by SOW
“Yes. They have sealed every entrance to the facility except the front gate, where they have gathered their forces for resistance.”
Gunfire thundered from the direction of the development bureau, apparently from the resisting guards.
“What happened to the men who climbed the wall and approached from the rear?”
“They hit land mines, one after another.”
“Argh!”
Delz had no words in the face of this situation, in which their opponent seemed to be toying with them.
“C-Contact headquarters and request reinforcements.”
“Um, but...”
Attacking with a force of four hundred soldiers and asking for further reinforcements would ordinarily suggest that the commander was incompetent.
When faced with an enemy that was stronger than expected, a brilliant commander wouldn’t hesitate to add battle power without a care for how it looked, but unfortunately, Delz wasn’t that type of commander. As Sophia had realized, he was a typical member of the Schutzstaffel who only possessed a strong sense of elitism.
“Doesn’t matter! The lieutenant general told me to ensure success without concern for loss of life. He has permitted me any means!”
Delz requested reinforcements for a simple reason. He had permission to cause as much damage as necessary, so he feared failing to complete his mission, and incurring blame for himself. So it didn’t matter to him how many soldiers under his command would die. He would seize control of the development bureau no matter what.
“What are you doing?! Get moving!”
“Y-Yes, Sir!”
Delz raged at the adjutant.
Meanwhile, the sound of gunfire continued, and every time, a few soldiers died.
It didn’t concern Delz.
Meanwhile, inside the development bureau, there was fierce fighting between the Schutzstaffel soldiers and the guards.
“That’s enough here! Everyone, retreat to the fifth block!”
Sophia ordered her subordinates to retreat.
The building that housed the development bureau was usually called the Snail. The main area was in the center, with compartments around it in a spiral. Each area was equipped with strong bulkheads separating them.
“If they penetrate any further, we won’t be able to hold them back.”
Leaning against a closed bulkhead, Private Sariya spoke breathlessly.
“Well, at least they’ll only come from one direction. That makes them easier to engage.”
Sophia answered as she replaced an empty magazine.
“The development bureau has many secrets that must be protected. Having just a few entrances and exits is best for maintaining security.”
Daian appeared. Even now, he seemed completely relaxed.
“What do you want? I told you to stay in back. Non-combatants will just get in our way.”
“You’re always so cold, Sophia. But I like you that way, too.”
“You nauseate me.”
“Whoa...”
Given the circumstances, Sophia was even more blunt than usual, but Daian didn’t care.
“If they get inside, even your new weapons will be taken.”
“What are you saying, Sophia? I have even more new weapons. And this bulkhead is one of them.”
As he said this, Daian rapped the wall with his fist.
The Schutzstaffel was spraying the other side with a hail of bullets, but to no effect.
“It’s made of a newly developed alloy. It can stand against not only shoulder-launched firearms but also a direct attack by dynamite.”
And not only that... The shutters for every window of the development bureau were made of the same impenetrable material and would close automatically. Furthermore, a reticulated alloy was embedded in the walls.
“This place is more like a submarine than a building. It’s completely enclosed and wouldn’t leak.”
Even if the royal capital were submerged in water, the development bureau was so airtight that it wouldn’t flood.
“Wait a second... What about the vents?”
As Sophia asked, she imagined the worst.
“What if they enter through ventilation shafts or use some kind of gas? Then the building being airtight would increase the danger.”
There would be no escape if the Schutzstaffel used a poisonous gas such as tear gas, chlorine gas, phosgene, or mustard gas.
“Oh, that’s no problem.”
Such concerns had not escaped Daian, who might be a pervert, but he was also a genius.
“When I realized we were under siege, I sealed the emissions system. Didn’t I tell you? This place really is like a submarine. There’s an underground air circulation system that will last for three hundred hours under hermetic conditions without any problem!”
“Then it’s perfect!”
“Indeed, it is.”
Sophia’s expression was a mixture of admiration and annoyance at Daian’s ability to see far into the future.
“Well, it’ll take at least two hours for their weapons to breach one bulkhead. And we have fifty-three more. Wa ha ha ha!”
Dawn would break before the Schutzstaffel could even reach the central area of the development bureau, much less clear all the bulkheads. The regular army’s headquarters would then notice the disturbance and send rescue troops. It was possible that Genitz would lose his standing before then, on charges of overstepping his authority.
“It’s not that easy to enter my castle! Ah ha ha ha!”
Daian was laughing, filled with confidence, but at that moment...
THOOM!!!
Fierce rumbling resounded, and a big dent appeared on the bulkhead slightly above center.
“What the... What?!”
For the first time, Daian’s smile froze.
He was chief of the development bureau. He knew immediately what made that sound.
“That’s why I hate those idiots!”
He quickly opened a terminal housed in the wall and switched the video feed from a security camera to a small monitor. It now showed the other side of the wall.
“Is that... a tank?”
Looking at the feed, Sophia tilted her neck in surprise.
