Book 2: Chapter 15


    The industrial area and the red light district were different to each other. There were yellow gs over there while there were green gs over here. There was an arched gate over there while the city doors were here. If you wanted topare, then the buildings in the industrial area were worn out inparison. It was apparent that the architects forcefully tried to increase the height of the buildings which reached dangerous levels. They were overstretched into the middle of the street dangerously and blocked the sunlight. The ground wasnt even. The ground was uneven and there was the stench of dirty water. When we arrived at the green coloured door on this side it was like we had entered a different world. It waspletely different to the bustling and flourishing scenery on the other side. This ce stunk like a rubbish dump with the smell of sulphur and rust.


    This ce must be made up of both the slums and the industrial area. The smell of this area really should be isted here. This sort of location is ideal for people in the slums working in the industrial industry. Bubbling red and yellow water was also flowing about here.


    It wont work Look at the materials you gave me. This is all silk. I could help you make some cloth armour if you asked, but its impossible to make armour with the level of defence youre asking for with this material.


    I disappointedly took back the materials. Its true that the materials mom gave me were very strange. She gave me a bag of Earth Dragon scales and a bunch of silk. She said that only humans could make the armour, but it seems like the humans here havent even seen Earth Dragon scales before. Humans no longer wear armour. These cksmiths only manufacture weapons like guns and swords


    I left the building and called: Nier!


    Nier got up from the ground. The three or so kids in front of her scattered. I looked at Nier. She still had the hint of a smile on the corner of her lips. I stood there and looked at the kids running away. I looked at their flimsy-haggard clothing, and dirty skin, and asked: Nier, do you like kids?


    Nier nodded and calmly said: I do. Because they remind me of my old self when I see them.


    I nodded, turned around and asked the cksmith behind me: Do you know any cksmith who could make this stuff?


    No human can. The cksmith pushed his sses up, looked at the lines on the barrel and continued: However, there is a shop thats never opened for business before at the end of the street. Theres someone there but theyve never epted any jobs before. Perhaps you can try your luck there.


    Thank you.


    After I gave my thanks, Nier and I walked shoulder by shoulder through the narrow street and stepped over small pools of dirty water. The kids here are all disciples of the cksmiths in the area, or are children of those living in the slums looking for scrap metal. Kids have been looking at us curiously ever since we entered the area.


    I was surprised Nier liked kids, and just as surprised that she could smile around them. I never imagined that.


    What are you smiling about?


    I came to the realisation I was smiling. Nier looked at me, frowned and said: Youre smiling disgustingly.


    Forget it. And here I was going to try and improve our rtionship.


    Please abandon such unrealistic thoughts.


    You might fall for me if we have kids, you know, because of the kids.


    Please stop harassing me.


    She always talks to me in the same tone! She knows how to smile! She smiled in front of the kids! But, no. She gives me a frown instead. I sighed and we continued on our way.


    Is this shop at the end of the street really a shop? I stood at the end of the alley and looked at the wooden door that was almost as ck as the walls around it. I wasnt sure if I could entire. This should be the shop the cksmith mentioned, right? This was the only building at the end of the street.


    All artisans and cksmiths ce a sign on their front door indicating if they work with ss, metal or wood materials. This ce, however, has none.


    I knocked, pulled the heavy wood door open and went inside.


    The interior and exterior of the store were the same. The repulsive smell of oil and rust filled the air. There was also the unpleasant smell of something burning. I didnt see anypleted products on disy when I entered. I just saw a huge desk. On the table were items I was very familiar with. There was arge set square,passes and pencils. Underneath the drawing tools was arge sheet of paper with a blueprint on it.


    The instincts of my previous job kicked-in and I leaned over to take a look at it. It was the blueprint for a gun.


    Based on the rifles I just saw, humanitys troops were still using flintlock guns. This is the gun with the most extensive history and the most famous gun model. However, the gun on this blueprint and the rifles outside were different. My eyes lit up. Regardless of who the boss of this ce is, they were a smart one. The gun on this blueprint was missing the most importantponent


    The breach loader.


    The current guns of this era were front-loaded flintlock rifles, but the owner of this ce had already considered loading ammo from the rear. This will be a huge step forward for humanity. The step where guns went from front-loading to back-loading was the most important step for gun development in the history of guns. The first back-loaded gun blew the front-loaded gun out of the water andid the foundation for the direction of gun development from there.


    This person had designed all the parts of the gun, and the only thing they didnt know was how to design the firing barrel of a back-loaded gun.


    I bent over at my waist, picked up the pencil and set square, and added some stuff to the original blueprint. The earliest back-loaded gun designs were very simplistic. You used a needle to push the paper with gunpowder into the gun to fire it while the sheet of paper would be burnt up. Load it again and you could fire it again. The drawback was that the gunpowder got expelled from the gun and into the atmosphere, but theres no way around that. I really wanted to draw the blueprints for thepleted version of back-loaded guns, but I knew I couldnt tamper with historys development. Moreover, if I allow them to be mass produced, theres a chance that humanity will attack the elves.


    Given those reasons, I drew the earliest version of a back-loaded gun onto the blueprint. This rifle would basically be one step up from the front-loaded gun.


    I enthusiastically drew and wrote on the blueprint. It wasnt hard to me as I studied gun design. This was like an ingrained skill for me. Since Ive designed a back-loaded gun, Ill need to design the bullets too If we were to mass produce them


    What are you doing?! Dont touch my blueprints, you retard!!


    A sabre swung over to my face where I was crawling on the table as someone roared. The sabre cut through the piece of nk before me. I could see my reflection on the sabre.


    What?!


    Nier reacted in a surprised manner. She drew her long sword and became vignt of her surroundings. A shadow which resembled a bear angrily stomped out. Nier stepped in front of me with her long sword in hand as she vigntly watched the oing person.


    Little missy, get that useless piece of metal out of my face or Ill pin you up on the wall.


    The voice was crude but distinguishably belonged to a woman. Nier shifted her feet. Nier didnt get angry but she remained alert. Thedy finally entered the light. Her red and messy hair that looked like a lions mane was oily. She wore a frown and was clearly unhappy. She wore a vest which revealed her curves but she didnt seem to care. Her arms which were revealed carried muscle you wouldnt usually see on a woman.


    Far out. Young people these days dont have any regard for anybody these days. They alwayse and leave without a word, touch peoples stuff Do you know what you just ruined? God damn it. Ill


    She picked up the blueprint as she cussed. Her attention was then focused on my drawing.


    She started at it intently. Her angry faced turned into a look of surprise. Nier, however, became an awkward existence. She hesitated before sheathing her sword. The woman looked at the blueprint and then at me. The she turned her attention back to the blueprint. Finally, she mmed the blueprint onto the desk and excitedly shouted: Are you a genius?! Tell me, how did youe up with such a clever idea?!


    Hmm Should I call it talent Or shall I call it inspiration?


    These things of yours are toys from my perspective anyway