The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 249

“It’s war!”

“What kind of nonsense is that? We are already in the middle of a war!”

Lee Jungmin, the vice-master of the Hwarang Guild, snapped at the guild member’s cry.

Who in their right mind yells about war when they’re already in the thick of battle?

Swoosh.

“Aaagh!”

With a swipe of his hand, three charging enemy soldiers were caught in an invisible force, spun around, and thrown aside.

“Vice-Master, it’s not that. Right now—”

“Hey, save the chatter for after the battle.”

Though he said that, any enemy who approached Jungmin was promptly swept away by a gust of wind. Thanks to this, the 5 meters in front of him were almost completely clear of enemies.

“… You monstrous bastard! Die!”

A knight, having noticed the anomaly, charged at Jungmin. But he remained calm, cupping his hands and pushing them forward.

Thud!

An invisible force slammed into the charging knight’s chest.

Thud.

The knight fell backward, blood spewing from his mouth, his armor crumpled as if clawed by a violent vortex.

“Sir Carmons has fallen! Retreat!”

“We can’t win! Aagh.”

With the knight’s fall, hundreds of soldiers broke ranks and fled in all directions, pursued by allied soldiers and players.

“It’s over.”

Lee Jungmin, vice-master of the Hwarang Guild and a powerful wave warrior ranked within the top 300 overall, watched the fleeing soldiers with a dispassionate expression before looking back at his guild member.

“So, what were you saying? If it’s nothing important, you’re dead meat.”

“Check the announcement, Vice-Master! A general mobilization order has just been issued.”

“… Mobilization?”

Skeptical, Jungmin opened his system window and checked the announcement, his eyes widening in shock.

“Gather everyone. We’re heading back immediately.”

“But the battle isn’t finished yet…?”

“At this point, we’ve done our job. And we have bigger things to worry about now.”

His eyes, fixed on the flashing announcement in his peripheral vision, burned with excitement and anticipation. And Jungmin and the Hwarang Guild weren’t the only ones reacting strongly.

“Finally? Gather your gear. We’re heading back to Calix Fortress!”

The American Gunfire Guild.

“It’s time to showcase the might of our continent. Call upon our brothers!”

China’s Zhengming Guild.

“The call of the alliance beckons. Followers of the Circle, heed the teachings of mana.”

Britain’s Oracle Guild.

And Russia’s Volk Guild, France’s Lamour Guild, Japan’s Asuka Guild, among others.

The allied guilds of the First Knight Order, who had been engaged in various national civil wars, were now returning to the First Viscounty in droves.

***

– First Knight Order issues a general mobilization order! Allied guilds and players in their territory are gathering at Calix Fortress.

– Details of the mobilization remain undisclosed as sightings of the First Viscounty’s knights and elite cavalry moving out increase.

– Finally joining the fray? The movements within the First Viscounty hint at significant action.

– The Purple Association remains silent. Players are flooding the community with demands for quest information.

– Tensions escalate between the 3rd Prince’s forces and the Templeton Dukedom. Over 100,000 troops from both sides converge near the duchy’s border.

– The Real Player Association and the anti-First Knight Order Alliance release a statement: “The outcome of the civil war is already decided. Don’t sink with the collapsing ship; find safer grounds.”

– Surge in new members for the Real Player Association. Number of players joining the 3rd Prince’s side surpasses 50,000!

Amidst the looming threat of another war, an overwhelming number of articles were flooding the Ruben Kingdom.

Many analyses suggested that the succession battle was nearly over with the McNeil Marquisate’s overwhelming victory in the previous civil war.

Post-war, the McNeil Marquisate had gathered the remnants of defeated troops to bolster their ranks and many previously neutral families had begun supporting the 3rd Prince.

Thus, even the kingdom’s foremost family, the Templeton Dukedom, was not expected to stop the momentum of the 3rd Prince’s forces.

Of course, there were opposing views as well.

– Among the five great martial families, only Count Randal’s house had fallen. If the Templeton Dukedom, Count Ashton’s house, and the Greer Marquisate united, they could still have a chance.

– They issued the general mobilization order because they understand this. If the Templeton Dukedom falls, the Ruben Kingdom will belong to the McNeil Marquisate.

– It’s already too late. They should have swallowed their pride and allied with Count Randal.

– The 3rd Prince’s forces are said to approach 500,000. How much more can they gather now? It’s game over.

– Wars aren’t just about numbers. Especially in Connect, where human weapons like knights and superhumans exist. The advantage isn’t solely determined by numbers. Skilled strategy and tactics can bridge the gap.

— But doesn’t the 3rd Prince’s side have an overwhelming number of these human weapons too? If each allied family contributes just ten knights, the total will be massive.

— Player participation can offset the knight forces. Let’s remember the debts we owe and support the First Knight Order!

— Tsk, tsk. You’re out of touch with reality. The First Knight Order is finished. Switch to the rising Real Player Association now.

— Those looking to join the Real Player Association, hurry. The entry fee is currently low but will soar after the civil war. Join now and get early bird benefits!

— What? Is the entry fee for real? The Purple Association doesn’t have these charges.

— I have a bad feeling about this. If the Purple Association vanishes, playing as a player will become difficult.

The mood on the bulletin boards wasn’t positive.

As the First Knight Order’s crisis began to feel more real, players started worrying about losing the benefits they had enjoyed.

Player reactions were divided. Some, out of loyalty and a desire to maintain their current benefits, wanted to support the First Knight Order.

