Just because they are barbarians does not mean they are ignorant of fire.
On the contrary, they are familiar with fire because they live in barren lands.
When things turn sour, their lives consist of plundering and burning neighboring tribes.
To them, fire is an existence they couldn't sever even if they wanted to.
Conversely, there have been several occasions when they launched fire attacks on the Empire's borders.
Because of this, fire is not something barbarians fear.
As long as they are careful, it is a very good thing that can benefit them greatly.
But today. At this very moment, that was wrong.
—KABOOM!! KABLAM!!
"W-what the hell is this?!"
"Uwaaaah!!"
They couldn't come to their senses. Their heads rang with a piercing buzz.
Arrows rained down, and moments later, they heard sounds they had never heard in their lives.
Each time, something would flash before their eyes and burst into flames.
And as if that weren't enough, an acrid stench completely different from the smell of ash or burning filled the air.
"Y-you bastards! Get a hold of yourselves! Get a grip!"
The incoming arrows weren't many. Half of them didn't even hit.
They just needed to forget their fear. Then they could somehow do something—
—BOOOOM!!
"Gwaaah!!"
Even the one leading the vanguard fled when flames erupted right beside him.
It was something he had never seen before. Had fire ever ignited like this?
The noise was deafening, and once the flames burst, people were injured.
They weren't fatal wounds, but burns were known to be the most painful injuries in the world.
And the fact that this was the first time they had experienced something like this proved fatal.
The barbarian vanguard that had charged with such momentum now fled backward.
Their military discipline from moments ago had vanished completely, and they ran for their lives.
There is nothing easier than an enemy routing in disorder.
Immediately, the riders spurred their horses and cut down the barbarians one by one.
—THWACK!
"Take out the stragglers! Sweep away those holding their ground!"
"No need to pursue too far! Don't cross the line!"
They were riders who had trained with their horses for over a month already.
Even amid noises that grated on the horses' nerves.
Even when thunderous roars like lightning strikes erupted before them.
They had managed to make the horses obey and run.
Sedrun skillfully controlled a situation that could have easily gotten out of hand.
He was a man who enjoyed swift, relentless blitz attacks.
But he didn't do so every time. He was one who knew the right moment.
Right now, breaking their will took precedence over unconditional attacks.
He would have today's story delivered to the barbarians who would arrive soon.
And make them hesitate. He created a reason for their fierce assault to falter.
The North still needed more time. The longer, the better.
As long as he could buy that, he could afford as many of these light skirmishes as needed.
It was fine if he couldn't claim merit. He chose the path to victory.
It was an opportunity created by a young inspector with no military background.
Sedrun was not foolish enough to waste it.
In fact, the barbarians, after fleeing, had come back to their senses to some degree.
They tried to quickly reform and target the pursuing riders.
It wasn't difficult. Ambush them from the side and knock the riders off their horses.
If they deliberately acted like stragglers and let the riders catch up, lowering their charge's momentum—
Just slowing them down like that wouldn't be difficult at all.
"Halt!"
But Sedrun had uncannily grasped that timing.
He had all the riders who were about to spur forward further wait in place.
And saying that this much was enough, he withdrew beyond the gate.
Even though the barbarians hurriedly pretended to be weakened, he didn't look back.
Instead, he only took the wounded barbarians as prisoners and left.
Thanks to that, the barbarians could only stare blankly.
"What in the..."
Was it a nightmare? What the hell just happened?
The barbarians were still out of it, left in a daze by the lingering gunpowder smoke and acrid scent.
They had barely regained their senses after having their souls shaken by that calamity known as the Founding Emperor.
Now it seemed the Empire had made a contract with demons and was using strange weapons.
*
From atop the wall, I watched everything unfold.
For a debut battle, it wasn't an especially outstanding small-scale engagement.
Despite using gunpowder, an enormous weapon, it ended with only dozens of casualties.
Even those were mostly killed by Sedrun's men.
The barbarians killed by the explosions could be counted on one hand.
But I clenched my fist. This was more than enough.
The momentum of the barbarian vanguard that had attacked so arrogantly had completely collapsed.
They had suffered considerable damage. Around thirty dead. Five prisoners.
Those who made it back alive must have sustained injuries of some sort.
Most importantly, over a hundred barbarians had survived and returned.
They would spread all sorts of exaggerated stories on their own.
The Empire had created bizarre weapons never seen before.
They roared like thunder, dropping flames that turned the field into a sea of fire.
They're arrows, yet not arrows. If you approach, they explode.
You must never get close. The damage will only grow worse.
Thankfully, we were few in number so we could avoid them, but.
If all of us go, we'll be burned alive in an instant!
When such words spread, morale can't help but be affected.
