25. Escaflowne.

25. Escaflowne.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Since you’re coming with me, I doubt I’ll just kick you out, but you need to show off your talent.”

 

 

Iliana kept reminding her all the way there.

She was taking Mulla to the Algrei Magic Tower.

 

 

“I know.”

“Other magic towers might let you in with bribes, but the Algrei Magic Tower only accepts those with pure skill and talent.”

“Who do you think I am? I’m a noble among dragons, and one of the chosen ones at that.”

“Don’t keep saying the word ‘dragon’.”

“You said it too, though.”

“I… never mind. Anyway, the core of this operation is to greatly elevate the Algrei Magic Tower, which has many commoners, and thereby raise Aran’s status, who is also a commoner. It’s about eliminating prejudice against commoners.”

“Well, in my opinion, commoners and nobles are all the same as humans.”

“Good. That’s the attitude to have. Just don’t say the word ‘dragon’.”

“But you’re the one saying it.”

 

The two women, who were strangely a good match, bickered back and forth but soon arrived at the Algrei Magic Tower.

 

When Iliana, the King’s wife, appeared, a huge commotion erupted, and the Magic Tower Lord Muning came running out, panting.

 

 

“I greet Mama-nim.”

 

 

Iliana nodded lightly and went straight to the point.

 

 

“I’m here to introduce this one.”

“Yes?”

 

 

Only then did Muning’s gaze turn.

 

 

Soon, a terrifyingly beautiful woman was captured in her eyes.

 

 

‘Huk…!’

 

 

It was truly a shock!

She never dreamed there could be another woman as beautiful as her beloved Moae.

 

 

“H-hello. I’m Muning Algrei, in charge of the Algrei Magic Tower.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Mulla.”

 

With a dazed expression, Algrei began to guide them through the Magic Tower.

Since Iliana-nim herself had introduced her, the purpose was clearly to get her a job (?) at the Magic Tower. Therefore, it was only natural to give her a tour.

 

 

 

She took the two women (?) around here and there, eventually bringing them to a wide-open field where they were testing new products.

 

 

Tang!

Peobeong!

 

 

Dozens of women and researchers were conducting various tests and research with targets set far away.

 

“What is that?”

 

 

It was a fairly familiar sight to Iliana, but Mulla, seeing this for the first time in her life, looked puzzled.

 

Munning felt strangely good and puffed out her chest.

 

 

“That’s called a ‘gun.’ Our Magic Tower has been putting a lot of effort into researching it recently.”

“Gun?”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard of it. Is it a smaller version of a cannon?”

“Yes, that’s right. Mama-nim might find it a bit uncomfortable… but I want commoners to live like humans. To do that, commoners need to have power too.”

“Hooh. Is that gun really that powerful? How does it break through shields?”

“That’s still under research… but even shields can be broken by overwhelming impact. That’s why we’re researching it with hope.”

“Is it an artifact?”

“No. It’s pure ‘science.’ It doesn’t use mana at all.”

“That’s amazing.”

 

 

Mulla was quite intrigued.

It was something that could easily be achieved with magic, of course. That’s why it was amazing.

Human civilization was built with mana, yet there was someone who was developing pure science within it, excluding mana.

 

 

“You really think so?”

“Yes.”

“Hehe. Mulla-ssi knows what’s up.”

 

Munning smiled happily.

Her disciples were one thing, but other nobles and even commoners often looked at her with disdain.

Her power was strong, but they looked down on her for doing such vulgar research.

 

 

In that situation, she was just happy that there was someone who looked at her with pure eyes.

 

 

“Because it’s amazing.”

“Do you want to try shooting it?”

“Me?”

“It’s not difficult. It just doesn’t have much destructive power.”

 

 

Excited, she forcibly led Mulla.

Then, she handed her one of the guns on the desk.

 

“It’s quite light.”

“Right? It’s only 50 geun (about 30kg), so it should be light. Oh, Mama-nim, would you like to try shooting it too?”

“It’s not dangerous, is it?”

“Eyy~ How much is there that could pose a danger to Mama-nim?”

“That’s true.”

 

 

Iliana also took a gun in her hand.

 

“I’ll give you a demonstration.”

 

Munning signaled her disciples to step back, then put a lead bullet into the hole and lit something that looked like a rope.

 

 

“When this fuse burns out, the bullet will go out with a loud noise. The accuracy, destructive power, and range still need improvement, but it’s not difficult to kill a soldier without a shield.”

