Chapter 268: It’ll get faster soon. (1)
“A bow you can shoot from a horse? Isn’t the archer cavalry an obsolete troop type already?”
Galbarik asked, sounding puzzled.
The idea of shooting a bow while on horseback has been around since ancient times. In fact, there was a time when archer cavalry ruled the battlefield as a source of fear.
But as time passed, strategies and tactics evolved along with longbows and crossbows, greatly diminishing the unique advantages of archer cavalry.
The biggest problem was that it was difficult to train them.
“First of all, very few can shoot a bow properly from horseback. Even if we start training now, it’ll take years, right?”
Archer cavalry needs to master both archery and horsemanship. Even if one is proficient in both, shooting a bow from a horse isn’t an easy task.
You can’t plant your feet firmly like you can on the ground. It’s extremely tough to stabilize your body and shoot while trying to balance on a swaying horse.
“It has already been proven in countless wars that archer cavalry struggles to exert any real power, hasn’t it?”
Due to limitations in range and accuracy, archer cavalry often ends up using close-range archery.
While the ability to launch a preemptive strike before engaging infantry is a powerful advantage, there isn’t a commander who would simply stand by and watch it happen.
Galbarik pointed out that very fact.
“Before the archer cavalry can even get close, the enemy archers can control them from a much greater range. Even if the distance closes, they can’t break through the heavy infantry ranks easily, nor can they approach enemy cavalry. This combination of countermeasures is exactly why the archer cavalry has become obsolete, isn’t it?”
“Oh, you know your fair share of the problems, huh?”
“Isn’t that obvious? We’re constantly making weapons, so of course we know how they’re used in war.”
“Then if the enemy can’t respond properly, they can hit and run effectively, right?”
“It’s hard enough to train them, and even if we produce a few, they’re just going to be messing around like kids; they won’t be able to hold their own in actual battles. There’s a reason why no one is doing it.”
Not just Ruthania, but in most nations, military strategies were primarily centered around knights and infantry due to the traditional knight culture. Accordingly, army compositions and training were mainly focused on knights and infantry.
Training and equipping archer cavalry requires considerable time and resources, and various constraints make it difficult to perform well in combat.
Despite Galbarik’s worries, Ghislaine responded nonchalantly.
“When the enemy charges, we shoot; when they stand still, we charge, right? Aren’t we all becoming cavalry?”
“……If it were that easy, what difficult thing would there be in the world?”
“That’s why we need a new bow. Make it smaller than the existing bows for easier shooting from horseback. But the range shouldn’t drop. It should deliver similar power and range to what longbowmen achieve.”
“How do you even make something like that…?”
Galbarik closed his mouth just as he was about to curse and rubbed his forehead. This guy seems to think everything just comes out of thin air.
He closed his mouth and rubbed his forehead. This guy seems to think everything just rolls off his tongue.
If it were that easy, who would make a long and heavy longbow to increase its range? It requires enough elasticity and tension, which is why we had no choice but to make it that way.
“Even though we are dwarves, it’s hard to surpass the limits of technology. We just make things better than others. How about improving the existing longbow to increase its power and range instead?”
With a sigh, Galbarik pulled out a blueprint in front of Ghislaine.
“What is this?”
“A bow made of Galbarium.”
“No matter how light Galbarium is, its essence is still iron. We can’t provide sufficient elasticity. The tension of the string has to do all the work, which would decrease the power.”
“Look closely at the blueprint. Create levers at both ends of the Galbarium bow to adjust the string. The tighter you pull, the stronger the power. To endure that tension, the bow needs to be strong, so we deal with it using Galbarium.”
“Whoa.”
Galbarik examined the blueprint closely. It contained only conceptual parts, but with a little research, it seemed feasible to produce.
“So, what material should the bowstring be made from? It’s hard to create strong tension with ordinary materials. Most won’t withstand the force and will snap.”
“For that, we can use the tendons from monsters like trolls and ogres. They’re incredibly tough and elastic. I brought a bunch this time, remember? And I’ll keep bringing more.”
“Oh, ohhh….”
Galbarik nodded. If they did it this way, Ghislaine could adjust the power and range as he desired.
He had surely thought ahead not just for the leather from the monster hunt but also for the materials for the bowstring.
