119. In front of the people of Essenmund (4)

General Witner was flustered.

A young knight he’d never seen before stood confidently before 2,000 troops.

Not only was he young, but he was also dazzlingly handsome. Witner didn’t show it, for the sake of his dignity.

Everyone gathered at the castle gate couldn’t take their eyes off the man.

‘No. This isn’t the time to be distracted.’

Just a moment ago. That young man had clearly identified himself as Yulian von Reinhardt.

There was no way he, the commander-in-chief of the Harsen territory army, wouldn’t know that name. Count Yulian. He was the Lord of this very Harsen.

‘Surely the Count-nim I know, no, the Lord-nim, doesn’t look like that.’

He had seen his face last summer at an Essenmund dignitaries’ event in Rheinheim.

Yulian was so obese that it was hard to believe he was the successor of the frontier count, and his eyes were so lackluster that it was hard to believe he was of the Reinhardt bloodline.

Moreover, although Yulian had come of age last year and inherited this Harsen territory, he had never once come to the territory.

In many ways, the Count was a terrible man who was hard to believe was of the Reinhardt bloodline.

‘No. That was in the past.’

The Essenmund dignitaries already knew that the next Lord of the frontier count territory had changed.

Although Witner hadn’t been able to attend. He had heard rumors that the delinquent Count had changed since the winter military parade.

And up to the recent suppression of the rebellion in the Imperial Capital. Of course, that wouldn’t have been possible if he hadn’t changed.

‘His aura is completely different.’

Witner, as a general of Harsen, was also an Aura expert.

Just by looking at the young man’s eyes. He could tell that he was already a stronger man than himself.

If he didn’t want to die, he wouldn’t falsely claim to be the successor of the frontier count in Essenmund. Of course, the man before him was Yulian von Reinhardt.

“Th-That’s really Lord-nim! Hey! Everyone, pay your respects to Lord-nim!”

At that moment, a Baron who was with Witner shouted. The Baron was named Hunaier, and he was acting as the Lord’s representative of Harsen.

At his words, Witner also shouted.

“He is the Lord of Harsen, and the successor of the great frontier Count-sama, Yulian von Reinhardt-nim! Everyone, show your respects!”

At the words of the two men, the 2,000 people gathered beyond the castle gate paid their respects all at once.

Those who weren’t martial artists knelt on one knee, and the martial artists put a fist to their chest to show their respect.

The 10 knights, including Lord Roth, also paid their respects all at once.

“Glory to the lion’s courage that subdues even the northern wind!”

In Essenmund, they were the Knights of the White Night who could stop even crying children from crying.

Even those knights sent a very polite greeting to the young man before them.

Of course, it wasn’t a servile greeting. It was a look full of fierce spirit, befitting the Knights of the White Night. If you weren’t qualified, even receiving that greeting would feel frightening.

But Yulian von Reinhardt, very confidently. And as if it were natural, he lightly raised his hand to receive their greeting.

“Greetings later. The Bairea legions are still camped outside the castle. It would be right to close the castle gates quickly.”

Witner was momentarily flustered. He was the commander-in-chief of the territory army who had experienced many battles in this Harsen.

But at this moment, unconsciously, he thought that it was right for the man before him to reign over these territory troops, rather than himself, the commander-in-chief.

Witner hurriedly hid his inner thoughts and shouted.

“Ah, I understand! Allow the conscripted soldiers to enter! The castle gate guards, hurry and welcome them into the castle and close the castle gates!”

The conscripted soldiers led by Yulian all entered Harsen Castle.

Yulian watched the scene calmly. Then, he said to General Witner.

“Then guide me. Now is wartime. I will head to the command headquarters first instead of the Lord’s residence.”

“Yes! I understand!”

Witner hurriedly guided him to the command headquarters.

---

The Lord’s residence of Harsen.

Next to that building was the command headquarters building of the Harsen territory army.

There, they had a meeting with the commanders of the territory army for nearly three hours.

I had directly faced the Bairea troops while gathering the 2,000 conscripted soldiers. So the information I gave was very helpful to the people in the command headquarters.

