Ghislaine

Biodata

Background / History

Ghislaine was born into the feline Dedoldia royal clan of the Great Forest. Her older brother, Gyes, remembers her childhood as violent and uncontrollable, describing repeated attacks on other children and resistance to punishment. Their mother gave her a Demon-Repelling Ring intended to calm her. According to Gyes, the family felt relieved when the passing swordsman Gal Farion took her away. Ghislaine's own recollections likewise reveal that she believed her homeland had cast her out and regarded her as ill-omened. 110 273 285 288

Ghislaine was formerly part of the adventurer party Black Wolf's Fang. Her combat-focused nature was offset by companions with practical skills and knowledge; after losing that support, she fell into a severe survival crisis. Keith had previously urged her to survive by teaching swordsmanship, as she had once taught Paul. 23 25

The party included Paul, Zenith, Keith, Elinalise, and Talhand. After its disbandment, Ghislaine wandered the Central Continent and attempted to explore labyrinths and hunt monsters alone. She proved unable to manage food preservation, equipment preparation, routes, camps, or finances, all of which had previously been handled by her companions, particularly Keith. These failures contributed to her eventual collapse from hunger and sickness. 110

Cui Ciyou found her collapsed by the roadside, dehydrated, starving, and resigned to death. He fed her softened bread in controlled portions, refusing to give her solid food before her body could tolerate it. His care restored her desire to live. 23 24

After revealing herself as Ghislaine Dedoldia, the Black Wolf Sword King, she swore to become Cui's sword and cut down his enemies. She recovered with exceptional speed over the following days, accompanying him to Roa as his guard. 24 25

At Roa, Ghislaine and Cui accepted employment at House Boreas: she became Alice Boreas Greyrat's swordsmanship tutor, while Cui taught academic subjects. Her training rapidly developed Alice's foundations and Sword God Style potential. 27 30 36

Ghislaine subsequently supported Cui's preparations for the Displacement Incident, publicly vouching for his warning before the Asla court. During an early confrontation with Orsted, she fought beside Cui but was effortlessly repelled. After the displacement, she was confirmed to be safe in the Asla royal palace with Roxy, Lilia, and Aisha. 191 209 265 368

When the royal succession struggle endangered Princess Ariel, Ghislaine and Roxy escorted her north to the Magic Principality. Ghislaine continued serving as Ariel's guard and eventually reunited with Alice and Cui after nearly four years apart. 368 411 455

She later returned to the Sword Sanctum with Cui and Alice. Following roughly six months of training under Gal Farion, she advanced to Sword Emperor and received the title Black Wolf Sword Emperor. She then accompanied the group assembled to confront Orsted and helped sustain the coordinated assault that ended with his capture. 565 566 579 580 582

Appearance

Ghislaine is a powerfully built beastkin woman with bronze skin, gray hair resembling a lion's mane, beast ears, a tail, and amber eyes. When Cui first found her, starvation had left her severely emaciated; after recovering, her athletic physique and predatory presence quickly returned. 23 25

• Thick, disheveled gray hair. 23
• One amber eye is covered by an eyepatch. 46
• Wears a revealing leather breastplate and waist-skirt adventurer outfit. 23
• Her restored warrior's aura is strong enough to unsettle Cui's horse. 25
• On returning to the Sword Sanctum, she draws her collar closer against its perpetual cold and displays a solemn, weathered expression rather than Alice's overt excitement. 566

Personality

Ghislaine is blunt, laconic, and almost entirely oriented around combat and survival. She struggles with social conventions, organized explanations, and general knowledge; when asked about nations, history, or magic, she tends to offer only vague, minimal answers. 24 25

Her loyalty is intensely literal. Following her oath to Cui, she treats herself as his guard, servant, and weapon—standing watch at camp, positioning herself for immediate defense, and obeying his orders with rigid discipline. 24 25

Despite her sternness, Ghislaine recognizes talent and takes quiet satisfaction in Alice's development. Her rapport with Alice grows from initial hostility into mutual respect, with sparring serving as their primary form of communication. 30 36

Her reserve does not preclude strong affection or enthusiasm. Cui's unconventional Sword King breakthrough elicits an unusually radiant smile and excited congratulations, while her reunion with Alice and Cui reveals a tender, protective side. She accepts Cui's acknowledgment of her as his “big sister” through an affectionate embrace. 48 411

