Chapter 301 (1/2)

Chapter 301

Aegir POV–

Landing Army . Zabrela .

「Everyone, board the s.h.i.+p! Hurry up!!」

「Quickly, quickly, throw those heavy cannons in the river! Just get on board!」

It temporarily looked like the Federation lost the battle, but the situation turned around when the mysterious black boats appeared .

The black boats charged into the enemy, were blasted from all sides with cannonfire, and unbelievably came out unharmed .

「We don’t have time to wait until they enter the harbor . If you can swim, take off your armor and jump in the water . Climb directly onto the boat . 」

Probably planning for it in the beginning, all the retreating Federation vessels turned around for an attack at the same time the black s.h.i.+ps went into the enemy’s midst and started a chaotic fight large enough to make the wide North Teries river seem narrow .

Ally transport vessels took advantage of that gap to charge into Zabrela .

The Imperial fleet had their hands full dealing with the fight in front of them and had no time to be concerned about us .

Soldiers clamor about rowdily in the city of Zabrela to board the s.h.i.+ps .

Of course the 105th division army under me are similarly pus.h.i.+ng through .

The difference was that the other soldiers threw away any heavy objects, taking only their swords and s.h.i.+elds with them, whereas the 105th division soldiers have abandoned even their swords and s.h.i.+elds and are carrying the female prisoners with them instead .

I would have thought the female prisoners would resist, but they said “Slaves who surrender to the enemy will definitely be killed” and “I’ll do anything so I want to you take me with you”, ultimately giving the soldiers no other option .

「Boarding while carrying women…… how will the other corps commanders look at us?」

「It can’t be helped . Weapons can always be made again, besides they can use clubs or pot lids in the worst case scenario, but there’s no way women can be recovered once they’re gone . 」

I pat the head of the pouting Celia and then board the s.h.i.+p as well .

We don’t have the luxury to embark neatly as a squad .

The boat at roughly full capacity separates from the sh.o.r.e and detours around the battle area towards the north coast .

「Please . Rout the enemy fleet……」

「Or at the very least, hold out until we get across . 」

The crew members pray while gazing at the battle .

Fortunately, the battle is still intense and the Imperial fleet doesn’t seem to notice us .

No, they probably realized we’re circling around the battle on the downstream side .

They should not be able to turn their backs to chase us given they’re exchanging shots with other ally s.h.i.+ps coming from upstream . We can get away like this .

「Ah! They took down a black s.h.i.+p!!」

When Celia shouted, the other nearby ally soldiers also let out an anguished groan .

I can’t really see clearly, but apparently a black s.h.i.+p was caught in the explosion of an Imperial s.h.i.+p and both sank .

After that, the black s.h.i.+ps which seemed invincible were getting destroyed one after the other .

「There goes another . 」

「Leviathan…… d.a.m.n monster!」

Among the fierce cannonfire, the enemy flags.h.i.+p ferociously rushes down and annihilates black s.h.i.+ps and ally battles.h.i.+ps alike .

Despite multiple direct hits from ally sh.e.l.ls causing fragments of the s.h.i.+p to scatter and parts of the vessel to go aflame, the enemy flags.h.i.+p doesn’t stop .

「That s.h.i.+p’s captain must also be pretty reckless . 」

「Yeah, just like Aegir-sama―― funyii, stop!」

I stretch the face of the cheeky Celia when she offers a sarcastic remark .

「They took down a third one!」

「The fourth―― it’s no good! The s.h.i.+p is tilting over . 」

We had the upper hand at one point and now the Leviathan’s rampage is tipping the battle to their favor again .

「……」

Seeing me go silent, Celia tugs on my sleeve .

「Even if they’re defeated, we can get to the north coast . You don’t need to do anything dangerous!」

「I wonder . 」

I glance behind me .

Even though they’re hurrying to evacuate, it’s not that easy to fit several tens of thousands of soldiers on board .

There are still soldiers in Zabrela trying to get onto the s.h.i.+ps .

Once the battle is settled on the enemy side and they turn their attention to us, the half of the s.h.i.+ps in the rear will be eaten up .

「There are soldiers from the 105th division and girls on those s.h.i.+ps too . 」

I wonder what would happen if I did something and saved the girls .

My stock will surely skyrocket . When it does……

「Everyone will let me embrace them . It might result in a huge orgy . 」

「Aah, geez……」

Celia holds her head worriedly .

