In the quiet of his study, illuminated only by the flickering light of a single candle, Martin sat hunched over a large wooden desk. The room was strewn with parchment, inkpots, and various drafting tools. The heavy scent of ink and the faint crackle of the candle were the only sounds that accompanied his intense concentration.
Martin's brow was furrowed as he carefully sketched the final details of the blueprint for the new canon. He had decided that Rotengen's defenses needed to be significantly bolstered, and the traditional defenses of walls and soldiers alone would not be sufficient. To withstand the growing threats, he needed something more formidable—a canon that could deliver powerful and precise strikes against any invading force.
The blueprint was meticulously detailed. Martin's hand moved with practiced precision, drawing the outlines of the canon's barrel, the intricate mechanisms for loading and firing, and the reinforced materials that would ensure durability.
Barrel and Bore: The canon's barrel was designed to be both long and robust, that would be crafted from high-quality iron and steel sourced from Ironstone Hold. The bore, the interior of the barrel where the projectile would be propelled, was carefully bored to a precise diameter to ensure accuracy and consistency. The longer barrel was intended to increase the range and power of the shots, while the thickness of the metal would withstand the intense pressures generated during firing.
Firing Mechanism: Martin included a sophisticated firing mechanism that utilized a combination of traditional gunpowder and a newly designed trigger system. The mechanism featured a touch-hole for igniting the gunpowder and a reinforced firing pin to ensure reliable ignition. This design aimed to maximize the efficiency and reliability of each shot, reducing the risk of misfires in the heat of battle.
Recoil System: To address the issue of recoil, which could destabilize the canon during firing, Martin incorporated a recoil-absorbing system. This included a set of springs and dampers that would absorb and redistribute the force of the recoil, allowing the canon to remain steady and on target after each shot. The recoil system was crucial for maintaining accuracy during sustained firing.
Carriage and Mobility: The canon was mounted on a sturdy carriage designed for both stability and mobility. The carriage featured large, reinforced wheels that could handle the rough terrain of Rotengen, as well as a set of levers and gears to allow for fine adjustments in aim. The design also included a mechanism for raising and lowering the canon, enabling it to be adjusted for different angles of fire.
Ammunition Storage: Nearby, the blueprint detailed the design for a dedicated ammunition storage system. This included compartments for gunpowder, shot, and other necessary components, all carefully arranged to facilitate quick reloading. The storage was designed to be both secure and accessible, minimizing the time needed to prepare the canon for its next shot.
Martin paused, studying the blueprints with a critical eye. The design was ambitious, aiming not only to improve the kingdom's defensive capabilities but also to project strength and deterrence. He was determined that this canon would serve as a symbol of Rotengen's resilience, a technological marvel that would inspire both fear in their enemies and confidence in their allies.
After a final check of the measurements and annotations, Martin set down his pen and leaned back, allowing himself a moment of satisfaction. But his was not done yet in the next day he continued to draw blueprints for muskets.
In this world, he was King, but memories of his first life—a life without magic—still clung to him. He remembered his old apartment, the hum of the TV, and watching episodes of How It's Made, learning how firearms were crafted with precision. The clarity of those memories puzzled him. Reincarnation was supposed to erase the past, but his mind still held onto that world.
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Martin sat at his desk, the soft flicker of candlelight casting long shadows across the room. The cold wind howled outside, battering against the stone walls of the castle, but inside, there was only the faint scratching of a quill on parchment. His brow was furrowed in concentration, eyes narrowed as he painstakingly drew the outline of something this world had never seen: a musket.
He began with the barrel, the heart of the weapon. It had to be long enough to provide accuracy, but not so heavy that it couldn't be carried with ease. He visualized the smooth, cylindrical steel being forged in the furnaces of Rotengen, imagining the craftsmen hammering the metal into shape. The design was simple—a straight tube, tapered slightly at the end—but he knew the precision required to get it right would be beyond anything the blacksmiths here had ever attempted. Still, they could learn.
Next, Martin moved to the stock. He sketched it with the same careful precision, shaping it from a material they had plenty of—wood. The stock needed to be solid yet ergonomic, something that would sit comfortably against a soldier's shoulder. He detailed the grain of the wood in his sketch, thinking of the thick forests of Obelia that could provide the timber for such a project. His hand hovered for a moment as he considered adding more embellishments but decided against it. This wasn't meant to be decorative. It was a tool of war, nothing more.
His quill dipped back into the inkwell before he started on the firing mechanism—the most critical part. The flintlock system. He sketched the hammer that would strike the flint, the spark igniting the gunpowder in the pan. His strokes became more deliberate, slower, as the complexity of the design took form. He paused now and then, recalling the details of how the flint would need to be carefully chiseled to strike correctly. It was primitive, by the standards of his old world, but revolutionary in this one.
As he drew, the memories of his first life washed over him. Factories, assembly lines, machines clanging and hissing as guns were produced by the thousands. That life seemed so far away now, and yet, in moments like these, it felt as close as ever. He could still see the diagrams he'd studied as a young man, the books he'd read, the documentaries he'd watched. It was all still there, locked in his mind, and he was using every ounce of that knowledge to create something that would change the world.
He paused, looking at the nearly finished design. The musket was a simple weapon, by the standards of his old world, but here?
He sat back in his chair, letting out a slow breath as he gazed at the blueprints. They were detailed, precise. Any skilled blacksmith should be able to follow them with enough instruction. But would the people here be ready for it? Would he be ready for the consequences of introducing such a weapon to this world?
He reached out and touched the edge of the parchment, his fingers running over the ink as if feeling the weight of his decision. There was a thrill to it, the idea of bringing something new, something powerful, into this realm. But there was also a sense of foreboding. Once this musket was built, the world would never be the same.