Vol. 13 - Ch. 779 - Preparation for Conquer Day #4 - Tactical Warships

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«Homing Eye!!»

In an effort to learn more about the Forgotten Continent, the bird summons had been surveying the situation, but it appeared the demons had long been equipped with the countermeasures. 

The Forgotten Continent hadn't received an invasion despite leading invasion against humans in the last hundreds of years, and yet, they'd prepared themselves regardless if there was any danger or not. 

One of the demon, a researcher by appearance, immediately alerted the others of Bird E when he noticed the presence captured by magic tool utilising mana sense. Immediately, the accompanying archer nocked an arrow. 

The string drew back, and the archdemon's silhouette flickered like head haze. 

(He's using Extra Skill! Escape for now. Leave the off-shore!!)

*Fwoosh*

«Piiii!»

Just before the arrow could be released, Allen immediately had Bird E instructed to take a U-turn and change direction. A moment later, the arrow grazed past Hawk's wing, and flew into a target-less trajectory.

(Its good summons had been enhanced. For now, it should be impossible for archdemon to chase after. Alas, we've been found out, huh. This place in particular is guarded well... Hmm?)

*Fwoosh* 

The arrow, which had flown in the sky beyond Bird E's altitude, suddenly changed its trajectory. Perhaps a magic of the archer archdemon.

«Piii?!»

And then, the arrow imploded at the back of Bird E just as it was rushing to leave the coast. 

(Are you alright?! Hold on, control your flying, and increase the altitude! More attacks are coming soon!!)

Bird E lost much of its altitude due to the impact from the arrow, but it somehow managed to stop the fall, taking control of flight. It continued its escape. However the drop in altitude finally put Bird E in the eyes for other demons to also notice it. 

«That's where it is hiding!! Bring it down!!»

With the archer gunning down Bird E, the leader archdemon shouted as soon as he spotted it.  Promptly, the staff wielding archdemon next to him invoked an aria. 

The arrow impact, while damage was sustained, had still dropped Bird E to considerable altitude. And now, it was just under the range of archdemon mages. 

«Evil Fire Lance!!»

They'd unleashed a wide area spell. It wasn't necessary to cause big damage, but they had seemingly opted out to narrow down Bird E's escape route. While mages made their move, the leader archdemon also infused his mana into his broadsword, and swung it.

«On my name, you aren't escaping anywhere! Blade Aura!!»

«Piiiii?!»

Bird E had growth level 9, but it wasn't combat oriented, and with no effort, a barrage of offensive skills overpowered it. Bird E released a sharp squeal, and turned into a light bubble.

«A Bird E Summon has been defeated.»

To remind of the cold reality, Grimorie registered the log of Bird E's defeat. 

(It happens again, and even nests are destroyed. It seems I can't continue in this area either. Alas, I thought this might work because they didn't immediately destroy the nest. I really need to find an opening somehow.)

The coastline of the Forgotten Continent was like an airport's runway, cleared of any iceberg and boulders in the span of three kilometres, perhaps to ensure a clear visibility. To nail the head, they'd built a huge fort in the area of 100x200 kilometres to keep the whole coast under heavy scrutiny. 

The fort provided them an unobstructed top-down view of the entire coast. At the same time, they'd dispatch demons in squads for patrol. If Allen hadn't known better, he would have believed the Forgotten Continent had been under constant threat of invasion. Their movement was orderly, and perhaps they'd received reports from their top executives, it was apparent they'd been carefully keeping an eye for Allen.

It was the 4th day in the ten day timeline. The coast still had been left with some iceberg and boulders. Allen had thought to use their shade to install «Nest», albeit he was still caught by vigilant demons. 

What other way could he tackle it? Now, the question was in Allen's mind, but Grimoire's new log dashed any hope.

«A Bird E Summon has been defeated.»

«A Bird E Summon has been defeated.»

Soon, with the alert measures spread around, the remaining Bird E were also defeated. 

(Uh-huh, they seriously wiped out the other two Hawks despite them hovering in the sky at one kilometer altitude. I see, so they used flying magical beasts and anti-aerial measures from the fort to take them down. What a fearsome preparation.)

Despite Allen's constant effort to collect information every day, to prepare a countermeasure for every situation possible, he had yet to breach an opponent's defense as of now.

"......"

"Is something wrong, Allen-san?"

Sophia asked, her voice displaying concern. She must have perhaps felt an uneasiness at the silence of Allen, and promptly noticed a change in his expression even as Allen's back faced her. 

"Hawk and Tsubamen are all defeated."

"Oh dear!? It happens again, huh. Does that mean the strategy for the war would see another change?"

"Perhaps, yes. We're falling short on enough manpower."

(I also need to sort out the holder if I really do want to deal enough damage and chip away Demon King's army.)

At present, Allen had allocated the majority of cards to fish category to quicken up the skill level upgrade of Creation Skill. On other occasions, like during battle, though he would have more balanced cards lined up. 

Back to Demons fortress and their seemingly impregnable defense, he would have to switch the cards to insert-type or dragon-type as they'd been equipped with abilities more suitable for scenarios like castle siege. If he had done that, he could have shaved away the enemy's force, and guided his army of  Insert A summoned beasts to destroy the fortress lined up around the coastline before they begin their true, collective war against the Demon King's army in six days. 

