Chapter 232: I Can’t Live Without Retaliation (1)
Claude took a deep breath before starting to argue.
“Why is the Lord the one setting the discipline? Is the Lord supposed to be some drill sergeant for barbarians or something?”
How long had it been since the war ended, and now they were talking about going on another campaign? And this time, it was against the roughest of adversaries—the barbarians.
It wasn’t just Claude; everyone wore expressions of disbelief.
But Ghislain, with a face that seemed to ask what was so strange about it, replied casually.
“Then who else should handle them if not me? My father is taking care of it for now, but it’ll be my responsibility sooner or later, right?”
“......”
He wasn’t wrong. The task of handling the barbarians had always fallen to the Ferdium family. That was why they were granted the authority and duties of the Margrave in the first place.
“Well... alright, fine. I get that you’re the designated successor for the task... but weren’t we just discussing how to procure horses?”
“Oh, those guys have plenty of horses.”
“Because they have plenty, we’re just... going to take them?”
“That’s right. What, is there a law saying we can’t raid them? This time, it’s our turn to plunder them. I can’t just take things lying down.”
“......”
Claude’s face showed clear exasperation.
The horses in the northern regions where the barbarians lived were renowned for their strength. Naturally, the barbarians were also highly skilled horsemen.
Their way of life revolved around swift mobility, raiding, and pillaging. It was fair to say that was their livelihood.
However, as adept as they were at raids, they were notoriously weak in sieges. Their lack of unity, being spread out across numerous tribes, and their heavy reliance on cavalry made them ineffective at siege warfare.
The barbarians themselves understood this, which was why they rarely attacked fortresses directly. Instead, they typically bypassed the strongholds to infiltrate the kingdom.
Thus, the strategy of blocking key routes from the northern fortresses and pursuing the raiders had proven effective. It was also the reason why impoverished Ferdium had managed to fend off the barbarians for so many years.
Now, Ghislain was declaring his intent to take horses from the very barbarians who relied on them for survival.
“Wait... can we really pull this off? If it were that easy, Ferdium wouldn’t have struggled so much all this time...”
“They struggled because they were poor. They wanted to beat the barbarians but lacked soldiers and provisions. But do you really think we can’t do it now? Those guys are always fighting amongst themselves anyway.”
“......”
Once again, the retainers were left speechless, bowing their heads.
Ferdium had always faced an uphill battle. With limited troops and resources, they couldn’t afford to launch rash campaigns.
But now, with Fenris in a vastly different situation? They had surplus food, and they had 400 knights. The barbarians, grouped in small tribal units, wouldn’t stand a chance if they committed to it.
“Those guys are struggling with famine, too. We need to take their horses before they eat them all. Isn’t that right? Besides, I had a tough childhood because of them. Now, it’s time to collect what’s owed.”
Belinda nodded vigorously at Ghislain’s words.
“That’s right! Lord Ferdium had to deal with the barbarians so much that he couldn’t even give Young Lord Ghislain much allowance. That’s why the Young Lord turned rebellious in his youth—it was all because of the lack of money!”
“......”
Claude was at a loss for words and looked around. The other retainers seemed to feel the same, avoiding his gaze.
Starting a war while they were focused on developing the territory felt burdensome. But after hearing Ghislain’s logic, it didn’t sound as impossible as he’d first thought.
Turning to Belinda, who had always stood by him in opposing these plans, Claude asked, “What about you, Steward? Are you against this?”
Belinda thought for a moment before decisively replying, “I’m in favor.”
“What? Why? Haven’t you always been against wars?”
“I just really hate those guys.”
“......You’re suggesting war because you don’t like them?”
“Yeah. What else do you want me to do about it?”
Claude had nothing to say. After all, was there any clearer reason for war than hatred?
Clicking his tongue, Claude turned to someone else.
“Master Fergus! What’s your opinion?”
“Hohohoho... I’ve always hated those barbarians.”
‘It’s hopeless.’
The hatred Ferdium held for the barbarians ran deeper than he’d realized.
Shaking his head in frustration, Claude turned to Ghislain.
“Even so, most of our troops are infantry. Can we really manage? The barbarians are exceptional horsemen. If they run, all our efforts will be in vain. And while we have plenty of knights, they lack the stamina for prolonged engagements.”
“We’ll coordinate with Ferdium and get cavalry support. We’ll pull some infantry aside to handle logistics and leave the rest to defend the territory.”
Claude and the retainers nodded in agreement. The Fenris Knights had unparalleled destructive power in close combat. Their sheer numbers made them virtually unstoppable when it came to overwhelming opponents.
With cavalry to support them, they could conserve their energy and engage in longer battles.
“Understood. I’ll begin preparations immediately.”
“Good. I’m liking how the time spent arguing against me has shortened considerably.”
‘It’s not like they’ve actually started listening to me—half of them have just given up.’