“But adjusting the bowstring tightly would make it hard to pull with ordinary strength….”
Galbarik paused mid-sentence. The ends of the bow, where the string was attached, had small pulleys designed to minimize the effort required to pull.
Not only that, but the bow was designed to be collapsible in three sections for portability. This was possible because they had minimized the elasticity of the bow.
“W-What on earth made you think of this?”
This was no ordinary bow. It was a bow made with sophisticated engineering and the best materials.
It was amazing. Just how far does the technology shown by the lord go? He had never seen or heard of such a bow anywhere in the continent.
Though it was just a conceptual blueprint, it was enough. The rest could be solved if the dwarves pooled their heads together.
“Lord! Is this also your creation? What on earth is in your head?”
In response to Galbarik’s urgent question, Ghislaine turned his head slightly and muttered.
“…This was also made by the legendary blacksmith.”
“Aaah! Why has the sky given birth to me, Galbarik, and another legendary blacksmith!”
The legendary blacksmith was truly magnificent. Galbarik clenched his fist in desperation. But he was not one to easily give up.
‘Most of what the legendary blacksmith left behind is just conceptual ideas! They’re not finished products!’
He was the one who concretized those concepts and actually created them. So, he thought the legendary blacksmith’s crafting skills might not surpass his own.
Someday, he believed he could surpass the legendary blacksmith with even greater ideas.
“I will surely surpass him and become the greatest blacksmith on the continent!”
At Galbarik’s shout, Ghislaine scratched his chin and looked off into the distance.
‘Is this some kind of battle with himself? Ah, this doesn’t seem like the right moment for that kind of saying.’
The official name of this bow was “Violentus Hunter.”
It was one of the weapons made by Galbarik and the dwarves to confront the calamity in their previous lives.
A weapon created to balance portability and destructive power, making it essential equipment for elite squads in each kingdom.
It rained.
Ghislaine had gathered tons of monster tendons just to make this bow.
“Alright, is this enough? Then please make 2,000 as quickly as possible. For now, just that much. We’ll continue production later.”
“Understood! You said the Elves will use them as a priority, right? Roughly around 200 Elves, I think? I have all the materials, so I’ll whip them up to match that number quickly!”
“No, I said 2,000.”
“……2,000?”
“Yep.”
Calming his excitement, Galbarik began to reason.
“As I mentioned earlier, archers are harder to train than knights. Will we really be able to use all 2,000? The Elves still need to practice archery, and it might take years, you know?”
“That’s fine. Our soldiers can all ride horses now, right? So we just need to teach them to use bows well. Especially the Elves; they’ll pick up archery in no time. Didn’t you see how they communicate with nature before?”
“……Training horses and riding while shooting bows are completely different, you know?”
“Elves and bows go hand in hand, don’t you know?”
“……That’s just something out of a storybook. Bows require years of practice to master.”
“That’s true. But for the Elves who can already communicate with nature, it’s not a difficult task. Let’s just go see for ourselves.”
With a confident expression, Ghislaine led Galbarik to where the Elves were.
The Elves had already tamed over 10,000 horses. The horses were stationed throughout the territory, used for transportation and training cavalry.
Thanks to this, the Elves had free time and were receiving basic ceremonial training and stamina training from Gillian.
Ghislaine deliberately didn’t start them on archery training yet. Stamina training was the top priority, followed by horse taming.
“Alright, starting today, the Elves will begin archery training.”
“Ugh!”
The Elves, who had successfully connected with nature to some extent, no longer seemed lazy like before. In fact, they appeared quite elegant.
It was just that since they were part of the army and living in a group, their manner of speaking hadn’t changed yet.
Only one person, Ascon, who communicated with nature using curses, grumbled alone.
“Damn it, what’s with this archery training again? This territory doesn’t give us a moment to rest. I should feel the wrath of nature again.”
First to step forward was Lumina. She had been the first to succeed in connecting with the horses, so Ghislaine chose her as the representative.
Ghislaine said to her, “Just watch my stance and pick it up quickly. Focus on hitting the target.”
Thanks to her training, Lumina could easily pull the bowstring. After a few adjustments from Ghislaine, she soon adopted a decent posture.
Creeeak.
She drew the string and aimed at the target board made of timber.
At first, she thought it was just practice, so she didn’t expect to hit it. However, as she concentrated, a subtle sensation began to emerge.
