Chapter 129

As I arrived at the barracks located on the outskirts of Nante Castle to show my newly created weapon, a number of soldiers were lined up in front of the castle gate, tense and alert.

Perhaps it was because I had mentioned that I would personally demonstrate the new weapon to the nobles in the parade ground, not a single fallen leaf could be seen near the barracks.

To produce this result, the soldiers and junior officers had certainly used all sorts of cleaning tools to tirelessly pick up trash and scrub everything…

Now I might be their division commander, but having experienced that irritating and laborious cleaning, the soldiers looked pitiable.

As soon as the weapon demonstration was completed, I should award the soldiers with a modest bounty and give them some leave.

There was no need to unnecessarily boast about my generosity and be amiable by sharing meals and encouragement with the soldiers.

With such thoughts in mind, I arrived next to the colonel standing at the outermost part of the barracks, and he immediately saluted with a loud voice.

“Colonel Samuel von Dryle greets Your Excellency Count SIEL von Croilet.”

“You’ve worked hard. So, are we ready?”

“The battalion under Captain Frost has completed all equipment checks and preparations. As soon as you enter, you will be able to see it immediately.”

“Then let’s go in right away.”

**

Upon entering the parade ground surrounded by a high brick wall, as the colonel had said, the battalion under Captain Frost was lined up.

The other members of the unit stood orderly on the other side of the parade ground, waiting for my orders.

The other nobles, perhaps having never experienced rolling in the dirt like those soldiers, were sitting there saying ridiculous things.

“Look, Your Excellency. The soldiers are happy that you have come, aren’t they? I think it’s because you pay them their salaries on time and treat them well.”

“Yes, that’s right. So how about we hold a martial arts competition as a token of appreciation for their hard work today?”

“Oh, it would be nice if you could personally gather them and share some words of encouragement.”

Words of encouragement and martial arts competitions may seem like very good ideas from the perspective of the nobles of this era…

But from the soldiers’ standpoint, already struggling, if I keep lecturing them with words of encouragement, they would become even more exhausted listening to a speech.

Moreover, the martial arts competition would certainly become a stage for young officers of low nobility to shine, leaving the soldiers scrambling to prepare.

But ignoring their goodwill wouldn’t be right either… I should just come up with a suitable excuse to get out of this.

“Don’t you think once this demonstration is over, you should return to your soldiers and prepare for war? There’s no time, so let’s save it for another occasion. Instead, let’s throw a small banquet for the weary soldiers who prepared. And… Colonel Samuel.”

“Colonel Samuel!”

“Order Captain Frost to begin the weapon demonstration.”

Hearing those words, Samuel shouted to the lieutenant next to him in a loud voice.

“Lieutenant Milton! Send the signal for demonstration preparations to Captain Frost immediately!”

“Yes, Lieutenant Milton, understood!”

A moment later, as the flag rose, some soldiers from Frost’s battalion moved and positioned several scarecrows dressed in armor.

Then, Captain Frost stood facing the nobles with the gun I had created and spoke.

He was wearing not the full set of plate armor typically worn, but just the breastplate and gauntlets, with a small barrel hanging from a belt on his shoulder.

At the same time, two soldiers brought forward a scarecrow clad in plate armor made from iron produced in our ironworks.

“I am Captain Frost. Acting on the orders of Your Excellency, I am here to demonstrate the matchlock rifle you have newly created.”

The other nobles wore expressions filled with questions as they heard those words.

“Is it that thing combined of an iron bar and wood called the matchlock rifle…?

“How does it work?”

Frost replied with a serious expression to their inquiries.

“Yes, this is the matchlock rifle, and with this weapon, I will shoot the lead ball that I am holding now. It seems quicker to show it rather than just talk… Your Excellency, may I begin?”

“First, show us how to shoot.”

At those words, Frost took out the gun and began the demonstration of shooting.

First, he placed a bit of gunpowder into the powder pan attached to the side of the gun, closed the lid, and then placed the lit match on it.

Next, he opened the lid of the barrel and put all the contents into the bore, then took out the ramrod that went under the barrel and packed the contents into the gun.

“Isn’t this just a waste of time?”

“A skilled archer, or even one who just roughly trained as a crossbowman, would have already shot one or two by this time…”

“But this is what Your Excellency has crafted, isn’t it?”

Ignoring such whispers, Frost carefully completed the loading and said.

