Wolves of Hader

Chapter 66

I stood on the fortress wall and gazed out over the plains.

The ruined battlefield was being swiftly cleaned up as knights and residents worked together.

Though flames had once soared from the fortress, now only scorched marks remained; there was little actual destruction.

The only significant fire was a blaze that broke out in the pile of firewood behind the castle's dining hall.

Other than that, there was no real damage.

This was thanks to not building any wooden structures in anticipation of flaming arrow assaults.

As for the half-burnt fortress gate, it could simply be rebuilt.

Though there had been casualties, the atmosphere was not one of grief.

Instead, there was a quiet but bustling energy. The residents and knights didn't seem to know the reason, but I could see it.

One reason was confidence.

Eighty knights of the order had withstood over 2,000 foes.

The enemy ranks included nearly thirty elite knights from the empire's top family.

On top of that, there were mages as well.

Not only did we defeat the count's house army led by a great lord, but our residents were even more shocked that we fought and won against the knights of the Syren family.

This battle also confirmed that the knight order was far stronger than regular soldiers, and even stronger than knights of other houses.

The strike squad matched the Syren family's elites, and the berserkers even overwhelmed such opponents.

Most of the knight order started as either soldiers or commoners.

In less than a year, they became such powerhouses that they stood toe-to-toe with the empire's greatest knights and did not lose.

And another thing.

This battle helped us overcome our fear.

Even the residents knew that the Syren family was hostile toward us.

For that reason, they understood why our house had been training its own knight order.

They'd worried about what would happen if war broke out, but those anxieties and concerns were blown away by this victory.

The fact that there were only three fallen had a big impact, and the way the bereaved families responded moved people's hearts.

As the battlefield was being cleared,

Russell and the knights lined up before the bereaved and paid their deepest respects.

The bereaved quietly embraced the friends of the fallen, who knelt and wept.

They spoke of their gratitude and pride for their sons, husbands, and big brothers.

All of this overturned the atmosphere in the fortress.

The looks of the knights and residents around the barracks reflected this change.

Someone came up behind me.

I could tell who it was from the footsteps alone.

"I've already sent Deputy Hans to the Urada family. Once the squad gathers a certain amount of information, I'll have the rest go as well."

"Well done."

This meant Donnie was granting Deputy Hans a degree of autonomy without interfering in each detail.

I trusted that, being Deputy Hans, he would manage well.

Donnie spoke again.

"The fallen from the Urada family and the Syren side have been separately buried. The captured mages have been locked up in the fortress dungeon."

"I heard they caught a soldier?"

"Yes. An Urada soldier tried to escape disguised as a regular soldier, but when a berserker stopped him, he revealed his identity. We were then able to learn the details about Urada's forces and the situation from him. Here."

Donnie handed me a parchment.

It was a rough overview of the Urada side.

Total troops: about 2,480.

Killed in action: 1,521.

Wounded: 423.

Prisoners: 136.

Combined wounded and prisoners: 559.

Missing: about 400.

"The missing—are they the runaway soldiers?"

"That's the total, including deserters. When I asked why there were so many deserters, they said most of the troops were reinforcements."

"Reinforcements?"

"About 1,800. Including casualties, most were forces from the Kiris viscount family and Urada baron family, while the true Urada count's forces deserted from the first day."

"Who is Viscount Kiris?"

"That's the count's son-in-law's family. Baron Urada is the count's cousin. The fallen commander, Macco Urada, was the baron's younger brother and commander of the knight order."

It seemed this web of family ties was the reason the officers tried to control the soldiers' tongues.

Those officers were likely from the viscount or baron's factions.

They were convinced of victory when they marched to war, but when the tide turned against them, they probably feared a backlash at home.

They must have thought the odds were that certain.

"So most of the deserters were Urada troops?"

"Yes. They say there were about 500, and it seems they were tricked into joining the battle. Apparently, they deserted before any real fighting started. Actually, now—"

Donnie glanced over to one side of the barracks.

Where the prisoners were gathered.

"It looks like the deserters are surrendering. Seems there are about fifty more prisoners than at the morning headcount."

Just as Donnie said, it seemed the Urada troops had been tricked into joining.

Since Urada territory could only muster 500, other houses must have been recruited as well.

"There's another reason those two families helped. Find out how much debt the count's house owes and who the creditors are. Check friendly as well as rival houses."

"Understood."

Donnie immediately went down from the wall.

I lingered a little longer, watching the barracks, before heading to where Russell and Ross were.

The two had been in conference since morning. This was because, realistically, it would be extremely difficult for our house to manage the Urada territory directly.

Firstly, the fortress and the Urada estate were quite far apart. Even if we wanted to send an administrator, no one suitable came to mind.

But we could not simply eradicate the count's house and leave. With the lord gone, some other house would try to claim the land.

Of course, the count's family had to be thoroughly expelled. The debate was over exactly how far to go.

If left alive, they would only plot revenge; if massacred, it would give Duke Syren legitimate grounds for war.

Regardless of past relations, for the duke, that's his wife's house.

Thus, we would need to administer the Urada lands indirectly, but should another house invade, it would be difficult to defend.

The Urada count's house was an enormous castle.

Even aside from defense, just maintaining such a vast stronghold was a pointless waste.

Therefore, we had to arrange for someone else to manage Urada's lands.

The key was making it so no one would dare invade in the first place.

So, as I stood at the wall and sorted through my thoughts, a decent plan came to mind.

It all depended on who would act as the governing proxy—the one who knows the truth of this war.

I entered the barracks where Russell and Ross were.

They both looked weary.

As soon as I sat down, Ross asked,

"So, have you come up with something?"

