Chapter 315: It Will Have to Stop Us (1)
Ghislain’s confident demeanor made Claude nod in agreement.
“So, you’re finally planning to leave again?”
“Yes, and now’s as good a time as any.”
“The Ducal Family must be grinding their teeth at you. Are you sure it’s fine to leave your post?”
“It’s fine for now. The Royal Faction is already on edge, and there’s no one in the North who can truly threaten us anymore. Even if someone were to raise an army, it would take time for them to reach this place.”
“Raypold still exists, though.”
At the mention of Amelia, Ghislain chuckled faintly.
“She won’t attack us yet. She’s not that foolish.”
If Amelia had truly wanted to eliminate him, she would have settled things when they met not long ago. Instead, she chose a different path.
That’s why she was leaving the rebellion of Baron Valois unchecked. She let it simmer while systematically executing lords and nobles who might be influenced by it.
A woman who made such calculated choices wasn’t someone who would recklessly strike at him.
“Besides, even if we’re ambushed and put in danger, we have enough defensive forces to hold out until I return. There’s no need to worry just yet.”
“Well, if you’re that confident…”
As Claude nodded in concession, Ghislain immediately summoned his retainers.
He got straight to the point.
“We’re heading out to retrieve the Runestone. While we’re at it, I plan to secure some other resources as well.”
At his words, Belinda, Gillian, and Kaor’s expressions stiffened. They all harbored unpleasant memories associated with the Runestone.
“You don’t mean…?”
“Yes, that’s exactly it. We’re going to the Forest of Beasts.”
“Ugh…”
Belinda looked like she wanted to object but ultimately held her tongue. Even back when they were far weaker, Ghislain had stubbornly insisted on entering that place.
And now, with the title of the Strongest in the North, there was no way he’d listen to any opposition.
Instead, she raised a different concern.
“But do you even know where it is this time? Last time, we only found it by chance, and the Forest of Beasts is vast.”
“Of course, I know. On the way, we’ll also be able to gather other resources, not just the Runestone.”
“How on earth do you know that? Is it just another rumor?”
No matter how many times she asked, it was always a mystery. In the past, she attributed it to sheer coincidence or luck. But now, everyone knew better than to dismiss it that way.
Ghislain blinked slowly and replied.
“I just know. I have my own source of information.”
“…”
“I can’t tell you right now. But I promise I’ll explain it someday.”
Gone were the days when Ghislain would joke about dying and coming back to life. Back then, everyone dismissed it with laughter, but not anymore.
Now, any such remarks would only spark curiosity, and they’d bombard him with endless questions.
To avoid that, he swiftly changed the subject.
“Ahem, in any case, we’ll need to go deeper into the forest this time. Prepare thoroughly.”
“Hah, this means the ‘Ogre Slayer’ will have to shine again,” Kaor remarked with a smug grin, running his hand through his hair.
Even after the war, Ghislain hadn’t let Kaor and the hunters return. Officially, it was to help maintain order in the domain, but now it seemed clear that it was because of the Forest of Beasts.
Kaor and the hunters were seasoned monster slayers, after all.
Ghislain spread out a map of the Forest of Beasts. Previously, it had been little more than an outline, but now it included some rough topography and paths.
“Our objective is here.”
Taking out a pen, Ghislain connected the trail they had previously carved to mark a new path. Finally, he drew a circle at a location much deeper within the forest.
“This is where the Runestones are. And there are far more of them here than we found before.”
“…”
The retainers were left speechless, swallowing nervously. They were dying to know how their lord had such knowledge, but that wasn’t the point.
If what Ghislain said was true, it was monumental. The same thought raced through everyone’s mind.
‘More than before?’
The foundation of the territory’s development was, without question, the Runestones.
They had been able to generate wealth and build everything from scratch using the Runestones. If they could secure an even greater supply, the possibilities were endless.
“We could expand the farmland enchanted with Runestones.”
“The knights’ and soldiers’ equipment could be even stronger.”
“We could enhance the power of our facilities’ engines.”
Up until now, they had used the Runestones sparingly, directing them only to the most critical areas. But with a surplus, the game would change entirely.
They could potentially transform the entire domain with magitech.
When goals align, so do priorities. As the excitement in the room reached its peak, Ghislain spoke up.
“Now you understand, right? No need for debates. Just prepare everything with full force. This time, we’ll make sure to secure the territory as we go.”
There wasn’t much opposition to revisiting something they had already done before. It was hard to believe, but the rewards were immense.
Ghislain’s “nonsense” had always yielded concrete results. This time would be no different.
Following Ghislain’s command, all personnel began mobilizing for the second expedition into the Forest of Beasts.
