LIGHT NOVEL Chapter 665
“I’ll bet everything!”
“Stop her!”
Hundreds of soldiers charged towards Ghislaine. They were clearly caught off guard by the sudden turn of events.
How could someone rush in alone against so many soldiers!
But the enemy was approaching faster than expected. A strange feeling began to creep in.
Before they could grasp the situation, Ghislaine’s staff struck like lightning.
BOOM!
“Gah!”
Several soldiers in the front flew backward, still dazed and confused, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Without giving the soldiers a moment to breathe, Ghislaine’s staff moved again.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
“Aaaah!”
Soldiers who had momentarily blanked out were falling all over the place. It was only then that the knights shook themselves awake and shouted.
“Surround her! Stop her now!”
As Ghislaine wreaked havoc among the soldiers, it was evident that she was trying to capture Baron Magrell.
“Get her! Everyone, catch that girl!”
“Protect the Lord!”
Even the soldiers heading towards the merchant group turned and charged at Ghislaine upon the knights’ command.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Yet Ghislaine kept advancing, scattering the soldiers.
Her strength was downright destructive. Soldiers who had lived without war in the Small Barony had never seen or faced such power before.
At first, they rushed in, relying on sheer numbers. But as time passed, they began to feel that something was very wrong.
Surrounded by soldiers, Ghislaine swung her staff fiercely.
BOOOOOOM!
“Aaaah!!”
The soldiers staggered backward in an instant, completely unaware of what had hit them.
Suddenly, limbs were broken, and heads were smashed. Some soldiers had ribs shattered completely.
The soldiers blocking Ghislaine’s path were now all down for the count. Those charging from around still didn’t dare to approach.
“A… a monster…”
“How can a mercenary be so strong…”
“What on earth is happening…”
Hundreds of soldiers were filled with fear and couldn’t dare to confront Ghislaine.
Ghislaine took a quick look around and pushed forward again.
Seeing her, Baron Magrell cried out in terror.
“Kill her! Now!”
The knights protecting Baron Magrell rushed at Ghislaine with ferocity. The two knights in front swung their swords like lightning.
CLANG!
Ghislaine raised her staff and blocked the attack.
Yet, even a knight’s sword was saturated with mana. It wasn’t in her original body, so taking a hit from the sword was less than ideal.
Having blocked their swords, Ghislaine immediately swung her staff.
BOOOOOOM!
With a thunderous sound, one knight was sent flying sideways.
His armor crumpled on one side, now deeply dented. The poor knight, with a body that no longer resembled a human, spat out blood.
“Gah, cough…”
The armor had crumpled enough to shatter his side bones. The power she possessed was hard to believe, even after being hit.
The other knight was dazed by the absurdity of the situation.
Seeing that knight, Ghislaine smirked.
“You guys really don’t seem to listen to Rio.”
“Huh? What?”
“Just die.”
BOOOOOOM!
Ghislaine brought her staff down on the dazed knight’s helmet.
The helm caved in, and just like that, the knight’s head was smashed and he died.
The knights rushing in came to a halt, frozen in fear. They finally realized the truth—they were up against an opponent they couldn’t handle.
A terrified whisper from one knight echoed around.
“C-could it be the M-master?”
“We’re not going to win against her.”
“How can someone so young be this strong…”
The knights couldn’t help but think Ghislaine had reached the level of a Master.
A Master isn’t just called a superhuman for nothing. Masters were beings who transcended human limits.
There was absolutely no way these knights could win against her.
It wasn’t just the knights who were shocked by Ghislaine’s overwhelming combat skills.
“Wh-what’s going on?”
“Astion is that strong?”
“He seems stronger than Yulien!”
The soldiers of the Rax Merchant Group, trembling in fear, could only gawk in admiration.
They were no longer terrified of the Lord. They didn’t have time for such thoughts at all.
Yulien, Deneb, and Kyle also couldn’t believe their eyes.
“He’s really strong.”
“He never showed us his true power.”
“No wonder he was so confident.”
The three were awed, their strong desire evident.
Such a powerful person was teaching them. They were sure if they diligently followed Ghislaine’s teachings, they would become strong as well.
Even if the training was extremely tough.
Before they knew it, Ghislaine had ceased her attack. The enemies were already cowering, not knowing what to do.
She leisurely surveyed her surroundings and waved her hand slightly.
With a whoosh!
Hundreds of magical spears materialized in the air, spreading wide and surrounding the soldiers.
“Anyone who moves from now on will die.”
At those words, the soldiers found themselves petrified. The knights were no exception.
Not a single person dared to move a muscle, pouring with cold sweat.
Suddenly using so much mana had drained Ghislaine, leaving her pale. Even with her 5th Circle mana, it couldn’t fill her up as she wished.
But the momentum had completely shifted in her favor. No one seemed to care about her pale complexion.
With soft steps, Ghislaine approached Baron Magrell.
This was a piece of cake for someone like Ghislaine, who had been through thick and thin. If the opponent pressed with force, just overwhelm them with an even stronger force.
Baron Magrell trembled as Ghislaine drew closer.
“Y-you…”
One of the magical spears slowly approached, touching the center of Baron Magrell’s forehead.
“W-wait a minute…”
Ghislaine tilted her head and asked.
“Will you accept the results of this duel?”
“I-I…”
As Baron Magrell failed to answer properly, the spear got even closer.
Blood began to ooze from his forehead. In pain, Baron Magrell shouted in a panic.
“I- I will accept! I accept the results of the duel!”
“Do you agree to transfer this territory to the House of Rax?”
“I agree! I agree! Just stop!”
Ghislaine turned to the two trembling onlookers beside Baron Magrell.
“Will you two bear witness as observers that this territory now belongs to the House of Rax?”
“W-we will. Don’t worry about that part.”
