Chapter 316

“I will personally lead an army and tear that damn delinquent limb from limb, then feed him to the dogs!”

Adolf’s rage wouldn’t subside.

It couldn’t.

Max and the Celtrine family were the root cause of almost all the setbacks that had disrupted his smooth conquest.

They were more than just a thorn in his side they were his worst enemy.

Everyone in the throne room paled and held their breath, crushed by Adolf’s terrifying aura.

Only one person,

The sage, Galbraith, spoke in a calm voice, “Unfortunately, Your Highness, you know we don’t have the resources for that right now.”

They were struggling to recover from their recent defeat.

It was impossible to raise another large army in this situation.

Adolf, despite his boiling rage, knew this to be true.

*Bang!*

He slammed his fist on the armrest of his throne, venting his frustration.

The officials flinched.

But Galbraith remained calm.

He knew that Adolf was just trying to calm himself down.

“So what do you suggest we do?”

Adolf’s voice was calmer now.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

Adolf’s eyes narrowed.

The officials paled, thinking that Galbraith had just made a blunder.

But it wasn’t a blunder.

“Literally nothing. Just stay put. The messenger said that Baron Mowbray’s territory had fallen, right?”

“So?”

“You haven’t forgotten which family is located below them, have you?”

At that moment,

Adolf’s expression changed.

He might be insane, but he was also intelligent.

He realized what Galbraith was getting at.

“The Lambert family? Hmm, I see. So that’s it.”

The Lambert family.

The most prestigious warrior family in the central region.

Adolf had also tried to win them over.

His trusted advisor, Galbraith, had personally led the effort, spending a considerable amount of time to gain their favor.

“That’s right. Leave it to them. The Celtrine family won’t be able to advance any further.”

Galbraith declared confidently.

The officials finally reacted, their faces brightening.

“Oh, indeed! The Lambert family…!”

“Those Celtrine bastards won’t dare to invade them!”

“This is a blessing in disguise, Your Highness!”

The Lambert family wasn’t an ordinary warrior family.

They were famous for their archery skills.

It was rumored that even their ordinary soldiers were expert archers.

That would be a tremendous advantage in a siege battle.

It meant that the Celtrine army, no matter how strong they were, would suffer heavy losses if they attacked Lambert Castle.

“Hmph, fine. I’ll leave it to them this time.”

Adolf clenched his fist, still frustrated that he couldn’t personally crush Max.

“The rest of you, focus on recovering your morale and preparing for the next battle.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

* * *

Our victorious advance continued.

But I was the one who stopped it.

“We’ll stop here for now.”

Those who didn’t know the situation were puzzled.

“Why stop here?”

Gwen, a former knight of the Kingdom, asked.

“We should keep going while we have the momentum.”

Duncan, a simpleton from the south, added.

I chuckled and answered their questions.

“Have you heard of the Lambert family? The territory ahead of us is theirs.”

“The Lambert family…”

“The Lambert family known for their archery? You’re saying it’s them?”

Gwen and Duncan seemed to recognize the name.

It was understandable.

The Lambert family was a famous warrior family.

Especially for being the only warrior family that specialized in archery.

“It would be difficult to conquer them.”

Milia said.

“I-I think they’ll resist fiercely… It won’t be easy…”

Hank said, his face tense.

He knew how dangerous archers could be, especially in a siege battle.

“Perhaps it would be wise to turn back.”

Norman said cautiously.

Until now, they had enjoyed a series of perfect victories, with minimal casualties.

Their forces had grown steadily.

But this opponent was different.

Even if they won, they would definitely suffer heavy losses.

A Pyrrhic victory.

No, they would be lucky if they even won.

If they failed to conquer the castle and were forced to retreat, they could lose all the gains they had made so far.

“Well, we wouldn’t lose anything if we retreated now.”

Even Duncan, the brave warrior, nodded in agreement with Norman.

He wasn’t a fool who only knew how to charge blindly.

He knew to avoid unnecessary battles.

It was a wise decision in most cases.

But,

“You must have a plan, right?”

Regina spoke before I could.

She was looking at me with knowing eyes.

As sharp as ever.

Everyone turned to look at me.

I smiled faintly and said, “We’ll send an envoy.”

“Wait, wait! I don’t want to go!”

Duncan shuddered.

He knew that his usual threats wouldn’t work against the Lambert family.

He would be lucky if he wasn’t beaten up and chased away.

“Who said I was sending you?”

I chuckled.

“Then?”

Duncan’s eyes widened.

“I’m ready, Savior.”

Milia volunteered.

But I didn’t need her strength this time.

“No, it’s fine. I’ll go myself.”

I dropped a bombshell.

Their reactions were dramatic.

“W-What?!”

“A-Are you crazy?!”

“Senior, are you out of your mind?”

“Max, no, that’s not a good idea.”

“S-Senior… What are you doing…?”

They were all shocked, their eyes wide with disbelief.

It was understandable.

I was the commander-in-chief of the Celtrine army.

The king on the chessboard.

If the king fell, the game was over.

Of course, someone might be able to replace me.

But not me.

Everyone knew that our consecutive victories wouldn’t have been possible without the strategies I had devised.

I was irreplaceable.

That’s why they were reacting this way.

“Calm down, everyone. I have a plan.”

I said calmly, trying to reassure them.

“What is your plan?”

Duncan asked, still puzzled.

“I can’t tell you.”

