Episode 19: After a month and a half of cleaning up the old dwarf, Hamar completed the work two weeks ahead of the deadline.
After making as many as 100 extra crossbows, he lay down and declared a strike for a while.
Of course, Logan accepted it with satisfaction.
The very next day, Logan immediately went to visit the mercenary group.
The mercenaries, who could not hide their wonder at the appearance of the small crossbow, were unable to keep their mouths shut after seeing Logan’s demonstration.
“Oh, that’s great?”
“It flies quite far.”
“You can fire continuously. It’s an amazing crossbow.”
Of course, most of the mercenaries’ impressions were just that.
But there were also people who recognized its value right away.
“Huh…” As
soon as Kai remembered the sight of the 300 mounted troops he had trained armed with those repeating crossbows, goosebumps appeared all over Kai’s body.
‘It can devastate the battlefield.’
That’s a weapon that can be dangerous even for a knight level if you don’t know about it in advance and prepare for it.
Kai, who thought that far, burst into applause.
“That’s great. That’s why you meant crossbow cavalry.”
The sense of disparity that had been felt since the request for crossbow cavalry, which was almost completely ineffective, but also required thorough training, was completely resolved.
“And tell them that the cartridge magazine at the back of the crossbow is designed to be completely destroyed if you try to disassemble it by force, so don’t even think about opening it.”
“…If it were a weapon that would produce that kind of power, its structure would also be complicated.”
In fact, it was the opposite. Because it is surprisingly simple, an additional security device was created.
‘It’s bound to spread at some point, but we can’t allow it to leak yet.’
Security must be maintained at least until the coming territory war is overcome and influence is expanded.
Therefore, the craftsmen recruited to help Hamar also had each workshop make only the parts they were responsible for, and had no intention of making more than spare crossbows for the mercenaries.
‘A mercenary force is enough to overcome territory warfare.’
Even if more was supplied, it was only the equivalent of the Knights Templar.
‘Of course, I don’t know if the knights will want to use crossbows.’
Logan chuckled and decided on a line to whom he would supply the new weapon.
In any case, it was impossible to supply these weapons to all soldiers due to time and financial constraints, but even if it was possible, the risk of leakage was more of a concern.
‘So once the training of the mercenaries is completed…’
In fact, the material preparations for the territory war are almost finished.
‘Okay, almost…’
Now only the last step remained.
“I’ll have to check.”
“yes?”
“Equip all mercenaries with crossbows and prepare to march out. Clean up all monsters encountered outside the territory, right down to the southern mountain range.”
“Huh? That’s…”
“Do you think it’s impossible after looking at that?”
“Hmm.”
Of all the monsters under the mountain range, most of them were low-level monsters that had been pushed down.
“…It might be possible.”
“It’s not something you can do, you have to do it. Otherwise, it’s meaningless.”
“…yes?”
Kai, who did not understand Logan’s intentions, questioned him, but he did not bother to explain.
And after some time.
“let’s go!”
Heehee!
A mercenary unit equipped with a new weapon came out of the castle gate to test its firepower.
* * * Doo doo doo doo.
As the mercenaries ran across the field with the harsh sound of horses’ hooves, a herd of about 100 Kralls spotted them and turned in surprise.
Just a few months ago, it was a group of low-level monsters that would have taken an entire year to deal with.
Kai’s eyes lit up when he spotted the group.
Then he raised his fist towards the sky and immediately opened his palm.
At the same time as the signal, the mercenaries running in three columns scattered horizontally.
“Listen! Shoot!”
Shoo shoo shoo shoo.
Before we knew it, the arrows fired by the mercenaries lined up in two rows in a zigzag shape struck the fleeing group of crawlers, making a much quieter sound than the crossbows used in the past.
Kieeeeek!
In one volley of fire, most of the group of about 100 crawlers died.
The few lucky ones who survived also fell as hedgehogs in the second round of fire that immediately followed.
Even though the number was only one-third of the mercenary force, it only took about 10 seconds for a group of monsters to be annihilated.
Even if they had met the knights, it would have taken longer than this.
