
Honestly, knowing Ghislaine’s power, he was no longer afraid. After all, had he not chased away those Salvation Society priests hiding in the capital?
Brimming with confidence, Porisco and the Penris Army led the way to the royal castle.
Upon arriving at the castle, they faced a contingent of soldiers waiting at the front.
“Stop!”
The Royal Knight Commander, Count Palantz, spoke with a stern expression.
“Hmph.”
Ghislaine smiled slightly before dismounting his horse.
Combining the royal castle garrison and the royal knights, their numbers were still minimal. There was no way they could withstand the Penris Mobile Army and the enraged civilians.
The royal castle garrison looked pale with fear. The royal knights were equally tense.
Count Palantz was aware of this, so he had no choice but to harden his expression.
As Ghislaine drew his sword, he spoke.
“We meet again.”
Crack.
Count Palantz ground his teeth. The humiliation of having his items taken by him resurfaced in his mind.
Yet, he had to acknowledge Ghislaine’s skill.
The trusted Kingdom Army had all betrayed him and sided with Marquis Perdium. This wasn’t entirely due to Perdium’s character and reputation; it was largely due to the impressive track record of Count Penris.
Thus, he couldn’t help but feel regret.
“When attacking Marquis Branford, you should have taken him out too.”
“Had I done that, the king would have died then.”
“You scoundrel…”
Count Palantz gritted his teeth again. Ghislaine spoke with a cold gaze.
“I will give you a choice. Fight or surrender. Even if you surrender, you will die.”
The Royal Knight Commander was a dangerous individual. No matter how much Ghislaine loved capable people, once the thought of killing the king crossed Palantz’s mind, he could not be left alive.
“……Huff.”
Count Palantz exhaled a rough breath. The situation had completely turned around.
He had failed to flee. He had been told that the Perdium army was moving slowly, yet he hadn’t expected them to arrive so quickly.
It felt like they had all been dancing in Ghislaine’s palm.
But what could he do? He was the Royal Knight Commander. Having sworn loyalty to the king, he couldn’t just run away alone.
However, he didn’t want his treasured subordinates to die needlessly.
There was only one way to break this situation.
Count Palantz extended his sword and declared.
“I challenge you to a duel, Count Penris.”
All he had to do was to kill this guy.
