While Arabelle was mobilizing her troops, she had completely missed the scene of battle. Thus, she was utterly clueless as to what had transpired during the small timeframe she wasn't watching.
"W-What happened here? The battle is already over? These scorched witches… bear the mark of Calarook. Did Her Majesty return and quell the dissidents?"
Arabelle and her battle witches were astonished and shocked by the fiery carnage, which they immediately assumed to be the work of Queen Henrietta.
However, the possibility was quickly dashed when they gave it more thought; it simply didn't make sense.
"Lord Vahn did this…?" Arabelle muttered with a frown.
She may have greatly underestimated Vaan's strength, but she wasn't sure if killing so many witches was in their best interests, even if she wanted them dead for herself.
Vaan's power display to restore order could backfire.
"Lillias, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"
Lillias's voice quickly shifted Arabelle's attention to her as the latter showed her immediate concern, thoroughly checking her body for injuries but finding none. Not even a mark was left behind by Brigid's slap.
"I'm fine. Vahn healed me… I think?"
"That's great. Go inside to your sister. It's unsafe outside."
With that, Lillias obediently headed inside the magic tower. She didn't want to be caught by the enemy again and cause more trouble for the people around her.
After Brigid pleaded, Vaan smacked her across the cheeks. But he used too much strength and tore off her lower jaw and hair, sending her body flying a short distance away.
Although Brigid managed to survive his last blow, she was still half a foot in the grave.
Brigid lay on the ground with her face in the dirt, bloodied and teary, her eyes unfocused, and her mind barely conscious.
For a moment, her mind regained clarity.
She wondered where things went wrong and for what purpose did she desperately competed so hard with others to acquire power and authority. She should have been content with her freedom when she was liberated from the oppression of men many years ago.
Alas, power and authority were like addictive drugs, intoxicating her after giving her a taste of them. In the end, she became what she originally despised; oppressing the opposite gender after acquiring the position of superiority.
The same applied to most witches from the supremacist faction.
"It seems you have gained enlightenment at the end of your life. May it be a lesson you can carry to your next life. Go on, be at peace. The world burdens you no longer."
After Brigid heard those words, the life in her eyes finally faded as she passed away. However, she didn't leave with any resentment, only regret.
Some people only sought amends after they realized it was too late.
Vaan didn't regret his actions, nor would he look back on them; he only looked ahead and moved forward.
Whether they were right or wrong choices, only extreme means could have hope of bringing changes to corrupted and twisted souls.
"I do not seek to enslave and oppress. However, I do desire to dominate and change, restore order and balance, and guide this kingdom on the correct path to greatness. So lay down the swords in your hearts and submit to me, and there will be no more pointless bloodshed today."
Vaan's voice resounded, allowing the witches hiding in the surroundings to hear his words, loud and clear.
"Shut up your trap, imperial dog! We will not be swayed by your lies! Even if we have to die today, we will never submit to men! Not in the past, not now, not definitely not in the future—!!!"
A charming woman's voice filled with anguish and fury thundered in the distance. With it, legions of witches from multiple renowned households in the capital arrived.
Vaan's appearance had forced even ambitious household matriarchs to put aside their differences and unite their forces to confront him after news of his power was spread by the nearby witches.
"That's right! There's no way such a powerful man exists in this kingdom! How dare an imperial scum like you set foot on our sacred ground and infiltrate so deeply into our kingdom! However, that's also fine! If we can take down someone as strong as you, it will definitely be a great loss for the Holy Knight Empire!"
"You're wrong! Lord Vahn is not from the Holy Knight Empire—!"
"Save your words, Lady Arabelle. Your words are wasted on them. They will not listen to you. More importantly, by speaking up for me, you have attracted their hostilities. Return to your tower with your people at once. Otherwise, I can't guarantee your safety."
Although Arabelle tried to speak up for Vaan, he discouraged her, knowing her words would only fall on deaf ears.
"Lord Vahn…? Lord Vahn, she said! How dare you, Lady Arabelle—! Where is your pride as a woman and a High Witch of this great kingdom?! Arabelle Vossen has forgotten her place! A dog of the empire, she has become!"
"Don't spare her! Death to the traitors—!!"
Just as Vaan anticipated, the supremacist faction witches did not take kindly to Arabelle's words and immediately labeled her a traitor.
"Leave now!" Vaan urged.
Arabelle paled at once, realizing the unfavorable situation she had created for her household. Even if the Vossen Household were famous in the capital, it would still perish overnight once ganged on by multiple other households.
Thus, she heeded Vaan's words and immediately pulled her troops back to the magic tower for refuge from the angry mob.
"Don't let her leave! After her!"
"I think not. You will go no further."
Although the angry supremacist witches wanted to pursue Arabelle's group, Vaan denied them the opportunity with a stomp, raising a towering blanket of blue fire behind him to obstruct their path.
Supremacist witches' attention soon focused on Vaan entirely.
Killing the chicken to scare the monkeys only worked for some people, not everyone. If the monkeys don't fear death, then killing chickens would become pointless, no matter how many are killed.
Vaan knew his already tactic didn't work, and his words wouldn't reach the witches either.
Thus, he could only resort to the most trustworthy and straightforward method to resolve the problem, with sheer violence.