As Andrea climbed up to the top of the city wall, she was stunned by a sight.
A line of militiamen stood atop the wall, their hands gripping peculiar weapons—likely the ash-mouthed muskets. As the demonic beasts drew near, the muskets erupted in flames and thick smoke, their continuous explosions echoing in the air.
This must have been a crossbow-like weapon, yet she couldn't see the arrows being shot—probably due to the thick smoke. The demon beast at the forefront, as if struck by a forceful blow, staggered and collapsed one after another.
Yet the warriors neither assessed the battle's outcome nor loaded their crossbows, but kept firing at the enemy at a pace surpassing even their own bow-and-arrow movements.
"That's the terrifying weapon you mentioned?" Andrea's lips trembled slightly. "The rate of fire is indeed rapid, but the accuracy seems..." "These men were all miners, farmers, and hunters before being recruited into the First Army," Ash interjected. "They've only been using this weapon for less than six months." A well-trained warrior takes five years to master, while an archer requires even longer. Even the most junior crossbowmen need about half a year of training to avoid accidentally firing their crossbows in panic. As for actual combat? Who knows what they might hit. Most of the time, they just carry them around to show off.
Andrea couldn't help but swallow hard. Familiar with such training, she knew full well what it meant to be ready for combat within six months—her family had raised many exceptional Knights. With sufficient weapons and provisions, Roland could rapidly assemble a formidable army. This force wouldn't crumble in close combat, as relentless attacks would keep even elite Knights at bay.
It is not the courage and will of the militia that is at issue, but the weapons that give them such power.
"Do you know anything else about muskets?" Tilly asked Sylvie after a moment's thought.
The latter nodded. "I've observed this weapon many times. It's indeed a crossbow-like device with short-tipped arrows that lack shafts or tail feathers. The key difference lies in its propulsion system—rather than relying on string tension, it uses the explosive force of black powder to instantly propel the arrowhead at extreme velocity." "Black powder?" Ash asked. "What exactly is that?" "Probably some alchemical compound," she shook her head. "I don't know the exact composition." "It must be very expensive," Andrea said. "Alchemists never create cheap items." Ash pouted. "Yeah... but judging by their God State shots, it doesn't look like they're using anything costly." "Wait, something's approaching," Sylvie, surveying the battlefield, paused. "Oh my God, is this a beast too? It's nearly as tall as a city wall! Looks like a giant turtle with a massive shell on its back." Andrea suddenly understood. "Shell? These muskets might not be effective. If I get within ten paces, even a wall can't stop my Magic Power arrows. Ash, cover me." "Huh, alright," Ash reluctantly drew his sword. "First, don't embarrass Lady Tilly." "Don't go," Sylvie interrupted. "They have—" Andrea didn't hear the rest of the sentence. All she heard was a deafening roar, like thunder exploding in her ears. Looking back, the metal tubes erected on the city walls simultaneously burst into flames. This time, she faintly discerned the flight paths of the arrowheads—like fleeting shadows, they shot toward the monster that had just emerged in the distance with lightning speed.
After a few breaths, towering snow pillars several zhang (about 3 meters) high rose around the monster. As the snowflakes scattered, the grotesque behemoth continued its relentless advance at a steady pace—clearly, this attack had missed its mark.
Yet even this distance left Andrea utterly astonished—it far exceeded the range of longbows and heavy crossbows. "This is..." "Your Highness calls it a field gun. Simply put, it's an oversized musket," Sylvie said, lifting her hand from her ear. "It's far more powerful than a regular musket and has a significantly longer range. That's exactly how he easily crushed Tefiko's militia fleet at the Chishui River's confluence." The beast's luck ran out in the second round of bombardment, when two precise shells struck its shell. Andrea watched intently as the uneven shell rose in a mist of sound during the thunderous impact. The side near its head was blasted open with two massive holes, spewing black blood and viscera that splattered everywhere.
The battle was over in no time. The city walls lay strewn with the bodies of monstrous beasts, their blood staining the snow and sending up white mist. The warriors began clearing the aftermath, but she never found the chance to strike.
"I guess I was wrong," Tilly said with a wry smile. "He doesn't need a combat witch's help." "When I last visited the town, this weapon wasn't even common—only the Chief Knight could afford it. Now he's actually built so many..." Ash sighed. "Maybe that's why Your Highness dared to publicly acknowledge witches' existence despite the Church's relentless pressure." Andrea didn't respond. Normally, she'd have mocked Ash, but now she felt so stifled that she couldn't even muster the energy to argue.
Back at the castle, Your Highness Roland had prepared a lavish lunch for the witches.
Seeing the colorful dishes on the table, Andrea felt even more overwhelmed.
The nobility of the Dawn Kingdom uphold a philosophy of natural beauty in their cuisine. They spare no expense, investing vast amounts of gold dragons and energy to procure rare and precious ingredients, then preparing them with the most authentic methods. To her, dishes like Graycastle—spiced with excessive sauces—are a crude approach. The more seasoning, the worse the taste, as it merely masks the food's inherent flaws.
But just... every plate of food on the table was deliciously awful.
Take those charcoal-grilled mushrooms—where on earth did Your Highness find such plump, juicy specimens? Just a bite, and the juices overflow, nearly filling your mouth.
This vegetable soup, though its clear broth looks ordinary, delivers a rich, savory flavor that makes you think it's simmered with whole chicken, pork ribs, and kelp.
Particularly noteworthy is the post-meal dessert—ice cream sandwich. The milky ice cream, sandwiched between two slices of bread, offers an icy yet soft texture upon biting, utterly captivating her. Despite the "winter" season, this did not deter her from devouring slice after slice.
Damn it, we've completely lost even this little thing.
Andrea didn't respond at all for the first time, staring at Ash's provocative smile.