"Ugh! How could this happen in a place like this!"
Viktor couldn't hold back his frustration.
Although the damage to their troops was minimal, losing a precious and expensive siege tower was a huge mistake.
Moreover, it stung his pride deeply that they had retreated, not as part of a tactical move, but because they had no choice.
"Huff, huff…"
Next to the fuming Viktor, Tamos wore a doubtful expression.
'Is this guy just all talk?'
He had boasted so much about strategy and siege tactics, but in the end, they'd withdrawn without inflicting any serious damage.
Still, he could understand why.
Even he, a novice in battle, could see that the black knights who had burst out of the castle gates were incredibly strong.
Had they attacked without Desmond's help, they would've been crushed before the siege even began.
"Ahem. By the way, those black knights looked pretty tough. Are you sure they're okay to handle?"
"They're not knights. Their movements didn't show mana use."
"Not knights? But they're that strong?"
"Well-trained soldiers who follow commands can do remarkable things. If they were knights, they'd have thrown open the castle gates and charged us. No way Perdium has that kind of force."
"So, what's the plan now? Are we just going to watch and wait? That doesn't seem to be working. How about we just charge in?"
Viktor shot him a terrifying glare. Tamos raised both hands, breaking into a cold sweat.
"Just a suggestion, just a suggestion. I'm sure you'll handle it."
Viktor snorted and turned his head.
But Tamos, still watching him, nudged further.
"I heard you have two 4th-circle mages here. Can't we use their power?"
"It's not the right time yet."
His tone was openly displeased.
Tamos smirked as if he had expected this and pursed his lips.
'Tch, typical knight pride…'
From what he had observed, the relationship between Viktor and the mages was anything but harmonious.
Though Tamos was no warrior, he was well-versed in the shady dynamics of political maneuvering.
He could clearly see the discomfort and awkwardness whenever Viktor and the mages crossed paths.
'Well, knights and mages don't usually get along.'
A 4th-circle mage could easily serve as a court mage for most estates.
Even if Viktor asked for their assistance, it was doubtful these proud mages would comply readily.
Shaking his head, Tamos quietly slipped out of the tent.
There was no reason to stay, given that communication was impossible, and he was only getting reprimanded.
Left alone, Viktor exhaled a hot breath and muttered to himself.
"Damn it… This humiliation."
What stung more was that Perdium, whom he had dismissed as easily conquerable, had managed to catch him off guard.
The black knight who had trampled their forces and destroyed the siege tower kept haunting his thoughts.
'He was strong, but… there's no way he assessed the situation that quickly. He must have just come out relying on brute strength.'
To protect his pride, Viktor tried to downplay his opponent.
He rationalized that they had likely rushed out in a panic, seeing that his forces were gaining ground.
Sometimes, one could be taken down by sheer luck or brute force.
Regardless, he couldn't just sit here doing nothing. He forced himself to calm down and resolved to try a new tactic.
"I underestimated them."
Viktor acknowledged that his opponent was stronger than he had anticipated.
Though it was a mere rural estate, the defenders were indeed formidable, likely from years of fighting in the northern regions.
"I'll cause an uproar from within."
Secretly, he summoned ten knights and gave them new orders.
"Tomorrow night, infiltrate Perdium and capture the eastern gate. I'll have 500 cavalry and 1,000 infantry stationed nearby. Signal us when you secure the gate, and we'll charge in immediately."
The knights, looking troubled, asked,
"Is that feasible with just us? They'll have the area heavily guarded."
Even with Perdium's limited forces, their defenses would be tight.
If a large enemy force invaded, they'd sound the alarm and call for reinforcements.
But Viktor reassured them.
"Don't worry. We have an informant on the inside. If capturing the gate proves difficult, start fires and create a distraction. And…"
His eyes glinted with lethal intent as he continued.
"Use the chaos to assassinate Zwalter. A knight from Perdium will guide you."
***
The next day, Viktor's forces attacked Perdium Castle once more.
However, this time, their approach was more restrained.
They only advanced with shield-bearers and fired arrows at the castle walls.
The Perdium forces responded with return fire, staying cautious.
After half a day of exchanging attacks without significant damage, Viktor's army withdrew.
"Wooo!"
Though something felt off, the Perdium soldiers cheered, celebrating another day survived.
The command unit speculated that the enemy might be scheming something, but with no way to discern their plans, they could only stay vigilant.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
As night fell, a few fireworks burst in the enemy camp.
The Perdium soldiers looked on in confusion.
"Are they celebrating their victory already?"
"Didn't we hold out today? Was that an accident?"
While the soldiers murmured among themselves, Ghislain folded his arms, lost in thought.
'That…'
Watching the fireworks fade in the night sky with a peculiar expression, Ghislain quietly turned and headed somewhere.
As night deepened, some of Viktor's troops began moving stealthily under the cover of darkness.
The knights, cloaked in black robes to remain inconspicuous, approached the least-guarded sections of the walls.
"Hurry up. This looks like a good spot."
With Perdium's limited troops, manning all the walls densely was impossible.
The knights quickly found a lightly guarded spot and used mana to leap over the wall.
Assassination was a common tactic in war, so they had experience.
With an informant on their side, they had little to worry about.
They had already memorized the path to meet their informant.
It didn't take long before they encountered a knight waiting for them.
"Are you Dren?"
