Volume 6 Chapter 43 Roaring Indra Gun
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Is it really an army of a thousand?”
”Yeah, well… I got a report from a scout I sent ahead.”
I couldn’t just say it was my Radar Scan that picked them up—especially not with the maids in the next room shamelessly eavesdropping. Gotta keep some things under wraps. So, I acted a bit smug and claimed I had subordinates for recon. Guys really are pathetic creatures, aren’t we? Trying to look cool in front of girls…
To keep my abilities a secret, I temporarily assigned the four members of the tail squad to the hot spring facility. It’s a convenient form of… “quarantine.” According to my Radar Scan, they’re already in the baths. Honestly, the place is way more comfortable than here. If the maids find out, they’ll raise a fuss for sure.
”I see. So the Vespar Kingdom finally made its move.”
”You’re not surprised?”
Both Tizzy and Ms. Shirakaba remained calm. Wait—don’t tell me a thousand troops isn’t even considered a big deal?
”What’s worse is Gorigan’s forces running hit-and-run games. If they all came at once, it might actually be easier to deal with.”
”So does that mean Ms. Shirakaba has a chance of winning?”
”If I could beat a thousand soldiers alone, that would be a legendary one-against-a-thousand story. But let’s be real—that’s impossible. Regular soldiers are at least Level 5. Even against a hundred, it’d be suicidal.”
In battle, numbers decide everything. Even a cheat-powered summoned Hero could be buried by sheer quantity. And Level 5 here is no joke—compared to unranked Earthlings, they’re practically Olympic champions. I’ve heard that elite professionals can reach Level 20 and beyond.
”Think this’ll turn into a full-scale war?”
”I think so? Hard to tell how serious it’ll get. Hey, Tizzy.”
At my question, Tizzy flipped through a thin, old book. Not the kind you’d find in normal shops. It looked like something nobles would use for reference.
”If it’s a formal battle, the soldiers will fight with full force. Captured soldiers will be ransomed at official rates.”
So it’s not like some local turf skirmish. Getting caught means a direct route to slavery. Which also means capturing enemies could turn a nice profit.
”Even nobles might be ransomed, huh… I should avoid standing out too much.”
”As long as money changes hands, losing isn’t necessarily fatal.”
”In interstate wars, the Great Temple permits the use of catapults and crossbows. That alone increases casualties.”
Oh, so there are restrictions on using crossbows against people usually. As for catapults… I doubt they can transport them through mountain paths. Then again, if they’ve got a lot of magic porters, they could disassemble and reassemble them…
”Can catapult stones be blocked by the Arrow Barrier?”
”They can,” Tizzy answered, with a flourish. “But maintaining a barrier all day requires a lot of magicians. It’s a heavy burden~desuwa.”
Even without using it, just having the barrier would force the enemy mages to exhaust themselves. Maybe we should deploy one at defensive outposts. If we even had one here on the tower, it might buy us some time.
”This tower will be abandoned. We’ll retreat to Kasgar—a near-impregnable fortress—and draw them into a long siege. Ms. Shirakaba will lead a squad to strike the enemy’s supply lines.”
”Hmm, sounds like a solid plan… But isn’t the barley just about to ripen?”
The ears are just starting to sprout. Ten days from now, maybe twenty at most, we’ll be able to harvest and replenish food locally.
”A thousand troops can’t last until harvest without supply. If we cut their supply lines, they’re done for.”
Tizzy’s aiming to lure them in and starve them out. Napoleon fell the same way, right? It’s not a bad plan.
Though… what if the enemy never intended a siege at all?
Wait. That letter from Big Castor! I saved it with my Editor Skill without understanding it at the time, but now everything clicks.
”There’s a traitor in Kasgar. Big Castor plans to open the eastern gate and let the enemy in.”
No way… That guy?
Big Castor was likely behind this from the beginning. Maybe he’s being manipulated too, but judging by the letter’s contents, someone high-ranking in the Totoana Empire is involved. Castor probably thinks he’s using them to fulfill his own ambitions, but in the end, he’ll just be discarded. He’s only spreading misery—including his own. What does he really want?
Without Tizzy’s knowledge, I never would’ve solved the mystery. Apparently, Big Castor claimed that by marrying Ms. Shirakaba, the noble bloodline had been corrupted with foreign blood from another world. He spread that rumor among the nobles of the Betspal Kingdom. Bloodlines matter a lot here—most royal families trace back to legendary heroes. Even the slightest “taint” is taken seriously.
