The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Chapter 232: I Can’t Live Without Retaliation (1)

Claude took a deep breath before starting to argue.

“Why is the Lord the one setting the discipline? Is the Lord supposed to be some drill sergeant for barbarians or something?”

How long had it been since the war ended, and now they were talking about going on another campaign? And this time, it was against the roughest of adversaries—the barbarians.

It wasn’t just Claude; everyone wore expressions of disbelief.

But Ghislain, with a face that seemed to ask what was so strange about it, replied casually.

“Then who else should handle them if not me? My father is taking care of it for now, but it’ll be my responsibility sooner or later, right?”

“……”

He wasn’t wrong. The task of handling the barbarians had always fallen to the Ferdium family. That was why they were granted the authority and duties of the Margrave in the first place.

“Well… alright, fine. I get that you’re the designated successor for the task… but weren’t we just discussing how to procure horses?”

“Oh, those guys have plenty of horses.”

“Because they have plenty, we’re just… going to take them?”

“That’s right. What, is there a law saying we can’t raid them? This time, it’s our turn to plunder them. I can’t just take things lying down.”

“……”

Claude’s face showed clear exasperation.

The horses in the northern regions where the barbarians lived were renowned for their strength. Naturally, the barbarians were also highly skilled horsemen.

Their way of life revolved around swift mobility, raiding, and pillaging. It was fair to say that was their livelihood.

However, as adept as they were at raids, they were notoriously weak in sieges. Their lack of unity, being spread out across numerous tribes, and their heavy reliance on cavalry made them ineffective at siege warfare.

The barbarians themselves understood this, which was why they rarely attacked fortresses directly. Instead, they typically bypassed the strongholds to infiltrate the kingdom.

Thus, the strategy of blocking key routes from the northern fortresses and pursuing the raiders had proven effective. It was also the reason why impoverished Ferdium had managed to fend off the barbarians for so many years.

Now, Ghislain was declaring his intent to take horses from the very barbarians who relied on them for survival.

“Wait… can we really pull this off? If it were that easy, Ferdium wouldn’t have struggled so much all this time…”

“They struggled because they were poor. They wanted to beat the barbarians but lacked soldiers and provisions. But do you really think we can’t do it now? Those guys are always fighting amongst themselves anyway.”

“……”

Once again, the retainers were left speechless, bowing their heads.

Ferdium had always faced an uphill battle. With limited troops and resources, they couldn’t afford to launch rash campaigns.

But now, with Fenris in a vastly different situation? They had surplus food, and they had 400 knights. The barbarians, grouped in small tribal units, wouldn’t stand a chance if they committed to it.

“Those guys are struggling with famine, too. We need to take their horses before they eat them all. Isn’t that right? Besides, I had a tough childhood because of them. Now, it’s time to collect what’s owed.”

Belinda nodded vigorously at Ghislain’s words.

“That’s right! Lord Ferdium had to deal with the barbarians so much that he couldn’t even give Young Lord Ghislain much allowance. That’s why the Young Lord turned rebellious in his youth—it was all because of the lack of money!”

“……”

Claude was at a loss for words and looked around. The other retainers seemed to feel the same, avoiding his gaze.

Starting a war while they were focused on developing the territory felt burdensome. But after hearing Ghislain’s logic, it didn’t sound as impossible as he’d first thought.

Turning to Belinda, who had always stood by him in opposing these plans, Claude asked, “What about you, Steward? Are you against this?”

Belinda thought for a moment before decisively replying, “I’m in favor.”

“What? Why? Haven’t you always been against wars?”

“I just really hate those guys.”

“……You’re suggesting war because you don’t like them?”

“Yeah. What else do you want me to do about it?”

Claude had nothing to say. After all, was there any clearer reason for war than hatred?

Clicking his tongue, Claude turned to someone else.

“Master Fergus! What’s your opinion?”

“Hohohoho… I’ve always hated those barbarians.”

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‘It’s hopeless.’

The hatred Ferdium held for the barbarians ran deeper than he’d realized.

Shaking his head in frustration, Claude turned to Ghislain.

“Even so, most of our troops are infantry. Can we really manage? The barbarians are exceptional horsemen. If they run, all our efforts will be in vain. And while we have plenty of knights, they lack the stamina for prolonged engagements.”

“We’ll coordinate with Ferdium and get cavalry support. We’ll pull some infantry aside to handle logistics and leave the rest to defend the territory.”

Claude and the retainers nodded in agreement. The Fenris Knights had unparalleled destructive power in close combat. Their sheer numbers made them virtually unstoppable when it came to overwhelming opponents.

With cavalry to support them, they could conserve their energy and engage in longer battles.

“Understood. I’ll begin preparations immediately.”

“Good. I’m liking how the time spent arguing against me has shortened considerably.”

