Chapter 217

I Married the Dragon I Killed

Chapter 217: Bronze Dragon

Vernel continued his explanation.
— It uses a method where the entire cartridge is inserted to operate. Two cartridges can be inserted into the two barrels, and it is a piece focused on firepower that fires a total of 60 mana bullets simultaneously.
Ferda tried to lift the object.
He thought it would be simple since it was short, but it was three or four times heavier than a rifle, and Ferda’s strength could not lift it.
— The weight is quite considerable.
— Tests showed that the recoil is strong, so durability is important.
— Is there any difference from a mana bomb?
— The recoil is three times more powerful than that of a normal rifle, so it can generate a tremendous impact at close range.
Hearing that explanation, Ferda clearly understood the purpose of the object.
— It would be difficult for tactical infantry to use it. Could only heavily armored knights handle something like this?
— That’s right.
Entering with a shield and a shotgun instead of a shield and a sword.
The picture wasn’t bad.
If a knight isn’t just a wall, but blends into infantry tactics, their performance would stand out.
— What do you think of this?
Ferda asked Alberto.
True to the expectations of someone who liked firepower, he took the object without the slightest hesitation.
He examined it, then immediately aimed at the target and pulled the trigger.
Kwaang!
A tremendous roar and impact.
Even standing beside him, it felt as though the impact struck his chest heavily.
The recoil was powerful enough that not even strong knights could handle it easily.
Alberto did not let go of the weapon.
He seemed to think for a moment, then his hand moved inside his armor.
With clicking sounds, the outer pauldrons, which looked melted, fell to the ground.
Kung!
Kung!
The reason he suddenly removed the pauldron was to reduce weight.
He had shed something so heavy that it shook the ground, yet what he wore underneath as inner armor was also heavy cavalry armor.
Even so, anyone watching could tell.
That man was lighter and more agile than anyone else.
With his newly agile body, he quickly took the cartridges placed on the table.
He released the barrel latch and inserted two magazines into the ends.
He loaded the weapon in an instant and aimed at the target again.
Kwaang! Kwaang!
After firing all the cartridges, he released the latch, and the barrel magazines were pushed back by the pressure,
and he snapped two new magazines into place.
And fired.
Kwaang! Kwaang!
He reloaded, fired.
Kwaang! Kwaang!
It struck the mound of dirt beyond the target that had long since disappeared.
Alberto repeated loading and firing in a trance.
Vernel couldn’t help but gape at the dazzling demonstration.
In 10 seconds, a total of 20 cartridges were fired, and only then did he stop.
The reason he stopped was not of his own will.
The steel barrel could not withstand the heat and impact, and shattered to pieces.
Alberto looked at the barrel and opened his heavy mouth.
— Can it be made stronger?
— H-here?
Vernel considered it seriously, then shook his head.
— At our level, it seems impossible…? We don’t have any material that can withstand Sir Knight’s rapid fire.
— If there is a material, can it be made?
— Of course, if there is a material it can be made… but even this shotgun was made with the sturdiest steel, and you’re saying there’s a material that surpasses this?
When Vernel indicated it was impossible, Alberto kicked his own pauldron in front of them and said:
— Make it with this.
— What is this…
— Frontenium.
— Fr, Frontenium??
— That legendary material said to exist only in myths…?
Not only Vernel, but Ferda also could not hide his surprise.
The representative material of the Bronze Dragon, Frontesis, and an object that only Frontesis could possess and create.
It had become even rarer after Silverwind’s death, making it difficult to see.
— I heard that Frontenium has an almost golden color, but no matter how much I look at it, this is gray…
— Can you do it?
Alberto did not waste words.
Under that pressure, Vernel replied.
— Even if this is truly Frontenium, crafting it is difficult. Frontenium is something only the Bronze Dragon Frontesis can handle, and even dwarves cannot work it unless they are named craftsmen…
— It can be done.
— Throwing a tantrum won’t change anything—.
Vernel’s words were cut short.
Alberto slung the club he had set aside over his shoulder.
— Eek, aaaaah!
Vernel was startled greatly.
Alberto swung the club down forcefully.
