376

Since there is no 376th episode, I have to make one now. (3)

"Why is it like that?"

At Jiselle's words, the people also looked at the catapult tilted to one side.

It's difficult in that state. You won't be able to properly fit it to the desired location.

Galvarik and the dwarves also began to sweat profusely.

"Why, why is it like that?"

Their design was perfect. They couldn't believe that they had a defective product.

Claude glanced at the dwarves, smiled, and shouted.

"Just shoot!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The stones fired from the four catapults hit the fortress walls accurately. However, the stones from the defective ones were different.

Phew!

The stone fired from the catapult tilted to one side flew in the wrong direction. It didn't even follow a proper parabola and just seemed to plummet toward the ground.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The stone bounced off the ground a few times and rolled before stopping. It was natural, since it was tilted and not angled properly. I wouldn't take a catapult like this even if you gave it to me.

"… … ."

People were silent. Even if a few were made properly, they were not a success.

This is a method of making a galvanized window to maximize mobility. However, if you do this, you will move without even knowing what is defective.

If a defect occurs at a critical time, it will cause significant disruption to the operation.

Galvarik shouted as he felt the cold gaze of the people.

"Now, wait a minute! There has to be a reason! W-Wait!"

Galvarik and the dwarves rushed to the faulty catapult. They were nervous and couldn't concentrate as they tried to see what was wrong.

Claude, who saw that, spoke to Wendy who was next to him.

"Come to think of it, I don't think the dwarves have ever made anything properly. Whether it's a hot air balloon or a chicken coop. Isn't that right? Isn't it filled with too much foam? Oh, why are you pushing it!"

Wendy pushed Claude aside with a look that told him to shut up.

But Galvarik and the dwarves had already heard Claude's nagging. Sweat seemed to be flowing from his eyes.

Because I was nervous, I couldn't find the problem right away. It wasn't like anything was broken or cracked.

While I was so flustered, Giselle came over to me and said.

"It might be because the size of the joint or the length of the window is different. Check again."

"Huh!"

When Galvarik looked closely, he saw that there was something subtly different. The difference was what caused the catapult to tilt to one side.

In fact, this rarely happens when using a crude wooden catapult, because if you just get the dimensions right, the thick wood will support it.

However, since the structure was made only of a thin frame of the window, such defects occurred even with subtle differences.

"Ugh… … How did you know the lord at first sight?"

"Well… I guess so, since it's tilted."

Jiselle was just talking nonsense. In fact, it was something she had experienced in her past life.

This is because there were several problems when combining galvanized window frames made in different regions because their specifications were slightly different.

Galvarik also realized why this problem had occurred.

"Uh… … I guess I'll have to double-check the frames used in each blacksmith shop."

Although the standards were set and passed on to each blacksmith shop, in the end, it was done by people. So, there were bound to be differences.

Jiselle put her hand on Galvarik's shoulder and said.

"Please, let's do this quickly and accurately. Okay?"

"… … Okay, I understand."

It was frustrating, but there was nothing to say since the results weren't good. Galvarik and the dwarves decided to cut down on their sleep for the time being.

Because they have to inspect the frames that go into every blacksmith shop and make any problematic parts themselves.

Jiselle left with a smirk. Although the product was defective, she was prepared to go through this kind of trial and error anyway.

'The mid-sized class is okay.'

The medium-sized catapult built by 200 people demonstrated sufficient range and power.

However, we will also have to check out the large catapult that gathers five medium-sized ones soon. The large catapult is a secret weapon that can destroy strong castles and fortresses.

In a slightly awkward atmosphere, everyone cleaned up and left one by one.

Claude left again, chatting with Wendy.

"Look, I'm right! I'm right about the dwarf bubble! I've never succeeded in anything the first time. I'm just talking about how great each race is… … . Oh, don't push me! Let's walk slowly! My legs hurt!"

Wendy forcibly pushed Claude away and left. Alfoy, wearing the armband, also passed by and made a comment.

"What, you can't even make something that's difficult properly. Aren't you just too lazy? It's because you don't study, study. Tsk tsk tsk."

