Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Strategic Subjugation
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The Storm Knight Order commands a fairly substantial force of knights.
Roughly 20,000 knights... no, that's not right. It's made up of nearly 30 knights.
Considering the Winterguard family's prestige and their responsibility for much of the North, it's sorely lacking in numbers.
But the key point to remember was that all 30 were Sword Experts who could wield auras.
"Three knights per squad, forming a total of ten squads. Squads 1 through 4 will take the left flank. Squads 5 through 8, the right. Squad 9 will provide support to the others, and Squad 10 will support the family head."
The subjugation force had arrived at a mountain not far from the territory.
In the Empire's North stretched the Anantasasha Mountains, a long, sinuous range like a serpent.
Since the Winterguard territory bordered this range, three nearby peaks often became the primary targets for subjugation.
"Storm Knight Order, stand by."
In the past, subjugations had proceeded with Cassius charging ahead recklessly, the knights following to mop up the remnants.
This time, however, they were trying a different approach.
They would leverage Cassius's power while maximizing the Knight Order's capabilities.
"Family head, once the Storm Knight Order herds the monsters here according to plan, you can sweep them away at will from this canyon."
Like drawing fish into a net, the ten squads would gather the monsters in one spot. Cassius would engage them, and in the meantime, the knights would encircle again.
They had considered various tactics, but this seemed the best for the current situation.
'I still lack the finesse.'
Even with Cassius's memories, it was hard to utilize them perfectly. Besides, Cassius himself had never relied much on techniques anyway.
That was why he had devised this strategy: one that relied purely on physical prowess, without needing fancy skills or maneuvers.
It might seem like a heavy burden of responsibility at first glance, but there was no real pressure.
'The power I drew out in yesterday's training with Kind should be more than enough.'
The monsters inhabiting the Anantasasha Mountains behaved much like animals.
In winter, they hunkered down in their own ways to survive, making them duller and weaker compared to other seasons.
Under those conditions, hit with a sudden assault by the Knight Order, they couldn't possibly be at full readiness.
Of course, there were exceptions to the rule.
For instance, just as a starving bear is more dangerous than a fat one in the modern world, monsters driven from their territories could grow irritable and frenzied on top of their hunger.
'Most monsters descending the mountains are the defeated ones.'
That was precisely why subjugations had to be carried out early and often.
Before the monster population overflowed, pushing and shoving until they spilled into the territory, they culled their numbers to keep things in check.
Thud thud thud thud!!
The Storm Knight Order spurred their horses, slicing through the wind toward the mountain.
Soon, prearranged signals flashed back and forth, and monstrous roars began echoing from various spots on Argon Mountain.
"Watch closely, Captain Kind. It'll be worth it soon."
"Yes, family head!"
Kind headed up the mountain with the Knight Order, while I moved to the canyon with my two support knights.
"......"
"......"
The two knights trailing behind me exchanged awkward glances. It must have been because executing a strategy like this felt so out of character for Cassius.
"Something on your minds?"
At my question, the pair jolted in surprise and hastily straightened their postures.
But I wasn't trying to make them uncomfortable.
"If you have questions, speak up. There won't be another chance."
The two shared a look, and the older-looking one ventured to speak first, cautiously.
"Well... we're curious why you're conducting the operation differently from usual."
Emboldened by his comrade, the other knight chimed in.
"The family head we know would have taken the vanguard alone and annihilated every monster. But..."
"You're wondering why we're using a luring tactic this time?"
"......Yes."
I pondered how to respond to their questions.
More precisely, how to answer in a way that still rang true as Cassius.
But the deliberation didn't last long.
What I needed to emulate now wasn't the old madman Cassius.
It was a Cassius who had overcome his madness and was striving to improve.
"Because I've realized your value."
"......Pardon?"
"The Storm Knight Order—thirty Sword Experts and one Swordmaster—its prowess is renowned even beyond the Empire. Yet until now, I've only ever used you for cleanup after subjugations."
"......"
"But a few days ago, it hit me. No matter how mighty the lion, it can't fend off endless foes alone. No matter how strong I become, I can't protect the entire territory by myself."
"Ah..."
"Family head..."
"The subjugation's already underway, so I'll keep it brief. From here on, I intend to make full use of the Storm Knight Order. For the Empire, for the family and territory... and for myself."
I took a breath before concluding.
"So pledge your true loyalty to me."
To avoid meeting the territory's end together, I needed the Knight Order—and plenty of others—on my side.
Ruska, a knight who had served in the Storm Knight Order for over a decade, nearly doubted his own ears.