「In other words, we win if that wildly rampaging flags.h.i.+p is crushed, right? That’s easy to understand . 」

「There is no need for Aegir-sama to do something so dangerous though! In the first place, this isn’t our fight――」

This battle is certainly the Federation’s business and not my own .

The outcome has nothing to do with me .

「Even so, I want to win now that I’m here . 」

I’ve f.u.c.ked women alongside the soldiers of the 105th division, so I’m no longer a total stranger .

「It’s to save Sofia, although I’ve also thrown out a squad . 」

If I just return to the north coast, I’m sure various people would be angry .

I have to do my part to make amends .

「B-but there’s nothing we can do on the water!」

I gently pat Celia’s head as she opposes more . I haven’t lived my entire life relying solely on my lower half .

I’ve done some thinking .

I push my way through the soldiers watching the battle on deck and look for Schwartz .

「Ah, wait . Not the nose…… I’m getting all wet……」

The perverted horse was not paying attention to the battle at all and was instead rubbing his nose into the a.s.s of some prisoner girl .

I give his mostly healed a.s.s a slap before jumping on his back .

「s.e.xy time is over . Let’s go . 」

「Aww, I was almost there……」

When I point my longsword at the enemy flags.h.i.+p, Schwartz looks at me like I’m stupid .

He must be saying something along the lines of “Go swim by yourself” .

「How impertinent of a perverted horse . I’ve thought it through . 」

The s.h.i.+p we’re on has been making this dull clanging as it’s moving for a while now .

Wreckage from a destroyed s.h.i.+p in the continued battle floated from upstream and hit the bow .

I look at the water and call out .

「I want to get to that s.h.i.+p . Can you help me out here?」

It would take several hours to swim from this boat to the Leviathan whereas it wouldn’t take five minutes for Schwartz ‘if’ he gallops at full speed .

A pale arm comes out of the water and makes the OK sign .

Schwartz hesitates to go in the water, though he realizes that the white hand belonged to a woman . He resolves himself after sighing .

「Alright―― wait, hey . 」

I feel my back getting heavier and turn around to find Celia and Pipi riding as well .

Pipi is even clutching Messerschmitt, who senses danger and is trying to get away, to her chest .

「I won’t let you go and leave me behind . 」

「Pipi will be useful too!」

They don’t want to leave .

「Gosh, don’t do anything dangerous,」

「I don’t want to be told that by Aegir-sama!」

「Right!」

If we keep talking and the Federation fleet loses, I’ll look like an idiot . Let’s head out now .

「Go, Schwartz . 」

At my signal, Schwartz runs on the deck and jumps onto the water .

The other soldiers and that one familiar commander stare blankly .

The heavy Schwartz created a huge splash when he fell―――― rather, landed with a satisfying plop on the water .

「W-why is he on the water!?」

「Look there! A piece of debris…… no, there’s a path!」

The sc.r.a.p and ruins of s.h.i.+ps scattered all over are being gathered in front of us in the form of a path .

After checking his footing, Schwartz quickly picked up his speed .

「Heave ho . Heave ho . 」

「No pointy ones, only flat . 」

「Fuunyii~ so heavy~」

Our allies probably can’t hear anything because of the roars of the cannons, but they might hear some slight whispering coming from the water if they strain their ears enough .

Mirumi and the children are swimming ahead of me with pieces of rubble and holding them steady .

If one was not aware of the secret, it would appear I was using some strange magic .

I hear astonished voices behind me and some even praying to G.o.d .

「Go as fast as you can, you’ll become a target if you take it easy . 」

Schwartz dashes swiftly in response .

This is what makes using special medicine on the a.s.s of such a perverted horse worth it .

If he’s still late, I’ll smear some mustard on him .

「Our aim is only that especially large one . Stay away from the other s.h.i.+ps if possible . 」

It won’t be funny if we carelessly wander too close and get blown away by a cannon .

「You got it~」

「There are too many to avoid~」

The rubble path snakes around until it reaches the center of the enemy where s.h.i.+ps are more densely packed together and we inevitably have to pa.s.s by getting close to the other vessels .

「Starboard cannons are all lost, you say!? Eei, turn the s.h.i.+p around and point the portside cannons at them . Shoot until you run out of……」

We run right past and Imperial s.h.i.+p . My eyes meet with the yelling man .

「「「……」」」

That person who has the appearance of a s.h.i.+p captain and his fellow soldiers wipe their faces with towels several times before looking at me again .

Schwartz runs off like the wind during that time . They somehow let us pa.s.s .