She could tell that the vehicle had heavy armor and a massive firearm. However, it wasn’t propelled by tracks—commonly known as caterpillar treads—but by wheels.
“It’s called a combat vehicle.”
Other than Hunter Units, tanks are the strongest weapons for ground combat. A tank has tough armor and powerful guns. It’s equipped with anti-personnel weapons, can travel over any terrain, and annihilate enemy lines. However...
“Tanks have more weaknesses than you might think. There are limitations because they’re heavy and large, and they lack the ability to turn in cramped confines. They work well on open land but not in urban areas.”
Tanks were fine for occupying an enemy city, but they didn’t work for protecting one’s capital, where it was impossible to indiscriminately blow holes in buildings, roads, and bridges.
“So combat vehicles were developed from the need for a tank-like vehicle that would protect a city. It’s called a Kentaur.”
The vehicle had six tires with high suspension, and it was mobile enough to turn in small spaces like an armored vehicle. Moreover, it was armed with a fifty-millimeter and high-speed self-propelled artillery weapon.
“Hey, wait... This can’t be!”
Sophia was trembling.
THOOM!
Meanwhile, a second attack put another dent in the bulkhead.
“Did you make that Kentaur?!”
“I can’t help it. It’s my job!”
Sophia grabbed Daian’s collar accusingly.
“Major! It’s dangerous here! We must retreat!”
Private Sariya spoke urgently to Sophia, who was about to strangle Daian in rage.
“Urgh! There’s no choice... but I don’t like it.”
“I agree. With the Kentau
r’s heavy artillery, it’ll take less than five minutes to breach one bulkhead.”
“I’ll get you one of these days! Fall back, fall back!!”
In this situation, it was very possible that the development bureau would fall before dawn. The Schutzstaffel’s steamroller strategy was gradually driving back the bureau’s guards.
Six days had passed since Hilde and Heidrig started work at the bakery.
“That’s an egg tart and an apricot tart. You can enjoy the harmony of a crunchy biscuit and soft dough.”
Chomp chomp... munch munch...
“And that’s a malasada doughnut. It’s fried bread with a rich cream or chocolate inside. It’s a food from the Alhadra region.”
“Ulp... mm-mm-mmph!!”
“And this is a cinnamon-roll pie. It’s swirled pie dough mixed with cinnamon and coated on top with caramel sauce.”
“Okay, Lud. That’s enough.”
It was the afternoon at Tockerbrot, and Lud had lined up prototypes of the new menu items for the Thanksgiving festival. Jacob signaled him to stop.
“It isn’t a good idea to make Milly eat these all at once.”
Jacob pointed at Milly, whose eyes were spinning in spirals.
“She’s gorging herself with too much good food.”
Milly was the daughter of a former baker. And she became Lud’s apprentice because she loved bread. She especially liked sweets, so tasting all of Lud’s new confections was maxing out her capacity for happiness.
“Lud, I suspect you’re enjoying this a little.”
“Oh... well, Milly can eat a lot, so...”
Milly used to hate soldiers, so it took a long time for her to open her heart to Lud. Although she secretly ate his bread, she told him, “I’ll never eat the bread you bake!”
So now Lud couldn’t resist stuffing her with as much as she could eat.
“Heh...”
Heidrig was watching and couldn’t hold back a laugh.
“Your name is Heidrig, right? Don’t laugh!”
But even as he said this, Jacob was laughing too.
“It seems like you guys are always having fun!”
Heidrig spoke casually.
He had been captured after escaping to Filbarneu and held in custody for a long time. Eventually, he had been sent back to Wiltia, but forced to live in a dungeon.
For years, Heidrig hadn’t seen anyone have fun, particularly over something trivial. So he couldn’t help but crack a smile.
“Hey, Heidrig. The busy lunch hour is over, so why don’t you take a break?”
Lud was casual as he made the suggestion, as if it were no big deal.
“Y-Yeah...”
Heidrig agreed and was about to remove his work apron, when Lud spoke again.
“If you want, you can take a walk. As long as you come back in time, it’s no problem.”
“Huh...?”
Heidrig’s expression showed surprise.
“All right.”
After looking puzzled for a moment, Heidrig left the shop.
“Lud, is that okay?”
Jacob pointed at the door through which Heidrig had just left.
Heidrig had tried to kill Lud and in return for Lud sparing his life, Heidrig was working in the shop.
“What if he escapes?”
It was only common sense that letting such a man run free might lead to him scampering off. In fact, Heidrig was also aware of this. So far, he had barely left the shop’s immediate vicinity during his breaks. The furthest he had gone was to fetch a bag of flour from storage out back. And even then, he had first informed Lud, as if this were a prison.
“He can do that if he wants.”
Jacob could usually detect Lud’s slight emotional changes in his sullen features, but this time he couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
“Hm?! What was I just doing?!”
Just then, Milly recovered from her frozen condition.
“Welcome back, Milly.”
Jacob, who was a thoughtful boy, handed her a glass of water.
“Judging from Milly’s response, I think serving anything would be fine.”