Ghislaine's adult conduct contrasts sharply with her family's memories of her childhood. Cui defends her as someone who has learned practical and social skills and now protects the people important to her, rather than allowing Gyes's account of her younger self to define her. 288

She prefers direct preparation to political deliberation, responding to danger in the capital with intensive sword practice. In training, she can candidly acknowledge a stronger opponent: she admits that Cui has surpassed her in single combat, then uses teamwork with Alice to challenge him. 193 565

Abilities & Skills

Sword God Style Swordsmanship

Ghislaine is a Sword Emperor of the Sword God Style and a disciple of the current Sword God, Gal Farion. When first employed by House Boreas, she was a Sword King and described herself as having mastered the style fully; her later advancement follows renewed training at the Sword Sanctum. 27 579 580

• Demonstrates a Sword King-level slash that fuses Battle Aura, willpower, technique, and weapon into a single strike beyond the Sword of Light. 46
• Explains that Sword Saints consistently wield the Soundless Sword and can perform the Sword of Light, a slash described as near-light-speed but distinguished in her explanation from literal light speed. 46 47
• Her King-level attack manifests as a brilliant flash and an almost untrackable slash through the air. 46
• Initially acknowledges that Sword Emperors and her master remain far beyond her level at that time. 47
• Uses the Sword of Light in actual combat against Orsted, though he catches her blade between two fingers and throws her back with a flick. 209
• Develops an increasingly restrained presence, containing her strength beneath her scabbard without releasing unnecessary Battle Aura. 565
• Reaches Sword Emperor rank during roughly six months of training under Gal Farion and receives the title Black Wolf Sword Emperor. 579 580

Ghislaine explains that the Sword of Light takes its name from its apparent instantaneousness to observers, not from literal light speed as mortals understand it. The descriptions of her King's strike as surpassing “light” similarly convey the extreme speed and unity of the attack. 46

Tactical Adaptation and Teamwork

Ghislaine's later fighting demonstrates coordination and tactical restraint in addition to the style's direct offensive power.

• Cooperates with Alice to attack Cui from different directions, exploiting the limitations of his Anti-Magic Field and exceptionally fast reactions. 565
• Curves her Sword of Light around Cui's field while Alice throws her heavy sword, forcing him to withstand their combined assault rather than neutralize each opponent individually. 565
• Takes a flanking position beside Gal Farion against Orsted, coordinating low attacks with Alice's strikes from above. 581
• Continues targeting Orsted's lower body from difficult angles while Cui suppresses his magic and Rujierd searches for an opening. Across the three-hour battle, Orsted forces her back twenty-three times, but she remains part of the sustained assault. 582

Beastkin Senses and Physical Recovery

Ghislaine possesses the vitality and perception expected of a Dedoldia warrior.

• Recovered from near death to independent movement within several days, eventually running faster than Cui's horse. 25
• Maintains awareness of potential threats while traveling and camping, even voluntarily keeping watch through the night. 25
• Can distinguish subtle sounds and killing intent in wilderness or combat settings. 26
• Her heightened senses become overwhelmed by the noise and sensory clutter of a crowded city such as Roa. 26

Swordsmanship Instruction

Ghislaine's teaching is practical, harsh, and highly effective for instinctive fighters such as Alice.

• Builds fundamentals through repeated sparring, immediate physical correction, and relentless drills. 30 36
• Uses animal-based metaphors—such as moving like a wolf, cat, or bird—to convey timing and body movement. 37
• Her methods are poorly suited to analytical students such as Cui, as she struggles to translate instinctive technique into systematic theory. 37
• Her own Sword God training consisted chiefly of fighting her master from morning to night until exhaustion. 37
• Gives Cui systematic Sword God Style foundational training; his early studies also include several North God Style techniques. 44
• Demonstrates speed, precision, ferocity, and the subtler methods of generating power for the Sword of Light during repeated sparring with Cui. At that stage, she states that Saint-level techniques are the limit of what she can teach him outside the Sword Sanctum. 155 160
• Recognizes Alice's developing anticipatory instincts and reinforces Cui's advice that she learn to fight both with and without Battle Aura. 565
• Understands Alice's decision to continue fighting barehanded after a weapon breaks as consistent with the Sword God Style, in which combat ends through surrender or inability to continue rather than the loss of a sword. 571

