Chapter 710: Chapter 710

“What? It failed?”

Marquis Falkenheim furrowed his brow in disbelief.

Out of all the knights dispatched to Count Swifel’s territory, only two had returned. And even they came back with their mana cores shattered.

“No, how the hell did that bastard…”

It had been a force that included top-tier knights. Even Count Swifel’s own knights had joined in.

Even if their opponent was a Transcendent, no one could win against that level of power in a head-on clash. In fact, hadn’t his own Transcendent reviewed the operation multiple times?

After calling in his strategists and listening to the full account, Marquis Falkenheim ground his teeth.

“Gasco… that damned fool…”

Why the hell did he suddenly engage in a one-on-one duel in the middle of the battle?

Even if the opponent was exhausted, he had been confirmed as Transcendent-class. To challenge such a man just for the sake of glory?

It was nothing but sheer stupidity.

Of course, Gasco had been baited more by Ghislain’s schemes than his own pride.

But since the knights had no idea about that, the marquis had no choice but to put the blame on Gasco.

And it wasn’t just Gasco. The knights who surrendered were also a problem. Had they pushed through to the end, Count Swifel’s forces might have been able to finish the job.

But to surrender just because the tide had turned? It was pathetically shameful.

Yet the most shocking news of all was something else.

“They betrayed me?”

Among the knights deployed for the operation, there were more survivors beyond the two who had returned. The rest had all been captured and then defected.

Upon hearing this report, the marquis ground his teeth again.

He could understand that they had betrayed him to save their lives. But a traitor was destined to die by his hand in the end.

To betray him knowing that, they must all have been insane.

“To think they defected just to protect some mana core!”

Marquis Falkenheim was furious. Not being a knight himself, he couldn’t understand the minds of knights at all.

“Draft a new operation immediately! No, mobilize the army! We’ll crush that region entirely! Any traitors we find, behead them on the spot!”

There has always been more than enough justification. Originally, this wasn’t even something the marquisate had to personally handle; he’d only meant for Julien’s mercenary corps to take care of it.

But now, for the sake of preserving the marquisate’s honor, he would have to act directly.

He had no concern about being attacked in the meantime. There was no one else who could even think of rising up.

The king was a mere puppet, so the entire kingdom was practically in his hands. A few neutral nobles existed, but their influence was negligible.

As the marquisate prepared to strike Nodehill and the Larks, a series of new reports came in.

“The king… the king has mobilized an army!”

“What? That wretch mobilized an army?”

“Yes! He’s declared you the leader of a rebellion and formed a suppression force!”

“How could a useless thing like him possibly raise an army?!”

“The Second Legion of the royal army stationed near the capital has defected! Reports say they’re cooperating with Nodehill and the Larks!”

“The Second Legion defected? What happened to the Supreme Commander?”

“He was executed for treason! The acting Supreme Commander now is… the deputy commander of Julien’s Mercenary Corps.”

“Julien’s Mercenary Corps? Don’t tell me…”

“Yes, it’s that Transcendent we tried to kill.”

“Those bastards made the first move!”

Marquis Falkenheim’s face twisted in fury.

The king, Nodehill, Larks, and Julien’s Mercenary Corps – they were all destined to die by his hand anyway. This was clearly their last desperate struggle.

“Damn it… damn it… If I’d just had a little more time, the Pope’s approval would’ve come!”

Even the Holy Empire’s public opinion had started to lean in his favor. He only needed to wait a little longer, but then something completely unexpected had exploded.

Now the Holy Empire would discreetly withdraw its support again. Supporting one side during a civil war risked provoking backlash from other kingdoms.

Especially if the support went to a rebel force with no legitimacy.

Fuming with rage, Marquis Falkenheim barked at his retainers.

“Prepare for war immediately! It’s not like their army is that large anyway! Crush them in one blow and capture the king! Lock him up in the tower as soon as he’s caught!”

His retainers scrambled to move even faster. But events did not unfold the way the marquis had hoped.

Soon, reports that were nothing short of ludicrous began pouring in.

“The vassals of estates near the capital are surrendering! The suppression force has grown to 30,000!”

“…”

“Royal troops across the kingdom are surrendering to the suppression force! Their numbers are now 50,000!”

“…”

“The suppression force’s attack was so sudden that the vassals couldn’t coordinate! No one was prepared for war, so they’re all surrendering! The suppression force is now 70,000 strong!”

“…”

“L-Lord Marquis, we have a serious problem!”

“…What is it this time?”

“Neutral lords and nobles have joined the suppression force! Their numbers have now swelled to 100,000!”

“…”

“The suppression force is now targeting the great lords! And even the great lords are surrendering without a fight!”

The great lords, at the very least, should’ve been able to hole up in their castles and hold out. But not one of them was willing to be the first to face the suppression force.

It was understandable. There weren’t many people willing to throw away their lives just to buy time.

Everyone thought the same thing: whoever stepped up first would die a meaningless death.

“…”

Marquis Falkenheim, who had been standing with a dumbfounded expression for some time, finally asked:

“So, if they’re moving that fast, how are they handling supplies and maintaining the front line?”

