kscans

Chapter 143 - Chapter 12: Catapult

Behind the First Knight Order’s headquarters is a rectangular training ground sandwiched between the castle walls. We had just ridden into it aboard Fulsy’s incredibly suspicious carriage.

Given that it is effectively the Royal Guard, the check at the gate was stringent. Even with Fulsy and the accompaniment of Count Adele, the deputy commander of the Anti-Monster Knight Order who was in the capital for supplies, we apparently couldn't just be waved through.

I suppose that’s natural, since there’s a direct route to the royal palace. Besides, we have two commoners of unknown origin on board.

"How are things with the First Knight Order now?" I asked, recalling the arrogant-looking face of their commander.

Prince Craig’s Anti-Monster Knight Order is assigned to the west, while the First Knight Order is assigned to the east. We have no choice but to entrust the execution of our anti-sorcery strategy to the First Knight Order.

Although they were outmaneuvered by the horse-dragons' unexpected speed, the First Knight Order commander’s prediction of the Empire's strategy during that conference was correct. I have to believe he’s competent. The problem is whether he’ll listen to us in the first place.

"The Imperial army, which had been quiet for a while, has begun to encroach on the area around Kurtheite. Even with four times the Empire’s forces, Commander Tembelg is stretched thin just defending Grynisias. I heard from His Highness that getting this proposal through was easier than expected."

When you think about it, with the Royal Capital being pincered, it’s strange for the de facto commander of the Royal Guard to be away from his post. Decades of peace led to reductions in the knight orders, and the First Knight Order had become something of an officer-only corps. It was probably efficient in terms of peacetime organizational management, though.

"That’s a relief, but…"

"Indeed. What was approved was merely the trial use of that thing," Adele said in a heavy tone.

Whether the First Knight Order will adopt the strategy I’ve devised is another matter. It’s a difficult problem. Still, there’s no point in worrying about something completely outside my purview. I’ll just have to count on Euphillia, Prince Craig, and the Chancellor.

My only concern is whether the items we need have been properly managed.

◇◇

"The last I heard, these were used in combat twenty years ago. They certainly look their age," Adele said, looking at the two massive wooden contraptions that had been brought out onto the training ground.

They looked like triangular frames with large wooden spoons resting on them. Catapults. They were more than twice a person’s height, bigger than I had expected. Below them were wheels for moving them and stakes for securing them in place.

Twenty years ago… they must have last been used during the Fellbach Rebellion.

"They are well-maintained, sir. We test-fired them two months ago during training, so I can guarantee they are serviceable," an old knight who appeared to be over fifty replied to Adele. He seemed to be the one in charge of siege weaponry. Eight soldiers stood at attention behind him.

Looking closely, the wood was an amber color, but the ropes wound around it were new. The round stones that served as projectiles were neatly arranged by size. Considering the current state of the First Knight Order, his post was likely a sinecure, so I was glad he was such a responsible man.

"To think the day would come when these would be used again. It may be improper to say so, but I feel a bit emotional."

The old knight’s expression was a mixture of belief and doubt.

"The Empire’s sorcery has a longer range than our bows. To counter it, we need the power of a catapult."

"I see. I’ve heard the Empire attacks from a distance our arrows cannot reach. However…"

The old knight’s face clouded over.

"Indeed, I’ve heard they are not easy to hit with. That is why we have come. But for our purpose, we will need you to conduct many test shots," Fulsy said.

In the carriage, he had been excitedly rattling on about improvements to his antenna, but now he wore the expression of a state elder.

"It is the highest honor to be of service to the Great Sage in this time of need. Please make use of this old body as you see fit."

At the Great Sage’s words, the old knight’s face lit up. The soldiers behind him exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. I hoped Fulsy would maintain his dignified air until we left. It was important for them to see this as a weapon, not a toy.

"So, what is its actual range?" I asked, now that the greetings between the important figures were over.

Mia stood next to me, holding a sheet of paper for notes. Of course, Mia is the real brains of the operation.

"Great Sage. Who are these two…?"

"They are my assistants. They are skilled at calculation."

"Assistants…"

The old knight paused for a moment, looking at Mia and me in our academy uniforms.

"Well now, how impressive for ones so young."

I had braced myself for a reaction like ‘the likes of a commoner child,’ but the old knight just smiled warmly.

"Let’s see, that middle stone projectile can fly twice as far as a Kingdom bow can shoot."

The old knight pointed to a stone about the size of a soccer ball. It was the exact same size as the projectiles we had brought.

◇◇

"Projectile ready!"

"Counterweight set!"

The soldiers manning the catapult moved like the synchronized cogs of a machine.

"Fire!!!"

At the commander’s signal, an axe was swung, the rope was cut, and the wooden spoon shot upwards.

DAAAAAAN! SHURUSHURUSHURUUUUUUU.

DOON!!

As the catapult swung its arm, the stone flew in a parabolic arc and slammed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Immediately, soldiers holding a rope marked with regular intervals ran out. At the same time, other soldiers ran to retrieve the projectile with a cart. The scene reminded me of the shot put from my past life.

The remaining soldiers all pulled on the rope, preparing for the next shot. Their movements were perfectly synchronized.

"How is it?" I asked Fulsy from inside the carriage parked next to the catapult.

"No worries. It’s showing up clearly."

