House of the Wolves

"From entire army groups that disappeared in a single night to cannons that shot shells accurately from a distance beyond visual range, none of what the Acting Marquis nor the designated Imperial observers' statements made sense. All that we know is that whoever the second son of House Bougainvillea is, he might be a danger for the empire itself."

- Senator Leonardo "Nardo" E. Rejas Sr.

Imperial Senator & Representative of the Monarchical Republic of Marl Kah

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Young Joshua..."

"...Please, Marquis Taiga. I would like to be addressed as "Baronet Bougainvillea"."

"Right, I apologize for that... Baronet Joshua Souryuu H. Bougainvillea! Are you ready to leave and fulfill the service being demanded from you?!!"

"Yes! With all my heart and mind!"

Today, almost two weeks after the burial of his father and the small ceremony that officiated his position as Baronet of their land, Joshua heeded his drafting into the Imperial Army contingent being sent to the Irma Island front in the eastern floating isles of Ostadonia. Meeting him just outside their manor's courtyard was Marquis Taiga alongside a few of his direct subordinates.

"Take care, son... And please, come back alive."

"...I'll do my best to survive, mother. So please pray for me and don't cry too much whenever you miss me." After wiping the tears from his mother's eyes, Joshua knelt to the height of his young sister who placed a necklace with a small locket around his neck.

"Don't be naughty out there, Joshua-nii."

"Ahaha! That's supposed to be my line, Syrene." Joshua spoke and embraced his sister tightly before he stood up.

Finally, he faced his brother who was wearing the same military uniform as he does but none of the insignia, ribbons or medals that he has, signifying that he is still considered a mere conscript candidate with no formal military training.

"Well then… The time has come, Jonathan."

"Right... Even after everything we did, they still got their way with you being sent to a hell hole. Haah… What a f****** joke." Jonathan murmured beneath his breath.

"Don't say it like that, it's not like we have any choice other than following them. Besides..."

"Yeah, I got it. I promise you Joshua, things will change. I'll make sure of it." After saying that, Jonathan raised his hand to him which Joshua shook and tapped him on the arm lightly.

"I'll be away now, everyone! Take care of yourselves!"

"""Well wishes, Lord Joshua! May your return be safe and victorious!"""

With his last words with his family spoken, Joshua boarded Marquis Taiga's personal airship alongside his personal belongings. The household, led by Martha, gave their farewells to their master as the airship flew.

After the airship disappeared into the clouds, the household of House Bougainvillea looked at the second son and now, acting Baronet of the territory, Jonathan.

"Martha, bring mother and Syrene inside. This winter wind can get too cold for them."

"Y-Yes, my lord. Madame, young lady. Please…" Martha responded and helped both Selena and Syrene inside the manor alongside the servants, leaving both Captain Huey and Spica in the foyer with Jonathan.

"Now then, what should we do, young lord?"

"Shall we proceed with the plan, my liege?"

His response was swift and doubtless. But most of all...

"We've made our point loud and clear for them, if they are still foolish enough to do this beyond that, we will show no mercy!"

…it was made with preparedness as the top priority.

"Lord Huey! Lady Spica! We will not be sitting ducks to them! Prepare for battle! SHOW THEM HELL!!!"

""YES, LORD BOUGAINVILLEA!""

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

A week ago in the Penne Earldom's capital, Phallusia, the Demesne Association finalized the terrible plan that they have prepared since they received the news about the late Bougainvillea lord's passing.

Gathered around a table in the palace's inner meeting chamber, the twenty men that make up the main circle of the Demesne association was talking amongst themselves before the door swung open with the arrival of a young man.

"Father, it's here! The under-the-table agreement we formed with magistrate Lao Dai has been signed!" The young man announced into the hall filled with the noblemen.

"Beautiful! Has he agreed on all of our conditions, my boy?"

"Yes! Our men are free to loot the entire territory and hold the populace as slaves as long as we can secure total victory."

At the mention of the word "slaves", some at the lower ring of the gathered turned their eyes to the Earl as if questioning him if it was even permissible.

"Fear not, gentlemen. It is perfectly legal. I've been talking with His Grace, the Imperial Magistrate Lao Dai, to have that damned family to be rid of their peerage and territorial possessions but his demands to the imperial government has always been denied as "lacking sufficient reasoning"… However, with this victory, we can finally vanquish them!" After saying that, Kaliath Penne, the earl's son, spread open the scroll that he had on his hand.

