When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 848 - 799: Then You Can Drink Before Sunset

The intertwining leather boots stomped on the snow, kicking up snowflakes like flying sand.

"Ring the bell! The Thousand River Valley people are coming!"

"Wake up those dead pigs for me."

"Their cavalry is coming, quickly set up the chevaux de frise!"

The Norn Defenders in the castle moved about in a panic, their faces flushed as Norn Soldiers clumsily and comically struggled with the blockade chevaux de frise.

Drunken bandy legs wobbled, and the soldiers at the sentry post in front of the castle failed to lift the chevaux de frise after several attempts.

"Whoosh—whoosh whoosh—"

A lead bullet pierced the air, and a Norn Long Spear Soldier howled in pain as he rolled to the ground.

Over thirty cavalrymen lay low on their horses, the leading ones holding Holy Guns still aiming.

The surrounding Norn Soldiers, seeing the ghostlike approach of the Holy Gun Cavalry, immediately abandoned the chevaux de frise and ran toward the castle gate.

Kolebo lashed his whip hard, increasing his horse's speed.

Rushing past the chevaux de frise and approaching the castle, seeing the gate slowly closing, Kolebo at the forefront made way.

A Combat Mage from Black Snake Bay, wearing leather armor, appeared before the Norn people, extending his right hand painted with black nails.

"Frost Magic!"

A massive winter-fueled icy mist blew through the camp gate, brushing over the soldiers' drunkenly flushed faces.

A thin layer of white frost covered their eyebrows and hair, causing everyone's movements to pause.

A dozen or so strong-armed Holy Gun Cavalry at the front twirled around, and seven or eight clockwork bullets soared through the air.

A shockwave imbued with mental damage exploded at the entrance, instantly causing five or six Norn Soldiers to fall on their backs.

"Charge through!"

Pulling out a short-barreled spring gun from his boot, Kolebo fired at a Norn Soldier with a hard crossbow ten meters away.

The soldier's crossbow bolt flew over Kolebo's head, but he clutched his stomach in pain, gasping.

Kaler and other Holy Gun Cavalry mixed in, drawing their Military Sabers and smoothly slicing through the Norn Soldier's neck.

The gushing blood was practically like a red ribbon tied around the soldier's neck.

The heavy stench of blood enveloped the castle gate completely within seconds.

At this time, the Extraordinary Knight in the castle finally sobered up, disheveled and armed with a lance, charged forward under the crowd of servants.

"It's the Extraordinary Knight, volley fire!"

Flying lead took down a knight from his horse, leaving the remaining Norn Knights in shock and rage as they tugged their reins.

Putting away the spring guns, over twenty Holy Gun Cavalry charged forward immediately, starting a bloody fight.

If they could, they'd prefer a revolving cavalry battle, which could maximize the power of the short guns.

But circumstances didn't allow them to widen the gap, and the Holy Gun Cavalry were at a disadvantage in close combat, with several being knocked off their horses by lances.

The Extraordinary Knights were incompletely armored, yet still struggled against the Holy Guns, barely maintaining balance.

Fortunately, at this time, the Norn New Army finally arrived, launching a direct charge toward the castle gate.

Despite both being Norn people, there was no sense of Norn national sentiment among them.

In the international mercenary market, Norn people were notorious for their tendency to stab each other when they meet.

Privately they'd meet with great warmth, but business is business, and on the battlefield, they had to battle regardless.

If the hometown reputation was ruined, it meant everyone's livelihood was threatened!

Adelaide charged at the forefront this time, picking up the baton before the Holy Gun Cavalry were driven back.

He ducked an incoming arrow, swung his Long Halberd sideways, hooking onto the chest of a slowing knight.

The knight sneered, grabbed the halberd handle, and jerked the reins, intending to throw Adelaide.

But before he could act, protected behind Adelaide, a Holy Gunman fired at him.

At three meters, the lead hit the left shoulder accurately, and the knight cried out, losing balance and getting hooked off his horse by the Long Halberd.