Meanwhile, he was in talks with the Totoana Empire, plotting to make Duke Mineley’s territory independent as a vassal state. The gold he smuggled in was funding this betrayal. That’s outright embezzlement. I thought kidnapping and imprisoning women was bad enough, but this? He’s a monster.
”He deserves death a hundred thousand times over. We should report everything to the royal capital along with Vespar’s invasion.”
It’s on the level of the Duke House being annihilated. But if Tizzy’s willing, that’s the best course. A useless Duke will only cover things up—and delay will only make things worse.
”Big Castor’s idiocy warrants execution, but honestly, his father was the fool for leaving him free.”
”Now that we’ve decided, let’s report to the capital immediately. If we use the guild’s comms from Kasgar, we can reach them in half a day.”
Ms. Shirakaba and Tizzy quickly departed. The slower-moving maids would leave in the second wave, protected by the tail squad.
”What about you, Sir Saburou?”
”I’ll try to buy time on my own. Don’t worry. When it comes to running away, I’m unbeatable.”
”Please don’t overdo it. If you go too far, the legend says setting fire to this tower could ignite all of Hollowvale. Please… really, don’t go that far.”
What’s that even mean? Telling me not to overdo it while basically hinting I should? I mean, I could burn the place safely in several ways. So it’s fine.
”Going to use the Tatsumi Wind?”
Ms. Shirakaba seemed to have the wrong idea. Explaining would be a pain, so I let the misunderstanding slide.
”Yeah, maybe.”
I tossed out a cryptic line and gave them my best aloof smile. Times like this, I wish I had one of those feathered fans genius strategists always have. I’ll make one when I get the chance.
From the top of the tower, I watched everyone retreat. I’ve grown fond of this place. The moss-covered stone walls hold a quiet dignity. Burning it down feels like a waste.
Still, Castor’s betrayal needs time to expose. Until then, I have to delay the enemy army.
Burning the tower is a last resort. I’ve got other tricks first.
From my magic bag, I pull out the newest Indra Gun Mr. Zenom made for me. When activated, six Magic Circles float along the barrel, boosting bolt speed even after firing. He said its power rivals a top-class crossbow. But really, that’s just the base.
I improved it myself with Editor Skill. This is what true magical engineering looks like.
First, I mounted it on a special tripod. Then I fine-tuned the aim using the screws and trajectory data. Stargazer’s Astronomy Skill normally reads star positions, but weirdly enough, it also calculates ballistic arcs. I guess anything flying through the sky counts.
Radar Scan showed the Vespar army was already close—about thirty kilometers away. That’s the distance from Toyata Village to the capital. Easy range.
Let’s do this. Someone might die, but that’s war. If it helps avoid greater losses, I hope I’ll be forgiven.
I pulled the trigger. Zenom’s Magic Circles lit up, followed by 256 more I copied earlier. They formed a glowing path like a ribbon of light stretching into the sky.
Iron bolts accelerated through the formations, gaining velocity. In theory, stacking more formations means infinite acceleration. I was once testing if it could reach orbital speed. It didn’t—but I definitely broke the sound barrier. The crack of thunder echoed above. Right—Indra was the god of thunder.
After peak speed, the bolt arced downwards. Air resistance slowed it, but for 30 km, it was still devastating. It took over a minute to reach the target.
No magic enchantments—just raw iron and brutal kinetic force. Anyone it hits… wouldn’t survive.
Wind drifted the trajectory, so precision wasn’t possible. But against a mass of soldiers, sheer volume was enough. Simple physics.
Let’s hope the enemy commander is sharp enough to notice, deploy a barrier, and stop the worst from happening.
* * *
The Gorigan soldiers marched in heavy armor along the narrow mountain path when the first impact struck. A stone beneath their feet exploded, scattering debris. A few were lightly injured—armor can’t cover every inch.
”What was that? A falling rock?”
The bolt had buried itself deep underground. No one realized what had really happened.
The second bolt landed off-course on a patch of moss-covered clay. It went completely unnoticed.
The third struck a supply cart, pulverizing the cargo and blasting the wagon apart. Soldiers shouted in confusion, still unaware of the crossbow bolt.
”Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”
Baron Gorigan leapt from his carriage at the commotion.
”Enemy?! How many?!”
”We don’t know! The supply wagon’s been hit!”
