394

Episode 394 Let's just break it. (1)

The royalist faction was gradually moving the royal army to the southern vicinity while attacking the Salvation Church hideouts that Jisel had told them about.

Despite the chaos throughout the kingdom, the Duke's family remained silent and had not yet made any statement.

Since they were branded as a cult by the four major religious groups, they would eventually try to suppress it by force. That is why they mobilized the royal army in preparation for war.

Meanwhile, everyone was shocked when they heard the news of Marquis Rodrik's advance.

"100,000? Is it really 100,000?"

Maurice, who heard the news during a meeting at the royal palace, asked with an expression of disbelief.

The messenger who brought the news nodded.

"Yes! I heard that he has mobilized all the remaining vassal forces. Currently, 60,000 are marching to Fenris, and 40,000 are moving near the capital. He said that he will help in the fight against the Duke."

"Huh? So you're saying the entire Western army was mobilized to catch that one guy?"

I heard that 20,000 troops were destroyed in the battle a while ago, but now you've gathered 100,000 in one breath.

He was truly worthy of being called the most powerful noble family in the West.

Maurice frowned and scratched his beard.

"Ahem… … It's good to help in the fight against the Duke, but what about the duckling?"

The Marquis of Branford answered Maurice's question with an expression that said it was nothing serious.

"Leave it alone for now. It's a fight between two people."

"No! How can you say that! How can he stop 60,000 people! Are Fenris's troops 10,000? 20,000? Anyway, that's all there is! We're not that kind of people!"

"… … ."

At Maurice's shout, the other nobles all looked at him in bewilderment.

He was always anxious because he couldn't catch Earl Fenris, but he has completely changed.

"Why! What! That guy is like a nephew to me!"

"… … ."

The second batch of supplies sent from Fenris a while ago were also distributed to the Royal Army. Maurice, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Army, was so happy that his mouth was about to burst.

"You can't just let him go! Shouldn't we try to mediate again? What are we going to do if we fight each other right now, right before the fight with the Duke?"

Marquis Rodrik also resolutely refused the mediation of the royalist faction. He was stubborn even when told to settle the matter after the civil war.

In any case, since the cause was with Marquis Rodrik, the royalist faction could not dissuade him any further.

Maurice said to the Marquis of Branford, as if he had realized something.

"That kid, he's trying to reduce our power because he thinks we'll win by involving the four major religious groups."

"I know."

"But you're going to leave me alone?"

Marquis Rodrik had already been a threat to the royal family. For now, they had no choice but to accept him because of the fight with the dukedom, but it was clear that he would become a headache after the war.

Especially if he took over Fenris, which was overflowing with resources, it would be no different from the birth of a new dukedom.

The Marquis of Branford nodded, still with an indifferent expression.

"Trust the Earl of Fenris. He won't be easily fooled. Hasn't that always been the case?"

"No, that's true, but… … this time, the difference is too big."

"I always overcome it."

"Ahem… … ."

Maurice had nothing to say. Whether it was luck or something else, Giselle always won.

"Ah, I don't know. Let's just see how things go and think about it again."

Although they said so, Maurice and the other nobles could not hide their worry.

However, in the current situation, it was impossible to suppress Marquis Rodrik with force.

It was a great gain for Marquis Rodrik to have broken away from the dukedom. If those 100,000 troops had marched to the capital with the dukedom, hell would have broken out.

In the end, Fenris and Rodrik had no choice but to decide for themselves.

The atmosphere in Rodrik's army as they advanced towards Fenris was so relaxed that it seemed natural for people to be worried.

Marquis Rodrik, mounted on a horse as huge as his large body, laughed wickedly.

"You finally caught that little brat and killed him."

Everyone now knows that Giselle is the Master. But Marquis Rodrik wasn't worried.

Because the forces on this side were too numerous for the Master to handle this war alone.

"Increase your speed! I want to see that guy's despairing expression soon!"

The soldiers picked up their pace at Marquis Rodrik's words. The distance to the north was quite long, so moving quickly would tire them out, but Marquis Rodrik didn't care.

That's because I thought I could just push them back with overwhelming force anyway.

In order for Rodrik's army to attack the Fenris territory, they had to pass through the territory of several lords. One of them was the territory of Earl Albans, one of the royalist lords.

Usually, lords do not allow others to pass through their territory without permission, because the army may change its mind and attack them.

Moreover, it was a matter of pride and honor.

That is why Count Albans reacted in a similar way to ordinary lords.

"What? You suddenly showed up and asked me to open a path to the north? Who would open a path for you like that!"

Count Albans is not a great lord, but he is still quite powerful.

Even though they were the strongest nobles in the West, they had no intention of easily opening the way since they had the support of the royalist faction.

Not for Giselle's sake, but because my pride was needlessly hurt.

"Tell them to return to another territory! Or come back with a proper excuse and reward."

He has gathered enough troops and trained himself in preparation for the fight against the Duke.

Of course, if we fight, we will lose, but Marquis Rodrik has now joined the royalist faction. I didn't think he would pick a fight so rashly.

As Count Albans held on like that, the messenger soon came back and shouted:

"Marquis Rodrique has just entered the territory! He has sent word that he will pass through without any interference."

"Who said that you came into the territory without permission?"

Count Albans stood up in anger. Even if he had not attacked this side, it was an act of disrespect to invade his territory without permission.

If we just leave this to happen, he will be ignored and ridiculed by other nobles. We had to make him step down somehow.

"Bring my armor and gather my troops immediately! I will stop them by force! How many troops does the Marquis have?"

