Chapter 38: Chapter 35: New Ideas

After I accepted my new job as the crown prince's teacher for self-defense, I told Arthur to give me some time. I must prepare some things for the young prince's training.

So they dragged me into this shit and want me to train that into a state where he can protect himself from possible assassins, then I should prepare the premium package for his majesty. With enough time, I will turn this wimpy kid into a beast fitting for Pack of the Wolf. After all, I experienced that education firsthand.

And currently, we are standing in the chamber in the mayor's manor's basement, prepared for our training. It's only me, the prince, and Arthur as a supervisor.

The boy is well prepared. He is wearing clothes suitable for working and has a sword hanging from his side, which is heavy enough to disturb his balance just by being there.

I looked at Arthur. "Does he need the sword?"

"Will you not teach him how to use it? He looked excited about it after seeing how you cleave through those bandits."

"I can. I have enough knowledge and experience with the weapon, but I can't change his body fast enough. It will take him years, and I don't even talk about it." Oh, I didn't mention my sword's ability before. I should keep it to myself. "But before that, let me ask him a question." I moved closer to the prince. "His majesty, prince Markus, I expect you to be aware of your situation." This kid shows that he is a noble, and it shows. Compared to the rest of the kids I saw on the streets. They probably fed him on a good diet, but even with good food, it will take him years.

"Indeed, I was already alerted about attempts against my life, but I never found myself in such a position. The palace always had guards, and I had my servants, but because of some problems, we don't have any of them, and all guards who followed us here got killed by the outlaws who decided to attack us."

He is around twelve years old, maybe thirteen at best, but he seems intelligent enough. "Good, then you are aware that there will be no one but you who can save yourself."

"Even the towns guard or Sir Arthur-"

"Even if a guardian angel descends from the heavens to protect you, it will still be you who can only protect yourself. It will be a good thing to remember. Now, I will cut everything short. I am not here to teach you ways of the sword or make you a masterful knight, you need to survive, and I will make sure you know how to. Any questions?" Prince opened his mouth. "None? Good. Let's start with that sword. I will not teach you how to use it unless you prove we won't waste our limited time by teaching you the sword."

"But how can I prove you-"

"Making food with it is not the only way to prove you can use a kitchen knife. Mastering it and its ways is different than being able to use it. Now, draw your sword, and I will draw mine. I want you to hit me three times, and I will judge your strikes."

The young prince looked at Arthur, and the knight nodded in approval, then began to unsheath his sword. I can order him to stop just by looking at how he struggles to do the first step, but I think I will first slap this young man with reality.

Finally, after nearly a minute of struggling, he managed to unsheath his weapon. He barely keeps the sword in the air, and his legs are trembling with each step closer to me. I am scared that he might hurt himself while trying to hit me.

And as I expected. After the young prince got close enough, he raised his sword and "slashed" it toward me. The attack was pretty weak and predictable.

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I blocked it with my sword and pushed the kid back. He stumbled on a crack in the basement floor and fell to the ground. "That's enough. We are going with something else" I turned towards Arthur. "Do you guys have someone who can make specialized crossbows?" I know they have crossbows. I saw some hanging on a wall at a store near the hunter guild, but considering the young prince can barely use his sword, I doubt he can load a crossbow.

"I think I understand where you are going, but wouldn't a light crossbow be enough for the kid."

"It would be too large. Prince needs something compact to hide and something effective in short range. We will not send him to fight in the war. We only need him to escape."

"Then you want something hidden and lethal with the surprise factor but also suitable for someone with no weapon experience." I am glad he understands me.

Talking about something compact that almost anyone can use. "Arthur, I know this town has a blacksmith who can work with iron but do we have a guild that can sell chemicals." I know it will be dumb, but maybe a one-shot pipe pistol can be the thing that might save us.

"What you have in mind. If it can help the prince, we can get almost anything from the alchemist guild, or even if they don't, we can order it."

"Gunpowder."

"So, that's what you had in your mind. It will be hard to find and expensive, but how can be a gunpowder weapon better choice than a crossbow? And how do you know about it."

"Put that aside. I need something to write on, some gunpowder, and a good ironsmith willing to take special orders." I have something in my mind. A small gunpowder pistol that a young prince can hide on his clothes and use to kill or fend off intruders. It doesn't need to be classy or powerful. A pipe that can blow a guy's face off with gunpowder at close range is more than enough.

"I think I know what's in your head, and it will be very hard. I know you don't know, but the navy has a monopoly over gunpowder and weapons using it. They also execute anyone who produces them without a license, but I will ask some friends."

I nodded. "But say, Arthur, are gunpowder weapons common through the realms." I want to know the level of technology this world has.

"Not really. When I was younger, I traveled the world, and gunpowder was always a second choice to magic. A proper mage can do what five cannons can for cheaper and more effectively." I see, and I thought the same too. Even my simple ice shooting spell, when used by those old liches, was much more effective than what an earlier gunpowder weapon could do.

"But, let's say if gunpowder weapons were turned cheaper and made in masses, wouldn't they be more effective than mages."

"No. I know it sounds good, but the best it can do is replace the weapon of common infantry. North has less magic than the rest of the Eventide, meaning magicians are harder to find, and gunpowder will work better here. Still, the closer you move to the central Empire, the weapons created by magic will outshine gunpowder, and it won't be hard for a king to spend some gold to buy those weapons from other places."

"Thank you for that. Now, we can start our lessons with the young prince."

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