Chapter 441: Half a day

‘Unexpected.’

Central X-District. Oliver thought this while looking at the unfinished buildings in the distance.

Could ‘Enjoyment’ really be nesting there?

But on further reflection, it wasn’t all that strange.

100 people. To be exact, 118 Druids gathered in one place. There was no other viable option except X-District.

Especially if they intended to take root there.

‘Lucky. Most of them are all here.’

Crunch, crunch. Oliver thought while eating a Calorie Bar.

With the Warlock’s Eye, he observed Enjoyment’s base, seeing around 100 people who seemed to be Druids, just as Forest had said.

There were about three times more magic users and regular folks.

‘They’re probably some community that doesn’t like our side redeveloping the area with the unaffiliated gangs. Who would have thought they’d fortify the street like this?’

After identifying the human forces with the Warlock’s Eye, Oliver then examined the equipment.

As per Forest’s information on their weapon purchases, a significant number of magical weapons caught his eye.

24 stationary machine guns with spatial magic, 5 magic circles for lightning bombardment, 10 binding magic circles, 20 exoskeleton suits, and more.

It seemed true that the unaffiliated gangs had emptied their secret funds into this operation.

But what concerned him more were the branches planted throughout the buildings and streets. Branches filled with potent natural power.

Given the dense natural energy, it was clear these weren’t hastily made but had been prepared over a long time.

“Hmm…”

As Oliver contemplated while observing Enjoyment’s base, Joe approached him cautiously.

“Do you… need a telescope?”

Joe handed over a state-of-the-art telescope. He seemed tense and anxious. Was it because of Nora?

“…Thank you.”

Oliver took the telescope and used it. It was high-quality; he could clearly see the regular gang members setting up barricades at the far entrance and the snipers hiding in the windows of the building as if they were right in front of him.

“Thank you. I used it well.”

Oliver handed the telescope back. As Joe took it, Oliver asked a question.

“Is it because of Nora?”

Are you anxious because you’re worried about Nora? Joe understood the question and answered.

“I am worried about Nora, but this time, that’s not the reason.”

Truthful.

“Then, what is making you uneasy?”

Joe looked at Oliver, contemplating for a long while.

“Can I tell you a bit later? After this job is done.”

“Hmm… Yes, I understand.”

Oliver was slightly curious but soon gave a calm reply.

Seeing Oliver slightly different from usual, Joe, still nervous, asked a question.

“…Is it alright if I ask about the strategy?”

Joe glanced behind him.

Behind them were about 20 members of the Fighter Crew, along with 50 from The Selectors, over 100 problem solvers, and mercenaries hired by Forest.

Oh, and Oliver’s Corpse Doll—Bathory, Durance, Seamus—and around 20 more Corpse Doll-Wizards were also there.

Altogether, it was around 200 people.

To be honest, it wasn’t easy to face them head-on. Usually, you’d need double the forces for an attack.

Joe said.

“According to the data from Mr. Forest, if we get any closer, they’ll likely notice us. We should select those best at stealth first—”

“—I’ll go in first, so please join when you think it’s the right time.”

Oliver spoke so calmly.

Joe was too shocked to say anything, but Marie, who was a few steps back, simply replied respectfully, understanding.

Joe couldn’t comprehend it. Everyone knew Oliver was strong, and his Corpse Dolls were formidable, but even so, this was too…

.

However, Oliver was serious. He tossed a Calorie Bar into his mouth and pulled out a new one while approaching Corpse Doll-Durance, giving instructions.

“Second. Please.”

At those words, a beautiful woman-shaped Corpse Doll who appeared to be in her early 30s began to move.

Blue magical steam billowed from the minute holes in her body, and shortly after, her magical power concentrated in one arm, causing it to swell up.

Incredibly unreal.

For a moment, it seemed like a trick of the eye, but it wasn’t. Proof of this came when her sleeve tore open, revealing a massive cannon barrel made up of a combination of human bones, flesh, and some mechanical components.

Yes, Corpse Doll-Durance’s arm had transformed into a cannon barrel.

‘I see… If she can create a whip out of bone and flesh, creating a cannon barrel wouldn’t be impossible either.’

Oliver recalled the time when he, Second, and Corpse Doll-Durance worked together to adjust and train.

At first, Second hated Durance with a passion. She always said she preferred guns.

‘Guns are better! Bang Bang! Guns! Not magic! Guns are awesome!! Gun!! Grrrruuun!!! B-blam-blam-blam-blam!!!’

Second showed firm resistance. At the time, Oliver found it interesting and jotted down a few notes on Child Observation Journal under the topic of preferences and tastes, then persuaded her.

He explained that Durance wasn’t just a simple magic user; she could manipulate her body to create tools. Like a whip, for example.

‘Whips suck! I hate them even more! That’s weird! Guns! Grrrruns! B-blam-b-blam-blam!!!’

Her preferences were firm. Indeed, looking at how Second operated the Corpse Dolls-Snipers back then, it was understandable.

Even when the firepower of her gun wasn’t enough, she remained stubbornly attached to it.

So Oliver repeatedly persuaded Second by explaining Durance’s potential.

‘Second. The fact she can create a whip means she could create an incredibly bang-bang gun too.’

‘…!’

Afterward, Second adapted to Corpse Doll-Durance, working together until they could fully utilize her abilities.

Much faster than First did when syncing with Bathory. It was difficult, but her desire for a gun made it possible.

‘Bang Bang!!!’

That passion almost infected Oliver. Considering that time, he should feel happy now.

Child-Second’s passion had finally come to fruition… However, Oliver couldn’t and as a result, could only watch Second perform with indifference.

