Volume 14 Chapter 72 Extra： Practice Weather
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Today, our Black Bullet, now renamed the Special Operations Army, will carry the name of the strongest unit in the Margrave South District country. Everyone, are you ready?”
”Okay-nya!”
”Bea is also fully prepared.”
”No problem, General Kerstin.”
”Alright, disperse then.”
Following Kerstin’s order, the Black Bullet members, dressed in black leather armor and armed with firearms, quickly spread out into the forest.
Watching them, Garvey, who was sitting next to me, stood up with a staff in hand. He gave instructions to the soldiers of the Margrave South District army standing in front of him.
”Our forces are three times stronger. We cannot lose this battle as a newly formed regular army. All units, form an anti-gun array. After the first air strike by the Dragonia Air Squadron (formerly Black Wing), each team will advance into their designated regions.”
Following Garvey’s instructions, the soldiers picked up lightweight, sturdy large shields made at the G&R Workshop for anti-gun use and formed a tight formation.
Bullets from sniper rifles or anti-vehicle rifles using high-explosive rounds cannot be blocked, but it seems bullets from Black Bullet’s standard equipment, like the Draganoff and Elitzina, can be defended against.
This was also a test for the newly developed large shield by G&R Workshop, designed to protect against magic gunslinger firearms.
Currently, the technology to produce magic guns hasn’t spread abroad, but since it could happen anytime, Garvey and others argued that developing countermeasures was necessary. That’s why they created these shields.
While it would be best if these shields weren’t needed on the Demon Continent, where peace has arrived, Garvey and everyone said that preparations should be made during peacetime. No one can predict when another war might break out, so they pushed for the development of these defenses.
”It’s about time. Your Majesty, I’ve ordered the air raid to be conducted seriously. After all, it’s against that special operations army.”
Kondrad, who sat opposite Garvey, murmured as he looked toward the direction where Dragonia—which had been restructured from my direct-controlled Hunting Group Black Wing and renamed the Margrave South District Kingdom Dragonia Air Force—was infiltrating.
With the end of the war, many of the Hunting Groups I had directly controlled were restructured and absorbed into the Margrave South District Kingdom Army.
Red Valkyrie was renamed the National Officer School, becoming a place where both men and women receive officer training.
Black Wing was renamed Dragonia Air Force and absorbed into the Margrave South District Kingdom Army as an independent unit alongside the cavalry and logistics corps.
King’s Sword, which had been the top Hunting Group of the former Abyss Vena, was renamed the Imperial Guard and similarly absorbed into the Margrave South District Kingdom Army.
And now, Black Bullet, which had been hiding in the forest, was renamed the Special Operations Force and became part of the Margrave South District Kingdom Army.
The only remaining Hunting Group under my direct control was Crimson Bride.
”I trust both sides will take care to avoid any injuries.”
”Your Majesty, that wouldn’t be proper training. As I’ve said many times, we must prepare for wartime during peacetime──”
”Ah, I got it, I got it. I’ve already ordered Lana and the others to be ready to administer first aid immediately, so tell any injured to receive treatment without delay. I’ve already communicated that to Kerstin. This is also training for wartime, right?”
Garvey bowed silently.
It seemed he had understood.
If possible, I didn’t want there to be any casualties or injuries in this large-scale exercise.
Due to the great upheaval, the leadership of the Demon Continent countries had drastically changed, and currently, relations with the leaders of each country were good.
If I fully utilize my ability, there will be no war for the time being.
This Margrave South District country, though there are monsters, has managed to restore peace after paying a large toll.
If possible, I would prefer not to have military exercises like this, but I understand Garvey and Kondrad’s arguments, so I believe it should be carried out.
However, I still wanted it to end safely without incident.
”The Dragonia Air Squadron is coming!”
From the direction Kondrad pointed, the Dragonia species and Dragonewt species, neatly formed in formation, began to invade.
They spaced themselves out to avoid mass damage and, one by one, started unleashing breath attacks and stone-throwing attacks toward the forest.
