Kuren had not closed his eyes for two days, and even before this, he hadn’t really rested properly.
It had been a full eighteen days since they had been trapped, and there was still no sign of a breakthrough. Moreover, as ti passed, the situation only beca increasingly dire.
Due to a lack of essential survival supplies, the knights were forced to kill their beloved warhorses for food. However, relative to the large number of troops, the amount of horse at was like a drop in the bucket.
What was even more fatal was the lack of any water sources in the valley. The Empire’s soldiers had managed to dig up two wells by force.
Lacking proper tools, they could only use their hands and their precious swords to dig... They broke countless swords before they found a bit of groundwater.
But this small amount of water, when distributed among everyone, was barely enough to moisten their throats. After so many days, everyone’s body and spirit had reached their limits.
Since yesterday, the army started experiencing a significant reduction in numbers; in just two days, nearly two thousand n had been lost.
Adding to the previous combat casualties of over two thousand, Kuren was left with fewer than six thousand n.
He didn’t know how many of these six thousand n would live to see tomorrow’s sun.
Thinking of this, Kuren’s body was clearly very tired, but he had no desire to sleep at all.
He crawled out of his blanket, threw on a garnt, and walked out of the tent.
The night valley was very quiet, with fallen leaves covering the gully; his boots crunched as he walked on them.
The head of the Figrola family recalled how he had secretly run off to play in Lake City as a child, sneaking past his father and once passing through a small valley as well.
And that day, his luck had not been good; he had also encountered a group of robbers.
At that ti, Kuren was only sixteen years old, accompanied only by a retainer who was about the sa age as him.
The retainer pleaded with Kuren to escape, arguing that he would certainly sacrifice his life to hold back the robbers and buy Kuren ti.
But Kuren refused his suggestion, drew the sword at his waist, and chose to stand side by side with the retainer to face the five robbers before them.
Back then, Kuren had told his retainer, "Running off from Rock Snow City was my decision. You tried to dissuade , but I didn’t listen, so now I can’t leave you behind to flee, to bear the consequences of my mistake."
Ultimately, Kuren and the retainer defeated the robbers, who outnumbered them, and it was also the first ti Kuren had killed soone—the deceased was a drunk man with a flushed face.
Thinking of the past sowhat dazed the head of the Figrola family until a guard outside the tent called him, "Marquis." Kuren then snapped back to reality.
He glanced at the guard saluting him, a very young protector nad Asuo from a small noble family without land. He had been his guard for less than three years.
Asuo was quite skilled in swordsmanship and horsemanship, and he was very loyal to the Figrola family.
Kuren saw potential for him to beco a knight in the future, and bringing him on this military campaign was also in hopes that he would accumulate so military achievents.
But now, Kuren noticed that although Asuo still stood upright, his body was very weak, and he had lost a great deal of weight, with his eyes deeply sunken.
Kuren reached out, patted Asuo’s shoulder, and asked, "How is it, have the dwarves made any movents tonight?"
The young guard shook his head, "Just like the previous days, only a few guys peering over here sneakily behind the rock walls."
He paused, then added, "Marquis, try sending a few more people to break through tonight while it’s still dark."
Kuren shook his head, "It’s pointless; those dwarves have already ford an alliance with the wild tribes in the mountains. No one knows these mountains better than those wild people. Sending n to break through would just be sending them to their deaths."
Asuo clenched his fists, his face contorted with anger.
"Those guys, they just sent ssengers to the Royal Capital not long ago saying they hoped we could live in peace with each other forever. How could they be so treacherous?"
Kuren didn’t think much of it. Although on the Bratis Continent they say oaths are worth more than gold, when it cos to nations, only interests are eternal.
Just like those barbarian tribes, they have been fighting with the dwarves on the other side of the mountain for thousands of years, and both sides have deep-seated hatred. Yet, they could still set aside their differences and temporarily ally if the interests were sufficient.
Not to ntion that Edward II had also issued a harsh declaration before his death, vowing to put his two neighbors’ affairs in order.
However, Kuren had no intention of telling Asuo this, as the latter didn’t need to know so much.
The head of the Figrola family told the young guard, "Go find Sir Judith and Ilkand from the Immanuel Family for ."
It didn’t take long for Asuo to bring the two n to Kuren.
It appeared Ilkand hadn’t slept well that night either. He hadn’t even removed his armor, and in his words, "I don’t want to get my head chopped off in my sleep. If I must die, then I’m dying in battle!"
As for the head of the Marier family, Judith, he had completely lost his fighting spirit at that mont, his gaze vacant, his complexion pale, looking utterly desolate.
Kuren frowned, "Judith, wake up, I have important tasks for you."
Judith had a blank expression, as if he had heard nothing at all.
Ilkand grunted coldly, stepped forward, grabbed Judith’s collar, and slapped him across the face.
The slap spun Judith around on the spot, finally making him no longer resemble a block of wood. When he saw clearly who had struck him, Judith beca even more furious.
"You lunatic, even if your father Diodosi were here, he would not dare to treat with such disrespect. Is the Immanuel Family planning to start a war with the Marier family?"
Upon hearing this, Ilkand contemptuously curled his lips, "At a ti like this, you’re still trying to use your status to dominate ? Everyone’s going to die anyway, I don’t care who you are."
These words from him sowhat deflated Judith.
Indeed, everyone was going to die; what was the point in dwelling on these matters at such a ti?
However, Judith then thought of sothing, his eyes showing a trace of hope, and he said to Kuren.
"Marquis, shouldn’t we... surrender? The enemy is too nurous, and they have already seized the high ground. They don’t even have to lift a finger. Just pushing down rocks from the mountain top would ensure very few of us survive."
As he spoke, he glanced nervously at Ilkand beside him, worried that the hot-tempered young man might strike him again.
Mainly because now, unlike outside, their noble ranks and familial status no longer mattered — taking a beating would just be in vain.
But this ti Ilkand didn’t say anything; he just quietly stood there.
His reaction in itself already showed his stance, not that he was afraid of death, but because they indeed had no chance of winning, and resisting further would only lead to needless deaths.
Kuren was actually aware of the thoughts in both their minds.
He wasn’t disappointed because what Judith had said was true; this truly was a fight they couldn’t win.
But he didn’t agree to Judith’s suggestion to surrender, but instead asked a question,
"Just as you said, the dwarves could kill us any ti, so do you know why they haven’t made their move yet?"
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