NOVEL WEB Chapter 474
Chapter 474 Did you think I wouldn’t know by now? (2)
Ghislaine stepped back slightly and spoke.
“The place isn’t good, let’s step outside.”
From the moment Parniel exuded her aura, Ghislaine had sensed they needed to fight. That’s why she had drawn her sword.
In her past life, she acted on her whims too, but the results weren’t necessarily bad.
After all, she had the conviction to punish ‘evil.’
Following Ghislaine’s suggestion, the two stepped outside. Naturally, the atmosphere turned tense.
The Penris Mobile Army waiting outside gripped their reins as if ready to charge at any moment, and both Parniel’s priests and Temple Knights wore tense expressions.
“Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Wham!
As Ghislaine raised her mana, the darkness emanating from her intensified.
Seeing that, Parniel narrowed her eyes.
“That’s quite a suspicious aura.”
“Things just turned out this way.”
Thanks to Dark amplifying her strength, it was great, but this situation was really tiring.
Still, besides Ereness and Parniel, there wouldn’t be anyone reacting like this. It happened because both were exceedingly sensitive to aura.
And Parniel was different from Ereness. In a fight, she’d realize that Ghislaine’s strength was distinct from that of the Salvation Society.
Divine Power is like that.
Boom!
Parniel approached, wielding her mace.
“You’ll have to give it your all.”
Wham!
Suddenly, her mace came crashing down toward Ghislaine’s head, feeling like an avalanche was about to happen.
If someone landed even a single hit like that, they’d be dead. Yet, she wore a face that suggested she didn’t care at all.
Boom!
Ghislaine’s sword raised up, blocking Parniel’s mace. But taking that strength head-on would be foolish.
Clang!
Ghislaine spun her sword and body, letting the force flow away smoothly, just like water.
Slash!
A wound opened on Parniel’s cheek, and blood spurted out.
Ghislaine’s gaze was eerily emotionless. She too had an expression that indicated she wouldn’t mind if her opponent died.
Without that sort of resolve, it would be hard to even inflict a wound on the opponent.
Whoosh!
As the blade brushed against her face, Parniel swung her mace again. A hit would obliterate Ghislaine’s side.
Crash!
Ghislaine blocked the attack with her sword and retreated.
As someone born with divine power, Parniel’s strength was immense. Thus, Ghislaine had to relieve force with every clash.
Parniel smiled coldly again.
‘Such ghostly movements.’
Her strength wasn’t getting through. She had to acknowledge that the opponent’s technique was on another level.
In that case, just crush them with overwhelming strength and speed.
Rumble.
Her muscles swelled, and tendons popped out. Her body began to shimmer with a faint light.
Suddenly, Parniel approached Ghislaine with astonishing speed, swinging her mace.
Boom!
The mace struck the unfortunate ground. But those watching couldn’t breathe a sigh of relief, believing Ghislaine had dodged.
The earth where the mace struck erupted in a cloud of dust, digging deeply, as if a meteor had hit.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
The ground screamed in pain. The mace swung down like swatting insects, creating huge craters everywhere.
Having avoided all attacks, Ghislaine couldn’t hastily approach.
‘Hoo, that power is ridiculously enormous. Elena should be like that too.’
Parniel was known for her tough fighting style among the seven greats of the continent. Everyone acknowledged that.
Reluctantly, Ghislaine increased her power further.
Wham!
Dark energy surged and rose. Ghislaine activated three cores and moved as swiftly as light.
Crash!
The moment Parniel’s mace struck the ground again, Ghislaine sliced her arm like lightning.
Clang!
The attack was powerful enough to sever an arm. Yet, it only produced a thin line, sounding like grinding iron.
‘As expected.’
Ghislaine clicked her tongue and retreated. The terrifying aspect of the Saint was this defense.
Without an extraordinarily strong aura, it was impossible to leave a proper wound on her body armed with divine power.
Thus, she could trust that defense and fight each time with incredible power.
‘Hoo, I wonder how long this will take.’
The Saint’s terrifying side wasn’t just that. Her stamina, fueled by her divine power, was another strong weapon.
She could spend days self-recovering and fighting without rest. That’s why she was able to contend with the ‘Lord of the Undead’ who led legions of corpses.
She always referred to the priests of the Salvation Society as cockroaches, but in people’s eyes, there was one who suited that label more.
It’s just that she didn’t dare say it out loud in front of Parniel.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
Parniel continued swinging her mace with considerable strength and speed. Yet, not a single strike hit.
‘Impressive. How can she have such technique…?’
As someone who had trained consistently as a Combat Priest since childhood, she didn’t slack off due to her status as the Saint of War. She practiced each day with gratitude to the Goddess.
And because of that, at some point, there became no knights who could surpass her merely in technique.
Born with divine power and a strong physique, her superb technique meant it wasn’t an exaggeration to say she was born for combat. Truly a blessing bestowed by the Goddess.