“We saw the results of the duel with our own eyes.”
Ghislaine smiled brightly and continued.
“As soon as we return, we must officially announce this in the territory. Make sure to notify the surrounding areas. Got it?”
“W-we will.”
The observers, who were generously paid for siding with Baron Magrell, saw no reason to keep their promises in this situation.
There was no reason for them to feel guilty. The duel had ended in victory for the House of Rax after all. It should proceed as expected.
Having received confirmation, Ghislaine glared at Baron Magrell and said.
“Then you can die now. You’re bound to be a nuisance if you stay alive.”
“Wait! Hey, didn’t you agree to transfer the territory!”
“Didn’t I tell you?”
“W-what do you mean!”
“You squandered your last chance.”
WHOOSH!
With Ghislaine’s resolute words, the magical spear pierced through Baron Magrell’s head.
The endlessly greedy and cruel Baron Magrell met his demise just like that.
Ghislaine looked down at his fallen corpse and muttered.
“See? You should have kept your promises.”
A heavy silence enveloped the surroundings. With their Lord dead, no one dared to protest or move.
Even those on Ghislaine’s side were taken aback. Especially Yulien and Deneb. They hadn’t lived like Ghislaine had.
Only Kyle seemed truly impressed, his eyes sparkling.
Ghislaine, with a cold gaze, looked over the territory’s soldiers.
“Anyone opposed to the House of Rax inheriting this territory, step forward now.”
“……”
No one stepped forward. Who would dare with certainty of death hanging over them? Everyone was paralyzed with fear, only trying to avoid Ghislaine’s eyes.
With no one opposing, Ghislaine slowly continued.
“I take it everyone has accepted. Disarm immediately and pledge your loyalty to your new lord.”
At those words, the soldiers glanced at the knights. They were their direct superiors after all.
Ghislaine said to the knights.
“This is a legitimately inherited territory. Your former lord died for trying to oppose the rightful owner of this territory. Hence, changing the banner poses no issue.”
That was true. Everything Ghislaine did was in accordance with proper procedures.
Even if she forced it with strength.
With legitimate grounds provided by Ghislaine’s words, the knights hesitated before approaching Rio.
“I pledge my loyalty to the new Lord.”
One by one, the knights knelt down and bowed their heads. Then the soldiers followed suit, discarding their weapons and prostrating themselves before Rio.
“U-um…”
Rio was flustered. The outcome was truly unexpected.
He had only tried to protect the family’s fortune, and now he had taken the territory as well.
Tears in his eyes, he looked at Ghislaine.
“B-brother, I—”
“Shhh.”
As Ghislaine glared, Rio gulped, then turned to the knights.
“I-I will accept your loyalty. P-please take care of me from now on.”
“We will serve you with utmost sincerity.”
The situation warranted a swift proceeding, but nonetheless, all the knights and soldiers pledged their loyalty to Rio.
No one could claim it was forced. Saying otherwise would lead to a cracked skull.
“Now, we must announce this to everyone. Let’s move right away.”
When Ghislaine acted, it was at such a speed that no one could keep up.
At her urging, a few soldiers set off as messengers to notify the territory of the new changes.
Territory residents near the Lord’s Castle were all gathered and informed of the change in Lordship. Two observers took charge of that task.
“… Thus, Baron Magrell was executed for resisting the results of the duel… and the House of Rax has now succeeded his title… The remaining knights and soldiers pledged allegiance to the House of Rax…”
The observers, trembling, shouted with all their might.
They particularly emphasized that the knights and soldiers of the territory had pledged loyalty to the House of Rax as Ghislaine had insisted.
This was intended to inform the Lord’s forces openly, ensuring they couldn’t harbor any other intentions.
When the residents learned that the House of Rax had become the territory’s new rulers, they cheered heartily.
“Hooray!”
“A new Lord has come!”
“We will serve the House of Rax!”
The residents welcomed Rio with exuberance. Even the subject himself was left dumbfounded.
This reaction was only natural. Baron Magrell had been brutally greedy, and the years they suffered under his rule were plenty.
Residents also knew well of Rio from the Rax Merchant Group, as they traversed the territory for trade.
Rio was simple-minded and somewhat naive, always working diligently without gouging profits.
It was no wonder they were thrilled that such a person had become their Lord.
Everything proceeded swiftly, just as Ghislaine had intended. In an instant, the newly appointed Rio blinked, asking.
“B-brother, if you can do all this alone, why did you tell me to bring the merchant group army?”
“If you didn’t have that army, you’d be trembling in fear even after becoming Lord. Let them handle the important tasks until the atmosphere here stabilizes. I’ll help you on the side.”
That was definitely true. A timid Rio would have been terrified of the surrounding soldiers even as a Lord.
Having allies around would make it much easier, so Ghislaine was thoughtful enough to do that for him.
“Brother!”
Rio looked overwhelmed with emotion, almost tearing up.
Seeing that, Ghislaine clicked her tongue.
“Why are you crying so much? You’re such a crybaby.”
Even when scolded, Rio was elated. Not only had he escaped from the family’s crisis, but all threats had been completely eliminated.
Sitting in the highest seat of the Lord’s Castle, Rio squirmed awkwardly.
Ghislaine chuckled and said.
“As a celebration for becoming Lord, you need to give your first command. There’s something important to do, right?”
“R-right. There was something I had to do.”
Rio nodded, having briefly forgotten in his fright, but recalling that he indeed had some important business.
At Ghislaine’s sudden summons, the knights and retainers all gathered. Rio spoke with a trembling voice to one knight.
“Capture the Chief Officer who betrayed our family.”
“Understood.”
The knight quickly led the soldiers into action. Just then, Ghislaine interjected urgently.
“Also, capture the Chief of Guards!”
He was a man who never forgot his grudges.