Chapter 255
TANG!
A gunshot was heard again from beyond the forest.
Zeke followed Jacken into the forest.
Between the trees, a middle-aged man was aiming an unfamiliar type of magic gun toward the forest.
Wearing rough clothes like a gamekeeper or hunter, this man was Wolfgang Valdek, the head of the Valdek family that produces half of the continent’s weapons.
The length of the gun he held was shorter than what Aaron had been carrying, but longer than what Bastian had.
When Zeke and Jacken approached, he raised one hand.
“SHH.”
Then he focused while holding the magic gun, holding his breath.
In the midst of the quiet stillness, Wolfgang pulled the trigger.
TANG!
The gunshot shook the forest again.
White steam rose from the gun’s barrel, perhaps due to the heat.
Wolfgang lowered the gun and gave a bitter smile.
“This isn’t going as I’d like.”
He said to Jacken.
“Go bring what we caught.”
When the family head’s order fell, Jacken quickly rode his horse into the forest.
Zeke dismounted from Bucephalus and approached Wolfgang.
Before Zeke could give his greetings, Wolfgang threw the magic gun he was holding to Zeke.
CLANK!
Zeke received the quite heavy magic gun.
Wolfgang said to Zeke without preamble.
“What do you think that is?”
Although Zeke already knew about magic guns, considering they hadn’t been released to the world yet, he thought carefully before answering.
“It seems to be a new type of weapon. It appears to fire small hidden weapons when pulled.”
“What else? Tell me everything that comes to mind.”
Zeke examined the magic gun carefully.
Most of the magic guns he had seen in his previous life were decorative items that had devolved into nobles’ playthings after the war ended.
The Knight Killers destroyed their magic guns before dying, so he couldn’t properly see their main bodies.
The magic gun Wolfgang handed over seemed to be an early form of the recreational magic guns used by nobles.
‘The one Bastian was carrying was shorter in length and capable of rapid fire, increasing convenience at the cost of accuracy. The one Aaron had was longer, increasing accuracy but making rapid fire impossible.’
Wolfgang’s magic gun seemed to combine the advantages of both.
He shouldered the magic gun like Wolfgang had done earlier and aimed beyond the forest.
Zeke’s keen senses quickly found what the magic gun’s weakness was.
Lowering the magic gun, Zeke said.
“This body seems unable to handle the power of the fired hidden weapon.”
“Huh, impressive.”
Wolfgang marveled at his words.
Just then, Jacken returned with something loaded on his horse.
THUD!
Jacken put down the half-blown-away reindeer carcass on the ground.
Wolfgang knelt down and examined the reindeer carcass.
The carcass was completely mangled as if a giant had appeared and struck it with a hammer.
Wolfgang gestured for Zeke to come over.
“What do you think?”
His questions continued.
Since this felt like a test, Zeke decided to play along with Wolfgang.
He carefully examined the mangled reindeer carcass.
“It appears to have grazed rather than hit directly.”
“Why do you think that?”
“If it had hit directly, the blown-away part should have been below the heart, not above the left shoulder.”
Wolfgang nodded at Zeke’s answer.
After looking at the reindeer carcass alongside Zeke, he stood up and said to Jacken.
“Load this and return to the castle.”
At the family head’s order, Jacken immediately loaded the reindeer carcass and rode toward the castle.
Wolfgang said to Zeke.
“Let’s walk to that lake together. I’ve set up a camp in front of the lake where we can warm up.”
Zeke led Bucephalus and walked alongside Wolfgang.
Snow was piled softly by the lake.
Breathing out white breath, Wolfgang said.
“Zeke Draker, this is my first time seeing you in person.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Family Head.”
Wolfgang chuckled at Zeke’s words.
“I can see why Arthur likes you. You’re very skilled at hiding your emotions.”
Wolfgang spoke of Arthur Draker quite familiarly.
Though they had just met, Zeke caught the scent of a northern person from the seemingly unpretentious Wolfgang.
‘Since they have mines in the north, the Valdek family itself might have come down from the north.’
The two walked silently along the lake shore until they reached the camp Wolfgang had set up.
“Sit anywhere you like.”
It looked like a temporary campsite where gamekeepers would stay, roughly set up by joining several tents together.
Wolfgang personally brought firewood, put it in the brazier, and lit it.
As soon as the fire rose, he warmed his frozen hands.
Only after warming up a bit did Wolfgang remove his hunter’s hat and take a seat.
“Phew, now I feel alive again.”
He put the kettle he had set aside onto the brazier.
Soon as steam rose from the kettle, he took out rough cups and coffee grounds and poured plenty of coffee.
“Try some. It’ll warm you up.”
Zeke received the cup Wolfgang handed him.
Being used to only drinking 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 in the midst of savoring the coffee that tasted of nothing but bitterness.
‘Tea seems better.’
Though Zeke grumbled internally, he endured the bitter taste and diligently drank what he was given.
Having almost finished his coffee, Wolfgang spoke to Zeke.
“I heard from Arthur. You’re taking the advanced knight examination?”
Zeke put down his coffee and nodded.
“That’s right.”
At those words, Wolfgang took a deep breath.
“Arthur, that fellow is quite fortunate. One already became a black knight, and another is taking the advanced knight examination before even turning twenty.”
He finished what little coffee remained, put down the empty cup, and picked up the magic gun that had been set beside him.
Then he quickly took position and aimed the barrel toward Zeke.
In that moment, Zeke cautiously took a defensive stance.
Wolfgang spoke while keeping the barrel aimed.
“What do you think would happen if I pulled the trigger here?”
Zeke tried to understand Wolfgang’s intention in suddenly threatening him.
‘He’s probably not really trying to kill me here.’
