Chapter 50 - A Weapon Unknown to Me
Note: Happy Chinese New Year to all! We don't really celebrate it, but it's one more day where we don't have to get up early for work 🐱! Here's one more chapter for everyone. Have a good day!
First, Mother spoke. She pressed a finger to her lips, unusually deep in thought.
“This is quite difficult, Lord Husband. With such beauty adorned by top-grade jewelry, obtaining or even glimpsing such things is rare in the frontier. Sending something subpar would undoubtedly result in us being ridiculed as mere country folk. While the high countess herself had an excellent demeanor, her butler and household staff clearly looked down on the frontier.”
“Hmm... That was my impression as well. No matter how hard we try, if we’re to be looked down upon regardless, then our efforts would be wasted. What do you all think?”
“Let’s see... Offering local fruits or grains as gifts... won’t do, will it? While they taste good, their appearance leaves much to be desired, making them unsuitable as formal presents.”
“If Elder Brother feels that way, then valuable monster parts wouldn’t please them either. They are valued here, but as my younger brother mentioned, they’re seen as repugnant in the royal capital. Isn’t that right?”
The gazes of my two older brothers turned to me. Indeed, as they both said, the goods produced in this region lacked refinement and were entirely practical. Offering such items as gifts to someone who served close to the grand ducal lady would undoubtedly be inappropriate.
For a moment, I sank into silence, lost in thought.
Was there nothing suitable? I recalled the graceful posture and the sight of her walking alongside the grand ducal lady, and then an idea came to me. Depending on how it was perceived, it might be seen as quite rude. However, with some ingenuity in the wording, it could work.
I spoke softly.
“If it’s a regional specialty we’re considering, it doesn’t have to be a physical item, does it?”
“What do you mean?”
Eldest Brother’s curious gaze fell on me as he asked.
“You may have noticed, but the high countess limps slightly when she walks. I’ve heard that she was attacked by a magical beast in her childhood and came close to death. It seems she still bears deep wounds on her body.”
“......A healer, you mean? Have you set your sights on the chief medic of the guard unit?”
“Yes, Eldest Brother. That person might be able to heal the high countess’s body. What’s more, her hands are those of a priestess. She is also a woman, making her more approachable. Additionally, she’s well-versed in the endemic diseases of this region... How about recommending her as a medical officer to the high countess’s military forces in the form of a temporary assignment?”
“Hmm... I see. She’s indeed a highly capable healer. Being familiar with the diseases of this region would make her invaluable to a newly relocated military force. On top of that, she’s the chief medic, meaning she’s knowledgeable in military affairs as well. I see now... That’s a clever idea.”
“It may seem crude, but if we frame it as her being of assistance to the lord’s soldiers... they might accept. As part of that, she could also examine the high countess. Even if her old wounds can’t be fully healed, her condition would likely improve significantly under that healer’s care.”
“Hmm, a good idea. I’ll think about how to present this. Are you all in agreement? A temporary transfer would mean she could eventually return here.”
“““Agreed.”””
Both of my brothers and Mother nodded, as if to say, “You’ve thought this through well.” In this land of scarcity, people are the most valuable assets. Everyone here lives desperately, struggling and striving to become someone of worth. The Skills honed through such perseverance is a polished gem—a treasure this frontier can proudly boast.
If they could understand the value of such a treasure... then surely, they would come to appreciate the heart of the frontier.
―――――
The proficiency of the guerilla unit was gradually but steadily improving. While the proposed combination of guns and crossbows was ultimately deemed unsuitable after thorough testing, it prompted a renewed examination of the importance of shooters carrying close-combat weapons. What would be useful to these men, who were former hunters?
They already carried knives, but those offered little in terms of combat effectiveness during emergencies. Short swords were also considered, but unlike infantry, shooters primarily operated with stealth as their central strategy. Engaging enemies in close combat upon detection would likely result in failure.
Assigning bodyguards to shooters and spotters was another consideration, but the limited personnel made this impractical. It was a frustrating dilemma. These soldiers were not assassins; their adversaries were monsters and magical beasts. If they failed to deliver a decisive blow in a single strike, the tables would quickly turn against them.
I kept mulling over the problem, hoping to find a solution.
Then, one day, during an assault reconnaissance mission, one of the shooters caught my attention. He had equipped himself with something intriguing. It wasn’t exactly for close combat, but rather for a distance of about 50 yalds. The target was a small-sized magical beast—a Vorpal, which could be likened to a rabbit but with razor-sharp claws. It was a troublesome creature, known for accurately targeting the necks of intruders in its territory.
The shooter used the scouting magitech tool to locate the Vorpal from behind cover. He then relayed a Telepathy to his superior, reporting that the Vorpal’s territory intersected with their planned route and that he would eliminate it.
I shifted my focus to the area and confirmed the situation from a bird’s-eye view. Indeed, there was no way to avoid passing through the Vorpal’s domain. However, guns were under a prohibited use restriction. Against small-sized magical beasts, bullets could sometimes pass through without dealing a fatal blow. Moreover, the small, agile nature of the enemy made accurate shooting challenging.
I assumed that the infantry would handle the matter.
But my assumption was wrong. With a faint whizzing sound, the shooter swiftly took down the Vorpal. It happened in the blink of an eye. I immediately recognized the ammunition—it was one of the rounds I had crafted. That much was certain. I had created various experimental rounds based on requests from the soldiers.
The Vorpal’s head was shattered, and holy water scattered in the process. This confirmed that the projectile was one of my designs—a round, ball-shaped projectile, roughly two sizes smaller than a fist. I had made it almost as an afterthought, based on a soldier’s request, assuming it would be used like a hand-thrown grenade. That it could be launched in such a manner... was beyond my expectations. Yet the precision of the shot was astonishing.
The shooter was using something to fire the projectile, but it was clear that he wasn’t using a gun.
Moreover, the firing speed was close to that of rapid fire. I couldn’t quite grasp how it worked, but my curiosity was immediately piqued. They were using some kind of device to launch projectiles larger and heavier than the gun bullets, all while maintaining a reasonable level of accuracy, velocity, and firing rate. At a distance that could be considered close combat for a shooter, it demonstrated overwhelming power.
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