Chapter 56: The Boy and the Savior
Godrick, a woodcutter boy who lives in the village of the forest, has decided to ride the wave of a rapidly changing era due to the appearance of the Yamato Empire.
This modern country, the Yamato Empire, is a single country that is changing the world’s economy.
With the emergence of this country, the medieval barter economy is nearing its end.
It would be difficult to live as a woodcutter in the countryside for the rest of his life. You cannot self-sufficiently produce all necessary living supplies only within the village.
However, if you want to get something from outside, you need money. And there is no concept of a ‘money economy’ in the village.
Because there is no money, I have no choice but to go out and earn some.
If that’s the case, there’s no other way. If you can’t live, keep searching for a way to live.
Therefore, he pursued the ‘Yamato Dream,’ differing from the ‘American Dream,’ and decided to go out to the city to make a living.
A month after he went to buy the medicine.
After returning to the village once and handing over the medicine for back pain to the village chief, he began to pack his own belongings. And then, after saying goodbye to the villagers, he began heading towards the town of Juno once again.
“Thus, the young man heads to the city with expectations in his heart. Crossing over the terrifying plains ruled by the barbarians to obtain a fortune! … Yep, it’s not bad. It doesn’t sound bad, either, the story of Godrick’s adventure.”
Or something like that.
With a new adventure, a new life, and a certain common illness among middle schoolers, Godrick moves forward with his horse.
After passing through the narrow path in the forest, when he emerged into the plain, he moved through it, watching his surroundings carefully.
Outside the forest is a dangerous area.
There’s no telling when or where the barbarians will attack.
A moment’s carelessness could cost one’s life… No, even if you’re not careless, it’s still deadly once you’re found. Being a hunting and nomadic tribe, it is extremely difficult to escape from the Moruro, who are excellent hunters by nature.
After five hours of traveling under the bright sun.
The sun was high, it was just about noon. It’s an ideal day for traveling in perfectly clear weather, without a single cloud in the sky.
“Phew, I’m starting to get hungry. Oh, there’s a stream just over there…”
What Godrick saw was a small stream. He can refill his water there, and it might be a good place to have lunch.
He got off the horse, opened the lid of the water bottle, and tried to draw water from the stream.
However…
At that moment, he noticed loud footsteps echoing from a distance.
“What, sound of hooves… Horses? Also, this is――the sound of Moruro’s lizard’s footsteps.”
This is bad news.
It’s no time for lunch, Godrick throws away his water bottle and mounts his horse. And then, he puts the whip in full force and runs away.
Immediately after, a lizard as big as an elephant appears from the hill behind, spreading a cloud of dust.
The lizard has a rough and barbed appearance, indeed looking like a carnivorous monster.
“They’ve appeared, the Moruro!”
Its official name is Moruro Giant Lizard. Its scientific name is Valanes Molroy.
Inhabiting the plains, it seems to be a creature biologically similar to a dragon that has lost its wings. Their intelligence is at the level of a horse, they are social animals that usually live in a herd, and they could potentially be domesticated.
On its back, there is a short and stout figure―― the Moruro people. Furthermore, about 10 Moruro archer horsemen were running in front of the giant lizard.
This is a reconnaissance and pursuit unit to make full use of the main force, which is the giant lizard.
“Hyahaha! There’s a fool here, that guy is my prey!”
“Don’t let him get away, kill him! I’ll take the horse! Humans are to be made into food!”
Their saliva was spewing and their eyes were bloodshot and reddened.
They really looked like barbarians, dressed in filthy fur clothes. The Moruro are cheerfully laughing while chasing after Godrick.
“Heh, you cavalrymen, move ahead and stop him from behind! Don’t kill him, because I’m the one who will finish him off!”
“Aye, brother!”
The commander riding the lizard gives orders to his cavalry troops, who then disperse according to his commands.
They moved in a way to surround Godrick.
“Damn it, I have to get rid of my luggage or I can’t escape!”
He will be killed if he is caught.
Godrick pulled out his knife that he had been carrying around his waist, he cut off the luggage tied to the horse, despite considering it a waste.
It was a necessary thing for survival such as clothing, bedding, etc, but it can’t replace life.
However…
“Hyahaha! What a slowpoke. Is this guy, really riding a horse!?”
“Hey hey, did you mistake a donkey for a horse!?”
Even so, he can’t get away.
There’s no way a boy, who was born and raised in the forest, could beat the Moruro people, who are a naturally nomadic tribe, in horsemanship.
He was overtaken before he knew it.
“Hey, kid, why don’t you stop. If you do, I’ll make it painless for you.”
“Heh heh, well, I’m just gonna kill you in one swoop.”
Two Moruro cavalrymen showing vulgar faces, surround Godrick from both sides. Both of them are drawing their bows, aiming at Godrick.
“Is there any idiot who would stop after hearing that? ――Die!”
Without hesitation, Godrick readied his bow and counterattacked. He is not so reckless as to try to break through the dangerous plains without weapons.
Aiming for the right Moruro cavalry, sets the target and then releases the arrow.
However…
“Ah? Where are you aiming at, kid?”
The arrow flew far above the Moruro soldier’s head. It flew off the mark splendidly.
The Moruro soldiers were baffled at how far off the mark his aim was, “S-shut up, that was a threat! Next time for sure!” Then, out of desperation, he shoots the bow again but… It’s way off again.
Well, there’s no way a mere woodcutter could handle a bow.
“S-shit! It’s harder than I thought.”
