Chapter 51 - Awareness of Inexperience
Note: We've changed reconnaissance magitech tool to scouting magitech tool.
In the safe zone of the Shallow Forest, I ordered a brief rest for the guerilla unit and called over the shooter in question. It’s best to resolve doubts early. Besides, if it turns out to be something useful, it must be shared with the soldiers. That was why I decided to hear her out.
The petite female shooter seemed startled by my summons. She approached with visible tension, moving her right arm and leg in unison. Since she was so nervous about appearing before the commander, the spotter accompanying her had taken pity and tagged along for support. Even the spotter couldn’t completely suppress a wry smile at her stiffness. I addressed her seriously. After all, in this moment, I was the one seeking her knowledge.
“You did well. Your smooth execution of the operation is commendable. I called you here because there’s something I want to ask. What did you use to launch your projectiles? The firing speed was clearly beyond that of a gun, and a gun’s bullets would simply penetrate without achieving the kind of head trauma I saw. Against small-sized magical beasts, bullets tend to be too fast and just pass through. Tell me—what did you use?”
“Reporting to the commander, sir! Um... it’s not official equipment, but... it’s, uh, something I personally use...”
“It’s not something bulky or unwieldy, then. I didn’t call you here to reprimand you. There’s something I need to verify. You said it’s something personal. Would you call it a weapon?”
“Yes, Sir! My dad taught me how to use it… S-Sir! He said it’s useful for hunting small birds and animals when you go into the forest, so he told me to make sure I learned it. Here it is, Sir!”
The soldier, speaking in a childlike tone, was the youngest recruit in the guerilla unit—a girl, no less. Despite her youth, she’d proven herself to be a spirited and capable soldier. She was well-regarded by her comrades, possessed notable physical endurance, and demonstrated exceptional skill as a shooter. She was said to have told her comrades with a bright smile, “I’ve found my place”... “This is my home.”
As I recalled, she had grown up in a single-parent household. Her father, a hunter, had suffered a grave injury in the forest and, unable to move properly, had to be carried out on her back. It was a harrowing ordeal. Tragically, her father succumbed to his injuries shortly after, leaving her without any close relatives—a true orphan.
Ordinarily, she would have been taken in by the church’s orphanage. However, she refused that path, choosing instead to enlist as a soldier in the knightly family, despite barely meeting the minimum age requirement. She was certainly an unusual case.
Unlike her youthful appearance suggested, she was well-versed in the Demonic Forest and had received thorough training from her father. She could already be considered an excellent hunter in her own right, despite her age.
The item she presented to me was a strip of leather with a flat, sturdy piece of hardened hide attached at its center. What was this? My questioning gaze prompted her to explain almost reflexively.
“It’s called a sling! You place a sharp stone or one of those magic bullets you gave me in the middle of the leather, swing it around, and throw it. If the projectile has enough weight, it can travel far and hit hard. It’s just one strap, so it’s not heavy at all. I keep it wrapped around my wrist over my gauntlet, Sir! The hardened leather acts as a cradle, and it also gives my wrist extra protection, Sir!”
“I see... can you show me how it’s used?”
“Yes, Sir! Uh... magic bullets are too valuable, so I’ll use sharp stones instead. Is that all right, Sir?”
“That will do. How about that tree as your target? The distance should be about the same as when you hit the Vorpal.”
“Yes, Sir! That’s about the same distance. I’ll aim for the center of the trunk as the vital point, Sir!”
With that, she picked up five or six appropriately sized stones from the ground. Placing one in the leather cradle, she began spinning the sling. I couldn’t discern the exact force she applied, but in no time, the projectile launched. A high-pitched whir was immediately followed by a wet thud. Both sounds reached my ears almost simultaneously.
The stone had gouged into the center of the tree trunk. She was already preparing her next shot, spinning the sling once more. In quick succession, I heard the whir and thud five more times. Each projectile hit dead center, leaving the bark splintered and torn. Her movements were refined, unmistakably skilled. The interval between her throws was even faster than the firing speed of a gun.
“Well, uh... that’s about it, Commander.”
“......Is that something commonly used?”
“It’s not something you’d see often in town, but among hunters, it’s a well-known backup weapon. It’s made of leather, so it doesn’t break, and you can use stones lying around as ammunition... It has decent power, so it comes in handy in various situations. I’ve even heard of adventurers loading eggshells filled with spicy powder as ammunition. They apparently use it to blind or slow down enemies.”
“Oh... I see.”
“The other day, when you asked the shooters in the guerilla unit for their requests, I wrote mine down too. I asked for magic bullets. Stones alone won’t cut it against magical beasts, but if it could be something like gun ammunition... That’s what I thought, Sir! And the magic bullets you provided me? Their size and weight were exactly what I had in mind, Sir! I thought it could work, so I gave it a try earlier, Sir! Just as I’d hoped, I managed to take down a Vorpal with it, Sir!”
“Is that so? Do you think other hunters could use it too?”
“Yes, Sir! I believe there are some who’ve used this kind of weapon before! It’s fairly... common as a hunter’s backup weapon.”
“That’s good to hear. Once this operation is over, I’ll bring it up with the shooters back at the Fortress. Thank you. I had a few things on my mind, and I’ll consider it as one of the potential solutions.”
“Understood! I’m honored to be of help, Sir!”
I couldn’t help but feel a little pleased by the soldier’s sincere words. I started thinking about discussing the utility of slings with the shooters, including Old Man (adjutant). They were light, compact, and could bridge the gap between long-range and close combat. The sound they made when launching a projectile wasn’t too loud either—only the flight noise was noticeable. It seemed like an effective tool for shooters operating under stealth.
Moreover, as a familiar tool for hunters, there would likely be no concerns about handling or proficiency. Even if it were to be issued as standard backup equipment, the burden on the unit would be minimal. The ammunition was simple to produce too. In fact, it could be mass-produced almost immediately.
The process was straightforward: evenly mix black iron with magic powder, shape it into a sphere, and carve a rune directly onto the projectile. The activation mechanism was impact-based, and the mana for activation was supplied directly from the projectile itself.
The rune was designed to activate only under sufficient impact, so there was no risk of accidental detonation during transport.
Hmm... this could essentially serve as a simple grenade. Interesting... It might actually be quite useful.
Pacing back and forth in a corner of the Shallow Forest, I rubbed my chin, lost in thought. I was so focused that I didn’t even register the ambient noise around me. Suddenly, a familiar voice, tinged with a hint of anger, called out from behind me.
“Young Master. Save your musings for when we’re back at the Fortress. This is the Demonic Forest. Do not let your guard down.”
Old Man (adjutant)’s reprimand hit me squarely. Right... He was right. I was the commander of the guerilla unit currently deployed. I needed to stay alert. Raising my head, I scanned my surroundings. The sergeant major was looking at me with mild exasperation, and the fifth-year soldiers wore a wry smile. Well... that’s how it was. I was still an inexperienced commander. My apologies, everyone.
“The operation is still ongoing. Let us all, myself included, remain vigilant!”
I called out, raising my voice to address the resting soldiers. Old Man, of course, gave me a look that clearly said, “You’re one to talk.” Couldn’t he let me save face just a little?
―――― I’m well aware I’m inexperienced, “Old Man.”
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