Chapter 641 – Generals, Soldiers, and Golems

Since this was training in the form of a mock battle, we first announced the situation and conditions to everyone using the speaking tube.

“First, regarding participants: the aerial units are assumed to be fighting outside, and the gate has been breached, so please handle the situation using only the fortress’s defensive forces. The situation is that ground troops of the enemy army – monsters – have crossed the Barrier and invaded the fortress.”

While the Aqua Golems’ attacks had no lethal capability, if they hit extremities like hands or feet, it would be treated as an injury. If they hit unprotected areas of the body’s center like the torso or head, it would mean immediate elimination… Well, we were going to conduct a mock battle under rules similar to survival games.

The training incorporated fairly detailed aspects, such as requiring those hit in the leg to be carried by comrades.

When comrades are injured, we have to consider things like quickly retreating them to the rear while fighting using the structure.

“Very practical. We’ll have to move while considering the attrition rate of our soldiers,” Simon said, crossing his arms as he looked at the fortress’s overall diagram.

“The ones attacking as enemy forces will basically be Aqua Golems… but since that alone might become monotonous, I’ll have my Familiar participate as well. It’s common for unexpected enemy forces to infiltrate or unforeseen situations to occur during defense.”

“Caduceus participating… This makes for a formidable enemy,” Elliot said with a serious expression. Well, Caduceus’s attacks would also be made non-lethal to keep them within the scope of the mock battle.

Now then. With the rules announced, we began moving into action.

We went outside and created a large number of Aqua Golems. The battle would start from the point where the fortress had completed its interception preparations for an emergency.

The gate was breached, and a group of Aqua Golems charged into the fortress.

They advanced through the fortress divided into two groups. I controlled one group of Aqua Golems, while Balor controlled the other, following from behind the advancing forces while performing regeneration and other tasks.

“They’re coming! Engage them!”

Against the Aqua Golems forming ranks, they intercepted in narrow passages using bows and arrows or spears. The Aqua Golems responded using Water Bullets and water spears.

The monsters that had been with Beriondora were numerous. Following that assumption, Aqua Golems that took direct attacks would regenerate one after another at the back of the formation and continue advancing. It was like monsters continuously spawning from behind.

The soldiers defending the fortress were not only well-trained but also well-armed. Lightweight, easy-to-handle Shields deployed Magic Shields one after another, blocking projectiles and weathering attacks before counterattacking. This Equipment was quite excellent for Base Defense, combining the advantages of both small and large shields.

This aspect was based on Equipment that Forestbird had previously monitored for us.

So we also attacked using various methods with coordinated Aqua Golems.

There might be monsters flying overhead through passages to attack, or monsters using Bless attacks. We had the Aqua Golems reproduce the movements of such monsters, deploying diverse attacking methods.

“Damn it!”

“Crap! I’m injured!”

Casualties began to appear from attacks they couldn’t completely defend against. Those who could move themselves went to the rear. Those hit in the legs were moved to the back of the formation with their comrades’ help, retreating to swap places with personnel in the rear lines.

Incidentally, we had also established a rule that receiving treatment in the rear would allow return to battle after some time.

The soldiers gradually retreated as if being pushed back while exchanging spear thrusts. When a corner came into view, a Captain-level soldier shouted.

“Now!”

At that signal, the Hidden Room door opened and Golem soldiers leaped out from inside. The soldiers responded. They executed a pincer attack, crushing the Aqua Golems. Simultaneously, the soldiers all moved back beyond the corner.

Pretty skillful. They were probably using the Golem soldiers from the Hidden Room to delay while changing the passage structure beyond that corner to redirect or divide the enemy forces.

Since I knew the internal structure, I could anticipate their strategy, but reflecting that in the Aqua Golems’ movements wouldn’t be appropriate for attacking monsters’ behavior, so I deliberately moved to take their bait.

Beyond the corner, the passage split into two directions. Actually, the soldiers had used the other passage to get ahead, but that one was blocked. In reality, both left and right were dead ends, but considering the attackers’ movements, we had no choice but to split the Aqua Golem forces and advance deeper. We divided further into two groups.

Just as we passed through that passage to the corner – one direction of the passage was blocked by command center control. This achieved division of the monster forces.

