Volume 2 Chapter 32 Before the Blood of Craftsmen, Discord Is Meaningless
Three days have passed since Adiliana's attack on the army barracks.
Lene and I were visiting a blacksmith workshop called <Helios> that we were introduced to by the merchant guild for a particular reason.
We were standing at the entrance of the room, so while the forge wasn't nearby, enough heat was wafting over.
"This place is pretty big, huh?"
"Yeah, with this much space and equipment and staff, they could really crank out a lot of stuff.Makes you jealous..."
Watching the workers busily working inside the workshop, and complaining about things they didn't have, Lene and I waited for the head blacksmith of <Hellios> to arrive.
"Sorry to keep you waiting.Are you the two from <Altena>?"
After about 20 minutes of waiting, a dwarf came down to us.
His back was only about as high as my navel, with a mix of gray in his brown hair tied back, and a long beard was his trademark.
"Yes, I'm Ryuuji, the enchanter from <Altena>. And this is Lene, the alchemist."
"I'm Galdun, the head blacksmith of <Helios>. Well, I'll be...an elf."
"Uh...yes..."
Galdun, who had a visibly scowling face upon learning we were elves, and Lene, who seemed apologetic.
Well, that's just the way it is with these two races, their feud goes back to ancient times.
"...I may not fully understand how you feel, Mr. Galdun, but this is a business matter, and above all, it's about the situation. Please bear with it..."
As I tried to appease him, Galdun stopped me with his hand.
Well, as the head blacksmith, he probably doesn't need me to say it.
"I get it. ...So, will that elf girl teach me the mechanics of this so-called alchemical gun?"
"Yes, that's right. The finished product can become a highly dangerous tool, so please handle it with caution. ...It's a tool that can easily kill."
Galdun, deep in thought at Lene's warning, responds with a thoughtful "hmm."
There is a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes.
After all, this guy has the same craftsman blood running through his veins as us, so it's only natural for him to show interest.
"Well then, let's discuss the structure in a cooler room. Come this way."
After briefly saying that, Galdun turned on his heel, and we hurriedly chased after him.
* * *
After Lene's bullet shattered the Magic Core of the Evil God, also known as the "Arm," she was bombarded with questions about the alchemical gun from His Excellency Duke Hoffman.
After all, it is a tool that can be easily handled and allows for pinpoint long-range attacks.
It wouldn't have been surprising for someone like His Excellency to consider incorporating it into the military immediately.
Well, at that time, we had no choice but to rely on Lene's alchemical gun, and we were destined to eventually be seen using it in public.
...However, I never expected to be told to rapidly mass-produce it for the stampede.
"So, it means that a projectile propelled by the explosive force of gunpowder from a nearly sealed barrel will hit the target at high speed, except for the front."
"Yes. That object is called a projectile. The projectile is the part that actually hits the target, but before it's launched, it's referred to as ammunition and it comes with a shell that contains the explosive powder. The projectile is made using dense lead, and the shell is filled with the explosive that I concocted. By striking the part called a detonator from the back, it ignites the powder. Additionally, by infusing the projectile with Magic Power, it can be guided to the target, but conversely, if you can't handle Magic Power, you won't be able to hit anything properly with this tool."
"Wow, this is incredible.... Does anyone else know about this technology?"
"There was a craftsman who helped me create this alchemical gun, but unfortunately, he has passed away due to illness."
Mr. Galdun, who has long forgotten the grudges with the elves, is staring intently at the design blueprint that Lene supposedly drew back in the day, all while getting fired up about this groundbreaking technology.
If things went slightly wrong, it could turn into a tool for killing, yet there's no craftsman who wouldn't be thrilled to learn about this technology.
I felt the same way.
"So that means Ms. Lene has to help with creating the ammunition."
Mr. Galdun is confirming the parts he is curious about without holding back.
Somewhere along the way, he has changed how he refers to her from "the little lady elf" to "Ms. Lene."
I guess he is showing her respect as a craftsman.
"I will supply the chemicals for that, so I would appreciate it if you could make it according to the design."
"Understood. Then first and foremost, we need to start with the mold. It's an order from His Excellency the Duke... it's for stampede countermeasures, so I can't cut corners. Let's get to work immediately."
That's enough said, Galdun said "I'll be right back" and with that, he grabbed the design plans and left the room.
He's probably going to get the workers moving right away to start building the molds.
"Phew...that explanation was nerve-wracking..."
"You look beat, Lene. As for us, all that's left is to make a ton of gunpowder. This will make a huge difference in our preparations for the stampede."
"Yes, but..."
It's a cheerful topic, but Lene's face was clearly troubled.
I get it, though.
"Alchemy guns can be used to kill, and you're worried about that, right? That's what the 'safety' is for?"
"Yes...but, there's still a chance something could go wrong."
This time, to prevent the alchemy guns from being misused, we decided to incorporate a magic restriction into each gun.
This allows us to prevent the gun from being used by anyone other than its owner.
This is a brand mark magic, and it's physically engraved into the weapon's interior, so it can't be removed.
On the other hand, to tie the gun to its ammunition, we also made it so that if the gun is misused, it would be possible to tell who used it from the bullet.
We decided to call this system 'safety'.
"Well, we just have to manage it well. I'm going to do my best to create those magic stones His Excellency requested."
Shouldering my responsibilities, I finally made up my mind to prepare for the approaching stampede.
* * *
And the very next day, a messenger arrived at our workshop from His Excellency Duke Hoffman.
It had happened 3 days prior: the stampede had broken out and was ravaging Marquis Strauss' territory.
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