229 - Warp
Middle of the night. The location was a forest near the gates of Cartaphus Castle.
Aiming for the time between three and four in the morning, the plan was being executed.
"I'll be right back."
Clad in the equipment of a Cartaphus soldier provided by Rauno-san, I stood up and spoke to the knights, soldiers, and my companions as I headed toward the castle gates.
The well-used equipment was scarred and torn in several places.
Maxim-san looked worried, but Damian waved his hand.
"Is it really going to be alright? To think that a single person slipping in could accomplish anything..."
"It'll be fine, won't it? After all, I have that."
By that, I meant the letter in my hand.
Rauno-san had forged a Cartaphus order for me. The format was so well-executed that even the successive heads of the family would find it proper; it was unnervingly perfect.
I tried to ask where he had managed to prepare such a thing, but Rauno-san didn't answer. I suppose it's something he can't tell me.
Rauno-san himself was among the group hiding in their equipment.
"Only one person needs to slip in. There's no need to have someone open the gates from the inside. In Larc's case, it seems he had a woman on the inside prepare the documents to make it a formal entry."
It seemed that even when his requests for an audience were denied, he charmed a woman inside the castle, gradually expanded his influence, and infiltrated by pretending to follow formal procedures.
Is that really okay, Cartaphus? I wondered, but Cartaphus is the kind of place that takes time until documents are formally recognized, and once permitted, they execute the order.
To put it kindly, they are diligent; to put it harshly, they abandon responsibility and independent thought. The primary reason Banseime has been suffering because of Cartaphus was precisely that diligence. They would execute even unreasonable demands simply because "it's an order."
These guys are crazy.
I used the skills—Dimension and Real Spec. I grasped the three-dimensional layout of the surrounding terrain, and information more detailed than what a standard spec would provide flooded into my mind.
Where the soldiers were, where they were looking...
While gathering such information, I advanced toward a blind spot in the castle walls. Once I reached the wall, I used the skill of the Seventh.
The Seventh's voice sounded from the orb, sounding nostalgic.
『Yes, I often infiltrated forts like this. Throw explosives from the inside to destroy the gates. While they are strong against attacks from the outside, they are often weak against attacks from within. If I still couldn't break them, I'd go inside and plant explosives all over the place.』
It seemed he used to plant bombs throughout castles and forts to destroy weaponry and facilities. He would slowly escape from the panicked interior, then conquer the chaotic castle or fort.
The easiest method, apparently, was to defeat the gatekeepers and throw the gates wide open to let his allies in.
There were things I didn't know; this was the first I'd heard of the Seventh being a bomb maniac.
In the process of handling firearms, it seemed he had his own routes for obtaining gunpowder.
"Phew... [Warp]."
As I looked at the castle wall and used the skill, a terrible sense of fatigue washed over me. I endured it, and the scenery before my eyes changed in an instant.
I immediately hid myself and searched for someone in a captain's position while watching the movements of the surrounding soldiers.
"...There."
I didn't use a weapon. I rushed toward the man who looked like a captain, acting panicked.
"Captain! T-this is terrible!"
I acted out being breathless and frantic. In reality, I was exhausted from using the skill. With this Warp, if I used it consecutively, two times was the limit for me right now. Even with breaks, maybe three to five times during combat? Regardless, it's exhausting.
Mireia-san, watching from within the orb, spoke.
『Raiel, that acting was a bit disappointing. You should have at least made your face turn blue. Humans can do anything if they're truly serious.』
While receiving her critique, I spoke to the captain-like man, who looked at me with suspicion.
"You're not one of our unit's men, are you? Where on earth are you from—"
"An intruder! An intruder has entered the castle!"
My tattered appearance, combined with the information that there was an intruder, made the captain prioritize the information over confirming my affiliation.
"What do you mean! To allow the intrusion of bandits, this castle of Cartaphus—"
Mireia-san giggled.
『How dreadful. Even a robust castle can be dealt with surprisingly easily. Besides, that reaction is strange considering they let Larc in.』
Then, the group outside began to move. They raised torches, making their presence known from within the forest.