"T-This is---!"

"I-I-Is it really the right time to do this, Earl!?"

On the scrolls was an enormous list of simple crimes ranging from "inability to pay imperial taxes" and "inability to extend the empire's rule on their population" to "High treason to the empire" that only has the death sentence as the possible punishment.

"It is not just the right time! IT IS THE BEST TIME TO DO THIS! Even if he was a weak man that can just be kicked around, that pest Joseph was someone who made every scheme we threw his way to be so arduous and risky on our part. Now that he's dead and his damned brat is sure to die in the eastern front, his family and people are easy pickings! BUHI! BUHIHIHIHIHI!!!" Kaltka spoke and followed it with his usual laughter not so different from the sniveling of a pig.

"Honored gentlemen! This is an opportunity that only comes once in a lifetime! We may never have a chance like this before!"

"B-B-But young lord Kaliath-! This is still very risky! Even if we have the cooperation of magistrate Lao and Marquis Taiga is away with a large part of his army to fight in the east, there is no guarantee that everything would go the way we want it to."

"T-That's right! And there's that prick that united Houses Regalia and Taiga too by blood! With his father away, he's not the acting marquis and he can easily send the remainder of the Marquisdom's army and borrow reinforcements from his uncle, Margrave Regalia, to stop us!"

With the concerns raised by the lower noblemen in the gathering, Kaltka simply scoffed at it and regarded their troubles as an afterthought. After all, he has already prepared for it.

"Hah! That's the reason why we're going to stick to them these crimes! As you already know, the empire doesn't tolerate these things and would go as far in punishments as removing someone's rights as a human being."

"…Which can be used to legally hunt them down-"

"And legally take them in as slaves! No different from those so-called "Deprived" in the legends and folk stories!"

Upon this realization, the noblemen around the table had a bright expression that slowly turned into a mass of malicious grins either filled with greed or lust. Seeing that his followers has understood the justification that they will be using to declare war on House Bougainvillea, he stood up and gathered everyone's attention on him.

"Gentlemen! We will strike with no warning before the Acting Marquis learns about this! Magistrate Lao will cover up everything afterwards! Once this ends, not only are we getting promotions in our noble ranks! You also get your pick of the Bougainvilleas' treasures and peasants!"

"HURRAH!!!"

"LET'S GET THIS STARTED!"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

At the same time when Marquis Taiga and his army left the region's capital to begin their march towards the eastern isles of the empire, the Demesne association began to gear up and gather for their plan to invade the Bougainvillea Baronetcy.

Little that they know that within the over twenty territories that was joining this invasion force, people have already been planted as spies.

["Lady Spica, the Rendon Viscounty has called up its army. They are expected to arrive at the western border by next week. With the highway there, they're likely to besiege Siteo village before pushing further inside the lands."]

["Understood. Keep a low profile and make your exit a day after they march out."]

Within the heads of the android automatons that comprise House Dahlia's members, they reported to Spica about the sudden bustling of activity within each noble house's militias and army retinues.

["I report the same thing for Yibang Barony. They're expected to arrive five days later in the eastern border near Paddleton village."]

["Copy that. I'll advise you to move out now and link up with the others before heading back here."]

With meticulous care, Spica instructed her subordinate androids to either continue their activities or come back quickly. A day before the nobles furthest from the Bougainvillea Baronetcy began their march, Spica finished her report about what transpired and presented it to Joshua, Jonathan and the knight clan leaders Huey Elliot and Abel Robinson.

"Spica-san… how accurate is this information?" Joshua asked her, a tinge of concern about how detailed everything was, showing on his face.

"If you are asking when we received it, it was just this noon and I can personally vouch for its accuracy, Baronet Joshua."

"T-This noon-!?"

"Even a purebred Albion messenger pigeon can't cover that distance or match that speed!"

"Please, Uncle Huey and Abel… Calm yourselves." The exasperated outburst of the two men was met by Jonathan raising his hand to silence them.

"…While I don't wish to sound rude nor show that I am distrusting my brother's faith on your capabilities, I wish to make it clear right now, Spica-san, that I am yet to fully trust you and your people."

"A trust that we are willing to earn and not demand outright, Baronet. We understand your skepticism and we see it as both an opportunity and challenge to take on in order to gain your favor." Spica replied with courtesy that seem to give her a favorable response from both Joshua and the knights.

