Chapter 393: Things Went Smoothly (3)
As soon as Ghislain returned to his estate, he began urging the knights into action.
“Alright! There’s no time to waste! Get in rotation quickly!”
Recently, the knights had been training in mana concentration arrays crafted from Dragon Heart shards.
Fenris now had an abundance of runestones. So much so that everyone could use a personal mana concentration array if they wanted to.
However, the Dragon Heart shards were limited in quantity, so only about 100 mana concentration arrays were made using them.
The intent was clear: to ensure tangible results, even if it meant limiting their availability.
“Ugh… This is really painful.”
The knights groaned as they stepped into the mana concentration arrays.
Unlike the previous arrays, the ones powered by Dragon Heart shards provided a far greater amount of mana. As a result, the strain on their bodies was much higher.
Although it was agonizing, the knights endured it because they were determined to grow stronger at an accelerated pace.
“Urghhh…”
They let out strained groans as they concentrated on refining their mana.
Mana surged into their bodies, threatening to burst them apart. They had to focus their minds to tame and control the flow.
Once they stepped into the array, Ghislain didn’t need to pressure them as he had in the past. If they didn’t want their bodies to explode, they had no choice but to push themselves.
However, each time they emerged from the array, they could feel that their mana had significantly increased compared to before. The rewarding sensation made it possible to endure the hardships.
It wasn’t just the knights undergoing such grueling training.
Boom!
“Huff, huff…”
Ghislain himself was busy strengthening his body whenever he had the chance.
The solid steel armor he wore was now far heavier than before.
Clank…
The weights attached to the chains connected to his body were also heavier. By now, it was beyond what any human could lift.
Despite this, he swung his sword and moved without pausing his training.
‘I must strengthen my body even further.’
To withstand the rapidly increasing mana brought on by Dark’s influence, his body had to grow even stronger.
Of course, no matter how much he trained, the human body couldn’t completely surpass its inherent limitations as a species.
Because of this, mana practitioners’ physical training methods shifted once they reached a certain threshold.
‘Endure!’
Ghislain gritted his teeth as he swung his sword. Suppressing his mana made even a single swing unbearably difficult.
Still, his stance remained steady, and he pushed forward without faltering.
Boom!
The more he pushed himself to the brink, the more his organs and blood vessels strained, compelling his body to draw in mana.
It was similar to the method he had used in the past injuring himself to make his mana flow instinctively.
As his body became accustomed to using mana, his endurance improved. Mana, in turn, strengthened his body.
This painful process, combined with hard-earned insights, was how humans transcended their limits and became superhuman.
By now, Ghislain’s body functioned like that of a dragon, with mana flowing through him naturally. The more he pushed his body, the faster mana reinforced it compared to others.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
‘Just a little more.’
Even if his muscles tore or his bones broke, it didn’t matter. The mana coursing through his body and his exceptional regenerative abilities quickly healed him.
By repeating this process countless times, Ghislain’s body was gradually surpassing the boundaries of humanity.
Watching from the side, Dark clicked his tongue in disbelief.
‘Wow, this guy isn’t even human. To train like this when he’s already so strong? He’s a total maniac. An absolute maniac.’
If it were him, he would spend his life leisurely enjoying the vast estate and overflowing wealth.
‘Well… I can’t say I don’t understand.’
Having glimpsed Ghislain’s memories of his past life, Dark knew what drove him.
That unyielding desire for vengeance was so intense that even Dark couldn’t fully grasp it. Moreover, Ghislain now had a resolute determination to protect something precious.
It was inevitable that Ghislain would clash with the ducal family and the Salvation Church. So, training to the point of self-torment made sense in a way.
‘Still, running away and living a comfortable life would be easier. That’s what I would do.’
While Dark understood, he couldn’t completely empathize. He had always been alone, after all.
Even so, traveling with his master was proving to be surprisingly entertaining. He got to meet plenty of amusing individuals along the way.
After finishing his training, Ghislain didn’t rest. He toured the estate, meticulously inspecting the progress of various enterprises.
One area he paid particular attention to was the growing number of mercenaries under his command.
“How are the mercenaries we’ve recruited doing?”
“They’re in much better shape now. Their morale has skyrocketed compared to before,” Claude answered with a proud expression.
