124. The End of the Siege (4)

The morale of Harsen Castle soared to its peak.

Reinforcements from Reinheim had safely joined them. A whopping 3,000 people. And they weren’t just conscripted soldiers filling the ranks.

They were the elite Northern Army that Essenmund was so proud of.

“With this, the balance with the Bairea army is completely even,” Aylin, who was standing next to me, said. And Uriel, who was also standing with us, agreed.

“We each have 8,500 troops left. In terms of numbers, we’re completely equal!”

Uriel’s eyes were full of determination.

Not just Uriel, but everyone in Harsen had that look in their eyes.

A look full of confidence that the victory had completely shifted to our side.

Generally, the side laying siege needs far more troops than the side defending, so that thought was natural.

And Baron Hunaier, who was in charge of Harsen’s internal affairs outside of the war, chimed in.

“It’s not just the numbers that have changed the course of the war! The unbelievable feats that Young Master-nim showed during the process of bringing in the reinforcements have spread throughout Harsen Castle. As a result, not only the territory’s soldiers but also the morale of the general citizens has greatly increased.”

As he said that, Hunaier looked at Uriel. Uriel nodded.

“The sight of Lord-nim personally slaughtering over 100 demon-touched and magical beasts… even we, the Knights of the White Night, couldn’t believe our eyes as their heads flew.”

“That’s right! Lord-nim personally achieved such feats! How dare anyone in the castle be afraid of the Bairea army!”

As Hunaier continued to speak, I felt a little embarrassed, but it wasn’t wrong.

The Bairea elite troops ambushed the reinforcements. I took advantage of that ambush to launch a counter-ambush from the enemy’s rear.

And I maximized the output of the 6th Circle Mana Heart and deployed the Lionheart Sword.

Losing even a single reinforcement would have been a great loss. And the ambush I launched was only a raid by ten people.

‘I needed to cause a ruckus from behind.’

And the effect was tremendous.

Although there were only ten of us, we were all me and the Knights of the White Night.

Each of the knights is close to being an asymmetrical force. They have reached the peak of using Aura Swords, and they can handle even 100 ordinary soldiers surrounding them.

So, I slaughtered the enemy with the special unit. And the reinforcements who had surrounded them also launched a counterattack.

The Bairea elite troops, who had come out with great momentum, numbering about a thousand, only managed to return about half of them when the battle was over.

Of course, the one who slaughtered the most enemies among them was me.

‘Well, I’m not going to get arrogant just because of that.’

Instead, the achievements I made have been a great help to the current situation.

I safely joined the reinforcements and balanced the number of troops.

And above all, the Lord personally stepped in and rescued the reinforcements who were about to suffer a major blow.

I didn’t particularly intend to keep that fact a secret. The rumor spread very quickly throughout Harsen Castle.

“Aylin and Baron Hunaier, it seems like you two put in some effort. The rumors spread faster than expected.”

At those words, the corners of Aylin’s lips turned up slightly.

“It’s not a false fabrication, so there’s nothing strange about it. It’s all thanks to Young Master-nim, no, Lord-nim.”

“Th-That’s right! The Lord’s achievements should naturally be widely known throughout the territory! We were just doing what we had to do! Especially since I am a vassal of the Reinhardt family…”

“Most people can’t do what you had to do. You two deserve a lot of credit.”

When I praised him like that, Baron Hunaier couldn’t control his expression, as if he was very happy.

‘I didn’t even use my power of domination, but he’s working so hard.’

Aylin is my future wife, so that’s one thing. But Baron Hunaier’s loyalty was truly amazing.

He is a person with excellent internal affairs skills.

Moreover, his family has been loyal to Reinhardt for generations, so he could receive a separate territory within Essenmund and live like a king there.

But he volunteered to be the Lord’s proxy in Harsen solely out of that loyalty. Even when I was a good-for-nothing, when his future wasn’t promising.

His contribution was definitely great in making the defense of Harsen Castle as perfect as it is now.

