Chapter 26: Thorough Preparations

“What the hell, these arrows hit like trucks!”

“Fall back! I said fall back!”

“Shields up! Pull back!”

“They look like elite archers!”

“Elite archers my ass—every damn spot has elite archers now? Just retreat for now!”

Ting-ting-ting-ting-ting—

Arrows flew whenever the enemy pressed forward, forcing them back in a tense back-and-forth skirmish.

The Sunogi seemed to be playing the pivotal role at the heart of it all.

Still, watching it made my brow furrow slightly.

Is that... really the Sunogi I made?

It was too far to see clearly, but it was definitely one of mine.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Its performance didn't sit right with me, regardless of how well it was holding up.

Something was off with the Sunogi's capabilities.

It should be landing every shot without fail. Why so many misses?

My Sunogi was supposed to boast near-guided missile accuracy and insane penetration.

But the ones in use now were performing differently from what I wielded.

Better than a standard repeating crossbow, sure... but still weird.

I hadn't pondered it long when the answer hit me.

The Sunogi and its arrows—they were a matched set.

They're out of arrows. Not the ones I made.

Without my custom arrows for the Sunogi, its performance dropped off sharply.

To unleash the Sunogi's full potential, it looked like I'd need to keep supplying my special arrows.

Not a bad thing, though.

Truth be told, I'd hesitated to sell Sunogis beyond what I offered the lord precisely because their lethality was too high.

They could be turned against me someday.

But without my arrows, a Sunogi was just an exceptional crossbow, nothing more.

The guidance function clearly wasn't kicking in properly.

That realization eased my worries a bit.

It still outperformed regular crossbows by a mile, of course.

But that's not the point right now. The real issue is... I don't have much to do here.

For a hasty arrival, Baron Sellevan's castle was holding strong.

The Sunogis were doing their job admirably.

It was a balanced standoff—too risky to make a move, and nothing obvious presented itself.

I was starting to wonder if coming here had been pointless.

Then, movement caught my eye in the distance.

In wartime, the intel golems and soul-tracking puppets truly shone.

“New... wait, what is that?”

I couldn't focus on the messages.

It was the enemy's supply train.

Wagons loaded with food and goods were creeping along slowly.

Seeing them sparked an idea for what I could do right now.

“Lena, I'm gonna whip something up. Keep watch just in case.”

“Crafting again, Theo-nim? It's too dangerous here. At least make a hiding spot first...”

“Nah, it's not risky. Just something simple.”

Simple to make, anyway—the results might be anything but.

If my idea panned out, it'd be incredibly useful in this situation.

I started pulling out materials.

Lots of iron scraps and magic stone powder.

I had two magic stones left but held onto them, using the high-grade powder Baron Sellevan had gifted me instead.

Even as powder, high-grade stuff should pack a punch.

Just as I thought.

A fusion blueprint blending my Earth memories with magic.

This one leveraged the new Wrath of Flames spell I'd learned.

Wrath of Flames causes target explosions. If I apply it here...?

It was listed as an attack spell, but I'd guessed it could be enchanted—and I was right.

The System didn't discriminate by spell type.

I smirked faintly at the popup.

The real fun was just beginning.

Forcing an attack spell through the System wasn't smooth sailing.

But if danger meant quitting, I wouldn't have started.

“If I layer Delayed Hourglass on this...”

Lena pitched in, stabilizing the mana circuits.

As the time-delay magic wove into the structure, the unstable mana settled.

A bead of sweat trickled down her cheek from the tension—just as a message appeared.

“Got it!”

Tough process, but success.

A palm-sized disc, broad and flat.

I inspected its details.

The description was a bit chilling.

Unlike my previous creations, this one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠warned that even I could get caught in the blast.

“Theo-nim, how do you plan to use this? It seems dangerous...”

I knew exactly where it'd go, but to Lena, it must've looked odd.

No time for explanations anyway.

Showing her once would be faster.

“Later for talk. Let's make a few more first.”

“Um... yes, understood.”

