The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 56 - Tribal Conflict (21)

Fortunately, the two nobles didn’t need to expend much effort mediating the chaotic quarrel that had erupted among the lords.

Before they could even dispatch scouts from Radovitz to investigate the detailed situation, a mercenary covered in blood came knocking on the castle gates.

The lords wore troubled expressions as they looked at the mercenary who had received only basic first aid to deliver urgent news.

The mercenary’s condition was serious.

With his left arm severed and an arrow embedded in his thigh, the mercenary had crawled his way to the castle.

“…So…everyone annihilated…only I…urgh!”

And the news the mercenary brought was shocking.

His mercenary company had been destroyed, and even the two knights who had gone with them had been slaughtered.

The lord who had been the master of the dead knights clutched his head as if dizzy and collapsed backward.

“What in the world is this…”

“Could that barbarian’s words really have been true!”

While the lords were causing an uproar, the castle lord’s knights tried desperately to hear more from the mercenary.

“So you’re saying they were lying in ambush?”

“Yes…at the entrance…to the village…suddenly…”

“The enemies? How many were there? Who was leading them?”

“…Urgh…”

Though the knights pressed him, the mercenary seemed to have lost almost all his strength and couldn’t say anything more.

Mikhail muttered as he watched.

“After Remolnyaf, now that place too…the possibility that they planned this in advance has become very high.”

“That’s right. At this rate, the other places too…”

When Viktor responded, Mikhail’s expression darkened.

“This is serious. To think we’d actually be defeated piecemeal…when did the barbarians become capable of devising such schemes?”

The reason barbarians were frightening lay in their irrationality and the tremendous mobility that came from all of them being cavalry.

They were unpredictable and fast, making them nothing short of terrifying.

However, from the perspective of those who had observed barbarians for a long time, their weaknesses were also clear.

First, they were useless at siege warfare, and being composed of an alliance of various tribes, their unity was also weak.

But above all, their greatest weakness was that they had no concept of strategy or tactics.

The barbarians’ goals were always clear.

Raid quickly, burn quickly, flee quickly.

The reason they waged war in the first place wasn’t to gain something through war, but because war itself was the purpose.

As such, barbarians preferred to clash with pure force, and in most cases, detailed and meticulous planning was of no concern to them.

But this war was different.

They weren’t acting as if their purpose was plunder through war itself, but as if they had some other clear objective.

The massive massacre in the east was just the beginning.

The thoroughness to place watchers on castles they had been unable to capture until now, the flexibility to assess whether reinforcements were coming and adjust their strategy accordingly, and the cunning to anticipate their movements and set traps in each area in advance.

As the already formidable enemies eliminated their weaknesses, they began to appear like a giant monster to Mikhail.

It seemed Mikhail wasn’t the only one to reach this conclusion.

Count Yakobski and Viscount Odor also seemed to have realized something, as their faces were growing grave.

The eastern lords were throwing tantrums, and the two nobles who had been tacitly leading them were becoming dispirited…

It felt as if thick darkness had descended upon the great hall where the nobles were gathered.

It was just as Viktor was about to speak up to say something.

“Your Excellency, don’t worry. There is definitely still hope.”

Someone strode toward Viscount Odor, knelt down, and spoke in a serious voice.

“…Sir Lusimov?”

It was Sir Lusimov, the knight also called the viscount’s brain.

“Looking at the current situation, it seems true that forces sent everywhere have been subjected to large-scale attacks. But look, those who went to Remolnyaf returned victorious like this without a single death.”

Sir Lusimov glanced toward where Viktor was as he continued.

“Just because they’re barbarians doesn’t mean they have unlimited troops pouring out. Breaking the enemy’s spearhead at Remolnyaf this time was a great military achievement. What if they overcame the enemy attacks at other places too? Though our army was caught by surprise, where’s the guarantee that we’ll definitely lose? If they defeat the enemies, this will certainly be a great burden on them too!”

As Sir Lusimov’s words continued, the viscount’s expression began to change gradually.

“Then wouldn’t it be proper for Radovitz to do what we can here while waiting for them? I humbly suggest we dispatch scouts as quickly as possible to assess the situation and prepare to send support anywhere immediately.”

“Sir Lusimov…”

Viscount Odor’s eyes widened as he grasped the knight’s hand.

“Indeed, I have no one but you. Thank you for awakening me! That’s right, it’s not over yet.”

The count also clapped his hands in admiration and added his words.

“The castle lord has a good knight. You’re right. Now that we know their intentions, it’s time to counterattack!”

The two nobles looked at each other with heated expressions.

Hope had not yet been extinguished.

To deal with the approaching threat, it was important to move quickly even now.

Viktor and Mikhail also nodded with admiring expressions.

“I heard the viscount has two knights too good for him, and indeed Sir Lusimov. Truly excellent.”

