Chapter 35 - The Third Son’s Apprehension
In my laboratory, situated within the Fortress, I retrieved a single gun from a storage box. Though the strict storage procedures caused a bit of trouble, I finally managed to pull it out. I couldn’t recall which prototype number it was.
The thing, subjected to countless modifications, was now vastly different from what I had originally created. When I saw its completed form, I felt an overwhelming sense of dread. This device had the potential to magnify human desires to an endless extent.
--- It could overturn the very foundation of how conflicts arise between people.
Overcome with fear, I envisioned a bleak future, which led me to half-seal the device as a precautionary measure. However, things were different here in the frontier. Against monsters and magical beasts, there was nothing more useful to humans than this weapon. It felt almost ironic, as if it were a test of human restraint. I was acutely aware of this.
Before returning to the others, I murmured a confession to God. For a sinner like me, it was the only way I could conceive of to protect the people. My elder brothers might have come up with better ideas, but this was my limit.
Therefore, this weapon was never meant to be used against humans. That was my absolute condition.
---
Holding the gun in my hand, I returned to the others.
I placed it on the table, which was already cluttered with scattered documents. I could see everyone’s gaze drawn to the iron rod with unrelenting curiosity. But no one understood what it was. Having never seen such a device before, they reacted as if it were a strange magitech tool. I sat down in a chair, folding my arms across my chest as I glanced around at everyone. All their eyes remained fixated on the gun on the table.
As expected, the leader of the fifth-year soldiers was the first to look at me. His expression carried a mix of confusion and the realization that this must be something significant, given the magitech tool I had demonstrated earlier in the day. I spoke deliberately and "slowly," emphasizing each word.
"It doesn’t look the same, but it functions similarly to a crossbow. However, its performance is entirely different. This magitech tool can launch an arrow... a steel projectile and hit a target 2,000 yalds (2,000 meters) away. If you prioritize pure distance, it can reach up to 3,000 yalds (3,000 meters). But 2,000 yalds is the maximum range for piercing the skull of a medium-sized magical beast. If the target is too close, it will easily pass through. Of course, this is a weapon that requires the careful selection of its wielder."
"""Huh?!"""
My words left everyone in shock. Even Old Man widened his eyes in disbelief. Indeed, in this world, such a gun was an aberrant weapon. No one had ever imagined anything like it before. No, perhaps I should say, it’s from a different dimension and world altogether.
The only commonality it shared with existing weapons was the fundamental idea of "throwing something to hit a distant target."
"I imagine it’s beyond what you can conceive. I developed this prototype in the Alchemy Tower of the Magic Academy. My classmates dismissed it as nothing more than a hobby. But here, in the frontier, I realized that if something could surpass bows and crossbows in power and range, it would drastically reduce the casualties among soldiers. You can think of it as an extension of archery."
"In other words... the magitech tool you unveiled to us today is..."
"Eyes for long-distance sniping. To hit an enemy that’s beyond the reach of a bow, it’s impossible for just the shooter’s eyes alone to manage the task.”
"Eyes capable of seeing an enemy 2,000 yalds away. Like a spotter used during large-scale long-range magical spells... Is that what it is?"
"That’s right. Ah, yes. However, its method of operation is entirely different. Spotters are used to pinpoint the locations of large groups of enemy soldiers. For long-distance shooting, identifying the approximate location and condition of magical monsters or magical beasts is crucial. It dramatically increases the accuracy of the shot. If someone else can swiftly and accurately determine the enemy’s location and surrounding conditions, the shooter can focus solely on shooting. That’s the idea."
"I see... That makes sense. But still, it’s hard to believe that this iron rod is such a powerful weapon."
"I can understand that sentiment. It’s an unfamiliar type of weapon, and since I developed it alone, its capabilities remain unproven. That’s why I decided to unveil the scouting magitech tool first. Though initially designed as "spotters," its practicality has proven it can also be used for reconnaissance. By knowing the positions of monsters and magical beasts in all directions, imagine how much more favorable our positioning would be during combat, without taking unnecessary risks. Considering your extensive experience in actual combat, you should be able to grasp the importance of this."
