Chapter 128: The Subjugation of Beltus (2)
l9ZqAThe first to notice the anomaly was Orel, the leader of the mercenary group stationed in the western tower of the Duchy of Beltus.QOr84L
CjiHe was a veteran who had been through all kinds of battles while serving the ducal family for a long time. It wasn’t enough to just be strong and have a fierce personality to hold such a position.4jxI
9gfcpJvTo maintain a key post within the imperial guard, one needed both a fiery spirit and an icy rationality.CKTAq3H
mwARHis rough muscles, one-eyed face, square jaw, and the huge sword on his back—every feature declared the presence of a formidable man.DyJhHY
n8P1Although he had left the imperial family and become the leader of a large mercenary corps, he still maintained the same meticulous battle readiness he’d had while serving the empire.yQlNd
qWbWmKv“…Something feels off in the main building.”UHc
VckOrel frowned as he drank beer with his strategist in the command room of the garrison.Tk5j
SgX5“…Ah?”BeTcgA
8Gkuu“I hear the servants screaming.”ZwSK
VlSdOo“…I could never match your hearing, Commander.”uZRPe
jw0THe was in charge of the Duchy of Beltus’s security.kmtRSh
lwqThe reason the Duke of Beltus, with his small number of private soldiers, could still hold his head high before the three great noble families was because he had General Orel under his command.brr
ZP0EIf someone asked why a wise and experienced man like Orel worked under a greedy man like the Duke of Beltus, the answer was simple: money.Wji4mEB
Ra1The amount of gold coins Orel’s mercenary corps received annually from the Duchy of Beltus for maintaining security was enough to buy a small border town with ease.nC9Ud
C2CJMiAnd the virtue of a mercenary is to work exactly for what he’s paid.wZNabw
Hhnv5btThere were few mercenaries in the southwestern continent, including Ebelstein, as renowned as Orel. Leading such a large mercenary corps was only possible thanks to his exceptional abilities.j4Iex
dTi0PdThat was why some ambitious mercenaries harbored the desire to challenge Orel, but finding him wasn’t easy, since he rarely left the Beltus territory.NtQd
hCn0gBOrel adjusted the greatsword on his back, checked the two longswords at his waist, the dagger on his thigh, and the various supplies on his belt, then stood up.fOqwM
ke0XHe pulled back the canvas covering of the garrison completely and looked toward the main building of the Duchy of Beltus.VpH
4C98There, terrified servants were running out of the mansion.qar
j1kV7ZOrel’s brows drew together tightly. Focusing on his nose, he could smell the faint scent of blood carried by the wind.ElbQadm
W6HGeneral Orel was a man with unusually sharp hearing and smell.Mpc
Mf2UDI0He was also a man who never hesitated when it mattered.2ZbThG
zujl“Reven.”yTreCk
emqCVV“Yes, Commander.”sZqu5kI
cg2eFK“Wake everyone who’s sleeping. It’s time to work.”l0s
FMNAkr0***jDw
JrOeCayWhooosh!uziirG
Ju0fHYACrackle! Snap!AjW3
8yWx9akThe main building of the Duke of Beltus—the isolation room where Denise had been confined.JGhK
5mot3OUThe Archlich that Fina had meticulously crafted was a disaster equal to death itself. The mere fact that such a monster stood upright turned its surroundings into a frozen abyss, multiplying its forces and forming its nest wherever it stood.vze4y4
ft0FWhen Denise regained consciousness, the walls of the isolation room were already covered with all kinds of necromantic magic and vengeful spirits, enough to make one dizzy just by breathing.potLmbg
iWWWith a single movement of the Archlich’s staff, an army of corpses rose, and rotting monsters began staggering out into the mansion’s corridors.0kN
cbyNIf left unchecked, the casualties would be countless.A4CZKA
uyhFina loved such scenes of massacre. But unfortunately, Dereck did not like unnecessary victims in these covert power struggles.gqXkmJ
nsayx48Dereck had no qualms about killing, but he wasn’t a lunatic who committed senseless massacres. All he wanted was to seize the Beltus mansion and turn it into the seat of necromantic magic.XHqvXl
5EV4FLiThat was why Dereck had repeatedly insisted to Fina that she limit the level of monsters summoned by the Archlich’s magic.dzz9
