105 episodes – Bullet Gun (1)
Tigris didn’t know much about architecture, so there was little to talk about with Salvador.
Tigris introduced Salvador to Baiton and decided to go to the Imperial Palace.
“I have business to do at the Imperial Palace, so I’ll just leave.”
Tigris looked at Baiton.
“Then I’ll leave it to you. Bayton.”
“······Yes. All right.”
Tigris left with those words, and Count Salvador, who was left alone with Baiton, took a cigar pouch from his arms.
“Can I smoke one? Alex?”
Baiton fell in love for a moment at the old name he had not heard in a long time.
“Now this is Bayton. Countess.”
“Right.”
Baiton silently brought the ashtray he was using and brought it in front of Salvador.
Salvador smirked as he cast fire magic with a silent spear.
“By the way, I never knew the day would come when I would be allowed to smoke in front of you.”
“I did not expect to meet the Count in this way.”
Salvador pulled a cigar out of his cigar pouch.
and lit it
It took a while for the cigar to light up.
A brief period of silence.
During that time, the two thought deeply about what had happened in the past.
“Are you still resenting me?”
At Salvador’s question, Baiton clenched his fists.
“I think it was an aristocratic treatment.”
“I still can’t forget.”
“Who will forget that?”
“It is. I can’t forget either.”
Baiton’s ‘House Gordon’ was originally a family that served the Count Albres from generation to generation.
It was also a family that was highly trusted even within the Count Albre family, so it was treated as a semi-noble family.
But in this relationship, with just one mistake, everything went awry.
Twenty-one years ago, when Bayton was just starting to learn to work after his father, the Count of Salvador’s youngest brother died in an accident.
No one could figure out why the citadel collapsed that day.
However, Salvador blamed Bayton’s father, who was in charge of safety, and killed him that day, out of anger that his youngest brother had died and a warning that such a tragedy should never happen again.
“Someone should have taken responsibility then.”
“But my father was not at fault.”
Baiton didn’t think his father had done anything wrong.
So Baiton, like a madman, took a shovel and dug around the citadel day and night.
And after about a month, it was finally revealed why the fortress had collapsed.
“At that time, a giant worm passed through the basement of the fortress and just burst the groundwater. The fault lies with the mercenaries who failed to manage the surrounding monsters and the wizards of Count Albre.”
Salvador took a deep breath of the burning cigar.
A thick, toxic smoke seems to pierce my lungs.
But now, if I didn’t do this, it seemed that I would not be able to manage my facial expressions because of my pride that was being eroded.
Salvador sighed and exhaled the smoke.
“It was.”
Baiton clenched his fists.
Finally, Salvador admitted his mistake.
how long was it
Baiton found traces of the giant worm that day, reported it to Salvador, and asked him to restore the honor of the fallen Gordons and his father, but he refused to listen.
It was Salvador’s fault for that judgment, but he thought that the moment he acknowledged it, the authority of the nobility would collapse.
Baiton was very upset, but he couldn’t tell the outsider about it.
If this was announced to the outside world, the commoners would defame the nobles, so it didn’t matter if they were killed in a duel or whatever.
So, Baiton endured until he became a nobleman.
If you become a noble, you will be able to restore the honor of your father and the honor of the Gordons.
But now there was no need for that.
With the title of Tigris’ trusted butler and chairman of ‘The Norverd’, he earned Salvador’s recognition.
“Did you know that I am the president of ‘The Norberd’?”
“·················ogue.”
Salvador spoke after a long silence.
“I didn’t know at all. I never thought I would have changed my name.”
If he had known that Bayton was of the Gordon family, he would have thought about joining the construction company under The Norberd.
Salvador said as he smoked a cigar.
“Today is not going to be an easy day.”
* * *
When Tigris arrived at the Imperial Palace, he took a walk with the Rain Rover.
“By the way, did you know what Bayton and Count Albres have to do with each other? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“The Earl of Albres would have considered it if he had known that Bayton was the president of The Norverd.”
