Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: New Weapon Development (2)
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"Hold on, isn't this a repeating hand crossbow? Right?"
On the dusty workbench of the abandoned factory.
The dwarf girl Mani, peering down at my blueprint, furrowed her brow as she asked.
Her finger pointed to the magazine section stacked with layers of bolts.
"It's the kind of junk mercenaries use like toys and toss away. You just flick the bolts out one by one."
Mani's critique was sharp.
Sure enough, the concept of repeating weapons existed in this world too.
They'd been on the shelf between crossbows when I visited the weapon shop.
But there was a clear reason they hadn't caught on.
'Even something like the Zhuge crossbow existed here.'
An ancient Eastern weapon from my past life's memories.
It rained bolts every time you pulled the lever.
Great rate of fire, but short range and weak penetration—it had been obsolete even back then.
To Mani's eyes, my blueprint must look like a knockoff of some failed relic from the past.
I shook my head and tapped the bottom of the diagram with my index finger.
"It looks similar, but it's different. That one has no fletching, so short range and no power—can't even pierce goblin hide."
"Exactly. Great fire rate, but toy-level power. By dwarf standards, it's trash!"
"But what I'm making is different."
"How?"
"Power as strong as a regular crossbow, but with rapid fire."
Though limited to hunting use, 21st-century Earth folks had refined crossbows to make them viable.
All I had to do was borrow that wisdom.
I looked straight into Mani's eyes and explained the key point.
"The core is this lever. The one attached under the crossbow body—tilt it forward, and it leverages the pull to cock the string."
"Leverage, huh..."
Mani rubbed her chin, showing interest.
I continued the explanation.
"And check this ring on my belt. Hook the lever end there, lean back, and pull with your arms!"
"Belt hook loading method applied here! Yeah, that saves a ton of effort."
An idea pioneered by some old YouTube craftsman from my past life, refined by countless overseas artisans.
I might lack the genius to invent, but I can copy.
This was my adapted version of the original.
Ratkin especially have weak strength.
Even with this method, pulling a powerful draw weight string repeatedly with just the lever would tire the arms.
But with tools, it's a different story.
"It's not just arm strength. You're using your waist, back, and body weight! Even with my weak power, I can cock a strong string using my whole body."
Pull the lever to cock the string.
Reset to original position?
Loaded.
The magazine automatically feeds a bolt, so just aim and pull the trigger.
The whole process takes just 1 second.
"And pair it with this magazine?"
I gestured rhythmically over the blueprint in the air.
"Fire, cock. Fire, cock! In theory, over 30 rounds per minute. While keeping the power."
Mani's red eyes grew wider.
"No way! That principle's like our dwarven rapid-fire ballista!"
I could almost hear the gears turning in her head.
The negativity faded from her expression.
Replaced by the instinctive curiosity of an engineer.
Mani snatched a charcoal stub from the cluttered workbench.
She squatted on the floor and started sketching a new diagram roughly.
Scritch-scratch!
Screeech!
"Fun. Yeah, that solves the reloading issue like you said."
"Pretty good, right?"
"Yeah, but there's a problem!"
Just when it seemed all good, Mani tapped my blueprint on the table.
"What?"
"This magazine."
Ah, here comes that critique.
"Making it detachable complicates the structure too much. Need magazine catches, precise tolerances..."
She glanced at her rundown, shabby workshop.
"My gear can't handle it. No time, no money. Plus, if you lose one swapping? Gotta make multiples. Too expensive."
Practical concerns.
In a place without advanced precision manufacturing, standardized magazines meant pouring time and cash.
"Then?"
"Go integral. Fixed mag on the body, load bolts from the top in bundles."
Mani quickly revised the diagram with charcoal.
Much simpler structure.
"Good, that's fixed! Next, materials."
"Materials?"
"Yeah, for the lever and mechanisms."
I nodded at Mani's point—it made sense.
"I wanted to talk about that too."
"Iron and wood are too heavy."
"Dwarf alloy then... Oh! But this is the boonies. That's the issue. Expensive too..."
Mani ruffled her hair.
Coil springs were doable at least.
Muskets and clocks existed!
But plastic? No way in this world.
Something lightweight, strong, elastic?
Then, a memory flashed.
Monster manual from the library days ago.
"What about monster bones?"
"Bones? Bones... Ah!"
Mani slapped her knee at my words.
"Right! Tin Wolves! Those guys!"
"Tin Wolves?"
"Yeah! Pack showed up recently in the woods near Glowing Cave."
I prompted for details. Mani excitedly spilled.
"Wolf-type monsters. Smaller than regular wolves, but bones are metal-hard yet bamboo-springy. Lightweight, rust-proof, don't rot!"
Her face lit up.
"And easy to process. Heat 'em, they soften a bit. For the pusher strap..."
"Slime silk rubber?"
Sena, who'd been listening blankly, chimed in.
"Slime silk rubber?"
"Stuff from the workshop we worked at. Usually make cloth from the slime goo, but rubber too!"
Mani nodded along.
"Silk rubber! Perfect! Super tough! Stretches long! Used as bowstrings even. Cheap—few coppers at the general store."
I snapped my fingers.
"Ideal...!"
Solutions where there'd been none.