Click.

A sound resonated from the cannon-barrel arm of Corpse Doll-Durance.

A vent appeared on the side of the arm to release heat.

Simultaneously, Corpse Doll-Durance concentrated all her magical power into the cannon.

Then, a blue light shone from the muzzle and the newly appeared vents on the side.

Woooom!

The cannonball was fired.

Boom!!

Blue flames erupted from the barrel, scattering blue shock waves and smoke in all directions.

At the same time, a bullet made of flesh tore through the air, shooting toward the sky. It moved so fast it was almost invisible.

“…?”

Everyone had question marks on their faces, speechlessly watching Oliver and Corpse Doll-Durance.

After all, her arm had just transformed, only to shoot a single bullet. For a surprise attack, it seemed underwhelming, especially in a fortress with over 100 people from Enjoyment.

But soon, their doubts vanished.

In the sky, the flesh bullet had reached above Enjoyment’s fortress and split apart.

It didn’t simply shatter.

It split precisely, maintaining a stable distance based on the magic formula Second had prepared in advance.

They formed a pentagon shape, covering the fortress.

The flesh bullet divided into five pieces, each drawing a magic circle in the sky.

As the magic circles were activated, the flesh responded and transformed. Each piece turned into a total of ten bullets.

Fifty bullets made of flesh now existed.

[Precision Aiming]

[Strengthen]

[Heavily]

[Acceleration]

Second cast four layers of magic on all fifty bullets and then activated the magic circle.

Boom-boom-boom-boom!

The magic circle exploded like gunpowder, creating 50 shockwaves in the sky. Bullets rained down on Enjoyment’s fortress.

They didn’t just drop randomly. They targeted key defensive facilities of the fortress.

As if exploding from the ground up, pillars of dirt, dust, stationary machine guns, lightning attack formations, binding magic circles, exoskeleton armor storage, and more were all destroyed.

At least 60% of them were rendered unusable.

This was the result of a single attack. Truly remarkable.

Of course, considerable magical power was spent, not to mention Durance’s flesh was used to create the bullets.

“Hahaha-hah—!! I love these bullets! I love them!!”

Having lost her Corpse Doll-Sniper and been gloomy for a while, Second burst out laughing for the first time in a long time.

While it seemed like she was more happy about the powerful firepower than having a new body, as long as she was happy, wasn’t that enough?

Second shouted in excitement.

“Should I fire more? I’ll shoot them! Bang! Shoot!!”

Her tone was more of a statement than a question, unclear whether she was asking or informing.

She was too excited.

Oliver wanted to share in Second’s joy but couldn’t, so he just pulled out another Calorie Bar and answered.

“Yes, please fire. But use magical bullets this time, not flesh. We shouldn’t overuse the flesh.”

It was true. The flesh was Durance’s own, and while it could be replenished through maintenance, overusing it was not advisable.

Second, still infatuated with the flesh bullets, felt a bit disappointed at the tone-dampening remark but quickly transformed her arm as if testing her new body’s functions.

Durance’s cannon-like arm was reconfigured, incorporating internal mechanical devices to transform into a massive machine gun. Holding the gun with her other hand, she mercilessly started to fire magical bullets at Enjoyment’s base.

“Kakakaka-hah-hah-hah!”

Ratatatatatatatataaaaa—a!!!!

The sound of the gunfire echoed alongside Second’s manic laughter.

The gunfire was louder than anything Oliver had ever heard. The blue magical bullets traced a gentle arc, turning the distant fortress into a beehive.

Life force was rapidly extinguished. Then, something unexpected happened.

“Trees?!?”

Someone muttered in shock, and they were right.

From all over the fortress that Enjoyment had fortified, trees erupted, covering and protecting the entire street.

Joe, who had seen the branches filled with potent natural power earlier, let out a low curse.

“Damn it all…”

He knew well the power of Druids in a forest.

But Oliver didn’t find it bad. After all, Oliver also had a Druid.

“Third. Please.”

On Oliver’s call, Third exited from within Corpse Doll-Seamus, cracking his neck as he strode forward.

Walking slowly, Seamus then suddenly started running, and over time, it seemed like he was receiving momentum as his arms became forelegs, now moving on all fours.

Resembling a quadrupedal animal… No, Seamus didn’t just resemble one; he actually became one.

His head had transformed into that of a goat before anyone could notice.

“Baaaaa!!!”

While running through the rain of magical bullets, Seamus, now with a goat head, let out a bleating cry.

Rather than intimidating, the sound was eerie and unpleasant. Despite the gunfire, it rang clearly, drawing everyone’s attention.

Third, inside Corpse Doll-Seamus, seemed to sense the attention and suddenly stopped running, maximizing Seamus’s goat legs to stomp the ground.

Boom━!!

A massive noise erupted. The ground within a 10-meter radius exploded and overturned from Seamus’s strike, and Seamus himself vanished from sight.

At the same time, the building serving as the fortress’s outer wall caved in, crumbling completely.

Seamus had leaped and destroyed it in one blow.

Even more surprising, the torrential rain of magical bullets avoided Corpse Doll-Seamus as it happened.

It wasn’t a coincidence. It was Second’s skill.

With just two Corpse Dolls, a breach had formed in the fortress housing 100 of Enjoyment’s members.

The impossible sight left the Fighter Crew, The Selectors, problem solvers, and mercenaries silently astonished. All except for Oliver.

Oliver, still indifferent, took a bite of his Calorie Bar and addressed Corpse Doll-Bathory.

“First. You too, please.”