Chapter 46
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Chapter 46: Into the City
The winter sun is not warm, but it can bring warmth to a cold body.
Leo used to love the winter sun because it was not bright and hot, unlike the summer sun that would force him awake from his dreams.
But at this moment, he could not find joy in the sunshine.
Holding the reins, riding on a white horse, he looked towards the horizon where the sunlight was shining.
On the towering Mary Ann’s Great Wall, which rose into the sky and stretched east to west, there was a huge, irregular crack that was steaming.
It almost split the giant wall into two pieces.
"Mary Ann’s Great Wall is really destroyed…" Miss Skuld whispered as she stared at the crack, her eyes filled with deep shock.
The White Cavalry Army, who had stopped with their horses, shared the same shock.
The high spirits that had risen from defeating the Joyful Church now fell to absolute zero.
"The giant wall has broken…"
"Ah, order…"
"So, why are we here… really…"
"Praise order, I must be dreaming."
If they were not believers of order, their faces would surely show signs of being lost and dazed.
Everyone knows what it means when the giant wall has been broken.
It is simply four words—
Suffering and despair.
Even Leo felt a strange and unexplainable emotion stirring inside him.
The excitement from the damaged grand building made him unconsciously recall the ancient Eastern kingdom that built the Great Wall to protect against outsiders for thousands of years.
Through the vast changes of time, a giant wall and a long wall hold the blood and hopes of many people.
They also bring together the joys and sorrows of countless people.
"Silence!" At that moment, Saintess Fleur urged her horse to the front and said, "What’s wrong? Have you forgotten the teachings of order? Or have you lost your minds in the face of fear?"
Hearing this, the knights calmed down, placing their right hands over their hearts and praying sincerely.
"Praise the order, grant me a body that will never know fear."
"Praise the order, grant me blood that remains calm at all times."
"Praise the order, . . ."
The restless White Cavalry Army fell silent, and this group, lacking any military demeanor, suddenly became fierce and strong.
This scene captured Leo’s attention in the crowd, and it was only at that moment that he finally understood the power of faith in a world with a god.
The saintess waited until everyone was calm before she spoke again:
"Yes, I know that many of you find it hard to accept the fact that Mary Ann’s Great Wall has been breached."
"In fact, I feel the same way because that was a miracle of order, a blessing given to us by our Lord."
"But please do not forget who we are."
"We are believers of order, we are the voice of order in this world."
"Do you really want to let the outsiders who have insulted our Lord continue to step onto our Lord’s land?"
"Are your prayers, your spells, and your willingness to sacrifice everything for our Lord merely empty words?"
"Now, an opportunity is in front of you!"
"An opportunity to prove your devotion to our Lord!"
"An opportunity to take revenge on the foreign beings who have offended our Lord!"
"An opportunity to let the light of order shine across the entire Castella continent!"
"Now, I ask you, are you willing to set aside your fears and follow me to drive out these foreign beings without leaving a single one behind?"
"Now, grip the reins tightly, raise your spears, knights, and march with me into battle!"
The saintess finished speaking without giving the believers time to respond.
She pulled on the reins, urged her horse forward, and charged towards Winter Fortress.
"For order!" "Praise order!" "Leave no one behind!" "Drive them all out!"
The White Cavalry Army was filled with fighting spirit as they followed their saintess closely.
…
By the time the White Cavalry Army truly entered the Winter Fortress, it was already noon.
This stronghold, built halfway up the mountain, took a considerable amount of time to reach even when coming from the back, let alone attacking from the open plains in front.
Choosing this city as a stronghold to defend against the invaders after the great wall broke was a smart move by the Marquis of Logan.
The sentry at the city gate spotted the White Cavalry Army, confirmed their identity, and then opened the gate, guiding them to the assembly point.
As Leo observed the decorations inside the city along the way, he couldn’t help but sigh with relief under his hood.
Thankfully, things were not as bad as he had imagined.
Although the great wall had fallen, the Winter Fortress was not besieged, and the supply line from behind the city was still functioning.
The city walls were already lined with rolling stones and giant logs, and every three meters, a strong crossbow was set up. The sentinels did not look hopeless; they simply appeared to be fewer in number.
All this shows that although the Great Wall suffered a defeat, the morale within the city did not fall to a low point.
The Marquis of Logan was still able to command the army.
The northern army cannot be completely dispatched by the central command like the army in Leo’s original world.
The army of the Tersk Territory can be roughly divided into three categories.
The first category consists of the Holy Guard, made up of believers from the Church. The White Cavalry Army, where Leo is now, is the strongest among them. This type of army is not very large, totaling less than twenty thousand, but their fighting ability is not bad since they are all believers.
The second category consists of soldiers gathered by the Duke of Tersk through conscription orders. Anyone in the northern region, whether they are a passing adventurer or a guardian, can be summoned.
Caravans and mercenaries, upon receiving the call, should hurry to the front lines. This kind of army is usually called a mixed troop.
The third type, which is the main force of a real war, is an army made up of private soldiers from various nobles, just like the armies of medieval Europe. They usually stay in their own territories and only obey the duke’s orders during wartime.
The Black Cavalry, which had once dominated the northern region for many years, is the private army of the Duke of Tersk.
This complicated army structure may spread out the cost of training soldiers among different forces, easing the tax and military expenses burden on Duke of Tersk, the real leader. However, it can also bring some troubles—
The control over the army weakens.
If they win the battle, it is just a matter of dividing the benefits.
But if they lose, fear among the people can easily lead to rebellion and defeat.
This military system is also why, in the beginning, there were eight hereditary dukes, but now only four and a half remain.
However, right now, the soldiers inside Winter Fortress are still orderly, which shows that the situation has not yet reached its worst.
The White Cavalry Army arrived at the camp where the Order Sect was stationed.
Leo got off his horse.
The saintess and the captains of the cavalry went to discuss matters, and Skuld was among them.
His servant naturally did not have the right to join them, so he had a little free time to rest.
To collect information more easily, he changed out of his white robe and went outside the camp.
"Help~ Help~ Nono, Nono~"
Just then, Leo heard urgent cries and the sound of flapping wings behind him.
He turned around and saw several believers chasing a talking bird…