Published: January 15, 2026
Panamera’s strategy went smoothly.
As planned, they skillfully avoided the enemy’s bombardment while setting up the ballista within range. Moreover, they managed to fire arrows from each ballista without a single one being hit by enemy fire. Well, if it were me, I wouldn’t have attempted an assault in the first place, but managing to inflict a one-sided preemptive strike with almost no casualties was certainly a remarkable achievement.
Most likely, the Yelinetta Kingdom and the Shelvia Confederation, having been struck by the ballista’s arrows, would now focus their attacks specifically on Panamera and the ballista. If that happens, the foot soldiers of the knight order might finally have a chance to reach the city walls. Under normal circumstances, they would have been hit by cannon fire and unable to advance properly, but thanks to Panamera’s strategy, it had become possible.
By the way, I continued analyzing the angles and effective range of the bombardment from the rear, monitoring the situation from a position absolutely safe from artillery fire. In fact, Lady Arte, Til, and I were peering out from inside the armored carriage. I hope you can forgive me—I was worried about assassination attempts.
“Lord Van, the knights have entered effective firing range. The armored carriage might soon come under fire as well.”
Kamushin, who was driving the carriage, spoke nervously. He had been uneasy about Panamera’s decoy plan from the start, opposing it mainly because it put Panamera in danger. But since Panamera had flawlessly executed the decoy strategy without a scratch, his worries shifted to the slow-moving armored carriage.
When firing, the armored carriage must firmly plant its legs on the ground to stabilize. If enemy fire hits at a critical moment, evasion is impossible.
That said, the carriage’s front shield was reinforced, so I didn’t think it would be destroyed by a single blast. Or rather, I hoped that would be the case. Unfortunately, the armored carriage had never actually been hit before, so I had no absolute confidence in its durability.
Well, even if the carriage were destroyed, we could build another. But the personnel operating it would be irreplaceable. Especially—though I apologize for being self-centered—I absolutely could not afford to lose any member of our knight order.
“All right. Then let’s use one more trick to cause confusion. I’m sure Mr. Panamera is hoping for this, even if he doesn’t say so.”
I smiled wryly, thinking of how impatient Panamera must be, then looked at Arte.
“Arte, can you send out the puppets?”
“Yes!”
At my prompt, Arte quickly stood inside the carriage and opened the double doors leading outside. She stepped out, glanced back, and fixed her serious gaze on the two wooden puppets inside.
“...Please, a pair of Silver Knights (Aventadors).”
While casting puppet magic, Arte addressed the two wooden puppets. They had been kneeling as if sitting, but at her command, they rose and smoothly stepped down from the carriage.
Arte always spoke to the puppets as if they had consciousness, and after battle, she would personally wipe off their grime and care for them. Because of this, I sometimes felt as if the puppets really did possess a will of their own.
“Lady Arte, do your best!”
Til cheered from inside the carriage, and Arte nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes, I’ll do my best!”
Encouraged by big sister Til, Arte was fired up. Their exchange was somehow heartwarming, but this was the middle of a battle. There was no time to be watching so fondly.
“Arte, you don’t have to fight head-on, okay? You can handle arrows, but a direct hit from a cannon might break you. Don’t overdo it.”
I said this, and Arte nodded before moving the puppets to the front of the carriage. They carried massive straight swords taller than themselves, holding them in front of their chests. Standing with blades raised to the sky, the two puppets already had the air of battle-hardened veterans.