The four of them silently made their way through the sparse forest.
Suddenly, Claude thought of something. "By the way, Wero, I read in the history books that firearms have been around for more than 500 years. Why are we still using them after so long?"
He recalled that the development of firearms in his previous world wasn't that slow. From the appearance of matchlocks to modern automatic rifles, it only took two to three hundred years.
The military forums he read before he transmigrated said that the various countries were already developing more advanced weapons, such as laser guns and electromagnetic guns.
But in this world called Faslan, technology seemed to have stagnated in the past five to six hundred years. Matchlocks were still matchlocks, the main weapon used by the various countries on the continent. Even war couldn't push for the development of weapons.
Borkal chuckled. "What else do we use if not matchlocks? Crossbows, swords, or spears?
War has long proven that matchlocks are the sharpest and most reliable weapon in the hands of soldiers. Without them, the kingdom would've fallen long ago. "
"That's not what I meant, idiot.
What I meant was, why don't we improve on matchlocks and make them easier to operate? Or maybe we can get rid of the matchlock and use a more reliable firing method like flintlock or breech-loading? "
"There are improvements. The kingdom has been working hard to increase the firing range of matchlocks. The latest aubass mark 2 is said to have a firing range of 350 meters and an effective killing range of 240 meters. A bayonet can also be installed at the muzzle to be used as a spear. There's no need for soldiers to bring their matchlocks and melee weapons on the battlefield," Welikro replied in a muffled voice.
What's the use of just improving the firing range? You won't even be able to hit accurately. Claude felt like he was talking to a chicken and his friends weren't on the same line of thought as him.
He decided to change his approach. "I think it's too inconvenient to fire with a matchlock. We should improve the firing method. Haven't the gunsmiths thought of that?"
"My father mentioned this before."
Welikro gave it some thought and said, "There are four major spearmaking workshops in the kingdom. The one in the prefectural city is the smallest.
The four gunsmiths produce close to two hundred thousand different types of firearms every year. Apart from custom-made firearms, the blueprints for their firearms are all issued by the royal capital's firearms research institute and they have to strictly follow the blueprints.
My father said that he served as a sentry soldier in the royal capital's firearms research institute for two years. He said that there were many lunatics in the institute and that he had seen quite a number of strange firearms.
"Like what you said, flintlock and breech-loading do exist, but their firing range and power can't compare to the earliest matchlocks.
In addition, safety was also an issue. Seventeen soldiers from the guard company went to test the guns, but because the guns exploded, they were injured or disabled. So, my father later applied to be transferred to the frontlines, so that he wouldn't end up disabled like his comrades.
However, he was unlucky. By the time he reached the frontlines, the war was already over and he could only stand guard at the rear. "
It turned out that the kingdom had a firearm research institute that specialized in the research and improvement of firearms. But after so many years, other than improving the range and power of the firearms, there was no further improvement on the matchlock musket. They couldn't even create a flintlock musket. It was simply incompetent.
"Apart from the royal capital's firearms research institute, is there no one else who invented firearms?
Like some private firearms enthusiasts? "
Claude recalled reading some information on the computer in his previous life. There were two main factors in the development of firearms. One was the need for war, which allowed for more advanced weapons to be used in battle. The other was firearms enthusiasts. They used all sorts of creative ways to improve their weapons and contributed greatly to the development of firearms from matchlocks to automatic rifles.
Just like in his previous life, there were many famous weapon manufacturers and arms companies that started out as small private workshops.
"Perhaps," Welikro muttered, "My father should be considered a firearms enthusiast as well. Those two hunting rifles of his were designed by him.
However, privately designed firearms have to be custom-made in the kingdom's gunsmiths. The blueprints have to be verified to ensure that there won't be any safety issues and an official serial number is given.
"If one were to privately make a firearm in a smithy, it would be a violation of the kingdom's laws. Be it the person who commissioned or made the firearm, both would be arrested and sentenced.
"So, it's fine for the smithy to make swords and bows, but it's a huge crime to privately make a firearm.
Of course, there are also those who order a firearm from the smithy and take it home to make a new one as long as the serial number isn't destroyed. "
So it turns out that there's also a ban on the making of firearms. That should be the kingdom's way of controlling firearms.
But in this way, it also restricted the further development of firearms.
As for the royal capital's firearms research institute, it seemed to have gone in the wrong direction.
Claude really didn't understand why research on the firing range and power of firearms was prioritized. Shouldn't they be researching more convenient and faster ways to shoot and reload?
To increase the firing range and power, they should be researching bullets and not firearms.
Claude fell silent. This world was a little strange. For instance, as a student, he didn't have physics or chemistry in his classes. When he asked his tutor and classmates about it, they would ask him what physics and chemistry were.
No wonder they're still using muskets after six centuries …
Welikro, who was in front, suddenly waved his hand twice, signaling for everyone to stop.
Claude listened carefully and realized that they'd arrived at their destination.
His thoughts were running wild and he didn't notice the sound of flowing water at all.
"Alright, let's set up an ambush over there."
Welikro looked around for a long time and pointed at a pile of rocks not far away. "See that big rock over there?
We'll hide behind it. That place has a wide field of view and it's downwind. Animals won't be able to smell us when they come to drink.
