March

Pernok assembled forces from each territory at the marquis territory.

Though Named guild members who were already prepared gathered quickly, territory forces were still being continuously drafted considering conscription procedures and castle wall defense.

Five hundred guild members and three thousand soldiers.

Military supplies overflowed to the point of surplus due to insufficient forces.

“If you give us just one more week, we can secure an additional five thousand soldiers!”

Sallio shouted representing the guild masters.

Other guild masters nodded in response.

“Keke, a meaningless act.”

Though Gram’s sinister laughter made guild masters furrow their brows, Pernok agreed with those words.

“We can’t waste two weeks.”

“But…”

“It was an urgent deployment from the start. We must consider the time for private soldiers from each territory to reach here and those who must defend castles. It’s not a situation where we can just gather forces by drafting indiscriminately.”

Training of soldiers had continued since first seizing territories.

Three thousand who arrived here plus five thousand forces gained each time seizing new castles.

Eight thousand in total was the number of private soldiers Pernok had raised until now.

He could draft more.

Because Pernok’s fame pierced the heavens, and territorial people’s loyalty grew higher by the day.

But the problems were harvest and training.

The harvest season would soon approach.

Even for Illumina, which had suffered through severe drought, it was impossible to draft all men during a time when the unfamiliar word harvest was flourishing.

Even if the situation became urgent and additional forces were needed, hastily assembled people’s combat power would be poor.

No matter how high-quality weapons existed, if entrusted to people who didn’t know how to handle them, there was high possibility they’d rather be stolen by enemies, leading to weakening forces.

The situation differed from when Pernok simply led guild members into Illumina.

They now had territories and people to protect.

If considering even the possibility of royal army circling back to strike territories, distribution of forces required careful thought.

If considering even forces’ training level and centurion-level officers, unreasonable drafting might rather turn allies into rabble.

“We’ll advance to the kingdom with personnel gathered here now. The rearguard of five thousand will join along with supplies.”

“Understood.”

“The main force’s supplies will be obtained from territories located on the kingdom advance route.”

“Plunder… is it?”

Pernok shook his head while pointing at castles on the map.

“These are lords following Vans. By imposing the crime of treason on Vans himself, we’ll punish even those following him together as traitors. We’ll only take those castles’ warehouses. Also, we’ll inform the people that our actions carry just justification.”

“Are you thinking of even spreading rumors?”

When Gram looked with interested eyes, Pernok nodded.

“Our justifications are twofold. One is that Vans joined hands with Rakis and brought Rakis’s Magi into his own nation without permission, trying to harm the people. The other is that factions pretended not to know this and tried to cover it up, attempting to erase one territory and condoned trying to tolerate this fact.”

“Can indifference become treason?”

“A royal and factions of this place and one castle nearly disappeared. Vans knows this fact yet is absorbed in competition. Thanks to Rakis openly backing Vans, we can spread interesting rumors. Something like he promoted reckless actions wanting to become king himself.”

“Unexpected. I saw you as a personality who didn’t like wordplay.”

“It’s war accompanied by much sacrifice. We must use everything that can be used.”

“Keke, that point isn’t bad. But if we openly strike in, enemy resistance will be considerable. If our movements are clear, enemies will also find it easier to respond.”

If Pernok struck in from the front, the kingdom’s response was simple.

They just needed to gather border, capital, and faction power at the front to block it.

Collision of forces with revealed movements was viewed as disadvantageous from the siege position as conventional wisdom, but Pernok didn’t care.

“We just need to conquer quickly before we become fatigued. And the border and royal army won’t be able to move.”

“Do you have people?”

“They’re all gnashing their teeth, so groundwork wasn’t difficult. Rather, the rear is the biggest problem.”

Pernok pointed at Rezhen on the map.

“Though we already occupied the rear border, if Rezhen sends forces with Zayl backed by Breia, the territories established at the border become dangerous.”

“Don’t worry. Even exchanging this life, I’ll ensure no hindrance to the great cause.”

When Ruin solemnly declared, Pernok, who’d been pondering attaching additional forces, shook his head.

“If necessary, you may use the castle.”

“Hehehe, that should be saved for the decisive moment. I’ll try with just the association.”

“If Rezhen’s response is faster than the timeline, join the additional supplies and Ludmila to our side.”

“Yes.”

Ruin, who answered confidently, pressed down his fedora and left the castle.

Rio had already led a merchant convoy to Tyr’s frontlines.

Guild masters awaiting orders fixed their gazes on Pernok.

