Count Digald had suddenly declared war on Perdium.
As soon as the proclamation was delivered by a messenger, the Perdium vassals gathered in one place.
Zwalter read the proclamation several times with a grim expression.
The declaration listed all the elaborate reasons why this war was supposedly just and how much cause Digald had.
Summed up, it simply stated:
[My son, Gilmore Digald, was killed by Ghislain Perdium, so I will seek revenge.]
The vassals were dumbfounded.
What a ridiculous justification!
"They must be insane! The Young Lord killed Gilmore?"
"They're clearly set on waging war! They must have heard about the Rune Stones!"
"To provoke a war with a fabricated excuse! They need a harsh lesson!"
The vassals fumed with rage, denouncing Count Digald at every turn.
Though the Young Lord was known for causing trouble, no one believed he would have killed Digald's heir.
Two vassals had already defected and were clearly pushing this false justification.
At first, no one understood why they would do such a thing, but they quickly connected it to the Rune Stones and realized it was simply a war born out of greed.
In the chaotic meeting, Homerne looked at Ghislain with a conflicted expression.
'He did a good thing for the estate, and now it's led to war.'
Homerne had also thought that other lords would eventually cause trouble. But he hadn't expected them to act so soon, ignoring all political ties.
And especially not Count Digald, who had been of no concern.
'Damn, we're about to lose soldiers for no reason, and we can't spare even a single man.'
Homerne swallowed his frustration.
The other vassals were furious over the absurd declaration, but they weren't particularly frightened.
Digald's estate was just as poor and inconsequential as Perdium.
In fact, if one ranked the poorest estates in the North, Perdium and Digald would be neck and neck for first and second place.
But Perdium was a border estate and received support from other territories.
Despite similar conditions, Perdium had significantly more troops and soldiers with actual combat experience.
Randolph, the Perdium Knight Commander, shouted loudly.
"Damn it! Why complicate things? Let's just go out there and crush them!"
Though war was undesirable, they couldn't avoid it after receiving a declaration of war.
A vendetta for a blood relative's death was one of the most compelling reasons for war.
Zwalter leaned back in his chair with a sigh.
'A war, of all things. And a betrayal as well.'
More painful than the war was that a vassal who had served for so long had betrayed Perdium out of greed.
'Tsk, things are about to get even more difficult.'
War was practically a disaster for their already struggling estate.
Even if they won, the costs of war were enormous, and it would be hard to replace the lost forces.
And in a place like Perdium, where everything was in short supply, this was especially true.
'I'll have to make use of the Rune Stones after all.'
He had been reluctant to touch something his son had found.
But there was no other way to cover the losses than Ghislain's Rune Stones.
Zwalter declared with authority.
"Switch to wartime protocol and prepare to mobilize. We'll wipe out the enemy at the estate's border."
With a chilling gaze hardened by years of harsh northern battles, Zwalter's command made all the vassals bow their heads.
They had left some forces in the North to maintain the border, but even the troops currently in the estate would be more than enough to handle Digald.
Zwalter looked at Ghislain and continued.
"I heard you hired a significant number of mercenaries. They should be quite useful. You will also join as the Young Lord."
In wartime, the lord's command was absolute. Ghislain bowed his head and accepted Count Zwalter's orders but didn't forget to make an important suggestion.
"It would be wise to first assess the enemy's numbers."
"I was planning to. I need to know what confidence they have to declare war."
Given their close proximity, they were well aware of each other's strengths.
With a clear understanding of the numbers, Zwalter was also curious as to why Digald had dared to initiate a war.
The vassals of Perdium were brimming with confidence, but three days later, when the soldier returned with the report, they were rendered speechless.
"Around six thousand armed forces! And the follow-up supply division consists of about one thousand! Numerous wagons carrying siege weapons have also been spotted!"
"…"
This was not a force that a single estate could muster. Especially not an impoverished estate like Digald.
Randolph asked in disbelief.
"Are you sure? Did you take a quick glance and exaggerate? Are you absolutely sure?"
The soldier remained silent.