He slowly opened his mouth.
“It would probably miss.”
“Do you really think so? Even if it misses, half your body could be blown away like that reindeer earlier.”
Then Zeke spoke again.
“Conversely, that weapon could explode and cause you great harm, Family Head.”
At Zeke’s answer, Wolfgang lowered the magic gun with a smirk.
“Is this really your first time seeing this weapon?”
“Yes, it is.”
Wolfgang shook his head and removed the magic bullet from the gun’s body.
Then he threw the bullet to Zeke.
Examining the bullet, Zeke asked Wolfgang.
“Is this what that weapon fires?”
Wolfgang nodded.
“Yes. The back of the bullet contains magic stone powder and has an explosion spell on it. When you pull the trigger, the explosion spell activates and pushes out the bullet.”
He tapped the magic gun and continued speaking.
“But this is really hard to control. Plus it’s damn expensive. How much do you think one bullet costs?”
“Would it not be 10 gold?”
“Even with magic artifacts, it won’t go below 15 gold no matter how much we try to lower it.”
15 gold was about a month’s living expenses for ordinary common folk.
Wolfgang said while leaning back in his field chair.
“You see, I think this magic gun will be a new weapon that changes the continent’s future. So I’ve been obsessed with improving this weapon for several years now, but progress isn’t really being made.”
He tossed the magic gun on his knee to Zeke.
Then looking straight at Zeke, he said.
“Right now, this magic gun is weaker than magic but more efficient, stronger than arrows but not as cost-effective.”
Wolfgang stretched and said.
“Find a way to improve this magic gun. Then I’ll write you a letter to take to Arthur.”
At his words, Zeke felt internal despair.
‘Bring improvements for the magic gun?’
Even in his previous life, this magic gun ultimately became a toy that devolved into nobles’ plaything.
Though he didn’t know what future Wolfgang saw in this weapon, Zeke at least hadn’t seen that future.
‘I can’t believe he’d bring something like this as a test question.’
It seemed like nothing more than an excuse to deny Zeke the advanced knight qualification.
Moreover, if he really brought improvements, Wolfgang would obtain an incredible weapon, while only having to write one letter in return, making it a completely risk-free deal for him.
‘This is troublesome.’
Nevertheless, since the test had been set, Zeke had no choice but to produce results.
He looked at Wolfgang and nodded.
“I understand. However, I know very little about this field. Would it be alright if I sought help from my colleagues to devise improvements?”
At those words, Wolfgang laughed heartily and said.
“Of course! Do that as much as you’d like. Moreover, I’ve told the family to provide anything you need, so take your time to think it over.”
Zeke stood up holding the magic gun and bullet Wolfgang had given him.
“Then I’ll see you again, Family Head.”
As Zeke left the tent, Wolfgang, now alone, poured more coffee and muttered to himself.
“I look forward to seeing what Arthur’s youngest son will come up with.”
His expression was like that of a hunter who had set a trap and was waiting for a prey.
* * *
After leaving the hunting grounds and returning to the Valdek main castle, Zeke was guided to the guest room.
The first thing Zeke did upon entering the incredibly luxurious guest room was to neutralize any surveillance devices that might have been installed.
He pretended to remove his gloves while using his magic reflection skill.
CRACKLE!
As soon as Zeke used the skill, the magic lamp flickered.
Startled servants rushed into the room from outside.
“Ah, sorry. I took off my gloves out of habit without thinking.”
Zeke casually put his gloves back on, pretending not to know.
Having thoroughly checked for surveillance devices as this was essentially enemy territory, Zeke finally placed the magic gun he received from Wolfgang on the desk and pondered deeply.
‘If I request it from Lord Hades, he would probably create an improved operation system. But then we don’t know how that might really change the continent’s future.’
A weapon as strong as magic and more efficient than arrows falling into Valdek’s hands meant the same thing as Jiemens being able to arm themselves with it.
It would be foolish to hand new weaponry to the enemy just to pass the advanced knight examination.
Zeke contemplated ways to pass Valdek’s test while making it impossible to apply the improvements to the weapon.
He also took out Bastian’s magic gun from his inventory to examine them together.
‘The body material is the same type. Not ordinary iron. Perhaps an alloy mixed with other metals?’
If it was made of an alloy, not only the bullets but the magic gun itself would clearly be quite expensive.
While pondering, Zeke called out to Richmond.
‘’Richmond. What are you doing?’’
Richmond immediately responded to Zeke’s call.
‘’Master! I’m currently collecting specimens in the specimen room with Duradua!’’
He seemed to be wandering around the undead labyrinth of the Hoshgar laboratory.
“Duradua? You mean Durahan?”
Richmond lacked naming sense, just like his master.
After muttering to himself, Zeke said to him.
‘’In the laboratory, there should be weapons piled up from the Jiemens assassins who were defeated by the ghost soldiers before. Get one and contact me.’’
Zeke planned to compare it with the magic gun that Aaron’s Knight Killer unit had possessed.
A few hours later, Richmond sent a message saying he had found a Knight Killer’s magic gun in the laboratory.
Zeke immediately summoned him.
“HUFF HUFF. Is, is this the right one, Master?”
Richmond had hurriedly gone to the laboratory from the labyrinth to bring the magic gun.
Zeke took the magic gun and nodded.
“Yes. Good work. Go back and keep collecting diligently.”
He immediately cancelled Richmond’s summon, sending him back to the laboratory.
Now alone again, before him lay the rusted Knight Killer magic gun and bullets permeated with demonic energy.
Zeke picked up the magic gun and examined it carefully.
After examining it for a while, Zeke was able to discover something in the Knight Killer’s magic gun.
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