Chapter 507
I Will Hold the King Accountable (5)
Ghislain nodded in response to Count Palantz’s challenge.
“A duel... Fine, I accept.”
Count Palantz bit his lip at Ghislain’s arrogant response. Still, a glimmer of hope had appeared, allowing him to endure the provocation.
That brat had gained some fame recently, but Palantz didn’t believe he was at a level to defeat him.
After all, he had been one of the kingdom’s top masters long before that boy even made a name for himself.
Belinda whispered beside Ghislain.
“Why bother accepting? You could just crush him.”
“I want to set a record.”
“Huh? What record?”
“Seizing the capital without spilling a single drop of a soldier’s blood. Doesn’t that sound like a challenge worth taking on?”
As a man, he couldn’t resist the allure of such an achievement. It wasn’t necessary, but since he could do it, why not?
The Royal Knights were known for their exceptional skill. Given the overwhelming difference in numbers, they could be defeated quickly, but he couldn’t guarantee that no knights or soldiers would be injured or killed in the process.
At Ghislain’s gesture, everyone stepped back, creating an open space. The royal castle’s defenders and the Royal Knights did the same.
Belinda shook her head, well aware of Ghislain’s reckless nature.
“No one can stop you, huh? Well, at least this means the other soldiers will be safe.”
Her words carried an implicit meaning—she had no doubt Ghislain would win.
Count Palantz, hearing this, let out a ragged breath. The relaxed demeanor of the two made him furious, enough to want to kill them on the spot.
“You arrogant wretches… Do you really think so little of me?”
“Well... it’s not that I think little of you. I just don’t see myself losing.”
“Hah! You’ve always been infamous for your arrogance. Today, I’ll make sure to fix that attitude of yours.”
—Shiiing!
A powerful Aura Blade surged violently from Count Palantz’s sword.
Seeing this, Ghislain readied his stance and smirked.
“Let’s see what the so-called ‘second strongest’ in the kingdom can do.”
“You brat!”
Those words struck Count Palantz’s sorest spot. He had always been ranked second, overshadowed by Count Balzac.
But he never accepted that ranking. He firmly believed that if he fought to the death, he would come out victorious.
Now was the time to prove his true strength.
—BOOM!
Like a bolt of lightning, Count Palantz’s sword came crashing down toward Ghislain’s head, giving him no room to breathe.
—CLANG!
—WHOOSH!
Ghislain raised his sword to block the attack, and at the same time, his body was enveloped in a dark aura.
Without hesitation, Count Palantz’s sword swiftly aimed for Ghislain’s side. There was nothing flashy about his movements, but they were fast and steady, the embodiment of a knight’s swordplay.
—CLANG!
Once again, the attack was blocked. But Count Palantz didn’t let it faze him; he immediately adjusted his stance and continued attacking, targeting only Ghislain’s vital points.
‘My technique is superior!’
Count Palantz believed this with all his heart.
He had heard plenty about the Fenris Count’s reputation. Considering his age, the boy could certainly be called a genius.
However, youth inevitably came with weaknesses. No matter how many victories he had achieved on the battlefield, in a one-on-one duel, he was bound to lack experience.
‘That young blood and arrogance end here!’
There was no way the Fenris Count could handle the relentless onslaught of his swordsmanship.
He was certain of it…
Klang! Kaang! Kaang!
‘W-What is this?’
His sword was being blocked with increasing ease. His opponent didn’t even seem to struggle. Rather, the occasional counterattacks were terrifyingly sharp.
Despite attempting more attacks, he was the one being pushed back.
“What is this…?”
Count Palantz’s sword began to tremble with panic. His stance grew more unsteady, while his opponent’s strikes remained relentless.
Kaang! Kaang! Kwaaang!
Count Palantz, barely managing to parry Ghislain’s sword, suddenly lost his balance and exposed his chest.
Slash!
“Guhk!”
His armor was sliced open, and blood spurted from his chest. He barely managed to stumble backward, panting, his expression one of disbelief.
“H-How could you…?”
Skill? Strength? In every aspect, he was no match. He couldn’t comprehend how this young man had reached a higher level than him.
Ghislain’s crimson eyes gleamed within the dark aura as he spoke.
“You’ve never truly fought before, have you?”
“W-What did you say?”
“So the rumors were true. You reached the rank of Master with nothing but the best support in a sheltered environment. And after that, you didn’t even bother to train properly.”
“You bastard…”
Count Palantz gritted his teeth in humiliation.
Since childhood, he had been incredibly gifted. That was why the royal family had granted him a Dragon Heart, allowing him to become a Master.
But it was also true that he had grown complacent and neglected his training. After all, he believed no one in this kingdom could defeat him.
He had been one of only two Masters in the kingdom. Naturally, he thought himself untouchable.
Had he known the era of chaos would bring forth so many monsters, he would have lived differently.
‘I never imagined my own laziness would bring me such disgrace.’
Ghislain shook his head as he looked at the contorted face of Count Palantz.
