395

Episode 395 Let's just break it. (2)

Linderstein is a very large and sturdy castle, one of the few in the kingdom. The westerners are proud that it is not inferior to the kingdom's capital, Cardenia.

In addition, Margrave Rodrik left a garrison of 20,000 men in Linderstein to keep the vassals from rebellions and bandits in check while he swept away the troops in the west.

So Tennant continued speaking with a confident expression.

"Linderstein is a huge castle. Even if Earl Fenris is the master, it is too big to take over alone. The garrison is 20,000 strong, so it should be able to hold out until reinforcements arrive. Earl Fenris does not currently have a proper supply line."

Marquis Rodrik and the other vassals all nodded. The outcome would depend on how long each side's main base held out.

After all, the supply line is long for both sides. Count Fenris's army also has 10,000 men, so it will be difficult to replenish supplies by pillaging the surrounding areas.

The vassal lands have little property left, as they were plundered not long ago. The lords who were not plundered sent troops to the marquis, along with most of their food.

Marquis Rodrik asked with narrowed eyes.

"I sent 20,000 men before, but I couldn't catch Earl Fenris. Now I'm leading an army of 10,000 men. Can you guarantee that I won't be defeated this time too?"

Tennant nodded, as if there was no problem at all.

"Don't worry. Our forces are 40,000 from the 2nd Army Corps and 20,000 from the Marquisate, totaling 60,000. With these numbers, we can't lose even if we want to. We just need to attack Earl Fenris from behind while he's besieging."

The more numerous an army is, the stronger it becomes. If the number of troops is six times greater, even the most masterful of them will not be able to handle it.

Tennant smiled.

"But Earl Fenris will eventually avoid fighting, if only to reduce the damage. Right now, his goal is to shake us."

"Hmm… … ."

"If Earl Fenris retreats, we can have the 2nd Corps guard the supply line. Earl Fenris has only 10,000 men. He will have no choice but to return without being able to cut the supply line. If we capture Fenris in the meantime, he will have nowhere to go."

Marquis Rodrik nodded as if he was pleased.

"Very well, send the 2nd Legion back to the Marquisate. This time, capture and kill Earl Fenris."

It would be a bad idea to rush all the way to Count Fenris and be dragged around. You can just defend your base and capture Fenris.

If we can just capture Earl Fenris, the war will be over. Military support for the royalist faction can be provided a little later.

In this way, Rodrik's 2nd Corps began to withdraw, and the 1st Corps' advance became faster.

* * *

Doo doo doo doo doo doo!

Fenris's ten thousand mobile force moved at a tremendous pace. In the west, which had already been plundered and swarmed with bandits, there was no one to stop them.

"Move faster! The news must be coming in soon!"

At Giselle's shout, everyone gritted their teeth and rode their horses. The Fenris army was now so skilled in horsemanship that they could be called a horse-riding nation.

At first, he learned the skills with the help of the elves, and later he continued with tasks such as delivering arrows and rigorous training.

They had already breached several castles and fortresses in a short period of time, but they kept on running without stopping.

"It's there today!"

I can see a nearby fortress in the distance. It was a small fortress on the way to the Marquisate.

Kaor, who had been chasing Jiselle diligently, asked while panting. It was a forced march that would tire even someone as skilled as Kaor.

"Should we eat there and rest a bit today?"

But Giselle shook her head firmly.

"No, we have to quickly capture the castle to cut off the supply line."

"Then why can't I just take a detour and go there?"

"If you leave the fortresses alone, they will be a hassle to move later. You have to make sure of the war."

"Ah… I'm so tired I could die."

There's no use grumbling. If the lord tells you to do something, you do it.

"Hit it right away!"

Doo doo doo doo doo doo!

The Fenris army approached the fortress. Naturally, chaos broke out in the fortress as well.

"The enemy! The enemy has invaded!"

The soldiers shouted and prepared for battle. However, the commander of the fortress, who was watching the Fenris army, was in a pensive state.

News from previously occupied territories was coming in one after another. They said that they all collapsed before they could hold out for long.

But he only had 500 soldiers around him. They were literally just enough to stop a few bandits.

The commander raised his voice, clenching his trembling hands.

"I'm ready for battle… … ."

Before he could finish speaking, someone suddenly climbed up onto the wall.

"Who, who are you?"

"Earl Fenris."

"Heeeeek!"

Before he could do anything, the famous Earl of Fenris came up. There was no way that a mere 500 men could stop the Master.

