Arriving at Caspal’s estate, we arrived at a village on the way to the mansion.
Even late at night, it was a moderately barren village with no checkpoints, let alone welcome. It looks like it will come out in the background of a western movie.
“As you can see, it is an insignificant village. The population barely exceeds 100 people. There is no need to pay taxes like this.”
Caspal took the lead and said, driving the horse. If the lord’s son had come, everyone would come out and say hello, but nothing happened. Only the old street lamp flickered anxiously.
“It’s kind of chilly… … . Acquire.”
“Since the evenings of Sangvis are cold everywhere throughout the year. Would you like to warm up in a bar for a while?”
At the same time as Ber sneezed, a shop that seemed to be a bar and inn caught his eye. When you enter, you are very concerned about the unexpectedly noisy appearance.
“Brother, underage drinking is not good.”
“Eh, there are 100% bullies in bars like this. It will be dangerous.”
“It’s a bit like getting attention unnecessarily. If it’s alcohol, it’s also available in the mansion.”
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However, three people quickly expressed their intention to refuse. Ethel, whom I believed would agree, was sleeping on my back, drooling.
“… … I’m a bit interested. Shall we drink together next time?”
“Dimitri, you’re such a nice guy.”
Dimitri was the only one who agreed. I don’t know if I really want to go or not, but I’m grateful for this courtesy. Just a while ago, it was like a middle-aged manager who suddenly asked me to have a dinner, so I really hated it.
“It doesn’t matter if you drink it, but at this time, he’s definitely… … .”
“Caspal?”
While Caspal was talking in trouble, a man opened the bar door and looked up at Caspal on the horse.
“What is it, it’s Caspal!”
And excitedly, the fire approached.
He had a scar across his eye, but he was smiling so brightly that he didn’t feel like a bully at all. On the contrary, because of the soot smeared here and there on her cheeks, she looked like a scruffy little boy who had been playing hard in the dirt. They look the same age as us.
“Who is it?”
“Oh, there are a lot of nobles. I’m Borland! It’s Caspal’s ball friend!”
The man cheerfully introduced himself. At the word ball friend, Berg cleared his throat. I’m not an elementary school student, so I don’t want you to react to a single word like that.
“What is this? How much? Has three years passed?”
“About two and a half years. Isn’t it such a long time?”
“In two and a half years, about a quarter of the river’s acidity changes! Anyway, long time no see!”
I don’t know if it’s a long time for a quarter of a river or mountain to change, but the man who introduced himself as Borland excitedly pulled Caspal’s hand and patted his face. In an instant, Caspal’s face was covered with soot, and a little bit of murderous intent was added to his face.
“Yeah. Have a drink and go! i buy… … I want to! Now that the external price is also attached, that’s impossible! If it’s possible, why don’t you pay for my credit and buy me a drink?!”
“no.”
Caspal flatly refused. It was the most resolute refusal of Caspal I had ever seen.
As I was looking around amusedly, I noticed something long, like a gun, strapped to Borland’s back.
“Did you say Borland? What is that behind your back?”
“Oh, is this? You have a good eye!”
When I asked, Borland took out what was strapped on his back and raised it toward the sky as if it was all right.
“It’s a gun!”
For a moment, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
‘more… … .’
It is——.
‘Double Barrel Shotgun?!’
It was a crude double-barreled shotgun.
It was somewhat crude, but with its large two barrels and heavy weight, it was very similar to the duddle barrel shotguns commonly seen in movies and games.
“Borland. How do you have a gun when you can’t even pay the debt?”
“Ugh. It’s a long story, but… … . Over there, Nari looks very interested, so let me explain.”
At Caspal’s questioning, Borland blurted out his words as if he was annoyed.
“It’s ruined now, but it’s a mining town, right?”
“You tell the lord’s son that you’ve been ruined.”
“It’s gunpowder to mine minerals, so explosives are essential, right? Although it is useless now that the mine is abandoned. But recently, with the development of this gun, the demand for gunpowder has increased dramatically.”
If you have a gun, you need bullets, and you need gunpowder. When you think about it, it was natural.
“That’s why our village’s high-quality gunpowder is selling well. okay?”
“That’s a good thing, but what does that have to do with you having a gun?”
Caspal said something like that. Borland crossed his arms and shook his head as if he didn’t know that.
“I don’t notice. That’s why we started developing it at our workshop because we wanted it at this time.”
“It’s impossible to infer that from the conversation we just had. Your language skills never improve.”
“Anyway, the seat of the official firearm has already been taken by the 2nd Azmash, but the nobleman’s weapon is too expensive, right? I admit that the level is high.”
Borland, ignoring Caspal’s sarcasm, raised a finger.
“So our studio found a new way out. Target the low-end market by making cheap and strong products! The weapon on my back is that prototype!”
And voila, he raised his gun high with both hands.
‘That’s why I made that double barrel shotgun.’
