Zwalter looked stunned for a moment, then asked, "You want us to strike first?" "Yes. We can't just keep sitting here and taking hits." "I understand your feelings. We all feel the same. But realistically, it’s impossible. The land is vast, and there are far too many tribes. With our current forces, it's just not feasible." "So, you're saying we should keep waiting?" "That’s the best option. The six nearby tribes are already gone. Without them, things will improve significantly." Ghislain understood what Zwalter was getting at, but he wasn’t willing to accept that approach. So, a few tribes were gone? What difference did it make? Eventually, others would settle in their place, and the raids would start all over again. He couldn’t allow that. This was a rare chance to stabilize the region permanently. "I'm not suggesting we eliminate them all. There are too many scattered around for us to manage that. We don’t have the resources to chase them all down. But we can make sure they don’t dare set foot here for a long time." "Is that really necessary? If we provoke them, they may band together again. That would only put us in greater danger." It wasn’t difficult to wipe out the smaller tribes one by one. But if the barbarians formed an alliance, like they had recently, it could be a serious threat. With Ferdium’s limited forces, it was crucial to avoid provoking a massive gathering of barbarians. Zwalter’s words were cautious, but Ghislain shook his head. “The barbarians are also facing severe food shortages. There’s no guarantee they’ll sit back just because we do. If we let things be, they’ll regroup and attack again.” “Hmm...” Zwalter couldn’t find a solid argument to counter that. The barbarians, desperate for survival, would keep raiding in smaller groups. And if those attempts were blocked repeatedly, they might rally together and strike in force. The fortress wouldn’t fall, but if they managed to break through the front lines, they could wreak havoc inside the kingdom, as they had before. All the neighboring estates that suffered would blame Ferdium. ‘Ha... it’s always the same dilemma,’ Zwalter thought. It was impossible for a single territory to shoulder the burden alone, especially a poor and under-resourced one like Ferdium. Help from the kingdom would have been ideal, but those in power were too consumed by greed and political infighting to care. "Ugh..." Zwalter fell deep into thought. Ferdium’s traditional strategy had always been the same: block the main paths and defend. Not because it was the most efficient strategy, but because they hadn’t had the means to do otherwise. Now, with Ghislain suggesting an offensive strategy, Zwalter was torn. 'Ghislain has a point. But can we really go out and fight?' Having never attempted it before, Zwalter’s first response was unease. The idea went against his nature, which favored stability and defense. Sensing his father’s hesitation, Ghislain spoke with conviction. "Father, as a knight, you must know—who holds the advantage, the one who strikes first or the one who only defends?" "Well... the one who strikes first, of course." Zwalter refrained from using a crass phrase like "attack first, win first" as Claude might have. He was, after all, a dignified northern noble. But Ghislain ignored any notion of propriety and spoke bluntly. "But we've always been the ones getting hit first. That’s why we’ve stayed poor." Zwalter bristled at the accusation, feeling a bit insulted. Getting hit first? How could he say that to his father? “Hey! We retaliated and held them off every time. Sure, there were some occasional breakthroughs, but as you know, it’s because we can’t maintain a long front...” Ghislain wasn’t interested in excuses. The problem was that they’d always been the ones on the receiving end. "I understand the reasons. I really do. But because we never retaliate, they keep coming back. I can’t just sit back and watch anymore. This time, we go." Zwalter thought, wondering where his son’s fierce spirit came from. ‘It must be his mother’s temperament. It’s definitely not from me. I’m not this stubborn.’ Before Zwalter could respond, Claude, also a cautious strategist, cut in. "I’m against this." "And why’s that?" Zwalter asked. "We just got horses! Why go looking for another fight? Are you really that bored with everyday life? Things are already plenty dynamic around here." "So, you’re saying we should just leave it alone?" "We can build a large village near the fortress and gather people there. Back then, we couldn’t feed everyone, but now we have plenty of food." Claude understood Ghislain’s position but agreed with Zwalter that there was no need to provoke another conflict. With the neighboring tribes gone, they would have some respite, and even if another alliance formed, they’d have time to prepare. Why go to war when they could solve the problem without fighting? Randolph, listening nearby, added, "I agree with that approach. There’s no guarantee the barbarians will unite again. And even if they do, they’ll probably fight among themselves first, so we’ll have time to build new villages." Several of Ferdium’s vassals nodded in agreement. They didn’t shy away from combat, but they saw no need to start a conflict either. Their past battles with the barbarians had taken a tremendous toll on them. Ghislain looked around, stroking his chin thoughtfully. Claude, seeing his hesitation, pressed his case. “See? My plan isn’t so bad, right? We’ve got over two thousand horses, and we can keep the people safe. It might not be perfect, but it’s a lot better than things are now.” ‘Not to mention, I really don’t want to get dragged into another war...’ Claude kept his final thought to himself. Ghislain nodded, then replied simply, "No." ‘Why does he never listen?’ Claude thought, a bit deflated, and cautiously asked, "...Why not?" "We need to make sure they don’t even think of coming here again. As long as we’re here, we may as well ensure it. And besides, two thousand horses won’t be enough." Ghislain had no intention of stopping here. If he’d been content with this, he wouldn’t have come in the first place. ‘I need to achieve what I came for within three months.’ With the impending civil war of Baron Valois, Amelia would be preoccupied, unable to pay attention to this region for a while. But he couldn’t be away for too long, either. Who knew what plots Harold and the Duke’s family might attempt? Though his counter-attack had dealt Desmond’s forces a heavy blow, their recovery would be swift, given their vast resources. Dragging this out longer than three months would be unwise. ‘To focus on the upcoming civil war, I can’t leave this area vulnerable. I need to solidify our hold here—to the point where just hearing our name makes them tremble.’ With a secure rear, Ferdium’s army could move freely when needed. He couldn’t leave an opening for the barbarians to exploit. Seeing Ghislain’s resolute expression, Zwalter asked, knowing the answer, “If I refuse, you’ll go anyway, won’t you?” "Of course. But if you assist, it’ll make things much easier. We’ll need both cavalry and Ferdium’s knights." Fenris’s knights weren’t as skilled in mounted combat as the barbarians, but Ferdium’s knights and cavalry were unmatched in that regard. They had honed their skills through countless chases and skirmishes with the barbarians. Zwalter sighed deeply before making up his mind. “Fine. This time, we strike first.” After all, his son would go regardless. Better to support him and increase their chances of success. The happiest ones upon hearing the news were Ferdium’s knights and soldiers. "Finally, we’re going to crush those bastards!" “Hahaha! About time! I was sick of just defending and retreating!” "This time, we’ll teach them a real lesson!" They were so excited, they could barely keep still. Ferdium had never initiated an attack before, hoping to conserve their limited forces. After all, a few victories would change little without a complete wipeout. But now, with Ghislain bringing over 400 knights, they could easily obliterate a few small tribes. Having longed for an opportunity to retaliate, they were thrilled when Ghislain suggested the offensive. “With the Young Lord leading us, nothing’s impossible!” "Of course! He’s the one who created that insane mana technique!" "This time, let’s follow his lead!" The soldiers were well aware of Ghislain’s impressive feats in Ferdium’s defense. His ability to seize Cabaldi proved that his skill wasn’t luck. His strategy and expertise in warfare had been on full display. They had also witnessed the skills of the Fenris knights, who had undoubtedly mastered that grueling mana technique. Sheer numbers alone made the Fenris and Ferdium alliance a terrifying force, capable of crushing even a well-prepared enemy. Together, the allied forces of Fenris and Ferdium readied for departure. With the fortress as their base, they had little else to prepare. Dressed in his armor, Zwalter looked impressive as he joined the ranks. Ghislain approached him and said, "I’ll lead the army myself." “What? Why? I’m all ready to go!” “Someone has to defend the fortress, right? What if another tribe moves in?” “Ugh...” Zwalter glared at Ghislain, knowing he was just making excuses to take charge. He couldn’t help feeling a bit left out. ‘If only my wife were still here...’ If she were around, he might have been content to stay behind and wait. “Fine, do as you wish. You never listen to me anyway.” With a resigned sigh, Zwalter gave his reluctant approval. Someone had to stay behind, just in case. Ghislain was now the commander, with higher status than Randolph, Ferdium’s head knight, and full authority as the family’s successor. Mounted on his horse, Ghislain raised his hand and shouted, "Move out! Follow me at full speed!" Four hundred knights from Fenris, joined by twenty knights from Ferdium and two hundred cavalry, advanced swiftly toward the closest barbarian settlement. The barbarians tended to relocate their bases with changing seasons and shifting circumstances, so the plan was to swiftly deal with the confirmed locations first. *Thud-thud-thud!* The thunderous pounding of over six hundred horses shook the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. At that moment, the barbarians in the targeted settlement were enjoying a peaceful afternoon. “Ugh, I want to go raiding!” "I heard other tribes formed an alliance to attack the fortress recently." “Maybe we should’ve joined them?” “Hah! As if they’d let us. They don’t even like us. They’d probably keep the loot for themselves.” “But we’re running low on food again. We’ll either need to raid someone else or find another route into Rutania.” As they chatted idly, a voice suddenly bellowed from their chief warrior. “It’s time for the hunt! Everyone, gather!” Not all their food came from raiding. They often hunted in the nearby mountains and forests for beasts and monsters. But as the hunting grounds were limited, fights between tribes were inevitable. Only the largest tribes near the Beast Forest had the freedom to hunt freely without interference. The smaller tribes risked entering the forest covertly, evading the watchful eyes of major tribes’ warriors. The Beast Forest spanned northward into Ferdium’s lands and beyond, so if they avoided detection, it was an easier place to find game. “Hey, what’s that?” “Who are those people coming our way?” 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂 “They’re... enemies! Prepare for battle!” The barbarians, who were gearing up to hunt, were startled to see an army charging straight toward them. At first, they thought it was a neighboring tribe. But no—the approaching warriors wore shining armor and carried spears. *Thud-thud-thud!* The ground rumbled as the barbarian warriors realized who was coming. In shock, one of them shouted, “It’s... the fortress troops! Why? Why are they coming here all of a sudden?” The “pushovers” who had always stayed on the defensive were now charging at them with terrifying ferocity. Never before had the fortress troops initiated an attack, so the barbarians were caught entirely unprepared. Seeing the barbarians scatter in confusion, unable to form any solid defense, Ghislain grinned viciously. He had resolved to stop being treated as an easy target. No, that decision had been made long ago. He’d only tolerated it because of limited time. But now, it was time to make them pay for all the raids and suffering they had inflicted. Holding his spear at an angle, Ghislain shouted, “Wipe them all out!”