The royalist faction was gradually moving the kingdom's army toward the southern vicinity, striking at the hiding places of the Salvation Church that Ghislain had revealed.
Even though the entire kingdom was in turmoil, the duchy remained silent, not making any statements.
Having already been branded as heretics by the Four Great Churches, they would eventually try to smooth things over with force. That's why the kingdom's army was being mobilized in preparation for war.
Amidst this, the news of Marquis Rodrick's march left everyone stunned.
"100,000? Are you serious, a full 100,000?"
Maurice, who heard the news during a meeting at the royal palace, asked in disbelief.
The messenger who brought the news nodded.
"Yes! A total mobilization order was issued, gathering all remaining vassals' troops. Currently, 60,000 are advancing toward Fenris territory, and 40,000 are moving near the capital. They said they would assist in the fight against the duchy."
"Hah, so he has mobilized the entire western forces just to catch that one guy?"
Not long ago, it was said that 20,000 troops had been routed in a battle. Yet, he managed to assemble 100,000 at once.
Indeed, he was worthy of being called the strongest great noble of the West.
Maurice scratched his beard with a grimace.
"Hmm... Assisting in the fight against the duchy is good and all, but what about that duckling?"
At Maurice's question, Marquis Branford responded indifferently.
"Leave it for now. It's a fight between two individuals."
"What? How can you say that? How is that kid supposed to stop 60,000? How many troops does Fenris have? 10,000? 20,000? It's not much more than that! We're not that kind of relationship!"
"..."
At Maurice's outburst, the other nobles looked at him with bewildered expressions.
He'd always been desperate to bring down Count Fenris, yet now he seemed like a completely different person.
"What? What's wrong? That guy is like a nephew to me!"
"...."
Recently, the second batch of supplies sent from Fenris had also been distributed to the kingdom's army. Maurice, as the kingdom's commander-in-chief, couldn't have been happier.
"We can't just let that guy go! Shouldn't we try to mediate again? What's the point of fighting among ourselves right before facing the duchy?"
Marquis Rodrick firmly rejected any mediation attempts from the royalist faction. Even when told to resolve things after the civil war, he remained obstinate.
Ultimately, the justification lay with Marquis Rodrick, so the royalists couldn't press him further.
Maurice, as if realizing something, spoke to Marquis Branford.
"That bastard, he's doing this to weaken our forces since he thinks we'll win with the Four Great Churches' help."
"I know."
"And you're just going to leave him be?"
Marquis Rodrick had been a threat to the royal family for some time. For now, they had no choice but to accept him due to the fight with the duchy, but it was clear he'd become a headache once the war ended.
Especially if he managed to take over Fenris, a resource-rich land. It would be no different from the birth of a new duchy.
Marquis Branford, still with an indifferent expression, nodded.
"Trust in Count Fenris. He won't go down so easily. Hasn't it always been that way?"
"Well, yes, but... The difference in strength this time is too great."
"He's always overcome that difference."
"Hmph..."
Maurice had no rebuttal. Luck or not, Ghislain had always emerged victorious.
"Ah, whatever. Let's just see how things unfold and decide then."
Although he said that, Maurice and the other nobles couldn't hide their worried expressions.
However, there was no way to restrain Marquis Rodrick by force in the current situation.
Just having Marquis Rodrick separate from the duchy was already a significant gain. If those 100,000 troops had marched toward the capital with the duchy, it would've been pure hell.
In the end, it had to be left to Fenris and Rodrick to resolve things on their own.
***
Given the relaxed atmosphere of Rodrick's forces advancing toward Fenris, it was clear why people were worried.
Marquis Rodrick, riding a massive horse as large as his own burly frame, smirked maliciously.
"Finally, I get to kill that brat."
Everyone now knew Ghislain was a Master. Yet, Marquis Rodrick wasn't concerned.
A single Master couldn't handle the overwhelming number of troops on his side.
"Speed up the march! I want to see that brat's face in despair as soon as possible!"
At Rodrick's command, the soldiers quickened their pace. Though the march to the North was long and would surely tire them out, Marquis Rodrick didn't care.
He believed overwhelming numbers would crush any resistance.
To attack Fenris territory, Rodrick's forces had to pass through the lands of several lords. One such estate belonged to Count Albans, a royalist noble.
Typically, lords didn't easily allow others to pass through their lands. A marching army might suddenly change their minds and attack, and there was pride and honor at stake.
Thus, Count Albans responded much like any other lord would.
"What? They suddenly show up and demand to pass through my land to head North? Who do they think they are?"
Count Albans, though not a great noble, still held considerable power.
With the backing of the royalist faction, he had no intention of letting even the strongest western noble pass so easily.
Not for Ghislain's sake, but because it would wound his pride.
"Tell them to find another route! Or come with proper justification and compensation."
Having prepared his troops for the fight against the duchy, he was confident in his defenses.
Though he would lose in a fight, Count Albans believed Marquis Rodrick wouldn't dare attack in his current alliance with the royalists.
As Count Albans stood firm, another messenger arrived, shouting.
"Marquis Rodrick has entered the estate! He said he will pass through and not to obstruct him!"
"Who gave him permission to enter my land!"
Count Albans rose angrily from his seat. Even if they weren't going to attack, entering his estate without permission was a blatant disregard for his authority.
If he allowed it, he'd become a laughingstock among the other nobles. He had to do something to make them retreat.
"Bring my armor immediately and gather the troops! I'll block them by force! How many soldiers does the marquis have?"
"Well, that is..."
"Speak up!"
"100,000!"
