The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Chapter 268: It’ll Get Faster Soon. (1)

“A bow that can be shot while riding a horse? Isn’t the cavalry archer already an obsolete unit?”

Galbarik asked with a curious expression.

The idea of shooting arrows while utilizing mobility on horseback had existed since ancient times. In fact, there were times when cavalry archers reigned as a fearsome force on the battlefield.

However, as time passed and strategies, tactics, longbows, and crossbows advanced, the unique advantages of cavalry archers diminished significantly.

The biggest issue was the difficulty of training cavalry archers.

“For starters, there are very few people who can shoot properly from horseback. Even if we begin training now, it will take years.”

Cavalry archers had to excel in both archery and horseback riding. Even if one was adept at both, shooting arrows while mounted was no easy task. Unlike shooting on the ground, where you could plant your feet firmly, a rider had to stabilize their body using only their legs atop a moving horse.

It was an extremely challenging skill.

“Haven’t countless wars already proven that cavalry archers struggle to exert significant impact?”

Typically, cavalry archers were limited to close-range archery due to restrictions in range and accuracy.

While the ability to launch a preemptive strike against infantry before engaging in melee was a strong advantage, no competent commander would sit idle and allow it.

Galbarik pointed this out clearly.

“Even before the cavalry archers approach, enemy archers can easily counter them with their superior range. Even if they get closer, they can’t break through the heavy infantry lines and are easily blocked by enemy cavalry. Isn’t that why the cavalry archer as a unit became obsolete?”

“Oh, you’ve thought this through.”

“Of course. We’ve built so many weapons, so we understand how they’re used in war.”

“But if the enemy can’t respond properly, aren’t they excellent for hit-and-run tactics?”

“No matter how hard they are to train, if you only manage to deploy a few, it’s just child’s play. They can’t be used effectively in real battles. There’s a reason nobody bothers with them anymore.”

Not just in Ritania, but in most countries, traditional knightly culture shaped military strategies around knights and infantry. As a result, army formations and training focused primarily on those units.

The training and equipment needed to raise and maintain cavalry archers required significant costs and time. Furthermore, various limitations made it difficult for them to perform effectively in battle.

Despite Galbarik’s concerns, Ghislain responded nonchalantly.

“If the enemy charges, we shoot them. If they stand still, we charge at them. Don’t you realize we’re all becoming cavalry now?”

“…If it were that easy, there wouldn’t be anything difficult left in the world.”

“That’s why we need a new bow. Make it smaller than conventional bows so it’s easier to shoot from horseback. But the range must not be compromised. It should have similar power and range to longbows.”

“How do you propose we make such a thing…?”

Galbarik began to curse but stopped, rubbing his forehead. This guy talked as if everything could be conjured out of thin air.

If it were that easy, who would bother making long and heavy longbows to increase range? Those bows required such lengths and weights due to the necessary elasticity and tension.

“No matter how skilled we dwarves are, it’s difficult to completely overcome technical limitations. We’re just better at crafting than others. Wouldn’t it be better to improve the existing longbows to enhance power and range?”

Sighing deeply, Galbarik watched as Ghislain pulled out a blueprint.

“What’s this?”

“A bow made of Galvaniium.”

“No matter how light Galvaniium is, it’s still metal at its core. You can’t give it proper elasticity. It would rely solely on the tension of the bowstring, which would naturally reduce its power.”

“Look closely at the blueprint. The bow frame made of Galvaniium has levers at each end to adjust the tension of the bowstring. The tighter you crank it, the stronger the power. To handle the stress, the frame has to be made of Galvaniium.”

“…Wow.”

Galbarik studied the blueprint in detail. Though it only outlined the conceptual design, with some research, it seemed feasible to manufacture.

“Then, what about the bowstring? To create such strong tension, ordinary materials won’t suffice. Most materials wouldn’t withstand the force and would snap.”

“Just use the sinews of monsters like trolls or ogres. They’re ridiculously tough and have excellent elasticity. I brought a large stockpile this time, and I’ll keep bringing more in the future.”

“Oh, oh…”

Galbarik nodded.If it were built as Ghislain suggested, it would indeed be possible to adjust the bow’s power and range to suit their needs.

It was clear that when Ghislain went on his monster hunt, he had planned ahead, bringing back not just hides but also materials for bowstrings.

“But if the tension on the bowstring is too strong, it will be difficult to pull…”

Galbarik trailed off. At each end of the bow frame, there were small pulleys designed to make it easy to pull the string with minimal effort.

