Witches: Starting as a Lord Marrying a Wife

"The most important thing right now is still to improve my strength."

"But raising the Frost Giant Wolf bloodline from Tier 3 to Tier 4 requires 5000 experience!"

David glanced at the experience bar on his attribute panel, narrowing his eyes.

The leap between Tier 3 and Tier 4 was significant. Tier 3 beasts were classified as low-tier, while Tier 4 beasts were considered mid-tier.

This disparity was also reflected in the bloodline's strength. To progress to Tier 4 required a vastly greater amount of experience than before.

To speed up his growth, both the quality and frequency of dual cultivation sessions would need to increase further.

Fortunately, Leah was also benefiting greatly from their sessions. With the assistance of the Frostwolf Elixir, she was close to breaking through to the rank of a full knight.

For the next several days, the two of them redoubled their efforts in training.

---

Thanks to the Grey Wolf Knight and the loyal retainers left by the Frostwolf family, the governance of the territory ran smoothly. Everyone knew that the duke's primary focus was to secure an heir, so no one disturbed David and Leah.

Occasionally, the Grey Wolf Knight would deliver reports on Frostwolf Ridge's affairs to the castle.

In the past, David had devoted himself entirely to training and paid little attention to these reports. It wasn't until his father's disappearance, the division of the north among rival nobles, and the Frostwolf family's decline that he began taking an interest in managing the territory.

Now, with his knight training requiring significant resources and the stability of his environment directly tied to the system's effectiveness, properly managing his territory had become essential.

---

"Even trade has been cut off?"

David frowned as he reviewed the territory's financial report.

Although the Icebear family hadn't yet taken direct action against the Frostwolf family, they had already implemented covert measures to undermine it.

Without trade, Frostwolf Ridge's economy would collapse in no time. Eventually, the territory would fall apart without the Icebear family needing to lift a finger.

Moreover, the disruption of trade would also cut off access to essential training resources—a serious obstacle for David, who was desperate to grow stronger.

The Grey Wolf Knight's expression was grim. "Do not worry, Master David. Thanks to the composting method you introduced from ancient texts, Frostwolf Ridge has seen a bountiful harvest this year. Surviving the winter should not be a problem."

Hearing this, David's expression softened. The composting technique, combined with some modern agricultural knowledge from his previous life, had already been passed on to the Grey Wolf Knight.

Unfortunately, David's knowledge from his past life was limited. He didn't understand the mechanics of firearms or machinery, nor did he possess advanced knowledge of civil engineering.

Luckily, he now had his system as a cheat ability.

"Uncle Leo, have you found any leads on the wizards I asked you to investigate?" David asked in a low voice, glancing around to ensure they were alone.

The Grey Wolf Knight shook his head but hesitated before speaking. "Master David, are you sure about seeking a wizard's help?"

David understood the knight's concerns. Wizards were considered the devil's agents by the Church. Harboring a wizard in Frostwolf Ridge would inevitably provoke the Church's wrath.

"The Frostwolf family is no match for the Icebear family in its current state," David said seriously. "Even without a wizard's help, our family is on the brink of annihilation.

"If we must gamble, it's better to do so with the hope of survival. With a wizard's assistance, we might stand a chance against the Icebear family and secure our future."

This was one of David's main motivations for seeking out wizards.

His other reason was more personal: he wanted to test whether dual cultivation with a witch would grant him new powers.

The Church's propaganda painted wizards as the devil's agents, but noble families like the Frostwolves knew this was just an excuse to hunt wizards and maintain the Church's authority.

Thus, the only real concern was the potential threat from the Church—not the wizards themselves.

The Grey Wolf Knight nodded solemnly, recognizing that this was the Frostwolf family's only viable strategy. "I'll send more people to search for signs of wizards."

---

After the knight left, David returned to the back garden.

Leah had just finished a training session and was sitting on a chair, draped in a light jacket. She was savoring a cream pastry with such enthusiasm that her eyes were almost closed in contentment.

Knights needed to consume large amounts of food to replenish their energy after training, which was one reason most territories couldn't afford to support many knights.

When Leah saw David approaching, she quickly stood and ran over, her cheeks flushing. "Master David!"

"You should wash up after training. You might catch a cold like this," David said, brushing his hand through her damp, gray hair as he noticed her sweat-soaked training outfit clinging to her body.

"I was waiting for you, Master," Leah replied shyly, her face tinged with embarrassment.

"Well then, what are we waiting for?" David chuckled.

---

Another month passed.

David had solidified his Tier 2 knight strength, and Leah, with the help of dual cultivation and elixirs, had advanced to the level of a high-ranking knight's attendant. She was now preparing for her breakthrough to full knight status.

With her Frostwolf bloodline, Leah could condense a Life Seed, making the breakthrough much easier. The main requirement now was patience and accumulation.

---

As winter loomed closer, the Grey Wolf Knight finally brought news about wizards.

"Master David, a witch was discovered in Lynx Town in the north. She's scheduled to be sent to the Church of Holy Light in Icecastle for trial tomorrow."

David's eyes narrowed.

"Are we really going to rescue her?" The Grey Wolf Knight hesitated.

Lynx Baron was only a Tier 1 knight, someone David could easily defeat. However, if their operation were exposed, it would undoubtedly provoke the Church's retaliation—a risk that couldn't be ignored.

"Not 'we,'" David corrected, smiling faintly. "Just me."

The Grey Wolf Knight's expression darkened. "Master David, that's far too dangerous! Let me handle the rescue instead."

"Don't worry, Uncle Leo. With the Frost Giant Wolf bloodline, Frostwolf Breathing Technique, and our family's sword techniques, the Lynx Baron is no match for me," David said confidently.

Now a genuine Tier 2 knight, David's mastery of bloodline power and swordsmanship even allowed him to contend with weaker Tier 3 knights.