Chapter 166 - 166 After That
After the aid sent to the Kingdom of Meizack, Brian's stomach hurt.
The cause was, of course, Steve.
He rubbed his stomach and sighed, showing this posture to his son before his eyes.
"Haa, my stomach hurts."
"Would you like to use Healing Magic if it is a stomach ache?"
"No, the cause is not illness, so Healing Magic won't cure it."
"It seems your alcohol intake has increased lately, so please take care of yourself."
"Who do you think is to blame?"
Brian looked at his son, the cause.
"People who put pressure on Father? His Majesty the King, Lord Chancellor, Lord Sowell, Sister Sherry, and the Yellow Empire Emperor."
Steve listed names and counted them on his fingers. Those whose names he just listed were all people who tried to learn how to make guns and put pressure on Brian. Since they were rejected by Steve, they turned their spear toward Brian.
However, no matter how much pressure was put on him, Brian himself had no knowledge of guns and did not possess any actual ones, so he could not answer anything.
It is the same as not being able to answer things one does not know, no matter how much torture one undergoes.
"Do you intend to publish the gun manufacturing method?"
"No. I will give up if they develop it on their own, but I will not teach the method for things I made myself."
The power to pierce targets far away, the convenience that even a frail woman can slaughter a strong man just by pulling the trigger. He could not bring himself to spread these things to the whole world. However, he did not go so far as to ban research, for if people fight wild animals, there are times when such things are necessary.
"I understand. However, Chief Engineer, you thought the gunpowder making was finished, but now it is guns. You might not be able to return here anymore."
Brian thought of Cyril, who had not returned from the Royal Capital. Cyril had established the gunpowder manufacturing method. Originally, that would have been the end of it, and he should have returned to the Archibalt Territory once. However, with the existence of guns becoming clear, the next job had come to him. Moreover, this time, Steve's advice could not be expected at all.
"I will stop by when I go to the Royal Capital."
"That's right. It was a pity to have put Aila and you together, but in this state, we cannot utilize the local connections."
Because of such conversations, Steve made time to meet Cyril personally when he visited the Royal Capital. Originally, he had work at the Royal Research Institute, so they spoke for a little while after that.
Furthermore, the purpose of Steve visiting the Royal Research Institute was to talk about electricity. He taught them electricity so that they would not devote all their energy to gun development.
Regarding electricity, the Royal Research Institute was incredibly eager.
Regarding this electricity, information would be released to other countries as well, and many technicians would come to the Archibalt Territory from other countries.
Even if guns were made, there were currently no neighboring countries foolish enough to start a war against the Kingdom of Cascade where Steve was. Nevertheless, they decided to delay gun development and give other priority tasks.
This strategy brought prosperity to the Archibalt Territory. In an instant, the number of visitors increased, and inns and restaurants became extremely busy. The inbound economic effect was immense.
It was with this background that the invitation from the Royal Research Institute came.
Having finished his business, Steve visited the laboratory given to Cyril.
Knock, knock.
When he knocked, a reply came from inside.
"Yes. Who is it?"
"Steve T.S. Archibalt."
When he said his name, footsteps running toward the door from inside could be heard.
"It has been a while. It is a dirty place."
Cyril, who came out from inside as the door opened, had stubble and dark circles under his eyes. And, peeking through the door, the room was messy. It was not modesty; it was truly dirty.
Steve thought that he must be deeply engrossed in his research.
He went inside, moved the documents sitting on the chair for guests, sat down, and began the conversation.
"You seem busy."
"Yes. Thanks to that, or rather, since the gun manufacturing method is unknown, progress is not going well."
"You know the principle, right?"
Cyril nodded to Steve's question.
"Causing an explosion inside a barrel and using that force to launch a bullet. However, the type of gunpowder to explode, the method of exploding, and the precision to hit a target several kilometers away without a single error cannot be reproduced with the methods I thought of."
After that, Cyril swallowed hard the words "Could you please teach me?"
He knew that a crack would form in his friendship with Steve, and even if he paid the price, he knew he would not get the answer he desired.
Cyril had been able to reproduce up to the point of the matchlock rifle.
