Chapter 425 – 121. Lord of Harsen (3)
I hurried to the city wall with my commanders.
When I and my party arrived at the wall, the soldiers saluted all at once. In particular, when he saw me as the lord, he knelt down on the spot and tried to formally set the example of Yeong Ji-min.
But now the exhibition.
I didn’t need the ostentation of nobles at all.
“From now on, please end your greetings to me with just a salute. It’s an exhibition right now, so an informal meal is enough!”
When I said that, General Wittner gave me a look of surprise for a moment. Since he was also the commander-in-chief and aristocrat, he valued formality.
However, he already had complete trust in me as the lord. He exclaimed.
“Follow the lord’s words!”
“Yeah!”
The soldiers saluted me in unison.
The place where I arrived is the western wall of Harsen Castle.
Since the Byrea army was advancing from the west, it was the fiercest battlefield where the main attack of the siege was taking place.
Michelle, a middle-aged High Knight who was in charge of Mercury’s command at the scene, hurriedly approached me and saluted. I told him
“How is the war at the western wall?”
After saying that, Michelle quickly reported the situation.
“As you can see, 10,000 troops marched further toward Harsen Castle! And a flying monster and a long-range bombardment monster. And the bombardment began through the wizards!”
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-
At that moment, a huge explosion was heard from the nearby castle walls.
Magic fireball. The huge fireball barely crossed the wall and exploded beneath it.
“Be careful!”
Yuriel, who was beside me, hurriedly blocked my way.
“I am OK. Rather…”
I confirmed the appearance of the western wall area. The wall drawing a huge line was quite different from when I first came here.
Then he raised his head and looked over there.
Then, he saw Cecilia, a familiar platinum-haired woman, busily running around the castle walls.
“Shields are working properly! But I can’t handle all the places on the wall! Operators, keep moving the shields so the turret doesn’t collapse!”
“All right! Miss Cecilia!”
At that moment, another explosion was heard.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-
Not only the enemy magician’s fireball, but also the Wyvern’s breath headed for the wall. In addition, bombardment through siege weapons is being carried out at the same time.
Not only the soldiers defending the wall, but also the people of the territory beyond it were the most feared situation.
Breaking Suseong’s will with the primary bombardment with concentrated firepower like this is a standard strategy.
“This is enough to block even the current shield! Please activate the shield around the fort or the main point of the castle wall!”
In line with Cecilia’s words, the shield on the castle wall could be seen operating.
Woo woo woo woo-
With a resonant sound that the shield generates. Explosions followed, then the noise subsided for a moment.
“The sound of being bombarded like that is loud… But due to the magic shield Cecilia-sama installed and repaired, it’s not taking much damage! As you can see, the effect is amazing!”
Michelle said to me.
Like he said Cecilia has been very busy since arriving at Harsen Castle.
Cecilia is an excellent technician and craftsman. So she was knowledgeable about the defense equipment for Mercury like now.
In other words, this was the battlefield where she could display her talent the most. I gave Cecilia that power so that she could run wild to her heart’s content.
Soon, General Whitner looked at Cecilia with a surprised expression.
“Harsen Castle also had basic magic shield equipment. However, there was a limit to defense because only the place where it was installed could be fixedly defended…”
“But, Cecilia… The shield equipment introduced by an acquaintance of the lord is on a different level. It is possible to defend while changing the position of the shield in real time like now. The lord’s discernment in finding and arranging such excellent artisans is truly amazing.”
Sir Loth also spoke from the side. He continued.
“And from the point of view of the besieging enemy, there is no reason to attack only the areas defended by shields. That’s why the area where the shield can’t reach has no choice but to be bombarded with concentration. However, if you can defend an important point on the wall by moving the position of the shield like that… It will be very troublesome for the enemy.”
He was right. Cecilia, who soon recognized me, hurriedly approached me.
“Brother… Ah, no, Count Julian! As you commanded, I’ve touched up all of my defenses!”
Cecilia, who almost accidentally said a familiar title, blushed.
But as soon as I looked at the walls of the castle, Cecilia continued in her excited voice.
