Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: The Cannon's Roar
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'The destructive power is tremendous. But how much can this really change the battlefield?'
Basen Rak Oran fell deep into thought for a moment.
'You stuff the powder in, then the cannonball, ram it down with a wooden rod, light the fuse... it takes too long. And turning the cannon takes time too. In the chaos of battle, sure, you could kill a few enemies, but by then they'd already be upon you. But...'
Basen held the cannon's potential in high regard.
'If you have not one, but many cannons, you could smash enemies from afar. No matter how skilled the warrior—even an Astasidian or an ogre—it'd be hard to survive a direct hit from a cannonball. And what about cavalry? Just toppling charging horsemen before they reach the infantry lines is a massive achievement.'
There were other advantages too.
'What about sieges? Even weak fortifications could be breached by cannons this size. The problem is their weight—they're hard to move. So the key is deploying them faster than the enemy.'
But according to Hui Ravina Muel, there was already a place where they'd see use first.
'At sea? No question. Arrows can't settle a naval fight—you have to board. But with cannons, you might punch holes and sink them.'
He didn't know enough about ship construction or durability to say for sure, so Basen was cautious in his assessment—but it was a fair one.
On land, enemies could charge straight at the cannon. But at sea? Not a chance.
Basen sensed the revolution cannons would bring.
'The face of battle will never be the same.'
On the roof of Sasian's secret armory, someone eavesdropped on Basen's thoughts.
"Everything he said is spot on. But there's still a long way to go."
It was Seong-un.
Eldar, beside him, chimed in.
"Field cannons using black powder are impressive... but compared to the weapons that come later?"
"Reload speed is glacial, and you have to swab the barrel after every shot. Worst of all, they're too damn heavy. How many men does it take to man one? And they need proper training."
"Plus, rain or humidity makes them useless, right?"
"Black powder soaks up moisture and clumps. Force it loose, and boom—accident."
Eldar said,
"Hmm, but Kyle's a genius, and that dwarf Rumpf has real talent. Maybe they'll invent the next generation of gunpowder weapons?"
Seong-un, lost in thought, cut him off.
"No. They won't."
"Huh? Why not?"
"For now, they'll be content with what they've got."
"Ah."
The cannon's debut alone gave them tactical superiority impossible to match without one.
So rather than chasing breakthroughs, they'd focus on making existing tech widespread and safe.
"Optimizing won't magically spawn the next tier."
"True enough."
"That said, it won't take forever. The continent's littered with stepping stones to the next level."
"Stepping stones?"
Seong-un manipulated his system window.
"Like this."
The window displayed prototypes of cannons in various forms.
"Ah. If the enemy gets the same weapons..."
"They'll push for something beyond optimized versions."
"Lady Nebula, you're certain they'll go to war with us?"
"Pretty much."
The alchemist's tower was far, but he'd kept Heukrin from falling behind. Now, cannon-like weapons were emerging in Third Continent nations too.
'Of course, Heukrin has plenty of sulfur from the badlands below. Prime hardwoods from the north. And they can buy niter. If Hui Ravina Muel tweaks the powder mix for better performance, they'll outpace the other four.'
Seong-un meant Runda's foes, Kramphus's Tan Yeom, Ar1024's Golden Eye, and Jangwan's Myeongul.
He didn't underestimate Wisdom's asbestos reserves.
'They're going all-in.'
Wisdom was squeezing minority races in the asbestos interior for resources.
Bad long-term—resentment builds. But short-term? Effective for war stockpiles.
'Game's midgame now. Holding the current faction is fine, but we could get pushed in intercontinental fights.'
Seong-un figured Wisdom was gearing for a big play.
'Not that I haven't prepared.'
But the urgent fire was in the southern isles.
"We'll watch for now."
Days later, aboard the Pirate's Shame.
Tione Itimo leaned toward Basen, eyeing Ravina at the railings.
"Captain, that horned human over there... she safe?"
"First, a question. Mind if I ask?"
"Shoot."
"Elves and humans look pretty similar to me. Why keep calling me 'human'?"
"You calling that a joke?"
"Huh?"
"Lizardmen and Froglin look the same to me."
"No, they don't. Shape's totally different."
"Exactly my point."
