Chapter 147: The Uprising of the Cattleya Marquisate I
“The First Defense Line has been breached!”
“The Second Defense Line has suffered severe damage… It’s no use, we can’t hold them back!”
“Hold on! We must endure until my lord and young master return!”
In the northern region of the Aiwood Kingdom, a significant commotion was unfolding within the Cattleya Marquisate. The Cattleya family was renowned for their martial prowess. The current head of the family served as the Knight Commander, and his children held respectable positions within the knight order. The only exception was the youngest daughter, Yuri Cattleya, the sole girl among her siblings.
“We must not let Lady Yuri escape… We will hold them back, even at the cost of our lives!”
In the main estate of the Cattleya family, a house steward shouted in the center of the expansive garden. Surrounding him were armed soldiers, their faces tense as screams and sounds of destruction echoed from within the mansion. Multiple barricades had been erected both inside and outside the estate, but how long could they withstand the onslaught of that ‘Demon’?
“The Second Defense Line has collapsed… Lady Yuri is coming out!”
One of the soldiers cried out. Moments later, the wall of the mansion was shattered from the inside, and a woman emerged.
“Lady Yuri…!”
“Hah, hah… Can’t you just give it a rest already?”
Breathing heavily, Yuri Cattleya stepped through the hole in the wall. She wore nothing but a shirt over her undergarments, her ample chest almost spilling out, a sight that could be deemed quite provocative. Yet, no one present felt any excitement; instead, their faces were marked with utmost vigilance and a hint of fear.
“I just want to return to the Royal Capital… I have classes at the academy, and my friends are waiting for me. So… will you let me through?”
“…………!”
Yuri spoke with an undeniable authority. The house steward’s face twitched, but he managed to hold his ground.
“I have been ordered by my lord not to let you leave the estate. Please, return to your room.”
Not long ago, Yuri had run away from the Cattleya estate. Defying her father and brothers, she had left the territory and gained the support of relatives to enroll in the Royal Academy in the Royal Capital. However, she was captured—no, brought back—about half a month ago during the civil war instigated by Marquis Aiger. As a volunteer soldier in the Kingdom Army, she was discovered by her father and brothers, who captured her and forced her back to the estate.
(And yet… to think she would attempt to escape while my lord is away…!)
The house steward ground his teeth in frustration, lamenting his master’s absence. While the Knight Commander, Marquis Cattleya, was away on business in the Royal Capital, Yuri had broken down her door and attempted to flee. She had shattered the barricades set up in the hallway and finally made her way outside the mansion.
(Over thirty soldiers have already fallen incapacitated… To achieve this with her bare hands, is this the ‘Oni Disease’…?)
Yuri had been treated almost like a prisoner, rarely allowed outside the estate since childhood. This was a consequence of her father’s overwhelming affection for his daughter, but there were also legitimate reasons behind it. Yuri was afflicted with the ‘Oni Disease,’ which led her family to believe she should not be exposed to the outside world.
The Oni Disease was a condition derived from the ‘Oni,’ a barbaric race known for their extraordinary physical abilities but inability to use magic like humans. Those afflicted with the Oni Disease possessed extremely low magical power but exhibited remarkable growth in muscle and bone structure, resulting in superior physical capabilities compared to ordinary humans. Yuri’s physique was that of a girl her age—perhaps slightly more developed—but her muscle and bone strength were beyond normal.
She could crush rocks with her bare hands and fall from cliffs unscathed, showcasing her incredible strength and resilience.
The Cattleya family had confined Yuri to protect her from danger—or perhaps to protect others from her—hence the circumstances surrounding her confinement.
“It’s quite challenging to hold back without causing destruction. So… it would be helpful if you could just step aside.”
“Ugh…!”
The house steward’s expression twisted in frustration, and unease rippled through the soldiers around him. Many of the elite guards stationed at the estate had already been defeated, and the final defense line had been reached. It was only a matter of time before they were breached, and if that happened, Yuri would be allowed to escape.
(To fulfill my lord’s orders… I have no choice but to risk my life here…!)
“That’s far enough, our dear sister.”
“You are…!”
The house steward’s face lit up as he turned around. Standing atop the closed gate of the mansion was a young man in his mid-twenties.
“Now that I’m back, don’t think you can do as you please.”
“Toya-nii…!”
The young man was Toya Cattleya, the third son of the Cattleya family and one of Yuri’s doting brothers.