It was completely unexpected. In the original work, there was no double barrel shotgun. There is a possibility that it did not become a hot topic, but it was certain that it was the first thing I saw.
“If you have two muzzles, you will be twice as strong, right? yes?
‘… … No, it’s just a double barrel.’
Maybe it wasn’t even a shotgun.
“Interesting. Does it work?”
“oh! Are you recognizing this weapon?!”
Borland grinned excitedly at my question. However, it soon became an awkward face.
“work… … silver, what yet. What we sell is gunpowder, not bullets, so bullets are pretty precious.”
‘Hmm. It just happened to be made in a similar shape.’
Borland’s gun may have been a transitional weapon from a simple idea.
“I put iron marbles in a hurry and fired a few times, and that was it. A nearby wooden plank shattered in an instant!”
… … I thought, but it was much closer to a double barrel shotgun than I expected. No, it was almost like that.
“The range is short, but if you hit this one, you will definitely die! Would this be okay as it is? I think it would be nice to do well!”
It was certain that if a double barrel shotgun could be properly produced, it would be powerful as a firearm against monsters as well as beasts, as it is in real life. Maybe you can use it right now.
“… … Definitely a fun weapon. let’s work hard Watch out for explosions. I will remember your name.”
It was a very exciting unexpected harvest.
“I don’t know who you are, but thanks for the advice! Anyway, Caspal, if you’re bored later, come to town! Tell me about the knight academy!”
“okay. okay. I’m in a hurry now, so I’ll go.”
Borland gave a thumbs up happily, put on his gun, and waved away as he disappeared. It was a quick exit as much as a sudden appearance.
‘It’s just not described in the main story, but the invention of firearms may have brought more changes than I thought.’
I did not think deeply about the increase in demand for gunpowder due to the development of firearms. That’s because it’s not described at all in the main story.
‘I’d better be conscious that this is reality, not fiction.’
Otherwise, you may miss important things. I made up my mind again.
After passing through the village (we left the horse at a nearby stable) we arrived at the Caspal family mansion.
“Here. This is the first time since entering the knight academy.”
“Hmm. indeed… … . Is this Caspal’s home?”
“It’s like our house. It’s much neater.”
said Dimitri and Ver, looking at the house.
The Caspal family mansion was a building that felt like a moderately large church in the countryside. Compared to the manor house in Saratov, it cannot be said to be large even in empty words, but unlike that mansion, which was almost neglected, it felt touched here and there.
“I think I know what you are thinking. It’s insignificant, isn’t it?”
“If there is a grandiose building in a town like this, is it any more than disproving that you are a vile lord?”
“I agree. Personally, I think this is just fine. It looks easy to clean.”
Katyusha helped me with my answer. Caspal laughed.
“It’s not particularly nice. Let’s go.”
Passing through the plain garden, we headed for the main gate of the mansion. The door opened easily without any locking mechanism, revealing what was inside.
‘It’s wider than I thought upon entering.’
The neatly arranged central hall was reminiscent of a wedding hall. I liked the fact that it does not take up space with useless sculptures.
“Who is it?”
The door on the second floor at the top of the stairs opened and a man came out. Then, looking at Caspal, who was standing quietly, he held on to the railing as if surprised, and pushed his upper body out.
“… … Caspal?”
“okay.”
Caspal gave a short answer.
“It’s Caspal! To come suddenly, without a telegram! what’s the matter?”
The man was delighted and hurried down the stairs. He was a young man with black, well-groomed hair.
“quest.”
Caspal replied to the delighted man. It was such a blunt attitude that it felt awkward.
“Ah, I begged you. I thought you wouldn’t come. Then those who came after… … ?!”
The man didn’t care and was delighted. And as he looked at us, his eyes were fixed on me.
“Wa, are you the crown prince?”
“… … okay.”
Then, in a trembling, yet audible voice, he asked Caspal.
“I-I! My name is Felix, Caspal’s older brother! It is an honor to meet the crown prince!”
“Oh yeah. Please take good care of me.”
In response to Caspal’s affirmation, the man, Felix, greeted me with a hasty salute.
Well, it’s been a long time since someone recognized me as soon as they saw me.
“I couldn’t believe it, but you really became friends with the Crown Prince!”
“… … Noisy before. Can you lower your voice?”
“Wait, I’ll call my father right away!”
Regardless of whether or not Caspal was annoyed, Felix ran back upstairs excitedly.
“Unexpectedly, he is an energetic older brother.”
“Right.”
As Dimitri said, he was a lively person who was hard to think of as Caspal’s older brother.
“Does it look like that?”
Caspal looked up at the second floor and smiled.
“A harmonious family, it’s nice to see. okay.”
Soon, at Felix’s call, a long-haired man who appeared to be Caspal’s father opened the door and came out. It was a middle-aged, sturdy man with a beard and a dignified atmosphere.
“Even if the inside is terribly rotten.”
Caspal’s older brother and father both had dark black hair that didn’t match Caspal’s white hair at all.