The Protagonists Of The Novel Escaped – Chapter 11

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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Guns were a comprehensive weapon that encompassed all of humanity’s technologies.

A staff that breathed fire.

It granted magic that could turn even an ordinary soldier into a force of a hundred men.

Of course, it might be a disadvantage compared to the knights who wielded mana blades.

Mana blades that shredded through iron and ravaged the battlefield were still considered the most potent weapon.

However, there was a fatal drawback: it required a tremendous amount of time and funds to train “Experts” who could handle mana blades.

Moreover, it was a power granted only to a select few born with innate talent, so even the Valtarian Empire faced setbacks in large-scale operations every time.

Then what about guns?

Shooting skills were much easier to learn than archery.

If one became accustomed to aiming at the target and handling the recoil of firing, it was quickly possible to be a force of a hundred men.

*Bang!*

“Eek!!”

Along with a thunderous gunshot, a child’s scream rang out.

Sighing, I lowered the gun barrel that was emitting black smoke.

“I told you to stay in the room.”

“But I’m Edan’s mascot…! How can I be apart from you!”

“I get it, so stop tugging on my collar.”

“B-But it’s scary!”

The hunting grounds owned by the Valtarian Imperial Family.

Near the hunting grounds, there was a shooting range for practicing marksmanship.

I wanted to stretch my body for a bit.

When I asked Ludmilla about it, she readily provided the shooting range.

I picked up the musket at the shooting range and hit the target 300 yards away.

A bullet mark appeared in the center of the target, signifying a successful hit.

Rue, who was observing it through a small telescope, let out an exclamation in her unique voice.

“It’s right in the center again!”

“300 yards is child’s play.”

I, who had never even been to the military in my previous life, was now possessed in a romance fantasy world and shooting guns.

What kind of setting was this?

Is it like the inseparable relationship between Koreans and guns?

I lowered the musket while having silly delusions.

Muskets were incapable of rapid fire, so they required inconvenient reloading by inserting lead bullets and gunpowder and poking with a ramrod.

“Edan is good at shooting, so he must like hunting too.”

“Not really. I got bored and gave up.”

“Huh? Shouldn’t it be fun if you’re good at catching animals?”

“Every shot was a hit, so I got tired of it quickly.”

It was like the unpleasant feeling of entering a cheat code in a survival RPG.

The hit was predetermined.

That’s why I got bored quickly and gave up.

If someone passionate about shooting heard this, they would naturally find it unpleasant.

Hunting was a common hobby for nobles, as were martial arts and horseback riding. If one was ignorant of even one of them, they would be labeled incompetent, so nobles always put effort into their hobbies.

“I want to shoot too!”

“No, little one. You’re shorter than the gun barrel.”

“Eek! I’m not a child!”

“Just sit in the corner and eat your jelly candies.”

Let me do it! Let me do it!

I want to do it, too-!

The fairy of jelly candies whined like a child in front of an arcade.

Ah.

I want to hit her.

It would be refreshing to flick her forehead.

I pondered while holding the musket with both hands.

“The continuous gunshots suddenly stopped, so I wondered what happened… You were playing with Rue.”

“Ah, your Imperial Highness.”

A woman with luscious golden hair flowing down approached with a bright smile.

It was Ludmilla.

But her appearance was different from usual.

A red field coat and white riding pants.

A belt fastened around her slender waist and long black boots revealed the curves of her legs.

It was a suitable outfit for indulging in a hobby.

She also seemed to have come to practice her marksmanship.

“I wanted to see your excellent marksmanship that took down the assailants. If it’s not a bother, may I watch from the side?”

“Of course.”

Thud.

I stamped the musket after finishing the reloading.

Then, I shouldered the stock and aimed at the frontline.

Rue and Ludmilla quietly watched.

Soon, along with the sound of the flint striking, a sharp gunshot rang out resoundingly.

*Bang!*

It was a hit.

It pierced right through the center of the target.

After confirming the result, I lowered the barrel of the musket.

Then Ludmilla clapped her hands and showed a reaction of admiration.

“Your marksmanship is almost miraculous! I thought 200 yards was the limit for musket accuracy….”

“You flatter me.”

The marksmanship of hitting every target was just a trivial skill.

Compared to her dynamic vision, which even grasped the trajectory of the fired bullet, that is,

Unbelievable.

How is that possible?

A physical ability made the word “superhuman” feel inadequate.

I thought Maximilian was the only human capable of such a miracle… Is she indeed one of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States, on par with the hero?