It was because of what the family head—driven mad after the previous family head and his wife's deaths—had just said.
[Because I've realized your value.]
Until now, Cassius's actions had been those of a wastrel.
In subjugations and other critical territory matters, he had always put his personal feelings first.
Of course, since his descent stemmed from his parents' deaths, many had pitied him.
But plenty had been unable to endure his tyrannical ways and left.
Ruska had stayed for the grace shown by the previous family head and wife, and out of affection for the current family head, whom he had watched grow like a son over the past ten years.
Day after day, he clung to a faint, hopeless hope that Cassius would one day come to his senses...
And just moments ago, that hope had finally been realized.
'Has he... truly overcome it...?'
He had conquered the grief of losing his parents, along with the Winterguard family's blessing—or curse—and regained his sanity.
As proof, Cassius's eyes, steady as he rode across the battlefield, looked resolute beyond measure.
Just like back when he subjugated monsters alongside the Knight Order, before the previous pair's deaths.
"......Kuhk!"
Cassius's words amounted to a declaration that he would wring every ounce from the Storm Knight Order going forward. Yet to Ruska, they rang sweeter than any gratitude.
Until now, they had been powerless to aid the family head's rampages, drowning in futility. This was as good as him extending a hand first, asking for their help.
"Here we are."
Cassius dismounted, spear and sword in hand.
Ruska and George—the youngest knight in the order—followed suit, taking positions behind him.
'......Yes, his posture is ramrod straight.'
Compared to the days when madness gripped him and he butchered monsters in a frenzy, this was the picture of a proper family head, brimming with resolve and discipline.
'Previous family head, it seems the young master has finally come to his senses.'
Rumble rumble rumble...
Far off, amid clouds of dust, the Knight Order drove the monsters downward.
Dozens charged straight at him, yet Cassius didn't so much as blink.
It was the very valor the previous family head had once displayed.
Whoosh.
"Ruska, George. Get ready."
"Yes!"
He and George drew their swords, channeling auras as they prepared to support Cassius.
But if things went as expected, those monsters wouldn't stand a chance...
Rawr!!
Groooar!!
The monsters rampaged forward but began slowing, cowed by the mere pressure radiating from Cassius.
Yes—that was the Winterguard bloodline, enough to terrify even mindless beasts into flight.
As the monsters faltered in panic before Cassius, the Storm Knight Order's true subjugation began.
A few lost their minds entirely and lunged toward him, only for Ruska and George to intercept.
But then—
Groooaaar!!
"A Giant Black Bear!!"
A massive black bear, some five meters tall, seized by frenzy, barreled toward Cassius.
The Knight Order tried to block it, but even Sword Experts struggled against a berserk Giant Black Bear.
At that moment, Cassius sheathed his sword and gripped his spear in reverse.
"Everyone, fall back."
Ruska and George retreated behind him at the command.
Groooaaar!!
The Giant Black Bear roared, smashing aside anything in its path.
And the spear in Cassius's hand, poised to halt the beast, began to freeze over slowly.
Crack.
Crack crack.
Groooaaar!!
Cassius stared down the Giant Black Bear without a flicker in his eyes.
Suddenly, the spear shot from his grasp like an arrow.
Boom!!
"........."
"........."
When the dust finally settled, the scene was beyond words.
The shockwave from the spear throw had shoved aside the piled monster corpses in the canyon, bent or snapped nearby trees, and even caused part of the rear canyon wall to collapse.
And the Giant Black Bear?
Surprisingly, it looked intact at first glance.
A closer look revealed its heart had been cleanly pierced—it was dead.
The canyon collapse came from the spear flying straight through.
As the entire subjugation force fell silent in awe, Cassius spoke.
"Died cleaner than I expected... Yes, process that Giant Black Bear's hide as quickly as possible."
"......May we ask why?"
Cassius pondered briefly at Kind's question, who had approached unnoticed.
"Yelena Astria seemed to like bear hides. Thinking of giving it to her."
Every eye in the subjugation force turned to Cassius.
And in that moment, Ruska's mind connected recent events with the present.
'Lady Yelena visited the mansion... rumors among the servants that the family head has come to his senses these past few days... and now, gifting a bear hide...?'
Come to think of it, wasn't there a Northern tradition tied to love?
A hunter presenting the pelt of his hardest quarry to the woman he wished to marry.
The Giant Black Bear was unequivocally the strongest monster that fell in this canyon.
Which meant...
That train of thought reached its inevitable conclusion in the minds of Ruska and the entire subjugation force.
......It looked like they'd soon have one more person to serve.