Chapter 376
Chapter 376: Since there isn’t any, we must create one. (3)
“What’s wrong with that?”
At Giselle’s words, the crowd turned to gaze at the tilted catapult.
If it’s in that state, that’s problematic. It won’t hit the intended target.
Galbarik and the dwarves began to sweat profusely.
“Why, why is it like that?”
They couldn’t believe their design had produced a defective product.
Claude took a quick glance at the dwarves and then grinned as he shouted.
“Just shoot it!”
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The stones shot from the four catapults hit the fortress wall accurately. However, the stone from the defective one was different.
Swoosh!
The stone launched from the tilted catapult flew off in the wrong direction, failing to even draw a proper arc, as if it was plummeting straight to the ground.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The stone bounced off the ground a few times before rolling to a stop. It was only natural since it couldn’t align properly due to the tilt. Even if you gave me such a catapult, I wouldn’t want it.
“……”
The crowd fell silent. Even if a few were made correctly, that wasn’t a success.
This method was designed to maintain mobility by using the Galbarium spear. But with this kind of condition, they wouldn’t even know what was defective while moving.
If defects occurred at critical moments, it could significantly affect the operation.
Feeling the cold stares from the crowd, Galbarik shouted.
“Hey, just a moment! There must be a reason! W-wait!”
Galbarik and the dwarves rushed over to the defective catapult. As they began inspecting for issues but were so tense that they couldn’t focus.
Claude, watching from the side, said to Wendy.
“Come to think of it, I don’t think the dwarves have ever made anything properly. The hot air balloon, the chicken coop… right? They always oversell it! Ah, don’t push me!”
Wendy shoved Claude aside with a look telling him to shut up.
But Galbarik and the dwarves had already heard Claude’s annoying comments. Sweaty brows were becoming more pronounced.
The tension made it difficult for them to pinpoint the problem. Nothing seemed broken or shattered.
Just as they were flustered, Giselle approached and said quietly.
“It might be the size of the joints or the length of the spear. Check again.”
“Huh!”
Galbarik inspected and noticed indeed there was a subtle difference. That difference was what caused the catapult to tilt.
In fact, such issues rarely occur with rough wooden catapults. As long as the dimensions are roughly matched, the thick wood supports it.
However, constructing it with only the thin frame of the spear led to this kind of defect due to minor differences.
“Ugh… how did the lord notice it all at once?”
“Well… it looked tilted, so I figured.”
Giselle made a vague excuse. Truthfully, she had experienced such a situation in her past life.
When combining Galbarium spears made in different regions, slight dimensional differences had caused problems several times.
Galbarik also realized why this problem arose.
“Ugh… we’ll need to double-check the molds used in each blacksmith’s shop.”
Although standards were established and shared with various blacksmiths, it ultimately came down to human work. Hence, discrepancies were inevitable.
Giselle placed a hand on Galbarik’s shoulder and said.
“Please work accurately and quickly. Okay?”
“……Got it.”
He was annoyed, but since the results weren’t satisfactory, he had nothing to say. Galbarik and the dwarves made up their minds to reduce their sleep for a while.
They needed to inspect all the molds going into the blacksmiths and make the problematic parts themselves.
Giselle chuckled lightly and left. Even though defective products had emerged, she was prepared for such trial and error.
‘At least the medium-sized ones are fine.’
The medium-sized catapult made by 200 people had shown sufficient range and power.
However, the large catapult made of five medium-sized ones had to be checked soon. That large catapult was an ace capable of smashing solid fortresses.
As the atmosphere had become slightly awkward, everyone began tidying up and leaving one by one.
Claude conversed quietly with Wendy as he left.
“See? I told you so! The dwarves are all hot air! Have they ever successfully made anything? They just boast about their own capabilities! Ah, don’t push me! Walk slowly! My legs hurt!”
Wendy reluctantly shoved Claude from behind as they walked away. Alfoy, wearing an armband, casually passed by and chimed in.
“Can’t even make something like this properly? Have you all grown too lazy? You’re not studying enough, that’s why, tsk tsk tsk.”