The area around the castle gates suddenly became noisy.
"Captain, there is an armed group of at least a thousand people outside!"
Upon hearing this, the captain-like man seemed to respond exactly as trained.
"Calm down! Wake up the sleeping men immediately! Everyone else, to your positions! You there!"
"Yes!"
I answered as he pointed his finger at me.
"Return to your unit immediately and await instructions! Did you convey the information about the intruder? The number, the appearance?"
I immediately gave the description of the intruder I had prepared.
"Their hair and features were unknown as they wore a mask. However, the intruder's top was a tank top, and they carried a greatsword! I did my best just to drive them back, and I didn't pursue them so I could inform you immediately. My apologies!"
Based on that description, the captain-like man seemed to assume the opponent was a bandit. Hearing that someone carried a greatsword while infiltrating, he muttered that it was impossible.
"No matter. If you had been killed, we wouldn't have noticed the intruder. Go and inform them immediately. To your posts! Respond according to training!"
Since they were accustomed to movements according to training, they quickly took their positions. They seemed tense, but it was better that they were moving.
The Fifth, seeing the appearance of the Cartaphus soldiers, spoke.
『...They're the kind of opponent that makes group battles difficult. They try to move according to training without losing their composure. They lack flexibility, but I can see why the northern lords struggle with them.』
I was able to see an unexpectedly competent side of Cartaphus, but they had overlooked the intruder that was me.
"Now then, shall I get moving too?"
Running through the chaotic castle, I aimed for the dungeon.
—Damian and the others were tying torches to wooden sticks.
To make their numbers seem larger, they placed the knights and soldiers in the front and prepared only torches in the back.
They did this hoping the opponent would misjudge their scale as being larger.
"Now, the problem is time. Since it's a fortress city, if we're unlucky, soldiers from the surroundings will gather quickly. Or rather, if we decide whether to come out based on the numbers, it'll be troublesome if that information spreads."
If it were known there were only five hundred, the castle could sally forth. However, Rauno had explained that if they appeared to be more than that, the number of soldiers inside the castle would prevent them from coming out.
Damian pushed up his glasses with a finger, making the lenses glint, while Maxim looked around while carrying his spear.
"You say that while building such a simple fort."
Operating things that couldn't even be called golems—boards with wheels—Damian had prepared a makeshift fort.
The gaps were reinforced, creating a system that could withstand a bit of pressure.
"It's Raiel's plan. We'll just have to endure it if magic comes flying our way. But I wonder if it's going well?"
Raiel had entered the castle and spread information about intruders to further the chaos. This was because he judged that Larc would then head toward the Queen.
If he knew of an intruder's existence, the person Larc would want to protect right now was the Queen. Treasures could be obtained later, but to gain status, the Queen was necessary.
Rauno had an exasperated expression.
"With a face like that, the things he thinks of are vicious. Spreading rumors like 'there's an intruder, there's an intruder' is just crazy. Striking the place where he'd head toward the Queen... True, the probability of escape is low, but if the opponent's numbers are high, it's a huge problem."
Erhart, who was listening nearby, shook his head.
"...Was he the kind of guy to do something like that? I thought he was the type to fight more smartly?"
Erhart's other companions nodded in agreement. To them, Damian said,
"What are you talking about? It's Raiel, you know? There's no way that Raiel would fight straightforwardly. Right now, he's probably confusing the castle's interior while spreading false information. He's the kind of man who does that while laughing."
Maxim also nodded as he appraised Raiel.
"Indeed, that's exactly what makes him Raiel-dono. Well, let's just stand by here. The main event should be later."
Erhart held his head, wondering if there was something more beyond this—.
Holding the order, I went around showing it to the soldiers stationed in the passage leading to the dungeon.
"Orders to immediately move to eliminate the intruders!"
However, the female soldiers charmed by Larc didn't seem to care about my opinion and shook their heads.
