Chapter 428 (2/2)

It would be difficult for us to win against an enemy fleet with overwhelmingly few numbers, let alone annihilate them.

If the enemy fleet survives and hides, we would have to be constantly wary of potential raids and we wouldn't be able to join the frontal war front.

If we were going to fight, we needed to draw out all of the enemy forces and eliminate all of them.

Leopolt came up with a plan to do just that.

The fleet battle was stage one and this is stage two.

「The large cannons and…… those other cannons I said I wanted.」

To be precise, it was 22 large cannons and 16 of the special dwarven cannons. They also had 60 regular cannons.

The dwarven cannons were particularly heavy, hard to manage, and honestly unfit for marching, but once they get set up, their power is on another level.

They aren't simply larger than normal cannons by three or four times.

They are created with different materials, which allow the cannonball to be propelled at extremely high speeds, and even I can shoot with utmost accuracy, despite not knowing how to operate it, as long as I use the sighting device.

「There's also cheating going on.」

I glance at the water.

Drifting on the surface of the rough river are rotten boats.

It isn't anything rare, but if something abnormal has to be pointed out, it's that they're staying in the same place no matter how much they are rocked by the water.

They were fastened to stones in the water after all.

When enemy s.h.i.+ps pa.s.s beside the boats, they would get hit by three shots from large cannons.

「It's not necessary to aim every single time. Directions and angles are determined ahead of time so that there is no delay in adjusting the cannons. Buoys are placed in spots to mark where the cannonb.a.l.l.s will land…… and then, when the enemy reaches the corresponding area, the cannons can be fired without much thought.」

This is essentially the same thing Sekrit did with the color markings for the Aless soldiers.

If one looks closely, there are also ragged flags that appear to float unnaturally close to barrels, fis.h.i.+ng boats, and clumps of gra.s.s that stay in one place in spite of the intense bombardment.

「The accuracy may be higher, but the disastrous scene is a result of the cannon's ability. This power…… while not impossible to be reproduced by Federation technology, they would have to be cannons that tower high in the sky with no way to hide.」

All the cannons shooting at the enemy can be broken down as follows: 10% regular cannons, 20% large cannons, and 70% dwarven cannons.

Normal cannons won't do much damage to combat s.h.i.+ps anyways.

It's the large cannons that can deal significant damage and the dwarven cannons that can kill in one hit.

With that said, the enemy won't let us fire freely.

「Here comes their counterattack.」

The enemy aimed and fired at the coast.

Easily over 10 times the number of projectiles were launched.

「……it doesn't seem to have any effect. The construction of the encampment is also well done.」

As if proving the health of the encampment, an enemy s.h.i.+p approaching the coast while firing gets blown away.

「Yeah, Leopolt has a nasty personality. He likes to show how meaningless the enemy's desperate attack is.」

I didn't like how Sekrit was praising Leopolt so I lowered him a little, which made her show a slight smile with her eyes.

Leopolt had calculated the direction in which the enemy would be lured in and ensured that the mound of aquatic plants and camouflaged encampments look nothing like camps from where they come from.

A mid-sized s.h.i.+p has over 10 cannons and a large s.h.i.+p has several dozens of cannons, and both are extremely powerful, capable of obliterating fortresses constructed with st.u.r.dy rocks.

However, it's a different story if they can't figure out where they are being shot at.

Smoke can be used to estimate a rough location, although their precision would be very low without a concrete position.

Moreover, smoke rises from places other than the supposed encampments.

Leopolt must have had wheat flour or quicklime sprinkled in various areas. This would further confuse the enemy.

In particular, the installation of dwarven cannons requires firm ground to be chosen and a hole to be dug.

That would make them difficult to be destroyed by cannons.

「They're not stupid enough to remain fl.u.s.tered though. Look, they're reversing the situation.」

They realized the trap and found out that shooting at the cannons on land won't silence them.

So, what can they do?…… It's simple, they can run.

Unlike combat s.h.i.+ps that can chase with their cannons, cannons on land cannot move in the middle of battle.

For s.h.i.+ps that can move at high speeds, it's imperative they get out of range as soon as possible.

Of course, the enemy does just that.

Paddles are lowered and they turn around, trying to leave the cove quickly.

「That being the case, we already won the moment they entered the cove.」

When the enemy fleet turned around, the front s.h.i.+ps―― in other words, the last to enter and naturally unharmed s.h.i.+ps, were showered with a rain of fire.

「It's because they were too c.o.c.ky and chased us.」

Sekrit watches happily as the enemy s.h.i.+ps start to burn.

It wasn't a special cannon or powerful magic that was shot at them.

They're ordinary flaming arrows, which have been used for thousands of years.