‘It’s not like they’ve actually started listening to me—half of them have just given up.’

Still, since every endeavor Ghislain undertook ended in success, their faith in him had grown slightly.

Regardless of their inner thoughts, the reduced resistance was a relief for Ghislain as well. Leading an army and leaving the territory undefended meant that swift resolution was of utmost importance.

‘I need to finish this while Harold and Amelia are occupied. With the ducal families focused on the Royal Faction, now’s our chance.’

That was why, even with construction delays due to logistical challenges, he had waited for Amelia’s rebellion to begin before taking action.

The truth was that, even aside from acquiring horses, it was necessary to deal with the barbarians sooner or later. Before a greater war broke out, securing their rear was essential.

A situation where they would need to split Ferdium’s forces at a crucial moment was undesirable. It was better to scratch the itch now and move on.

“This was all part of the plan, so let’s act quickly and efficiently. Summon all the knights.”

At Ghislain’s orders, everyone busied themselves. With strengthened forces and abundant provisions, confidence among the people was running high.

After all, Fenris had become one of the most formidable territories in the northern region.

As Claude prepared for war, he observed the atmosphere of the estate and shook his head.

‘It’s strange. All of this was made possible thanks to the lord’s crazy schemes. Well… maybe I should cooperate a little.’

Claude deliberately pushed away the thought that he was always coerced into cooperating.

Looking at how Ghislain had instilled such confidence in people and built the strength to match it, he couldn’t help but be impressed.

While preparing for the campaign with a somewhat relaxed mindset, Claude was approached by Ghislain.

“You’re coming with us as well. Pack your belongings.”

“What? Why? Why me? I’m terrible at fighting!”

“You’re coming as a strategist and for rear support.”

“……”

Claude deeply regretted not protesting more forcefully earlier.

Waaaaaaaah!

The northern fortress was in the midst of a fierce battle against the barbarians.

“Get up there!”

Countless barbarians were swarming the northern fortress. They wore leather trousers and fur garments suited for horseback riding.

With skull-shaped helmets and battle axes in hand, their appearance perfectly reflected their savage nature.

While fending off the barbarian warriors scaling the fortress walls, Zwalter rallied his troops.

“Hold the line! We can drive them back!”

Six smaller tribes had united to attack the fortress. While their numbers were greater than expected, Zwalter believed they could be repelled.

His concern wasn’t about the fortress being overrun.

‘This is bad. They must be bypassing us.’

The barbarians knew their own weaknesses in siege warfare. Their attacks on fortresses were usually less about actual conquest and more about tying down Ferdium’s forces.

The real threat came from the raiding party that would bypass the fortress to plunder northern villages.

This tactic, while effective, wasn’t commonly used by the barbarians because of the heavy toll it took on them.

But the famine had driven them to desperation. They had to feed their tribes, even if it meant taking such drastic measures. Internal conflicts among their own people had also increased.

“Lord! No, brother! At this rate, other northern territories will be invaded, and those bastards will blame us for it!”

“Ugh…”

Zwalter groaned in frustration. Being criticized was nothing new, so he didn’t mind that. What churned his stomach was the thought of innocent people dying.

What could he do?

‘We can’t afford to leave the fortress right now.’

Though the situation had improved compared to the past, conserving their forces was still critical. The barbarians were spread across the vast northern plains in countless numbers.

If they suffered significant losses in an open engagement, rumors would spread, and other barbarian tribes might unite and launch another invasion.

‘If we keep wearing ourselves down like this, this place will eventually collapse. There’s no other way…’

Ghislain had spoken to Claude as if it were no big deal, but in truth, the situation was far from easy.

The other lords, eager to conserve their forces, provided only token support and turned a blind eye. The Ducal Faction nobles showed no interest in the region. Meanwhile, the Royal Faction was too preoccupied countering the Ducal Faction to focus on anything else.

Only Ferdium…

Only Ferdium had been fighting this lonely battle in the north for countless years.

‘I had hoped to seek Ghislain’s help… but for them to unite and attack so soon…’

Zwalter shook his head to shake off his frustration and shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Push them back! As soon as they retreat, we’ll form a pursuit unit!”

The knights and soldiers, gritting their teeth, threw themselves into the battle.

“You bastards!”

“Stop attacking already!”

Their morale, while not low, was tempered by the relentless exhaustion and hardship they endured. They pushed forward by sheer willpower and by fueling the resentment that had built up over the years.

Those who couldn’t endure had long since left. That was why Ferdium constantly suffered from a lack of knights. It was also why traitors like Jamal and Philip, who once kidnapped Elena, had emerged.

Zwalter knew this all too well. He knew how harsh this place was for anyone to endure on mere responsibility alone.

“It’s fine! It’s fine! We’ll win, just like we always do!”

He steeled his resolve once again. But he, like everyone else, understood the truth: even if the barbarians retreated, this wasn’t a true victory.

