The sheer presence of the 80,000-strong Northern Army was awe-inspiring. Even without Fenris’s fearsome reputation, the sheer size of the force was enough to make even the most powerful lords feel a weight on their shoulders. And at its helm stood Count Ghislain, renowned as the strongest figure in the North. Even though the army was marching to confront the Rift, the lords along its path couldn’t help but tremble at the thought of that blade possibly turning on them. The soldiers of the Northern Army could feel the heavy atmosphere themselves. Even those who had come from other territories carried themselves with pride, shoulders squared with newfound confidence. “See? Wasn’t it a good call to switch sides?” A middle-aged man stroked his well-groomed beard with a smirk. He was a former spy from Desmond, now leading one of Fenris’s cavalry units as a commander. “Absolutely! Timing is everything in life.” “We were shaking in our boots back when we defected, especially during the fight with Rodrick. I almost flipped sides again back then.” The man’s two subordinates, also former spies, chuckled nervously. At this, their commander frowned and muttered sharply: “Shh, watch your words. Keep calling me ‘commander,’ and someone might start asking questions. And don’t ever bring up betrayal again. We’ve cleaned up our records, but if anyone finds out, we’re dead. Got it? Dead. We just made a decision that fit the times, nothing more.” “Ah, right! Of course. Heh heh.” The subordinates scratched their heads sheepishly, their laughter tinged with unease. Though they had once been the epitome of traitors, no one suspected them now. They were competent and worked hard to survive, earning them high evaluations within Fenris. But there was one thing that bothered them. “Hey, why does the intelligence officer smirk at us every time we pass? He knows something, doesn’t he?” “Nah, can’t be. If he knew, we’d have been executed by now, right?” “Yeah, probably just our imagination.” Still, every time they passed Ghislain, Claud, or the intelligence officer, they couldn’t shake the feeling that those smirks meant something. Ever since Desmond fell, it had been like this. Surely, they don’t know about us. We burned all the records at the intelligence academy in Desmond when it was taken. It’s just a coincidence. After all, we’ve been nothing but loyal and hardworking for Fenris. The commander gulped nervously. It’s nothing... right? It has to be nothing. Marching to the Rift Leaving those doubts behind, the morale of the Northern Army was at an all-time high. The sheer numbers bolstered their spirits, but so did the presence of Count Ghislain and his elite retinue. Ghislain consulted his map and turned to Gillian. “We’re almost there. The Rift must have expanded significantly by now.” “With this many troops, the march was bound to be slow. But the locals have already evacuated the area.” “Still, even with all the urging, it’s taking too long...” The army’s progress was slower than Ghislain would have liked. With such a large force, primarily infantry, and the burden of supply wagons and siege weapons, delays were inevitable. In truth, for an army of this size, their pace was impressive. Other lords would have marveled at their speed. But Ghislain knew that if it had been just the Fenris forces, they would have arrived days ago. He clicked his tongue and shook his head. “Pushing the pace any further isn’t realistic.” Even now, the rearmost troops were struggling to keep up, gasping for breath. No matter their morale, the Northern troops simply couldn’t match the discipline and training of Fenris’s elite. And Ghislain couldn’t afford to send the Fenris troops ahead on their own. “How large is the Rift’s force now?” “The last report estimated 100,000. Likely more by now.” Even for Fenris’s elite, facing over 100,000 Rift creatures would result in catastrophic losses. Their failure to kill Equidema in time had allowed the number of Rift creatures to swell uncontrollably. The lords in charge of the affected areas had tried to stem the tide, but their forces had been pushed back repeatedly. The only silver lining was that the Rift’s corruption spread slowly, giving them time to contain the creatures to a degree. “Tell the men to hold out a little longer. We’re almost there.” Ghislain pushed the soldiers onward, motivating them with his firm command. Understanding the gravity of the situation, they gritted their teeth and kept marching. After several grueling days, the Northern Army finally reached their destination: a barony near the Rift. The area was heavily fortified with makeshift wooden barricades, and numerous tents surrounded the defensive line. Disheveled soldiers on sentry duty lit up with relief at the sight of the approaching army. “The Northern Army is here! Fenris has arrived!” “Count Ghislain is here! We’re saved!” The soldiers, worn down from endless battles, looked like defeated remnants. Their joy at the Northern Army’s arrival was palpable. A man, haggard and filthy, rushed toward Ghislain and saluted clumsily. “Commander of the Northern Army, sir! I am Baron Spenvel, in charge of this defense.” “Where is your lord?” “He... he has retreated to safety, sir!” “What a disgrace.” “....” Spenvel couldn’t muster a response to Ghislain’s harsh words. A lord’s duty was to protect their people in exchange for their privileges. To abandon them in a time of need was beyond contempt. This kingdom’s nobility is rotten to the core, Ghislain thought, clicking his tongue. Assessing the Situation “How far has the Rift’s domain expanded?” Ghislain asked. “The Rift now encompasses one fortress and three towns, sir.” Ghislain exhaled sharply. The area was roughly the size of a small barony. It was too late to attack from outside the Rift’s influence. “We’ll have to break through to kill Equidema.” Equidema never strayed far from the Rift itself. Usually, fighting Rift creatures at the edges was manageable. But when the creatures weren’t contained and their numbers exploded, breaking through to the Rift core became inevitable. Ghislain’s lieutenants grimly absorbed Spenvel’s report. “That’s incredibly fast growth.” “Three towns already... This will consume the entire kingdom if we don’t stop it soon.” Unlike his