Chapter 104
(Kyle
Calendar Year 507: Age 14)
Formation of
the Frontier Knights ② - Secret Weapon
Translator : PolterGlast
"Prepare for
annihilation volley! Target 800 m ahead! Adjust firing angle!"
"Adjustment
complete!"
"Mages are
ready!"
"Blue flag is up!
Observers have evacuated the target zone!"
Receiving the reports,
I prepared to give the command.
"Ready...
Fire!"
A single gigantic
catapult launched an unimaginable quantity of metal spheres. The massive number
of metal spheres, fired with incredible force, spread out as they flew and
landed in the target area, marked by the observers' flag, raising a cloud of
dust.
Their destructive
power was tremendous, leveling trees across the target area and gouging the
earth. From a distance, one could see trees being blown away over a wide area,
ascending into the air, indicating the sheer power. A moment later, the sound
of their impact reverberated as a roar. By then, the entire area was enveloped
in a cloud of dust, obscuring everything.
"Th-this
is..."
"Good
heavens..."
The two who had come
to observe the live firing of the newly completed catapult were speechless at
its immense power.
This was the planned
construction site for the Demon Realm fortress, which I had visited previously
with Elan. Construction had just begun, with only a portion of the fort's
walls, which would serve as its base, recently completed. I was showing them
the live firing of the catapult, a new development for anti-monster and
anti-invasion measures, which had been preemptively installed on the fort
walls.
"Of course, this
range and power are the result of the fusion of mechanical force and Mage
skill. Understand that without magic, this range and power would be
halved."
"Nevertheless,
it's amazing. The enemy army wouldn't stand a chance against this."
"Precisely. If
the enemy is hit by an area attack at this range, they'll be defenseless. This
is something truly terrifying."
Margrave Hastburg and
Viscount Gorman finally voiced their impressions.
Actually, there's
something I haven't told them. It's true that the acceleration and targeting of
the metal spheres are largely dependent on the Wind Mages' magic and their
skill. However, the performance of another Mage is the most crucial point in
this firing. Yoltia, a Gravity Mage, a type of Mage rare even in Kyle Kingdom,
almost non-existent in fact, secretly uses weight reduction magic on all metal
spheres at the moment of launch. Because of this, the catapult does not damage
its arm from the weight load of the projectile, can carry a weight beyond its
original capacity, and the installed counterweights are able to fully transfer
the recoil of that weight. The metal spheres launched into the sky regain their
original weight once they gain initial velocity and then continue their flight.
The metal spheres
themselves are recycled. I had a large quantity of discarded weapons and other
scrap metal, captured during the Teigun defense battle. For the time being,
anything that cannot (or will not) be used as raw material will be melted down
and repurposed into these metal spheres.
※
The path to this point
was not easy.
Firstly, we prepared
to independently produce and improve the siege weapons in this world with the
help of craftsmen, led by Foreman Karl.
Secondly, we
relentlessly continued experiments and training with the Gravity Mage (Yoltia),
the Wind Mages, and the archers responsible for the firing. Initially,
coordinating the timing of the three was quite difficult, but recently, we
finally managed to launch them as intended.
At the moment of
projection, a gust of wind generated by Wind Magic—a pinpoint, but stronger
than any typhoon's tailwind—accelerates the projectile, which regains its
original weight at the moment it gains initial velocity. If these stages
synchronize perfectly, even in this world without gunpowder, it can achieve
power comparable to artillery.
Then, like a howitzer,
the iron spheres arc through the sky, raining down on the target area like
hail. No, perhaps it's more accurate to say the metal spheres heavily impale
the ground, given their low trajectory.
In this world without
cannons, a long-range, wide-area annihilation attack with unimaginable power,
something usually inconceivable, is what I envision as our trump card for the
future. I named this weapon, capable of achieving devastating results
equivalent to dozens of cannon shots with a single launch, the "Magic
Cannon," and will be our secret weapon from now on. It's only a single
character difference, but I was excited by the naming. Just changing
"Ma" to "Ha" makes it sound like some incredible ultimate
weapon. Or perhaps I should have added "Dispersal" to it?
