# Chapter 62
Around the time when the Delos Empire’s army, which had been advancing in an orderly formation for about an hour, completely approached the Iron Fortress.
The vanguard commander, Grand Duke Ion Verdit, swung his magnificent longsword to order a charge. As if they had been waiting for this moment, countless knights and soldiers in silver armor simultaneously spurred forward.
The tall wooden ladders and siege towers that had been prepared in advance followed behind the charging soldiers. Four catapults positioned at a distance around the Iron Fortress were loaded with large, round rocks thoroughly soaked in oil. As soldiers attached to the catapults brought torches to the rocks, they became terrifyingly blazing balls of fire.
Four massive crossbow-shaped ballistas also took aim, filling the spaces between the catapults. Iron arrowheads, processed from metal as sturdy as the Iron Fortress itself, were likewise doused with oil and set aflame.
Bang—! Bang—!
The flaming projectiles shot from the ballistas and catapults mercilessly struck the fortress walls. A series of deafening sounds erupted that could make one’s ears go numb. The Caron Empire soldiers standing on the ramparts all staggered at once.
However, the thick iron-clad walls merely dented slightly, appearing unaffected by such attacks.
Meanwhile, the large wooden ladders and siege towers that attempted to reach the fortress walls were being destroyed one by one by countless arrows and rocks shot from the fortress. Even when they succeeded in placing the ladders, soldiers died in succession as boiling oil and burning rocks fell on them before they could climb all the way up.
Count Kairous, who was observing the battle situation, looked at Grand Duke Verdit with a displeased expression. The young Grand Duke sat on a conspicuous white horse, staring nobly at the Iron Fortress without any change in his expression.
‘Perhaps it would have been better to transport larger siege weapons, even if it took more time.’
As their siege weapons were proving completely ineffective, observers felt increasingly frustrated. With this level of destructive power, they could only inflict minor damage on the enemy.
Since Grand Duke Verdit had insisted on advancing with the main army immediately after returning from his personal reconnaissance, Count Kairous, who had hurriedly prepared without adequate mental preparation, couldn’t help feeling increasingly anxious.
Due to the Iron Fortress’s sturdy defenses and the attacks they launched for protection, the few siege weapons on their side were rapidly being destroyed. With a feeling that they were heading toward a crushing defeat, Count Kairous’s insides were burning with anxiety.
Baron Endef, who had been watching Count Kairous’s restless face, moved his horse closer and whispered.
“It will be fine, Count.”
Unlike Count Kairous, Baron Endef even had a gentle smile on his face.
“The advantage is ours.”
Despite the current situation showing not an advantage but defeat looming, Baron Endef was completely at ease. Though Count Kairous, who was more anxious and timid than he appeared, still couldn’t shake off his uneasiness, he tried to find stability by taking a deep breath since this was coming from his most trusted advisor.
‘That’s right. The troops at the secret passage will be handled as planned, and there won’t be any surprise attacks they’re counting on.’
The most concerning thing in such a chaotic battle would be suffering a surprise attack, but at least that part was reassuring. They had deliberately pretended not to discover the existence of the secret passage and sent signals according to the method obtained by interrogating enemy soldiers guarding the area. The enemies in the fortress would firmly believe that signal and be expecting a surprise attack.
The Iron Fortress’s defensive method—not being satisfied with merely defending but surrounding and crushing the enemy army—would be completely broken today.
‘Besides, he said he’s placed a scheme inside the fortress… I should trust him.’
Count Kairous, who had been trying to remain detached, suddenly brightened his eyes upon seeing a column of smoke rising from a hill to the east. It was a bare hill with no tower for signal fires, yet a continuous column of smoke appeared right in the middle of it, making one’s eyes widen.
Knowing the meaning of this, Count Kairous finally showed a relieved expression.
❖ ❖ ❖
At the same time.
The Caron Empire’s army, which had departed through three different secret passages for surprise attacks and encirclement, was slowly approaching the exits.
“Huh?”
The front line hesitated at the sound of water coming from somewhere. It wasn’t the sound of flowing water, but a strange sound as if someone was pouring water.
The commander, sensing something unusual, raised his hand to stop the army. Numerous torches halted one after another, and soldiers stared ahead with curiosity and tension.
“Don’t you smell something strange, sir?”
There was a peculiar smell coming from the direction of the exit. The smell was stinging and growing increasingly stronger.
“This is… oil?”
Just as they identified the smell, they saw something flowing down from ahead. The commander snatched a torch from a nearby soldier and illuminated the area ahead.
