282

The 3rd Army and the Ferdium Army were not the only ones who were busy worrying about Giselle.

Some people were more concerned about Fenris's safety than anyone else.

[Investment Victims' Meeting]

Rosalind and Meriel, who had attracted a lot of investment from the nobles, also sighed as they looked at the banner hanging at the entrance of the banquet hall.

The prevailing opinion was that this time the Earl of Fenris would lose.

Earl Desmond was different from other lords. He was a great lord of the North, leading an army of 30,000 men.

No matter how successful Giselle was recently and how much she was considered a divine being of the kingdom, she was still inferior to Count Desmond.

"Oh no! I'm screwed!"

"I put in all my savings!"

"I invested for nothing!"

They invested enormous amounts of money in cosmetics and road construction. The road construction was started by the Marquis of Branford, but the main business was in the hands of Giselle.

If Giselle goes under, the cosmetics business will definitely be over. If the business entity goes under, it is unclear what will happen to road construction.

So everyone had no choice but to be anxious that they would lose all the money they had invested.

In particular, there was one person who poured more money into this place than anyone else.

'Wow! That crazy bastard! I brought all the other bishops' property and even the temple donations and put them in!'

It was Bishop Forisco, a faithful servant of the goddess Juana.

Having achieved saintly fame, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he was currently the most successful religious figure in the capital.

As soon as he reached the status of being untouchable, he showed his annoying habits again.

Not only did he take numerous bribes, he also started gambling by investing the temple's money here and there.

'What should I do? I trusted that kid for nothing! I should've just trusted Juana more! If I blow all this money, I'll fall back to rock bottom… … Wait a minute? Wouldn't it be better if that guy died?'

When I thought about it, if Jiselle died, there would be no one left who knew her weakness. I thought it would be okay to die.

'No, then what about my money? Should I just blow all that money? Then I'll end up broke again.'

I wish Jiselle would die, but she can't die now. Porisco couldn't help but think that this was also a test from the Goddess.

'Ah! Why, God! Does he always give me these trials!'

While all the investors were just stamping their feet, Rosalind stepped forward and shouted.

"This isn't a situation that can be solved by just worrying here and now!"

Everyone looked at her with gloomy eyes. What should the people who invested money do other than worry about the business?

Rosalind said firmly, as if there was no problem.

"If you're worried about your business failing, why don't we help you make sure it doesn't fail?"

"...?"

"You all have private soldiers in the capital, right? Let's gather them and support the Earl of Fenris!"

"...."

Everyone looked taken aback at her words.

Of course, I have a lot of private soldiers. But that's just insurance to ensure my safety in the capital. They are nothing compared to Desmond's elite soldiers, who are known as the strongest in the North.

No, even if you gather a few thousand, you will be insignificant in front of an army of 30,000.

But Rosalind continued speaking as if to tell her not to worry.

"Father has ordered the Third Army to move! If we move together with the Royal Army, our private soldiers will be of great help! We don't even need to win the war! All we need to do is rescue Earl Fenris!"

"oh...."

The nobles' eyes sparkled. If the Marquis of Branford had personally moved the royal army, it would have been a different story.

There, they were pro-royalists. They had no problem striking Desmond, who started a war without any justification.

If a civil war breaks out, there will be bigger problems, but that's not something to worry about right now. It was more important for Jiselle to die and suffer losses right now. I had to rescue her somehow.

'If that kid survives this time, I'm going to have to take all the money.'

'I can't live without feeling uneasy if I get involved with that guy.'

'Ha, I experienced this last time too, but it's not easy to get out because it keeps showing signs of making a lot of money.'

Since everyone else was doing it and they were making a lot of money, I couldn't help but get involved. But this time, I really thought my heart would sink, so I thought I'd really get out of it once this issue was resolved.

The nobles hid their true intentions and readily voted in favor of Rosaline's proposal.

"Good! I will support all 100 of my private soldiers!"

"I have 50!"

"Let me give you 200 people."

Everyone was competing to promise military support.

They are wealthy and powerful nobles. If we just gather the private soldiers they promised, the number would be roughly 3,000.

