Ch.372The Country of My In-Laws (12)

“Alright. Let’s ambush them quietly.”

After saying that, I roughly put together a plan.

There was light coming from the fortress. It was originally a ruin of the Neverdreaming Kingdom, but it seemed to be used as a fortress now. And next to the fortress was a small castle surrounded by hills.

“First, let’s head toward that hill and secure the high ground.”

The basics of military tactics is to take the high ground. It provides better visibility and is easier to defend.

“Yeah. At that height, I can request precise fire support from the Kirtan.”

Kirtan said with a smile. Right. Now we have a legitimate reason to take the hill.

“Ohhh… that’s a surprisingly cautious strategy, unlike you, Shota.”

Umi remarked in admiration.

“Wouldn’t Shota normally charge in screaming ‘KIEEEEEK!’?”

Mika said.

“Ah… like when we fought the ghost before… wasn’t that just his kindness to reassure me when I was panicking?”

Ms. Aiko immediately put a positive spin on it.

“Th-that’s right!! That’s exactly it!!”

I shouted toward Ms. Aiko.

“I… don’t think that’s the case.”

Eri said with an awkward smile.

“Anyway, let’s go quietly take out the enemies and move inside.”

I immediately drew my sword.

“AMBUSH!!!! KIYOOOOOOOH!!!”

And I immediately began charging with my sword drawn.

“COME AT ME ALL OF YOU!!! COWARDS!!!”

Samurai trait) Even during ambushes, charges while yelling loudly.

“This completely defeats the purpose of an ambush!!!”

Kana immediately objected.

“Enemy attack!!”

In the distance, a witch shouted loudly as she tried to take off on her broomstick.

“I won’t let you!!”

Kirtan immediately drew his pistol.

Pshwoong-!

As the laser pistol spat fire, the witch was instantly oxidized by the beam.

“Geh-geh-geh-gek!!!”

Goblins immediately rushed toward us with guns in hand.

“URYAAAAH!!”

I swung my Phantasm Slayer.

FWSHAAAAK-!!!

As light flashed in the night sky, the group of goblins was swept away all at once.

“I knew this would happen!!”

Taiga said as he immediately summoned his psycho-robo, Fenrir.

“URYAAAH!!”

Taiga jumped onto Fenrir and charged forward. Cavalry charge is the best!!

“GRRRROOOAAAR!!!”

Fenrir filled its mouth with flames and shot them forward.

“KIEEEEEK!!”

“AGAAAAK!!”

The goblins were reduced to charcoal while still alive.

“Since we’ve been spotted anyway, we have no choice!! Let’s just quickly take the hill!!!”

I shouted loudly.

“We were spotted because of you!!”

Kana objected while cutting down enemies in front of her. Hmph. Talking back?

“Come forth!! Pinocchio!!”

I immediately summoned Pinocchio.

“Master!!! Pinocchio Suit standing by!!”

Pinocchio shouted. So the ultimate skill is charged, huh?

“Okay!! Pinocchio Suit!!”

I immediately activated the Pinocchio Suit.

Whirr-! Clank-! Click-!!!

The Pinocchio Suit attached to me seamlessly, becoming a complete armor.

“Here I go!!!”

Using the rocket thrusters attached to the suit, I soared high into the sky.

“Death rains from above!!!”

Right after, I summoned the Pinocchio Sword in the form of a greatsword in one hand. Then I descended like a meteor toward the ground below.

“Gek?! Ge-gek?!”

The goblins couldn’t react at all to something falling like a meteor.

KWAAAANG-!!!!!!!

The goblins on the high ground were all sliced away by the shockwave emitted from my sword.

“Now’s our chance!!! Break through!!”

I shouted loudly while still wearing the Pinocchio Armor.

“UWAAAAAH!! I don’t know what I’m doing!!”

“Those who can’t fight, stay behind me!!”

Everyone followed me toward the high ground.

———-

The enemies were quite strong, and it unintentionally turned into a reckless charge, but the operation was successful. We managed to take the high ground. When there’s such a big spec difference between forces, even a simple attack-move command can be effective.

“URYAAAAH!!”

A giant ogre-like brute at the top of the fortress raised his axe.

“Be quiet!!”

While deflecting his axe with my sword, I sliced his neck.

FWSHAAAK-!!

After tearing off his dangling head, I shouted loudly beyond the fortress.

“THE ENEMY COMMANDER’S HEAD!!! I CLAIM IT!!!!”

I’ve always wanted to say this line.

“Do you really need to hold up his head and go that far?”

Eri objected.

“Sometimes… Shota seems too much like a barbarian.”

Mika agreed with that sentiment.

“Ugh… I feel sick.”

Aki, the epitome of a good person, made an uncomfortable expression. I immediately kindly covered Aki’s eyes. Right. Aki shouldn’t see things like this. Just stay pretty. Just focus on bedroom activities, giving birth, and taking care of children.

