Robb and his party first met up with the Winterfell soldiers who had stayed behind in Eastwatch Village to bury the villagers.
After Sam woke up and announced that he wanted to join the Winterfell army, he followed Robb's group in silence.
By the time they returned to Winterfell, the sun was already nearing the horizon.
When Robb brought Jon, Theon, and Jory to the Great Hall, Eddard, Maester Luwin, and the others had already been waiting for them.
As dusk approached, the Great Hall was already dim, and many candles had been lit early.
"...That's what happened, Father."
After recounting the events of the past two days, Robb stood quietly, waiting for the most powerful man in the North to speak.
Eddard clasped his hands beneath his chin and pondered for a moment before speaking. "Maester Luwin, send a Raven to Roose Bolton and tell him what happened. Have him explain himself to me."
"Jory, have someone display those heads at the crossroads outside Winterfell. Put their crimes beside them, so anyone thinking of committing a crime can see what happens to them."
"Robb, you'll handle the distribution of the spoils and compensation for the soldiers who died."
After issuing his orders in one breath, Robb and the other two immediately bowed and answered,
"Yes, Father!"
"As you command, my lord!"
"I'll see to it at once!"
As he watched his eldest son turn to leave, Eddard remembered the terrible news Catelyn had told him the day before. Gritting his teeth, he made a decision and said, "Robb, come to the Training Ground at dawn tomorrow wearing your Training Leather Armor."
"Yes, Father!"
Robb, who had been about to leave, turned around and answered with some confusion, then went with Jon and Theon to the armory to take off their armor and put away their weapons.
"Hey, Robb! I killed two enemies. I should get a bigger share of the spoils, shouldn't I?"
Theon casually tossed his Chainmail, still flecked with blood, and his sword to one side, then grinned at Robb.
"Jon's handling the spoils tomorrow. If you want more, ask him. I'm heading back to my room."
With Blood Wind on his mind, Robb shut Theon down with a single sentence, tossed his weapons and Chainmail aside, and strode away.
The armory's Chainmail and weapons would be cleaned and maintained by the servants.
"Snow..."
Watching Robb leave the armory, Theon turned to the cold-faced, silent Jon and waved a hand.
"Never mind. Forget I said anything.
Heh, once I've got some money, I'll go see Rose and study the art of the human body."
Jon ignored Theon completely. After organizing his weapons and Chainmail, he stared thoughtfully in the direction Robb had gone.
"Hey, little guy. Miss me?"
As soon as Robb returned to his room, he picked up Blood Wind, who was asleep in a nest of old clothes, and began vigorously stroking his soft fur.
"Whuff..."
Awakened by Robb's rough handling, Blood Wind let out a pitiful, low growl of protest.
"Huh? Have you grown a little?"
Feeling Blood Wind's weight, Robb held him up in both hands and examined him.
Blood Contract Points really were amazing. That one point in Constitution he'd added two days ago had clearly made a difference!
Looking at Blood Wind, who had visibly grown, Robb's thoughts shifted. The familiar red mist rose up and sank into Blood Wind's body.
[Constitution +1]...
After three red notifications appeared before his eyes, no matter how hard Robb tried to add more points to Constitution, there was no further response.
He pondered for a moment, then tried again with a different thought.
[Speed +1], [Strength +1]
Blood Wind had no trouble gaining points in his other two attributes. Reality really was different from a game.
He couldn't put every point into just one attribute!
After the experiment, Robb understood a little more about his Cheat. He didn't add any more points.
[Name: Blood Wind, Contractor: Robb Stark] [Constitution: 5, Speed: 3, Strength: 2] [Species: Warg Direwolf (6)] [Blood Contract Points: 2]
After adding those points, Robb didn't feel tired. Perhaps it was because he still had Blood Contract Points left.
Robb cuddled Blood Wind for a while, then put him back in his nest of old clothes. Finally free, Blood Wind yawned and closed his eyes.
At dinner, Eddard didn't appear in the banquet hall, while Catelyn silently ate with a gloomy expression.
Since she didn't bring it up herself, Robb and the others didn't want to risk upsetting her. Throughout dinner, Theon, the life of the table, regaled them with stories about his heroic exploits.
Watching Arya and Brandon compete to ask Theon all sorts of bizarre questions until he was left speechless, Robb couldn't help smiling.
But out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Jon had been watching him the whole time.
Jon must have noticed that my personality and way of doing things are different from before!
That kid may not understand anything about love, but he has a keen instinct for everything else!
Robb kept his expression unchanged. His thoughts shifted, and he put the matter out of his mind.
No matter how closely Jon watched him, he'd never conclude that Robb was a transmigrator.
"Robb, your father's foster father, Lord Arryn, the Hand of the King, died of a fever. The king and the entire royal family have already set out for Winterfell."
Catelyn suddenly spoke. The atmosphere at the table changed in an instant, and everyone fell silent to listen.
"I still remember how wrinkled you looked when you were born at Riverrun. And now, in the blink of an eye, you've grown into a man.
You have to be ready...
Ready to become a capable lord, ready to protect your younger siblings."
"Mother, I promise I'll be ready!"
Seeing Catelyn's sorrowful expression, Robb immediately spoke up to comfort her.
"Go on and eat. I'm going back to my room."
Seeing the serious look on her eldest son's face, Catelyn left the banquet hall after saying that.
"The king's coming to Winterfell! Will the Kingslayer come? Will the Imp come?"
"I heard the prince is very handsome. I wonder if he's really as good-looking as they say."
"Hmph, I wonder if those soft southern folk will be able to handle the North. But southern girls must have more charm than northern girls, right?"
After Catelyn left, the banquet hall instantly erupted in excited chatter.
Robb looked at his younger siblings, who had no idea how grim the future would be, shook his head, and went back to eating.
The dinner of meat, fruit, and vegetables was much more nutritious than dry rations. After eating about one and a half portions, Robb gained 1 Blood Contract Point.
Northwest of Dreadfort, a plain lay between Long Lake, which stretched out in a long strip, and the barren Lone Mountain.
A force of more than a hundred cavalrymen advanced slowly, sweeping the area ahead of them.
Count of Dreadfort Roose Bolton was listening to a soldier report the news brought by Raven.
"All right, I understand. How are the other cavalry units doing?"
Roose Bolton was of average height, with a pale complexion and refined appearance. After hearing the report, he asked quietly.
"They've all reached their assigned positions. We can close the net by noon tomorrow. This group of Wildlings is difficult to deal with, but hundreds of cavalrymen charging in from all sides will surely wipe them out."
The soldier immediately answered.
"What about Ramsay? Since the Stark family wiped out those deserters, why hasn't he returned?"
"No news has come back from Lord Ramsay's group yet."
"Mm. Have the cavalry unit to the southwest withdraw. The other units should keep closing in."
"The southwest? That's in the direction of the Stark family... As you command!"
After giving the order, Roose stared coldly toward the southwest and murmured,
"I'll have your 'explanation' delivered straight to your door, Lord Eddard!"
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