Oil spread thinly across the passage was slowly flowing down. After the sound of pouring water was heard, the flow speed increased significantly.
The experienced commander was the first to assess the situation.
“O-Oil! Retreat!”
As soon as he shouted, soldiers began scrambling to move backward in confusion. However, they not only packed the passage tightly, but those at the rear who hadn’t heard were hesitating, unaware of what was happening.
As the sounds of confused soldiers grew louder, a distinctly different water sound continued for a long time. The oil that had been spreading thinly on the floor soon flowed through the passage at tremendous speed.
While the entrance of the secret passage was in the underground of the flat Iron Fortress, the exit led to a tall hill. Naturally, as the ground was slightly sloped, the oil flowing from the exit passed by the feet of all soldiers along the inclined terrain.
With slippery oil spreading underfoot, many soldiers nearly fell in their panic. Seeing the flickering torches, the commander urgently shouted.
“Everyone extinguish your torches! Retreat with them out!”
The soldiers hurriedly extinguished their torches as ordered. If even one fell to the ground, it would instantly become a sea of fire, and everyone would burn to death. It would be a grim situation having to retreat in pitch darkness after all torches were extinguished, but not dying immediately was the priority.
However, their enemies didn’t seem willing to wait idly until the torches went out.
The commander, who saw bright red flames rising and rushing from the exit direction, witnessed in the blink of an eye all their bodies bursting into flames.
Torches fell from the hands of burning soldiers, further reddening the oil on the floor.
From the east and west of the Iron Fortress, and from two hills to the south.
Enormous signal fires rose from a total of four hills.
❖ ❖ ❖
“H-How did this happen?!”
Baron Husdinen, who was standing on the safest inner rampart of the fortress, burst out in a shocked voice.
Not only did a large column of smoke suddenly rise from the eastern hill of the fortress, but similar columns successively rose from two hills in the south and the western hill as well. Baron Husdinen, who knew all too well what these smoke columns meant, could only be greatly shocked.
“It seems the existence of your much-boasted secret passages was completely exposed,” said Count Lance coldly.
Baron Husdinen gritted his teeth at this.
Who could have figured out how to open the exits of the secret passages, and how?
‘If it was already exposed, then could that communication have been…’
Baron Husdinen doubted the enemy reports from each hill that had come about an hour ago. Had that truly been a signal sent by allies?
Believing that signal, he had sent a total of 30,000 allied troops through each secret passage. Baron Husdinen, guessing the meaning of those massive columns of smoke, finally realized he had been played by the enemy’s scheme.
The loss of 30,000 troops sent for the surprise attack.
And due to the smoke columns that seemed to announce this, the morale of his forces was significantly damaged. Since they had been focusing on strengthening their defenses while waiting for allies to surround and surprise attack, the shock was all the more devastating.
But he couldn’t just let everyone remain dejected like this.
Just as he was about to make a rousing declaration—
Rummble—!
Everyone’s eyes widened in surprise at the heavy sound that shook the earth. Baron Husdinen wondered if the enemy catapults had thrown something new, but they were actually reorganizing their formation and pulling back broken siege weapons.
‘This sound…?!’
Though he thought it was a sound that couldn’t possibly be heard at this timing, Baron Husdinen was half-stunned by the voices of soldiers resounding loudly.
“T-The gate is opening!”
“Who is it?! Who’s opening the gate!”
There were two pulleys responsible for opening and closing the gate, with two soldiers at each, making a total of four. At first, he thought they might be doing such a foolish thing because they were greatly confused by the smoke columns rising from the hills, but as soon as he saw their serious faces, he immediately understood.
Seeing the massive iron gate beginning to split open to the left and right, Baron Husdinen, nearly hanging from the rampart, urgently ordered other soldiers:
“Spies! Quickly pull them out! Pull them out and kill them!”
However, the soldiers couldn’t readily follow Baron Husdinen’s orders. Though called spies, they were clearly comrades who had been together in this fortress for over a decade, so the soldiers were confused, not knowing if it was true.
Still, if the gate opened, enemy forces could rush in and massacre everyone. Since they naturally had to pull them away, soldiers rushed forward.
Suddenly, other soldiers near the gate transformed and pointed their swords at those who ran in to stop them. The confused soldiers swung their swords first at these strange allies who were blocking them with resolute faces. One of the altered allies fell with a fairly serious wound.
“…Gasp?!”
Baron Husdinen, watching this from the rampart, couldn’t help but bulge his eyes.
The clearly fatally wounded ally, or rather spy, staggered to his feet. His wound, which had been gushing blood, was somehow quickly stopping the bleeding and gradually healing.