Toward his own pauldron on the ground.
Duung~!
— Heuk!
— Euaat!?
Everyone nearby fell to the ground.
The shockwave spread through the ground, and their legs gave way from the vibration.
Then something astonishing happened.
The armor, which had only a gray color with ominous ripple patterns, began to spread color as if it were being heated.
For just a moment, the center was unmistakably golden.
It was a hard and bright light, on a completely different level from soft gold.
— Frontenium!
— It really is Frontenium!
The legendary material that even battlefield warriors rarely saw was right before their eyes.
It was imposing enough to make them forget the fear that made their legs give way, and the reason for the sudden action.
Shortly after, someone came running like a phantom and shouted.
It was Ruri.
— What crazy bastard caused a shockwave like this on the castle grounds…!
Ruri saw the golden pauldron catching everyone’s attention.
That thing, and a man holding a club right next to it.
Her face showed that she had roughly understood what had happened.
Then she looked at Ferda and asked.
— Did Ferda-nim orchestrate this?
— Depending on the situation, maybe yes, maybe no.
Since he didn’t know what was happening, he decided to test the waters first.
— …I will prepare to receive the guest.
That she did not press further was like accepting spilled water.
Soon, he understood what receiving the guest meant.
Not many hours later, on the outer wall of the village castle, something enormous rose.
Kugugung!
A massive body of about 20 meters.
It had arms and wings, but they were so short they were practically decorative.
At first glance it looked dull, yet it could not be ignored.
It was the Bronze Dragon, Frontesis.
Alberto had summoned Frontesis.
— What damn bastard is touching my things!!
He roared with a voice full of fury.
Guardian and Phase of Rock, Frontesis.
He was closer to dwarves than to humans, a divine existence to them.
He had smelted every mineral in the rock, forged them into objects, and earned the title of God of Blacksmiths.
Most of the legendary weapons known in myths passed through his hands, and items made of Frontenium were the pinnacle among them.
Fiercely protecting that reputation, Frontesis never forgave anyone who handled his items carelessly.
Alberto had exploited that point.
“I heard that Frontesis is famous for being a benevolent dragon…”
Alberto had plucked that very nose hair correctly.
Among the guardian dragons, he was known as the most benevolent and friendly, and many humans tried to use that personality, all suffering for it without exception.
Even so, there was a reason he was famous for being docile.
Even while letting out a roar full of fury, he immediately shrank his body and entered through the outer gate of the village, walking slowly, didn’t he?
Unlike dragons that overturn everything, he was a gentleman.
Befitting a dragon called the God of Blacksmiths, he had an appearance similar to that of a dwarf.
At first glance, he seemed only slightly smaller than Ferda, but perhaps due to the characteristic thickness of a dwarf, he looked even smaller.
In any case, he approached waddling.
As the second lord of the castle, Ferda knelt to welcome him.
— I greet the Great Guardian and Phase of Rock, Frontesis-nim.
His bronze eyes harbored deep murderous intent, and he asked.
— You?
— What do you mean?
— The bastard who tried to break my things. Was it you?
Frontesis glared at him, his face full of fury.
Ferda bowed his head and replied.
— I have never received an item from Frontesis-nim, so how would I dare handle an item of Frontesis-nim carelessly?
— Now that I think about it, that’s true. Your body is frail, so it wouldn’t be you.
Frontesis rolled his eyes, then accurately identified the culprit this time.
— Of course, I figured it would be that bastard!
Alberto.
He remained motionless, facing Frontesis.
Frontesis held the hammer hanging at his waist, struck it against his palm, and said:
— You broke into my lair demanding that I make armor, and now you try to break my armor?
— …
— If you have any last words before dying by my hands, I will hear them.
Alberto responded simply.
— Make me a weapon.
— Fine. I will make a sword out of your spine and establish discipline!!
Frontesis tried to charge at him with his hammer.
— Please calm down, Frontesis-nim.
— Who are you? Valdrova’s attendant? Daring to block the path of this body, you’ve got guts—.
— Valdrova-nim is waiting for Frontesis-nim.
— V-Valdrova? She is waiting for me?
Frontesis’s body halted.
