Chapter 421: Use the Strongest Force (1)
The presence of the 80,000-strong Northern Army was overwhelming.
Even setting aside Fenris’s reputation, their numbers alone were enough to pressure most major lords.
Moreover, the commander leading them was none other than Count Fenris, known as the strongest in the North.
Though they were marching to deal with a Rift, the lords along their path feared that the blades of the Northern Army might turn against them.
Even the Northern soldiers could feel the tension in the air. Soldiers from other territories who had joined the march unconsciously puffed out their chests with pride.
“Hey, look. Wasn’t it a good decision to betray them?”
A middle-aged man with a finely groomed beard chuckled while stroking his chin. He was the captain of a group of former Desmond spies who had defected long ago.
Surprisingly, thanks to his accomplishments and skills, he had risen to the position of commander in one of Fenris’s cavalry units.
“Exactly. Life is all about timing.”
“It was a good thing we listened to you back then, Captain. Remember when we had to face Roderick? I was scared out of my mind. I almost turned traitor again.”
The other two men speaking were now the captain’s lieutenants. Hearing their words, the captain frowned.
“Tch, watch your words. If you keep calling me ‘Captain,’ people will get suspicious. And don’t even mention betrayal. We’ve done a great job erasing our past. If we get caught, we’re dead. We just made the right choice for the times, that’s all.”
“Ah, right. Hehehe.”
The subordinate scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. Despite being the very embodiment of betrayal, no one knew their true origins.
The three of them were, in fact, quite capable. Moreover, their desire to survive pushed them to work hard, earning them a good reputation in the territory.
However, there was one lingering concern…
“Hey, why does the intelligence officer keep smirking whenever he passes by us? Do you think he knows something?”
“Eh, no way… If he knew, we’d be dead already, right?”
“Yeah, probably. Must be just my imagination.”
Yet, from time to time, the lord, the chief overseer, and the intelligence officer would walk past them with faint smirks.
It had been that way ever since the fall of Desmond.
‘No way they know, right? We burned every document in the spy training facility as soon as Desmond fell… Yeah, it’s just in my head. We’ve shown our loyalty to the territory countless times.’
They considered themselves hardworking individuals contributing to the territory. Hadn’t they even been promoted from the Labor Assault Team?
Surely, they hadn’t been spared just to be used for their skills despite their past…
The captain swallowed hard, forcing himself to believe otherwise. He had to.
Apart from their anxiety, the morale of the Northern Army was soaring.
Their sheer numbers fueled their confidence, and the presence of the famed Count Fenris and his trusted aides only strengthened it.
Ghislaine studied the map and told Gillian, “We’re almost there. But the Rift seems to have expanded significantly.”
“Our marching speed is too slow to prevent it. However, the nearby residents have already been evacuated.”
“Tch, even though I urged them to hurry…”
The marching speed of the Northern Army was frustratingly slow for Ghislaine. The massive size of the army and the fact that most of them were infantry contributed to the delay.
On top of that, they had to transport supply wagons and countless siege weapons, further hindering their pace.
In reality, they weren’t moving as slowly as it seemed. Compared to other lords’ armies, their speed would be considered astonishing.
Yet, if it had been only the mobile Fenris forces, they would have arrived long ago.
Ghislaine clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Pushing for more speed would be impossible.”
Even now, the soldiers at the rear were gasping for breath, barely keeping up. Morale aside, the general quality of the soldiers was far behind that of Fenris’s elite troops.
Yet, moving ahead with just the Fenris forces was also out of the question.
“How many have gathered so far?” Ghislaine asked.
“The last report mentioned around 100,000. It’s likely even more by now.”
No matter how elite the Fenris forces were, trying to stop over 100,000 Riftspawn alone would be catastrophic.
The failure to suppress the Equidema in the Rift in time had caused the number of Riftspawn to surge uncontrollably.
The lords in the affected areas were doing their best to halt the Rift’s expansion, but the sheer number of Riftspawn made it impossible for local forces to hold their ground for long.
The only silver lining was that the corruption process took time, preventing the Riftspawn from spreading too far just yet.
