NOVEL NEXT Chapter 58
Spring has arrived.
The chilly weather has warmed up considerably, and now it’s the kind of weather where I could toss my coat aside. Even if I draped it over my shoulders like a cape, the warm sunlight makes the inside feel like a sauna.
Maybe it’s because Japan, known for its distinct four seasons, gives off a different vibe in gaming, but once winter ended, the weather suddenly got hot. Well, it was the same in my country. Just when I think, “When will it cool down?”, it suddenly becomes freezing again, forcing me to dig out my long padded coat that I had tucked away deep in the wardrobe without even getting a chance to wear the autumn clothes I bought.
Now it’s the opposite.
The reason it was a bit warmer was that I was still clinging to the winter fur that I didn’t really need. But… there’s no helping it. Because it looks cool! It’s not just for show, but it really is high-quality leather made from real animal fur, and that’s why I’m still wearing it.
It hasn’t even been a month since I entered the academy, but I’ve adapted quite well. It’s been a while since I attended school, so the reason I adapted quickly might be that I have a certain familiarity with the characters around me.
Maybe it’s because I’ve seen them so often in the game, but even though I’ve known them for less than a month, it feels like we’ve known each other forever.
Still, those characters were literally just “characters”—polygon models made with low-resolution textures that only spouted prewritten lines. Comparing those characters to the real people around me might be unfair.
Well, anyway.
Even though the green grass was already sprouting in the plains when I enrolled, it’s now become even more vividly green. In between, colorful flowers I couldn’t name bloomed beautifully.
And in the midst of that beautiful plain, I was…
Haa.
Letting out a deep sigh.
I had come outside to test the fire-element Marmaros, which I received as a reward from Jennifer two weeks ago.
The workshop near the academy that Jennifer introduced was really skilled in crafting.
It really was impressive, but…
“Are you really going to use such high-quality Marmaros on a gun?”
The workshop manager looked at me like I was crazy and said that.
“Is that a problem?”
I asked as I gazed down at the Ergensen rifle resting on the table.
I had used that rifle for quite some time, but it wasn’t in bad condition at all. No, I could say it was in great shape. I had practiced shooting thousands of rounds with it, and every time I shot, I always ended up reverting time afterward. So in the end, it’s a rifle that is in very good condition because I only used it when absolutely necessary.
I’m sure front-line soldiers would scoff at how well it was maintained.
“No… that’s not it.”
The young man, whose eyes were so thin they looked like they were squinting, would have seemed like a powerful hidden military official if he hadn’t been wearing a craftsman’s apron, scratched his head with his gloved hand as he spoke.
“It’s just that it’s a ‘gun.’ Honestly, there’s really no need to modify it this way, right? Wouldn’t it be better to reinforce the barrel and change the powder capacity? Typically, Marmaros is more effective on close-range weapons like swords or spears.”
In the game, it merely added a percentage to attack power or enabled the use of specific magic, but in reality, it was something quite different.
I had heard stories of dreadful effects like how a fire would follow a sword slash, or how the sword’s temperature would drop to the extreme, causing anyone injured to instantly get frostbite…
“How much damage can a flaming bullet really do to the enemy?”
“…”
Um…
“Is it impossible for the bullet to cause a small-scale explosion?”
“If such a bullet existed, wouldn’t the military already be using it?”
That makes sense.
Of course, large-caliber rifles existed in this era. Back in the days when tank armor was similar to armored vehicles, people recklessly engaged in anti-tank battles with oversized rifles. They even had high-explosive shells for machine guns… Oh, wait, wasn’t that a story from World War I? Well, I don’t really understand the order of firearms’ advancements. I don’t even know if snipers would even use such bullets.
“Can it be removed once attached?”
“Oh, that’s possible, but…”
The young man glanced at me cautiously.
“The removal will incur an additional cost, if that’s alright?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Then I’ll go ahead with it.”
At my words, the craftsman tilted his head but eventually went into the workshop with my rifle and Marmaros.
And after that…
With hardly anyone around, I practiced shooting outside.
Thanks to the Marmaros, which was attached to the bottom of the rifle barrel where the wooden barrel cover ends, flames definitely ignited on my rifle’s bullets.
Not just physically ignited, but magically ignited, so the flaming bullets went all the way through.
They embedded deep into the target and burned it.
That was it.
Well, I guess it’s good for creating wounds. Ordinary infantry might think it’s somewhat effective.
The problem is, given that Marmaros is an incredibly expensive item, I feel like it’s a waste for it to end there. If a bullet hits anywhere, it could be deadly. And if it hits a spot that doesn’t cause fatalities, a bit of burn can just be healed with magic, right? For common soldiers who can’t conveniently access magical healing, it would be terrifying, but…
Given my abilities, I’m bound to have high-value targets, and if that doesn’t result in an instant kill, I’m left questioning the need for such a feature?