Lena looked puzzled but followed my lead, crafting two more Flame ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Explosion Mines.

Only five high-grade powders total, so I saved the rest.

Second time around was quicker.

“Now, plant these along their route...”

I set the mines at chokepoints on the supply train's path.

Jacob's map proved invaluable—detailed with side paths, cover spots, everything.

The black horse's speed let me outpace them with time to spare.

“My lord, success! They're pulling back!”

A soldier's report drew sighs of relief in the makeshift command room near the walls.

Several key territory figures were gathered there.

“The Sunogis are holding better than expected. What do you think, Gaion?”

“Honestly, I didn't anticipate this level of effect. And how did he even make something like this...”

“That good, huh?”

Baron Sellevan had only heard of the Sunogi's prowess, never seen it firsthand.

Gaion elaborated with insider details.

“Truthfully, it was even more effective when Theo the mage used it at the mines.”

“A mercenary, not even an archer, handling it that well?”

“Not that. The magical effects were amplified back then. Seems like they ran out of the arrows Theo made, dulling the performance.”

As a combat mage, Gaion's analysis rang true.

Baron Sellevan nodded heavily as the explanation wrapped.

“With Theo here, things might've been better.”

“Better? We might've prevented the siege altogether.”

“The Sunogi's that powerful?”

“From what I saw... regrettably, yes.”

“A shame. Of all times, to head to Count Arno's territory...”

The baron inwardly cursed his bold three-month vacation grant.

He quickly turned to Knight Freil, in charge of the walls.

“Freil, how long can the walls hold?”

“Regular soldiers can manage at this level. But...”

“But?”

“An Aura User—no, an Aura Practitioner one step above. If one joins in, I can't guarantee the outcome. And siege weapons... that'd be trouble.”

“An Aura Practitioner...”

With Haft Viscount's army geared for war, siege gear was inevitable.

The key was Aura Practitioners.

And yes, Haft's forces had them.

Regrettably, two now—one original, plus a young knight recently recruited.

That's why I'd jumped to recruit talent.

Too late, it seemed.

“I hate to bring this up now, but...”

Administrator Seize spoke hesitantly.

Bad timing amid war, but war had no good timings.

“We're short on food. The sudden outbreak left stockpiles woefully inadequate.”

“How long can we hold?”

“Rationing tight: one month. With civilian sacrifices... maybe three.”

Seize mentioned sacrifices; Sellevan shook his head, cutting him off.

“Enough. No need to demand that from the people just to save me.”

“B-but...”

“One month... surrounded. Completely surrounded.”

Outwardly stable, but inside, things were dire.

The timing sucked—post-winter, pre-planting season.

Stockpiles were low.

Haft's envoy and war declaration had blindsided them.

No prior feud made it an utter surprise.

Blaming me for the undead outbreak? Ridiculous.

Core claim: Poor management led to finding the failed dragon bone undead.

They couldn't fully stop undead, so their lands suffered too.

Pay up or we'll manage your territory—war declaration.

Forced logic.

War started before any rebuttal.

No prep time.

“Tough. Very tough.”

The baron, who never showed weakness, seemed different now.

A figure flashed in his mind: Mage Theo.

If he returned...

He shook his head.

Foolish fantasy.

Theo owed no life-debt.

Let alone enter a besieged castle.

Wishful thinking means I'm weakening. Still, hold out—one month deadline?

The baron's slumped shoulders weighed heavy on the room.

Will three be enough?

Three Flame Explosion Mines, all planted.

Now for my first real battle.

Not against mere bandits—proper soldiers.

Even if just supply haulers, tension gripped me.

Especially with Lena to protect.

Far heavier responsibility than going solo.

Anxiety surged.

Just in case...

Hidden away, time remained till the supply train arrived.

Worth a shot.

I pulled a potion from my spatial pouch.

Alchemist Stain's gift before heading to Count Arno's lands.

Can I enchant attack or defense magic onto this? If so...

It'd be a trump card.

No guarantees.

Nothing to lose by trying.