The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 609: A Gift For Trionne

Dominic carefully milled the parts for the rifle as the others watched and made idle conversation.

“So, it’s a lot like conventional manufacturing at the start? That’s interesting.

Most Techno Wizards don’t have the skill to do things in any order except the precise procedure described in the blueprints. Or is this the order, and you’ve simply memorized it?” One of the advisors asked.

Dominic shook his head. “Normally, I would have premade most of these items. I have standard tap and die sets for all the fittings, so they can be threaded together.

It’s just the magitech circuitry that needs to be precisely set once things are put together.

If you try to do it in pieces, you still have to attach them, and if something doesn’t line up just right, it’s a real pain.

So it’s best to do them last.

That also allows you to make minor tweaks if you need.

For example, some people like an open socket on their rifles for a targeting magitech orb, or a specific spell gem. Others have enough other sockets for their combat items, and prefer that you use that space to integrate something like an explosion spell orb into the rifle.

That way they gain an optional additional spell, and it will be at the level of the rifle if they’re completed together.

That’s the beauty of it.

You don’t have to level that spell up, you can simply use it at that level.

Of course, there are some limitations on compatibility, and skill. Some people simply can’t use complex magitech devices, or lack the mana for a higher level spell.

For the Wistover Guards, that’s not an issue. We ensured that they all had enough magical ability to do the job, even if they weren’t quite qualified to attend the mage academy.

I think that is what I will do for this one.

I will include the circuitry to make it a mana rifle, firing magical bullets if you don’t load a solid shot. But I will add a secondary magitech circuit to add earth elemental damage to the shots.

Fire is more common, but so predictable.

Nobody expects the magical bullets to actually impact as if they were metal.

It’s a lot of extra circuitry, as I’m sure you can guess, but it’s very similar to the other way, with just a change of gem and a few runes on the embedded Magitech Orb.

Unlike a removable one, this one will be mounted inside the stock of the weapon, protected from damage.

This is the new design cavalry rifle.

Lever action, short barrelled, shorter stock. Suitable for use by our more gently built sisters, or while on the move on horseback.

Not quite as accurate beyond a hundred and fifty metres, but more than accurate enough for hunting or other standard usage scenarios.”

Dominic’s narration as he assembled the pieces of the rifle and began to engrave the magitech circuitry made the group laugh quietly. The thought of Advisor Trionne being called a “gentle sister” was possibly the boldest flat out lie that they had heard in weeks.

And they had been negotiating political strategy with multiple nations.

Dominic decided not to show off too much, and went for a conventional approach, sprinkling the rifle with core dust and then infusing it with mana as he dunked it in the oil.

Of course, the oil was already mana core dust infused, but they were both level twenty Ogre Core dust, so they wouldn’t conflict.

The barrel and receiver of the rifle shifted to a gunblue colour, while the remainder of the weapon turned flat black as the enchantment finalized, marking success.

What he was left with was a level 20 Ogre Hunting Mana Rifle, with a secondary effect of [Armour Piercing Munitions].

That was an unexpected change to the magitech runes that were supposed to add earth element damage to the shots, but a welcome one. Circuits often had secondary effects on each other, and this one would work absolutely beautifully for its intended purpose.

It was originally designed to hunt Ogres, who were strongly resistant to magic.

Now, with the metallic shots and armour piercing, it would be even better at its intended job.

“Lady Trionne, what do you think? It should be a lovely keepsake for you.” Dominic offered, holding the weapon out for her to take.

It had her Family Crest on the butt, so it couldn’t really go to anyone else present.

No matter how envious they were.

“What else do you usually equip your Duchy’s soldiers with? They can’t just be riflemen, can they?” One of the advisors asked.

“Not at all. Every one of them is given a spear for infantry duty, as it’s the easiest to learn and most versatile of bladed weapons.

A line of spearmen is also wonderful at dealing with charging monsters, while the riflemen in the distance work to thin their ranks. It’s a level of synergy that makes all the difference.

We’re not particularly gearing the soldiers for war, as the most common threat here is roaming monsters.

But the principle is the same.”

“That makes sense. Spears are easy to mass produce, and any local blacksmith or toolmaker can repair them.” One of the advisors agreed.

“Actually, we issue magical spears as well. Uncommon Grade at level five for the militia forces and hunters.

Good enough to hold off the most common monsters, and defend farmsteads from roaming Goblins or low-level threats until help can arrive. Wistover doesn’t slack on our safety, and we’re not particularly concerned about the common men keeping a spear at the door.

It helps with general security.”

The Advisor didn’t seem to know what to say to that. It was so far outside the normal procedures for even a Cygnian Noble to let the militia keep magical weapons in their own homes that it was difficult to comprehend.

“Well, if that works for you, I won’t argue.

In a way, Wistover is a bit of a frontier town, there isn’t anything else around for population, no easy source of reinforcements or support. So you do need the locals to take care of themselves.”