‘To surpass me to that extent…’
She was also a Saint, but one who walked the path of battle.
Feeling the blood, sweat, and effort needed to reach that level, she felt a sense of awe.
And one more thing.
‘Fighting like this…’
Having lived only in the Church, she had never encountered an equal. Everyone looked up to her and knelt down.
The priests of the Salvation Society were equally weak. No matter how strong their aura, they were technically below her.
She never even had friends. All she did was read scriptures, pray, and train.
Thus, she was always a lonely and solitary existence.
But now…
‘This is so enjoyable!’
For the first time in her life, Parniel found combat fun.
She wanted to spend just a little longer enjoying the company of her opponent.
Creak!
Parniel grinned and bit down hard.
Boom!
Every time the mace struck the ground, massive explosions occurred, upturning the earth.
The mace Parniel swung began to distort space itself.
Ghislaine looked at that scene and smiled back.
‘Seems like she’s finally having fun.’
It was the same in her previous life. The more battles she faced, the more exhilarated she felt by the fight itself, especially when encountering powerful opponents like the seven greats of the continent.
This was the true visage of a Saint who served the War Goddess.
‘Should I play around a little more?’
Wham!
Ghislaine’s body was now completely surrounded by black energy.
She also enjoyed this heat of battle. If she disliked fighting, she wouldn’t have attained the title of the Mercenary King.
Finally, Ghislaine’s sword made contact with Parniel’s mace.
Boom!
As Ghislaine’s mana clashed with Parniel’s divine power, a strong shockwave erupted.
The brilliant light that burst forth caused everyone watching to squint their eyes tightly.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
The battle between the two intensified further. The onlookers retreated several times, feeling the pressure.
Parniel shouted with a face full of exhilaration.
“Count Penris! You’re truly amazing!”
“I know.”
Boom!
The two showcased their strength and techniques to their heart’s content.
Unable to use amplification for long, Ghislaine filled in her lacking power with technique, leading the battle.
As their fight wore on, Maurice’s face paled.
He had been in exceptionally high spirits since the Saint joined. Hearing that Ghislaine had decimated the Delphine Army advancing here made him feel like he could fly.
‘But why are they actually fighting each other!’
Ghislaine was notorious for being an absolute airhead, so that could be expected. But the reliable Saint turned out to be just as much of an airhead!
He grunted like a dog needing to poop and turned to the priest next to him.
The leader of the group following the Saint.
“Hey, try to stop the Saint. At this rate, someone will actually die.”
The priest shook his head with his eyes closed.
“What the Saint does aligns with the will of the Goddess.”
It’s not for nothing that the Saint is called the Goddess’s representative. You can’t dissuade her from doing what she wants. Honestly, she wouldn’t listen anyway.
Frustrated, Maurice snapped.
“No! What ‘will of the Goddess’? Why are they fighting so heatedly against each other when they aren’t even enemies! Just stop them already!”
“That’s all the will of the Goddess.”
“Damn it! Does that mean our fortune-telling grandma’s words are also the will of the Goddess!”
“Hoo, Marquis! Th-that’s a dangerous statement! You could face an Inquisition…”
The Saint may be fearsome, but the priests aren’t scared. They’re just acting cautious because it’s the Saint; Maurice has always lived recklessly like this.
“Is this the Holy Nation? Is this the Ruthania Kingdom? Don’t you all know I’m the Commander in this country! Even the priests around here should defer to me!”
“No matter how it is, how can you scorn a fortune-teller before the Goddess!”
“I don’t care! Stop it already! Has the Saint turned into muscle all the way to her brain!”
“Hey! Your words are too harsh!”
“Harsh? What’s harsh! You’re the ones being harsh!”
Rather than stopping the fight, Maurice and the priests started a squabble.
The commanders and soldiers nearby also wore anxious expressions.
One side was a Saint and the other the Northern Army Commander. It was evident to them that a fight between the two was not beneficial.
As that unease spread, the entire fortress began to stir.
The Penris Knights seemed ready to charge out at any moment, and even the horses were acting with tension.
Now seizing the priest’s collar, Maurice shouted.
“Damn it! Did we come here to help? If this continues, we’re all dead! Don’t you see? They’re the kingdom’s finest army!”
At Maurice’s shout, the priest glanced over at the Penris Mobile Army.
They were exuding a fierce aura as if they could charge in at any moment. If that many rushed in, they would all perish.
There was no desire to consider that even if it were the will of the Goddess.
“Alright, we understand. We’ll try to stop it.”
There was indeed a way to calm Parniel down. It wasn’t something they could use frequently, though.
The priests and Temple Knights who followed her wore serious expressions. They needed to intervene before the Saint got even more carried away.
“Saint Parniel! Please stop now!”
They all scrambled to the ground around Parniel.
Parniel, who had been attacking Ghislaine, halted her mace. If she swung with all her might here, the priests surrounding her would be completely obliterated.
