Chapter 89 – Counterattack Preparations (1)
The construction of the fortification of the guild building started from that day only.
Apart from the adventurers inside the guild, the dwarfs called out by Guildmaster Bean had assembled and were already working on fortification.
It is not the work of Kurono to supervise small matters on the site, but due to the equipment being made, he himself gives out some demands.
The following are the demands given by him.
Reinforcement of Rhone River embankment.
They, from the get go, didn’t have enough time, manpower, and materials for making a completely new protective wall. This left them with no choice but to use the things they can get their hands on.
The embankment is a flood control structure made up by piling up sand and earth, therefore it’s sturdiness was far more than that of fence of wood.
So they will use some methods to change it into a protective wall.
But still, it is after all an embankment of a small village, so it’s forbidden to have high expectations of very high wall.
Furthermore, though the foundation is an embankment, on it’s top are the fence of wood. The trees covering Alsace were disassembled and then constructed a new fence of embankment.
The lack of time and materials is just as above mentioned. Though this is a little unreliable, but it couldn’t be helped as this was the most they had.
By the way, the reason for why defensive magic is not used to replace defensive walls, is due to their limited time of effect.
It is easy to make up a tall and solid defensive wall with defensive magic the moment it is activated, but it would start deteriorating in little time and it would be impossible to maintain it’s shape.
To create the 24×7 hours running barrier just like the one near Daedalus’s castle walls. It would need time, engineering skills, and equipment. The same things that Kurono and others were lacking.
And so, they have no choice to start making fence from scratch. Though it is classical but it ensures good defense.
Make an underground escape passage right beneath the Guild.
This will serve as an escape route and supply line too.
Kurono doesn’t has in the least intention to let other adventurers die as ‘sacrificial pieces’. He intends to return alive with everyone, so it is natural to secure an escape route.
This work will not take more than 3 days, it will be more better to call it trench rather than tunnel. This was also ascertained after the first look at plan.
And, with more than 100 adventurers stationed here, it is indispensable to secure a route for the supply of food and water.
Kurono alone can work for 1 whole week without sleeping, eating or drinking (Only if his magic doesn’t run out). But the same can’t be said for others.
If there are not enough replenishments, the morale of troops will only fall, this is furthermore important when there is only a cooperative relationship.
Remodelling of Guild’s interior for easier movement.
This is destroy the walls and ceilings which will be hindrance at the time of battle to resupply men and goods.
Those three are the demands he has given till now, but
“There isn’t much material for protective wall.”
this problem occurred almost really fast.
Bean was tracing the the line given by Kurono on the map. That line will be the position of protective wall.
“We are a very small village just as it looks. We don’t have enough timber, stone and other materials as such. And to make matters worse, we don’t have enough time, so we won’t able to cover a large area too.”
“Because of that problem, I would like you to make this.”
Kurono takes out a single wire from the shadow space.
It’s length is 30 centimetres, one could understand it is made from some sort of dark grey metal due to its lustre.
If it was just that much it won’t be much unusual, steel wire were used as bundling material, to create traps for animals and many other things. It can be found in any blacksmith’s workshop.
But the wire taken about by Kurono has a thorn like substance covering it. It is easily understandable that the wire is not any normal wire.
“What is that thing? A wire with a horn attached to it?”
“Yes, it is called as ‘barbed wire’. Just like it sounds, this is a normal wire with thorn attached to it.”
But, Kurono bends forward and puts the barbed wire on the table.
“Against a human, it will definitely work as a hindrance. Though it might not have any effect on lizardman and golem or any other race with hard scales and skin.”
Not only Kurono, but every person living in modern era had seen barbed wire on daily basis.
It is placed on the fences around the private properties or off-limit areas to prevent intruders from entering. This thing can be understood by this world’s people if they saw a barbed wire, without explaining it to them.
First of all it is made from iron, so maybe even if it had been developed, the popularization might have been slow.
“Fumu, I see, really if we lay this out, we can cover more extensive range without having the trouble of creating fence of trees.”
Along with that, if it is wrapped around the fence already made, it will definitely give more defensive effect and no one would touch it without thinking twice.
“If only we have iron, we will can make them and use them by wrapping them. Tomorrow the previously requested bundle of iron might come, we will make use of it and use the barbed wire as a barricade.”
“Got it, let’s complete it fast.”
Bean who understood its effectiveness, nods.
“But, will it be able to block those wearing thick whole body armor?”
“The normal attire of Crusaders is chainmail under a white surcoat. This will be able to block many cavalrymen and foot soldiers.
But even barbed is not all-purpose. They might have people who can jump over them, aren’t I right?
but dealing with people like those is the job of us adventurers.”
.
While Kurono was near some steps from the construction of fortress, on the other side the members of ‘Vulcan Powered’ were roaming through the Fairy Garden.
“It is hot……”
Vulcan grumbles.
But that is not because of him being weak. It is natural for a beat man to complain about heat walking under the sunlight during mid-summer while wearing natural thick fur as surcoats.
