Chapter 49

Several days had passed since I began living in the villa.

There had been no summons from Dorgu.

I wondered if he was currently preparing the duties I was to be in charge of.

Since I had nothing in particular to do, I spent the intervening time crafting new weaponry.

Relaxing in my private room within the mansion, I lined up my finished products.

In the center were the Spirit Stone bombs.

They came in three elemental types: Fire, Lightning, and Wind.

Each was a rare version with a spirit sealed inside, and they were remote types with adhesive functionality.

As expected, this combination was the most stable.

Being able to detonate them at any desired timing made their usability outstanding, allowing them to be utilized in any situation.

By the way, I had all the materials ordered through Dorgu.

Thanks to that, there were no personal expenses on my part.

I was able to use expensive materials without hesitation.

Next to the Spirit Stone bombs lay a large metallic cylinder.

The cylinder was equipped with a grip and a trigger.

It was a rocket launcher.

However, it wasn’t a tracking-type missile launcher like the one I’d used in the dragon fight.

This one simply fired rocket-propelled grenades in a straight line.

I had asked Alice to construct the cylindrical launch mechanism.

The ammunition was my own creation.

Because it lacked special functions, the material costs and manufacturing difficulty were low.

Since it was basically a substitute for the missile launcher, this much was sufficient.

That being said, one couldn’t afford to underestimate this rocket launcher either.

Its versatility was high, and it could be used in various situations, such as destroying enemy vehicles or buildings.

It would likely be effective against slow-moving, large-scale monsters as well.

Though the rounds were cheap, the destructive power was respectable.

It was a weapon that boasted a very high standard of overall performance.

It was ideal for a preemptive strike; if I was in a pinch, I could just blast it off for the time being.

If I kept it loaded in the golem car, I figured it would come in handy sooner or later.

Next to the rocket launcher was a shotgun.

It was a modification of a commonly circulated rifle—a side-by-side double-barrel type.

I’d managed to construct it through forced modifications using tools and scrap metal.

It was a bit clunky-looking, but there were no issues with its operation.

I’d also crafted specialized ammunition—shotgun shells.

I’d wanted a shotgun for a long time.

Just having one provided a sense of security.

It was ideal for self-defense and well-suited for indoor combat.

I was currently in the process of making a pump-action model as well.

Since I had to significantly alter the internal structure, it was taking some time.

However, since materials were abundant, it looked like it would be finished soon.

In truth, I had experience building guns from scratch many times before.

There had been times when I’d accomplished assassinations by building guns and bombs using only items found in a junkyard.

Depending on the job, it wasn’t uncommon to be unable to make elaborate preparations.

In an environment as blessed as this, I could create something quite decent.

The reason I was gathering my armaments in the first place was as insurance for the future.

Given my position as Dorgu’s subordinate, I’d surely be involved in rough business frequently.

I wanted to do what I could while I had the time.

Even if it turned out to be a groundless fear, I wouldn’t lose anything either way.

The more new firearms and bombs I had, the better.

While my authority as an executive was still effective, I intended to take full advantage of its benefits.

After confirming the results of my few days’ work, I left the room with the shotgun in one hand.

I headed straight for the mansion’s garden.

This was to conduct marksmanship training, serving as both a change of pace and a performance check.

However, since the bombs were dangerous, I decided to test only the shotgun.

I’d look forward to using the other weapons in actual combat.

Once the targets were set up, I proceeded to load the shotgun.

This gun was a break-action type, requiring a reload every two shots.

Considering it could fire in quick succession, I suppose it was better than a single-shot.

“Now then, let’s see what you can do.”

I took aim with the shotgun and fired.

Fine pellets were unleashed, and several bottles lined up ahead shattered.

The broken glass fell and rolled across the lawn.

Next, I shifted the shotgun’s aim to the side and fired again.

This time, numerous holes opened in a log.

A portion of the surface was gouged out, perhaps where the pellets had grazed it.

“Hmm.”

After ejecting the shells and reloading, I unleashed a double-tap from the hip.

A piece of second-hand metal armor was gouged, and the chest area was ripped wide open.

The pellets had penetrated cleanly.

Gazing at the fallen armor, I lowered the shotgun.

“Okay, not bad.”

“Its usability is fairly decent. The accuracy is moderate, and it has solid destructive power. Even against human opponents, it should deal effective damage. Given its nature as a shotgun, it’s easy to hit targets even with snap shots.”

“As expected of you, Lord Jack.”

