episode_0069
by fnovelpia
69. Ahh… This is what they call a ‘cannon.’
Just as expected, a tremendous roar resonated through the air.
A noise incomparable to rifles—like thunder erupting from the ground itself.
A shockwave of unimaginable destructive force.
Vibrations trembling through the air, palpable against the skin as if in fear.
Had I brought Brooke and Eightree along, those tiny kids might’ve been sent flying.
Count myself lucky, I thought, as I raised my head to gaze at the fortress walls.
“…Success.”
A massive iron sphere… a cannonball larger than a human head was embedded in the wall.
The rock fortress, built from limestone and clay, had begun to crumble.
But that wasn’t all. The shockwave sent knights and soldiers who had been sniping from atop the walls tumbling down.
This was the moment the supposedly impenetrable stronghold was finally breached.
“…How long are you going to keep this up?”
“Ah…”
Erica’s voice, heard from within my embrace.
Startled, I quickly released her from my arms.
The generals and lords, ignorant despite my warnings about the cannon’s backlash, had remained standing still.
So, naturally, I had shielded the smallest among them—Erica—by holding her close while crouching low.
It might sound rude to say, but 151 cm is just too short.
If I told her I held her out of fear she’d fly away, I’d probably get smacked… Better stay quiet.
“Whew~… This is no joke.”
Just as the atmosphere between Erica and me turned awkward, Taysi’s voice rang out.
Erica and I turned our gazes toward where Taysi was looking—the collapsing fortress wall.
A fortress wall constructed in the architectural style of the 800s.
Apart from its unique property of dispersing magic like a lightning rod, it was just an ordinary stone wall.
Struck by the steel cannonball, its hardened surface shattered.
Moreover, the impact dug deep, shaking loose the sand and earth packed inside its structure.
To any observer, it was unmistakable—the wall was crumbling.
One more shot… no, perhaps two more would bring it down completely, but this was already a meaningful achievement.
Vivian approached me, playfully locking me in a headlock.
“Is there anything you *can’t* make?! Seriously, you’re too amazing!”
“Ahh… This is what they call a ‘cannon.’”
“No clue what that means, but damn, this is insane! Our adorable marshmallow strikes again!”
Being called “adorable” at 190 cm tall always feels weird…
Still, being buried in Vivian’s chest after so long brought a strangely nostalgic feeling.
If Adel was soft like pudding, Vivian was taut like an athlete’s big sister.
While indulging in such luxury, I caught the reactions of the lords and generals in my peripheral vision.
The first one I noticed was Lilliana’s workplace superior—no, *Lord Alvaren*.
“My God… To think he’d literally shatter the fortress wall… If I had that under my command, unification of the north would—no, realistically, that’s impossible. I’d have to negotiate with former Duke Erica Grace for western territorial concessions…”
A man embodying the White Horse General and the image of a conqueror.
Having witnessed the cannon’s power firsthand, Alvaren was already strategizing for the future.
Right beside him stood the Lilliana sisters, who blocked incoming arrows effortlessly.
“As expected of Cain… Truly, you’ve matured *deliciously*.”
“We should’ve snatched you up five years ago when we first…”
“Right, big sis! If we had, we’d already be living large in our own domain!”
Listening to her sisters’ complaints, Lilliana chuckled warmly.
“Fate, my dears, is like grains of sand.
The harder you squeeze what slips away, the faster it slips through your fingers.”
“Tch… Such a waste…”
“Don’t fret, Taysi.”
With a flicker of her crimson eyes, Lilliana spoke to Taysi in a voice equal parts chilling and serene.
“Someday, an opportunity *will* come to claim him.”
…I must have misheard.
No way the famously kind-hearted Lilliana, known as the “Saint of Virtue,” would say something like that, right?
Must be my ears ringing from the explosions.
Next, the voices of old man Leygard and his two daughters reached me.
““Holy shit, that’s badass!!””
“Father! Selena!! Have some decorum, please!”
“But how can any man—no, any *soldier*—not marvel at such a glorious weapon?!”
Even in this world where magic ensures gender equality, men still act like men.
Old man Leygard stared at me with stars in his eyes like an excited child.
“…You can fire it yourself next time. We’ll probably need two more shots anyway…”
“This is why I chose you as my daughter’s fiancé!”
“I never agreed to that, though…”
Thank goodness Erica didn’t hear that.
For some reason, she *really* hates that kind of talk.
“Hey Iris, you impressed too?”
“For the love of—yes, I am!”
“Hell yeah!! Dad, I wanna fire it next!”
Selena, as lively as any boy, rushed toward Leygard.
But with the solemnity of facing a battlefield nemesis, he replied sternly.
“You heard what he said, right? One slip and you could get caught in the blast, so *I* should go first…”
“Pfft! If someone’s gotta die, it should be me! You’re the head of the army!”
“Father first…”
“Child first…”
Like kids fighting over a toy, father and daughter bickered.
Truly, like father, like daughter.
Only Iris, glancing nervously at me, hung her head in embarrassment.
I was laughing at their wholesome antics when Erica approached from behind.
“My fox, you’ve outdone yourself again with this incredible creation.”
“Sorry for earlier, I was just—”
“Apologies can wait. Focus on the battle for now.”
“Right.”
Fortunately, Erica let it slide.
So, I wasted no time grabbing a long rod and heading back to the cannon to reload.
The barrel emitted a unique odor—rotten eggs, charred wood, and a hint of metal.
Still, I shoved the cloth-wrapped rod inside to clean out residue.
“Might I inquire as to what you’re doing?”
Cecilia had appeared beside me.
Despite the suffocating gunpowder stench, her elegant expression remained unchanged.
