CH 246

Warning: Continuing with the “War is hell.” theme. Flora is introducing a WW1-esque shift of the industrialization of war and the sheer amount of casualties now possible.

It was genuinely Hell. Cannonballs fly in from one side. Soldiers blew away like leaves dancing in the wind along with the exploding ground. Generals, general staff, field officers, and soldiers, all were equal in their helplessness.

The comrades-in-arms with whom you shared drinks until yesterday, the general staff officer with whom you had been discussing strategy until just now, the young man who said he would return to the countryside and get married after this battle was over, and the veteran strongman who had traveled through countless battlefields, all were equally worthless in the face of this, their deaths were for nothing.

It is natural for soldiers to die in war. That’s the nature of the job. But it is something that can be endured because there is meaning in the act.

Even if it’s a strategy with an extremely low survival rate, they can save their allies by carrying out the strategy themselves, and because they can win the war in the end, they can throw their lives into the battle.

But what about here? There are no spectacular battle results, and their deaths have no meaning, it’s just an end like a wild dog that does not serve as a step or a foundation for anything greater. Everyone just desperately runs around not wanting to die, and there is no going down fighting as a warrior, no honor serving as a knight, and no dreams of career advancement should you survive.

But equally merciless and meaningless deaths are scattered everywhere. What else do you call it if you cannot say it is Hell?

“Hiiih…!”

“No, NO MOREEEE…!”

“PL-EASE, STOO-OOOPPP!”

Everyone runs desperately. There is the fear of approaching the attacking enemy ship. But if you stop, you’ll be exposed to that iron rain. Above all, the flames were approaching with ferocity from behind. You have no choice but to move forward even if you didn’t want to. You were marching to your death Like a pack of rats on a sinking ship leaping into the water, the unfortunate fools keep moving forward.

“If they’ve already shot this much, they can’t keep it for much longer! Don’t be afraid! If you cling to the walls of Koenigsvelg, they shouldn’t be able to fire that iron rain again!”

That’s the last hope. The iron rain unleashed by the enemy ships is too powerful. If they’re clinging to the walls of Koenigsvelg, the enemy ships shouldn’t be able to attack for fear of collapsing their defenses. So they have no choice but to reach the walls of Koenigsvelg before they were killed.

Forward, forward. Go forward. Stopping means death. Even Mikalojus was running desperately because he could even understand what was happening.

And Janzicka was convinced that he had won the bet. Considering the intensity of the iron rain that has fallen so far and the damage to his army, it is unlikely that they will be annihilated by the time they reach the castle walls. He may not be able to shoot down another cannonball, but that’s okay. Someone will definitely make it to the walls of Koenigsvelg alive. If that happens, they should be able to storm Koenigsvelg.

At that time, when he could see some hope…

“Hmm? Someone on the wall…?” Janzicka asked himself.

Someone is standing on the Koenigsvelg ramparts before them. It’s no wonder that a spotter is posted there because they’ve been launching so many attacks from afar. But… there’s a suspicious feeling in Janzicka’s heart. His intuition told him so. And the next moment after that terrible feeling, he saw something moving from the top of the castle wall.

DOOOOONNNNN!

“UOOOOHHHH!”

For a moment, Janzicka thought something had moved, but the next moment, several places around him had exploded so violently, he thought a volcano had appeared and caused an earthquake. He can’t stand because of the tremors. He wondered what was going on and looked around… and now, there was not even a shadow of the friendly forces around him. Whether they were completely annihilated or not, he couldn’t even detect a trace they had ever been there.

“Im-Impossible…” Janzicka whispered.

He couldn’t stop his body from trembling. Even the rain of iron that came down on them had unbelievable power. So much so that a single deflection by Janzicka would cripple his arms and weapons. And yet…

“There’s… there’s no way stop something like this…” he said.

He couldn’t even see where and when the projectile landed. The sound of its flight arrived later than the impact. The moment he thought something was moving, the ground had already exploded. Blocking it or knocking it down is a problem before you’re even aware of it.

And even if by any chance, by some miracle, even if they were to detect this shot in flight, there was no way they would be able to block it or shoot it down. This is not a problem for humans to solve. Janzicka instinctively sensed that no matter how much he acquired strength beyond human comprehension, they weren’t something that a living human being could somehow manage to defend against. And then…….

