NOVPUBRaul wasn’t a native of Rutania.
Even within the Duke’s household, no one knew where he’d come from. He’d simply appeared one day, earning the Duke’s trust and securing a title that placed him in charge of the household’s most critical affairs.
At first, the longstanding vassals of the Duke’s house protested fiercely. Those who spoke out, however, disappeared without a trace.
— “Ever since that devil set foot in the Duke’s estate, His Grace has changed.”
Whispers circulated, but none dared to act. The Duke himself seemed unconcerned, granting Raul full authority over the duchy’s operations.
Raul’s knowledge of the secrets surrounding the Forest of Beasts came partially from his own organization, which had preserved ancient oral histories and texts.
“The Forest of Beasts is no ordinary danger. Even with the kingdom’s full military might, a successful conquest is uncertain. And beyond that... on the day ‘it’ comes, we’ll need every soldier we can muster.”
This belief drove Raul’s obsession with conserving his forces.
Of course, his advisors didn’t know the true reason for his actions. They simply followed orders, trusting that his directives aligned with the Duke’s plans.
Through years of careful diplomacy, Raul expanded the Duke’s faction and steadily diminished the power of the Royalists.
As Rutania’s most powerful house, the Duke’s resources allowed everything to proceed smoothly—until he appeared.
“I never imagined he’d rise so quickly. Unbelievable.”
Raul recalled the first time he met Ghislain at Marquis Branford’s banquet.
Even then, Raul had recognized his potential. Ghislain had already achieved victories in battle, invented profitable goods, and amassed a fortune.
What stood out most, however, was Ghislain’s defiance. He hadn’t flinched before Raul’s reputation; instead, his eyes burned with something far beyond courage—perhaps even hatred.
Still, Raul had dismissed him. At the time, Ghislain was no match for Harold, and the gap between them seemed insurmountable.
“And yet... now that boy has defeated Harold and become the North’s most formidable power.”
The thought left Raul uneasy. Ghislain’s rapid ascent was no mere stroke of genius—it felt deliberate, as if the young Count understood every move Raul made.
“Ridiculous.”
Raul shook off the thought.
“It doesn’t matter. By meddling in the Forest of Beasts, he’s crossed a line he cannot uncross.”
When Raul first learned that Ghislain had begun clearing the Forest and harvesting rune stones, he immediately ordered Harold to destroy Ferdium.
The Forest of Beasts was too vital to Raul’s plans to tolerate interference.
But Ghislain’s gamble had paid off, succeeding beyond anyone’s expectations. Despite Harold’s attempt to retaliate through war, the mission failed spectacularly.
From that moment on, Raul’s carefully laid plans began to unravel.
A Turning Point
“There’s no helping it now,” Raul muttered to himself. “That brat from Fenris... I’ll deal with him personally. For now, prepare for the next phase.”
“You mean...” one of his aides began cautiously.
“Yes,” Raul confirmed in a cold voice. “It’s time. But ensure we secure victory in the civil war with minimal casualties. Use the interim to sway as many undecided nobles as possible.”
“Understood.”
The aides departed, their expressions grim.
A civil war wasn’t merely an extension of territorial disputes; it was a full-scale conflict that would force every noble in the kingdom to take sides.
Unlike the Duke, who seemed indifferent to the prospect of casualties, the advisors recognized the importance of limiting losses. Their forces would still be needed for future operations.
Left alone, Raul leaned back in his chair, his mind returning to a lingering question.
“I still can’t read him.”
He wasn’t thinking of Ghislain this time but of Ernhardt, the Duke he served.
It was Raul and his organization who had revealed the Duke’s true purpose and guided him toward his destiny. Yet, Ernhardt’s motives remained an enigma.
The Duke’s willingness to delegate absolute authority had given Raul free rein, but his occasional, chilling gaze unsettled even the most hardened schemer.
Raul recalled their first meeting vividly. After Raul had unveiled the duchy’s deepest secrets and revealed Ernhardt’s supposed role in them, the Duke had responded with a calm smile.
