Chapter 259: Arte's Dolls

Panamera’s strategy worked well.

As intended, she successfully dodged the enemy’s shelling while managing to prepare the ballistae within firing range. Furthermore, they succeeded in firing arrows without a single carriage being shelled. Well, I wouldn’t have attempted an attack in the first place, but the unilateral success of a preemptive strike with minimal damage is a brilliant achievement.

Most likely, the Kingdom of Yelenetta and the Shelvia Confederation, having been struck by ballista arrows, will narrow their targets to Panamera and the ballistae. If that happens, the infantry knights will now have a chance to reach the castle wall. Normally, they definitely would have been bombarded and unable to advance properly, but Panamera’s strategy made it possible.

Incidentally, I continued to analyze the angles and effective range of the shelling from the rear, assessing the situation from a position where I absolutely wouldn’t be bombarded. If anything, I was peeking outside from inside the armored carriage with Arte and Till. Since I fear assassination, I hope I can be excused.

“Lord Van, the Knight Order has entered the effective firing range. The armored carriages might be subjected to shelling soon.”

Khamsin, who was driving the carriage, spoke with a tense expression. Khamsin had been uneasy about Panamera’s decoy operation from the start. He was initially opposed simply because of the danger to Panamera, but since Panamera successfully executed the decoy operation completely unscathed, his worry seemed to have shifted to the slow-moving armored carriages.

The armored carriages must be fixed to the ground by grounding their legs when firing. If they are shelled at the right moment there, they cannot evade.

That said, since the front shield part of the armored carriages is reinforced, I don’t think they will be destroyed by a single hit. No, perhaps I should say I hope they won’t be destroyed. It’s a sad fact, but since the armored carriages have never been shelled, I have no absolute confidence in their strength.

Well, in the worst case, if the armored carriages are destroyed, they can be built again, but the personnel operating them cannot be recovered. Especially—and I apologize for my self-serving thought—I cannot afford to lose any members of my Knight Order.

“Alright. Then, let’s use another maneuver to cause a diversion. Panamera must be expecting it, even if she doesn’t say it.”

I gave a wry smile, thinking of how impatient Panamera must be, and looked at Arte.

“Arte, can you deploy the dolls?”

“Y-yes!”

When I called out to her, Arte immediately stood up in the carriage and opened the double doors leading outside. She stepped out, looked back at the two dolls inside the armored carriage with a serious gaze.

“…Please, my pair of Silver Knights, Aventador.”

While using the Puppet Magic, Arte called out to the two wooden block dolls. The two dolls, which had been kneeling, stood up at Arte’s words and, with smooth movements, stepped out of the carriage.

Arte always speaks to the dolls as if they have consciousness and personally wipes away their dirt and praises their efforts when the battle is over. Because of this, there were times when I somehow felt that the dolls might actually possess a will.

“Lady Arte, good luck!”

Till cheered from inside the carriage, and Arte nodded widely.

“Yes, I’ll do my best!”

Encouraged by Sister Till, Arte was spurred into action. The exchange between the two was somewhat heartwarming, but this was the middle of a battle. I couldn’t just watch idly.

“Arte, you don’t have to fight head-on, okay? Arrows are fine, but a direct hit from an artillery shell might destroy them. Don’t push yourselves.”

When I said that, Arte nodded and moved the dolls to the front of the carriage. The dolls held long straight swords, taller than their own height, and positioned them in front of their chests. Standing there with their blades pointed at the sky, the two dolls already exuded the demeanor of battle-hardened veterans.

“Yes, I understand. Then… here we go.”

Arte replied immediately, which was unusual for her, and began to move. The two dolls crouched once and leaned their upper bodies forward. Then, they kicked off the ground and began to run.

I felt a slight sense of unease about this.

I felt like they were acting as if they were impatient, or struggling with a feeling of vexation.

However, Arte’s two dolls had already rushed into the battlefield with the speed of the wind.

“…At that speed, even running straight, they might not be shelled. But there’s always a ‘what if’. Move separately left and right, and draw as much of the artillery’s aim as possible.”

“Yes!”

When I gave the instruction, Arte’s dolls immediately split to the left and right. Their speed was tremendous, and they quickly seemed to be catching up with the cavalry.

All the knights, who were advancing while fearing the shelling, cheered when they saw Arte’s dolls move forward. Some didn’t know them, but the majority knew Arte’s dolls as the “Immortal Silver Knights.”

We were utilizing that rumor. Morale improved on our side with the dolls’ participation. And the enemy camp would quickly notice the existence of the dolls upon hearing the cheers.

If that happened, the cannons would naturally turn their muzzles toward the dolls.

After that, once the distance to the front line closed, the siege battle would end at a speed that would normally be impossible.

Just as I thought that, a slightly unexpected situation occurred.

The concentration of artillery fire on Arte’s dolls was good, but it was only two or three shots. No, perhaps their aim was just bad, but more than half of the guns were clearly aiming for the ballistae.

“…Do they think they’ll be fine because the wall is there, even for the Immortal Knight? Or did they judge the ballistae to be the greater threat?”

If they are only thinking of them as two mere knights (dolls), I think that’s a bit of a naive judgment. Certainly, in a normal siege, two knights reaching the castle gate wouldn’t be able to do anything. Even to set up ladders or force open the gate with a battering ram, hundreds of people are needed.

Do they have confidence in their defenses, or is there something else?

While puzzling over this, I switched my thinking to, When there are many uncertain factors, it’s best not to push things.

“Arte, let’s have the dolls retreat a little.”

When I told her that, Arte looked surprised.

“Eh? Should we call them back? I-I think they can reach the wall if they continue like this…”

It was rare for Arte to say something like that. Hmm, has she gained a little confidence? She might have thought this was her chance. Still, I was anxious because the outcome was unpredictable.

“Hmm, you’re right… Well, then, let’s have them return if things start looking dangerous, okay? Arte’s dolls are a crucial fighting force, so don’t push them even if the battle situation is favorable.”

When I told her that, Arte nodded with a look of relief.

“Yes. Understood.”

Answering, Arte commanded the dolls to run toward the fortress city. They were moving in a zigzag pattern, seemingly taking a slightly longer route, but they apparently still wanted to press the attack on the fortress city. I watched, feeling like I had seen an unexpected side of the quiet Arte, as they skillfully avoided the shelling and advanced.

A large number of arrows flew, but they are already largely ineffective against wooden block dolls, which are also equipped with full-body Mithril armor. They could be ignored no matter how much they were shot at.

Arte seemed to share the same thought, as the dolls quickly rushed toward the fortress city while holding up their shields.

“Arte! You’re getting too close to the fortress city!”

“Eh?”

I had intended not to interfere, but I felt a bad premonition and couldn’t help but shout. Arte looked back at me in surprise.

Meanwhile, the dolls were still approaching the fortress city. They might not change their actions unless explicitly instructed again. In any case, my warning was clearly late.

Just as I thought that, a fierce explosion rang out in the direction of the fortress city, and black smoke rose high enough to exceed the height of the castle wall.