“Clearing leftover powder residue.
If unburnt powder remains, the whole thing could blow up.”
“Gunpowder? Is *that* the magical substance launching these iron spheres?”
“Uh…”
Another round of leading questions.
The only difference this time? Even Lilliana, Leygard, and Alvaren were leaning in, ears perked.
Having nearly spilled secrets once before, I deployed my ultimate tactic:
The *”Stay Silent and Half the Battle’s Won”* strategy.
Covering my mouth, I shook my head side-to-side in resolute silence.
“…*Hmph*, you’ve grown quite adorable.”
Why does everyone keep calling me cute?
Regardless, I hefted another hefty iron sphere—grunting—and rolled it into the barrel.
With a metallic *clunk*, the cannonball disappeared inside.
I gave a thumbs-up.
“Ready to fire!”
At my signal, Leygard nodded.
I packed gunpowder into the cannon’s breech and inserted the fuse.
Leygard, triumphant over his daughter, returned with flint in hand, grinning like a fool.
Meanwhile, Selena glared at him, tears glistening—a pitiful sight.
How could anyone bully such a cute daughter?
Wait, is it *because* she’s his daughter? If I ever have kids, will I end up teasing them like this too?
Mid-thought, Erica spoke up.
“How quickly can the cannon fire again?”
“Theoretically, 10 minutes.”
“Theoretically?”
“Yes. Steel construction minimizes distortion and cools quickly. Still…”
Rain dampening the powder, barrel warping from repeated shots…
Worst-case? A misfire causing an internal explosion.
Ideally, a full 30-minute inspection after each shot would be safest.
With that explanation done, we watched Leygard strike flint to light the fuse.
The cannon, re-angled toward the wall, stood ready.
He sparked the flint…
-*Fssss…*
The fuse caught fire.
Playing it safe, I shielded tiny Erica behind me.
“What’s this…? Making my heart race…”
“Huh?”
“Never mind…”
She seemed to be misinterpreting things, but since she looked happy, I let it slide.
As the fuse burned toward the powder, Cecilia—standing beside me—smirked and asked:
“Have you named this invention yet?”
“It’s a cannon.”
“*Hmm*… That’s more a category than a name.
Like how all breeds fall under ‘dog,’ yet each has its own…”
True, historical cannons had unique names.
Like cars—all “vehicles,” but divided into campers, SUVs, trucks, compacts, sedans…
Noticing my realization, Cecilia grinned.
“Would you mind if *I* named it?”
“Hey, *our* fox should name it!”
Erica, iron-wall defensive, passed the baton to me.
Since I built it, why not go for an awesome name?
Mixing attack names from my favorite manga…
Something strong, factoring in future upgrades…
“*Blazing Overdrive Full-Power Demonic Annihilation Cannon Mk. 1.*”
“Cecilia, what name did you propose?”
Traitor!
Instantly discarding my input, Erica turned to Cecilia.
Amused, Cecilia laughed and declared:
“Since it obliterates wherever its finger points…”
She raised a slender finger toward the fortress.
“*God’s Finger.*”
“The Demonic Annihilation Cannon *also* obliterates what it points at—*Ow!*”
“A splendid name indeed.”
Mid-rational rebuttal, Erica kicked my knee.
Had they read that manga, they’d *know* how cool it sounds…
Sighing (artist’s loneliness, I guess), I gazed at the *Blazing Overdrive Full-Power Demonic Annihilation Cannon Mk. 1*.
Fine. Even if no one else calls it that, *I* will…
Regardless, safety checks took priority.
The extra-long fuse ensured we could cut it prematurely if needed.
Yet, while debating names, the fuse dwindled to nothing…
-KABOOOOOM!!!
Another thunderous roar and shockwave.
A steel sphere, propelled by explosive force, hurtled forth.
Carrying enough kinetic energy to *erase* a fortress wall in an instant.
Surely *this* would bring the weakened structure down.
Everyone stared, anticipating the wall’s collapse—
“…Ugh. Annoying.”
A woman appeared.
Jet-black hair, wild as a wolf’s mane.
One hand gripping a sturdy halberd.
Having leapt from the crumbling battlements—
Reina, the “Peerless Under Heaven.”
Two-handed, she glared at the incoming cannonball.
“Deal with this yourselves already!”
Then—
With a swing faster than the eye could follow, she *batted* the projectile away effortlessly.
Like a baseball.
-*CRACK!*
A crystalline *clang* echoed across the battlefield.
A cannonball capable of mortally wounding even Vivian—
A force no human should withstand—
And she *hit it back*.
A performance so absurd it defied physics itself.
Jaw slack, I reeled from the sheer impossibility.
“…Is she even *human*?”
“MOVE!!”
Vivian, Adel, and Luna yanked me away.
(More accurately, they grabbed me, Erica, and Cecilia and *retreated*.)
Before I could process their sudden action—
-KABOOOM!!!!
…Our cannon *exploded*.
Reina—that *madwoman*—no, can you even *call* that human?!
She’d *batted* the cannonball *back*—hitting our cannon *800 meters away*.
No fluke. No accident. Pure, terrifying *skill*.
Lords and generals alike stood frozen.
“Tch… My hands sting.”
Reina merely shook off the vibrations, unbothered.
Faced with such overwhelming power, silence was the only response.
Standing before an unstoppable force of nature.
Then she *pointed* at us.
No—*commanded* us.
“You lot. Get your asses over here.”
Of course, obeying wasn’t an option.
A crimson steed descended the ruined wall behind her.
A blazing, blood-red warhorse.
Patting it, Reina spoke again:
“Stay put. *I’ll* come to you.”
*The Peerless One begins to move.*
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