Year 7447, Month 3, Day 4
Late last night after we arrived in the teleport room of the 8th floor we took a full 8 hours of sleep per person and recovered our stamina before stepping foot on the 9th floor. Of course starting with the net gun we left on the 8th floor we brought along as much Treant lumber as we had the leeway to hold.
And then just past noon after defeating the mino guardians of the 9th floor we had a slightly late lunch.
"Today after this are we going to the 10th floor?"
Bel asked me. The last time we took a bit of a look around the 10th floor on the first day. However, without hesitation I said,"No, let's not today. I want to do it when we can spend a full day starting tomorrow.", before pulling out the iron ores from the bottom of Giberuti's bags.
"Ah, starting with the guns huh?"
"Yeah. Thinking about those {Lesser Yowie} and I thought I should make a proper gun first."
"You were going to make a gun that can fire consecutively right?"
"That's right. I want to get a good outlook of the gunpowder and bullets today."
I brought along some brass and copper ores. Of course, I haven't forgotten the cotton and I've already resupplied on yellow dye. Also I intend on trying to use the Treant lumber to make the gunstock and hand-guard this time. Last time I made the gunstock out of walnut wood but I think it was a pretty decent job for the first time. Although, I've made a number of wooden guns in the past so I can't say it's completely the first one.
First off is producing the gunpowder and bullets I guess. Since we're already pretty used to these we can proceed up to the washing process right away. Since we've already reached the point where there's almost no problem with the amount of gunpowder in the bullets there shouldn't be any problem with making the thickness of the barrel a bit thinner.
During the start when there was too much gunpowder the cartridges couldn't withstand the explosion within the cylinder and would expand(there was also expansion from the temperature of the explosion but it was mainly expansion from the blast wave), then I couldn't get the empty cartridges out and in worst case there was no choice other than to break it. Since I didn't add something like an ejector rod after all. I made this possible by somewhat increasing the thickness of that portion of the cartridges to increase the strength. Though because of that the cartridges ended up a bit longer. If possible I didn't want to sacrifice the power.
It's no good if we don't replenish the bullet-heads and shell cases as well. The primer too. Recently the cartridges we've made have a proper thickness and are reusable so I guess it's fine to make a bit less huh?
Now then, while they're washing the acids out from the cotton, it's finally time to work on producing the gun during the spare time.
This time what I'm going to make is a bolt action rifle..is what I'd like to say but as expected that's getting too complex all of a sudden. I intend on making a revolving rifle which is like a revolver made into a rifle. While I'm at it I also abandoned the {top break} form and made it a {solid frame}. Different from the average modern day revolver the revolving cylinder doesn't {sling out}. It's necessary to take out the empty cartridges from the loading gates on the sides one at a time before loading new bullets but for that portion the structure can be made a lot simpler. Additionally for the portion it's made simpler I can raise the durability.
I made the firing mechanism only {single action} as well. Of course it's because I can make the form of the parts simpler. The number of parts I have isn't many. After all, it's only two springs, the trigger, the hammer, the hand which rotates the cartirdges pulling the hammer back, and the latch which holds the cartridges in place when they stop rotating. {Double action} is something similar but the structure gets a bit more complex and the number increases by one or two. That's up next. Pin? Ah, it's fine as long as you directly hit the primer so it shouldn't necessary for the time being.
Of course there's no way there would be something like a {gas sealer} so when a bullet is being fired the firing flames leak out through the guns in the cylinder and barrel which makes a long glove required for your left hand. Though if you're fine with being burnt there's no need for even that.
I made the parts for the first gun in about 1 hour. Once again this time I made the rifling within the barrel using chrome. I'll use the tungsten after I've built up a bit of confidence and got the proper form down. I carved down the treant lumber while roughly estimating the gunstock and barrel and putting them into place. If I match them up other than the receiver and revolving cylinder it should have the shape of a rifle from a while back. I used an exclusive jig to hold the barrel in place while carving out the pipe and shaved it down to almost the same shape as outer circumference of the barrel.
"Shave down the fine places and adjust it for yourself."
I said that while handing over the skin of a fish similar to kawahagi that works as sandpaper.
It should be about time for the bullets to enter the selection process. I need to head over.
Just like this our first day on the 9th floor ended. Tomorrow a short while after we eat breakfast we'll defeat the respawned mino and then continue off from today. The 10th floor is put off until after the day after tomorrow.
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Year 7447, Month 3, Day 5
Including Zulu and Angela, everyone participated in the test firing but a problem came to light.
"Lift your chin and close your right armpit. Make sure the gunstock is properly touching your shoulder. Hold your left hand even further forward.."
"Even if you say something like that~"
Since just Gwine's body was small, her arms are equally short so she can't take up the proper form when firing a rifle.