“I’m not doing this because I want to. This is to confuse the enemies. Breaking their morale!”

I said loudly. In Three Kingdoms games, when duels happen, the enemy’s morale drops sharply. It’s similar.

“For someone saying that, you looked way too happy while tearing off that head…..”

Kana said.

“Hey!! Stop trying to frame me as a barbarian. If you keep doing that, I’ll act like a barbarian in bed too?”

I immediately retorted.

“Hmm… go ahead and try.”

Kana said with a slightly blushing face. Kana… you’re deliberately provoking me because you want to be treated that way. You cute thing.

Swoosh-! Swoosh-!!

Anyway, because we occupied the small fortress, witches started coming in for fire support. I could see those damn witches flying in on broomsticks from a distance.

“Kirtan Ship!! Full Burst!!”

At that moment, Kirtan pressed the fire support terminal.

FWSHAAAANG-!!

Beams of light poured down from above, incinerating the witches in front.

“Go play Quidditch at magic school!! Rotten wizards!!”

And if possible, stay away from Muggle society!!! I never understood this when watching Harry Potter. Those wizard bastards always make excuses like “Wizards like Voldemort are just a minority. We wizards are actually all nice.” But whether it’s this guy or those guys, they’re all crazy people who pull out their wands and cast spells at the slightest provocation.

I thought this might provoke others to come at us… but the fortress area remained quiet. The soldiers were just waiting, as if anticipating something.

“I see. So they’re not taking the bait.”

This was unexpected. I was planning to hold this position and engage in attrition warfare… but the enemies didn’t seem interested in fighting at all.

“So there’s a strategist among the enemies too. Ohoho. I accept that challenge.”

Like Zhuge Liang, I fanned myself… well, since I didn’t have a fan, I shook Eri’s chest beside me like a fan. Given their size and elasticity, they bounced dynamically like a fan. It wouldn’t be wrong to call me Agabang Kongming rather than Zhuge Kongming. After all, my girlfriends and I physically resonate every night, so it’s not entirely incorrect.

“That’s the most vulgar use of Three Kingdoms references ever!!!”

Kana, a Three Kingdoms enthusiast, immediately objected to my words. Wait. How does she know what I’m thinking? That’s seriously scary.

———

If this stalemate continued, it would be disadvantageous for us. If they called for reinforcements, we would be at a disadvantage.

“Can’t be helped.”

I finally made a big decision.

“Pinocchio. Come out. Sneak in and scout the enemy camp.”

I said.

“Master… I pride myself on having grown stronger, but… my role never seems to change.”

Pinocchio said with an expression of disbelief.

“Hey. Just do as you’re told. Even if your voice has become deeper, you shouldn’t forget your past.”

You’re still my punching bag.

“Really… fine.”

Pinocchio held back tears and headed toward the dark night sky.

“Alright. Let’s wait until the Pinocchio drone gets results.”

I said.

The opponent seemed strangely familiar with this kind of battle. They might be setting up some kind of encirclement or trap.

And after a while.

“Master. All clear on this side. It seems it will remain clear ahead, so I think we can just go back.”

After walking about 3cm, Pinocchio reported in his deep, dignified tone. He was too scared to walk more than a few steps.

“What nonsense!! Just go!!! Move boldly!!”

I shouted loudly. His voice may have changed to be cool, but his inner self hasn’t changed at all!! This guy!!

“Understood…”

Pinocchio immediately charged forward.

Beep-!

At that moment, a dry mechanical sound echoed through the night air.

“Master. I think I just touched something…”

Before Pinocchio could finish his report, a grand explosion occurred.

KWAAAANG-!!!!!

With the explosion, Pinocchio’s body was thrown into the air.

“GUHAAAK!!!”

Pinocchio rolled on the ground, reduced to ashes. He had stepped on a landmine.

“Kuhuk…”

Pinocchio struggled to get up. He was acting like he was in extreme pain, but this guy was fine. Why? Because he’s immune to all elements. He could even shrug off physical damage as long as it wasn’t fixed damage.

“Good!! Pinocchio!! Run around and set off all the mines or booby traps!!”

I shouted loudly.

“Really… Master, I really hate thiiiiis!!!!”

Pinocchio shouted loudly as he ran forward. Hey!! Your speech pattern reverted to the original!! Did you experience infantile regression due to extreme fear?

“Pinocchio… poor thing.”

Eri looked at Pinocchio with sorrowful eyes. As expected of Mama Eri… showing compassion even to such a lowly creature.

KWAAAANG-!!! KWAAAANG-!! KWAAAANG-!!

As expected, there were booby traps everywhere. Pinocchio bravely charged forward, stepping on every mine in his path. It was almost like a scene from a war movie.

Pinocchio… you’ll be remembered as a brave warrior alongside Gerruck. I thought to myself with a warm smile.