Chapter 96: The Mercenary King and the Madwoman 3

In the northwestern region of the Holy Empire, Münster.

Not too far from the Palatinate, the local lord and nobles there were gripped by profound dread in this moment.

“Ma…Mansfelt and that madwoman Christiane or whatever are coming this way again?”

“Y-Yes, my lord…”

The immense army currently marching toward Münster’s castle was more than enough to instill paralyzing fear – their numbers easily reaching the tens of thousands.

“But…did not that wench Christiane already pass through here just weeks ago, extorting our wealth and goods? Why have they returned to besiege us again?”

“Th-That, we are uncertain of. However…”

“However?”

The retainers responded with palpable unease and hesitation etched upon their faces. Yet they proceeded to voice the grim reality they anticipated would soon unfold before their lord’s eyes:

“You are aware of the atrocities those fiends perpetrated in the Palatinate, are you not, my lord?”

“Countless cities and villages were reduced to ashes, including all of Alsace. Münster will surely suffer the same fate!”

Rumors of their rampage in the Palatinate were already well-known, sowing dread – tales of whole towns burned to the ground, not a single elderly, woman or child spared.

The prospect of such horrors revisited upon them was simply unthinkable.

“B-But…did they not accept payment and withdraw peacefully last time? P-Perhaps we could attempt the same this time?”

The lord desperately grasped at the faintest glimmer of hope, only for his retainers to unanimously shake their heads in grim denial – aware of how dire their plight truly was.

In ordinary times, they might have indulged in sycophantic agreement to assuage their lord’s desperation. But now, they fully recognized the severity of the situation precluded such hollow platitudes.

“From all indications, the enemy will not be so easily placated with mere coin this time.”

“Last time, they brought only a modest force, hence settling for monetary tribute. But now Mansfelt’s full might accompanies that woman. Our circumstances are fundamentally different.”

“Undoubtedly, those fiends intend to turn this city into a living hell, just as they did Alsace despite its attempts at negotiation.”

Voicing their paralyzing dread of the looming calamity, the retainers concluded their only recourse lay in a singular option:

“Passive resignation will only invite our demise.”

“Although outnumbered, we do possess armed forces. Last time, events unfolded too swiftly to respond. But now, we are prepared.”

“I see… Your meaning is clear…”

Haunted by the crisis from Christiane’s previous rampage, and the worsening situation overall, the lord and retainers had recognized the need to raise troops.

Successfully recruiting nearby mercenaries and militiamen, they had assembled a force of roughly 7,000 men.

Certainly, such numbers could never defeat Mansfelt and Christiane’s armies head-on.

However, if they maximized their defensive advantages while ferociously resisting – even unable to achieve victory, they might still inflict heavy losses. A faint glimmer of possibility remained.

Of course, the simplest and most fundamental rationale was: better to resist and die than succumb without a struggle.

Thus, Münster bolted its gates and prepared its defenses to receive Mansfelt’s approaching army.

And merely days later…

The dreaded forces of Mansfelt and Christiane appeared on the horizon.

Though defiantly keeping its gates barred in a clear show of resistance, Münster’s defenses hardly appeared formidable.

Built on open plains for convenient access rather than strategic elevation or natural barriers, the castle lacked significant fortification beyond its walls.

Dense forests lined the nearby mountains but offered scant defensive value.

Certainly, they could facilitate civilian evacuation. Yet from the invaders’ perspective, that mattered little.

Their sole interest lay in seizing the food stores and treasures within – the inhabitants’ lives not worth the effort of hunting down.

Thus, relying solely on their modest walls and makeshift defenses, Münster’s soldiers awaited the inevitable onslaught.

Observing their feeble preparations, the invading Mansfelt and Christiane could only scoff derisively.

“Foolish creatures, to think of resisting?”

“Perhaps they wish to squirm a bit before meeting their end.”

“Still, what numbers do they muster?”

“Around 7,000 men within the castle walls. However, mages number less than 100 among them – hardly cause for concern.”

“Indeed, the hastily assembled might of such rabble poses no true obstacle to me. That they would dare impede Mansfelt’s advance is utter folly.”

With those words, Mansfelt drew his blade as Christiane mirrored him, an excited grin upon her lips as she brandished her staff.

“Then let us grant their wish for death! Sweep them all away! We shall show these fools the depths of our dread might!”

Issuing his decisive command toward the castle, Mansfelt’s troops immediately began their advance.

“Open fire! Unleash volleys upon the enemy!”

“Stop them at all costs!”

Ordering resolute counterattacks against the dreadful enemy charge, Münster’s lord oversaw a barrage of musket fire and artillery bombardment.

-“Rattatatata!”-

-“Kawoooosh!”-

Amid deafening volleys, bullets and cannonballs rained upon the advancing foe.

Yet just before impact…

“Barrier formation!”

Hundreds of mages at the vanguard conjured translucent, membrane-like barriers enveloping the frontline soldiers.

And then…

-“Pakang! Pakang!”-

The barriers effortlessly deflected the incoming projectiles. While handily repelling the musket fire, each cannon impact visibly strained the shields – some shells shattering through to explode among the troops.

“Kuh!”

“Damn it!”

Still, the defenders’ full offensive power amounted to no more than 20% effectiveness.

Grim despair clouded their faces as they desperately reloaded for a second volley, striving to somehow hinder the enemy’s relentless advance.

Yet before they could complete those preparations, Mansfelt’s forces had already reached the castle walls.

“Stop them! Don’t let a single one through!”

“They’re aiming for the gates! Stop them at all cos—Guh!”

Instantly scaling the low fortifications, the invaders swarmed over the walls – many of them mages with enhanced physicality.

Capitalizing on their superhuman abilities, they leapt atop the battlements, cutting down Münster’s defenders with brutal efficiency.

“Damn them…Stop them! We must stop them somehow!”

“Kuh…These bastards are too stro—Gaaah!”

Though respectable in number, the individual prowess of Mansfelt’s battle-hardened veterans utterly outmatched Münster’s largely inexperienced militia.

Both the vanguard mages and the heavily armed soldiers following them proved overwhelming against such ill-prepared opposition.

“To crumble so pathetically… I anticipated this outcome, yet to fall with such futility…”

“My lord, you must flee! The castle will soon be overrun!”

“Flee? And where would I flee to? If any are to flee, let it be you lot. I am lord of this domain – I shall make my final stand and be interred here.”

“My lord!”

Resigned to their doomed plight, the lord steadfastly drew his blade, resolving to face his end.

His gaze fell upon the enemy soldiers cutting their way toward the command post, their weapons raised.

Steeling himself for a final charge, the lord prepared to meet his fate.

At that moment…

-“Wooooooooh!”-

“Huh?”

“What…what is that?”

Suddenly, a deafening horn blast reverberated through the air.

Simultaneously, the relentlessly advancing enemy inexplicably halted their assault, hastily retreating from whence they came.

Stunned disbelief, bewilderment and relief washed over the survivors’ faces.

“Wh-What in the world is happening?”

“I…I do not understand. Why are they withdrawing now, after coming this far?”

Unable to comprehend the abrupt turn of events, the lord, his retainers and guards could only exchange baffled looks.

Then, at that very moment…

“M-My lord, over there!”

Following a guard’s pointing gesture, they turned their gazes toward…