I Became an Illegal Cheat User

40 – The Method of Breaking the Fortress (4)

Unusual words spoken by a hero.

As those words echoed, I noticed all the heroes nearby turning their gaze toward him.

In response, a hero, suddenly aware of his loud voice, hastily shut his mouth and glanced beneath the rampart.

“Mom, how long do we have to stay here?”

“Sweetheart, what did the heroes say a while ago?”

“They said they’d let us out soon…”

“Right, so let’s trust the heroes and wait a little longer. Can you do that?”

“Yes… Mom.”

…Fortunately, it seemed like no sound reached beneath the rampart.

Upon this realization, the hero wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and let out a sigh of relief.

Well, just a moment ago, they had promised they would soon be out of here.

Not even a minute had passed before the heroes, who were supposed to destroy the main core, mentioned that they had been completely wiped out.

It must have been a sinking feeling.

“…Communication seems to be really impossible.”

“Is anyone able to communicate?”

“No, we can’t either…”

The news of the total wipeout must have been incredibly shocking.

All the heroes anxiously attempted to communicate with their team members, yet as time passed, there was no one they could reach.

Finally acknowledging their total annihilation, the heroes slumped to the ground, their faces filled with despair.

“Surely those who went to destroy the main core were all high-ranking…”

“Even if it’s an abnormal rift, still… how could all of those people…?”

“We’re all dead, all of us…”

Watching the pitiful sight of these hapless heroes, I grimaced, feeling unimpressed.

No matter how dire the situation, showcasing such behavior when there are people below?

Are these brats really heroes?

With disappointment engulfing me, I shook my head and descended below the rampart.

Then, stepping outside the fortress, I called out to the white-clad commander standing in formation like a statue.

“Hero, have you been summoned?”

Responding to my call, the white-clad commander immediately rushed over, kneeling with one knee and bowing their head.

I looked down at the white-clad general and commanded, “From now on, I will attack the headquarters of the black faction. So, mobilize 30 knights and 300 soldiers in good condition.”

– … The number is too small to attack the headquarters. The last time I came out of the headquarters, the number was…

Suddenly, the white general stopped speaking and stared at me intently.

Then, mumbling, “Well, considering you faced us alone,” he lowered his head again.

– … I misspoke.

I said nothing.

– … I will quickly mobilize the troops. Please wait a moment.

The white general, who spoke to himself and seemed to convince himself, abruptly stood up from his seat and rushed to the front lines to mobilize the troops.

I chuckled at the sight of the white general and opened my inventory to check the remaining explosives.

“Alright, still quite abundant.”

Perhaps because the supplies were stacked like mountains.

Despite using bombs like water, the amount of supplies in the inventory was still immeasurable.

“At this rate, even if I blow up their headquarters, there will still be leftovers, right?”

The reason I only mobilized 330 troops.

It’s not for combat but for transporting bombs, the right amount.

That’s because if the number is too small, it slows down the bomb installation.

If it’s too much, the defense of this fortress weakens, and there’s an increased risk of being detected by the enemies.

So, 330 troops were just the right amount in my opinion.

“No need to face the enemies unnecessarily.”

If there were fewer explosives, it might be unknown, but with this much, there’s no need to go through unnecessary trouble.

Just install bombs throughout the headquarters and detonate them.

The fortress breaks.

The enemies break.

The core breaks too.

It’s a three-in-one effect with a single bomb.

But there’s one problem.

That’s the ‘something’ that wiped out the upper-middle-class heroes.

In my opinion, that ‘something’ is speculated to be a high-ranking fallen being.

Otherwise, there’s no way upper-middle-class heroes who can use the skill of “Disintegration” would be wiped out.

With that thought in mind, I plan to install the bombs without encountering the fallen ones if possible, and then detonate them.

Even if I have cheats and an almost infinite supply of bombs, confronting high-level fallen ones is a different story.

However, if I do happen to encounter him… at that moment…

‘I can only use what I purchased from the production instructor.’

Making that resolution, I closed the inventory and headed toward the location of the troops, according to the words of the white commander who confirmed the dispatch of the troops.

No, just as I was about to head there.

“Wait a moment!”

Someone urgently called out to me.

Turning around to check, it was the man who had first tasted the defeat of the heroes, the one who had witnessed the heroes’ demise.

“Where… where are you going?”

Was it because I suddenly dispatched the troops?

The man in front of me looked extremely flustered.

I turned my gaze slightly to the fortress, observing it.

And I could see it.

Everyone, civilians and heroes alike, had anxious faces as they looked at me.

Sighing deeply, I spoke to the man.

“I’m not running away. I’m going to destroy the main core.”

“What nonsense…!”

The man shouted in disbelief.

“Why do you think it’s nonsense?”

“Fifteen mid-high-level heroes went and perished there. But do you think it’s possible for you to destroy the main core alone?”