The dwarves couldn’t muster a rebuttal even as they listened.
It was strange; every time they tried to make something new in this town, they always encountered failures.
“Ugh… that Alfoy bastard is the most irritating.”
There was some unfairness. The large incubator had been remade because the wizards were constantly experimenting.
But Claude insisted it was a failure since money had been spent. Alfoy shamelessly chimed in next to him.
“Let’s go quickly. I want to make something right just to spite those bastards.”
With Galbarik’s words, the dwarves nodded with determination.
They were set on making something properly this time to surprise everyone. Their pride was on the line.
As Giselle followed behind the gloom-laden dwarves, she asked Claude.
“Is everything ready?”
“Of course, it can be sent right away. Shall we check immediately?”
Claude guided Giselle to a wide open space piled high with a tremendous amount of food and military weapons.
“This is the quantity we can send first. We are currently planning up to the third batch.”
“Marquis Branford will be quite surprised.”
“Right, I bet a stingy lord like him would never expect such presents… Ouch!”
Claude ducked behind Wendy after receiving a hit.
These materials were support supplies to send to the Crown Prince faction. Based on overflowing resources, Giselle was now planning to back the Crown Prince nobles.
Especially, the Galbarium armor and weapons would greatly enhance the combat strength of the Crown Prince’s knights.
“With this much, they won’t fall behind all at once.”
It would be difficult to face the main forces of the Duke faction. However, it would be of great help in battles against other Duke faction nobles.
Rubbing his swollen eyes, Claude said.
“This should allow the Crown Prince faction to hold the Duke faction’s ankles for quite a while.”
Giselle replied with a smile.
“Yes. So that I can completely crush Marquis Roderick.”
They would seize the west’s strategic point and cut off the enemy’s entry route. If that happened, the conflict between the Crown Prince faction and the Duke faction would be concentrated in the south and east.
And Giselle planned to take advantage of that gap.
*
Raoul of the Duke faction wore a serious expression as reports flooded in. It was indeed a grave situation.
Among them, the most shocking was Count Penris’s true prowess.
“That guy… really reached the level of a master and killed Delmood?”
He had read the reports multiple times, unable to believe them. He recalled the evaluation Count Valjack had made of him during the feast.
– Every movement and breath is extraordinary. But at a glance, he doesn’t seem that strong…
It was clear that at that time, Count Penris was not a master. Count Valjack’s eyes could not have been wrong.
If that were the case, it meant he possessed the genius talent to reach the master stage in just a few years.
“We made a mistake…”
Raoul felt the same regret shared by Count Desmond and Delmood. They should have killed that young Penris from the north.
However, it was too late for regret now. Count Penris had become a formidable figure that no one could touch.
“That guy is going to destroy the Tower of the Bloody Flame…”
After investing an enormous amount of resources over a long time to create a 7-circle wizard, they had foolishly lost that powerful card, which could have become a strong force in the civil war and beyond.
Both Count Desmond and Delmood were lost. Now only Amelia remained in the north. But that posed issues too.
“Our contact with the Deputy… has been cut off?”
In response to Raoul’s statement, one of the officers replied.
“Yes, we are sure he entered the north, but his whereabouts have become uncertain.”
“The sudden disappearance means he’s likely dead.”
Despite sending some highly skilled knights and troops, the fact that he had died implied that a greater force had come.
And the only territories in the north that could muster such strength were Penris and Raybold.
However, Raybold was officially neutral. Just like during Count Desmond’s time, people were unaware he had joined the Duke faction.
So it wouldn’t make sense for Count Penris to know and kill the Deputy.
“Is it Amelia?”
Raoul had known for a while that Amelia was quite greedy. However, he couldn’t believe she’d betray them, especially knowing the Duke faction’s strength.
One officer cautiously inquired.
“What should we do? Shall we send another Deputy?”
“No, there’s no time for that. I’ll observe how Amelia moves after the war starts and then decide.”
“Understood.”