The stream just happens to make a turn next to that rock and everything within fifty meters of it will be within range of my musket. Any further and we won't be able to see anything. Let's hope we're lucky. "
Welikro found a pretty good spot. The rocks would often be submerged when the stream was flooded, so the area around the rock was rather clean. There weren't any snakes, insects, lizards, or scorpions around.
The four of them hid behind the rock. Welikro found a few footholds and climbed up. He propped his gun on the rock and poked his head out to observe the movements in the stream.
Eriksson's musket wasn't of much use in that situation. Even if animals came to drink from the stream, they wouldn't be able to do much unless they were within ten meters. Beyond that, the range wouldn't be enough, so it could only be used as a warning.
Borkal's ballista and Claude's longbow had enough range, but the two of them hadn't been trained to shoot at night. Even if they found prey, they could only aim in a general direction. Who knew where the arrows would end up. So, they could only rely on Welikro's musket for this night hunt.
The night breeze was very cool, and the moonlight shone through the dense shade of the trees onto the brook. The brook gurgled, and from time to time, it would emit a tinkling sound, as if it was singing an endless ballad.
The shadows of the trees swayed in the wind and took on all sorts of shapes under the moonlight. The leaves rustled from time to time and strange noises could be heard from the forest. Sometimes, it was sharp, sometimes hurried, and sometimes it was a heart-chilling cry.
Borkal shrunk his head and unconsciously moved closer to Claude.
Claude noticed that he was trembling slightly. He cracked a smile and said, "Don't be afraid, they're just normal noises. The wind blows through the trees and some of them are the cries of animals in the forest. It does sound a little scary."
Thanks to the documentary he had watched in his previous life, he had only watched one episode. It was a world of night that recorded the nocturnal movements of animals in the forest.
If he hadn't seen it, he wouldn't have known. But when he saw it, he was shocked. Only then did he realize how lively the forest was at night. Although it was dark, the sounds were loud and there were all kinds of sounds. The infrared camera even captured the scene of leopards hunting for food at night, as well as the screams of the frightened monkeys.
Compared to the documentary, the noises in the forest paled in comparison. So, Claude was rather calm.
"You don't find it scary at all?" Eriksson asked curiously.
"What's there to be afraid of? Most of it is just your own imagination. Hearing the cries makes you think of scary monsters. Why don't you think about it? If there were really scary monsters, they would've rushed out of the forest to catch us. Why would we waste so much energy to cry in the forest?
Also, didn't Eyke catch a toad last time?
Do you still remember how loud it was? If we throw it into the forest at night, its cries will sound really scary too. "
"The three of you, shut up and don't talk!"
Welikro growled angrily. "Don't you know how sensitive animals' hearing is? They won't come to drink if they hear you talking!"
So, the three of them stopped talking and continued to hide behind the boulder.
After who knew how long, Claude almost fainted. Suddenly, Welikro poked him a few times. "Shh, don't make a sound. There's movement."
Welikro was practically whispering into his ear. Claude didn't dare to be careless. He carefully poked his head out from behind the boulder and looked in the direction Welikro was pointing.
In the distance, there was a rustling sound from the bushes in the forest. As the trees swayed, a few black shadows jumped out of the bushes and ran to the stream to drink water. A few of the black shadows even jumped into the stream to play in the water.
Welikro sighed softly and slid down the boulder. He even tugged on Claude's clothes to tell him to come down.
"What's wrong? Aren't you going to fire?" Claude asked curiously.
The black silhouettes were no more than 40 meters away.
Welikro shook his head and whispered back, "It's useless. Those are wild boars. My gun can't kill the bigger ones. If I hit the smaller ones, the bigger ones will go berserk and seek revenge.
Now that we're at the rocky beach, we won't be able to escape even if the boars rush over. "
So, those black silhouettes are wild boars … Claude really didn't get a good look.
"But it's fine. Since the boars are playing in the stream, the other animals will soon come to drink as well. We just have to wait patiently."
It was only then that Claude realized that Borkal and Eriksson had fallen asleep together. Fortunately, they weren't snoring and didn't startle the boars.
Welikro was right. Half an hour later, another group of animals appeared by the stream. There were about seven or eight of them.
"What's this?"
"We're in luck. It's a mountain deer."
The two of them were practically whispering into each other's ears. Welikro slowly and gently cut off a large portion of the match between the handle and the barrel. "Take the match and light it when I tell you to."
Claude nodded nervously to show that he understood.
Welikro looked at it for a long while before he finally said, "Light it."
With a 'chi la' sound, a flame lit up and the match was lit.
Claude felt that time passed too slowly and the match burned too slowly. He stole a glance and saw that the deer herd seemed to have been startled by the light. However, they didn't run away. Instead, they raised their heads and looked over curiously.
After what felt like an eternity, Claude finally heard a loud boom. One of the deer swayed a little and fell into the stream. Its four legs were still twitching weakly. The other deer beside it turned around and ran back into the forest.
Borkal and Eriksson, who were under the rock, jumped in shock. "It's raining?"
Welikro slid down the rock excitedly. "We hit it. Light the torch and let's go over."
Claude saw that half of his face was charred by the smoke from the gun.
The deer in the stream was only a little bigger than a mountain goat. It had antlers about ten centimeters long on its head. It should be a young deer, but it wasn't an adult yet.
Welikro's shot was very accurate. It went in from the side of its face and pierced through its head. It was no wonder it fell into the stream.