Chapter 266: Tuli Lurein’s Execution (1)

“How dare you...!! Do you even know where you are?!” Cox Butler’s voice rang out sharply as he drew the sword at his waist.

His robust and imposing figure, coupled with his exceptional skill, was well-known among the people of the principality. As former Supreme Commander of the Principality, his prowess was undoubtedly formidable.

Shhhk—

However, he didn’t even have time for a death cry. Cox Butler had only managed to draw his sword halfway when his head suddenly fell to the ground, still wearing the same expression of rage.

Karyl casually sheathed his Freezing Talon. His draw had been so swift that no one had even realized he had moved.

“...!!!”

All eyes were fixed on Cox’s lifeless body, but only one person was shocked—Tuli Lurein.

Everyone else remained calm, as if they had expected the outcome. After all, even with his abilities, Cox was insignificant compared to the captain of the 1st Wyvern Squadron and the principality’s sole Sword Master. Not to mention, Karyl had single-handedly faced the colossal golem, Revol.

Karyl, a mere youth, had achieved feats within a few months that no one in the long history of the principality had ever managed.

“Ah... Aaaaah!!!”

But instead of marveling at his achievements, Tuli screamed in terror, realizing she had lost her only ally.

“Sister, admit your wrongdoings and sincerely apologize to the people. The Wooden Cloud is a poison to the principality.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?! Have you lost your mind just like Fran? Speak sense for once!!”

Tuli, with her eyes blazing with malice, grabbed Ruiche by the collar. But even as she did so, she glanced at the door behind her, clearly contemplating an escape.

“Run if you like. But the moment you step through that door, there will be no compromise. Only a future where your head hangs from the city gate awaits you.”

“Sister, admit your mistakes. The war is lost.”

“You crazy bitch...”

Crude words, unbecoming of a noble, slipped out of Tuli’s mouth.

“Don't tell me... You didn’t do something to Ruiche, did you? You must have manipulated this naive child!”

Karyl chuckled at her question. Against his cold smirk, Tuli’s legs grew weaker.

“Manipulating a child is easy. Isn’t that right?” Karyl said, turning to her.

“...Don’t tell me you drugged her too?”

“Who knows, maybe I did, maybe I didn’t. Or maybe it was something far worse than what you used. Or maybe not.”

Karyl kept toying with her.

“How dare you...! If you did, I won’t let you get away with it!” Tuli growled.

However, Karyl was unfazed by her outburst. He calmly responded, “Think about your own situation. No one’s coming to save you. We could execute you right here, right now.”

“...”

His icy warning snapped Tuli back to reality, and she swallowed hard without realizing it.

“Don’t act so noble. You’re just as guilty of using children, aren’t you?”

“...What?”

Crack—

Karyl gripped Tuli’s wrist tightly.

“Ugh?!”

She winced in pain, and her eyebrows twitched as tears welled up in her eyes.

“Rael.”

The moment she heard the name, Tuli’s face hardened. Karyl had never forgotten about it throughout the civil war—not just his goal of claiming the principality, but also the ultimate target he had to seek out.

“How... How do you know that name...?”

This series of events left her dumbstruck. The fall of the mighty Revol at the White Bunker now seemed insignificant compared to this. Not only did Ganeth know about members of the Wooden Cloud, but Karyl also mentioned that name—an extremely classified one, no less.

“Was it you... who told Sir Ganeth those names?”

Karyl shrugged lightly, as if to say “Who else?”

“And that's not all. I also told him about the Wooden Cloud’s contact with the Gnome Kingdom and their pointless actions in the Blood Cave.”

He then patted her lightly on the shoulder.

“You know who owns the Ravat Guild, don’t you? You tried to use me, but you picked the wrong target. You should know your limits. Poking a beast beyond your control is a bad idea,” Karyl continued. “The Wooden Cloud will fall. I will see to it.”

“You’re insane. Do you really think that’s possible?”

“Yes.”

Tuli was left speechless by his confident reply.

“But that’s a matter for later. Right now, the important thing is whether your head will stay on your shoulders or roll across the floor like his.” Karyl pointed at Cox.

“...”

“Listen carefully. I’m giving you a chance to live. Bring that girl you’re manipulating to me. That’s the only way your head will remain where it is.”

Gulp—

Tuli swallowed hard, her eyes trembling with unease.

“You seem awfully worried. What, is Rael beyond even your control? If so, that gives me an answer."

“What...?”

“Just like you did with Fran, are you sure the Wooden Cloud will actually give you the principality? Or could it be that you’re just another puppet being used?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Though she had been rattled before, Tuli now scoffed at Karyl’s words.