Tione flicked her long ears.
"We're different too."
"...Okay, but that's..."
"More importantly..."
"More importantly?"
"No kids between our races. Humans and elves are as different from each other as Lizardmen and Froglin that way."
Basen wanted to snap that Lizardmen and Froglin were as distinct as lizards and frogs, while slap clay ears on a human and you'd have an elf—but explaining was tiring, and he didn't fancy likening his kin to lizards.
So he said simply,
"...Got it."
"So, about Ravina?"
"She's fine. Cursed, sure, but not mad."
"Horns aside. Bigger issue."
"What?"
"She's a heretic."
Basen grunted.
"What's a heretic got to do with it?"
"...Don't you have a priestess sister?"
Basen nodded, sensing this needed explanation.
The Pirate's Shame and warships carried cannons, powder, and tech officers to train troops.
Kyle had secretly ordered Basen and Tione to link with southern coastal forces.
Ravina had delivered the order.
Basen sympathized with Tione's gripe somewhat, but wrong ideas needed correcting.
"Captain Tione Itimo."
"Yes?"
"I think minor doubts are normal for everyone."
"Minor doubts?"
"True story: I paid a smith to forge a sword. Waited days, got a beauty."
"Palace has smiths."
"I was a kid. Too young for live steel, so I sent a eunuch."
"And?"
"Piece of junk. Dented after a few swings on wood, cracked soon after. Petty stuff, but I wondered if gods even existed."
"How old?"
"Nine-ish?"
"......"
"Regretted trusting that hack via the eunuch. Vowed not to delegate after. Anyway, that's minor doubt. You lament no gods over trifles, but it passes."
Tione, nodding, asked,
"How's that link to Ravina?"
"She's just had more to lament."
"What nonsense..."
Basen felt awkward at her rejection, but silence didn't last.
A lookout atop the mast shouted at the horizon.
"Captain! Unidentified ships approaching!"
"Check the sails! Military colors?"
"No! Fast movers! Visible from deck now!"
Sure enough, ships dotted the horizon.
Not one or two.
"Six? Seven? No, more."
Someone aboard yelped in terror.
"Yabun Pirates!"
Tione and Basen turned to the speaker.
Astasidian Godan.
By law, piracy and hostage-taking meant death, but as Basen predicted, Godan knew plenty about Yabun Pirates.
Basen convinced the magistrate to bring Godan south. The man agreed, seeing it as leniency for poor custody—unaware Basen mailed a letter that evening demanding legal punishment.
Basen asked Godan,
"What makes you say Yabun? Could be regular pirates."
"I've seen the hulls. Nothing like ours. Not Heukrin or Tan Yeom vassals—these are mainlanders from that continent!"
Tione scrutinized the horizon, asking crew if familiar.
No one had seen the like.
"Looks legit. Battle stations."
"Good."
"Pardon?"
"Muttering. Wanted to test the cannons proper. Thoughts?"
Tione eyed the deck guns skeptically.
Seen demos, but new toys warranted caution.
"Gotta trust 'em. Ten enemy ships to our two-plus."
Godan collapsed by the rail in panic.
"I'm doomed. Shoulda stuck to pirating."
Tione smacked his head heartily.
"Idiot, you'd be dead already."
"Right."
"Help move the guns."
"Aye, sis."
Basen found Godan's fuss annoying.
From another continent, grotesque too.
Like ancient Deep Ones from coastal lore.
'No need to fear before the fight. Time to clash.'
The Pirate's Shame and warships turned broadsides, maximizing guns on the pirates.
First loads ready, tension gripped the decks.
As pirates closed, excited looting shouts carried.
"Lucky! Four ships!"
"Yabun'll praise us today! Haha!"
"Not running? Scared, landworms?"
The crew matched Godan's description: bloated deep-sea faces, dark mottled scales, jagged teeth protruding fiercely.
"Aim!"
Adventurers meant Basen commanded.
A red-hooded Deep One, likely captain, bellowed from their bow.
"Surrender and die painless!"
Basen thought,
'Range is good.'
He dropped the signal flag.
"Fire!"
BOOM!
Red-hooded Deep One captain's head pulverized.
The first shot rocketed out, smashing the red-hooded Deep One's skull to pieces.