Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: The Way to Destroy the Fortress (4)
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A hero's ominous words slipped from his mouth.
All the heroes nearby, including me, turned their gazes toward him.
Realizing he'd spoken out of turn, the hero hurriedly shut his mouth and peered down at the base of the wall.
"Mommy, how long do we have to stay here?"
"Come on, sweetie, what did the heroes say earlier?"
"They said they'd get us out of here soon..."
"That's right, so let's trust the heroes and wait just a little longer. You can do that, right?"
"Yeah... Mommy."
...Fortunately, it seemed his voice hadn't carried all the way to the people below the wall.
The hero wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and let out a sigh of relief.
Not that I could blame him. Just moments ago, he'd boldly promised everyone they'd be out of here soon.
And not even a minute later, he'd blurted out that the heroes tasked with destroying the main core had been wiped out.
It must have felt like the ground had caved in beneath him.
"...Communications are completely down."
"Anyone getting through to their teams?"
"No, not us either..."
Was the news of the total annihilation that shocking?
Every hero tried contacting their teammates, their faces etched with anxiety.
But as time passed, no one got through.
In the end, accepting the wipeout as reality, the heroes collapsed to the ground in despair.
"Those who went for the main core were all mid-to-high-tier heroes..."
"Even for an abnormal rift, how could they all..."
"We're all dead. Dead..."
I grimaced at the pathetic sight of these so-called heroes and clicked my tongue.
No matter how hopeless the situation, come on.
There were people down there watching them act like this?
Are these guys really heroes?
Shaking my head in disappointment, I headed down to the base of the wall.
Then, stepping outside the fortress, I summoned the White Commander standing rigidly in formation like a statue.
- You called for me, Hero?
The White Commander rushed over at my summons, dropping to one knee and bowing his head.
Looking down at him, I issued my order.
"I'm heading out to strike the Black Army's main base. Pull together 30 intact knights and 300 soldiers."
- ...That's too few to assault the main base. When I last left it, their numbers were...
The White Commander trailed off mid-sentence, lifting his head to stare at me intently.
Then he muttered something like, "Well, this is the one who handled us all alone," before bowing his head again.
- ...I spoke out of turn.
I hadn't said a word.
- ...I'll assemble the forces right away. Please wait a moment.
Having convinced himself, the White Commander sprang up and dashed to the front of the formation to gather the troops.
Snickering at the sight, I opened my inventory to check my remaining explosives.
"Good, still plenty left."
Makes sense with the mountain of supplies we'd stockpiled.
Even after using bombs like water, the amount left in my inventory was still uncountable.
"This should be enough to blow their base sky-high and still have some left over."
That was why I was only taking 330 troops.
Not for combat, but for bomb transport.
Too few, and setting them would take too long.
Too many, and the fortress's defenses would weaken, plus a higher risk of detection.
330 was just right, in my book.
No need to tangle with the enemy directly.
If bombs were scarce, maybe. But with this many, why bother?
Just plant them across the entire base and boom.
Fortress destroyed.
Enemies destroyed.
Core destroyed.
One stone, three birds.
But there was one problem.
Whatever had wiped out those mid-to-high-tier heroes.
My guess? A high-tier Fallen.
Anything less, and heroes who could unleash sword beams wouldn't have fallen.
So, my plan was to avoid Fallen entirely—plant the bombs and detonate.
No matter my cheats or near-infinite bombs, a high-tier Fallen was too much.
But if I ran into one... well...
Guess I'll have to use what I bought from the Training Instructor.
With that resolve, I closed my inventory. Just then, the White Commander announced the forces were ready, so I headed toward them.
Or started to.
"...H-Hey, wait a second!"
Someone urgently called out to stop me.
Turning, I saw it was the guy who'd first mentioned the heroes' wipeout.
"Where... where are you going?"
Maybe because I'd suddenly mustered troops.
The man in front of me looked utterly flustered.
I glanced briefly at the fortress.
And saw it.
Everyone—civilians and heroes alike—watching me with anxious faces.
Sighing deeply, I told the man,
"I'm not running away. I'm going to destroy the main core."
"That's ridiculous...!"
The man shouted in horrified disbelief.
"Why do you think it's ridiculous?"
