Chapter 11: The Fortress of Mendasium Kingdom
Silently, we advanced toward the vicinity of the Mendasium Kingdom's fortress.
All that remained was to throw the soy oil Molotov cocktails and destroy the staffs that seemed to be of imperial make. If we could also cause the food supplies to burn, it would be a perfect outcome.
However, accomplishing that would require another move at this point.
I whispered an incantation and made the wooden bird flap its wings into the night sky.
Slightly adjusting the cloth wrapped around the crystal, I peered directly into it to ascertain the situation at the fortress.
"They seem to be on high alert for a night raid. There are an incredible number of campfires. Furthermore, the trees and undergrowth surrounding the fortress have been cleared."
"They must have learned from the numerous night raids we have launched before."
Centis responded to my muttering.
With such high alertness, it would be difficult to directly throw the Molotov cocktails.
"Can we use fire arrows?"
"I can't, but I brought along soldiers who can use them."
Centis pointed with his thumb at a middle-aged man with a bearded face.
He smiled and took out a bow from his back, emphasizing its adaptability and maneuverability in the forest.
"How far is the effective range of that bow?"
"It can easily reach that bonfire from here."
It's estimated to be around a hundred meters.
If we shorten the distance even further, the area where the staffs are stored will come within range.
But the problem is that, unlike the food supplies, the staffs are made of metal and are difficult to burn. Simply shooting a fire arrow wouldn't be enough to destroy them; it would only burn off the coverings but not completely destroy the staffs.
I crossed my arms and pondered, coming up with a clever idea.
"All right. Let's use the fire arrows to burn the food supplies."
"Hey now, we came to destroy the imperial staffs, didn't we? Are you giving up on that?"
"I'll take care of that part somehow. In order to handle that somehow, I want you to burn the food supplies and divert their attention."
Ignoring the soldiers' puzzled expressions on purpose, I retrieved the wooden bird to my side and began drawing the situation of the Mendasium Kingdom's fortress on the ground.
"There are two places where the food supplies are stored. One is at the edge of the fortress with a sentry constantly stationed there, and the other is near the center without any guards. The quantities are roughly the same."
"Then, the center is the target."
Shaking my head at Centis' words, I disagreed.
"No. Even if we use fire arrows, it's dangerous to get too close to the central depot. Besides, I want to distract their attention, so let's deliberately target the depot at the end here. We don't need to burn it completely, so after shooting two or three fire arrows, we'll immediately retreat to the mountains. If we scatter and escape individually under the cover of darkness, it should be easy to get away."
After finishing the explanation, Centis turned her gaze toward me.
"...What are you plotting with that tone?"
"It's a secret. But it's a well-planned method that has a high chance of success."
As I confidently asserted, the soldiers nodded reluctantly.
We approached the enemy's territory and began the attack, using cover such as trees and bushes to prevent the light of the fire arrows from being seen.
From the enemy's perspective, it probably looked like fire suddenly flying from the nearby forest.
As the fire arrows pierced the food depot, the inside of the enemy's territory grew chaotic.
"Alright, retreat!"
At my command, the soldiers scattered and fled into the forest.
Retreating quickly was crucial. There was no need to mask our footsteps, so we pushed through the undergrowth. The rustling sound echoed through the forest.
At that moment, soldiers emerged from the enemy's position.
It seemed they had anticipated our night attack and were prepared to counterattack.
However, it seemed surprising that we had only shot a few fire arrows and immediately fled.
"Damn it. Chase them! Catch at least one person and subject them to torture!"
Raising their torches, the soldiers ran toward the direction where the rustling sound came from within the forest.
There were about a hundred of them.
They were going all out to capture a group of less than ten of us.
As the hundred soldiers entered the forest, I began to move toward the enemy's position.
Yes, even though I had called for a retreat, I was the only one who stayed behind.
By the way, the reason they couldn't find the soldiers who had entered the forest was because I used a sacred technique to conceal my presence to the level of a ghost.
In the forest filled with vegetation, it would be very difficult to find me, who had mastered the art of suppressing my presence to a level lower than that of plants.
Now, after the commotion subsided, the territory returned to a state of calm.
Having driven away the soldiers of the Nonette Kingdom once, the soldiers of the Mendasium Kingdom also relaxed their vigilance and began to act on their own.
At this point, I, maintaining my sacred technique, infiltrated the territory.
Soldiers who seemed to have used it had thrown away blankets, so I picked one up and wrapped it around my body to disguise myself, running through the camp.
Thanks to the combination of the sacred art of concealing presence and the soldiers' decreased vigilance, no one noticed my actions.
And finally, I arrived at the location where there seemed to be an Imperial staff.
"I've made it this far successfully."
I had planned to escape immediately if someone discovered me, but things are going so well. Today seems to be my lucky day.
I entered the cover of the storage area and started scattering the contents of the Molotov cocktails I brought with me.
After finishing wrapping the cloth soaked in bean oil, I became greedy seeing how smoothly things were going and decided to take one of the staffs that appeared to be of Imperial make.
While holding that staff, I chanted the ignition spell of the magic towards the mouth of the last Molotov cocktail.
"Sparks become embers. Embers become flames. O warm fire, appear. Pal Nis."
A flame as large as a bonfire appeared in the palm of my hand. It was a magic used for everyday life, like a match flame.
However, what appeared in my palm was a fire much larger than that of a Molotov cocktail.
The Molotov cocktail was engulfed in flames all at once, and the bean oil ignited, creating an even bigger fire.
Surprised and flustered, I rolled out of the storage area of the staff while still wearing the blanket and began to run. I held the staff that I was confident was of Imperial make.
"It seems to be a staff that enhances the effect of magic."
While hiding the staff inside the blanket, I shouted at the top of my lungs.
"Another fire arrow is coming! Another place is burning!!"
At the sound of my loud voice, the relaxed atmosphere in the camp became frantic again.
And the storage area, with the scattered bean oil, began to ignite, turning into a large flame like a campfire.
The soldiers gathered around the burning storage area and started trying to put out the fire in a commotion.
"Damn it! You damn bean-eating monkeys! Just as I thought they took the bait, they managed to burn down the most important supplies with a lucky hit while fleeing!"
"Search! If the fire arrow came this far, they should be near the camp!"
"The soldiers who excel in tracking in the forest have already gone out!?"
"I know that! Let the inexperienced ones chase them!"
Amidst the confusion, I made my way out of the camp.
And the moment I entered the forest, I released the sacred art of concealing presence and used the sacred art to increase my muscle output.
I dashed through the forest, forcefully pushing away branches and leaves obstructing my path with the blanket wrapped around my body.
"Come to think of it, I wonder if Centis and the others are okay."
While worrying that they might be pursued by soldiers who are accustomed to chasing in the forest, I ran towards the mountains.