"Of course. The monsters and magical beasts that appear out of nowhere... Those that blend into the surrounding trees with their camouflage-like colors... How many times have we been caught off guard by them? If we knew their positions in advance, gaining the upper hand would have been easy."
I continue to hold the gun in my hand and speak. It wasn’t uncommon for the secondary effects of a tool to become its primary purpose. A childhood friend once said, "In a magitech tool shop, it's an everyday occurrence to come up with new ideas for magitech tools based on such things."
"This was developed as a weapon against monsters, not humans. Of course, without any restrictions, it could become an effective weapon against humans as well. However, introducing this into wars between nations would change the very nature of warfare. It could make merciless annihilation the norm. I believe it’s incredibly dangerous to rely solely on human virtue. Considering the threats posed by the vast Demonic Forest that covers most of the land, humans turning on each other would only shrink our sphere of survival. That’s what I fear and worry about. Handling this requires the utmost caution.”
"......Though difficult to grasp, if that’s what you say, Commander..."
"Young Master, are there others who know of this weapon’s existence?"
Sensing the weight of my fear, the others grew tense. Although they still seemed skeptical about the gun’s power, their experience in battle allowed them to imagine the implications if its performance was genuine. That’s why the old man asked about its secrecy. The fewer people who knew about it... the easier it would be to safeguard the information.
"A few classmates from the Alchemy Tower at the Magic Academy. Several people from the Knight Department who saw me at the archery practice field in the early morning. And one instructor who teaches at the Alchemy Tower. Altogether, no more than the number of fingers on both my hands."
"I see. And they all dismissed it as a country bumpkin’s hobby?"
"Exactly. That’s why I believe secrecy will be manageable. On the other hand, I cannot grant permission to use it beyond my direct supervision."
"Young Master... If this gun’s capabilities are real, then that reasoning makes sense. But to this old man, it still seems too extraordinary to believe.”
"I see. Understood. Let’s conduct a test shot. Since I’ve disclosed it, it’s best to show its power to everyone. Fortunately, the Fortress has an archery range, albeit a dimly lit one."
――――
I led the group to the archery range. The Fortress, now shrouded in the dim light of dusk, was desolate. It wasn’t inhabited, as it existed solely for me to immerse myself in my research. I returned to the knightly family's estate for meals and baths, so there were no servants in the Fortress. The equipment here functioned autonomously, powered by magitech tools I had crafted. Human presence was unnecessary.
I understood well that keeping things out of sight was critical for maintaining secrecy (counterintelligence).
To those who were unaware of the circumstances, the third son of the knightly family was seen as someone who became absorbed in alchemy in the royal capital and continued pursuing his hobby even after returning to his hometown. That assumption wasn’t entirely incorrect. However, the problem lies in the fact that the things I am working with leap far beyond the technological level and development ideas of this world.
What allowed me to achieve this was the existence of magic in this world, the count-level internal mana I possessed, and the Skills bestowed upon me from above. Was it truly a coincidence? Or was it someone’s will? I had pondered these questions many nights but found no answers.
In theory, my memories from my previous life should have been useless here.
Yet, fragments of that knowledge had led to the creation of such a thing. In a world where the foundation of science was completely different, the items I crafted with my own hands were nothing short of out-of-place artifacts. Hence, I prioritized keeping the information as secret as possible. I would use this invention solely to fulfill the noble duty of a man from a frontier knightly family.
It was truly dangerous. Incredibly so. It had the potential to overturn the world’s common sense, and the conflict between humans could erase the living space of humanity in this world. It was terrifying... simply terrifying.
--- I had decided to protect people.
Weapons meant to kill humans were unnecessary.
What I sought was a power meant solely for fighting monsters and magical beasts.
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