Episode 268 It’ll get faster soon. (1)
“A bow that can be shot from horseback? Aren’t cavalry archers already an obsolete branch of the military?”
Galvarik asked, puzzled.
The idea of using horseback riding to shoot arrows has been around since ancient times.
And indeed, there was a time when cavalry was a terror on the battlefield.
However, as time passed and strategies, tactics, longbows, and crossbows developed, the advantages of cavalry archers were greatly reduced.
The biggest problem was that it was difficult to train cavalry archers.
“First of all, there are very few people who can properly shoot a bow while on horseback. Even if we start training now, how many years will it take?”
A cavalryman must be proficient in both archery and horsemanship. Even if he was skilled in both, shooting an arrow from horseback was not an easy task.
Because you can’t set your feet firmly like you would when shooting from the ground, it was extremely difficult to shoot an arrow while holding your body steady with only two legs on a swaying horse.
“Haven’t countless wars already proven that cavalry is not very effective?”
Usually, cavalry archers are forced to use melee archery due to limitations in range and accuracy.
The ability of cavalry to launch a preemptive strike before engaging infantry is a powerful advantage, but no commander would just sit back and watch that happen.
Galvarik hit on that very point.
“Even before the cavalry archers get close, the enemy archers can hold them back with their superior range. Even if they get close, they won’t be able to break through the ranks of heavy infantry, and they’ll be easily blocked by the enemy cavalry. Isn’t it because of this combination of countermeasures that the cavalry archers as a unit have become extinct?”
“Oh, you know quite a bit about the problem?”
“Isn’t that obvious? The things we make the most are weapons, and we know very well how they are used in war.”
“But if the opponent doesn’t respond properly, it’s a good idea to just hit and run away, right?”
“It’s hard to train them, and even if you create a few and operate them, they’ll only be used for playing around and joking around, not for use in a rotation. There’s a reason why no one else does it.”
Not only in Rutania, but in most countries, military strategies were centered around knights and infantry due to the traditional knightly culture. Accordingly, the organization and training of the army were also centered around knights and infantry.
The training and equipment required to raise and maintain cavalry required considerable cost and time, and it was difficult for them to be active in battle due to various restrictions.
Despite Galvarik’s worries, Giselle responded nonchalantly.
“If the enemy charges, we can shoot, and if the enemy stays still, we can charge. Don’t you know that we’re all becoming cavalry?”
“… … If it were as easy as it sounds, what in the world would be difficult?”
“That’s why we need a new bow. Make it smaller than the existing bow so that it is easy to shoot from horseback. However, its range shouldn’t be reduced. Make it so that its power and range are as similar as those of longbowmen.”
“How do you make something like that… … .”
Galvarik was about to curse, but he closed his mouth and touched his forehead. This kid seems to think that anything he says will come out.
If it were that easy, who would make long, heavy bows to increase range? They had to make them that way because they needed that much elasticity and tension.
“Even though we are dwarves, it is difficult to significantly overcome the limitations of technology. We can only make them better than others. How about improving the existing longbow to increase its power and range?”
As Galvarik sighed, Giselle took out a blueprint.
“What is this?”
“A bow made of galvanium.”
“No matter how light galvanium is, its foundation is iron. It cannot provide proper elasticity. It has to be done only with the tension of the string, and that inevitably reduces its power.”
“Look at the blueprint carefully. Make a lever at each end of the bow made of galvanium to adjust the bowstring. The tighter you tighten it, the more powerful it becomes. The bow needs to be strong to withstand that, so it’s made of galvanium.”
“omg.”
Galvarik examined the blueprints carefully. This time, only the conceptual part was written, but it seemed like it could be made with just a little study.
“Then what material should the bowstring be made of? It’s hard to create strong tension with ordinary materials. Any other material would not be able to withstand the force and would break.”
“You can use the tendons of monsters like trolls and ogres. They are incredibly tough and elastic. I brought a lot of them this time, didn’t I? I’ll bring more in the future.”
“Oh, oh… … .”
Galvarik nodded. If he did that, Giselle would be able to control the power and range as she wanted.
He said he went monster hunting, and it was clear that he had thought about and brought not only leather but also materials for the bowstring.
“But if you adjust the bowstring too strongly, it will be difficult to pull it with normal strength… … .”
