Chapter 451: Another Secret Weapon (1)
Ghislain smiled brightly as he looked at Claude.
The promises of an elven chief were weighty. Even if she later realized she had been deceived by Claude, there would be nothing she could do about it. It might come as a shock, but that would be all.
Initially, Claude had been summoned to set up the framework for the alliance and prepare the treaty agreements. Though it was slightly absurd that he managed to bribe his way through the process, everything was handled quickly and smoothly in the end.
Now, however, Claude had even bound Ereneth into a contract. While Ghislain saw it as a fortunate development and felt satisfied to have called him, he couldn't help but think:
‘This guy is definitely not normal.’
After sealing the deal, Claude continued grinning as he acted overly familiar with Ereneth.
“Ah, Chief! From now on, we're like ‘family,’ right? Let's stay together for a long, long time.”
Seeing this, Ghislain clicked his tongue once more.
‘Crazy bastard.’
Ereneth replied with a slightly uncomfortable expression.
“...Yes, we elves will truly treat you allies as ‘family.’”
What Ereneth envisioned as family and what Claude meant by family were as far apart as heaven and earth, but she remained oblivious to this disparity.
With Ereneth’s alliance now certain, Ghislain felt reassured. He could now rely on the power of a warrior once considered second among the Seven Strongest on the Continent.
’Now I’ve gained another secret weapon. This will be a tremendous help in the battles to come.’
Ghislain already had one secret weapon—Tenant.
Even the northern soldiers fighting alongside Tenant were unaware that he was a master. While Ghislain had deliberately suppressed rumors, few individuals possessed the skill to discern a master’s level in the first place.
Now that he had two unknown superhuman allies, Ghislain’s range of actions would expand significantly.
He led Ereneth outside the tent and addressed the soldiers.
“Everyone, listen! The elven chief will be joining us from now on. So, do not treat the elves as enemies anymore. Treat them as allies.”
“Hurrah!”
The soldiers cheered at his announcement, having witnessed some of Ereneth’s power during their skirmish.
Of course, only a handful truly understood the extent of her strength. Most assumed their earlier clash had merely been a warm-up.
Among the soldiers, almost none believed that Ghislain could lose to anyone. Thus, apart from a few higher-ups showing slight concern, most were simply elated to have a powerful ally join their ranks.
Meanwhile, the elves and dwarves, uneasy for their own reasons, looked on with mixed feelings.
Ereneth ignored the dwarves and instead spoke to the elves.
“When this war ends, I will return you all to the forest where the World Tree, your mother, resides. Count Fenris has promised you freedom.”
“...”
But the elves showed no joy. Confused, Ereneth asked,
“Your mother, the World Tree, resides in that forest. Are you not happy to return to her?”
At her words, Fenris’s elves suddenly chuckled. Ereneth and the elves who followed her couldn’t comprehend their reaction.
Perplexed, Ereneth finally heard Ascon speak up.
“Does the forest have alcohol?”
“We do not particularly enjoy alcohol. But if you wish, you can make fruit wine.”
“That stuff is bland and boring. Who drinks that nowadays?”
“...”
“Do you have meat? Beef, chicken, pork?”
“Elves... eat meat? What nonsense is this?”
“Oh, come on! We can’t live without chicken anymore. Do you not see these muscles? We’d lose gains without it.”
The elves of Fenris had undergone grueling training under Gordon, resulting in remarkably developed physiques. Ereneth, noticing their muscles, was left speechless.
“...”
“Your alcohol is lousy, there’s no meat, and it’s the forest—so there’s probably nothing fun to do there. Why would we even go?”
“Elves are meant to live harmoniously with nature...”
Suddenly, Ascon interjected with an irritated expression.
“All those years we lived as slaves, and now you come from your refined forest life to ‘rescue’ us? What kind of nonsense is that?”
The elves accompanying Ereneth bristled at his words.
“How dare you speak to the chief that way!”
“Oh, whatever. I’ve always spoken like this. Don’t act all high and mighty now. After this war, we’re planning to live in an autonomous district, so don’t think you can drag us off to some forest. I’ve already said I’m not going.”
“You insolent fool! The World Tree’s forest isn’t a place just anyone can enter! Do you not see the chief’s benevolence...”
“That’s enough. Stop.”
“But, Chief!”
Ereneth held back the enraged elves and spoke in a somber tone.
“It’s all my fault. I will respect your opinions. Do as you wish.”
She then turned to the dwarves, who had been silently watching from the sidelines.
“Yes, it must be because of ‘us’ that you were also enslaved.”
Her words carried a heavy implication, but the dwarves still failed to understand. Having been born into slavery, they knew no other life.
