Chapter 317: We Need to Build Tension (1)
The number of knights and monsters facing off ahead was roughly equal.
As the mercenary-turned-knights stepped forward, the other knights tried to follow suit. After all, it was their duty to take the frontlines in battle.
However, one of the former members of the Mad Dogs raised a hand to stop them.
“This time, just stay back and watch. We’ll show you why we’re your seniors.”
At those words, the other knights turned to Ghislain. He smirked and nodded.
“Let’s call this a revenge match. Leave it to them they have plenty to settle from back then.”
A single Giant Mantis was said to rival a novice knight in strength. The ones residing in the Forest of Beasts were undoubtedly more formidable.
In the past, they wouldn’t have won without Ghislain’s leadership and the efforts of Belinda, Gillian, and Kaor.
The knights knew of the severe losses sustained back then, so they couldn’t help but look uneasy.
Shhaak!
The Giant Mantises, closing in, accelerated suddenly. Striding forward with great speed, they swung their forelegs at the approaching knights.
Witnessing the sheer speed of the attack, everyone was taken aback. Even the knights observing from a step behind felt a chill run down their spines.
Slash!
However, Gillian easily dodged the blow and swung his axe in return.
Boom!
The head of the Giant Mantis was sent flying.
Immediately after, Kaor and the other knights each engaged another Giant Mantis, taking them on individually.
Slash! Slash!
The speed of the mantises’ attacks was too fast for ordinary soldiers to block. Yet, the knights moved with ease, dodging the strikes and counterattacking seamlessly.
The knights watching from behind widened their eyes in disbelief.
“What the…? They weren’t this good before!”
“How are they dodging so easily?”
“Shouldn’t they be blocking or rolling away?”
Even for them, it would be difficult to handle such speed without unleashing a significant burst of mana. But the knights fighting the mantises seemed to anticipate every move and dodge effortlessly.
It was as though they knew where the attacks would land even before they were launched.
Ghislain, observing the puzzled knights, explained with a grin.
“Those things are certainly dangerous monsters, but their attack patterns are simple. It’s because of their body structure. The length of their abdomens limits their attack range, and they can’t pivot quickly when something’s in their blind spot.”
Upon closer inspection, the mantises’ attacks were indeed monotonous either a downward slash or a horizontal sweep.
Whenever the knights sidestepped to the mantises’ flanks, the creatures would attempt to turn their bodies, but their movements were relatively slow.
Boom! Boom!
The knights didn’t miss those openings, unleashing bursts of mana to slice through the mantises’ bodies.
Despite their sharp forelegs and rapid approach, the mantises’ defense was remarkably weak. Their large frames were no match for the knights’ precise strikes, tearing apart the creatures effortlessly.
Ghislain watched the scene unfold, smiling faintly.
“These tactics were born from countless life-or-death battles. Those who didn’t learn them didn’t survive. Except for the Blood Python, we suffered the most losses against these monsters.”
“……”
“Now, the survivors can handle a single Giant Mantis with ease. Their defenses are so weak that we could injure them even without mana back then. And now? It’s not even worth mentioning.”
The knights remaining behind could probably handle one on their own as well. But there was no guarantee they could do so as effortlessly as those who are fighting at the moment.
Experience certainly allows one to perform at their best.
The Giant Mantises were wiped out in an instant. With their vulnerabilities thoroughly understood and the knights’ skills greatly improved, the creatures stood no chance.
“Hurrah!”
The soldiers and laborers erupted in cheers.
They were astonished to see the fearsome monsters being taken down so easily.
“Incredible! So the rumors of our lord subjugating this place were true!”
“The knights are amazing too! They’re far stronger than I thought!”
“Wow, not a single injury!”
The garrison, more familiar with the horrors of the Forest of Beasts, was particularly shocked. Memories of the past lingered vividly in their minds.
“Back then, so many died, and there were countless injured.”
“It’s completely different now.”
