Chapter 29

Here's the English translation:

---

"Here's the bomb!!"

It took the vanguard of King Verm's army about a day and a half to reach the village.

"Hand over the village. And provide food for two hundred soldiers! If you do, we will spare your lives."

"Two hundred? Is that really all? You don't plan to take everything after occupying the village, do you?"

"Of course not. We only want to secure provisions. We don't desire anything more."

That's true.

However, they haven't specified how much food two hundred soldiers need.

It might be almost all of the village's harvest... but there's nothing we can do about it then.

Almus thinks for a moment.

Negotiations are conducted between equals or under the supervision of a greater power.

Can we really trust that they will keep their word? Without that assurance, we can't accept their conditions.

Moreover, the commander mentioned provisions.

This means their target is King Rosais' palace.

Normally, they would march through the forest, which is usually avoided due to the griffins, and use this village as a base to launch a surprise attack. That's their objective.

If we hand over the village, it will bring trouble to Yuria and King Rosais. Is that acceptable?

"What proof do you have?"

"I swear by King Verm's name."

"Then it's impossible."

The negotiations break down.

Both sides expected a battle from the start, so the negotiations end quickly.

"You're getting too cocky. What can you do with just forty or fifty soldiers? We have two hundred. Take the village by force!"

The commander carefully observes the village.

Deep trenches and tall wooden fences.

There is only one gate.

The village is large enough that two hundred soldiers would find it difficult to surround it.

Since a quick battle is the goal, it's better to concentrate forces on the gate and break through.

The enemy has forty or fifty soldiers, but including the villagers, the number exceeds a hundred.

Still, the primary objective is to secure provisions and a base.

There's no need to kill everyone.

After decapitating the enemy commander and issuing a surrender demand, they will likely kneel.

There might be many casualties, but our role is to clear the way.

The important thing is to take the village before the main force arrives, or at least weaken it if we can't.

This time, unlike the previous one, we have a battering ram and many archers.

"First, secure the area around the gate. Then use the battering ram!"

The battle-hardened soldiers form ranks and rush towards the gate.

But suddenly, the ranks began to break.

"Are they pit traps... What a hassle... Circumvent them."

The pit traps were filled with upward-pointing spears, resulting in twenty deaths, but they only caught the first group.

The pit traps were visible with careful observation of the ground.

Avoiding them was easy.

But circumventing them would take more time to reach the gate.

"Damn. I didn't hear about these defensive measures."

The commander grumbled.

Clearly, some casualties were inevitable.

Still, pit traps are basic defensive measures.

There's no need to be surprised.

"But if we occupy this village, we can secure provisions. We must secure a base before the main force arrives."

"Yes, but... Danger!!"

The adjutant pushed the commander off his horse.

The commander rolled on the ground.

"You! What are you doing..."

The adjutant was dead.

An arrow was embedded in his head.

The commander looked around.

"Damn! This arrow pierced through the armor!"

"Even though it's custom-made bronze..."

"Is it made of iron?"

Soldiers were being shot down one after another.

"What's going on! What are our archers doing?"

"From this distance, the arrows won't reach!"

The archer captain responded.

Unbeknownst to them, the bows used by Almus and his team were longbows purchased from Kirsia merchants.

Their range is different from the bows of King Verm's country.

Additionally, their arrowheads are made of iron, unlike the stone ones used by King Verm's army.

Shooting from high towers allows them to attack from outside the range of King Verm's archers.

"Raise your shields! Defend against the arrows while advancing..."

The captain's head was shot through, shield and all.

The soldiers were shaken by the ineffectiveness of their shields.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It just grazed me. If I had a helmet, it would have been fine!!"

The soldiers hit by arrows began to writh on the ground.

Those deeply pierced, as well as those just grazed, were affected.

"Poisoned arrows! Cowards!!"

The commander shouted.

A poisoned arrow pierced the ground near his feet.

"Ah!"

"Commander, please retreat to the rear!!"

The commander retreated, protected by his subordinates.

---

"Can we win?"

"Yeah. The enemy has already lost about fifty men."