Literacy and Arithmetic

Initially unable to manage even basic accounts, Ghislaine improves through Cui's lessons and becomes capable of calculating her wages and expenses. Over the following two years, she and Alice largely master addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. 42 110 160

Power Progression

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Longsword used for Sword God Style techniques and her Sword King demonstration. 46
• Wooden practice sword used to train and correct Alice and Cui. 30 37
• Eyepatch covering one eye. 46
• Magic Sword Hiramune — Her named magic sword during the early confrontation with Orsted. Her magic sword was originally given to her by Gal Farion. 209 581
• Demon-Repelling Ring — A simple, ancient-looking green ring associated with the Dedoldia royal bloodline. Her mother gave it to her to help restrain or calm her as a child; Ghislaine later gave it to Alice for her tenth birthday. 285 288
• Knight's Longsword given to Cui — A finely forged weapon she presents during a visit, superior to the sword Carl had previously given him. 76

Relationships

• Cui Ciyou — Rescued her from starvation and became the recipient of her sword oath. She serves as his protector and later fulfills her promise to teach him swordsmanship. Cui considers her an older-sister figure and rejects a romantic interpretation of their relationship. 23 24 37 43 She recognizes his unconventional Sword King achievement, supports his warning before the royal court, and remains a trusted combat partner even after he surpasses her individually. Cui fiercely defends her against Gyes's insults, crediting her instruction for his own victory over her brother. Their reunion openly affirms their sibling-like bond when he calls her “big sister.” 48 191 287 288 411 565
• Alice Boreas Greyrat — Her swordsmanship student. Ghislaine's direct, punishing instruction suits Alice's instincts, creating a close mentor-student bond based on sparring and mutual respect. 30 36 Ghislaine gives Alice her Demon-Repelling Ring for her tenth birthday, and Alice regards her as family, angrily rejecting Gyes's denunciation of her. Their reunion after nearly four years is tearful and affectionate. Ghislaine proudly supports Alice's recognition by Gal and later trains beside her until both become Sword Emperors. 285 411 571 572 579 580
• Gal Farion — Her master and the current Sword God. His brutal training shaped Ghislaine's practical approach to instruction. 27 37 47 He took her away from the Great Forest during her troubled youth. She remains deeply respectful toward him, kneeling when she brings Cui and Alice to the Sword Sanctum. Renewed training under him leads to her Sword Emperor promotion and new title. 288 568 579 580
• Keith — A former companion who advised her to survive by teaching swordsmanship. 23 25 His management of supplies, tools, camps, and routes had compensated for many of the practical shortcomings that became severe after Black Wolf's Fang disbanded. 110
• Paul and Zenith — Former companions whom Ghislaine recalls while judging Cui's dependability and goodwill. 24 25 Paul respects her strength and admits that he has never defeated her in a sword fight. 122
• Elinalise and Talhand — Former companions in Black Wolf's Fang, remembered among the dependable group whose disbandment left Ghislaine isolated. 110
• Teacher Edna Lelen — Fellow tutor at House Boreas; they work with Cui to adapt Alice's education through shared lessons and practical activities. 36 39 40
• Sauros Boreas Greyrat — Employer at House Boreas, who immediately respects her Dedoldia lineage and Sword King title. 27
• Hilda Boreas Greyrat — Initially maintains a warm, grateful attitude toward Ghislaine after Alice's kidnapping, but later becomes noticeably cold and faintly hostile toward her. 84
• Gyes Dedoldia — Her older brother and the Dedoldia clan's young chief and warrior chief. He retains bitter resentment over her violent childhood and denounces her as a disgrace. Cui's account of her growth, together with the revelation that his own fighting ability benefited from her teaching, unsettles Gyes's fixed view of her. 273 285 288
• Gustav Dedoldia — Her father and the Dedoldia clan chief. He regards the grievances between Gyes and Ghislaine as a painful family matter. 273 274 288
• Tona Dedoldia — Gyes's daughter and Ghislaine's niece. After seeing Cui defeat her father and learning that Ghislaine trained him, Tona asks to learn Ghislaine's swordsmanship. 285 288
• Linia Dedoldia — Another daughter of Gyes, and therefore Ghislaine's niece; a Dedoldia princess studying at Ranoa Magic University. 273 482 486
• Roxy — A trusted fellow companion and former Boreas retainer. They jointly support Cui's court warning and later escort Ariel out of the royal capital. Both serve as guards while staying with the princess. 191 368 411 455
• Princess Ariel — Ghislaine escorts her north after assassination attempts make the capital unsafe, becoming one of her trusted protectors. She continues guarding Ariel in Sharia. 368 455 523
• Orsted — An overwhelmingly powerful opponent who effortlessly repels her early Sword of Light attack. After becoming a Sword Emperor, she joins the coordinated assault that eventually renders him unconscious. 209 580 581 582
• Rujierd Superdia — An ally in the later confrontation with Orsted. Ghislaine and Alice maintain offensive pressure while Rujierd uses Insight to find the opening needed for the group's victory. 581 582