“We’ll request reinforcements from Rheinheim, but it’ll be impossible right now.”

At my words, the commander-in-chief of the Harsen territory army. General Witner quickly nodded his head.

“The Essenmund elite troops are directly facing the demonic beasts in the permafrost, so it can’t be helped. In fact, it’s already a great help to us that you’ve supported us with 10 Knights of the White Night.”

And everyone’s gaze turned to me and Lucia.

Among the conscripted soldiers, there were martial artists who were famous in their respective territories. General Witner seemed to know them as well.

Even those martial artists couldn’t stop being amazed at the achievements that I and Lucia had made.

General Witner looked at the two of them and said.

“In addition, it will be a great asset to us that Lord-nim and the knight next to you have joined us.”

The ten knights were already making great achievements as high-ranking commanders of the territory army.

It was today that 10,000 Bairea troops had invaded in a surprise attack. But until then, sporadic local battles with the Bairea troops had been continuing.

If it hadn’t been for the knights’ activities, Harsen Castle might have already fallen. But the knights gathered here seemed quite tired from the battles so far.

Witner couldn’t help but be happy that the knights’ strength had increased like this. And as if he suddenly remembered, he asked.

“But I heard from the scouts that there are two Knights of the White Night. Lord-nim, who will become the future master of the White Night, is a person who is naturally qualified as a Knight of the White Night. And I don’t doubt it, but the person who is with Count-nim is…”

Not only Witner, but everyone gathered at the meeting was curious about Lucia.

Lucia was wearing the Pantheon’s combat uniform right now. So I said to everyone.

“She is Lucia May. An excellent student who finished the semester with the 2nd place in the Pantheon’s combat order.”

“You mean she was 2nd place in that Pantheon?”

At Witner’s words, I nodded my head. Witner continued.

“The 1st place must have been Lord-nim, of course. Lucia-nim’s skills are also amazing.”

At Witner’s words, Roth, the High Knight of the White Night, nodded his head.

Roth had visited my mansion in the Imperial Capital to transport the ice crystal stone. So I had met him before.

Roth said.

“I heard that Lucia-nim led 2,000 conscripted soldiers with Yulian-nim. If so, that means she has enough skill to compare with our Knights of the White Night. Wait. Did Count-nim call that person a Knight of the White Night…”

I nodded my head at his words.

“That’s right. Lucia is from the South, but she has enough skill to become a Knight of the White Night. Not only her Pantheon grades, but I’m also thinking of writing her a letter of recommendation for admission.”

At my words, Roth said as if he understood.

“I’ve already seen her skills. As a High Knight of the White Night, I also welcome her.”

At that moment, Uriel, who was next to Roth, was also looking at Lucia. Uriel, who was my escort knight.

It had been months since I had met her, but there hadn’t even been time to properly greet her yet. The meeting ended after a little more talk about the current war situation.

Witner said to me last.

“Then, as Lord-nim has instructed, Harsen Castle will immediately enter a defensive posture.”

“I’m counting on you. And assign me an adjutant.”

“Yes! I understand!”

Witner politely saluted me.

I briefly left the command headquarters with Baron Hunaier.

I was going to stop by the Lord’s residence for a while to talk about the Harsen territory.

‘And I need to ask him for the convenience of the other party.’

I walked side by side with him. Since he was someone whose face I already knew, the conversation wasn’t awkward.

“You’ve been through a lot, Hunaier. You’ve worked hard to lead Harsen in my place.”

“Ah, no! I was just doing what I had to do as a vassal of Wilhelm-sama.”

Hunaier was a man in his early 40s. He was very polite to me, as befitting a Baron who was loyal to the Reinhardt family.

‘Aylin said that he’s unpretentious and good at administrative work, unlike a nobleman.’

That’s why my maternal grandfather entrusted my territory to him directly.

Anyway, I had also directly checked the reports on the territory that Hunaier had sent periodically.

