Chapter 151: The Anteater and White Spider
During the continental war, cannons certainly proved their usefulness. However, problems arose amid the chaos when rebel forces with ambitions to liberate their own species popped up in various imperial territories—the cannons were too slow.
Overall, the empire's regular army outnumbered the rebel forces and outperformed them in terms of technology, but in regions where a rebellion took place, the empire's conscription process would take longer compared to the rebels, who had already gathered and united for a singular purpose. And in terms of technology level, due to concerns that the rebels might acquire the empire's firearms technology, various weapons and gunpowder depots were concentrated in the central imperial regions, making it time-consuming to transport these weapons for the suppression of rebels.
As a result, the hurriedly assembled regular army often had to suppress the rebels using cold weapons, which led them to rely solely on trained soldiers.
Kyle Lak Orazen had personally devised the nationwide conscription process and military supply routes for the empire to suppress rebellions, but the results were not entirely satisfying. So Kyle nagged the Technology Minister, Rumf, about it.
Rumf carefully asked, “Your Majesty, I dare not speak about political matters like rebellions, but...would it be a matter that could be solved with technology?"
Kyle nodded right away as if there was no need to ponder.
"For now, it can be solved with technology. Most of the rebels are failed nobles who tried to gain power in their respective regions. They armed their private soldiers with armor and mounts, which, in some cases, are even superior to the empire's armed forces. Although we haven't suffered any significant defeats yet and have been relatively successful in quelling the rebellion overall, the burden on the commanders suppressing the rebels on the fields is substantial."
Rumf asked, “Then in which direction should we develop the weapons…?”
Kyle replied, "To catch those well-armored and mounted riders, forming a phalanx and piercing them with spears would be effective. But it would be better if we could do the same with firearms…”
At those words, something seemed to have come into Rumf’s mind.
"Indeed. A firearm could essentially be a long spear. I will try to create such an item soon."
And that was how the matchlock was developed.
In the end, Vasen Lak Orazen didn’t have the chance to see how useful it was in suppressing rebellions because after the demonstration, it got added to the armaments of the expedition team, and after a little bit of practice, they departed right away.
‘This should be enough.’
A Rakshasa warrior came running toward Vasen with an ax. But Vasen judged that the distance between him and the Rakshasa warrior was too far for him to use the matchlock.
‘In that case…’
Vasen got into shooting position and went toward the Rakshasa warrior with quick steps. Not knowing what the matchlock was, the Rakshasa warrior increased his speed and then leaped into the air to split Vasen’s head in half. At that moment, Vasen pressed the matchlock's butt plate to his shoulder and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
Fire came into contact with the gunpowder, and a bullet was shot. It buried into the Rakshasa’s head while he was in the air, and the Rakshasa fell lifelessly to the ground and tumbled due to the momentum.
The decisive difference between a hand cannon and a matchlock was the trigger.
Unlike the hand cannon, which would only make a shot after the fuse was completely burned, the fuse on this new weapon called a ‘gun’ was already lit. Thus, when the trigger was pulled, it immediately came into contact with the gunpowder and fired. In fact, the ability to precisely shoot bullets at the desired time was most effective when utilized by a group rather than an individual.
"Aim!"
Theone Itimo's voice could be heard from the east of the temple. As soon as she escaped from the shoddy wooden prison with Vasen's help, she quickly armed herself and commanded her crew. Vasen had worried about whether Theone would fight for the Pangolins, but that concern seemed unnecessary.
“What are you talking about? The Pangolins are one thing. The Rakshasas tied and dragged exhausted people all the way here, so they should be punished.”
With the firepower of the matchlocks and Theone's experience in using the cannon in previous battles, she judged that she could handle the enemies well even though they were outnumbered.
"Fire!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
As white smoke spread, blocking their view for a moment before dispersing again, bodies toppled to the ground one after another. Meanwhile, the surviving Rakshasas screamed as they grabbed onto the parts of their bodies hit by the bullets. Theone led her squad to deal with the wounded Rakshasas and continued to wipe the rest of them out.
Vasen also put the match he had around his arm in place and aimed for his next target.
“Hm.”
Five Rakshasa warriors were charging from a distance.
‘If I shoot now and quickly reload, I can probably hit one more.’
Fortunately, Vasen was also skilled in swordsmanship. Taking on ten Trolls all at once like the legendary Tatar would be difficult to do, but three was manageable.
However, Vasen lowered the matchlock he had pressed against his shoulder when a huge obstacle appeared between him and the Rakshasas.
"First officer! Will crush you!”
Hwae-Sa swung a large log that was supposed to be used for a part of the building, and with a single strike, two Rakshasas were sent flying more than tens of meters away before rolling on the ground.
The warriors then began to run away from Hwae-Sa, and Hwae-Sa chased after them. The Rakshasas’ screams continued.
“Oh my, that person must eat a lot,” Margo said while trotting and glancing sideways at Hwae-Sa.
Vasen replied, “Why does that matter?”
"Well, once this chaos is over, it wouldn’t be enough to just say thank you and move on. We want to express our gratitude in some way. However, we don’t really have anything to eat in the village, so…”
Vasen chuckled.
“We don't want to cause you trouble. Have you told the other Pangolins?"
"Yes. They seem quite excited seeing the Rakshasa warriors losing their senses. In the midst of this chaos…"
"That's good."