”Fools! What were the sentries doing?!”
”There’s no sign of the enemy! It might be a magic attack!”
The damage was minimal, but for a border baron like Gorigan, this was the stage of a lifetime. A secret promise had already been made with King Bespar: earn glory here, and he’d gain half the captured territory, even the title of Count.
But it was only a verbal deal. One misstep and it’d be gone. If that happened, his already debt-ridden house would collapse.
”What’s going on?”
A golden-haired noblewoman peeked from the adjacent carriage.
Princess Auroora—sister of the young king of Ayub, one of the three allied nations, and the commander of this expeditionary force.
”It’s nothing serious. I’ll investigate. Please wait inside, Your Highness.”
”First, set up the arrow barrier. We’ll know soon if it’s a projectile weapon.”
At the command, the barrier deployed instantly. A crossbow bolt struck it, creating a rainbow-colored ripple. Its energy spent, the bolt dropped to the ground.
”It’s a crossbow attack. Good thinking.”
Gorigan respectfully presented the bolt recovered by the soldiers to Princess Auroora. It was just a regular bolt.
”No need for flattery. Can you take care of the enemy?”
”Yes, right away.”
The elite unit of Gorigan’s army rushed out with determination.
The ripples in the barrier pointed roughly toward the source of the attack. While a crossbow had long range, even the larger ones only reached about two hundred paces. Portable types had even less. Soldiers familiar with weapons knew this well.
”That forest looks suspicious. Split into two groups and surround it!”
Though eager to earn glory in front of the allied princess, they never found the archer. They were searching the wrong area. None could guess the shots were coming from the distant tower in Hollowvale.
* * *
Good. They’ve set up the arrow barrier. That commander’s got a decent head on his shoulders.
But I’m not trying to kill them. I just want to drain the enemy magician’s MP and slow their march.
While the barrier’s up, the caster can’t move. If they switch casters to keep marching, that still slows them down. Right?
Feeding a thousand soldiers is no joke. I wish they’d just give up and go home. Food here’s cheap usually, but it gets pricier before harvest.
They can’t loot either—this area’s already been picked clean. The villages are starving. Scorched earth tactics, huh? Makes sense now.
The roads in Duke Mineley’s land are garbage. Carts can pass, but they have to unload cargo on steep hills just to push it up. Whoever’s handling supplies must be pulling their hair out.
Even if Castor guides them, if food runs out, they’ll never reach Kasgar.
Huh. Maybe this is working out. If I can just stall them a little longer, maybe this war dies out on its own.
If the commander’s really skilled, they might try to push forward, ignoring casualties. But even if I barely hit them, one hit can kill. Of course they’ll want to keep the barrier up.
And that’s what I want. Please keep the barrier up. Don’t overdo it. Don’t get yourself killed.
* * *
”What are you people doing!?”
Gorigan yelled, but no one found the enemy. They were searching the wrong spot.
”It must be a small unit—ten people maybe. They’re attacking while moving and know the terrain.”
Princess Auroora gave a confident guess. But the smarter people are, the more they miss simple truths.
The bolts had no magic trace. She didn’t imagine they were coming from beyond the horizon.
”That is troublesome. We’ve never had this issue before. Duke Mineley’s people are useless.”
Gorigan’s soldiers had once been wiped out by vigilante stones, but he always ignored facts that didn’t suit him.
”Could it be the Holy Kingdom’s army? Did you send an envoy to declare war?”
”Uh… well, we already crossed the border and started fighting. No turning back now.”
Gorigan hadn’t sent anyone. He didn’t know the customs and figured it wasn’t his job.
”You didn’t send one? That was my mistake—leaving it to you.”
Princess Auroora frowned. Her beauty gave her presence, but Gorigan wasn’t the type to be cowed by looks.
”This area’s all forest roads—hard to attack, easy to defend. We should finish the war quickly before the Holy Kingdom reacts.”
”Can I take that as the Vespar Kingdom’s official stance?”
Oops. Gorigan realized he might’ve gone too far. He had planned to ignore traditions if they won. But if they lost, it’d all be pinned on him.
Until now, he hadn’t even considered losing. But these invisible attacks shook him. He had strong survival instincts.
Time to bluff. He was good at that. Just change the subject like nothing happened.
”They say a Hero from another world is marrying into the Duke Mineley family. We can’t let that happen. We must wipe out that rotten bloodline.”
