“Just as Jake said.”
“The numbers are roughly right too, about six thousand. Quite the knowledgeable one.”
Gianna confirms the enemy’s numbers while peering through Watcher 8000. Counting the number of people like that is difficult, but Gianna is amazing.
“He has foresight, doesn’t he?”
“Isn’t that just a difference in experience?”
“Apparently, he gathered information about the surrounding territories beforehand?”
We arrived at the border with the Novak Territory with the Knights Order and about five hundred soldiers under the guise of military exercises. It’s a horde of infantry on the scale that Jake mentioned.
Behind them are either knights or the private soldiers of nobles. Many of them are on horseback.
“Ryuga, once the attack starts, I want you to secure the people in the rear. Prioritize those with extravagant equipment.”
“Yes, sir!”
I knew he was hiding in the shadows. I wasn’t sure if he was there, but he showed his face when I gave the order.
“That one certainly endures a lot of hardship.”
“Such is the master’s exploitative nature.”
“Gianna-sama, such language is not appropriate.”
“…Beatrice, you’re the one who’s used the most.”
“T-That’s not true! Isn’t that right!? Claffy-sama!”
“Huh? Ah, yeah. It’s because Beatrice is the most reliable, you know?”
“~~~~~~~~!”
Ah, I praised her too much.
“I’ll do my best!”
“A charmer?”
“Gianna-dono?”
“Yes, I’ll be quiet.”
“No, it’s fine with me. Beatrice, I’ll leave the command of the people in the back to you. I’m going to go say hello.”
“Yes, sir!”
I take the Aircar out of my Spatial Storage.
Gianna is driving, Barbatos is in the passenger seat, and I’m in the back.
This is a military vehicle made by Mitsuboshi Motors called the “Lycaon LDGX-AM-1081,” an open car. Unlike the commercially available version, the exterior of the vehicle is made of carbonium halcon, making it extremely sturdy. Also, the speed limiter has been removed, allowing it to travel at 480 kilometers per hour. Although it’s an open car, it has a simple aerodynamic barrier that allows you to drive without getting wet even in the rain. Of course, it also has a normal hood.
“Just as I expected.”
As we approach in the Aircar, arrows come flying.
They’re being deflected by the aerodynamic barrier and the main body, so they probably aren’t very powerful. Well, even I couldn’t penetrate it.
We bring the Aircar close to the enemy group to a certain extent and wait for the arrows to stop. The arrows aren’t a threat, but the sound of them hitting the body is a bit unpleasant.
“I’ll have to re-wax it later.”
“Maybe even repaint it, depending on the damage.”
“…I feel like teaching them about a hell called despair.”
This Aircar, which runs through the sky at high speed, is a collection of magical technology, so it’s Gianna’s favorite. She treats it very, very carefully and washes it often, even during practice.
Well, it has an automatic repair function, so it doesn’t really need painting, does it?
“They’ve stopped, haven’t they?”
I nod at Barbatos’s words as she was watching our surroundings, and I get out of the car. Just in case, I float the defensive Magic Item “Security Bit Defender Unit 6” and hold the very expensive-looking “ES-A11,” which is like a magic wand, with the Ice Magic Core set in it.
By the way, Security Bit Defender Unit 6 is a military supply, but it’s also a civilian product.
It’s a spherical drone for VIP protection developed by Sharma Security, and it’s a shield generator that instantly deploys a barrier to protect the user when they are attacked.
It was developed by a civilian company, but its operating time and performance are excellent, and it’s a first-class defensive Magic Item that was delivered to the military without any modifications.
When I get out of the Aircar and step forward, arrows come flying as expected. I block them all with the barrier. However, since it’s a Magic Item, the time the barrier can be generated is limited.
Just in case, I put up a wide barrier in front to block the arrows.
“I am Count Cladfield Highground, the Lord of this land. Who is your representative?”
I use an amplifier to speak to the other side. They are quite noisy when they hear me call myself the Lord.
“…I am Count Bombagit Novak, also a Lord.”
After waiting for a while, a carriage appears, cutting through the crowd, and a man calling himself the Count shows his face from it.
“Count Novak, welcome to my Highground Territory. Is the reason you don’t show your face from the carriage because you’re not feeling well? Ah, rest assured. Unlike you, we have no intention of shooting arrows, so there’s nothing to be afraid of, you know?”
My words cause laughter to leak from the enemy soldiers.
“W-Well, I’m a cautious man! But I thought it was a joke that a child was the Lord.”
“Isn’t that strange? The formal procedures have been taken.”
Well, the reason those formal procedures were taken was through informal methods. The same goes for the peerage. This was, well, apparently solved with money. I don’t know much about it.
“Hmph, it’s pitiful that your people are being ruled by a brat who no one knows where he came from! I’ve only come to offer a helping hand!”
“I see, but your limbs seem quite short for that. Ah, excuse me, I’m just guessing since you’re in the carriage. Please forgive me since I haven’t been able to see your figure.”
“You bastard!”
“Please calm down.”
He seems to be quite short-tempered. But there seems to be a follower inside, it’s shaking a little, but it seems to be held down by someone. I can hear voices leaking out too.
“Now then, I would like to welcome you all, but as you can see, we don’t have many people here.”
Our Knights Order is stationed about six kilometers away. And there are only five hundred of them.
“Therefore, we will only deal with those who pass beyond that point. Ice Bullet.”
I create and drop a pillar of ice at a point about five kilometers away, as seen from behind me where the knights are waiting. It’s just to mark the spot.
The enemy soldiers raise voices of surprise at the scale of my magic. The expression on the other Lord’s face is interesting.
“Those who pass that pillar of ice will be defeated, captured, and ravaged. I won’t hold back, and I can’t. If you’re lucky, you won’t die. You should come with that resolve.”
While they are surprised and confused, I get into the Aircar and retreat. The effective range of Ice Bullet was barely enough, so it’s a little short, but let’s not worry about the details.