The army of five hundred did not choose to camp by Moon Lake. That would be courting death. Instead, they chose a basin about two or three hundred meters from the lake.
Compared to the army Mr. Laine had seen at Kaltenhaven, this army composed of the standing army and conscripts from Mijordenhaven was much better equipped and overall stronger. Judging by how quickly they set up camp, they were nimble and well-trained, swiftly assembling an encampment in no time.
The next steps were simple: fetching water, chopping wood, cooking, then preparing to rest early.
Inside the camp, hushed whispers floated around. The soldiers had no confidence in the potential encounter tomorrow. They surrounded the Kingdom Knight Nikolai, talking quietly while warming themselves by the fire and eating.
"Sir Nikolai, is the battle happening tomorrow?" a young soldier cautiously asked.
"You brat, what nonsense are you spouting? If there's no battle, why are we here?" An old soldier retorted with scolding anger.
"...I was just asking." The recruit looked uneasy: "I heard the Barbarian Warriors are followers of Chaos. They eat human flesh, drink human blood, and tear apart everything they see; can we survive tomorrow?"
"Who knows? We are already south of Nord in Mijordenhaven, why on earth would those damned Barbarians come here?" The soldiers grumbled, setting down their weapons and eating their rations heartily.
"..." Laine frowned. Even equipped better and stronger, these soldiers lacked the morale of the battle-worn veterans from the northern towns.
He cast a glance at Nikolai, signaling him to speak up. Laine's current role was more of a guest general, so it was not appropriate for him to direct the troops over the Kingdom Knight Nikolai.
He had never felt a stronger desire to have his own territory, his own army.
"You fools, can't you use your brains?" Nikolai immediately understood, angrily scolding the soldiers: "Think carefully, if we don't go to battle, won't the Barbarians come knocking?"
The logic was clear, and most soldiers quickly grasped the cause and effect.
"I'm telling you, it's impossible! Whether we go to battle or not, those damned Barbarians will swarm into our cities like locusts, kill our families, seize our food, and turn everything we have now to ashes!"
Determination began to light up the eyes of the soldiers; everyone knew the consequences of letting Barbarians invade the city.
Many young soldiers' eyes were already blood red, breathing heavily.
"Our names will remain as shameful marks on our graves—if we have any, enduring the derision of those who come after us. Even if we escape with our lives, unable to defend our hometown, how can we face others?"
"Kill! Kill those damned Barbarians!" A young soldier instantly stood up: "Kill them all!"
"Yes! Exterminate them!" Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs noⅴelfire.net
"All Barbarians deserve to die!"
"Swear to defend our homeland!"
"Protect our hometown! Protect Count!"
War is the best patriotic education. Seeing the soldiers' morale gradually rise, Laine nodded with satisfaction. Behind these soldiers lay their homeland, their families, which were their reasons to fight. Their honor and lives were closely tied; they had no reason not to fight to the death.
Southern Nord was different from the north; in northern towns, most civilians had eyes blood-red upon hearing that the Northern Barbarians were coming.
Laine left the camp, walking alone to the side of Moon Lake to think by himself. Gradually, darkness fell, and the moon rose. Laine looked at the huge full moon overhead, hearing footsteps behind him: "You have a good father, Aik."
"Mr. Laine, I apologize once again for my past actions." The young Wandering Knight sighed, appearing behind Laine: "I had decided not to rely on my father's reputation, but I ultimately fell before reality."
"Everyone must face reality. There will be a day when people bow to reality; if your current strength cannot overcome it, then wait for the opportunity." Laine turned to face the Wandering Knight standing behind him.
From the moment he saw the Aik Albrecht family crest, he knew this lad was the son of White Wolf Knight Gade, because no one else could bear such a crest.
"Greedy for fame, compromising principles, using threats and inducements—I truly feel ashamed for your father." Laine's expression was cold, his piercing gaze almost made the Wandering Knight feel worthless: "Do you know why I didn't hold your group accountable in the end?"
"Why?" The Wandering Knight instinctively responded.
"Because... in some ways, you did a good thing by chance. At that time, you dressed up and faced the enemy, buying a lot of time for the caravan. Had it not been for your sacrifice, perhaps more people would have died." Laine's gaze drifted towards the distant Moon Lake as he spoke lightly: "Moreover, if it weren't for your forced palace action, perhaps I wouldn't have gained that unexpected wealth, so weighing the outcome, I felt no need to pursue accountability for Goodson; he was injured fighting Beastmen, wasn't he?"