I’d like to say it clearly. No, I am not dropping this project.
I’d like to say this clearly again. No, I am not dropping this project.
Third time’s the charm. No, I am not dropping this project.
I never said I was, so if you kill me off behind my back, it depresses me. This depression was the reason for the chapter delay. And I’m not a Baka-Tsuki translator, nor am I affiliated with them. What’s said on their site is irrelevant to me.
Chapter 310: Firearms
It happened a little before we warped to the village to set out.
It was sealed deeply underground, along with all equipment. Little by little, the machines worked on it autonomously, and as if it were a butterfly breaking out of a cocoon, it opened its eyes. It slowly dug its way up, and breathed its first breath of fresh air.
After shaking off the dirt that coated its body, it jumped into the sea, and swam out.
As if it knew where it was supposed to be… it eventually arrived at the village I knew all too well…
“We need to get to Faubley quickly! Get out the carriages!” (Naofumi)
“Deal with it! Now everyone, hurry! Motoyasu, have your three pull carriages as well! Gaelion, you too!” (Naofumi)
“KYUA!” (Gaelion)
Upon hearing my voice, it immediately ran to my carriage…
The next day. (TL: I think from the story, not from the events listed above)
“Do you think we’ll be able to get an audience in Faubley today?” (Naofumi)
“Most likely.” (Queen)
Us who had been resting in the inn met up with the Queen, who was staying in the castle.
“The other side also says they’ve finished their preparations to greet us, so there shouldn’t be any problems.” (Queen)
“I see. So they managed to gather the Heroes.” (Naofumi)
By what command do they move?
Aren’t they supposed to be fighting for the world?
The carriage bounced up and down as we proceeded forward. The roads changed to stone pavement at some point in time, but that doesn’t really matter.
“Ren, what do you think the otherworlders like us are thinking? Apparently, they didn’t participate against Kirin.” (Naofumi)
Itsuki’s silently and expressionlessly staring in the carriage, and Motoyasu only looks at birds,so conversations like this won’t get through.
So I tried asking Ren
“There are a few possibilities.” (Ren)
“The first is that they don’t care about the wave, and that they abandoned their mission.” (Ren)
“I really sympathize with that one.” (Naofumi)
If I was only thinking about myself, then that wouldn’t be a bad move.
Honestly, I also think it would be best off falling to ruin.
But thinking of it as Raphtalia and Atlas’s world makes me protect it a bit more.
“Next is they thought the Hero they sent to Kirin to be capable enough, and just left the problem to him…” (Ren)
“If they can just push their problems onto that guy like that, I have a bad premonition of what’s to come.” (Naofumi)
I don’t think someone who was happily summoned to this game-like world would let an event like this go.
Is it that? They really place their faith in one single person that much?
“Hmm… there’s also the possibility that they were too focused on level-grinding to care.” (Ren)
“Ah…” (Naofumi)
I guess there are players who focus on their levels, and ignore events as well.
If that’s the case, it would be exceedingly troublesome. For the world.
But if I look at these heroes gathered here, I guess it’s not impossible.
“Rafu~…”
Hmm?
I hear a familiar voice calling me from afar.
“Did you just hear something?” (Naofumi)
“Firo.” (Naofumi)
“Stop the carriage.” (Naofumi)
“Okay, got it.” (Firo)
We stop, and I strain my ears.
“Ta~li~”
There’s really something here.
When I checked the bottom of the carriage, I found a single Raph holding onto the axel.
I don’t know why, but it was hiding.
“Did something happen?” (Raphtalia)
I hear Raphtalia dismount from the carriage.
“I heard a Raph.”
“I’m surprised you could hear that. So…” (Raphtalia)
I hold up the Raph, and show it to Raphtalia.
“Did it follow us here?” (Raphtalia)
“Seems like it… wait…!?” (Naofumi)
When I was patting it, I realized.
“Who is this? He isn’t one of the ones from the villiage.” (Naofumi)
“Yeah, from their feel, and their cries.” (Naofumi)
“When did you develop such an…” (Raphtalia)
Raphtalia stares at me with a questioning expression.
It’s like they’re a large litter of kittens born of the same mother.
Anyways, the Raph looks at Raphtalia.
“Fa…”
I shut him up before he could finish.
I just didn’t want him to say it, okay?
“But what should we do?” (Naofumi)
“Hmm…” (Naofumi)
It followed us quite a distance, so sending it back is a bit of a pain.
If we confront the Seven Stars and fail to find the culprit, we’ll be going back anyways.
“Rafu?”
“Rafu.”
The Raph nods, and releases some sort of magic at me.
There are a few things I’d like to retort right now, but I check its status anyways.
… It’s surprisingly high.
Specifically, it’s at level 80.
What is this one?
It was a monster made by the strange me, so perhaps it’s just easy to register them.
“Hmm?” (Firo)
Firo brings her face close to the unfamiliar Raph.
“Don’t eat it.” (Naofumi)
“I think this is the first.” (Naofumi)
“No, you said it!” (Firo)
Fumu, perhaps it was the strange me again.
“And? What’s up?” (Naofumi)
“Rafu~.”
The Raph in my hands uses its tail to block Firo’s mouth.
“It’s a secret?” (Firo)
“I see.” (Firo)
It seems that these beasts have come to an understanding.
It may be the best of all the Raphs I’ve held ‘til now.
