episode_0058

Spring has arrived.

The chilly weather has warmed up significantly, and now it’s warm enough to take off the coat that was draped over the shoulders. Even if you were wearing it like a cloak, the warm sunlight would make the inside feel like a steaming pot.

In the game world of Japan, where the four seasons are distinct, the weather quickly turned hot as soon as winter ended. Well, my home country was like that too. Whenever I thought about when it would cool down, I would suddenly feel cold, and before I knew it, I would be pulling out the long padded coat that I had tucked away deep in the closet without even getting a chance to try on the autumn clothes I had carefully stored.

But now, it was the opposite.

I had some extra winter fur attached that I didn’t necessarily need, so it was a bit warmer. However… that couldn’t be helped. Because it looked cool. I had attached high-quality leather made from real animal fur, not just for the appearance but for the actual use.

It hadn’t even been a month since I entered the academy, but I had already adapted quite well. Even though it had been a while since I attended school, I was able to adapt quickly, probably because of the internal closeness I felt with the people around me.

Maybe it was because I had played the game so much, but even though it hadn’t been a month since we met, I already felt like I had known them for a long time.

However, the characters I saw were just characters made of low-quality textures and simple polygon modeling, spitting out lines of text as ‘characters.’ Maybe it would be rude to compare those characters to the real people around me.

Anyway.

When I entered the academy, the green grass was already growing lush in the meadow, but now it had become an even more vivid shade of green. The various unnamed flowers blooming in between were very beautiful.

And standing in the middle of that beautiful meadow, I…

“Sigh.”

I let out a deep sigh.

I had come outside to test the Fire-attribute Marmaros that Jennifer had given me as a reward two weeks ago.

The workshop near the academy that Jennifer introduced me to had excellent craftsmanship.

It was excellent, but…

“Do you really want to use this high-grade Marmaros on a firearm?”

The workshop owner looked at me as if I were strange and said so.

“Is it not allowed?”

I asked, looking down at the Ergensen rifle on the table.

It had been used for quite a long time, but it wasn’t in bad condition. No, it could even be said to be good. I had practiced shooting with this rifle thousands of times, but after such practice, I always made sure to turn back time. As a result, it became a gun in very good condition that was only used ‘when absolutely necessary.’

Perhaps the soldiers on the battlefield would say it was in very good condition.

“No… that’s not it.”

The young man, who looked like he was hiding his strength, with eyes as sharp as a needle, wearing a craftsman’s apron but not wearing gloves, scratched the back of his head with gloved hands and said.

“Because it’s a ‘firearm.’ In fact, there’s no need to modify it in this way, right? It would be better to strengthen the gun barrel and change the gunpowder amount for better use, wouldn’t it? Usually, this kind of Marmaros is more effective when attached to a melee weapon like a sword or spear.”

In the game, there were only functions like increasing attack power by a certain percentage or unlocking specific spells. However, in reality, it seemed to be a bit different.

I heard that flames follow the sword strikes, or the temperature of the sword itself drops so low that the person attacked instantly freezes, and other terrifying abilities like that…

“Imagine setting fire to a bullet. How much damage do you think it can cause to the opponent?”

“….”

Hmm…

“Is it impossible for a bullet to cause a small-scale explosion?”

“…If such a bullet existed, wouldn’t the military already be using it?”

That’s true.

Of course, even in this era, there were rifles. In the time when tank armor was similar to armored cars, people foolishly engaged in “anti-tank warfare” with oversized rifles. There were also high-explosive incendiary rounds for machine guns… Oh, wait, isn’t this a story from World War I? Well, I’m not sure about the progression of firearms development. I don’t even know if such bullets would be used for sniping.

“If I equip it, can it be removed?”

“Oh, if it’s that, it’s possible, but…”

The young craftsman said, looking at my expression.

“There will be an additional cost for removal, is that acceptable to you?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“In that case, let’s give it a try.”

With my words, the craftsman chuckled and eventually took my rifle and Marmauros into the workshop.

And the result.

We went to an empty field and tried shooting.

Thanks to the Marmauros attached below the wooden barrel cover at the end of the rifle barrel, flames did indeed ignite on my bullets.

It wasn’t just a physical ignition; it was magical. So the flaming bullets flew all the way to their target.

And they embedded deep, causing burns.

That’s it.

Yes, it would be good for inflicting wounds. Ordinary infantry might find it somewhat useful.

The problem is, Marmauros is a very expensive item. If you get hit by a bullet, no matter where, your life would be in danger, and if you get hit in a non-lethal area, a little burn would be easily healed with magic. For ordinary soldiers who can’t easily receive magical healing, it might seem terrifying…

I will be responsible for the high-value targets, and unless it’s an instant kill, there’s no point in further roasting a shattered brain fragment.