A nearby axe-gun soldier jumped in, slamming his axe on the knight's neck guard, causing blood and pink froth to flow through the armor's gaps.

Several Long Spearmen arrived simultaneously, collectively attacking the Norn soldiers rushing in for reinforcements inside the castle.

After Adelaide and the vanguard stabilized the battle situation at the gate, more and more soldiers charged from behind.

However, when the follow-up main force surged in, the Norn Defenders inside the castle retreated repeatedly.

Just as Jeska and Griffin had anticipated, facing unfavorable circumstances, these Norn Allied Forces had no courage for street fighting and each fled for their lives.

...

Thick smoke rose from the granary, the cold wind tearing at the smoke pillar, forcing it left and right.

This wasn't set ablaze by Jeska's order, but by the Norn Defenders themselves.

Fortunately, Jeska and the others arrived in time to quickly extinguish the blaze, allowing the exhausted and starving New Army soldiers to have a hearty meal.

Gathered around in front of the granary, over four thousand Norn New Army soldiers were swallowing the newly acquired purple egg stew beef with white bread, paired with cheese mushroom soup.

The stew retained a fishy smell since the blood wasn't soaked out, and the egg's sweet and sour taste, along with the spice, couldn't mask it.

But these men didn't mind, after forced marches and camping in the wilderness, they were nearly starving.

Though bitter, the rewards of victory were sweet.

After a 35-kilometer forced march in a day, Jeska and others reached the Norn's outermost camp successfully by noon.

Clearly, these Bear Castle Norns hadn't anticipated Jeska and her company's arrival, and once the gates were seized, they lost all fighting spirit.

As promised before the battle, Jeska climbed onto a barrel, "You bastards, consider yourselves lucky with the spoils this time..."

Before Jeska finished, these new Norn soldiers collectively cheered.

Over many battles, the distribution of spoils had gone through multiple revisions.

After the battle, the Service Soldiers cleaned up the battlefield, and the spoils were managed uniformly by the Battle Group.

Now, thirty percent was state property, twenty percent went to the officers, twenty percent to the Battle Group fund, and thirty percent to the soldiers.

The Battle Group fund was the public fund for the soldiers, managed by a committee chosen or appointed by the soldiers themselves.

Mostly, it was used for basic camp construction and to improve the soldiers' lives.

Both Battle Groups were using this money to buy industrial bonds for stable profits, and there was even a proposal to buy Spice Company stock, which Horn rejected.

The Norn New Army were not citizens of the Thousand River Valley and were long-term mercenaries, thus did not have a Battle Group fund.

This time, to boost morale, the officers collectively forfeited their share of the spoils, allowing the Norn New Army to receive seventy percent of the war prizes.

"Alright, alright," Jeska smiled, pressing down with his hands, "Celebrate after we completely defeat the Bear Castle Territory's army. After eating, you have a half-hour rest, then we continue on our way!"

Amidst the soldiers' cries of simultaneous pain and joy, Jeska jumped down from the barrel, stumbling a bit.

Griffin, standing beside him, held his arm, "Don't jump around if you're injured."

"That drunkard, I thought he was dead." Jeska punched the wall in frustration, touching the blood-stained bandage on his thigh.

"Lucky for us, these Norn drank too much and reacted slowly; otherwise, there'd be a tough battle at this small camp."

"The Duke actually ordered no drinking after sunset." Jeska sat on a wooden crate, "So the knights inside the castle were drunk by noon."

Griffin chuckled, "They didn't expect you guys to be so fast, just like we once..."

At this, Griffin's smile turned bitter in memory, "Let's not talk about that. Any thoughts on the Duke's camp?"

"Is the spring warehouse wound up and ready?"

"Yes, but we have to use them sparingly, we can't wind them near Kino Town."

"Damn winter dry season." Jeska cursed in his native slang, then suddenly stopped.

Seeing Jeska's lone eye rolling, Griffin knew he had an idea, "If you have something in mind, speak up?"

"Duke Gottfried, does he speak Highland Norn?"