"...10,000?"
"100,000! It's 100,000!"
"...."
Count Albans, who had been silent for a moment, slumped back into his chair.
After sighing a few times while staring at the ceiling, he spoke quietly.
"Show them the fastest route. Escort them politely so they have no inconvenience..."
"...Understood."
This wasn't a matter of pride. Other nobles would understand.
The territories on Marquis Rodrick's marching path didn't even think of blocking him, holding their breaths instead.
Some nobles, like Count Albans, tried to resist, but Marquis Rodrick simply ignored them and passed through.
Whether they were royalist lords, duchy-affiliated lords, or neutral lords, none dared to step forward to stop him.
Marquis Rodrick laughed several times as he passed through the estates.
"Pathetic fools, who dare think they can block my path."
It was the most satisfying situation. Once again, he could feel the power he wielded.
If only he could bring down the duchy, there would be no one left in this kingdom to stand against him.
"At this point, it would be better to split the forces. Tenant, order the 2nd Corps trailing behind us to move near the capital."
"Yes, my lord."
Currently, Marquis Rodrick's forces consisted of the 1st Corps of 60,000 led by himself, moving in the lead, while the 2nd Corps of 40,000 followed behind at a slower pace.
Although they hadn't yet received permission from the royal family to station near the capital, he judged that now would be the right time to move, as they would soon have to combine their forces.
While the new orders were being relayed to the 2nd Corps, Marquis Rodrick looked toward the northern sky.
"We'll be arriving at Fenris soon."
With such a large force, the march was slow and frustrating. He couldn't wait to trample Fenris underfoot.
Still, the weather was great. The fine weather elevated Marquis Rodrick's mood as well.
As he was enjoying this pleasant feeling, a messenger rushed over in a panic.
Judging by his disheveled state, it was clear he had been running without rest.
With a puzzled expression, Marquis Rodrick asked, "What's the matter? Where are you coming from?"
"C-Count Fenris..."
"What about him? Has he surrendered? I wasn't planning on accepting it."
"N-no, that's not it."
"Then what is it?"
The messenger took a deep breath and shouted.
"Count Fenris is leading 10,000 cavalry and has invaded the West!"
"What?"
Marquis Rodrick tilted his head in confusion. Knowing full well that he was invading, Count Fenris had chosen to attack the West?
That would mean Count Fenris had left his territory unprotected. It made no sense.
Tenant, standing beside the Marquis, frowned and demanded, "Explain properly! Why is Count Fenris appearing in the West?"
"Just as I said! Count Fenris is attacking the West! All the vassal lords blocking his path have been captured or killed! Fortresses are being breached one by one! His army is advancing toward Lord Marquis Rodrick's territory!"
At those words, everyone's expressions hardened. Currently, the vassal lords' territories had almost no troops remaining. Most had been recruited by Marquis Rodrick.
The same went for the fortresses. Minimal forces were left behind due to the need to deal with remaining bandits, but that was it.
Fenris' forces were known for their mastery in scaling walls. A small garrison could never hold off an army of 10,000 cavalry.
In fact, given the current situation, Count Fenris, as a Master, could simply charge in alone.
Tenant, with a grave expression, spoke urgently.
"My lord, we must divert some forces to stop him!"
It didn't matter if other places were captured or destroyed. Once Fenris was taken, Ghislain would have to relinquish it all anyway.
After all, with just 10,000 men, they couldn't hope to properly hold the vast Western region.
But there was another issue.
"If the Marquisate is captured, our supply lines will be cut off!"
The long distance between Rodrick territory and Fenris territory made the supply lines exceedingly lengthy. If the supply lines were severed, the 100,000-strong army would eventually starve.
Snapping back to his senses, Marquis Rodrick shouted angrily.
"Then don't just send part of the troops! Turn the entire army around! Isn't it enough to simply capture Count Fenris first?"
Tenant opposed this idea.
"That is not possible. This is Count Fenris' strategy."
"What?"
"If Count Fenris avoids a decisive battle and continues to run, we won't be able to catch him. His entire force is mounted cavalry."
"Hmm... That bastard's plan..."
"Exactly. If we give chase, he'll keep us on the move. Right now, he's holding our supply lines hostage to force us to retreat. He must have known the West was unguarded."
"That lunatic would abandon his own territory to come out here..."
"There was no other choice for him. He must have judged that he couldn't defend against this massive force through conventional means. He'll probably keep targeting our supply lines."
Marquis Rodrick gritted his teeth.
"They say he's a tactician. Seems he's living up to the rumors."
"But there is a way to capture Count Fenris and occupy Fenris territory at the same time."
"And how would that be?"
"Send the 2nd Corps, which was meant for the capital, to our territory. Have them cut off Count Fenris' retreat and protect the supply lines. Meanwhile, the 1st Corps can move to occupy Fenris."
"And what if my castle is captured before then?"
"No, it won't be easily taken."
"Why not? Isn't he a Master?"
"All of Fenris' troops are cavalry. That's how they were able to reach the West so quickly."
"Oh, so that means..."
Marquis Rodrick clapped his knee as if realizing something.
Tenant smiled and explained.
"That means they don't have any siege weapons. In the end, all they can do is disrupt supply lines."
It was said that a Master could face thousands of soldiers alone.
If the stronghold was small, Count Fenris might be able to take a fortress or a small castle alone. However, no matter how strong a Master might be, capturing a large castle or fortress alone was impossible.
And there was one such fortress in the West: Rodrick's castle, Linderstein.
That place, without siege weapons, was absolutely impregnable.
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