Chapter 188: The Grenades Turn the Tide

The battle situation was dire.

The Mandus tribe was climbing the walls like madmen.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Defense Force was desperately trying to hold them back.

The intense stalemate was gradually breaking.

Even to my untrained eyes, it was obvious that our side was being pushed back.

Hugo Yates was right.

That man did not treat the Mandus tribe as fellow humans.

It was not simply racial discrimination.

Once I faced them myself, I understood what he meant.

Physically, the Mandus tribe far surpassed humans.

Did that mean they lacked organization like monsters?

If that were the case, they would never have been able to maintain such a massive army.

“So those are the Mandus tribe I have only heard about…… Their physical abilities are overwhelming, and they have the fighting spirit of berserkers! They are truly formidable.”

It was Cedric, the squad leader of the Lelbrant Barony army.

Originally, this man had been one of the soldiers who received Feltron’s training.

Because he graduated with excellent results, I immediately gave him an important position.

When I offered him the role of escort company commander for the supply fleet, he gladly accepted.

However, judging from his complexion, he seemed to be regretting it slightly.

That is only natural. Even I am feeling tense.

No matter how experienced someone was, large-scale battles like this were not easy to encounter.

That was probably why even a pathetic guy like Macum Gosling could receive a manor.

It was in recognition of his military achievements.

Anyway, it was fortunate that we arrived in time.

What would have happened if I had not developed the waterway?

What if someone else had been in charge of supplies?

There was a high chance they would not have arrived on time.

Then Yates Fortress would have fallen.

Even if the Empire later took it seriously, it would not have been easy to reclaim.

Once the Mandus tribe got their hands on food supplies, they would become an incredibly terrifying force.

Starving berserkers versus well-fed, energetic berserkers.

Which one would be harder to deal with?

Obviously the latter.

“All fragmentation grenade crates have been opened!”

“Each of you take two. Put them in your tactical vests and secure them properly. Move!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Since this was a wartime situation, I gave orders using informal speech.

Cedric, the squad leader, moved swiftly in response.

As expected of someone Feltron had praised so highly, he was clearly very capable.

Soon, the Lelbrant Barony soldiers finished their preparations.

There were fifty of them.

I looked at them and spoke.

“From now on, you will act as grenadiers. You must throw both grenades below the wall and return. Understood?”

“Yes!”

“I will give the signal, so wait until then.”

I hid the grenadiers behind the arrow tower and climbed the wall stairs alone.

However, a worried voice called out from behind.

“Your Highness! At least put on some armor!”

When I turned my head, I saw Cordell McNeil’s face.

He seemed quite concerned about me going into battle without armor.

“It is fine. There is no time. And have you forgotten who I am?”

The Northern Berserker.

A member of the imperial family who stood shoulder to shoulder with a Grand Master.

Those were the kinds of titles attached to me.

No matter how strong the Mandus tribe was, in front of Hector Punisher, they were nothing more than ordinary humans.

I waved my hand lightly to tell him not to worry.

However, Cordell’s puzzled voice followed.

“That is not what I meant, though?”

“Hm?”

“If Your Highness gets injured, I will be the only one who suffers. I will be blamed for failing to protect you properly.”

I looked at Cordell McNeil with a dumbfounded expression.

As expected, this man easily transcended the category of a normal person.

When it came to having a broken personality, even the Abyss would not be enough for him.

His Majesty the Emperor was truly careless.

Why on earth did he send me such a useless bastard?

“I am busy right now, so let us talk later.”

It felt like only yesterday that he was pulling nonsense in Lelbrant Barony.

I should have disciplined him more thoroughly back then.

Leaving Cordell McNeil behind, I climbed up onto the wall.

The Lelbrant Barony soldiers are very well trained. But they should not be wasted recklessly.

Using the fragmentation grenades was not difficult.

All they had to do was remove the safety clip and pin, then throw them.

But how was I supposed to teach them that in the middle of an ongoing battle?

“Graaaah! Die, you pale imperial bastards!”

At that moment, one of the Mandus tribe suddenly appeared on top of the wall.

The soldiers kept stabbing with their spears, but the man easily brushed them aside.

Crack! Bang!

He swung an enormous club and sent everyone flying.

“Kuhk!”

“Ugh!”

More than ten soldiers were swept away by that tremendous force.

A single swing had taken down over a dozen men.

They truly were a race that could be called talking monsters.

“U-Uwaah! Do not come!”

One of the fallen soldiers weakly waved his arm.

He seemed terrified of the club being raised high.

However, the Mandus tribesman’s attack did not continue.

I had intervened at just the right moment.

Tsutsutsutsu! Crack!

『Beast’s Heart Activated』

Crimson flames surged up, and at the same time, the Mandus tribesman’s movements stopped.

Soon after, his massive body fell backward.

It was because a warhammer had struck him squarely in the forehead.

I stood in front of the fallen soldiers and extended my right hand.

Whiriririk!

Thud!

Hector Punisher, which had flown far away, returned to my grasp.

Surprised eyes quickly scanned my entire body.

Although it was sudden, there was no chance of misunderstanding.

Distinguishing between enemy and ally in this war was extremely simple.

“Quickly take care of the wounded. From now on, I will take control of this section.”

“What?”

“Hurry!”

“Yes!”

Their confused expressions lasted only a moment.

At my shout, the soldiers hurriedly moved.

There was no need to reveal my identity.

After all, I had taken down a Mandus tribesman in one hit, and my clothing was also unusual.

What kind of insane person would come out wearing a suit in the middle of such chaos?

Even I find this ridiculous.

A smile escaped me.

To think I had jumped into a medieval battlefield filled with blood and flesh.

It truly felt different.

