Chapter 261 - Chapter 254: Gathering
Approximately ten days after departing the provincial capital of Noeina. The Arqvist territorial army led by Noein, while merging with the Koenitz Viscountcy army led by Frederick along the way, arrived at the Viscount Barassen territory, the gathering point for the Western Army.
"...Quite a number of people have already gathered, haven't they?"
"Our territory is particularly far from here, and besides, even before gathering as the Western Army, the neighboring noble territorial armies had been using Viscount Barassen's territory as a base to defend the highways."
Frederick, who was also mounted, answered Noein as they proceeded through the gathering point's encampment on horseback. Behind the two followed subordinates of aide-level status, such as Matilda and Yuri.
"That's true. Unlike us, who were able to stay in our own territories until just before the decisive battle, the nobles and soldiers around here have been preparing for Betumia's invasion right here throughout the winter."
"Well, in reality, Betumia didn't expand its domain of control through the winter, so they were simply on standby... but a hero who repelled Cadne's personal expedition has arrived as the general. The soldiers' morale will likely rise."
"Is that how it works...?"
Some nobles obsess over pride or the manner of victory, but among the soldiers—especially those conscripted from the commoners—many think, "I don't care about anything as long as I can survive." Therefore, Frederick explained the logic that if Noein, who could show them a chance of victory, served as the general, morale would increase.
"Lord Arqvist!"
Just then, a voice calling out to Noein echoed. Recognizing the voice, Noein immediately turned around with a smile and responded while dismounting from his horse.
"Lord Oggoren! It's been since the military council last year!"
The owner of the voice was Baron Tobias Oggoren, one of Noein's few personal friends. Because the Oggoren territory was close to the border with the southern part of the kingdom and was among the first to recover from the effects of the poor harvest, the Oggoren family's relative importance in the northwest had increased, making them a mainstay family in this battle.
"My territory is close in distance, so I believe I can assist the Western Army in various ways. It is an honor to fight alongside Lord Arqvist. I look forward to working with you."
"The honor is mine, Lord Oggoren. I am proud to fight together with you. I look forward to working with you as well."
Noein exchanged a friendly handshake with Tobias. While watching this from the side, someone now called out to Frederick.
"Thank you for your hard work on the march here, Brother-in-law."
"...Lord Noah! It has been a long time!"
When Frederick turned toward the voice, standing there was Baron Noah Wikander.
Noah's wife, Lory, was Clara's older sister and Frederick's younger sister. Just as it was from Noein's perspective, from Noah's perspective, Frederick was his brother-in-law.
"I am glad to see you are doing well... Lord Arqvist, I also look forward to working with you this time. It is very reassuring to have you here."
"Lord Wikander, I look forward to working with you as well. Let us win against Betumia together."
The Baron Wikander family, which had been positioned in the lower strata among the high-ranking nobles of the Northwest Faction, had relatively strengthened its power by overcoming last year's poor harvest and famine through steady territorial management.
This time, many of the high-ranking nobles, such as Marquis Bechtolsheim, Earl Marcel, Earl Shuvalov, and other viscount-class nobles, would be placed in the kingdom's central main force to fight. As a result, the core of the Western Army consisted of four families: the Viscount Arqvist family, the Viscount Koenitz family, the Baron Oggoren family, and the Baron Wikander family.
"Even so... I never thought my Wikander Baron family, which had a faint presence even in the northwest noble society, would end up in such a position in a battle that decides the fate of the kingdom."
"Me neither. The Oggoren Baron family, for instance, used to be treated as just one of many... this is thanks to Lord Arqvist being friendly with us."
"The Viscount Koenitz family has also seen its economic scale grow since strengthening its relationship with Lord Noein, increasing its influence in the northwest more than before. It might even be better to call it the Arqvist Faction now."
Three families with particularly deep ties to the Arqvist family. As the heads and next heads of those families spoke one after another, Noein answered with a wry smile.
"The name 'Arqvist Faction' is far too daunting... but if I am able to be of help to everyone, I am honored. To continue advancing on the path of mutual prosperity, let us definitely win this battle."
Within each regional faction, detailed power divisions are made, and nobles who have interests—such as deep business ties or simply being geographically close—are sometimes referred to as a "〇〇 Faction."
While answering humbly on the surface, Noein was inwardly pleased that a network of nobles centered around himself was actually being born, and that this connection would likely be profitable for mutual prosperity in the future.
"Furthermore, there are those participating in this Western Army from the southwest nobles, including Viscount Barassen, who lent us the location for this encampment. Let's finish the introductions to them as well."
Noah brought this up, and together with Tobias, they guided Noein and the others to the tent that served as the provisional headquarters.
When Noein entered the tent with Frederick and his subordinates, there were several nobles centered around a man with a nervous expression wearing a flashy military uniform. Noein knew the person standing at the edge well.
"Lord Rosbroke, it has been a long time."
"Hm? ...Isn't this Lord Arqvist. You've arrived safely, then."
"Yes, just a moment ago."
Smiling gently, Noein exchanged greetings with Baron Viowulf Rosbroke.
"I hear the southern part of the kingdom has suffered a great blow, but was Lord Rosbroke's territory safe?"
"Yes, the Rosbroke territory is toward the north among the kingdom's southwest, around the west of this Viscount Barassen territory. As long as we don't allow Betumia's invasion into the kingdom's west to proceed any further, there should be no worry of being swept into the flames of war."
"That is for the best."
"...Um."
An apologetic voice called out to the two who were conversing friendly. It was the man in the flashy military uniform.
"Ah, my apologies. I am late with my greetings. I am Noein Arqvist, head of the Viscount Arqvist family."
"...I am Viscount Snelson Barassen. Lord Arqvist, this time, please, please I beg of you. I want you to bring victory to this battle in the kingdom's west."
Noein thought that the reason Viscount Barassen spoke while bowing low with a completely worn-out expression was likely due to the location of his territory.
The reason Viscount Barassen's territory was the gathering point this time was that the hilly region, which would be the site of the decisive battle against the Republic of Betumia's army in the kingdom's west, was located around the southeast of this territory. If Noein and the others were to be defeated by the Republic of Betumia's western invasion force, the Viscount Barassen territory would be the first to be invaded. As a viscount, he likely couldn't afford to be picky about his appearance.
"Of course. Since I have been honored to receive the role of general of the Western Army from His Majesty the King, I will certainly defend the western defense line to the end. Lord Barassen, and everyone of the Southwest Faction, I look forward to working with you."
"That is good. I will cooperate in any way for the sake of victory. If there is anything you need, please tell me."
Despite having the same rank, Viscount Barassen bowed repeatedly to Noein, who was lower in noble house status and age as a head. The other southwest nobles showed subtle expressions at Viscount Barassen, who was taking a low posture toward a youth who could be called a mere brat from an opposing faction.
"...Well, with our arrival, the primary nobles constituting the Western Army should be assembled. There isn't much time. I think it would be best to start the military council immediately after this, what do you think? Lord Noein."
Frederick, serving as the chief of staff for the entire Western Army, proposed this while taking the form of asking Noein, the commander-in-chief.
"You're right. Let's finish the outline explanation of the strategy as quickly as possible, so that we are ready whenever the enemy moves."
Including the lower nobles, a total of about 6,000 troops were gathering from over a hundred noble houses. Reorganizing this into the form of a single army would take a considerable amount of effort.
To prepare for the decisive battle in this land, Noein decided to begin the military council with the nobles gathered here.