The sound of trees breaking from the direct hits of stones and loud explosions echoed throughout.
”All units, advance.”
After seeing the Dragonia Air Squadron’s air raid conclude, Garvey swung down his staff, and squads holding large shields began advancing toward the forest one after another.
Immediately, a counterattack came from the Special Operations Force.
Sniper rifles with soft-tipped bullets and anti-materiel rifle rounds knocked back the large shields, scattering the formation.
Due to the many firing points, it seemed the Dragonia Air Squadron’s air raid did not damage the Special Operations Force.
”As expected, the air raid on the forest has low effectiveness.”
”It seems so. We should conclude that the many obstacles and the quick movements of Kerstin and the others made it ineffective. Once Kerstin and her team take shelter in the forest, it’s like a solid fortress. Garvey, how should we attack?”
Garvey, watching as sniper shots caused squads to fall one by one, was asked for his next move.
”As expected, here, it’s guns against guns.”
”Cavalry, huh?”
”Yes, thanks to the Special Operations Force focusing on the air raid and the squad charge, the Cavalry has taken up the perfect sniper position. Their sniping skills aren’t as good as the Special Operations Force, but the high ground gives them a significant advantage.”
The Cavalry had already taken control of the high ground in front of the forest’s left side and entered sniper position.
Immediate supporting fire was carried out.
As a result, the firing points from the forest were quickly silenced, and the squads with large shields gradually moved closer to the forest.
Since the difference in combat power has already been tripled, will Kerstin and the others struggle if they can no longer reduce the numbers with snipers?
Yes, with this, our victory is──
Wait, I wonder about that. Don’t forget that the special operations army has Manon and Beatrice.
When I said that, the sniper rifles held by the Cavalry members on the hilltop were blown away one after another.
W-where are they from!?
Probably, I think they’re shooting from that mountain even farther inside the forest. Those two, when it comes to sniping, display incredible skill.
The mountain I pointed to was at least 2 kilometers away even from the high ground.
Garvey, who spotted something reflecting sunlight, immediately signaled the Cavalry unit to retreat by launching a visible signal flare.
But it was too late.
Thanks to Beatrice’s eyesight and Manon’s sniper skills, the Cavalry’s sniper rifles had become unusable.
”General Garvey, the enemy’s firepower has revived! The small squads that approached are losing their shields one after another to snipers and are being raked with gunfire! What should we do?”
”Damn, signal flare to Dragonia Air Squadron. Requesting a secondary attack. Hurry! Each squad, hold your position until the air raid arrives! The sniper ammunition should be running out soon.”
It seems an unusual standby order was issued for Garvey.
That alone seems to have shaken Garvey’s confidence, thanks to Manon and Beatrice’s sniping.
Immediately, a signal flare requesting a secondary attack was launched, but before the Dragonia Air Squadron’s attack arrived, the main force had lost half their strength and had no choice but to retreat from the forest.
* * *
”Defeat… I’m still naive for being shaken by ultra-long-range sniping.”
”Fighting the special operations army in the forest and losing half—that’s a remarkable technique. Normally, even if it was completely wiped out, it wouldn’t be strange. Me? If they hide in the forest, I would just leave them until they come out into the plain.”
”Then what’s the point of the exercise…”
”Wasn’t it Garvey who told you that the battlefield is a matter of choosing?”
”Ah, I think I definitely said that when I first met Your Majesty. I might have forgotten the basics with the increase in forces.”
”Just remembering that much might have made the practice worthwhile. I’m terrible at commanding, so Margrave South District’s army, Kondrad and Garvey, make sure to command properly.”
””Understood.””
And so, because part of the Margrave South District’s army was mobilized for the practice, which ended in success under Kerstin leading the special forces, she demanded a reward—my entire day’s exclusive use rights.
Since I couldn’t help it, I approved the reward, and it’s a secret that I ended up working hard through the night, being asked by the team members with abundant physical strength.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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