421

Episode 421 Let's Use the Most Powerful Power (1)

The might of the Northern Army, numbering 80,000, was astounding.

Even putting aside Fenris' fame, their numbers were enough to put pressure on even the most powerful lords.

The commander who commands them there is Earl Fenris, the strongest in the North.

Even though they knew that the Northern Army was going to deal with the rift, the lords along its path could not help but fear that the sword would be pointed at them.

The Northern Army soldiers could also fully feel the atmosphere. Even the soldiers from other territories unconsciously tense their shoulders with pride.

"Hey, look. It was a good thing I betrayed you, wasn't it?"

A middle-aged man stroked his well-groomed beard and smiled. He was the leader of the spies who had defected from Desmond long ago.

Surprisingly, his achievements and abilities were recognized and he was given the position of commander of one of Fenris' cavalry squadrons.

"That's right. Life is all about timing."

"I'm glad I listened to the captain back then. I was so scared when I fought Rodrigo. I almost betrayed him again."

The other two men also became the spy chief's adjutants. The chief frowned after hearing what the two men had to say.

"Sigh, you have to be careful with your words. If you keep calling me the instigator, people will get suspicious. And don't bring up the betrayal ship. We did a good job of washing the past, but if we get caught, we'll die. We just made a choice that fit the times."

"Oh, right. Hehehehe."

Jo Won laughed, scratching his head. The three of them were the embodiment of betrayal, but no one knew it.

The three of them had secret abilities. They also worked hard to survive. So they were well-received in the territory.

There's just one thing that's bothering me... ... .

"Hey, but why does the spy officer laugh at us every time he passes by? You don't know anything, do you?"

"Oh, no way… … If we knew, wouldn't we have all been caught and killed already?"

"Really? Maybe it's just my mood?"

Very occasionally, the lord, the governor, and the spy officer would spot them and pass by, chuckling.

It's been that way ever since we captured Desmond.

'You didn't leave us alone even though you knew about it, did you? As soon as you captured Desmond, you burned all the documents in the spy training center... ... . Yeah, it's probably just my imagination. After all the times we showed off our loyalty to the territory.'

They are people who work very hard and are helpful to the territory. That is why they left the labor brigade and even got promoted.

So, even though they know their origins, they probably don't keep them alive just to exploit them because they're useful...

The leader swallowed hard after thinking about it that far. No, that can't be right. That's how it should be.

Except for their nervousness, the morale of the Northern Army was at its peak.

The sheer number of them alone was enough to give them momentum, but the famed Earl of Fenris and his entourage were also there.

Jiselle looked at the map and asked Gillian.

"We'll be there soon. But the crack will have expanded quite a bit."

"It can't be helped because the march is slow. However, I heard that all the residents in the area have evacuated."

"Tsk, even though I urged you so much… … ."

The march of the Northern Army was not fast enough for the castle of Giselle, as they were so numerous and mostly infantry.

It's natural that it's slow, since they have to carry food wagons and a lot of weapons there.

In fact, it wasn't that slow considering its size. Rather, it was a speed that would surprise other lords.

But if only the highly mobile Fenris Army had moved, they would have already arrived.

Jiselle clicked her tongue and shook her head.

"I guess we can't go any faster."

Even now, the soldiers in the rear are barely keeping up, panting. Regardless of morale, the soldiers' level is not at all on par with that of the Fenris army.

However, Fenris' army could not move first.

"How much did you say it increased?"

"The last news said there were about 100,000. It must have increased by now."

No matter how elite the Fenris Army is, if they try to stop over 100,000 Crackers with just the Fenris Army, the damage will be enormous.

Because Equidema could not be stopped in time, the number of Crackers was increasing like crazy.

The lord of each crack tried to stop the expansion, but there were so many crackers that the lord's forces had no choice but to continue retreating.

The only consolation was that the erosion took time and the cracks could not spread far.

"Tell him to try a little harder. There's not much left."

