Zwalter quietly stared at the map spread out before him.
Until a moment ago, he had been wrestling with how to arrange their forces for a decisive battle.
With the enemy's supply unit destroyed, their options had expanded.
But before anything else, he needed to confirm exactly what had happened.
"Explain the situation in detail."
The other vassals remained silent, only watching Ghislain, who was drenched in blood.
Ghislain looked around the hall and began his report in a calm tone.
"…So, with a surprise attack, we annihilated the enemy forces and burned all the supplies. It was a bit of a waste, but it wasn't feasible to carry them back. Ah, this is the head of the supply unit's commander, Baron Fabro. Anyone recognize him?"
Homerne opened the box, examined the head closely, and stammered.
"Y-yes, that is indeed Baron Fabro of Digald. I've met him a few times before."
The vassals let out gasps, while only Randolph stood there, blinking in shock.
He had been planning to hit Ghislain the moment they met, but the atmosphere made that impossible.
A lifelong veteran of the battlefield, Randolph could tell instinctively.
'This isn't the same young lord who used to fool around. He's got the air of a human butcher now. But why…?'
It made no sense.
A young lord who had spent his life secluded in the territory, who had never seen a real war, was showing such a demeanor.
Zwalter was equally taken aback, albeit for different reasons.
"A surprise attack… Were they moving so carelessly?"
Though he scolded Ghislain, his voice conveyed more astonishment than anger.
A surprise attack could deal massive damage to the enemy, but if it failed, it would result in total destruction—a double-edged sword.
That's why such a strategy was only employed after carefully weighing numerous factors, including weather, location, terrain, timing, and the enemy commander's tendencies.
But Ghislain had led the troops out on his own and executed a surprise attack without the lord's permission.
It was the kind of thing only a madman would do, yet Ghislain had done it without hesitation—and succeeded.
"Our options were limited, regardless."
Ghislain replied nonchalantly, prompting Zwalter to raise his voice in frustration.
"But still, shouldn't you have discussed it with us? You should have gone out only after preparing and organizing properly! If you had failed, you and the mercenaries would all be dead! We can't afford to lose even a handful of our strength right now!"
"If we had delayed, it might indeed have ended in failure."
"What?"
"There's already been one traitor, giving Digald a pretext for war. How can we be certain there isn't another?"
"You… What do you mean by that!" Zwalter rose, unable to contain his anger.
The knights and vassals remaining in Perdium were prepared to risk their lives in defense. To imply that one of them might be a traitor was dangerous.
If they doubted each other's loyalty, how could they fight with their lives on the line?
But Ghislain answered without emotion.
"Can you truly guarantee there's no one like that beside you, Father?"
"W-what?"
"I trust no one. The only one I believe in is myself."
Seeing his son declare this while covered in blood, Zwalter was left speechless.
None of the vassals could refute him, either.
After all, a vassal had indeed betrayed them.
The young lord now looked like a volcano on the verge of eruption, and his presence left everyone silent.
Ghislain glanced around with a piercing gaze and spoke again.
"We'll defend the castle here. From this point on, no one is allowed to leave. Anyone who tries will face my sword."
Randolph stood up, his face twisted with anger at this harsh, unilateral declaration.
Zwalter raised a hand to stop him before he could protest.
"Fine. Since the attack succeeded, I'll let it go. But then, why insist on a siege?"
"The enemy has a large force. Even for a small territorial battle, they had to bring a separate supply unit. But now that it's been destroyed, they won't be able to sustain their army for long."
"..."
"Meanwhile, request reinforcements from Count Loges once again. Once support arrives, we can open the gates and launch a combined attack."
"And if the reinforcements are delayed or don't come at all?"
"Even without reinforcements, the enemy can't last as long as we can. While they retreat and prepare for another attack, we'll have time to find a way."
The enemy's main army had likely brought some supplies, but they wouldn't last more than a few days for an army of that size.
The real issue was whether Perdium could hold out until then.
With siege weapons in tow, it would be hard for Perdium Castle—unlike a castle—to withstand for long.
"We'll need to hold out for at least a week."
"We have no choice but to do our best. A prolonged defense increases our chances of victory over a short skirmish."
"Hmm…"
Ghislain's words made sense.
If they lost a battle, it would all end immediately, but if they held out behind the castle walls, their odds of winning would increase.
Defending forces were typically at a disadvantage in a drawn-out engagement due to a blocked supply line, but the attackers faced the same issue this time.
Zwalter turned to Randolph for his thoughts.
"What do you think?"
"Ahem, I'm not sure."
Though the argument made sense, Randolph couldn't bring himself to agree openly with Ghislain, who had been acting so independently.
However, Homerne, who had favored a defensive stance from the start, supported Ghislain's suggestion without hesitation.
"I believe the young lord is right this time. Requesting reinforcements from Loges and holding out would be the best approach."
Other vassals expressed positive reactions as well.
"Both sides have had their supplies cut off."
"They can't quickly amass provisions for six thousand men. We have the advantage in holding out."
"The young lord has accomplished something significant. This is an opportunity!"
If Ghislain's plan increased their survival chances, there was no reason to oppose it.
Though the young lord had always been a thorn in their side, his impulsive actions had worked in their favor this time.
Homerne, Albert, and the other vassals all smiled approvingly at Ghislain.
However, Randolph continued to eye him with suspicion.