The Pangolin, Margo, said, "But the Rakshasa warriors won't back down like this..."
"You're right. But for now, we've almost defeated the Rakshasa warriors. Even those who can't fight have run away."
"Still, the neighboring village is close by... They also have a similar number of warriors..."
"Hm."
There was still gunpowder and ammunition left for the matchlocks. However, they had to consider not only the next wave of Rakshasas, but also the one after that and the many more that would follow.
Mago said, "I have an idea..."
"What is it?"
"If we can quickly find and save Katuru right now, Katuru might be able to help us stop those warriors."
"Oh, you mean your guardian?"
"Yes."
Vasen looked at the temple. He didn't know the interior layout, but there were likely Rakshasa warriors waiting inside, ready to attack when someone entered. Thus, he had planned to wipe out the surrounding warriors first before making a careful entrance into the temple.
‘But if that guardian can help us, it’s a risk worth taking.’
Vasen said, "But our expedition team seems to be too busy right now. Can you help us?”
Margo looked up at Vasen with round eyes and said, "Of course!"
As the Pangolins had built the temple themselves, they knew a way to enter the temple without being spotted by the Rakshasas. Vasen led Margo and ten Pangolins armed with daggers and crossbows into the temple. They quickly subdued the few Rakshasa warriors and finally arrived at the large hall at the center of the temple. However, from inside the hall, they heard strange shrieks and sounds of fighting.
‘No one from the expedition team would have entered the temple yet.’
Vasen found it strange, and as he went deeper into the temple, he saw what was happening in the hall. There was a creature the size of a house with a long snout and sharp claws, and it was chained up and growling. Vasen had never seen such a creature before, but its outer appearance resembled that of an anteater.
Margo quietly murmured, “Katuru…!”
Unfortunately, Katuru’s condition was not good. The Rakshasa warriors surrounding Katuru kept stabbing it with their spears from places where Katuru couldn't reach. The ground was already soaked with blood, indicating that this had been going on for a long time.
-You...!
Unluckily, a Rakshasa slipped on the blood, and Katuru quickly crushed them out of anger. But there were still many Rakshasas left.
The leader of the Rakshasas shouted, "Kill that thing quickly! They said the others would come soon!"
Vasen sighed. When he thought about it, he realized all this was the natural course things would take. The guardian Katuru had enough power to protect a tribe. Everyone had thought that Katuru would stay alive until it got sacrificed to a bigger monster, but ultimately, the Rakshasas were the ones measuring its worth. If they judged that it was dangerous, they would kill it anytime.
Margo tearfully said, “Oh no… What do we do?”
There were too many Raksharas than initially expected for them to charge in right away. And even if they fought, it was uncertain whether they could release Katuru from the chains around its body fast enough.
Rationally, the best course of action would be to retreat for now and call for the expedition team from the outside. However, in this case, there was a high probability that Katuru would die. And Vasen believed that there might be another solution.
Vasen anxiously thought to himself.
‘We need to come up with an answer quickly. Time is ticking.’
***
At the Pantheon, the players sitting in the conference room were watching Katuru die.
Crampus looked at Katuru with a pitying expression.
“I feel sorry for it.”
Wisdom replied, “But isn’t it okay to not have that particular divine being right now?”
Sung-Woon replied, “That’s true. It’s not very important. Even without Katuru, they’ll probably be able to easily block the next waves of enemies. And if Vasen were to train the Pangolins, the situation would improve. But…”
“But?”
Sung-Woon replied, “We can’t not?use this situation.”
“What do you mean by using it?”
“You don’t get it? To me, it seems like the perfect moment for a god to intervene.”
Sung-Woon summoned one of his creature creations.
“Hillove.”
***
The white spider, Hillove, raised its body as it heard its name being called. It didn’t need to open its eyes as its six eyes were lidless.
“Hillove, there’s something for you to do.”
-I will do anything.?
“...It’s nothing too serious. A divine being is chained up and being attacked.”
-Do you want me to finish it off?
“No. Save the divine being and help my follower Vasen, his companion named Margo, and the other Pangolins.”
-What do you mean by helping them…?
“Um… Do whatever it is they wish.”
-I will do as you say.
After giving its response, Hillove felt Sung-Woon pick it up and move it. Although it was just being dragged from Sung-Woon’s ‘Creation List’ to the ‘Mini Map’ of the fourth continent, for Hillove, it felt like an almighty being was lifting it up and moving its large body across different dimensions.
-You are almighty.
Hillove realized it had arrived at a familiar dark and enclosed space. There was also the smell of blood, a strange creature that seemed to be the divine being, insignificant beings swinging thin sticks in front of that creature, as well as the one that God, who looked down at those insignificant beings, adored, along with his companions.
HIllove silently moved across the ceiling and approached Vasen. Margo and the other Pangolins were startled, but Vasen felt an unusual intimacy with Hillove.
-Mortal, I have come here at the call of Night Sky. Tell me what you wish.
Vasen realized that the presence before him was a creation of Night Sky.
He knelt down according to the proper etiquette and said, “Please kill those Rakshasas. We will do the rest.”
-That is easy.
Hillove flipped over and landed on the ground. As a large shadow fell from the air, the Rakshasa leader looked up, puzzled.
“Huh?”
Hillove’s leg pierced through the Rakshasa's head.
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