Chapter 520
The Civil War Is Over. (4)
Even in Ghislain’s past life, the Seven Strongest on the Continent had never been on good terms with one another. They were all too powerful to fear anything, making it inevitable.
Parniel cracked her neck from side to side, while Ereneth clenched and unclenched her fingers.
The tension in the air grew so thick that those around them dared not approach, merely watching anxiously from a distance.
Except for one person.
“Ah! Are you two about to fight again? What is it this time? Whatever it is, settle it quickly! We need to go save our lord!”
“……”
“……”
Having spent time in Fenris, Piote had become somewhat more perceptive than before. And he owed that entirely to Alfoi.
As he hurriedly ran over and shouted, the two simply turned away and walked off in opposite directions.
Piote shook his head as he watched them go.
“Seriously, what’s with everyone trying to solve everything with violence? Lord Fenris is one thing, but why does everyone else act the same way?”
If it were about beating up Claude or Alfoi, that was one thing, but he sincerely wished they wouldn’t fight amongst themselves.
It didn’t take long to mop up the remaining Delfine forces. Their formation had already collapsed, and with no transcendents left, it was impossible for them to hold out against the Northern Army.
Upon learning that Gartros had fled, the officers of the Delfine forces shouted loudly.
“Surrender!”
The call echoed throughout the battlefield.
With their supreme commander gone, there was no longer any reason for them to fight.
Soon, all the remaining soldiers of the Delfine forces laid down their weapons and prostrated themselves on the ground.
A roar of triumphant cheers erupted across the battlefield.
“Waaaaahhh!”
“We won at last!”
“The duchy is finished!”
This battle was different from the others. The last of the duchy's main forces had been deployed.
Thus, this victory signified the end of the civil war.
As the battle came to a close, Amelia rode out on a white horse and surveyed the battlefield. She had repelled the enemy in Ghislain’s stead.
Though it was only due to the contract between them.
“Waaaaah! Long live Count Raypold!”
The soldiers cheered for Amelia as well. Initially, they had been uneasy about following her sudden leadership, but in the end, she had led them to a resounding victory.
Even the lords who had come to support the battle clapped, albeit with reluctant expressions.
“Hmm, to think Count Raypold was this capable.”
“I thought she was just someone looking for empty lands to seize.”
“Count Fenris had good reason to trust her.”
With such an effective command that led to victory with minimal losses, they couldn’t bring themselves to speak ill of her.
Amidst the celebrating soldiers, Kaor was being carried away, drenched in blood.
He had pushed himself to extreme mana exhaustion. Even with potions being poured down his throat, he was unable to regain his strength.
In the end, Vanessa had to infuse him with her mana to prevent his condition from worsening.
“You overdid it. You were practically draining your own life force. You need proper rest.”
“Ugh… Vanessa, listen to me. Just for a moment… I became a transcendent… It wasn’t a dream… It was real… It was because I used an Aura Blade. With it, I cut off an Inquisitor of the Salvation Church’s arm.”
“Oh my, is that so? Well done. Now stop talking and get some rest. You’re probably experiencing hallucinations right now.”
“Damn it… I’m telling the truth.”
Even as he was being carried away, Kaor kept muttering to himself, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
No matter how much he insisted, no one believed him. Everyone thought the Inquisitor had simply been weakened, making his arm easier to sever.
After all, later on, even the knights' swords had sliced through easily.
“I’m telling you, it’s real! Why won’t anyone believe meeee?!”
He had always dreamed of becoming a transcendent and dominating the battlefield, but the gap was too vast. Having glimpsed it, he now found it even harder to endure.
As the Northern Army tended to the wounded and secured the battlefield, Gillian approached Amelia.
“I will go to Lord Fenris immediately.”
“If Count Balzac has won, it could be dangerous. Advancing together would be the safest course.”
“That doesn’t matter. Grant me the forces to move now.”
There was no reason to stop him from going to aid his lord. Their agreement had only required him to hold this ground until the battle was won.
“Very well. Take as many as you need.”
Gillian gathered the knights who were in decent condition, along with the cavalry and mounted archers.
“We shall go as well.”
Ereneth, Parniel, Vanessa, and Tennant had also finished their preparations.
Count Fenris was a crucial figure. And Count Balzac was someone who had to be eliminated.
Thus, the transcendents of the Northern Army moved together.
Dudududududu!
Without taking a moment’s rest, they rode off the moment the battle ended.