Albeit, that was a priority chosen wrong. If he had focused on those skirmishes, he wouldn't be able to strengthen Leon and Merus within the time frame. Besides, the recovery items were an utmost necessity in a war, too. 

Hence, he had been intentionally refraining from dispatching additional summons, saving Bird A and E. 

"Indeed, we do have a situation. The demon's continent has been heavily fortified. We would need to adjust our tactics. Leon, can you check out the situation on the Dock?"

«Hmm? Oh, how much their preparation has progressed, is it?»

Leon was helping out with creation skill when Allen directed a new command. He was far from a meticulous person, and unsurprisingly quite clumsy in handling delicate work. He had been barely able to help out in gathering Golden Egg or Heaven's Grace, so like now Allen would have him take rounds for different tasks. 

Allen and Merus couldn't have taken that role and left the farm. They're, in essence, in a race against time after all. Often, Allen would also have Spirit A run through errands, though in their cases, it was mostly limited to Allen's Army or representative of other nations. A person unaware of their existence would only be frightened due to them being mistaken as ghosts, and it's anyone guess how the chaos would not be productive. 

And, that's where Leon came from. Bearing a elderly appearance, humanoid silhouette, and ability to shapeshift from 100 meter giant to 2-meter tall being, he made for just the perfect summon to run the errands. 

(Well, he looks more like a macho gorilla though. Fortunately, his wise-man personality irons out any hesitations.)

He was the former god of arbitration, and respected by many. Plus, he had never expressed himself as someone greater during his days as gods. Perhaps it was the influence of his gentle nature that made him an expert in making others speak frankly.

"Tsubamen, I am counting you. Once the task is done, return back."

«Hmm.»

«Piii!»

With one Bird A perched on Leon's shoulder—to return back once he's done with his task, another Bird A activated its «Homing Instinct» skill and teleported him. 

The endpoint of teleportation was Harbour Town Hertana, situated in the neighbourhood of Bowkis Empire's capital Donbao. The scenery in the port town drifted at an unhurried pace when put against the capital or S-rank dungeon's city. The town also boasted one of the biggest construction facilities of the Empire—The «Dock». 

It was a facility to build huge magic ships. The Dock was also mammoth in size, as wide as three-kilometer, and having a verticality of—measuring from the dug up seabed to the facility ceiling—one kilometer. 

The magical ships built here had its customers lineup from all over the world. At the same time, it was also used for examination of tactical warships, and their repair. 

But a change in its relaxed pace, the Dock was now bustling with activity, leading the preparation for the upcoming war as Allen had requested during the Online Conference. 

Leon was teleported to the platform that overlooked the Dock from a bird's perspective, allowing the supervisor to monitor the situation from one location. The platform also had an elevator magical tool, allowing a quick transition from top to ground. 

"H-hey there, Leon-dono. I see you've come again for inspection."

(Heh, it's the Director of the First T actical Warship Maintenance Team. He's out here to welcome Leon again.)

Chief Tajijis, the supervisor of one of the three giant docks, welcomed Leon. He was an elderly person in his 50s, though also boasted a well-built physique you could expect from a military person. He was donning the empire's military uniform, adorned with countless medals, and a hat. 

He was quite a gentle person, and though he appeared surprised by Leon’s visit, he cheerily came to greet him.

«Mhm, so is the situation, Tajijis-dono. You must be swamped with work, but would you mind if I take a look around? I would like to affirm the situation.»

"Of course, you can. Please inform Commander Allen that they're also welcome to inspect anytime."

Though he wasn't a part of Allen's army, Tajijis seemed to have preferred adding Commander to Allen. 

(Well, I am watching it together though.)

Tajijis was unaware about Allen sharing the vision with Leon, who had left any conversation for Leon to handle. 

The ten dwarves from the Larappa squad had been acting on different missions, and were currently at the research laboratory of Magic God. Ultimately, the command of the situation here had been left in Bowkis Empire's hand, while Allen would use his summons to gather information, or dispatch them to deliver another mission.

(Woah! They've got another warship in just one day? This makes them two, now.)

Tactical Warships were as they implied; they're strategic-tier magic warships. 

«Hmm, I presume the additional warship must be offered by the Prostea Empire?»

"You're correct. The second ship is being lent by the Prostea Empire. Starting today, we have also begun the remodelling of the last tactical warship just as discussed earlier. This one has been from our empire."

Director Tajijis was a polite man, and even against a summon, he only ever showed an amiable expression unlike Admiral Galara. 

Beneath the several hundreds of metres of observation platform, two dreadnaught class magical ships lined up in row, each boasting a length of 500 meter. They're fixed to the platform, and their bottoms were hovering tens of metres in the air. 

Below the ship's bottom, there have to be at least thousands of dwarves, seemingly working on them. 

(Three ship? Hmm, then that makes one from Prostea, and two ships from the Bowkis Empire.)

While working on Heaven's Grace on one end, Allen took down the details of tactical warships through Leon.

T/N - If your preferred genre is dungeon x light-hearted story, try out LET ME SPEND MONEY, DAMMIT!