Chapter 13. Canibar Territory (1) Part-2

And so, two days passed. Not once during that time did the storm subside. The army known as the 'Paddle of God' arrived at the edge of Canibar territory, having marched through the heavy rain for days. The regular soldiers, wearing their chainmail and surcoats, were cutting down trees at a nearby forest in order to set up their camp. Janus complained while looking at them.

"Just half-ass it. Save the energy of putting up the camp to kill one more of those bastards. We must crush them as quickly as possible to show our loyalty to our lord, the Pope!"

Even after the soldiers had erected their tents, his frown remained. He continued to sit upon the war table, watching the rain.

"This… rain is really annoying. How are we supposed to perform our purification work like this?"

He poured some wine that a soldier had brought him into a glass and raised it, downing the drink in a single gulp after enjoying its scent..

"Well, I suppose there is no better weather to wash away their filthy blood." Janus turned to the Holy Knights gathered behind him. "Let's… get started. Show those heretic bastards how scary the Paddle of God is."

***

Halsem gulped. His entire body was soaked by the downpour, but his back was drenched in a cold sweat. Now that winter was approaching, the rain was freezing. Exhaustion mounted faster through drenched clothes, numbing his senses. He wanted to shed his wet clothes to find a warm inn to rest in, but now was not the time.

Halsem looked at his own hands with trembling eyes. He was holding a worthless weapon—a long stick with a kitchen knife fixed to its end. Canibar had distributed this as a 'weapon'. No matter what, even a farming tool was better than this.

Halsem turned to the side. There were other residents that had been handed such a weapon and forced out onto the outer walls, quaking in fear just like him. They didn't even have armor. Only the regulars of the Kingdom of Aylans were well equipped.

Seeing this, Halsem turned back forward. A small distance away from the massive outer wall that surrounded Canibar were countless soldiers.

'Did they say… that there were 50,000?'

He had seen a great many residents gathered in the plaza, but this was his first time witnessing properly equipped soldiers organized in that way. Terror gripped his heart as he tried to step back, but the commander behind him shouted at him.

"Never step back! If you fall back, we'll treat you as deserters under military law!"

'Don't retreat? Military law? What nonsense is this…? The enemy's the Holy Kingdom…! How do they expect to win!'

Halsem screamed internally. Wasn't he a merchant, not a soldier? How could he be held accountable under military law? They had suddenly closed and sealed the city gate before forcibly drafting every eligible male, regardless of whether they were refugees or merchants. Due to this, Halsem was conscripted as a soldier as well.

'The atmosphere in the territory was strange recently, but to think they'd invade…! There must have been some clues before this, but why didn't I notice…?'

When Halsem turned as he trembled, he noticed Tom and Ellin. They looked calm, as though they had known all along.

"…Did you know?"

"Hm? No, I didn't know at all!"

Ellin avoided his gaze, and her legs began to fidget. She hefted the makeshift spear as she tapped on Halsem's shoulder with a nervous smile.

"Since it's come to this, we have to struggle through it with our best efforts."

"Uwaaack! Tom! Tom, say something! What happened? You told me that you'd protect me as best as you could…?"

Tom nodded in response to Halsem's cries.

"Yes, of course. Until you've bought the Dwarves and handed them over, that is."

"Then you're saying you'll protect me?"

If the Devil of Lania protected him, he had nothing to fear. He had witnessed his strength in the Golden Fief! When Halsem asked his question expectantly, Tom smiled and replied once again,

"No."

"…"

"I will protect you after you've bought the Dwarves and are ready to hand them over."

'…I'm doomed! If I'd known this was going to happen, I would've just fled…!'

"J-just what's your scheme? The Holy Kingdom has invaded, yet you choose to remain here. You definitely had the opportunity to leave a few days prior! Wasn't your goal to buy Dwarves?"

"That's just one of the plans. I think this is going rather well."

"That word 'rather' is making me nervous…"

"It's all so that the work goes smoothly."

"Smoothly…? Are you saying that a war against the Holy Kingdom is smooth?"

It was when Halsem was yelling in a shaky voice that the soldiers on the outer wall began to shout.

"They are coming…! Maintain positions!"

According to the commander's orders, the soldiers began to gather at the outer wall.

'Shit, okay. I have no option other than to fight for my life!'

Halsem felt assured that he would survive if he just followed orders. He had no experience in battle, but he figured that the commander would know more about surviving on the battlefield than he ever would.

Following the commander's orders, he tried to gather where all the refugees were to maintain their formation, but someone grabbed his neck and pulled him back. The crowded refugees all perished as a massive boulder flew over and crushed them into meat patties. All he could see was the ruined outer wall and the splattering of blood and appendages.

"Are you okay?"

Halsem grabbed his mouth in response to Ellin's question.

"…Uuuugh!?"

The Knights shouted, indifferent to Halsem's desires.

"Maintain formation!"

'Maintain formation…? What nonsense are you spouting…! I was almost blown apart thanks to you!'

Halsem cursed the commander. However, the Knights on top of the outer wall continued to direct the battle. The archers gathered on the outer wall and hunkered down to evade the enemy's siege weapons as best they could.

Count Shabel Canibar climbed the command tower installed on top of the outer wall and looked over the situation. The soldiers of the Holy Kingdom were pouring all their efforts into firing their siege weapons.

Ten ballistae were shooting bolts, while ten catapults were raining down boulders. Also, they were pushing a siege ram to break through the castle gate. Behind them were siege towers filled with infantry and archers approaching the outer wall.

"There are a lot of them, but these are just primitive attacks! We'll show you why the Kingdom of Aylans is the Kingdom of Magic!"

Count Shabel raised his hand. At various places on the outer wall, massive cannons, Magic Artillery Cannons, were installed.

"Show these religious fanatics the might of the Kingdom of Aylans-!"

— Ω —