432

Episode 432: I have no choice but to threaten like last time. (2)

Ricardo looked at Skoban, trembling with joy.

"Captain… … . It's really you… … ."

"Everyone, shut up! It's not my fault!"

Skoban shook his head violently.

It's excessive self-consciousness. What is it that you are saying is causing all these disasters to pour down on Perdium?

It's a coincidence. It really must be a coincidence. It has to be that way.

"Skoban said through gritted teeth.

"Let's go a little closer and take a look."

"Do you want to come closer?"

Ricardo asked in horror. Skoban nodded.

"We don't know yet if that's the real phenomenon. It could be another paranormal phenomenon."

"You can tell right away that it's a crack."

"Damn it! We still need to make sure it's accurate! We need to check the expansion speed too! Something's not right!"

The fog was spreading so fast that the change was immediately noticeable. I've heard explanations about rifts many times, but I've never heard of them expanding this fast.

So, he had to check and convey it accurately. He was a responsible reporter.

"Let's just go a little closer and check. I don't plan on going inside either."

The patrol approached the area of the rift cautiously. It was quite far away, but they were able to approach quickly on horseback.

Skoban muttered as he looked at the blue fog that filled his eyes.

"This is… … a cracked area… … ."

Even when I turned my head to the side, I couldn't see the end. How long had it been for the crack to expand to this extent?

Ricardo also looked around and shouted.

"Wow, whoa! It's really coming!"

The blue fog was creeping closer. The problem was that it was expanding in real time, albeit slowly.

At this rate, we will be able to take over the northern fortress within a few days.

Skoban dismounted and approached a little closer.

Swish.

I tried to put my hand into the fog. The fog wasn't thick enough to block my view. It was just spread out over such a large area that I could see it well.

I see my own hand crossing the land that is forming the boundary. In the distance, all I can see is a gloomy landscape that does not seem to have any sign of life.

Kaaaaah!

A scream was heard from afar.

It's the first time I've seen it in person, but the patrol knows what lives inside.

I didn't have the confidence to go inside and check it out.

"Come on, let's go back."

The moment Skoban tried to turn his body and pull his hand away.

Kaaaak!

"Eww! Captain!"

Ricardo screamed. Skoban spun around, pulling his sword from his waistband.

Scratch!

Skoban's sword, emitting blue mana, cut through something.

It was a crack-man whose body was half-protruding from within the area. The crack-man, with its ugly face and teeth exposed, fell to the ground with half of its torso cut off.

Pus ...

The crack that fell to the ground soon withered and turned into dust and disappeared.

It was clearly evident that he was truly an ominous being not permitted in this world.

"Ugh… … ."

The faces of Ricardo and the patrol soldiers turned dark at first sight of the grisly appearance of the Crackers.

Kaaaak!

Doo doo doo doo doo doo!

Following the scream, the sound of something running towards me from afar was heard.

Skoban's face turned pale as he mounted his horse.

"Come on, let's go back."

They immediately turned their horses and rode towards the fortress.

When Jisel led the Northern Army to battle, it is said that there were as many as 100,000 Crackers in each region. This was even though each lord had created a defensive line and fought.

In the North, on the other hand, no one knew there was a crack. No one created a barrier.

It's been quite some time since Jiselle went on a campaign. How many Cracklings are there in the cracks that have expanded and swallowed up all of the land in the north?

It was terrifying just to think about it.

Skoban rode hard and shouted in his heart.

'It's not my fault!'

I had a feeling I might get kicked out of Perdium.

Because there's no way Ricardo could keep his pitiful mouth still.

* * *

Thanks to the efforts of Giselle and the Northern Army, the epidemic was quickly contained.

Although there were still a few small areas where the epidemic was rampant, those who had already taken medicine were unlikely to get sick and were able to quickly return to their daily lives.

Of course, it wasn't just Giselle who had to deal with the plagues across the kingdom. He also had to fight the rifts.

The areas around the capital and the eastern part were taken care of by Meriel and Rosalind. This was because the two believed in Giselle's words and made thorough preparations.

And Rosalind, one of the main players in solving the epidemic, was currently at the Northern Army camp after receiving a call from Giselle.

