Chapter 255
Bang!
Another gunshot was heard from beyond the forest.
Zeke followed Jakenn into the woods.
Between the trees, a middle-aged man was holding a type of magic gun he had never seen before, its muzzle aimed over the forest.
This man, dressed in the rugged clothes of a gamekeeper or a hunter, was none other than Wolfgang Vardec, the head of the clan that produced half the continent's weaponry.
The gun he held was shorter than the one Aaron had carried, and longer than the one Bastian had possessed.
As Zeke and Jakenn approached, he raised one hand.
“Shh.”
Then, gripping the magic gun, he held his breath and focused.
As a quiet stillness flowed, Wolfgang pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The gunshot shook the forest once more.
White steam, perhaps from the heat, rose from the muzzle of the magic gun.
Wolfgang lowered the gun and gave a bitter smile.
“This thing really doesn’t work as I please.”
He spoke to Jakenn .
“Go and bring back what I caught.”
As the clan Head’s command was given, Jakenn spurred his horse and hurriedly rode into the forest.
Zeke dismounted from Bucephalus and approached Wolfgang.
Before Zeke could even offer his greetings, Wolfgang tossed the magic gun he was holding to him.
Clank!
Zeke caught the surprisingly heavy magic gun.
Wolfgang abruptly asked Zeke,
“What do you think that is?”
Although Zeke already knew about magic guns, considering they hadn't yet appeared in the world in this timeline, he racked his brain and answered.
“It seems to be a new kind of weapon. It looks like it fires a small projectile when you pull this.”
“Anything else? Tell me everything that comes to mind.”
Zeke held the magic gun and examined it meticulously.
The magic guns he had seen in his past life were mostly ornamental items that had degenerated into playthings for nobles after the war.
Since the Knight Killers destroyed the magic guns they carried before they died, he had never been able to see their original forms properly.
The magic gun Wolfgang had handed him seemed to be an early model of the recreational magic guns used by nobles.
‘The one Bastian had was short and capable of rapid fire, increasing convenience at the cost of accuracy. The one Aaron had was long, increasing accuracy, but it couldn’t fire rapidly.’
Wolfgang’s magic gun seemed to have combined the advantages of both.
He lifted the magic gun and, just as Wolfgang had done, shouldered it and aimed beyond the forest.
Zeke’s keen senses immediately identified the magic gun’s weakness.
Lowering the magic gun, Zeke said,
“It seems this frame would have difficulty handling the power of the projectile it fires.”
“Ha, amazing.”
Wolfgang expressed his admiration at his words.
Just then, Jakenn returned, carrying something on his horse.
Thud!
Jakenn placed the half-obliterated carcass of a reindeer on the ground.
Wolfgang knelt and examined the reindeer’s body.
The carcass was a complete mess, as if a giant had appeared and smashed it with a hammer.
Wolfgang gestured for Zeke to come closer.
“What do you think.”
His questions continued.
Since Zeke was the one being tested, he decided to play along with Wolfgang’s tune.
He closely examined the mangled reindeer carcass.
“It doesn’t look like a direct hit, but a glancing blow.”
“Why do you think so?”
“If it were a direct hit, the part that was blown away wouldn't have been the upper left shoulder, but the area below the heart.”
Wolfgang nodded at Zeke’s answer.
He, who had been looking at the reindeer carcass next to Zeke, stood up and said to Jakenn ,“Load this up and head back to the castle.”
At the clan Lord’s command, Jakenn immediately loaded the reindeer carcass and rode toward the castle.
Wolfgang spoke to Zeke.
“Let’s walk together to that lake over there. I’ve set up a camp in front of the lake, let’s warm ourselves up there.”
Zeke led Bucephalus and walked alongside Wolfgang.
The lakeside was softly covered in snow.
Exhaling a puff of white breath, Wolfgang said,
“Zeke Draker, this is the first time I’m seeing you in person.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Lord Vardec.”
Wolfgang chuckled at Zeke’s words.
“I think I see why Arthur has taken a liking to you. You’re very skilled at hiding your own emotions.”
Wolfgang referred to Arthur Draker quite informally.