"Elasticity's plenty."
All puzzle pieces clicked.
I mentally reassembled the YouTube craftsman's design to this world's reality.
Removable mag to top-open fixed.
Steel springs to Tin Wolf bone and slime silk.
'Thanks, masters!... Silver rank's all thanks to you guys!'
I silently thanked my past-life mentors and extended a hand to Mani.
"So, you'll help make it?"
Mani gripped my hand hard, charcoal-smudged.
Dwarf grip strength hit.
"Obviously! Can't miss fun like this! Just cover materials! I'll cut you a deal!"
She grinned and added,
"But let me shoot it when done! And... if it works, bonus pay, and party!"
"Bonus? Party?"
At my question, Mani sheepishly pointed to the back workshop.
"Truth is... rent's late this month. About to get evicted! Need cash. Dungeons solo's tough... Heh."
Mani laughed awkwardly.
Even genius dwarf girl had real-world woes.
"No worries! Finish this, conquer dungeon, Bronze rank straight up!"
Steel and wood.
Ratkin and dwarf.
The joint project began.
Two days passed shaping parts per blueprint.
Blockade lifted, we raced to woods near Glowing Cave.
To hunt Tin Wolves.
Clang! Kang!
Metallic clashes echoed in the forest.
Wolves gleamed gray-metallic fur, as named.
Skins tough and hard, naturally.
"Ugh! Solo, I'd be toast!"
Mani swung her hammer wildly, I pierced one dragon-catcher head.
Party's hope: aspiring rat holy knight upfront.
"Hearth Goddess! Flame barrier!"
Sena raised shield, blocked wolf fangs.
Clang! Sparks flew.
Regular wolf teeth'd shatter, but monsters shrugged it.
"These tin cans!"
I aimed temp crossbow at sides.
Reloading slow, shots careful.
Pheew!
Thuk!
Bolt pierced thin armor under armpit.
"Kyaaang!"
"Mani! Now!"
"Got it! Be my materials, pup!"
Mani charged swinging workshop hammer.
Kaaang!
Dull thud, wolf howled and fell.
A couple down.
"Enough! More coming!"
"Retreat!"
Fierce howls from behind already.
Rage at comrade's death?
"Awoooo!"
"Run!"
We hauled wolf corpses back to workshop quick.
Work accelerated.
Scrape-scrape.
Clang! Kaaang!
Workshop noisy day and night.
Bellows, hammer, saw unrelenting.
I carved scavenged wood into new stock and butt.
Curved smooth for my shoulder, cheek rest sanded sleek.
Grip: dense checkering against sweat slip.
Past-life woodworking hobby shone.
[Apostle! Such talent! How about a statue praising my dignity?]
Rodentia peeked over shoulder, chimed.
'Statue? Like...'
[Hamster wheel, obviously!]
Planning to anyway.
Soon as free time.
Wood grain under fingers brought strange thrill.
Meanwhile, Mani sweated at forge, wrestling metal parts.
"Temp too low! Sena! Bellows harder!"
"O-okay! Raaah!"
Sena pumped bellows red-faced.
Mani hammered scrap-melted lever.
For key trigger assembly and body joints, breath held.
"Angle off! Shave 2 degrees more!"
"Got it! You watch clearances! Bolt snag ruins it!"
We yelled, heads down in work.
Meals: hard bread chomped while polishing.
Sleep: side-naps squatting by bench.
Bag Rodentia hyped, wheel-spinning all night cheers.
[Ooh! Creation's site! Sweat-mixed iron scent! Beautiful! Carve more! Hammer harder!]
"...Quiet, Lord! Can't focus!"
[Tch! Apostle!]
Time flew.
Fingers blistered, burst, repeat.
Whole bodies sawdust and metal shavings—who's ratkin, who's dwarf?
Yet why?
Amid fatigue, chest swelled.
Paper dream becoming real at my hands.
And finally.
Dawn, third day.
"...Done."
Last piece fitted, slime silk strap tensioned taut.
Mani muttered, setting hammer down.
We froze in unison.
Under lamp on bench: grotesque yet beautiful creation.
Smooth varnished brown wood body.
Gleaming steel lever below.
Shark-fin mag atop.
Crude but functional, unique weapon nowhere else.
"Complete."
Mani's voice trembled.
I swallowed dry.
Heart pounded.
"Test it?"
"Duh. It's yours!"
I lifted crossbow carefully.
Heavy. But balanced weight.
Center of gravity perfect—one hand stable.
Butt to shoulder.
Fitted like body part.
Now, check if it works.
"Load the mag."
Mani handed bolt bundle.
Weapon shop crossbow bolts.
Clack-clack.
Five slid into mag smooth.
Slime silk pusher pressed firm.
Deep breath.
Grabbed lever under crossbow.
'Show me your power.'
Muscle in, shoved lever forward sharp.
Click!
Crisp metal snap.
Heavy vibration as lock grabbed string, pulled back to fingertips.
Pulled lever home—bolt dropped from mag to rail.
Click.
Perfect.
1 second to cock.
Barely any effort.
Mani and I locked eyes.
No words needed.
We'd birthed a monster!
"Let's go."
I slung crossbow over shoulder.
"Test it."
The day had come.