"...Fifteen mid-to-high-tier heroes went there and got wiped out. You think you can destroy the main core alone? Possible?"
His voice dripped not just with doubt, but utter despair.
I could tell his faith in being a hero was shattered.
But I didn't feel sorry for him.
If anything, it was pathetic.
This place wasn't just full of superhumans—there were regular people too.
And the heroes supposed to protect them were wallowing in despair?
If that wasn't pathetic, what was?
With that thought, I said to him,
"Why assume it's impossible?"
"Because... you're just a student..."
"Student? Watch your mouth. I'm here as a hero right now. Unlike you."
"...You'll die."
No comeback, so he goes for the death joke, huh.
Scoffing, I replied,
"You already look dead to me."
Look at yourself.
Where's the hero in that?
With that, I turned my back.
"Keep an eye on the sky."
When the flare goes up, that's your sign I destroyed the core.
With those final words, I strode toward my waiting troops.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Right now, I'm deep in the demonic mist surrounding the main core.
Sip... whoosh.
Sip... whoosh.
My breathing is ragged because of the gas mask engraved with purification magic.
But even that's not enough—I'm wrapping my body in mana too.
At this rate, it'll all be depleted in about 30 minutes.
My life clock is ticking down to 30 minutes.
The main base should be coming into view soon.
Even with two lanterns clipped to my tactical vest, visibility is crap.
That means the main core is close.
I nudged the White Knight beside me.
"See anything?"
- Yes, I can see.
"Oh yeah? How close?"
- Very close.
Is that so?
I opened my inventory to pull out a bomb crate.
And that's when—
"...!"
A chilling sensation hit me—something flying straight at my left chest.
I know this feeling all too well.
It was one of the effects of Aged Gunslinger's Insight: sense the direction of incoming enemy attacks.
I dropped flat instantly.
Whiiiish!
Something heavy whipped past overhead with a gust of wind.
BOOM!
Golems behind me shattered.
"Attack—incoming!"
I yelled, springing up and hurling a flashbang skyward.
Stealth bomb-planting was off the table now that we'd been ambushed.
Time to banish the darkness!
Bang—screeeee!
Fwwoooosh!
The flashbang erupted, scattering the shadows.
And there it was—I saw what attacked.
"...A ballista?"
It was a siege engine projectile.
- Another one's incoming!
The knight's shout drew my eyes forward.
Sure enough, the fortress was close.
And another ballista bolt was hurtling our way.
I whipped out my grenade launcher and fired.
Thump!
The grenade shot out, cheat-boosted beyond limits, rocketing toward the bolt at insane speed.
KABOOM!
The explosion unleashed a shockwave.
But it only slowed the ballista bolt—it was still coming.
I raised my rifle and unloaded.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Bullets hammered it, the rifle's knockback effect twisting its path bit by bit until it plummeted downward.
While watching, I popped another flashbang.
"Tch."
I clicked my tongue.
So much for stealth.
Now that we were spotted, it was all about speed.
But what were they thinking?
They'd seen us, yet they just kept firing ballistae from inside the fortress.
No opening the gates to send troops.
Do they think our numbers are a joke?
If so, time to make great use of that arrogance.
I opened my inventory and started yanking out bomb crates like mad.
"Everyone, move according to plan!"
- But the ballista...
"I'll handle it—move!"
- ...Understood!
The White Knights and soldiers moved with perfect coordination.
Each grabbing two bomb crates, they charged the fortress.
Ballistae fired at them, but—
Thump—KABOOM!
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
My intercepts missed wide or sent them crashing harmlessly below.
When my life timer hit about 10 minutes—
Pyuuuung!
A flare launched from a spot away from the fortress.
Meaning: all bomb crates in position.
I tossed one last flashbang for visibility.
Then pressed my eye to the rifle scope, zooming in.
The moment a crate entered my shaky view—
Bang!
I fired.
And moments later—
──────────!!
Light descended.
....
......
.........
KWAAAAAAAAANG────!!
The fortress exploded.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The demonic energy is dissipating.
Meaning the main core is destroyed.
I brushed the dirt off from rolling on the ground and stood.
Removing my mask, I breathed in the fresh air—and came face-to-face with a Fallen.
"You're doing something interesting, huh?"