Under Ghislain’s orders, Claude had worked hard to improve the mercenaries’ conditions. Especially with the abundant funds available, he implemented policies that no one else would dare to imagine.
“There’s chaos everywhere with people clamoring to join our mercenary corps.”
Mercenaries from all over the kingdom were flocking to Fenris Mercenary Corps after hearing its reputation. And it was no surprise, given the unparalleled treatment they received compared to other mercenary groups.
“Is everything I mentioned being handled properly?”
Ghislain had shared his struggles as a mercenary with Claude, including his thoughts about how things could have been better.
Claude took those ideas and refined them into well-implemented policies.
“Of course. For starters, building hospitals for mercenaries in various regions and providing medical services has been very well-received. With the academy in the estate continuously training new doctors, we’ll be able to expand the number of hospitals further.”
One of the biggest concerns for mercenaries was the cost of treatment. Priests were not only scarce, but their healing services were also prohibitively expensive, making it nearly impossible for mercenaries to afford them.
Many ended up treating themselves with rudimentary knowledge, only to have their wounds worsen.
To address this, the Fenris Mercenary Corps established affordable treatment facilities in every estate connected by roads.
Thanks to this, the mercenaries of Fenris could receive proper treatment at a low cost. The academy Ghislain had established earlier continued to produce skilled personnel to support this initiative.
“Good. Being sick and broke is truly miserable. What’s next?”
“We’ve ensured that even in royalist faction territories, mercenaries have access to at least basic food and decent housing.”
Workers who had been involved in road construction were gradually running out of jobs, so they were redirected to new construction projects.
This included building safe housing where affiliated mercenaries could rest comfortably at no cost. These facilities were available not only during missions but also while traveling. As a result, mercenaries could minimize hunger and exhaustion while saving money.
“Are we taking care of the mercenaries’ families as well?”
“Absolutely. We provided them with housing, and they can request deliveries of essential supplies with reduced prices.”
Using Fenris Arrow Delivery, families of mercenaries could receive necessary goods quickly and affordably. It was no surprise that both the mercenaries and their families were highly satisfied.
Ghislain smiled in satisfaction.
“Right. Having no place to go or rest is truly saddening.”
He vividly remembered his early days as a mercenary when he often slept out in the open with no shelter from the wind and rain. He understood that sorrow and humiliation all too well.
Claude also sympathized, as he had once lived as a “King of the Homeless,” plagued by gambling debts.
“In addition to that, we’re establishing educational facilities and implementing social security measures.”
Mercenaries typically learned skills and knowledge from their seniors, which often meant their training was informal and inconsistent.
Ghislain had ordered the establishment of educational facilities where mercenaries and civilians could acquire specific skills properly.
Additionally, a social security system for retired mercenaries, either due to injuries or old age, had been introduced. Mercenaries affiliated with the Fenris Mercenary Corps would receive minimum support from the estate to ensure a basic standard of living.
“It’s still in the early stages and needs refinement, but even just having such a system in place seems to have eased the minds of the mercenaries.”
In his past life, Ghislain had seen many veteran mercenaries meet unfortunate ends.
The nature of mercenary work, with its high expenses for medical and living costs, made it hard to save much money. Retired mercenaries often struggled to survive on what little savings they had left. Many were scammed out of their money and left penniless.
Comfortable retirements were only possible for the famous and skilled, making it an unattainable dream for the average mercenary.
Ghislain was determined to address these issues meticulously.
After reviewing the report, Ghislain grinned.
“Things are going well. The number of mercenaries has increased significantly.”
“There are 20,000 mercenaries currently under our banner. Those who’ve joined the corps are allowed to maintain as much independence as possible.”
With unprecedented policies in place, mercenaries were flocking to Fenris of their own accord. Some were even relocating from other kingdoms to join.
This caused an uproar in the western regions of Ritania.
While the southern regions had always been less reliant on mercenaries, the western lords heavily depended on them. Now, with most of the western mercenaries gone, tensions were rising.
Meanwhile, in the eastern regions, the Drake Mercenary Corps was actively expanding by recruiting new groups.
Initially, their efforts were akin to forced assimilation, but once the benefits of being part of Fenris became widely known, mercenaries began to willingly seek them out.
