Chapter 56 - Episode 27: "He Was Alive!?"
Greetings! I am Violia Nico Fortesia!
I have finally cast House Fruitier into the depths of ruin, and furthermore, I have reclaimed the guns they stole from Fortesia, along with the entire manufacturing plant!
From this point forward, Elsemarin shall become a town of armaments. I am certain it will be quite delightful. Ah, I simply cannot wait!
“Heh. This is interesting. So this is how it works, huh? A gun.”
Giovan immediately raised a voice of admiration, holding a finished gun produced at the bag factory. This fellow certainly seems to have a penchant for such things.
“I wonder if even I could use this.”
“I wonder. I tried firing a shot myself, but the recoil was quite substantial. You should practice with it before you find yourself in a dire situation.”
“Is that so? Well, I’ll take one for self-defense just in case. Thanks.”
Since Giovan is the only one among us with any uncertainty regarding combat, it will be convenient if he can protect himself with a gun. I shall hold high expectations for him.
“Listen. I’m going to apply a seal to the ignition mechanism—something like ancient magic that prevents both modification and analysis. That’s fine, right?”
“Yes. That would be perfectly acceptable.”
By the way, these guns require the gunpowder to be ignited, but those fools at Fruitier were doing so using flints—an absurdly primitive method.
However, I could never use a mechanism that ignites gunpowder with a flint; the fear of a misfire is simply too great!
...Therefore, I have converted it into a magical formula incorporating fire magic. With this, I believe misfires and accidental discharges can be significantly prevented. I also expect it will reduce the chances of our technology being stolen and produced elsewhere.
“I’ll take one too. This seems useful for pretending I can’t use magic.”
That is true. Keeb possesses the ultimate portable weapon in the form of magic, but for that very reason, it would be even better if he could feign an inability to use it. By carrying a gun to pretend he cannot use magic, he can create a two-stage stance that leaves no openings.
“I think I’ll have this attached to my arm.”
“Is your prosthetic arm a warehouse for weapons or something?”
“Yeah. You’re not wrong about that.”
Chesta, in his own way, is attempting to build a gun into his prosthetic arm. How interesting. Approved. I absolutely approve of that.
“...And what about you, Doran? Are you going to use this?”
“No. It seems like it would be more than I can handle.”
And so, it appears Doran’s policy is to not use a gun.
“I believe that is for the best. There is likely no gun in existence that matches your strength.”
...In Doran’s case, he is probably stronger throwing a nearby stone than using a gun. Or, he would simply approach and punch the target.
“I shall use mine as a tool for intimidation. Even a hollow, fake gun was effective against Fruitier. Once guns become widespread throughout Elsemarin, the mere act of pointing one will suffice to make a threat stick.”
I decided to keep one gun for myself as well. It can serve as a prop, after all.
...And above all, it is somehow rather cool...
“And so, these are the guns. Do please make use of them at the Guild.”
I brought the completed guns to the Guild and handed them over to the Guildmaster.
“With this, the military might of Elsemarin will rise all at once.”
“That is reassuring! This is the second step toward Elsemarin gaining independent authority!”
Indeed! In this manner, while wagging our tails for the Royal Family, Elsemarin shall steadily outmaneuver them and steadily arm itself, until eventually, we shall betray the Crown!
“By the way, if the Royal Family inquires about the guns, please present these.”
I have, of course, prepared guns to be surrendered to the Royal Family.
Yes. They are guns that ignite via flint. Furthermore, I have rigged them so that misfires and accidental discharges occur more frequently. Ohohohoho. Those lackeys of the Royal Family deserve to suffer when the guns blow up in their hands!
“Still, to think that the Elsemarin Guild could truly continue to exist... Thank you, Lady Violia.”
“It is quite alright. I look forward to your continued hard work. For the sake of our status and our freedom!”
While accepting the Guildmaster’s gratitude, I let my thoughts wander to the future of Elsemarin.
...Perhaps I should use my own hands to buy up the now-vacant aristocratic district of Elsemarin and use it as I please.
Yes. From now on, a place is needed for those who have gathered. And it must be an orderly place.
Not a place for villains, but a place to gather scoundrels!
“For the time being, let us turn the aristocratic district into an underworld district for scoundrels.”
As the Guildmaster began to move, the aristocratic district gradually started to change its appearance.
About half of it became my land. Yes, I did pay for it, you know? However, partly because it was ill-omened land where a mass murder had occurred, it was sold at a "Guild Friendship Price." Ohohoho.
...I plan to use the land and manors I purchased to do more and more delightful things from here on out. Though it is still only in the planning stages.
It was on a certain day, while I was making various preparations to execute those plans.
“By the way, Doran. Is your wound quite alright now?”
“It’s been fully healed for a long time.”
Without any particular hesitation, Doran rolled up his shirt to show me his flank. I did not particularly need to see it. Why did this fellow go out of his way to show me?
“The scar remains, but it’s healed.”
...Beside his well-trained abdominal muscles, the spot where a hole should have been was, naturally, somewhat scarred. There were areas where the flesh seemed raised or the skin was pulled tight. But even that was a minor thing. His abs were more prominent. The life force of a werewolf is truly formidable...
“That is good to hear. You mustn't let your stomach catch a chill, so please put that away at once.”
For the time being, I made him put his stomach away. It is troublesome to have it flaunted at me.
Doran quietly tucked his shirt back in as he was told... and then, he suddenly spoke.
“Come to think of it, when I was shot. There was someone who looked a lot like you.”
Someone like me. ...Now that he mentions it, he certainly did say something like that before.
However, I didn't understand the meaning of it at all.
What sort of person is 'someone like me'? Does he mean someone like a noble whose manor was burned down?
...Or so I thought, until.
“Someone with red eyes and dark chestnut hair, just like you. Thinking back on it now, it was probably a man.”
Doran said such a thing.
...A man with red eyes and dark chestnut hair, who looks just like me?
T-That is... eh, excuse me? My understanding cannot quite keep up. But... if such a person truly existed...
“C-Could you please explain the situation in more detail?”
“I can’t say much in detail. After I took the second hit from that gun thing and couldn't move, just as they were about to finish me off... that guy appeared and beat down the ones trying to kill me. That’s all. Thanks to him, I’m still alive.”
“Were you overlooked?”
“That’s how it turned out. He gave me a glance, though. Maybe he thought I wasn't a threat.”
“When you say he beat them down... um, was it with his bare hands?”
“No. It was an iron rod. Like the kind you’d find in a scrap heap.”
“Um, well then, did he say anything?”
“No, I couldn't hear him well... Ah, he was laughing loudly while slaughtering everyone who was in that area. If I had stayed there, I might have been killed too.”
“...How tall was he?”
“Taller than Keeb, shorter than Chesta, roughly.”
...I see.
A man with red eyes and dark chestnut hair, beating the Fruitier lot to a pulp with an iron pipe while laughing loudly.
That is... that is!
“That is undoubtedly my Onii-samaaaaaaaa!”