Judging by her reaction, she must be connected to someone higher up. If I can use her, I might finally get a solid lead on Rael.

Under normal circumstances, Karyl would not have tolerated such arrogance, but this time was different. Tuli’s cocky demeanor only confirmed his suspicions.

“We’ll see what’s ridiculous later. But for now, you’d better face reality.”

BOOM—!!

Outside, a blazing fire erupted as explosions echoed from various parts of the White Bunker’s walls.

“WAAAAHHH...!!”

“YEAAAAHH...!!”

The shouts of soldiers breaching the gates reached Tuli’s ears. The clashing of weapons still resounded, but the voices alone made it clear which side was winning.

Even with thirty thousand soldiers on each side, the outcome could be easily determined by who was leading and the circumstances they faced.

“GRRRRRRR!!”

“KAAAAAH—!!”

The wyverns that had been lying in wait until now suddenly filled the skies, taking flight as Revol fell.

Having lost their will to fight after Revol, their last bastion of hope, had fallen, the defenders of the White Bunker laid down their weapons upon seeing the wyverns soar above them.

Surrender became the only option.

“For those who surrender, you will be spared! You are not the enemy; you were merely following orders! Prepare to welcome your new lord!” Miliana’s voice, infused with mana, echoed thunderously through the White Bunker.

“But for those who resist, only death awaits!”

“You have already lost this war,” Karyl declared. “If Fran had won, it might have been different, but that’s not the case. I have intervened as a third party. Do you really think the Wooden Cloud will risk themselves to save you in this situation? I doubt it.”

With that, Karyl turned his gaze toward Tuli.

“No, they’ll just cut you off, or rather, uproot you. It won't matter if you’re one of their Roots; they’ll remove you just the same. You’re not their only Root, and for your failures, you’ll likely pay with your life.”

Tuli remained silent, recognizing the truth in his words. It was as if Karyl understood the methods of the Wooden Cloud better than she did.

It made sense; in his past life, Karyl had hunted down countless members of secret organizations. Though he had never managed to capture their leader, he had experienced firsthand the horrifying schemes and actions of such groups.

“I’ll give you time to think it over, but just one day. If your loyalty to the Wooden Cloud is so strong, then I shall honor it by giving you death.”

At that, Tuli’s face hardened even more.

“Whether the Wooden Cloud will appreciate your loyalty, however, is another matter entirely.”

“Ugh... You fu...!” Tuli’s face twisted with rage and desperation.

Seeing her reaction, Ruiche spoke up, “Are you really going to spare her? Think about what she did to Sir Fran under the influence of those madmen! And the countless innocent people who suffered because of her!”

“Do not worry, Lady Ruiche. Her crimes will be judged before all in the White Bunker, at the top of a platform for everyone to witness.

“But first,” Karyl continued, his gaze turning to Ruiche, who still looked displeased, “you should announce the end of this war. If you care about your people as much as you care about Sir Fran, that is.”

“...What?”

“Even now as we speak, many are still dying. As the future ruler of this nation, you need to have a broader perspective.”

Ruiche blushed at his words, never having considered the possibility that she might be addressed as the ruler.

“Give me one day. After all, Tuli was the head of the nation. Even a defeated leader deserves some measure of dignity.”

“...I see.” Ruiche nodded. She then drew her sword and climbed to the highest point of the crumbling hall.

The soldiers were still fighting, or rather, it was more like a one-sided massacre. The defenders of the White Bunker, with their fighting spirit gone, were being overwhelmed by Fran’s forces without any meaningful resistance.

“Everyone, stop!!!” Ruiche cried out with all her strength.

Though her voice seemed too delicate to be heard over the din of battle, everyone promptly turned toward her. Ruiche herself was surprised and turned around, seeing Karyl gesturing for her to continue. He had amplified her voice with mana, making it echo across the battlefield.

“I, Ruiche Lurein, the 7th Duchess, declare an end to this war!! Lay down your weapons, all of you!!” she shouted with fervor.

“Those of you who now stand with your swords drawn were, until recently, fighting side by side for the same cause. There is no longer any need to continue this cruel fight. We must now prepare ourselves to mourn the fallen, not celebrate victory. No one has truly won. What remains is only the sorrow for those lost in this conflict.”

Her voice struck a chord with everyone. Tens of thousands of soldiers looked up at the girl standing on top of the ruins of the hall.

Ruiche herself was overcome with emotion, tears welling up in her eyes as she spoke.

“Let us all... protect the principality once more.”

