The masked Ghislain and the knights strode confidently back into the castle.
They might have looked like bandits intruding, but no one in the castle cared. Their outfits remained the same, and only their faces were partially covered, making it obvious who they were.
The soldiers and servants actually stepped aside as soon as they saw Ghislain's group.
'Here they go again with their crazy antics.'
'He's always consistent... though I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.'
'Let's just pretend we didn't see anything this time too.'
Thanks to everyone treating them like invisible men, Ghislain and the knights made their way to Elena's room without any interference.
Even the escort knights guarding Elena exchanged glances when they saw Ghislain and then simply stepped aside.
Bang!
Ghislain kicked open the door, startling Elena, who shouted in surprise.
"What the heck?!"
"I am the Raider King."
"You crazy idiot! Cut it out already!"
Elena fumed, but Ghislain didn't even pretend to listen. If words wouldn't work, force was the only option.
"Grab her."
At his command, the masked knights surrounded Elena. The assassins who had been protecting her from the ceiling closed their eyes and stayed put as soon as they saw Ghislain.
"D-Don't come closer! I'll hit you!"
Elena raised her fists and backed away, but the knights merely smirked.
"We'll take good care of you."
Swish!
The knights moved in, swiftly binding Elena with ropes. They wrapped her tightly like a cocoon, ensuring she couldn't escape no matter how much she struggled.
Even with her natural holy power, without mastering a mana cultivation technique, it was nearly impossible for Elena to break free from her restraints.
Unable to do anything else, she screamed her lungs out.
"Let me go! Let me go! Aaaaah!"
Once Elena was subdued, Ghislain gestured to the back.
"Bring it in."
A large wooden box was brought forward. Elena, now gagged, was unceremoniously shoved inside.
"See, I told you it would've been better to come quietly."
Once they reached the Northern Army, even Elena would likely give up. Ghislain smirked as he pressed his ear to the box.
All he could hear was heavy, angry breathing. It seemed even Elena couldn't resist any further.
Confident in his victory, Ghislain spoke solemnly.
"With great power comes great responsibility. Use that power for the people. Be still. I'll let you out once we reach the Northern Army."
And that was supposed to be the end of it.
"Grr...!"
Crack, crack!
Hearing strange noises, Ghislain put his ear back to the box. Moments later—
BANG!
"Ugh!"
A fist punched through the box. Ghislain quickly turned his head to dodge.
He glanced into the box and saw eyes blazing with fury staring back at him from the darkness.
"Wow, does anger make her stronger?"
Ever since Elena had realized her own strength, she had been using it recklessly. Ghislain grew more convinced he needed to teach her how to properly control this absurd power.
Frantically, Ghislain signaled the knights.
"Hey, hurry up and move! Keep tying her up as we go. She's turning into a complete monster."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The fists kept bursting out of the box. The knights panicked as they carried the box, trying to restrain Elena.
The assassins, who had been guarding Elena, sighed and followed. It seemed they would have to chase them all the way to the Northern Army.
Just as Ghislain was about to set off with Elena secured, Zwalter came running out, huffing and puffing.
"Do, do you really have to take her like this?"
"Didn't you tell me to handle it myself? This is the only way."
"Ah, her temper is just like her mother's..."
At Zwalter's comment, Ghislain and Belinda both turned their heads simultaneously. They couldn't reveal the secret about her mother yet.
Sighing as if he had no choice, Zwalter spoke again.
"Fine, if that's what you've decided. Take good care of your sister."
"Understood. You don't need to worry."
"And... take Skovan with you."
"What? Skovan? Why?"
Zwalter averted his eyes slightly as he replied.
"Well, he's been struggling to adjust to the territory lately... I thought a change of scenery might help... And you'll need a knight to guard Elena, won't you?"
Once they reached the Northern Army, Elena and Rachel would receive tight security. There was no real need for Skovan to tag along.
The assassins tasked with guarding them had already packed their belongings and joined the group.
Ghislain, catching on to Zwalter's real intent, clicked his tongue inwardly. Zwalter was effectively shoving Skovan off to the Northern Army.
'Poor guy.'
Skovan's reputation had hit rock bottom due to one ridiculous rumor.
