Overwhelming Firepower

The time for the Styrhord was nearing. Nearly everyone near the area where both sides created their new fortresses had left.

The final preparations on both sides were being made. Each side had secured its supply routes and had scouted the nearby areas so that they wouldn’t get blindsided.

Right now, this Styrhord was the most talked about thing in the Kingdom as well as in the neighboring kingdoms.

Seeing as no matter who wins or loses, someone is getting replaced, and a position will open up.

Titles would change hands, borders would be redrawn, and loyalties would quietly shift in its wake.

Many were already watching closely, less concerned with justice than with what could be gained once the dust settled.

Just looking at both armies on face value, many believed that it was impossible for Marquis Valeire to lose. Since he had enough military power to conquer a small kingdom.

On the other hand, there were those who believed that even with such superior numbers, the quality of the Iron Duke’s forces would be able to overcome such odds.

Since the entire Thornehart lineage was known for its military strength that went beyond just numbers.

Both sides were about ready for the upcoming Styrhord. The tension continued to rise.

***

Three days before the start of the Styrhord, Robert had done something incredible yet again.

Lucen, who was summoned to Robert’s joint workshop with the dwarves, remembered what Robert was currently working on.

’If I remember correctly, Robert was trying to use the idea of the steam engine to make something like an airship.’

While he was walking towards the workshop, Lucen stopped, but after a second, he shook his head and continued walking.

’Nah, no matter what kind of mad genius Robert is, he shouldn’t be able to make airships yet... Right?...’

Lucen was starting to think it might be possible with Robert. The guy has made many nonsensical things work somehow, and even without Lucen’s knowledge about certain things, Robert was able to deduce more from just the basic idea of something.

’Damn... Is it really possible that mad genius was able to build a steam-powered airship in just a few months?’

Lucen was starting to get excited as he arrived at the area behind Robert and the dwarves’ workshop. When he arrived, he saw something rather familiar; the shape was slightly different, and it wasn’t inflated yet, but it was obviously a hot air balloon.

”Oh, Lucen, you came! Come here, we made a great step forward in creating an airship. We think that with this will be able to lift up into the sky without the use of mana, rune engravings, or spirits. We’re about to allow everyone to have the ability to fly in the sky!”

Hearing Robert’s excited voice, Lucen realized that Robert was going up a step from being a mad alchemist to a mad scientist.

Robert was practically vibrating with excitement, eyes shining as he waved Lucen closer.

Several dwarves stood nearby, arms crossed or hands on their hips, staring up at the massive fabric laid out on the ground.

Thick ropes were coiled neatly beside it, and beneath the center frame sat a bulky metal basket reinforced with iron bands. A wide burner assembly, crude, loud-looking, and unmistakably dangerous, was bolted beneath it.

’This really is a hot air balloon.’ Lucen thought to himself.

”Come, Lucen, let’s be the first people to fly up in the sky without using anything from mana.”

Lucen stared at the basket, then at the burner, then up at the massive envelope of fabric.

”Robert...” Lucen spoke while looking at the excited Robert. ”You do understand there’s a risk of this thing exploding. There’s also the chance that it happens when we’re already in the air, which means not only will it explode in our faces, but we will fall.”

”There are always risks in creating new things, but we learn from them.”

”Instead of learning anything, we might die.”

When Robert heard Lucen’s reply, he looked at Lucen a little confused and then started laughing.

”Oh, come on now, Lucen, we won’t die from something like that. Once there’s any indication, it will blow up. I will cast a barrier spell around us, and if you’re not satisfied with that, you can use your aura mantle. Also, if we fall, I can cast the float spell before we hit the ground.”

Lucen stared at Robert in silence for several seconds. Then he slowly looked back at the balloon, then at the burner, then at the very thin-looking fabric separating them from a very fast death.

Lucen couldn’t help but sigh. Despite everything he had said, he was actually excited to try riding Robert’s hot air balloon.

In his past life, he had never ridden one and only seen videos about it. He had ridden an airplane, but only a few times.

