"Is it time?"
"Not yet."
"...Shouldn't it be soon?"
"No, not yet."
I was having this conversation with Lieutenant Colonel Althea on top of the wall. The Lieutenant Colonel has a bold personality, but this was her first time in real combat. She still did not know all the tricks. I explained it to her.
"Unlike us, the enemy has to shoot upwards. If they fire from the usual effective range, it won't work. They need to get a bit closer."
Since the bullets would be fired against gravity, they would lose some kinetic energy. It is a simple principle.
"On the other hand, we shoot downward from an angle, so our bullets fly downwards. The effective range is narrower than shooting horizontally."
This gunport was originally made for arrows, meant for shooting projectiles in a curved arc. Arrows and bullets curve differently, which makes it a bit tricky.
The Lieutenant Colonel nodded in understanding. "I see. This is different from fighting on flat ground."
"Yes."
Muskets cannot be fired quickly, so the first shot is very important.
"Right now, the enemy is scouting our strength. They are trying to learn everything: our artillery's accuracy, fire density, and how well our artillery and infantry work together."
The Lieutenant Colonel thought for a moment and then said, "Then we should make sure they take back information that makes them hesitate to attack Zephyr Fort."
"You are absolutely right. So, we will deal serious damage to their scouting team with our first strike."
It is unfortunate for the enemy soldiers, but they must die. I looked through the binoculars and saw the enemy moving closer to a marked rock. I had measured the distance before—it was about fifty meters.
If they get about ten meters closer, their attack will probably start. I told the Lieutenant Colonel, "Now."
"Understood."
The Lieutenant Colonel nodded and ordered the soldiers, "Prepare for concentrated fire! Each squad, target the nearest enemy! Fire!"
The shots rang out perfectly together. As expected from the line infantry, their timing was flawless. Our defending soldiers did well too—not bad at all.
Through the binoculars, I saw three Brugge soldiers fall. The first squad and the fort's defenders had taken them down with focused fire. What mattered most was "certain damage." We had fulfilled one of the essential conditions for survival.
The enemy immediately returned fire, but their shots were disorganized and none hit the gunports. Naturally, they were out of effective range.
The Lieutenant Colonel shouted, "Fire the next volley! Fire!"
The shooters quickly received fresh rounds from the loaders and fired the second volley. Two more enemies fell.
A third volley took down another soldier. In total, we had eliminated six. Muskets have low accuracy, so hitting this many was already a good result. There were a few wounded on our side, but the smoke made it hard to see clearly.
Although many enemies were still scattered around, they were not foolish enough to fight here. They immediately began to retreat. Since all cover around the fort had been removed, there was nowhere to hide at a distance where a gunfight could happen.
Given the higher level of training and use of expendable tactics, the group from earlier was probably a punitive unit or something similar. It was unfortunate.
I sighed as the Lieutenant Colonel turned to me. "What's wrong? Still want to shoot?"
"No, let's save ammo. Let's clean the barrels now."
The muzzle-loading black powder guns build up soot and residue inside the barrel, so cleaning them regularly is essential. If not cleaned, the guns could jam or rust.
Now, let me check the guns.
I secretly checked whether the shooters in the first squad had properly fired their weapons. Surprisingly, many people freeze up when facing the enemy. It is a very natural reaction to hesitate before taking a life. Honestly, if someone could shoot without hesitation, that would be a bigger problem.
Fortunately, our squad had no such problem; they all fired cleanly. The Lieutenant Colonel had chosen them well. The fort's defense force seemed in high spirits too, so they should be fine. You don't want to interfere too much with other units; that can make you unpopular.
As for the stress of killing the enemy, it should be minimal because the attack was done as a volley. The soldiers wouldn't know if their bullets hit or not. However, this must be watched over the long term. It is something to be cautious about.
Oh, right. I should also check the practical test of the Cavalry Rifle.
"Lyra, how is the new rifle?" I asked her. She gave a small nod.
"It's good. I hit different targets twice and took one down."
"You took down one of the enemies?"
