The Beginning of Advancement (2)
“Still, His Majesty ordered us to make the gun first, so even if we research the steam engine separately, let us start by making the gun.”
The scholars wanted to begin working immediately on the ‘steam engine,’ which seemed more important, but they could not defy the orders of the emperor who was funding them. So they began making the gun with the feeling that they were getting their homework out of the way first.
As they had expected, making the gun itself was not especially difficult.
They had blueprints, and the design was extremely simple. Forming the barrel into a cylindrical shape was not easy, but skilled artisans and mages quickly found a way.
“It is complete, exactly according to the blueprints. The workmanship is much better than the prototype as well. The production process was not as difficult as expected, but I imagine it would have been even easier if we had that steam engine.”
“Why is that?”
“The process requires a great deal of forging… hammering, in other words. Doing all of it with manpower makes production far too inefficient. It would be better if we could use machinery, and that steam engine is supposed to be a machine capable of moving on its own.”
“Then that is all the more reason to research it. In any case, let us fire the gun first.”
BAAANG!
The test gun pierced straight through the armor worn by knights.
Every scholar observing the demonstration exclaimed in admiration.
“It is quite powerful. As long as the shot lands, even a knight would suffer serious injuries at the very least.”
“It is not difficult to operate, either. It should be easy to teach soldiers how to use it.”
“The fact that it is made from steel may actually make it better than a crossbow. It does not require troublesome materials like shark glue.”
“The range is somewhat disappointing. Is there no way to increase it?”
The scholars spoke highly of the gun's power.
In particular, they were impressed by the fact that it was a powerful weapon that could be used without any significant training.
It was exactly as depicted in the game.
It was well suited as a weapon for ordinary commoner soldiers, rather than knights, to use collectively.
However, there was also a problem.
“But this is far too expensive.”
“Fixing the explosion magic into the firing mechanism requires magic stones, and as you know, even small magic stones are quite expensive.”
“I do not think it will be possible to create an army like the one depicted in the game with this. It simply would not be cost-effective.”
The idea of using the explosive force of explosion magic to launch a projectile was quite novel and powerful.
The problem was that realizing the concept cost far too much.
Even in a world where the concept of economics had yet to fully mature, the scholars understood perfectly well that a weapon could not be practical if it was not cost-effective.
Even arrows and crossbow bolts could not be produced without limit because of their cost.
“What if we replace the explosion magic with something else?”
“You mean that ‘gunpowder’ mentioned earlier? I do not know exactly what it is, but if it is a powder that explodes like explosion magic, using it should not be impossible.”
“Ask the alchemists. They spend their time researching all manner of substances, so they may know something.”
In a world where magic was widespread, mages were divided among many different schools and fields.
Alchemists primarily researched the properties of substances and the reactions between them.
Many of them were eccentric enough to burn diamonds for the sake of research, but when it came to substances, they were the foremost experts.
Sure enough, the alchemists soon returned with a positive answer.
“It was not particularly difficult to make. Saltpeter, charcoal, and a little sulfur were enough. Its explosive power is outstanding as well, so we call it Black Dragon's Wrath-”
“Enough. How much does it cost to make?”
“…It is relatively cheap. Saltpeter and sulfur cost a little, but compared to magic stones, well.”
“Then the gun is settled for now.”
Once they actually began working on it, they discovered that there was surprisingly plenty of room to improve the gun as well.
However, the scholars wanted to submit their results quickly so they could devote themselves more fully to the steam engine.
The report they had written was soon delivered to the emperor.
***
“The prototypes are satisfactory for now. But they wish to devote more effort to researching the steam engine…….”
As the emperor read the report, the corners of his lips rose at the scholars' subtly expressed request.
They seemed every bit as interested as he was in the technologies and institutions that appeared in ‘Civilization Development.’
The steam engine would probably be their first step toward researching those things.
“The steam engine… If I recall correctly, it was a technology that could be researched around the middle of the game.”
From what he had seen while playing, the technologies of a civilization were structured so that earlier technologies led into later ones.
For example, ‘Bronze Working’ required ‘Mining’ and revealed the locations of iron, a strategic resource, on the map.
It then led into ‘Iron Working.’
Presumably, that meant the preceding technology was necessary for the development of those that followed.
The steam engine was the same.
Its prerequisite technologies were ‘Machinery’ and ‘Industrialization,’ while technologies and creations that came after the steam engine included……
“Tanks, airplanes, battleships, field artillery… Even listing only the weapons gives this many examples. The steam engine must either be directly necessary to make them or serve as a fundamental concept behind them.”
Ian Maxwell claimed he had merely imagined all of it, but the emperor did not completely believe him.
How could all of it have been nothing more than imagination?
They had to be ideas conceived through some kind of meticulous calculation.
Otherwise, there was no way he could have presented concepts this sophisticated.
“Very well. I should approve the steam-engine research. The guns and gunpowder can enter production immediately… Hmm, the budget is the problem. I will have to divert a little from the military budget.”
The generals and knights would probably complain, but there should be no one who dared openly voice dissatisfaction with the emperor.
“Grandfather! How could you cut the military budget?!”
…Except for one person.
