With the priest's command and magical buffs gone, the remaining monsters instantly devolved into chaos.
"Mop up the survivors!" Leylo ordered.
The knights' morale was at an all-time high. Cooperating with the militia charging out from the town, they launched the final clearing of the residual monsters. The Snakemen's hisses and the lizards' wails gradually subsided, and the battle soon drew to a close. The air was thick with a heavy scent of blood and the stench of monster carcasses.
The wooden gates of Blackstone Town slowly creaked open. A crowd of townspeople emerged, surrounding an elderly man with snow-white hair and beard but spirited eyes. The elder walked up to Leylo and bowed deeply, his voice trembling with agitation and gratitude. "Honorable Knight, thank you for your timely rescue! I am Buck, the Mayor of Blackstone Town. If not for you and your brave warriors, I fear Blackstone Town would have..."
Ed stepped forward. "Townspeople, the one who rescued you is the new Lord of Blackstone Manor, Lord Leylo. From now on, you shall live under his protection."
"Lord?" Mayor Buck froze for a moment, and then a look of sheer ecstasy broke across his face. "You... you are our new Lord? Fantastic! Truly fantastic! We have finally waited for a Lord to arrive!"
He turned excitedly to the townspeople behind him and announced loudly, "Everyone, look! This is our new Lord of Blackstone Manor, Lord Leylo! It was he who led the knights to save us!"
In this untamed land fraught with peril, only the protection of a Lord offered them a chance at survival. Of course, this wilderness was so dangerous that sometimes, the Lord might meet with an accident even before they did.
Amidst the cheers, Leylo led his blood-stained knights into the small town.
"This way, My Lord," Mayor Buck said, stooping low as he led the way. "The town is crude; please do not take offense at our simple surroundings."
Leylo nodded slightly without saying much, instead meticulously observing his surroundings. The defensive facilities were practically non-existent—only a low, partially collapsed wooden wall. It was no wonder the monsters had breached it so easily.
The group arrived at a relatively open space in the center of town, likely the usual gathering spot for the townspeople. On the edge of the square stood a slightly larger house made of a mix of stone and timber—the most "magnificent" building in town, likely the mayor's residence and meeting hall.
Leylo turned to Mayor Buck. "Mayor, I need to understand the town's situation. Population, grain reserves, and how many able-bodied combatants do we have? Also, have attacks like today's happened before? What is the frequency?"
Mayor Buck answered hastily, "To answer My Lord, Blackstone Town currently has over 3,400 registered residents, but the majority are the elderly, women, and children. We have a militia of about two hundred, including eight official knights. As for grain... sigh, we can barely hold out for a month, and that's only with strict rationing. Regarding monster attacks, they happened occasionally in the past but never on a large scale. A massive assault led by a priest like today is a first..."
Leylo's brow furrowed slightly as he listened. The situation was worse than he had anticipated.
"One month..." Leylo mused. Such grain reserves were a mere drop in the bucket in the face of the fast-approaching winter.
He noticed Moonlight nearby, disdainfully sniffing the air, its small head twisting back and forth as if highly dissatisfied with the environment. It trotted to Leylo's side, rubbing against his leg and emitting a "purr-gurgle" sound—half as if claiming credit for the victory, half as if complaining that the food here would surely be terrible.
Leylo patted its head, a rare smile appearing. "You did well this time. I'll give you an extra meal when we get back." Moonlight wagged its tail contentedly.
"My Lord, we..." Mayor Buck hesitated, his face a mixture of hope and anxiety.
Leylo's smile vanished, replaced by a firm tone. "Rest assured. Since I have come, I will not let Blackstone Town return to its former state. From now on, everyone must act. Ed will guide you in reinforcing the walls; I will reorganize the militia and begin training. As for the food... I will find a way."
"Yes! We obey My Lord's commands!" Mayor Buck responded excitedly.
Ed returned with a report: "My Lord, the walls are damaged in multiple places and require a vast amount of timber and labor to repair. We have three knights with minor injuries. The townspeople's losses are heavier: seventeen sacrificed and over twenty wounded. In terms of supplies, arrow consumption was high, and some weapons need mending."
Leylo nodded; the situation was largely within his expectations. "Prioritize treatment for the wounded knights and townspeople. Provide pensions for the families of the fallen. Ed, organize men to clear the battlefield first, centralize the disposal of monster carcasses, and harvest any useful materials. Mayor Buck, organize the militia immediately to repair the walls. By nightfall, the weak points must be reinforced."
Blackstone Manor, located south of the Blackstone Mountain Range, covered a vast area, but most of it consisted of barren hills and wilderness unsuitable for farming or habitation. The only truly habitable area was the plain south of the mountains. The population was sparse—less than five thousand in total—scattered across various settlements. Their main sources of income were gathering herbs and ores from the mountains, along with a small amount of cultivated grain.
Leylo stood by the window, gazing at the undulating Blackstone Mountains in the distance. The night wind brushed his hair, bringing a hint of chill. At some point, Moonlight had come to his feet, whimpering softly while rubbing against him. Through the hazy moonlight, one could see the ruins of an abandoned castle on the north side of town. It was said that a previous pioneering Lord had come here with grand ambitions and family support to build a castle. However, just as the foundations were finished, that Lord had died at the hands of Hydra's minions while hunting in the mountains.
The faint dawn light dispelled the heavy night. A small knightly squad left the newly revitalized Blackstone Town. Leylo rode his horse with Moonlight following closely by his side, occasionally sniffing the wild grass curiously or looking up at Leylo as if asking where they were "adventuring" today.
The company headed south, away from the shadow of the Blackstone Mountains. The terrain here gradually leveled out, and the horizon opened up. Beneath them was barren earth, sparsely grown with cold-resistant shrubs and weeds. Occasionally, traces of abandoned farmland appeared—reminders of past attempts and failures. Without the protection of a powerful army, many fields had to be abandoned after being ravaged by monsters.
After traveling for about two hours, the sound of flowing water drifted from ahead. Rounding a low hill, the view suddenly widened. A river—not wide but flowing quite turbulently—appeared before them. The water was crystal clear, revealing pebbles at the bottom. A relatively broad valley had formed along both banks, featuring flat terrain and lush grass—a stark contrast to the surrounding desolation.
What truly energized the knights was the sight of vast flocks of large grey birds gathered on the riverbanks and in the valley meadows. They were plump with long necks; some pecked at water grass, some preened their feathers, and others honked loudly, their voices noisy and full of life.
"Grey-Headed Geese!"