But this one’s feel is similar but slightly different. It’s strangely nice.
… What is it? Perhaps this is my ideal-
“Naofumi-sama?” (Raphtalia)
“You appear to be forming strange ideas as you’re patting it.” (Raphtalia)
Fumu. I got off track there.
Now should I bring it, or not. I believe that was the predicament.
“For now, there’s no problems in taking it. I mean, its abilities are relatively high.” (Naofumi)
“… I see. I understand.” (Raphtalia)
“Please don’t call it that. Why princess!?” (Raphtalia)
“Why!? What’s that supposed to mean?” (Raphtalia)
“Really? Then I guess Raph-chan is fine.” (Sadina)
Sadina gets off the carriage, and names it.
Raph-chan…
“Rafu~!” (Raph-chan)
“… Understood. I have gotten an insight into Firo’s and Naofumi-sama’s naming sense.” (Raphtalia)
Her reactions a bit unexpected.
“Rafu~” (Raph-chan)
Pat. Pat. Pat.
“Make sure not to pat it too much.” (Raphtalia)
“Tali~” (Raph-chan)
But what’s the deal with this one?
Its cries differ from time to time.
“Riya?” (Raph-chan)
We get on the carriage, and I continue to pat Raph-chan. The city scenery around me grows more and more modern as we progress. The Cityscape gradually steals my attention.
I guess if you were to call him properly, it would be Raph-chan-chan.
No, no, no…
“What?”
I’m a bit curious about the city’s prosperity, and… I guess you would call it Steampunk. I see various car-like things running on what looks like steam-based engines.
It looks like Faubley is quite a modern place.
Ah, there’s a genuine car. It looks old fashioned.
It gives off the feeling of one driven by a famous novel’s detective, or something of the sort.
“Guns. It looks like being shot with one of those is no joke.” (Naofumi)
“It’s not like I don’t… I was just thinking of how different this place was to Melromark. I think that you would lose if we waged war.” (Naofumi)
“Against the guns?” (Queen)
The Queen looks over at the weapon shop, and turns her eyes back to me.
Guns are quite fatal where I come from.
“Isn’t that right? I mean, won’t bows lose against them?” (Naofumi)
“… Really?” (Naofumi)
“Yes. Quite a few summoned heroes propose them as weapons, but most of their attempts failed.” (Queen)
So some otherworld Heroes thought they would use their advanced knowledge to cheat?
Or something like that?
“Why?” (Naofumi)
“I think that Hero of the Bow-sama over there understands.” (Queen)
I call out the spaced-out Itsuki from the carriage.
“Itsuki, what do you think about guns?” (Naofumi)
“The Queen is telling me that they aren’t that powerful of a weapon.” (Naofumi)
“Let’s see… if someone of high level uses one, it would be troublesome… I think.” (Itsuki)
???
I don’t get what he’s saying.
“Naofumi-san, while this is reality, we also have something called Status, right?” (Itsuki)
… Hmm?
“The conclusion is that firearms probably aren’t as powerful as they were in the Heroes world.” (Queen)
“Bullet speed is also effected by Status, and there are various problems involving reloading, and regulating gunpowder, and the like.” (Itsuki)
The Queen nods at Itsuki’s answer.
“Yes, there’s the danger of the enemy discharging the bullets with magic, and even if you get to fire, you can’t rely too much on the firepower unless your level is high.” (Queen)
Ah, I see.
According to Itsuki, the momentum of bullets is also effected by Status.
Guns are good because they’re supposed to have the same firepower regardless of the wielder.
If you take away that point, I guess they aren’t as useful as in my world.
Hmm, they’re letting people practice over there.
Perhaps she noticed me concentrating my attention. Firo stopped walking.
The trigger was pulled.
With a bang, the gunpowder burst, and a familiar and unique sound entered my ear. The child threw his arms up from the recoil.
… Why is the bullet so slow?
From my experience, isn’t it supposed to impact almost immediately following the shot?
“Using gunpowder, you can definitely accelerate bullets, but the damage isn’t particularly high. In comparison to a bow, its maintenance and ammunition costs are higher, so they aren’t really used outside of Faubley.” (Queen)
“And since fire magic can discharge the shells, if you want to attack at long distance, most would use a bow, magic, or a throwing weapon.” (Queen)
“This is based on my game knowledge, but if you train, you can get quite strong. But I wouldn’t call it the strongest weapon or anything.” (Itsuki)
Itsuki answers without any visible interest.
Most of them have the attack power of them fall far behind the sword.
So bows also have the merit of being easy to restock ammo.
And because of all this, gun technology doesn’t improve.
“So even firearms are subject to status.” (Naofumi)
“Does artillery work by the same principle?” (Naofumi)
“I see.” (Naofumi)
“Artillery and catapults can have quite a bit of output if they’re used by people with high levels, so they’re often brought forth in war, though.” (Queen)
They’re dependent on user ability.
And if Itsuki used one, would it be strong?
I think it falls under the bow category.
I don’t see where Status starts and stops. What’s effected by it, and what isn’t?
I’ve been participating in waves as if it were natural, but I never found it strange.
Then Bows and other weapons also take effects from Status.
… Of course.
Since Itsuki’s the Hero of the Bow, can he not use firearms?
He should be able to use crossbows… I’ll have him try it out.
As if he sensed my intention, Itsuki nodded, and left for the Weapon Store.
With this, I hope he gets a bit stronger.