Rain Rover said, poking Tigris’ arm.
“Tell me honestly. If that was gritty, someone else, not Bayton, should have been president. Or at least stay with me until the contract is signed. Count Albré could have given up on his contract because of his pride.”
Tigris thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.
“The Count Albre judged that he was not one to err out of pride.”
“And?”
“With the exception of Bayton in the Norbert family, there was no other person in the Norbert family to entrust this task with. That means Baiton and Count Albre are bound to collide.”
“And?”
Rain Rover didn’t look at him suspiciously, as if he knew the previous two answers were excuses.
Tigris just decided to reveal his true intentions.
“I just decided that it’s time to start trusting Baiton.”
Baiton was no different from the enemy of Tigris.
Because he blew up 50% of the assets of the Norberd family.
However, he now also knew about Beyton’s past, and after six and a half years of surveillance, there was no sign of betraying the Norberd family.
Rather, he took an active role in helping the Tigris and the Norberd families.
So now, I was going to entrust the big job to Baiton.
“This Trinity Project will be the stage for Baiton’s test.”
“Do you think Rota and Arphem’s clan will approach Baiton?”
“It will for sure. Beyton has a tight grip on the Norbert family’s finances and is deeply involved in every building in Trinity.”
Rain Rover nodded.
“That’s why I introduced you to Count Albres. To give you reasons to resist their temptations.”
“It’s like that.”
Both Rota and Arphem’s clan have snake tongues.
It’s okay because Levis is completely sealed, but if Rota’s eye ‘Somnium’, which plays with human hearts, approaches, Bayton will also shake.
At that time, if he remembered this incident and resisted the temptation, Tigris believed in Baiton to the end and was thinking of helping him become a nobleman.
As we chatted like that, we arrived at the Palace of Spring.
In the reception room of the Palace of Spring, Maleus and Tejo were sipping coffee like water and scanning their memoirs and directory.
“Oh, Sir Tigris, are you here?”
Teho and Maleus’ eyes widened.
I heard that he hadn’t slept properly for about a week and only read the directory and regression records, but it seems to be true.
“Have you read it all?”
“I read each of them three times.”
“Do you have any questions?”
“There is one.”
Maleus opened the page of Rakan in the directory.
“Can I see this child named Rakan?”
“…you mean Rakan? Why?”
“If you look at what is written here, it is said that the world Rakan lived in was full of various machines, but is it true?”
“Yes. That’s right. I don’t know the exact details, but they say that it is a place where mechanical civilization has developed to the extent that there are horseless carriages.”
Maleus couldn’t hide his excitement and jumped up.
“Did you stay still after hearing the story? Isn’t it said that we came to this world from an advanced mechanized civilization?”
“…I am a little curious about the swordsmanship of that world, but I don’t know much about mechanical engineering. And just because I listen to the technology of that civilization, I don’t have the basic knowledge, so I can’t use it.”
“Then shouldn’t we have to take a professional mechanical engineer in front of them, sit them down, and make them give a lecture?! I can’t! I’ll take Rakan to the volcanic field right now! For those who have diamonds in front of them and regard them as crystals, Rakan is such a precious talent!”
When Maleus spoke as if he was going to help Rakan at any moment, Rain Rover calmed him down.
“Maleus. We knew Rakan was from another world and we talked a lot. I asked about the culture of that world and various technologies.”
“After all, not everyone is crazy about swords like Tigris. Did you ask about that machine technology?”
“Yeah… it is, but it won’t help much.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Rakan was only 15 when he came to this world. As a result, I don’t know much about the world.”
“How do you mean you don’t know that? According to the words written here, it is a world where machines travel into space! How can people in this world not know machines!”
Maleus’ love for machines was hot enough to burn him.
In this super-excited state, Rain Rover sighed, knowing that no matter how much I explained, the seeds wouldn’t work.
“Then it would be better for us to meet and talk.”