DOOOOOOONNNNN!!!

DOOOOOOONNNNN!!!

DOOOOOOONNNNN!!!

Every time the ramparts flashed, the ground exploded and shook like an earthquake. Even though it’s an attack with such absurd power, they keep up the assault as if they could go on for as long as they pleased.

“Do-Don’t stop!” Janzicka yelled. “Run! Run! Run! That attack won’t work if you’re clinging to the walls!”

He says it as if to convince himself, too. The rational side of Janzicka already understands. He knows. Even if one could reach the walls of Koenigsvelg, it would not be a safe haven. Only yet more hell awaits.

But… but still… he had no choice but to run. He’s still alive… there was no other way but to run without stopping even if he was running even deeper into Hell.

Stefan couldn’t believe what he was seeing. They said they would set fire to the rear of the enemy encampment as a preemptive strike. He will never forget the spectacle as he watched, wondering how in the hell they could set fire so far back and away from them.

A beautiful angel jumped over the castle wall with the sun on her back. It’s not a metaphor or anything. Baron Floto jumped over the castle wall and raised her hand to the sky, where 5 suns appeared. Oddly enough, it doesn’t feel that hot. You almost get the illusion it’s not real for there is no heat.

When she waved her hand casually like she was gently flicking something, the 5 suns flew toward the Polsky army’s position. And then… the world shook as soon as they landed. Of course, Stefan and the others were under the castle walls, so they didn’t visually confirm whether or not the orbs had landed.

""

However, even from the castle walls, they could see the sky overhead dyed red and a huge wall of fire gradually filling the air above the castle walls. And they could feel the heat of the wind blowing despite being deep into cover.

Despite being so far away, and within the shadow of the castle walls, they felt such a hot wind. If they were outside the castle walls… when they imagined it, they shuddered with fear. They finally understood what Baron Floto meant when she told everyone not to climb the castle walls and hunker down at the base of it, deep in its shadows.

And next the sound of Don! Don! It’s a storm of power that slams into your chest. Naturally, there are no castle walls on the harbor side. What they can see at the port takes Stefan’s breath away.

The giant ships of the House Caan Merchant Fleet spew fire and smoke. Then, the sound of something exploding on the other side of the castle walls returned. He can’t understand the scene before him. It is not in Stefan’s common sense that “naval ships attack the land forces.” The impossible happens.

Furthermore… the beautiful angel standing on top of the castle wall next carried a rock on her back. Just when you think that a rock with a long, cylindrical shape has appeared, it goes DON! The rock disappears with a loud boom. Then, without a moment’s pause, a large plume like a volcanic eruption explodes on the other side of the castle wall. The ground shakes, a shockwave resounds, and dust rises.

He can’t understand anything that’s going on. But Stefan does know one thing: the one who stands on that wall is an angel sent by the heavens, a divine messenger from on high.

Witnessing this overwhelmingly violent yet fantastic sight, Stefan knew that he had found a master to serve for the rest of his life, and pledged his unchanging loyalty till the end of his days.

Fortunately (and unfortunately) Janzicka, Mikalojus, and some of the soldiers made it to Koenigsvelg. It was Hell. They managed to reach the walls of Koenigsvelg at the cost of so many of their allies’ lives, and they were keenly aware of how worthless their deaths were.

After getting close enough, neither the rain of iron from the enemy ships nor the incredible attacks from the top of the castle walls came flying at them. Janzicka’s prediction was correct: if they were too close to the castle walls, they would destroy Koenigsvelg with their attacks, so they couldn’t fire again.

“Hii! Hii! I can’t run anymore! Do something!” Mikalojus yelled.

“Your Excellency, the power of the enemy’s attacks is too great to attack near the walls,” Janzicka said. “Let’s rest here a while, get into formation, then storm Koenigsvelg.”

Even if he said that myself, it was bluffing. Koenigsvelg wouldn’t be easy to take down with his remaining troops. If he had launched a surprise attack when there were still 3,000 soldiers strong, they would have been able to take them down by now. But now, there’s no point in saying it. And it would be impossible to take down Koenigsvelg with his surviving forces.