The expression of Logan, who was riding at the back, noticeably brightened at the encouraging achievement.
However, what was more surprising than anyone else were the mercenaries who directly used weapons.
“There is almost no recoil!”
“The range is longer than I thought?”
“Mine went through one and the second stuck in the head.”
But their achievements did not end there.
Accompanied by their employer’s encouragement, the mercenary group raced south, literally wiping out all the monsters they encountered.
The screams of monsters continued to spread throughout the field, and at some point, the monsters began to retreat like a wave, avoiding the direction in which the mercenaries were running.
A ‘reverse’ monster wave created by about 300 mercenaries shook the wasteland in the southern part of McLane territory.
“It’s the Archduke’s mercenary unit. Open the gate!”
“What are they doing up to this hour?”
“That’s right. There are no settlement villages in the south because of the monsters.”
“Shh. There’s an archduke too.”
As the sun was setting, the soldiers on the outer wall of McLane began complaining about the mercenary force that had belatedly turned the pulley of the castle gate.
Of course, since the prince of the territory was at the forefront, they could not complain openly, but there was no way the mercenaries were unaware of the atmosphere.
However, the mercenaries did not care about the soldiers’ reactions.
“Hey, this is….”
“From now on, you are my number one treasure.”
“The captain said that if we break it, he will break it for us. Handle it carefully!”
“It’s still like that!”
All of them were just stroking the crossbows they were holding and making dazed expressions.
The hunt lasted only half a day, and since most of it was low-level monsters, no valuable by-products were obtained.
However, they came back after unilaterally massacring over a thousand monsters, which was three times the number of their 300 people.
It was natural for them to be excited, as they now had weapons that ordinary C-class mercenaries could not even dream of.
“Are you saying that the Archduke made this?”
“You idiot. A dwarf made it.”
“That dwarf is the Archduke’s slave.”
“I heard you designed it yourself.”
“Oh, that’s not it.”
Thanks to this, the evaluation of this strange employer, who was rich and fierce but had bad reputations, was on the rise.
A middle-aged mercenary standing at the forefront of the mercenaries smiled proudly and opened his mouth to his employer next to him.
“Are you satisfied?”
“To some extent.”
“yes?”
Kai, who was more than satisfied with Logan’s undesirable answer, asked back with puzzled eyes.
“The tactics of using the existing crossbow are still ingrained in me. Is there a need to change the battle line after firing one shot? I hope the speed of changing magazines can also be increased.”
Kai looked shocked at the request that came out right away, as if he had been waiting for it.
‘You’re not satisfied with this kind of firepower? ‘What on earth are you planning to do?’
The idea that it was an unusual hobby for a wealthy nobleman had disappeared, but Kai had doubts about his employer’s overly greedy attitude.
But of course, he did not show his true feelings.
“…I will train you again to use the new weapon.”
“Okay. I’ll check back soon.”
Although he complained to Kai, Logan was actually quite satisfied.
The crossbow created by Dwarf Hamar exceeded his expectations, and the resulting firepower of the mercenaries already far exceeded the standard he had initially planned.
Even without the magazine, making more crossbows didn’t make sense right now.
No matter how powerful the repeating crossbow was, there was no way a war would break out any time soon, so even if they tried to train soldiers with this new weapon, it would not work.
Wouldn’t it be nice if I didn’t listen to crazy people?
‘For now, let’s focus on my growth.’
It would be even better if he could win the hearts of the family’s main force, the Knights, in the process.
Even though everything was going smoothly, Logan, who could not completely shake off his worries, made up his mind to relax again.
* * * After the cold winter, the time has come when the wind blows and brings warmth.
The story of the mad archduke and the genius scientist, which had caused an uproar in the family all winter, gradually died down as the mad archduke did not create much of an issue.
But that didn’t mean that Logan’s reputation had improved.
I don’t know where the rumor came from, but it was widely spread that a genius Lee Gongja would inherit the family.
But only one place.
In the Knights Templar, a slightly different story was being told.
“Wow, your stamina is really amazing.”