Gorigan wasn’t noble himself, but his family tree was linked to royalty. The whole “bloodline” thing was just an excuse.
Bringing up the Hero was a lucky move. Princess Auroora’s expression shifted.
”The Hero Management Bureau made a terrible mistake. We should have faced the Demon King ourselves. Hero summoning must stop.”
”Exactly. That’s why we must win, even with losses. We must march on Kasgar!”
”Wouldn’t that just cause more casualties…?”
The barrier was lifted. The troops jogged up the mountain. A bolt suddenly flew out and shredded the vice commander beside Gorigan.
Instant death. His body vanished in a flash of light, but blood splattered over Gorigan’s fancy cloak.
”Barrier! Raise the barrier!!”
Gorigan screamed. But the magicians had already raised it.
”We can’t let anything happen to Her Highness. Let’s move carefully.”
”Agreed. I gave the supply line extra time for something like this. We’ll reach Kasgar eventually. We just need Castor’s help more than ever.”
Princess Auroora had calculated that even moving cautiously and swapping barriers, supplies would barely last. But they couldn’t siege the city.
If Castor didn’t betray his brother and open the gate, they would lose.
”Don’t worry. I know Castor. He’s jealous enough to do anything to outshine his brother. Dispose of him after he’s useful.”
”I’ll remember that.”
Gorigan smirked, thinking he’d earned the princess’s favor.
Princess Auroora gave a cold smile. She’d already judged him. She’d heard Duke Mineley was a fool, but the invisible enemy they now faced was no joke.
If the war turned bad, her backup plan might still work.
* * *
When they dropped the barrier and ran forward, I panicked a bit. But someone got hit and they stopped. Lucky shot.
No major damage, but it looks like I’m stressing them out. That’s something, right?
I also found a supply unit crossing the border. Shot a few bolts their way. I feel bad—they’re struggling with heavy loads. But supply units are actually more dangerous than regular troops. I had no choice.
In this world, attacking supply lines doesn’t count as a “great feat.” And targeting weak enemies is looked down on. But skilled warriors know the importance of hitting supply convoys.
Still, I hoped they’d run away. But no, even they had a magician and threw up a barrier. Looks like there’s only one, but the fact they protected the supply line shows how serious they are.
These guys are skilled. Compared to Duke Mineley’s mess, the enemy looks way more competent. Honestly, if this weren’t for Tizzy, I’d say we deserve to lose.
So far, it’s going well. But there’s a problem—I’m burning through crossbow bolts faster than I thought. I used up what I stole from Gorigan’s camp, but it’s barely enough.
Maybe I bought us a day. Is that enough?
If I knew this would happen, I’d have made more bolts. But they’re heavy, iron-cast, and not cheap.
Still, I’ve got some scrap iron in my magic bag. Like those dull swords from Uno. Kept them “just in case.” Guess “just in case” is now.
Maybe I can make and shoot bolts at the same time? That’s cutting it close.
Should I make lighter ones for the Indra Gun? Use half the iron. If it’s just to scare them, it doesn’t need power, just reach.
But if they’re too light, air drag kills the range. Still shaping them right might help.
After some testing, I found that shaping them like teardrops and adding golf ball dimples helped stabilize range and flight—even if they were 1/10th the weight.
Even random knowledge helps in another world.
But I gotta make them look like scrap. If they look too advanced, the enemy might start wondering.
Yeah… that part’s the hardest.
Notes:
• Shirakaba – A paladin who seems to be a skilled fighter. He’s introduced as someone with a strong defense and healing abilities.
• Tizzy – Claims to be Duke’s daughter, a noble with advanced magic skills. MC and Ms. Shirakaba lover.
• Kasgar – The capital of Duke Mineley Territory. Located in a mining region, it is known for its acetylene lamps and mica windows. The city is bustling, with taverns and merchants, but it lacks the exotic charm of the royal capital.
• Mr. Zenom – Tough dwarf blacksmith from Toyoata Village. Repairs weapons, improves accuracy. Charges 100 gold/arrow. Becomes protagonist’s strict master. Assigns hard tasks like pre-dawn cleaning, firewood, water pumping. Owns well-equipped forge. Challenges protagonist to prove ideas.
• Baron Gorigan – A neighboring noble, managing a modest but wealthy mine; involved in recent conflicts and associated with a noble family with historical ties to the royal family.
• Holy Kingdom – Located on the east of the continent.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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