Fun Territory Defense of the Easy-Going Lord

Just as Panamera had predicted, there was no significant attack as we approached Centena. Perhaps it wasn’t even a deliberate attack to keep reinforcements away; it might be more accurate to say that black metal bombs, randomly dropped by Wyverns, happened to fly in our direction.

Two or three explosions occurred in the distance, and the vibrations were transmitted to the ground beneath our feet. Everyone should have known the threat of the black metal, but seeing the actual explosions right in front of us was still terrifying.

Even among Panamera’s Knight Order, there were visible individuals marching with faces pale as ghosts. Should I praise them for not panicking, which is a feat in itself?

Thinking that, we arrived at Fortress Centena.

The walls vibrated with every explosion, and seeing various sized debris fall made me realize that the fortress was truly on the verge of collapsing.

“…Honestly, I don’t even want to go inside a building in this state. If debris falls, I’ll die. And I’m so young.”

When I muttered that to myself, Arte nodded with a serious expression.

“This is exactly the time when my pair of Silver Knights, the Aventadors, are needed…“

Her voice was quiet, but the words were forceful. Panamera blinked at the confidence evident in Arte’s statement. I laughed at the contrast and looked up at the main gate. There was probably no longer enough manpower on the Scuderia side to even station someone there.

“…Excuse our intrusion.”

I offered a greeting, just in case, and placed my hand on the small entrance door built into the main gate. This door was merely raw material. Now, this Van will create a new door for you. I channeled my magic, focusing on that thought.

“Alright, it’s open.”

The door, remade in a mere ten seconds, was a simple double-hinged door with no lock. I put force into both hands and was immediately able to push it open.

“Come on, let’s go in.”

When I turned back after saying that, Panamera looked at me with suspicion, as if I were a criminal.

“…Boy. Don’t tell me you’ve been engaging in some kind of crime?”

“I haven’t done any such thing!”

It seemed I had caused a strange misunderstanding. I hastily denied Panamera’s question. She stared at me with narrowed eyes for a while, but another black metal explosion rang out somewhere, and Panamera sighed, turning back to her Knight Order.

“It is a somewhat scandalous way to enter, but the path is open. Infantry, advance with your shields up. If the fortress is on the verge of collapse, there might be enemy soldiers inside. Proceed with that in mind.”

“Yes, sir! Cavalry, dismount! Infantry, forward!” Panamera’s Knight Commander immediately obeyed her instructions and relayed the command.

“What do you mean, a scandalous way? I told you I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“No, the problem is that such a method is possible. If the boy is precocious enough, he could even use it for something like a midnight sneak attack, couldn’t he?”

“I wouldn’t!”

I involuntarily shouted at Panamera’s outrageous comment. Because that’s sexual harassment.

Watching the backs of the Panamera Knight Order advancing ahead, the Seatoh Knight Order also entered the fortress. Cracks ran across the walls everywhere, and parts of the roof had collapsed. The deeper we went, the more severe the destruction became, leaving the place in a state resembling ruins.

“…There seems to be almost no one here.”

“Could it be that everyone went up to the rooftop to shoot arrows and cast magic…”

“Of course not. The commanders should be planning their defense strategy from a safe location.”

Exchanging such dialogue, we proceeded further into the fortress. Eventually, we reached the inner courtyard, and the sight there was tragic.

The ground was scorched in places, a huge tower lay collapsed and fallen, and shadows of what appeared to be corpses were scattered around. At this hellish scene, I heard Arte and Till gasp behind me. Meanwhile, Khamsin and Law stood in front of me, swords drawn, ready to protect me.

“Lord Van, please be careful,” Khamsin said, checking the shadows of the surrounding debris.

I offered a wry smile and thanked him.

“Thank you. But I think those people likely died from the cannons or the black metal. Come on, it’s dangerous for us to stay here, so let’s move quickly. The Centena garrison knights must be gathered along the wall facing the Shelvia Confederation.”

When I told Khamsin that, his expression turned alert, and he looked back at me.

“Y-yes, you’re right. It’s dangerous, so let’s leave this spot quickly.” Saying that, he started scanning the sky above. I felt a sense of quiet pleasure knowing Khamsin was desperately trying to protect me.

“Now, normally they wouldn’t place many people on the rooftop to prepare for aerial attacks, and they need to monitor the enemy’s movements, so they are probably gathered on the second or third floor. Shall we go there?”

Panamera immediately agreed with my suggestion and gave instructions to her Knight Order.

We quickly crossed the courtyard, found a staircase, and proceeded into the building. Even so, there were hardly any people. It was strangely empty.

“Could everyone have just abandoned Centena and fled?” I muttered.

Panamera furrowed her brow and turned her profile toward me.

“Even Marquis Fertio would not do such a thing as a noble… Are you suggesting there is a possibility that he might?”

“Ah, no, it was just a joke. I just thought of it because there are so few people… Hahaha.”

I gave a dry, laughing half-answer while climbing the stairs. We reached the third floor, the top floor, where we finally sensed the presence of people. A long corridor ran along the wall, and noise and clamor could be heard from the far end.

It seemed the area was divided into separate rooms. Certainly, dividing the space with walls might offer greater structural strength than having one large hall with many pillars. However, it was an unsuitable structure for defense when large numbers of armored knights needed to be deployed.

Since the enemy was the Shelvia Confederation, perhaps they thought archers and mages would be enough?

Thinking that, I watched from behind as a knight from Panamera’s Knight Order opened the door to the nearest room.

“W-who goes there!?” a man’s shout came from the depths of the room, though I couldn’t see inside from where I stood.

“We are the Knight Order of Viscount Panamera Carrera Cayenne! We rushed here after hearing that Centena was facing a crisis! I recall that Lord Talga is the Commander of the garrison knights protecting this border, is that correct!?”

“Oh! We thank you for the reinforcements! Lord Talga Brescia is indeed the Commander of the garrison knights! However, Marquis Fertio is currently here and has been granted full authority!”

After a brief exchange of information, they entered the room. It didn’t seem very spacious, so only Panamera, her Knight Commander, and the seven of us—myself, Arte, Khamsin, Law, and Till—entered. Well, technically, with Arte’s two puppets standing diagonally in front of us, that would make it seven people and two puppets.

“O-oh… that tall knight is…?”

Ignoring the Centena knight’s surprise at Arte’s puppets, Panamera proceeded deeper into the room on her own. Although it didn’t feel large, there were still about ten knights inside. The knights parted to the left and right, creating space when they saw Panamera.

Panamera strode confidently through the gap and stopped near the wall. She put her face close to a small, thirty-centimeter square window to observe the outside.

“I see, they have launched an offensive. It seems they were quite cornered.”

At her words, I hurriedly headed toward the window. I wanted to see outside, but I was slightly too short. I couldn’t see well. Looking back in distress, Khamsin quickly brought a chair for me. I stood on it, successfully solving the problem.

“…Whoa.”

Looking at the outside view, I couldn’t help but exclaim that.