Regressor of the Fallen Family novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Episode 19: A Month and a Half of Persistence

One and a half months after tirelessly pushing the elderly dwarf, Hamar completed the work two weeks ahead of schedule, producing not only the ordered crossbows but even a surplus of a hundred extra pieces. Exhausted by his effort, he lay sprawled out, declaring a temporary strike. Of course, Logan received this news with satisfaction.

The very next day, Logan immediately went to find the mercenary troop. The mercenaries, initially perplexed by the sight of the small crossbows, were left speechless after witnessing a demonstration.

Wow, thats amazing!

They shoot surprisingly far.

And they can shoot rapidly. What an intriguing crossbow.

But the general sentiment among the mercenaries was just thatcasual appreciation.

However, there was someone who recognized the weapons true value at once.

Whoa

Kai shuddered at the thought of his 300-strong cavalry armed with these rapid-fire crossbows, envisioning the devastation they could bring upon the battlefield. This was a weapon that could endanger even those at a knights level if not adequately prepared for.

With that realization, Kai couldnt help but applaud. Impressive. This must be what you had in mind when you spoke of a crossbow-armed cavalry unit. The incongruity he had felt when he was asked to demand rigorous training for a unit that seemed to lack practical efficiency had now completely dissipated.

And dont even think about trying to pry open the crossbows cartridge or magazine; theyre designed to break if forced, Logan instructed, ensuring their design remained secure.

Of course, a weapon capable of such power must have complicated mechanics.

Ironically, it was quite the opposite. The crossbow was surprisingly simple, hence the additional security measures.

Sooner or later, the design will spread, but leaks cant be tolerated yet. At least, not until they overcame the upcoming domain wars and expanded their power.

To this end, even the craftsmen enlisted to aid Hamar were only assigned to create parts in their own workshops, and there were no plans to produce more crossbows than the mercenary reserve.

Just the mercenaries alone would suffice to overcome the domain wars.

Even if more weapons were to be supplied, they would only extend to the level of the knight order.

Of course, whether the knights will choose to use the crossbow is another matter, Logan mused with a half-smile, as he set limitations on who would receive the weapons.

While providing all regular soldiers with the new weapons was impractical due to time and budget constraints, even if possible, the risk of information leakage was a greater concern.

Once the mercenary training is complete

Logans material preparations for the domain war would be nearly finished.

Yes, nearly

Only the final phase remained.

Well need to verify its effectiveness.

Pardon?

Prepare the mercenaries, arm them with the crossbows, and prepare to march out. Well clean out every monster we encounter up to the foot of the southern mountains.

What? But thats

Does it seem impossible, even after what youve seen?

Hmm

While most monsters lurking below the mountain were low-tier and not worth mentioning,

Perhaps it might be possible.

Its not about possibility; we have to do it. Otherwise, theres no point.

Kai, who didnt grasp Logans intent, was met with silence instead of an explanation. Shortly after,

Lets go!

Heeeeein!

The mercenaries, armed with the new weapons, left through the gates to test their firepower.

* * * Doo-doo-doo-doo.

As the mercenary troop charged across the plains with the rough sound of horse hooves, a horde of about a hundred crawlers spotted them and scattered in fright.

Just a few months prior, it took ages to clear out such a group of low-tier monsters. Kai, spotting the horde, shone with excitement, raised his fist high and then spread his palm wide.

Simultaneously, the mercenaries, previously in three rows, dispersed horizontally.

Fire! ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Shushushush.

The arrows launched by the mercenaries, now in a two-line formation, descended upon the fleeing crawlers with much less noise than the old crossbows. Keeeeeack!

With just one volley, the majority of the crawler horde that reached about a hundred had been decimated. The few lucky survivors soon fell as porcupines under the ensuing second barrage.

Despite their numbers being a mere third of the mercenary force, they annihilated the swarm of monsters in barely ten seconds. Even an encounter with a knights order would have taken longer to resolve.

Heartened by the outcome, the furthest back, Logan, brightened noticeably. However, those most astounded were the mercenaries who wielded the weapons themselves.

Almost no recoil!

The range is farther than I thought too!

Mine went through one creature and lodged in the head of a second.

Yet their achievement wasnt over with that one instance. Under their persistent employer, the mercenaries swept through every subsequent monster horde they encountered as they galloped southward.

Cries of monsters echoed across the fields, and eventually, they started to recede like waves to avoid the mercenaries approach. The group of 300 created a reverse monster wave that shook the wilderness of the MacRine territorys south.

The heirs mercenaries! Open the gates!

What on earth are they doing at this hour?

Right. The south is barren because of the monsters; theres not even a pioneering village.

Shh, even the heir is with them.

As the day gave way to twilight, the soldiers at the MacRine outer wall hurried to open the gate for the returning mercenary troop, though they complained under their breath. Of course, with the domains heir at the forefront, they dared not voice their gripes openly, but the sentiment was not lost on the mercenaries.

Yet the mercenaries paid no mind to the soldiers reactions.

Ha, this thing

From now on, youre my prized possession number one.

If you break it, the captain will break us. Handle with care!

Like I would treat it any differently!

They fondled their crossbows, faces dazed with bliss. While the hunt was only half a days work and mainly against low-tier monsters with no valuable by-products, these 300 had returned from a one-sided massacre of over a thousand monsters.