By the looks of things, there are at least a thousand of them.

「F-flaming arrows!? Impossible, we're not even close to land!」

「Are they in small boats or something!? They can't be, we'd notice if they had that many!」

Their consternation is clear as day.

Actually, the answer was quite simple. We had footing put together from the coast to the sand bar.

The depth of water on the shoals of a cove isn't typically deep, plus there is almost no current.

As long as we can predict where the enemy will enter and how they will run, it's easy to create a foundation to stand on.

Then, we just have to camouflage them like we did with the cannons.

On our way here, it was funny to see the archers covering themselves with the plants.

「Well, it's not bad. It would take me some effort to find it even if I knew it was there.」

Honestly, I found them right away.

There wasn't any mistaking Celia's cute a.s.s sticking out.

It's hard to deal with flaming arrows at close range, and more so when there are close to a thousand of them.

Add to that the fact that a combat s.h.i.+p isn't prepared to deal with such an attack.

In the blink of an eye, several s.h.i.+ps catch fire and stop moving.

Indeed, this was what we wanted.

A s.h.i.+p wasn't going to sink purely by the barrage of flaming arrows.

That's why we wanted to cause a fire or kill the commander and soldiers on the deck.

Once that happens, the s.h.i.+ps would be in disarray, be incapacitated and become a large torch.

They would then also serve as obstacles blocking the narrow opening of the cove.

「Kuku, an excellent barrier. A fine example of the plan working.」

「All the archers did well. Tell them they can retreat.」

After the signal was given, the archers scatter, either running along the footpath to the coast…… or diving into the water.

In frustration, the enemy would later demolish the footing with cannons.

「They can't advance forward. They don't have an exit.」

Sekrit mutters and I join in.

「The enraged wolf will then pounce.」

The Suvorov leads the rest of the s.h.i.+ps toward the dispersing enemies.

「Kuku, I'll tell her that later.」

Please don't. She'll flare up at me too.

Anyways, that settles it.

「Hey man! We'll partic.i.p.ate too!」

Tired of carrying the cannons around, the Aless soldiers approach me.

「It's not like we can move.」

The Aless of Aless is grounded and in tatters.

「So what if the s.h.i.+p can't move? We can still move our bodies!」

Before I knew it, they were carrying boats instead of cannons.

Well, there's no point in stopping them since the battle has been decided.

「Do whatever you want. Go fight to your heart's desire!」

「Yeah, watch us! We'll display our bravery for everyone to see!」

They let out joyful roars as they jump off the s.h.i.+p and start running on the sand.

They proceed to enter the water and swim furiously toward the enemy…… all while carrying the boats.

「Hey, why are they bringing the boats?」

Sekrit asks, tilting her head adorably.

「How would I know……?」

The Aless soldiers swim endlessly with the boats.

What followed was a one-sided development.

Ivanna chased the disorganized enemies, dis.h.i.+ng out relentless attacks as revenge for what happened earlier.

The enemy tries to escape the cove, but with the chain of command fractured by cannonfire and flaming arrows, they could only flee chaotically.

Any attempts at counterattacks are suppressed by cannons, s.h.i.+ps trying to slip past their burning allies get caught in the explosions, those who move too close to the coast fall over and become grounded, and then n.o.body even notices the nearing Aless soldiers board their s.h.i.+ps.

Only a few lucky s.h.i.+ps manage to escape from the h.e.l.lish pot that the cove turned into.

Ultimately, the enemy lost over 90% of their forces and can be considered annihilated.

Our plan was a success and now we can meet up with Erich's main army without worry of being threatened by the enemy from behind.

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――After the battle.

An enemy battles.h.i.+p slowly sinks into the water.

This particular s.h.i.+p managed to break free alone after a fierce exchange of cannonfire with the pursuing Suvorov, but was eventually shot in the draft and was about exhaust the rest of its energy.

As the s.h.i.+p continues to tilt to the right, it eventually falls onto its side.

Many soldiers jumped into the river from the deck, but they were unfortunately outside of the cove.

Fatigued and weak from the tiring battle, the enemy soldiers had no strength to resist the current and sank under the water.

n.o.body thought about risking their lives to save others.

This was their fate.

Nevertheless, some of them survive and flow to where we are.

At the brink of total exhaustion, they can't struggle or run away.

Standing in front of them was Sekrit.

She happily detached her prosthetic arm, and hesitated for a brief moment before choosing to equip the arm capable of gripping objects.

She raises a sword and swings it down on the enemy soldier who is on the verge of tears――

「Hey now.」

I grab her right arm.

「Mmn.」

An Aless soldier grabs her left arm.