The dwarves heard it but could not bring themselves to refute it.

Strangely, every time I came to this neighborhood and tried to make something new, I always failed at least once or twice.

"Ahhhhh… … Those little Cloppy kids are the most annoying."

There was also a sad side to it. The large incubator was rebuilt by the wizards as they continued to experiment.

But Claude insisted that it was a failure since the money had been spent. Alfoy shamelessly meddled from the side.

"Let's go quickly. We have to do this properly, even if it means hating those bastards."

The dwarves nodded with determined expressions at Galvarik's words.

This time, I was going to do it right and surprise everyone. It was a matter of pride for the dwarves.

Giselle, leaving the gloomy dwarves behind, asked Claude, who was following her.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes, I can send it right away. Please check it right away."

Claude led Giselle to a wide open space where a huge amount of food and weapons were piled up.

"This is the quantity to be sent in the first batch. We are currently planning up to the third batch."

"The Marquis of Branford will be in for a surprise."

"That's right, I never would have thought that a cheapskate like your lord would give me such a gift… … Ouch!"

Claude, who had been hit once, immediately hid behind Wendy.

These items were intended to be support supplies to be sent to the pro-Prince faction. With abundant resources, Jisel now planned to support the pro-Prince faction nobles.

In particular, galvanized armor and weapons will further increase the power of the knights of the royalist faction.

"At this point, I don't think I'll be pushed back right away."

It will be difficult to deal with the main force of the Duke's family, but it will be of great help in fighting other Duke's faction nobles.

Claude said, rubbing his swollen eyes.

"At this rate, the pro-prince faction will be able to hold back the dukedom for quite some time."

Jiselle answered with a smile.

"Yes. Then I can completely destroy Marquis Rodrik."

We will occupy the strategic point in the west and cut off the enemy's path of entry. If we do that, the fight between the prince's faction and the duke's faction will be concentrated in the south and east.

And Giselle planned to take advantage of that gap.

* * *

Raoul of the Duke's house had a serious expression on his face as the reports kept coming in. It was a really serious situation.

The most shocking thing of all was the true power of Earl Fenris.

"That guy… … really reached the level of Master and killed Delmud?"

No matter how many times I saw him, I couldn't believe it. I thought back to the evaluation Count Balzac had given him when he saw him at the banquet.

― Every movement and breath is extraordinary. But if you just look at it, it doesn't look that strong… … .

At least at that time, it was certain that the Earl of Fenris was not the Master. Count Balzac's eyes could not have been wrong.

This meant that he was born with genius-level talent, capable of reaching the level of master in just a few years.

"We made a mistake… … ."

Raoul felt the same regret that Count Desmond and Delmude felt. They should have killed that little brat from Fenris first, of all places in the North.

It's too late to regret it now. Earl Fenris has become a big shot who no one can touch.

"That guy is destroying the Crimson Tower… … ."

I invested a lot of money over a long period of time to create a 7th circle wizard. I lost a card that would have been a powerful force during the civil war and in the aftermath.

Count Desmond was lost, and Delmude was lost. Now, only Amelia was left in the North. But there was a problem there too.

"Contact with the agent… has been lost?"

One of the staff members responded to Raoul's words.

"Yes, it is certain that they entered the North, but their whereabouts have become unknown."

"If he suddenly disappeared, that means he's dead."

The fact that he died despite sending a considerable number of excellent knights and troops means that more troops than that came.

And the only realms in the North with the power to do so are Fenris and Leipold.

But Leipold is officially neutral. People don't know that he joined the Duke's faction, just like Earl Desmond.

So there's no way Earl Fenris knew about it and killed his agent.

"Is that Amelia?"

I had known for a long time that Amelia was greedy. But it was hard to believe that she, knowing the power of the Duke, would betray him.

The staff member asked cautiously.

"What should I do? Should I send an agent again?"

"No, there is no time for that now. Amelia will see how things go after the war starts and then decide."

"All right."

There are more troubling issues than the Crimson Tower and the Agent problem right now.

