Torn Asunder by War, A Sword Saint for Tomorrow X The Knight Wizards!! – Chapter 133

Chapter 133: Show The Flag!!
  The fire in the castle town, as intended by the intelligent entity leading the “Hour of Ruin,” significantly diminished the morale of the Zigrand soldiers stationed on the castle wall walkways. Unconsciously, their defense weakened.
  
  Seeing this as an opportunity, the stag beastman, who held authority equivalent to a regiment commander, relayed the message to his kin. At the signal of the large banner they waved, they summoned the standard issue musket unit and the battering ram team from beyond the range of magic.
  
  The core of the battering ram team was formed by Minks, the smallest of the medium-sized, rodent-type Aberrations. If one were to only look at them leaning against and pushing the wheeled battering ram, they could almost be described as charming.
  
  However, as they are still fragments of monsters dwelling in another world, they are a different story when standing upright. Their massive bodies, exceeding twice the height of humans, and their incisors specialized for biting made them a difficult opponent. It would be a Herculean task for a regular infantry soldier to take one down alone.
  
  “Chi…Chichi”
  
  They leak out chirping-like cries, but don’t be fooled.
  
  Judging by how they briskly advance in step with the shield-bearing Boar-Men, without succumbing to the weight of the large log suspended from the wheeled frame designed to break down gates, one can glean the extent of their physical strength.
  
  Soon, as the battering ram reached the vicinity of the front lines, the Goblins carrying assembled large ladders and the descendants of the “Deep Ones” who had evolved to live on land raised their battle cries. They intensified their offensive, demonstrating coordinated attacks in unit formations.
  
  “Tch, leave the small fry to the rifle unit. We’ll burn the battering ram. First Magician Unit, squads one and two, all of you prepare a resonance magic High-Temperature Heat Bullet. Squad three, durability enhancement around the gate in case of emergency…”
  
  “No, wait… Their mobile catapult, it seems like it’s still operational!?”
  “Ahh, dammit! I properly destroyed them all with magic yesterday!!”
  
  Hilde, the witch serving as staff officer, who had been calmly commanding her subordinates, became enraged. Ignoring the dubious gaze of Infantry Captain Dolph directed at her, she immediately reconsidered her instructions.
  
  Whether they had intentionally left them operational despite minimal damage or repaired them overnight, either way, the stone shrapnel weighing around 5-6kg each, launched en masse from afar, could not be ignored.
  
  “I’ll change the instructions slightly. Squad three, split up at equal intervals and deploy angled Floating Barriers. Squad four, take out those troublesome catapults.”
  
  “Understood, Captain. Defense is important, isn’t it?”
  “It’s equally important to break the enemy’s fangs…”
  
  As their daily training consisted of equal parts classroom learning and combat techniques, half of the magic soldiers, having correctly interpreted the orders, quickly dispersed to construct their spells. They blended in with the rifle and archery units targeting the smaller Aberrations approaching the fortress.
  
  A few seconds later, just as the battering ram came within effective range of the resonance magic, groups of four muscular Ogres pulled down the ropes connected to each catapult.
  
  The raised wooden beams rotated 180 degrees with tremendous force around their fulcrums, slamming the opposite ends, reinforced with metal, into the stakes. Utilizing the principle of leverage, they launched a volley of stone projectiles from multiple baskets.
  
  Almost simultaneously, the attack squad of the magician unit activated their prepared spells. Two large fireballs and several magic bullets were launched at the target. Waiting for this, the defense squad materialized semi-transparent barriers in a horizontal line in the air using non-attribute magic. However, the barriers could only protect a limited space of about 8 square meters, leaving the soldiers outside the range to fend for themselves.
  
  “Gah, my bones… ugh…”
  “Uwa… ugh… No… I can’t…”
  
  While the heavily armored infantry in the front line fended off the raining stone projectiles with their large shields, the archer, wearing a more mobile leather armor, had his right shoulder bone shattered. He dropped his arrow and knelt. A rifleman, his skull fatally caved in along with his helmet, collapsed.
  
  While several casualties occurred among the Zigrand forces, the battering ram team, having neutralized the first large fireball with multiple magic barriers cast by Goblin priests, could not withstand the second. They were exposed to the residual heat of the flames.
  
  “”Guooooaaaaaaaah!!?””
  
  Several Boar-Men guards, their throats and eyeballs burned, went into a frenzy. The giant rodent, its fur singed, flung them away with the damaged, wheeled battering ram and charged towards the stone bridge over the moat.
  
  The smaller Aberrations surrounding it had already cleared a path, allowing the single magical beast to launch its suicide attack unimpeded. The portcullis and the gate were mercilessly destroyed in succession.
  
  “””Woooooooooah!!”””
  “…Worst case scenario. It seems I made a mistake in judgment.”
  
  Hilde regretted that she should have prioritized reinforcing the gate’s durability, even if it meant some sacrifices. Below her, the demi-human Aberrations swarmed the gate, dragging the remains of the dying Mink and the battering ram. They clashed with the lightly armored infantry waiting inside.
  
  Holding back the numerically superior monster army was proving difficult. Just as the unit commanders began to consider abandoning the fortress, a sudden cheer erupted from the north end of the walkway.
  
  The soldiers in the center were bewildered, not understanding the reason. Then, the situation was relayed to them through word of mouth.
  
  “Huh!? Reinforcements… I thought the two northern territories were unable to move due to their own defenses?”
  “No, it seems they came from the northeast. Most likely, it’s the Almaine territory’s giant knights.”
  
  “At this point, even those obnoxious Imperial Faction guys are more than welcome!”
  “…Considering Lord Hazen’s cunning nature, I wouldn’t be so quick to rejoice, Infantry Captain.”
  
  There was also resentment towards the neighboring territory, which had sent supplies but never shown its own military banners. As if to dispel the soldiers’ doubts, ten crimson-black giant knights, bearing the emblem of the “Bee and Crown” on their arm shields, advanced to a visible distance.