episode_0038

Magicians are skilled in healing and, if they have learned combat magic, they can engage in long-range attacks from the rear.

Although they may have fewer personnel than archers due to their high level of education, their ability to deliver precise strikes makes them a valuable force.

Knights demonstrate exceptional mobility and excel in melee combat.

Their superior defense makes them well-suited for close-quarters combat. They can do everything except what magicians can do.

It’s not for nothing that they are called the gods of the battlefield.

Apart from the exorbitant maintenance costs, they have no weaknesses!

However, there was a demon on the battlefield that made both magicians and knights twiddle their thumbs.

-Clang!

“Avoid, dodge… Aaargh!”

“Someone’s down! Hey, everyone around, stick to the sides of the pillars!”

“Alright, three on three. One, two, three!”

This is not a battle. It is a scene where carpenters cutting wood and idle soldiers are gathered, diligently making siege weapons.

It was not uncommon for a person or two to be accidentally injured in the process.

While they are a reliable shield on my side, they are nothing more than a wall of lamentations when faced as enemies.

Siege weapons made of solid stone are necessary to breach a wall made of sturdy rocks, not flimsy wood.

Breaking down the walls with magical firepower is impossible.

When a knight strikes a stone with a sword, all they will achieve is a dull blade or scrap metal.

Of course, if one is willing to accept some wear and tear on their sword, like my fluorescent sword – which has already stuck to my mouth – they might be able to chip away at the stone.

But what about after chipping away? The overwhelming weight of the piled stones would crush any attempt to maintain the sturdy appearance of the wall.

There is no being in this world capable of toppling a wall with a single blow of their sword.

In fact, if such a being existed, why bother building a wall that only consumes money? All things exist out of necessity.

I keenly felt this when protecting the village from bandits.

Even a mere wooden stake has its use, so why build a stone wall? Bandits will not simply open the door and engage in a fair fight. Their goal is to endure and seek sponsors.

“Aaargh…”

“Sigh, looks like we have to start over.”

“Tend to the injured, and you, clean up this mess here. I’ll go report to the others.”

“Understood.”

I watched from a distance as they worked on constructing a trebuchet.

The soldier who had been crushed under the wooden pillar left to receive treatment with his life hanging by a thread.

It was easy to imagine the viscount shedding tears of blood soon.

Even in his desperate situation of having to demolish the wall himself, the siege weapon he was determinedly creating was not coming together as planned.

And considering the viscount’s precarious mental state from the past and the observations I had made in recent days, it was likely that soon.

“Aaargh-!!!”

“That’s quite a roar.”

A faint cry echoed from the viscount’s tent and scattered across the campsite.

Although the siege weapon was destroyed, it seemed as if his spirit remained, successfully shattering the viscount’s pride.

I had once tried making a trebuchet with a wooden stick, rubber band, and plastic spoon in a past life.

And whenever I shot a crumpled piece of paper with the crudely made contraption, it would bounce off in strange directions.

If even a miniature version was challenging, how much more so the precision of a real siege weapon. This required specialized skills.

There was no expert in siege weapons available here, so the production was facing obstacles. Moreover, being a weapon that utilized elasticity, it had already caused three incidents of people being injured due to the recoil.

I was currently standing on a hill overlooking the campsite.

Risha, who was overwhelmed by countless requests for petting from the surroundings, couldn’t bear the pressure and ran away, followed by someone.

“Did the knight run away too…?”

“No.”

Actually, it was true. There were so many fathers asking for tips on how to raise their daughters well.

But I have my pride, my own pride. Risha’s scrutinizing gaze made me uncomfortable.

Beside the girl who was carefully examining the dialysis machine, I swung my sword to make sure the skills I had learned didn’t rust.

Although my eyes were fixed on the faintly shining tip of the sword, my mind wandered far away.

Family.

Family, huh.

It was a topic that I hadn’t thought about for a long time. My biological father, aka Ravensponer, was not someone I cared about.

My mother passed away, and I had no siblings. There might be half-siblings out there, but I didn’t even know their faces, so it didn’t matter.

If I had to name someone who could be considered a father figure, it would be Father Pippin, whom I spent my childhood with, or maybe my teacher who accompanied me during my adolescence.

I haven’t thought much about getting married and settling down yet.