「……what is the meaning of this? Let go.」

「There's no point in killing them needlessly.」

I'm also tired and in no mood to fight.

「It is not manly to kill those who are prostrating on the ground in defeat.」

The Aless soldier puffs out his chest.

At that moment, the enemy soldier lets out a plea in a weak voice.

「D-dammit…… there's no hope―― for the 200 people still onboard the s.h.i.+p. Alex……Missa……」

I take away Sekrit's sword and wrap my arm around the man's shoulder.

「Is Missa the name of a woman? Women are on that s.h.i.+p? Answer me.」

In a few more minutes, the s.h.i.+p will completely vanish beneath the water.

I slap the man's cheek a couple times.

「Ebh, gabh…… yeah, about 50 are left――」

I immediately leave the man's side and call out to the Aless soldiers.

「Let's go. It can't be helped if enemy soldiers die, but saving women is what men do.」

「「Oooh!!」」

I jump into the river, followed closely by the Aless soldiers.

Several minutes later, we returned with all the women on the s.h.i.+p and a handful of men.

「……uu, we're saved.」

「…… but now we're prisoners.」

Despite being sailors, the females were worn out and couldn't swim, so we put them in barrels with ropes attached to them and pulled them along to the sh.o.r.e.

「Look at all those men…… they look barbaric…… we're definitely going to be violated.」

「Umu, that's for sure. But we'll save you.」

The Aless soldier gives an honest answer.

「Aah…… I knew it.」

「It still doesn't guarantee our lives.」

Bobbing up and down in the barrels, the women resolve themselves.

By the time I reached the coast, Sekrit was nowhere to be found.

I wonder if she's sulking about what I did.

Trying to find her so I can follow up, I happen to see her standing in front of an enemy vessel.

It appears like they surrendered quickly and, as a result, didn't suffer any noticeable damage. Aside from the captain, everybody had abandoned their weapons.

A win by capitulation? If Sekrit tries to kill them, I have to stop her.

Just when I thought she was about to attack, a man suddenly steps forward and kneels before her.

「Hm?」

Something doesn't feel right.

It's not rare for the side who yielded to kneel to their opponents.

However, that man didn't seem to pay attention to anyone except Sekrit.

She was urged by the man to move behind a patch of aquatic plants.

Things are still hectic so n.o.body made any note of their movement.

I was the only one who kept a close eye on them.

「――」

The man seems to be telling Sekrit something.

「What is he saying……?」

In response, Sekrit scoffed mockingly.

Unlike the previous instance, she didn't seem to show signs of cutting him down.

I get closer.

「It's been too long―― general. I am extremely delighted―― to meet on this occasion.――」

「I don't―― who you are――?」

I only hear broken pieces. It seems the man has an interest in Sekrit.

A smile forms on my face.

I know she's beautiful, but it's unheard of to seduce someone after surrendering to them.

The next moment, my smile froze over.

「――doc.u.ment from―― addressed directly――」

「――nes. Kuku, what a nostalgic name――」

Sekrit walks up to the man and s.n.a.t.c.hes the letter from him.

I didn't expect her to accept it.

「He doesn't know when to give up―― connection from the past―――― go ahead.」

「It's an honor―――― happy to―――― next week.」

On top of accepting the letter, she even agreed to the next promise.

What does she mean by connection from the past? My mind is going really fast and I can't think properly.

One final blow was delivered.

「――――oh right, Rehercles.」

Sekrit calls the man by his name.

She said it smoothly, almost like she was familiar with it.

「I no longer have any doubts.」

I look at the man's face again.

He appears to be in his thirties and is keeping his back straight unlike the other prisoners.

「……he's a handsome one too.」

Gido has recently gotten really cheeky and been called handsome many times too, but he doesn't compare to this man.

As a man, I have to admit that he's got a nice face.

「A clandestine meeting…… a promise to cheat?」

My hand b.a.l.l.s into a fist.

It would be easy for me to step in uninvited and sentence the man with my authority.

However, that would be pathetic of me.

I wouldn't be able to regain Sekrit's heart either.

I have to show her how much better I am than him.

「――looking forward―― next week―――― tell him.」

I can't help it if Sekrit wants to meet with such a handsome man.

It's my fault that she even had that thought. If a woman gets stolen, it is due to a man's worthlessness.

「But I can take her back.」

If something is stolen, I only have to steal it back.

I'll show her my charm and prove that I'm the superior man.

I'll seduce Sekrit in front of him and pummel his handsome face…… no, I'll have pa.s.sionate s.e.x in front of him.

「I'm not going to lose. This is a man's battle.」

I renew my determination and head to where the rescued women are so I can restore my energy.

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