405

Episode 405 Let's start hunting. (1)

The fact that there were not even any villages to pillage caused serious concern to the Rodrik Army command.

Even now, food is being consumed quickly because there is no place to bring it.

"Find a way! A way!"

As Marquis Rodrik kept urging, his vassals began to express their opinions one by one.

"How about we take over another castle first?"

"Hmm… … . Are you saying that you leave the enemy behind?"

"This army will be destroyed anyway if we run out of food. How about we capture a small castle, reorganize it, and then come back? Fortunately, there are roads in the Fenris territory, so we should be able to get there quickly."

In war, leaving the enemy behind is a very dangerous strategy, as not only can your supply lines be cut off, you can also be surrounded.

However, the supply route was already cut off. It didn't seem like a bad idea to lure Silverlight's troops by attacking other castles.

The other vassals noticed and then objected.

"The Earl of Fenris is a warlord. If he had herded everyone into a castle without a village, it would surely be prepared for war. We have no siege engines. It would not be easy to take even a small castle with ladders alone."

"Then what do you want us to do?"

"How about we retreat… and recapture Linderstein?"

"… … ."

"The surrounding vassals may be in a difficult situation, but there will still be things left to conscript if we squeeze them. If we can re-establish siege weapons and food, we will be able to find Linderstein again."

"Ugh… … Are you asking me to admit defeat?"

"If we don't retreat now… … we won't even have enough food to return to the West."

"… … ."

Marquis Rodrik bit his lips in thought.

If you fail to hit the other castle, you really won't be able to go back. If you go back now, you'll barely be able to reach the West.

But if we go back like this, we will only lose troops and end up admitting defeat.

All the nobles will laugh at him, and perhaps the vassals will even escape from the shadow of Margrave Rodrik, since his forces are now incomparably reduced.

"If you go back, can you recapture Linderstein?"

The size of the Fenris forces in Linderstein is much smaller than this, but behind them stands their master, Earl Fenris.

Even Silverlight could not be conquered, so the larger adult Linderstein could not be assured.

"You can gather all the remaining troops and food from the surrounding vassal territories. You can also replenish your weapons. Didn't you say that there were places all over Linderstein that collapsed due to catapult attacks?"

They were vassals who thought that if they squeezed more, they would get more even though they had already robbed all their vassals.

They had no regard for other people's circumstances at all. They had the mindset that they could just take what they wanted.

'We have to live first.'

'Honestly, I've already lost 30,000, so why fight again?'

'I just want to go back.'

In fact, they had lost their will to fight after their first defeat, as this had never happened before.

So they didn't want to stay here any longer. They wanted to quickly return to their home base.

While Marquis Rodrik was pondering, a knight covered in dust arrived. He was a collateral relative of Marquis Rodrik who had been in Linderstein.

Marquis Rodrik looked at him with astonishment.

"No, you! Were you alive!"

It was already difficult to believe the news I had heard before. Now that someone from Linderstein had arrived, I wanted to quickly ask about the situation.

The knight cried out in a sorrowful voice.

"The Count of Selverk has betrayed you!"

"what?"

"And the other vassals are changing their flags now!"

"What are you talking about! Tell me more!"

"When Linderstein was taken over by the Earl of Fenris, I fled to another vassal territory first… … ."

After Count Selberg took charge of Linderstein, he used his forces to pressure other vassals.

Because Jiselle ordered the West to be pacified.

Earl Selverk was very active. Not only did he not want to be labeled a traitor, but he also wanted to give Fenris a just cause and ensure his own safety.

After all, if Fenris is defeated, he will have to fight Marquis Rodrik.

The western vassals, who were powerless, had no choice but to surrender to them, and the defeated soldiers who had gone into hiding had no choice but to flee again.

"How dare these guys!"

Even his vassals have been betrayed. Marquis Rodrik now truly has nowhere to go.

Even if he went back like this, the vassals who had betrayed him would fight him. It was obvious that even if he tried to persuade them, they wouldn't believe him.

"Aaaaah! Fenris! Fenris you bastards!"

I couldn't do anything properly and just got hit. It was because I divided my army. I should have led the entire army and attacked Fenris instead.