Others, recognizing the shifting tides, wanted to switch allegiances to ensure their future.

Initially, the loyalists had the upper hand, but gradually the realists gained the majority. If the Purple Association had made a move, they could have stemmed the tide of player defections.

However, after issuing a general mobilization order for their members, they had remained silent.

***

“Hmm. So Ashton is making a move…”, Marquis Clifford de McNeil mused as he read the report.

His youngest son, Favian de McNeil, was providing the details.

“They seem to be gathering mercenaries at the estate of their youngest son, Viscount Raul.”

“What do you think about this?” the Marquis asked. This was both his method of upbringing and a way to evaluate his sons’ qualities.

“About the Ashtons? Honestly, I doubt they pose much of a threat. How many troops can they muster, being stuck in a remote part of the kingdom? Sure, the knight order might be useful, but they are not as strong as Randal’s.”

“You’re right. But remember, underestimating your opponent is never a good habit.”

“Hahaha. With you and your powerful superhumans, along with our tens of thousands of troops, there’s little to worry about. But I will remember your words.”

“Very well, you may leave.”

Once Favian left, Marquis Clifford’s smile faded slightly.

‘Confidence is good, but he still lacks caution.’

He adored his youngest son, having had him much later in life, but he noticed certain shortcomings.

“So, what is your opinion?” he asked.

“It’s mostly right but caution is still necessary,” responded his fifth son, Viscount Brayden.

“And your reasons?”

“While it would be tough for Ashton to lead their army directly to aid the duchy—given their territory is on the opposite side of the kingdom…”

The Ashton County was in the southwest, while the Templeton Duchy was in the northeast.

“And with so many lands in between, it would take considerable time for them to bring their army here. By the time they arrive, the battle with the duchy could be over.”

So far, there seemed no need for concern.

“But their elite knight order is different. Even if they’ve declined, they’re still a prestigious house, and their knights are on a different level from those of regular noble houses. Moreover, there were reports that in the recent barrier battle, Count Ashton advanced to the realm of a Master. They might have a few superhumans, thanks to mana’s return.”

Marquis Clifford nodded at Brayden’s words.

“Indeed, their army is not a concern, but their knights and superhumans cannot be ignored.”

There was a good chance they’d use portals to have their elite join the knight order.

“So, what should we do?”

“Is there a need to complicate things? We have an abundance of troops and useful cards at our disposal. Let’s make proper use of them.”

“The foreigners, right? That’s not a bad idea. And assigning those to the task isn’t a bad idea, either.”

He didn’t expect them to necessarily win over Ashton’s forces. But having their troops move into their own territory would prevent Ashton’s knights and superhumans from acting recklessly.

Even if Ashton’s house dealt with the punitive force, by then the battle with the duchy would have been concluded.

The Marquis and Viscount Brayden shared a sly smile, their expressions eerily similar.

*

“As expected, the McNeil Marquisate has dispatched troops towards our side,” reported Kane.

In the capital of the First Viscounty, calypso Fortress, Raul, the estate’s leaders, and various commanders were in the meeting room.

Kane had displayed the gathered information on a magic screen during the briefing.

“A total force of 100,000. The Central Army comprises 5,000, and 45,000 are from local lord forces. The remaining 50,000 are player units.”

It was undeniably a formidable force, especially with 50,000 players involved, making their actual strength surpass what the numbers suggested.

“100,000… that’s not all, right?”

Raul, with his hands clasped under his chin, asked while staring at the magic screen. Kane nodded and continued the briefing.

“Correct. They started with 100,000, but by the time they reach our territory, their numbers will have increased significantly. With additional local lords joining and players flocking to them, it’s estimated to be about… 200,000.”

Murmurs spread among the lower-ranking commanders.

“200,000? That’s massive.”

“Indeed…”

But Raul and the senior officers said nothing. Noticing this, the murmuring commanders also fell silent. Though they seemed slightly surprised, none looked anxious or panicked.

Kane continued his briefing.

“Now, for our forces. The newly reorganized First Knight Order has a total of 5,000 members. The elite cavalry, serving as a reserve knight order, numbers 10,000. The standing army across the territories totals 10,000. We have 25,000 troops ready. And…”

Another display popped up on the screen.

“Out of the 30,000 players who migrated to our territory, 25,000 have responded to the general mobilization order. With them included, we have a total of 50,000 troops.”

The remaining 5,000 were those who didn’t meet the criteria for this battle or were production-based players.

Only about 300 players had declined the mobilization order and left the territory.

50,000 versus 200,000.

Raul’s calm, determined expression reflected his confidence in the upcoming confrontation.

However, that was only in reference to the First Viscounty’s forces. When the additional forces of the Ashton County appeared on the magic screen, everyone could only chuckle in disbelief.

“…Looks like the Marquis severely underestimated us.”

Jake remarked, clicking his tongue.

Ashton County: 100,000+

“The actual number of deployable troops is much higher, but this excludes the forces needed for gate and territorial security,” Kane explained.

With this, their forces totaled 150,000 against 200,000. It didn’t seem like they would be at a disadvantage at all.

At that moment, Raul stepped up to the podium. He gestured to Kane, and the numbers on the magic screen changed.

“……?”

In an instant, the 150,000 reduced to 35,000+.

“For this battle, we will crush the punitive force and march to the capital with just this number.”

“……!”

The jaws of everyone in attendance dropped.

(To be continued)