Ch.213213. Marquis of Bordeaux (7)

The main gate of the marquis domain’s lord’s castle, the inner castle gate, was a wooden panel that also functioned as a drawbridge.

During normal times, it was lowered to serve as a bridge crossing the moat surrounding the castle walls. When enemies appeared, it would be raised to function as its original purpose—a castle gate.

Of course, in reality, thick wooden panels would guarantee sufficient durability as castle gates, but in this world where all sorts of supernatural powers are commonplace even in ordinary society, the durability of thick wooden panels is rather mediocre.

Even stone castle walls several times thicker and sturdier than the wooden panels would crumble helplessly before a hammer infused with aura, so how could mere thick wooden panels withstand such power?

They would split even under an axe swing from a warrior wielding magical power, let alone if someone brought proper siege weapons.

Therefore, the castle walls before my eyes, and by extension the gate, must surely have some means to compensate for this insufficient durability, but…

‘Corin, break it.’

[Okay!]

-Rumble—CRASH!!!

Before Corin’s ability to manipulate shockwaves originating from thunder, enchanted wooden planks are nothing but trivial obstacles.

-Clang!

With the refreshing sound of the gate’s magic breaking, the shattered wooden pieces that once formed the gate scattered in all directions.

Of course, the moat with its intense magical current was still in place, but that distance was nothing for Astra.

-Thud.

Thanks to that, I was able to enter through the instantly destroyed gate, and suddenly wondered why they hadn’t engaged in siege warfare from the walls…

“—Fire!!”

-BOOM!!!

-Ratatatatata!!!

In response, the soldiers inside the castle walls answered by launching dozens of lead bullets and several shells at me.

Following the orders of the military commander inside the walls, soldiers hidden in fortifications—seemingly established in preparation for a breach in the walls—fired shells and lead bullets.

From what I glimpsed, the firearms they used to shoot lead bullets appeared to be early-model rifles of Holy Empire manufacture, and those shell-firing direct-fire cannons… well, they’re commonly used anti-large monster cannons.

Particularly, their firearms, like other cold weapons, have minor enchantments—spells that assist with loading or remove gunpowder smoke, compensating for the biggest problem of front-loading firearms: slow reloading.

Thanks to this, not long after firing, they had somehow already prepared to shoot again, but…

-Thud!!!

‘…Geez. So noisy.’

As the target of their fire, I wore a bored expression watching the turtle shell barrier formed by my magical accessory’s power deflect the shells and bullets.

Firearms, gunpowder weapons. Certainly, even in this world, the firepower they emit would be top-tier at the infantry level.

Personal firearms that easily fire attacks comparable to high-grade anti-personnel magic, and cannons that allow humans to defeat mid-grade monsters with low-grade ammunition have given humanity an advantage against magical beasts.

However… despite that, gunpowder weapons in this world still have limitations.

It’s not simply a technical or engineering issue. Dwarves already use revolvers and breech-loading rifles with cartridges, and even without technology, magic applications could create weapons rivaling modern firearms.

But the biggest problem is the power limit of gunpowder weapons.

In reality, creating weapons that exceed the propulsive force generated by exploding gunpowder is nearly impossible, but in this world, superhumans who can produce similar firepower with their bare bodies are everywhere.

Of course, it’s true that when a superhuman who uses magical power wields a gun with magic or aura, it produces comparable power, but even considering that, when factoring in loading issues and other minor concerns, simply wielding cold weapons offers greater versatility.

Therefore, the conclusion is…

[…Moisture, soak and slumber.]

Reminding myself that gunpowder weapons are merely one of many weapons in this world, I drew moisture from the air to soak all their gunpowder, and passed through their midst while gently emitting aura.

Fortunately, there was no one desperate enough to attack me at the cost of their lives.

※ ※ ※

Having passed through the gate and entered the inner castle proper, I now recalled Astra and summoned new animal friends instead.

[[[Going-going!]]]

First were the squeakers. While they might be quite unreliable in simple combat, in special combat situations like this rather than full-scale battles, they’re more useful than all my other animal friends combined.

Search, tracking, reconnaissance, detection, stealth, distraction, disguise, assassination, sabotage, etc…. Anyway, these creatures capable of handling most roles that annoy enemies once again took up their duties without fail.

The squeakers, who had been resting and multiplying until now, numbered at least tens of thousands.

These creatures, numerous enough to form a black wave with their bodies, set about disarming soldiers throughout the castle at my request.

They gnawed through spear handles and shattered spearheads, cut the straps securing armor parts and smashed helmets.

They also crushed arrows and gunpowder weapons with their distinctive teeth, not forgetting to throw gunpowder boxes into water.

While I would kill anyone who attacked me first, I had no intention of becoming a bloodthirsty beast, so I proceeded while restraining casualties as much as possible…

“S-stop right there!”

“You cannot pass beyond this point!”

Heading directly to the office where I could definitely sense the marquis, I finally encountered knights showing hostility after entering the castle building.

They looked largely similar to the knights I had Chomfantlus Kezak deal with earlier, but the difference was… they were all at the level of ordinary knights.

In other words, they were far from sufficient to stop me.

Even though this was the worst battlefield for a druid—indoors in the middle of a city—and even if these knights, not possessed by anything, could display their best combat power, it wouldn’t change anything.

If I unleashed my full power in a slash, they would become well-cut pieces of meat in just seconds, and even using basic magical manipulation techniques and close combat, I could easily handle these 20 knights.

And my choice was—

“Come, Robo.”

[—Awoooooooo!!!]

With the echoing sound of a wolf’s howling, I summoned Robo, who should be large enough to fill this corridor—quite high and wide for an indoor space—but had considerably reduced his size through mass separation.

-…Hiss.

Various spells I reflexively cast enhanced Robo’s power, causing frost to spread from him like a diffusion, beginning to freeze everything around.

High-grade carpets, porcelain worth dozens of gold coins each, this splendid corridor that must have cost an unimaginable amount of money—all began to gradually freeze.

Demonstrating Robo, who proved the difference in class despite being mid-grade like the others, I sent an invisible warning to them.

Attack and you die, you will definitely die. So if you want to surrender, now is your only chance…

-…Slide.

The knights in the rear raised their halberds and spears, and massive shields almost like walls moved to the front. Knights with swords in both hands filled the gaps between them.

“…Sigh.”

Since no one could interpret these actions as signs of surrender, I also inwardly sighed… and prepared to grant a fitting death to these knights who dared to stand against me despite knowing the difference in power.

‘Robo, do it.’

[Yes!]

The moment the order fell, the cold emanating from Robo suddenly expanded, extending sharply in all directions.

Like ice shotgun pellets. The knights, exposed to this killing intent, were distracted responding to it, and I didn’t miss the opening.

[Slash, wolf’s claws.]

-Shrrrrrrk!!!

Slashes tracing trajectories through the air as if dominating the space drew red lines across the bodies of the knights who had become defenseless trying to respond to the ice pellets.

The passing of their lives seemed like an eternity, yet simultaneously, their end was merely an instant.

-Thud!

As hundreds of neatly sliced meat chunks fell to the floor, I briefly looked at what had been brave knights before moving on toward the core of the castle.

And in the deepest part of the inner castle where the lord resided…

“Whew, you’ve finally arrived, Gregory Aleinos.”

‘…How shameless.’

There was a packed bag thrown to one side as if he had tried to flee, and despite his heart racing with tension inside, Marquis Bordo responded as if he had been waiting for me in his office chair, acting brazenly.

Truly, compared to those knights earlier, it was a pathetic sight.