It should be quite difficult to take down Koenigsvelg with the current military strength, but even then there are those who have been unleashing that attack on Polsky on their side. No matter how you look at it, it’s probably not the defense force that originally existed in Koenigsvelg.

He had never heard of such a huge ship in Koenigsvelg. He’d never heard of anyone having such a ridiculous attack method. In other words… those are enemy reinforcements that came while they were casually encircling the city. And there’s no way the reinforcements would end there.

It’s an insane opponent who has attacked so violently it also violated all common sense. They can’t attack anymore because they’re so close to the walls. Koenigsvelg should not surrender still. No matter how you look at it, this land meant death. However, as the strongest person in the Kingdom of Polsky, there is no way he could complain like that.

“So I see…” someone said suddenly. “So you have no intention of surrendering yet… I extend my apologies.”

“-! Who are you?!” Janzicka yelled, readying his sword at the voice.

His prized spear is no longer useful. It got in the way of fleeing earlier and he tossed somewhere on the way here. You can claim it is an unbecoming act for a warrior, but in any case, it is a spear that can no longer be used. If it gets in the way of the battle, you can’t help but throw it away.

“I’m Baron Floto von Caan, from the Royal Guard Division of the Kingdom of Ploiss,” the voice said.

And with that… an angel flew down from the top of the castle wall.

“An… angel……?” someone mutters.

Everyone thought so. It’s impossible. Even though she jumped down from the top of the ramparts, she came down slowly as if she was floating in the air. Even though she was supposed to be wearing a skirt, it did not even flip or roll up as she silently landed on the ground.

Long blonde hair with light blue eyes. Looking at her, you feel as if she sees right through you. Her face, which looks like she is smiling slightly, is so beautiful. But… the moment Janzicka saw the young lady, his whole body broke out in a cold sweat.

“Ah… uu…” he choked.

Overwhelming power, he felt the difference in his gut. Instinct appeals that no matter what happens next, he is going to lose. This has only happened 3 times in his life. And all 3 times, it was the same person who caused such feelings in Janzicka.

“Bloody Maria…?!” he gasped.

An opponent who has terrified Janzicka to his soul before. This young lady smells the same as the object of his fear. A dangerous opponent that should never be approached. A demon from the Kingdom of Ploiss who he finally managed to escape after devoting himself wholeheartedly to ensuring he never ran into her again. Janzicka’s whole body trembles as if he were confronting the Devil himself.

“Oh my? Did someone call my name?”

And then… zush! The devil descended beside the angel. He will never forget what she looked like. Not even once has he forgotten the appearance of the Ploissian demon, “Bloody Maria”, the one who had carved the fear of her into Janzicka’s heart 3 times over.

“Hii!” he squealed.

After the bravery he had shown till then, General Janzicka let out a frightened cry like a child, dropped his weapon, and crouched on the ground. The surrounding people who survived also saw it and knew it immediately: their battle is over. All that’s left is whatever more hell awaits them…

“Hey, Janzicka! What are you doing!? This is so pathetic!” Mikalojus yelled. “What’s wrong with facing two women!? If anything, I, Lord Mikalojus, will have to deal with them myself! Uhihi! I’m not going to kill you right away! I’ll kill you after torturing you so thoroughly!”

As soon as he saw that his opponents were women, Mikalojus stood up and drew his sword. However, it was too shoddy and too poor of a display of fighting prowess. But… it doesn’t matter if that person’s ability matches his bluster or not. He already incited someone’s anger.

“Kill us after torturing us? Don’t tell me… are you talking about my beloved mother?” the angel said.

“Huh? What was that? Of course, I mean the two of you!” Mikalojus said. “Gyahahaha! First, I’ll cut off the tendons in your hands and feet! And then…”

Mikalojus approaches with a grin while saying vile things. And just when the angel-like lady’s figure was blurred for a moment and closed the distance between them, Mikalojus was blown far backward.

“You can’t do that, Flora dear,” Maria said. “If you hit him with that kind of power, he’ll die, you know? He’s one of the magnates, so let’s capture him instead of killing him.”

“Mother…”

However, this girl Flora’s fist never reached Mikalojus. Maria grabbed her arm and stopped her before impact. But still, Mikalojus was blown away by the resulting displaced air, and he lay unconscious with his face mangled.