But this time, it was nothing like the first, when they started with absolutely nothing.
Step! Step! Step! Step!
Three thousand soldiers marched in orderly formation, their lines disciplined and precise.
These were the elite of the elite, having fought in both the Cabaldi War and the recent Desmond War.
They had undergone rigorous training within the territory, received nourishing meals, and enjoyed comfortable accommodations. Now, they also bore the title of the Strongest in the North, an honor that filled their eyes with pride and their strides with strength.
The knights were no different. They no longer concealed their overflowing confidence. While most had no experience in the Forest of Beasts, a handful of them had been mercenaries who lived through those harrowing days.
“I was there when I helped the Lord take down those Pallor beasts… They were immune to attacks in the dark, you know? So, I used a Light Scroll and”
Gordon reminisced with a distant look in his eyes, though his memories were hilariously distorted. He’d conveniently forgotten the part where he wet himself out of fear after being captured.
In any case, the knights weren’t daunted by the Forest of Beasts’ dangerous reputation. They’d accomplished far too many absurd feats alongside Ghislain to be fazed now.
In stark contrast to the disciplined soldiers, a group dragged their weapons casually, exuding an air of nonchalance.
“Hey, I’ve been there before. It’s nothing to worry about. I even caught a Blood Python with the Lord.”
It was none other than Kaor and the hunters, grinning smugly.
These were men who had faced countless dangers in the Shadow Mountains. The mysterious Forest of Beasts only stoked their curiosity.
Behind them, a group of elves armed with bows and mages with staves joined the ranks.
Two hundred elves had been fully mobilized, while only fifty mages were selected, mixing some of the newer recruits with seasoned ones.
A portion of the mages had to remain in the territory to handle ongoing responsibilities, but with Vanessa and Alfoi joining the expedition, all the core magic users of the domain were accounted for.
As soon as everyone gathered, Gillian bowed slightly to Ghislain.
“All preparations are complete.”
Claude, standing beside him, reviewed documents and added,
“We’ve secured all the necessary supplies. Soldiers will maintain a steady flow of food and medicine, and laborers will follow closely behind to assist with the construction.”
This time, the approach to the expedition would be vastly different. Instead of rushing in recklessly, they planned to secure territory methodically. With each monster cleared, laborers would immediately erect stockades and establish defensive lines.
To that end, they had brought along several dwarves and 500 members of the Labor Assault Team.
The soil in the Forest of Beasts was vastly superior to that of other regions. Any land they secured there would become a valuable asset to the territory.
“There’s plenty of housing for the laborers, so we shouldn’t need additional preparations. I’ll ensure the supply lines remain uninterrupted,” Claude assured.
Ghislain’s earlier decision to set up an outpost near the Forest of Beasts had not been in vain.
Currently, the Ferdium Garrison was using it as a base, but it would now be handed over to the laborers for the duration of the expedition.
In truth, preparations for continuous expeditions into the Forest of Beasts had been in place for a long time.
Ghislain smiled as he surveyed the forces before him.
“Good. We’ve finally reached a point where we can prepare like this. It took a long time.”
Three thousand elite soldiers, 400 knights, 300 hunters, 200 elves, 50 mages, and 500 laborers.
This was a force capable of razing an average domain to the ground.
It was a far cry from their first foray into the Forest of Beasts with fewer than 200 mercenaries.
Even Belinda and Gillian showed traces of emotion in their eyes.
“Back then, it really seemed like sheer recklessness.”
“Everyone tried to stop the Lord at every turn.”
But now, look at what they’ve achieved. They’d accomplished the impossible time and again, building everything from the ground up.
For the two who had witnessed it all from the beginning, their feelings were naturally different from the others.
“Belinda, everything else is in order, right?”
“Of course, don’t worry about it.”
Belinda smiled at Ghislain’s words. While she would join the expedition, her assassins would remain behind.
With most of the territory’s forces deployed, the remaining assassins would be tasked with protecting key figures left in the domain.
Once all preparations and inspections were complete, Ghislain mounted the Black King.
“Let’s go.”
Everyone was mounted on horseback. At this point, horsemanship had become a common skill in Fenris.
They rode swiftly toward Ferdium.
* * *
Ferdium’s Chief Overseer, Homerne, elegantly tilted his teacup.
“Peaceful, isn’t it?”
The nerve-wracking war had ended in a stunning victory. The results were almost unbelievable.
Thanks to that, Ferdium was in a festive mood, and its lord, Zwalter, could comfortably return to the Northern Fortress.
“To think the Young Lord could accomplish so much.”