There’s also the fact that this would be the first mechanical flying object created in this world. He truly wanted to ride it.

”... Fine, let’s do this then.”

The very second Lucen agreed, Robert and the dwarves enthusiastically started preparing. Robert and the dwarves moved with great efficiency.

Robert, with a dwarf, hauled the massive fabric toward the frame, fastening reinforced seams to iron hooks with thick leather straps.

Another group secured the ropes, checking knots twice before tugging hard enough that the fibers creaked in protest.

”Oi, tighten that one more,” a bearded dwarf told another.

The burner was wheeled into position beneath the basket, its metal plates already darkened from previous tests.

Pipes ran from a compact steam boiler to the ignition chamber, valves clicking as Robert eagerly adjusted them.

”To be able to do this, the future is looking better and better.” Robert, who was checking everything, started mumbling to himself, the excitement uncontrollable.

Lucen climbed into the basket, testing his footing. It creaked slightly under his weight but held firm. He placed a hand on the rim and glanced down. Robert hopped in after him, nearly tripping over his own excitement.

Robert steadied himself, one hand gripping the basket’s edge while the other turned a valve.

”Alright... Pressure stable... Heat flow steady...” He muttered, then raised his voice. ”Everyone, stand clear.”

The dwarves immediately backed away and waited for what was to come next. Robert enthusiastically twisted the final control.

A deep whoomph echoed through the yard. Flame surged upward, roaring like a living thing as heat flooded into the massive envelope above them. The fabric shuddered, rippling as if it were drawing its first breath.

The fabric was being pushed upward, and so was the basket. Seeing this scene, the dwarves got excited to see that the thing they made was working as intended.

”It worked.” One of the dwarves spoke.

”Of course, it worked. We’re the ones who made it.” Another dwarf proudly spoke.

While the dwarves were praising one another, Robert, who was on the basket, seeing the dwarves slowly getting smaller as they flew higher into the sky, had a manic smile on his face.

”We have taken another step forward to the future!” Robert happily declared in a loud voice.

Lucen, who was standing beside Robert, looked at the ground below, then at Robert with a subtle smile on his face.

Once again, Robert had proven that he was a true genius. Even without being told about it, Robert, using the knowledge he currently had, was able to create a hot air balloon.

The basket rose higher, the ropes now dangling uselessly beneath them, swaying gently as the balloon claimed the sky.

Wind brushed against Lucen’s face, colder than he expected. Not the biting chill of winter, but a clean, open cold that carried the scent of iron, smoke, and distant snow. Ironhold looked different from above.

The walls that once felt imposing now looked like lines etched into the earth. The forges were nothing more than glowing embers. People moved below like ants, heads tilted upward, some pointing, others frozen in disbelief.

Lucen rested both hands on the edge of the basket and chuckled. Being on a hot air balloon was truly different from being on an airplane.

Standing beside Lucen, Robert was excitedly taking in everything he was seeing. He was now thinking of many ways to improve what he had so that he could create what he wanted, an airship.

The balloon creaked softly, the fabric above them billowing like a living thing, responding to heat and wind rather than commands or spells.

Robert was controlling the direction of the balloon using wind spells to push them to the direction he wanted. This was the only thing he could do for now, since he hadn’t figured out a way to control direction, yet.

After enjoying the scenery for a bit more, Lucen spoke. ”... Robert, what will you do if we lose the Styrhord?”

Robert, who was enjoying the brilliance of his work, stopped to look at Lucen. ”Huh? What are you saying? There’s no way that you would lose.”

”Thanks for your trust in me, but even I can’t say for certain that we will win for sure. So hypothetically speaking, if we do lose, what are your plans moving forward?”

”... Well then, if that were to happen, that means I would lose my friend who will create the future with me. I guess the first thing I will do is burn down everything Marquis Valeire owns. I don’t know how long that would take, but I will make sure that happens.”

There was a bit of killing intent being emitted by Robert as his tone had lowered. ”I see... Thanks.”

Lucen responded, and the conversation ended. The two then proceeded to enjoy the breeze on their face and the scenery below.