"Hmm… Very well then. Let's proceed with the information you provided on hand. Given that I will have to leave in three days, it's clear that dealing with this would fall on your shoulders, Jonathan."

"Don't sweat it. If anything, I want to be the one to do this. Except for the fact that I have a bone to pick with them for tormenting us for so long, there's also that thing about me needing to branch off on my own now that you're the Baronet."

"Jonathan…"

Joshua looked at his younger brother who seem to still be a bit glum about their father's passing and him having to leave the family now that Joshua is the Baronet, in order to form his own branch family.

"Even if it's not the most ideal way, winning a battle is a quick way to gather enough credibility to form your own noble house. I'll just use their own schemes for our own good… after all, we have enough evidence to justify it later, right, Spica?"

"Yes, my liege… We are all set to win in both aspects of this war."

With that exchange, Joshua understood that he has nothing to worry about and told everyone in the room about something that he wanted them to do while he is away for the next full year or so.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Baronet Joshua! It's nice to see you again, young man!"

"Ah! Count Paller, it's nice to see you too, good sir!"

Within Marquis Taiga's personal airship, the higher-ranking nobles and commanders of the Marquisdom's army met each other in the meeting chamber where they caught up on each other's lives as many of them knew each other after being acquainted through the Marquis.

"By the way, condolences for your father, young Joshua. I didn't meet him much, but I knew he was a good man with a big heart."

"Count Paller is right. Baronet Joseph wasn't like those crooks in the Earldom's association of nobles who only know how to exploit their peasants and abuse the freedom afforded to them by the feudal contract. I pray that he passed away painlessly and on his own terms."

"That's exactly what happened, Viscount Uldra. He was in quite a pain for a long time until my younger brother came back with this magical water that he got from a dungeon."

Hearing that from Joshua, the Count began to exclaim loudly before being cut off by Joshua.

"Hold on now! Magic water from a dungeon! That may just be---"

"Unfortunately, sir. It isn't one of those miraculous elixirs. It only rid him of his sense of pain and in the end, the coroner that prepared him for the funeral said that it must have been the reason why he didn't feel a thing until the mana tumor burst inside his body and caused his death."

"Ahh…"

"T-that is…"

Joshua's explanation made the two noblemen to go silent after learning of the exact details of Joseph's death. The tense atmosphere was only broken after he told them that instead of being regretful, they were actually thankful that it happened at that time when he felt no pain.

"In a way, we just saw it as the heaven's way of making up to the fact that he has to leave us now. At least, it was painless and most importantly, we got to bond with him for one last time before he went on…"

"Right. That is what's important when you know already that its time for you to go."

"Us discussing this made me think about rewriting my haiku once I get the time. Maybe I'll make it more family oriented."

"Not again, Uldra!"

While they are flying towards the frontlines in the east, Joshua looked out of the airship's window and looked down on the ground that is thousands of meters below them.

"Don't be reckless now, Jonathan… Rage is a powerful weapon, both against your enemy and yourself." He whispered beneath his breath before focusing fully on the duty ahead of him.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

At the regional capital of East Serafina and the capital itself of the Taiga Marquisdom, the acting marquis of the region shook in disbelief after reading the document brought to him by an old man dressed in the official's robe of the Yilong Confederacy.

"M-Magistrate Lao Dai, there must be a mistake. They complied with the taxes that the earl demanded from them last ti-"

"The gold was not pure enough. When it was re-casted, it didn't even make up half of the weight that was demanded."

"And you can prove this how?"

Kazuto pressed his question to the magistrate, keen on pressuring him in order to make him come clean from his accusation and break off the clear scheme that he is helping Earl Penne to fulfill.

"Proof? HAH! There's no need for any further proof! Do you really think I would come here personally just for that? And besides, why are you focusing on the fraudulent tax payment when on the list are way greater and heinous crimes?!" the old magistrate shouted and hit his table right at the spot in the document where the words "high treason" and "collusion with hostile nations" are stamped in bright red ink.

"I do not need to address an accusation that has no evidence nor any truth behind it. Do not test my patience, lord magistrate… Trust me, I have far too little to spare."

