episode_0067
by fnovelpia
67. Arrival
A high hill.
A soldier staring intently at our carriage moving toward the headquarters beyond the hill.
Given how heavy the cannon is, it’s quite a spectacle being pulled by six horses… so it’s no surprise they’re wary.
The moment they spotted us, the soldiers sounded horns and drums, signaling the army beyond the hill.
A peculiar sight came into view—the rear of the headquarters blocked off by a high hill.
Curious, I turned to Adel with a question.
“But why are they positioning themselves with the hill at their back? Is it some kind of last-stand formation?”
“…Stop talking nonsense.”
Adel narrowed her eyes as if questioning whether I was serious.
Meanwhile, Alice, who had been watching from the side, adjusted her glasses before explaining.
“It’s a very simple reason.
If the enemy has sturdy, well-fortified walls, siege attackers are at a disadvantage.
Sending a detachment to strike the main force while relying on strong defenses is a basic tactic.
That’s why they’ve positioned themselves with the hill at their back—to protect their rear.”
“Impressive…”
In other words, simply put… it’s to prevent a backdoor strategy, right?
From the enemy’s perspective, their commander is safe behind the walls.
So sending a detachment to eliminate the enemy’s leader would be an effective tactic.
If they dispatch skilled commanders—or even just promising talent—leading a detachment…
Succeed, and the siege is quickly lifted—a huge win. Fail, and all you’re left with is regret.
Either way, it’s an efficient strategy with no real downside.
Nodding in understanding, I saw Alice’s eyes twinkle as she smirked at me.
“You should pass a simple test like this with ease.”
“Huh?”
“Your acting is too amateurish.”
Is she misunderstanding something?
Either she’s overestimating me or sees me as some kind of walking cheat sheet.
Does she think I’m a genius who already knows everything and is just pretending for fun?
I wanted to deny it, but Alice looked so smug.
Her expression was like a puppy begging for praise.
“Uh… well…”
Adel sighed, watching our exchange.
Meanwhile, Brooke and Eitr, who hadn’t been paying attention to us,
were observing the soldiers beyond the hill with sparkling eyes, clearly excited.
“Oh my god, we’re finally stepping onto the battlefield!”
“Now we can proudly say we’re real dwarves!”
For dwarves whose calling lies in blacksmithing, this must have been an intensely moving moment.
After all, the pride of a dwarf blacksmith isn’t in crafting pianos or concrete—it’s in forging powerful weapons and armor.
So naturally, they were overjoyed at the idea of creating cannons or heading to war.
I couldn’t fully grasp it, but I suppose that’s dwarven sensibility for you.
Only after the soldiers approached and confirmed our identities did we proceed up the hill.
The higher we climbed, the more the gruesome reality of war came into view.
Adel and Alice, ever the general and tactician, began analyzing the battlefield firsthand.
Meanwhile, I climbed onto the carriage to survey our forces.
And then I spotted her.
A petite woman with navy-blue short hair.
Perhaps noticing our arrival, drums began pounding all around.
The endless booming and the sheer weight of the cannon had delayed our arrival by three full days.
“Sorry for the delay! The new equipment was just too heavy…!!”
I meant it.
Afraid my voice wouldn’t carry over the noise, I shouted an apology first.
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Once again, we ascended the hill for identity verification.
There was a chance Black Dawn soldiers could’ve disguised themselves as us.
So after checking our faces, one soldier posed a question only we could answer.
Of course, being who we were, it was easy, and our high rank made identification smooth.
“Everything checks out.”
Just as we were about to head down in the carriage,
Adel walked up to the soldier who’d verified us and flashed a mischievous grin.
Her voice playful and teasing.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
“You don’t even memorize your superiors’ faces?”
“……Given wartime conditions, it couldn’t be helped…”
Adel chuckled and patted the unnamed soldier’s shoulder.
“I get it, I get it! Being cautious is good, but c’mon, isn’t this a bit much?”
“……Sir.”
“I remembered your face right away, though?”
“I’ll correct this immediately—!!”
Unable to withstand the pressure, the soldier immediately bowed his head.
Two weeks in a carriage must’ve left Adel itching for entertainment.
Watching the poor soldier sweat bullets under her teasing, Vivian finally stepped in.
“Hey, why bully some innocent kid?”
After nearly two months apart, Vivian.
She spared me a brief glance before focusing on Adel.
Almost like she didn’t want our relationship exposed.
