Chapter 156 : Chapter 156
Chapter 156
After the ‘Gryphon Knight Order’ founding ceremony.
I rode my gryphon with the knight order and came to the vicinity of Sliwoo Forest. It was to test Chomsky's ‘Madan’.
The reason I went to the trouble of coming to the vicinity of Sliwoo Forest was because this area was far from human settlements. While there were several villages to the east of the royal capital—in the direction of the Ness Plains, there was only one village to the west.
Tat— Purrrreuk—!
As I dismounted, the Alpha Gryphon shook its head. This behavior was somewhat similar to a horse.
「Come on! Hurry! Let’s test it! Hurry!」
Chomsky's very excited voice came from the communication crystal ball. He didn't know how to ride a gryphon, so he couldn't come to the ‘experiment site’ with the Gryphon Knight Order.
“I understand. But Chomsky-nim, is it possible to know exactly from what height it should be dropped to explode? If it's dropped from a vague height and fails to detonate, it might explode late.”
「Oh! As expected of King Leonardo. You have a good understanding of magic.」
It wasn't that; I was just worried about a dud.
「While you were heading there, I did some calculations. From what height it should be dropped! And it looks like… if you drop it from 80 meters in the air, it will explode stably. My work of art!」
“80 meters, I understand. What about the blast radius—the magic's range?”
「5 to 10 meters.」
An effective range of 5 to 10 meters.
The effective range was so erratic it was quite troublesome.
‘Then I should safely assume the effective range is about 15 meters. And the altitude for dropping the Madan should be higher than 80 meters, 90 meters in the air… no, I think I need to be at about 100 meters.’
I wasn't doubting Chomsky's abilities.
It's just that… Chomsky had a bit of a mad scientist vibe, so I just wanted to be safe.
Is that considered doubting him?
‘But how would I know it's 100 meters in the air? It's not like there's an altimeter. It’s dangerous to go by feel—.’
Just as I was thinking that.
Tuk tuk—.
The Alpha Gryphon lightly tapped my shoulder with its beak.
It felt like it was saying, 「“I’ll take care of the altitude, so don’t worry.”」
‘I knew it could understand words, but is it reading my thoughts too?’
—Nod, nod.
‘You can read my thoughts?’
—Nod, nod.
‘Do you want to eat vegetables today?’
—Hwaek! Hwaek! Hwaek!
‘Then how about a mix of pork and monster meat?’
—Nod! Nod! Nod!
…I see. It could really read my thoughts.
Then it seemed I would have to conduct the experiment myself first. After throwing the Madan a few times, I could then teach the other gryphon knights the sense of altitude.
“Commander, I will experiment myself first.”
At my words, Jereuth was slightly surprised and asked back.
“Your Majesty, yourself? …Your Majesty, it hasn't been confirmed if Chomsky's Madan is safe yet, it's a bit—.”
「What?! Commander Jereuth! Are you ignoring me right now?! Or are you doubting me?! Not safe!! It’s completely safe, I tell you?! So safe that you should be worried it won’t explode!!」
Jereuth must have heard Chomsky clearly, but he pretended not to and spoke to me again.
“I think it would be best to check its safety first. How about having other knights test it?”
Jereuth was worried about me.
I was grateful for that, but I was confident.
‘My life isn't so easy that I'd get injured or die in an experiment like this.’
“I appreciate your concern, but I will do it. This ‘Madan’… could be a weapon that can change the future of our kingdom.”
I was sincere.
This ‘Madan,’ this was a new weapon that had never been mentioned in the <Future Diary>.
If it succeeded, it could change my future in a very big way.
Anyway.
Kkuk—kkuk—.
I held the Madan in my hand and squeezed it slightly.
It felt like an ordinary iron ball. Maybe a little lighter than an iron ball.
The surrounding knights fidgeted restlessly and moved a little. They all seemed worried about Chomsky's ‘failure.’
‘Shall I get started?’
