Ch.543543. Swift and Decisive (1)

“Sione, what do you think of our barony’s military strength?”

“Just the military? Or overall?”

“Overall.”

“Honestly, I don’t think there’s anyone in the kingdom who would dare touch us first…”

Sione added that with our extensive connections and already having two Masters, who would dare touch us out of fear of the consequences.

“The Viscount Akion’s side is the strange one. Thinking about messing with us when we were just minding our own business.”

“True, even if they belong to the 3rd Princess’s faction, to provoke us out of nowhere like this—”

It’s obvious they’re going to get hit back.

While I was wondering what kind of audacity led them to send such a passionate challenge, a thought occurred to me.

“Could it be.”

“What is it?”

“I’m thinking maybe they actually wanted this territorial war to break out.”

Unless there’s something hidden behind this territorial war, it doesn’t make sense.

Even if a territorial war is just a common event in noble society where honor is invoked to test which side’s military is stronger, it’s still a war where spears and swords are crossed and blood is spilled.

When you declare each other enemies and situations flow unpredictably, there’s no better time to pull off suspicious schemes.

Nevertheless, neither Sione nor I felt particularly anxious or worried about this.

“Hey, if that’s the case, we just need to end it quickly before they can do anything.”

As Sione joked, whatever they might be plotting.

We just need to crush them as quickly as possible, to the point where they can’t recover for a while.

“Ray, give me a usable unit for this territorial war.”

“…You’re planning to stand on the front lines from the beginning?”

“Don’t start worrying right away. Sitting in the back making strategies isn’t my strength compared to real strategists. We’ve always solved things through direct confrontation—”

Sione revealed a cynical smile with a proud expression.

“I already directly commanded a special task force during the Winter War. I can certainly handle this.”

As if saying she’s past the stage of being spoon-fed by me, Sione wants to stand alone on the battlefield.

I suppose I can’t keep her by my side out of concern forever. Having Masters causing havoc in different places would be more effective for sweeping away the enemy than staying together.

“I’ll give you half of the reserve magic corps led by Captain Dorothy and half of the knights accompanying them.”

“…Really? That’s much more than I expected.”

“Anyway, wherever we are will become the breakthrough point for attacking their territory.”

“Then what about you—”

As for me, well.

“All the remaining knights and the entire main magic corps.”

Since I’ve finally made up my mind to destroy them from the start.

“…All the tactical planning I worked on has gone to waste. Let’s just resolve everything between the two of us.”

“I’ve abandoned the idea of holding back for the sake of image. Anyway, they can’t complain no matter how hard we hit them, right?”

Then there’s no need to hold back.

I don’t want to receive or care about the 3rd Princess’s interference anymore. It would be better to completely crush them so they can’t even come near us in the future.

“We’re setting an example.”

Since we’ve changed our minds, this territorial war will be the flare that shows everyone we’ve changed. It will serve as a warning to all the wicked in the kingdom.

“Time is precious, so let’s end this quickly.”

“How quickly?”

“I’d like to get their surrender today if possible.”

“…Is that possible?”

To Sione’s question, I shrugged my shoulders and revealed my grand ambition.

“We’ll find out when we try.”

My first territorial war since rising from commoner to nobility. Victory in a day against a large-scale viscounty.

How romantic is that?

* * *

The Viscount Akion’s territory had mountains behind it and plains stretching out in front.

Normally, these plains would be a place where merchants came to sell goods, tenant farmers tilled the land, or travelers spent leisurely time.

But today, the viscount’s plains were unusually busy and noisy.

“Form ranks! The lord and lady are standing with us on the battlefield—will you show them a disorderly appearance?”

“Knights and mages scheduled for the first charge, take your designated positions! Hold your positions at the front line!”

“One shield bearer, one swordsman, two archers! Don’t be afraid! What is there to fear in a battle with just cause! Remember, your duty is merely to clean up the battlefield after our main force has swept through!”

Of course, the barony’s soldiers who had come all the way to the viscount’s territory for this territorial war were raising their fighting spirit and preparing for the siege.

