CHAPTER 53: WINGED HUSSAR COMMANDER

Chapter 53: Winged Hussar Commander

Jorgklusburg, long dormant, ushered in its liveliest moment in years. Ever since the borders of the Kingdom of Jerusalem had expanded eastward to the lands of Count Raynald of Oultrejordain, this place had lost its former glory.

Its armaments had fallen into disrepair, its soldiers transferred away, and its funding repeatedly cut. The weathered, mottled, and peeling walls, like an old frontier veteran, gradually aged, crumbling into dust.

The newly arrived armored soldiers, led by Jorgklusburg’s old garrison, familiarized themselves with the castle’s situation.

Some had already removed their armor and begun to tidy up their living quarters, repairing the dilapidated houses long uninhabited.

Hans hoisted Lothar’s banner—a black eagle—to the top of the castle’s tower, where it flew alongside the Jerusalem Cross, fluttering in the wind.

Lothar opened the system’s building interface. Apart from the Lord’s Hall, all other building slots were greyed out, requiring him to draw building cards to unlock them.

He glanced through them roughly: Infantry Barracks, Cavalry Barracks, Skirmisher Barracks, Siege Engine Factory, Smithy, Tower, Castle, Stable, Port... everything one could imagine was there.

Just then, the system’s notification sound chimed in his mind.

[Special item "Winged Hussar’s Swallowtail Banner" detected. It can be used to unlock the special building "Winged Hussar Barracks."]

[Winged Hussar Barracks: You can train one ordinary cavalryman into the special unit, Winged Hussar, each day. Training cost: fifty Solidus gold coins.

As a special unit, the maximum number of Winged Hussars you can train is capped by your highest effective title: Baron 50, Count 100, Duke 150, King 300, Emperor 500.]

[Winged Hussar: Elite cavalry equipped with lobster-tailed pot helmets and half-plate armor. They wield hollow lances made of fir wood, as well as sabers, broadswords, armor-piercing swords, warhammers, and other melee weapons. On their backs, they bear eagle-style wing decorations, used to prevent slashes from behind and to intimidate the enemy. (Due to era correction, the Winged Hussars’ short-barreled firearms have been removed.)]

[Milestone Activated: Winged Hussar Commander: Have at least fifty Winged Hussars in your service [0/50].]

"An item can unlock a building?" Lothar frowned.

The Winged Hussar’s Swallowtail Banner, as an artifact capable of increasing a cavalry unit’s charge speed by twenty percent, was enough to elevate him, an ordinary person, into a top-tier cavalry commander.

Moreover, it was a crucial item for dealing with nomadic cavalry skilled in mounted archery. It could enable heavy cavalry to quickly catch up with mounted archers used for harassing formations during short sprints, and also allow him to achieve his strategic objectives more rapidly.

Regardless of the era, mobility was, without exception, the cavalry’s greatest asset. If Lothar were to command cavalry in Jerusalem, it would play an immensely significant role in battles against Saladin’s Mamluk cavalry.

But the current problem was that Lothar had no cavalry force of his own. Even if he achieved a glorious victory commanding Jerusalem’s Royal Knights, how many people would attribute that success to Lothar?

They would only think the Royal Knights had divine assistance, blessed by the Heavenly Father, for their warhorses to run so swiftly.

Lothar hesitated for a moment, then decided to use it. No matter how rare the Winged Hussar’s Swallowtail Banner was, new items would eventually replace it.

He had to seize the present. Only when his own strength was sufficient—even if it was just strength on paper—could he seize the greatest benefits during the kingdom’s turmoil.

These benefits could also help him complete milestones, creating a virtuous cycle.

This was also why Lothar had been willing to spend heavily to create a unit of armored sergeants. Whether they could fight well was a secondary concern; at least they had to look impressive enough to bluff people.

However, although he had made up his mind, Lothar didn’t plan to immediately choose to construct the Winged Hussar Barracks and the Lord’s Hall. He didn’t know how much commotion the construction would cause.

Would it be earth-shattering, appearing out of thin air? Or would a construction team visit the castle and build it step by step?

Although in this supernatural world, even creation from nothing wasn’t entirely inexplicable, he still decided to wait until night, after everyone had fallen asleep, before starting construction.

Lothar led Banu and Fringilla into the inner keep. It was a three-story fortress, standing out like a crane among chickens within Jorgklusburg.

Though it looked somewhat dilapidated, it was still evident that the inner keep’s condition was far better than the outer bailey’s. Presumably, when construction began, the lord of Jorgklusburg had used the best stone materials on the inner keep, which protected his own life and property.