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rescue and Oath

Ghislaine enters the story at her lowest point, unable to survive despite her renowned strength. Cui's careful treatment restores her will to live, after which she binds herself to him through a swordsman's oath. 23 24

Her later viewpoint account expands on the circumstances behind this collapse: Black Wolf's Fang's disbandment deprived her of the companions who handled ordinary adventuring logistics, and her attempts to work alone repeatedly failed. As she neared death, she remembered both her estrangement from her homeland and the dependable party she had lost. 110

Journey to Roa

As she regains her strength, Ghislaine serves as Cui's ever-present guard but proves unable to provide the broad worldly knowledge he seeks. Her combat ability is overwhelming, while her understanding of ordinary society remains severely limited. 25 26

House Boreas Tutor

Ghislaine joins Cui as a tutor for Alice. Her merciless Sword God Style training exposes Alice's exceptional instincts, developing the child from an uncontrolled brawler into a disciplined beginner with proper thrusting, cutting, footwork, and timing. 27 30 36

The position also gives Ghislaine opportunities to improve her own practical knowledge through Cui's lessons. While Alice continues developing under her sword instruction, Ghislaine learns arithmetic sufficiently well to manage wages and expenses and eventually masters the four basic operations. 42 155 160

Cui's Swordsmanship Mentor

Ghislaine gives Cui foundational Sword God Style training and explains the style's rank progression. Her Sword King demonstration inspires Cui's attempt to reproduce its principles through Mental Power rather than Battle Aura. 37 46 47

Their instruction develops into frequent, increasingly intense sparring. Ghislaine teaches him the techniques available outside the Sword Sanctum, helping him integrate his unusual physical capabilities with practical swordsmanship, while emphasizing that techniques beyond Saint level must be learned at the style's central training ground. 155 160 199

Recognition of an Unconventional Sword King

After Cui performs a slash beyond the Sword of Light without Battle Aura, Ghislaine recognizes the speed and formally declares his achievement worthy of the Sword King realm. 48

Her response is unusually exuberant: she examines him in disbelief, smiles openly, and congratulates him with a forceful shoulder pat that nearly knocks him down in his exhausted state. 48

Displacement Warning and First Clash with Orsted

Ghislaine supports Cui's efforts to warn the Asla Kingdom about the approaching Displacement Incident. Before the king and court, she invokes Gal Farion's name to guarantee Cui's testimony, adding the Sword God's prestige to the warning. While Sauros seeks political support, she trains to bring her body and swordsmanship into peak condition. 191 193

During the early confrontation with Orsted, Ghislaine immediately answers Cui's call and attacks with the Sword of Light. Orsted catches Hiramune between two fingers, immobilizes the blade despite her Battle Aura, and sends her flying with a flick that tears the webbing of her sword hand. 209

Displacement and Ariel's Protector

Following the Displacement Incident, Kishirika's clairvoyance confirms that Ghislaine, Roxy, Lilia, and Aisha are safe in the Asla royal palace with Ariel. A later view of their life there shows Ghislaine continuing her basic sword practice. 265 300

