The leadership of the Rodrick army fell into deep despair upon realizing that there were no villages left to plunder. Their supplies were dwindling rapidly, yet there was no place from which to replenish them. “Find a solution! Now!” The Marquis of Rodrick demanded relentlessly, prompting his vassals to timidly present their ideas. “How about we take over another castle, at least for now?” one suggested. “Hmm... leaving the enemy behind us, you mean?” “If we run out of supplies, this army will collapse entirely. We should conquer a small castle, regroup, and return. Luckily, the roads within Fenris’s territory are well-maintained, so it won’t take long.” Leaving an enemy behind during a war is an exceedingly dangerous strategy. Not only could supply lines be cut, but they could also be encircled. However, their supply lines were already severed, and attacking another castle while luring out Silverlight’s forces didn’t seem like a terrible idea. Another vassal, glancing nervously at the others, voiced his opposition. “The Count of Fenris is a seasoned warlord. If he’s forced the population into castles, they are undoubtedly well-prepared for war. We also lack siege weapons. Even a small castle would be difficult to conquer with mere ladders.” “Then what do you suggest?” “We should consider retreating... and retaking Linderstein.” “...” “The surrounding vassals may also be struggling, but if we squeeze them hard enough, we can requisition what’s left. Once we have siege equipment and enough provisions, we can reclaim Linderstein.” “You want me to admit defeat?” “If we don’t retreat now... we won’t even have enough food to make it back to the west.” “...” The Marquis of Rodrick bit his lip in frustration, caught in a dire dilemma. If they failed to conquer another castle, they might lose the ability to retreat altogether. At best, a retreat now could barely bring them back to the west. However, returning in this state would be tantamount to admitting defeat, losing men and face alike. It would invite mockery from all the nobles, and perhaps even cause his vassals to abandon the House of Rodrick altogether. After all, his forces had dwindled to a fraction of their former size. “If we retreat, can we truly retake Linderstein?” The Fenris forces stationed at Linderstein were far fewer in number than Rodrick’s, but Count Fenris, a Master, stood behind them. They had failed to take Silverlight, so capturing the even larger Linderstein seemed an uncertain prospect. “If we gather all the remaining troops and resources from the surrounding fiefs, it should be possible. There are reports of trebuchet damage to parts of Linderstein’s walls.” Even though they had already stripped their vassals bare, some of the advisors believed further squeezing could yield more. To them, the hardships of others were irrelevant; taking what they needed was simply logical. ‘We need to survive first, whatever it takes.’ ‘We’ve already lost 30,000 soldiers—why keep fighting?’ ‘I just want to go home.’ In truth, many of them had lost their fighting spirit after their first major defeat. They had never faced an enemy like this before. While the Marquis of Rodrick deliberated, a dust-covered knight approached. He was a relative of the Marquis, once stationed at Linderstein. “You’re alive?” the Marquis exclaimed in shock. He had struggled to believe the reports he had received earlier, and now someone from Linderstein had arrived. The knight, his voice filled with grief, declared, “Count Selburk has betrayed us!” “What?” “And other vassals are switching their allegiance as we speak!” “What are you saying? Explain yourself!” “After Linderstein fell to Count Fenris, I fled to other vassal territories, but...” After taking control of Linderstein, Count Selburk used its forces to pressure neighboring vassals. This was under direct orders from Ghislain Fenris to pacify the western territories. Selburk moved aggressively—not just to avoid being labeled a lone traitor, but also to cement his safety by aligning with Fenris’s justifications. If Fenris lost, Selburk would have to face the Marquis himself in battle. The weakened western vassals had no choice but to surrender. Scattered remnants of the Rodrick army fled once again. “Those bastards dare!” Even his vassals had betrayed him. The Marquis of Rodrick had nowhere left to go. Returning west would only mean facing opposition from those same traitorous lords, who were unlikely to trust any attempts at reconciliation. “Damn it! Fenris, you bastard!” They had been outplayed at every turn. Dividing his forces had been a grave mistake. He should have concentrated everything against Fenris. Although there was no guarantee of victory even if they regrouped, betrayal by his vassals had sealed his fate. There was no way to secure provisions anymore. Fuming with rage, the Marquis bellowed, “Attack another castle immediately! Fenris has plenty of food stockpiled—even the smaller castles must have stores! Move now!” His vassals could no longer oppose him. The situation left them no choice but to resolve the issue within the north. Returning west was no longer feasible. The soldiers were already exhausted, and the supplies wouldn’t last the journey. After a brief silence, Tenant spoke up. “We must conquer another castle. But before that, what if we request provisions from Rayfold?” “Rayfold? The domain governed by that woman?” “Yes. It’s said to be one of the more prosperous territories in the north. Countess Rayfold is known for her generosity toward her people, which likely means she has stockpiled plenty of food. She may be willing to support us.” “You want me to beg a woman? Do you think my honor means nothing?” “It would be a legitimate transaction. If you promise significant rewards after the war, she will comply without protest.” As the strongest force in the west, they believed Countess Amelia Rayfold wouldn’t dare refuse. Declining such a request could result in catastrophic repercussions for her later. Even after suffering such heavy losses, they clung to their belief in their supremacy. With 30,000 soldiers remaining, they still had numbers on their side, enough to overrun Fenris eventually. “Fine. Send an envoy to Rayfold immediately. Promise her that after the war, I’ll grant her a fief of her choosing, whether in the north or west.” The Marquis’s words carried an air of arrogance. Nonetheless, his offer was no small matter—provisions in exchange for a domain to rule was an