Soldiers who had survived and returned from the Winter War, and those who, beyond just earning money, had varying degrees of affection for the house they belonged to—just forming a legion facing the Viscount Akion’s territory was enough to feel intimidating to them.

At that moment, with her characteristically cheerful tone and voice, Teia, who had taken on the role of spokesperson representing the various captains, kicked her horse and began to gallop.

“Attention—!”

Teia galloped alongside the long line of soldiers with her horse.

There was no one here who couldn’t hear her voice, which resonated loudly as she filled it with Mana.

“The barony has two Masters! Neither in the kingdom, nor in the empire. No, nowhere on this continent is there a house that possesses two Masters in this age!”

The soldiers who heard her voice couldn’t help but grip their weapons more tightly.

“You have been granted the honor of going into battle with two Masters! All you need to do is achieve merit in a battle where victory is already assured! What is there to fear! Are you still afraid of this battlefield now?”

———!

The soldiers’ shouts echoed thunderously.

Their fierce voices were so loud that the heavens and earth seemed to shake.

‘Viscount Akion must be really scared now.’

Seeing numerous guards climbing up on the walls now.

With us exuding such a fierce aura, those who saw the barony with its morale at its peak must be terrified beyond measure.

“Those who are not afraid, open your ears and focus on the lord’s call! As soon as the attack order is given, rush forward bravely and seize honor!”

As if she had done everything we had discussed.

She returned to her position and nodded toward me.

In response, I summoned my spirits.

“Tania, Elvis. Remember what I told you in the carriage?”

“Since your physical condition has returned, don’t hesitate and each give one big shot!”

Tania was excited that the time had come to use her full power, while Elvis smiled slightly as if he couldn’t stop his sister but had no choice.

And—

“Meow.”

“…Why did you come all the way here too?”

Orna, who instantly flew to Sione’s side and responded halfheartedly.

“When I give the signal, bring down that wall.”

“It’s not even from Earth. Such an inferior wall is simple. Just say the word? I’ll burn it all down.”

With confident faces, Tania and Elvis soared up into the sky, into the firmament.

I took a slow breath as I felt them drawing Mana from me.

“My lord, the additional declaration for opening hostilities has already arrived at Viscount Akion’s.”

Hearing Captain Hanelrn’s words, I spoke with even more confidence, projecting my voice from my core.

I had already shown mercy once by warning them not to be near the walls if they didn’t want to die.

I shouted without hesitation.

“All troops—!”

As the sharp metallic sounds of everyone behind me drawing their weapons flooded in.

‘Now.’

After consuming Mana like a monster.

With a small sun newly formed in the sky.

A scorching sphere of flame riding the gale was shot directly toward Viscount Akion’s walls.

‘As expected of a highest-grade spirit.’

How could they possibly avoid or withstand an attack that was a natural disaster itself?

Woooong—!

The barriers of the mages surrounding the walls began to resonate with the ground as they collided with Tania’s flames.

But.

‘It won’t work.’

The spirit’s flames have the mystical power to burn Mana itself.

Although much Mana is consumed in the process, with my current Mana, handling one such attack is certainly manageable.

Not just an ordinary wall, but one prepared for territorial wars with all sorts of defenses. Rather than attempting various tricks multiple times to breach the wall, it’s much better to resolve it definitively with one safe shot like this.

Breaking their resistance and will head-on will make the white flag go up faster, won’t it?

Crack—!

The barrier, unable to withstand, literally shattered into pieces as the wall and spirit magic collided.

‘Why on earth did they pick a fight with us?’

A commoner who received a royal direct territory solely based on ability, and who was also involved in the subjugation of two demons—shouldn’t they have known how powerful such a force would be?

‘Viscount Akion, you were short-sighted.’

Mocking that all this was the fault of the foolish Viscount Akion and the 3rd Princess.

Kwaaang—!

At the moment when the wall was completely engulfed in a pillar of flame and an explosion erupted.

With Elvis’s assistance minimizing the roaring sound from assaulting our ears and startling the horses.

“Charge—!”

Under my cry, the barony’s legion.

Began to advance toward the conspicuously incinerated wall.