At first I thought about just teaching her the proper firing form but you could say it's a good thing we discovered it early on. Her left hand almost barely reaches beyond the rotating cylinder so even if she has a glove on it's dangerous and in the first place I'm sure it would be difficult just to properly aim. The gunstock is too long. I wonder if I should create an exclusive gun for Gwine and Zenom?
When we test firing the net gun it was just pulling a string that was tied to the trigger for benchrest firing and when it came to test firing the nearly complete net gun I finished by just letting Bel test it out to get used to the posture so I completely overlooked it.
Hmn. As expected making another gun of this is...It's fine if I just exchange the gunstock but it's a pain to change them every single time after all...I'm sure the characteristics will change every time I take it apart to exchange them and it'll influence the firing precision as well~ I guess it's fine after I've made a proper and more practical bolt action rifle huh...
But, I wanted to teach everyone how to shoot before I made the bolt action rifle. Well, I guess it's fine to make a {double action} revolving rifle huh? I'll make that one easier to use for Gwine and Zenom. Eventually I intend to have Kamu and Kevin use it as well so I'm sure it won't go to waste.
And, then because that's the case in the end I ended up making guns again this afternoon as well. Thanks to that I ended up using up a considerable amount of the iron ores I had prepared. The number of bullets we can make will be 10% less than planned, like this. Let alone that I only realized it during our first shooting practice today but the consumption rate of bullets is faster than I expected. Ah, even if we collect the bullet-heads I can't reuse them. {Transmute.Rock.To.Mud} can only change things to mud once. Of course, if we melt them down and pour it into a mold then we can still use them one or two more times but thinking about the price of iron ore and the amount of labor and it's not to the point of needing to do it.
It's quite a bit sooner than planned but I guess we should return once.
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Yeary 7447, Month 3, Day 6
We went to the 6th floor to restock on food. When we teleported in I'm sure it was just a coincidence but it was just as the {Butchers} lead by Zenom were taking a break. It seems they were about to return to the 4th floor for today.
"Will it be long again this time?"
Misu asked.
"Hn~ I intended on that but we'll probably return once on the 11th of this month. That's why the last time we'll come here should be the 9th so I'm depending on you all with that intention."
After replying that I guess Zenom worried that things weren't going smoothly and said.
"Is there any kind of problem?"
"No, it's not really a problem. It's just there's something I need to return to the surface once to resupply. By the way, it seems like you're earning quite a bit."
Rokko and Kevin were holding what appears to be several magic stones from ogres while making a racket over the weight and color. Around them starting with Kamu, Binsu, Kimu, and Jeru all seemed to be in a pretty good mood as well. It seems there's around 10 magic stones or so?
"Yeah, it's also because we had good luck but we encountered a number of ogres alone or with just two of them. We defeated a total of 9 of them."
That's amazing! Isn't that over 7,000,000! Henry and Rubi aren't included in the head count so my cut is 1/9th. Even subtracting the expenses I profited 700,000. It's not surprising the {Butchers} are in such a good mood.
However, hearing that I thought for a bit. In order to give the {Slaughterers} a bonus of 800,000 Z per person it requires earning 40,000,000. This time, I haven't properly calculated it but on the outward trip we've only earned around half of that.
Even when it comes to clearing through the 7th, 8th, and 9th floors after this I intend for us to return within one day so there's no intention of casually wandering around seeking out ogres. Hmm. If we just spend one day seriously exploring the 10th floor then..No, that's no good. It's too frightening going into a monster room without Zenom and Ralpha in the party. I'm sure there's monsters we'll see for the first time so getting impatient is no good. At the very least until we can properly use the guns...
"Since they were all groups with low numbers everyone wanted to use them as practice for the member change matches but as expected that is~ We properly fought against all of them so there's no need to worry."
"Yeah."
Of course, I know Zenom would never do anything so careless. Probably no one else would do it either. I trust them on that end.
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Year 7447, Month 3, Day 8
"Don't close your eyes when you're shooting. Properly look at the target."
"Yes, I'm very sorry, master."
While teaching Angela how to shoot I glanced to the side at the hand-to-hand combat training Miudchi, Toris, Bel, Gwine, and Zulu were doing in the distance. It seems like they're putting quite a bit of energy into it because they're bored.
I sent Basutoral to check out the condition of the rock we're using as the enemy about 100 meters ahead.
After confirming the target Basutoral raised his hands into a large X.
"You missed. It's best to think that if you close your eyes you won't hit the target. Well, regardless of the case it's just about quickly getting used to it."
I said that while giving Basutoral the sign to come back with my hand. The role of observer is the hardest.
After all they have to go back and forth between the target and the shooting point. If they slack off I end up yelling at them. Well, this is a form of training as well.
"Wa, yes. I understand."
Angela said that before putting her ear plugs back in and wearing her helmet. It seems she's still afraid of the guns which fire high power bullets along with spitting fire and a loud roar. However, even with this Angela is considerably better off in comparison to Zulu.