About a hundred and fifty remain.

If fifty more are lost, they will likely retreat.

The enemy's equipment consists of bronze spears and mostly wooden armor, with some leather. The captains have bronze armor, and the commander has iron.

Our bows are longbows purchased from the Kirsia at great expense.

The arrowheads are iron and coated with Tricabuto poison.

It would be strange to lose.

"The enemy's arrows will soon be within range. Be careful, Almus."

Gram called from the top of the arrow tower.

The enemy, initially confused, began to advance steadily, raising their shields to block the arrows.

"Be careful. Focus on not dying."

"Understood."

Gram smiled and responded.

I'm worried, but there's no choice but to trust him.

"Ron, it's time for you to return to your post. When the enemy reaches the gate... you know what to do, right?"

"Got it. I'll show them something."

Ron returned to his post.

I need to return as well.

If I stay here, I'll be shot by an arrow.

The sound of the enemy's footsteps grew louder, and the sound of arrows piercing the village buildings echoed.

The enemy has about forty archers.

With more numbers, the more intense their attacks become, the fewer opportunities we have to shoot back.

Gram and his team hide behind large iron shields, shooting the enemy archers whenever they see an opening.

The battle is tilting in the enemy's favor.

...For now.

"Leader! The enemy has occupied the area around the gate!"

Ron reported, sounding pleased.

"Good, do it!"

I said, and Ron nodded with a grin.

He held a spear-like object.

Ron called to his nine subordinates.

"You guys! Do you have your explosive spears? Follow the training. Don't hit the fence, or you'll be castrated!!"

Ron called out and readied his explosive spear, a spear with black powder tied to its tip.

As Ron readied the spear, it began to glow faintly.

The magic had been activated.

"One, two, three, go!!"

At Ron's call, ten spears flew over the gate and landed among the soldiers surrounding it.

They exploded on impact.

The black powder caused a massive explosion.

Suddenly, the enemy's arrows stopped.

Screams came from outside the gate, and white smoke rose.

"Good, it worked. Prepare the second round!"

Again, ten spears hit the enemy.

Screams rose.

"That's enough. Stop. Let's go, Rozward."

"Got it. Brother."

I mounted the horse Rozward brought.

Rozward joined me.

The cavalry, including me and Rozward, numbered six.

"Open the gate! When I charge, Gram and the others will stop shooting! Ron, you and your team follow behind!!"

The gate opened.

We charged through.

---

"Wow, this is bad."

The situation outside the gate was worse than I expected.

Crushed tomato-like corpses were scattered everywhere.

Some were so gruesome that it was hard to believe they were human.

I was once again reminded of the terrifying power of my creation.

The thought of my enemies using black powder made me shiver.

I need to keep the method secret.

The enemy was in chaos due to the noise, white smoke, and the sudden deaths of their comrades.

It didn't seem like we needed to do anything more...

"Let's take down the enemy commander!!"

I called out and charged into the chaotic enemy ranks.

I didn't need to swing my spear.

The enemy opened a path, seemingly giving up at the sight of me.

We've practically won.

I quickly broke through the enemy ranks.

I need to charge again.

As the white smoke cleared, I could see the enemy's attire.

Most soldiers wore leather or wooden armor, with some in bronze.

"Over there, the one in iron armor on a horse! You must be the enemy commander!"

Rozward spurred his horse and approached the man who appeared to be the enemy commander.

The enemy commander began to flee in fear.

"Let him escape!!"

Rozward threw the spear he was holding.

The spear arced through the air and pierced the enemy commander's back.

"Rozward has taken down the enemy commander!!"

I shouted, and our allies cheered.

At the same time, the enemy gave up and sat on the ground.

Victory, for now.

I actually considered guerrilla warfare in the forest, but it seemed easier to concentrate the enemy at the gate during the siege and then detonate the explosives.

Next time, it's Baltro vs. King Verm's subordinate.

So Almus won't appear.

*There was a contradiction in the story, so I slightly adjusted the setting of the soul-separating herb.

For more details, see the afterword of the previous chapter and the preparation chapter.