Chapter 68
Chapter 68: I Have No Choice but to Change the Game Myself (4)
Zvalter stared silently at the map in front of him.
Just moments ago, he had been contemplating how to organize their formation and place a bet.
If the enemy’s supply unit was annihilated, that would increase their options.
But before that, he needed to properly verify what had happened.
“Explain how this occurred in detail.”
The other retainers were at a loss for words, merely gazing at Ghislaine, drenched in blood.
Ghislaine took a moment to survey the battlefield before calmly reporting the situation.
“…In summary, we annihilated the enemy troops using an ambush and burned all their supplies. It’s a bit regrettable, but bringing them back was too difficult. Ah, this is the head of Baron Fabro, the commander of the supply unit. Is he known to anyone?”
Baron Homern opened the box and inspected the head inside, hesitating as he spoke.
“Y-yes. That’s Baron Fabro from Digald. I’ve seen him a few times before.”
The retainers gasped in shock. Only Randolf seemed bewildered, blinking in confusion.
He had been ready to strike Ghislaine immediately, yet this was clearly not the time for that.
Having spent a lifetime on the battlefield, he instinctively knew.
‘This is not the usual Grand Duke’s playful demeanor. He radiates the aura of a human butcher. What on earth caused this…’
He was completely at a loss.
The Grand Duke, who had only ever lived in the territory and had never experienced war, was showing such a side.
Zvalter was surprised by Randolf for a different reason.
“An ambush… how could you move so carelessly?”
Though he reprimanded him, there was more astonishment in his voice than anger.
An ambush can inflict substantial damage if successful.
But if it fails, there’s a high risk of total annihilation — a double-edged sword.
Thus, it was a tactic to be employed only after meticulously reviewing numerous conditions such as weather, location, terrain, timing, and the enemy commander’s temperament.
Yet Ghislaine had attempted an ambush without even the lord’s permission.
That was the sort of thing only a madman would do; however, Ghislaine led the troops without hesitation and achieved success.
“After all, our options are quite limited.”
Ghislaine replied flatly. Zvalter, filled with frustration, shouted back.
“Even so, should you not consult with us first? We should have gathered our strength and prepared before going out! If you had failed, both you and the mercenaries would have perished! Do you not realize how precious even a handful of troops is right now?!”
“Had we done that, we might have failed.”
“What?”
“Already, a traitor has emerged and provided a pretext for war against Digald. How can we guarantee there won’t be another traitor?”
“What the hell are you talking about?!”
Zvalter couldn’t contain his anger and stood up.
The remaining retainers and knights in Perdium were those willing to risk their lives to fight.
To suggest there might be traitors among them was a dangerous statement.
If their loyalty was doubted, how could they ever follow him with their lives on the line?
But Ghislaine responded with a blank expression.
“Can you truly assure me there’s no such person next to your father?”
“W-what?”
“I trust no one. The only one I trust is myself.”
Seeing his son speaking resolutely, covered in blood, Zvalter was left speechless.
The other retainers were equally at a loss for words.
The truth was that a traitor had indeed emerged among the retainers.
Right now, the Grand Duke resembled a volcano on the brink of eruption.
Overwhelmed by the atmosphere, no one dared utter a word.
Ghislaine, with a chilling gaze directed at everyone, opened his mouth once more.
“We will guard the castle here. No one is allowed to leave. Anyone who attempts will face my sword.”
Randolf grimaced at the radical and unilateral declaration, standing up.
As he was about to shout something, Zvalter reached out to restrain him.
“Fine, since it’s successful, I’ll overlook the ambush. But what is the reason for fortifying?”
“The enemy is an enormous force. Even in this small territory, they must lead a separate supply unit. But since the supply unit has been wiped out, they won’t be able to maintain their forces for long.”
“…”
“Meanwhile, request support again from Count Roges. Once the support arrives, we can open the castle gates and execute a pincer attack.”
“And what if the support is delayed or does not arrive at all?”
