Return of the Bastard (3)
Return of the Bastard (3)
Negotiating with an aggressor, appealing through the law—it's exhausting, time-consuming, and rarely yields the desired result.
But direct, self-enforced execution is clean.
I thoroughly looted everything of value, including the central warehouse.
Since Count Anbelrum had taken all his core knights with him, the remaining retainers in the castle could only watch in stunned helplessness.
The old butler I had been close to stared with a blank face before hesitantly opening his mouth.
"Doryeonnim... by any chance, is this revenge?"
"This is legitimate enforcement. Normally, I would have done it right in front of the Count."
"...."
"The only regret is that the Count had to rush out due to the Elf's second raid and couldn't witness this scene firsthand."
I could see in the butler's eyes that he noticed the stiff formality I used when referring to the Count.
"...You have changed."
"The battlefield does that to you."
Well, I think I've been pretty much the same ever since I possessed this body.
There's no sign of the legitimate siblings at all.
Most of the illegitimate siblings also followed the Count out.
The old retainers and knights nearing retirement who remained in the castle glared at me with eyes brimming with hatred and bloodshot fury.
Those gazes are satisfying.
Yes, sometimes this kind of look helps with mental care, too.
'What sin could they have? Except for the sin of backing the wrong side.'
I looked around at them, tightened my gut, and shouted.
"Everyone, listen up! From now on, the Elves will attempt to advance inland not through Ainshuvan, but via the Central Coastal Zone! That means this place is no longer safe from Elven invasions!"
The knights' eyes widened.
The maids and servants who had been hiding and watching also looked bewildered, their eyes round, wondering if this was true.
"The Elves have shifted the front! From now on, this central zone will become the front line!"
***
The western coast, the ruined territory of Viscount Potashu.
Kung! Kugung! Kwareureung!
A Rock Golem standing several dozen meters tall slammed its fist wildly into the ground.
Over a thousand Ancient Tree monsters each took their positions, burrowing thick roots into the earth.
Count Anbelrum, who had just arrived, looked down at the scene below the hill and asked Dvil.
"Lord Deville, what are those bastards doing right now?"
"They are creating a forest."
"A forest...?"
"The Forest of Life and Death. I have occasionally seen them expand forests in this manner before."
The Count's expression hardened.
"Then, you mean those bastards are making a new forest on my land right now?"
"Yes, it seems they intend to use it as a landing base."
"How can this be...."
"Steel your resolve. It appears the Elf bastards have definitely chosen this place as a new front."
The Elf Legion showed no intention of advancing immediately.
Rather, they scattered widely across the devastated territory of Viscount Potashu and focused on creating a new forest.
This approached the Count's knights with a greater, more chilling fear.
"Shouldn't we strike now?"
"The Ancient Tree monsters aside, the Giant Golem is never easy. It's impossible without a Sword Master."
"You mean that Giant Golem has been subjugated before?"
"Yes, the Commander-in-Chief dealt with it."
"...."
Anbelrum recalled the slender, silver-haired female knight.
Did this mean that only someone on the level of the kingdom's greatest hero could defeat that Giant Golem?
As he returned to the encampment, the atmosphere was unusual.
"Your Excellency, it is said that immediately after we left, Doryeonnim Piel incited Count Balckenhardt and thoroughly looted the central warehouse and all major supplies of the Count's castle."
"It is reported that dozens of knights suddenly appeared and joined the looting, as if they had planned it from the start."
"...Why? I clearly promised unlimited compensation to Lady Hildea."
The supplies piled up in the main castle's warehouse?
They were an enormous amount, but ultimately just goods stored for distribution and expenditure.
Even if they were completely looted, the Count's domain's finances wouldn't be shaken.
Because the true assets were contained within the Count's subspace magic tool.
"Where is Elenoa?"
"She is en route leading a unit to scout the Elf legion that moved south."