As the royal succession conflict intensifies and Ariel survives repeated assassination attempts, Ghislaine and Roxy escort her north to the Magic Principality. Ghislaine remains a trusted protector at Ariel's residence, continuing that duty while other members of Cui's household pursue their own journeys and studies. 368 455 523

Her Reputation in the Great Forest

During Cui's party's stay in the Great Forest, Alice's Demon-Repelling Ring exposes her connection to Ghislaine. Gyes reacts with hostility and denounces his sister, provoking Alice's fierce defense of her teacher and Cui's challenge to him. 285 286 287

After defeating Gyes, Cui hears the account of Ghislaine's violent childhood but rejects the conclusion that she remains the same person. He emphasizes her accomplishments, practical growth, and loyalty, and identifies her instruction as a foundation of the strength that defeated Gyes. Tona's ensuing wish to learn Ghislaine's swordsmanship establishes a new, admiring perspective on her within the next generation of her family. 288

Reunion in Sharia

Ghislaine reunites with Alice and Cui at Ariel's residence after nearly four years of separation. Alice immediately embraces her and cries, while Ghislaine is struck by how much her student has grown. Cui then greets her as “big sister,” and their embrace confirms that their bond has become familial rather than merely that of sworn protector and beneficiary. 411

She later leaves for Fittoa with a swift horse, travel funds, and a letter prepared by Cui, promising to return for Cui and Alice's wedding. 462

Return to the Sword Sanctum

During training in Ranoa, Ghislaine praises Alice's improving instincts and acknowledges that Cui has become too strong for her to defeat alone. By attacking him together, Ghislaine and Alice expose weaknesses in his reliance on Magic Nullification and superior reactions. Cui consequently asks Ghislaine to take them to the Sword Sanctum. 565

Ghislaine guides the party through the frozen approach, warns them about its dangerous monsters, and respectfully presents her companions to Gal Farion. Alice's refusal to show deference shocks her, but she remains proud of her pupil's performance against the Sanctum's swordsmen. When Gal recognizes Alice as a Sword King and orders her treatment after striking her into the snow, Ghislaine retrieves her in high spirits. 566 567 568 571 572

Over the following six months, Ghislaine and Alice undergo Gal's brutal training. Ghislaine watches Alice's persistence with pride and, by the end of the stay, has herself reached Sword Emperor rank. Gal bestows upon her the title Black Wolf Sword Emperor. 579 580

Capturing the Dragon God

After returning to Sharia, Ghislaine joins Cui, Alice, Gal Farion, and Rujierd at the abandoned village where Cui hopes to negotiate with Orsted. When Gal draws his sword, she and Alice join him, taking flanking positions in the resulting battle. Their initial coordinated attacks fail to overcome Orsted's defense. 580 581

Following Gal's successful Light Reversal and subsequent injury, Ghislaine continues fighting alongside Alice and Rujierd while Cui suppresses Orsted's magic. Her low, angled attacks help maintain pressure throughout three hours of exchanges. Rujierd finally identifies an opening, and Cui exploits it to disable Orsted's remaining arm and render him unconscious, completing the group's capture of the Dragon God. 582

Notable Quotes

“From now on... let me become your sword.” 24

“She’s a natural-born warrior to her core.” 30

“In the name of my master, the current Sword God, Gal Farion, I vouch for the words spoken today by Sword King Cui Ciyou!” 191

“Wait for me to come back for your wedding.” 462

“One-on-one, I'm no longer a match for you.” 565

Trivia

• Ghislaine initially resists academic study but learns basic arithmetic and dozens of Human Common Tongue words through Cui's combat-based lessons. 39 40
• She later becomes able to calculate her wages and daily expenses accurately. 42
• Her retelling of a battle with a Cyclops consists simply of dodging its charge, jumping onto its back, and cutting off its head. 45
• During educational battle reenactments, her preferred method of commanding an army is to lead it directly into a charge. 40
• Cui declines her gift of a prey animal's heart, despite its significance as an honor among Beastfolk, but readily accepts the finely forged longsword she gives him. 76
• Paul states that he has never beaten her in sword combat. 122
• Alice's green Demon-Repelling Ring acts as the link through which Gyes recognizes his estranged sister's influence on her. 285
• Alice becomes Gal Farion's second direct disciple after Ghislaine, ending a period of more than a dozen years without another such appointment. 572