“Forces on this side are three thousand five hundred. Including the rearguard, eight thousand five hundred. But even if enemies are tens of thousands strong, it doesn’t matter. We just need to knock down enemies before they gather one by one to match our numbers.”

Pernok thrust his baton into the royal palace on the map while shouting resolutely.

“The target is the royal palace. We’ll kill Vans and his entire faction and occupy this place to seize the throne.”

“Loyalty!”

Leading guild masters with solemn expressions, Pernok marched toward the royal palace with three thousand five hundred forces.

* * *

Priest Jean rode a horse out of the marquis territory.

Priest Jean, who’d tried to protect Pernok by the High Priest’s command, rather received a request from him.

“Please convey this letter to the High Priest.”

Perhaps he’d written a reply.

To Priest Jean who tucked the thin envelope into his breast, Pernok repeatedly urged.

“Please convey that she must solemnly observe that time.”

Though curious, he couldn’t ask further.

Because he had to leave the castle before Gram knew.

‘What is he trying to proceed with secretly?’

Having even one Magus by his side would be great help in marching to the royal palace.

Though curious what Pernok was discussing with the high priest while giving up such military strength, Priest Jean couldn’t put his attention elsewhere.

“Too many tails.”

“…!”

After easily eliminating watchers spying on the marquis territory, Priest Jean didn’t look back.

“I don’t know if he can reach the royal palace safely like that.”

Though he could block the marquis territory’s movements briefly with this, even that wouldn’t last more than a few days.

Eight castles located on the path toward the royal palace.

Because each time Pernok knocked one down, several times the soldiers would be piled up at the next castle.

Perhaps Owen who received news might lead out all the royal army.

While ridiculing Pernok’s justification like children’s play.

“Justification as a pretext is merely a precondition for deployment. The losing side gets everything pinned on them, and the winning side seizes glory. Prince Pernok must by all means become the latter…”

Though the Holy Kingdom’s choice to lend power to the most tumultuous prince seemed curious, perhaps because he was such a prince, lending power meant he might also make the dramatic choice to build temples.

Hoping this letter received by the high priest contained a clever plan to quickly overturn the war situation, Priest Jean urgently drove his horse toward the Holy Kingdom.

* * *

Pernok volunteered for the vanguard. Hiding Gram in the main force, he himself led only a hundred mages to quickly cross the path.

While the main force marched while wary of watchers, Pernok’s advance party arrived half a day early before Count Hulk’s territory.

A mage raised a flag announcing Pernok in the middle where guards watched.

“Count Hulk, come out before this place immediately!”

The voice imbued with mana shook the count’s territory.

Startled Count Hulk burst onto the castle tower at the sound like lightning striking.

“Count Hulk! You must know the fact of letting Rakis’s Magi into this jurisdiction’s territory!”

“…!”

It was breathtaking words from the start.

Of course, he’d preciously entertained Rakis’s Magi to head toward Pernok’s marquis territory.

It was Vans’s covert instruction, and no one in the castle knew this fact except himself.

“Your Highness! What absurd words are these, appearing suddenly!”

“Shut up! I heard the truth in detail while killing those Magi. Do you dare try to evade with lies!”

Come to think of it, how was Pernok alive?

As many as three of Rakis’s 13 Lords had headed toward the marquis territory…?

Hulk came to his senses sharply while stepping backward.

“I’ll inform you how I came to this place, so come down before here immediately, kneel, and apologize. Then I might spare just that life.”

In that moment, Hulk couldn’t grasp the situation and only rolled his eyes.

Pernok shouting that his being alive here was evidence.

To ignore those words, he seemed to know all the 13 Lords’ routes, so in the instant he couldn’t rashly resist.

“Duke Flemyr crossed the border and already reported what route the 13 Lords used to infiltrate me! I’ll escort you to the capital, so quickly open the castle gates and the criminal stick out your neck!”

When even just and fair Flemyr’s name was mentioned, Hulk’s complexion paled.

If one was Vans’s faction, they couldn’t not know that recent fame investigating even royals mercilessly as the truth investigation team.

Flemyr moving meant there was definite evidence.

If he headed to the capital, his neck might fly.

Facing confident Pernok in an unexpected situation, Hulk’s thoughts were driven to extremes.

“Close the castle gates!”

Thus, he ended up choosing the worst option, though natural.

“And Prince Pernok! If I have crimes, have the royal palace send a truth investigation team! How can you condemn me as a traitor who let in another nation’s Magi to kill the prince!”

Enduring.