「Up ahead, that piece of wood isn’t floating . 」

「What should we do?」

I hear the children crying .

Because of the current, the piece of rubble hit something sharp . I’ll have to go around it……

I look around and point to one of those black s.h.i.+ps . The deck of that s.h.i.+p seems close to the water and easy to jump on .

「That thing is low . Let’s ride across it . 」

The rubble path makes a big turn .

I realize when I get close that enemies have boarded the black s.h.i.+p and are engaging the crew in close combat .

Unfortunately, I have no time to provide a.s.sistance .

「I’ll be borrowing this for a bit . 」

Schwartz jumps in amongst the fighting allies and enemies, pa.s.sing right through the middle of the s.h.i.+p .

「Don’t hand over the s.h.i.+p! Drive them away…… you’re kidding, right?」

「It’s over once we get on board! Steal the s.h.i.+p…… eh……a horse…… cavalry?」

Both sides stop fighting to stare absentmindedly at me .

I look down at the water on the other side of the s.h.i.+p after running through the narrow deck .

There seems to be plenty of wreckage here so a path can be comfortably made .

「Sorry for interrupting . Continue as you were . 」

The on board battle has come to a complete halt . I screwed things up pretty bad .

Schwartz neighs and looks at me .

Is he saying his hooves hurt because that s.h.i.+p was made of metal?

「Oh quit whining . I’ll get a girl to tend to you later, so be quiet and keep running . 」

His speed increases . Heh, this perverted horse is so deplorable .

After that, more enemies would rub their eyes before staring dumbfoundedly at me, and it’s thanks to that I didn’t get blasted . The Leviathan is finally close now .

「Looking up close, this thing is incredibly huge . 」

「So that’s how it routed our allies . 」

It was like a castle floating on water . Whoever made this did a good job .

Numerous cannonb.a.l.l.s from ally s.h.i.+ps must have hit as there are many holes on the broadside, although they probably seem quite trivial considering how big the s.h.i.+p is .

「It’s too tall . It’ll be hard to jump on!」

「Yeah . 」

The side of the Leviathan is practically a wall .

It’s not at a height where we can hop over .

「That . 」

I point to a destroyed Federation battles.h.i.+p sinking close to the Leviathan .

The bow of that boat is pointing at the Leviathan while its tail end is slowly being swallowed by the river .

It might be possible to jump from that s.h.i.+p to the Leviathan since there is still quite a bit of the bow sticking out .

Without delay, Schwartz changes course while Mirumi and the children swiftly create the path .

「Show me some guts . 」

Schwartz shakes his head slightly, then picks up speed before jumping onto the sinking stern, running toward the bow while accelerating further .

Having done their jobs, Mirumi and company wish us well by waving their hands . That’s a little scary .

I stepped on a few Federation soldiers’ corpses on the way, but please forgive me since I’m going to avenge you .

If they appear as a spirit, I can say it was Schwartz who ultimately stepped on them so I want him to be haunted .

I run through the obstacle-filled deck and eventually approach the bow .

The slanted bow is perfect to jump off from .

If we can’t reach like this, nothing will reach .

「Jump, Schwartz . 」

「Go Schwartz!」

「Do your best, Schwartz!」

Schwartz waits until he runs out of s.p.a.ce before stepping firmly on the tip of the bow and pus.h.i.+ng off .

The leap made with a running start really made me feel like I was flying through the air .

The enemy s.h.i.+p drew closer and closer and I could see the dropped jaws of the enemy soldiers .

Oh, I see a dark-skinned beauty on the deck .

「No good! We won’t reach!」

It was a magnificent jump, but we are one step too short .

We stall at the zenith of the leap and begin to fall .

Schwartz turns his head around as if to say sorry .

「No, you did well . 」

I take my legs off the stirrups and stand up on the horse’s back . Celia and Pipi realize my intentions and do the same .

「We’ll reach like this . 」

I plant my foot firmly on Schwartz’s head and jump off .

「I’m sorry . 」

「Aisah!」

Celia and Pipi push off his back and take off .

We fly even higher in the air after using Schwartz as a jumping platform in midair, who continues to fall with a sad face .

The lightweight Celia sticks her landing beautifully, while I tumble onto the deck, and then pull up Pipi who barely manages to cling to the rail . There was a loud splash as Schwartz falls into the water below us .

Mirumi is there so he won’t drown .

「Boarding successful . 」

I draw my longsword and ready it at my hip .

This s.h.i.+p is huge . There should be plenty of enemies . It’s going to be a harsh battle .