“Am. You must see it before you go to the volcanic field. The mechanical engineering of the Empire is not very well developed, so he may not have understood Rakan’s high knowledge.”
Rain Rover shook his head.
* * *
Rakan came up from Graytown on the news of coming to the Imperial Palace.
His appearance was shabby because he had been like a beggar to investigate the gangs who were distributing the new drug, Red Powder, but he used clean magic and didn’t smell.
Rakan couldn’t hide his excitement when he saw a Dwarf that he could only see in a fantasy novel, standing in front of him.
“Nice to meet you. It’s called Rakan. But are you really a dwarf?”
“Then of course not.”
“Wow······.”
Who is the Dwarf?
Although it depends on the author’s setting, isn’t he the best helper who makes legendary weapons and upgrades the main character’s equipment to the next level?
Rakan’s heart was pounding as he thought he could get good equipment from the dwarves.
Maleus’ heart was pounding.
A world full of machines and steel!
Isn’t this the dream world of every dwarf?
I think I will be able to talk to people from another world who have lived in such a world.
Maleus felt like he was 300 years younger.
“greatness! I called because I had a few questions. Do you have any time?”
“yes. By the way, I have time to finish my mission just by looking at it. I also have a question for Dwarf-sama, so can I ask you a few questions?”
“I’m fine. After all, I came to live in a world of steel and machines, so it seems like you are very interested in Dwarves. After all, we have something in common!”
Rain Rover whispered to Tigris.
“…you must be in shock, is it okay?”
“It has already left our hands.”
“It is. Still, I think it will be fun to watch.”
Rain Rover decided to watch their conversation while eating cookies.
“Then ask me a question first. Is it really a world where everything is run by machines?”
Rakan nodded.
“Yes. The world has no magic.”
“Is it true that there are horseless carriages and flying machines?”
“It is so natural. What’s really great is the computer. It’s a world where nothing works without computers.”
At the appearance of a machine he had never heard of, he was so excited that steam came out of Maleus’ snort.
“computer? What is a computer?”
“uh······.”
Rakan said, scratching his head.
“A computer is just a computer, right?”
“So that’s how the computer works. And what does the computer do?”
“ah. Computers run on electricity and make those machines I’m talking about run.”
“okay! Computers are like engines! Yes, the computer was the engine! Our world revolves around magic stones, but in that world everything is computer-driven! Then the electricity…? How the hell are you going to control that thunderbolt?”
“Uh, I don’t know, do you?”
Maleus’ expression hardened.
“What does that mean? So how do you control that computer? Wouldn’t it be possible to control the lightning to move the computer?”
“Can I just press the power button?”
“okay. So what is the power?”
“Uh… power is power.”
Maleus’ expression crumbled like a child who had first heard the truth that the Tooth Fairy didn’t exist.
“What does this mean? How can you handle such an engine without knowing how to control lightning?!”
“Uh… So, to compare, even though I don’t know magic, if I use artifacts, I can use the 4-Circle Chain Lightning magic, right? It’s just like that.”
“That… that’s right. okay. Computers are a very advanced technology, so it’s something you haven’t mastered yet.”
Maleus didn’t seem to give up yet.
“Then how do you make a flying machine?”
“A plane? Wouldn’t the company that makes airplanes know about it?”
“Then what about the horseless carriage?”
“Does the car company know?”
“Then what kind of mechanical engineering skills do you know?”
“Mechanical engineering? I haven’t decided on liberal arts and science yet, have I?”
“Then what the hell did you learn?!”
Rakan said with a mischievous smile.
“I don’t study well, I only read fantasy novels…”
Rakan lived in a world made of machines, but his major was fantasy.
Rather, Rakan was so good at studying the fantasy world that he was able to adapt very well to this world.
“This is absurd… How can a person living in a cutting-edge civilization that can take a leap of civilization over and over again…”
Maleus ripped off his hair and opened his eyes again.