“I will test it, so the Commander and the other knights should watch from here for now. If it explodes properly, let’s all go up into the sky and practice together.”
“Understood, Your Majesty. …You must absolutely not get hurt.”
“Haha, yes.”
After speaking to Jereuth.
Tak—.
I slung the backpack containing the Madan over my shoulder and immediately mounted the gryphon.
Honestly, my heart was pounding. I was as excited as when I used to play with fireworks as a child.
***
Piyooooo—.
Watching Leonardo's gryphon soar almost vertically.
Jereuth and the knights were impressed by Leonardo's gryphon riding skills, but at the same time, they couldn't hide their worry.
‘Elder Chomsky is a mage famous for being an eccentric.’
‘He blew up over ten labs in the Mage Tower.’
‘He wasn't much help in the war against the demon tribe. His magic was powerful, but it kept flying to strange places, causing damage to our allies.’
Jereuth's worries were not much different from those of the knights.
Generally, knights and mages did not get along well. That was understandable, as ‘swords’ and ‘magic’ were like oil and water.
They were used together in cooperation in various fields, but when you tried to mix the two, they just wouldn't mix.
Nevertheless, Jereuth knew his position and influence, so he respected the Mage Tower as much as possible.
‘But that respect is for normal cases like Seria or the other elders, Chomsky is a bit… his mental state is questionable to begin with.’
Jereuth was really worried about Leonardo.
He too was well aware of the mistakes Chomsky had made in the ‘war against the demon tribe.’
‘If anything happens to His Majesty…’
“Elder Chomsky. Is that thing really alright?”
「O-Of course it is! It will definitely explode for sure!」
Chomsky's voice trembled. It was a voice lacking confidence.
That made Jereuth feel very uneasy. He said it was safe earlier.
‘…Let's just not say anything. His Majesty must have his reasons for wanting to test that eccentric mage Chomsky's failure.’
—Just as Jereuth was thinking that.
Piyooooo—!
The King's gryphon circled widely in the sky. It was a signal that he was about to throw the Madan.
And a moment later.
Flap… flap…….
Leonardo's gryphon stopped still in the sky. All the knights, including Jereuth, focused on Leonardo's hand.
Soon, a very tiny ‘black dot’ was seen leaving Leonardo's hand and falling to the ground.
Tuk…….
Leonardo was quite high up, so the ‘dot’ he dropped was barely visible unless one focused properly.
But as the 'black dot' Leonardo dropped got closer to the ground, it grew larger—
Kwaaaaaang—!!!
“…?”
“…?”
“…?”
“…?”
“…?”
“…?”
Jereuth and the knights didn't even realize that the black dot, the ‘Madan,’ that Leonardo dropped had hit the ground.
The Madan fell at such a high speed.
And, a terrifying explosion was heard. Smoke also billowed up.
Jereuth was honestly surprised. Very much so.
‘…What is that? Did it really succeed?’
With that level of explosive power, it was more powerful than most intermediate-level magic.
In other words, it was the power of an attack spell that could only be used by quite skilled mages.
But to be able to produce similar power… just by throwing it?
‘I-Incredible. That Madan is a weapon that will change the course of history.’
Chomsky also heard the explosion of the Madan through the crystal ball.
Chomsky's very excited voice was heard from the crystal ball.
—W-Was it a success?! It was a success! Right?! Hey, Jereuth! Hurry up and tell me!!
“Um… yes. For now, it’s a success—.”
—See! I told you! I wasn't wrong! An explosion is an art!!
—O-Oh my god, it really succeeded?
—Unbelievable. To think Chomsky's research succeeded.
—They say even a broken clock is right twice a day, so does that mean Chomsky's research succeeds twice in his life?
—What!? What do you mean, unbelievable! Are you ignoring me?!
It seemed the other elders were also with Chomsky, as their voices could be heard near him.
Piyooooo—!
Leonardo's gryphon circled the sky a few more times.
It was a signal that he was going to throw again.