extraordinary reward. The envoys approached Countess Amelia Rayfold with confidence, bearing the Marquis’s lofty promise. “If you provide us with provisions, we will ensure your reward—a fief of your choosing—after our victory in this war...” Amelia, however, listened with a mix of disbelief and disdain before responding. “Are you insane? Asking for food while losing a war?” “Countess! What are you saying? Do you not fear the repercussions? We still have 30,000 soldiers—” “Get out of my sight. If you bother me further, I’ll march on the Marquis myself.” “...” The envoys had no choice but to leave, their threats and arrogance thoroughly rebuffed. Amelia was already frustrated, dealing with the Salvation Order’s interference in her plans. With their envoy’s failure, the Marquis’s fury reignited. “That woman dares! The north is full of lunatics!” Not only had he failed to secure food, but he had also been humiliated. This was a first in his life. “I will burn Fenris to the ground and destroy all who oppose me! Move the army immediately!” With no other options, the Marquis resolved to take another castle, no matter the cost. The target was a small fortress far from Silverlight. Tenant gathered the troops and delivered his orders. “Silverlight may send reinforcements, but that would work in our favor! Deploy 10,000 to guard the rear and prepare to crush any attackers! The rest will focus on the fortress!” Without siege weapons, conquering even a small fortress wouldn’t be easy, but this one was manned by only 2,000 soldiers. Against Rodrick’s overwhelming numbers, it would inevitably fall. “Fenris has food! Capture the fortress, and we’ll feast! Advance!” “Woooooah!” Rodrick’s soldiers let out a thunderous cheer and surged forward, their morale rekindled by desperation and hunger. Victory seemed achievable against the smaller target. The commander of the fortress, Max, watched the approaching horde with a grimace. “Why the hell did they come here? Couldn’t they pick another target?” He had heard about their defeat at Silverlight and their severed supply lines. But out of all the castles, why this one? “Fire! Shoot everything we’ve got at them!” At Max's command, the Fenris forces unleashed a hail of arrows and trebuchet fire. Boom! Boom! Boom! The sheer number of enemies meant that every shot struck true, taking down soldiers in droves. However, their assault didn’t last long. Boom! Flames and lightning rained down on the walls. Max's face turned pale as he shouted, "Mages! Take cover! Fall back!" High-circle mages among the Rodrick forces unleashed a relentless barrage on the walls. The Fenris defenders had no way to counter such magic, and siege weapons like trebuchets and ballistae were reduced to rubble in moments. With Rodrick's mages neutralizing the defenses, there was no way to stop the advancing soldiers. Tenant screamed with all his might. “Close the gap! Get to the walls! Once we’re up, victory is ours! Mages and archers, keep the pressure on until our men scale the walls!” Rodrick’s forces surged forward with renewed determination. The belief that victory was within reach gave them boundless energy. Thud! Thud! Thud! The vanguard finally placed ladders against the walls. The Fenris troops, overwhelmed by the barrage, had yet to mount an effective response. "Waaah!" Rodrick’s soldiers swarmed up the ladders like a colony of ants. Despite their numbers, they couldn’t overpower the Fenris soldiers clad in their galvanium armor. The moment the mages ceased their attack to avoid hitting their own troops, the Fenris forces retaliated. Soldiers climbing the ladders were cut down one after another. But soon, the Fenris defenders began to falter. Tenant clenched his fists as he observed the shift. “They don’t have many knights here!” Though the Fenris troops were holding their ground thanks to superior equipment, only a handful of their fighters—mostly commanders—were using mana in battle. This disparity began to tip the scales in Rodrick’s favor. “Deploy the remaining soldiers and knights! Everyone, get to the walls! Knights, lead the charge and cut down their soldiers! Victory is ours!” Tenant’s cry inspired a burst of energy in Rodrick’s soldiers. The knights, too, charged with renewed vigor. Victory seemed closer than ever. They knew taking this castle would bring hope to their beleaguered forces. “Out of the way!” “We’ll go up first!” “Hurry!” Over a hundred knights reached the ladders. Once they ascended, unleashing their mana-infused strikes, even the Fenris troops’ superior armor wouldn’t hold up. Rodrick’s mages targeted the walls while avoiding their own troops, ensuring the Fenris soldiers couldn’t regroup. The morale of Rodrick’s forces surged. As the knights eagerly grasped the ladders, ready to climb, a deep, resonant horn echoed across the battlefield. Dooooong! Max, still fighting alongside his troops on the walls, looked to the sky and laughed. “They’re here!” The unexpected sound made Rodrick’s forces pause and look up. “What... is that?” “Is that the thing from the rumors...?” “Are there people aboard that?” Dozens of hot air balloons floated above the fortress, emerging from behind it and drawing close to the walls. Tenant shouted, “Ignore them! Push forward! We’ve already won! Mages and archers, shoot them down!” The hot air balloons were undoubtedly the rumored contraptions, but Tenant wasn’t worried. It was his first time seeing such devices, and while they piqued his curiosity, he dismissed them as insignificant. “Just knock them out of the sky! A few people up there won’t change anything!” he declared. But the mages’ faces turned grim. “Our magic... it’s blocked?” All the high-circle mages on the battlefield suddenly found their spells nullified. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t launch an attack on the balloons. Before Tenant could issue another command, someone leaped from the lead balloon. Boom! Max, still fending off Rodrick soldiers, rushed toward the new arrival with a grin. “You’re here!” “Yeah, and the General said it was about time. Looks like he was right.” Clang! Clang! The man, with a ferocious smile, unsheathed twin axes. It was Gillian. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚 Following him, 200 knights from Fenris descended from the balloons, sliding down ropes onto the walls. A booming voice rang out from the last balloon. “Hey, Marquis Rodrick, you moron!” It was Ascon, never missing a chance to enrage his enemies.