I Became an Illegal Cheat User

39 – Method of Breaking the Fortress (3)

Rumble, rumble, rumble…

The castle gate crumbled.

– …….

The white knight stared blankly at the collapsed gate.

As the gate, unable to withstand the key I had prepared, remained in a permanently open state, he seemed to have lost his senses.

I chuckled as I watched that scene.

Now the knight would understand.

That the bomb was an excellent key.

Though, it’s a one-time use.

By the way, how long is this knight going to stay dazed?

Is breaking the castle gate without siege weapons that shocking?

“Knight, snap out of it.”

– Ah.

When I tapped his shoulder and called, the knight seemed to snap out of his trance, looking at me with a voice filled with astonishment.

– Impressive…!

He seemed about to say something in excitement, but I raised my hand to stop him.

“Enough.”

I gestured, silencing the knight.

Although I understood what the knight wanted to say,

“Knight, we are still in the midst of battle.”

– …!

Merely breaking through the castle gate wasn’t enough; the battle was far from over.

So, what the knight needed to do now was not to express admiration.

“All forces, prepare for an assault.”

It was time to charge towards the fortress.

– All forces, prepare for an assault!

Realizing his mistake, the knight turned to the soldiers, loudly conveying my command.

Thud! Thud!

The soldiers, having received the order, extended their spears forward, preparing to charge.

I checked the condition of the knight and the soldiers.

“There’s enough strength for the fight.”

Perhaps because I bought them time to recover, the bodies of the knights and soldiers, who had been almost decimated, were now sufficiently restored for battle.

“…Now that I think about it, our forces are not that numerous.”

Estimating the numbers, it seemed to be at the battalion level.

In contrast, considering the recent retreat of the black forces and adding the personnel in the fortress, they would likely constitute a division.

Thinking so, I surveyed the surroundings.

Countless fragments scattered across the field.

Considering that most of the fragments were white, it seemed that there was a difference in forces from the beginning.

That meant, they were indeed overwhelmed in terms of quality.

“Well, the black forces are currently reinforced with magic.”

The innate difference between those who can use magic and those who cannot.

If there is a difference in class, the disparity between having and not having magic is tremendous, even when the classes are the same.

To put it simply, both factions wield the same swords, but the White faction uses ordinary swords, while the Black faction wields legendary blades.

Despite the overwhelming advantage of the Black faction in both troops and strength,

it doesn’t concern me.

Even if there is a significant gap in troops or if the enemy is surrounded by magic,

I have an immeasurable arsenal and cheats.

So, trust only me, White faction.

“All forces, charge!”

– All forces! Charge!

As I gave the command, knights raised their swords and charged forward.

In response, soldiers shouted and followed closely behind the knights.

I, too, ran towards the fortress behind the knights and soldiers.

While doing so, I fired my gun at the approaching enemy spears.

Tatadadadatang─!

The fierce gunfire echoed and

bullets shot from the barrel soared towards the incoming spears in an arc.

Pervubervubervubuck─!

The spears hit by the bullets bounced off with a rough impact sound.

Just like a ball rebounding, the rifle’s knockback effect exerted considerable force.

After repeating several rounds of spear counterattacks, we approached the fortress.

When I was about to reach the broken castle gate, I ordered everyone to stop.

– All forces, halt!

Despite the sudden stop command, both knights and soldiers stood still.

I passed by these soldiers and knights, walking towards the entrance of the fortress.

Then, facing the Black faction that was staring at me, I shouted,

“From now on, I’ll give you two choices.”

As I shouted, a Black faction knight stepped forward.

Judging by the more elaborate design of his armor compared to others, he seemed to be the leader here.

“Do you really think we’ll follow the words of calamity!”

His appearance contradicted his actions, making him entirely unleader-like.

And so, I decided to personally change the leader of these guys.

Kwaaang!

Stupidly, I transferred a grenade to the body of the guy who had come within the range of my skill.

Fragments of the black leader scattered on the ground.

Then, one of the knights among the black knight group transformed like the guy whose form had been destroyed.

Since the leader was destroyed, one of the knights became the new leader.

Clang.

The knight who became the leader stepped forward.

– …Speak, calamity.

Perhaps because he witnessed the previous leader being destroyed without any resistance.

The guy who became the new leader listened to my words for now.

Thank goodness.

I was wondering if I had to destroy them again.

“You guys have two choices.”

First, surrender and become part of the white faction.

Second, be completely destroyed.

– ……

Whether he lost his words for this very simple and clear binary choice, the black leader looked blankly at me.

And then, eventually, he reached out towards the hilt of his sword.

“Just touch the handle. I’ll blow this place to smithereens.”

Although I said this, I hoped that the black leader would choose the first option.

