Episode 148 – Evidence of development (8)
From Noble mtl dot com
“It’s great power.”
“It may vary depending on the situation, but it is more powerful and efficient than most low-level magic.”
When gunpowder weapons were first introduced to them. The Kingdom of Baruch saw a high possibility that it might be able to replace wizards on the battlefield, and increased investment costs by squeezing out unnecessary resources.
Of course, everything about gunpowder was a state secret, and the craftsmen who made gunpowder and cannons were treated highly and their pride increased.
Naturally, that pride also transferred to the artillerymen who operated the cannons. They thought that they were the flowers of the battlefield, replacing the precious wizard. Since the statement was not wrong, the commanders also clamored for more cannons and gunpowder to be allocated.
“yes?! Are you saying we have to go and station ourselves in the north, in the barbarian city!?”
“We are not fighting barbarians. There are monsters called black monsters there, and we are going to stop them.”
In the meantime, an order was given to some of the elite Northern Artillery Army. A unit made up of only them, without anyone else, would go north and fight alongside the barbarians.
‘What does that mean?’
From the commander who received orders directly from the commander to the lowest-ranking soldiers, they tilted their heads in disbelief. This was because most of the envoys who were supposed to spread the rumor returned dead, and the rumor about the Arin people had not yet spread properly to the bottom line.
“That’s fascinating. “I can’t believe our kingdom has made an agreement with one of them.”
“Ah, I guess you are being kind to those who ask you to accept them as noblemen.”
The commanders of the artillery corps whose dispatch had been decided gathered together and talked among themselves. The same was true for Lucas, the artillery commander who served as general commander.
“It doesn’t seem to be such a simple problem. I heard from a royal wizard named Rihar that we are not going there to protect them or to be treated well by them. “We are sent to fight together as equal allies.”
“Does that make sense!? “They are the kind of people who will get scared just by hearing the sound of a cannon.”
Lucas told his subordinates what he had heard from Richard, but they responded in disbelief. To them, the tribes of the grasslands were still just barbarians.
Deeply rooted prejudices and perceptions are not easy to change unless you see and feel them firsthand. The fact that dispatching and stationing troops was a general attitude toward vassal states also played a role.
‘Really? However, when the commander and the wizard talked about them, they seemed to be different from ordinary barbarians.’
Lucas, who had seen and heard a little more, still had doubts, but was unable to turn those doubts into certainty, and ended up leading the army with his subordinates and heading out to the army.
“We will escort you from here.”
“Oh, this can’t be happening.”
“A bird turned into a person!”
And their perception began to change little by little from the moment they first met the Arin people.
Rihar, who was accompanying them, only smiled faintly as he watched the scene.
“I can’t believe there is such a proper city.”
After marching, Lucas and the artillery army arrived at the second city where Varun was located. What surprised them even more, as they were already surprised in many ways, was the appearance of the cities and villages.
Everyone’s eyes widened at the sight of a strong fence and high walls.
The internal structures were also completely different from other tribes who lived in tents or huts at best, and there were many facilities and houses of various styles built by architects using blocks.
“I didn’t keep telling you. “They are different.”
“That’s right. “It’s definitely different.”
Lucas agreed with the words of a grinning Lihar. What was surprising was not just the appearance of the castle and buildings. The eyes of the residents living here were also clear and sharp, not blurry.
It was even more shocking to see people of all ages and genders reading posters and sharing information. It was such an exotic and mysterious scene that most of the soldiers who had laughed at the sight of them as barbarians were intimidated.
“I’m glad we weren’t attacked by them on the way. “I heard that the Hwapo Army can fight properly only if there are people by its side.”
“That’s right. “It’s inevitable because it takes quite a while to aim and fire.”
‘He is an unusual person.’
Lucas, who personally met Varun, the great chieftain who led all of this, acknowledged the rumor by greeting him with courtesy.
Varun, and the Arin people, were completely different from the northern barbarians they knew.
“Our residents and I, too, are very curious about the power of the artillery that we have only heard about through rumors. Since we are in a position to face monsters together, let’s see and discuss for ourselves how best to use artillery.”
“It is quite possible.”
‘Yes, we still have cannons.’
But Lucas, the artillery commander, did not give up hope yet. Although they were taken aback by their unexpected appearance, they still had symbols of an advanced civilization that the Arin tribe did not have.
I was sure that if I showed them the power of the cannon, they would be amazed and amazed.
“Everyone has to stay alert and show a perfect performance. How long are we going to be surprised? Now we have to be the ones to surprise.”
Lucas urged his men to prepare a cannon demonstration. The intention was to boost the already weakened momentum by showing off its strong roar and destructive power.
‘What on earth is it?’