“Even if the support doesn’t come, the enemy cannot endure longer than us. While they gather supplies to prepare for another assault, we can find a way ourselves.”
Though the main force of the enemy must have brought some supplies, they would only last a few days under such conditions.
The real question was whether Perdium could persist during that time.
They had brought siege equipment along with their massive army, making it difficult for Perdium Castle, not built for long sieges, to withstand for any extended period.
“We must hold out for at least a week.”
“We have no choice but to do our best. That gives us a better chance of victory than a short battle.”
“Hmm…”
Ghislaine’s words had merit.
If they engage in direct combat and lose, it’d be all over for them. But if they could endure while leveraging the castle walls, their chances of victory would increase.
The defenders faced disadvantages in a prolonged siege due to the blockade of supply routes, yet the besieging side would face supply issues as well.
Contemplating this, Zvalter turned to Randolf.
“What are your thoughts?”
“Ahem, I don’t know.”
Though it was a reasonable opinion, Randolf couldn’t muster a positive response, feeling emotionally strained against Ghislaine’s unilateral behavior.
On the other hand, Homern, who had insisted on the defense from the outset, readily supported Ghislaine’s viewpoint.
“I think this time the Grand Duke is right. We should request support from Roges and hold out.”
The other retainers also showed positive reactions.
“Their supply routes are cut off just like ours.”
“We cannot prepare enough supplies for six thousand people right away. Holding out is in our favor.”
“The Grand Duke has done great! This is an opportunity!”
If the probability of survival was higher, there was no reason to oppose Ghislaine’s proposal.
Though the Grand Duke had always been an eyesore, this time things were going smoothly thanks to his reckless boldness.
Homern, Albert, and the other retainers looked at Ghislaine with satisfied smiles.
However, Randolf continued to regard Ghislaine with skeptical eyes.
‘He certainly achieved something… but it’s incredibly dangerous. He might just end up becoming a lethal monster.’
Having survived his whole life on the battlefield, Randolf sensed that the Grand Duke’s determination was not trivial.
As Zvalter fell into deep thought after hearing the retainers’ opinions, Ghislaine spoke again.
“There’s another option.”
“What is it?”
“We abandon the territory residents and retreat to the Northern Fortress right now.”
“You brat! Is that how a noble speaks?”
Zvalter shouted at Ghislaine, pointing a finger at him.
The other retainers grimaced and glared at him with disdain.
“If the castle is captured, the territory residents will live like slaves and eventually all die! Don’t you understand that?!”
Even if they successfully retreated to the Northern Fortress, if the territory residents were trampled, it could take decades to stabilize Perdium again.
However, Ghislaine faced the count with cold eyes.
“But I believe you already know that our chances of survival are greater that way.”
“…”
Zvalter glared at Ghislaine in silence.
The one to break the tense silence was none other than Homern.
“Enough! Stop! We don’t have time to fight amongst ourselves. My lord, the Grand Duke’s tone was extreme, but his words are not incorrect. You must make a prompt decision!”
Zvalter averted his gaze from Ghislaine as if he couldn’t bear to look at him and closed his eyes.
Though he didn’t favor the current situation, he had to decide quickly, as Homern suggested.
‘The odds are slim, but… it’s better to gamble on that than nothing.’
He had never intended to abandon the territory residents. He simply had been concerned due to the slim chances of victory.
In the midst of it all, Ghislaine had found a way out, making the answer almost clear.
Zvalter took a deep breath and spoke.
“Very well, we will fight from the castle. Prepare to reorganize and deploy the troops. And review the route to inform Count Roges as well.”
At the lord’s command, all the retainers bowed their heads.
Now that a glimmer of hope had emerged, they must do their utmost to defend.
At that moment, Randolf stepped forward and said.
“Wait! Will you leave the mercenaries the Grand Duke has gathered as is? How about incorporating them into the territory’s forces?”
All eyes turned back to Ghislaine.