“They’re said to be requisitioning all troops and provisions from every estate they pass! They’re not even maintaining the front line, just swarming like a plague of locusts!”

“…”

Marquis Falkenheim felt as though his mind had gone numb. He had no idea where or how things had gone so wrong.

This wasn’t how wars were fought. A ragtag army like that would crumble the moment something went even slightly awry.

And yet, they were using such a strategy.

‘Their only goal is to take me down.’

Marquis Falkenheim’s eyes turned icy. His enemies were charging forward with nothing but the end in sight.

They weren’t thinking about what would come after just aiming to finish things in a single stroke.

It was a strategy possible only because this wasn’t a war of occupation. They didn’t need to conquer and stabilize any territory.

“Fools. You think taking me down will keep you safe?”

Rampaging around like that would only bring a more violent backlash.

The lords were only surrendering because they couldn’t resist in the moment, not because they were loyal. They would surely seek revenge against the royal family later.

Once he was out of the picture, the king might survive for now but a kingdom without a supreme power would descend into even greater chaos.

“Tsk. Should’ve just killed him sooner. Was clinging to life really that important to him?”

Muttering to himself, Marquis Falkenheim suddenly thought of another possibility.

“Don’t tell me… are they hoping for the Demonic Abyss to rise?”

If the Demonic Abyss surged forth, the kingdom would unite on its own without anyone needing to force it. After all, nothing was more important than driving out humanity’s enemies but there was no guarantee that the Demonic Abyss would act in this era. It could happen immediately or a hundred years from now.

To move based on such an uncertain possibility was too great a gamble.

Marquis Falkenheim shook his head to clear away the thought. It was too absurd, and it had made him think too deeply.

“All I have to do is crush them.”

The suppression force had grown large enough not to be ignored, but it was still a hastily cobbled-together army. There was no way they’d be well-coordinated.

“If it’s a one-shot duel they want, I’ll give it to them.”

A disorganized mob could never defeat a unified, powerful army. That was simple common sense.

Only one factor posed a threat: the Transcendent from Julien’s Mercenary Corps. Someone had to take care of him.

“Send Count Godiff and Count Grozian.”

Marquis Falkenheim named two Transcendents. With those two, they would surely be able to take down that man called Astion.

“Send all knights and mages except for a minimal defense force. Tell the remaining loyal vassals to mobilize immediately and join up. We must crush the enemy in one strike.”

Though he would also have to hastily muster his forces, they would still be in better shape than the suppression force.

The strategists wore troubled expressions at the words of Marquis Falkenheim.

“We haven’t even secured proper supply lines yet. We also don’t have enough provisions prepared.”

“If we rush the expedition like this, we won’t be able to manage the troops effectively.”

Bang!

Marquis Falkenheim slammed the table forcefully and shouted.

“So what? Are you telling me we should just sit back and watch while those so-called subjugation forces poke around wherever they please? Can’t you see with your own eyes that their numbers are growing by the second?!”

No matter how disorganized they were, the subjugation forces had increased far too much in number. On top of that, even the neutral lords who had remained silent were now siding with them.

Having chosen a side, those lords could no longer back down. They would try to reduce Marquis Falkenheim’s vassals by any means necessary.

They had to move quickly to rally the remaining vassals. Since both sides were acting hastily, some disorder was to be expected.

At that moment, one of the strategists offered a different idea.

“We can still march out, but what if we maintain a lull in the fighting?”

“What do you mean?”

“The subjugation force is a hastily assembled army. I’m sure many of the lords who surrendered did so only because they were intimidated by the apparent difference in numbers. If we drag things out in a standoff, the situation might start turning in our favor.”

“Hmph…”

“Even if we engage them directly now, we would likely win. But we’d suffer heavy losses. Their numbers are simply too great.”

“Go on.”

“The subjugation force is sustaining its bloated size by pillaging surrounding territories. Their situation is different from ours, who can supply ourselves in a stable manner. In time, they’ll inevitably fracture.”

Marquis Falkenheim nodded at the valid reasoning.

It was true that even maintaining their current formation must be a stretch for the subjugation forces. They would want to end this situation as soon as possible.

“There’s no need for us to suffer unnecessary losses. As long as we keep them in check so that our vassals don’t suffer further damage, we can just wait for the enemy to self-destruct.”

“Not a bad plan.”

“They’re the ones who want a decisive battle, aren’t they? There’s no reason for us to go along with what they want.”

The strategist was right. The subjugation force was already in a position where it couldn’t stop. If they halted, they were as good as dead.

They were being driven by the need to decide the outcome in a single stroke while their momentum still lasted.

Marquis Falkenheim decided to accept the strategist’s plan. He was angry, but there was no reason to take unnecessary losses.

“Very well. Begin the march quickly, but devise a strategy focused on protecting the remaining vassals. Also, inform them that we’ll be mobilizing.”

“Understood.”

The 80,000 troops of Marquis Falkenheim’s hastily assembled army moved out first. The rest of the forces followed behind, heavily loaded with supplies to sustain the frontlines.