‘I think I’m starting to feel it more and more. The weight of Reinhardt.’

Because of the name Reinhardt, many people are expecting a lot from me. Then I must not betray their expectations.

However, the more perfectly I meet those expectations, the more complete I will become as a Great Lord. Just thinking about it filled me with the conquest desire of the Magic Dragon.

“The atmosphere among the Essenmund elite troops who joined this time is also unusual.”

And Uriel told me about the atmosphere among the soldiers.

The soldiers belonging to the Essenmund elite troops have a very high pride in Essenmund.

They are also people who risked their lives with absolute loyalty to my maternal grandfather, Margrave Wilhelm, at the forefront.

When their parents die, their children volunteer as soldiers. When their brothers die, their younger siblings volunteer again.

In other words, they are dedicating everything to Reinhardt for generations. As such, their loyalty to my maternal grandfather, the current Margrave and head of the family, is very high.

“There’s a rumor going around among them. They say that His Excellency Wilhelm’s eye for choosing a successor is absolutely correct.”

However, even they have now come to acknowledge the new Reinhardt.

Even those who were very disappointed in me when I was a good-for-nothing.

‘Now is the time.’

All preparations were complete. At that time, Uriel said.

“Now the odds have shifted to our side! If we just firmly block the castle gates and defend, they will eventually fall off!”

At those words, I was silent for a moment.

Uriel’s words were correct. Even though the enemy forces are magical beast soldiers that surpass humans, the numbers are even. And sieges are naturally much more advantageous for the defending side.

Even the morale of the castle is very high. Although supplies are lacking, there is still some leeway.

If we just block the attacking Bairea army like this, we will definitely have a chance of winning, even if it takes a long time.

‘But is that really the case?’

I already know through future prediction that it won’t be such an easy siege.

The biggest variable is, of course, the Chaotic Gate in the west. Laiarda, the Apostle of that gate.

‘And what that Lamiare’s subordinate said. And the Lamiare I faced at that time didn’t seem to be in complete form.’

Compared to the Apostle-level demon-touched I faced, Chris, and the Fallen Star Fortress, Lamiare felt too insignificant.

However, that’s definitely not the end.

Perhaps Apostles need a separate awakening. So, if that awakening is completed.

No matter how many troops are here, it will be impossible to face that demigod-like Apostle.

‘And if I leave such an Apostle behind, Essenmund will have no choice but to be destroyed.’

Even if they retreat, it’s not a victory if the Apostle remains.

They can create new troops from the Western Kingdom Alliance and the Chaotic Gate as much as they want.

‘After all, the end of the Harsen siege is nothing but beheading that demon-touched.’

I couldn’t leave a dangerous element in the rear, even for the sake of Essenmund.

‘I’ve figured out what kind of Apostle Lamiare is over the past two weeks.’

Then the opportunity is on my side. The opportunity to completely eliminate that Apostle. I said to Uriel.

“Summon all the commanders to the command headquarters. I will hold a meeting.”

“Understood, Lord-nim!”

At those words, Uriel hurriedly left the office.

---

The morale of the Bairea army was very low.

According to the headquarters’ calculations, the time required to capture Harsen Castle was only a week.

But Harsen Castle had not been captured for over two weeks.

Even an additional 3,000 reinforcements had joined. Kessler cursed to himself in resentment.

“Damn Harsen bastards!”

The demon-touched that Lamiare had created. Those demon-touched were actually already infiltrated into Harsen.

Without even knowing that they were demon-touched. Because they were brainwashed by demonic power, information about the Harsen territory army was leaking little by little.

Through that information, they found out the timing of the reinforcements’ arrival. If the reinforcements joined, the number of troops would be even. They had to break them up by any means.

But the ambush, which moved a thousand of their elite troops, failed.

‘No information should have leaked about our movements. How did they notice that we were going to ambush them?’

It was a perfect plan.

And even if they noticed the ambush. They could never recklessly send the defending troops out.

Nevertheless, they gathered only the elite troops with utmost caution, but the result was a miserable defeat.