The ground around her was already in ruins.
As she stopped her attack, Ghislaine too withdrew and smiled.
“I think it’s better to stop here.”
“I’m just getting warmed up though.”
“If we keep going, one of us will die.”
“If that is also the will of the Goddess, then it can’t be helped.”
“Take it easy. By now, I would have thought you understood that I have nothing to do with the Salvation Society.”
“……”
Parniel’s lips quivered. The opponent’s words were right.
Ghislaine’s power was similar yet distinct from the Salvation Society’s aura. Having fought against the priests of the Salvation Society, she could tell.
Her strength, which sharply contrasted with divine power, made her realize Ghislaine’s power was different somehow.
But it was too enjoyable to fight, so she pressed on.
Ghislaine subdued her energy and continued speaking.
“If either of us die, the Salvation Society would rejoice. Is that the Goddess’s will?”
“……”
“The atmosphere is negative too, let’s stop it here. If you persist, I’ll have no choice but to end it myself.”
Ghislaine’s cold gaze bore into Parniel. She needed her strength, but if she continued to stubbornly fight, there’d be no other choice.
Having to process things as quickly as possible with all her might.
“Fhew…”
After a brief hesitation, Parniel let out a heavy sigh and glanced around.
Indeed, everyone was looking here with anxious eyes. If they pushed further, it could really lead to catastrophic consequences.
Before she could get her priests killed.
“Understood. I’ll halt today’s battle here.”
“There will be many exciting fights ahead. There are plenty of strong opponents.”
“That too shall guide us by the will of the Goddess. I look forward to it.”
Parniel nodded, suppressing her disappointment.
Many nobles had allied with the Salvation Society. There would be formidable knights and superhumans as well.
Including the high priests of the Salvation Society, only fierce battles lay ahead.
However, whether or not they would be as enjoyable as the encounter just now, was uncertain.
As the two finally ceased their fighting, the atmosphere calmed down. The priests who had flattened themselves on the ground looked as if they had just come back to life.
Maurice approached, looking relieved.
“Phew, I feel my guts dropping out, so let’s not fight amongst ourselves. For now, let’s head inside. Hey! Gather the prisoners too! Ghislaine, let’s discuss the prisoners at the strategic meeting later.”
Only then could the waiting Northern Army finally enter the fortress.
Once the uproar was settled and the situation organized, Maurice was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
At moments like these, it was important to steer the conversation away quickly. He gathered Ghislaine, Parniel, and the remaining commanders and staff officers.
While Ghislaine and Parniel were the real powers, as he was the commander, it fell to him to nominally lead the discussions.
“Alright, let’s set aside personal feelings for later and first discuss the current situation. The Northern Army is still advancing, but overall, we’re at a disadvantage, right?”
That was certainly the case. Two legions were still marching toward the capital.
Especially the Delphine Army’s fifth legion, which was the first to move toward the east, was unstoppable by anyone.
Maurice spoke while looking at the map.
“It seems the Saint should head to the more urgent side…”
As he trailed off, Ghislaine informed him of the situation.
“The Northern Army has already moved to halt the Delphine Army’s fourth legion coming from the southern front.”
“Oh! Then that leaves the Eastern Army. If we can hold back the East, we can fully block them!”
As the Northern Army holds off one legion, the Saint can quickly move to the east. With the priesthood following her combined efforts, it would be a huge help.
They just needed to hold out over there.
Once the Northern Army was victorious and moved east, the Delphine Army charging toward the capital would face their end.
“If that happens, the war would nearly be over!”
How much longer the Delphine Army would remain in the south was still unclear, but at the very least, they could say they were gaining the upper hand.
While they were discussing strategy, a messenger hurriedly dashed in with news.
“The Delphine Army’s fifth legion, which was fighting in the east, has ceased its advance!”
“What? Why?”
Maurice asked in surprise. Did they really manage to hold them back with a newly formed defense line?
However, the messenger’s next words revealed an unexpected name.
“Count Raybold has taken action!”
“Count Raybold? Amelia? But why has the fifth legion stopped advancing?”
The Delphine Army wreaking havoc in the east numbered around fifty thousand. While Raybold was strong, he was not even comparable to the Delphine Army.
The messenger hesitated briefly before responding.
“Count Raybold’s ambush succeeded, resulting in heavy damage to the Delphine Army. They are currently managing the aftermath.”
“Oh! That’s great! Then Count Raybold must be on his way to join the defense line!”
“Th-that’s not it. Count Raybold did not join forces.”
“What? Why not? Then what is he doing?”
“He fled.”
“Excuse me?”
“After inflicting damage on the Delphine Army, he swiftly escaped the battlefield…”
“Escaped…?”
“After causing damage to the Delphine Army, he claimed vacant noble lands and is now insisting they are his own. He says it’s all keeping the agreement…”
At that absurd report, Maurice stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
Ghislaine chuckled as if she had predicted this all along.