NOVEL WEB Chapter 11
“What are you planning to do, Edu?”
“First, we should check the inside, Little Drone?”
Whiiing….
The little drone that had been hovering above the gorge comes to me upon being called.
“Can you check the inside for us?”
What I indicated was the main gate of the fortress—a large iron door. The little drone, nodding slightly in agreement, ascends into the air.
This is followed by information of the inside transmitted into my sight.
However, unlike the menacing appearance of the main gate, there wasn’t a single guard in sight beyond it.
All that was there were vehicles patched together with scrap metal, tools for maintenance, and supplies. There wasn’t a soul in sight at the heavy machine gun nests erected in case the gates were breached.
‘I knew it!’
Normally, crucial installations like the main gate of a fortress would always be heavily defended with many troops. However, this fortress, along with all the maze-like dungeons in the AOE, had one common gimmick.
And that was overconfidence.
If you could eliminate all the guards while staying undetected by those patrolling outside during the night, all the defenses within the dungeon would be nullified—an ingenious gimmick where the enemies’ overconfidence drastically reduces the dungeon’s difficulty.
Of course, as the scenario progresses, the security of enemy installations becomes so robust that this can’t be used repeatedly. It becomes limited to small facilities, except for those with screw-loose enemies like the Fallen. Nevertheless…
Regardless, using this effectively can significantly lower the risk and make the enemy installation much safer to assault.
“Edu? Are you okay?”
As I’m lost in thought, Riana cautiously approaches and speaks.
While suppressing an unconscious quiver of amusement at the feast before me, I smile at her.
“Yes, I’m fine. By the way, Riana, could you tap that wall over there?”
“Huh? This wall?”
“Yes, just tap it lightly.”
“…???”
Despite wearing an expression of confusion, she complies and taps the gate wall as requested.
The tapping sound reverberates through the door, and the iron plate where she tapped suddenly slides back, revealing the hidden entrance.
“…Huh? A hidden door?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Let’s go in then.”
“Alright, I’ll lead the way. Hey, you guys.”
Calling over the Chunsam brothers, Riana immediately points her weapon and dashes through the open door as they approach.
The brothers, though clearly reluctant to go in, have no choice but to follow her. And as we three pass through the door, I try to close it… but I simply can’t.
Marveling at the incredible strength that even prevents me from closing this thin iron door, I resign myself to leaving it open.
“Seems you were right, Edu. No one’s here.”
“That’s right, isn’t it?”
“Still, Edu has sharp eyes for sure. Did you check with the drone, by any chance?”
Riana asks in wonder.
“Yes.”
…In truth, I only remembered the gimmick from within the AOE, but explaining the full reality is too tiresome, so I brush it off vaguely.
“Then what should we do next?”
“Yes, just a moment.”
I take a small, quiet breath to organize my thoughts and then carefully respond without raising my voice.
“Summoning, Mini Cart. Armament: .22 caliber turrets.”
– Consuming MP to summon the summoned creature equipped with that weapon.
Moments later, the mini cart materializes on the ground with a pop.
“Ah, a new summoned creature?”
“Yes, it’s called the Mini Cart.”
“Huh, it’s small and cute. The thing on top is a turret?”
“Yes.”
After approaching the summoned miniature cart and squatting down in front of it, Riana pokes it curiously with her fingers.
“What do you plan to do with this little guy?”
“I plan to use this one to quietly eliminate enemies inside the fortress one by one.”
“Use them?”
“Yes, they’re specialized for stealthy movement despite their appearance.”
Flicking my finger, the mini cart that understood the command moves around. It executes sharp maneuvers, but there’s no sound.
“…That’s definitely incredibly quiet. Is the weapon the same?”
“Yes.”
Nodding while looking at the mini cart, it aims the turret at the ground and fires immediately.
Click.
However, the sound that followed was too soft to be called a gunshot—minuscule noise.
“I see, but isn’t the firepower insufficient?”
“Yes, therefore, I plan to move multiple units.”
After that explanation, I summon the mini carts as previously planned.
– Consuming MP to summon the summoned creature.
– Consuming MP to summon the summoned creature equipped with that weapon.
– Consuming MP to summon the summoned creature with that weapon…
The successive notifications sound, and the number of mini carts rises to 16.
Four mini carts are assigned to each group, with three of them responsible for firepower armed with the .22 caliber turret, while one serves as eyes and command post with basic search equipment—small radar and video transmission device.
The inside of the fortress is complex like a maze but also connected through various passages, making this configuration the most efficient allocation.
‘Alright.’
Though nearly 100 MP was consumed in an instant, since I have 472 MP, I still have plenty to spare.
With that, the preparation is done.
As I gather the carts in one place, the Chunsam brothers observing from a step back express their admiration with comments.
“Whoa, this is quite… .”
“That’s neat, isn’t it? Hehehe.”
“Indeed, it seems like an army gathering.”
Expressing agreement with their comments, Riana nods and approaches me.
“Then, Edu, what should we do?”
“I need to focus on controlling these carts, so if you could keep an eye on us during that time, that would be great.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
Stealth carts thrive on secrecy, after all. While I don’t doubt Riana’s and the three brothers’ skills, without sandstorms inside the fortress to mask gunshots, it’s better to just move the carts.
Moreover, thinking about what lies ahead, showing Riana a good side of me at this juncture wouldn’t hurt.
“Alright, then, I’ll observe Edu’s skills.”
“You can trust me.”
This is the moment to showcase the expertise of a well-seasoned AOE player. Taking a deep breath to organize my thoughts, I extend my hand towards the carts.
The mini carts immediately quiver in response, and the four units slide silently and smoothly into the fortress.
Closing my eyes, I switch between the video feeds from the mini radar & video transmission-equipped vehicle placed in each group, checking the interior information.
