The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Chapter 269: Chapter 268: It’s About to Get Faster (1)



"A bow that can be fired while on horseback? Isn't mounted archery already an obsolete type of unit?"

Galbarik asked with a puzzled expression.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The concept of shooting arrows while utilizing mobility on horseback had existed since ancient times. There were even periods when mounted archers reigned as a terror on the battlefield.

However, as time passed, strategies, tactics, and the development of longbows and crossbows diminished the unique advantages of mounted archers.

The biggest issue was that training mounted archers was incredibly difficult.

"To begin with, there are barely any people who can properly shoot a bow while on horseback. Even if we start training now, it'll take several years, won't it?"

Mounted archers needed to master both archery and horsemanship. Even if one was adept at both, shooting a bow from horseback was no simple feat.

Unlike shooting on solid ground, one could not plant their feet firmly. Holding one's body steady on a moving horse while drawing and firing a bow was incredibly challenging.

"Haven't countless wars already proven that mounted archers have difficulty demonstrating significant power?"

Typically, mounted archers had no choice but to rely on close-range archery due to limitations in range and accuracy.

While it was a powerful advantage for mounted archers to launch preemptive strikes before clashing with infantry, no commander would stand by idly and let them do so.

Galbarik pointed out this critical flaw.

"Before mounted archers can even get close, the enemy's archers, with their superior range, can suppress them. Even if they close the gap, they can't break through the formation of heavy infantry and are easily blocked by enemy cavalry. This kind of countermeasure is why mounted archers have been abandoned as a military unit."

"Oh, so you do know the flaws."

"Isn't it obvious? After all, we've produced countless weapons. Of course, I know how they're used in war."

"But if the enemy can't properly respond, they're unmatched for hit-and-run tactics, aren't they?"

"Even if you somehow manage to train a few and deploy them, they'd be nothing more than an occasional nuisance. They wouldn't be effective enough for serious combat. There's a reason why nobody uses them anymore."

Not just in Lutania, but in most countries, traditional knightly culture shaped military strategies around knights and infantry.

As a result, armies were organized and trained predominantly with knights and infantry in mind.

The training and equipment required to raise and maintain mounted archers incurred significant time and cost, and their effectiveness in battle was limited by various constraints.

Despite Galbarik's concerns, Ghislain responded nonchalantly.

"If the enemy charges, we'll shoot. If they stay still, we'll charge. Don't you see we're all becoming cavalry?"

"...If it were that easy, nothing in the world would be difficult."

"That's why we need a new type of bow-one that's smaller than traditional bows, making it easier to shoot on horseback. But it mustn't lose range. It should be as powerful and far- reaching as a longbow."

"How do you plan to make something like that...?"

Galbarik almost cursed but held his tongue and rubbed his forehead. Did this brat think things just magically appeared if you talked about them?

If it were that simple, why would anyone bother crafting long, heavy longbows to maximize range? The necessary elasticity and tension demanded such designs.

"Even for us dwarves, it's incredibly hard to surpass the limits of technology. We may craft things better than others, but not impossibly so. Why not instead modify existing longbows to enhance power and range?"

With a sigh, Galbarik looked up to see Ghislain pulling out a blueprint.

"What's this?"

"A bow made from Galbanium."

"Even if Galbanium is lightweight, it's still metal at its core. It can't provide proper elasticity. The tension would have to come solely from the bowstring, which would reduce power."

"Take a closer look at the blueprint. The Galbanium bow limbs have levers at both ends to adjust the tension. The tighter the string, the stronger the power. The bow limbs need to be sturdy, which is why they're made of Galbanium."

"What the...!"

Galbarik examined the blueprint in detail. While it only contained conceptual designs, it seemed feasible with a bit of research.

"Then, what material would the bowstring be made of? To generate strong tension, ordinary materials won't suffice. Most would snap under the stress."

"We can use tendons from monsters like trolls or ogres. They're extremely tough and elastic. I've already stockpiled a lot, and I'll keep gathering more."

"O-Ooh..."

Galbarik nodded. With that, it seemed possible to create a bow that matched Ghislain's requirements for adjustable power and range.

He realized Ghislain must have anticipated this when hunting monsters-not just for their hides but also for materials for bowstrings.