Though they were all exhausted, rescuing Ghislain took precedence.
As the vanguard set off, Amelia issued a new order.
“Follow after them as soon as the battlefield is secured.”
The outcome of the battle between Ghislain and Count Balzac had yet to be determined, so the remaining army had no choice but to follow.
Gillian steadied his anxious heart and rode his horse with all his might. The trailing troops were so exhausted that the distance between them widened.
If they encountered Count Balzac’s army in this state, they would suffer a devastating defeat.
‘My lord!’
Still, he did not stop. The reputation of the Kingdom’s Strongest Swordsman was enough to make him uneasy.
At least, until he encountered something in the sky that let out a loud cry.
“Gillian!”
“Dark?”
Dark, who had been flying swiftly to deliver news, spotted Gillian and descended.
“Wahaha! What’s this? Did we win? Were you coming to rescue us?”
Clench!
Overcome with urgency, Gillian grabbed Dark’s body tightly and asked.
“What about my lord? What happened to him?”
“Kehek! You insolent fool! Can’t you tell from the fact that I’m moving around just fine? We won! We won!”
“W-We won?”
“That’s right! Now our master is the Kingdom’s Strongest Swordsman!”
That declaration echoed among them. The soldiers and knights behind Gillian let out a great cheer.
“Hurraaaah!!!”
Their lord had thrown away the title of Northern Menace and had finally claimed the title of the Kingdom’s Strongest.
As expected of their lord. Even momentarily doubting him had been a sin. He had almost lost his faith.
‘My lord!’
Gillian gazed into the distance, his expression filled with emotion.
— “I will break free from this land’s poverty. Not just as a single drop of water, but as a pouring rain.”
Back when he had nothing in his hands, his young master had proclaimed those words with such confidence.
And now, he had truly become the rain that covered the North, and even a typhoon that engulfed the entire kingdom.
Not only had he severed the chains of poverty, but he had also elevated his father to the highest position in the kingdom.
‘You really did it.’
Despite all the ridicule and doubt he had faced, he had accomplished it in the end.
How could anyone not revere such a man?
With a smile, Gillian urged his horse forward once more. But unlike before, he no longer moved in haste.
As Gillian’s group traveled at a steady pace, they soon spotted a cloud of dust rising in the distance.
Thududududu!
The banners waving atop the approaching forces bore a symbol they all recognized well.
At last, Ghislain had arrived, leading the Fenris Mobile Corps.
“Gillian!”
Ghislain called out Gillian’s name with joy. His presence here meant that the Northern Army had emerged victorious in the war.
“My lord.”
“You’ve been through a lot. I assume Amelia secured a perfect victory. I knew she would.”
“You as well, my lord. You’ve endured much.”
Neither of them exchanged many words. They simply gazed at each other and smiled.
Soon, Ghislain turned his eyes to the army that had arrived with Gillian and spoke.
“You have all done well. I regret that I cannot yet grant you rest, but we must quickly send word to the advancing Kingdom’s Army and to the capital.”
Standing atop Black King, Ghislain spoke with more confidence than ever before.
“The civil war is over.”
And then…
“It’s time to prepare for what comes next.”
All that remained now was to utterly crush the remaining enemies.
* * *
“Hurrah! Glory to Count Fenris!”
“Count of Fenris! Please look this way!”
“A new ‘Kingdom’s Strongest Swordsman’ has been born!”
Upon hearing the news that the Northern Army was entering the capital, a massive crowd gathered in the streets to cheer.
The civil war was over, and the Salvation Church of the Ritania Kingdom had been eradicated. The people could finally dare to hope again hope for a future better than before.
And the man who had made all of this possible was none other than Ghislain. He was now the hero of the kingdom. It was only natural for the people to celebrate him.
Although the Rift still lingered, it would take time before it could expand and become active again. Until then, the kingdom would unite and prepare.
“Welcome back. You really did it in the end.”
Zwalter came forward with his own retainers to greet Ghislain warmly.
He had stayed behind to stabilize the capital and had been unable to march with the Kingdom’s Army. The only thing he could do for his son was worry.
But now, his son had returned in victory. How could he not be overjoyed?
Ghislain gave a faint smile and said,
“Your Majesty, it’s time for your coronation.”
“Ahem… That’s quite embarrassing.”
Zwalter gave an awkward smile. The reality of becoming a king still hadn't sunk in.
Most of the nobility supported Zwalter. The Ritania Kingdom needed someone to unify it immediately.
