Chapter 12
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Birth of the Rapid Bowgun
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Right after the weapon was completed, Mani came over carrying something.
"Huh, Mani. What's that..."
It was the body of the early prototype crossbow I'd carved from wood just a few days ago, complete with the stock.
I'd removed the key part—the prod—to transplant it into the newly finished Rapid Bowgun. But the original body I'd sweated over carving was pretty well-made.
Mani seemed to think the same.
"This? It was too good to throw away, so I kept it for now. Thought it might come in handy as a backup."
Mani picked it up and examined it from all angles.
"Hmm... Your woodcarving skills are top-notch as always. But it doesn't have a prod."
"Yeah, true."
"Hey, Reti! How about giving this to me?"
"Huh?"
Mani grinned.
"I've got this steel prod scrap lying around in the corner of my workshop. I bet it'd fit perfectly here. It won't be a repeater, but I could mod it into a single-shot powerhouse."
"Oh, a steel prod?"
"Yeah. Dwarf-forged steel, super strong draw weight. Your arms couldn't pull it back, but I can! I'll take it and tinker with it. I need something better than this hammer anyway if I'm hitting dungeons!"
Oh ho, so Mani wants to use a crossbow too.
That means our party would have two ranged attackers.
The best would be all three of us armed with these repeaters.
"Alright, let's go!"
I slung the finished crossbow over my back.
The smoothly polished wooden body hugged my back perfectly.
It felt like it was claiming me as its owner—satisfying.
Our destination was an abandoned quarry outside the city, far from prying eyes.
"Can we get through the gates, though? What if the military police hassle us again?"
Sena asked with a worried look.
The city lockdown's aftermath hadn't fully faded yet.
"It'll be fine. This isn't a gun—it's a crossbow. Let's just walk out confidently."
Mani confidently shouldered her blacksmith hammer.
A pouch of tools jingled at her waist.
We deliberately puffed out our chests and strode toward the gates.
"Hey, you little runts! Hold up!"
Sure enough, a burly guard stepped in our way.
His eyes locked onto the oddly shaped crossbow on my back.
"What's that? Looks weird."
"It's a crossbow. For hunting."
"Hmm..."
The guard eyed the crossbow suspiciously.
With its bulky magazine and all sorts of complex mechanisms, it was bound to draw attention.
But we had a secret weapon here.
We were just a little Ratkin and a dwarf.
"No gunpowder smell, and yeah, it's a crossbow."
To the guard, it looked less like a threatening weapon and more like a clumsy toy made by a Ratkin and a dwarf girl.
"Fine. Just don't run crying if you meet some kobolds in the woods."
The guards smirked and waved us through.
Smooth sailing.
Being underestimated has its perks sometimes.
The spot we'd use as a firing range was downright eerie.
"Perfect for secretive practice! No one comes here."
According to Mani's guide, anyway.
And it really was such a place.
Man-sized rocks were scattered everywhere.
A hillside had been carved away, leaving regular, smoothed stone walls facing us.
Only the wind whistled mournfully through this temporarily shuttered quarry.
Spacious and decent for test-firing.
"Let's shoot that one."
I pointed to a weathered scarecrow standing about 50 meters away.
"A scarecrow in a quarry?"
"Yeah, weird."
Standing there all alone with a safety helmet on, it looked like a prank.
"Mr. Scarecrow! Sorry! This is all part of our training to smite evil..."
Sena, apologizing to the scarecrow in advance.
Once preparations were done, I gripped the crossbow firmly.
I was getting a bit scared.
What if my mental image and Mani's craftsmanship fell flat?
Was it reading my hesitation and trembling?
[Don't worry, Apostle! This is made by my first Apostle and that honorable Ratfolk kid. It can't fail!]
My ears perked up straight.
My trembling tail calmed and settled on the ground.
Yeah, it can't fail.
This is the first masterpiece born from Earth's ideas and this world's materials!
'Honorable house mouse' was a weird title, but it was encouragement enough.
The moment to test its performance without hesitation.
Just as I was about to pull the trigger, Mani suddenly brought up something random.
"Wait, Reti! Have you named it yet?"
"Named it?"
Come to think of it, I hadn't.
As I pondered what to call it—
Poof!
Golden dust suddenly scattered beside me, and a translucent figure popped into existence.
It was Rodentia.
"What?!"
Mani jumped back in shock, nearly falling on her butt.
She almost smashed her hammer onto her foot.
"W-what is it?! A ghost? A spirit?"
Sena tilted her head for a moment, then her eyes sparkled as she bowed to Rodentia.
"Whoa! Reti, is that your guardian spirit? Hello! Nice to meet you!"
Her adaptability was top-tier.
[Ahem! Don't compare me to some mere spirit, dwarf girl!]
"No, Lord! Why show yourself in front of others?"
[Apostle Reti! Because today is a very important day!]
Rodentia floated in the air, hands on hips, declaring with dignity.
[Listen well! Children of the small earth folk who bear the energy of the land! I am the great Lord of the Hamster Wheel, Rodentia!]
"...She really is a goddess?"
Mani's jaw dropped.
[Indeed! And now, I have descended in person to preside over the naming ceremony of this historic weapon!]
She pointed at my crossbow.
[This moment is the glorious time when the great Ratfolk's standard-issue weapon is forged! Thus, it must bear a name that worships and praises the rats!]
"Can't we just call it 'Repeater Crossbow No. 1'?"
[Absolutely not! That would be blasphemy!]
Rodentia was firm.
"Um, Reti... Is she really a goddess? She's just floating around above your shoulder."
[Oh dear! I came to treat you as honorable Ratfolk, you shorty! Show some respect!]
"Er... Yeah, kinda. She's a goddess, our patron or whatever."
We couldn't argue forever over a name.
I thought for a moment.
'Gotta humor Rodentia's request at least...'
What would be a good name?
The greatness of rats.
And rapid fire rate.
A good idea hit me.
"Lord, Lord."
[Yes?]
"...Rapid Bowgun, how's that?"