[Are you suggesting that we wait?]

On hearing my suggestion, Sukla asked with a puzzled voice. I calmly answered him, who acted as if he hadnt figured it out.

If the leader of the barbarians is the one Im thinking of, Darius wont be able to hold on for long and will come down the ridge and hold another defensive battle in the streets of Norseweden.

[But if that happens, the safety of the people-]

We cant afford to worry about that.

If we couldnt keep the barbarians out, the entire Household would become unstable.

This was a household that had survived through force, but since this was a volatile situation, they would think of surviving while sucking on the blood of their people.

Hell be back soon. The animal that he thought was prey turned out to be a wolf, hell have no choice but to be bitten.

I only observed him for three months, but the Darius I observed was not a very good general.

He may have been a skilled warrior, but he was not the type to be a great commander.

Because of that, he could never defeat someone much stronger than himself.

Im sure, he'll return after being defeated.

Until then, I just had to wait patiently and prepare my cards for negotiation.

* * *

Raise your shield! If you are defeated here, the next target will be the heart of Norseweden! Are the warriors of the North fools who cant even protect their families?

If this had been some other time, the soldiers would have been terrified and would have quickly followed his orders.

But right now, they didnt have the strength to do so.

They made full use of the mountain ridges geographical advantage.

Even if there was a slight difference in their weapons due to difference in technical skill, their sides magic remained unaffected.

The road from the village to the ridge was well laid on their side, so supplies were easy to come by.

There was no shortage of personnel, and the soldiers had not neglected training.

The Northern giants who lived on the outskirts trained their soldiers regularly.

They couldnt even be compared in terms of morale. Because for the soldiers, if they were defeated here, the hometown where the families lived was next.

They were trying their best to hold them back, with their lives on the line.

Kuh!

A thick, pungent smell of smoke. Not the smell of gunpowder used by the barbarians, but the strong smell of tobacco.

A woman who looked like a wolf was puffing cigarette smoke as easy as breathing.

How many deaths had she seen to have such eyes? A bright red light glinted in them, as if blood itself was stained within.

Pak!

As if chopping wood, the raised axe split a Norseweden soldier in half. He slid down the mountainside, unaware that he was dead.

Again, shes coming again!

The White Wolf is attacking!

Kuduk.

Ill go!

Darius rushed forward, gritting his teeth so hard, that his veins popped out. He couldnt stand being humiliated by that woman any longer.

Wherever she passed by, with the hem of her coat fluttering, only the strong smell of tobacco would linger.

When she climbed the mountain, she extinguished all the embers of life.

As Darius ran downhill, mana flowed through his legs.

Every time he took a heavy step forward, the surrounding trees shook as if trembling, shaking off the accumulated snow.

Huh?

Findenai, the barbarian woman called the White Wolf, saw a man charging at her and pulled back her hand holding the axe.

Youve finally arrived! Margrave Darius!

Dont you dare call out my name so casually, you filthy woman!

Darius sword and Findenais axe clashed.

In terms of strength, Darius had the upper hand. He continued to push, believing he could kill Findenai with a single slash.

Kungkung, you're just relying on strength, arent you?

Yes!

It hasnt been long since you became the Head of Household, right? Im disappointed. Youre too reckless and lacking in experience.

Findenai, who raised her axe, veered away from the sword, her body gliding through the snow and deflecting Darius attack.

Look at how the blood is rushing to your head. Youll be left behind in the Clark Republic if you fight like this.

Dont talk about age and blood recklessly. Just look at yourself, youre just over twenty.

Hmm, to be exact, Im twenty-seven and a half.

Findenai, tapped on her shoulder with the butt of her axe and sneered while puffing out tobacco smoke.

Even then, Im sure I have more experience than you, right?

Nonsense! Ive been following my father since I was ten years old and have been protecting this mountain range since I could hold a sword. I dare not compare myself to barbarians like you!

Darius was flared up, ready to split Findenai in two for disrespecting him.

The snow piled up to his feet and began to fly away violently.

Yes, thats right. You must have been hiding in a safe post on the mountain ridge since you were ten years old and killing my compatriots who came over to live.

You are just a Lord acting tough. Thats not combat. Thats hunting. Hows that any different from catching rabbits or foxes? Youre a hunter, not a warrior.

I cant stand any more insults.

Insults? Youre insulting me. You laidback bastard who mistook a slaughter for a battle.

Ptooey-

Findenai spat the tobacco out from her mouth onto the floor. Her crimson eyes were filled with intense anger.

Ive been running around desperately since I was born, and Ive been killing people since I was three years old to survive.

CRACK!

Keuk!

Darius eyes failed to follow the incoming axe. The axe slashed into his right shoulder, shattering his pauldron.

Ugh!

In an instant, the mana that was rising menacingly was disrupted and it vanished into the cold. Meanwhile, Findenais feet had already arrived right before Darius suffering eyes.

Bam!

Following her initial attack, a kick was delivered to the face.

Darius body began to sway and fell backward. Findenai, on the other hand, did not pause.

After landing the first hit, she turned around while mid-air, and launched a back kick on his chest.

Thud!

Darius collapsed in the cold snow, and the sound of his armor being impaled and his bones breaking resounded.

Ughh, damn it!

He couldnt even scream properly as the pain prevented him from breathing properly.

It suits you perfectly.

Findenai looked down at Darius and drew her axe from his shoulder.

Quaaaaaaagh!

He screamed, as if begging the mountain to take him, but Findenai shook her head and wiped the blood from the axe.

The other barbarian who followed her held a hunting rifle and aimed it at Darius.

Its okay, let him go.

What? Leader, whys that?

Mercy?

This barbarian is showing mercy to me?

Those who lived like slaves in the Clark Republic are showing mercy to me, the Margrave of Norseweden?

He felt his stomach twisting, but Findenai had no intention of showing mercy.

I have to keep him alive so that another competent guy doesnt take the Margrave position.

Ah.

Darius eyes were swollen with blood. The blood that was rushing to his head worsened the bleeding of his shoulder.

Can you actually report a breach, Margrave? If you do so, wont your Household lose all the privileges it has enjoyed so far the moment you do so?

Kreurreuk!

Ill spare you. Weigh your options carefully. Whether you ask Kingdom for support or tolerate for the sake of your Household.

Darius could only tremble in shame as he watched Findenai laugh as she marched towards the guard post with her back turned toward him.

The sky was clear, not a single cloud in sight.

Only the thick tobacco smell lingered at Darius feet.

***

Just two days later, Darius returned to the mansion while lying on a stretcher.

His soldiers trudged forward with heavy steps, bowing their heads and covering their faces with their helmets like losers.

[Indeed, you do have great insight.]

Sukla exclaimed in awe as my judgment was correct, but it came so naturally to me that I was unimpressed.

It was chaotic inside the mansion, and the citizens of Norseweden, seeing the return of the defeated soldiers, trembled in fear at the thought of the barbarians arriving to plunder, and demanded answers from our Household.

It was only natural as they paid their taxes for times like this.

When I peered out the window, I saw the city of Norseweden. There was a lot of ruckus, but not a single carriage left the city.

I don't see anyone leaving.

[The Northerners have always had a strong attachment to their homeland.]

Like frozen icicles on a tree branch, they did not even think of leaving in the face of a barbarian invasion, and preferred to stay here.

I heard the sound of urgent footsteps outside. Looking out the window, I put on my coat.

Its time to go.

Sukla bowed his head deeply and saw me off.

For the past few days, the door had never been opened except during mealtimes. But today, it urged me to approach it, as if seeking an answer.