“They were just mercenaries… Who knew they’d grow this strong?”
For those who remembered the terror and danger of those days, this battle was a revelation.
The Forest of Beasts wasn’t the kind of place one could traverse casually. The monsters here were far from easy prey. It was the Fenris knights who had become stronger.
“All thanks to the Young Lord…”
It was all due to Ghislain. Once again, the people couldn’t help but marvel at his achievements in raising the knights’ prowess to such heights.
The former mercenary knights wore proud expressions. They too felt a surge of emotions as they reflected on how far they’d come since those days.
“We really have grown stronger.”
“It was terrifying back then.”
“Gaston, I’ve avenged you.”
Some beamed with satisfaction, while others teared up, recalling fallen comrades.
Thanks to the knights’ performance, the atmosphere transformed completely. The soldiers and laborers were visibly reassured, their faces brightening.
With such a capable force and skilled fighters around, there was no reason to feel afraid.
The mages wasted no time rushing over to the mantises’ corpses.
“These are definitely worth studying.”
“A Giant Mantis from the Forest of Beasts… What a rare find.”
“The meat of these creatures can be used as a valuable medicinal ingredient. It’s great for the men’s health, you know.”
The mantises’ sharp forelegs were suitable for various uses, but their meat was an even more valuable resource. Known for its restorative properties, it fetched a high price.
Chuckling among themselves, the mages diligently cast freezing and preservation spells on the mantises’ bodies.
Though they claimed it was for research, their intentions were all too clear.
“All right, back to work!” Ghislain ordered.
At his command, the soldiers and laborers moved in perfect sync.
With the tension gone, their pace quickened. Some even began humming as they worked.
“This might not be as dangerous as we thought.”
“Maybe we’ll finish this quickly after all.”
“Quite a large area has already been secured, huh? Feels like we’re just here to chop wood.”
The soldiers and workers chatted casually as they focused on their tasks.
Every time they secured a new section, the soldiers and workers constructed a palisade. They didn’t forget to set up watchtowers to guard against potential monster attacks.
Ghislain refrained from recklessly expanding the territory at this early stage and stopped at a reasonable point. After all, his primary purpose was to acquire a Runestone.
“We’ll start moving further inward soon. Once the front section is stabilized, we’ll expand the territory further.”
At Ghislain’s orders, the troops and workers moved in perfect unison.
The number of workers had grown significantly compared to when they first entered the forest. Not only did Fenris supply workers, but a substantial number also came from the Ferdium estate.
This was partly due to the soldiers in charge of logistics spreading rumors that the Forest of Beasts was not as dangerous as they had initially thought.
Workers from Ferdium had harbored a deep-seated fear of the forest. However, witnessing knights effortlessly subdue Giant Mantises had reassured them that the forest was not as perilous as they believed.
In reality, the initial areas of the forest were populated by weaker monsters, and the knights were well-versed in dealing with them, making it seem manageable.
Of course, it wasn’t just workers who showed up.
“Young Lord! What on earth is going on here? Moving the estate’s troops as you please this estate isn’t yours!”
Baron Homerne appeared, yelling furiously. His face was beet red, indicating just how incensed he was.
Using only Fenris’s forces to pioneer the Forest of Beasts wasn’t something anyone could easily object to. However, dragging along Ferdium’s troops without permission was an entirely different matter.
Even if Ghislain was the heir, this was crossing a line. Then again, Ghislain had never been one to avoid crossing lines.
Ghislain replied nonchalantly, “It’s just idle forces, isn’t it? Why not use them when there’s no real threat?”
“How dare you! Rules are rules! Those soldiers belong to Marquis Ferdium! Even as the heir, you can’t use them without permission! At the very least, you should consult me and make proper plans!”
“That would take too long.”
“Wha… what?!”
“By the time we hold meetings and coordinate how many people to use, everything gets delayed. Why waste time when we’re going to do it anyway?”