subordinates, Ghislain remained unfazed. Compared to what he had seen in his past life, this wasn’t even particularly rapid. Still, this Rift was spreading faster than most. There had to be a reason. “This started in a small village, right? Show me its location.” “Yes, sir!” Spenvel unfurled a map and pointed to the village where the Rift had emerged. Rifts that appeared in isolated villages spread faster than those in fortified cities or castles. In his previous life, researchers theorized that unspoiled nature, abundant mana, and minimal disruption allowed corruption to spread more rapidly. Ghislain nodded at the marked location. The path forward was clear: he had to annihilate the Rift creatures and kill Equidema. “Move the forces to the nearest evacuation zone. There must be an empty city or fortress nearby.” “Well... we haven’t yet...” Ghislain’s eyes narrowed as he grabbed Spenvel by the collar. “I told you to prepare quarantine zones for troops exposed to the Rift. I’ve issued multiple orders and sent countless memos. Are you telling me you ignored them?” “The... the lord refused. He insisted we could hold the line with barricades alone...” “Fool.” This was the problem. Even when given clear instructions, greedy lords often refused to comply, unwilling to sacrifice their economic stability. Such negligence had doomed countless soldiers. “This is why I had to execute a few fools in the West as examples,” Ghislain muttered. “But the lords outside Fenris’s sphere still think my orders are a joke.” Ghislain made his decision. “By the authority of the Commander of the Northern Army, I hereby strip Count Heseltin of all rights and titles. His crime: treason.” “T-Treason, sir?!” Spenvel’s face turned pale. Treason was a death sentence, and everyone associated with a treasonous lord often faced execution as well. “Endangering the kingdom is treason enough. Don’t worry; only Heseltin will be punished. From now on, you are the lord of this barony.” “Me?!” “Yes. Immediately select knights to evacuate a nearby city. Move the residents to other towns. Fenris will cover the costs of their relocation. Use knights who can handle mana as messengers. Understood?” “...Yes, sir!” Knights are relatively safe from diseases; their mana acts as a natural barrier, preventing infections. Hence, they were the ideal candidates to act as messengers. Under Ghislain’s commanding presence, Baron Spenvel bowed his head in submission. “Understood, sir.” “From this moment, you are the lord of this territory. If anyone objects, they can take it up with me. Consolidate your forces and wait at the nearest evacuation zone. Marquis Branford will send supplies there soon.” “But... sir, it’s not that simple,” Spenvel stammered. Naturally, it wasn’t. The count still had his loyal retainers and noble allies bound by blood. Even if Ghislain declared treason, the justification was tenuous at best. And Count Heseltin still had forces of his own. If Spenvel assumed the position of lord, Heseltin wouldn’t take it lying down. But Ghislain wasn’t someone who relied on words alone. “Bring me the commander of the 8th Cavalry.” The former spy from Desmond, Harrison, arrived shortly after, his expression puzzled. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦 “Sir! Commander of the 8th Cavalry, Harrison, reporting for duty!” “We’ve seen each other from time to time, haven’t we?” “Yes, sir!” “I’ve heard you’re a rather capable man.” “Y-Yes, sir?” Why was Ghislain bringing this up? The ominous atmosphere made Harrison break out in a cold sweat. Did they figure me out? Are they going to kill me here? His two subordinates, who had accompanied him, fidgeted nervously. Fortunately for Harrison, Ghislain’s next words weren’t a death sentence. “Take your men and capture Count Heseltin. Tell him it’s by my command. You may even invoke Marquis Branford’s authority if needed. If he resists, kill him and everyone loyal to him. Understood?” “Yes, sir!” Relieved that his true identity hadn’t been uncovered, Harrison answered with a bright, thunderous voice. Baron Spenvel, however, stammered in disbelief at the sheer audacity of the situation. “B-But, sir, is this really acceptable?” This wasn’t the North—it was a region closer to the kingdom’s central territories. Even as the Commander of the Northern Army, Ghislain’s authority shouldn’t stretch this far. The Northern Army Commander’s wartime powers were limited to the northern lords and strictly military matters. Stripping a noble of their title was a prerogative reserved solely for the crown, even in cases of treason. Ghislain, however, had long abandoned any notion of playing by the rules. “I’ve been granted full authority over all matters concerning the Rifts. That means you only need to listen to me. I will no longer tolerate fools whose incompetence endangers the kingdom. Consider this position your reward for risking your life to protect this territory.” Ghislain’s piercing glare left Spenvel trembling. He had merely been following orders, fighting to the best of his ability—and now he found himself appointed as a lord. Wait... does this mean I’m a lord now? Rumors of Count Fenris’s generous rewards were true after all. What initially seemed overwhelming began to feel like an incredible opportunity. With Fenris’s backing, no one would dare to challenge him. Confidence surged within Spenvel. I’ll just have to follow his orders. Ghislain’s personality was crystal clear: loyalty was rewarded generously, but defiance would bring swift and brutal punishment. Understanding this, Spenvel saluted sharply and declared, “I’ll dispatch the messengers immediately and relocate my forces to the nearest city!” “Good. See to it.” Moving Out With Ghislain’s decisive action, the situation was resolved swiftly. Spenvel’s forces, now officially under his command, prepared for withdrawal. There was no longer any need for them to remain. Once Equidema was dealt with, Ghislain’s forces could station troops here for monitoring purposes. “Let’s go,” Ghislain ordered. The Northern Army began its march toward the heart of the Rift’s territory. As they approached, the air grew heavy, a faint, eerie blue mist surrounding the area. Within the Rift’s domain, a faint, guttural sound reached their ears. ―Grrrr...