Galvarik paused as he spoke. At each end of the bow, where the bowstring was hung, were small pulleys designed to pull the bow with as little effort as possible.
That wasn’t all. The bow was split into three sections for easy portability and could be easily folded. This was possible because the bow’s elasticity was minimized.
“Wow, how on earth could you think of something like this… … .”
This was no ordinary bow. It was a bow made with sophisticated engineering techniques and the finest materials.
It was amazing. Where on earth could the skill of the lord be displayed? I have never seen or heard of such a bow anywhere on the continent.
It’s just a conceptual blueprint, but it’s enough. The rest can be figured out by the dwarves putting their heads together.
“My lord! Is this also what you thought? What on earth is in your head!”
At Galvarik’s urgent question, Giselle turned her head slightly and muttered.
“… … This was also made by the legendary blacksmith.”
“Ahhh! Why did the heavens give birth to me, Galbaric, and also to the legendary blacksmith!”
The legendary blacksmith was truly great. Galvarik screamed and clenched his fists. But Galvarik was not easily defeated.
‘Most of what the legendary blacksmith left behind is just a concept! It’s not a finished product!’
He was the one who concretized the concept and actually created it, so he thought that even the legendary blacksmith would not have a better craftsmanship than him.
Someday, I will be able to surpass the legendary blacksmith with a better idea.
“I will definitely surpass him and become the best blacksmith on the continent!”
At Galvarik’s shout, Giselle scratched her chin and looked away for no reason.
‘Is that what it means to fight against yourself? Oh, I don’t think that’s the right word to use in this situation.’
The official name of this bow is ‘Violentus Hunter’.
It was one of the weapons created by Galvarik and the dwarves in the previous life to deal with the Tribulation.
A weapon created to be both portable and destructive, it was a must-have for each kingdom’s elite units.
Jiselle had gathered a lot of monster tendons to make this bow.
“Okay, is this enough? Then, please make 2,000 of them as quickly as possible. I’m busy for now, so just make that many. We’ll continue to produce them in the future.”
“Okay! You said that the elves would be the main force? I think there were about 200 elves? I have all the materials, so I’ll quickly make it to match that number!”
“No, two thousand.”
“… … Two thousand?”
“huh.”
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Galvarik, who had calmed down, spoke in detail.
“As I said earlier, cavalry archers are a type of unit that is as difficult to train as knights. Can you really use all 2,000 of them? Even the elves would have to practice archery right now, and it might take years, right?”
“It’s okay. All our soldiers ride horses now, right? So all we have to do is teach them how to use a bow. Especially the elves will get good at archery in no time. Haven’t you ever seen them communicate with nature before?”
“… … Isn’t taming a horse different from riding a horse and shooting an arrow?”
“When you think of elves, you think of bows. When you think of bows, you think of elves. Don’t you know?”
“… … That’s just something out of a storybook. Archery is a skill that requires a lot of practice.”
“That’s true. But it’s not difficult for the elves who have now communicated with nature. Let’s go and see for ourselves.”
With a confident expression, Giselle took Galvarik to find the elves.
The elves had already tamed over ten thousand horses. The horses were deployed throughout the territory and used for transportation and training cavalry.
Thanks to this, the elves who had time left were receiving basic ritual and physical training from Gillian.
Jiselle deliberately did not train him in archery first, because physical training was the top priority, and the next most important thing was horse training.
“Now, the elves will begin archery training today.”
“evil!”
The elves, who had succeeded in communing with nature to some extent, did not show the lazy appearance they had before. Rather, they seemed to even show an elegant dignity.
It’s just that my speech hasn’t changed yet because I’ve been in the military and living in a group.
Only one person, Ascon, who communicated with nature through cursing, grumbled alone.
“Damn, what archery training is this again? This damn territory won’t give you a moment to rest. You need to experience the sting of Mother Nature’s wrath.”
The first person to step forward was Lumina. This was because she was the first to successfully communicate with a horse, and so Giselle chose her as her representative.
Jiselle looked at her and said.
“Just watch me and get used to the poses. Just think about hitting your target.”
Thanks to her training, Lumina was able to pull the bowstring without difficulty. After Giselle helped her get into a good stance a few times, she started to look like she was doing something right.
Squeak.
She pulled the trigger and aimed at a wooden target.
At first, I didn’t expect to be able to do it right, thinking it was just practice. But the more I focused, the more I started to feel a subtle feeling again.