"Ha, hang… … ."

Scratch!

The commander was decapitated before he could shout surrender. Two hundred Fenris knights then scaled the wall in one breath.

The soldiers trembled in shock at the sight of their sudden appearance.

"Eww! Let's run away!"

"Save me!"

"Surrender!"

Some soldiers ran away screaming, while others threw down their weapons and lay down on the ground.

The fame of Giselle was now so widespread that, especially in the West, she was treated almost as if she were a demon.

"hmm."

Jiselle shouted as she watched the soldiers running away or lying down.

"If you all escape from this fortress, I will spare your lives. You will become great thieves!"

The cry was like a ray of light in the midst of despair. All the prostrate soldiers jumped to their feet.

"thank you!"

"You will be blessed!"

"We must occupy the West!"

Marquis Rodrik was a notorious lord who had no loyalty whatsoever to his soldiers.

They could not hide their joy at being revived from the dead and were busy gathering their weapons and running away.

Jiselle did not kill them or leave them in the fortress.

Since they would eventually become his soldiers, killing them would be a loss. However, if they were left in the fortress, Rodrik's pursuing force would obviously take them away. The best solution was to drive them out.

Jiselle snickered and spoke to the knights.

"Easy? Let's take a quick break and then move on to the next location."

It didn't take long to capture one fortress. The numerical difference was so obvious that the enemies didn't even dare to fight.

Of course, all enemies who attacked until the end were completely annihilated. As a result, his notoriety rose even higher, and everyone became more reluctant to fight Jiselle.

The Fenris army was more exhausted from moving than from fighting.

Those who captured the fortress took a brief rest and emptied all the food stored in the fortress.

Of course, the food in this fortress alone was not enough to feed 10,000 people. So they ate all the food they had brought along on their way here, and even then, they ate powdered combat rations.

While they were taking a short break, Dark, who had gone out on a reconnaissance mission, approached Jiselle.

Dark, who had turned into a crow, sat on Giselle's shoulder and chattered away.

"Master, master. The pursuers are moving."

"Where is it?"

"We haven't even reached the western part yet. But there are a lot of them."

"How much do you think it costs?"

"Uh… … I think it's a few tens of thousands. Anyway, it's just a lot. It's really a lot. I think it's several times ours."

Dark still didn't quite understand the size of his forces. If the number was small, he could guess by eye, but if the number was large, he had to count them one by one.

No matter how many times I taught him, he still couldn't get the hang of it.

Jiselle clicked her tongue and poked Dark.

"No, why don't you know that yet?"

"I'm bad at numbers."

"Oh my… … Then what is the speed of our advance? When do you think we'll arrive in the west?"

"Slower than us."

"...okay."

Although it is very convenient as a means of reconnaissance and communication, it is quite lacking in precision.

Still, it was better than nothing, so I had no choice but to move on.

"Gisselle said, injecting some more mana into Dark's clone.

"Keep checking our position, and let me know when we reach the place we broke. That way I can estimate our speed."

"okay!"

Dark flew into the sky again to monitor the pursuing force.

Jiselle looked around at everyone and shouted.

"Okay, let's move again!"

Doo doo doo doo doo!

The Fenris army is now worthy of the title of the best in the kingdom when it comes to speed. They moved in a similar manner, sweeping away each castle and fortress in an instant.

Not long ago, Giselle came and caused a ruckus, and Marquis Rodrik withdrew all his troops, so there was no one who could stop them.

Occasionally, bandits would come out to scout and be terrified when they saw Fenris' flag.

"The devil from the north has come again!"

"This time, they even brought the military with them!"

"Everyone, get out!"

Most of the bandits were those who had been severely beaten by Jiselle during the previous battle. They were busy hiding or running away as soon as they saw the flag.

With no one to block their path, the Fenris army was able to reach their target in just a few days.

Linderstein, the home base of Margrave Rodrik and the greatest castle in the West.

Jiselle looked at the castle and smiled.

"If we just capture that castle, their supplies will be cut off and they will starve to death."

"wow...."

The knights and soldiers opened their mouths at the sight of the Linderstein Castle.

It was truly a castle as large as the capital city of Cardenia. A castle like that would not be able to be conquered just like before.

These huge castles are often meticulously engraved with defensive magic all over the place. Every time the castle is expanded, a lot of money is spent on engraving magic circles.

