Chapter 113 - Episode 112: Abduction
It took a full three days for the Lancel Kingdom army to reorganize their formations after losing the commander of their core unit and witnessing the threat of the abnormally agile golems.
However, during that time, new units had joined as reinforcements, bringing their numbers to nearly 1,500. In contrast, the defense force of Barrel Fort numbered approximately 200, excluding the dead and seriously wounded.
"The odds are truly too poor... at this rate, there's no end to it, no matter how many we defeat."
"Even in the previous battle, the enemy's dead should have easily exceeded 100, yet far from being depleted, they've actually increased," Frederick and Yuri said in half-exasperated voices, gazing down from the castle walls at the enemy army advancing in battle lines.
"...I wonder why the Lancel Kingdom army is attacking so desperately," Noein muttered softly.
The two of them looked toward Noein.
"This fortress zone isn't the main battlefield, is it? As the enemy, it's not like they absolutely must take the fort no matter what. Well, I'm sure it's better if they can take it since they can claim the achievement for themselves... but why go through the trouble of merging with other generals and fighting over command authority just to attack jointly?"
"Now that you mention it... it is indeed a bit unnatural," Frederick said, agreeing with Noein's doubt.
"When it comes to this, it's painful that our communication network with the rear has been severed and no information is coming in from the main force."
"Yes, exactly. It wouldn't be strange if the main force had reached a conclusion by now..."
Today marked the tenth day since the first battle. It was the eleventh day since the main force began fighting. Considering the original outlook of "the war will end in two weeks at the longest," the fighting was beginning to drag on beyond the General Headquarters' expectations.
"Regardless, for now, we have no choice but to survive the battle before us."
"You're right."
Even as they spoke, the enemy steadily drew closer.
Switching her mindset, Noein turned both hands toward the golems. Since the enemy already knew of the golems' existence, she had both of them standing in front of the fort from the start this time.
It was intended as a deterrent against the infantry units, but the Lancel Kingdom army showed a different reaction than last time.
"Are those... fire arrows?"
"You two over there, shields for the golems!"
When Noein instinctively pointed and shouted to the nearby soldiers, they threw the shields they were holding from the castle walls.
Noein had the golems pick them up and take a defensive stance. Immediately after, fire arrows launched by the enemy archers rained down upon the golems.
"It seems the weakness of wood golems is well-known even in the Lancel Kingdom..."
Fire is the weakness of wooden golems. Because extremely hard timber is used, arrows almost never pierce them directly, but if a fire arrow flies into a gap in the joints, the body could catch fire.
The fire arrows struck the shields held by the golems one after another.
Furthermore, the enemy's plan did not stop there.
"!? This is bad!"
From the rear of the enemy formation, [Fire Magic: Flame Bullet] flew toward the golems. Noein instinctively made the golems leap back to the left and right.
The flame bullets landed where the golems had been standing a moment ago, scattering flames.
Meanwhile, fire arrows continued to fly in, and Noein again made the golems hold their shields. Even as she did this, another flame bullet might fly in.
"The enemy has even brought out fire mages... it can't be helped. Let's pull the golems back into the fort for now."
"...Yes, it can't be helped," Noein nodded to Frederick's proposal, feeling a sense of frustration.
Pulling back the golems would greatly reduce their defensive power in melee combat, but if the golems themselves were lost to fire arrows or flame bullets, the loss would be incomparable. The golems, which could serve as decisive weapons when they were more cornered, should be preserved for now.
The fort's gates opened, and the golems returned. Noein descended from the castle walls and prepared for the defensive battle at the gates.
The gates were not yet closed, and bolts were fired from the ballistas. Since the enemy was still advancing with mobile barricades to counter explosive arrows, they fired normal bolts.
The attacks from the ballistas were not entirely without effect, but the momentum of the enemy's advance could no longer be stopped.
"Take out the enemy mages! Center-rear of the formation!"
Frederick barked a sharp order, and the beastmen fired their crossbows. Arrows flew in concentration toward the positions where the Lancel Kingdom army's fire mages were thought to be, but those areas were strictly guarded by the great-shield squad, and the arrows did not pass through.
"The enemy thinks the same way..."
In the previous battle, Frederick had also positioned a shield squad around Noein to protect her. It seemed they both wanted to protect their precious mages at all costs.
On the other hand, the Lancel Kingdom army's archers switched their targets to the defense force atop the castle walls and unleashed their arrows. They entered a chaotic melee, closing the distance while firing at each other.
Because the number of available hands was beginning to decrease due to the increase in casualties, the beastmen who would have previously served as crossbow loaders were now responding to the enemy from atop the castle walls from the start.
The Lancel Kingdom army, receiving crossbow and ballista bolts from above, suffered significant losses, and the defenders receiving arrows from below also had occasional wounded.
