Volume 3 Chapter 5 The Otherworld’s Gun Part II
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Using a gun to hunt quail, huh? How sad.”
It’s rare to see Mr. Zenom feel sorry for a quail.
I guess that’s expected from a craftsman; he probably has some obsession that goes beyond what normal people understand.
”From the quail’s point of view, it won’t matter much if it gets killed, right? Sure, a bullet might ruin the meat.”
Now that I think about it, I remember a relative’s uncle who went to eat wild duck and got all worked up about cracking a tooth on a bullet in the meat. Shooting through the head with an arrow?
That’s the proper way to enjoy a life, I suppose.
”Who cares about the feelings of a quail? The poor ones are the servants forced to use the gun.”
I don’t think my master actually loves quail, but now I’m even more confused about this whole conversation.
Is there something wrong with using a gun?
”Well then, let me show you my youthful folly.”
Mr. Zenom drags me to his room, clearly not wanting to explain.
This is my first time in my master’s private room, and I’m surprised at how neatly organized it is.
The walls are decorated with numerous weapons, making it look like a museum.
There are swords, axes, spears, even something like a morning star, and some I can’t even recognize, but all of them are masterpieces that showcase the maker’s extraordinary skill.
Even if I were locked in this room for a year, I probably wouldn’t get bored.
The gun was among the weapons on display.
My master silently hands it over to me.
That gun is heavy, looking like a break-action hunting shotgun, and while it wasn’t loaded, it probably used shells.
Inside the barrel, I can see spiral grooves cut into it; that’s called rifling.
I’ve heard that these grooves spin the bullet and stabilize its trajectory.
I’ve never touched a real gun before, but this one seems pretty modern.
”Did you make this, master?”
”This is a replica of a gun from another world made by my master. I even created the gunpowder and tested it for shooting.”
Seems there was a summoned Hero who brought in a gun long ago.
The fact that they could replicate it well enough to fire just by seeing the real thing is incredible dwarf craftsmanship.
The finish on the details is unbelievably beautiful; I bet it’s more meticulous than the real one.
”Isn’t it amazing? Once guns become common, swords will be outdated real quick.”
I’m not that deep into history, but I remember learning in class about how Oda Nobunaga won with firearms.
Firearms changed Japanese history, so if these guns get mass-produced, the age of the sword will end, I bet.
”The problem isn’t the gunpowder,”
”Is it hard to make?”
Was it saltpeter?
During the Warring States period, it was pretty rare, and I’ve heard stories about young girls traded for this saltpeter, sold as slaves on European ships.
”No, if you want to make it, you can make as much as you like.”
That’s impressive.
Then you could make cannons, right?
Even normal grenades could be pretty useful against monsters, I think.
”In the world you came from, these guys aren’t around, right?”
Mr. Zenom waves his hand, and a tiny fire spirit appears with a poof.
It played around on Mr. Zenom’s fingertips for a while, then disappeared like it got bored.
”For these guys, gunpowder is just a fun toy. They could blow up anytime without a care.”
Fire spirits… They’re pretty mischievous, aren’t they?
”Using guns is almost like suicide. It’s not rare for nobles to dispose of their retainers, but walking around with gunpowder? One wrong move and you’re putting others at risk too. Well, if you see a gun, it’s best not to get close, right?”
Got it, the risks of storing and carrying gunpowder are pretty high.
I’ve heard how dangerous it can be if a powder horn explodes.
Can’t we use plastic bombs or something?
I’ve heard they don’t explode with fire.
The problem is finding a Hero who knows how to make them, though.
”Then why not just use magic instead of gunpowder?”
I just threw that out there.
If there’s no bread, you can eat sweets, right?
”Hm, if we use explosive magic, or maybe…”
Mr. Zenom seems to be pondering something, muttering to himself.
In the meantime, I get to admire some really weird weapons.
The one that really caught my eye was a sword with a magic stone slot.
It’s got a pretty futuristic design and looks cool.
Mr. Zenom is a dwarf, but his design sense is more like space opera flavor, huh.
”Ah, that’s the pinnacle of my youth, alright.”
Looks like there’s still more to the peak of his youth, this guy.
”I named it the Binding Magic Sword… but hold this for a sec.”
Mr. Zenom hands me another sword.
As I grip it, Mr. Zenom places the Binding Magic Sword on top.
With a snap, the swords stick together.
What’s this?
Is it a magnet?
Mr. Zenom presses a switch, and it seems to turn into a magnet.
”Is it like the magic tool for gathering iron sand?”
”You’ve got it. I’ve enhanced the secret technique for gathering iron sand.”
A magnet sword, huh? If you can use it well, it seems pretty strong.
At least, it’d surprise someone who’s seeing it for the first time.
”The knight order’s swordsmen wouldn’t approve; it’s a crummy toy.”
Hmm, so the idea fell flat as a sword.
I kind of wanted to see a match with this thing.
But with this much power in the magnet, it feels like you could make all sorts of things, not just swords.
Could you make a motor?
Off the top of my head, I’m still thinking linear motor cars.
Speaking of which, I used to daydream about making a railgun before.
This magic tool probably couldn’t replicate a railgun, but maybe a coilgun.
I only read about it in some science magazine, but it’s a simple device that just needs an electromagnet.
Use the magnetic force to attract an iron plate and accelerate it, then just switch it off right before it sticks to the magnet.
Well, it probably wouldn’t be that powerful, but I like how simple the principle is.
When I explain the principle of the coilgun to Mr. Zenom, he gets really into it.
Feels like another peak of youth is about to be added.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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