‘He’s on the same level as Tennant.’
He was a Master, so he wasn’t weak enough to be completely disregarded. However, compared to the formidable foes Ghislain had faced thus far, he wasn’t impressive either.
It was painfully obvious how inexperienced he was in real combat. He had likely grown complacent as the Royal Knight Commander, neglecting his own training.
“There’s nothing more to see. You’re inferior to Count Balzac. Now that I think about it, even when I stole those supplies, you reacted slower than Count Balzac.”
“You bastard!!! How dare you say such things!!!”
Enraged, Count Palantz lunged at Ghislain once more. He burned through his own life force, unleashing a massive Aura Blade.
Even if it meant dying right here, he had to erase this humiliation.
Ghislain also intensified his dark aura and met him head-on.
Kuuwoong!
A powerful shockwave erupted, destroying everything around them.
Crack!
With every clash of their swords and every movement of their feet, the ground split apart. A storm of mana surged outward, as if trying to devour everything in its path.
The onlookers couldn’t even keep their eyes open properly and instinctively retreated. Getting caught up in that battle would mean certain death.
Kwaaang! Kwaaaaang!
Sizzle—
Ghislain’s dark aura flared even more violently. He couldn’t suppress the laughter escaping him.
‘A Master is still a Master, after all.’
Count Palantz was drawing on his life force to the point where his hair had turned white. At this level, the force behind each of his swings was overwhelming.
To the extent that…
“I’m finally getting warmed up. This is getting interesting.”
“Shut up! You dishonorable wretch!”
“For someone who isn’t even a knight, you sure have a lot of pride.”
“You bastard!!!”
Count Palantz’s face twisted like that of a raging demon as he wildly swung his sword.
He hadn’t even opposed the king’s tyranny, instead using "loyalty" as an excuse to assist him. He had no right to be outraged over this disgrace.
Ghislain, in fact, didn’t even consider him a knight. To him, Palantz was nothing more than a powerful beast wearing a knight’s disguise.
The two clashed for a long time. But anyone could see that Ghislain’s victory was inevitable.
Count Palantz, who had burned through his life force, was tiring far more quickly than Ghislain, who had simply enhanced his strength.
Eventually, his movements slowed to a crawl, and his body was riddled with wounds. He collapsed to the ground.
“Guh… You bastard…”
Kneeling, Count Palantz looked utterly devastated. Ghislain slowly placed his sword against his throat.
“You used up all your strength before dying, so you won’t have any regrets, right?”
“You dare… to do this… to me, the Royal Knight Commander… You traitorous scum…”
Ghislain gazed at Count Palantz, whose hair had turned white, as he glared back in fury.
“The Dragon Heart was wasted on you, fool.”
Schlick!
In an instant, Count Palantz’s head was severed. His eyes remained twisted in anger even in death.
As his severed head rolled across the ground, all the royal knights bowed their heads. The royal guards, following their commander’s orders, dropped their weapons and prostrated themselves on the ground.
“Arrest them all. After an investigation, they will either be punished according to their crimes or reorganized.”
Ghislain’s words prompted the Fenris soldiers to stride forward confidently and tie them all up.
At that moment, cheers erupted from the crowd.
“Waaaah! As expected of Count Fenris!”
“Not even the Royal Knight Commander can stand against him!”
“Count Fenris is the strongest!”
The spectators, having witnessed an incredible spectacle, rejoiced as if they themselves had won.
Porisco approached Ghislain for no reason and radiated divine power.
“I’ll heal you, my lord.”
“There’s no need. I’m not injured.”
“Ah, just shut up and take it. It looks good right now. Seriously, you fight like a beast. I knew you’d win.”
Porisco whispered softly, wearing a benevolent smile. A victorious warrior and the priest tending to him—what a picturesque scene.
As the two figures, both renowned as saints, stood together, the cheers of the people grew even louder.
With Count Palantz also defeated, there was no one left to stand in their way. Ghislain and the Fenris knights marched boldly into the royal palace.
Most of the people inside had already fled. Those who hadn’t managed to escape lay flat on the ground in submission.
Ignoring them, Ghislain headed straight for the king’s quarters.
Kwaaang!
With a single strike, the door was shattered. Inside, a terrified Berhem cowered behind his attendants. Standing beside him, wearing a grave expression, was Marquis Domont.
Ghislain glanced at them before speaking.
“Marquis Domont, I heard you were the one who brought the Salvation Church into this.”
“It was to treat His Majesty. It was his command as well.”
“Don’t make excuses. You think I wouldn’t see through your greed for power?”
“……”
“You enjoyed yourself for a while, didn’t you? No regrets, I assume.”
Overshadowed by the king’s tyranny, Marquis Domont had, in truth, wielded immense power by using the king as his shield.
Not only had he been granted vast lands, but he had also siphoned off national funds to enrich his family. He had even orchestrated the embezzlement of military supplies.
He had become the powerful noble he had always desired to be. Though it had only been a fleeting dream.