Although he had only just met him, Zeke sensed the air of a northerner from the seemingly down-to-earth Wolfgang.
‘Since they have mines in the north, the Vardec clan itself might have come down from the north.’
The two walked along the lakeside in silence and arrived at the camp Wolfgang had set up.
“Sit anywhere you feel comfortable.”
The place, which was roughly set up with a few tents attached, looked like a temporary campsite where gamekeepers would stay.
Wolfgang brought firewood himself, put it in the fire pit, and lit it.
As the fire soon blazed up, he warmed his frozen hands.
Only after warming himself up a bit did Wolfgang take off the hunter’s hat he was wearing and sit down.
“Hoo, now I feel a bit more alive.”
He placed a kettle he had set aside onto the fire pit.
As steam soon began to rise from the kettle, he took out crude cups and coffee grounds and brewed a full cup of coffee.
“Have a drink. It should warm you up.”
Zeke accepted the cup Wolfgang handed him.
As someone who always drank tea, the black coffee was unfamiliar to Zeke.
After taking a sip of the hot coffee, Zeke tilted his head.
‘Why would anyone drink something this bitter.’
Wolfgang was savoring the coffee, which tasted of nothing but bitterness.
‘Tea seems better.’
While grumbling internally, Zeke endured the bitter taste and drank it diligently since it had been given to him.
Wolfgang, having nearly finished his coffee, spoke to Zeke.
“I heard from Arthur. You’re here to take the Senior Knight examination, were you?”
Zeke put down his coffee and nodded.
“Yes, that’s right.”
At those words, Wolfgang took a deep breath.
“Arthur, that friend of mine is quite fortunate. One son has already become a Black Knight, and the other is taking the Senior Knight exam before he even turns twenty.”
He drank the last of his coffee, set the empty cup down, and picked up the magic gun he had propped up next to him.
Then, he quickly got into position and aimed the muzzle at Zeke.
Instantly, Zeke grew wary and assumed a defensive stance.
With the muzzle still aimed, Wolfgang spoke.
“What do you think will happen if I pull the trigger here.”
Zeke tried to grasp the intention of Wolfgang, who was suddenly threatening him.
‘He wouldn’t actually try to kill me here.’
He slowly opened his mouth.
“It will probably miss.”
“Do you really think so? Even if it misses, half of your body could be blown away like that reindeer.”
Then, Zeke opened his mouth again.
“Conversely, it seems that weapon could explode and you, Lord Vardec, could be severely injured.”
At Zeke’s answer, Wolfgang chuckled and lowered the magic gun again.
“Is this really the first time you’ve seen this weapon?”
“Yes, it is.”
Wolfgang shook his head and removed a magic bullet from the body of the magic gun.
Then, he tossed the bullet to Zeke.
Examining the bullet, Zeke asked Wolfgang,
“This is what that weapon fires?”
Wolfgang nodded.
“That’s right. The back of the bullet contains mana stone powder, and it’s enchanted with explosion magic. When you pull the trigger, the explosion magic activates and pushes the bullet out.”
He tapped the magic gun and continued.
“But this thing is damn hard to control. On top of that, it’s ridiculously expensive. How much do you think one of those bullets costs.”
“Wouldn’t it be about 10 gold.”
“Even that is a magically enchanted artifact, so no matter how low we try to go, the price won’t drop below 15 gold.”
15 gold was about a month’s living expenses for an average commoner.
Leaning back in his field chair, Wolfgang said,
“You know, I think this magic gun is a new weapon that will change the future of the continent. That’s why I’ve been obsessed with it for several years now, constantly trying to improve it, but I’m not making any progress.”
He tossed the magic gun from his lap to Zeke.
Then, looking straight at Zeke, he said,
“Right now, this magic gun is less powerful than magic, but its efficiency is good. It’s stronger than an arrow, but it lacks the same cost-effectiveness.”
Wolfgang stretched his arms out wide and said,
“Find a way to improve this magic gun. Do that, and I’ll write the letter for you to take back to Arthur.”
At his words, Zeke felt a sense of dismay.
‘He wants me to bring him a plan to improve the magic gun?’