Finding a spouse while living a life on the battlefield is like asking to become a widow. There is no one to accept, and it’s hard to recommend even if I put on a brave face.

So, if I were to start a family, it would have to be when I have achieved success and obtained my own territory.

But having a territory also meant being treated like a noble, so naturally, marriage would involve political elements.

Most grooms and brides could only see each other’s faces on the day of the wedding.

Therefore, it was rare for love and affection to develop between family members, and at the same time, it was a great blessing.

Perhaps I would not follow that path.

There weren’t many people with the power and prestige to choose a spouse freely.

“…Why are you like this?”

“Just, I have something to think about for a moment.”

I glanced at Risha for a moment.

Come to think of it, I was in the position of being the girl’s guardian.

Remarriage was not a big issue. It was just difficult to divorce.

In most cases, only the death of one party could sever the bond between spouses. It was not permissible to break the covenant sanctioned by the church for any other reason.

In that sense, the setting of the wife’s death meant that I had no problem remarrying.

Moreover, since marriage took place in the church, all records were kept. By going to the civil office of this era and obtaining a family relationship certificate, it would be proven that I had never been married.

However, if that were to happen.

“Have you decided what to do in college?”

“College, ah. Right. I have to go… slowly think about it. Since it might take a few months for the siege weapons to be made.”

Risha would have to stand alone without even a family.

It was the age when she should be growing up receiving love from her family. This issue seemed to require a little more thought.

“…Do I really have to go?”

The girl murmured softly.

And that was the moment I tried to listen closely to what it was.

“Excuse me, Knight Raven, are you here?”

“I’m here.”

“The Marquis is calling you! He says it’s urgent, so please hurry.”

“Got it. I’ll go right away.”

A soldier ran up to the hill where we were and told me.

Was it related to the fact that the siege weapon had broken earlier? After telling the girl that I would be back soon, I grabbed my equipment and headed down the hill.

*****

When you think of a siege, it’s easy to imagine the army breaking down the walls and rushing in.

But the reality was like this.

“If you don’t surrender, we will fiercely surround you here!”

“We have enough food and supplies! Why don’t you try us!”

After two or three years like that, if one side can’t hold out and waves the white flag, the siege will end.

During that time, digging tunnels to see if we can open the gates, and shooting arrows at each other a little bit, that’s all there is.

Unless the architect is a complete idiot, the walls won’t crumble just from a light tap.

If someone designed such shoddy construction or stole materials, it’s a good opportunity to hang them on the wall.

As the Marquis, he knows well how sturdy his castle is.

He knows better than anyone that slowly wearing them down is the best way to preserve the walls and soldiers with minimal casualties.

Since the bandits who occupied Filah were a spontaneous rebellion, they probably didn’t prepare enough supplies.

So, I thought this siege might not go as smoothly.

“We have received new information.”

“I hope it’s good news this time. Go ahead, tell me.”

“Um, the rebels in Filah sent a letter to the emperor asking to be accepted as vassals.”

The day before, while the knights gathered to discuss battle plans, a messenger suddenly appeared and knelt before the Marquis.

Seeing the knights who filled his heart with reassurance, the Marquis gave a reflexive sigh of relief.

The emperor had a history of rejecting the requests of oath-breakers. It was because he couldn’t join hands with those tainted by malice.

However, negotiating with the new lord of Filah might be a different story.

He was considering how and when to capture the pope, but the fact that he could plant his ward right in front of the pope’s doorstep was infuriating.

Even if I were the emperor, I couldn’t stand for this.

In other words, a time attack was in place for this siege.

At the same time, the Marquis was left with only one earthly task.

“No matter what, we must enter Filah before it’s too late.”

“Even if we have to break down the walls and lose soldiers…!”

The Marquis of Filah was already leaning towards the pope’s side. Even if he was technically the lord, it wouldn’t be surprising if the emperor abandoned him.

So, the Marquis and the bishop must quickly break down the walls and accept Filah before the emperor’s troops arrive.

Abandon the walls? The Marquis wasn’t a self-destructive sadist who wanted to sacrifice his soldiers.

Just as I was pondering what kind of clever scheme the Marquis would propose after the failure of the siege weapons, I entered his tent with great anticipation.

And the first words he uttered to the knights and clergy gathered inside were these:

“We will abandon the siege.”

No, don’t say that from the beginning.