This time, Leonardo threw several Madans to the ground—.
Kwa— Kwa— Kwa— Kwaaaaaang!!!
As multiple Madans exploded at once, a power incomparable to before was generated.
Jereuth swallowed dryly at the terrifying firepower.
‘With that kind of firepower… it would show tremendous power even in a siege.’
Greed. That's what Jereuth felt.
Because he was Jereuth, who had protected his beloved but weak kingdom his entire life.
He had wanted to be in the position of ‘attacking’ at least once.
And it wasn't just Jereuth. The other knights were also thinking to themselves, 「‘With that, couldn't we also become a great power?’」
Though Leonardo would never allow it.
Piyooooooo—.
Leonardo's gryphon finished its experiment in the sky and landed on the ground.
After giving a light smile to the quite surprised Jereuth and knights, Leonardo couldn't hide the smile on his face and spoke into the crystal ball Jereuth was holding.
“Chomsky-nim, how many of these Madans can you produce?”
—I can make as many as you want! I’ll make enough to blow up all the walls of the royal capital—!
“I would like to have at least 10,000.”
At Leonardo's words, Chomsky's confident voice became awkward.
—A-At least 10,000? B-By when?
“It's before the war with the monster army begins, so I need them within the next four months. If it's difficult, five months is barely acceptable.”
—Umm…. 10,000 in five months….
“More would be better, of course. I'll have to talk to Peralta, but if possible, I intend to send some of the Gryphon Knight Order to the fortresses in the north and south of the Monster Mountains, along with these Madans.”
While Leonardo was speaking, the sound of the elders murmuring could be heard faintly from the crystal ball.
—10,000… hmm.
—'At least' 10,000. Is it possible?
—If we mobilize all the mages in the Mage Tower, it might be possible somehow.
—But we promised the guys at the Mage Tower. That we wouldn't bother them in areas other than the actual battlefield.
—That's true, but….
While the elders were discussing.
Kung—!
With the sound of a strong slap on a desk, Chomsky spoke.
—King Leonardo! I will definitely make 10,000 for you. Even if my mana runs out and I have to use something else.
—H-Hey! Chomsky, what do you mean by that? That's—!
—Be quiet, Benjamin! It's already decided!
—….
—Anyway, King Leonardo. Thank you so much. You've restored my life's pride. I will definitely make 10,000 Madans in five months, no, in four months. Definitely!
Chijik—.
With those words, the connection to the crystal ball was cut.
He must have immediately cut the connection and gone to mass-produce the Madans.
After finishing his conversation with Chomsky, Leonardo took a deep breath and spoke to Jereuth.
“Commander. Then I think we can start training right away. Training for throwing the Madan.”
“Understood, Your Majesty. Do you have any training in mind?”
“Hmm, first of all, I think we need to start by getting a feel for the altitude at which the Madan can explode effectively. After that, I think we can practice throwing it to the desired location accurately. If those two things are perfected, that should be enough for now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We will begin immediately.”
After replying to Leonardo, Jereuth gestured to the knights. At his gesture, all the knights mounted their gryphons at once.
Leonardo also mounted his gryphon and spoke to the knights.
“Then everyone, follow me. I will show you how high you need to go. Getting a feel for that is the top priority. If you throw the Madan from too low, it could become a dud.”
—Yes, we understand!
Peolleok—!
With Leonardo in the lead, Jereuth and the knights took to the sky.
It was truly a magnificent sight.
Leading the knights and soaring into the sky, Leonardo smiled.
‘So this is why power is needed. Even for the sake of peace.’
Although he had not yet used the Madan in actual combat.
Leonardo had realized the most important thing as a king. Something he had only known in theory, that ‘power is needed for peace.’
‘Somehow… I feel like the <Future Diary> will have changed. For the better.’
***
—Just as Leonardo was thinking that.
In Leonardo's quiet, empty room, a small sound was heard.
Wuuuuung—.
It was the sound of the <Future Diary> on the bookshelf vibrating.