As he watched the marching army, Marquis Falkenheim muttered coldly.

“We’ll have to say that the king died during the war.”

Since the other side had raised their army first, there was nothing to hesitate over. He had no intention of killing the king easily either.

He would make him pay dearly for this foolish act.

* * *

“Is… is this really okay? It feels like we’ve gone beyond what we can actually manage now…”

Andrew asked Ghislain, sweat trickling down his forehead. The subjugation force had swelled to a staggering 150,000 troops.

Thanks to the increased numbers, they no longer had to worry about the lords from Marquis Falkenheim’s side who had surrendered for now.

Their forces were simply too large for betrayal to be a viable option, and even if the lords tried to unite, it was obvious they wouldn’t be able to coordinate properly.

Most importantly, the participation of the neutral lords had been a huge help. They had thrown in their lot with this campaign, betting their lives on the outcome. As a result, they were actively maintaining order within the army.

However, the sheer size of the subjugation force had become a problem in and of itself. Because they had set out without proper preparation, supply lines were growing increasingly strained.

If things continued like this, they would collapse on their own before they even reached Marquis Falkenheim.

Despite Andrew’s concerns, Ghislain gave a slight chuckle.

“There’s nothing to worry about. We just keep going as we are.”

Ghislain was, as always, brimming with confidence. It was as if the chaos of the army didn’t even register to him.

Andrew, though uneasy, forced himself to trust and follow. It was nerve-wracking, but also strangely awe-inspiring.

‘He really did seize everything along the way, troops, supplies, the lot.’

It was a strategy that shouldn’t have worked, and yet it had played out exactly as he had described. Even witnessing it firsthand, it was hard to believe.

‘I mean, if a Transcendent came at me with an army this size, I’d probably surrender too…’

Anyone could talk about possibilities. But to boldly act on those possibilities required extraordinary confidence and ability.

If it hadn’t been Ghislain, no one else could have pulled this off.

* * *

Having stirred up the kingdom in every direction, the subjugation force now arrived at their next destination, the County of Villette.

Count Villette was a major lord. True to his status, he had densely stationed troops within his massive fortress.

As usual, Ghislain marched to the front and shouted boldly.

“No need for long talk! You’ve heard about us, right? I’ll give you three seconds to decide! Surrender!”

Moments later, a voice amplified by magic rang out from the fortress.

“Three years wouldn’t be enough to make me surrender, you lunatic mercenary bastard!”

Through this war, Astion’s notoriety had spread far and wide. Anyone who saw him would think he was insane.

Count Villette continued to hurl an unrelenting stream of vicious insults at Ghislain even after that but Ghislain couldn’t have cared less, even as he was being cursed out.

“I’ve always felt this way, but strangely, even when I’m insulted, it doesn’t feel like I’m being insulted. I suppose that means I’ve grown that much more magnanimous.”

It was only Astion, trapped within him, who suffered.

There had been no actual damage, but it was still the first time a lord had come at him this aggressively, cursing him out in such a hardline manner.

Ghislain narrowed his eyes and paused to think for a moment.

‘Hmm, he’s coming on stronger than I expected. I heard he wasn’t the type to have much backbone.’

Count Villette was a great lord commanding an army of twenty thousand. It was a sizable force, but not nearly enough to stop the punitive army.

They didn’t have siege engines, but the mages gathered here numbered in the hundreds, and the knights had now surpassed a thousand.

If he simply led the charge and the rest swarmed the castle walls like a pack of hounds, they could bring it down in no time.

There was no way the other side didn’t realize that. And yet, for him to stand so firm…

‘Has Marquis Falkenheim finally made his move?’

If that were the case, then Count Villette’s confident stance made sense. If Marquis Falkenheim’s forces had arrived to support him, he would judge that the odds had tilted in his favor.

Ghislain pulled his army back a bit for now. Then, he immediately dispatched Dark and the scouts in every direction.

It wasn’t long before the reports began to pour in.

“Marquis Falkenheim’s army is setting up a base nearby!”

“They’re stretching the front lines across multiple territories, not just here!”

“Their numbers are around 120,000! Judging by the banners, it seems vassals from lands near the marquisate have joined them as well!”

Upon hearing the reports, Ghislain nodded.

“Yes, it was about time to stop anyway.”

He had made significant gains through swift, surprise actions. But that method was never going to work forever.

Surely, the rest of the vassals’ forces were already on their way here.

He now understood why they weren’t immediately striking at the punitive army but instead extending their front lines.

‘They’re trying to buy time by aiding the vassals so they won’t surrender to us. Not bad, they’ve thought this through.’

If it dragged into a prolonged war, his side would be at a disadvantage. After all, they effectively had no supply lines.

In contrast, the enemy’s situation would only grow more stable as time passed. Weren’t they already recovering at a rapid pace?

But this much was well within Ghislain’s predictions.

Having grasped the enemy’s intentions, Ghislain grinned.

“Well then, shall we move on to the next operation?”

Of the many scenarios he had anticipated, this was the one Ghislain had hoped for the most.