Chapter 4
"But... the prototype...?"
Karen asked as she followed behind Brown.
"It's a weapon. One that utilizes the material you researched, Karen."
"A weapon?"
"Ah, do you have some aversion to using it in weapons, Karen?"
"No, not at all. I was just... curious what kind it would be."
Karen showed clear interest. Brown gave her a simple explanation.
"The basic principle is to load the weapon with the powder... material and a lead ball, ignite it, and fire. I'll explain the details once we see the prototype."
After answering her, Brown scratched his head for a moment before asking a question.
"Right, do you have any of that material on you by chance?"
"I brought some just in case."
"Perfect. Then we can test it right away once we get the prototype."
We can check it out quickly.
Thanks to Karen bringing the gunpowder, they could test the prototype's performance immediately. Now, what should they call it?
"What should we name the material you researched, Karen? Something like gunpowder, or just powder?"
Brown slipped in the word "gunpowder" casually.
"Oh, I hadn't thought about it. Hmm... gunpowder works fine."
Karen decided without much deliberation.
"Got it. Have you thought about what to use gunpowder for, Karen?"
"Hmm... I only came up with using it for mining."
"That sounds good. It could also be used for demolishing buildings..."
"That works too?"
They chatted as they walked, and soon arrived at the forge.
"Is the senior blacksmith around?"
"Mm. Over that way."
Dodging tools inside the forge, they went deeper in. The senior blacksmith was carving a piece of wood.
"We're here."
"...Wait a moment."
The senior blacksmith glanced at Brown. He picked up the nearby gun barrel and secured the wood to it.
-Clang.
Karen, watching from the side, asked,
"Is that the prototype Brown mentioned?"
"Yes, that's it. It's called a matchlock gun."
"Hm. Let me see it."
Brown took the matchlock gun from the senior blacksmith. Visually, the barrel was straight without any bends, and uniform in thickness.
We'll know for sure after firing, but it looks good so far.
He checked the barrel and the part for attaching the match cord. There was no issue with it tilting sideways when the trigger was pulled. Brown took a match cord from his pocket, looped it into the part, and checked. The part was long enough that the end of the cord missed the barrel's hole.
"Could you shorten this part a bit?"
"Hand it over."
The blacksmith hammered the part. Brown took it back and checked—no problems.
"Thank you. Looks perfect."
"Hm. Who made it? Anyway, what's this weapon for?"
"We were just about to test it. Want to watch?"
The senior blacksmith showed interest at Brown's words.
"Sure, I'd like that. When's the test?"
"If the location works, we can do it right now."
"...Follow me."
The senior blacksmith led the way. Brown and Karen followed.
"Here. This size should be fine."
He'd brought them to the backyard, enclosed by a wall and littered with raw ore, timber, coal, and such.
"Yes, perfect. Mind if I use some of this wood?"
"Go ahead."
"Alright then..."
Brown set up a piece of scrap wood in position.
"Karen? Gunpowder, please."
"Here."
This should do it.
Brown poured an appropriate amount of gunpowder into the barrel. Then he tamped it down a few times with the ramrod handle.
Next, he loaded the lead ball like the one that came with the gun and pushed it in with the ramrod.
A bit loose.
He resolved to add paper or leather before the ball next time. Finally, he soaked the match cord in oil he'd gotten from the forge.
"Could you light the cord, by any chance?"
"Oh, sure."
As Karen chanted a spell, the end of the match cord ignited. Brown blew on it to leave just the ember, then attached it to the part.
Now, a bit less powder here...
There was a small hole beside the barrel, concave in the wood to hold a pinch of gunpowder. Once ready, Brown shouldered the matchlock gun and said,
"It might be loud, so brace yourselves."
"...Yes!"
"Hm."
He aimed at the scrap wood he'd set up earlier. No sights, so he went by feel.
"Firing."
As soon as he spoke, Brown pulled the trigger. The part with the match cord tilted, igniting the powder. Moments later—
-BOOM!
"Eek!"
"...!"
The gunshot echoed unmistakably, even amid the forge's clamor. Recoil lifted the barrel upward.
Did it work?
Before checking the hit, Brown inspected the gun. The barrel was slightly warm. The powder chamber looked a bit charred, but no major issues.
No cracks in the barrel. Should handle a few more shots fine.
After checking the gun, Brown looked ahead. White smoke from the ignited powder obscured the view. He waved it away and approached.
The scrap wood was intact, but there were ricochet marks nearby from the lead ball. It lay nearby, dented. No hit, but it had fired successfully.
"It worked."
He'd made it happen. A matchlock gun. In this other world.
This was just the start. More tests and refinements ahead. He'd already noted improvements: sights, a reinforced metal pan for the priming powder that the ember would ignite.
"That bang startled me."
Karen had come up beside him.
"So it shoots metal balls?"
"Yes. A weapon to take down enemies from a distance."
"Never seen anything like it in my life."
"Haha. Ah, I spotted some upgrades needed, so..."
Brown explained the improvements to the senior blacksmith.
"No problem. Leave it to me. By the way... mind if I try it?"
The senior blacksmith eyed the matchlock with interest. Brown smiled and handed it over.
"Be my guest."
"Me too..."
Brown was glad the people who'd help make it were interested.
Might as well.
He had his own selfish reasons too.
What's left now...
As Brown watched the senior blacksmith and Karen take turns firing, he thought.
After some refinements, show it to the director for approval...
He'd done most of what he could. Now it was about presenting it to the director. Even if she approved, higher-ups would evaluate it. But Brown was confident.
And he had no intention of stopping at the matchlock. If things went well and he got support...
I wonder how far I can go.
His previous life's memories held more than just matchlocks. Brown began pondering future plans.
"We'll be off then."
"Alright. I'll have the matchlock refined by tomorrow afternoon."
"Yes, please. And... how's that cannon from before?"
"That'll take time. Probably a week."
"Got it. See you tomorrow."
Brown and Karen left the forge and headed down the main street.
"What did you think of what I showed you today?"
"...It was amazing?"
"Really?"
"Yes! I never imagined using gunpowder to make a weapon like that! And every time it fires, it feels so... satisfying..."
Karen reacted enthusiastically.
Good.
Brown had worried she might object to weaponizing her research. But her response showed it was unfounded.
"Also, we might need to improve the gunpowder a bit."
"In what way?"
"Incomplete combustion left a lot of residue inside the barrel. Hmm..."
She was already thinking of gunpowder improvements. They walked on, discussing guns and powder.
Time passed, and a week went by.
"We've tested plenty, and this is good enough."
"Whew. You've worked hard these past days."
"Now off to get the prototype approved?"
"Yep."
The senior blacksmith, ever interested in the gun, had made an extra matchlock. He fired it in his spare time as a hobby.
Brown had spent more time at the forge than his department that week. Karen came too, firing it herself and refining the gunpowder. Through tests, the matchlock improved steadily.
They added a cover to the pan so wind wouldn't blow the priming powder away. Shaped the stock for better shouldering. Made it attach a sling. Added sights. It couldn't get more perfect.
"Good luck. Still haven't been paid for the cannon work."
"Haha. Next time I'll come with a fat budget."
"You do that."
Now it was the director's and higher-ups' evaluation. Leaving the forge, Brown and Karen headed to the Weapons Research Lab.