"Now we have to deliver medicine and food to other countries?"

"Yes. The plague in the Kingdom of Rutania has almost been cured. We need to quickly curb the plague in other countries so that we can all fight the rift."

Rosalind opened her mouth in a trembling voice.

"You… … aren't that kind of person?"

"… … ."

"Saving people this time, and why are you doing such 'good' things… … ."

"… … ."

Jiselle scratched her head with a trembling expression.

Rosalind wasn't wrong. She doesn't do good deeds on purpose.

He had only been running towards the goal of breaking the rift with the Duke. Everything he had done so far had been necessary for that goal. It was just that his methods were a little extreme.

So it was not surprising that Rosalind misunderstood. The Giselle she saw was someone who was crazy about 'profit.'

Rosalind suddenly clapped her hands and shouted.

"I see! Now it seems like you're trying to gain more power by winning over the people's hearts! How greedy are you!"

Rosalind stuck out her tongue.

Historically, there have been many such rulers. Those in power who, despite not being sincere, looked after the people and rode on the strong public sentiment.

Of course, the results were mostly good. She knew that Giselle was doing that kind of work now.

Giselle sighed and shook her head.

'How on earth do you see me?'

If you listen to Rosaline, the monster trying to devour the kingdom is not the Duke of Delphine, but herself.

That's something Amelia is good at. She doesn't even think about it.

"There is no greed for power."

"… … ."

This time, Rosalind and Giselle's entourage looked trembling.

'Who is it that is arresting all the lords under the pretext of having the authority now?'

On the surface, it seemed as if he was wielding his power to the point of beating people with a club.

Jiselle said with an annoyed expression.

"Shouldn't we get through this quickly? Even if the turmoil in the kingdom is put to rest, it won't be good if the other side falls prey to the rift and the Salvation Church."

"Hmm, that's true."

Rosalind nodded. The continent had been engulfed in war for a long time.

It won't end with only the Kingdom of Rutania being okay. If other countries fall prey to the Cracks and Salvation Cults, they will continue to invade here.

Whatever Jiselle's purpose, it was ultimately in everyone's best interest to stop them as soon as possible.

"Okay. I'll consult with Countess Ailsburgh and prepare a separate quantity. Is there a place I should help you with first?"

"Obviously, the kingdoms that are connected to Rutania. Next is the Turian Kingdom."

"The Turian Kingdom?"

"Yes. Please help that country first. Fenris will also prepare medicine and food."

"Is there any special reason why you are helping the Turian Kingdom?"

"What… … Aren't you already having a hard time with the monsters in the Shadow Mountains? So it must be harder than other places."

Jiselle made a vague excuse. In fact, that wasn't the real reason.

'That way, you'll stabilize more quickly.'

There is a monster out there. If he reveals himself, the Turian kingdom will soon find stability.

If we can quickly resolve the situation in any one place, it will help in the future fight. To do that, we need to have enough medicine and food.

Jiselle was given priority over where she could fight most effectively.

"And there are a few more."

Giselle told Rosalind what she thought were her priorities.

Fenris cannot help all the kingdoms alone. Besides, he is busy fighting the rift within Rutania.

It would be a great help if the Marquis of Branford, who is famous even in foreign countries, could lend his support. Since Rosalind and Meriel would be handling most of the practical work anyway, I just relayed it directly.

Rosalind nodded. If you look at it for a long time, Giselle's words were right.

"But it's a bit… … to just provide this for free."

"You shouldn't approach it as a transaction. You should think of it as a gift from us because we have the means."

"Umm… … ."

"You can get the reward later. You can't waste time with things like that now."

Certainly, the Kingdom of Rutania was more relaxed than other kingdoms, because they were able to prepare a little in advance thanks to Giselle.

So Rosalind couldn't just stubbornly reject Giselle's opinion.

"I understand. By the way, Count, you have changed a lot."

A person who only cares about money is not sparing money and is trying to help others like this.

She couldn't help but misunderstand because she didn't know exactly what Jiselle wanted.

So I brought it up just in case.

"Well… … Cosmetics sales have been a bit down lately… … ."

With the war going on, sales were bound to drop. So Rosalind decided to scale back her current business and postpone her payments.