Eventually, as usual, the Lancel Kingdom army reached the castle walls, and the battle entered the melee stage.
"Do not let a single enemy soldier in! Defend even if you die!"
While shouting such encouragement, Frederick cut down enemy soldiers who climbed up via ladders and kicked them off along with the ladders. Nearby, Yuri leaned out from the castle walls, responding to the enemies climbing the ladders with his sword.
On the opposite side of the gate, Frederick's adjutant swung his sword while inspiring the beastmen. In another spot, Pence deflected an enemy arrow flying toward him and thrust his sword into the throat of an enemy who was just about to take his first step onto the castle walls.
While a fierce battle unfolded atop the castle walls, Noein waited in front of the gate with the golems. Along with the Arqvist territorial soldiers who operated the ballistas, she prepared for the event that the enemy tried to break through the gate.
"...Hey, Yuri."
"What!"
"To break the enemy's morale, would it be bad if I threw the toilet buckets beyond the gate?"
Noein made the proposal to Yuri, with whom she had kept the "Far-Talk" connected as usual.
At the edge of the fort, simple toilets—namely, toilets partitioned with cloth—had been made, where the defense force relieved themselves daily. The waste was collected in large buckets and burned periodically.
However, the portions from yesterday and today were still in the buckets. The excrement of over 200 people could become a minor tactical weapon.
"You're the same as always... but it certainly seems like it would be effective. Go ahead and do it."
Yuri's somewhat exasperated voice echoed directly in Noein's mind via "Far-Talk." Hearing this, Noein sent the golems running toward the toilets.
When the buckets were brought to the front line, the beastmen frowned and looked toward the golems at the sudden drifting stench. Some of the beastmen, seeing the golems carrying the buckets, realized what Noein intended to do and shuddered.
"Okay, throwing now~"
With a fearless smile, Noein operated the golems and hurled the buckets filled with massive amounts of waste beyond the gate.
Immediately after, screams—no, shrieks—rose from the enemy ranks.
"Your nasty plan worked! The enemies near the gate are in chaos and half-crying!"
"A huge success! Ahahaha!"
Rejoicing in the enemy's misfortune, Noein again positioned the golems in front of the gate to prepare for the enemy's charge. Perhaps the smell had transferred to the golem that had been carrying the buckets, as the soldier standing next to it made a slightly pained face.
The chaotic battle continued after that, but there was no sign of the enemy charging the gate.
"The gate isn't being attacked today, is it?"
"Well, the area beyond the gate is in a state that's unbearable to look at. The ground is... well, muddy, so they probably can't charge," one of the soldiers answered Noein's question. He seemed to hesitate to specifically state why the ground was muddy.
"I see, then I can't just let the golems play in front of the gate."
Saying so, Noein ran up to the top of the castle walls. Matilda followed to protect Noein.
"Noein-sama! Why did you come up! It's dangerous here!"
"Yuri, is there anyone who looks high-ranking among the enemies at the front line? If there is, I think we could bring them inside the fort and maybe find out something about the inexplicable situation on the battlefield."
If it were an enemy officer, they should know the full details of the Lancel Kingdom army's operation. It might be possible to have them tell her why the battle was dragging on so long and why the enemy was attacking the fortress zone so persistently.
"Wait a moment... that guy. He seems to be the enemy's front-line commander, and judging by his armor, he's probably a noble."
Yuri pointed toward the center of the enemy's front line. A bit behind the place where the excrement had been scattered by the golems, there was a man who looked like an officer, clad in expensive-looking plate armor and shouting orders to those around him.
"I see... Frederick-san! I think if we kidnap that noble and torture him, we could get information, what do you think! My golems can do it!"
"I don't mind! Kidnap him! As long as it's a chaotic state, the enemy shouldn't be able to attack with fire!"
After obtaining permission from Frederick, the overall commander, Noein had the golems climb the castle walls and dive straight into the enemy.
Because golems boasting overwhelming strength fell from above, the enemy fell into confusion once again.
Perhaps fearing they would involve their own allies, there was no sign of them launching fire arrows or fire magic at the golems.
The golems pushed through the battle lines while scattering the enemy infantry, easily mowed down the guards, scooped up the man who looked like a noble, ran back to the fort, and tossed the man atop the castle walls.
"Damn it! What on earth is this!"
Yuri punched the noble man who had fallen while cursing, saying, "Sleep for a while!" Having his face punched with full force and his brain shaken, the man lost consciousness and stopped moving.
While this was happening, the momentum of the enemy's attack dulled. Perhaps because they couldn't attack the gate, golems fell from the castle walls, and they witnessed their front-line commander being abducted, their will to fight was clearly broken.
"The enemy is retreating! We defended the fort today as well!"
In response to Frederick's declaration of victory, the beastmen conscripts, the Arqvist territorial soldiers, and the Kingdom soldiers—everyone raised voices of joy.