‘This is… … .’
I had already succeeded in communicating with nature. I could feel how the wind moved.
Her bow rose a little higher than before, and, instinctively, she let go of her hand, following the flow of the wind.
Paang.
The arrow shot out with a sharp sound. The onlookers nodded, thinking that perhaps the arrow had been shot a little high, but they thought it was just practice.
Phew!
But the arrow hit the target exactly. Not quite in the center, but that wasn’t the skill of the first arrow shooter.
“Wow… … . What is that?”
“Did you practice archery secretly?”
The elves all looked at Lumina in surprise. She herself seemed surprised, as she looked down at her hands in bewilderment.
Jiselle said with a pleased smile.
“When it comes to elves, it’s the bow.”
“… … .”
Galvarik was speechless. Communicating with nature? If you do that, you can become friends with animals and shoot arrows so well?
The elf children were a real fraudulent race. If they continued like this, they would really be able to control the spirits.
I was suddenly upset that I was born a dwarf.
‘Every day, all I do is make things… … . I just get taken advantage of… … . The elves are handsome and pretty… … . Ah, this world is so dirty.’
Giselle, who did not know Galvarik’s intentions, shouted in excitement.
“Okay! This time, let’s ride a horse and shoot!”
Heeeeeeling!
Lumina rode her horse and ran. She was running so fast that her body shook violently.
Still, she accepted everything naturally. And in the midst of the shaking, she found a path and let go of the bowstring.
Ppaang!
Phew!
The arrow hit the target without a hitch. There was no problem hitting it while riding a horse.
“wow!”
It wasn’t the exclamation of the elves watching. Lumina exclaimed in admiration, unable to believe that she had shot it herself.
Others just looked on in disbelief.
“Me too! Let me try it too!”
“I think I can shoot better!”
“I am the master of the wind!”
The elves began to shoot their arrows one after another. Some missed their targets, but most of them hit the target at least.
Shooting from horseback had a slightly higher failure rate, but was still close to hitting the target. This was comparable to the performance of a horse archer who had trained for over a decade.
Ascon, who had been quietly watching the scene, gestured to his horse.
“Hey, come here and check it out.”
Purrururuk.
Ascon’s horse, ‘Shibari’, approached with a sharp gaze.
It wasn’t a name Ascon made up himself. He happened to hear someone call it that and liked it, so he stuck with it.
It was a name that suited the horse so well, as it was so ferocious, just like its owner.
“Let’s try it too.”
Heeeeeeling!
The horse roared loudly. It looked arrogant, as if that was nothing.
“Let’s go! Shibara!”
Squeak.
Ascon rode his horse and pulled back the bowstring. Suddenly, he felt like he could do something. It was the sound of nature.
‘I feel the wind.’
The senses in his whole body were telling him the way. The wind was telling him that now was the time, that if he shot now, he would hit the target.
‘Riding the wind.’
Ppaang!
Wheaaaaaaaaa!
The arrow flew high into the sky with the wind and disappeared.
“Hey Shibara, I can’t do it.”
Purrururk!
Ascon laughed, showing his teeth, at what he found funny.
Anyway, most of the elves showed incredible skill in archery even though it was their first time.
Jiselle said as she looked at Galvarik.
“What do you think? Don’t you think you’ll be able to do it in no time with just a little practice?”
“… … Only elves can do it, wouldn’t it be difficult for regular soldiers?”
“Of course you’ll need to train a bit, but if you train with the elves, you’ll improve quickly. For now, all you need to know is how to ride a horse and shoot a bow. The important thing is that two thousand people are shooting at you at once.”
“… … .”
If two thousand horse archers are shooting at a target, you don’t actually need to hit them exactly. If you just know how to aim them appropriately, they’ll rain down arrows.
The production quantity was too large, so we tried to reduce it somehow, but there was no way to do it because it came out like this.
Galvarik said with a sullen expression.
“I will start production for now. However, I understand that there are a little over 4,000 soldiers in the territory. Do you plan on making more than half of them archers?”
This time, I asked not out of opposition, but out of pure curiosity.
“No, we’re still recruiting new soldiers, right? If we increase our number of troops, there won’t be a problem.”
“I heard that the reinforcement of troops is being delayed more than expected.”
Jiselle shook her head a few times and then chuckled.
“It will get faster soon.”