— “I see... So I was special all along. That clears up a few mysteries.”
He had accepted his so-called destiny without resistance. But his subsequent actions shocked even Raul.
***
"He went to the Forest of Beasts again?"
Amelia frowned deeply upon hearing Bernaf’s report.
Ghislain had already made a fortune exploiting the Forest of Beasts with the funds she had unwillingly handed over to him.
To Amelia, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Ghislain’s rise was largely thanks to her. That’s why any mention of the Forest of Beasts immediately filled her with irritation.
At her sharp questioning, Bernaf hesitated before cautiously responding.
"Yes, according to reports from our spies, he recently led his forces into the Forest of Beasts."
Being located in the North, Rayfold had quicker access to information about Fenris than even the Duke’s household. With Ghislain lifting the restrictions on his domain, spies now swarmed across Fenris.
Of course, key facilities and sensitive information were still meticulously guarded, but general movements and operations of the territory were now more accessible.
"Do you think he’ll succeed again this time?"
"Most likely. He’s succeeded before, hasn’t he? Honestly, if we’d known such valuable resources existed there, we should have moved first."
Bernaf’s perspective was simple.
Ghislain was a skilled warrior, and the Fenris forces were strong. Having already succeeded once, it seemed only logical that he could reap further riches from the Forest of Beasts.
But Amelia’s thoughts were different. She wasn’t doubting his potential success—she was questioning how he had achieved it.
If it were so easy, someone would’ve cleared the Forest of Beasts long ago.
Amelia was from the North and knew the region well. The Forest of Beasts had been a taboo for generations, shrouded in grim rumors and deemed unprofitable.
Efforts to develop the forest had been made repeatedly, from the ancestors of Ferdium to collaborations between northern lords.
All of them had failed, which is why the forest had become forbidden. The records of these failed ventures were common knowledge among the nobility.
And yet, Ghislain—formerly a mere fledgling noble—had begun clearing it. Though he had only ventured into its outskirts, even that was an achievement beyond the reach of other northern lords.
Amelia couldn’t help but wonder.
How in the world did he manage it? At the time, his forces weren’t overwhelmingly powerful.
Ferdium, despite its poverty, had experienced and hardened troops accustomed to northern hardships.
Yet even they had been unable to accomplish what Ghislain had. It was incomprehensible.
The more she thought about it, the more the lack of answers gnawed at her.
That was when Bernaf casually mentioned something unexpected.
"There’s some lunatic going around claiming he accompanied the Count of Fenris into the Forest of Beasts. Whenever he gets drunk, he tells the story. It’s become something of a local curiosity—some of the monsters he describes are absolutely absurd."
"What?" Amelia raised a brow.
It was well-known that the mercenaries who had joined Ghislain’s expedition to the Forest of Beasts had later become his knights. Not a single one of them had left his service.
"The mercenaries who originally entered the forest with Ghislain are now all knights under his command, aren’t they?"
"Exactly. No one takes this guy seriously. Fenris’ knights are famous now, after all. Most people think he’s just a drunk spinning wild tales. I’ve seen the man myself—there’s no way he survived the Forest of Beasts."
"What does he claim to have seen?"
"Oh, something about monsters that can’t be harmed unless there’s light. Hundreds of them, apparently. And he says you can only kill them by using mana."
"And how does he say they were defeated? Back then, the mercenaries couldn’t use mana."
"He claims the Count of Fenris somehow anticipated the creatures’ appearance and prepared light scrolls in advance. They lured the monsters in and took them all out at once. But come on—does that even sound plausible? Monsters like that don’t exist. And even if they did, how could anyone know about them beforehand? It’s just nonsense, pure nonsense. Honestly, it’s such a ridiculous story it’s almost entertaining."
Bernaf laughed, waving his hand dismissively. But Amelia didn’t join in.
The room grew cold as her expression turned steely.
Even the cat, Bastet, let out a disdainful meow, clearly unimpressed by Bernaf’s casual attitude.
Realizing the shift in atmosphere, Bernaf stopped laughing and awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
Amelia’s gaze remained fixed as she thought deeply. Finally, she spoke.