The nobles were slightly surprised by the unexpectedly large number.

"Haha, but still, since we've gathered all of our private soldiers, the number is considerable."

"Well, isn't this how you make investments?"

"This number would be quite helpful."

Rosalind clenched her fists. The nobles' response was better than expected. If we moved together with the royal army, the chances of rescuing Giselle would increase.

Meriel also said with a satisfied smile.

"The Countess of Ailsver will provide food and military funds."

"Oh!"

The nobles looked at her and admired her.

Moving 3,000 troops at once is not easy. I was wondering if I should pay more here, but I was really glad that Meriel took care of it.

As the decision was quickly made, Rosalind looked at Porisco, who was attending the banquet, and said.

"Bishop! Please support only 10 priests! Not low-level priests like last time, but capable ones!"

"Yes? But the temple shouldn't participate in war… … ."

"Just follow me like last time and make sure Earl Fenris doesn't die! It's for humanitarian reasons!"

"Ugh… … ."

"If Earl Fenris or one of the important engineers of the domain gets injured and dies! It will be all for naught even if we go to help! Are you willing to lose the temple's precious donations?"

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"Hi… … . It won't work… … ."

Porisko was troubled. As Rosalind had said, he must not lose the temple's precious… no, his own precious money.

Since the priests were not directly involved in the war anyway, there was no danger.

Because humanitarian relief work was an easily accepted excuse among the aristocracy.

'I can't help it… … If this is also the Goddess's will… … I have no choice but to follow.'

Porisco, who had been thinking about it, chose money over Giselle's life. He simply passed the responsibility on to the goddess. He was truly a man with one strong belief.

"Good… …. It must have been thanks to Lady Juana's guidance that everyone became of one mind like this. I will send priests."

In this way, the Union of Capital Aristocrats, or in other words, the Association of Investment Victims, was formed.

Rosalind breathed a sigh of relief. She shouldn't let her guard down yet, but with the 3rd Corps by her side, she thought she could somehow rescue Giselle.

'I heard it's secretly popular.'

Whatever the intention, thousands of troops were mobilized again to save Giselle.

The Allied forces were commanded by Viscount Etherian, who had experience in war and had invested heavily.

He shouted confidently at the inauguration ceremony.

"I will definitely save Earl Fenris!"

"Wow! Etherian custom is the best!"

Amid the cheers of the nobles, the army of the capital noble alliance followed closely behind the 3rd Corps.

* * *

"Ready?"

When Giselle asked while tying a bandage on her hand, Claude answered with a nervous expression.

"Two thousand elves and archers, and one thousand cavalry are ready."

"The knights?"

"All 300 men are armed and on standby."

"Any word from Gillian?"

"Not yet… … ."

It had already been a month since the war began. News had come that the fortress had fallen, but there had been no word from Gillian.

There was some information a few days ago that they were engaging in skirmishes with Desmond's forces, but we haven't heard anything since.

It was not easy to obtain information because of Count Desmond's reconnaissance and pursuit parties, and Gillian could not continue to expose her movements.

Chook.

Jiselle unfolded the map and looked closely at one spot.

He nodded a few times and asked Claude again.

"Father, the Royal Army, and the Capital Noble Alliance, you say?"

"Yes, they have been out for quite some time. They will be arriving at the territory border soon."

"I guess we can make up for the lack of troops with them. Did you deliver my letter well?"

"Yes, I have definitely conveyed it and even received a reply."

Jiselle nodded without saying anything.

I wanted to prepare more, but I couldn't. The longer I waited, the more dangerous it would be for Gillian and the others.

All of the manpower in the territory devoted all their energy to making a new bow. Thanks to this, they were barely able to make up for the shortcomings.

The intensive training of the archers had also achieved some results, and the production of the bows had been completed, so there could be no further delay.

As soon as Giselle came out of the castle, a huge crowd gathered.

"My lord! We can fight too!"

"We will protect the castle!"

"I will join you! Take me with you!"

They were newly recruited trainees and armed local residents.