“Kyle. I am still attending to state affairs. Address me as Your Majesty, not Grandfather.”
“…Your Majesty, why have you reduced the military budget? Your Majesty's loyal military has produced more than sufficient results!”
“I did not reduce the budget. I allocated more of it to the production of new weapons. Do not distort my intentions.”
And you should be devoting yourself to your studies instead of constantly running around with the army.
The emperor wanted to say that as well, but before he could, Crown Prince Kyle continued.
“By new weapons, do you mean those guns? Their power certainly is impressive. But they are not yet proven weapons. Why order them in bulk so recklessly?”
“Using proven weapons is important, but developing and testing superior weapons is equally important.”
“But right now, the main force on the battlefield is the knights! Not commoner soldiers who will depend entirely on new weapons!”
Tsk.
The emperor clicked his tongue.
In the end, this was a political problem.
The generals and knights probably understood the gun's power and usefulness perfectly well.
In fact, that was likely precisely why they opposed it.
If an unproven weapon designed for commoners were supplied to the Imperial Army in large quantities, their own position as knights could weaken.
The emperor thought the same.
But that was exactly why the guns had to be introduced.
There was still plenty of research to be done on them, but they were already powerful enough.
Perhaps not against highly accomplished knights, but most lesser knights could likely be subdued with concentrated volleys.
He could not refuse to adopt a weapon capable of effectively defeating enemy knights merely to protect the vested interests of his own knights.
‘Still, this is troublesome. Even if I force it through by imperial decree, allowing the knights' resentment to accumulate would be dangerous.’
What the Crown Prince said was not entirely wrong, either.
At present, knights were undeniably the main force on the battlefield.
Without them on the northern front or in the Demon Realm, ordinary soldiers were little more than helpless meat shields.
Even after guns were introduced, that would remain true for some time.
Until a proper production system and tactics for guns and gunpowder were established, knights would continue to serve as the main fighting force.
It would be dangerous for those knights to grow dissatisfied.
The Crown Prince knew that as well, which was why he was speaking this way.
But the emperor could not back down, either.
Guns were weapons that had to be adopted.
And so were the other technologies.
There would be plenty of people who opposed those as well, but they still had to be pursued.
The emperor believed that the direction the Empire needed to take was all contained within that game.
Then a good idea suddenly occurred to him.
If those things truly represented the Empire's future, then why not show them to the Crown Prince as well?
“Crown Prince. Can you spare some time? There is something I wish to show you.”
Having come up with a plan, the emperor showed the Crown Prince the game console and let him experience the taste of Civilization for himself.
“Ghk! A cowardly surprise war! Your Majesty! Just one more game!”
Sure enough, the Crown Prince became completely absorbed in the game as well.
***
“Whew, there's way too much to do.”
After the Magic Development Department survived the budget cuts, I'd gotten promoted and made a lot of money, but somehow I'd ended up with even more work.
Although, rather than having work forced on me, it felt more like I'd created the extra work myself.
There was making the game consoles that would be sold through the department head, of course, but I also had to put considerable effort into establishing the production infrastructure for making those consoles and games.
My team in the Development Department had effectively become a game-development team, and I divided my team members among different specialties.
There were three main divisions.
First was artifact production management.
Magic engineers who specialized in manufacturing artifacts were assigned there.
Next came graphics.
That was handled by members of the Illusion School like me.
The main graphical concepts came from my memories, while they assisted with the coding-like work of implementing those concepts into the artifact.
Finally, there was sound.
I mainly assigned mages from the Wind School who were well versed in sound and voices.
I also recalled the sounds needed for the game first through memory magic, but just like the graphics team, they systematically refined and implemented them.
Normally, game development would also involve a planning team, scenario team, QA team, and several others, but I hadn't created separate teams for those yet.
Establishing the basic production infrastructure came first, so those were lower priorities for now.
I could add them later or handle those tasks myself.
“I started all this because I wanted an easy life, but now I'm even busier. I really do bring trouble on myself. Still, I've finally got a little free time, so maybe I can rest for…….”
“Team Leader! We have a serious problem!”
“…What happened?”
Just as I was taking a moment to catch my breath, one of my subordinates came rushing over with a troubled expression.
“W-Well, the Crown Prince…….”
“Ian Maxwell! Is there a man named Ian Maxwell here?!”
No sooner had he said that than someone entered the office.
Everyone inside recognized the newcomer immediately and rose from their seats to pay their respects.
He was certainly someone who warranted such treatment.
He was the young Crown Prince whom the emperor cherished.
“Your Highness, I am Ian Maxwell.”
“So you are Ian Maxwell.”
THUD, THUD.
As the handsome, powerfully built Crown Prince approached, I couldn't help feeling intimidated.
Why had he come looking for me?
Had he come to confront me about something?
I didn't think I'd done anything wrong…
But you never knew.
Maybe I'd somehow offended the Crown Prince without even realizing it.
“Ian Maxwell.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“When?”
“…Pardon?”
“I asked when.”
The Crown Prince abruptly seized my hand.
“When, exactly, is the next game coming out…?!”
Without my even realizing it, the Crown Prince had become a gaming addict right after the emperor.