pzZCmEven so, the Beltus mansion already looked like a nest of evil deeply tainted with necromancy.r1i4
d91QzEA place like that had to be purged. Creating that justification was all he needed.o1Hls
8H5SCreeeak. Crack.EfGJ
AZ1TScreeech.FOC72
NPvHJRThe army of corpses rising with grotesque noises would chill anyone to the bone.4WRzVs
vMEzKnEspecially ordinary people who had never witnessed necromantic magic before.HPV8Y3k
ywolXInevitable screams of panic erupted among the servants, and the mansion descended into chaos.16riaKi
JkJArjW“—Aaah!”4aE
8cmQ6Vb“Save me! It’s a monster! A monster!”i1MdIfI
lEjGFK4Banshees flew over the railing of the main hall, and phantom knights clad in armor and wielding swords began occupying every room with echoing footsteps.7si8X2
j8trvBThe aura of necromantic magic spreading across the walls quickly dimmed the light, wrapping the mansion in darkness.3HqLyTX
RGdLittle by little, the Beltus mansion was dyed in the shadow of death. As in the labyrinths of the White Zone ruled by the Archlich, it was becoming a maze filled with vengeful spirits, corpses, and the stench of blood.I6sv
4rwBoom!qm931K
x6KYDenise clenched her teeth as she jumped from the railing connecting the second floor to the first.nwnD
G8cUAround her, terrified servants were crying, barely managing to move their feet. If she left them there, they would undoubtedly be torn apart by the monsters.aD6W5
RtwEShe used the first-class combat magic “Magic Arrow” and “Ice Spear” to suppress the corpses rushing toward her.gltGp
P3NR3fLFortunately, the main body—the Archlich—was focused on devouring the entire mansion. Thanks to that, the monsters it summoned were not yet of a very high level.ZdJ
MTJ‘If I get out now, I can survive.’W3KzM
GxwXYLVWith that thought, Denise grabbed a maid frozen in fear and ran down the stairs, gritting her teeth.8FF
2IOiRNlShe stumbled once and rolled down the steps, but the thick, luxurious carpet kept her from serious injury.q8U7inx
dPY5Crash!FAct
nHxR“Ow!”cenR6p
kE1HThe pain was inevitable, but she pushed herself up from the floor. Other servants who had been dragged or thrown by force also began moving toward the exit, trembling.gIzLCfx
Q8gM4HAlmost crawling along the ground, she managed to reach the lobby on the first floor.4rrM
B7bHer intention was to get out of the mansion to alert the tower. With that in mind, she ran toward the marble staircase leading to the main gate.Wpd
73k“…What is this…?”04BEyXl
mfgfuPDWhen Denise exited the main building, the entire world was already being overrun by monsters.Cnv
yBL5zThe fief of the Duke of Beltus—about the size of a decent rural village. To the south, the great garden that resembled an entire forest was being invaded by spirits and beasts.O4WDKj
2XoIn the eastern tower, mages had rushed out to cut down monsters; the same was happening in the camp of the Orel Mercenary Corps.Zm9Dr
lMxShe couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Even Denise, who had lived her whole life among noble intrigues, had never witnessed a battlefield like this.N0lR
AOIvZaThe Archlich’s magic, devouring the main building, seemed to spread throughout the entire territory.jm2WfZF
s0SIn no time, the place would become a labyrinth ruled by the Lich, and the splendid Beltus mansion would become nothing more than a relic of past glory.CqM1Q
9h8The necromancy of a six-star mage could turn even the mansion of a historic family into a nest of death in an instant.zZrU
vJ0USrPBefore that power of a completely different level, Denise felt as though the entire world was collapsing.ZqTsaCq
VPSEverywhere, there was battle, and death filled every corner.FzO
9S0oIWSeeing the advance of the monsters sweeping across the estate, Denise collapsed where she stood.8Cl
UmMkjki“Hah… hah… hah…”XkOTxiC
BekxHwFrom the highest point of the main building, looking out over the property from the railing near the outer gate, she took several labored breaths.PzkI
1QHHer trembling hands clutched the railing, and her chest, covered by her frilled dress, rose and fell endlessly.Sv1
jpaBreathe deeply. Again.XDgp4wt
mEQA‘Calm down, calm down, calm down. Don’t panic.’DdrKkI