But without needing an answer, everyone knew that the report was true.
Multiple scouts had all reported the same thing.
They simply couldn't believe it, so they lashed out at the innocent soldier.
Although they hadn't confirmed the exact number of knights, leading a force of that size would likely mean at least fifty knights.
"H-how could Count Digald send such a large force?"
"Even if they gathered every recruit, Digald's estate couldn't reach that number. And they're all fully armed?"
"It's clear that another estate is secretly helping them!"
Perdium's armed forces numbered around two thousand, some of which were recruits.
Even scraping together additional soldiers would cap them at three thousand.
Moreover, they had fewer than thirty knights.
The enemy, however, was bringing twice that many soldiers, making defeat inevitable if they fought directly.
As the vassals continued to express disbelief, Zwalter shouted in anger.
"Enough! Enough! What's the use in figuring out why they're coming now that they're already here? Discuss how to respond!"
With such a disparity in numbers, intercepting the enemy at the border was impossible.
Without some superhuman advantage, there was no way to win in a pitched battle.
At worst, their entire force could be annihilated.
Randolph spoke up confidently.
"Big Brother, leave all the forces to me! I'll crush them all. Anyway, they're an undisciplined rabble with no experience. With just you and me, we can easily sweep them away!"
Randolph had extensive war experience from his years in the North.
He had led smaller forces to victory against far larger numbers of barbarians.
In his opinion, if they had to fight, a head-on clash was the best approach.
But Homerne immediately objected, horrified.
"No! The gap in forces is too large. One defeat would be the end of us! We should hold out in the castle and request aid from other lords!"
With the two presenting opposing views, the other vassals also began to split in opinion.
"If we're going to hold out, why not retreat to the northern fortress? This castle isn't well-suited for defense."
"Hold on, what's the point of holding out if we abandon the people and the castle?"
"We lack the supplies for a siege! If reinforcements arrive, we can fight back! With Rayfold's support, it shouldn't be difficult."
The vassals argued, unable to reach a consensus.
Ghislain watched them with a cold expression.
'Just as I expected.'
He had anticipated that they'd come up with a flimsy excuse for war and that they'd bring a force capable of crushing them.
In his previous life, Perdium had boldly gone to battle, only to retreat after a defeat by the Digald forces.
Their numbers had been greater than expected.
Ghislain had an idea of where their support was coming from.
'Bringing siege weapons means they intend to completely crush us.'
In most territorial wars, both sides would typically engage in open battles, and the conflict would end with a truce after a decisive engagement.
Deploying siege weapons was practically a declaration that they had no intention of negotiating.
Randolph, aware of this, was seething with anger.
"Damn it, we can't hold out here for long anyway! We might as well go out and fight!"
It wasn't feasible to sustain a prolonged defense.
Perdium's resources were already strained.
Shutting the gates and holding out was unrealistic with their limited food and siege weaponry.
"With our current food supplies, a long-term siege is impossible. We need to resolve this quickly!"
The enemy would likely lay siege and exhaust them, causing morale to plummet.
Randolph argued that it was better to take the fight to them while they still had strength.
Zwalter, after contemplating with his eyes closed, suddenly looked at Ghislain and asked.
"What do you think we should do?"
He didn't expect his son, who had no war experience, to have a solution.
But considering Ghislain's success in taming the Forest of Demonic Beasts, he thought it wise to hear his opinion.
"We should request aid and hold out in the castle."
"Oh?"
Zwalter looked surprised.
He had expected Ghislain, who had a mercenary force, to suggest going out and fighting.
He thought his son would want to prove himself in battle, but Ghislain was being surprisingly cautious.
But Ghislain's reason for holding out differed from the vassals' reasoning.
'Aid won't come. At most, maybe Count Loges.'
In his previous life, aside from Kane's father, Count Loges, no other lord had come to Perdium's aid.
Even Count Loges eventually fell alongside Perdium.
Requesting aid would be pointless.
Despite this, Ghislain suggested seeking support and holding out to orchestrate his own plan.
