Published: January 13, 2026
“Hurry! It’s sturdiness over height!”
“Watch out for attacks from above! They might get over the walls!”
Hearing these loud instructions and warnings flying around, I focused my attention on building the fort. Thanks to having the building materials prepared as planned, the construction of the fort advanced several times faster.
However, because of the large quantity of materials, a few mistakes were popping up here and there.
“Ah, that’s for the floor! Put it down there!”
“Got it!”
“Hey, that’s for the outermost wall!”
“Understood!”
Pointing out the small errors while hurrying to join the prefab materials, I made sure to properly repair the wall made with earth magic. Next, it was time to properly build the fort’s functions.
Just then, I heard the sound of horse hooves beyond the wall. The next moment, shocks and explosions rang out one after another against the earth magic walls.
“Ugh, more Black Orbs!? How much stock do they have!? Shouldn’t they be running out by now?”
Even through the wall, I didn’t want to hear those explosive sounds repeatedly. The pain in my ears and the vibrations echoing through my stomach inevitably planted fear in me. After being subjected to nearby explosions so many times, I got short-tempered and muttered complaints to myself.
If even those who understand what gunpowder is are like this, I’m sure the knight order, who don’t know the mechanics, must be feeling a significant amount of fear.
Even in a world with magic, gunpowder should become an important weapon going forward. Somehow, I need to find a way to produce it in Seato Village.
While thinking about this as I worked on the fort, another shock and noise different from before shook the wall. As expected, they were concentrating attacks on the damaged spots.
“Ha ha ha! Too naive! Too naive, Yelinetta Kingdom army! By the way, I want some sweet cream bread! If none, then give me a cream puff!”
My ears ached and voices and sounds grew distant. I shouted these nonsensical words in a strange state I barely understood myself. Is this what the limit of war feels like? Though, I’m not even properly fighting, so I wonder if it’s okay to call it that.
Thinking such silly things, I pushed hard to finish the fort. The second floor was already complete, so the rest was building the towers corresponding to the third and fourth floors.
“Dee! Let’s go up to the second floor!”
“Roger!”
When I called out, Dee answered with a smile. Ort, Arb, Row, and Kamushin also quickly grabbed materials and started running.
“Carry the wooden blocks and run!”
“It’s a race against time!”
As I climbed the stairs, those carrying materials beat me to the top. Well, I’ve been trained by Dee, so I’m not weak, but why do they have so much stamina?
Puzzled, I reached the rooftop, only to suddenly lose visibility. It was like entering a sandstorm, and I instinctively braced myself and looked around.
“This seems to be dust stirred up by magic and Black Orbs,” Dee said as he stood in front of me, shield raised.
Meanwhile, intermittent shocks hit the wall. Since they weren’t explosions, it was probably attacks by magic.
“The visibility’s bad. We can’t see the enemy’s movement, so let’s hurry and just make the shape for now.”
Watching Dee’s back with relief, I spoke. Immediately after, Dee’s body shook.
“Nnngh...!”
Dee lowered his stance and braced himself. His body shifted toward me. Apparently, he had blocked some magic with his shield.
“Dee!?”
“Hahaha! No problem at all!”
I called out in surprise, but he was perfectly fine. He lightly rotated his shoulders and rearranged his shield stance. At his feet were fist-sized rock fragments rolling about. It seemed a large rock flew at him, and he shattered it with his shield. What a terrifying man.
Reaffirming Dee’s abnormal toughness, I continued building the fort. The central and side towers were fitted with narrow windows, designed so that bows and arrows could be aimed from there.