Now that the war was over, the coronation proceeded without delay. The person presiding over the ceremony was Porisco, the capital’s sole Archbishop and its Holy One.
Through this event, he firmly secured his position. He even exercised his authority to officially excommunicate the fleeing archbishop.
'Keuh, I made the right choice. Siding with the Count of Fenris was the best decision.'
Well, rather than willingly siding with him, he had been dragged along by force. But since the result was favorable, that was all that mattered. He was more than satisfied.
As soon as the coronation ended, Zwalter began rewarding the loyalists for their contributions. The first and foremost recipient was, of course, Ghislain.
“…Thus, in recognition of his service in ending the civil war, I bestow upon Ghislain, the royal successor, the title of Grand Duke and the territory of Ferdium…”
Ghislain was granted the title of Grand Duke along with the territory of Ferdium. Now, he was the ruler of a vast domain that encompassed Ferdium, Fenris, Cabaldi, and Desmond.
However, there was a slight dispute regarding the title. Belinda was adamant that he must receive the Grand Duke title.
Ghislain tried to placate her, but Belinda refused to budge.
“Does it really have to be the Grand Duke? Can’t you just take the title of Duke instead?”
“North. Grand. Duke.”
Even Zwalter couldn’t ignore Belinda’s insistence and ultimately granted Ghislain the title of Grand Duke. In truth, for someone who wielded independent authority, the title itself was meaningless to him.
Regardless of the name, Ghislain had now risen to become the most powerful figure in the kingdom.
“Congratulations, Your Highness, the Grand Duke.”
Claude smiled brightly and bowed. The other retainers were equally delighted.
Those who had fought alongside Ghislain were also rewarded. Belinda, Gillian, Kaor, and Vanessa were all granted the title of a Count.
Although not immediately, they were also promised extensive lands once the Rift was eradicated and the kingdom had fully stabilized.
Unfortunately, Claude and Alfoi had to wait until their slave contracts expired before receiving their rewards.
Claude, his expression blank, asked,
“…You do realize my contract period is over 300 years, right?”
“There’s no helping it. If I free you now, it’d make the bet meaningless.”
“…”
Claude and Alfoi, realizing the harsh reality, became utterly dejected. In truth, Ghislain had planned to free them once the Salvation Church was completely eradicated, but he saw no reason to tell them that.
Those two could never be allowed to grow too arrogant.
Following that, various policies were implemented swiftly. One of them was the fulfillment of the promise made to Ereneth.
Ereneth bowed deeply to Ghislain with genuine gratitude.
“Thank you for keeping your promise. I, too, will continue to uphold my faith in you.”
As Ghislain had promised, all Elves in the Ritania Kingdom were freed from slavery.
The Dwarves as well. They would now live as free citizens.
However, due to the current circumstances, the Elves and Dwarves serving in the Fenris Army were temporarily prohibited from being discharged.
Additionally, most Fenris Knights were granted noble status, and soldiers who had participated in the war and achieved merit were appropriately rewarded.
Although the rewards had to be distributed hastily to boost morale, the situation was still too unstable for a full-scale reorganization. It had to be concluded at an appropriate level.
Afterward, Ghislain returned the western territories he had managed back to the royal family. Running the kingdom required a substantial amount of tax revenue.
Then, yet another astonishing piece of news arrived.
“What? The Witch of the Flags handed over all Eastern Territories to the royal family?”
“She even gifted her Northern Territories, which had been her stronghold, to His Highness, the Grand Duke.”
“And yet, she only took a tiny estate at the westernmost edge for herself? Is she insane? What’s gotten into her all of a sudden?”
This was the result of a new contract made between her and Ghislain through Dark not long ago.
At that time, Ghislain had spoken bluntly.
“You want to rule an entire kingdom, don’t you? If you aim to become the ruler of this kingdom, then sooner or later, we are bound to clash. And once that civil war is over, the victor will be obvious.”
Amelia had been unable to refute his words. She had tried everything to weaken both sides, yet she had ultimately failed.
Just like the duchy, she, too, had underestimated Ghislain’s full potential.
Now that she was at a disadvantage, she had only two choices left.
To submit to the new king or to fight to the bitter end.
Neither option pleased her. She hadn’t raised an army just to settle for mere scraps of land.
However, fighting a losing battle didn’t suit her personality either.
As she deliberated, Ghislain offered her an intriguing alternative.