"Yes."
She looked happy.
There were only two Cavalry Rifles, so it seemed she couldn't shoot three times. The old musket, with forty shooters firing three volleys, shot about 120 rounds and took down five people. Meanwhile, the Cavalry Rifle took down one person with two shots. It's too soon to draw conclusions, but it seems strong.
Usually quiet, Lyra suddenly started talking on her own. "This rifle has really good range. The shots don't drop; they fly straight and don't sway. It feels like it sticks to your hand."
"Uh, yeah."
"With more practice, I think I could hit targets twice as far. It's an amazing rifle, Staff Officer. If I had one at home, my father wouldn't have had to die..."
She gets very talkative when it comes to guns. And she casually brings up something heavy.
"Do you like it?" I asked. Lyra looked up in surprise, then smiled shyly.
"Yes... very much."
"Then I'll leave it with you. Don't lose it, okay?"
I smiled at Lyra and moved on to the next task. By the way, Lyra had been saluting with the most serious face for a while. What was that about?
When I returned to the Lieutenant Colonel, he was scolding and encouraging everyone.
"Gentlemen, well done. Be proud that you moved like seasoned soldiers in your first battle. But don't let your guard down; the enemy will come soon."
No, I wonder... I subtly told him with my eyes, "I don't think they will come for a while." Did he understand?
The Lieutenant Colonel was startled and softly cleared his throat. "That said, rest is important. After you finish inspecting and maintaining your guns and ammo, take turns resting."
I think that's fine. I didn't expect him to understand just from eye contact.
The Lieutenant Colonel approached me quietly and asked, "Why can you say with certainty they won't come immediately?"
"We dealt a big blow to their reconnaissance unit. The enemy will need time to prepare fully before a full attack. They will likely bring artillery."
Since we have cannons here, we can fire from outside the muskets' range. Without artillery on their side, it won't be a fight. Until they gather enough infantry and artillery, the Brugge army probably won't attack here. Probably.
When I explained this, the Lieutenant Colonel nodded. "Indeed. So the real battle is next."
"Exactly. Next time, casualties will likely be unavoidable."
There is a high chance of deaths even in our brigade. There's nothing I can do about it.
"I don't know how the enemy will assault this fortress, but they will probably attack the weak spots."
"Where?"
"Probably the east side without defense towers. Since the attackers will face west during the assault, it will likely begin early morning—an ambush with the sun behind them."
We will be blinded and unable to shoot, but they will see us clearly. The attackers get to choose the timing, which can't be ignored.
"Since the sun will set soon, they probably won't attack today. Still, we must stay alert for a surprise attack."
"Understood. Second Lieutenant, you should rest too. You are the lifeline of our brigade."
"I'm honored."
It was kind of embarrassing. The Lieutenant Colonel is good at motivating people. It's troublesome. Even in such a harsh situation, he makes me feel pumped up.
Notes:
• Althea - Colonel Althea Medelin. Female. Brigade Commander of the 6th Special Task Brigade. Young woman in her twenties with long black hair. Noble from the Medelin family, a rival to the Litreille clan. Professional and disciplined, yet approachable. Holds a high rank despite her age, indicating exceptional ability. Relationship: Superior to Euner Krombelts, welcomes him to the brigade.
• Zephyr Fort - A rear outlying castle located in the border region. It is part of a network of fortresses designed to prevent enemy encirclement. The brigade is deployed here to reinforce its defenses. Securing a 'hotel' for accommodation was a significant achievement, given the challenges of field camping.
• Brugge - A neighboring territory with mountain troops that pose a threat to the border. The enemy's strength and intentions are unknown, but they are the primary target of the brigade's deployment. The border with Brugge is a contested area where hundreds of lives are lost for minor territorial gains.
• Lyra - Female. Sniper from the first platoon. Appearance: Expressionless, with sharp eyes and a hunter's demeanor. Relationship: Skilled marksman and daughter of a hunter. Admires the protagonist's unexpected abilities, though the protagonist feels awkward about her intense gaze.