Zvalter spoke coldly.
“You wouldn’t consider that, would you?”
“I will act separately.”
“Will you ever consider listening to me?”
“I’m sorry.”
Ghislaine firmly rejected him.
Randolf frowned. He wanted to forcibly take them, but with the Grand Duke stepping up and taking the credit first, he lost the justification to do so.
Zvalter suppressed his anger and said.
“The command of the operation must be followed.”
“Understood. But…”
“What is it?”
“I ask to be in charge of the castle gates.”
“The castle gates?”
“Exactly.”
Zvalter narrowed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.
‘Is he trying to save his own troops? What is he thinking?’
The side of the castle wall would be the most dangerous just after the siege began.
He couldn’t know when a catapult would strike, and he must also fend off troops pouring out from the siege tower attached to the castle wall.
However, once the gates were breached, that would become the most fierce battlefield.
“What’s the reason? Are you afraid of standing at the castle wall?”
“I intend to wait at the gates and support wherever the danger arises.”
“Support, huh…”
“Since they are mercenaries, their training is likely insufficient. I think it’s better to fill in the gaps in that manner.”
His reasoning had merit, so Zvalter accepted it, albeit reluctantly.
After all, it wasn’t as if Ghislaine would obediently follow orders if he refused.
“Let’s proceed with that. However, once the war is over, I will hold you accountable for your unilateral actions.”
“Do as you wish.”
Ghislaine turned abruptly, as if that concluded his business.
Albert hurriedly stopped him.
“Wait! Where did you move the newly acquired Runestones?”
“I’ve used them all already.”
“What? All of them already? Where did they go?”
“I used them where they were needed, so don’t worry.”
Without further explanation, Ghislaine exited the battlefield.
‘Now, preparations are nearly complete.’
One by one, his plans were falling into place.
However, he had not revealed everything honestly.
‘Count Roges won’t be able to send support.’
Even if it’s rejection, a response had come from other territories, but with Count Roges, all contact had been cut off entirely.
That meant the path to that side was all blocked.
‘As expected, that bastard.’
He became convinced upon seeing the soldiers claiming to act in Digald’s name.
Only two major lords in the North could provide that many troops.
One was Count Raybold. The other was…
‘Grand Duke Harold Desmond, Commander of the Northern Army.’
The Ruthania Kingdom would later reorganize its military structure in the face of upheaval sweeping across the continent.
The lords of the North all became vassals of Harold, and Harold Desmond was newly granted the title of Duke.
‘So you’re the one responsible for the North.’
Ghislaine had encountered Harold in his previous life.
He was quite rigid, but quite bright in strategy and was a capable fighter.
Though Amelia rallied the remaining forces to engage in guerrilla warfare after being defeated by Ghislaine, Harold faced opponents head-on with strength.
‘With that guy involved, it’ll be tough to hold out.’
Count Perdium and his retainers chose to fight, relying solely on the hope Ghislaine provided.
Yet, the one who proposed holding the fortress, Ghislaine, did not think it would be possible.
After all, Desmond must have sent such substantial forces and equipment with siege warfare in mind.
‘This is the best option.’
Ghislaine was confident that even if they clashed with the enemy, they wouldn’t easily be defeated.
If six mages launched a surprise attack, they could inflict significant damage.
The enemies were unaware that there would be mages present.
Moreover, if he led an assault from the side, he could disrupt their formation.
With sufficient planning and cooperative movements with their allies, it was not impossible to win despite the odds.
‘But just having a possibility isn’t enough.’
If they engage, their casualties would inevitably be large.
If they lose, it’s all over, and even if they win, it wouldn’t feel like a victory.
They would still be battered, and a second attack would be impossible to defend against.
Ghislaine did not want a victory marked only by injuries.
‘I must set an example.’
He had to show them clearly that anyone who carelessly touched Perdium would die.
Until now, Ghislaine had prepared solely for that purpose.
For just one decisive move.