'This is the only way to inflict maximum damage on the enemy with minimal losses.'
After much contemplation, Zwalter finally issued orders to the vassals.
"Request aid from the neighboring estates immediately. The message must reach them as quickly as possible. Also, bring all troops and supplies from the northern fortress to the castle."
"Big Brother! The enemy will reach us in about two weeks!"
Randolph shouted.
Digald's estate was located southwest of Perdium.
Even considering the slow pace of infantry, they would be able to reach Perdium in around two weeks.
Zwalter nodded and spoke in a placating tone.
"I haven't made a final decision yet. But with help from the neighboring estates, we could reduce our losses. I'll make a decision after seeing their responses."
Randolph stepped back but didn't expect any real support.
The surrounding estates were only interested in Perdium surviving, as Perdium defended the border from troublesome outsiders.
But it didn't have to be Perdium in that position.
If Digald took over, they wouldn't mind.
For the next few days, as they awaited responses, the estate grew more somber.
And when the replies finally arrived, even the hopeful vassals were plunged into despair.
"Count Rayfold says he can't help due to internal issues."
"Zimbar has expressed his refusal as well."
"The soldier sent to Count Loges has not returned."
"The Willem estate is dealing with a rebellion among the people…"
For various reasons, not a single estate offered their assistance.
Even Count Loges, whom they trusted due to family ties, had cut off contact.
Zwalter closed his eyes, a pained expression on his face.
'So, this is how it ends? Who have I dedicated my life to this place for?'
He realized he had been mistaken.
Believing that no one wanted Perdium's land, he had only worried about external threats.
'To think that Rune Stones would bring ruin upon the estate.'
But he did not resent his son.
Ghislain had done a remarkable thing; it was simply unfortunate timing.
'It was all a dream. We have no future now. Does the family end with me?'
Zwalter sighed, resting his hand on his forehead, his face suddenly appearing ten years older.
The count looked up again, scanning the room.
The vassals looked as though the world had ended. Even Homerne and Albert were pale and silent.
Only Randolph was breathing heavily, his fighting spirit unbroken.
Zwalter chuckled to himself.
'At least that one still has energy.'
Yes, he and Randolph could still fight to their last breath, killing as many as they could.
Zwalter let out a bitter laugh and turned to his son.
'You…'
Ghislain was different from the vassals.
He wasn't panicking, he wasn't scared, and he wasn't angry. He stood there calmly, expressionless.
'You're hard to read sometimes.'
Zwalter looked at Ghislain with a pained expression.
'I hope you don't blame yourself. You did well, no question about it.'
As a father, he hoped that Ghislain would not bear the burden of this war.
The discovery of the Rune Stones would have made Perdium a target sooner or later.
Digald was just the beginning.
'A siege or open battle…'
Zwalter pondered deeply.
It was said that besieging a castle required three times the number of defenders.
Being within the walls provided an advantage for defense.
However, if the defenders lacked proper supplies, they could easily wither and die.
And knights adept in mana could leap over walls with ease.
'If we had only prepared for support… I focused too much on the northern fortress. Is this really how it ends?'
With siege weapons at their disposal, Digald's forces could breach Perdium's weak walls quickly.
If Digald had chosen a different reason for war, they might have considered surrender.
But since Digald's cause was revenge, surrender would mean death for everyone.
Even an "honorable surrender" wasn't an option.
'We must win, no matter what. I don't mind dying, but I need to save the others.'
Zwalter looked around with fierce determination.
"Prepare for battle. We'll go out and meet the enemy."
As Randolph had said, holding out would only lead to exhaustion and eventual death.
They might as well go out and fight while they still have strength.
The vassals all wore grim expressions but silently nodded, agreeing with Zwalter's decision.
Ghislain turned and left the hall.
The mercenaries waiting outside gradually gathered and followed him.
With the lord's decision made, the vassals had no choice but to follow it.
But it wasn't the direction Ghislain thought they should go.
'A head-on fight is no good. Even if we win, our losses will be significant.'
Ghislain's expression hardened.
'I'll have to change the game myself.'
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]