"But if the string is adjusted for maximum power, it'll be nearly impossible to draw..."

Galbarik trailed off mid-sentence. He noticed that the ends of the bow limbs featured small pulleys designed to minimize the effort required to draw the string.

The bow also had a collapsible three-part design for portability, achievable due to the minimal elasticity of the limbs.

"How in the world did you come up with this...?"

This wasn't an ordinary bow. It was a masterwork of engineering and premium materials.

Galbarik marveled. How far did the lord's ingenuity extend? This kind of bow was unheard of anywhere on the continent.

Though it was only a conceptual design, it provided a solid foundation. The dwarves could

handle the rest.

"Lord! Did you come up with this? What kind of brain do you have?!"

When Galbarik asked urgently, Ghislain turned his head away and muttered under his breath.

"... It was made by the Legendary Blacksmith."

"AAAH! Why did the heavens create me, Galbarik, and then also create a Legendary

Blacksmith?!"

The Legendary Blacksmith was truly incredible. Galbarik clenched his fists in despair.

But Galbarik didn't let it crush his spirit.

"The designs left by the Legendary Blacksmith are mostly conceptual! They're not finished products!' Turning concepts into reality required craftsmanship, and Galbarik prided himself on his ability. He believed he could one day surpass the Legendary Blacksmith with better ideas. "I will surpass that person and become the continent's greatest blacksmith!" Hearing Galbarik's resolve, Ghislain scratched his chin and glanced away awkwardly.

'Is that what people call a battle with oneself? Eh, probably not the right usage here.'

This bow would eventually be called the Violentus Hunter.

In his past life, it was a weapon created by Galbarik and the dwarves to combat tribulations. It combined portability and destructive power, becoming a must-have weapon for elite units

across the kingdoms.

Ghislain had specifically gathered monster tendons to recreate this bow.

'Alright, let's make 2,000 of these as soon as possible. Just focus on that number for now-we'll keep

producing them later.'

"Understood! These are for the elves, right? How many are there, about 200? We've got the materials, so we'll tailor production to their numbers."

"No, I mean 2,000."

"...2,000?"

"Yup."

Trying to calm himself, Galbarik replied meticulously, "As I said, mounted archers are as hard

to train as knights. Can you really make use of all 2,000? The elves will need to practice archery first. That could take years."

"It's fine. All our troops are cavalry now, right? We just need to teach them how to shoot.

Especially the elves-they'll pick it up quickly. Didn't you see how they communicate with

nature?"

"...Taming horses and shooting from horseback are entirely different things, aren't they?"

"Elves are synonymous with archery. Didn't you know?"

"...That's just a stereotype from storybooks. Archery requires years of practice."

"True, but elves who can communicate with nature won't find it hard. Let's go see for

ourselves."

With a confident smile, Ghislain led Galbarik to the elves.

The elves had already tamed over 10,000 horses. These horses were deployed across the estate

for transportation and cavalry training.

As a result, the elves had extra time, which they used for basic drill training and physical conditioning under Gillian's supervision.

Ghislain deliberately postponed their archery training. The priority was physical conditioning

and horse taming.

"Alright, starting today, the elves will begin archery training."

"Rah!"

The elves, having successfully connected with nature, no longer displayed their previous laziness. They even carried themselves with graceful dignity.

However, their speech habits hadn't changed much, thanks to their time living as part of an

army.

Except for Ascon, who still grumbled under his breath, using profanity to "communicate"

with nature.

"Damn it, more archery training? This damned estate never gives us a break. One of these

days, Mother Nature's wrath is going to strike down hard."

The first to step forward was Lumina. Since she was the first to successfully communicate

with the horses, Ghislain chose her as the representative.

Ghislain addressed her directly.

"Just copy my posture for now. Focus only on hitting the target."

Thanks to their prior training, Lumina was able to draw the bowstring without much

difficulty. After Ghislain adjusted her stance a few times, she looked like a proper archer.

Creaaak!

She drew the bowstring, aiming at a wooden target downrange.

At first, it was just practice. No one expected her t hit the target. However, as Lumi

concentrated, a strange sensation overtook her.

"This feeling...'

She had already succeeded in connecting with nature. She could sense the movement of the

wind.