Raoul suppressed his anger as he looked at the report in front of him.

"Marquis Rodrique… … ."

He is the most important and influential noble in the Peacock faction. The map changes depending on how this powerful noble moves.

But, just as the civil war was about to begin, he got into an altercation with the Earl of Fenris.

"You're going to move the army as you please?"

Although he used revenge for his son as an excuse, Raoul was not unaware of his true intentions. Now, Marquis Rodrique is trying to act for his own pride and greed.

He even dared to 'notify' the Duke. It also meant that he would no longer act according to the Duke's will.

"I can't believe I'm being held back like this because of one person."

Raoul closed his eyes. At some point, everything started to go wrong and now it was beyond repair.

And at the center of it all was the Earl of Fenris.

Raul, who had been thinking for a while, nodded his head several times.

"Yes, now it's past the point of recovery. I really have no choice but to do it by force… … ."

At those words, the staff swallowed dry saliva in nervousness.

It's not that the Duke has been holding back because he lacks strength. He's just saving his strength for a greater cause.

But things were getting out of control. If things continued like this, I would only end up making things worse for the other person.

Raoul opened his eyes and asked his staff.

"Ready?"

"We can set out at any time. However, we may need to adjust our strategy considering the movements of Marquis Rodrik and Amelia."

"Yes. I will gather the troops waiting in each place and select a commander. Do a final check to make sure there are no areas that are neglected."

"Okay, then. What do you plan to do, Marquis Rodrik?"

Marquis Rodrik announced that he would split his army in two. It was obvious that he would insist on doing so even if told not to.

Raoul continued with a cold look in his eyes.

"Leave him alone. We can devise strategies accordingly. I'll kill him after the civil war is over."

Now that he had decided to go to war, there was nothing Raoul could hold back on. Those insolent bastards were both his enemies and his allies, and he was not planning on leaving them alone.

Raul, who had been lost in thought for a moment, suddenly asked something out of the blue.

"It's been a while since I contacted you. When do you think you'll arrive?"

"I think it will arrive in about a month."

"Yes. I will report to His Majesty as soon as 'he' arrives. Finish preparing."

"All right."

The Duke's staff gathered their troops and began inspections. They also did not forget to secretly contact the nobles of the Duke's faction.

And when the person he was waiting for arrived, Raoul went straight to find Ernhard.

Erhard asked, still smiling leisurely.

"Yeah, I heard from the news that you've had a lot of headaches. Have you made a decision yet?"

Raoul broke out in a cold sweat. He controlled all the information and there were still some parts he had not reported.

But Erhard knew everything, without moving from his dwelling.

Raoul bowed his head even deeper.

"… … Yes, Your Majesty."

"Raoul, it's about creating a new world. Don't be concerned about small things."

"I will keep that in mind."

"Okay, I'll look forward to it this time. You take care of it."

When Erhard waved his hand in annoyance, Raoul continued speaking quickly.

"The one they sent has arrived. He wishes to greet Your Majesty."

Erhard nodded.

"Tell them to come in."

Kuung!

The gate to Daejeon opened and a group of people came in.

They were knights wearing splendid armor that shone like silver. The Duke's retainers looked at the man at the forefront with expressions of admiration.

"Ugh… … ."

"There was an article like that?"

"It's amazing… … ."

He was a handsome man with splendid golden hair. His appearance, combined with his splendid armor, gave off an unapproachable aura.

It was so much so that one could feel the divinity in his every step.

The prayers he spouted were also great. The First Sword of the Kingdom, Count Cayenne Balzac, who was standing next to Erhard, also narrowed his eyes and looked at him.

Erhard asked him with an interested look.

"Who are you?"

The man bowed gracefully and said.

"Nice to meet you, Your Majesty. I have come to assist Your Majesty in his great undertaking… ."

The man's head rose slightly. His eyes were filled with ferocity and cruelty that did not match his appearance.

"My name is Aiden, the commander of the Silver Knights."

He later became one of the seven great powers of the continent and was called a 'noble knight'.

He was also the one who cut off Giselle's head in his previous life.