"The only one who can give us orders is Larc-sama. There is no reason to listen to any other orders. Until Larc-sama gives an order, we won't mov—"
I pointed to a part of the order. Rauno-san had confirmed Larc's handwriting at the guild. I was using a copy of it.
"These are orders from that Larc-sama! Please hurry!"
"M-my apologies! Hey, let's go!"
"Yes!"
"Excuse me, I need to convey the orders to those further inside, so could you let me through?"
"The key is right there!"
Three female soldiers rushed off. Watching their departing figures, I took the key from a small table located where iron bars had been hastily installed.
The Third spoke.
『Hmm, how should I put it... is this what they call love being blind? Well, it's easy for us. This might also be the nature of Cartaphus.』
I unlocked the door and proceeded down the hallway, checking the surrounding placements. There was no reaction from Larc like I had felt before. Previously, he had erased his presence even from the skill's detection. It had been an unnatural disappearance, but there was no such sign this time.
"Has the information not reached him yet?"
Feeling that Larc's movements were sluggish, I proceeded toward the dungeon. Along the way, I showed the order to female soldiers and knights stationed similarly to be let through. I even gave them orders to search for the intruder.
I didn't forget to give different information to each of them.
Advancing further, I headed toward the place where there was a reaction and used the key to open the door. It was an audience with the Queen of Cartaphus.
Before opening the thick wooden door, Mireia-san spoke.
『Raiel, the opponent is a captive. Even in a terrible situation, respond kindly. We need the great northern nation of Cartaphus to work hard for us. Even if she's covered in filth, embrace her. Even if the smell is terrible, do not let your smile fade. This is where you show your skill.』
What on earth does she think I am? I felt I should firmly confirm things with Mireia-san once.
The Seventh, sounding a bit put off, added,
『Well, it's unlikely she's been tortured to the point where her appearance is unrecognizable. Let's pray she's in a cleaner state.』
She was an important woman to Larc.
He likely wouldn't have harmed her carelessly. Praying for that, I opened the door.
—Erhart had drawn the greatsword [Gram] from his back and was fighting the enemy before him.
The group that had jumped into the makeshift fortress had infiltrated from the town side, not the castle.
Around them, Erhart's companions were surrounding a single swordsman with a greatsword. There were also other adventurers in robes who had infiltrated.
They gave off a different atmosphere than those from Beime, and Erhart could tell they were local adventurers.
Unlike Erhart's greatsword, which was grand in name only, the opponent's black greatsword seemed to be a genuine magic tool. Erhart's greatsword was quite chipped.
"You lot intend to get in my way, huh. I'll crush you right here."
Maxim stepped in to stop the knights and soldiers who were about to slash at the swordsman with the black greatsword. He forcibly held them back and made everyone retreat.
Damian made a golem charge at the swordsman, but the golem was shredded like a piece of paper.
Damian rested his staff on his shoulder.
"I didn't expect to meet you here. Let's see, who were you again? Uh, was it Marc?"
Damian's maid, Number Three, corrected him.
"Master, it is Larc."
Number Two comforted Damian.
"You were close this time, Master."
Then, two female adventurers attacked Maxim. Parrying them with his spear, Maxim told the surrounding knights and soldiers to step back.
"The enemy is few! We'll handle them! Don't interfere carelessly!"
He saw a few magic tools among their equipment. From that alone, Maxim judged the opponents to be troublesome adventurers. He couldn't afford to waste the knights and soldiers borrowed from Galleria, so he decided they would handle it themselves.
Erhart glared at the swordsman before him—Larc—and readied his greatsword. Damian tried to deal with Larc, but was held back by other adventurers.
"Honestly, you're supposed to be the one I'm guarding."
Erhart ignored Damian's mutterings, focusing all his nerves on the swordsman before him.
Larc looked at Erhart and laughed through his nose.
"What's with that equipment? Your sword looks like an iron bar. Your gear is unbalanced, and above all, just a tank top? Are you mocking me?"
Larc was laughing, but Erhart didn't break his stance nor did he answer.
This guy is stronger than me.
Their styles were similar since they both used greatswords. Looking at their physiques, Erhart wasn't losing.