“If only all knights were as clever as you or Sir Lusimov.”

At Viktor’s words, Mikhail chuckled.

“You also have a talent for flattering people. It’s like putting gold on my face, but if all knights were like me or Sir Lusimov, there would be no place left for scribes.”

The atmosphere seemed to have relaxed a bit as the two exchanged light jokes.

Until one lord spoke up with a cold expression.

“Now I hear there’s nothing you can’t say. Castle lord, let me be clear – I will not move a single step outside this castle. Of course, neither will my forces.”

The talking instantly stopped.

The count and castle lord also looked at the lord who had spoken with cold faces.

“Would you say that again?”

When the castle lord asked again with a hopeful heart, the lord snorted and declared.

“Fine, I’ll say it again. I will not move a single step outside this castle!”

“This man, after I’ve been watching and watching!”

Finally, the count, who had less patience, exploded and slammed the table with a bang.

When a high-ranking noble certain to ascend to the next Grand Prince’s position glared with determination, the pressure was tremendous.

But surprisingly, the lord didn’t back down.

He only opened his mouth again with an even colder expression.

“Count, do you have something to say?”

“When it’s difficult even if we unite together, what in the world are you saying! Where is there such disgrace!”

When the count shouted, the lord also seemed to get worked up and slammed the table back while screaming.

“Do you have the qualifications to say such things, Count! I trusted you two and sent out my knight. But what is this! You insisted on sending him outside the castle and ended up getting them all killed! So what should I trust now to lend you my forces!”

The count’s eyes filled with rage.

He was extremely angry at the lord’s statement.

Just as he was filling his lungs with air to shout with all his might, other lords began providing supporting fire.

“Right! If we hadn’t gone outside the castle as we said from the beginning, things wouldn’t have reached this point!”

“How can you two be so shameless? There are limits to patience!”

“Count, step down now! We are not your vassals! You have no right to command us!”

“These, these people…!”

As the count’s face turned bright red, Viscount Odor quickly stepped forward.

“Why are you all like this? Didn’t everyone agree that food is insufficient? Moreover, it’s not like we didn’t respect your opinions. Have you forgotten that we didn’t send support to Roshtov Castle?”

“That’s one thing, this is another! I didn’t agree with the lack of food from the beginning.”

“What do you mean…”

“If food is insufficient, just reduce the rations! We’re running out of food because we’re paying attention to even the lowly ones. We should change the food distribution system even now!”

Finally, anger settled on the viscount’s face too.

“I can’t understand. If we reduce rations for the mercenaries, all that’s left is rebellion! Don’t you know their nature!”

“Ha, rebellion! I completely disagree. It’s not like I delayed their wages, and food distribution was outside my contract from the beginning! Originally, they were supposed to receive supplies independently from the garrison merchants! I’ve been following the castle lord’s policy out of my generous heart until now, but this is the limit!”

“You ignorant fool! How are garrison merchants supposed to come here! The entire east has fallen into the barbarians’ backyard, and when was that! Stop being unreasonable!”

“Unreasonable?! Are you really done talking!”

“Ah, yes, I’m done talking, you bastard! I’ve been listening and listening, and now some baron trash is spouting whatever he pleases!”

“Hey! You’re not the only noble! You’re not even from the east, yet you’re arrogant! Are you even my lord!”

Finally, the nobles’ dignified conversation had turned into chaos.

At the drastically changed appearance of Viscount Odor, who had been calmer than anyone, the count seemed to become rapidly cold instead, but him becoming calm alone wouldn’t change the situation.

Now the lords paid no attention to anyone.

They lunged at the castle lord, and though the knights and count got in between trying to somehow stop the fight, control was not easy.

Mikhail suddenly sighed and said to Viktor.

“I suppose I’ll have to lend a hand too. Sir, please go in first.”

“Shouldn’t I help as well?”

Even in this situation, Viktor’s expression was as solid as steel.

Mikhail was inwardly impressed once again and continued.

“No, I can’t ask a knight who has achieved such merit as you to do this…work. Please let today’s events pass without question. This is…difficult to describe.”

At Mikhail’s complicated expression, Viktor simply nodded briefly and left the great hall.

He closed the heavy door as he walked out, but they were shouting so loudly inside that faint sounds of yelling were still leaking outside.

Viktor sighed inwardly.

‘Ah…should I just travel alone?’

He couldn’t find any advantage in working together with the eastern lords.

Though he didn’t show it due to his nature of not revealing much in his expression, Viktor’s evaluation of the lords had dropped rapidly.

Outside, barbarians were defeating their allies piecemeal and would clearly soon advance with a large army, while inside the castle, the nobles were divided and only fighting among themselves.

It was truly internal and external troubles.

Viktor’s eyes suddenly began to gleam coldly as he walked slowly.

‘If necessary…’

He gripped the mace he had received back when leaving the great hall with all his strength.