Ghislain, standing nearby, thought to himself:
’There’s something I don’t know here.’
Ereneth had lived far longer than most. To call her a living record of history was no exaggeration.
“If she’s really lived for a thousand years, as the rumors say...”
The history after the fall of the ancient empire was poorly documented. With few records surviving, even scholars fiercely debated the lost chapters of history.
’I should ask her later.’
Ghislain was no scholar, he wasn’t particularly interested in the histories of other races, what mattered now was sealing the rifts and dealing with the Ducal Faction.
Having calmed the elves somewhat, Ereneth turned to Ghislain and asked:
“Are you planning to attack the Ducal Faction right away?”
“...”
Even in his past life, Ghislain had noticed Ereneth’s complete lack of social grace. She always pushed forward according to her own thoughts.
Still, he couldn’t deny that everyone who ranked among the Seven Strongest on the Continent shared a similar personality.
It was precisely why they rarely worked well together. Each believed in their own superiority, making cooperation a challenge.
“For now, we’ll deal with the remaining rifts and move back to the central region. We’ll regroup there, reorganize our forces, and wait for reinforcements. We can’t amass troops at the front lines.”
Wars couldn’t be started on a whim. While they could take the initiative, it wasn’t a sound strategy.
As always, Ghislain planned to minimize his side’s losses. After all, defeating the Ducal Faction wouldn’t mark the end of the conflict.
“The Ducal Faction will have to make a move soon enough. It’s to our advantage to stall for time until our reinforcements arrive.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
“The Ducal Faction now has to face the entire kingdom. If they want to act first, they’ll have no choice, but to spread their forces thin.”
“The intelligence network of the Salvation Church is formidable. They’ll undoubtedly know that you’re awaiting reinforcements, so they won’t sit idle.”
Ghislain chuckled at her remark. The Ducal Faction wasn’t foolish. They would undoubtedly scheme in the background or prepare their forces to counter the coalition. Perhaps they would even summon more high-ranking priests from the Salvation Church.
“Of course, they’ll make their preparations, but thanks to you, we have a new weapon on our side.”
“I see. You want me to be the hidden trump card, unknown to the enemy.”
“Exactly. We’ll keep your presence as secret as possible. If they move without knowing about you, their forces will suffer a devastating blow. It’ll be a chance to strike back.”
Ereneth nodded in agreement.
“Understood. I’d prefer we begin as soon as possible.”
“Don’t worry. They’re undoubtedly restless and itching to act as well.”
Time was against the Ducal Faction. Their position had grown significantly weaker compared to before the rifts began opening.
They had no choice but to deal with the southern rifts. However, their cautious nature meant they wouldn’t recklessly charge into unfavorable conditions. Just as they had incited the savages to open rifts and spark a war, they would likely resort to underhanded schemes.
“Whatever they try, it won’t matter. Just the sight of Ereneth will give them a nasty shock.”
Two of the Seven Strongest on the Continent were now present. Most of the enemy’s tricks would crumble before their might.
“Well, let’s move out and deal with the remaining rifts. Only two are left.”
The rifts in the eastern region had already been mostly sealed. With their work delayed due to the coalition meeting, Ghislain was eager to finish the task quickly.
With Ereneth now part of the northern forces, they began moving to close the remaining rifts.
—
“Nothing’s going right,” Raul muttered, his face visibly gaunt after just a few months.
The diversionary tactics using the savages had failed. What had seemed like a flawless plan was ruined by Amelia’s unexpected intervention.
Not only had Fenris and Ferdium managed to contain the massive rift with minimal losses, but Raypold’s forces had also stalled the savage army. Both outcomes had defied expectations.
Amelia’s success, in particular, left him seething with rage.
“That woman dared betray us...”
No one could deny that it was the Ducal Faction that had elevated Amelia’s position. From a mere young lady, she had risen to the rank of a countess through their support.
But Amelia had taken everything she could from them and severed ties as soon as the Salvation Church’s involvement was exposed.
That much, Raul could understand. Many lords loyal to the Ducal faction had similarly turned away after the Church’s hidden dealings came to light.
“But to interfere with my plans...!”
Raul felt a humiliation so intense it was nearly unbearable. It was as if he had been bitten by the very dog he had raised.
Taking several deep breaths, he tried to compose himself. Everywhere he turned, idiotic interferences were derailing his plans.
“I will repay this humiliation... a hundredfold.”
Humiliation aside, reality remained. He couldn’t dwell on failures forever. Grinding his teeth, Raul addressed his strategists.
“What about the southern rifts?”
“They’ve almost been dealt with. Our vassals have also completed their preparations for war.”
Having planned for war long ago, the preparations had been swift. As soon as the rifts were sealed, they could begin their march.