「……eh?」

「…… oh?」

「Err…… who are you guys?」

The soldiers loading the cannons on deck stare blankly at us .

The enemies extinguis.h.i.+ng the fires on deck and the commanders giving orders to fire the cannons are also all looking with their jaws gaping .

It looks like they don’t know what’s going on . It was a sudden appearance after all, I guess they need a signal to start fighting .

I take a step forward and swing my sword around .

「Gugaahh!」

「Uwaaah!!」

The gunner, lookout, and commander get sliced and fall into the water, dying the deck red with blood .

「E-enemy attack! They climbed on board!」

「Time for close combat! Intercept them!」

More soldiers spring forth after the yelling .

「Celia, support me from behind . Pipi, sneak into the s.h.i.+p while we’re creating a mess and burn up everything you can find that seems flammable . 」

We don’t have to kill all the enemy soldiers . We just have to sink this s.h.i.+p and we’ll win .

「Leave it to me!」

「Aye!」

And so the fight begins .

「There aren’t too many of them . Surround them and take them out!」

「I’ll take the right…… gyah!」

I’m not going to wait until I’m surrounded .

I charge at the enemy and swing my longsword .

The enemies on the water are wearing light armor so it’s still going to be easy for me .

I cut through the side of the first enemy, turn around and thrust my sword into the throat of the second .

I twist my blade and tear through his neck before splitting the head of the third enemy .

I grab the short spear of the fourth enemy and toss both him and his weapon overboard, then deliver a front kick to the face of a fifth enemy who slips through, and finally swing my sword down on the head of the sixth person behind him .

「That’s six for me . 」

「I won’t lose!」

Celia stays close behind me, taking out the two crossbow soldiers aiming down from the top of the mast in front of us with her short throwing swords .

One of them drops his weapon before falling down himself, while the other one misfires and hits one of his ally’s back .

Celia charges at one soldier who circles around and approaches from diagonally behind me .

「b.i.t.c.h!」

The enemy swings his sword down in a panic, which Celia dodges using the least amount of effort before counterattacking .

When the first soldier collapses in pain due to his thigh getting slashed, another enemy approaches Celia with a spear .

「That thrust!」

Celia parries the attack by tilting her small s.h.i.+eld and then proceeds to bash the man’s face with it .

「Guah!」

The swift Celia is not going to miss the chance to finish off the reeling man whose nose is now b.l.o.o.d.y .

He gets his carotid artery cut while he holds his bleeding nose and writhes on the ground in pain .

「The girl is strong too! Let’s gang up!」

Three soldiers crowd around Celia .

That might be too much even for her .

「Goーー!」

The enemies charge all at once on the signal .

「Crouch down, Celia . 」

「Right!」

Celia brings her body low to the ground before worrying about defending herself . I’m happy that she trusts me so much .

My longsword sweeps slightly above the head of the crouching Celia .

Six arms and three upper bodies fly over Celia, leaving the bottom halves to collapse in front of her .

「S-so strong!」

「Gather more men! Stop firing at the enemy s.h.i.+ps for now, gunners and reloaders pick up your weapons . 」

The enemy halts their bombardment on the Federation s.h.i.+ps and decides to deal with me first .

Now, the gunners of several hundred cannons will come flocking to me .

「There are too many of them . I don’t know if we can hold out until Pipi’s done……」

The enemy quickly fills the vast deck of the s.h.i.+p .

I think I’ll have trouble even with my longsword .

Suddenly, my eye stops on something .

「Hey Celia, do you know how to fire a cannon?」

「I’ve studied the process briefly . 」

Oh, good .

「Then shall we try it?」

「Eeh? Are you-!?」

I grab one of the cannons installed in front of me . The aim was adjusted not too long ago at our ally s.h.i.+ps so it should be loaded with gunpowder and a cannonball .

The on-deck cannons can only move in a fixed range so they can’t be used to fire at their own s.h.i.+p .

Otherwise, we would have been firing away non-stop as soon as we got on the s.h.i.+p .

「Hmph!」

I pull hard on the cannon to rip off the hinge and nails fixing it in place .

「What is that guy trying to do?」

「He’s…… picking up the cannon! Even the small deck cannons weigh 200 kg!」

I have the longsword in my right hand and the cannon on my left shoulder . Now I can freely aim it .

「Monster!!」

After cutting down the enemies running at me with my sword, I lower my hips .

My target is the group of tightly packed enemies .

「Celia, shoot . 」