'He's earned merit… but he's becoming dangerously unhinged. At this rate, he'll become a slaughterer.'
As a lifelong warrior, Randolph could sense that the young lord's aura was unsettling.
After hearing from his vassals, Zwalter pondered over the matter until Ghislain spoke again.
"There's another option."
"What is it?"
"Abandon the people and retreat to the northern fortress."
"You wretch! How can a noble say such a thing?"
Zwalter pointed a finger at Ghislain and yelled.
The vassals looked at him with disdain.
"If the castle falls, the people will be enslaved or killed! Don't you understand that?"
Even if they succeeded in holding the northern fortress, if the people were trampled, it would take decades to restore order in Perdium.
But Ghislain stared back at the count with cold eyes.
"But Father, you know that option would give us a higher chance of survival."
"..."
Zwalter glared at him in silence.
It was Homerne who broke the tension.
"Enough! Stop this bickering! We don't have time to fight among ourselves. My lord, though the young lord's tone was harsh, he wasn't wrong. You must decide quickly!"
Zwalter averted his gaze from Ghislain, closing his eyes as if he couldn't bear to look at him.
Though he didn't like the situation, Homerne was right—he had to decide quickly.
'The chances are slim… but it's better to cling to them.'
He had never intended to abandon the people, but he had hesitated due to the slim odds of victory.
Now that Ghislain had offered a way forward, his choice was clear.
Zwalter let out a deep breath and spoke.
"Fine, we'll stand and fight from the castle. Prepare the troops and organize new formations. Also, review the routes to inform Count Loges of our situation."
The vassals all bowed to the lord.
With a glimmer of hope, they now had to do their best to hold out.
Just then, Randolph spoke up.
"Wait! What about the mercenaries the young lord gathered? Wouldn't it be better to incorporate them into our forces?"
Everyone's gaze turned to Ghislain again.
Zwalter's voice was cold.
"I suppose you have no intention of doing so."
"I'll move separately."
"Can't you follow orders just once?"
"I'm sorry."
Ghislain declined firmly.
Randolph frowned, wishing he could seize control of the mercenaries, but with Ghislain earning merits, he had lost his excuse to forcibly take them.
Suppressing his anger, Zwalter spoke.
"You must still follow the battle strategy."
"Understood. However…"
"What is it?"
"Let me defend the gate."
"The gate?"
"Yes."
Narrowing his eyes, Zwalter leaned back in his chair.
'Does he plan to conserve his forces? What is he thinking?'
The area near the walls would be the most dangerous right after the siege began.
They could be hit by catapults at any time, and they would have to fight off troops pouring out of siege towers.
However, once the gate was breached, it would become the most intense part of the battlefield.
"Why the gate? Are you afraid of defending the walls?"
"I plan to wait by the gate and deploy support to any area in need."
"Support…"
"As they're mercenaries, their training is insufficient. Filling gaps as needed would be best."
It was a reasonable argument, so despite his discomfort, Zwalter agreed.
Besides, he knew that Ghislain wouldn't obediently follow orders if he refused.
"Very well. But once this war ends, you'll be held accountable for your insubordination."
"As you wish."
Ghislain turned to leave as if he were done.
Albert quickly stopped him.
"Wait! Where did you put the new rune stones?"
"I've already used them all."
"What? Already? Where?"
"I used them where they were needed, so don't worry."
Without further explanation, Ghislain left the hall.
'The preparations are nearly complete.'
The pieces were falling into place as he had envisioned.
But he hadn't been entirely forthcoming.
'Count Loges won't be able to send reinforcements.'
Unlike the other territories, which had at least replied with refusals, there had been no response from Loges at all.
This meant the route to Loges was completely blocked.
'Just as I thought.'
Seeing the soldiers bearing Digald's flag had confirmed his suspicions.
In the North, there were only two major lords who could support such a large force.
One was Count Rayfold. The other was—
'The Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Army, Duke Harold Desmond.'
Lutania Kingdom would later reorganize its military structure to respond to the continent-wide wars.
All northern lords would eventually become vassals of Harold, who would receive the title of Duke.
'I knew you were in charge of the North.'
Ghislain had met Harold in his previous life.
A rigid but competent strategist with formidable strength.
After Amelia's defeat, she waged a guerrilla war, while Harold had opted for direct confrontations of strength.
'With him involved, it'll be hard to hold out.'
Count Perdium and his vassals had chosen to fight based on Ghislain's offered hope.
But Ghislain himself didn't believe they could actually defend the castle.
Desmond had likely sent a massive force with siege preparations in mind.
'This is the best I can do.'
Ghislain was confident he could face the enemy directly without easily losing.
With a surprise attack by six mages, they could inflict significant damage.
The enemy was unaware there were mages within Perdium.
If he led a strike force and attacked the enemy's flank, it could disrupt their formation.
With a well-devised plan and coordinated maneuvers, victory in open battle wasn't entirely out of reach.
'But just having a chance isn't enough.'
In direct combat, the allied forces would inevitably suffer heavy losses.
If they lost, it would be over; if they won, it wouldn't truly be a victory.
Wounded and weakened, they wouldn't withstand a second attack.
Ghislain wasn't interested in a hollow victory.
'I need to make an example.'
He needed to show the enemy, to make it clear: trespassing on Perdium meant death.
All of Ghislain's preparations had been made with this single purpose in mind.
For one decisive move.
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]