How the Villainous Consort Avoids His Death Ending

Tristan asked calmly.

“What is the enemy’s strength?”

“They say the patrol fleet consists of four small and medium-sized speedboats. The ships blockading the port are about seven medium-sized privateer ships. Other vessels are not yet visible.”

“Good. Half-mast the sails. Check the cannons on both port and starboard sides!”

Tristan’s voice rang out clearly. The crew began to move in unison, and Jason, the newly joined master gunner, was already standing by the cannons he had inspected several times.

To be precise, he was hugging and caressing one of the cannons in his arms, his eyes gleaming. No matter how you looked at it, he seemed a little… no, very strange.

“…”

“Grand Consort? Do you have something to say?”

“…No. Will there be any particular problems?”

“Haha, yes. I am just worried that those Dearsby bastards will stick to the fortress walls and not come out to face us. They say only those tiny boats are loitering about, right? I want to test these babies out soon.”

“I thought they said they were medium-sized ships, not tiny. Other large ships will appear soon, so you do not need to be disappointed… Regardless, I am counting on you for this attack.”

“Of course, Grand Consort. You have absolutely no need to worry. Our ‘Grand Consort’s Tongue’ will exert its power. Hahahaha!”

“…”

Are geniuses generally a little strange in the head?

Jason was the developer who had been creating those cannons, and he was a peculiar person who had insisted on following us and asked to be made master gunner, even though I had discouraged him by saying there was no need for him to participate in a dangerous battle. Looking at him reminded me of Mathias, the cartographer, and I felt somewhat bitter.

Let’s assume it’s fine that he cherishes the cannons like his own children (that was strange enough, too). But to even give the cannons names. And for that name to be none other than “The Grand Consort’s Tongue.”

What kind of name is that, really…

“I also want to approach the fortress walls and fire ‘The Grand Duke’s Roar’ soon. My body is itching to do so, my lord.”

“I would prefer that a siege does not occur if possible… but well, you will not have to wait long regardless.”

The ultra-heavy cannon developed for the purpose of a siege was named “The Grand Duke’s Roar.” It was still a cringe-worthy name, but at least “Roar” was less bizarre than “Tongue.” I envied Tristan.

Around noon, as we approached the Port of Belforte, a signal flag went up from the leading ship. From afar, a metallic clanking sound as if the hull had caught on something, followed by a dull impact sound of something colliding, was faintly heard.

“Ships number 9 and 10 have had their hulls caught in a chain defensive net!”

The navigator, who had interpreted the signal flag, ran over and reported to Tristan. Tristan nodded briefly.

“The entire fleet is to slow down. Open the gun ports while preparing for enemy bombardment.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Two of Hezekia’s ships were caught in the trap set by Count Dearsby. However, everyone remained calm.

This was because the ships that had stopped moving after getting caught in the chains were only two small ships that we had been using for reconnaissance purposes in the first place. Above all, it was a situation that had occurred within our predicted range.

“Your prediction was right. I am glad we sent the scouts in advance.”

Tristan looked back at me and said softly. I grinned and nodded.

“It is a tactic Count Dearsby uses frequently. He hangs chains beneath the shallow water and launches a surprise attack when the ships cannot move.”

It was a method that often appeared in the original work when Count Dearsby and Everett waged naval battles against Constantine. In the original work, a large-scale civil war breaks out, and naval battles take place not only here off the coast of Port of Belforte but all along the coasts within the Empire.

The rebel army led by Constantine—though from Constantine’s perspective, Everett’s side, who usurped the throne, were the “rebels,” but because the current Emperor was Everett, Constantine’s army was called the rebel army—was primarily the attacking side. Whenever that happened, Count Dearsby would install such chains or long and short iron rods in various places in the shallow water near the coastline.