There was no guarantee that we would return and win, but now that even our vassals have betrayed us, it's over. There's no way to secure even a little bit of food.

Marquis Rodrik, who had been running wild, shouted in a voice full of anger.

"Attack another castle right now! Fenris is said to have a lot of food, so they must have stored up food in the smaller castles too!"

The vassals could no longer object. In the current situation, a solution had to be found within the North.

If we go back, food will be used up and the soldiers will be exhausted.

Tennant said after thinking for a moment.

"It's true that we need to capture other castles. Before that, how about getting some food from Leipold?"

"Raypold? You mean the territory that that woman occupied?"

"Yes. Isn't this place known as one of the wealthiest places in the North? Even though Countess Leipold is a woman, she is said to be kind-hearted and generous to the people of the territory. That means she has secured a lot of food. There should be enough food to support us."

"Ugh, are you telling me to complain to a woman? Won't that ruin my reputation?"

"It's a fair trade anyway. If you promise me a big reward later, I'll give it to you without any complaints."

If the strongest man in the West asks for it, how could someone like Amelia refuse? She won't refuse because she will be in big trouble later if she refuses.

Even in difficult situations, they did not lose their pride in being the strongest in the West.

It was understandable, since there was still a large army of 30,000. Although it was reduced by half, it was still more than Fenris' army.

If we could somehow capture Fenris, we could easily defeat the traitors in the West.

"I will allow it. Send a messenger immediately and tell him to send food aid to Leipold. After the war, I will grant you any territory you want, either in the north or the west."

Marquis Rodrik spoke with an arrogant expression. Still, the reward he offered was no ordinary one.

In exchange for providing food support for a short time during the war, they would give him a fief that he could rule for generations.

Even envoys as arrogant as Marquis Rodrik went to see Amelia with great confidence.

"If you provide us with food, we will give you whatever you want as a reward after we win the war."

Amelia listened to the messenger's words with a dumbfounded expression and then said.

"Are you crazy? You're asking for food while we're losing the war!"

"Oh! Count! What are you talking about now! Aren't you afraid of the consequences! We still have an army of 30,000 men… … ."

"Get out of my sight right now. If you bother me any more, I'll come after the Marquis."

"… … ."

The messenger had no choice but to turn back due to Amelia's fearsome threats.

She was currently having quite a headache because of the Salvation Church. It was only natural, since a force she didn't know about had emerged and messed up the situation.

Because Jisel and the royal faction were stirring things up here and there under the pretext of the Salvation Church, all the plans we had planned up until then had to be re-planned.

I was already in a very irritating situation, and there was no way I could get a good response from those idiots who were so arrogant as to ask for food while we were losing the war.

Marquis Rodrik became angry again when he saw the messenger return empty-handed.

"Eww! How dare that woman! This North is full of crazy people!"

Instead of getting food, I was insulted. It was the first time in my life that I had ever been treated like this.

"I will definitely capture Fenris and then burn the entire North! Move the army now!"

After Fenris comes Raypold. And he will cut off the heads of all the lords who do not submit to him.

Marquis Rodrik mobilized his army with that pledge.

There was no other way now. They had to capture another castle to secure food and make repairs.

The place they were targeting was a castle quite far from Silverlight.

Now, with no one to turn to, Rodrik's army moved quickly along the road.

Tennant, who had set up camp in front of the castle, spoke to everyone.

"Silverlight may come to help here! But for us, that's better! Set aside 10,000 and prepare for an attack from the rear! If the enemy appears, the rest will join and destroy the enemy!"

It would not be easy to take the castle without siege weapons, but it was still a small castle. There were only about 2,000 troops.

If Rodrik's army rushes in all at once, it will eventually be taken over.

"Fenris has plenty of food! If we take the castle, we can eat our fill! Everyone, advance!"

"Wow!"

Rodrik's soldiers ran out with a loud shout.

They had no other choice anyway. And since it was a castle smaller than Silverlight, they seemed to have a high chance of winning. The fighting spirit that had been dampened by the previous defeat was rekindled.

The current commander of this castle is Max, a former troubleshooter. He is disgusted by the sight of Rodrik's army swarming like a swarm of ants.