"Under no circumstances let Elenoa know that Piel has arrived. Send a messenger right now, tell her to hand over command of the scouting to someone else, and instruct Elenoa to move to her maternal family's estate."
The Count's expression was anxious.
"There is no time. Lady Hildea intends to take Elenoa as a hostage to the North."
"Understood."
Thus, the messenger heading for Elenoa departed.
The Count was deep in thought.
Why had Hildea timed the looting of the castle's supplies exactly for when he was away?
"Is it a warning to me that the damages won't be light? Why go that far?"
Just then, a new messenger on horseback came galloping from the east.
As soon as the old retainer dismounted, he rushed frantically to the Count and reported in a whisper.
The Count's face stiffened.
"Is that really true?"
"Yes, Lady Valkenhart's actions appeared to be plundering aimed at settling a grudge. Perhaps they have realized the real reason why supplies to the North were reduced...."
"That cannot be."
"Could someone have broken the covenant?"
"If that were the case, Count Balckenhardt would have drawn his sword the moment he saw me."
At the Count's certainty, the retainer said nothing more and bowed his head.
'But why on earth?'
As he chewed over the purpose of Hildea's looting.
Knights could be seen riding quickly from the direction of the castle.
'Lady Hildea? Wait, is that Piel?'
The Count doubted his own eyes.
Hildea, leading the group, was carrying Piel on her back.
It was understandable that she would have to carry him for swift mobility since he couldn't use mana.
But for the Commander-in-Chief Hildea to do it personally?
"...The boy, it seems he's cashed in on his looks properly, even in the North."
Piel, who had been excessively arrogant—suspiciously so—before him.
Hildea, who hadn't taken her eyes off him even during their private audience, watching like a hawk.
Recalling the earlier moment, Count Anbelrum clicked his tongue.
"...Their relationship seems deeper than I thought. If anything, it's a good thing."
Before he knew it, Hildea and Luna's airborne unit had arrived.
Count Anbelrum personally greeted them.
"I did not expect you to take such trouble to come personally, rather than resting comfortably in the castle."
"I must handle the Giant Rock Golem myself to prevent unnecessary casualties."
Hildea smiled, her white teeth showing.
"The lives of the Northern knights are very precious, you see."
"...."
The Count felt the sharp thorn directed at him.
The thought even crossed his mind that perhaps Hildea really had noticed everything.
'That cannot be.'
He shook his head vigorously, when Hildea suddenly stared pointedly at the Count's subspace necklace.
"You said that in lieu of explaining the circumstances, you would provide satisfactory compensation."
"...Of course."
"That necklace, and the assets stored within it, seem like they would prove satisfactory."
"...This is the family crest, and everything. Please, I beg you, overlook this one thing."
The Count unconsciously took a defensive posture.
It was a reflex born of wariness, fearing Hildea might suddenly snatch the subspace necklace.
But Hildea walked past the Count as if nothing were amiss, and stood at the edge of the hill.
Piel followed beside her without even a glance.
Watching the slender back figure with silver hair flowing, the Count suddenly imagined just how far things had gone between those two.
Seeing the sense of distance they displayed, perhaps....
Hildea turned around and looked back at the Count.
"Shall I make a prophecy? In a moment, you will find yourself wanting to hand over that necklace."
"What on earth do you...."
"Second Lieutenant Piel, bring it out."
"Yes, Commander-in-Chief-nim."
Only then did the Count notice that Piel was wearing a subspace bracelet.
It was probably Hildea's, entrusted to Piel to prevent its destruction during combat.
Still, entrusting a subspace bracelet meant a considerable level of trust, or unless he was precious family....
The Count's thoughts stopped there.
Because Piel had taken out a magical device he had never seen before.
A 105mm steel gun barrel, reaching 4.4 meters in length, and numerous howitzer shells.
Even the Count's knights murmured, their voices tinged with groans.
"What is that?"
"Looks like an offensive magical device?"