"That, that… … ."

"Why can't you just say it!"

"100,000!"

"… … 10,000?"

"100,000! 100,000!"

"… … ."

Count Albans, who had been silent for a moment at the messenger's words, slumped down in his seat.

He looked up at the ceiling, sighed a few times, and spoke quietly.

"I will guide you by the fastest route. I will make sure that you are treated with courtesy and respect so that you do not experience any inconvenience on your way… … ."

"...All right."

This was not something to be proud of. The other nobles would understand.

The estates along Marquis Rodrik's path of advance did not even think of stopping them and all held their breath.

There were nobles who refused, like Count Albans, but Marquis Rodrik ignored them and just passed by.

No one, be it a princely lord, a dukely lord, or a neutral lord, could step forward to stop him.

Marquis Rodrik laughed several times as he passed through the estates.

"Who dares to stand in the way of those pathetic guys?"

It's a situation I really like. I feel my own strength once again.

If you can really overthrow the Duke, there will be no one in this kingdom who can stop you.

"I think it would be better to divide the forces at this point. Tennant, tell the 2nd Corps that are following behind to move towards the capital."

"All right."

Currently, the 60,000-man 1st Corps led by the Marquis of Rodrik was moving in front, and the 40,000-man 2nd Corps was slowly following behind.

Although they had not yet received permission from the royal family to station troops near the capital, they decided that now was a good time to move since they would need to join forces anyway.

While relaying new orders to the 2nd Legion, Marquis Rodrik looked up at the northern sky.

"We'll be arriving at Fenris soon."

I was frustrated because the number of troops was so large and the advance was slow. I wanted to hurry up and crush Fenris.

Still, the weather was really nice. Marquis Rodrigo's mood improved as well.

As I was feeling so happy, a messenger came rushing towards me.

Judging from the messy appearance, it seemed like he had been running without resting.

Marquis Rodrik asked with a puzzled expression.

"What's going on? Where did you come from?"

"P, Earl of Fenris… … ."

"Why did he say he would surrender? He has no intention of accepting it."

"That, that's not it."

"If not that, then what is it?"

The messenger took a deep breath and shouted.

"The Earl of Fenris has invaded the West with 10,000 cavalry!"

"what?"

Marquis Rodrik tilted his head. He must know he is invading now, and yet he is invading the West?

So you're saying he left Fenris empty? I couldn't understand it at all.

Tennant, who was standing next to the Marquis, frowned and asked.

"Explain it properly! Why did Earl Fenris appear in the West?"

"It is true! The Earl of Fenris is currently attacking the west! All the vassal lords blocking his way have been captured and killed! The fortresses are also being breached one by one! The direction of the advance is the Margrave of Rodrik!"

Everyone's expression hardened at those words. There were currently almost no troops in the vassal lords' territories. They were all drafted by Marquis Rodrik.

The same was true for the fortresses in each region. They left behind a minimal number of troops because of the bandits that had not yet been completely subdued, but that was it.

Fenris's army is a master at climbing over walls. A small force will never be able to stop an army of ten thousand.

No, in the current situation, Master Count Fenris can just run in alone.

Tennant said with an urgent look on his face.

"Your Majesty! We must turn some of them around and block them!"

It didn't matter if other places were occupied and trampled. If Fenris was occupied anyway, Jiselle would have to be spit out as well.

In the first place, it is impossible to properly protect the vast western region with just 10,000 people.

But there is another problem.

"If the Marquisate is occupied, supplies will be cut off!"

The distance between Rodrik and Fenris is so great that the supply line is also very long. If the supply line breaks down, the 100,000-man army will eventually starve.

Marquis Rodrik, who had come to his senses, shouted feverishly.

"Then, instead of just a part of it, return the entire army immediately! If we just capture Earl Fenris first, won't it be over?"

Then Tennant came out in opposition.

"That won't do. This is Earl Fenris's scheme."

"What?"

"If Earl Fenris avoids a decisive battle and runs away, we will not be able to catch him. All of his men are mounted soldiers."

"Hmm… … Could it be that guy's thoughts… … ."

"That's right. If we keep chasing him here, we'll be dragged along. Right now, he's holding our supply line hostage to force us to withdraw. He knows the West is empty."

"I never thought that crazy guy would abandon my territory… … ."

"Because there's no other way. They probably figured they couldn't stop this army with Mercury. They'll probably keep trying to cut off their supply lines."

Marquis Rodrik ground his teeth.

"I heard there were rumors that you were going to start a war, but you're actually quite clever."

"But there is a way to capture Earl Fenris and take over Fenris as well."

"What do you mean?"

"Send the 2nd Corps to the Marquisate, which is on its way to the capital, to attack Earl Fenris and guard his supply lines. Then the 1st Corps can take Fenris."

"What if my castle is taken over before then?"

"No. It will never be taken over easily."

"Why? Isn't he a master?"

"The Fenris Army consists entirely of cavalry, so they were able to get to the west already."

"Oh, that means… … ."

Marquis Rodrik slapped his knee as if he understood something.

Tennant also said with a smile.

"That means they don't have any siege weapons. Ultimately, all we can do is cut off their supply lines."

It is said that the Master can fight thousands of soldiers alone.

If it was a small castle or fortress with few garrison troops, it would be possible to capture it by rushing in alone. However, no matter how strong the Master was, it was impossible to capture a large castle or fortress alone.

And there is another such surname in the West: the Rodrik surname 'Linderstein'.

It was absolutely not a place that could be taken without siege weapons.