Of course, I could not stay lost in sentiment for long.

Although I had joined the battle, the situation was still unfavorable.

It was because the Mandus tribe had come at us with full determination.

Smack! Crack!

I ran across the wall, continuously swinging my warhammer.

As a result, I could feel the Mandus tribe’s offensive noticeably decreasing.

They realized that this section cannot be breached. That is why they all moved to other areas.

This was the best possible outcome.

If that was the case, it would be safe to bring the grenadiers over.

I immediately gestured toward Cedric’s squad.

“Come up!”

“Yes!”

Thud thud thud thud!

The movements of the Lelbrant Barony soldiers stood out remarkably.

They were faster and more precise than any elite unit.

Moreover, they did not tire easily.

This was the moment Feltron’s training shone.

Cedric shouted with a voice full of fighting spirit.

“Grab the fragmentation grenades!”

“Remove the safety clips!”

“Pull the safety pins! Throw!”

Click! Ping! Click! Ping!

The fragmentation grenades, with all safety devices removed, flew through the air with their characteristic sound.

The Lelbrant grenadiers hid themselves in perfect coordination.

Immediately after, explosions began below the wall.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-boom!

The entire fortress shook violently from the continuous shockwaves.

It felt as if the fortress might collapse at any moment.

“Kuaaah! The enemy has mages!”

“What is going on? Why are the barbarians using magic?”

“I do not know! Get down! We will all die if we stay here!”

Panicked voices rang out one after another.

Even though the Eastern Defense Force was elite, there was nothing they could do.

After all, fifty grenades had exploded at once.

The shockwaves must have been tremendous, so it was only natural that everyone was shocked.

However, the Lelbrant Barony soldiers quietly moved on to their next action.

It was truly the appearance of well-trained soldiers.

“Grab the fragmentation grenades! Wait for now!”

The situation below the wall was probably horrific.

There was no need to waste precious grenades by throwing another round.

If the enemy retreated, it would be fine to conserve them.

However, the Mandus tribe’s belligerence exceeded my expectations.

They do not even care that their own allies are dying.

When comrades died, even the strongest-willed people would hesitate.

Humans were creatures for whom emotions were just as important as reason.

Yet the Mandus tribe trampled over their fallen allies without hesitation.

They were using the corpses as footholds to climb the wall.

“Throw another round.”

When I spoke, Cedric nodded.

“Remove the safety clips! Pull the safety pins! Throw!”

Click! Ping! Click! Ping―!

Hell itself unfolded in front of Yates Fortress.

As fifty more grenades fell, another deafening roar erupted.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa

Countless fragments rained down, and the Mandus tribe fell one after another.

It was nothing short of a massacre.

I watched the situation with cold eyes before giving the next order.

“Go down, resupply the grenades, and wait for a moment.”

“Yes!”

Once the Lelbrant Barony soldiers withdrew, arrows flew in at the perfect timing.

It seemed the Mandus tribe had also realized that this was the center of the chaos.

Papapapapak!

However, their attacks were in vain.

The Lelbrant Barony soldiers had already descended behind the wall.

As for me, I could easily deflect arrows just by watching them.

Thud! Thud!

After spinning Hector Punisher a few times, the attacks quickly died down.

After all, the Mandus tribe was terrible at long-range attacks.

Shooting with their crude bows was nothing more than throwing wooden sticks that were easy to deflect.

“Well then, what will you do now?”

With just two grenade attacks, thousands had died.

They must have been greatly shocked and momentarily lost their composure.

If they had even a little fear, they would not be able to charge in recklessly.

I was openly exposing myself on top of the wall.

Even with this, they are not shooting?

Whether my provocation worked or not, I could see the growling Mandus tribesmen.

My condescending expression must have been quite irritating to them.

Soon after, the Mandus army began to slowly retreat.

“Phew! It is over.”

A sigh of relief escaped me.

If I had to use more grenades, I planned to throw them as far as possible.

That way, Yates Fortress would not collapse.

It was easier said than done.

There were quite a few variables.

It was questionable whether the Lelbrant Barony soldiers would perform well.

After all, no matter how much training they received, this was their first real battle.

I can finally relax a little.

I quickly called for Cedric.

“Take the soldiers and return to the camp. Make sure to count the grenades accurately and seal them again.”

“Yes. Congratulations on your victory, Duke Carius!”

“I only arrived late and finished things up. How could this be my achievement? It is the result of everyone working together.”

“To think you would even try to share such a great military achievement… As expected, Your Highness is truly merciful. Haha!”

Cedric laughed heartily as he led the soldiers away.

In truth, that man was only a squad leader in name.

It seemed like I should give him a higher position soon.

For example, company commander.

Right now there were only fifty of them, but someday they would grow into company-sized units.

From today onward, the number of people who wanted to become grenadiers would increase.

Anyway, that was something that could be dealt with later.

Right now, the urgent matter was to meet the commander.

We needed to reorganize as quickly as possible to endure the next battle.

There are still so many Mandus tribesmen who retreated.

Judging by the retreating forces, they still had plenty of strength left.

They had simply been shocked by the power of the grenades, which disrupted their siege.

We needed to come up with the next plan as soon as possible.

However, I received unexpected news at the Eastern Defense Force’s barracks.

“Wait a moment. What did you just say?”

“Excuse me? Should I repeat it?”

The knight had a confused expression.

This man was Dean Wardel, the deputy commander of the 2nd Knight Division of the Eastern Defense Force.

I gestured with a serious face.

It meant for him to speak quickly.

Soon after, news like a bolt from the blue struck my ears.

“The commander has been killed in action, and even Marquis Yates is in a coma. Currently…… the Eastern Defense Force has no commander.”