※
"Is this, a part
of the countermeasures he spoke of, to repel armies of tens of
thousands...?" Viscount Gorman murmured, half in a daze.
"Yes, the next
time the Empire invades, they will likely come with at least 50,000, perhaps
even more. The First Imperial Prince, burning for revenge, and the Third
Imperial Prince, seeking to assert his superiority, will both target this
route, having made thorough preparations. That is my reading."
"That's a
prediction I hope doesn't come true..." The Margrave's expression was
grim.
If the Southern Gate
Fort, which would be the main battlefield, were to face an invasion with even
greater forces than before, it would naturally be impossible to defend.
"We likely have a
few years to five years to spare. The Empire is currently in a delicate state.
However, once the Empire's southern front is settled or the imperial succession
is determined, the situation beyond that will be unpredictable."
"I will propose
to His Majesty the construction of a new fortress in the Southern Gate area. At
that time, I will also seek his approval for this fortress here. After all, the
fortress and defensive line you are planning will certainly not be achievable
with merely 50,000 gold coins."
"Thank you. I
believe that if we can prepare to take on more of the enemy forces here to
reduce the burden on the frontlines, it would be beneficial."
"If we proceed
along those lines, the proposal might be more easily accepted," Viscount
Gorman agreed.
"So, the day we
can sleep soundly with high pillows is still far off, huh?"
"That's
right."
"I have one more
request for you both. This weapon, the combined magic and projectile firing,
I've shown it only to you two. From now on, even my own father will only see
regular firing. On that point, I humbly ask that you keep it absolutely secret
from other nobles as well."
"Of course. We
shall repay your trust with our own."
"Indeed. Rather,
I am grateful to you for revealing it even to me, from a neighboring
territory."
"Feel free to
utilize the Knights to their full extent in the construction. Since I, the
commander of the Frontier Knights, have instructed it, it should be
logical."
"I will also
thoroughly instruct the soldiers I entrust to you."
I received the tacit
approval from the dignitaries, which had been a pending matter, in the best
possible way. Commander Weiss also nodded profoundly beside me.
※
And... there are still
a few hidden trump cards I haven't told the two of them about.
First, the development
of these hidden trump cards involved several stages.
The first was to
research combining different types of magic to drastically enhance their
effects.
The second was to
explore enhancing the effects of combined magic using pre-prepared materials.
For example, using oil with fire magic.
The third was, similar
to the Magic Cannon this time, to fuse tools (weapons) with magic to maximize
their effects. In fact, several weapons have completed prototypes and are in
the experimental stage.
To maintain secrecy,
attack methods other than the newly developed Magic Cannon are still hidden.
Only the Mages involved in their use and a minimal number of soldiers who
participated in training and test operations know about them. Furthermore, the
Magic Cannon itself is still in the experimental stage, but I intend to refine
it into an even more devastating weapon.
The development and
deployment of these will proceed in parallel with the fort's construction and
are intended to become core defensive facilities once the fortress is complete.
Additionally, I
constantly discussed and formulated plans with the Commander for effective (and
brutal) operations when facing large armies.
"Even so,
these... I truly think it's good I'm not an Imperial soldier." The
Commander sighed heavily when I told him my plans.
"It may seem
cruel, but the goal is to break the enemy's fighting spirit with the first
strike and make them abandon their invasion. Frankly, I don't believe these
alone can overturn a numerical disadvantage and lead to victory. The point is
to be able to fight a battle we can't lose, that's what I think."
Indeed, no matter how
strong a fortress is built, facing tens of thousands of enemy soldiers with
significantly fewer defenders is a severe disadvantage. The enemy will likely
target weaker points within the vast defensive lines and breach them.
Therefore, the
objective should be to create a situation where, even if we can't win, the
enemy is terrified and forced into a stalemate. If so, the presence of the
Demon Realm itself will naturally function as a defensive network (monsters
will become active).
Thus, the construction
of the Demon Realm fort was put on track and will continue to be promoted.
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