"Sir, the battle at North City has started. When are we making our move?" Kosen asked, looking at Robson with a smile.

Even Kosen, a Mage, could see the battlefield situation was dire. The troop of human Knights had charged into the enemy ranks and, instead of turning back, had pushed even deeper.

The enemy was already in the process of surrounding them. If they didn’t act soon, it would likely be too late.

Although Kosen didn’t know their Count’s plan, he knew that if too many of the North City nobles died, Valentino would undoubtedly be held responsible.

"Yes! My lord! Give the order! The enemy’s main force, the Wolfman Corps, has been drawn away. If we charge out and strike their western flank, they’ll be completely unable to reinforce it!" Claude urged him excitedly.

He wasn’t thinking about all that. He just felt that his dream of clashing iron and charging steeds was about to come true right before his eyes!

"What’s the rush? Do we have an order from the Earl?" Robson said, looking at the completely still inner city.

Were the Earl’s orders important? Yes and no.

In the Frankish military system, the higher-ups were only responsible for assigning tasks; the nobles below them enjoyed a high degree of autonomy.

In fact, this was the case for all of humanity, rooted in the way of the nobility. The army on the Western Front was primarily a Noble Alliance Army.

If you wanted to enforce ironclad discipline, you needed immense prestige to override all dissenting opinions.

But in the current situation, Valentino’s order was critical. The battlefield was chaotic. If he charged out now, getting back would not be so easy.

The Knight Order in the inner city was remaining as still as a mountain, even with their allies in peril.

What if he charged out to rescue them, only for Valentino to sell him out? Who could he turn to for justice then? He might even be accused of abandoning his post.

With Valentino’s order, at least the primary responsibility for any failure wouldn’t fall on him, and compensation would be provided afterward.

Robson had no intention of entrusting his life to the morals of his allies.

Kosen was helpless against Robson and could only stare at the battlefield, worrying himself sick.

Hearing that Robson had no intention of attacking, Claude was naturally frustrated, but that was all he could be.

"Go order the Soldiers to assemble. As for marching out, they are to await my command."

"Yes, my lord!"

Claude wasn’t so frustrated anymore.

...

「Inside Mold Fortress, the inner city.」

Atop the highest watchtower, Valentino held her helmet, watching the situation in front of the fortress with an impassive expression.

Valentino could clearly see every move the enemy Wolf Cavalry made.

"Earl, are we still not making a move?" Fengman Knight Commander Elon asked, looking at Valentino. Elon was a traditional noble Knight with chivalry etched into his very bones, so he was naturally worried about his comrades on the field.

Valentino remained silent, but her slightly furrowed brow betrayed her current feelings.

She was, of course, aware that the North City nobles had charged out of the city. Not only was she aware, but she had also had a hand in it.

Originally, everything had been proceeding smoothly, but for some reason—perhaps the North City nobles had run into trouble—they had not returned after charging in.

’Surely they don’t actually think they can break through the enemy’s army, do they?’ Valentino immediately dismissed the absurd thought.

She glanced toward West City. Robson Camp was completely still.

"WHOOOM!"

"WHOOOOOM..."

The distant call of a horn echoed, profound and vast, as if it came from the First Epoch, a god calling to his believers.

’The Beast God’s Horn!’ Valentino’s heart skipped a beat, her expression changing slightly.

The various races all had different legends concerning the Beast God’s Horn.

According to the research of human Mages and the judgment of theologians, this horn was used to imitate the cry of the ancient Beast God, Kaltima. Its purpose was to awaken the ferocity in the blood of the Beastmen and shatter the morale of their enemies.

To the Beastmen, this horn was a heaven-sent Divine Artifact, and it also had an effect on the followers of the Beast God.

As for who counted as a follower of the Beast God, the concept was quite broad. According to the official explanation of the Beastman Empire, anyone living under the rule of the Beastman Empire and acknowledging the Beast Emperor was a follower of the Beast God.

’How could the Beast God’s Horn be here?’

"Mobilize the Knight Order immediately!" Valentino commanded. "The enemy has the Beast God’s Horn! Don’t get drawn into a prolonged fight. Prioritize the rescue." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Have the reserves reinforce North City. We cannot give the enemy an opportunity to seize the gate."

Valentino couldn’t help but feel a little flustered. She had spent all her time studying at a noble academy in the south and had rarely been on a battlefield.

"And one more thing. Notify Robson in West City. Tell him to set out with his Cavalry. I will take full responsibility for what happens next."

Valentino had held back from giving the order because she felt the situation was still under control and she didn’t want to pay a greater price.

But now, it seemed she could no longer afford to be so calculating.

...

"My lord, the Soldiers are all assembled. When do we move?" Claude asked.

"No rush. What’s the hurry?" Robson said nonchalantly.

As he spoke, he didn’t forget to keep an eye on the movements in the inner city.

He didn’t know if Valentino was in a rush, but he certainly wasn’t.

He, Lord Robson, was a diligent man. The Earl had told him to guard West City, so he guarded West City. One could say he was giving it his all.

"My lord, the enemy across from us has started to move. If we don’t act now and they succeed in surrounding our allies, the consequences will be unimaginable," Kosen pleaded earnestly.

Kosen had heard that horn blast clearly. The situation was already spiraling out of control.

Robson frowned. Logically, it really was a good time to march out.

The enemy’s elite troops had set out, but despite being elites, one look at their formation showed it was a complete mess.

The entire goblin force moving to encircle was stretched into a long line, with the only competent fighters at the very head.

The larger goblins up front were passable—you could barely make out some semblance of a formation—but the rabble in the back was just running around in complete chaos.

They probably didn’t even know what they were running for; they were just habitually following the main force.

Suddenly, the sound of hoofbeats reached Robson’s ears.

The Fengman Knight Order was on the move!

"Claude! Gather all Cavalry at the city gate! Open it!" Robson acted decisively, giving the order at once.

"Yes, my lord!" Claude’s eyes lit up, and he immediately ran down from the watchtower.

"Bo Yang, you take the soldiers in plate armor and surround the gate. Secure it and make sure nothing goes wrong."

"Yes, my lord!" Bo Yang was a bit more composed, but being a young man, he couldn’t completely hide the excitement on his face.

"The remaining Soldiers will fill the gaps on the city walls. I’ll leave the rest to you two," Robson said with a smile, looking at Viscount Fuman and Kosen.

Seeing Robson finally make his move, Kosen was all smiles, praising him profusely.

Seeing that the Fengman Knight Order was indeed heading out for a rescue, Robson immediately descended from the watchtower.

’I have to hurry. I can’t afford to be even a second too late!’

Valentino wanted to be seen as the one owed a favor, but he, Lord Robson, had no desire to gain a reputation for leaving others to die.

Since Valentino had already dispatched the Knight Order, the order for him to sally forth quickly would surely arrive soon.

But by that time, would it be seen as Lord Robson acting on his own chivalrous spirit to help the North City nobles, or as him being forced to march out under the Earl’s orders?

The distinction was critical. If he was a step too late, he, Lord Robson, would end up shedding blood and sweat only to get nothing in return.

This clearly did not align with Lord Robson’s code of conduct.

In this battle, he was going to show the world, in no uncertain terms, that the rumors about him were not the least bit false.

That he, Robson, was indeed a generous and benevolent nobleman.