The servants watching nearby offered words of praise. I supposed that’s how they were monitoring me. They were undoubtedly reporting the weapons I made to Dorgu.

Well, I didn’t mind if this much was known. It wasn’t something worth keeping secret. They’d find out sooner or later once I started using them, so I might as well be open about it.

Averting my gaze from the servants, I turned my attention to the garage in the garden. There, Alice was upgrading the golem car. Countless metal parts were piled up nearby. That mountain of parts belonged to the armored car Alice had received from Dorgu.

Having taken an interest in its structure, she had requested one from the castle and dismantled it within the same day. It was a rather bold move, but Dorgu hadn’t issued any warnings. If anything, he seemed to be looking forward to what the golem car would become.

Alice had been like that for the past few days, working with intense focus. It would be wrong to disturb her. I decided not to call out to her for now.

Later that afternoon, back in my private room, I was perusing a certain document. It contained information obtained through a city informant. The content was about the Empire I had blown up. I’d commissioned the request on a whim.

According to the document, a succession struggle had broken out in the Empire. Those carrying the Emperor’s blood were reportedly engaged in a fierce conflict. It was a large-scale war staged across the entire nation.

As for the explosion in the Imperial Capital, it was apparently being treated as an accident caused by a malfunction of the city’s core. While some likely realized it was intentional, that didn’t seem to be the prevailing theory. Well, with the succession battle so active, I imagined they had bigger things to worry about.

For the time being, I intended to remain a bystander regarding the Empire. As it stood, it was an event that had nothing to do with me. I had already dealt with the people who summoned me only to try and enslave me. I held no grudge against the country itself. No matter who took over the nation that had lost its capital, I planned to watch in silence.

Of course, that only applied as long as they didn’t become hostile toward me. If they bared their fangs, I’d blow them away instantly. I intended to make sure they could never even dream of retaliation again. Though, if they continued to fight amongst themselves like this, I had a feeling they’d decline until they were swallowed up by another country. If Eurea were to consider an invasion, they could likely achieve it quite easily. Dorgu might just make it happen smoothly.

‘If that happens, will I participate in the war too…? That sounds like it could be interesting.’

As I was imagining the Empire’s fate, there was a knock on my door. I set the document aside and answered.

“Who is it?”

“Jack, do you have a moment?”

It was Alice’s voice. I opened the door and invited her in.

“What’s up?”

“I wanted to consult with you about the golem’s upgrades. I was hoping to get your opinion, if that’s alright?”

“Of course. Don’t hold back.”

When I gave that casual reply, Alice began to explain the status of the development. Summing up her talk, she seemed to be at a stalemate regarding the golem car’s inability to handle indoor combat. She had been exploring several forms, but none of them felt quite right. Specifically, implementing a function to protect her own body was proving difficult.

“I’ve considered ideas like transforming it into a floating shield or splitting it into smaller golems, but in narrow spaces, sudden defense might not be fast enough. That said, relying solely on magic leaves me feeling uneasy. I want physical protection.”

“True. It’s better to have foolproof defenses.”

“So, I thought that as a person from another world, you might know of some reference technology, Jack. Do you have any good ideas?”

“I see. Otherworldly technology, huh…”

I crossed my arms and thought. It was outside my expertise, but Alice was counting on me. It wouldn’t look good to just give up immediately.

‘But there aren’t any golems in my original world. The closest thing would be robots, but…’

Just as I thought that, a flash of inspiration hit me. Something in my knowledge fit the criteria perfectly. I proposed it to Alice.

“I don’t know if it’s possible to realize, but how about something like a Powered Suit?”

“A… pow-ered suit?”

As Alice tilted her head, I explained what a Powered Suit was. Though, my knowledge was just stuff I’d picked up from sci-fi movies and manga. I only vaguely remembered the core components and didn’t know the detailed mechanisms. I gave her an overview of the concept and how they were used in fiction.

After listening with a serious expression, Alice nodded with an air of great realization.

“By wearing it as armor, you achieve both portability and defensibility. Certainly, I could accompany you even indoors like that. As expected of you, Jack. You’re very knowledgeable.”

“Not really.”

“I’ll start working on the blueprints right away. It shouldn’t take too long.”

Speaking a bit rapidly, Alice hurried out of the room. She was apparently quite happy that a path forward for the stalled development had opened up. At that rate, it would likely be finished soon. It was just a bit of advice, but I was glad it was helpful.

Looking forward to the further-strengthened golem car, I closed the door to my room.