However, the quality of the equipment was too different. The clothes he wore were high-end. The greatsword he gripped was a magic tool.
One could tell just by looking that a lot of money had been spent on the equipment.
"You people over there. Please don't die until I or that... person with the spear saves you."
Damian said this while looking at the three female adventurers surrounding him.
Maxim, called the person with the spear, also seemed unable to move immediately as he faced two opponents with his spear ready.
Erhart's companions spoke.
"Erhart, it's going to be tough at this rate."
"I know! But if I run now, I'll just get slashed in the back and it'll be over. Besides, if we don't fight someone superior, we won't be able to move forward!"
Fighting someone superior provides great experience. While it's not wrong to be a serious adventurer like Erhart and his group, once they experience "growth" to a certain extent, they tend to plateau. Either spend a long time or take a gamble...
Erhart seemed to have chosen the latter.
"We all said we were tired of being looked down on. I'm going to show her... that woman!"
That woman was Marianne. The guild employee who had deceived them. When he mentioned her, Larc burst into laughter.
"What's with you guys? Don't tell me you're working hard just to get back at a woman? You really are idiots. Women can be handled however you want."
Feeling anger at that tone, Erhart regripped the hilt. Then, Larc stepped forward and swung his greatsword with one hand.
"Acting tough despite being trash! Everyone who gets in my way dies! You lot, hurry up and kill the people around you! Our allies will be out soon! There are only this few of you. A unit from the castle will immediately—"
Just as he said that, Erhart knocked Larc's greatsword away with his own. Sparks flew from Erhart's greatsword, and its shape had changed from being shaved down.
Then, Damian, protected by an automaton and having pinned down three adventurers with a golem, stepped in front of Larc.
"Unfortunately, the soldiers from the castle won't be sallying forth. According to your rules, the highest priority is the protection of the royalty, right? Moreover, they won't come out if the numbers are equal or only slightly exceeded."
Maxim, who had knocked a woman down with the shaft of his spear, also stepped in front of Larc. His merciless attack on the woman looked different from the way he adored Adele as a young lady.
"I thought that even girls were warriors once they held a weapon! But the opponent is utterly devoid of spirit. Is this the strength of those who are charmed? It's the opposite of Raiel-dono. Raiel-dono's lovers were scary in how they showed their motivation... As expected, women should be like Adele-sama."
Larc looked around.
No allies were coming from the castle. If there were about five hundred, they could have won by sallying forth immediately. However, they didn't come.
"What's going on? And you lot, what are you doing! Stand up and fight!"
As the female adventurers remained unable to stand, Damian rested his staff on his shoulder and sighed.
"I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed in you. I had worked out a plan thinking it would be a struggle, but I didn't even have time to showcase it."
Raiel and the others had considered the actions Larc might take that would be problematic. They predicted that the Queen was being held captive because she was resisting Larc's charm.
Therefore, they thought it would be troublesome if he used other women as shields. Creating chaos inside the castle was a countermeasure for that.
No matter how much Damian and the others were, they would hesitate to attack if maids or the like stepped forward. Considering the future, they wanted to keep the death toll to a minimum.
Just as they were about to end it quickly, Erhart stepped forward.
"Let me do it. This guy... he treated his companions like tools. I can't forgive someone like that... because I was the same."
Maxim tried to stop Erhart, but Damian stopped him.
"I'm not particularly interested, but if you want personal satisfaction, go ahead. However, if I think it's not working, we'll take care of Larc ourselves."
Larc, surrounded, had been thinking of cutting down the knights and soldiers to escape. However, with Maxim cutting off his retreat, he had no choice but to fight Erhart before him.
Damian had an automaton prepare a wooden box, and sat on it as he spoke.
"Honestly, this is a complete buzzkill. I wanted to go inside the castle too. Raiel would surely have entertained me."
Saying so, he dismissively told them, "Go on, start," letting Erhart and Larc fight.
While doing so, he gripped his staff firmly, maintaining a posture where he could kill Larc at any moment—.