Jiselle encouraged the soldiers and led them forcefully. The soldiers also knew the seriousness of the situation and followed along somehow.

After several days of forced marching, the Northern Army finally reached their destination, the closest territory to the north.

Several tents were set up near a cordon made of wooden palisades.

The unkempt soldiers standing guard at the barracks looked delighted as they spotted the Northern Army.

"The Northern Army! The Northern Army is here!"

"The Earl of Fenris has arrived!"

"I survived, I survived!"

The soldiers, exhausted from fighting the Crackers, looked just like defeated soldiers. It was understandable that they welcomed the Northern Army.

Soon a man with a shabby appearance ran up to Jiselle and saluted her.

"Your Majesty, Commander of the Northern Army! I am Baron Spenvel, in charge of the defense of this place."

"Huh? Where is the lord?"

"Ah, I have fled to a safe place!"

"What a pathetic guy."

"… … ."

Baron Spenvel was left speechless at Giselle's words.

The lord can secure his rights by protecting his subjects. But the lord is the first to run away.

'As expected, most of the nobles of this kingdom are greedy.'

Jiselle clicked her tongue a few times and then asked about the situation.

"How far has the crack area extended?"

"Tongue, one castle and three cities are now their territory."

At that level, it was about the size of a small barony. It was too late to attack from outside the territory.

Jiselle sighed.

"I guess I'll have to break through to kill Equidema."

Equidema doesn't move near the rift, so when blocking a rift, the fight mainly involves fighting relatively weak rift people.

However, if you fail to properly block the crackers like this and are pushed back, you will inevitably suffer damage as you break through countless crackers.

Jiselle's entourage also swallowed their sighs after hearing Baron Spenvel's words.

"That's incredible speed."

"It's already expanded to the level of a small fiefdom."

"If we don't deal with it quickly, the entire kingdom will be covered in them."

Unlike them, Jiselle wasn't particularly surprised. Compared to her previous life, this wasn't that fast. As time went on, the rate of erosion would only get faster.

However, this territory was eroding a little faster than the others. There was a good reason for that.

"You said it started in a small town? Tell me where that town is."

"Yes, yes!"

Baron Spenvel spread out the map and pointed to a spot. It was the location of the village where the crack had opened.

Cracks that formed in villages with nothing around them expanded faster than those that formed in castles or cities.

There was a hypothesis that in the past life, the more unspoiled nature was, the less disturbance there was and the more abundant mana there was, so the faster the erosion rate would be.

Jiselle nodded at the place Baron Spenvel had pointed.

We've got the location. Now we need to sweep away the Crackers and go in to kill Equidema.

"Lead your troops and move to the nearest shelter. Are there any castles or cities that have been vacated?"

"That, that's still… … ."

At those words, Giselle glared and grabbed Baron Spenvel by the collar.

"Surely you were told to create a space to isolate soldiers who participated in battle in preparation for the epidemic? How many times did you say that and how many official documents were sent? But you still didn't create the space?"

"Yes, the lord refuses… … . For now, all we have to do is create a barrier and block it… … ."

"You stupid kid."

This is the problem. Even if you tell them how to do it, there are a lot of people who don't follow it properly because they are greedy.

If you empty the city and castle, the production and economic power of your territory will drop immediately. Naturally, you will not be able to collect taxes properly.

That's why there are lords who don't listen and drive their soldiers into danger.

Because of these guys, didn't they strike down a few of them in the West as an example? But those outside of Fenris's influence took Jisel's words lightly.

Eventually, Giselle decided to exercise force.

"By the authority of the Commander of the Northern Army, I hereby revoke all rights and privileges of Count Heseltine. The charge is treason. Do you understand?"

"Go, Your Majesty!"

Baron Spenvel's face turned pale. Treason! Is that a charge that can be brought up without any evidence?

That's ridiculous. Even the Marquis of Branford, the most powerful man in the kingdom, couldn't do it.

