Doom, doom, doom, doom, doom.
With the sound of drums, the massive force of House Ashton slowly advanced toward the fortress of Baron Gariet. The force numbered over 30,000. The 20,000 Viscount Jaden had reported were just the vanguard.
Even as they were slowly marching, additional forces were continuously joining from the rear of the main army.
“We heard the news from House Clifton and have brought 2,000 troops.”
“By the command of the Count, we have brought 1,500 troops and 20 knights.”
“From House Adrian…”
What Viscount Jaden had not anticipated was that Count Melvin had issued a conscription order to the lords. When Count Melvin, having completed all preparations, personally issued orders and sent messengers to summon the surrounding lords, the lords of the nearby counties swiftly joined.
As a result, without additional conscription, and by mobilizing only parts of the central and guard forces, the army had swelled to over 30,000 by the time they reached Gariet fortress.
“What, what in the world is happening? Where did all those troops come from!”
“My God, you mean not only the main force of the Count’s house but also surrounding lords have joined?”
The lords and nobles on the wall of Gariet fortress, allied with Jaden, were stunned into silence. The forces gathered at Gariet fortress numbered at most 15,000.
Even though their total forces were considerably larger if you included those stationed in the two rear fortresses and the lords’ personal garrisons, these were of no immediate help now.
Few had expected a real battle and brought their full forces; most had just come to show strength and provide escort. Faced with this situation, they couldn’t help but be flustered.
Viscount Jaden was just as bewildered.
‘What in the world is going on!’
No matter how much Dylan was the heir, it didn’t make sense to mobilize so many lords before the title succession was even completed. More than fifteen lords’ banners fluttered across the plains.
But it was still too early to give up. Viscount Jaden had immediately sent for reinforcements from the two rear fortresses and informed their supporters and the capital.
He believed there was still ample opportunity to turn the situation around.
***
Shortly thereafter, the formation of the Count Ashton’s army was completed, and a group of cavalrymen approached the main gate of the castle. Among them, a particularly large figure with a massive physique stepped forward and shouted,
“I am Dylan de Ashton, heir and acting count of House Ashton! Where is the leader of the rebels, Viscount Jaden?”
As Dylan glared up at the figures on the ramparts, the lords and nobles there averted their gazes.
“Rebels? How dare a young punk like you throw insults at the elders of the house? Come on, explain why you bring an army to oppress the good lords!”
Viscount Jaden, adorned in splendid black armor, appeared on the ramparts and shouted back.
“I’m sure you already know, but if you insist, I’ll tell you!”
As Dylan raised his right hand, beams of light shot up from the main army as if launching fireworks into the sky. With a flash and a spark, enormous magical letters were inscribed in the sky.
-For the crime of attempting to poison and assassinate Melvin, head of House Ashton!
-For conspiring with certain nobles to overthrow Conford Castle!
-For inciting a civil war within the count’s domain by deceiving the lords!
-For the above reasons, Viscount Jaden and his accomplices are charged with treason.
Faces turned pale as the people read the letters in the sky.
“Assassination?”
“What’s this about Conford Castle?”
“Treason! I haven’t heard of any such thing!”
The lords who had joined in the hopes of gaining favor in the next count’s succession were horrified and looked to Viscount Jaden.
“Silence! Everyone, calm down! All of this is the count’s scheme!”
Jaden forcibly quieted the panicking nobles around him and shouted at Dylan.
“Ha! Do you think this will make us flinch? Do you think spewing such absurd accusations without any evidence will deceive anyone here? You’re just showing how desperate you’ve become with these shallow tactics. Ha ha ha!”
“Well, let’s see if you can laugh after seeing this.”
As soon as Dylan finished speaking, a large magical projection began to play in the sky.
-I am Karisa, Vice Branch Leader of the Mage Association in the Ruben Kingdom. Regarding the incident with House Ashton…
-Archbishop Osvaldo of the Zenon Church…
-The Alchemist Association…
Representatives from various authoritative associations appeared, giving their testimonies about the cause of Count Melvin’s collapse. Then followed the confessions of traitors captured in Conford Castle, admitting they had received orders from Viscount Jaden.
“It’s a frame-up! It’s all lies!”
“Tate! Stop that projection now! Are you planning to continue falling for the enemy’s tricks?”
Viscount Jaden shouted in fury, but it was to no avail. With no competent mages in the castle, there was no way to stop the magical projection from afar.
Moreover, with voice amplifiers ensuring that even the residents inside the castle could hear clearly, none could miss what was being said.
“Don’t be fooled! It’s all fabricated!”
“It’s just the enemy’s scheme!”
“Do not be swayed!”
Belatedly, knights tried to control the soldiers, shouting to maintain order, but the projection had already ended. Furthermore, the imposing magical letters still hovered menacingly in the sky, exerting pressure on them.
“Dylan, you bastard! How dare you engage in such filthy and despicable acts! I’ll have you, and those dirty rascals who lied for money, dragged before the royal court!”
Dylan clicked his tongue at the sight of Jaden, shouting with veins bulging from his neck and face.
“You’re foolish till the end, Viscount Jaden. Whether you admit it or not, the count’s house will judge you for your crimes!”
As Dylan drew his sword and aimed it at him, Viscount Jaden scoffed.
“Ha! The order of the count’s domain has hit rock bottom. The lords have been deceived by the sweet talk of a mere heir and brought their troops here? Dylan, what right do you have to judge me? If you claim the authority of an heir and acting count, then I, as a former heir of the count’s house, will entertain your foolish antics!”
Viscount Jaden’s shameless attempt to lecture Dylan even in the face of accusations made the members of the count’s house shake their heads in disbelief.