"Bring him to me."
"Excuse me?" Bernaf blinked. "You mean that drunkard? Why bother?"
"Immediately."
"Y-Yes, my lady!"
No one dared to defy her orders. Soldiers were dispatched at once, and the man from the rumors was brought before her.
The man was a pitiful sight, his disheveled appearance reeking of neglect and alcohol.
"I—I greet you, my lady," he stammered, prostrating himself before Amelia, who sat regally on her throne.
It wasn’t merely fear that drove him to show respect; there was a genuine hint of reverence in his tone.
As a resident of Rayfold, the man knew Amelia to be a benevolent ruler, often distributing food to ensure no one went hungry.
Amelia wrinkled her nose slightly at the sight of him. He looked every bit the worthless drunkard Bernaf had described. Still, she didn’t dismiss him outright.
"Are you the mercenary who accompanied the Count of Fenris into the Forest of Beasts?"
The man hesitated, his expression tense.
He had meant to keep the story secret, but drunken boasting had let some details slip. It seemed those careless words had spread further than he’d realized.
After a moment’s pause, he sighed and reluctantly admitted, "Yes, I have been to the Forest of Beasts."
His calm demeanor piqued Amelia’s curiosity, and she pressed further.
"What is your name?"
"My name... is Manus."
This was Manus, the mercenary who had fled during Ghislain’s battle against the Blood Python and managed to survive. Since then, he had been hiding in Rayfold.
"And your profession?"
"I’m... currently unemployed, but I was a mercenary," he admitted.
Amelia questioned him about his background before cutting straight to the point.
"I have some questions about the Forest of Beasts. I want you to recount everything in detail."
Manus’ eyes gleamed slyly.
So, the lady herself wants to hear my story, huh?
Though he had intended to keep his secrets, the situation was too tempting. This was an opportunity.
Manus had always been a complainer and a troublemaker, adept at turning situations to his advantage.
Seeing a chance to profit, he adopted a somber tone.
"It’s not difficult to tell you what I know, my lady. But I do have a small request."
"What is it?"
"This information... I risked my life to obtain it. I’d like to request a modest payment."
"Payment?"
Daring to negotiate with her over information?
A cold smile spread across Amelia’s lips.
The Duke’s Madness
First, Ernhardt killed his wife and destroyed her family.
— “The Duchess was unfaithful,” people whispered. “The Duke was overcome by rage. That’s why it happened.”
Public sentiment favored the Duke. His reputation for kindness and fairness made such an extreme reaction seem justified.
Then, Ernhardt murdered his children.
— “They conspired to usurp their father’s position. Such betrayal cannot be forgiven.”
Once again, the people sided with the Duke, rationalizing his actions as necessary to maintain order.
But Ernhardt didn’t stop there. He eradicated every branch of his bloodline, including distant relatives and those who had married into other houses. He even hunted down the children of exiled family members, razing entire noble houses that refused to comply.
By the end, the Duke had annihilated his entire lineage.
On the day he killed the last of his kin, Ernhardt stood drenched in blood, smiling eerily as he declared:
— “At last, I have gained a sliver of freedom. One heavy chain has been severed.”
From that moment, the Duke’s name became synonymous with madness. Even his few remaining supporters speculated that Raul had orchestrated the carnage.
But Raul hadn’t ordered any of it. The Duke’s actions baffled even him, serving no discernible purpose in their shared agenda.
Since then, Ernhardt had withdrawn from public life, leaving Raul to manage the duchy.
“Perhaps he truly is insane...” Raul muttered to himself.
Shaking his head, he refocused on the task at hand. The Duke’s madness was irrelevant to his mission: conquering Rutania and the Forest of Beasts.
The Map
Raul’s gaze shifted to the enormous map spread before him.
It depicted not only Rutania but every nation and independent power on the continent.
Scattered across the map were symbols of burning black suns, marking specific locations.
“Not much longer now,” Raul whispered.
Soon, Rutania would bear the same mark. That was Raul’s ultimate goal.