The trajectory of the magic captured by the antenna was displayed on the crystal in Fulsy’s hand. A magic crystal from that slime mold monster had been attached to the projectile.

"Mia, think you can do the calculations?"

"If we can get enough pairs of data from the crystal and the ground impacts, I believe it will be possible to construct a formula," Mia nodded.

"Alright, let’s have them launch the real one."

Fulsy signaled to the old knight, and the soldiers began unloading the "projectiles" we had brought in the carriage. I got out of the carriage to help.

"Okay, I’m heading over to the impact point," I told Mia after we finished unloading.

"Wait a moment, senpai. Just one thing about the altitude…" Mia called out to me from inside the carriage.

The paper she showed me had a high-arcing parabola drawn on it. After finishing our discussion through the carriage window, I headed near the predicted impact zone.

DAAAAAAN! SHURUSHURUSHURUUUUUUU.

GASHAAAAN!! BASHAAAAAAAA!!!!

The projectile launched from the catapult shattered on the ground, spilling its contents everywhere. Its range was twenty or thirty meters longer than even the smallest stone projectile. We might be able to use an even higher angle.

Not bad. In the worst-case scenario, I had worried the ceramic projectile might not withstand the force of the launch.

When we use this for real, it might be best to fire a small stone projectile first as a reference. Using relative values should make the results less susceptible to changes in the environment.

"Now for the state of the ground."

I gave a hand signal and approached the impact site. A pattern of shattered pottery and what looked like spilled water covered the ground. The projectile we had brought was a thick ceramic pot filled with oil. Adele had asked me, "Are you planning to counter the enemy’s fire arrows with a fire attack of your own?"

True, if the enemy sorcerers get covered in oil, they might not be able to use their Fireballs. But that’s not my goal.

"I’d like it to scatter a little more finely. Should I mix some water into the oil? It’ll be spinning as it flies, so the inside will be agitated… No, centrifugal force would cause them to separate. In that case, the water would be on the outside… Hmm."

I jotted down my ideas on paper. After I moved away, the next projectile came flying. The impact point shifted, certainly, but it landed closer than I expected. Perhaps because it was more uniformly shaped than the stone.

I looked at the catapult. Mia was consulting with Fulsy. From this distance, it was amusing to see the old sage looking like he was taking instructions from a girl young enough to be his granddaughter. Well, he probably is taking instructions from her. The old knight standing beside them was also nodding in admiration.

Well, of course they’d be surprised to see something they've only done through experience turned into a formula.

"Hm? Who are they?"

An imposing-looking group was approaching Mia and the others. They wore the armor of the First Knight Order. The old knights snapped to attention. So did Adele and Fulsy. Looking closely, I saw a cloaked figure at the center of the knights. That’s…

"An inspection from His Majesty the King?"

By the time I deliberately took my time walking back, the grand procession was already showing me their backs. It seemed the King had come for an inspection.

"When you’re at war, this kind of morale-boosting is important, I suppose?"

"Of course. But that’s not all. As I said, just as things are heating up in the west, the east is growing restless as well. Or rather, the Empire’s main force is likely in the east, so it is our Anti-Monster Knight Order in the west that is responding to their eastern movements."

"The Empire’s offensive is imminent, then. Does that mean Prince Craig will be coming east…" I asked hopefully.

If Craig were the commander, our plan would have a high chance of being accepted. But Adele shook his head.

"If by some chance the horse-dragons in the west were to join the eastern forces, it would be irreversible. As it stands, we need a powerful move to raise the Kingdom army’s morale and rally the wavering eastern lords. It seems His Majesty thinks so too."

"Does that mean…"

"It is a last resort, of course."

The possibility of the King himself taking the field. I feel like I've just learned something I'd have been better off not knowing.

◇◇

"Hey, wasn’t that an unfamiliar merchant just now? The King made a surprise visit today. If there was anyone suspicious around, our heads would roll."

"It’s fine. I checked their permit from the Chancellor’s Office."

I could hear the tense conversation between the gatekeepers. For a moment, I thought they were talking about us, but they let us pass without a word. Well, we were with a count and a baron, after all.

I understood their tension. If anything happened to the King at the First Knight Order’s facility, which is responsible for protecting the capital, their very reason for existing would be called into question. In the history of Earth, there were armies like the Praetorian Guard of the ancient Roman Empire whose job was basically "assassinate the emperor."

"How is the trajectory calculation formula coming along?"

"It will still take some time. Which angle looked best?"

"The third one. The angle that gives the most altitude. Ideally, we want it to fall from almost directly above."

"...A longer airtime will result in greater deviation."

"I have a better idea of how to modify the projectile, so it just needs to land within a general area. Let’s see, I think a deviation of about ten percent in any direction should be fine."

A deviation of 40 meters for a range of 400 meters. The adjustments depend on the projectile’s contents, so I’ll need to consult with Vinaldira as well.

"The relationship between the actual projectile and the stone seems to be stable regardless of the launch angle. At that level of deviation, I think we can manage with the antenna’s data."

"Even that officer was surprised," Fulsy chimed in. "He couldn't believe such a method existed."

We track the launched projectile’s trajectory with a radar and measure the distance to its impact point. Based on that, we quickly revise our calculations. In exaggerated terms, it’s like "inputting firing data." For a fixed artillery piece on the ground, this should improve accuracy even within a range that can be calculated by hand.