Even if they pretended otherwise, it would continue to drop steadily.
Since they all have connections with one another, word spreads quickly.
Like poison spreading in a fishbowl, everyone would know in an instant.
"Inspector. What in the world was that? It was a sight I've never seen or heard in my entire life."
"It's a new weapon recently researched by the Imperial Military Arsenal. There are still many parts that need improvement, but before long, it will become one of the central pillars of the Imperial Army. This northern region has become its testing ground."
"Surely you don't mean that black powder you showed us back then? That thing produces this much power?"
"This much power." By my standards, it was merely that level of power.
Even now, looking at it, there were duds and various problems visible.
Right now, Hesen and Polia must be diligently writing down corrections behind me.
They must be saying it's riddled with things to fix. That they'll be busy once they return to the Arsenal.
But that's only from those two's perspective.
Just looking around, everyone including the administrator couldn't hide their astonishment.
At first, they looked just like ordinary arrows.
But suddenly, with a massive roar, flames spread in all directions.
Sight. Hearing. Even smell. It must all be their first time.
It delivered shock and terror to every single sense.
Even those rough barbarians were frightened and fled, weren't they?
"For now, the barbarians won't be able to approach. We should take this opportunity to finish our insufficient preparations."
"Looking at it now, even if the barbarians come in earnest beyond the wall, they won't be able to move rashly. At this rate, we've bought plenty of time until reinforcements arrive, Inspector!"
"Then that's a relief."
We should be able to improve it further, right? It can become stronger, right?
We can't let it stagnate here. It would be such a waste.
There's so much that can be done with this terrifying black powder.
When I return to the capital, I need to tell the Crown Prince everything immediately.
And gather all the talented people throughout the Empire.
This is a card that will shatter the balance of power for hundreds of years to come.
"I-inspector, you don't seem very happy?"
"I am happy. I was just thinking that we need to make it even more powerful. Everything is difficult at first, but eventually everyone will use it. Only by maintaining the lead there can safety and peace be guaranteed."
"Then even the barbarians could use it?"
"By that point, we might not even be able to call them barbarians. But it's not impossible."
Originally, the western frontier was a move by Condor to expand arable land.
Many went because they were told they wouldn't have to pay taxes if they cultivated the land.
But now, saltpeter mines have become far more important than farmland.
The problem is that it's quite close to the western kingdoms.
Like the previous high-quality iron, it needs to be designated a strategic resource.
I think I'll have to push strongly for this when I return to the capital, too.
"Administrator. Is there no news yet?"
"Ah. I heard that the central army departed from the capital a few days ago. Considering the time difference, I imagine they should be reaching the northern border about now."
"They should arrive within two weeks at the latest."
The barbarians' full-scale offensive would have normally begun within a week.
But now? I guarantee they'll be thrown into confusion by the news the vanguard brings.
Still, I just need to use up all the remaining gunpowder on those who come and blow them away.
After all, the Imperial Army came here to stop the barbarians for now.
There is nothing better than the barbarians collapsing on their own.
So it's best to expend all the gunpowder and burn away their very will to fight.
'Since gunpowder will continue to be produced from now on. Once a sufficient amount accumulates in the North, we can switch to the offensive without any problem.'
As an inspector, I was the first to grasp the nature of the barbarians.
They're different from the steppe tribes. These must be smashed by raw force.
They themselves shattered even the slight possibility of dialogue that remained.
There is no need to show them further leniency. Once reinforcements arrive and the gunpowder is delivered, we switch to offense.
It would be good to extract all the data on gunpowder's effectiveness as well.
Like all new weapons, evaluations are extremely polarized at first.
All things seen for the first time are like that. It's the rejection born of unfamiliarity.
What can persuade them are the reactions on the field and objective evaluations.
Happily, as an inspector, I have received the Crown Prince's support to some extent.
If I make full use of this position, I can use it elsewhere as well.
"Inspector! How was it? How was it up on the wall?"
Polia approached, perhaps finally finished with her adjustments.
She had contributed to making the Empire's gunpowder cart alongside Hesen.
With this much merit, I could introduce her to the Crown Prince right away.
Perhaps a great reward would even be bestowed upon her family.
"You have more than enough qualifications to go to the capital. So, have you made up your mind?"
"If you really mean it, Inspector, I'd love to. I was bound to receive such an invitation eventually anyway."
"Bound to receive an invitation?"
What did she mean by that? Someone bound to receive an invitation?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Polia laughed.
"There's no need to be embarrassed! I'm completely fine with it!"
"Embarrassed? What do you mean?"
"Your proposal, of course. I must say, that was quite a Northern-style proposal!"
It was far more bewildering than hearing that thousands of barbarians were invading.