If the lord becomes a traitor, all the vassals below him will die as well. That's why Baron Spenvel couldn't help but be surprised.

"You have put the kingdom in danger, so this is tantamount to treason. Don't worry. I will only hold Earl Heseltine accountable. From now on, you are the lord of this place."

"Yes? Me?"

"Yes. Immediately select a few knights and tell them to vacate a nearby city. Tell the residents there to move to another city. Fenris will provide sufficient compensation. The messengers must be knights who can handle mana. Understood?"

Knights are relatively safe from the plague, as mana prevents the disease from penetrating. So knights must act as messengers.

Baron Spenvel nodded, overwhelmed by Giselle's force.

"Oh, I understand."

"You are now the lord of this land. Anyone who opposes, let them come to me. Gather your forces and wait in your shelter. The Marquis of Branford will soon send medicine there."

"Go, Your Majesty. It's not as easy as it sounds."

Of course. There are vassals of the count and nobles who are related by blood. The excuse of treason is almost far-fetched.

The Count also had troops left behind. If Baron Spenvel were to claim the title of lord, Count Heseltine would not remain silent.

But Giselle isn't someone who just talks the talk.

"Call the 8th Cavalry Company Commander."

At Giselle's words, Harrison, the spy leader from Desmond, came looking with a puzzled expression.

"Choo, loyalty! This is Harrison, the 8th Cavalry Company Commander!"

"Yeah, we've seen each other's faces sometimes, right?"

"yes!"

"I know you're a pretty useful guy."

"yes yes?"

Why would you suddenly ask such a thing? Harrison broke into a cold sweat at the ominous atmosphere.

'Hey, are you caught? Are you trying to kill me here?'

The two adjutants who followed Harrison were also fidgeting.

Fortunately, the words that came out of Giselle's mouth were not a death sentence.

"Lead the army and capture Earl Heseltine immediately. Tell him this is my order. You can sell the name of the Marquis of Branford. If anyone resists, you can kill them all. Do you understand?"

"All right!"

Harrison, relieved that his identity had not been discovered, answered in a joyful and booming voice.

Baron Spenvel stuttered at this absurd situation that was progressing at a rapid pace.

"Your Majesty, is this really okay?"

This is not the North. Even though it is the tip, it is part of the central region of the kingdom.

Even if he is the commander of the Northern Army, he cannot do this. Even if he is the commander of the Northern Army, he can only exercise some authority over the Northern lords in times of war.

This is also a military power. Only the crown can strip someone of their resident status, even if they have committed a crime that amounts to treason.

But Giselle had no intention of looking after him any longer.

"I have full authority over the rift. So just do as I say. I will not tolerate any more damage caused by fools. You fought hard to stop the rift, risking your life. Consider this position a reward for that."

Baron Spenvel lowered his head at the fearsome gaze of Giselle. He simply fought hard as ordered, and yet he obtained the position of lord.

'Wow, this is great? Am I a permanent resident now?'

Earl Fenris had said that he would definitely give a generous reward, and it was true.

At first he was embarrassed, but it wasn't a bad thing for Baron Spenvel either. Since it was given by Earl Fenris, no one else would dare say anything.

Since I had a strong back, my confidence naturally grew.

'I have to listen carefully.'

If you listen well, you will receive a hot reward, and if you don't, you will be struck down with a hammer. Baron Spenvel, who had briefly figured out Giselle's personality, saluted vigorously.

"Then we will send a messenger right away and withdraw to a nearby city!"

"So be it."

The situation was quickly resolved by Giselle's decision to no longer endure. The troops that had now become Baron Spenvel's army prepared to withdraw.

There was no need for them to remain since the Northern Army would go to eliminate Equidema. After Equidema was gone, the troops to guard it would just have to come back.

"let's go."

Jiselle led the northern army and slowly advanced towards the rift area.

Soon they arrived at an area covered in blue fog.

To the ears of those who entered the area, the faint howl of a beast could be heard.