Chapter 190
The next target was the Rodrac Territory.
And this one was easier.
Whether it was thanks to the trick Christian had played through the communicator or not, the territory still showed no signs of taking any defensive measures.
“The poison formation was pathetic anyway.”
Only Valmont’s territory—being a borderland—had a particularly strong poison formation. That didn’t mean every territory under the Venomous Demonic House was heavily fortified.
“We’ve reached a fork. Which way should we go?”
asked Leon, one of the Three Commanders.
“The remaining territories are Cessia and Kalia.”
Christian paused in thought.
“Both are critical.”
The regions of Kalia and Cessia were both important, but for different reasons.
Cessia was the source and primary storage zone for the core poisonous herbs used by the Venomous Demonic House.
Kalia, meanwhile, controlled the dam built along the Shutran River that ran through their domain.
“Taking both would be the same as putting a blade to the Venomous Demonic House’s throat.”
What if they burned the poisonous herb farms and storage in Cessia?
What if they destroyed the dam on the Shutran River in Kalia?
The Venomous Demonic House would suffer devastating damage.
Once Christian secured both regions, the House would be like a hostage with a dagger at its neck—unable to act rashly. The conflict would essentially end in his victory.
“The issue is, neither of them will be easy.”
As befitting their strategic value, both territories—though not on the front lines—were guarded by powerful Magi. Each had a lord of the 6-Star Master Class.
“Only by taking both will I truly break the Venomous House’s will to fight.”
The real issue was time.
“By now, the Venomous House must’ve realized what’s going on. There might not be enough time to conquer both.”
Christian made his decision.
“Commander Leon, take half of the Black Cavalry and move on Kalia.”
“And you, Vice-Commander?”
“I’ll take Baron Sanin and the rest of the Black Cavalry to attack Cessia.”
A pincer maneuver.
“Kalia’s lord is a 6-Star (Low). Leon, being a solid 6-Star (Mid), should be more than enough.”
On the other hand, Cessia’s lord—whom Christian would face—was a strong 6-Star (Mid).
Leon, clearly worried, spoke up.
“Wouldn’t it be better if I handled Cessia? You and Baron Sanin alone might not be able to handle that opponent.”
The gap between Low, Mid, and High in the 6-Star realm was significant. The difference between 6-Star (Low) and 6-Star (Mid) wasn’t minor.
Especially since Christian wasn’t even 6-Star—he was still 5-Star.
Objectively speaking, it was a matchup he had no chance of winning.
But Christian simply replied,
“It’s fine. I can win.”
“But, Vice-Commander—”
For once, Leon couldn’t hide his concern.
“Please reconsider. Count Cessia is a notorious powerhouse, even among our Dark Demonic House—his Malicious Will Poison is infamous.”
“Still… he can’t be worse than a devil, right?”
“!!”
Christian grinned.
“Already forgotten what I am?”
He was referring to the time he repelled the monster Patera from the Venomous Demonic House.
If it hadn’t been for Christian back then, no one could say what kind of price Marquis Shupen and the Five Commanders would’ve had to pay.
“But even so…”
Leon still couldn’t shake his concern.
That’s how powerful a 6-Star (Mid) Magus was.
‘To be honest, with my current strength, it’s true that taking on a 6-Star (Mid) Magus would be difficult.’
But it was fine.
He already had something in mind.
“Sanin, how about you? Are you afraid?”
Sanin’s eyebrow twitched.
She had long overcome her inferiority complex, but that didn’t mean she’d let go of her competitive spirit toward Christian.
“If I’m with you, my lord, then somehow we’ll manage. However, the one who earns greater merit this time will be me.”
“And you, Melin?”
“Hehe, do you even need to ask me? I am simply your blade, my lord. I will cut down any enemy in your path.”
With responses like that from everyone else, Leon could only sigh and shake his head.
“…Understood. I trust you have a plan, Vice-Commander. But in return—you must definitely win.”
As Christian decisively laid out the strategy, Marisa—who had been listening in a daze—suddenly yelled in panic.
“W-Wait! Are you insane? You’re really going through with this?!”
“Is there a problem?”
“You’re going to die! Do you have any idea how terrifying Count Cessia is?!”
“I have a way.”
“A way?! You’re about to fight a 6-Star Master-Class Magus, and you’re talking about some dumb-ass way?!”
It was a valid point.
Tactics only worked when the power gap wasn’t so wide.
When the difference in strength was this extreme, no brilliant plan could make up for it.
But Christian gave a completely ridiculous response.
“I’m strong enough.”
“…What?”
“I’m just as strong as Count Cessia. So there’s no need to worry.”
A 5-Star saying he could take on a 6-Star (Mid)?
Anyone would dismiss it as complete nonsense, and Marisa stared at him, utterly speechless.
Christian just let out a soft chuckle.
“By the way, why do you keep following me around and nagging like this? Someone might think we’re still engaged.”
Marisa’s face flushed red in an instant.
“W-Who cares about that old, already-broken engagement?! I—I don’t care about that at all!”
“Yeah, I know. Me neither.”
“…….”
“So don’t get yourself involved for no reason. Just go back to the Venomous Demonic House’s main estate.”
Marisa clenched her fists tightly.
‘This jerk. He always has to speak like an ass. Why did I even like someone like that? Not that it matters—it’s in the past, and I absolutely, totally, one hundred percent do not like him anymore.’
Marisa forcefully shook her head.
“I’ve made up my mind. I’m coming with you.”