Ghislain glanced sideways. Skovan stood there with a dejected expression, carrying his luggage. Beside him was Ricardo, looking utterly dazed, as if he'd lost his mind.
Skovan seemed determined not to go alone. He had dragged along Ricardo, the source of the rumor, under the condition of his transfer to the Northern Army.
The Northern Army already had a reputation as a demonic force. Adding another person with a bad reputation wouldn't make much difference.
Ghislain chuckled quietly and nodded.
"Understood. I'll take Skovan as well. Then, we'll be on our way."
Bang!
Another fist broke through the box. The knights struggled to push Elena's head back down and tie her up again.
"Father! Do something! This madman is kidnapping me! Mmph!"
Zwalter looked on with a tearful expression, as if he wanted to rescue his daughter from a demon immediately.
Seeing his face, Ghislain waved at the knights frantically.
"Hey! Tie her up again! Let's go! Hurry, move!"
And so, with new members added to their group, the party set off toward the Northern Army camp.
***
Meanwhile, the Northern Army, without Ghislain, was stationed at one point on the southern front, standing by.
Their task was to remain on alert until Ghislain's return. They were also tasked with intercepting the duchy's forces should they arrive.
After Ghislain's departure, news came that the duchy had begun moving, putting the army on high alert.
While everyone maintained a tense watch, Alpoi was being forced to study under Vanessa. A strange rumor had started circulating.
Apparently, the duchy was targeting both Claude and Alpoi.
— "The Head butler proved himself during the war, right? He's also the Head butler of the great territory. Plus, he's a bit annoying, so they probably want to kill him."
— "But why Alpoi? He's just as annoying, but wouldn't it make more sense to go after Vanessa first? They can deal with Alpoi later."
Many found the rumors puzzling and dismissed them as nonsense.
But cautious as ever, Vanessa thought there had to be some truth behind the rumors. She began insisting that Alpoi grow stronger and even study on the battlefield.
From her vantage point, Vanessa observed Alpoi in the tent, poring over a book.
'How surprising to see him studying so diligently... He must be worried about the rumors.'
Watching him focus, Vanessa smiled in satisfaction. She had rarely seen him so absorbed in anything.
But Alpoi's mind was elsewhere as he stared at the book.
'I should've eaten that pie earlier. Is there a way to squeeze more money out of Piote? Is my pet chicken living well in heaven? Why do humans even exist?'
'I want to go out and have fun. I wish I were a count with my own territory. Maybe my parents are actually rich nobles. What if I'm not really an orphan, and my master kidnapped me? Yeah, that must be it.'
'What's for dinner? Why do books always make me sleepy? Maybe I'm just not cut out for studying. And why does Ascon always yell at me for no reason?'
His thoughts had nothing to do with studying.
Alpoi couldn't focus on the book at all. Ever since arriving at Fenris, where he'd been forced into physical labor, his brain felt sluggish.
'I need stimulation. A strong stimulus that can wake up my head again.'
In his current state, studying was pointless. Alpoi abruptly stood up from his seat. Vanessa immediately swooped in and spoke.
"Alpoi! Why are you getting up in the middle of studying?"
"...Were you watching me?"
"N-No, it's not that. Just a coincidence?"
"I have something on my mind. I need to consult with the Head butler about it. I can't focus because of these worries."
Vanessa narrowed her eyes. Considering how often he made excuses to avoid studying, she found it hard to believe him.
"Fine. Consult quickly and get back to studying. You need to master at least one 5th-circle spell soon. 5th-circle magic requires a deeper understanding of elemental forces, so you'll need to pay more attention to the arrangement of mana—"
"Alright, alright..."
As Vanessa's penchant for giving impromptu lectures kicked in, Alpoi hung his head in resignation. Honestly, he disliked studying so much that none of it sank in.
Once Vanessa's surprise lecture ended, Alpoi left with a gloomy expression and headed to find Claude.
Inside the command tent, Claude was discussing something with Erenes. Seeing Alpoi, Claude cheerfully raised a hand.
"Hey, Alpoi. What's up? Aren't you busy studying?"
"Uh, could I get some advice for a moment?"