The problem was that their enemies weren’t sitting idle while they dealt with the rifts.
“The coalition forces have been formed, you say?”
“Yes, their primary goal seems to be the stabilization of the Kingdom of Ritania.”
“Damn it...”
Raul rubbed his temples. With reinforcements coming from other nations, achieving their goals would become increasingly difficult, no matter how strong the Ducal Faction was.
Neighboring kingdoms’ armies had already started joining the Royalist faction. Time was against them, and they needed to act quickly.
Never had Raul imagined that the Ducal Faction, once the most powerful force in the kingdom, would be driven into such a corner.
“This isn’t going to be easy.”
The biggest obstacles were the Northern Army and the Royal Army. Thanks to the Northern Army, the Royal Army had moved entirely to the southern frontlines.
The Ducal Faction’s primary objective was to capture the capital and seize the king. However, the Royal Army was blocking their path.
“Even if we advance eastward to draw off part of the Royal Army, the Northern Army remains a problem.”
Objectively speaking, the Ducal Faction no longer held the upper hand. With the entire kingdom and the Four Major Temples united against them, their strength was no longer unmatched.
The Northern Army, in particular, was a force they couldn’t afford to underestimate.
As the Ducal Faction sought to seize the capital with minimal casualties, they had no desire for direct confrontation with the Northern Army.
Raul let out a long sigh, his mind churning for potential strategies.
At that moment, Gartros, the leader of Ritania’s Salvation Church, spoke.
“Why not wait a bit longer? After all, our goal isn’t territorial conquest, but the royal treasures.”
“If we wait, reinforcements will pour in, making it even harder to take the capital.”
“It’s not as if it’s easy now. Every plan has failed, and Count Fenris has only grown stronger, along with the Northern Army.”
Raul’s eyes narrowed in irritation. Gartros’s tone made it seem as though he was blaming Raul for their setbacks.
Sensing Raul’s displeasure, Gartros smiled and shook his head.
“I’m not placing blame on you. I’m simply saying we must exert more effort as well.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“I’ve called for more high-ranking priests to join us. Once they arrive, we can begin the war. They will prove invaluable.”
“Is that wise?”
“We’ve reached a point where it’s inevitable for power to clash against power. The other kingdoms aren’t nearly as crucial as the Kingdom of Ritania.”
“Hmm...”
Raul nodded slowly. High-ranking priests possessed near-superhuman abilities. Even a few could drastically tip the scales on the battlefield.
With confidence, Gartros continued.
“All we need to do is seize the capital and secure the royal treasures. The rest is secondary.”
That was the true goal of the Ducal Faction in this war. The plan to conquer the entire kingdom would come afterward.
Still, Raul hesitated, suspicion flickering in his eyes.
“We failed to control the rifts and couldn’t locate the so-called ‘Guide.’ Are we certain the royal treasures will be effective? Is the King truly acting?”
At this, Gartros’s expression hardened slightly.
“Do not doubt. Have we not already grown stronger through the power of our apostles? The King’s awakening has begun to affect this world. The treasures will surely be found. The King would never withhold his power.”
“...”
“Therefore, we must prepare thoroughly. Since we failed to find the Guide, securing the royal treasures is now a top priority.”
With eyes gleaming, Gartros concluded,
“Only then can we enter that region.”
Raul remained silent. From a young age, he had been groomed by the priests of the Salvation Church and raised as a devout follower.
Yet, Raul did not share their fanatical devotion. To him, religion was merely a tool to fulfill his ambitions.
Watching the priests display such irrational and fervent behavior made him uneasy.
’Tch, what’s even in that damned scripture? These lunatic fanatics…’
Though he couldn’t outright deny their claims—given the tangible evidence of their powers—Raul found their zeal disconcerting.
Still, he couldn’t refuse their demands. He was a tool, crafted to achieve their goals, and he had no choice but to deliver results.
After a brief pause, Raul nodded and spoke.
“Even with the high-ranking priests, it won’t be easy. The Northern Army now boasts powerful fighters, strong enough to easily handle Equidema. Judge Lavierre himself fell to Count Fenris and his close aides.”
“Indeed, Count Fenris and his Northern Army are troublesome. Even with the priests, there will be losses.”
“One option is to push through to the capital while accepting the casualties. But that would create difficulties later.”
Gartros deliberated for a moment before responding.
“No, that won’t do. We cannot afford to lose any more high-ranking priests just for Count Fenris. The goal is to breach the Northern Army and reach the capital as quickly as possible, is it not?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Suddenly, Gartros’s lips curled into a cruel smile.
“In that case, how about we lure Count Fenris away?”