As all the party members are beast men, so they have got no choice but to keep on walking while having the same problem as Vulcan.
“Will it really……go easily like this?”
The other main reason for them to to be sweating from head to toe was because they are wearing the Crusader’s cross and white surcoats. In short, disguise.
As for what reason this was needed. Kurono ordered them that this was a continuation of scorched earth tactics. The Plan Part 2 a.k.a ‘MPK Plan’. [ET: Should I say Kurono became a Chuuni][SK: He always was a chuuni.]
In this world which doesn’t has any english alphabets, the words ‘MPK’ were being misunderstood by everyone as a single word except Kurono.
“To hell with MPK, if this doesn’t work I’m gonna blast off Kurono’s ass.”
By the way, the surcoats all the members are wearing are hundred percent real, they were taken off the corpses of dead soldiers after all, but their was no size fitting for Vulcan, so he had surcoat made by order in guild by sewing up white sheets together and embroidering a cross emblem on to it.
The surcoat Vulcan wore is made of more thick cloth than normal ones, so he was melting in the heat more than other members.
“Everyone halt! Target discovered!”
The voice of the beast man archer with good eyes resounds.
“Is that so, then let’s wrap this up fast and return back to Hejito Village.”
Vulcan’s hand reaches for the hilt of his broad word. In front of his eyes, was the settlement of the famous rank 1 monster ‘Goblin’.
.
On the other hand, the rank 4 thief Su-san a.k.a Suusu, was climbing on the cliff of Galahad mountain range, which Kurono climbed while having lily on his back with great deal of effort.
“He really gives some ‘absurd’ quests.”
A gust of winds blows towards Suusu, clinging on the rock cliff, which caused her white surcoat to flutter relentlessly.
But, she changes the tips of her legs and hands to the slime like jelly parts and grips the vertical wall with unbelievable grip power. She shows absolutely no fear.
She without separating her hands and legs, starts crawling on the cliff, like a slime. [ET: ………………Wow……………]
“Well then, a little left till the destination. I need to work more hard to not lose to others!”
The place she is heading to is the nest of rank 4 monster ‘Garuda’.
And for this quest only she, with best espionage abilities, will be able to complete.
.
The three elves sisters from ‘Three Hunting Princesses’ were hiding themselves in the forest along the north-west highway. They are also in charge of reconnaissance mission.
“Whoa, the queue is still walking……there really are many of them.”
The third sister Hanna who looks at the queue of Crusaders, once again recognises the vast armies of their enemies.
The Crusaders wearing white surcoats with the design of cross, and holding flags with the same design, are marching in a well-ordered manner while matching each other’s pace.
The spears of foot soldiers is lined, and in front of them are the cavalrymen covered in silver heavy armor and are walking boldly.
“I have only seen the army of daedalus as big as of this scale.”
The second sister Laura, recalls the commemoration parade of Daedalus army she once watched.
The bright white attired Crusaders are a complete contrast to Daedalus army wearing jet black armor and helmet.
The three are reminded of the fact that these white attired troops are the ones who defeated daedalus army and are now walking boldly in the territory of daedalus.
“Look above over there neesan!”
On Hanna’s word Irina and Laura raise up their heads, and see many shadows in the mid-air.
“Pegasus Knight!? They even have this……really troublesome these peeps……”
Seeing many pegasus knights leisurely flying, even Irina who always is calm couldn’t hide her amazement.
As riding animals pegasus are more effective than horses, and the techniques used to control pegasus to fly in sky can’t be compared to that of horse-riding.
Though becoming a pegasus knight is time and money taking, but to compensate for those disadvantages, the pegasus can fly high and are agile.
Furthermore, the pegasus riders are not cheap and easily available to any country, but having a whole troop of them means that particular country is a lot powerful.
Irina was feeling sense of danger upon seeing the opponents mightiness, powerful pegasus soldiers and they had to eventually fight.
“The people who attacked Irz before and the annihilated scout party were only a small part of them. Just like Kurono said, the enemy has high grade equipment and a lot of soldiers too.”
“Will we really have to fight that?”
“This time it is really dangerous”
“But—”
Irina smiles while facing the two sisters showing uneasiness.
Even she is scared and is feeling uneasiness, but she crushes it to death and makes a gentle expressions as always.
“We can’t abandon the villagers. And haven’t we crossed paths with danger a lot of time, we will be fine this time too. Let’s complete this emergency quest.” [ET: Feeling sentimental on this line. But who know what their fate is]
On the words of Irina, both sisters forcefully nod.
In the first place the person who runs away before even fighting just due to opponent’s numbers can never become Rank 3 adventurer.
The ‘Three Hunting Princesses’ are there because they have finished many difficulties and have faced with danger many times.
“Well, let’s get going back already. The pegasus are keeping an eye on surroundings so we will have to take a detour from inside the forest. Is that alright?”
“”Yes, Nee-san””
The three elves completely dissipate their presence and disappear in the gloomy forest.