Everyone was shouting with enthusiasm that they would fight with all their might.

The people of the estate, who were always disillusioned and uninterested in the nobles' wars, are now taking action on their own.

It's really a blessing. With these people by my side, I can stop anything.

But not now.

"I will accept your heart. It is not yet time for you to fight."

They couldn't be made to fight now. The lives of the people of the territory were just beginning to stabilize and productivity was increasing.

But what if the territory is devastated by war and many of its people die? You'll have to spend even more time than you've spent so far.

If this was the last battle, if the Duke's main force had invaded, I would have issued an order to mobilize all forces and fight.

Because it's a battle you only have to win once.

But that's not the case now. Desmond was just a mountain to climb over. That's why Giselle was initially trying to step back from here for a while.

The people of Yeongji looked indignant at Jiselle's refusal, but there was nothing they could do.

'It's because we're still weak… … .'

'This time too, I have no choice but to trust you, Lord… … .'

'We just have to get through this crisis. Next time, we will definitely… … .'

We have been living too complacently. Recently, many people have volunteered to be soldiers because they were nervous about rumors that the territory was being targeted, but that was not enough.

You should have trained long ago and developed the strength to defend your territory.

The people of Yeongji felt very sorry and sad about that.

If I were given another chance, I would never live this way again.

They all had that kind of determination.

Jiselle glanced at the people of Yeongji and then looked at the army standing before her.

300 knights in black armor had ferocious expressions on their faces as if they would explode at any moment.

Although we had always been at odds, Gillian and the knights at the fortress were comrades who had been with us all along. When I heard that they were risking their lives to hold back the enemy, I wanted to run to them quickly.

"Whew… … . Whoosh… … ."

Everyone was breathing heavily, as if they were all angry.

Jiselle turned her head again.

A group of robed wizards, led by Vanessa and Alfoy, gathered on one side.

He looked a little nervous, but he didn't seem terribly afraid.

Desmond's army had many wizards. To deal with them, the wizards of Fenris had to step up in earnest.

Purrururuk.

At the sound of the horses' fierce neighing, Giselle turned her head again in the direction from which the sound had come.

About 200 elves led by Lumina and Ascon, and 2,000 cavalry archers behind them.

These were the people who would play the most important role in this war.

They all had folded new bows hanging from their waists.

Behind them, about a thousand cavalrymen, including labor assault troops, were waiting on horseback.

Another difference from the previous war was that Belinda and several other characters were not visible.

Jiselle looked around at everyone gathered and slowly opened her mouth.

"Right now, our friends were fighting against the enemy's vast army, risking their lives and shedding blood. It was to buy us time."

The knights began to breathe harder. They looked as if they might burst out at any moment.

Jiselle's words continued softly yet powerfully.

"The enemy is Desmond, who is called the strongest in this North. He has brought an army of 30,000 men, but even if we gather all our troops, we will not reach 4,000. So, if you are afraid, you can leave."

thud!

One knight struck the ground with his spear as if to tell them not to laugh. Then the other knights followed suit and began striking their spears.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fierce fighting spirit was evident in their eyes. Giselle smiled with satisfaction.

"Good. We can't waste any more time. Their courage and sacrifice cannot be in vain."

thud!

Again the knights struck the ground with their spears. The ground shook rhythmically like a heartbeat. The heartbeats and breathing of all who heard it began to increase.

"Now it's our turn to help them."

With those words, Giselle immediately mounted her horse. The knights who had been waiting also mounted their horses after her.

When everything was ready, Giselle grabbed the Black King's reins tightly.

"Let's go, save our friends and destroy Desmond."

Heeeeeeling!

The Black King raised his forelegs high and cried. Then he kicked the ground hard and ran away.

Doo doo doo doo doo doo!

The knights and soldiers followed Giselle.

They were all cavalry. They looked completely different than when they were holed up in the castle.

The Fenris army began to run at incredible speed, as if they were releasing all the power they had been building up.

Above the Black King, Giselle clenched her teeth.

'Hold on a little longer, Gillian.'

His eyes were filled with murderous intent, as if he were going to destroy everything.