“How dare you! Who gave you permission to proceed as you please? These soldiers belong to my lord, your father! How can you use them so recklessly?”
Homerne’s rant sounded like typical old-fashioned nagging, but his argument wasn’t entirely wrong.
Skipping proper procedures and acting unilaterally, no matter how efficient, was still a breach of etiquette. Rules and protocols existed for good reason.
Ghislain, of course, was fully aware of this and also how to outmaneuver Homerne.
“This land we’re securing it’s incredibly fertile. Even without a Runestone, just sowing enhanced seeds here would yield astonishing results.”
“And so? That doesn’t change the fact that this land isn’t ours!”
“I could consider transferring it to Ferdium until I inherit the estate.”
“R-really?”
Homerne was so shocked that he fell silent. It was rare for Ghislain to offer something of his own so readily.
The Ferdium estate heavily relied on the food and business ventures supported by Ghislain. While there were a few new farmlands he had established, the use of Runestones was so resource-intensive that they couldn’t sustain the entire estate. Hence, annual aid was necessary.
Now, Ghislain was on the verge of claiming territory the size of several villages and planned to secure even more. The fertile land would undoubtedly boost Ferdium’s food production significantly.
Even so, giving away this land wouldn’t be a loss for Ghislain.
‘We already have plenty of food.’
His primary reason for venturing into the Forest of Beasts was the Runestone, but expanding and developing the territory would strengthen Ferdium.
Fenris could sustain itself by harvesting other resources from the forest.
If Ferdium became self-sufficient in food production, its growth would accelerate, enabling it to assist in future conflicts with ducal families.
‘Ugh, why did I even come here? Should’ve stayed put.’
Homerne, now sweating profusely, began watching Ghislain’s expression nervously. He had come to assert himself after helping with the war against Desmond, thinking he no longer had anything to fear. But things had turned out differently yet again.
Ghislain smiled faintly and continued, “Why not send more workers? The sooner, the better.”
“I actually came to ask if you needed more workers,” Homerne said, clamping his mouth shut. His specialty was knowing when to stay silent, a skill he had honed during the previous pioneering effort in the forest. It was even easier the second time.
Participating in the development project meant more jobs and economic activity for Ferdium’s workers. While Homerne had come to protect his pride, the benefits were simply too great to ignore.
“Just wait a little longer, all right?”
Once Homerne actively joined in, the number of workers increased rapidly. Recruiting them estate-wide was far more effective than relying on rumors alone.
Homerne also sent over labor units and any idle soldiers he could spare.
This time, dwarves and mages joined the effort, accelerating the project even further.
The path leading to the previously identified Runestone site quickly expanded into a significantly large territory.
Sturdy and tall palisades lined the outskirts, watchtowers dotted the area, and the abundant wood from the forest ensured that materials were never an issue.
“At this rate, we might end up with land the size of an estate!”
“The quality of the wood here is incredible. Even after using so much for construction, there’s still plenty left.”
“There don’t seem to be many monsters, either. The Giant Mantis attack was the most intense one so far.”
Though some new monsters had appeared after the previous clearing efforts, the front sections remained relatively safe. Most of the new creatures were weak and few in number.
The soldiers and workers laughed and moved about comfortably, reassured by the ease of their work and the lack of danger.
Observing their relaxed demeanor, Ghislain fell into brief contemplation. Soon, he called Vanessa over and spoke in a low voice.
“We’ll deviate from the previous path soon. Prepare as I instructed. Explain it clearly to the mages.”
“Understood. But… should we inform the others?”
“No, don’t tell them. Have the mages handle it among themselves.”
“Why not? Wouldn’t it be too dangerous if others aren’t forewarned?”
Ghislain smiled slightly and said,
“They’ve become too complacent. I want them to realize the danger and regain some tension.”
“Tension?”
“Yes. If we keep going like this, more than half of them will die at our destination.”
Vanessa’s expression hardened immediately at his words.