Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Chaper 17

It had been a week since Logan returned to the domain. He had been focusing on his training, occasionally inspecting the mercenaries along with Lonian and Viktor. The first shipment of Karok meat from Kail and ironwood and parts from Tristans domain had arrived in the Macline territory. With that, Logan called for Hamar and handed him a blueprint.

What is this?

Hamar frowned at the blueprint spread before him.

Ive tried to draw it as detailed as I could within the limits of my knowledge.

Logan was not a professional technician, but he could produce plans of an amateur technicians level because he had used such weapons for decades. Of course, by Hamars standards, the blueprint was nothing but rough sketches.

A cartridge that stores bolts at the rear of the crossbow and loads them automatically? And the string must be triple-layered to shoot three bolts consecutively?

Hamar looked back and forth between the blueprint and Logans face, his expression incredulous.

Even if I could make such a structure, the string wouldnt withstand rapid-firing. Are you planning to make a weapon thats used once and discarded?

Uh

And if you attach such a wooden box right behind it, it would be cumbersome for the person shooting the crossbow. Who the hell came up with this nonsense?

It was me.

Cough. Hm, hm. On second thought, the idea is quite ingenious.

And that nonsense will later become a disaster for our kingdom, you fool.

Fortunately, the problems Hamar posed were within Logans ability to solve.

Reduce the size of the bolts to decrease the overall size of the cartridge. Yes, its meant to be used once. Instead, make the cartridge modular so it can be reloaded after each shot.

Excuse me?

Lets just call it a magazine for convenience.

It wasnt an advanced technological solution, but rather a shift in perspective that offered the answer, which shook Hamars gaze intensely.

Impossible! Ive heard that recently a tool resembling a goats foot has been invented that can load four to five bolts per minute, but this is far superior

By current common knowledge, a crossbow was a single-shot weapon difficult even for a skilled archer to fire twice in a minute.

The crossbow Logan described surpassed his knowledge, a weapon that exceeded the times.

He would have believed it if he were told it was an artifact enchanted with magic.

Are you saying that you can make such a thing with just one cartridge?

It will definitely work. Just try to make it.

Logans assertive promise left Hamar without further objections.

To Hamar, Logans explanation was not just an idea, but it reeked of experience.

Hmm. To add only one cartridge to such a revolutionary weapon, and the parts consist only of a mainspring and glue for the bowstring I feel inspired to take on the challenge. Alright, Ill make it.

When do you think it will be possible?

You ask me to make something unheard of and set a deadline?

Its still a weapon made by humans.

Excuse me? Thats nonsense! Who, where?!

Theres no need for you to know. If you think its impossible, give up.

Hmm. Really now. Alright, fine. One month. Within that time, I will make you something far superior.

Hamar declared assertively, his dwarven pride tickled by Logans words.

Only then could Logan smile at the response.

The crossbow was powerful enough to penetrate armor, but it had been overlooked in times of war due to its slow reloading time a hunters weapon. In the modern warfare of the day, where the efficiency of archers releasing many arrows in a short timeframe against massed troops was far superior.

However, 10 years later when the Empire started a war, they created a repeating crossbow and used it to deploy massive crossbow units.

This repeating crossbow unit demonstrated destructive power that could counter knight orders without requiring mages, depending on positioning.

A single soldier with such a weapon could halt a knight given the right conditions of battle. It was one of the two reasons the Empire had overwhelming superiority in the early Imperial invasion wars.

Of course, by the late stages of the Empires wars, most countries had started to manufacture and utilize similar items.

As a result, after the war ended, the initial version, although somewhat expensive, became a common weapon for lower mercenaries.

But at this time

With just my mercenaries, I could deal a critical blow to the Teslon baronet family in the domain war.

With his past lifes knowledge, such a thought was not far-fetched.

No, its still problematic to be overly optimistic.

It was possible that Hamar might not succeed in creating the repeating crossbow, or even if he did, the mercenaries might not be able to use it properly, or it might take time.

Still, since he had already entrusted the task to Hamar and Kai, there was nothing more he could do.

So, I need to prepare another contingency plan.

In anticipation of the worst-case scenario, where the mercenaries fail to fulfill their roles, he needed another plan of action.

For that, Logan sought out his father once more.

Theres a rumor that the crown prince has lost his mind. Is it true?

So what? Our training will become easier.

Dont be silly. You know the captain, right? It will only get worse.

As if confirming their words, Hainkel added with a sinister smile,

So Ive added a new training regimen for today.

Oh no!

Captain, thats too much!

Ah, I knew it would be like this. Damn it.

Despite the intense opposition, Hainkel cleanly ignored everyone.

I trust that you, gentlemen, will take pride in being knights. Surely, no one wishes to embarrass me in front of the crown prince?

Understanding the hidden meaning of his words, the knights all shared a grin.

Lets suffer together. How long will the crown prince last?

I bet on three days.

I give him two days.

Then, one day for me?

Half a day is that too harsh?

Nah, he might turn back immediately.

They chuckled and scoffed, but the sound of their laughter didnt last even half a day.

* * *

The beginning of the unimaginable training was horse-liftingnot horse-riding, but literally lifting horses while running. This insane exercise, unfamiliar even to the knights, soon erupted with screams from all around.

Aargh!

The horses, drugged to be unconscious, weighed at least five times the knights weight. The ordeal of carrying such a beast on their shoulders while running through the woods was an ordeal worthy of screams, even for Force users.

Even more infuriating to the knights starting this improbable feat was the sight of the instigator of this training.

How is he so fast?!

Isnt that weird? Hes that fool, right?

Just a madman, huh?

The one who initiated this grueling training was running ahead of them all.

Their teeth gritted in the attempt to catch up, but the gap only widened.

Even the mid-level Force users, the sergeants acting as instructors, were gaping at Logan.

Among them, the one most flabbergasted was Hainkel, the captain who concocted this training.

Does this make any sense? What the

He had designed the training to expedite the crown princes failure, yet there was Logansweating, yes, but smiling, while the following knights grimaced.

It looked as though the ones falling behind would be the regular knights if this continued.

Anxious, he watched until a knight began to stagger with a groan.

Such a disgrace!

Forgetting the unreasonable nature of the training he devised, Hainkel glared at the knight about to fall.

However, he couldnt just stop now that he had started.

Elevating his Force, Hainkel bellowed loud enough to echo through the mountains.

Everyone, halt!

At his command, the knights all breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed where they stood.

Well take a ten-minute break.

Argh!

As the knights groaned, Hainkel casually asked Logan,

Your Highness, how are you holding up? It must be tough, right?

Expecting an answer implying difficulty, Hainkel planned to use it as an excuse to lower the intensity before the knights showed too much strain.

Oh, I can manage.

Of course, considering the inten What?

Fantastic training. Indeed, training with the knight order is quite stimulating.

What?

The very person who thought up this absurd training could not hide his shock. The knights listening nearby looked at Logan with the expression reserved for the completely insane.

But Logan was serious.