“Tell them to hold on just a little longer. We’re almost there,” Ghislaine urged, pressing the soldiers forward. The troops understood the gravity of the situation and did their best to keep pace.
After several days of forced marching, the Northern Army finally arrived at their destination the territory closest to the Rift.
Several tents had been set up near a defensive line reinforced with wooden barricades.
Filthy, exhausted soldiers stationed there spotted the approaching Northern Army and broke into relieved cheers.
“It’s the Northern Army! They’re here!”
“Count Fenris has arrived!”
“We’re saved!”
The soldiers, exhausted and pushed back after fighting the Riftspawn, looked just like defeated troops. It was understandable that they welcomed the Northern Army.
Soon, a scruffy-looking man came running toward Ghislain, panting heavily as he saluted.
“L-Lord Commander of the Northern Army! I am Baron Spenvel, responsible for the defense of this place.”
“Hmm? Where is the lord?”
“H-he has evacuated to a safe place!”
“What a pathetic fool.”
“…….”
Baron Spenvel was left speechless by Ghislain’s words.
A lord was entrusted with the right to rule because they were responsible for protecting their people. Yet, for the lord to be the first to flee?
‘As expected, most of the nobles in this kingdom are rotten.’
Clicking his tongue several times, Ghislain inquired about the situation.
“How far has the Rift expanded?”
“C-currently, one castle and three towns have fallen entirely into their territory.”
That was roughly the size of a small barony. Attacking from outside the Rift’s boundaries was already too late.
Ghislain let out a sigh.
“To kill the Equidema, we’ll have to break through.”
Equidema never strayed far from the Rift itself. Therefore, stopping the Rift usually involved fighting the relatively weaker Riftspawn.
However, when they failed to contain the Riftspawn and were pushed back like this, they would be forced to break through countless Riftspawn, suffering heavy losses along the way.
Even Ghislain’s close aides grimaced after hearing Spenvel’s report.
“The speed is incredible.”
“To have expanded to the size of a small territory already…”
“If we don’t deal with this quickly, the entire kingdom will be overrun by those things.”
Unlike them, Ghislain wasn’t particularly surprised. Compared to his past life, this was not even that fast. The rate of corruption would only accelerate with time.
Still, this territory had been consumed a bit faster than others. There was a reason for that.
“You said it started from a small village, right? Show me its location.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
Baron Spenvel unfolded a map and pointed to a spot. It marked the village where the Rift had first opened.
Rifts that appeared in villages with nothing around them expanded faster than those in castles or cities.
In his past life, there had been a theory that the less nature was disturbed and the richer the mana, the faster the corruption would spread.
Ghislain nodded after confirming the location Spenvel indicated.
He had the coordinates now. It was time to sweep away the Riftspawn and kill Equidema.
“Lead the troops to the nearest shelter. There should be an empty castle or city, correct?”
“T-that is… not yet…”
At that, Ghislain’s eyes narrowed as he grabbed Baron Spenvel by the collar.
“I specifically ordered you to prepare quarantine zones for soldiers involved in combat against the Rift. I issued the same command multiple times and even sent official documents. And yet, you failed to set them up?”
“T-the lord refused… He said as long as we maintained the defensive line, it would be enough…”
“You stupid bastard.”
This was the problem. Even when given proper instructions, countless nobles ignored them out of greed.
If they evacuated castles and cities, their territory’s productivity and economic power would plummet. Naturally, they wouldn’t be able to collect taxes properly.
Unwilling to bear that loss, these nobles ignored orders and sacrificed their soldiers instead.
Hadn’t several nobles in the West been punished as an example for this exact reason? Yet those outside Fenris’ influence still treated Ghislain’s words lightly.
In the end, Ghislain decided to use force.
“As Commander of the Northern Army, I hereby strip Count Heseltin of all his rights. The charge is treason. Understood?”
“L-Lord Commander!”
Baron Spenvel’s face turned pale. Treason? Could such a charge be declared without evidence, just based on words alone?
Impossible. Even the most powerful figure in the kingdom, Marquis Branford, couldn’t do that.
If a lord was declared a traitor, all their retainers would be executed as well. Naturally, Baron Spenvel was terrified.