…I understand why the military didn’t officially adopt Marmauros. I also understand why the Emperor or other nobles didn’t recommend it.

Perhaps the Marmauros was created for the imperial swordsmen to use.

“Again.”

With a strange sense of understanding, I rewound time.

*

With only one bullet in a rifle, setting it on fire may not have much significance, but with a shotgun, who knows.

There were actually incendiary rounds for shotguns as well. Firearms that shoot flames like a flamethrower seemed very useful.

At least in this world where spear warfare is basic.

“Are you planning to go to the battlefield?”

Perhaps the craftsman also thought so, as he asked me with widened eyes.

“I may end up going.”

In the original work, rather than fighting on the battlefield, the story was more focused on preventing the war itself from happening.

But that doesn’t mean I won’t head to the battlefield.

“I see…”

My reputation for my abilities wasn’t widely known, at least not in absolute numbers. It was known among the nobles, but the common people outside the palace didn’t know much about it.

I may be known as the ‘Princess’, as Jennifer has already informed the blacksmith, but other than that, the blacksmith doesn’t really know who I am.

“Do you plan to support the commander?”

Without any further military jargon, the blacksmith picked up the shotgun and Marmeros that I had laid out and said,

“I don’t know yet.”

I answered vaguely.

*

“It’s done.”

When I returned a few hours later, the blacksmith presented me with the modified shotgun.

Just like the rifle, this time Marmeros was installed in front of the shotgun’s characteristic magazine. It didn’t seem to hinder disassembly and assembly, as the part with Marmeros could be detached. I had to unscrew it to remove it.

Still, it wasn’t forcibly attached, and it seemed to be naturally designed that way, which I liked.

“I… It might be an unnecessary interference, but…”

As I checked the condition of the completed modified shotgun by turning it around, the blacksmith cautiously spoke up.

When I looked at him, he hesitantly continued, “The battlefield is a very terrible place. If you are thinking of going there in search of honor or something romantic, you might want to reconsider…”

He said that.

I looked at the blacksmith in silence and asked, “Have you been on the battlefield?”

“Yes, I have.”

I already knew. He was a person with a character card in the original work.

He walked quite naturally, but one of his legs was artificial. Thanks to Jennifer, who was also from the same platoon, he could afford a very expensive item. It was made up of a lot of gears and springs, and it moved automatically with a leaf spring that wound according to the stride. There was also a subquest related to this item later on.

“…I see.”

I said as I hung the shotgun over my shoulder.

“I will keep that in mind.”

As I spoke with a respectful posture towards the retired soldier, the blacksmith looked extremely uncomfortable.

Well, he’s not a bad person.

The Northern Battlefield had its own justification for protecting civilians and assisting the legitimate government of the autonomous country of Riklant. In fact, they had reached out for help from the autonomous country as well. So, they would probably be accommodating to retired soldiers… but things change a lot over time.

Most of the people currently on the battlefield had initially enlisted in a romanticized way and then faced reality.

Leaving the retired soldier who didn’t know what to do behind me as I maintained a respectful posture, I left the workshop.

*

And then, there he was again.

As we headed towards where I was, there were a few beasts roaming around once again.

I had shot and hit some from a distance earlier, but this time I had a shotgun with me. Even if I shot from a slightly farther distance, I could still feel the power of Marmeros to some extent, but it wouldn’t fully unleash its maximum performance. Because the firepower directly emitted from the muzzle wouldn’t reach.

“Grr…”

It wasn’t as huge as the Elemental Beast I saw last time, but it wasn’t an animal that an ordinary person could approach without any weapons either.

If it stood up on its hind legs, would it reach up to my chest? Including the long ear tips, it might even be taller than me.

It was fierce in appearance and quite large, but not to the point where an unarmed person could approach it.

If I were to fight it barehanded, it might not guarantee my life.

It’s a rabbit… Well, it’s a rabbit. It’s a bit more ferocious and larger, but still.

…It’s unbelievable that such a monster is living not far from where ordinary people frequent. It’s fortunate that it doesn’t roam around in the middle of the road like in a game.

“Krrrrrr….”

…Don’t make those sounds with a rabbit theme.

Click.

I aimed the shotgun at the rabbit.

“Kyaah!”

With a completely un-rabbit-like sound, its muscular hind legs kicked the ground—

I immediately pulled the trigger—

Bang!

“Ugggh!?”

—I panicked at the huge flames spewing out of the gun.

The flames covered about 3-4 meters in front of me.

Sizzle.

And the rabbit that was charging towards me fell to the ground after being hit by the 12 pellets that came out of the gun barrel.

Its fur was charred black.

The smell of burnt flesh lingered.

“….”

Hmm…

Yes, I think I understand why even shotguns don’t use Marmauros.