The fortification of the castle city. In other words, it was a measure against the new threat—the cannon.
What exactly is a cannon? To put it simply, it is a weapon with a sturdy steel barrel in which gunpowder is ignited to launch heavy projectiles over long distances. That may sound straightforward, but depending on the amount of gunpowder, it can easily pierce stone walls. Imagine firing directly at the center of a lined-up knight regiment—the results would be horrifying.
Even heavily armored infantry with large shields would be powerless against iron masses flying at high speed.
The same applies to mages. Ice walls or stone barriers would be shattered, leaving no way to defend. To protect a stronghold from such a terrifying weapon, one must ensure the cannon cannot be used effectively.
“…Cannons are heavy, so they’re mounted on wheels and pulled by horses, right?”
“Yes. Also, there were carts nearby to carry stone or iron balls.”
Bora and the others, who had been investigating the cannon, pointed to the damaged cannon and scattered iron balls. The cannon was larger than I imagined, over two meters long. The iron balls were bigger than bowling balls.
Even just transporting them seemed difficult, and adjusting the firing angle would be a challenge in itself.
“If I were to make one…”
I muttered, forming the image in my mind. I’d make the wheels larger for rough terrain, lengthen the barrel to improve accuracy, and add spiral grooves inside to make the projectile spin. Depending on the projectile’s shape, the power of the gunpowder could be fully transmitted, potentially achieving greater range and impact than the cannons used by the Yerinetta Kingdom.
“…Ah, but with this design, the recoil might warp the wheels or frame. Okay, I’ll add a stabilizing support when firing. That should keep it steady even for consecutive shots.”
Speaking as I adjusted the newly created cannon, its shape gradually diverged completely from the original. The barrel was longer and a bit slimmer—stylish, if I may say so. Even here, my genius sense seemed to explode. Pun intended, of course.
As I admired the cannon, I suddenly realized everyone was watching me.
“Ah, sorry. This was supposed to be fortification planning, not cannon building!”
I laughed and apologized, earning wry smiles from everyone. It almost looked like we were practicing, perfectly synchronized expressions all around. Oddly, I felt a twinge of loneliness—why, I couldn’t tell.
“…Ahem. Now, for my personal insight, I’ll explain the fortress renovation plan.”
I shifted the mood and began speaking formally, receiving a sparse round of applause. Thank you, thank you.
“Due to the nature of cannons, they fire straight toward their target. Well, if the barrel isn’t well-made, who knows where it will go, but with proper construction, it should fly straight. So, the first step is to alter the terrain so the enemy cannot aim their cannons effectively.”
“T-Terrain…?”
Bora’s eyes widened in shock at my explanation. The others wore similar, if slightly varied, expressions.
“Yes. If the ground is sloped or there’s a mountain in front, cannons can’t be fired. Even on a slope, firing recklessly could cause self-destruction. People nearby might get caught in rolling cannonballs. So, we’ll prepare the terrain so that cannons cannot be used effectively.”
I explained this and asked Bora and the others to gather people.
Dee and Bora, acting as scouts, went ahead along the road to survey the surroundings.
“The Yerinetta Kingdom army entered from this path!”
“Ah, I see.”
Looking toward the forest near the road, I saw a gravel path wide enough for a single wagon. Marching in large numbers must have been tough. They clearly knew our forces were few and used the terrain to attempt a surprise attack.
I felt a surge of frustration, wishing I could immediately track down the traitor and pinch their rear.
But for now, the priority was perfecting the castle city’s defenses and then returning to the Ceat village for a relaxing bath.
I instructed everyone to gather timber. This would simultaneously reveal the hidden paths used by the Yerinetta army—two birds with one stone.
For the Ceat village knights, who had mastered lumber gathering beyond the skill of regular lumberjacks, this was a bonus stage far easier than Dee’s usual training.
With excellent form, they felled trees and carried the timber with outstanding endurance. Normally, they would need to trim branches, but with my skills, that extra step was unnecessary. Before long, the forest along the road became much more open.
Then, under my hands, the felled timber was transformed.
We reshaped the roads, added steps and walls. With obstructed sightlines, the cannons would be ineffective. Only in one downward slope did we leave a section without walls—still easily targeted from within the fortress.
While the enemy adjusted their cannons, arrows from our ballistae would fly from multiple directions.
“…Alright, this should do it.”
After a full day, the roadwork to prevent a Yerinetta advance was complete. I muttered with satisfaction.
Murcia, on the other hand, wore an intensely serious expression as he studied the completely transformed roads.
“…I see. Van’s magical devices aside, it wasn’t just that. Your creativity is what has led to your astonishing achievements,” Murcia murmured, before adding, “I’ll have to work harder too…”
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