That wasn’t all. The bow frame was divided into three sections, making it easy to fold and carry. This was possible because the frame’s elasticity had been minimized.

“Wh-what kind of mind even thinks of such things…?”

This wasn’t just any ordinary bow. It was a marvel of engineering, created with the finest materials and exceptional craftsmanship.

Galbarik was awestruck. Just how far would the lord’s ingenuity go? Such a bow had never been seen or even conceived anywhere on the continent.

The conceptual blueprint alone was enough. The rest could be worked out by Galbarik and the other dwarves.

“My lord! Did you think of this yourself? Just what kind of ideas are in your head!”

At Galbarik’s urgent question, Ghislain turned his head slightly and mumbled.

“…This was also something the Legendary Blacksmith created.”

“Aaaaah! Why did the heavens create me, Galbarik, and then also create the Legendary Blacksmith!”

The Legendary Blacksmith was truly remarkable. Galbarik let out a dramatic wail and clenched his fists. But he was not easily discouraged.

The Legendary Blacksmith’s work is mostly conceptual! These are not finished products!

He prided himself on being the one who brought those concepts to life. In his mind, this meant the Legendary Blacksmith’s technical skill wasn’t necessarily superior to his own.

One day, he was certain he would surpass even the Legendary Blacksmith with ideas of his own.

“I will surely surpass that figure and become the greatest blacksmith on the continent!”

At Galbarik’s impassioned declaration, Ghislain scratched his chin and looked away awkwardly.

‘Is this what they mean by fighting yourself? No, that’s probably not how the phrase is supposed to be used…’

The official name of the bow was “Violentus Hunter.”

In his previous life, this weapon had been one of those created by Galbarik and the dwarves to combat the calamities they faced.

It was a weapon designed for both portability and destructive power, and the elite units of every kingdom had equipped it as a standard.

To create this bow, Ghislain had specifically brought back a large supply of monster sinews.

“Well, this should do it, right? Now, make 2,000 of them as quickly as possible. Let’s start with that for now. Production will continue after that.”

“Understood! You said the elves would primarily use them, right? There were around 200 elves, if I recall. We have enough materials, so I’ll make them according to that number!”

“No, 2,000.”

“…2,000?”

“Yep.”

Galbarik calmed himself and methodically laid out his concerns.

“As I mentioned earlier, cavalry archers are as difficult to train as knights. Can we really make use of 2,000 bows? Even the elves will have to start practicing archery, which could take years, don’t you think?”

“It’s fine. All our soldiers are riding horses now, aren’t they? So, all we need to do is teach them to use the bows properly. Especially the elves—they’ll pick it up quickly. Haven’t you seen how they commune with nature?”

“…Taming horses and shooting bows from horseback are entirely different skills, are they not?”

“Elves and bows, bows and elves. You don’t know?”

“…That’s just a trope from storybooks. Archery requires years of dedicated practice.”

“That’s true. But for these elves, who are already attuned to nature, it won’t be a challenge. Let’s go see for ourselves.”

Confident, Ghislain led Galbarik to the elves.

The elves had already tamed over 10,000 horses. The horses had been distributed throughout the estate, used for transportation and the training of cavalry units.

With that work completed, the elves had extra time on their hands and were undergoing basic drills and physical training under Gillian’s supervision.

Ghislain had deliberately postponed their archery training. Physical conditioning came first, and the next priority was taming the horses.

“Alright, starting today, the elves will begin archery training.”

“Ack!”

The elves, who had succeeded in their communion with nature to some extent, no longer displayed their previous laziness. Instead, they even seemed to exude a refined dignity.

The only exception was Ascon, who had communed with nature through sheer profanity and now muttered complaints to himself.

“Damn it, more archery training? This damned estate never gives us a break. I swear, the wrath of Mother Nature needs to be unleashed on this place…”

The first person to step forward was Lumina. Since she was the first to successfully bond with a horse, Ghislain had chosen her as the representative.

Ghislain looked at her and said,

“Just watch my posture and pick it up roughly. All you need to focus on is hitting the target.”

Perhaps it was thanks to the previous training, but Lumina had no difficulty drawing the bowstring. Once Ghislain adjusted her stance a few times, she soon began to look the part.

Creak.

She drew the string and aimed at the wooden target board.