After all, it wouldn’t mean anything to roast brain fragments that have been blown to smithereens.
… I now understand why the military hasn’t officially standardized the use of Marmaros. I also understand why the Emperor and his brothers have been reluctant to offer such items to me.
I suppose that sword that looks like it was made using Marmaros was made for me.
“Again.”
I nodded in understanding and rewound time.
*
Since only one bullet fits in the rifle, it might not have much significance if it ignites, but what about a shotgun?
There are actually shells for shotguns, too. A flamethrower-like weapon that spews fire seems incredibly useful.
At least in this world, which is fundamentally trench warfare.
“Are you heading to the battlefield, by any chance?”
The craftsman must have thought so too since he widened his round eyes and asked me like that.
“I might end up going.”
In the original story, the plot tends to focus on preventing the war itself rather than fighting in the midst of the battlefield.
But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t head toward the battlefield.
“Is that so…”
News of my abilities isn’t widely known. At least not to the general populace outside the palace. The nobility is somewhat aware, but normal people don’t know who I really am.
While Jennifer has already informed that I’m a ‘Crown Princess,’ they certainly don’t know much beyond that.
“Are you thinking of supporting the military or something?”
With that, he picked up my shotgun and Marmaros without any more commentary.
“I’m not sure yet.”
I only gave a vague answer.
*
“It’s done.”
A few hours later, when I returned, the craftsman presented the modified shotgun to me.
Just like before in the rifle, this time, Marmaros was installed in front of the shotgun’s signature tubular magazine. However, it didn’t seem to interfere with disassembly, as the part with Marmaros was also detachable. Though I would have to unscrew it to take it off.
Still, it didn’t seem like a forced attachment but rather naturally seemed like it was designed that way from the start, which I liked.
“Um… this might be an unnecessary comment, but.”
As I held the completed modified shotgun and checked its condition by turning it around here and there, the craftsman cautiously spoke up.
When I turned to look at him, he flinched slightly and said, “War is a horrifying place. If you’re thinking of going there looking for some sort of romantic notion of honor, then you might want to think again…”
After saying that, I silently stared at him and asked, “Have you been to war?”
“Oh, yes.”
I knew that. He was a character card in the original story, after all.
Though he walked quite naturally, one of his legs was a prosthetic. It was a very expensive item obtained thanks to Jennifer, who was from the same company. It was made of countless gears and springs that moved automatically and wound up according to his gait. There’s even a side quest related to this item later on.
“… Is that so.”
I said, slinging the shotgun over my shoulder.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
When I showed respect as a retired soldier, the craftsman made an immensely uncomfortable expression.
Well, he’s not a bad person.
The northern front has a certain justification in protecting civilians and aiding the legitimate government, the Riclant Autonomous State. In fact, the autonomous state even reached out for help. So currently, it’s not a full-blown front line, allowing for privileges for retired soldiers, but… as time passes, the tide of war could change drastically.
At least most of the people currently on the battlefield enlisted initially thinking it was romantic before they faced the brutal reality.
Leaving behind the craftsman, who looked bewildered by my formal stance, I exited the workshop.
*
And just like earlier…
When I returned to where I was, there were again a few beasts roaming around.
A little while ago, I shot from a distance, but now I was holding a shotgun. While I could somewhat feel the power of Marmaros at a short distance, I probably wouldn’t be able to maximize its performance. After all, the firepower directly spewing from the muzzle wouldn’t reach that far.
Grrr…
It wasn’t as massive as the elemental wolf I had seen before, but it’s not exactly a beast that an average person should approach unarmed.
If it stood on two legs, it would roughly reach my chest? Though with its long ears included, it might be taller than me.
It’s quite big from the sides, and the body is pretty muscular too. I might not guarantee survival if I tried to brawl with it barehanded.
A rabbit… if you could call it that. It looked a bit menacing and a bit larger than average.
… Anyway, it’s ridiculous that such a monster is living so close to a place where regular people pass by. I guess it’s a good thing it doesn’t just roam around the middle of the road like in the game.
Grrr…
… Don’t make such noises for a rabbit.
Click.
I aimed the shotgun at the rabbit.
GRAAA!
Letting out a sound totally uncharacteristic of a rabbit, its muscular hind legs kicked off the ground—
I immediately pulled the trigger—
Boom!
“GYAAAH!?”
—And was startled by the huge flames spewing from the gun.
The flames engulfed about 3-4 meters in front of me.
Thud.
And the rabbit that was charging at me dropped down to the ground, hit by the 12 pellets spewing from the muzzle.
Its fur turned a charred black.
I could smell grilled meat.
“……”
Um…
Yeah, I get why Marmaros isn’t used even on shotgun rounds.