Even in his past life, this magic gun ultimately ended up as a toy, a plaything for nobles.
He didn’t know what future Wolfgang saw in this weapon, but at least Zeke couldn’t see it.
‘I can’t believe he’d give me such a thing for an exam task.’
It looked like nothing more than an excuse to deny Zeke the qualification of Senior Knight.
Besides, if Zeke really did bring him a plan for improvement, Wolfgang would be gaining a tremendous weapon. In return, all he had to do was write a single letter, making it a deal where he had absolutely nothing to lose.
‘This is a headache.’
In any case, the exam task had been decided, so Zeke had no choice but to produce a result.
He looked at Wolfgang and nodded.
“Understood. However, I know very little about this field. Would it be alright if I sought the help of my colleagues to devise a plan for improvement?”
At those words, Wolfgang laughed heartily and said,
“Of course! By all means, do so. I’ve also told the clan to provide you with anything you need, so take your time and think it over.”
Zeke stood up from his seat, holding the magic gun and bullet that Wolfgang had given him.
“Then I will see you again, Lord Vardec.”
As Zeke left the tent, Wolfgang, now alone, poured more coffee into his cup and muttered to himself.
“I look forward to seeing what Arthur’s youngest son comes up with.”
His expression was like that of a hunter who had set a trap and was waiting for his prey.
***
Leaving the hunting grounds, Zeke returned to the Vardec main clan’s castle and was guided to the guest suite.
Upon entering the lavishly decorated suite, the first thing Zeke did was neutralize any surveillance devices that might have been installed in the room.
He used his Mana Reflection skill while pretending to take off his gloves.
Zzzt!
The moment Zeke used the skill, the mana lamp flickered.
Startled, attendants from outside entered the room.
“Ah, my apologies. I took off my gloves out of habit without thinking.”
It was Zeke, feigning ignorance as he put his gloves back on.
After thoroughly checking for surveillance devices, as if in enemy territory, Zeke finally placed the magic gun he had received from Wolfgang on the desk and began to ponder deeply.
‘If I ask Lord Hades, he’d probably create an improved drive system for me. But if that happens, there’s no telling how the future of the continent will truly change.’
A weapon as strong as magic and more efficient than an arrow falling into Vardec’s hands was the same as allowing Siemens to arm themselves with that weapon.
Handing a new weapon to the enemy just to pass the Senior Knight exam was a foolish thing to do.
Zeke mulled over a way to pass Vardec’s test without allowing the improvements to be applied to the weapon.
He took out the magic gun Bastian used from his inventory and examined it as well.
‘The material of the body is the same type. It’s not ordinary iron. Is it an alloy mixed with other metals?’
If it was made of an alloy, it was clear that not only the bullets but the price of the magic gun itself would be formidable.
After some thought, Zeke spoke to Richmond.
‘Richmond. What are you doing.’
At Zeke’s call, Richmond answered immediately.
‘Master! I am currently in the specimen room with Dura-dura, collecting samples!’
It seemed he was wandering through the undead labyrinth in Hoshigar’s laboratory.
“Dura-dura? You mean the Dullahan.”
Just like his master, Richmond had a poor naming sense.
Muttering to himself, Zeke said to him,
‘If you look in the laboratory, there should be a pile of weapons from the Siemens assassins who were previously dealt with by the ghost soldiers. Grab one and contact me.’
Zeke planned to compare it with the magic guns that the Knight Killer unit, to which Aaron had belonged, had possessed.
A few hours later, Richmond sent a message saying he had found a Knight Killer’s magic gun in the laboratory.
Zeke summoned him at once.
“Pant, pant. I-Is this it, Master?”
It was Richmond, who had rushed from the labyrinth to the lab to retrieve the magic gun.
Zeke took the magic gun and nodded.
“Yes. Good work. Go back and continue your collection efforts.”
He immediately canceled Richmond’s summon, sending him back to the laboratory.
Once again alone, a rusted Knight Killer magic gun and a bullet steeped in demonic energy lay before him.
Zeke picked up the magic gun and examined it closely.
After looking at it for a long while, Zeke was able to discover something in the Knight Killer’s magic gun.