Their role was to clear obstacles from the path, ensuring their master never stumbled.
But now, that very master was asking—
Would they become giants alongside him? Would they leave their mark on history?
William looked at their faces and grinned.
"I suppose I don't need to hear your answers."
He could already see it.
Their eyes burned with the same ambition as his own.
Assigning official titles to his retainers was a necessary step, but it was not the true challenge ahead.
Without people to populate Asagrim, none of their plans could move forward.
Fortunately, the news William had been waiting for finally arrived.
"Calix has made his move?"
"Yes. He's currently marching toward Asagrim."
Upon hearing Torkel's report, William chuckled.
No formal declaration of war, no attempt at diplomacy—just a straight march to battle.
Clearly, the man had abandoned even the pretense of honor.
"Perfect. I was getting tired of waiting. If he wants to skip the dull negotiations and jump straight to fighting, that works in our favor."
"What do you intend to do?"
"Crush him head-on. What other option is there?"
"I meant, will you request aid from other lords for this war?"
Torkel's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
In the past, when William lacked military strength, he had relied on support from other noble houses.
Now, he had the elite soldiers and knights provided by the Empire.
Still, allies were always valuable.
If he chose to call for reinforcements, it wouldn't be unreasonable.
"If you give the order, I can return to my family estate and gather an army."
William scoffed.
"You say that as if you're the head of House Osgor. But didn't you go home recently and get beaten by your father?"
"...That's an exaggeration. I only took a single hit."
"A single hit that left your face swollen to twice its size? I heard you couldn't even open one of your eyes."
"Ahem!"
Torkel coughed and averted his gaze.
After clearing his throat a few more times, he composed himself.
"Regardless, if Your Highness requests it, House Osgor will answer immediately."
"No doubt. Baron Harald has always wanted to support me, and he despises Calix."
"Then should I—"
"But I won't be asking for help this time."
Torkel froze.
William's next words were delivered with absolute certainty.
"If Calix had been at his full strength, perhaps I would have considered it. But in his current state, there's no need. I intend to crush him using my own strength alone."
Torkel's eyes widened in shock.
He was going to take on House Calix without anyone's help?
"Your Highness, it's not that I think you'll lose. Logically speaking, there's no way you could."
The entire North had turned its back on Calix.
He had lost his allies, his authority had crumbled, and he couldn't even justify his own cause.
If William so much as lifted a finger, vultures would descend from all sides to tear Calix apart.
If things went well, he might not even reach Asagrim before his house was eradicated.
"But if you face Calix's forces with only the soldiers you currently have, the damage won't be insignificant. Calix has ruled the North for centuries—his house is not one to be taken lightly."
"I know. That's precisely why I want to face him alone."
"What…?"
"If possible, I don't want to share the spoils with other lords."
Borrowing soldiers meant distributing rewards based on their contributions.
But right now, William desperately needed resources and citizens. He couldn't afford to share his gains.
"If it were impossible to take Calix down on my own, then I would accept those costs. But since I can handle him, why would I willingly suffer a loss?"
"But if your forces suffer too many casualties, won't that weaken your influence over the other lords?"
William chuckled.
"That's true. On the other hand, if I crush him entirely on my own, no one will dare challenge me."
Torkel stared at him in disbelief.
Even if victory was assured, Calix was a man who had lost everything—his son, his power, his future.
He would fight like a rabid beast, uncaring of his own survival, desperate to inflict as much harm as possible.
It was obvious that even if William won, it would be a victory drenched in blood.
And yet, he stood there brimming with confidence.
"…Could it be that Sir Aizen has agreed to step in?"
"Of course not. He's done enough. He should be allowed to rest in his twilight years."
William dismissed the idea as if it were absurd.
Torkel's confusion only deepened.
He kept glancing around, as if trying to piece together the source of William's confidence.
William smirked.
"You're wondering what I'm relying on to be this confident."
"Well…"
"Enough. Go back to your estate and focus on your training as heir. If you keep running around after me, your father's going to drop dead from stress."
Torkel hesitated, a faint stiffness in his posture.
He clearly thought he was being dismissed because William hadn't fully placed his trust in him yet.
William, noticing the uncertainty in his expression, let out a small sigh before speaking.
"You still have that potion I gave you, don't you?"
"The glowing liquid? Yes, I still have it."
"Take it back to your father. Show it to him. And after you do, drink it."
"...?"
"It's proof of my trust. He'll explain the details to you."
"…Understood."
Though he still looked puzzled, Torkel nodded and accepted the order.
Only when he met with Harald would he finally understand the significance of what William had entrusted to him.
Now alone, William began calmly reviewing his strategy for dealing with Calix.
Then—
"...Calix Norbeck has challenged me to a duel?"
William let out a short laugh.
Instead of a declaration of war, he had sent a formal duel request?
"It's a trap."
Aizen, now serving as William's military advisor, immediately dismissed the challenge upon hearing it.
William had already expected as much, so he nodded in agreement.
"They must know we'd see through it. So why go through the trouble of making such an offer?"
"They're desperate. They're throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks—even if they know it's foolish."
Aizen's expression was tinged with amusement.
"There's a saying that a man prepared to die is strong. I used to believe that once."
William raised a brow.
"And now?"
Aizen chuckled bitterly.
"Over the years, I've seen many such men act more pathetically than anyone else."
"You mean, not those who beg for their lives, but those who are supposedly ready to die?"
"Yes. Most of them expect a reward fitting for their sacrifice. They believe that if they give up their lives, the outcome must be satisfying."