Her bow rose slightly, guided by intuition. Following the natural flow of the wind, she

released the string.

Twang!

The arrow flew with a sharp whistle, streaking toward the target. Most onlookers assumed it

had been fired too high, nodding understandingly since it was only practice.

Thud!

But the arrow struck the target dead-on. While not a perfect bullseye, it was far from what

anyone expected from a first-timer.

"Wow... What was that?"

"Was she secretly practicing without telling us?"

The elves stared at Lumina in astonishment. She, too, seemed surprised, looking at her hands

in disbelief.

Ghislain smiled contentedly.

"As expected of elves. Archery is in their blood."

Galbarik was speechless. Communing with nature? Did that mean you could make friends with

animals and shoot like that?

The elves were a truly overpowered race. At this rate, they might even start summoning

spirits.

He suddenly felt deeply bitter about being born a dwarf.

'All I do is build things. All they do is work me to the bone. Meanwhile, these elves are ridiculously

handsome and beautiful. Damn this unfair world.'

Oblivious to Galbarik's internal grumbling, Ghislain excitedly shouted.

"Alright! Now let's try shooting while riding!"

Neighhh!

Lumina mounted a horse and began riding. The horse's gallop made her body bounce

erratically.

Despite this, she naturally adapted, finding a rhythm amidst the motion. In the chaos, she drew her bowstring and released the arrow.

Twang!

Thud!

The arrow struck the target once again. Shooting while riding posed no issue for her.

"Wow!"

The sound of amazement didn't come from the watching elves-it came from Lumina

herself, who couldn't believe what she had just accomplished.

The others simply stared in awe. "Let me try next!"

"I bet I'll hit dead center!"

"I am the master of the wind!"

One by one, the elves began taking their turns with the bows. Though some missed the target

entirely, most managed to hit at least the edge of the target.

Shooting while riding had a slightly higher failure rate, but even then, the arrows were close

to hitting the mark.

This was on par with the skills of trained mounted archers who had spent over a decade perfecting their craft.

Meanwhile, Ascon watched silently, then called his horse over with a hand gesture.

"Hey, come here."

Snort!

Ascon's horse, named "Shibari," strutted over with a smug expression, its eyes gleaming

sharply.

The name "Shibari" wasn't Ascon's invention-he overheard someone say it and decided it fit

the horse's feral demeanor.

"Alright, let's show them what we can do."

Neighhh!

The horse snorted arrogantly, as if to say, "This is nothing for us."

"Let's go, Shibari!"

Ascon mounted the horse, drawing the bowstring as he galloped. For some reason, he felt a

sudden surge of confidence, as if he could do it. The wind seemed to whisper encouragement.

'I can feel the wind.'

Every fiber of his being sensed the path forward. Now was the moment to release the arrow.

The wind itself told him it was the perfect shot.

'Ride the wind.'

Twang!

Whooshhh!

The arrow soared high into the sky, disappearing completely from sight.

"Damn it, Shibari. I guess I'm not cut out for this."

Snort! Shibari bared its teeth, almost as if mocking him.

Even so, the majority of elves demonstrated astonishing skill in their first attempts at archery.

Ghislain turned to Galbarik and asked with a grin.

"So? Don't you think with a bit of practice, they'll become proficient in no time?"

"...It might work for elves, but not for ordinary soldiers, don't you think?"

"Of course, the others will need more training. But if we pair them with the elves, they'll

improve quickly. For now, they just need to know how to shoot while riding. The key is having 2,000 archers firing at once."

|| ||

With 2,000 mounted archers firing in unison, accuracy wasn't critical. As long as they could aim in the general direction, the sheer volume of arrows would devastate their targets.

Galbarik, who had been trying to negotiate for fewer units, realized there was no way to win

this argument now.

He sighed and reluctantly conceded.

"Fine. I'll start production. But with only about 4,000 troops in the estate, are you really

planning to make half of them mounted archers?" This time, it wasn't opposition-just genuine curiosity.

"No. We're constantly recruiting new soldiers, aren't we? As the army grows, it'll balance

out."

"I heard recruitment is progressing slower than expected, though."

Ghislain shook his head a few times, then flashed a sly smile.

"It's about to get faster."

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