"Oho? How dare you growl a reply like that to me, you knave… You seem to be forgetting who I am, Acting Marquis. I am Lao Dai, Imperial Magistrate to East Serafina, authorized by His Imperial Majesty to-"

"And I am not just the acting marquis, dear lord magistrate. I am Kazuto Xander Regalia-Taiga! Son of House Taiga and Regalia! While a bureaucrat like you might be authorized by Imperial Decree to oversee this region, it would do you well to know that this is my land! I DO NOT ONLY REPRESENT SERAFINA! I AM SEREFINA!"

"E-EEEEKKK!!!"

Kazuto's pressuring retort as he stood and towered over the magistrate made the old man to back away as his face turned white in fear.

"…I will not heed this demand to render House Bougainvillea as a rebel family that betrayed Ostadonia. If you are really adamant about doing so, show me irrefutable evidence… and if you cannot…"

*SHI-YIII---!*

In one swift motion, Kazuto kicked up the katana leaning on his table, drew it out of its scabbard and swung it a hairbreadth from the magistrate's neck, earning greater horror from the already frightened man.

"AYIIIIEEEE-!"

"I swear upon the name of both of my families… YOU WILL NOT LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER SUNRISE!"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

At an empty plain in the Lavento Barony, one of the two noble territories that borders the Bougainvillea Baronetcy, the first combined invasion force from half of the noble militia armies affiliated with the Demesne association has gathered.

"Oho! Lord Dreyfus, it is an honor to have you here."

"Likewise, gentlemen… It seems like of the twenty-six of us in that room back at that day, only eighteen really went through with sending people here."

This is Dreyfus I. Shang, a general from the Yibang Barony that hails from the north-eastern lands of the feudal territories of Ostadonia. His name and the name of the noble family he serves comes from its proximity and historical & cultural connections with the Kingdom of Qima.

Known far and wide as a general that won the Yilong Confederacy's independence from Qima forty years ago, he was instantly seen as the man destined to lead this force.

"I see… there really isn't a single report about where they are gathering or where they are setting up strongholds and chokepoints?"

"None, sir! Our scouts and spies have entered the Baronetcy these past few days and we found no trace of a long march or construction of defensive works."

"Hrm… Strange…"

"If I may add, General. The Baronetcy's peasants haven't even been levied into a militia force, they are still busy grinding the grains they harvested and letting the winter pass by."

Hearing the puzzling report about what is happening inside the territory of the Bougainvilleas made Dreyfus and the others confused about what is happening.

"Are they bluffing? Or have the peasants abandoned any hope and accepted whatever would happen to them in this war?"

"I have the same thoughts as you… It's simply too nonsensical."

"BAH! You old men are overthinking this far too much!"

"That's right! If their reports are true, then so be it! If anything, this just makes things easier for us!"

While the noblemen and generals that had real combat experience were thinking through the conundrum, the younger and more hot-blooded noblemen didn't mind that information at all and called dibs on who would attack first and both loot and take slaves amongst the populace.

"I, Cain O. Beltre, Viscount of House Beltre! Demand to march ahead of this force! I will pacify these mongrels and make it worth mine and my mens' times!"

"Nay! It is I, Ghislaine A. Ifdelain of the Ifdelain Barony, who should be in the front! Tis the time for me to give my family and people glory!"

All of this back and forth squabbling from the young nobles went on and on into the night with no solid strategy set up for tomorrow's primary offensive. By tomorrow's daybreak, six of the nine noble armies gathered to begin the primary invasion of the Baronetcy, disregarding the warning of the battle-tested generals and the instruction of Earl Penne regarding the invasion having to be done all at once to forcibly break the expected resistance effort of the peasantry.

"FORWARD…. MARCH!!!"

Of the twenty-six thousand men in the entire allied Demesne army force, which was split in half, with thirteen thousand men for this first army group, eight thousand and three hundred men joined their young and reckless noble masters into battle. However, it didn't really matter much as many of these levied militia men are just as naïve and reckless as the masters they serve, as evidenced by the conversation they shared with each other.

"Ey! What'cha boys gunna do once we get 'em villages?"

"What else?! Imma ransack everything my paws can grab! Opportunities like this ain't comin' more than a few times, y'know?"

"Ay! You morons are too troubled with getting' them moolah! If ya laggards get too busy with lootin' em, y'all definitely gonna lose out on enjoyin' them lassies!"

"Oho! You gotta point, man! Can't be late on havin' yer way on them hoosers!"

At the exact line where the Lavento Barony's land end and where the Bougainvillea Baronetcy starts, a huge sign confronted the marching men, much to their confusion which caused the march to stop.