Still, since every endeavor Ghislain undertook ended in success, their faith in him had grown slightly.
Regardless of their inner thoughts, the reduced resistance was a relief for Ghislain as well. Leading an army and leaving the territory undefended meant that swift resolution was of utmost importance.
‘I need to finish this while Harold and Amelia are occupied. With the ducal families focused on the Royal Faction, now’s our chance.’
That was why, even with construction delays due to logistical challenges, he had waited for Amelia’s rebellion to begin before taking action.
The truth was that, even aside from acquiring horses, it was necessary to deal with the barbarians sooner or later. Before a greater war broke out, securing their rear was essential.
A situation where they would need to split Ferdium’s forces at a crucial moment was undesirable. It was better to scratch the itch now and move on.
“This was all part of the plan, so let’s act quickly and efficiently. Summon all the knights.”
He was someone who cared for and loved everyone under his charge. No matter how difficult things became, he never abandoned his duties.
It was his noble character that inspired the people of Ferdium to risk their lives and follow him on this grueling path.
Unlike the weary soldiers of Ferdium, the barbarians grew more energetic with every passing moment.
So much so that they seemed to forget their original objective.
“Hey, hey! Be careful, you idiots!”
“You crazy bastards! We’re not here to capture the place today!”
“Just hold your ground and buy time, damn it!”
The barbarian war chiefs tried to rein in their warriors, but the aggressive nature of the fighters made them hard to control.
Most of the barbarian warriors thrived in combat. Once blood was spilled, their frenzy overtook them.
The original plan had been to tie down Ferdium’s forces while other warbands looted and pillaged.
However, as their bloodlust consumed them, their attacks on the fortress grew more fervent. This inevitably led to increased casualties among the barbarians.
Shhhk!
“Gaaaah!”
“Die, you bastards!”
“Go die yourself, you son of a bitch!”
As the fighting intensified, emotions ran hotter, and the clash grew even more brutal. For the defenders, the battle became increasingly grueling, as holding the line was far harder than attacking.
The barbarian war chiefs screamed orders from various points on the battlefield.
“Fall back! Rest for a bit, then we’ll come back!”
“Just two more days! Then the others will bring the supplies!”
“These idiots! You’re just a bunch of suckers, northern fools! Hahaha!”
The barbarians laughed loudly.
Though they suffered heavy casualties, they had successfully tied down the fortress’s defenders. Their initial reason for coming—famine—seemed irrelevant as they reveled in the fight.
Mocking the Ferdium soldiers, the barbarians began to withdraw like the ebbing tide.
The soldiers of Ferdium watched them with eyes heavy with fatigue.
Even as the enemy suffered significant losses and retreated, there were no cheers of victory.
Because this wasn’t a true victory.
Even at that moment, other barbarian warbands were likely infiltrating the northern parts of the kingdom, spreading destruction.
Knowing this, they could do nothing but hold the fortress.
The helplessness and humiliation of being unable to act weighed heavily on them.
But what was even more overwhelming...
‘I’m so tired...’
Ferdium’s knights and soldiers had grown stronger than ever, yet their exhaustion weighed ever heavier on their hearts.
‘I just want to rest...’
‘When will this endless fight against these bastards finally end...?’
‘Won’t someone, anyone, please...?’
But it was a futile wish.
This struggle would never end.
It hadn’t in the past, it wouldn’t now, and it wouldn’t in the future.
The only way out was to flee or die.
Yet they didn’t give up.
These soldiers were the last elite forces left in this place, and they lived with the pride of defending the kingdom’s northern border.
As they watched the barbarians retreat with powerless gazes, one knight noticed a dust cloud rising in the distance.
“What’s that? Are reinforcements coming?”
The only forces that traveled mounted in this region were the barbarians.
It was rare for so many of them to gather in one place. The famine must have driven them to take bold risks.
“Prepare for battle again! Reinforcements are coming!”
Shouts rang out from the knights stationed around the fortress. If the barbarians’ forces were bolstered, things would only get worse. But they had no choice.
Their duty was to defend this place with their lives.
As they forced their exhausted bodies to rise and readied their weapons, one knight’s eyes widened.
“W-wait! That flag...”
A black banner adorned with a white wolf, similar to Ferdium’s crest—but with one difference: the wolf was red.
The Fenris banner.
Shwaaah!
It was the symbol of the rising powerhouse in the north.
The red wolf’s banner fluttered atop the approaching horde. As the sound of hooves drew nearer, more soldiers recognized the sight.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
The ground shook with the thunderous gallop of warhorses, led by a figure at the forefront of the charge.
A soldier, recognizing the leader, shouted at the top of his lungs.
“It’s the Young Lord! The Young Lord has brought reinforcements!”
Ghislain was riding towards the fortress, leading the Fenris forces in an assault on the barbarians’ rear.