Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Chapter 16: The End of the Grudge (1)
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The new head of the Bittenfeld family, Adel von Bittenfeld, officially announced that Oliver had launched a rebellion and been suppressed.
Immediately after, Martin declared the Gustin family accomplices and would treat them as traitors as well.
Aren Elder and Marius Elder, who had fled to the Gustin family, were branded as traitors, and their collusion with the Brightner and Gustin families was exposed.
Not long after, Martin led all forces under the Adalbert family, including the main house, and began marching toward Amelzen City, the capital of the Gustin territory.
“Hoo.”
Matteus von Gustin looked up at the ceiling and let out a sigh.
He then lowered his head again and stared at Nicholas von Royce, formed of light.
“……I’m completely isolated. I plan to focus on defense for the time being, so it won’t be easy to breach, but even so, the limits are clear. You wouldn’t want to see me fall either. I’d like you to speed up the main force’s advance.”
-I’m doing everything I can, but it’s not easy. The First Princess has ordered the lords loyal to her not to let our family’s forces pass through.-
“With the Royce Marquis family’s strength, punching through those guys should be a piece of cake, no?”
-I won’t deny that. But it’s not yet time to confront the First Princess head-on.-
“Don’t make me laugh! You’re dragging your feet over something that trivial?! We could be destroyed in the meantime!”
-I understand your anxiety now that the initial strategy has fallen apart, Matteus von Gustin.-
“Kuh!”
-I’ll say it clearly: I don’t want to see you destroyed. If I did, I wouldn’t have dispatched the knight order we secretly raised in our family. And if it came to that, I wouldn’t have promised to allow your son’s exile if things went wrong for you.-
Nicholas replied calmly.
Matteus could no longer argue.
The knight order disguised as an adventurer party remained at the family mansion, guarding Callaine.
If the war situation was favorable, they would follow Callaine’s orders and strike the enemy as reserves.
But if things went south, they had agreed to immediately retreat with him to the Royce Marquis territory.
-Hold out for ten days, Matteus. I swear on my name that the main force will arrive within that time.-
“Ten days…… I’ll hold out as best I can. But keep this in mind.”
-What is it?-
“The moment we fall, the dream cherished by you and the Royce Marquis ancestors will come to nothing.”
-I’ll take that sincere advice to heart.-
With those words, Nicholas cut the communication first.
Left alone, Matteus sighed again.
‘Did I move too hastily?’
It had been 600 years since the Gustin family split from the Adalbert family.
They had originally sought only independence, but as the main house’s direct bloodline weakened, they began to aim to take that position entirely.
And after Martin was born, they were convinced the perfect opportunity had come.
Without manifesting his unique ability, he could never become heir.
But the expectations built over more than a decade had completely crumbled just a few months ago.
‘I should have given up then…….’
He just couldn’t.
There was no guarantee such a chance would come again in the next generation.
And then, hearing of Nicholas’s declaration of war, he thought the final opportunity had arrived—what was this?
Instead, he and his family were driven into crisis.
Could they hold out to the end?
Matteus could assure nothing.
But then.
“Traitor Matteus von Gustin! Open the gates and surrender! Do you intend to drag even your pitiful soldiers into your foolish actions?”
Wilhelm’s voice shook the command post of Amelzen City’s outer castle.
Grit.
Matteus’s face twisted in rage.
Anyone else, he might overlook, but hearing such words from that damned coward was absurd.
Bam!
Kicking open the command post door, Matteus immediately looked down at the castle exterior.
200 Black Dragon Knights symbolizing the Pezeks family and over 2,000 private soldiers raised by the Pezeks were spread out widely.
More than 30 magic cannons were aimed at the walls.
“You dare lecture me on treason, Wilhelm von Pezeks!”
“You betrayed the main house without just cause and clung to the Royce Marquis family. If that’s not treason, then what is? And that’s not even the end of it. It’s been revealed you colluded with the late Jürgen von Brightner to siphon mining profits. No matter how I look at it, calling you a traitor is only natural.”
“Don’t pin baseless rumors on me!”
“The young head has already revealed all the evidence, and you’re still denying it. Well, it’s not too late yet, Matteus. Surrender now and beg the young head for mercy. You might at least save your life.”
“A discarded pawn like you sure talks big!”
“Isn’t subjugating traitors the duty of a branch family? I’m honored to lead the vanguard.”
Wilhelm grinned slyly.
The moment Matteus saw it, his rage boiled over.
In that instant, he wanted to kill the Wilhelm below even before Martin.
Sensing it, the two elders hurriedly stopped him.
“Calm down, Matteus. Falling for such cheap provocation isn’t like you.”
“Marius Elder is right. It’s just a ploy to lure our forces out. Don’t forget, Matteus—our role is to firmly defend the castle and wait for the Royce Marquis main force.”
“Haa. I’ve shown an unsightly side against my will. I apologize.”
Realizing his lapse, Matteus bowed to the two.
He then turned back, his eyes gleaming with killing intent as he glared at Wilhelm.