“Hmm... I know that. But I want to provide something extra.”
Every one of the breads that Lud had prepared for the Thanksgiving festival was a masterpiece. The townsfolk would be delighted to eat any one of them.
“It’s just, this is a special festival, so I want to create something that also looks special.”
“Good taste isn’t enough?”
Milly, who had tasted all the prototypes, couldn’t help asking, “What’s bothering you?”
“Um, I think eating is about more than just filling your stomach.”
Lud mulled over how to explain it.
“Bread takes various shapes. It can be round, long, or twisted, and each shape has a meaning.”
For example, a croissant has ridges and curves to make the butter visible. And by changing the shape, some breads change in texture and flavor, along with changes in how much they rise and how long they are baked.
“It’s the same with people, isn’t it? Our faces and figures and pasts vary, but none are right or wrong. I mean, if we have lots of variety, isn’t that more fun?”
He didn’t just want to make people’s tongues happy, but their eyes too. Bread wasn’t just about taste. It should also be an enjoyable experience. That’s what Lud believed.
“Since it’s a special festival and I finally get to participate...”
Lud’s shoulders trembled as he said this.
“You must be very happy. There, there...”
Jacob tried to pat Lud’s shoulder sympathetically, but he couldn’t reach it, so he patted his arm.
“Yes. It has been two years since I came to this town and opened the bakery, so this is a long-awaited chance for me.”
This scary-looking baker was just happy that these longsuffering days of debt, an empty shop, and ostracism had finally turned into acceptance and belonging.
“Is Lud here?”
Sister Marlene from the church rang the doorbell and came in.
“Hi, Marlene? Have you come to buy bread?”
“Or to see Lud?”
Milly and Jacob spoke at the same time.
“Both,” Marlene answered.
“I’m half joking, but...”
“You’re also half serious, right?”
Jacob asked with an amused look on his face.
Marlene had been distant toward Lud before, but recently she had stopped hiding that she liked Lud—and this had Sven on high alert.
“Lud, I have something to discuss with you about the festival.”
“Is there a problem?”
“Yes.”
Since Marlene served God and was kind and sensible, people consulted her about town issues. She served as a committee member for the Thanksgiving festival.
“We are inviting entertainers from Ponapalas.”
Ponapalas was the former capital of Pelfe, and remained the area’s commercial and economic center.
“Everyone really looks forward to it every year. The young men are entranced by the sexy dancers.”
Jacob grinned. Last year, he had enjoyed the show as a spectator in the arena.
“Th-They do puppet plays, too! I want to see that again!”
With a sparkle in her eyes, Milly remembered the puppet show with orchestral accompaniment.
The performers had passed out candy to children afterward, which was another reason for its popularity.
“Yes. The group informed us that they are short on performers.”
The notice had come a few hours ago.
While moving large set pieces, a load had shifted and crushed one of the entertainers. The injury wasn’t serious, but that person couldn’t tour with the group.
“So they’ve canceled one of the performances.”
“Is it one of the dancers?”
“Is it the puppet show?!”
Both Ja
cob and Milly cried out together.
“Don’t worry. It was neither.”
Intimidated by their intensity, Marlene took a step back.
“The one who can’t come is a singer. So we’re in trouble.”
The Thanksgiving festival was traditionally an occasion for expressing appreciation to God for the year’s harvest, and the hope for fruitfulness in the coming year.
Entertainment was part of an offering to God. The most important ritual was the singing. Since times of old, people in Pelfe and Wiltia had dedicated their festival songs to God.
“That is a problem!”
Jacob finally understood the problem and regained his calm.
“If we had known sooner, we could have managed. Even the children at my church might have formed a chorus, even though they aren’t professionals.”
“There isn’t enough time to practice now.”
There were only four days until the festival. Even if they started practicing now, they wouldn’t be ready to perform at the festival.
“Is there any other way?”
Lud was thinking that there might be something like a union for traveling entertainers as a way to find an alternate player. But it wasn’t that easy.
“No. The Organbaelz festival is held at a different time from other town festivals. Performing groups have already traveled to different areas, so it’s hard to call them back here.”
Marlene looked troubled. She had already thought of all other possibilities.
“Lud, do you know of anyone? If not in Pelfe, maybe in Wiltia?”
Organbaelz was a rural town located on the edge of Pelfe but it wasn’t that far from Wiltia and the royal capital, Berun. It took only half a day by train.
“Hmm... An entertainer... A singer...”
It might seem that soldiers and entertainers are such different occupations that they would have nothing in common, but that’s not true. Entertainers visit battlefields as a service, so the two groups become acquainted.
“I don’t know anyone I can ask.”
Lud didn’t care much for those events, so he rarely attended them.
“Oh. It’s a problem...”
“Then why don’t you do it?”
“She can’t!”
Jacob asked Marlene the question, but before she could answer, Milly interrupted.
“She’s pretty but she can’t sing! Or make tea or sew! Marlene’s pretty, but she has butterfingers. She sure is pretty, though!”