“okay. It’s too early to give up yet. Could you please draw the machines of the world you lived in?”
If that’s all, this meeting isn’t meaningless at all.
I didn’t know if I could get anything from a dwarf’s point of view of a civilization that Rakan did not understand.
Rain Rover took out the data from the previously prepared envelope.
“If that’s the case, we have it.”
Hwangguk also asked him to draw a picture to understand the highly advanced science and technology world, and Rakan had to stay in his closet for over a week to draw and write descriptions.
Maleus began flipping through pictures of cities and planes, cars, electric poles, smartphones, computers, rice cookers, TVs, guns and cannons one by one.
At first, he looked at it with very interesting eyes, and his expression hardened as if he had discovered strange things.
“Well······.”
Maleus was so embarrassed that even Rakan could understand.
Maleus said, showing a picture of a cannon and a gun.
“Is this really what you drew Rakan?”
“yes. Right.”
“This is nonsense…
Maleus continued to stare at the artillery and gun paintings, as if in a slight panic.
“What are you doing this for?”
“These are weapons that we dwarves developed 1,000 years ago. At that time, no one knew because they were weapons made secretly by humans, giants, and dragons. And above all else, these weapons were made at the request of a man.”
Tigris tilted his head.
“Are you human?”
“okay. You are a person you know very well.”
“Who is that person?”
“Brave Pereira.”
Not only Rain Rover, but also Tigris, Teho, and Rakan were astonished at the word of the hero Pereira.
“You mean that Pereira-sama asked you to make this too?”
“Yes. Without having to go into the archives, if you go back to the volcanic field, there is a sketch drawn by Pereira-sama by hand.”
“So, is it possible that Pereira-sama is also from the world Rakan lived in?”
“That I don’t even know. All I know is that Pereira-sama asked for it. And since all the dwarves who lived at that time died of old age, they would not know the truth.”
“Then the archives have nothing to do with it?”
Maleus pondered and opened his mouth.
“If Pereira-sama revealed her origins, it probably would.”
“…and now you have another reason to enter the archives.”
Maleus said, pointing to the picture of the gun and cannon.
“Anyway, these are all gunpowder-moving objects, aren’t they?”
“Yes. Right. Oddly enough, there were no guns and cannons in this world. So I was going to ask if you could make something like this.”
“Huh… it was like that too.”
Rakan’s eyes twinkled.
“So were these of any use?”
“······Well. It’s definitely useful. A lump of lead flying at 300 to 400 meters per second could tear the flesh of any monster. But there were several problems.”
Once these bullets flew in the correct trajectory, precision engineering skills were required.
And it was necessary to make a special gunpowder with a strong firepower while leaving few bullets on the steel wire.
Other than that, there were many trials and errors, and the more the Dwarves developed, the more ineffective these guns and cannons were.
There was an opinion that it was necessary to make such a purely engineered gun in this world where magic exists.
“The lead mass vibrates too much with air resistance, and the gunpowder propellant is too weak to do any significant damage to dragons and giants. It would have been much better to grind the Explosion magic that killed the firepower to the limit in the barrel.”
“So we decided not to make a lump of lead, but rather agglomerate the pure mana, a mass of magic bullets, into small agglomerates and fly them quickly.”
Rakan jumped up.
“It’s a laser gun! Why hasn’t it come out yet?”
“It has been 300 years since the Dwarves were truly free. Until then, under the persecution of dragons and giants, they had neither time nor spirit to develop new weapons, making armor and weapons for them to wear, and decorating their nests. That’s why it’s been less than 200 years since something that could be called a Bullet Gun came out.”
Tigris thought for a moment and said.
“Do you have that shotgun?”
“I have a self-defense shotgun in my subspace pocket. Would you like to try it?”
“Are you okay? Bullet guns are probably the favorites of Dwarf technics.”
Maleus said with a smirk.
“The world is on the verge of perishing, so can there be any question about that? Let me show you first.”
Man, the end of the world is really bright.