The only reason they could hold on at all was that the barbarians operated in tribal units instead of as a unified force.

There were many times Zwalter wanted to give up. Yet, for his beloved family, the people of his estate, and even the kingdom itself, he continued to give it his all.

As he gazed across the battlefield with weary eyes, a thought crossed his mind.

‘I’ve grown old…’

The once-young and bold “Wolf of the North” was slowly wearing down.

His skills had grown sharper, and his experience had deepened, but his spirit was eroded daily by the harsh winds of the north.

And when the heart weakens, no matter how strong the body may be, collapse is inevitable.

‘I just want to rest.’

For even someone as steadfast as Zwalter to think such thoughts, it was clear how draining this life was for everyone else.

Still, the people of Ferdium followed their lord to the end.

Zwalter had something special.

He was someone who cared for and loved everyone under his charge. No matter how difficult things became, he never abandoned his duties.

It was his noble character that inspired the people of Ferdium to risk their lives and follow him on this grueling path.

Unlike the weary soldiers of Ferdium, the barbarians grew more energetic with every passing moment.

So much so that they seemed to forget their original objective.

“Hey, hey! Be careful, you idiots!”

“You crazy bastards! We’re not here to capture the place today!”

“Just hold your ground and buy time, damn it!”

The barbarian war chiefs tried to rein in their warriors, but the aggressive nature of the fighters made them hard to control.

Most of the barbarian warriors thrived in combat. Once blood was spilled, their frenzy overtook them.

The original plan had been to tie down Ferdium’s forces while other warbands looted and pillaged.

However, as their bloodlust consumed them, their attacks on the fortress grew more fervent. This inevitably led to increased casualties among the barbarians.

Shhhk!

“Gaaaah!”

“Die, you bastards!”

“Go die yourself, you son of a bitch!”

As the fighting intensified, emotions ran hotter, and the clash grew even more brutal. For the defenders, the battle became increasingly grueling, as holding the line was far harder than attacking.

The barbarian war chiefs screamed orders from various points on the battlefield.

“Fall back! Rest for a bit, then we’ll come back!”

“Just two more days! Then the others will bring the supplies!”

“These idiots! You’re just a bunch of suckers, northern fools! Hahaha!”

The barbarians laughed loudly.

Though they suffered heavy casualties, they had successfully tied down the fortress’s defenders. Their initial reason for coming—famine—seemed irrelevant as they reveled in the fight.

Mocking the Ferdium soldiers, the barbarians began to withdraw like the ebbing tide.

The soldiers of Ferdium watched them with eyes heavy with fatigue.

Even as the enemy suffered significant losses and retreated, there were no cheers of victory.

Because this wasn’t a true victory.

Even at that moment, other barbarian warbands were likely infiltrating the northern parts of the kingdom, spreading destruction.

Knowing this, they could do nothing but hold the fortress.

The helplessness and humiliation of being unable to act weighed heavily on them.

But what was even more overwhelming…

‘I’m so tired…’

Ferdium’s knights and soldiers had grown stronger than ever, yet their exhaustion weighed ever heavier on their hearts.

‘I just want to rest…’

‘When will this endless fight against these bastards finally end…?’

‘Won’t someone, anyone, please…?’

But it was a futile wish.

This struggle would never end.

It hadn’t in the past, it wouldn’t now, and it wouldn’t in the future.

The only way out was to flee or die.

Yet they didn’t give up.

These soldiers were the last elite forces left in this place, and they lived with the pride of defending the kingdom’s northern border.

As they watched the barbarians retreat with powerless gazes, one knight noticed a dust cloud rising in the distance.

“What’s that? Are reinforcements coming?”

The only forces that traveled mounted in this region were the barbarians.

It was rare for so many of them to gather in one place. The famine must have driven them to take bold risks.

“Prepare for battle again! Reinforcements are coming!”

Shouts rang out from the knights stationed around the fortress. If the barbarians’ forces were bolstered, things would only get worse. But they had no choice.

Their duty was to defend this place with their lives.

As they forced their exhausted bodies to rise and readied their weapons, one knight’s eyes widened.

“W-wait! That flag…”

A black banner adorned with a white wolf, similar to Ferdium’s crest—but with one difference: the wolf was red.

The Fenris banner.

Shwaaah!

It was the symbol of the rising powerhouse in the north.

The red wolf’s banner fluttered atop the approaching horde. As the sound of hooves drew nearer, more soldiers recognized the sight.

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

The ground shook with the thunderous gallop of warhorses, led by a figure at the forefront of the charge.

A soldier, recognizing the leader, shouted at the top of his lungs.

“It’s the Young Lord! The Young Lord has brought reinforcements!”

Ghislain was riding towards the fortress, leading the Fenris forces in an assault on the barbarians’ rear.