“The defense equipment that creates the existing shield was basically in the form of a magic tool. However, in order to create a shield that can cover a wide area, the magic tool must inevitably be large-sized…”
Her explanation continued. As Cecilia had said, the general defensive equipment of the city wall was bound to stand out.
It means that it stands out even in the wall of the castle wall. So, in a siege position, focus on that equipment.
“No matter how well the shield works, its durability has a limit, so it will break. Then it cannot function properly as a shield.”
However, Cecilia’s magic tools were different.
Unlike defensive equipment that requires the use of one side of a high wall of a castle wall. Her magical tools were miniaturized to the size of bricks.
“That means it is difficult to tell them apart. So, it is impossible to focus fire on the equipment that created the shield from the position of shooting from a distance!”
Even so, it is composed of much more sophisticated magic circuits than ordinary defense equipment.
Even if the user infused only a small amount of mana, the shield worked more broadly and firmly.
“And the location and range of the shield’s action can be changed according to the user’s will. If this is enough, it will be useful in the defense battle.”
Said Cecilia triumphantly, placing her hands on her waist.
Although she wanted to give her full compliments. She had a lot of eyes to see, so it was replaced with simple encouragement.
“As expected, the people I believe in are different. Don’t trust me in the future.”
“Yes… Come… No, Count Julian.”
Feeling happy about my praise, Cecilia bowed her head.
She glanced at her for a moment and grinned, then saw her By Leah army beyond her walls.
‘Has this passed the first crisis?’
However, the initiative of the attack still belonged to the Byrea Army.
And there is still not enough information about the soul of Paludis who is leading the Byrea army.
Now was the time to continue reading the Byrea army’s strategy.
‘Well, though I won’t lose.’
So I walked around the walls and gave the following instructions to the soldiers.
***
Ten days had passed since Yulian and his party entered Harsen Castle.
Unlike the early days of the advance, the command of the Byrea Army is different. Anxiety was increasing.
This is the Byrea Army camp outside the Harsen Wall.
In a conference room set up in the field barracks there, a person shouted.
“Damn it! Didn’t you say that a week would be enough! But how come 10 days have passed and that wall still hasn’t collapsed?”
Red-haired young woman. She was glaring at the commanders gathered in the conference room with the woman’s furious eyes.
“I’m sorry. Lamyar! Unexpectedly, their defense was solid… But they were clearly on the defensive! So if you give me a little more time…”
It wasn’t a lie.
Although Harsen Castle is holding up well. As the Byrea forces were overwhelming, Mercury was at a loss. The weak point was clearly visible, as if it could be pierced with a little more tapping.
But the woman shouted.
“Having said that, three more days have already passed! They generously supported Wyverns and other Witchbeasts. Well, I need more time now!”
It was a voice full of rage.
At first glance, it may seem like a young woman’s hysteria. It was different. There was a very deep demon power in her voice.
‘Damn. A bitch like a dog is hysterical.’
Keisler, who inadvertently felt fear from the magic power, cursed Lamiar inwardly.
Kessler. He is the vice-captain of the Byrea Mercenary Corps.
And he was a soldier in charge of the commander-in-chief of the newly created Kingdom of Byrea.
Of course, he was a swordsman who was reputed to have reached the level of a master, befitting the vice-captain of the Bairea mercenary corps, which had a bad name in the empire.
However, such Keisler had no choice but to come out in a low profile in front of that Lamia. Lamiar’s true identity was a married man.
‘If I were an ordinary horse soul… I would have eaten that damn bitch’s head… No, his pussy…”
Also, Lamiar was not an ordinary married woman.
Keiatic Gate just west of it. A demon who was chosen directly by Paludis. So, he was the apostle of Knoia.
‘An apostle of the great One. I can’t say anything…’
But it wasn’t just his identity that mattered. That woman possessed so much demonic power that even the master felt fear.
Because that woman breathes the enormous power that you can only feel when you get close to Paludis. No matter how much he did, he couldn’t treat that woman carelessly.
Of course, Keisler, a worn-out mercenary, could not admit that he had let his tail down.
‘Yes. It’s not that I’m afraid of that whore…’
The owner of the Byrea Mercenary Corps, no, the Kingdom Army, is not the leader.