Just as Dylan was about to say something more, someone with a hood pulled over their head stepped forward and spoke.
“You’re still as shameless as ever.”
“… Who are you?”
“Haha, if you missed home so much, you should’ve just contacted us quietly, brother.”
“…!”
As the figure pulled back the hood, it revealed the face of Count Melvin, looking gaunt but sharp.
“You, how…?”
Count Melvin gazed steadily at Viscount Jaden, whose face was twisted in shock. A ghost from the past and a traitor to the family he had tried to forget. Realizing that his unresolved issues were now confronting him, the count’s expression turned grim.
“Hoo. I heard you were living well and prosperously in a foreign country, so what was so lacking that you had to cause all this trouble?”
Though the count spoke calmly, it didn’t sound that way to Viscount Jaden. Enraged by his brother’s seemingly accusatory tone, he shouted, “Yes, those eyes! That voice! That attitude of looking down as if you’re the best! Decades have passed, but I could never forget! Everything you took for granted was supposed to be mine! If not for you, it would have been all mine!”
Spitting with rage, his rant resembled a childish tantrum more than anything else. Unable to bear watching his brother any longer, Count Melvin’s face hardened as he shouted,
“I will acknowledge you no further as my brother. Viscount Jaden! You are charged with treason for disturbing the count’s domain! If you surrender now, I will show leniency to your family members except for you. Will you surrender?”
“Don’t make me laugh! Who are you to dare? How dare you!”
Viscount Jaden, seemingly out of words, continued to spew curses in anger. Seeing no value in continuing the exchange, Count Melvin spoke to the ramparts and walls one last time,
“I’ll give you two days. Those who have been unwillingly dragged into this rebellion, or those who wish to repent and surrender, come out of the castle by then. I will show leniency according to the severity of their crimes. But…”
When the count raised his hand, mana blades sprouted from the swords of the hundreds of knights surrounding the castle.
“After two days, anyone left in the castle will face execution.”
With a sweeping gesture from the count, the knights’ mana blades caused a loud shockwave across the plain in front of the baron’s castle.
Count Melvin turned away without hesitation and headed back to the main camp, leaving behind the people on the ramparts with pupils shaking in fear and confusion.
***
Two days later.
“Baron Atro has surrendered with ten knights.”
A messenger entering the command tent reported.
“Accommodate them according to protocol.”
“Yes, Count.”
The messenger left, and the numbers on the situation board were updated.
“With this, eight lords, twenty-two nobles, and around one hundred fifty knights have surrendered.”
“Only three lords and those who came with Viscount Jaden remain. Now all who wanted to leave have done so.”
The knight commanders discussed the situation in the castle and reviewed the operational plan. Not only nobles, but many soldiers had also deserted, leaving barely five thousand inside the castle.
The number of knights was about two hundred, including those brought by Viscount Jaden and the remaining lords. With a significant number of those who came with Jaden having surrendered, it was clear how one-sided the situation had become.
“Let’s bring this dirty war to an end. Prepare everyone.”
“Yes, sir!”
The outcome was essentially decided.
However, complacency could result in increased casualties or the escape of Viscount Jaden, potentially leading to another threat later. Count Melvin called out to Raul, who was about to leave the tent for the final preparations.
“Raul.”
“Yes, Father.”
In many ways, the crisis of the count’s house had been resolved single-handedly by Raul. When the count fell ill, he defended Conford Castle and the estate, cleared internal enemies within the castle, defeated Viscount Jaden’s knights, cured the count’s illness, and cut off Jaden’s retreat.
At only sixteen, Raul had protected the vast count’s estate.
“I’m sorry. And thank you.”
Though brief, the words carried deep emotions.
“I was just doing what needed to be done. Besides, if not me, my brother would have managed just fine.”
The count could only pat his admirable son’s head.
“Yes. You’ve worked hard. For this final battle, I’d like you to stay by my side and witness the end together.”
“Of course, Father.”
The count’s health was still not fully restored. Should Viscount Jaden make a desperate charge at the main camp, Raul intended to be at the forefront to defend his father.
***
The final battle began. Having had ample time to prepare, the magical forces hired through the Mage Association neutralized the castle’s defensive magic array.
Pooo!
“Knights, move forward!”
It would have been foolish to push soldiers against the 200 armored individuals standing on the wall. With the signal, the knights lined up in front appeared with imposing elegance.
Eighty members of the elite Golden Bear Knights.
Forty members of the Silver Bear Knights.
Seventy members of the Iron Bear Knights.
One hundred and fifty members of the Chain Knights.
Fifty members of the First Knights.
Including the 300 knights accompanying the other lords, there were nearly 700 knights in total.
“Everyone, charge forward!”
“Waaah!”
Dismounted knights, with shields held high, charged toward the castle wall. The power armor users activated their power armor and ran while holding large stakes, throwing them at the wall.
Crash! Bang!
The magically treated stakes embedded themselves in the gaps of the wall where the defensive barrier had been broken. The following knights used these stakes as footholds to climb the wall.
Clang, clank!
Boom! Slash!
“Die!”
“Haaah!”
Ordinary soldiers were helplessly cut down by the knights wielding mana blades, and the wall was soon filled with knights. It wasn’t long before the tide of the battle shifted.
From the beginning, they had more power armor users; the level of their knights and their overall numbers were far superior. The knights on Viscount Jaden’s side began to fall one by one, and the walls became overrun with the count’s knights.
Then, with a creaking sound, the main gate in front opened.
“Charge! Kill them all!”
Viscount Jaden, along with about thirty power armor users, rushed out. But someone stood in their way.
“I’ve been waiting for this.”
Dylan, clenching his fist, charged toward them.
(To be continued)