“Harsen’s finances and supplies haven’t been lacking in the reports so far. According to those reports, Harsen Castle should be able to go into defense right away without any problems. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right! Moreover, Lord-nim has saved all 2,000 conscripted soldiers… The number of soldiers is not lacking! With the current supplies, we can fully handle those 2,000 people!”

His report continued as we walked to the Lord’s residence.

The opponent was the 10,000-strong army of the Bairea Kingdom. The Harsen territory army was at a disadvantage with a total of 7,000 troops. But it was worth trying since it was a defensive battle.

‘But I can’t tell anyone that fact right now.’

I knew through my mother’s future prediction that the battle for Harsen would be a very fierce battle.

Above all, I also knew that a being beyond the demonic beasts would attack from the Chaotic Gate in the west, Palludis.

There was no point in mentioning that fact in advance, as it would only undermine the morale of our troops. Instead, I decided to thoroughly prepare for the defensive battle.

As the Lord of this very Harsen. Hunaier continued.

“Lord-nim has returned like this… I’m sorry that I can’t hold a grand welcoming ceremony right away.”

Hunaier bowed his head to me as he said that. But I shook my head.

“There’s no need for a welcoming ceremony for me. No, rather, it would be better to give a very grand welcome to the enemies of Bairea who dare to covet Harsen.”

At my words, Hunaier nodded his head vigorously.

“That’s right! As expected… Lord-nim is a Reinhardt! It’s time to properly show the enemies the fear of Harsen!”

It was a satisfactory answer.

When I arrived at the Lord’s residence, I finally unpacked with the party who had come with me.

---

I had prepared accommodations for the party in the Lord’s residence.

All the members of the party except me were women. Hunaier was initially puzzled. But soon his face brightened.

“It’s Aylin-nim! And I already knew about Cecilia-nim through the letters!”

Aylin was famous among the vassals of the Reinhardt family as a very excellent maid.

First of all, my maternal grandfather trusted Aylin very much. And Aylin was the one who always organized and reviewed the reports on the territory that Hunaier had sent.

So Aylin was like an intermediate approver to Hunaier. There was a reason why his face brightened.

“While I’m here, Aylin will help with the territory’s administrative work. I’ll have to stay at the command headquarters continuously. I’m asking Aylin and you for the other administrative work.”

Hunaier nodded his head vigorously.

“If it’s Aylin-nim, I can trust her skills!”

And he was also very happy to see Cecilia.

“There’s no one among Harsen’s artisans who doesn’t know Cecilia-nim’s name! Especially the blueprints for all kinds of weapons that Cecilia-nim provided to our territory…”

As Hunaier said. I periodically sent Cecilia’s blueprints to Harsen. I knew what would happen in Harsen in the future.

The blueprints provided by Cecilia were of great help in arming the Harsen territory army.

Hunaier didn’t know Tricia. But even so, a spiritist can do the work of more than one person anytime, anywhere.

Tricia decided to stay with the Harsen territory army, following Lucia.

I entered the Lord’s office in the Lord’s residence and received his report for a long time.

It was already late at night when everything was finished.

“Then I’ll step down! Please rest comfortably!”

“Please rest comfortably!”

Hunaier and the adjutant assigned to me from the command headquarters left the office. As soon as the two of them left, I finally felt quite tired.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t been able to rest for a moment since the battle that started this morning.’

Hunaier had already prepared my bedchamber. But I stayed in the office to do a little more work.

Aylin was going to bring me mint tea. But I sent her to her bedchamber first.

I leaned back in my chair for a moment and closed my eyes.

‘I might have to take a nap.’

At that moment. I inadvertently thought of a way to recover from the fatigue I was feeling right now.

‘Succubus trait. Should I use it for the first time in a while?’

And next to the Lord’s residence, in the command headquarters. There is someone who can maximize that Succubus trait.

There is the knight who helped me awaken my Mana, Uriel.

‘Uriel also looked quite tired.’

In addition, if I use the Succubus trait, I can even relieve the other person’s fatigue. I closed my eyes and imagined Uriel’s appearance that I had seen today in my head.

Soon, I entered her dream.