Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World

Chapter 348:

TL: Etude

A single column of smoke rose, signaling the beginning of the kingdom’s army’s assault.

Two columns of smoke indicated that the kingdom’s army was advancing smoothly, and the Northwest Fleet only needed to block pirates attempting to flee by sea.

Three columns of smoke meant that the kingdom’s army was encountering resistance, necessitating the Northwest Fleet to forcefully attack the port to divert the pirates’ attention within the city.

These were the prearranged signals between the two forces. If possible, the kingdom’s army hoped to eliminate the pirates with their own strength, and the Northwest Fleet preferred not to rashly attack a port potentially fortified with numerous defenses.

Twelve battleships were arrayed in a line on the sea, with the flagship, Unicorn, at the forefront. On its deck, Fleet Commander Tirpitz anxiously awaited the next signal.

On the distant land, a thick plume of smoke stood tall against the sky. The kingdom’s army had begun their attack quite some time ago, yet there was no indication of the next course of action.

…

Before launching the attack, Harrison conducted a thorough reconnaissance of the pirates entrenched in the Port West. He estimated that there were approximately 1500 to 2000 pirates remaining.

“These are pirates?” he thought. “The naval forces of some smaller countries in Horn Bay aren’t even this large. This must be the work of the Greedy Wolf, Duke Jars, who instigated the rebellion in the south.”

Apart from not wanting his first battle to end in failure, there were three reasons for his reluctance to attack. First, he had just over 4000 men, an insufficient number for an attacking force to defeat an enemy entrenched in a city. Second, aside from a few elite troops, most were hastily conscripted soldiers whose morale and combat skills were questionable. Third, he had learned from the higher-ups that these pirates might possess “mystical powers” – the unresolved assassination cases among the naval high command and the released officials who claimed to have seen witches were testimony to this.

During this time, he strengthened his troops’ training and recruited more soldiers. The arrival of the Northwesterners brought him prisoner testimonies, revealing that many pirates had left to transport supplies, leaving only about 1000 in the port.

After witnessing the “cannons” on the Northwestern warships, Harrison’s confidence soared. He saw these as another form of “mystical power,” albeit a highly potent one. Unfortunately, they were stingy with lending them out.

The plan to recapture Port West was quickly devised. The kingdom’s army and the Northwest Fleet would attack by land and sea to break the pirates.

Unexpectedly, after the attack commenced, the city walls were breached swiftly. It turned out that most people on the walls were residents forced by the pirates to defend the city, with very few actual pirates present. “Despicable and cruel,” Harrison thought.

He ordered his troops to advance deeper into the city, cautioning them against potential ambushes. However, with the pirates having abandoned their strongest defense, the city walls, and outnumbered, they likely fled by sea, leaving the Northwesterners their chance to shine.

Just as he was cautiously optimistic, reviewing the battlefield, a group of fleeing soldiers came running back, crying.

“Ghosts! There are ghosts in the city!”

Alarmed, Harrison immediately led his men to the frontline, where he saw what the soldiers referred to as “ghosts” – goblins.

Goblins were humanoid creatures native to the southern rainforests. Small and slender, they were about half the height of an adult, with green or brown skin. From a distance, they resembled children. They possessed some intelligence, with the more astute among them capable of learning a few words to communicate with humans.

However, their nature was notoriously evil and cruel, seemingly innate to their species. They attacked settlements of sentient beings, kidnapping women and children, and tortured their captives to death in their lairs.

However, this fear only applies to beings weaker than them. Goblins also fear entities stronger than themselves. When faced with overwhelming force, they temporarily choose “submission.” But this is only in response to “violence.” If their opponent, though powerful, chooses not to resort to violence, the goblins perceive them as weak and will gradually torment them. For such creatures, tolerance and retreat are futile. Moreover, even if violence temporarily subdues them, betrayal is just a matter of time. The moment you show the slightest laxity, a blade will be aimed at your back.

Goblins have another infamous habit – they relish eating humans, or to put it more broadly, any intelligent species. According to scholars, various horrifying folk tales about cannibal tribes in the depths of the rainforests all originate from goblins. Although there are many conflicts and deep-seated hatreds among the various intelligent species of the continent, no speaking being would willingly consume another. Even the barbaric orcs of the great plains don’t do this. Goblins, on the other hand, lack this taboo, which is a major reason they are not considered an intelligent species – their meager intelligence being another significant factor.

Despite their low intelligence, goblins are capable of crafting simple tools, creating devious contraptions such as poison-dipped darts and well-hidden traps. They also forge metal blades, though of poor quality.

Goblins possess very weak individual combat abilities. They are agile, but in a confined space, even a strong child can overpower an adult goblin. What was frustrating is the goblins’ incredibly high reproduction rate. They can mate throughout the year, with a gestation period of about a month, giving birth to 6 to 8 litters a year, each litter consisting of 5 to 10 young. A goblin reaches reproductive maturity in just a year, and their population expands at a rate comparable to rats. Moreover, their females reproduce with ease, devoid of the excruciating pain experienced by humans or other humanoid beings during childbirth.

Some say goblins are remnants of the ancient war between humans and demons, a curse left by the demon race upon the world. Every civilized species vigilantly guards against these creatures. Upon their appearance in any territory, a large army is dispatched for systematic extermination to prevent these “devils’ remnants” from spreading to every corner of the continent.

Upon realizing the true nature of the “ghosts,” Harrison shouted, “These are just goblins tamed by pirates, a cowardly, vile, weak species – nothing to fear. Warriors of the kingdom, grip your weapons tightly and annihilate them!”

Most of his soldiers were from rural areas of the kingdom’s heartland, and it was normal for them not to recognize goblins, having never left their hometowns before conscription.

The commander’s words spread throughout the army, boosting morale. Many, although unfamiliar with goblins, had heard of them and knew of their cruel nature but weak combat ability, regaining their courage. The soldiers who had retreated, now brandishing their weapons and roaring, re-engaged in battle.

But the situation did not unfold as Harrison had envisioned – simply overcoming fear of these unfamiliar creatures and fighting earnestly should have been enough to scatter the weak goblins throughout the streets.

The goblins’ performance on the battlefield exceeded his expectations – they, to his astonishment, appeared fearless in the face of death.