"No, why did you come here? Go somewhere else."

I know they were defeated in Silverlight and their supplies were cut off. But out of all the castles, why did they come to the place I was in charge of?

"Shoot! Just shoot!"

At Max's command, the Fenris army fired arrows and catapults.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Since there were so many enemies, the soldiers fell without missing a beat as soon as they shot. However, the attack could not continue.

Kwaaaaang!

Lightning struck the wall. Max, who saw this, became lost in thought and shouted.

"It's a wizard! Get out of the way! Get back!"

The high-circle wizards in Rodrik's army launched a brutal assault on the walls.

At present, there was no way to stop those wizards in this castle. In the end, all the weapons such as catapults and ballistas were destroyed by magic.

Once Rodrik's wizards disabled the siege engines in one fell swoop, there was no way to stop the oncoming soldiers.

Tennant also shouted with all his might.

"Get on board! Get on board! If we get on top, we'll win! Wizards and archers, keep guarding the walls until our soldiers get on top!"

Rodrik gritted his teeth and ran. This time, he felt full of strength as he thought he could do it.

Kwah! Kwah! Kwah!

The vanguard of Rodrik's army finally managed to attach a ladder to the wall. Fenris' army had not been able to respond properly until then.

"Wow!"

Rodrik's men climbed the walls like a swarm of ants.

However, they could not defeat Fenris' soldiers, who were armed with galvanium armor all over their bodies. This was because the wizards stopped attacking for fear of being hit by their own troops, and the Fenris army was finally able to move.

Rodrik's soldiers fell dead as they ascended. But at some point, the Fenris army began to slowly retreat from the walls.

Tennant clenched his fists at the sight.

"There are hardly any knights here!"

Although they appear to be overwhelmingly powerful due to the difference in armament, only a few people, including the commander, were seen fighting while using mana.

So, the Fenris army, which was much smaller in number, had no choice but to be pushed back.

"The rest of the soldiers and knights are now being deployed! Everyone, climb up the walls! Knights, take the lead and cut down those soldiers! We have won!"

Tennant's shouts made the soldiers stronger. So did Rodrik's knights.

They had to capture that castle to have any hope. They ran forward more vigorously than ever.

"Get out of the way!"

"We'll go up first!"

"Let's go!"

Over 100 knights have arrived in front of the ladder. Now, if they climb up and start emitting mana, the soldiers will not be able to withstand it no matter how good their armor is.

The wizards continued to attack around the walls, avoiding the friendly forces' positions. Even this alone would prevent the Fenris army from moving properly.

When everyone was trying to climb up the ladder with excited expressions on their faces.

Dooooooow!

A dull trumpet blast sounded.

Max, who was fighting with the soldiers on the wall, looked up at the sky and smiled.

"You came!"

At the sudden noise, all of Rodrik's men looked up at the sky.

"What is… that?"

"That… … that rumor… … ."

"There's a person riding there?"

Dozens of hot air balloons were floating in the sky. They had passed behind the castle and were already approaching the castle walls.

Tennant shouted as he looked at the hot air balloons.

"Don't worry! Just push a little harder! We've already won! All wizards and archers, attack that thing!"

I know that's the hot air balloon from the rumors. It was strange seeing it for the first time, but there was no need to worry.

A hot air balloon like that would just be dropped. Even if a few people came out there, it wouldn't be able to go against the trend.

But the expressions of the Rodrik wizards were hardened.

"The magic power… has been sealed?"

All the magic of the high circle wizards here was instantly blocked.

Even if you tried to attack the hot air balloon, you couldn't.

Before Tennant could shout anything again, a person jumped out of the lead balloon.

Kuung!

Max ran towards the man, cutting down Rodrik's soldiers.

"You came!"

"Yes, the General said it would be done by now and it was true."

Chaang! Chaang!

It was Gillian who took out two axes with a ferocious smile.

And following him, 200 knights of Fenris jumped down from the hot air balloon, holding onto ropes.

Finally, a loud roar was heard from the hot air balloon.

"Hey! Marquis Rodriguez, you idiot!"

Ascon never forgot his mission to annoy his opponents until the end.