 

Taang~!

 

 

Soon, as she said, a loud noise rang out, and something round flew away with a whoosh.

It mercilessly pierced the target about 50 paces away and then embedded itself in the ground in front of it.

 

 

“Hmm… this is serious.”

“Hehe… right?”

 

 

It hit the target, but it pierced the target next to the one she was aiming for.

It was a failing grade as a medium- to long-range weapon.

 

 

“The trajectory of the flying bullet is very unstable. It’s colliding with air resistance. At this rate, the accuracy can’t be high.”

“Yes? You can see that?”

“…Yeah, well….”

 

 

She felt Iliana’s sharp gaze, but what could she do? She had already said it.

 

“Hee… now that I see it, you’re quite skilled… to see something flying faster than an arrow… I don’t see it, so you must not be a magician… right?”

“Ahem… anyway, as this one said, the trajectory is very unstable. Seeing how it curves several times on the way, it would be difficult to hit accurately.”

 

 

Iliana quickly changed the subject.

 

To be able to see a flying bullet, one would have to be at least a 4th-tier knight. Magicians are only good at formulas and mana, and their dynamic visual acuity is terrible, so even Munning, who is quite skilled, can’t see it.

 

 

It was natural to be suspicious since Mulla, who was introduced as a commoner, recognized it.

 

 

Munning withdrew her suspicious gaze and pondered what the two women had said.

 

 

It was a well-known fact that a fast-flying object receives air resistance.

However, she didn’t know that it would shake the trajectory of the bullet.

 

 

‘Is it strong enough to shake something flying that fast…?’

 

 

She felt like there was a wall.

If the wind resistance was that strong, it wouldn’t be easy to increase the destructive power and accuracy.

 

 

“Is this how you do it?”

 

 

While she was thinking, Iliana and Mulla were already reloading.

 

 

“Ah, yes. And then you light the fire there.”

“Light the fire…”

 

 

The two women followed Munning’s instructions, and soon it was fired with a thunderous sound.

 

 

The bullets that flew like arrows were carelessly embedded in the ground.

 

 

“Wow… shooting it myself feels different.”

“Right? It’s quite satisfying.”

“If it’s properly developed, I might buy one as a treasured item.”

 

There was recoil, so men would have to be a little careful, but it seemed like any woman could handle it easily.

 

 

“That’s great. Can I participate in the development too?”

“I’d welcome it. You’re skilled enough to see the flying bullets.”

“Ahem… I’m glad things are working out. This one is a hidden master in her own way. She has talent in ‘magic.’ Keep her by your side and exploit her.”

“Yes? Not in the knightly arts?”

“She… seems to have some skill in that area too, but anyway, her talent lies in magic.”

“Yes….”

 

 

It felt like Iliana’s logic was a bit lacking, but it was a proposal that couldn’t hurt.

 

 

‘She’s pretty, so it’s fine.’

 

 

She was skilled, had a good personality (?), and was pretty.

As a true lesbian, she was someone she was very fond of!

 

 

‘I’ll raise her well… sseuup….’

 

 

Munning was already having strange thoughts.

Mulla suddenly shivered.

 

 

‘What, what is it? I have a really bad feeling….’

 

 

Who dares to make a dragon feel so uneasy?

She felt very unsettled, but she brushed it off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“This is the room where Mulla-ssi will be staying.”

“I see.”

 

 

The place that Munning had specially guided her to was a very simple room.

Of course, that alone was amazing in the eyes of commoners, but Mulla was a dragon, wasn’t she?

 

“For your information, this is also my room.”

“Yes?”

“Ahem… Mulla-ssi is so pretty that something strange might happen. So, you’ll be using the same room as me.”

“…Strange things… what… kind of things? Surely not that men will try to do something to me….”

“No~ no~. That’s not what I mean.”

 

 

Munning suddenly leaned in close.

 

 

“In this world! There are tons of people who don’t care if it’s a woman or a man as long as they taste good! In other words! Women can also target Mulla-ssi!”

 

It was truly an amazing momentum.

 

 

“Ah… yes… yes….”

“So, I, the strongest in the Magic Tower, will protect Mulla-ssi anytime, anywhere. Yes. Even in bed.”

“…Thank you.”

 

 

She felt like there were some strange words mixed in, but she nodded.

 

 

‘I’ve gotten involved with a strange person…..’