"Of course. If it's a problem for my bro, I'll always listen."
Alpoi sat down and, with a serious expression, began to speak.
"You know, lately I've been finding it really hard to study. It feels like my brain's rusted over. Back in the day, I was smart enough to be considered a successor to the Magic Tower."
"Well, that can happen if you don't use your brain for a while."
"Exactly. So, do you have any ideas on how I can stimulate my brain? I need a strong stimulus—not physical, but something that works my mind."
Claude nodded knowingly. This was precisely the kind of thing he excelled at.
"It's because all you do is odds-and-even games. When you cheat using magic, you don't need to think. Why don't you try switching to card games?"
"Hmm... card games?"
"Yeah. Unlike odds-and-evens, card games force you to predict your opponent's hand and engage in constant psychological warfare. It'll stimulate your brain plenty because you'll have to think a lot."
Alpoi nodded in agreement. Indeed, odds-and-evens didn't require much thought, especially since he cheated using magic. Plus, there was no one left willing to play with him.
Still, there was one thing about Claude's suggestion that didn't quite satisfy him.
"That makes sense. But wouldn't that level of stimulus be too mild? I want something even stronger."
"Raise the stakes, then."
"Ah, of course."
Raising the stakes would indeed heighten the stimulus.
As expected of Claude. To provide a solution so quickly... As much as Alpoi disliked him, he couldn't help but respect his intelligence.
"...."
Erenes, who had been listening to their conversation, stared at the two of them with a blank expression.
They seemed like a pair of fools putting on a comedy act. And yet, they were supposedly key figures in the Northern Army.
Erenes couldn't shake the feeling she had chosen the wrong people to associate with.
Claude turned to Erenes with a grin.
"What do you think, Lady Erenes? Don't you agree with my suggestion for Alpoi to change his focus?"
"...What do you mean?"
"About Alpoi switching to a new game to stimulate his brain. My idea isn't bad, right?"
"I... don't know about that."
"Ah, it must be because you've spent all your time in the forest. You've missed out on the joys of life. Such a shame."
"...."
As a high elf Grand Chieftain who had lived for countless years, Erenes had never encountered anyone as absurd as these two.
Even human nobles wouldn't dare utter such nonsense in her presence.
She had no idea how to respond to people this "raw and unfiltered."
An awkward silence filled the air until a scout suddenly burst into the tent, shouting.
"The duchy's army has been spotted nearby! They'll be here soon. Their scouts must have already seen us."
At this, Claude asked in a nonchalant tone.
"How many?"
"We estimate about 100,000."
"Wow, that's a lot. So they split their forces into three divisions for the capital, and sent 100,000 here? They're really determined to crush us."
Clicking his tongue, Claude stood up.
It was already expected that the duchy alone could muster an army of over 100,000. On top of that, all the duchy's southern vassals had joined forces.
The southern region had always been rich in resources and food. If they poured all their capabilities into it, it was hard to even estimate how many soldiers they could raise.
This was a force far greater than even the once-dominant Marquis Rodrik of the west—a truly unparalleled power within the kingdom.
Claude stroked his chin a few times, mumbling to himself.
"Let's see... We can't notify the lord, so I guess it's up to us to stop them."
Dark had long since expended all his mana and disappeared. The lord might send a new clone, but the battle would begin soon regardless.
The Northern Army was stationed on the shortest route between the south and the capital, the most critical location. As such, the strongest force had to defend it.
Claude grinned slyly.
"They think they can overrun us easily now that the lord's away... I wonder what tricks they've prepared. Probably the usual stuff, but still..."
The Northern Army was renowned for its strength. Their weapons, armor, and the individual capabilities of their soldiers were unmatched. Sheer numbers alone wouldn't guarantee victory against them.
The duchy, of course, must have prepared accordingly to counter such a force.
But there was one thing the duchy didn't know: Ghislain wasn't the only superhuman on their side.
Claude turned to Erenes with a smile.
"This time, we'll need you to bring out your full strength, Grand Chieftain."
"Fine. Seeing you lot, I think I'd rather just go out and fight than deal with this nonsense."
As Erenes stood, an immense, mountain-like energy began to radiate from her.
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]