After that we continued shooting training while switching out the observer role in order.
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Year 7447, Month 3, Day 11
Just as I told Zenom and the others the other day, we decided to return to the surface once. As a matter of fact we ran out of bullets yesterday. Today we investigated the monsters that appear in the halls of the 10th floor starting in the morning. Even if we can't use guns there's a lot of things we can and need to do. Honestly speaking even if we don't return to the surface it would have been fine to just keep defeating the minos that repsawn like crazy. Well, that's that.
If you were to ask me since I went to the trouble of creating a rifle I want to quickly be able to use it.
Yesterday night, after thinking carefully about it I realized I hadn't even fired one shot this time and after all decided to return just as planned. When it actually comes time to use the guns if I'm the worst at aiming it wouldn't be a joke.
Around the evening when we returned to the surface it seems they heard from the {Butchers} as Ralpha and the {Exterminators} were on the surface.
"What is it? This time you brought along a lot of cotton and such right?"
Ralpha asked while biting into a baldoggie.
"We ended up running out of bullets so we're resupplying."
Toris replied in a whisper but isn't it fine if you don't whisper when using Japanese? Though it's fine.
"Zenom, Ralpha, switch out today. Miduchi take over the {Butchers, Toris take over the {Exterminators}."
This time, I planned ahead for this and put emphasis on letting Miduchi and Toris practice shooting. Thanks to that I think the two of them are able to use it decently well.
"When do you plan to enter next?"
Zenom asked. How unusual.
"Since we came back matching up this time, it's just right. The same as usual we'll have three days off starting tomorrow and enter starting from the 15th then not leave until the end of the month. Ah, of course there's combined training on the 14th as well."
While replying to Zenom I told everyone our schedule. It seems Zenom wanted to go to the capital tomorrow to buy smoked meat. It was just right so I had him bring along Angela and requested they buy a larger amount of iron ores. Though I intend on buying from the blacksmith in Baldukk as well it's a bit cheaper in the capital. Ah, Zulu made a slightly pathetic face when this topic came up so I exempted him from it. I'm sure he just wants to be together with the sister from Murowa. It's fine.
It seems Basutoral is going to capital without eating dinner. I asked this fellow to buy additional yellow dye and cotton.
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Year 7447, Month 3, Day 30
We returned from another long two and a half week period in the dungeon again. I already told them our plans ahead of time so the {Butchers} and {Exterminators} were all gathered on the surface.
"With the three days off in between we'll be entering the dungeon again on the 4th of next month but...It's about time we've figured out the monsters in the halls of the 10th floor. Next I intend to challenge the monster rooms on the 10th floor. Though since the minotaur guardians on the 9th floor are still respawning there's no choice other than to continue defeating them."
Next time, first I intend on testing out the rifle against the minotaurs. This time when we were returning to the surface I didn't just leave the net gun on the 8th floor but one of the rifles as well. On our way in I intend to try out using it in live combat against the monsters in the halls and rooms on the 9th floor. If there doesn't seem to be any problem then we'll use it against the mino and then just like that use it on the 10th floor as well.
"Well in any case, in regards to the 9th floor we're able to clear through it with no problem for the time being. After the next time we enter the dungeon we'll have the member change matches. Everyone who wants to participate say something."
"I want to challenge it again."
"Me too."
It's Kamu and Kimu. Just as expected.
"Of course, I will too."
"Me too."
"Obviously right."
Jeru, Ginger, Misu huh? This was just as expected as well.
"Obviously I'll be challenging it as well."
""We will too.""
Rodrick, Denda, and Karimu. I knew about it.
"Yeah, we'll be trying it too."
"Obviously."
Sanno and Ruttsu huh? I guess so.
"I'll try alone."
Binsu? Was he challenging last time?
"I'll be trying alone as well."
Hisu. She seems to be fired up. Give it your best.
"Fu~"
"You~"
""Can't forget about us!""
Rokko and Kevin. Isn't that everyone?
I glanced at Basutoral and Angela. The two of them were smiling confidently.
Though we've slacked off from exploring recently, we've been training pretty heavily for that portion.
Also, putting aside everything else we've been hunting trolls and mino which are considerably higher experience points than ogres.
Even looking at it favorably I think they've increased their power quite a bit.
But, just like the {Slaughterers} in the past they're killing monsters right and left and have earned quite a bit of experience as well.
Though as expected since I'm not around they can't recover all they want.
Now then, I wonder how things will go?
It shouldn't go so easily for either side anymore.
"Alright, so everyone's challenging huh? Got it. I'll decide on a proper evaluation method once again before the end of this break."
Tomorrow I intend on showing my face at the company in the capital and I want to look at the factory as well. I should be able to take my time thinking while traveling.