In short, the kingdom’s mercenary scene was rapidly falling under Ghislain’s control.
“We’re finally prepared to take on significant opponents.”
The Fenris army had steadily grown as well, now numbering thirty thousand. This was thanks to systematic population management across the vast territory.
Just the fact that all thirty thousand were equipped with Galvaniium armor was enough to consider them an elite force.
Among them, a handpicked ten thousand soldiers were organized into a “Mobile Corps”, complete with mobile trebuchets. These troops, trained under the guidance of elves, had mastered equestrian and archery skills, making them the elite of the elite.
It wasn’t just the soldiers. The twenty thousand mercenaries, spread across various regions, would assemble immediately upon Ghislain’s command.
Additionally, there were four hundred knights and a hundred mages. While most of the mages had been tricked into joining, they were now firmly under Fenris’s banner.
Ghislain was a master, and Vanessa, a 7th-circle mage, was another extraordinary asset. On top of that, there were several other top-tier combatants within the ranks.
It was no exaggeration to say that there were few lords in the kingdom who could face Fenris alone.
Claude nodded with a grin.
“We have pulled off significant success.”
When he had first arrived, he’d been worried about how they would make money.
Now, Fenris was regarded as the strongest in the North, with ambitions for the title of the strongest in the kingdom.
Having been part of this entire journey, Claude and the retainers couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.
Of course, from an objective perspective, the ducal families were still stronger than Fenris. However, with the Royal Faction and the Four Major Temples on their side, it wasn’t a situation to be overly concerned about.
Ghislain nodded and addressed everyone.
“The ducal families will be kept in check by the Royal Faction for the time being. In the meantime, we’ll crush the Roderick Marquisate.”
“The preparations for the campaign are complete.”
The soldiers’ equipment, rations, potions, and all other war supplies had been secured.
Gillian, following Claude’s lead, also spoke up.
“The soldiers’ training is impeccable. Not only the soldiers, but also the residents of the territory’s morale is at its peak.”
Though their lives now are more prosperous than any other territory, the residents were people who had once suffered from extreme poverty.
The sense of duty to protect their land had deeply ingrained itself in everyone’s hearts.
Even the rumors of an impending battle with the Marquis of Roderick didn’t faze them. They were ready to die for the territory if necessary.
A few days later, the knights’ training with the Dragon Heart Shard was completed.
“Phew… I feel like I’ve grown twice as strong as before.”
At Gordon’s words, the other knights nodded in agreement.
The process had been grueling, but their mana reserves had increased dramatically. Now they could fight harder and longer than ever before.
Ghislain smiled with satisfaction every time he checked the state of the territory. The only regret was that Alfoi’s progress was still far from satisfactory.
“Alfoi! What on earth have you been doing in my absence?”
“Well, that’s… I’ve been monitoring the mages…”
“I told you to focus on studying!”
“It’s not easy…”
“What’s so difficult about this?”
“I understand, then let me take a short break”
“Where do you think you’re going? Get back to your room immediately!”
“…Yes.”
At the Fenris Magic Research Institute, Vanessa’s scolding could be heard daily. Alfoi hadn’t even reached the 5th circle and could barely handle a few 4th-circle spells.
Having neglected his studies for so long, Alfoi’s mind had become sluggish. It was a relief that fear of reprimand had at least driven him to learn a few spells.
For now, there was nothing more to be done. Fenris had done everything possible, united as one. Well, except for Alfoi.
Just as everything in Fenris was finally in place, a messenger arrived with urgent news.
“Marquis Roderick has mobilized his forces.”
It was expected news, and thus, no one was surprised.
Upon hearing this, Claude turned to Ghislain and asked,
“Shall we summon the mercenaries? If we issue the order and designate a rendezvous point now, they can assemble during the march.”
“No need. There’s no reason to disrupt the work of the mercenaries for something as trivial as the Marquis of Roderick. I’ll inform you when it’s time to call them.”
“Are we going to defend?”
“That would be boring. I’ll take the ten thousand elite troops we’ve prepared and head west. The rest of you, follow the plans I’ve laid out.”
Ghislain stood up, a cold smile on his face.
“Let’s go. This time, we’ll secure the West for good.”
Finally, the ten thousand elite soldiers of the Fenris Mobile Corps began to move.