VzcEven though everyone else was on the verge of breaking down, she tried to regain her reason somehow.AeDFWP
10sDTjEven when goosebumps ran up her arms and her back shivered, she clenched her teeth to resist the fear.sQfB0
rbYmEBut her heart was pounding wildly, and tears threatened to fall.gdsNl
Sv9HYDenise removed the thought-shaped brooch from her hair and, using its sharp tip, stabbed her own thigh once.bxQtyG4
5xlqThe pain suppressed her fear, her breathing stabilized, and her rationality returned. Blood ran down her leg, but Denise didn’t even notice.ctgA
KxqUw‘Think, think, don’t stop thinking. Every second counts. What do I need to consider? What do I need to decide right now?’LLPohlU
DU86‘The isolation room—the monster that came out of my belongings. What exactly was it? It’s clearly a high-level demon, but why was it among my things…? It was just my usual luggage…’O3sJ
y2jRegaining control over her trembling body, she organized her thoughts.bWdVhg
RrZikVRShe remembered the gifts she had received from the young woman of the Tigris territory. Everything else had been her usual belongings. But not those gifts.WHUYjH
eP8sGyA trap?4owRCm
OszJX3YBut the young woman from Tigris was just a nameless commoner. Diligent, studious, without any great magical achievements.NXFNjJ
aVB8KU0Although Denise, out of concern for Aiselin, had observed that girl a little.7SoDhc
gRIbThe young Tigris girl was among Dereck’s most sincere disciples. She always sought his teachings.NTF
MXRQXHeThe most attuned to Dereck’s will. If she acted, it was likely under his orders.AyafOd
u4DThat was the only conclusion Denise could reach.OqbQA
bZObZaWhat kind of large-scale necromantic magic was this? What were Dereck’s intentions? How had this crisis, threatening to devour the Beltus family, begun?vjpqvEd
EK42LOdEverything was a mystery.8ZrBZJa
mwvBut one thing was certain.eOKSn
yLGS0PfEverything was happening within Dereck’s palm.AAmZE
onXzvcdShe didn’t know how far his plans reached, but she remembered well the look he had in the office of the Ravenclaw barony.vc8RC2
nmr6The mansion garden.DcBPl0s
WLonAwgThe words he spoke when he was leaving, leaving her alone.viH
VQoHG‘It doesn’t matter if you stab me in the back.’jKwdQ
RxnVWhat had been his intention?M4KYw
3IC9Kindness? Magnanimity toward Denise?bejvA0
5a8No. She had interpreted it all wrong.5NfiXz
5AffWfShe remembered his figure walking away, unable to clearly discern his expression.3XJ70
95pX34‘He was trying to use me.’kymjQZ
Tch6MDenise’s legs gave out as she bit her lip hard.ZBw3z
gJeAfter enduring the flood of emotions, an empty laugh escaped her lips.OpY
GP7O‘How ridiculous…’cfJ
BLPOmAGThe story was clear. The Beltus family, feeling threatened by Dereck Lydof Ravenclaw, had tried to crush him.jZjn
MvaThey had attempted to kidnap his wife, fabricated scandals, and even considered assassinating him.ZDuI
lSnTHow could he show genuine kindness to someone raised in that nest?n2dsua
K7LLbcPerhaps once, at the beginning, it had been possible.hLnsqTa
9kyJIn the dusty basement of the art warehouse, when Denise belittled herself, he denied it all, telling her she was worth more.FsmrNQK
Uz5a6uvAlthough she had always lived under Beltus’s weight, he believed she had her own value.FZ6t
n1BBut kindness also had limits.wrj2Uzk
ZlApW8How could one show compassion toward someone who threatened their territory, their family, their life?Wxystl
xxo7dDereck was human, too. And Denise was a subordinate of Beltus.nEgpMs
JQVK1JIn the end, when his patience ran out, it was inevitable.TCGAI
fwoCaTf‘Ridiculous my situation is ridiculous…’CyLN7q
sRI8jZeEven so, Denise had worried about how to maintain a friendly relationship with Dereck.FViV
qwCCWithout considering his possible exhaustion, resentment, or betrayal, she had simply let herself be swept away by her emotions.KxVmLe
rFKA childish illusion, believing herself to be the center of the world.cfql6
Jks6UGRWriting day after day had led her to believe she was the protagonist of this story. Ridiculous.GdO
D57The pain in her thigh, the scratches on her skin, the monsters, the screams, the stench—all kept advancing.HkmbEBz
YtBShe thought about what was to come.xq5ie
