SWNOVELXO Chapter 529
Chapter 529: I Know Everything. (2)
In fact, I had half given up. Finding a single refugee in this war-torn era was nearly impossible.
Fortunately, the refugees who crossed over from other countries were relatively easy to track, so there was that.
Thanks to the efforts of the Byron administrators and a stroke of luck, I was able to find Anna.
“Shall we go now?”
At the administrator’s question, Claude nodded vigorously.
“Let’s go, let’s go now. Wait, cover your face for a moment.”
Claude disguised himself and carefully made his way to the refugee camp.
Having led the Ruthania Army, he had seen several refugee camps. Given the circumstances, their conditions were very poor.
Not only were they struggling to get proper meals, but the public order was also terrible. Fights broke out often, and many were dying from illnesses.
Yet, the kingdom could afford no time to care for them, as dealing with rifts and rebel forces was overwhelming enough.
However, the camp in the Byron Kingdom was different.
“This place….”
Claude and Wendy were slightly taken aback as they looked around the camp.
There were abundant food supplies, clean clothing, and medicine being distributed, and soldiers were stationed to prevent any fights from breaking out.
The refugees were bewildered by the unexpected benefits.
Little did they know it was all for showing off to Claude.
The administrator, wearing a subtle smile, said, “As per the Chief Officer’s instructions, we haven’t said a word yet. We’ve made all the necessary arrangements to avoid any issues.”
“…Thank you. I won’t forget your consideration.”
The administrator guiding Claude had a satisfied look on his face. He was glad to be able to repay even a little for the hero who saved the kingdom.
Additionally, he thought this might strengthen the relationship with Ruthania a bit more.
Claude looked over at a corner of the camp with trembling eyes.
Anna was resting among the crowd. She appeared quite haggard and disheveled, perhaps from all the hardships she had faced.
Yet the gentle smile on her face was the same as before. She had always tried to smile, no matter how hard things got.
“Anna….”
Claude felt his throat tighten for a moment.
She was someone who shouldn’t have to live like this. A woman born into a prestigious family had her life shattered because of him.
Since then, Anna had likely never known a moment of peace. That guilt still hadn’t faded away.
He hadn’t even felt this way when he made Alfoy a slave. That was how much Anna was a painful thorn for Claude.
“…But I’m glad.”
Many people were looking out for Anna. From their attire, it seemed to be people from the academy she had been dispatched to.
It was likely thanks to them that she was able to avoid the brutalities of war.
Now he had to finish what had haunted him from the past. Wasn’t that what he had aimed for all along by avenging his mentor?
Claude turned to the Ruthania administrator who had followed him.
“I’ll send some troops, so ensure the refugees from Seiron Kingdom return home safely.”
“Understood.”
“See to it that they have adequate food and housing. They should be able to focus on their daily lives comfortably.”
The Seiron Kingdom had now come under Ruthania’s influence. Soon enough, it would be fully integrated, so it would be much safer than in Byron.
He intended to send troops for a while to ensure their security. That would be enough for them to live peacefully.
“I suppose they will hear about my revenge on my mentor.”
Now that Claude was the acting governor of Seiron, it was impossible for them not to hear his name.
They would surely come looking for him, but he wouldn’t be returning there, so he would not meet them.
“Is this enough?”
Though the guilt of ruining her life didn’t vanish, it seemed there was nothing more he could do directly for Anna.
Soldiers approached the refugees to deliver Claude’s message. Most of the refugees from the Seiron Kingdom were thrilled to hear the news.
“Are we really going back home now?”
“They’re giving us food and housing too?”
“Ruthania Kingdom truly helped us!”
Anna also clasped her hands together in joy.
Not knowing how long she would have to wander like this, she was overjoyed to hear she could return home. The promise of food and a home was too good to be true.
Then suddenly, she felt a strange sensation and turned her head. Among the cheering crowd, someone was staring at her intently.
‘Who is that?’
It was an unfamiliar face. Yet somehow, it felt oddly familiar.
The man continued to gaze at her for a moment before slowly turning away.
Anna mumbled without realizing it.
“…Claude?”
But she immediately shook her head.
She knew Claude had followed the Duke of Penris. And that the Duke’s army had come to aid this kingdom.
But the Claude she knew was timid, fearful, and all talk. He didn’t fit the battlefield.
‘He always said safety comes first.’
He was probably working as an administrator in the Penris territory. There was no way Claude could be here.
Anna caught a glimpse of the departing man, then laughed and chatted with the others.
As Claude was leaving the camp, Wendy cautiously asked him.
“Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t want to meet…?”
“I’m fine. What good would that do?”
“But still… you were looking for her so much.”
“It’s just… I’m doing this to ease my own conscience. After all, she suffered and lost her father because of me.”
“…”
Wendy didn’t have anything to say. She could somewhat understand Claude’s deep guilt.
