Knight: Becoming King of the World

As Henry’s army marched on relentlessly, Countess Ratifa began to feel a tinge of weariness.

She sat in her carriage, observing the near-nonstop march of the army through the window curtains.

She couldn’t help but wonder, ’Don’t these soldiers ever get tired?’

They marched at a high intensity every day, yet there wasn’t a single word of complaint. To Ratifa, this seemed utterly impossible.

She knew Henry’s army enjoyed excellent pay, plentiful food, and higher wages than the armies of other nobles. Even so, was a life spent almost entirely on the march, save for a few necessary hours of sleep, really something soldiers could accept? Ratifa was full of doubt.

As they neared the Oudong Guard, Ratifa decided to ask Henry about it herself during their stop for the night.

She wanted to understand the true strength of this army and how Henry managed to maintain his soldiers’ morale.

’I want to improve, too!’

At night, campfires dotted the encampment. After dinner, most of the soldiers had already drifted off to sleep, leaving only those on watch.

Ratifa walked through the quiet camp and arrived at Henry’s tent.

"My Lord, Countess Ratifa is here to see you."

"Come in." Henry’s voice drifted from within the tent.

Ratifa lifted the tent flap and stepped inside. She found Henry sitting at a simple desk, engrossed in a book.

Seeing Ratifa, Henry set down his book and smiled, gesturing for her to take a seat.

"Countess Ratifa, what can I do for you this late?"

Ratifa sat down and got straight to the point. "Baron Henry, I’ve been observing your army for several days. Their marching speed and endurance are astonishing.

I’d like to know, how do you maintain their morale during such a grueling march?"

Henry smiled faintly, as if he had been expecting this question.

"Countess Ratifa, my soldiers are able to maintain this pace because they all share a common goal and conviction.

They know that every march, every battle, is a step toward achieving a greater purpose."

Ratifa nodded blankly, still not quite understanding. "But even with a common goal, a prolonged march will still exhaust anyone.

Do you plan to let them rest at the Oudong Guard? After all, the Northern Lands are important, but if the soldiers are too exhausted, I fear they won’t be able to fight at their full capacity."

Henry shook his head. "No, Countess Ratifa. My soldiers don’t need rest. They need battle. They need blood.

For them, this prolonged march is a form of training, a preparation.

When the battle finally comes, they will descend upon the enemy like a pack of wolves and unleash their true strength."

Ratifa stared at Henry in shock. She couldn’t comprehend such an army. ’How can an army like this even exist?’

They seemed to need no rest, no entertainment—only battle. To her, it was simply mind-boggling.

"Baron Henry, I must admit, your army is the most unique I have ever seen. But do you truly believe that this relentless, high-intensity marching has no negative impact on their combat effectiveness?"

"Countess Ratifa, my soldiers are all carefully selected and trained. They aren’t just soldiers—they are Warriors."

Ratifa fell silent. ’Warriors?’

"Baron Henry, I understand. Your army is strong because you’ve given them conviction and a purpose.

They don’t fight for the sake of fighting, but to achieve a greater purpose," Ratifa said.

Henry turned and looked at the Countess, who now wore an expression of sudden enlightenment. He had no idea what she thought she’d understood; he had just been spouting nonsense.

Ratifa stood up and gave Henry a noble’s bow.

"Baron Henry, I’ve learned a great deal tonight. Thank you for your tutelage. I am certain that under your leadership, your army will achieve even greater victories."

Henry smiled and nodded. "Countess Ratifa, you flatter me. I’ve only done what was required of me."

Ratifa left Henry’s tent, her heart in turmoil.

She began to re-evaluate the army, and to re-evaluate Henry. She realized that an army with steadfast conviction and a clear purpose was an army that no enemy could ever defeat.

「In the days that followed」

Ratifa watched Henry’s army even more closely.

She discovered that despite the grueling march, the soldiers’ morale remained incredibly high, as if nothing could halt their advance.

Ratifa began to try and understand this conviction and purpose. She started to wonder, ’What is my purpose? What is my conviction?’

She didn’t ask Henry. This was an answer she had to find for herself.

In truth, even if she had asked Henry, she wouldn’t have gotten a straight answer. Henry himself didn’t know what his conviction was; he just wanted to level up.

As time passed, Ratifa gradually integrated herself into Henry’s army.

She began to tentatively speak with Henry’s soldiers to understand their thoughts and feelings.

She discovered that each of these soldiers had his own goals and dreams—perhaps a promotion for military merit, or saving money for their families. To achieve these goals and dreams, they were willing to pay any price.

Of course, the adoration for Henry in their words shocked Ratifa even more.

’Could I be like Henry? Could I inspire my own soldiers to pay any price to achieve their own goals and dreams?’

Henry’s army didn’t stop at the Oudong Guard. They swept through the city like a gust of wind, continuing their march toward Baltahan.

Countess Ratifa witnessed all of this from her carriage.

Along the way, many noble lords brought their armies, asking to join Henry’s ranks in the hopes of sharing in another victory.

The glorious outcome of the last battle had given them a taste of success. The spoils from a single campaign were equal to several years of income—a temptation they couldn’t resist.

"Honored, Wise, and Powerful Lord Baron Henry, do you require our assistance?" a local Baron asked respectfully, riding his horse up to Henry.

From his war chariot, Henry just shook his head slightly and replied coolly, "I thank you for your kind offer, but our destination is the Northern Lands. I am not in command of the war there; I am merely going to fulfill my duty."

To put it bluntly, Henry was just a "hired gun" this time. He had no overall command authority, and bringing more people would just mean more trouble.

The nobles were visibly disappointed by this reply, but they knew Henry’s temperament and style. Once he made a decision, it was rarely changed.

They could only watch as Henry’s army receded into the distance, their hearts filled with complex emotions.

’Damn it, we want to pledge our loyalty to Lord Henry, too!’

Countess Ratifa quietly observed all this from the side. She didn’t understand why Henry would refuse the nobles’ help. It was an undeniable increase to his military strength and would be a significant advantage in the coming war.

Finally, during a break, Ratifa could no longer contain her curiosity and asked Henry, "Baron Henry, why did you refuse the nobles’ help? While their armies may not be as elite as yours, they would still represent a considerable force."

"Countess Ratifa, war isn’t just about stacking troop numbers. It’s difficult to establish a unified command with an army like that on the battlefield, making it impossible to bring out their full combat potential."

"But if the outcome is victory, wouldn’t their goal be achieved anyway?"

Henry shook his head. "The outcome of a war is never certain. We cannot rely solely on the lure of victory.

My army is strong because they share a common conviction and purpose. They know what they are fighting for."

Ratifa fell silent. Every word Henry spoke was an insight forged from the experience of countless battles.

This experience was what allowed him to always keep a clear head in the midst of war and make the right decisions.

’Have I been in business for too long? It seems I must return to the battlefield!’

Henry shot a puzzled glance at Countess Ratifa. ’She’s been talking to me more and more lately.’

’What’s that all about?’