The knight standing in the shadows nodded.
He was one of the spies Count Desmond had planted in Perdium.
Two other traitors had fled to the Digald territory to provide a pretext for war, but Dren had remained.
Count Desmond was meticulous and had prepared multiple contingencies.
Dren was just one of them.
"Yes. We don't have much time, so let's move quickly. With me here, the guards won't be suspicious."
Dren urged them on, visibly tense, fearful of discovery.
The knights nodded and followed him.
However, they hadn't taken more than a few steps when someone leaped down from a nearby roof, blocking their path.
Thud!
"Hey! Out for a late-night stroll, are we? Skipped dinner?"
Shink!
Dren and the knights swiftly drew their swords.
Recognizing the face before him, Dren muttered,
"Y-young lord?"
Though he had always regarded the young lord as a joke, he had witnessed the young lord's prowess in this war.
Dren knew he couldn't beat him in a one-on-one fight.
But that was in a duel.
No matter how skilled, the young lord couldn't handle eleven knights at once.
Dren whispered urgently.
"Silence him before he can shout!"
Ghislain raised a hand calmly, an amused expression on his face.
Clank! Clank!
As if waiting for a signal, men clad in black armor poured out from nearby houses.
Viktor's knights shouted in alarm.
"They knew! How did they know our plan so precisely?"
"Dren! Did you betray us?"
Dren, sweating profusely, shook his head frantically.
"No! It wasn't me!"
Mercenaries surrounded them, each aiming a crossbow.
Click!
Facing hundreds of crossbow bolts, the knights gritted their teeth.
No knight, however skilled in mana, could dodge hundreds of arrows.
As they stood in helpless silence, Ghislain brushed off his pants and spoke.
"Dren, so you were a traitor too. Why are there so many spies in this estate? How much are you all being paid?"
"Damn it! How did they know?"
Realizing escape was impossible, Dren made no attempt to deny it.
Ghislain nodded as if it were nothing.
"Hmm, I didn't know who the traitors were. But I did predict you'd sneak in tonight. It's not my first time in a war with you lot."
He had fought Harold Desmond many times in his previous life.
In the end, he had smashed that bastard's head to win the battle.
"What…?"
To those unaware of Ghislain's reincarnation secret, his words sounded like nonsense.
While Dren stared in shock, Viktor's knights gripped their swords, edging closer.
They hoped to capture the young lord as a hostage for their escape.
Watching the approaching knights, Ghislain narrowed his eyes.
"Figures they're Desmond's knights. They're high-level."
The knights stiffened.
They bore the name of Digald in this battle.
Though they could guess other forces had joined due to the sudden troop surge, how did he know they were Desmond's knights?
Watching their shock, Ghislain grinned.
"Welcome! First time in Perdium?"
"…Attack!"
Now that they were discovered, there was nothing to lose.
The knights charged at Ghislain with swords drawn.
Clang! Clang!
Their assault was intercepted by Gillian and Kaor, who appeared on either side of Ghislain like lightning.
Whizz!
Daggers suddenly shot out from the shadows behind Ghislain, striking down several knights.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Ugh!"
Three knights collapsed, throats pierced in an unexpected ambush.
At the same time, the mercenaries pulled their crossbow triggers. Bolts filled the air, flying toward the knights.
Thwack! Thwack!
"Aaargh!"
Crossbow bolts, if shot from close range, could even pierce armor.
The knights fell like pincushions.
Some managed to deflect the bolts with their swords, using mana to shield themselves, but only narrowly avoided fatal wounds.
"Ugh…"
In the end, only five knights, including Dren, remained standing.
"Wow, five of you survived. Desmond must have sent his best."
Ghislain approached them, admiringly.
Even he couldn't avoid injury if targeted by hundreds of crossbow bolts in such a confined space.
Though incapacitated, surviving such an attack was a testament to their skill.
"But it looks like standing is a challenge."
The knights collapsed, bleeding profusely.
Dren, panting, begged as Ghislain approached.
"Please… Spare me. I was wrong, young lord, please…"
"Our estate's short on good knights as it is… A knight like you betraying us, it's disappointing. How did it come to this?"
Ghislain sighed as if genuinely regretful, taking an axe from Gillian.
Seeing a sliver of hope, Dren clung desperately.
"Please spare me! I won't betray again! I know their plans—"
Crunch!
Dren's head split open, and his body crumpled to the ground.
"Don't need it."
Ghislain shook the blood off the axe and walked over to the remaining knights.
One knight, catching on, shouted urgently.
"I surrender! Spare us! We'll pay ransom—"
Crunch!
That knight's head split open as well.
Shocked by his mercilessness, the knights fell silent.
Killing a surrendering knight was unheard of.
Never had they encountered a man so ruthless in his actions.
"What? Think I'm being unfair? Did you come here to assassinate me, not expecting to die?"
Ghislain's smirk faded, replaced by a cold, expressionless face.
Following rules and customs would only lead to being dragged around by these scoundrels.
Face, honor—what did those matter?
Ghislain's only aim was revenge against them.
What mattered was the destruction of his enemies.
Crouching in front of the knights, he whispered coldly.
"The first one who speaks dies."
"…"
"Even twitch a finger, and you're dead."
"…"
Paralyzed by his icy gaze, the knights remained silent.
"Only answer when asked. Delay in answering, and you die."
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]