The first target is the guard room. Taking advantage of the blind spots of the surveillance cameras just in case, I maneuver the carts to their destination.
Creeeak…
Using two carts to nudge the door, the guard room door slowly opens. Inside, there’s a TV and monitors linked with surveillance cameras, and a lone man with a mohawk leaned back in his chair, fast asleep.
Aligning the carts armed with .22 caliber turrets and locking on, three red lasers converge on the man’s face.
“…Uhmm?”
Perhaps one of the lasers passed over his eyes, just as the man slowly stirs, all the turrets unleash their fire simultaneously.
Click, clickclickclick-
“…”
The man freezes under the barrage of .22 bullets aimed at his face. And the now familiar notification appears.
– Gained 48 experience points.
‘Alright.’
Having neutralized the guard room, all that remains is to eliminate the scattered remnants in the various rooms.
However, without the save-load functionality from the game, I can feel my sweat and breathing rate slightly quickening due to mounting tension.
‘Stay calm. Proceed cautiously just like in AOE.’
In that manner, I steady myself and carefully spread each group of carts, methodically eliminating enemies room by room.
Clickclickclick-
The sound of gunfire, not quite a gunshot, continues to ring out as the .22 caliber turrets relentlessly eliminate targets.
“Ugh…”
“Errh…”
– Gained 61 experience points.
– Gained 55 experience points.
– Your level has increased, LV 3 ▷ LV 4.
Room to room, quietly rushing through corridors, the small reapers spread death.
There was a moment where my heart sank when one expected enemy wasn’t where they should’ve been, but fortunately, I managed to deal with him when I found him in the bathroom.
Snore…
Clickclickclickclick-
A rain of .22 caliber bullets meets the snoring man in deep sleep, and as I move the carts further, the screen transmitted from the carts begins to show noise, followed by a message appearing on the screen.
– Warning, nearing operational range limit.
Ah, already?
Operational range limit.
This is one of the penalties that summoners in AOE face. All summoned creatures, though varying in range, have a limit to how far they can stray from their summoner.
In other words, it’s impossible to send the summoned creatures far away and pound from afar.
In the case of robot summoners, this penalty is represented by the operational range limit. Though this drawback diminishes as the summoner levels up, it’s still quite inconvenient during the early levels.
‘I’ll need to move a little deeper inside. Might as well restock on the .22 caliber bullets while I’m at it?’
With that thought, I recall all the carts and slowly open my eyes.
“Edu? Did everything go well?”
“Yes, let’s move forward.”
“Alright, then I’ll take the lead. You protect Mili and Sita, sticking closely to the sides and rear.”
Taking the lead while issuing precise instructions to the Chunsam brothers, Riana steps forward. Once the three brothers nod and take their positions, the group enters the fortress.
The fortress interior, calmed from the dust raised upon entering through the main gate, greeted us with an indescribable smell amidst the scent of metal and oil.
Continuing forward with the guards up, Riana’s face shows surprise as she notices enemy bodies scattered behind the various open doors along the way.
“…Did Edu do all this?”
“Yes, precisely speaking, it wasn’t me but the carts.”
“Regardless, isn’t Edu the one controlling them?”
“That’s correct?”
“Amazing, to eliminate this many people….”
Pure admiration. The Chunsam brothers start chattering among themselves, feeling much the same.
“Wow, quite the skill….”
“Heheh, dying in your sleep is a bit pitiful though.”
“Well, they’re Fallen, so they deserved it.”
At that moment, a group of mini carts approaches us from the distance. The carts come rolling up like a pack of puppies, gathering cutely in front of the group.
“Aw, so cute.”
Riana says that while poking the closest cart with her finger, and Sita, curious too, approaches to do the same.
At first glance, they may seem completely defenseless, but Riana’s gun still remains unwavering toward the corridor beyond, even as she plays with the carts.
Impressive. Level 40s really are a different league.
Lost in that thought, I replenish the ammunition for all the mini carts’ .22 caliber turrets. -3 MP per cart, resulting in a total expenditure of -36 MP.
On top of that, -48 MP every ten minutes to maintain the mini carts. Still, the investment in attributes and INT leaves me with plenty of MP.
“Alright, I’ll send the carts out again.”
“Okay, then we’ll enter the nearby room. Everyone, follow me.”
Riana immediately gives out instructions and takes the lead, while I, as always, close my eyes and issue commands to the carts. The carts dart back inside the fortress.
Clickclickclick-
The .22 caliber turrets unleash their fire, and unsuspecting enemies meet their demise.
– Gained 64 experience points.
– Gained 71 experience points.
– Gained 58 experience points…
– Your level has increased, LV 4 ▷ LV 5.
– Your level has increased, LV 5 ▷ LV 6…
Notifications ring out one after another. Then, when the carts’ operational range limit approaches again, I proceed forward repeatedly.
Continuing this way, we finally reach the final boss room.
“Ah.”
A problem arises.
Thump, thump, thump.
A dull, heavy sound of footsteps echoes from within the fortress, the exact same effect I’ve heard countless times in AOE—undeniable.
The toughest unit among the Fallen’s human-like enemies, randomly placed throughout the dungeon.
“Edu? What’s wrong?”
“…It’s an Ironclad Soldier.”
“Ironclad Soldier?”
“Yes.”
Thump!
With a step toward us, a menacing sound echoes through the corridor, and the problem is, it’s not just one of them.
Bang!
The same sound echoes again from right beside us. Sending out the mini cart equipped with a small radar & video transmission device provides a view of the area before the boss room.
Ironclad Soldiers.
Beings that take a reinforced exoskeleton from the old days, clad in thick iron plates, armed with heavy machine guns, literally humanoid tanks, strong adversaries.
And there they are, two of them standing guard at the entrance to the boss room.