"Ey! What tis' thingie doin' 'ere!?"

"What's that sign talking about?"

While the common soldiers were crowding around the sign, the noblemen that noticed what was happening parted the crowd in order to see what the sign is all about.

"L-Lord Beltre! T-This is-!"

"Hrm… it is as it seems. It is a warning. In two languages no less."

The large sign contained these words which were written in both the Common Ostadonian and Tenkago languages:

["YOU ARE CROSSING INTO THE TERRITORY OF THE BOUGAINVILLEA BARONETCY AND ITS PEOPLE. VISIBLE SHOW OF HOSTILITY WILL BE TAKEN AS PRECEDENT FOR THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED."]

It was a grim warning. One that promised violence in case they commit to trespassing into the territory and show a hostile intent. Normally, anyone with a common sense would see this as a guarantee that something bad would happen if they continue to push on…

"Hahaha… HYAHAHAHA!!!"

"L-Lord Beltre!"

"Deadly force? Don't make me laugh, you destitute knaves! YOUR FATE HERE IS ONLY TO ROLL OVER AND DIE!"

However, these reckless and overly ambitious young men have little to no reason to heed the warning. They knew that the Bougainvillea family is far too weak now to offer up any kind of resistance against their greater numbers and better equipped and trained men… Little do they know that all of this was a part of a great scheme to lure them away from the more talented and battle-hardened leaders and deal a massive blow against their numbers.

"Ah… Hold on, what did that light come from?"

"The sound too. Where did that noise come from---"

*BYIII---!*

After marching a kilometer into the Baronetcy's territory, a flash of light and a loud sound came from within the wood line in the horizon where moments later, a screeching noise rapidly came towards the marching men.

"WHAT THE---"

*KA-BYAAAAAAA!!!*

Within a fraction of a second and seven men blown apart by the speeding object, it exploded and took with it the entire frontline of the marching army.

"W-WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?!?!?"

"L-LORD GHISLAINE! THE FRONTLINE---!"

"G-G-Gracious heavens…!" The young lord exclaimed with a gasp as soon as the dust settled, and he saw the complete destruction of their invasion force.

"T-T-THE ENTIRE FRONTLINE IS GONE! EIGHTY PERCENT OF OUR FORCES ARE GONE!"

In an instant, thousands of men and his fellow noble lords who all insisted to lead from the front vanished from the world. Seeing all of it made Baron Ghislaine Ifdelain to be so shaken that he became lost in shock.

"W-W-Where is Viscount Beltre…? Where is Prince Eeklow…?! H-How… HOW?!?!?!"

"L-Lord Ghislaine! We need to get out of here!"

"Lord Baron! We're going to be sitting ducks here! WE NEED TO MOVE! NOW!!!"

However, no matter how much they shouted at their master, Ghislaine was simply too consumed by dread and shock that he became unable to take command or order a retreat.

*BYIII-!!!*

In that instance, another burst of light came from the same wood line and in that moment, the remaining survivors of this invasion force was wiped out from existence.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Several hours before the artillery shot that destroyed a large portion of the eastern forces of the allied Demesne army,the courtyard of the Bougainvillea manor was bustling with activity as technicians wearing distinctive brooches that faintly glowed with a blue sheen attended to a group of 24 people that all wore thick, padded clothes overlaid with pieces of plate armor which had pipes and wires attached to it.

The armor plates, composed of a chest plate, a pair of greaves, a pair of leg guards and a soldier's helmet with a glass visor, was placed over a thick coat using belts and hooks. It would've looked like a normal defensive gear if not for the wires and pipes that connected it with a large box behind its wearer and after a bit of tinkering by the technicians, it began to glow faintly.

"Flight spells!"

"All green, sir!"

"Survivability and defensive spells!"

"All good as well, master!"

"Combat spells!"

"Locked and loaded, sir!"

From the mansion, Jonathan came out with the same armor set and began the final checks with the group. After being told that everything is good, he was handed a magic rifle by Spica which he examined for a moment before addressing his men.

"Men! We are heading out to wipe out the invading pests that dare to trespass on our soil! No mercy will be given! WIPE THEM OUT FROM EXISTENCE!"

"""UNDERSTOOD, SIRE!!!"""

That day, Jonathan brought the first victory that his family attained for the past 500 years.