Without the priest's command and magical enhancements, the remaining monsters immediately fell into chaos.
"Mop up the remnants!" Raylo ordered.
The knights, their morale soaring, along with the militia who had charged out from the town, launched a final assault on the surviving monsters.
The hisses of the snake-men and the cries of the lizards gradually faded away, and the battle soon came to an end.
The air was thick with the stench of blood and the foul odor emanating from the monster corpses.
The wooden gates of Blackstone Town slowly opened, and a group of townsfolk emerged,簇拥着 (surrounding) a white-haired but spirited old man.
The old man approached Raylo, bowing deeply, his voice trembling with excitement and gratitude. "Esteemed knight, thank you for your timely rescue! I am Buck, the mayor of Blackstone Town. If it weren't for you and your brave warriors, Blackstone Town would have..."
Ed stepped forward and announced, "Fellow townsfolk, it is the newly appointed Lord Raylo of Blackstone who has saved you. From now on, you will all live under his protection."
"Lord Raylo?"
Mayor Buck paused, then his face lit up with joy. "Are you our new lord of Blackstone? Wonderful! Truly wonderful! We've finally been blessed with a lord!"
He turned excitedly and declared loudly to the townsfolk behind him, "Look everyone! This is our new lord of Blackstone, Lord Raylo! It is he who has led the knights to save us!"
In this perilous wilderness, only under the protection of a lord could they hope to survive.
Of course, this wilderness was so dangerous that sometimes, the lord himself might encounter misfortune before they did.
Amidst the cheers, Raylo led the blood-stained knights into the town.
"This way, my lord," Mayor Buck said, hunching over as he led the way. "The town is humble, please forgive its simplicity."
Raylo nodded slightly, saying little as he carefully observed his surroundings.
The defensive facilities were almost non-existent, just a low, partially collapsed wooden wall. It was no wonder the monsters had easily breached it earlier.
The group arrived at a relatively open area in the center of the town, probably where the townsfolk usually gathered.
At the edge of the area stood a slightly larger house made of stone and wood, the most "grand" building in town, likely the mayor's residence and council hall.
Raylo turned to Mayor Buck. "Mayor, I need to understand the situation in the town. How many people, food reserves, how many able-bodied fighters do we have? And have attacks like today's happened before? How frequently?"
Mayor Buck quickly replied, "Reporting to Lord Raylo, our town currently has over three thousand four hundred people registered, but more than half are elderly, children, and women. The town has organized a militia of about two hundred, including eight official knights. As for food... alas, we can barely manage for a month, and that's with strict rationing. As for monster attacks, they have occurred from time to time, but never on such a large scale as today, with a priest leading them..."
Raylo listened, his brow furrowing slightly.
The situation was worse than he had anticipated.
"A month..." Raylo murmured.
With the approaching winter, such meager food reserves were woefully inadequate.
He noticed Moonlight beside him, wrinkling its nose in disdain at the smell in the air, its little head twisting and turning, seemingly dissatisfied with the environment.
It nuzzled up to Raylo's leg, purring softly, as if both claiming credit and complaining about the poor prospects for food here.
Raylo patted its little head, a rare smile flickering across his face. "You did well this time. I'll give you an extra treat when we get back."
Moonlight shook its tail contentedly.
"My lord, we..." Mayor Buck hesitated, his face a mix of hope and anxiety.
Raylo's smile faded, his tone becoming firm. "Rest assured, now that I'm here, I won't let Blackstone Town return to its former state. From now on, everyone must pitch in. Ed will guide you in reinforcing the walls, and I'll reorganize and train the militia. As for food, I'll find a way."
"Yes! We'll follow Lord Raylo's orders!" Mayor Buck responded excitedly.
Ed returned to report. "My lord, the walls are damaged in multiple places and will require a large amount of timber and manpower to repair. Three of our knights have sustained minor injuries, and the townsfolk have suffered heavier casualties, with seventeen killed and over twenty wounded. Supplies-wise, we've consumed a significant amount of arrows, and some weapons need repairing."
Raylo nodded. The situation was largely as expected.
"Prioritize treating the injured knights and townsfolk. Provide compensation to the families of those who were killed. Ed, organize a team to clear the battlefield, dispose of the monster corpses properly, and collect any useful materials. Mayor Buck, immediately organize the militia to repair the walls. By nightfall, the weak spots must be fortified."
Blackstone Territory, located south of the Blackstone Mountains, was vast in area but mostly wilderness, unsuitable for farming or habitation.
The truly habitable region was the plain south of the Blackstone Mountains.
The territory was sparsely populated, with fewer than five thousand people in total, scattered across various settlements.
The main sources of income were gathering herbs and ores from the mountains and cultivating a small amount of grain.
Raylo stood by the window, gazing at the rolling Blackstone Mountains in the distance. The night breeze tousled his hair, bringing a hint of chill.
Moonlight had unknowingly come to his feet, nuzzling his leg and emitting soft whines.
Through the hazy moonlight, one could see the ruins of an abandoned castle on the northern side of the town. It was said that the previous pioneering lord had come here with grand ambitions, supported by his family, and had planned to build a castle here.
But just as the foundation was laid, the lord had perished at the claws of the nine-headed hydra, Hydra, while hunting in the Blackstone Mountains.
The faint morning light dispersed the heavy night.
A small squad of knights left Blackstone Town, which was just beginning to regain its vitality.
Raylo rode on horseback, with Moonlight trotting faithfully beside him, occasionally sniffing curiously at the roadside weeds and looking up at Raylo, as if asking where they were going on this "adventure."
The squad traveled south, away from the shadow of the Blackstone Mountains.
The terrain gradually flattened out, and the视野 (field of vision) widened.
Below them lay barren land, sparsely dotted with cold-resistant shrubs and weeds.
Occasionally, traces of abandoned farmland could be seen, a reminder of past attempts and failures.
Without the protection of a strong army, some farmland had to be abandoned after being destroyed by monsters.
After about two hours of travel, the sound of flowing water could be faintly heard ahead.
Rounding a low hill, the scene suddenly opened up before them.
A not-too-wide but rather swift-flowing river appeared, its waters clear, revealing the pebbles at the bottom.
A relatively broad river valley formed on both banks of the river, with flat terrain and lush vegetation, a stark contrast to the desolate surroundings.
What further invigorated the knights was the sight of large flocks of ash-gray geese gathered on the shallows by the riverbank and in the meadows of the valley.
They were plump in size, with long necks stretched out, some pecking at the water plants, some preening their feathers, and others cackling loudly, their voices noisy yet full of vitality.
"Ash-gray geese!"