Then again, greeting me before addressing the general here to reinforce her would’ve been odd.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, Vivian discreetly flaunted her backside my way.
All while greeting Adel normally.
“You doing okay, Fluffy?”
Vivian signaling me like we were sneaking around, then smoothly turning to shake Adel’s hand.
Adel smirked at the sly gesture, gripping Vivian’s hand firmly.
“Good to see you, Vivian. Sent out a distress call, so I expected at least one eye missing—but you look surprisingly well-fed?”
“I’m in a sensitive state right now. Stop tormenting my soldiers and go see your sister.”
“Why? Feeling lonely at night?”
“…Wait, what?”
The two generals locked in playful banter—more like warriors than ladies.
At some point, I stopped listening, but Vivian’s temple vein seemed ready to pop.
Their handshake turned into a strength contest disguised as greetings—or was it my imagination?
Then came Liriana’s trio.
“Good to see you! Didn’t think we’d meet again here!”
“You seem well, Master. Seeing you in good health brings me joy.”
“You heartless brat! Not even a single letter?”
Liriana clasped my hands warmly.
Elara, like an older sister, patted my shoulder with dignified affection.
Taysi mock-scolded me while ruffling my hair with a noogie.
We hadn’t met often, but they already felt like close friends.
Amid the reunion, I spotted Uncle Leygar—the only man here in his late thirties.
Unlike the women, I bowed first.
“Uncle Leygar. You look healthy—that’s a relief.”
“Glad to see you unharmed as well.”
After exchanging brief pleasantries, I noticed two unfamiliar girls whispering behind him.
“That’s him? Handsome, sure, but… doesn’t seem that special?”
“He’s already famous among noble circles. Please, just shut up.”
“Then, Iris! What’s that ugly hunk of metal on the carriage supposed to be?”
“Shape-wise, it resembles an elongated coffin… Maybe a battering ram to break gates?”
“‘Heaven-sent genius’ my ass.”
“Would you just shut up…?”
The purple-haired girl appraised me with arrogant curiosity, while the orange-haired one hid her face in embarrassment.
Wait—are they Leygar’s daughters?
As I wondered, my gaze landed on the woman I needed to greet first.
Petite yet radiating regal authority.
Piercing eyes and overwhelming charisma—a warlord.
Erica Grace.
Placing a hand over my chest, I bowed slightly in greeting.
“You’ve finally arrived.”
“Welcome.”
Others stood beside Erica.
Marquess Cecillia, welcoming me alongside her.
Delir’s son-in-law, Alvarune Aldrin—Liriana’s lord.
And Cecillia’s half-brother… uh… Toyotomi Hideyoshi?
“Cedric Laxiad! Ugh, you remember commoners’ names but not mine?!”
As if reading my mind, Cedric erupted.
Do nobles here all have mind-reading as a passive skill?
“Your face gives everything away.”
Leygar offered advice with a light tap on my shoulder.
Seriously considering a mask at this rate, I glanced around.
Erica, Cecillia, Alvarune, Cedric—and generals like Liriana, Vivian, Adel—all gathered here.
“Why is everyone assembled here?”
Erica smirked at my question, pinching my cheek like I was adorable.
“Isn’t it obvious?
We’ll either use our hot air balloon… or that new contraption of yours, won’t we?
We’re here to adjust tactics accordingly.”
Erica stretched my cheek mischievously.
However much she dotes on me… her tiptoeing to reach my face was even cuter.
Still, compared to Adel’s pinches, this feels nice—so no complaints.
As I silently endured Erica’s teasing, Alvarune cleared his throat.
“Ahem! So, what exactly is that device for?”
“Right. We don’t see the hot air balloon either?”
Liriana followed up with her own question.
“Marquess Erica’s letters mentioned dilemmas. Even with the balloon…”
“Right. With peerless commanders defending, it’d be useless.”
In short, the tactic of dropping a tactical balloon-nuke like in the Penrose War wouldn’t work here.
Hence, I made something new.
One of the three things Erica had once ordered me to create.
“Remember? The three things Marquess Erica asked for.”
“Of course. The piano, durable construction materials, and…”
Erica trailed off, then stared at me.
Like a child awaiting Christmas presents—eyes brimming with anticipation.
“Don’t tell me…”
“Yes. A weapon to easily destroy walls.”
Now, it was time to test it.
Whether it’s an iron fortress or the Great Wall—this weapon would smash everything with a single *click*.
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