As if ashamed of all his actions up until now, he pulled back his hammer and coughed dryly.
— Cough, cough… Fine, for now I will generously put it on hold.
That’s not generous.
— Will you guide me, Lady Silverwind?
— Yes, please, right this way…
In any case, the life-or-death atmosphere vanished in an instant, and Frontesis went inside.
— Oh! It’s Valdrova.
Frontesis was elated and approached her.
Valdrova also welcomed him, a bit shyly.
— Long time no see, Frontesis.
— How long has it been since I saw your face… I was going to say that, but why are you wearing a mask like that?
— There’s a slight situation…
— No, it’s fine! Don’t tell me! Just being able to talk like this is enough!
Frontesis took Valdrova’s hands and kissed the back of her hand.
— I heard you were coming from Ruri. But I didn’t know what business brought you…
— Ah, that? It’s no big deal… just a ruffian bastard touched my things, so I came to teach him a lesson?
— Wh-who is it?
— Obviously, a useless human, why are you nervous? You never handled my things carelessly, haha!
Valdrova watched with strangely stiff movements, but Frontesis didn’t notice.
Ferda decided to draw the attention focused on her toward himself.
— Regarding the matter of Sir Alberto, I, who will handle the appointment, apologize in his stead.
Frontesis began to growl the moment their eyes met.
— No need for apologies, just bring that bastard’s head! That is the only way to calm my anger!
He was threatening, but strangely, Ferda did not feel pressured.
Could it be because he had become too accustomed to Valdrova’s aura that this felt relatively too weak?
Even so, it was less than Storeus, and far less than Goz, the leader of Silverwind.
He might not actually be that angry.
It seemed like the tantrum of a middle-aged elder who just wanted his pride acknowledged.
— Please don’t do that, and please listen.
After pleading several times, he permitted it.
Ferda recounted the whole story of what Alberto did in detail.
Frontesis’s face deteriorated even further.
— So he really pulled that stunt asking me to make a weapon?
— Circumstantially, yes.
— Hopeless bastard.
It seemed better than defending him clumsily.
He made a very annoyed face, but Frontesis didn’t seem to have a good solution either.
Why?
To resolve the question in his mind, Ferda asked him astutely.
— I called Frontesis-nim over an unpleasant matter, but thinking that it is for the continent, could you grant this small person a small favor?
— What is it?
— I will provide the mold. I would like you to help melt Frontenium and craft a weapon.
Ferda acted boldly.
Frontesis’s face turned beet red as he glared at Ferda.
— I came to punish that bastard, and you are involved too!
— That is not it. If Alberto provoked Frontesis-nim over a private matter, I will take responsibility and cut off his head. This is for a great enterprise.
— What damn great enterprise!!
— It is one of the tasks to create weapons to defeat demons. The metal that Frontesis-nim created is for the Serdes Continent.
Frontesis snorted.
— Ha! Many kings tried to cajole me like that! Saying they did it for the demons, and then always using it for their own greed! What makes you different from them or that bastard?!
— Recently, demons occupied a kingdom, and countless people of the territory fell into the hands of the corrupt king. This will surely cause the demons to run wild again.
— Nonsense! Demons aren’t that strong! It’s just a plot using that coward Godwin! You too!
— Frontesis.
Valdrova softly spoke his name, and Frontesis, who had been shouting, was startled.
His fiery personality vanished somewhere, and he looked at Valdrova in silence.
— I will vouch for Ferda-ssi. Ferda-ssi is kinder and wiser than anyone. He would never use it for selfish reasons. Could you make a weapon to defeat demons?
— Cough… if you vouch for him… even so, what’s the point of making a weapon? Who would appreciate it? For whom would I be making another weapon?
— I know? That Frontesis is more passionate than anyone, and that you are doing it for the continent.
— Valdrova…
Color returned to Frontesis’s face at Valdrova’s words.
Like a grandfather looking at his granddaughter-in-law.
Frontesis looked at that face, then sighed with a softened expression.
— Damn it, what would I hide from you? The truth is… there is a reason I am being so stubborn…
He hesitated for a moment, then spoke again.
— Frontenium is no longer something I can handle.