Chapter 885: Fort – After 2
The fortress has no entrance, but Grand Knight Chief Lister and the others don’t seem to have any intention of building a gate or a bridge. Thanks to Laila and the others, we have no trouble getting in and out, but I wondered if it might be tough for them without those means of transportation……but apparently, this is actually quite common in the towns and fortresses of Renfangas.
“Some monsters in the labyrinth are skilled enough to climb human-sized ladders or use human-made entrances, but the creatures that emerge from the earth of Renfangas are all massive beasts. Most of them can’t climb high places. As long as the rock-type creatures don’t come, it’s safer not to have any side entrances”
“It seems like it would be tough for ogres and dwarves, though……”
Ogres have poor jumping ability. While they have leg strength, their weight outweighs it, so when it comes to vertical jumps, they can only reach heights not much different from those of humans. Well, an ogre capable of becoming an Ace Knight wouldn’t be bound by such common sense, but that’s true of other races as well. And dwarves are simply slow on their feet and can’t jump. Since they’re sturdy, they can jump down from a reasonable height, but jumping up is impossible. And above all, because both races have different foot sizes and lengths, they struggle considerably with stairs and ladders built to human or beastman scales.
“They handpick the most agile ones for assignments to places like that. No need to worry”
“Agile……”
“Basically, they’re the ones who can jump up to that height on their own. There aren’t many dwarves who can do it, but they do exist”
“Seriously?”
The fortress’s rock face loomed overhead. It was a height where I’d definitely get injured if I fell. Are dwarves really going to jump up to that height with their short legs? Well, Diane isn’t that tall either, yet she’s been known to leap dozens of meters into the air……but dwarves, really?
“The dwarves in my unit have a hard time even jumping onto a carriage”
“Were there dwarves in Dianne’s Special Forces too? I don’t recall ever seeing any”
“Ah, no, they were subordinates from the crossbow unit Dianne commanded before that”
I still can’t shake the habit of calling the crossbow unit 「My unit」. But there’s no place for me to go back to anymore, is there?
I hear Grand Knight Chief Lister and the others are experimenting with fighting in coordination with Catalina. Normally, the Renfangas Army doesn’t engage in the kind of tactical maneuvers typical of conventional armies. Their sole strategy is basically to charge in with a roar and overwhelm the enemy; they fight by having the Gauntlet Knights secure key positions to maintain that momentum and provide support. Neither the commanders nor the soldiers are capable of detailed coordination. Even if we devise intricate strategies or formations, we’re a rabble of muscle-bound brutes, barely better than outlaws, lured here by money, so we can’t maintain order. However, if Lord Buster’s communication magic works, there’s no reason not to utilize it as part of their strategy. They wouldn’t need messengers or signals that might or might not get through. They could strike from behind before the monsters they’ve wounded have a chance to recover. That alone would drastically improve combat efficiency. Just like humans, no monster can give its all against both front and rear at the same time. A pincer attack is simple, but it’s a tactic that significantly weakens the enemy’s strength. To make this a reality, Grand Knight Chief Lister leads a hand-picked contingent and, as one of the few 「Operational units」 in Renfangas, has been steadily gaining experience.
“Back home, having a force that could only follow orders wasn’t anything to boast about……but now that I’m here in Renfangas trying out these mobile tactics, I’m keenly reminded of just how grateful I am that others move as expected and follow my lead……an army is something truly worth dedicating one’s life to, something that many men spend their entire lives building”
“It seems like something Renfangas could manage with enough training time. After all, the young soldiers who form the backbone of any army aren’t exactly active duty for decades”
For short-lived species like humans, the body isn’t fully developed until age 17 or 18, and the period during which one can perform at full capacity lasts only until just past 30 at most. Even if they push themselves to the limit, using the experience and physical strength they gained in their youth, they’ll last until they’re 40 at best. In other words, they can only remain 「Soldiers」 for 10 years at the shortest, or a little over 20 years at the longest. So, in theory, if they undergo rigorous training for a few years, they should become proper combatants. But.
“No one becomes a Renfangas soldier seeking that kind of stability and pride”
“……Ah”
The only enemies they face are monsters driven mad by a murderous intent that knows no rules. The only reward is money. No matter how much they fight, these monsters will never be eradicated. It’s hard to find soldiers who willingly come to such a battlefield, risk their lives to obey their superiors’ orders, and give their all, even on unreasonable missions, to protect their comrades……it’s hard to become that kind of 「Good soldier」. For better or worse, in the armies of ordinary nations, prestige and honor come with the territory. In Renfangas, no matter how hard a soldier fights, they are valued for nothing but money. As long as they fight, they’re welcome, even if they’re scoundrels. If they keep fighting even after deserting, that’s considered a success……in such a twisted army, simply forming a unit with decent tactical capabilities is a major challenge. Yet without that leniency, we couldn’t muster the numbers needed to keep this country afloat.
“It’s a difficult situation, isn’t it……”
“It might actually be faster to bring in an entire unit from somewhere else than to assemble a trustworthy force here. But that’s just a pipe dream”
“Is it that difficult?”
“This is, after all, the most dangerous country on the continent. No one is going to just hand over a combat unit capable of succeeding here”
“What about the Sword Saint Brigade……?”
“They didn’t come here for our sake, did they?”
“……You’re right”
Last year, when 100-man Commander Grantz entered Renfangas under the guise of coincidence and distinguished themselves, it was, so to speak, a show of support for Kalwin and Celesta. It certainly wasn’t for Renfangas’ sake. It’s the kind of thing we can’t just keep borrowing indefinitely.
“……I suppose I’m just a hired hand myself, after all. But influenced by Alex, I’ve come to think entirely from Renfangas’ perspective. I suppose I’ll have to return to my country someday”
Grand Knight Chief Lister gave a wry smile.
“The Lux Empire, was it?”
“Ah, I wouldn’t exactly call it a good country……. But since you use a dragon’s wings, you might go there someday. If that happens, give me a shout. I should at least be able to show you around the imperial capital”
“……I’ll count on you then”
The Lux Empire in the Southern Great Plains. A beastman-dominated nation, rare even on this continent. I wonder if I’ll ever go there.
—————————————-
After checking on the fort, we joined Laila again in the 「Sexroom」 to let loose.
“It wasn’t exactly a comfortable place to sleep……but it does feel a bit lonely knowing it’s fallen into other people’s hands. At least a little, from the perspective of someone who built it”
Naris said wistfully.
“Are we going to build another villa like that?”
Dianne said in a tone that was hard to tell if she was serious or joking. A illusion version of Chibi Laila appeared and chimed in.
『It was a decent way to pass the time, after all. I wouldn’t be opposed to doing it again』
“N, No, no, wait, where exactly would you build something like that?! Fortresses aren’t something you build just for fun!”
“I can think of a few places. The desert, Lapal, or maybe near Polka”
“I’m not saying I want to build another one! I just realized I was more attached to it than I thought!”
Well, both Dianne and Laila know exactly what’s going on and are just teasing her. The other Gauntlets are watching with a smile.
“I actually think a space like that, where you can do whatever you want without anyone complaining, isn’t half bad……”
“Shall we think about it together?”
……Probably. Definitely.