Fenris had now earned the title of the Strongest in the North. The region had stabilized. Road construction brought ample jobs, and food supplies were abundant.
No one would dare call Ferdium impoverished anymore.
And it was all thanks to Ghislain. Homerne felt more at ease than ever before.
As he enjoyed his tranquil tea time, a soldier rushed in, panting.
“M-My Lord, the Young Lord is here!”
“Oh, is that so? What brings him here?”
“H-He’s brought a massive army with him!”
“What? How large?”
“It appears to exceed 4,000!”
At that, Homerne’s complexion turned pale. Ghislain had never brought such a large force to Ferdium before not even when collecting lumber.
Homerne leapt to his feet, knocking over his teacup, and shouted,
“That ungrateful wretch has finally revealed his treacherous intentions! He means to seize this place by force! The audacity! After we helped him in this war, no less!”
“That’s not it, sir.”
“Then why?”
“He says he’s planning to resume the expedition into the Forest of Beasts.”
Homerne, now thoroughly embarrassed, sat back down and cleared his throat.
“Ahem… Why is he always act-first, inform-later? Well, at least he’s not attacking us. That’s a relief.”
No matter how high-ranking the Young Lord was, leading an army into another territory without notice was reckless. Had this been anywhere else, it could have sparked a civil war with his father.
Of course, Ferdium would’ve been crushed, but still.
Homerne smacked his lips and muttered,
“You wouldn’t have been able to stop him anyway, right?”
“No, sir…”
“…Well, let him do whatever he wants. He doesn’t listen to anyone anyway.”
“Yes, sir…”
Over time, Homerne had learned. It was pointless to oppose anything related to Ghislain. He’d tried before, only to find himself repeatedly humiliated. This time, he had no intention of embarrassing himself further.
* * *
As Ghislain’s army passed through Ferdium’s lands, Fenris’s banners fluttered proudly.
“The Young Lord is here!”
“The Strongest in the North!”
“Please look over here!”
Wherever they went, the citizens of Ferdium poured into the streets to cheer.
For them, Ferdium and Fenris were one and the same. It was only natural that they took immense pride in being part of the Strongest in the North.
Watching the countless people cheering for Ghislain, Belinda felt a lump rise in her throat.
She had seen this before, but this time it hit differently. The situation had completely changed.
“It feels like just yesterday he was called the Scourge of the North…”
The man who was once disregarded by everyone had now saved his territory and become the Great Lord of the North.
Having cared for him since childhood, Belinda’s eyes welled with tears.
“Please, no more trouble. Just live peacefully now. Can’t you leave everything to the Royal Faction?”
She clasped her hands in silent prayer, though she knew all too well it was a futile wish.
As the cheers continued, Ghislain’s forces finally arrived at the Forest of Beasts, where the garrison awaited.
Spotting someone standing at the front, Ghislain raised a hand in greeting.
“Yo, Skovan. Long time no see.”
Skovan, who had been stuck at the Northern Fortress until the war ended, had only recently returned.
After a brief hesitation, Skovan spoke.
“You’re going in, aren’t you?”
“That’s right. We’re heading in now.”
This time, there was no request for secrecy. Instead, they were marching in openly.
Skovan extended his arm and gave a slight bow, resembling a knight escorting a lady.
“Please, go ahead.”
Ghislain chuckled softly, then glanced at Ricardo, standing behind Skovan.
“You’re still as good-looking as ever.”
“…Thank you.”
Ricardo didn’t bother to argue. When it came to the Young Lord, it was best to just stand back and watch.
As he stared at the entrance to the Forest of Beasts, Ghislain took a deep breath.
Seeing it again brought a rush of memories.
“Back then, I entered this place with my life on the line.”
Of course, that didn’t mean it would be easy now. The Forest of Beasts remained a perilous place.
But this time, he had knowledge from his past life. He had trustworthy subordinates and plenty of experience both his own and theirs.
It was an entirely different situation from the first time he ventured in.
The only thing that hadn’t changed was his determination.
“Do your best, no matter the circumstances.”
Raising his hand high, Ghislain declared,
“We’ve returned to this place.”
Knights and soldiers straightened their backs and gripped their weapons tightly. The fearsome rumors surrounding the Forest of Beasts didn’t faze them.
Their lord had built an unbroken legend of victory in the North. No matter what lay ahead, they were confident they would prevail.
In a calm yet resolute tone, Ghislain continued,
“This time, we’re not challenging the Forest of Beasts.”
He gazed at the shadowy expanse of trees before him, a sly grin spreading across his face.
“The Forest of Beasts will have to stop us.”
As he spoke, his eyes began to glow red, radiating an intense light.