“You don’t you even know how to use a bow?! That’s awful, kid!”
“Hehe, how about I teach you one last favor before you go to the underworld? Look, this is how you use a bow! There!”
The Moruro soldier releases an arrow while grinning mockingly.
A swift, piercing sound rips through the air.
“Ugh…!”
The arrow perfectly hit Godrick’s shoulder, he couldn’t bear the pain and fell from the horse while struggling. He ended up rolling several meters on the ground.
Godrick, who has fallen down.
Lost his horse and got injured. His leg was injured due to the impact of falling off the horse, so much so that he no longer seemed able to walk.
It’s already hopeless, it’s over.
The giant lizard approaches with heavy footsteps.
The one who is riding is the Moruro soldier who said he would deliver the final blow.
He is probably no longer able to run away. But he doesn’t want to be eaten without putting up a fight. He struggles to raise his body to prepare his bow.
At the very least, as a last-ditch counterattack, he wants to fire an arrow at the approaching giant lizard.
However… The arrow he fires bounces off after hitting the hard shell of the lizard.
“Tch, It doesn’t even penetrate. It’s too hard…”
He is muttering meaningless complaints while he is falling flat on his back due to exhaustion. Looking up at the giant lizard opening its mouth wide to eat him, he prepared for the end.
My life ends by being eaten by this lizard. So, my life ends just like that, huh?
However…
“…Footsteps? No wait, that’s not it.”
An unfamiliar sound rushes into Godrick’s ears, who has fallen to the ground.
It sounds like the creaking of metal.
It’s a bit too much of a disturbing noise for an angel descending in order to take Godrick to heaven.
“Ah, big bro! What is this noise?”
And it seems that it is not a hallucination.
The Moruro soldiers who are surrounding the fallen Godrick are also confused by the sound and looking around to find its source.
In the meantime, the sound is getting closer and closer.
What the heck is this?
With the last of the strength he could muster up, he looked up towards the direction of the sound, at the top of the hill.
What was there was… A being that Godrick sees for the first time.
A countless chunks of metal―― these are tanks belonging to the armored battalion of the Führer personal guard squad.
“Ayame-san, there’s somewhat an enormous lizard here. This area should have been under control by the armored division that came before us.”
“They messed up, didn’t they? Any oversight is unacceptable, what are they going to do if something happens to my Eryu-san? I’ll punish them later.”
Suddenly, an armored battalion appeared on the land of Moruro.
These people, the Führer and Ayame-san, are at the forefront of the tank unit.
What they are riding on is the new prototype light tank, the Type 5 Light Tank.
The difference between the existing Type 3 Light Tank and the new improved one was that the turret was enlarged from a one-person to a two-person capacity, making it possible to carry not only the tank commander but also a dedicated gunner.
This time, the Führer is the tank commander and Ayame-san is the gunner.
“The punishment will come later. Ayame-san, target enemy giant lizard. Please fire the main gun.”
“Yes, I understand. Eryu-san.”
There’s an enemy in front of them. Then, let’s give it a big shot.
Ayame-san who is proficient at aiming. She won’t miss her target.
A 37mm tank shell, fired from the main gun of the Type 5 light tank, directly hits the giant lizard. The type of ammunition is the armor-piercing shell, which can easily penetrate the armor of a light tank, the hard shell of the giant lizard is powerless against this ammunition.
Easily pierces through and explodes the head with a single blow.
“Uh-uaaah, wh-what’s happening? Is it God’s thunder?!”
Godrick, shocked.
A monster he absolutely couldn’t handle on his own was blown up with a loud bang, its head shattered into pieces. It would be strange if he’s not surprised.
Furthermore…
“All Imperial Guards vehicles, open fire. Burn down those who do harm to Eryu-san.”
On Ayame-san’s command, about 50 tanks belonging to the battalion fire simultaneously, it’s overwhelming.
“Aah, arrghh! God, please help me!”
The artillery shells land one after another around Godric and the Moruro cavalry surrounding him, which causes the fuses to be triggered and sets off the explosives.
……It is unclear why Godrick did not die from this attack. Was it due to the lack of power of the 37mm shell, or he was simply lucky.
The only thing that can be said is that the Moruro soldiers were not as lucky as Godrick.
They can’t even scream in the face of the raining tank shells, getting scattered and almost annihilated.
And the last one remaining, “Eek, eek…!? B-big bro got done in. I have to run away…” He ran away in fear, but he was blown away and killed by the next volley.
“Did I survive…”
Before he knew it, Godrick was lying alone on the plains.
All the barbarians that were chasing after him are dead.
When he realized that this was the case, he passed out from relief.
=====
A brief supplementary explanation: The Evolution of the Yamato Empire’s Tanks.
The Type 99 Light Tank is similar to the Renault FT-17.
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The Type 3 Light Tank, where a machine gunner’s seat was added to the front of the vehicle, slightly altered its shape, but despite this change, the tank’s performance remained largely unchanged.
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The machine gun, which is originally located at the front of the vehicle body, is moved so that it is coaxial with the main gun. Furthermore, the turret has been enlarged, thus allowing the gunner and tank commander to ride within it. It’s reminiscent of a Type 98 Light Tank Ke-Ni.
……So far, the basic specifications haven’t changed much. It has just become easier to handle and more maintainable.
In addition, there are also other instances where various heavy tanks were developed during the Lasbata era, however, although they were produced for export, they were difficult to handle, expensive, and not used domestically.
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