xZ2vXjrIf this wasn’t handled properly, it would be a catastrophe. And even if it was, disaster would still be inevitable.1q9
AnRNoThe Duke of Beltus would have to explain the origin of the necromancy.IzBV
JzJWho would be the sacrifice?Qp3Cml
4vOtHIf she were the duke… whom would she choose to escape from this?ZHnE
g9ypThe Archlich—the source of it all. Who had brought the means directly into the mansion?CYZ
nwtYGtSomeone who had abandoned their loyalty… someone who had tried to defend a weak, rural baron.SBG5f
E2rThe most suitable scapegoat.GOpO
96lqrDenise’s hands trembled as she looked at the destruction of the Beltus family.p7W
IJCDWShe remembered the red-haired girl from Belmierd, branded a witch because of necromantic magic—she remembered how easily necromancy could ruin anyone’s life.Kb2JS
JvK1rDShe remembered the white-haired mercenary, with fierce eyes, looking at all the paintings with his chin resting on his hand.gjk
o1SEverything had begun because of Beltus’s sins.lFrG
XHAAnd she was a member of Beltus. The sacrificial lamb.h79
zC6A trembling chest. A hollow laugh.54udZ
JPbgSometimes, absolute despair pulled a smile from one’s face.Ew4ZSOM
haYCXP6One way or another, her end was already decided.SWoUV
LJqHdTo become a witch.vEgJ
VTWY5aZA witch who would bear all the curses.Nab2vP
jpnSWE***KX0e
hlC5OV“Even in that abyss of wicked deeds, if there exists one person who could be called a saint, it would be Lady Denise, who would face all the malice of her family and reveal everything.”7G1wh
5smeJbz“…Indeed, is that so?”ls7ji
xinTa“To discern right from wrong and act righteously in such an environment is not something just anyone can do.”9yp
7vxClop, clop.dPYkG
eUNcCountess Rodelia and her elite troops acted so swiftly that they were already leading their horses toward the Beltus territory before the sun was high in the sky.gXK
ligOThere was no time for carriages, so everyone gripped the reins tightly from their mounts.4K8Bb
Wh1dYThey advanced so fast that, to keep up, one practically had to cling to the horse’s neck.gB95
e69lueWhoosh!JhsdOr
OzegFrom his saddle, galloping along the forest path, Dereck spoke firmly to Rodelia.EGLfP
pM25bIf there was one person still acting righteously within the rotten Beltus family, it had to be Denise.FL1
WV6O4yXRodelia also listened intently to Dereck’s words as they rode toward the Beltus mansion.VxY
PqtyQUaAnd in the distance, the hill where the Beltus mansion stood began to appear on the horizon.60c
ctlDJEven from afar, Countess Rodelia frowned. From that distance, it was already evident that the state of the territory was not normal.SNC
YPXeNtA swarm of vengeful spirits was swirling over the estate.Js4AgM1
x05m1uThe force with which those souls whirled made the place seem like a necromancer’s stronghold.x95WF
RBNQT“…Sir Dereck. You were right.”hc3BD
Qf5F7r6Countess Rodelia was someone whose hatred toward necromancers was unmatched in the world.UHW
9S4efgThe heroine clenched her teeth, drew her sacred blood sword, and shouted to her soldiers.Tfc9mz
C61rHr1“Faster! Necromancy is running rampant in the Beltus duchy!”CNFig0
5X1p“Yes, ma’am!”Kv0tpp
0wCAt that moment, the soldiers, filled with renewed morale, cracked their reins and pushed their speed even further.y7SYrFT
RlRVx– HuuungyfQtA
JMMPc7Their destination was still far enough away to be seen only at the edge of the horizon.src9
BOfYHowever, even from that distance, the sound of the immense magical power erupting from the mansion grounds could be clearly heard.6aSX
01IiThe aura of that magic was so palpable that everyone, including Dereck, was momentarily left speechless.Q93t
8WCdsmAbove the Beltus mansion, a gigantic flame surged among the spirits.kIH
NA6waFIt soon took the shape of an enormous armored warrior, raising a massive flaming sword in its hands.QcBx
jCrtDRThe size was indescribable.TojmRN
2VNjCaA giant of fire so colossal that it could be clearly seen even from that distance. A summoning spell of absurd scale, several times larger than the mansion itself.Au1g
gBbB10It was, at the very least, a level 4-star summoning magic.vGxUJjK
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