Seeing him work in the territory, he looked like someone who had no conscience.
Feeling a bit relieved, Claude began joking around in a playful way.
“And besides, having a successful ex suddenly appear fits better in a revenge story. I broke up with her. What sort of shamelessness would I show by going in front of her?”
At those words, Wendy laughed. Who would be afraid to approach him?
And far from being successful, Claude’s official status was still “slave.”
Seeing that look in his eyes, Claude cleared his throat.
“Ahem, well, I’ve done enough now.”
Anna would live without any deficiencies from now on. The administrators from the Seiron “territory” would continue to watch over her in secret.
Just that much was enough to give him peace of mind. Moving forward, it would be enough to annihilate the Salvation Society so that people could live safely.
He still had to take revenge on the revolutionary group that framed his mentor, but that was an uncertain matter for the future.
Claude was able to leave Byron Kingdom with a lighter heart. He bounced along as he usually did, carefree.
Behind him, Wendy quietly followed.
*
After the maintenance was completed, the Ruthania Army moved to the neighboring kingdom.
As they were moving, Ghislaine received a letter from Yulien. It was about how they were advancing.
They also shared the battlefield conditions to meet in Sardina Kingdom as promised.
Thanks to Dark, Ghislaine was able to communicate more quickly with both armies.
Belinda looked at him with a mix of suspicion and hope.
“Are we really going to be okay? The Salvation Society is no joke. They have to suppress the rebellions from both kingdoms and then come back.”
“No need to worry. That guy is incredibly strong, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Their main force isn’t even around anymore.”
“How do you know he’s strong? He just made his appearance. The achievements circulating around him feel overly exaggerated.”
“I know everything.”
“…”
Belinda, just like Claude, fell silent. It was hard not to wonder if he truly had some prophetic ability.
“So, should we check on Elena’s training today?”
Ghislaine moved alongside Elena and Rachel, as she didn’t want to waste their talents by leaving them untrained.
Thus, whenever there was time during the march, she forced them to learn the Mana Circulation Method.
After learning the Mana Circulation Method, both of them sometimes contributed to battles against the Cracked Beings.
When Ghislaine showed up, Elena and Rachel’s faces turned pale.
The elemental Mana Circulation Method was effective but came with significant pain, which was the issue.
With deadened eyes, Elena said, “Can’t we stop that?”
“No.”
“Then can we take a break today?”
“…No?”
Boom!
Before her words could finish, a fist tore through the air towards Ghislaine. It was an attempted surprise attack to knock her out.
“Whoa?”
Ghislaine easily dodged and quickly wrapped her arm around Elena’s neck. At the same time, she placed a hand on her back and infused her with mana.
“Ugh-yyyy!”
Elena couldn’t withstand the pain and elbowed Ghislaine in the ribs. It was a clean strike formed through training.
Crack!
With pain like her ribs were about to break, Ghislaine gritted her teeth. No, it felt like her ribs might actually crack.
“Cough! You monster!”
“Shut up! Don’t call me that! Ugh-yyyy!”
Puh! Puh! Puh!
Elena thrashed around in pain, repeatedly elbowing Ghislaine’s body.
To make matters worse, Elena had been born with great physical powers. Now that she was learning the elemental Mana Circulation Method, her strength was multiplying exponentially.
Puh! Puh! Puh!
As Ghislaine was getting hit, she thought,
‘This is insane. Is a C-class competitor about to emerge? Ouch, this hurts.’
Thanks to his abnormal recovery and defensive abilities, he was able to endure, but any ordinary knight would likely break their ribs the moment they got hit.
In that respect, Rachel was much better off. Once she hit her limit, she just fainted.
The monster named Elena was turning tougher and tougher, never fainting.
As the forced Mana Circulation came to an end, Ghislaine quickly broke away from Elena and said,
“Now you handle it alone. That should be enough. I’m tired now, you monster princess.”
“Ughhh…”
Elena glared at Ghislaine while still slumped on the ground. She felt profoundly wronged for having to endure such pain.
While other noble young ladies lived gracefully in the capital, here was she, a princess, rolling around on the battlefield hard at work.
Was it a noble duty or what? That part wasn’t wrong either, and it was driving her insane.
Elena poured all that built-up anger onto the Cracked Beings.
Boom!
Elena raised her “Herald of Destruction” towards the ground and looked ahead.
Both she and Rachel had been following behind the knights, gradually gaining experience.
But things were different now. Ghislaine thought they were ready, so she positioned both of them at the forefront with the knights.
Kyaaa!
Many Cracked Beings came rushing in, but Elena didn’t flinch. Instead, her eyes were burning with fierce determination.
She needed to let out all the stress that had built up to the top of her head.
“Uaaaaah!”
As she shouted and swung her massive hammer,
Boom!
Krak?
The Cracked Beings rushing towards her burst apart in an instant.