Gnoll Attack

"It really does look like a dog."

Velin stood up, looked at the Rock Lizards, and spoke to Belder and Eunice.

Soon afterward, the other Rock Lizard was released from its iron chain. It too lay meekly on the ground, showing none of its usual ferocity.

"Bring some wolf meat over."

Looking at his new pets, Velin gave the order to the soldier beside him.

A short while later, two soldiers carried over two buckets of wolf meat that had been rubbed with rock salt and was ready to be cured. They dumped it beside the Rock Lizards.

The two Rock Lizards stared at the wolf meat on the ground, drooling, their eyes full of longing, yet neither dared make a move.

"Hahaha, they're quite well-behaved."

Velin stepped forward, picked up a piece of meat, and tossed it to one of the Rock Lizards.

The Rock Lizard opened its mouth wide and swallowed the wolf meat in a single bite. Still unsatisfied, it licked its lips and looked longingly at its new master.

Belder stood nearby and calmly watched the scene. He subjectively believed that his lord must be someone blessed by the Goddess of Life; otherwise, there was no way to explain why two brainless beasts had shown submission from the very beginning.

Eunice, standing beside him, felt her worldview utterly overturned. In more than fifty years of life, she had never encountered such a phenomenon. These savage beasts would bare their fangs even at Legends, yet now they were acting like little puppies. It was hard for the Half-elf to accept.

However, Eunice knew that she had missed another opportunity. She had no idea when the next one would come.

At the thought of spending the next ten years diligently working as little more than a laborer-like architect, her life seemed bleak.

As for running away, at Lake of Star Prayer, which had so many Silver Knights, that idea was no different from seeking death.

During the interaction, Velin gave the two Rock Lizards names.

The whiter one was called Little White, while the yellower one was called Little Yellow.

"Be good. Next, I'll build the two of you a home. For now, follow the two keepers to the lakeside and wash yourselves."

Only after the Rock Lizards had left did Velin notice Eunice beside him. Smiling, he said, "Even if you earned no merit, you still worked hard. Later, I'll have Orlando send you a Low-Grade Magic Crystal."

"Thank you, my lord."

Eunice gave a slight bow, then returned to the castle construction site.

The silent Belder spoke up at this point. "My lord, I feel there is no need to treat Half-elves, this foreign race, so well. If they dare complain, give them a beating. If they dare run, chop off their legs."

"Hahaha, Belder, that idea is a little extreme." Velin smiled as he replied, without any reproach in his tone. He neither opposed nor supported Belder's suggestion.

"All right. I have my own principles for dealing with foreign races."

After hearing this, Belder respectfully bowed and left the village square.

By late November, green grassland had become scarce in the wilderness, and desolation filled every corner.

More than thirty kilometers west of Lake of Star Prayer, three warriors sat around a campfire, boasting and chatting to pass the time.

"Captain, I heard you've almost saved enough money. You'll be able to buy a woman soon." One soldier looked at the squad captain with envy written all over his face.

Upon hearing this, Iden wiped his iron sword and replied with a smile, "Almost. Once this month is over, I'll be able to start a family."

"Captain, when you get married, don't forget us brothers." The younger warrior took a drink of water and spoke warmly.

"Don't worry. I won't forget you."

Iden, who had been born a serf, had never experienced what having a home felt like.

At that moment, another soldier who had been out patrolling returned to the camp. His face was pale, and he trembled unsteadily atop his horse.

Seeing this, Iden quickly caught his comrade, who was about to fall from the saddle.

"Marcel, bring the water over, now."

"O-okay."

After a bout of frantic scrambling, the scouting soldier recovered and anxiously told Iden, "Captain, Gnolls! So many Gnolls! They stretched as far as the eye could see, and they're coming this way. They're about ten kilometers away."

"Did they spot you?" Iden asked in a low voice.

"Probably not. I was observing them from far away. The moment I realized something was wrong, I turned around and came back."

"That's good." Iden breathed a sigh of relief, then ordered the other warriors, "Pack up quickly. We're leaving at once and heading back to Lake of Star Prayer to report this to Lord Belder."

At once, everyone put out the campfire, packed up the iron pot, food, and tents, tied them to the horses, and hurried back as fast as they could.

At three in the afternoon, Velin stopped training in the open space outside the castle when he saw Belder hurrying toward him.

"My lord, the sentries have reported that a large number of Gnolls are approaching Lake of Star Prayer. They are still thirty kilometers away."

Velin showed no surprise after hearing this. He had known all along.

For that reason, he had already moved most of the food and supplies from the village at the foot of the mountain into the castle, so they could retreat more quickly when the Gnolls arrived.

"Belder, notify everyone. From this moment on, Lake of Star Prayer is in a State of War. Have everyone remaining retreat to the castle. Issue weapons to the strong serfs. The war has begun."

"Yes, my lord."

That night, Velin's orders were announced.

The entire night, Lake of Star Prayer was brightly lit. Under Belder's command, Freemen and serfs carrying their private property retreated toward the castle atop the mountain.

Velin stood atop the inner city wall, watching the busy crowds on the mountain path as he constantly pondered how to profit from this turmoil.

The western provinces of the Kingdom of Isia would all come under attack. Based on his guess, Lensa Province would bear the brunt of it, while Cadro Province, an insignificant backwater, probably would not see many monsters.

A hundred years ago, the Graylight Wasteland had dispatched an allied monster army of over a million, driving countless Goblins and Kobolds to invade the western border of the Kingdom of Isia. It dealt a tremendous blow to the Pioneers of that era. However, the kingdom's upper ranks used the unrest to expand outward by more than two million square kilometers.

Lensa Province, spanning as much as 750,000 square kilometers and directly governed by the royal family, was established under those circumstances.

Now, as the most important hub between the Graylight Wasteland and the Kingdom of Isia, Lensa Province flourished with commerce. Its provincial capital was even known as the Pearl of the West, making it the preferred target of these allied monster armies.

"A Gold Dragon and two Red Dragons fought a great battle. It's hard not to suspect that the Gold Dragon's defeat caused this war."

Whatever the reason, it was not something a mere Silver Knight like him could investigate now.

What he needed to consider next was how to stop the Gnolls' attack and protect his Citizens and property.