At first, she thought of it as practice and didn’t expect to hit the target. However, the more she focused, the more she felt a subtle sensation stirring within her.

‘This is…’

She had already succeeded in communicating with nature. She could feel the flow of the wind.

Her bow rose slightly higher than before. Trusting her instincts, she let the arrow fly along the wind’s current.

Thwang!

With a sharp sound, the arrow shot forward like a bolt of lightning. The onlookers assumed she had aimed too high, nodding it off as a practice shot.

Thud!

But the arrow struck the target board with precision. It wasn’t dead center, but it was far from the work of a novice.

“Whoa… What was that?”

“Have you been secretly practicing archery?”

The elves all turned to Lumina, astonished. Even she seemed bewildered, staring blankly at her own hands.

Ghislain smiled warmly and remarked,

“As expected of an elf. Archery is in your blood.”

“……”

Galbarik couldn’t say a word. Communicating with nature? Was this what allowed them to bond with animals and shoot arrows like that?

Elves were truly a broken race. At this rate, they might even start commanding spirits.

Suddenly, he felt regretful for having been born a dwarf.

‘All we do is forge things… get bossed around… Elves are handsome and beautiful on top of it all… Ugh, this world is disgusting.’

Unaware of Galbarik’s inner turmoil, Ghislain called out excitedly.

“Now, let’s try shooting while riding a horse!”

Whinny!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Lumina mounted her horse and began to ride. The rapid pace caused her body to sway erratically.

Even so, she naturally adapted to the motion. Amidst the movement, she found a clear path, drew her bowstring, and released.

Thwang!

Thud!

The arrow struck the target again. Shooting while on horseback posed no problem for her.

“Wow!”

The exclamation wasn’t from the observing elves but from Lumina herself, who was so surprised by her own shot that she let out an awestruck cry.

The others could only watch in disbelief, their expressions frozen.

“Me too! Let me try!”

“I think I’ll be even better at it!”

“I’m the true master of the wind!”

The elves eagerly began shooting one after another. A few missed their marks, but most at least hit the edge of the target.

The success rate was lower when shooting on horseback, but they still came impressively close. It was a skill level comparable to that of trained mounted archers with over a decade of experience.

Ascon, who had been silently watching, gestured to his horse.

“Hey, come over here.”

Snort.

Ascon’s horse, Shibari, swaggered over with a fierce glare in its eyes.

He hadn’t named the horse himself. He had overheard someone else calling it that and liked the sound of it, so he adopted it.

It was a fitting name for such a ferocious horse that resembled its owner in temperament.

“Let’s give this a try.”

Whinny!

The horse let out a mighty cry, as if to say this was nothing for it.

“Let’s go, Shibara!”

Creak.

Riding at full gallop, Ascon drew his bowstring. For a moment, he felt a surge of confidence, as though he could achieve anything. It was the voice of nature.

‘I can feel the wind.’

Every sense in his body guided him, telling him when to act. The wind whispered that now was the time to pierce the target.

‘Ride the wind.’

Thwang!

Whoosh!

The arrow soared high into the sky, carried away by the wind, and disappeared.

“Ah, Shibara, I guess I can’t do it.”

Snort!

As if finding the situation amusing, Ascon’s horse let out a chuckling noise.

Nonetheless, most of the elves demonstrated unbelievable archery skills despite it being their first time trying.

Ghislain turned to Galbarik and asked,

“What do you think? Doesn’t it seem like it won’t take much practice to get them ready?”

“…That might work for elves, but it would be difficult for ordinary soldiers, wouldn’t it?”

“Of course, they’ll need training, but with the elves leading the drills, they’ll improve quickly. For now, as long as they can shoot from horseback, it’s fine. The key is having two thousand archers firing at once.”

“……”

When two thousand mounted archers release their arrows, precise accuracy wasn’t necessary. Even a general direction would unleash a storm of arrows on their enemies.

Galbarik, who had been trying to find a way to reduce the number of units produced, realized there was no avoiding it now.

With a dejected expression, he muttered,

“I’ll get started on production. But with only about four thousand troops in the estate, do you plan to make over half of them mounted archers?”

This time, it wasn’t a protest but a genuine question born of curiosity.

“No, we’re still recruiting new soldiers, aren’t we? Once the numbers increase, it won’t be a problem.”

“I’ve heard the recruitment is progressing slower than expected.”

Ghislain shook his head a few times before flashing a sly grin.

“It’ll pick up soon.”