* * *
Martin’s main force had set up camp a little distance from Amelzen City.
To wait for the Bittenfeld family’s forces.
And today, Adel von Bittenfeld joined the main force with 150 Azure Dragon Knights and 1,500 private soldiers.
Now the main force numbered nearly 8,000, with over 700 knights.
‘Overkill against the Gustin family.’
But the reason for gathering such strength wasn’t just to crush the Gustins.
It was to prepare for the possibility of the Royce Marquis main force arriving before the Gustins fell.
Of course, the plan was to avoid fighting them, but things didn’t always go as planned.
‘That’s why we need to subdue them with minimal losses.’
Martin looked around at those gathered in his tent.
Vincent, head of the branch family, and Adel.
Oriana, the only elder remaining at the main house.
Christian, tapped as the next elder.
The captains and vice-captains of each knight order watched him.
Exceptionally, Sien stood behind him as his guard knight.
“The Pezeks family just sent word. The walls have all sorts of barriers and magic circles, so it won’t be easy to breach.”
“As expected, they’ll focus solely on defense until the Royce Marquis main force arrives.”
“Yes. Of course, we could force it with sheer power. But I think it would be highly inefficient.”
“Do you have something in mind, young head?”
“Yes. First, I’d like Vincent to take overall command of the siege. But no need for a fierce assault.”
“Huh?”
Vincent couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the sudden statement.
The others were the same.
Martin was the Adalbert young head—and acting family head, no less.
It was hard to understand why he wouldn’t take overall command.
Oriana Elder was the first to grasp Martin’s intent.
“……While we attack the castle, you’ll act separately, right?”
“Exactly, Oriana Elder. I hear the Gustin reserves are holed up in the inner castle mansion. Callaine Gustin is leading them.”
“Reserves? Does the Gustin family have that much strength left?”
“Jerome Metselder told me. The Royce Marquis family runs a secret knight order. Disguised as adventurers—probably them joining as reserves.”
“I get wanting to hit them. But how do you enter the inner castle? Even as young head, you can’t teleport through the spatial barriers over the entire outer castle.”
“As you say, Elder, no teleporting. So we’ll use an external secret passage.”
“What?!”
Oriana Elder was genuinely shocked.
The others were equally shaken.
Martin smiled faintly and continued.
“You all know lords prepare escape routes for themselves or their families in case of defeat in war. The Gustins are no different.”
“……Isn’t that a top secret known only to the lord and heir? How do you know, young head?”
Adel asked this time, her expression grave.
If he knew the Gustins’ secret passage, he might know others’ too.
“The previous head focused on gathering intelligence in his lifetime. He left it all to me, hoping it would help even a little.”
“……He must have investigated thoroughly. Knowing even that.”
“I was shocked too, Adel. Anyway, the secret passage is very narrow, so only a few can go. That’s why it’ll just be me and Sien.”
If the Gustin reserves rivaled a real knight order, or if the Crimson Moon Magic Squadron was there, he wouldn’t attempt it.
But investigations showed the reserves were just two knight squads.
The Crimson Moon Magic Squadron wouldn’t appear for another three years.
“Matteus von Gustin dotes on his son. If he hears the young head has taken his son hostage, he’ll be in a bind. That’s why no need for all-out attack, right, young head?”
“Spot on, Lucas Captain. And there’s more fun to come.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll save it for later, Philip Captain. You’ll all know soon enough.”
With that, Martin stood.
To head to the Gustin secret passage.
But then, Adel suddenly stood too.
“Mind if I come along, young head? I think adding one more is fine.”
“Adel, you should command the—”
“I became head due to direct bloodline, but I still lack much. I think Bastian Friedrich Captain, stronger and more experienced than me, is better suited to lead the battle.”
“Mm.”
Martin hesitated.
Even he thought Adel’s words made sense.
Plus, as a 5th Circle mage, she matched Sien’s strength.
She’d be a big help.
He glanced at Sien just in case.
She frowned but didn’t object.
“Alright. Let’s go together.”
“Thank you, young head.”
And so one more joined Martin’s group.
Finishing the discussion, they promptly left the main camp.
Not long after, Adel spoke.
“Sien Igrit.”
“……Yes?”
Unlike before, Sien was cautious.
The other was now a branch family head.
Proper etiquette was needed.
“If it were others, fine, but treat me casually around the young head. Honestly, I don’t want to lose one of my few friends like this.”
“Mm. Even so, that’s a bit…….”
Sien was flustered by Adel’s sudden words.
She was still a family head, age aside.
Not someone to treat casually.
“You’ll be a branch head someday too. So when it’s just us, act like before.”
Her calm voice held a faint plea.
Feeling it, Sien stared at Adel.
Then nodded.
“Got it. But you drop the formal speech from now on. Can’t have a branch head honoring me.”
“Will do.”
A smile bloomed on Adel’s lips as she readily agreed.
‘Good.’
Watching the two women, Martin nodded in satisfaction.
The trio then picked up speed.