It goes without saying that it was the surname of Marquis Rodrik, the richest man in the West.

"It wouldn't be easy to break something like that with magic."

It will be able to block up to 6th circle magic, and even if Vanessa, a 7th circle magician, fires a barrage of magic, the power will be halved.

So, Giselle left Vanessa in the manor and brought only a few wizards to assist her.

It would have been more comfortable if she was there, but I had no intention of revealing that there was another superhuman in the territory yet.

Even without Vanessa, we can easily destroy that castle.

Linderstein's commander, Raynor, watched the Fenris forces encamp in the distance.

"Wizards, stand by everywhere! There are 6th circle wizards in Fenris! You can block them with defensive magic, but just in case, prepare dispel magic!"

He was a man of exceptional ability who was appointed commander of the defense forces of this castle.

When they heard that the Fenris Army was coming, they had prepared thoroughly for the battle.

"The enemy leader is a master, but there is no need to be afraid! They have not brought siege weapons! All we have to do is make sure they do not cross the walls with the knights!"

Additional inclined structures were placed on the ramparts to make it difficult to attach the hooks and ladders needed to climb over the walls.

Also, knights, not soldiers, were placed behind gaps where enemies could shoot arrows or stab with spears as they advanced.

It was to target the fast-rising Fenris knights.

There were also large ballistas deployed to attack enemies when they got close.

"Just wait a little longer and reinforcements will arrive and attack them from behind! We can hold out until then and then go out and fight! Bring the remaining catapults!"

Most of the catapults were taken by the main force, but two were left behind for defense.

At this point, even Earl Fenris won't be able to occupy this place. They just have to block it and wait.

No, there would be no need to stop them. The enemies had no siege weapons, so they wouldn't be able to approach easily.

"Don't let your guard down! They might try to sneak over the castle at night!"

Raynan did his best to prepare, constantly encouraging and boosting the morale of his soldiers so that they would not let their guard down.

To this extent, he was a commander who was rare in the West.

Indeed, the Fenris army was also at a loss and could only wait from afar.

Jiselle said, looking at the castle.

"Wow, you've prepared a lot. I can feel your determination to prevent anyone from crossing the wall."

In this state, even if you charge, you will be attacked by catapults and ballistas. Even if you try to restrain them with magic, most of them will be blocked by the remaining magicians in the castle and the defensive magic of the castle walls.

Jiselle, who was smiling, gave a new order.

"Go get me some rocks. Let's just break them."

As soon as the order was given, all 200 knights and 2,000 soldiers moved in all directions.

And when Raynan saw that, he laughed.

"Are you going to get food? It looks like you haven't even prepared enough food."

It was obvious that they were all combat troops. The supply unit couldn't keep up.

"I guess I'll just worry and then go back."

Even if the Master is present, it is not a castle that can be taken down by an army of only 10,000 men. Even more so without siege weapons.

Just be careful not to sneak over the walls. Eventually, they will have no choice but to retreat.

As the next day came, after a full day had passed, the soldiers in the castle relaxed a little.

They really gained confidence because they just kept coming and going with soldiers without any siege weapons.

"Even if he is the Earl of Fenris, it seems there is nothing he can do about this place."

"Then, if they come near, they'll all die?"

"It would be reckless to storm this castle bare-handed."

Even though they felt relieved, they opened their eyes wide and looked at Fenris's army. After all, if they let their guard down, they would quickly attach themselves to the castle.

Then suddenly one soldier muttered.

"What on earth… … are you doing?"

The other soldiers tilted their heads as well. The Fenris army was haphazardly stacking up rocks of incredible size.

"What are you doing without any siege weapons?"

"Are you planning to build a stone castle here?"

"What's the point of doing something like that?"

As I was watching with a curious look, all of a sudden, all the soldiers formed groups of a few and started moving busily.

The eyes of the soldiers who were watching it with blank expressions gradually grew wider.

"What, what are you making?"

Strange structures were being built. They seemed to be continuously increasing in height and size by connecting the window frames.

Even Raynan's expression, as he watched from the highest point, was filled with only puzzlement.

And after a while, the expressions of the Rodrik soldiers who saw the object made by Fenris's army were filled with shock.

"I, that… … ."

"Is that really a catapult? Is that really a catapult?"

"Oh, how did the catapult suddenly… … ."

In the Fenris army's camp, ten extremely large and strangely shaped structures were erected in an instant.

And that… …no matter how I looked at it, it looked like a catapult.