The person who actually raised the Bayrea mercenary corps was Pedro de Orhain, the ruler of the south.
Of course, the Mahonin that Keisler is loyal to. Not that Lamiar, the Southern Keiatic Gate. It was Duke Pedro who was chosen by Inferno.
‘And His Majesty Pedro is the one who was directly chosen by the great Knoia beyond Inferno. He is the one who will be reborn as the god of the new era.’
That Pedro ordered cooperation with that Lamiar. Even if I was dissatisfied, I had no choice but to hang my head like now.
“Since the defense of the western wall is thick, we increased the number of attacks on the other side of the wall from three days ago. The other side is ragtag and clearly inferior to us. The people of Harsen Castle will self-destruct if you knock on it like now.”
“Huh. I can’t believe what you say. Well, I get it. Duke Pedro also has face, so I won’t question you anymore.”
Keisler was relieved inwardly.
I was going crazy trying to listen to that hysterical mad bitch’s nagging. I was very relieved to be able to step away like this.
‘There are unexpectedly cute corners. Yes. A woman should be able to subdue her stubbornness like this…’
But then. Lamia suddenly stood up from her seat.
“So, take care of yourself and continue the siege as you like. And I’m dying of boredom just being like this. Apart from you, I will move my personal guard and directly attack that castle.”
“But Lamia-sama! If Lamiar-sama steps forward and attacks, the current command system will…”
“Does the like of you dare to disobey you?”
For a moment Keithler was silent.
Just like meeting a poisonous snake. Instinctively, my body warned me.
‘It sounds like shit, but I can’t touch that bitch right now.’
That instinct saved him as a mercenary. Keisler was silent. Then he bowed down and apologized to Ramir.
“I was rude. Mr Lamyar. I apologize…”
“Done. I don’t want to see your bald head! Rather… I’m more curious about that lord of Harsen Castle… Kkeuk.”
Lamiar stuck out her tongue with a very bewitching expression and licked the tip of her index finger.
“The more a man resists like this, the more I want to bully him.”
Inadvertently, at that strange expression, Keisler felt blood rushing to his lower leg. But desperately holding back the feeling, he barely left the barracks.
And he sighed as he left the barracks.
“Phew… At this rate, I won’t be able to live up to my name.”
At the same time, the last thing Lamiar said. He thought about the lord of Harsen Castle.
‘Julian von Reinhardt. Is he the one that His Majesty Pedro told me to be careful…’
His own instincts were telling.
Julian That man was dangerous. With the information they had obtained in advance, it was absolutely impossible for Harsen Castle to hold out like this.
‘Anyway. If that Lamiar runs rampant. I want you to hurry up and cut his throat.’
And to build up to this level of solidity. It obviously means that they are overdoing it too.
‘The odds of winning are definitely in our hands.’
After arranging his thoughts like that, Keisler moved his feet.
***
11 days have passed since entering.
Harsen Castle’s morale was still intact.
Byrea forces pounded the Harsen Castle with ceaseless bombardment and siege. However, Harsen Castle did not fall.
‘So far it’s going as I thought.’
Not only refugees, but also conscripts are with us. Now that the castle gates are firmly locked, stockpile materials are disappearing very quickly.
However, in the meantime, the materials that were stocked up in advance. And Viscount Hunier and Eirin cooperated to distribute the goods in the most efficient way.
So, without any waste, the current Mercury was able to proceed smoothly.
Not only the soldiers directly in charge of Mercury on the wall, but also the support from the rear.
Harsen Castle, like the first day of Mercury, was showing the strength of a fortress that would never be captured.
‘Of course it’s risky, but.’
One week ahead. They had to hold out until Reinheim’s reinforcements arrived. And it wasn’t just about holding on.
‘You have to let go of their strength as much as possible. So when reinforcements come, I can counterattack.’
Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwa-
Just as I had hoped, they started increasing the intensity of the siege again.
‘I’ll stop you no matter what.’
And at that time, an urgent call came from the eastern wall.
“Notify Command! The enemy’s detachment has stormed the eastern wall!”
Upon hearing that report, I hurriedly headed for the eastern wall.