The divided small units were left to advance under automatic control of the Spell Formula. Since they were divided, there were no reinforcements… Meaning they wouldn’t regenerate, which was fine. Balor and I took the main force with greater numbers and advanced further inside.

We continued mock battles with the soldiers in various locations throughout the fortress in this manner.

The Aqua Golems’ movements – meaning their capabilities – were fixed at a certain level.

With that, we couldn’t break through points where knights with outstanding abilities were stationed at key defensive positions… but there we used Caduceus’s Ambush attacks or sheer numbers to break through and advance.

Even so, the soldiers showed various good maneuvers like organized Retreats, buying time using passages, and pincer attacks. We conducted mock battles for quite a long time, demonstrating the level of training the fortress’s defense forces possessed.

Rather than winning or losing the mock battle, the emphasis seemed to be on aspects like how to effectively move injured comrades to the rear, methods to delay enemies for extended periods while minimizing attrition rates, and how to quickly execute methods utilizing the fortress structure to divide or pincer attack enemies, among other such points.

After the mock battle ended, we immediately held what could be called a review session or debriefing in the command center. We discussed and reflected on various aspects of the mock battle.

Elliot, being in a position to fight in the air, didn’t directly command the fortress interior battles. He had quietly observed the mock battle, and his objectively viewed opinions from the sidelines were also important.

“No, it was good training. Having replacements for injured personnel becomes closer to actual combat when there’s an opponent providing it.”

“That aspect is thanks to the Ambassador directly participating in the mock battle. I think the soldiers moved with a sense of urgency.”

“We identified several points where retreats were precarious and locations difficult to command from the command center, making it truly meaningful,” Elliot and others said while nodding.

Hmm. By improving those structural aspects, the defense could become even stronger.

“It seems good to add Hidden Rooms or hidden passages to potentially problematic areas, and consider placement of Magical Creatures for surveillance to make command easier.”

“Reinforcing weaknesses, then.”

“It might also be good to equip the Golem soldiers with weapons specialized for delaying enemies.”

We discussed like this, picking out areas for reinforcement and deciding how to best implement Modifications.

After our discussion, I immediately applied modifications to the improvable areas where I could work on them, then returned to Termwills.

“Well then, we’ll go report to the Royal Castle for now.”

“It’s good that we can likely give a favorable report,” Princess Stephania and Princess Adriana said with smiles. They mounted Corulis’s back from the square before the Labyrinth and flew toward the Royal Castle.

Since we had various ideas about improvement points, I needed to inform Alfred and consult with him. We ourselves boarded a carriage and headed toward the workshop.

I informed him of our return, settled down, and told Alfred all about the mock battle and subsequent discussion.

“So the fortress is more complete than expected,” Alfred said admiringly.

“Actually, I thought they had considerable training. If we just increase the Golem soldiers’ armaments and add more surveillance eyes, the defense should become even stronger.”

“Yeah. Understood. I’ll work on the improvement points on my end too,” Alfred said, nodding as he looked over the paper detailing them.

“Well… the fortress soldiers are taking breaks in shifts, so don’t push yourself too hard, Al. Ah… That’s right. How about coming to the house later? We have various ingredients gathered from the Magic Light Water Vein.”

“Sounds good. Let’s do that as a way to take a break,” Alfred said, standing up and stretching greatly. Hmm. Princess Stephania and the others are scheduled to come over after finishing their report at the Royal Castle.

So, with everyone’s work at a stopping point, we headed home together with the workshop members.

Now then… There’s one thing I’ve been looking forward to.

“I’m going to check on the fermentation room for a bit,” I told everyone after returning home and showing Alfred and the others to the Game Room.

“Ah, you mentioned it would be about ready soon.”

“Yeah, I was thinking the fermentation might be progressing well,” I answered Grace with a smile.

The miso and soy sauce in the fermentation room were progressing smoothly. Fermentation was advancing without mold growth… approaching a state familiar to me, or rather, to Kagehisa.

Because we were using fermentation-accelerating Magic, it had been difficult to determine the completion timeframe… but today seemed to be about the point where they could be used as seasonings.

I’ve been frequently visiting the Magic Light Water Vein recently, partly because the miso and soy sauce were nearing completion. After all, they pair well with seafood.

I had invited Alfred and the others and Princess Stephania’s group, hoping we could use them for tonight’s dinner. Well then… let’s see how they’re doing.