"Are those projectiles? Is it a method where you insert those inside and fire them with mana power?"
"You mean to capture that gigantic golem with those tiny projectiles?"
Offensive magical devices that launch projectiles existed in fair numbers.
But they were typically used by mages or ordinary soldiers.
It was very rare for a knight to use a ranged offensive magical device.
And for a Sword Master to bother with one?
While everyone was confused, floating question marks, Hildea mounted the barrel against her stomach and completed loading the shell.
The sight of her aiming a gun barrel 2.6 times her own height was so intensely vivid that it naturally filled the Count and knights with tension.
Kwakwang!
A tremendous roaring blast tore through the air.
The Count nearly fell over, forgetting his dignity entirely.
At the thunderous roar, the likes of which they had never heard in their lives, even the knights turned pale with fright.
The shock did not end there.
A massive explosion had erupted from the head of the Giant Rock Golem, which had been digging into the ground.
'What in the world is that?'
The Count, his eyes wide open, watched Hildea skillfully load the charge fully, breech-load it, and then re-aim.
"C-Count, Your Excellency...."
"Silence. Everyone, keep your eyes wide open and observe."
At those words, the knights also strained their eyes and watched Hildea.
Kwakwagwang!
With a blast that numbed the knees, a dim flame erupted from the muzzle.
They could barely see the shell, flying at incredible speed, burying itself into the golem's head.
And then, the explosion.
But that wasn't all.
Thousands of Ancient Trees, diligently digging into the ground and taking root, simultaneously trembled their branches and leaves with a rustling shudder.
Even the ones already rooted were hastily scrambling to lift their bodies from the ground.
'Good heavens! The Ancient Tree monsters are afraid?'
Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!
Kugwagwang! Kugwagwang!
Hildea expertly handled the 4.4-meter barrel, firing shells in succession and persistently hitting only the Rock Giant's head.
The Count, even amidst his excitement, grew somewhat calmer and was able to observe Hildea's bombardment.
Judging by the roar upon firing, tremendous recoil was expected, but Hildea didn't move an inch.
Even the ground she stood on wasn't dented.
The Count, who did not know the Feather Step technique, could not understand how she was dispersing the recoil.
What was even more astonishing was the explosive force generated by the shells hitting the Golem Giant.
By eye, it seemed to sweep a radius of several dozen meters or more. Considering the size of the shell, it was an inconceivable, terrifying explosive power.
'I've never even heard of such a magical device. How does such a thing exist in the North...? Is this how the North managed to hold out until now?'
Seeing that it had been unknown until now, it must have been a tremendous military secret, yet she was using it in front of him without the slightest hesitation.
While the Count was desperately trying to guess her intent, something unbelievable happened.
The Giant Rock Golem, whose head was destroyed by the successive bombardments, collapsed powerlessly—but that no longer even entered the eyes of the Count and his knights.
Amazingly, the Ancient Tree monsters that had rooted themselves to create a forest were rapidly dispersing.
All they could see were the Ancient Tree individuals dashing away—some to the north, some to the east, some to the south.
The sight of them charging in groups of hundreds.
It was a terrifying force, overwhelming enough to crush one's fighting spirit, but at least for now, there was no one who felt fear.
Because....
"Y-Your Excellency! The Elf Legion is fleeing!"
It was a movement with a clearly visible purpose, no matter who saw it.
The Ancient Tree Legion, numbering in the thousands, was rapidly abandoning their formation and dispersing as if startled by Hildea's shelling.
As if fear had been learned.
And when Hildea approached with the gun barrel slung over her shoulder, a gentle smile on her face.
The Count, without realizing it, was removing his subspace necklace.
"Will this... suffice?"
"I am satisfied. Thus, the responsibility for the supply negligence is settled."
The Count unconsciously stole a glance at the giant gun barrel Hildea was carrying.
The aged eyelashes that had learned fear trembled slightly.