But now, with his military support vanishing in an instant, his authority crumbled into dust.
Marquis Domont had never imagined their downfall would come so easily. He had thought the royal army would hold out until the ducal forces arrived.
His voice trembled as he spoke.
“I surrender. Please judge me through a fair trial and due process.”
“A fair trial? Due process?”
Ghislain’s expression twisted in disbelief. Fair trial and due process? Did such things even exist in this kingdom anymore? The entire capital’s judicial system, starting with the Chief Justice, had already been filled with his own people.
And most of them had already fled. There was no one left to hold a trial.
As Ghislain stepped toward him, he spoke coldly.
“You’re trying every trick now that you’re about to die. Did you follow the proper procedures when you drove the kingdom to ruin?”
“You are a traitor as well!”
“That’s right. So what do you expect from a traitor?”
“B-But isn’t it all over now? As a noble of the kingdom, shouldn’t you uphold the law?”
“Fine. If that’s what you want, I’ll pass judgment.”
The moment his words ended, Ghislain seized Marquis Domont by the throat.
“Kuugh!”
“As Commander of the Northern Army, I sentence you to immediate execution under military law.”
The misappropriation of military supplies alone was enough to warrant punishment. Moreover, during wartime, a commander had the authority to execute such sentences at any time.
“Guh… W-Wait! You’re the commander of the Northern Army, not of the capital—”
Thud!
Before Marquis Domont could finish his sentence, Ghislain’s sword pierced his stomach.
“Keugh…”
As Marquis Domont coughed up blood and collapsed, Berhem let out a scream.
“Chamberlain! Chamberlain!”
Berhem crawled over frantically and examined Marquis Domont’s body. However, the marquis was already a lifeless corpse.
Trembling, he looked up at Ghislain. The sight of Ghislain standing there, holding a sword dripping with blood, was terrifying.
Berhem could no longer afford to let his rage consume him as before. The only thing left for him to do was beg.
“S-Spare me. You mustn’t kill me. I-I will pardon your rebellion.”
“……”
“I-I’ll grant you a duke’s title and all the lands of the Royal Demesne.”
“……”
Ghislain simply stared at him coldly without a word, prompting Berhem to cry out in desperation.
“I’ll give you all the royal treasury’s gold and silver! Everything you desire!”
Instead of responding, Ghislain turned his gaze to Porisco. As Porisco hurriedly stepped forward, he declared in a solemn voice:
“Hear me, tyrant who has fallen into heresy!”
“W-What?”
“I, Porisco, Archbishop of the Juana Order in the Kingdom of Ritania, speak on behalf of all the clergy still remaining in the capital!”
“W-What nonsense… Why are you speaking now…?”
Berhem’s expression was one of sheer disbelief.
All the priests in the capital had either fled or been captured and killed. How could he claim to represent all of them?
Berhem had never imagined that Porisco had remained in the capital.
Porisco continued speaking with a grave expression.
“The archbishops and bishops of the Four Major Temples have unanimously decided to strip you of your right to rule and excommunicate you! You are no longer king!”
Since Porisco was the only priest left in the capital, calling the decision unanimous wasn’t exactly incorrect.
The archbishops had all fled, meaning there was no one left to refute Porisco’s self-proclaimed title as Archbishop.
‘This is bliss.’
Porisco had finally secured the Archbishop position he had once failed to attain. The Holy One title, too.
It was truly a testament to human perseverance.
Upon hearing that he had been stripped of his right to rule, Berhem flew into a rage.
“Who dares revoke my authority?! I am the king! I AM THE KING!”
Porisco refused to lose the argument.
“A king’s authority is granted by the heavens, and the heavens now reclaim it! Tyrant, repent before the goddess! This is the will of all the temples! The new king shall be the Marquis of Ferdium!”
“Silence! I will never accept this!”
The Four Major Temples were the dominant religious forces on the continent. They possessed the authority to excommunicate and depose a heretical ruler.
Normally, this was merely a symbolic power, barely even acknowledged. But in a situation like this, it proved invaluable.
It gave Zwalter’s rebellion a powerful justification.
Porisco smirked as he looked down at the frenzied Berhem.
‘And what can you do now?’
The scales had already tipped. Berhem was powerless.
Realizing this, Berhem clung desperately to Ghislain’s pant leg, wailing.
“Please! Spare me! I don’t want to die like this! I’ll even live as a slave if I must—just let me live!”
Ghislain frowned at the pathetic sight.
So, this was the man Marquis Branford and the other nobles had fought so hard to protect?
He could understand the desire to survive. But Berhem’s crimes were far too great.
For the new era to begin, Berhem had to die. The king of the old order would only be an obstacle if left alive.
But before that, there was something Ghislain needed to ask.
Slowly, he pulled out a necklace and spoke.
“Tell me about the Shadow Knights. And this so-called sacred artifact.”
Even if he was going to kill him, he wanted to satisfy his curiosity first.