Read Novel Full Chapter 253
Chapter 253
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Chapter 253 – Start of War
I don’t know what the situation is, but staying here isn’t going to solve anything. I step on the gas and break through the courtyard. Even the heavy cavalry, the most powerful military force in the world, cannot stop an armored personnel carrier. Besides, the light infantry is nothing more than a ragtag bunch of men with no countermeasures.
“It looks like the projectiles are getting ready to fire at the walls. I don’t think they’ll reach us…”
As Myrril fired the PKM machine gun at the gun emplacement, she saw the soldiers in the pitchfork position in front of the gate fall with a heavy thud. Although the distance was too great to grasp the situation fully, the threat seemed to be over when I saw that Myrril-san’s firing had stopped.
“The angle on the walls is not good.”
She must have fired a grenade with the M79. After a series of popping sounds, there was a momentary pause and then a series of explosions on the walls. A number of figures and fragments of blasted figures rained down on the courtyard. …At that height, though, you’re going to die either way.
“This is terrible…”
“What are you talking about? As expected, when the long-range cannon attack rains down on us, we’ll also suffer a bit.”
“”A little…?””
It seemed like an unreasonable reaction, but it is not often that an armored car is stopped by a lightning strike. If there is any damage, it would be to Myrril, who is exposed by the turret, so it’s not my place to complain.
“Mir-san, if something goes wrong, just get back in the car, okay?”
“I know, but the magic light that filled the car is gone. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
Casspir made his way to the castle gate, kicking aside the light infantry who were running away from it. A girl dressed in white and looking like a civil servant was crouching in various places, perhaps left behind by the soldiers. I wondered for a moment if I should rescue her, but the soldiers returned and carried her away as if they were going to kidnap her.
“Please don’t kill the white-robed girl!”
“Eh? Yes, I understand.”
“Roger that.”
If there had been a drawbridge, as was common in medieval castles, it would not have been able to support the weight of Casspir, so everyone would have had to get out once, pass through, and get out again, but Solbesia was not that well prepared for an invasion, and the front of the gates was connected to the ground.
The guards guarding the gate held their spears high in fear, but they were too cowed by our majesty to move, so there was nothing to do but look away.
There were only a few checkpoints outside the gate, like a beachhead, and the soldiers stationed there had probably fled or were nowhere to be found.
We broke through the gate easily and walked out of the castle through an almost completely cleared area that looked like a burned-out ruin. The twin escorts roared in frustration, and we could see that this must have once been the royal capital of Solbesia.
The only structures scattered about were sturdy-looking stone buildings in the style of official residences, either burned down or deliberately left behind. Soldiers who appeared to be from the Imperial Army jumped out and pointed at the Casspir we were riding in. It’s only a matter of time before they catch up with us, but in a world where horses are the best there are, it’s doubtful they’ll be able to keep up.
“It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?”
“It seems they had outward preparations, but they didn’t expect to be teleported to the throne or something?”
“I suppose so. It seems that they had not confirmed that the royal family was alive. Even if they were alive, they probably did not expect to be able to reorganize enough troops to return to the throne.”
“But doesn’t that contradict what the prince said earlier?”
Yes, indeed. The soldiers ignored the damage to their allies and fired their long-range cannons. They were ordered to kill us at any cost.
Prince Haidar looked back at the castle and pointed left and right.
“The Empire does not consider the loss of troops. Nor does it consider operational efficiency. Most of the soldiers deployed in the outlying lands are not Imperial citizens, and once they are ordered to pursue and destroy the enemy, they will do so until they are dead.”
“You mean the orders for reinforcements that Kaienholt gave before he died?”
“Yes. The death of a commander is no reason to retreat.”
“Then it will be very difficult to escape, won’t it?”
“No, that much is to be expected.”
Myrril fires a shot from the gun emplacement toward the roof of the building in our direction.
The magic light goes off, pieces of flesh scatter, and smoke rises.
“Is that the long-range thunder cannon?”
“It looks like it. Is that thing cheap?”
It’s the worst. I don’t know if the goal was to discourage warfare or to spread germs, but the results seem to have been effective.
“Are there any survivors in Solbesia?”
The prince froze at my question.
“Some were brought into the realm as living magic tools, some were sold abroad, some were used on the battlefield, and some returned to heaven as ‘currency of grace.’ Those who live by their own will.”
“We are the only ones.”
There are no words to say to the prince and the others looking down. There is no promise of rescue. It was by chance that this number of people were able to defeat the Demon King Kaienholt.
“The enemy is moving too quickly. How can they contact the soldiers pursuing us?”
“A captured shrine maiden is being used as their eyes and ears.”
I slammed on the brakes. In the stopped car, the prince and the twins were frozen in a prone position.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“”We can’t save them.””
“But that doesn’t mean they can’t be saved.”
The girl in white who was in the courtyard earlier is the one. That is the shrine maiden. A Solbesia mage who was drawn to the battlefield instead of a communicator.
“The shrine maiden is stationed in the center of the unit. Next to the commander. It is the most difficult to recapture.”
“I don’t care!”
The prince and the others take my anger in silence. The reason they didn’t tell us wasn’t out of self-preservation. They knew what I would do when I heard that.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going back to help.”
That’s why the twins were silent as if they were looking at me with reproach. I don’t know. The prince clenched his fists and started to say something, then stopped. I don’t know. I don’t care. If they stop me, I’m done with them.
“Mir!”
Before I could call out to her, a hysterically laughing voice came down from the turret.
“Admirable, that’s what I love about the Demon King. I have made my preparations.”
Myrril, standing on the ceiling of Casspir, was already enveloped in a shimmering crimson flame.
“You wouldn’t leave me here, would you?”
“Of course not. I’ll be with you when you go. Wherever and whenever, no matter what.”
Leaving the prince and the others frozen, I ran out of Casspir. Hmm, I don’t know how to lock the door.
“I’ll be right back. Kill anyone who comes near.”
“””…Yes.”””
I catch Myrril, who jumps down laughing and looks back at the walls, which are about a kilometer ahead of us. I saw a pursuer who looked like a cavalryman coming towards us.
“Well, let’s go… what’s up, Myrril?”
While I was carrying the princess in my arms, I noticed that Nojalori-san was looking at me sullenly. What is it? I mean, I have the same mass-produced middle-aged face I always have.
“It’s strange. Every time I come close to death, every time I get over it, my feelings for you grow stronger.”
Oh, it’s the suspension bridge effect. I hope she is not the type to cool down once she is at peace.
Just as I was thinking this to myself, I was poked in the side.
“I know what you’re thinking. I will never change my mind. You know that much, don’t you?”
That’s obvious, isn’t it? I hugged Myrril, who I held in a princess hug, and whispered to her.
“It’s okay. As long as I have you by my side, I’m invincible. I can do anything!”
With a strange tension, I made the first teleportation.
I aimed at the front of the cavalry group that was charging us.