“Captain Frost is ready to fire!”

“Aim and fire.”

At those words, Frost aimed his gun at the scarecrow before him and pulled the trigger.

A loud, clear sound erupted like thunder, and the nobles were shocked as they saw the gray smoke with a pungent smell.

“A thunderous sound seems to be issuing from that iron rod…”

“That smoke… smells quite toxic.”

A moment later, as the smoke cleared, the soldiers naturally came out holding the scarecrow.

And the scarecrow they brought out had a hole the size of my little finger in it.

The nobles around me could not hide their astonishment and spoke.

“This is impossible! No way… no way! An armor made of steel could be pierced so easily…”

“It wouldn’t penetrate even if shot at point-blank range with a crossbow…”

“Incredible! To create a weapon that can pierce armor that seems absolutely impenetrable…”

According to various studies, it is known that it is possible for a musket firing lead bullets to pierce iron armor, but…

Seeing the actual scene unfold before my eyes was a different and stirring experience altogether.

So, I patted Frost’s shoulder in encouragement and said,

“Well done, Captain Frost. Let’s quickly move on to the next demonstration.”

“Yes, Your Excellency. I will prepare for a volley of fire from all members of the battalion.”

A moment later, Captain Frost’s battalion formed six lines of roughly 80 men each, and in front of them were placed the scarecrows from earlier.

Then, I signaled Colonel Samuel beside me with a glance, and the battalion’s soldiers readied their weapons.

The first row of soldiers knelt down, resting their rifles on the ground; the second row maintained a crouching position; and the third row stood, aiming at the armored scarecrow.

Once prepared, Frost’s voice was heard from afar.

“After firing in unison, retreat, and then the soldiers in the next third row should fire in the same position!”

At those words, the company commanders, squad leaders, and non-commissioned officers positioned throughout the ranks reacted angrily and shouted.

“Anyone who loads the ramrod into the muzzle during this shooting drill is to be docked pay! Don’t even think about being promoted!!”

“Don’t shoot at the allies even if you miss! If you shoot an ally, that’s execution!!”

“Just follow the drills! Just follow the drills!!!”

“If we just finish this demonstration properly, I can get promoted to lieutenant too! Anyone who gets in my way for promotion, let’s meet behind the barracks at night!!”

A moment later, Frost’s voice echoed.

“Simultaneous fire on the third row!!”

As those words ended, a red flash shot from the muzzles of the guns held by the soldiers, followed by a deafening explosion.

Moreover, the smoke from the hundreds of rifles blurred the view of the soldiers, making it impossible to see them any longer.

In that situation, all that I and the nobles could hear were the shouts of Frost and the commanders.

“Those who have fired, retreat immediately!!”

“Don’t you know where to go? Then just follow the sergeant beside you!!”

“Hurry up!! Just do as you practiced!!”

About 30 seconds later, once the soldiers likely completed their shifts, the orders for firing came swiftly.

“Fire!”

Then, just like before, the soldiers from the third row who had just fired returned and discharged their guns.

I wouldn’t say that there was not a single hitch, but the performance being displayed by the soldiers exceeded my expectations.

After that, the soldiers demonstrated cohesive fire in the third row four times and then the training concluded.

Once the training was complete, the nobles all wore expressions of disbelief and remarked.

“If I were to face them leading my own knights… we would surely all be killed.”

“Really… if there were soldiers standing against them… they would surely return from hell.”

Soon after, the soldiers under Captain Frost brought over the armor that had been used as a target and said.

“These are the armors we used as targets.”

The armor, consisting of the upper and lower parts and a helmet, had taken a barrage of bullets, resulting in it being pockmarked with holes like a sponge.

Surely, if a knight had charged wearing that armor, they would have died 100%.

The capacity to kill a knight that takes years to train with just a single bullet and a few grams of powder is indeed a remarkably cost-effective weapon.

And I set aside such sentiments for a moment and called over Colonel Samuel.

“An impeccable result, well done. In appreciation of your hard work thus far, I will provide meat and wine for all soldiers belonging to the Nante barracks, including you. And starting tomorrow, for seven days, allow the soldiers to take turns for 2-3 days of leave.”

“Yes, understood.”

After leaving those words, I turned to the astonished nobles witnessing the power of the gun for the first time.

“The remaining matters will be communicated to you via an instruction manual. Now go back and manage your respective units.”