That one choice was undoubtedly the situation Pernok had waited for.

Normally, the rule would be confronting at domain warfare scale, but this was war advancing all the way to the royal palace.

“When the main force joins, convey that some killing is permitted. However, unnecessary carnage must be avoided.”

“Yes.”

“It’s been quite a while since war.”

Pernok stepped forward while making his artifact into a sword.

Just imagining how fierce an army the ripple effect starting from this one step would surge in made his life memories tremble.

Numerical disadvantage—overturning inferiority to raise the nation tall was the specialty of Pernok, who’d been a great general at that time.

“Count Hulk.”

Though that voice was low, Hulk clearly heard it.

“I express gratitude to you.”

The roar of pure white light forming on the sword.

“Thanks to you, the floodgates opened.”

Pernok’s figure swinging down the sword entered clearly in very slow motion.

The moment the blade cutting through empty air finally touched the ground while holding pure white light.

BOOOOOOOOM!

The world was dyed in radiance, swallowing the count’s territory.

Though the breathtaking time was an instant, Hulk seemed seized by eternity.

“…Huff!”

When he blinked his eyes, most of the castle walls including the gates had collapsed.

And Pernok stood before his eyes pointing a sword.

“Th-this is…”

Screams of soldiers buried in debris and panic-stricken knights were heard from all directions.

“…Just what are you doing! This isn’t even domain warfare or anything…”

“What have you been saying since earlier?”

Pernok raised his sword.

“Did you not understand the words saying I’d go to the royal palace? Your head is quite lacking.”

“What do you… No, no. I’m a noble! A count! Even thinking of all war’s rules…”

“That’s talk for when you have value to survive.”

The instant Hulk tried to crawl backward to escape, Pernok’s sword swept his neck.

Slash!

As soon as the sharp sound rang out, mages climbed onto the castle tower.

“Coooount!”

Knights who witnessed belatedly followed, but Pernok merely indifferently flicked his sword clean.

“Kill all bastards who resist. Spare those who surrender. Take supplies from the castle warehouse, and tell the people.”

While absorbing spiritual power and mana rising from the castle, Pernok turned his gaze to the north gate.

“That Vans tried to kill people with Rakis’s Magi, and this is clearly an act amounting to treason threatening Illumina’s security, and I’m heading to the royal palace to punish this.”

“Yes!”

Mages divided to handle the castle and castle tower’s chaos.

Confirming the main force arriving belatedly, Pernok threw Hulk’s corpse outside the castle gates while lightly heading toward the north gate.

* * *

“Wh-what are you doing, duke!”

General Fulne of the royal direct forces surrounding the duke’s domain could only widen his eyes at soldiers being mercilessly cut down.

It was carnage unfolding at night.

When Flemyr led knights and began cutting down the royal army that surrounded them, his retainers came out from all directions leading soldiers, driving the situation into confusion.

“I hold no personal grudge against you. However, the current kingdom has reached a state utterly intolerable.”

“Duke! Do you understand what you’re doing now!”

“I should say so. Didn’t the royal army condone another nation’s Magi easily crossing borders by telling them to kill our own nation’s prince?”

“Why do you turn away from that very thing being the path to establish order! Are you truly satisfied only when seeing us collapse to Rakis!”

“Though the future is unknowable and the past is inherited, the present can twist plenty depending on whom one serves as lord. Do you view giving up before even trying as correct judgment as a soldier?”

“At least, I judge that continuing the past is the path to reduce our own nation’s sacrifice.”

“Then you should’ve chosen well whom to pick. Why did you choose scoundrels who’d try to kill even their own nation’s people together? And why did you easily yield borders even though competition hasn’t ended? Since when has Illumina easily allowed even its own security to be violated with the single word competition!”

“In a kingdom already rotten to the core, this path was the only one.”

“No, there might be better options. So I don’t have many days left and intend to cut down the kingdom’s evils lastly and go together—do you have will too? If you’ll join, I’ll welcome you with both hands.”

Fulne tried to shout while gripping his spear with both hands.

“From today, the duke’s domain will be erased from history…!”

What swept over smoothly severed both spear and Fulne’s neck at once.

Blood on the sword was absorbed into the blade, adding sharpness.

Magus Arts Blood Sword.

It was a special-type Magus Arts that absorbed all blood and mana of severed lives into the sword to amplify physical abilities and weapon sharpness.

The Magus who grew stronger the more he killed—Flemyr drew his sword again after decades.

“His Highness Pernok has moved. We’ll strike General McDonnell, supreme commander of the royal army.”