In fact, most of the soldiers were mesmerized by the sight of the Arin carriers stacking several stone blocks on top of each other to create a huge, thick stone target on the empty plain.
“Prepare to fire!”
Anyway, all the cannons were in place and aimed at the target. As many people came out to watch the cannon being demonstrated by the Kingdom Army, a nervous Lucas and the artillery team began firing in unison.
‘I can’t get used to the feeling of my body shaking whenever I listen to it.’
As the shells were fired with a roar and fire, Lucas noticed the attention of Varun and the residents next to him.
The shells made a strong impact, shattering the targets they had made and blowing up strong dust. Although it was not as much as expected, the majority of the residents were wide-eyed and muttering.
“hahahaha! Look! “Those people opened their mouths in shock!”
“Hurry and bring the cannonballs! “Let’s shoot until he faints from fright!”
Once they succeeded in inducing the desired response, the Royal Army Artillery Group continued to demonstrate firing while sweating hard.
“Hmm, isn’t it a bit disappointing?”
“I know. Compared to the siege anti-tank they showed, it’s zero. “From the start, the size is extremely cute.”
However, in the meantime, there were some people leisurely looking at the sight with their arms folded, and they shook their heads or snorted in disappointment when they saw the cannons of the kingdom’s army.
The extent of the power of the ‘real cannon’ of the Space Federation Forces, which they had participated in with Junyoung in a campaign of a real-time strategy simulation game, was hard to believe, even if they kept talking loudly about it.
***
“There it is! Pioneer headquarters!”
“Big, big.”
As Shun and other Arin warriors crossed the wasteland with Federation soldiers under Junyoung’s control, the large base they had targeted finally appeared.
The headquarters of the pioneering group to colonize the planet was astonished by their miraculous survival and hurriedly sent equipment and troops to escort them.
“Who are these people!?”
“stop! They are allies. “Thanks to them, we were able to defeat the Lurkers and come this far!”
Rodwell stopped the soldiers who were shocked to see the Arin warriors and took the stand to defend and explain them.
Thanks to this, the Arin people were able to complete the campaign and enter the pioneer headquarters. However, clearing the first stage of the campaign did not mean the game was over yet.
“Oh my god! “What is that giant iron carriage?!”
“Look at that. “A lump of iron is flying in the sky!”
The objects in the game, set in science fiction, were objects that would turn heads to the Arin warriors. The huge equipment that was incomparable to the personal gear carried by the soldiers especially attracted attention.
‘The world is incredibly wide. Then, what kind of being is the guardian spirit that exists in the whole wide world?’
It was also a moment when the horizons of the warriors, who had lived their whole lives only in the grasslands and other places in their hometowns, were dramatically broadened. They recognized that in this wide world, things happen on a daily basis that they cannot understand.
However, one special thing is that while their horizons are broadening, their faith in the one who guided them is deepening.
This was something that those who were researching the Arin people also found interesting.
“You mean that’s a tank? Shooting cannons?”
“Would you like to take a look?”
Meanwhile, an opportunity arose. Siege anti-tank units were activated to kill enemies loitering near the pioneer headquarters.
The Arin warriors were astonished to see a tank the size of a house moving at incredibly fast speeds, and were again astonished when the tank automatically moved its huge gun barrel to aim at the enemy.
“I still can’t forget what I saw then. “When he fired a thunderbolt, the lightning flew and caused a huge explosion, turning the otherwise healthy ground into a huge pit.”
Afterwards, the Arin warriors told what they had seen to the surrounding residents.
The stories they saw and heard in the game were stories that residents listened to with excitement, so of course many people were enthusiastic about their adventures.
“Nonsense. How could such a cannon exist? Even if you make it, the gunpowder that goes into it… I can’t even imagine.”
“is it? “They said they used other forces to fire the shells, not gunpowder.”
When Varun told this story while holding a book that realistically recorded their story, Lucas, who was inwardly elated, shook his head in disgust.
This was because it was absolutely impossible according to the common sense of the people of the kingdom.
‘What nonsense. Was the reason the reaction was more boring than expected because they believed in that legend? sh*t. ‘Your imagination is amazing.’
Lucas sighed, understanding that the residents’ reaction was less than he had expected.
If you believe that a cannon with a huge gun barrel and incredible power is real, the cannon they showed off only looks small.
“Anyway, I have already seen the power of the cannon. There is a fortress we built further north than here, and enemies periodically attack to destroy it. “You need help there.”
“I’m happy to help.”
Anyway, for the current bugs, the cannons brought by the kingdom’s army are quite powerful. Lucas and the kingdom’s artillery, who agreed to Varun’s decision to send them to the northern fortress, departed from the second village and headed to the nearby portal.
The Kingdom’s artillery group, which headed north through the portal that shocked everyone, became the first army to unite to battle the bugs.