The hall on the first floor was quite spacious. A Jerusalem Cross shield emblem hung on the wall. Beneath it, the tables, chairs, and standing cabinets were either missing a leg or covered in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs. Large patches of caked mud stained the carpet. Rats scurried rapidly along the base of the walls, not to forage in this empty keep, but to escape the scorching sun outside.

"When this place was prosperous, it must have been quite nice," Lothar said, somewhat insincerely, as a form of comfort.

Fringilla muttered under her breath, "How can anyone live here? Milord, why don’t we just go back to Jerusalem? Surely you don’t expect us to live in ruins."

Seeing Lothar unmoved, she added, "Then at least get the wives of those subjects to come over and tidy up. You wouldn’t ask me, a noble princess of the Blood Court, to do such menial labor, would you?"

Lothar had already planned to construct the Lord’s Hall tonight, which would naturally cover or completely transform this inner keep. So, he said, "What’s wrong with that? Doesn’t blood magic have any cleaning spells?"

Fringilla became agitated. "How can that be?! Blood magic is for killing! Unless it’s cleaning bloodstains, how can it be used to clear dust and catch rats?"

"Heh, just kidding." Lothar reached out and ruffled Fringilla’s soft white hair, his tone indulgent. "Don’t worry, I won’t make you live in a place like this."

"Ahem—" Banu coughed lightly. Seeing the two look over, she nonchalantly averted her eyes, as if she had genuinely just coughed inadvertently.

At the same time, the system’s notification sound chimed again.

[Your affection with Fringilla has increased to "Friendly." You can now share Fringilla’s talent "Blood Magic Specialization" or "Blood Seduction." Your own unique talent will be shared with Retainer Fringilla by default.]

Lothar wasn’t surprised. He smiled and, without hesitation, chose the first option, "Blood Magic Specialization."

Countless pieces of knowledge instantly flooded Lothar’s mind. He felt a sharp pain in his head, and blood vessels appeared in his eyes. In his vision, everything turned into red lines.

Fringilla, especially, in this blood-red world, seemed like the eye of a storm, with all the red lines revolving around her.

Unlike the "Unbreakable" talent, which needed to be actively released, "Blood Magic Specialization" was a passive skill, constantly in effect.

"What’s wrong with you?" Banu frowned. She sensed an unusual aura from Lothar; though faint, it could already pose a threat to her.

Fringilla also seemed to realize something and quickly said, "Your spiritual power isn’t enough to master so much blood magic! Relinquish this shared talent for now!"

Lothar suddenly understood. ’So it’s insufficient spiritual power?’ He unhesitatingly called up the system panel and allocated all three previously saved attribute points to Spirit.

The next moment, the blood-red color in his vision rapidly faded. His sight returned to normal.

His mind was now filled with various blood magics.

Bloodfall: By accelerating his own blood flow, he could greatly amplify his speed and strength for a short period.

Blood Spear: Hurl a spear containing his own magical power. Upon mixing with an enemy’s blood, the magic would infect the blood within their body and trigger a "Blood Explosion."

Bat Transformation: Temporarily transform into a vampire bat.

Immunity: All your vital points are nullified by your blood magic. You will be immune to all bleeding effects, and you will negate damage by consuming blood.

Perhaps the remaining blood magics were too profound for his spiritual power to bear, as they were all displayed with ellipses. Nevertheless, just these were already a tremendous improvement for Lothar.

Banu gave Lothar a deep look, said nothing more, and, unlike her usual habit of staying by his side at all times, was the first to walk upstairs.

’Could she be jealous?’ There was no notification of decreased affection, so Lothar was momentarily at a loss.

Fringilla, however, was uncharacteristically shy. Though she usually liked to talk big, she was actually all bark and no bite. She couldn’t be unaware that her affection unlocking had enabled the talent sharing.

"I’ll go up after the big dummy and take a look." With that, she flew up the stairs like a lark.

Only Lothar remained where he was, unsure whether he should follow or not.

***

Early the next morning, Castellan Leonard, his eyes still heavy with sleep, climbed out of bed and suddenly his eyes widened. He clapped his hand over his mouth in utter astonishment, his teeth chattering, a series of incomprehensible whimpers escaping him.

"Wh-what on earth happened here?"

The inner keep, which had been dilapidated just yesterday, had now transformed into a magnificent, brand-new, and even grander fortress than before.