But Jiselle said with a calm expression.

"Oh, you have to do it according to the contract. You have to make sure that the settlement is correct."

'Hey, why does this kid only do this to me?'

Chorus.

In an instant, Rosalind took out a fan and covered her eyes. She gave endlessly to others, but never gave a single penny to herself.

Every time we met, all we talked about was money!

I was so upset that I was getting really angry.

Jiselle suddenly felt a murderous urge and pulled back.

'What? Why is this happening again? Did I do something wrong?'

He is not the kind of person to give up his rights for no reason. Well, if you explain the situation in detail, of course he will be lenient.

But Rosalind, who had misunderstood the situation, got angry rather than trying to explain the situation.

Just as she was about to scream again, a messenger came rushing towards her. Judging from his attire, he was a messenger from Perdium.

Jiselle got up from her seat because she thought it was a good thing.

"Oh, did your father send you? What's going on?"

"Your Highness! Gyu, there's a crack… … ."

"hmm?"

"The crack has spread to the vicinity of the northern fortress!"

At those words, everyone's faces, including Jiselle's, hardened.

There were no cracks in the North. Everyone assumed that the Salvation Church had infiltrated there and had not had time to prepare, so they passed over it.

But, beyond that, a rift opened in the northern land!

This was no ordinary matter. No matter how strong Ferdium became, he would not be able to withstand it once he entered the crack area.

"master!"

Belinda, who had turned pale, called out to Giselle.

To her, Ferdium was like a hometown of her heart. She couldn't just let the Rift Realm swallow up the Northern Fortress.

The ambition to make Giselle the Archduke of the North was only meaningful when Zwalter was alive, and he had no intention of raising Giselle to fame by killing him.

"We must move the Northern Army immediately!"

Giselle nodded slowly after hearing Belinda's words.

It was obvious. Why did he go through all this trouble and fight until now? It was to protect his territory.

If we lose Ferdium, everything we've done so far will be meaningless.

Jiselle's expression turned cold.

'They caused an accident.'

In the previous life, there was no northern rift. The barbarians who lived in tribal units lived by rejecting others, and it was difficult to hide anything in the vast northern lands.

Even as a Salvation Church, it would not have been cost-effective to secretly create a rift in such a region. It would have been better to pour that effort into other kingdoms. And that is what they actually did.

But now a crack has appeared in the land of the North. There is only one answer.

'Woroka... ... .'

It was clear that that Woroka guy had joined hands with the Salvation Church, and he must have personally brought the sacrifice and offered it.

'You chose the worst option.'

At that time, I had to minimize the damage as much as possible, so I kept him alive. Thanks to that, I was able to get a horse and Fenris' mobility was reborn as the strongest.

But their unstable agreement came to an end with Waroka's betrayal.

Jiselle raised her head and looked north.

'Time… … .'

If the crack area had come close to the northern fortress, it would have been impossible to drag the entire northern army there. They would not have arrived in time.

In the end, we have to move only with the Fenris Mobile Force. Since the number of Crackers will be enormous, we have to take the 10,000 Fenris forces remaining in the North instead of the Northern Army.

But while he's fighting the rift, Woroka will definitely bypass the fortress and strike at Ferdium.

'And then there'll be a riot in the North.'

There is no army in the North now to stop the barbarians, because they have all been drafted into the Northern Army.

If even Fenris's army goes to the northern fortress, the barbarians will happily trample and slaughter the empty north. And they will surely claim those lands as their own.

Then it gets very tiring. You need an army to hold back the barbarians who bypass you while you deal with the rift.

'Do I have to use it now after all?'

It's not like there was no way at all. Weren't there troops left behind when the Northern Army was formed?

The owner of that force is extremely capable. Even the mercenary king of his previous life had a hard time with him. So, he should be able to stop the barbarian army.

"Bring me a pen and paper."

After a brief moment of contemplation, Giselle began to write a letter. As she moved her pen without hesitation, she muttered without realizing it.

"If I try to speak nicely, she won't listen anyway. I have no choice but to threaten her like last time."

It was a great help at that time. In a way, I can say that it was thanks to that help that I was able to get to where I am today.

so....

This will be of great help this time too.