Clicking my tongue inwardly, I marveled at Ludmilla’s dynamic vision that had followed the bullet’s trajectory.

“If it’s alright, would you mind instructing me? No matter how much I practice, I can’t get used to shooting.”

“Well, it’s fine, but….”

Is there even a need to learn?

You’re a powerhouse who can catch bullets with your bare hands.

Guns are merely weapons for commoners.

It was not a weapon to be wielded by a superhuman who had become one of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States.

It was natural to feel puzzled by Ludmilla’s interest in marksmanship. To her, muskets must be less valuable than pebbles on the street.

“Hey, that’s unfair! You said I couldn’t do it!”

I ignored the little one’s protest.

And I handed the reloaded musket to Ludmilla.

She seemed familiar with the basic posture, as she immediately raised the barrel when she grasped the musket with both hands.

“You need to straighten your back more. Fix your gaze and posture… Hold your breath for a moment when you pull the trigger.”

I approached Ludmilla, who was taking a step forward and aiming at the target.

I grabbed her slender waist.

And lifted the white wrist supporting the barrel.

Every time her luscious golden hair, tied in a ponytail, swayed, a sweet scent wafted.

And her boldly exposed nape seduced me enchantingly.

Feeling dizzy, I turned my gaze and focused on the target.

“It’s done.”

As soon as I finished speaking, a gunshot rang out.

Soon, the bullet fired from the barrel hit the target. Unfortunately, it failed to hit the exact center, but it was an excellent result for a beginner.

“Phew… I’m skilled with other weapons, but I just can’t get used to firearms.”

“It’s a weapon that follows a completely different trajectory.”

Perhaps it was because she had succeeded in hitting the target, which she was unfamiliar with.

Or was it for another reason?

A meaningful blush was spreading on Ludmilla’s beautiful face.

“His Majesty enjoys hunting. I want to accompany him, but… My slow skills are always a hindrance. I’m worried that I might be mocked by the imperial family and nobles because of my clumsy skills.”

“Is that so?”

Even to children, it was a well-known fact that Emperor Barbarossa enjoyed hunting. He would go hunting even during a war, so it must be almost at an obsessive level.

It was natural for hunting rifles to be popular.

Originally, trends come from the top down.

That made Ludmilla deliberately embarrassed.

“It will gradually improve with practice. Didn’t you hit the target at 100 yards?”

“That was thanks to your help. On my own, even 50 yards is difficult.”

Ludmilla, who was in a bind, glanced at me with a look that seemed to say, “Would you mind accompanying me on a hunt?”

And I pretended not to notice it.

The Emperor was hostile towards the Hohenberc family. The Emperor, known for being a doting father, would never let go of a family that had committed a brazen act.

He would indeed aim for my head before the wild beasts.

“Since you helped me with training, I’d like to treat you to a meal. Would that be alright?”

“…Ah, yes. Of course.”

“Then I should make a reservation at a famous restaurant.”

“……”

Who would have thought I would have a dinner date with the princess?

If the nobles found out, it would indeed become the talk of the town.

My relationship with Ludmilla was complicated and challenging to explain in a word. If the engagement had continued, we might have become in-laws.

Then, should I refuse?

But I just didn’t have it in me to refuse when I saw Ludmilla’s delighted expression.

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Ludmilla Dreg Valtaria had a personality that prioritized thoroughness close to perfection.

She must not show any flaws.

She always showed a thorough commitment to self-management.

In other words-

It meant that she had a stringent and picky eye for men.

1) He must be a son of a noble bloodline.

2) He must be a person of character with a strong and benevolent disposition.

3) He must be a renowned figure whose abilities and contributions are recognized by many nobles and citizens.

4) He must be a person of merit who is fiercely loyal to the imperial family and has served the empire for a long time.

5) A younger man (most important)

Nobles and citizens thought Ludmilla was maintaining her virginity to fulfill her duties as the guardian protecting the Valtarian Empire and realizing fairness and justice.

However, that was just a misconception. Her eyes for men were so cold and picky that she had refused all marriages until now.

Twenty-seven.

It was not a young age at all.

The marriageable age for women was seventeen, so it could be considered very late.

Will Princess Ludmilla be able to get married this year?

Numerous nobles of the Valtarian Empire placed their bets.

Naturally, “impossible this year” was the favorite. Moreover, the odds exceeded 30 times.

Unfortunately for those chaps,

A rumor began circulating in the capital that she had found a man.

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