“Huh?”

“You can’t reveal your strategies.”

I grinned.

They were still worried, but they couldn’t argue with my decision.

But then,

“What will my fiancée think if I let him go alone?”

Regina said suddenly.

She wasn’t joking.

She was serious.

This time, it was the Ehrenbert family’s turn to panic.

“M-My lady, what are you saying?!”

“N-No! Absolutely not!”

“M-My lady! If you insist on going, you’ll have to step over my dead body!”

…She was treated like royalty.

I had to remember that.

If I put Regina in danger, I would never hear the end of it.

I quickly waved my hands.

“No, no. It’ll look suspicious if you come with me.”

“Suspicious?”

“Yes. Who wouldn’t be wary? They might think we’re planning a surprise attack.”

I chuckled wryly.

Everyone knew how strong Regina Ehrenbert was.

Especially the people of the empire.

If they saw the best swordswoman of the north, they would definitely be on high alert.

That wasn’t what I wanted.

I wanted to resolve this situation peacefully, without resorting to force.

“I see. That makes sense.”

Regina nodded slightly, seemingly convinced.

“Then I’ll trust you and wait.”

“Phew.”

The Ehrenbert family sighed in relief.

Those bastards… They didn’t care what happened to me, as long as their precious lady was safe.

…This was why family was the best.

“Alright.”

I chuckled and squeezed Regina’s hand.

I immediately felt a wave of glares directed at me.

From the Ehrenbert family, of course.

Seriously, those bastards?

I couldn’t even hold my fiancée’s hand?

“Senior, please be careful.”

“I won’t forgive you if anything happens.”

Ah, my juniors were different.

“Don’t worry. Who do you think I am?”

I smiled confidently.

And so, I headed towards Lambert Castle alone.

* * *

Saint Lepheria Academy.

The Headmistress’s Office.

The world was in chaos, engulfed in a civil war, but Lepheria, the Headmistress and the Saint, was calm.

It wasn’t because she didn’t care.

It was because she knew that there was nothing she could do.

– The central region is in chaos too?

She asked in sign language.

Two people stood before her.

Esron and Marianna.

They were both Guardians of the Church and close aides to the Saint.

“Yes, Saint. The dark cultists, who had been hiding like rats, have risen up.”

Esron replied with a grim expression.

It was an unexpected move, and the situation was more serious than they had anticipated.

– How bad is it?

“Many territories have been occupied by them. Some small countries are on the verge of collapse.”

The Red Rain’s messenger had approached the leaders of the dark cult and prophesied about a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The dark cultists had realized that the opportunity was the empire’s civil war and had decided to launch a full-scale rebellion.

This was the result.

Chaos in the central region.

The dark cultists had been secretly building their power in the central region for centuries.

It was the perfect location for them.

There were no powerful forces like the empire or the kingdom, and it was a region where numerous small countries were constantly at war with each other.

Their choice had been correct.

Especially in the current situation.

The empire, embroiled in a civil war, couldn’t intervene, and the kingdom, wary of the empire, couldn’t send a large army to the central region.

– My goodness, it’s that bad?

The Saint’s eyes widened.

“It seems like their goal is to create their own power base.”

Esron said with a serious expression.

He called it a power base, but it was practically a country.

A religious country.

It was something that the Church could never tolerate.

“We must mobilize the Holy Army of the Holy City immediately…”

– No.

The Saint cut him off.

Esron’s eyes widened in surprise.

“W-Why?”

– We can’t move the Holy Army. That’s what they want.

“They? Who are they…?”

– Red Rain.

“…”

Esron fell silent.

Red Rain.

The organization that was plotting the resurrection of the Dark God.

He knew that they were the most dangerous threat.

And he also knew that the most important fragment of the Dark God was located in the Holy City.

– Mobilize the forces outside the Holy City.

“…Understood, Saint.”

The Church was now controlled by the Saint’s faction, not the Pope’s faction.

So there was no problem in mobilizing the Church’s forces.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

Esron left the room.

The Saint’s gaze naturally shifted to Marianna.

– How is the situation in the empire?

“Yes, Saint. The situation in the empire is…”

Marianna reported the information she had gathered.

The Saint listened and then smiled faintly.

– I see. Our talented student is doing well.

Max Celtrine.

Even the Saint acknowledged his exceptional abilities.

She had even revealed her identity to him and shaken his hand.

“Yes, Brother Max is truly amazing.”

Marianna also seemed impressed, but her expression was somewhat complicated.

The Saint seemed to understand why.

– Now that I think about it, you met with Max before he left the Holy City, didn’t you, Marianna?

“Yes, I did.”

– It must have been because of your family name, ‘Lambert,’ right?

The Saint’s eyes sparkled.

Marianna Lambert.

That’s right.

Marianna’s secular identity was the eldest daughter of the Lambert family and the younger sister of the current Count Lambert.

Count Lambert had been so devastated when she joined the Church that he had cried and tried to stop her.

“…Yes.”

Marianna seemed to be lost in thought.

– Did he ask you for a favor?

“Well…”

– It’s alright. You don’t have to answer.

The Saint shook her head.

Marianna closed her eyes and then opened them again.

“I just hope that my family is making the right choice.”

– I’ll just say one thing.

“Yes, Saint.”

– Believe in yourself.

The Saint smiled kindly.

Marianna felt a sense of relief.

‘Yes, I made the right choice.’

She clenched her fist.