‘Damn it! I lost half of my elite troops because of just ten knights.’

Especially that young blond man. He suffered great damage from that young knight.

And when he reconfirmed that that man was the Lord of Harsen Castle, Yulian von Reinhardt. The morale of the Bairea army plummeted.

• That… he’s the successor of Margrave Wilhelm, who has surpassed the limits of humans. So, he’s different.

• How are we supposed to face such a monster! He must be a Master! We can’t face him alone!

The 500 surviving demon-touched were definitely the elite. But even they were afraid of that young Lord.

He wanted to immediately cut off the heads of those cowards and display them as an example. But even those troops were very precious now.

‘Damn it. There’s not much time left.’

The planned date has already passed. And the damn magical beasts and demon-touched need much more food and provisions than humans.

The territory residents of the Harsen territory have finished evacuating to that castle. It was becoming increasingly difficult to control those magical beasts and demon-touched.

And above all, the most difficult to control was the demon-touched who was in charge of the Bairea army with him. It was Lamiare.

Kessler sighed and entered her tent.

After talking with her for a while. The thing he had feared happened exactly as he had feared.

“Bullshit! I haven’t avenged the grudge against that damn Lord yet! And yet you dare to talk about retreating!”

“Th-That’s not it. However, there is also the problem of supplies, so instead of the current all-out war, we should take the time to reorganize our troops…”

“Don’t talk nonsense! I’ve already completed the intermediate gate here! I’ve completed my awakening as an Apostle! I have nothing to fear! Yes… I will definitely tear that Lord’s neck… no, his limbs apart!”

As expected, that demon-touched with a bad personality didn’t listen to Kessler.

‘Damn bitch. No, snake-like bitch.’

Her appearance after awakening was now different from ordinary humans. She was still maintaining her human form, but. Snake scales were visible all over her body.

She looked like the monster Lamia, just like her name.

At first glance, it was grotesque. But strangely, a lust that stimulated men’s lewd desires was felt from her.

‘To feel lust for such a bitch. Damn it.’

It was probably due to the influence of the demonic power that Apostle had. Nevertheless, Kessler didn’t want to follow that woman’s words.

‘I can’t make any more reckless attacks here.’

However, as if reading his thoughts on the spot. Lamiare’s nails grew longer and reached right up to his neck.

“If you utter any more nonsense about retreating in front of me, I will kill you right there.”

“La… Lamiare-nim…”

“And tomorrow. I will launch an all-out offensive with all the troops. And I will also unleash the power of the Apostle and participate directly. Know that. Get out now!”

Lamiare issued an expulsion order. In the end, he turned around without saying anything. But Kessler’s insides were boiling.

‘Disgusting bitch! Someday, I will definitely turn you into a slut!’

Kessler left the tent like that.

And the next day. The Bairea army launched an all-out offensive on Harsen Castle.

---

As expected, the Bairea army did not retreat.

‘It went as I thought.’

It would have been difficult if they had temporarily moved their camp back and started supplying.

In fact, I don’t have much time. I couldn’t stay in Harsen Castle like this forever.

I had to go to Reinheim and receive the final secret technique of the Lionheart Sword from my maternal grandfather. And there’s also the matter of the Demon Kingdom.

So, if they were prepared for a long-term battle and slowly attacked Harsen Castle, it would be a situation where I couldn’t do anything about it.

Rather, they launched an all-out offensive first.

‘It’s just like Lamiare’s personality that I read.’

That Apostle of Paludis was impatient and couldn’t stand humiliation.

She doesn’t seem to have forgotten the humiliation of being defeated by me in the last battle. In the end, she personally stepped up in this all-out offensive.

Then, if I capture that enemy commander. The Harsen siege can also be ended.

Right away, with the complete victory of the Harsen territory army.

After organizing all the plans in my head. I called the commanders back to the command headquarters.

“Re-Really, is such a thing possible?”

And at what I said at that meeting. General Witner answered in surprise.