Beyond distrust, a voice filled with despair.

I knew that his belief as a hero had been completely shattered.

But I didn’t feel particularly sorry for him.

Rather, I thought it was pathetic.

After all, this place wasn’t only inhabited by superhumans, but also by ordinary people.

Yet, a superhuman, called a hero, falling into despair over the people they should protect?

If this isn’t pathetic, then what is?

Thinking that way, I spoke to the man.

“Why are you so certain it’s impossible?”

“Um… You’re a student…”

“A student? Speak properly. I’m here now as a hero. Unlike you.”

“…You’re going to die.”

Can’t argue with silence, resorting to death threats.

I spoke, letting out a sigh.

“You seem like you’re already dead, though?”

Just look at yourself.

Where do you resemble a hero?

I said that and turned my back.

“Keep an eye on the sky.”

When the flare goes off, it means I’ve destroyed the core.

With that said, I moved towards the troops waiting for me.

&

I’m currently inside the magical inner sanctum of the main core.

Huff… hoo.

Huff… hoo.

And the reason for the labored breathing is the enchanted respirator mask I’m wearing.

But even with that, it’s not enough; I’m channeling magic into my body.

Roughly, in about 30 minutes, it’ll all be depleted.

Literally, I’ve got about 30 minutes left of my life.

“It’s about time the main camp shows up.”

Even with two lanterns on my tactical vest, the surroundings aren’t clear.

It means the main core is close.

So, I nudged the white knight next to me and asked,

“Do you see anything?”

– Yes, I do.

“Oh, really? Is it close?”

– Yes, it is.

That’s what I thought.

I opened my inventory at the knight’s words.

And at the moment I was about to take out the bomb box.

“…!”

With a eerie sensation, I felt something flying towards my left chest.

And I know this sensation very well.

It was one of the effects of the ‘keen senses of an aging gunman,’ the ability to ‘intuitively sense the direction of an enemy’s attack.’

Immediately, I dropped to the ground.

Pshhh!

Then, something heavy passed over me, creating a rush of air.

Kwaaang!

I heard the sound of golems behind me being destroyed.

“It’s an attack!”

Shouting this, I quickly got up, grabbed a flash grenade, and threw it upwards.

Since I was already under attack, sneaking in bombs was out of the question.

So, I had to chase away the darkness!

Bang! Beiiiiiiing!

As the flash grenade exploded, the darkness retreated.

And I could see what had attacked.

“…A ballista?”

It was indeed a projectile from a ballista.

– Here comes another one!

At the knight’s shout, I looked ahead.

As the knight said, the fortress was nearby.

And another ballista bolt was coming my way.

As soon as I confirmed it, I immediately pulled out the grenade launcher and fired.

Pong!

The grenade, propelled by the cheat’s effect, broke through the speed limit and raced towards the ballista at an incredible speed.

Kwaaang─!

The grenade exploded, and shockwaves erupted.

But the ballista’s speed only slowed down; it was still coming towards me.

At that, I raised my rifle and fired away.

Tadadadadadadang─!

Every bullet pounded the ballista.

Each time, the rifle’s ‘knockback’ effect twisted the ballista’s direction, causing it to plummet downward.

Watching that, I detonated another flashbang.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue.

I had tried to work discreetly.

But now that I was exposed, all that remained was to work swiftly.

However, I couldn’t fathom what they were thinking.

Even though we were discovered, they only aimed the ballista from within the fortress.

They didn’t open the gates to send out reinforcements.

Could it be that they were underestimating us because of the few troops we had?

If that’s the case, we should make good use of that misconception, shouldn’t we?

I opened my inventory and began pulling out boxes of explosives.

“Everyone, move according to the plan!”

– But, the ballista…

“I’ll handle that, so move quickly!”

– …Yes, understood!

The white knights and soldiers moved energetically.

Each of them grabbed two boxes of explosives and sprinted towards the fortress.

The ballista fired at our white forces, but…

Pong─, Quaaang!

Tadadadadadadang─!

Instead of hitting the target with my interception, it only crashed downward.

As my remaining life time reached about 10 minutes,

Pewoong!

A flare shot up from a spot near the fortress.

It meant that all the explosive boxes were in position.

I threw another flashbang, illuminating the area.

And then, immediately focusing the gaze through the rifle scope, he enlarged the field of view.

As soon as the bomb box appeared in the shaking sight.

Bang!

The gun fired.

And a moment later.

──────!!

Light dawned.

….

…….

……….

Kwaaah────!!

Along with the fortress’s explosion.

&

&

&

The mage disappears.

It means the main core has been destroyed.

I rose from the ground, dirt clinging to my body as I got up.

And as I removed the mask, I breathed in the fresh air.

“Having fun, aren’t you?” I confronted the fallen one.