Loading gunpowder and a bullet into the gun, exploding the gunpowder to fire the bullet. Because it is a smoothbore cannon without rifling, it is inferior in hitting accuracy and power compared to the gun created by Steve. Still, reaching the smoothbore cannon stage is because Cyril is excellent, but neither he nor the country was satisfied with that.
Even with such performance, soldier training was easier than with traditional bows and arrows, so production had begun.
Since the replica Steve donated to the Fries Holy Church did not have rifling engraved on it, no matter how much they observed that replica, they would not reach the idea of rifling.
Seeing Cyril worry like that, Steve also had the feeling of wanting to help as a friend. However, the feeling of wanting to avoid the spread of guns was stronger, so he also swallowed and held back his advice.
"From the looks of it, it seems you won't be able to return to the Archibalt Territory for a while. Father also wanted to see your face, Cyril-san."
"Yes. Until this is finished, the Royal Research Institute will not permit my long-term leave. Besides, even if gun development ends, electricity is waiting next."
Saying that, Cyril made a strained smile.
"Research scope is wide over there too."
Steve spoke as if it were someone else's problem, but the culprit was Steve. He conveyed the existence of electricity, various products using it, and concepts regarding heavy and weak current. Including the development of inverters and converters, a massive research subject was given to him.
It was like researching over 400 years of Earth's history at once, equivalent to the results of William Gilbert, Hiraga Gennai, Nikola Tesla, Michael Faraday, and others being announced all at once.
Moreover, he was releasing it to other countries for free.
Every country felt they could not fall behind in this development race and were pouring huge amounts of research and development funds into it.
"If possible, I wanted to research something useful for people, like electricity."
He muttered that with a lonely look this time.
Seeing that, Steve also made a similar face.
"The gun I made is specialized for killing people, and that is the completed form. Functional beauty, the final shape reached by pursuing function is beautiful. It is insensitive, but I am drawn to that beauty. Even though I hate that existence, I am drawn to its beauty. Ideally, I should pursue the beauty of things useful to people."
Guns and Japanese swords are tools for killing people, and therefore, they have shapes specialized for that. They have evolved somewhat with the times, but regarding the basic structure, they were completed long ago, and there are no major changes. Japanese swords, due to their beauty, have become art objects, and they are even bought and sold for that purpose.
Steve was also drawn to the beauty of that form.
"If possible, I wanted to ask the Archibalt Territory to handle production to maintain that beauty."
To Cyril's words, Steve shook his head horizontally.
"As long as I am alive, I do not intend to have weapons made in factories. Well, if other countries attack and the nation faces a crisis of life and death, I will make them then."
"Before that happens, Lord Steve will solve it."
"I don't know that far. If the enemy's weapons exceed my abilities. If the enemy's strategy renders me unable to move. There is no guarantee that such situations will not occur."
Since Steve is also a flesh-and-blood human, he could die or get injured. Also, he might be held hostage and unable to move. Furthermore, if the enemy attacks with a large number of guns, he cannot defeat everything alone, so he might have to cooperate, but realistically, the possibility of that happening is almost non-existent.
"Are you researching alone?"
Steve asked Cyril.
"No. Gaster is handling the gunpowder. Originally, he should never have been able to cross the gates of this place again, but considering his research results and the current situation where other countries are also researching guns and gunpowder, the judgment was made that not utilizing that knowledge would be a loss."
Gaster has currently returned to the Royal Research Institute and is being made to research gunpowder. Whether the expression "being made to" is correct since he also desires it is debatable.
"Besides, the Royal Guard Knights Commander has actually seen a gun, so I have let her tell me the story a few times and shown her prototypes."
Cyril reported with an apologetic look.
Daphne had reported to the King that she had been shown a gun by Steve. Because of that, she was called by Cyril and told to speak about what she saw.
Steve did not hold special feelings for such Daphne. It was natural for her duty, and he showed it to her knowing that.
"If it is the position as the Royal Guard Knights Commander, it is natural. I do not mind it at all."
"Listening to that, I am relieved. Please convey this to the Royal Guard Knights Commander as well. She was worried."
"Then I think I will stop by there later."
In the end, Steve did not give any advice to Cyril regarding gun development.
And, for several decades after that, war did not break out in neighboring countries because Steve was there. Even amidst that, Cyril's research continued, but his achievements were evaluated only after his death, once guns were used in actual combat.
Thank you always for the typo reports.