"We'll let another house manage the territory. They'll handle their own troops, too."

"And if they take the land from us?"

"They won't dare move lightly. We'll make it so not even the Syren family or any house they manipulate will attack easily."

"So what's your plan?"

Ross pressed. Russell quietly watched me, as if expecting some brilliant trick, but even I didn't know yet.

"I'll have to go see in person."

"To the count's house?"

"Yeah."

Ross looked exasperated.

Russell's expression said he'd believe whatever I said. I'd never spoken recklessly before, after all.

Russell asked, "Won't Duto Syren, the duke's eldest son, seek revenge? Even if the duke and Count Urada weren't on good terms, for him, his mother's family will have been wiped out."

"If Duto Syren wants revenge, he'll need the duke's permission. To the duke, there's nothing to gain from this war."

"Do you think the drought in Urada's lands will continue?"

"From the prisoners' statements, desertification is advancing from the south. They've already lost half their breadbasket. To the duke, it's a territory useful for nothing but strategic value. He orchestrated this to get rid of both us and the Urada count."

Russell and Ross stared at me in astonishment.

Though I didn't know what exactly surprised them.

"So it's not just a drought, but becoming a desert."

"Yes. Long ago, the west and south of the capital became desert, but it's only begun in the south-central regions now."

It seemed Russell and Ross had no idea that fertile land could actually become desert.

I was reminded again that the people of this world knew little of climate or scientific phenomena.

"Even if the Syren family attacks, our only option is to withdraw. The castle is so vast that it's difficult to defend, but just as easy to escape. And for its size, there's little to be gained."

Ross asked, "Then wouldn't it be best to just demand as much postwar compensation as possible and withdraw? Not that they have much left to give, but still."

"Others may see little to gain from Urada, but we know there's plenty to eat."

"What do you mean by that?"

I couldn't help but laugh.

Urada hadn't expected us to attack, after all.

I hadn't coveted the region since it was someone else's territory—but it was as if a pumpkin had rolled into our lap, vine and all.

"You know the Munden Mine?"

"Sure. That's where the special forces caught that bandit gang."

"Yeah. That mine has silver. There might be more veins like that, in the central mountain range inside Urada's territory."

Russell and Ross, hearing this, nodded as if it was possible. They knew how I'd found all kinds of mines through strange means before.

In short, it meant we could find veins the Urada family hadn't.

We had, in fact, already mined plentiful minerals and made a fortune off them.

But the resources weren't limited to the central mountains.

It was only undeveloped because the area had been a breadbasket—people here believed mountains were the only place with resources.

"Elder Brother, send a report to the Secret Council. Only with His Imperial Majesty's approval can we annex Urada into our territory."

"Of course. What about the involvement of the Syren family and mages?"

"Don't include that. Frame it as an incident between houses. It would do us no good if the affair grew any larger."

"Will the Secret Council report everything as is to His Imperial Majesty?"

"They'll have to investigate regardless. It'll be hard for them to fabricate anything. If we request a meeting, the Emperor will receive us—they know this."

"Well, there's nothing for the Secret Council elders to gain by hiding the facts, and they can't ignore our warning either."

To Russell, I said,

"In five days, we go to Urada. Only those too badly wounded will stay behind; the rest, including prisoners, will come along."

"What will you do with the prisoners?"

Russell asked.

"If they wish to defect, we'll take them on. But only in Urada."

Suddenly, Ross remembered something,

He gazed toward the mountains and said,

"They were there this morning, but I don't see them now. What happened?"

"The Hader wolves?"

"Yeah. That shout startled me. I never imagined you and the berserkers would appear riding wolves."

"I'll tell you about it later."

"So for now, have they returned home?"

"No. They're somewhere beyond the barricade—I don't know why, but it seems they've come because they want to stay with us from now on."

All of us looked toward the rocky mountains.

Until this morning, the wolves had lined the summit, watching us. Then they vanished, but it didn't seem they'd gone far.

Giant wolves couldn't live among people, after all.

I had experienced an astonishing time with the wolves, racing for almost four days.

It had also revealed possibilities I'd never considered before.

That the north was full of monsters, and that, perhaps, our family could carve out its own path because of this.

Smiling, I looked at the two of them.

"The people of Urada may see us as enemies for now, but soon most of them will follow us."

"Are you confident?"

"Yeah. As long as we feed them well."

At this, Ross burst out laughing, and Russell nodded.

They already knew, without needing to be told, how we'd make that happen.

/ / /

A long procession wound its way along the road leading to the high castle on the distant hill.

In the front, around 400 lightly wounded and prisoners walked, and we followed behind.

"The castle is bigger than I thought."

"It was built long ago by the lord. The estate is ancient, as it has always been the breadbasket region."

We were passing through fields and the center of a village at that moment.

The stares of the residents gathered there were harsh. Understandably so, since we were an occupying army.

The prisoners' families were there as well. But out of fear, none dared rush into the arms of the prisoners.

Russell called out,

"Prisoners, you may return home! Do not forget the families of your fallen comrades! If you wish, you may serve as soldiers of this land once again!"

Russell's shout echoed loudly.

"We shall make this territory richer than ever before! But if you ever again raise spears against us—then you will not survive!"

As soon as Russell finished, the prisoners glanced about and began to drift from the column, one by one.

Soon, there were tearful reunions throughout the crowd.

As the prisoners scattered, only our own people continued on toward the castle.

There were no defenders left in the castle. No one watched from atop the walls.

Crrrreeeeak—

The castle gate began to rise slowly.

We entered the castle.

In the wide garden at the castle's center,

The berserkers stood in a neat line.

And before them,

Lay the body of an elderly noble, alongside a letter that looked to be a suicide note.