“Hm?”
“We’re friends, aren’t we?! If you’re going to do something reckless and stupid, and things go south, then I at least have to be there to help you!”
“…Don’t think you’d be much help though?”
“Shut up!”
Of course, even she knew she wouldn’t be of much help in terms of power.
‘Still… if things go terribly wrong, I could use my status to negotiate and at least save Christian’s life somehow.’
Christian just shrugged and turned toward the Black Cavalry.
“Move out!!”
“We’re moving too!”
And so, Leon set off for the Kalia region.
Christian and Sanin headed toward Cessia.
But the moment they arrived in Cessia, Christian’s face hardened.
Something completely unexpected was waiting for them.
“So the rats have scurried their way here too. Looks like the rumors about Valmont and Rodrac falling might be true after all.”
“Does it really matter? As long as we kill them now, that’s all that counts.”
Two powerful Venom Mages stood atop the fortress wall, radiating a fierce and oppressive presence.
One of them was Count Cessia—the lord of this territory, a powerful 6-Star (Mid).
But the problem was the other man.
Count Kalia—the lord of the region Leon was supposed to assault.
Two 6-Star Master-Class Magi gathered in one place.
* * *
‘Why is Count Kalia here in Cessia?’
Christian bit his lip tightly.
The answer was simple.
‘They’ve decided to join forces instead of being picked off one by one.’
This battle had always been a race against time.
Christian had to conquer the territories before reinforcements from the Venomous Demonic House arrived. But the enemy only needed to stall.
‘They abandoned the less critical Kalia Castle to jointly defend Cessia instead.’
The worst-case scenario had come true.
Even just facing Count Cessia alone—who was a 6-Star (Mid)—would have pushed their current force to the edge.
But now, Count Kalia—another 6-Star Master-Class—was here too.
“Lord Christian, we should retreat for now. With our current forces, there’s no chance of victory,” Sanin said firmly.
But up on the wall, the two Counts laughed derisively.
“Afraid already?”
“Surely they’re not foolish enough to think they can escape unscathed.”
Fwoosh!
Count Cessia and Count Kalia leapt from the fortress wall.
A wave of murky, sinister venomous energy spread out from their bodies, blanketing the area.
“None of you will leave this place alive. You’ll all die in unspeakable agony.”
“Especially you, Grand Duke Christian. I’ll melt your limbs with venom and keep your torso alive to use as a hostage.”
The two Master-Class Venom Mages stared down at Christian’s group with cold, heavy gazes.
“W-Wait!! Please stop!”
Marisa stepped forward in a panic.
“Hm? Lady Marisa? You’re here too.”
Marisa clenched her teeth.
“I’ll take full responsibility for this incident. Just let Christian go.”
“Hoh?”
With a resolute face, she continued.
“Further damaging the relationship with the Dark Demonic House wouldn’t be good for my uncle, Marquis Goras, either. So please… let my life be enough.”
* * *
Either way, if this operation ended in failure, Marisa would not escape blame.
The evidence Ruina had prepared was falsified. They were planning to secure real proof only after seizing the estate.
So if things continued like this, Marisa would die regardless. That’s why she was trying to at least save Christian.
‘We’re friends, after all. If I’m going to die anyway, it’s not a bad end to offer my life for a friend—like a proper demon should.’
With that determination, Marisa screamed:
“What are you all doing?! I’ll try to hold them off—Christian, you need to run! And you people! Why are you just standing there?! Take your idiotic Grand Duke and get him out of here!”
Sanin and Melin nodded resolutely at her outburst.
“Lord Christian, please retreat. I, Melin, will give my life to stop the enemy. Huhu… I do regret never getting the chance to duel you more seriously.”
“…I’ll stay and fight too. I hate to admit it, but you're more valuable to the Dark Demonic House than I am. Since things turned out like this, I’ll just say it—you really are the most annoying guy I’ve ever met.”
And it wasn’t just Melin and Sanin.
Even the Black Cavalry stood tall, their auras solemn and unwavering.
Their resolve was clear: they would make sure Christian survived—no matter what.
In the middle of that determined scene, Christian…
“…What are you all rambling about? Why would I run away?”
…stood there with a baffled look on his face.
His demeanor didn’t match the dire crisis they were in, and it made everyone raise their voices in frustration.
“Stop acting tough and just run already!”
“He’s right, my lord! Even for you, this is too much!”
“Don’t go down as an arrogant idiot! Get lost already!”
“……”
Christian gave a dry chuckle at their responses.
“Why do you all assume we’re going to lose?”
“Because, obviously—”
“No, let me rephrase that. Do you really think someone as brilliant as me wouldn’t have foreseen this exact situation?”
That’s right.
When he planned the feint operation, it wasn’t as if he hadn’t considered the possibility of facing the worst-case scenario.
And even so, he chose to go through with it.
Why?
Simple. Because even if things came to this… he was confident he could win.
“I told you already, didn’t I? I’m strong. Strong enough to defeat this so-called Count of Cessia or whatever his name is.”
“!!”
Everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief.
No matter how talented Christian was, claiming he could defeat a 6-Star (Mid) Master-Class mage sounded utterly absurd.
Meanwhile, the two Venomous Demonic House Counts burst into laughter at Christian’s declaration.
“Haha! They say the new Grand Duke of the Dark Demonic House is impressive—sure enough, he’s unrivaled when it comes to bluffing. That much, at least, must be true across the entire Magus Empire!”