‘This is…….’
She was already in a state of connecting with nature. She could feel how the wind was moving.
This time, her bow rose slightly higher than before. And following her instinct, she released it according to the flow of the wind.
Swoosh.
With a sharp sound, the arrow flew at breakneck speed. Those watching thought she might have shot it a bit too high, but they nodded, reminding themselves it was just practice.
Thud!
But the arrow hit the target squarely. Not perfectly dead center, but it was no amateur’s shot for someone firing a bow for the first time.
“Wow… what was that?”
“Did she practice archery without us knowing?”
All the Elves stared at Lumina in shock. Even she seemed surprised and was staring blankly at her own hand.
Ghislaine smiled proudly and said, “As expected, Elves and bows go together.”
“…….”
Galbarik couldn’t say a word. Communicating with nature? It could make you friends with animals and shoot arrows that well?
“Are you saying that if you do that, you’ll become friends with animals and shoot arrows like that?”
The elf brats were truly an unbelievable race. At this rate, they would really handle spirits.
Suddenly, being born a dwarf made him feel bitter.
“Every day just making stuff… getting bossed around… while the elves are all good-looking and pretty… Ah, this world is filthy.”
Not knowing Galbarik’s feelings, Ghislaine shouted excitedly.
“Come on! Let’s try shooting from horseback this time!”
Hee-haw!
Lumina rode on her horse. Her body shook wildly as she galloped fast.
Nevertheless, she naturally accepted everything. Amid the shaking, she found a path and let the bowstring go.
Pang!
Thwack!
The arrow struck the target perfectly. Shooting from a horse was no problem at all.
“Wow!”
The elves watching made sounds of admiration. Even Lumina couldn’t believe her own shot and gasped in amazement.
The others just watched with expressions of disbelief.
“I want to try! I want to try!”
“I think I’ll shoot better!”
“I’m the master of the wind!”
The elves eagerly began to shoot arrows. Some missed the target, but most at least hit the edge of it.
Shooting while riding had a slightly higher failure rate, but they were still very close to the target. This was about the same level as archer cavalry trained for over ten years.
As Ascon quietly watched that scene, he called to his horse.
“Hey, come here.”
Neigh!
Ascon’s horse, Shibari, approached with a fierce glare.
It wasn’t a name Ascon created himself. He had heard someone call it and liked the sound, so he went with it.
It was a name that suited the horse, which was quite ferocious, resembling its master.
“Let’s give it a try too.”
Hee-haw!
The horse neighed powerfully. It seemed to have the arrogance of saying that was nothing special.
“Let’s go, Shibari!”
Eek!
Ascon, riding his horse, pulled back the bowstring. Suddenly, he felt like he could do something too. It was the voice of nature.
“I feel the wind.”
All the senses in his body were guiding him. Now’s the time; the wind was saying he could pierce the target if he shot now.
“Ride the wind.”
Pang!
Swoosh!
The arrow soared high into the sky, riding the wind, and disappeared.
“Ah, Shibari, I can’t do it.”
Neigh!
Shibari laughed, showing its teeth as if it found something funny.
Anyway, the elves showed unbelievable skill even though it was their first time shooting arrows.
Ghislaine looked at Galbarik and said, “What do you think? If we practice a little, it won’t take long, right?”
“Only the elves can do that; it would be tough for regular soldiers, wouldn’t it?”
“Of course, some training will be necessary, but if we train together with the elves, they’ll improve quickly. For now, all they need to know is how to shoot arrows from horseback. The important thing is that 2,000 of them shoot at once.”
“……”
If 2,000 archer cavalry aimed at a target, they wouldn’t even need to be perfectly accurate. As long as they could generally aim in the right direction, arrows would rain down.
Trying to reduce the production quantity was proving pointless.
With a gloomy expression, Galbarik said, “First, I will start production. But I believe we have just a little over 4,000 soldiers in our territory; are you planning to convert more than half of them into archer cavalry?”
This time, it wasn’t a contradiction but pure curiosity.
“No, we’re actively recruiting new soldiers, aren’t we? If the troops increase, there won’t be any problem.”
“I heard that reinforcements are coming in slower than expected.”
Ghislaine shook her head a few times and grinned.
“It will pick up soon.”
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