As Ruiche’s words echoed through the air, Karyl raised his hand. From afar, Miliana noticed his signal and gave a subtle nod to the soldiers.

“WAAAHHHHH...!!”

“HORAAAAYY...!!”

The soldiers erupted in cheers, as if they had been waiting for this moment. The demoralized soldiers of the White Bunker, seeing the tide of war turn, knelt in surrender, while the victorious soldiers of Fran’s army felt their spirits soar even higher.

This can’t be real... Lady Tuli has fallen!

There’s no time for this. If I stay here, I could lose my head at any moment. I need to escape right away...

The nobles who had fled to the underground passages were panicking after hearing Ruiche’s speech. They hastily moved, desperate to flee.

Karyl, observing their frantic movements, turned away with a calm expression. With measured steps, he climbed onto the fallen golem, Revol, and lifted the unconscious Wingel over his shoulder. Then, with a slow and deliberate motion, he pushed Revol.

Creeeaaaak...

As he channeled his mana, the massive golem began to tilt, like a towering pillar slowly collapsing.

CRASH! BOOM! CRASH!

Revol’s fall was catastrophic, completely destroying Tuli’s castle and burying the fleeing nobles beneath the rubble.

Screams filled the air, only to be cut off suddenly.

“Krrr!!”

”Kaaahhh―!!”

Dust billowed up, and the wyvern overhead beat their wings as they soared into the sky.

“Zigra,” Karyl called out, his voice calm but commanding. “Gather the chiefs.”

Karyl gently placed Wingel against a wall then stepped out into the frigid northern air. Wrapping his cloak tighter, he welcomed the biting cold, a reprieve from the fiery battle.

“Everything is ready,” he murmured, a sense of finality in his voice.

***

The night at the White Bunker was filled with an odd mix of celebration and tension. The fortress, now in ruins, echoed with laughter and merriment as soldiers celebrated their hard-fought victory.

“Why did that little girl make the call for the end?”

“She’s a duchess of the principality and had the largest military force in the victory army after Fran. With Fran unconscious, it was only natural for her to declare the victory.”

As he spoke, Karyl took a sip of hot liquor. However, unlike the commotion outside, the atmosphere inside the room was rather cold.

“Everyone here knows that even with tens of thousands of soldiers, they can’t measure up to you alone.”

The one behind him was none other than Miliana. Hashir and Kinu Mukari nodded in agreement with her statement. Standing behind them, Lilliana, Kuntai, and Patun shared the same expressions.

“Hashir, what did I tell you all before?” Karyl asked, his tone calm but commanding.

“You said you had no intention of dragging this war out,” Hashir replied.

“That’s right. The military strength of the principality will be valuable to me later. There was no need for unnecessary bloodshed. Frankly, it was a waste to use the Iron Fleet as a bridge just to keep to the timetable.”

Karyl shrugged slightly, as if the loss was of little consequence to him.

“This outcome is ideal. The casualties among the soldiers were minimal, and since it all happened after Revol fell, they were already demoralized.”

“But it looks like you’ve handed the principality to a clueless child,” Miliana remarked, her tone laced with concern.

Karyl let out a soft chuckle.

“I guess it’s only natural that you don’t get it yet.”

“...What?” Miliana wore a look of confusion.

At that, Karyl turned his gaze to Lilliana, and catching his silent cue, she nodded.

“Don't worry, Miliana. The principality will be ours. I said I wouldn’t prolong the war because my real plan begins once the war ends.”

“...Huh?” Miliana’s confusion deepened.

“Raise your glasses,” Karyl instructed as he got his refill. “Before the night ends, tragedy will befall the principality before the soldiers can properly savor their victory. We should be drinking to mourn, not to rejoice.”

“And you’re the one orchestrating this tragedy?” Miliana questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Karyl smiled faintly and downed his drink.

“Of course. This victory belongs to the principality, not to me. I shall claim my victory only at dawn.”

Hearing this, everyone in the room downed their drinks in one go, their expressions somber.

“And then, I will drink to true victory,” Karyl said, pouring himself another drink. He offered the glass to someone standing quietly among the group.

“Do you have any regrets? After all, this was your plan,” Karyl asked.

The attention in the room shifted to the lone figure standing among the assembled warriors. The man accepted the drink with a grim expression.

“No,” the man said curtly, his voice steady.

The one who had devised the plan to use Ganeth and manipulate Ruiche was none other than Anthem Howard.

“Keep both your mind and heart cold,” Karyl advised with his steady gaze. “We are on the brink of a great upheaval, and your resolve will be what holds the principality together.”