200: You know, who the hell can figure out a strategist’s thinking?

Defending Goldendoon had been planned in three major stages.

First was building a bridge across the Doon River. That was completed just yesterday.

Second was constructing a fortress on the opposite bank. That’s currently underway at full speed. Since it’s being built in parallel with the bridge, supplies have been shuttled back and forth by steamship, so the fortress should be done soon too.

Third was reinforcing and extending the city walls—especially focusing on lining the riverbank. That one’s almost finished as well. We might not have made it on time if the Mizuho residents hadn’t pitched in.

The bridge finished way ahead of schedule. So now we’ve decided to build a second defensive position.

It’s up north, in the wide stretch between the bridge and the city—exactly where we held the opening ceremony.

The city’s position puts it northeast of the town, so the space by the northern gate is easily overlooked from here.

From Kyle’s office window, I stare out and remember when the cockatrices came rushing in. Back then, the area outside the northern gate was just an open field all the way to the great river. Now it’s surrounded by several city walls and paved with stone.

“Hey, Kyle. You said we’d make this a defensive outpost. Wouldn’t the fortress across the bridge handle it just fine?”

The fortress being built across Dōn Bridge is sizable enough. Since we knew the Empire was coming, it’s been redesigned completely as a military base. I’d say it’s got serious defensive power.

“Could be bypassed. Enemy could come across the river and climb the bridge.”

“Ah, right. I guess monsters don’t think like that, but humans do.”

“Exactly. Though that’s part of the plan too.”

“…Avoid the fortress’s strong defenses, concentrate the enemy forces on the great bridge, then wipe them out completely when they reach the northern gate of Goldendown.”

“Yes. If they’ve come this far… no mercy.”

I turn sharply to look at Kyle, startled.

Guess I’d been underestimating him a bit. Kyle’s eyes were the eyes of a lord defending his land.

Of course, we’re aiming to avoid casualties if possible—everyone’s got a defense plan—but these are the ones trying to wipe out Mizuho. Depending on how they act, we won’t hold back.

Alphard’s leading the strategy, so we can leave it to him. Individually, Raidock and his party outclass us in combat, but when it comes to tactics and strategy, there’s no one more reliable than Alphard.

Alright, then I’m off following Alphard’s plan—hit up the various points, send the messages, drop off the deliveries.

I’d been running around doing all kinds of stuff, but when I glanced at the order sheet Alphard handed Kyle, I thought, huh, so that’s how you use it… damn, that’s brutal!—though I’m not telling anyone that.

I finished the alchemy as instructed and set out to visit each defense point.

◆

First stop was the fortress under construction beyond the Dorn Bridge.

The Dorn Bridge’s currently off-limits to civilians—only soldiers or their hired hands can pass. So if I push the Black Dragon all the way, I’ll be there in no time flat.

You can't cross the great bridge by normal means unless you break through this fortress. As I was just telling Kyle, it's possible to emerge from the river upstream and approach the bridge directly using rafts or such. But there’s a height difference between the water and the bridge, and if you go far enough from the shore to stay hidden from the fortress, the current gets strong. Without anchoring to the bridge piers, you won’t be able to stop—just get swept downstream.

Practically speaking, this fortress is the strongest defensive point without a doubt.

I head toward Alphard, who’s directing the front lines.

“Hey, you’re here.”

“About time. Craft.”

“Looks like construction’s going smooth.”

“Yeah. Chiyome’s been keeping us in the loop just behind the imperial army’s advance. We’ll be done before the enemy arrives.”

“Still taking forever, though. Good for us, I guess.”

The whole idea of monsters and humans joining forces? That’s a pipe dream. According to Lady Chiyome, first comes a massive horde of monsters, moving through forests and wastelands. Then, the imperial army follows, marching across the cleared ground.

“Good heavens.”

On the battlefield, a bee-like humanoid monster was spotted. It’s likely the same one detected during Chiyome’s reconnaissance.

An entity with knowledge on par with humans—or even greater. Capable of speech. Can command swarms of monsters. Extremely dangerous.

The one guiding the monsters? Probably that bee man.

“But even if humans are marching, how about the monsters? Don’t they get hungry?”

Alphard answered my question.

“They’ve confirmed it. Unbelievable, but true. As they advance, they summon weaker monsters and feed them to stronger ones.”

“Seriously?”

“They’re saying the stronger creatures are gradually increasing as they advance. By the time they reach here, it’ll be a full army of strong ones.”

“…Not funny at all.”

“Their march is way slower than expected. That’s probably part of why.”

“What about human food?”

“Well, apparently they’ve been building a fortress somewhere relatively close to Mizuho—though it’s still several days’ distance, at least.”

A few days from Mizuho? Look left, look right—only dangerous territory.

“Ah, I see. So if they’re not getting attacked by monsters, secretly building a fortress is actually possible.”

That’s about right. Still, it’s not set in stone just because we’re seeing it that way. Miss Chiyome only overheard soldiers talking about a fortress—could just be a supply base. Either way, even if the supply lines are stretched thin, food’s still coming in regularly from the Mizuho direction. So there’s definitely some kind of base there.

"Still, no way the Empire’s shipping supplies in."

Given how many small states used to dot the Mizuho region, they could’ve just been buying from those places.

"Hey, wasn’t it weird how we passed so many small nations that’d been wiped out on the way to Mizuho? By monsters."

"Hmm. Good point, Craft. Most likely, the monsters were used to attack city-states, making the surrounding nations think it was a stampede, while quietly gathering just enough food to avoid suspicion—without any human hands getting caught."

"...Was that Beira’s doing?"

The name slipped out—Kyle’s stepmother, the one who’d spread curses and laid waste to Lord Bairoroad.

“Don’t say that name in front of Kyle.”

“I know, I know. But why the hell does Beira hate Kyle so much?”

Alphard sighed, shaking his head side to side.

“Honestly, I have no idea.”

“Yeah, that’s fair…”

“Just catch her. Make her talk.”

Seemed like Alphard didn’t expect defeat.

“So, I’m supposed to hand over what was asked for. Why couldn’t we use the ship line?”

His letter said to send Healing Potions and universal remedies by steamship, but only the specified supplies were to be carried through my “spatial storage.”

Get me into that hidden room. You heard it yourself—there was a part where it hinted the Bee Man had infiltrated Mizuho, didn’t there?

Ah, right. Spying countermeasures, huh?

Can’t predict how they’d get in. Not telling anyone except a few trusted subordinates about this hidden room.

I nod, impressed.

Whether the Bee Man himself was hiding there or a human ally, we don’t know. But someone definitely got in. I didn’t think of the same thing happening to Goldendown—it’s just that we assumed the Empire’s army and the monsters were still far off.

Still, if there’s an infiltration squad, it wouldn’t be surprising if they’d already slipped in. I tighten my resolve.

I was just about to mount the Black Dragon and leave the fortress after delivering the supplies to the hidden room when I noticed sand smoke rising from beyond the bridge.

“Ku～ra～fu～to～sama～!”

“Shururu!? Why!?”

The one charging toward me at full speed was Shururu, the lizard-girl.