The people who are somewhere right now are in a very dangerous situation because of the mages and black forces.

They might even be losing their lives, leaving the danger aside.

So, please, I hope they surrender.

That way, I can quickly save people with this numerous force.

– You evil…

Under my threatening bluff, the black leader couldn’t hold onto the hilt of his sword and his hand trembled.

If I hadn’t shown them that I could overpower their forces alone.

If I hadn’t destroyed the castle gate in one blow.

He would have drawn his sword regardless of my threats long ago.

However, in the face of the two overwhelming spectacles previously displayed, he believes I can truly destroy this place entirely.

Certainly, it’s possible, but I have no intention of doing so now, considering the fortress and the substantial forces it houses.

However, if he attacks me…, I have no choice but to respond.

– Uh, uhh……

The dark commander let out a groan.

There seems to be a deep internal conflict about what choice to make.

In that case, should I offer some help?

– Th-that…?

The dark commander, who saw what I took out of my inventory, spoke with a trembling voice.

“This? You saw it earlier, didn’t you?”

Even if he didn’t see it, it doesn’t matter.

Someone must have seen this grenade box.

– The one that destroyed the castle gate…

Fortunately, it seems the dark commander saw the grenade box.

This makes the situation easier.

“I’ll give you 10 seconds from now. If you don’t make a choice within those 10 seconds, all of you will face destruction along with this fortress.”

As I said that, with each passing second, I pulled out a box.

2 seconds.

Two boxes.

3 seconds.

Three boxes.

4 seconds.

Four boxes.

5 seconds…, five boxes….

– Stop, stop! I get it! No, I understand! So please stop pulling them out!

He surrendered after only pulling out five boxes.

Perhaps it’s because he was a knight until just now; it doesn’t suit him to act as a commander.

Of course, it’s fine with me.

“Oh? So what’s your choice then?”

From the change in his tone, it seems the first option is the one he’ll go for.

Nevertheless, to make sure, I pulled out another box and asked.

“Surrender! Surrender! So, stop pulling that out!”

“Is that just your opinion, or is it everyone’s opinion?”

“Since I’ve been chosen as the leader of this camp, my opinion is everyone’s opinion. So, surrender…”

The black-clad commander said, kneeling on one knee.

Immediately, all the black-clad forces behind him knelt and lowered their heads.

I nodded as I watched their gestures.

“Alright, accept the surrender.”

As I said that, the color drained from not only the commander’s face but also from all the black-clad forces.

And not long after,

“Thank you for accepting the surrender, hero.”

The black camp here transformed into the white camp.

“Welcome to the white camp.”

I said this while pulling out a flare gun.

“Now, for the first order.”

Everyone obeyed my command to move away from the sub-core, and the troops, who had been complying, distanced themselves from the sub-core, from which magic was being emitted.

As soon as everyone was out of the explosion range, I fired the flare gun.

The sub-core, filling the fortress with magic,

Boom!

Shattered into pieces with the explosion of the flare.

At the same time, the magic filling the fortress disappeared rapidly.

Seeing that, I took out a signal flare from my inventory.

Now that it was safe here, someone, somewhere around here, needed to know.

Thunk!

I shot the signal flare into the sky.

Under the red sky, the signal flare soared up, scattering green smoke.

I had brought it just in case.

I didn’t expect to use it right away like this…

“I don’t know if it’s good or bad.”

Rumbling.

At this very moment, numerous people have gathered within my fortress.

Those who came after witnessing the flares I launched every five minutes.

Those brought by my subordinates who scattered according to my command.

And the heroes who entered to rescue the people.

Whether it was due to the gathering of so many people, the fortress was bustling with activity.

However, the commotion was short-lived as a hero climbed up the fortress wall to start organizing the situation.

“I know it’s chaotic and frightening, but please wait just a little here! We will soon get everyone out of here!”

At his words, the murmurs among the people subsided slightly.

Not a bad job of handling the situation.

I nodded approvingly and glanced outside the fortress.

Indeed, the hero’s assurance that we would soon be leaving was not incorrect.

Quaaa…!

In one direction, a massive magic pillar soared into the sky.

If magic was visible to that extent, there could only be one thing: the main core.

This time, it wasn’t much of a hassle.

Taking over the fortress.

Making one of the White faction mine.

Destroying one sub-core.

Yesterday…, no, it wasn’t even yesterday.

Anyway, compared to what I experienced in the world just yesterday, it wasn’t much of a trouble.

The main core would be dealt with by the heroes dispatched by the Transcendent Association, so I could relax.

Thinking so, when I leaned against the fortress wall.

“…What, what did you say? Annihilation…?”

Unusual words spilled from the mouth of a hero.