For now, matters regarding the Tower of the Bloody Flame and the Deputy were less troubling than what currently lay ahead.
Raoul clenched his fists tightly as he gazed at the report laid before him.
“Marquis Roderick…”
He was the most crucial and weighty noble in the Duke faction. How this powerful noble moved could change the tides.
Yet, just before the Civil War, Count Penris had picked a fight with him.
“Is he going to move his army without permission?”
He was using the excuse of revenge for his son, but Raoul knew well enough that Roderick was merely acting for his pride and ambition.
Moreover, he had the gall to ‘notify’ the Duke faction. It meant he wouldn’t obey the Duke faction’s orders anymore.
“How can one person hold us back like this?”
Raoul closed his eyes. He couldn’t remember when everything started to unwind, but now the situation had deteriorated beyond control.
And at the center of it all was Count Penris.
After deep contemplation, Raoul nodded several times.
“Alright, we’ve passed the stage of fixing things. It seems we have no choice but to resort to force…”
At those words, the officers swallowed hard in apprehension.
The Duke faction hadn’t just held back due to a lack of power. They had conserved their strength for greater endeavors.
But slowly, everything was slipping out of control. If they continued down this path, they would end up merely enhancing their opponent.
Raoul opened his eyes and asked his officers.
“Are we ready?”
“We can depart at any time. However, we need to adjust our strategy considering Marquis Roderick’s and Amelia’s movements.”
“Right. We’ll assemble the troops on standby and select commanders. Make one last check so that nothing is overlooked.”
“Understood. But what about Marquis Roderick?”
Marquis Roderick had notified them of his plan to split his forces. It was obvious that he wouldn’t listen even if they asked him not to.
Raoul continued, his gaze chilling.
“Let him be. We’ll create our strategy according to that. I’ll kill that bastard after the civil war is over.”
With war declared, Raoul had no qualms. Regardless of friend or foe, he intended to find ways to eliminate them all.
Raoul, who had momentarily lost himself in thought, suddenly asked an unexpected question.
“It’s been quite some time since we heard from them. When do you expect they will arrive?”
“They should arrive in about a month.”
“Very well. When ‘he’ arrives, I’ll report to His Majesty. Continue your preparations.”
“Understood.”
The Duke faction’s officers gathered their troops and began their inspections. They did not forget to discreetly contact the nobles of the Duke faction as well.
And when the awaited individual finally arrived, Raoul hurried to find Erlhardt.
Erlhardt, still wearing a relaxed smile, asked.
“So, it seems many troublesome matters have arisen lately. Have you made your decision?”
Raoul broke into a cold sweat. He was controlling all information and still had parts he hadn’t reported.
Yet Erlhardt, without moving from his residence, seemed to know everything.
Raoul bowed his head even deeper.
“……Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Raoul, we are creating a new world. Do not get caught up in the small things.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Yes, I expect great things this time. Handle it well.”
As Erlhardt waved his hand dismissively, Raoul quickly continued.
“The person they sent has arrived. He wishes to greet Your Majesty.”
Erlhardt nodded.
“Let him in.”
Boom!
The great hall doors opened, and a throng of people entered.
They were knights clad in shimmering silver armor. The leading man in the front caused the Duke faction’s retainers to express admiration.
“Wow…”
“How was there such a knight?”
“Impressive…”
He was a handsome man with brilliant golden hair, exuding an air of nobility that could not be matched.
His every step radiated an aura of sanctity.
The energy he emitted was extraordinary. The kingdom’s greatest sword, Count Kayen Valjack, narrowed his eyes and watched him.
Erlhardt, with an inquisitive expression, asked him.
“Who are you?”
The man elegantly bowed and replied.
“Greetings for the first time, Your Majesty. I have come to assist in your grand undertaking…”
His head lifted slightly. In his gaze was a ferocity and cruelty that seemed at odds with his appearance.
“I am Aiden, the leader of the White Silver Knight Order.”
He would later become one of the seven great powers of the continent, known as the ‘Noble Knight.’
And he was the very person who had severed Giselle’s neck in her past life.