“That’s right. There’s no answer to that ridiculous physical ability unless it’s genetics.”
“If he truly resembled the head of the family, his swordsmanship would be as good as that monster’s physical strength.”
“But if you look at the Dominant gun…”
“That’s not worth mentioning. That old man’s skills…”
“But…”
“Arthur. You lost to Lee Gongja before you awakened. If only you had seen it too. west.”
“That’s definitely… it’s really strange. I only have physical strength! Is that possible?”
“I wish I had practiced swordsmanship more during the time I had to use that body to wreak havoc…”
It is not that there are still negative opinions, but within the Knights Templar, at least those who say the Archduke is crazy have long since disappeared.
The Archduke who joined their training for several months showed consistency itself.
In addition, horseback riding, which involves galloping down a mountain path with a horse wrapped around the horse, which was the training initially created to drive out Logan, has now become a new symbol of the Knights.
At first, I simply continued this monstrous training out of consideration for the knights’ pride, but I discovered an unexpected effect in addition to stimulating the lower-level knights who had been training leisurely.
Purr.
“Okay, okay. Ray, just sleep a little longer. “It’ll be over soon,”
said Knight Henderson carefully, stroking his horse on his shoulder.
Similar scenes were happening here and there.
At first, the horses, who had been forcibly drugged and put to sleep, woke up during training and there was a commotion. Although it happened, the horses gradually adapted to the training and felt closer to their rider, the
knight. A knight is a knight.
The horse was another weapon that strengthened the knight’s combat power.
In fact, the horse and As interaction time increased and communication became smoother, the knights’ combat power increased.
It was not simply a matter of mood. Intermediate and higher knights used riding skills that strengthened their horses with force
to speed up their speed and strengthen their stamina.
The closer you were to the horse, the more efficient the use of the technique was.
After horseback riding and running training, even low-level knights were unconsciously imitating it through strong emotional communication with their horses.
Naturally, it became training to rise to the level of the horse. ‘ It
‘s not all thanks to the Archduke, but…’
Heinkel was looking at Logan with warm eyes that were completely different from the first time.
It was like seeing a bundle of luck rolling in.
Although it was far from the perception that Logan had hoped for, It was definitely a positive change.
* * * ‘I think it will work this time.’
It was a night with a bright moon rising.
There was a faint anticipation in the eyes of Logan, who was sitting on the bed.
The training of the Knights that overworks the body and the repetition of meditation training that stimulates the inner consciousness create a synergistic effect and bring about certain progress. Every time he observed his inner consciousness, he could see that the Force Core had grown.
In addition, for some time now, whenever the Force Core had stirred, there were even signs of change. Logan used the knowledge from the book
engraved
in his head once again. I thought about it and calmed my mind.
‘If this happens, don’t rush, take your time, don’t be impatient…’
However, I couldn’t help but feel a little agitated by the anticipation of being able to take a leap forward.
In a way, it was a natural reaction.
Thinking about his goal. In this case, increasing an individual’s power was just as important as the family’s work.
If everything went as expected, the power he possessed would eventually become the biggest variable that could change the most dangerous future.
‘Those monsters…’
Logan was in his past life. He thought of the Auror Masters and Archmages, among the superhumans he had seen.
Superhumans who single-handedly change the outcome of the battlefield and change the course of the battle.
Among the enemies he ultimately had to overcome were such monsters.
‘The limit I can reach with my talent and effort. You have to become stronger than that.’
Fortunately, he knew the method called Divine Sword’s Vision, and there was still time.
‘Just by growing one level, the win rate in the Territory Battle changes.’
It was also important for the imminent crisis.
Funnily enough, thinking about the future crisis instantly calmed his mind.
As he recited the now familiar meditation spell, Logan’s consciousness focused on the core of his heart inside him.
Ugh . .
In reality, it may not even be visible to the naked eye, but in Logan’s consciousness, the Force Core felt larger than his body.
Especially today.
Logan instinctively knew that the time had come.
Flash!
The moment Logan’s consciousness focused, his heart Intense light exploded nearby,
and soon the golden force core spewed out another small core.
