Mobile Combat Weapons

As time passed, coordination among the Seven Fiefs gradually took shape under Shien's direction.

Repairs to the main post road continued, and its condition slowly returned to what it had been two years earlier. Sacred Flame Echo Consoles were also established across the major fiefs.

Meanwhile, cartloads of timber and iron from the other fiefs made their way to Blackpine Fief.

Gray smoke rose from Blackpine Fief's Workshop day and night.

Thousands of craftsmen worked in shifts, maintaining a steady output of repeating crossbows, cannon mounts, armor, and sharp swords.

As soon as these weapons and defensive tools were finished, they were sent in batches to the various fiefs for the construction of fortifications.

Everything along the Seven Fiefs' defensive line was moving forward in orderly fashion.

But the entire defensive system still lacked a sword.

No matter how sturdy the Seven Fiefs' defenses became, cannons and repeating crossbows could not sprout legs and move on their own.

If a large number of Demonic Beasts concentrated their attack on one position, the troops manning its fixed fortifications could only hold out as best they could.

They needed a sword that could rush to any point at a moment's notice.

Like the Mobile Holy Knight unit Bishop Castian had led during last year's Blood Moon Season.

When Shien proposed the idea, everyone's first reaction was hesitation.

The Church's Holy Knights wielded overwhelming force because each of them was far stronger than an ordinary knight of the same rank.

Even though Blackpine Fief's forces were stronger than those of most fiefs and included some Church Knights, their average strength fell far short of that level.

Shien already had a plan for that.

If their physical strength could not match the Church's Holy Knights, he would make up the difference elsewhere.

He intended