“By endangering the kingdom, it is effectively treason. Don’t worry. I will only hold Count Heseltin accountable. From now on, you are the lord of this land.”
“M-me? Are you serious?”
“Yes. Immediately select a few knights and order the evacuation of the nearest city. Tell the residents to relocate to another city. Fenris will ensure proper compensation. The messengers must be knights capable of handling mana. Understood?”
Knights were relatively safe from the plague since mana protected their bodies from infection. Thus, knights were ideal messengers in such situations.
Overwhelmed by Ghislain’s commanding presence, Baron Spenvel nodded repeatedly.
“Y-yes, understood.”
“You are now this territory’s lord. If anyone objects, tell them to take it up with me. Gather the troops and wait at the shelter. Marquis Branford will be sending medicine there shortly.”
“B-but, my lord… it’s not as easy as it sounds.”
Of course. The count had his vassals and nobles bound by blood ties. The charge of treason was nothing more than a forced pretext.
The count also had his own remaining forces. If Baron Spenvel dared to claim lordship, Count Heseltine would not stand idly by.
However, Ghislain was not a man who merely spoke.
“Summon the commander of the 8th Cavalry Company.”
At Ghislain’s words, Harrison, the leader of the Desmond-born spies, arrived with a confused expression.
“S-Salute! Commander of the 8th Cavalry Company, Harrison, reporting!”
“Yeah, we’ve seen each other a few times, right?”
“Yes, sir!”
“I’ve heard you’re a fairly capable man.”
“E-Excuse me?”
Why was he asking something like this all of a sudden? The unusual atmosphere made Harrison break into a cold sweat.
‘D-Did I get caught? Is he planning to kill me here?’
The two lieutenants who had accompanied Harrison also seemed restless.
Fortunately, the words that came from Ghislain’s mouth were not a death sentence.
“Lead your troops immediately and capture Count Heseltine. Tell him it’s my order. You can even invoke the name of Marquis Branford if needed. If he resists, kill them all. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
Relieved that his identity hadn’t been discovered, Harrison responded with a loud and spirited voice.
Baron Spenvel stammered, bewildered by the absurd situation unfolding so rapidly.
“M-Milord, a-are you sure this is acceptable?”
This wasn’t the North. Even though it was near the border, it was still part of the kingdom’s central region.
No matter how powerful the Northern Army’s commander was, he couldn’t act this way. His authority was only valid over Northern lords and primarily in wartime situations.
Even then, it was limited to military authority. Stripping a noble of their title was a power reserved solely for the royal family, even if the accused had committed a crime equivalent to treason.
However, Ghislain was no longer in the mood for leniency.
“I’ve been granted full authority regarding the rift. That means you only need to follow my orders. I will no longer tolerate more losses because of foolish men. You’ve risked your life fighting to seal the rift, so consider your position a reward for your efforts.”
Faced with Ghislain’s terrifying gaze, Baron Spenvel bowed his head. All he had done was follow orders and fight with all his might, yet now he was being granted lordship.
‘Wow, this is great! Am I a lord now?’
Count Fenris had a reputation for being both fair and generous with rewards, and it seemed true.
Though initially bewildered, Baron Spenvel realized this wasn’t a bad outcome for him. Since Count Fenris had bestowed the position, no one would dare challenge it.
With such powerful backing, his confidence surged.
‘I better stay in line.’
If he obeyed, the rewards would be generous, but defiance would bring crushing retribution. Having quickly grasped Ghislain’s character, Baron Spenvel saluted with conviction.
“Then I shall dispatch a messenger immediately and begin withdrawing my forces to the nearby city!”
“Do so.”
Having resolved not to hold back anymore, Ghislain’s decision rapidly brought order to the situation. The troops under Baron Spenvel, now part of his forces, began preparing to retreat.
Since the Northern Army would soon head out to eradicate the Equidema, there was no reason for these forces to remain. They would only need to return afterward to guard the area once Equidema was dealt with.
“Let’s move.”
Ghislain led the Northern Army steadily towards the rift’s domain.
Before long, they arrived at a region shrouded in thick blue mist.
As they entered the area, a faint sound echoed in their ears a beast’s low growl.
Krrrrrng…