Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 72: [71] Springfield M1903

-Third-Person Perspective-

Two months had passed since Arkan Lawrence officially took control of his territory. Time seemed to move slowly, yet the changes were swift and undeniable.

Under his leadership, the lives of the people gradually improved. What was once a mere dream of prosperity was now becoming a tangible reality. The once deserted markets were now bustling with merchants and customers. Cracked and nearly impassable roads had been repaired and widened.

Yet among all the reforms, one of Arkan’s greatest achievements was in education.

The night classes held every week had become a key initiative in his administration. It was not only for children, but for anyone willing to learn—regardless of age or background. Farmers who wanted to calculate their crop yields, small merchants who wished to read trade contracts, and even women who previously had no access to education—all were now given the opportunity to learn.

To Arkan, an educated society was the key to building a strong foundation for his domain. If his people could read, write, and understand basic mathematics, then both the economy and prosperity would naturally follow.

As the people’s quality of life improved, so too did the infrastructure projects. Over the past two months, road construction, irrigation systems, and storage facilities had been completed. The workers who had been toiling tirelessly were finally given a well-deserved break, before embarking on an even grander project—the expansion of agriculture.

New storage warehouses were set to be built in every village, ensuring harvests would not go to waste. Improved water management systems were also implemented, reducing dependency on seasonal rainfall. Arkan understood one simple truth—a land that could sustain its own food production was a land that could stand strong on its own.

However, not all was easy.

Arkan had to oversee every development, manage finances, and keep his workforce motivated. Despite his demanding responsibilities, he never skipped his daily training, keeping himself physically fit and disciplined. His constant efforts had even begun to reshape his body, making him stronger than when he first arrived in this world.

But even amid all these advancements, one concern loomed over his mind.

The preparation for war.

Arkan understood that this world was anything but peaceful. No matter how strong his economy became, no matter how prosperous his people were, without military strength, everything could be destroyed in mere days.

Thus, he began implementing a modern military discipline among his recruits. Training sessions were held rigorously, morning and evening, with a system far stricter than that of the royal army. Yet, the results were undeniable—his soldiers, though new, were improving at an astonishing rate. Not only were they physically stronger, but they were also learning the fundamentals of modern warfare—something unheard of in this world.

But military power wasn’t his only focus.

Technology.

Every night, before going to bed, Arkan returned to his roots—his identity as an engineer.

Despite his overwhelming responsibilities, he refused to let go of his knowledge and skills. In a small workshop he had built within the castle, he continued experimenting with various tools and innovations that could strengthen his military.

In the past few weeks, he had successfully developed a few simple yet useful inventions—a manual printing press to mass-produce documents, more efficient farming tools, and mechanisms to improve production efficiency.

But his greatest project was something far more dangerous—

Firearms.

Among countless options, he chose to replicate the Springfield M1903, a bolt-action rifle that he knew well.

The reason was simple.

In his previous life, his grandfather had owned an old model of this rifle. Since childhood, Arkan had disassembled and studied its mechanisms, understanding every component, every screw, and every spring that made it function.

However, recreating it from scratch in this world was no easy feat.

With limited tools, he had to be creative. He started with the most fundamental components—the barrel and bolt mechanism. Using basic casting and machining techniques powered by a waterwheel-driven lathe, he painstakingly forged each part by hand.

Night after night, he worked tirelessly, facing multiple failures before achieving success.

Until finally, after countless sleepless nights, he held the fruit of his labor in his hands—

A fully functional bolt-action rifle—sturdy and ready for use.

However, one major challenge remained—

Ammunition.

Without proper gunpowder and propellant, this weapon was nothing more than an iron rod—a glorified club.

Arkan knew that gunpowder already existed in this world, but its quality was far from ideal.

This was why he recruited Faustus Rugenstein, a talented alchemist whom he believed could aid in this project.

With the right formula, they could synthesize gunpowder that was more stable, more powerful, and more efficient. If successful, then modern firearms would be born far earlier than history intended.

But this was just the beginning.

Arkan knew that creating weapons was only one part of his grand design.

To truly secure his territory, he needed something far greater—

Economic strength, military power, and technological superiority.

And to achieve all of that—

He had to keep moving forward.

###

The laboratory was filled with the distinct scent of sulfur and other chemical compounds. Shelves along the walls were lined with glass tubes containing colorful liquids and powders, while the central table was cluttered with alchemy tools and experimental notes. The room was dimly lit, with only oil lamps and a few glowing crystals providing illumination.

At the center of the lab, Arkan stood with his arms crossed, watching as Faustus carefully mixed several substances in a large mortar.

"I have to admit," Faustus wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I didn’t expect this experiment to be this difficult."

Arkan smirked. "Of course, it’s difficult. In this world, no one truly understands the concept of gunpowder. Even if they do, they only use it for fireworks or primitive explosives."

Faustus nodded as he picked up a pinch of black powder from a copper container. "But you’re saying... this mixture is the foundation of firearms?" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"That’s right," Arkan replied, his eyes filled with conviction. "This gunpowder—a combination of saltpeter (potassium nitrate), sulfur, and charcoal—is the key to all propellant-based weapons."

Faustus glanced at a scroll filled with carefully calculated ratios from their previous experiments. "Alright, let’s try again. But this time, with a more stable composition."

With precise movements, he measured the necessary ingredients:

75% Saltpeter (Potassium Nitrate) - 75 grams15% Charcoal - 15 grams10% Sulfur - 10 grams

He began by grinding the charcoal into a fine powder using a large mortar and pestle. Arkan assisted, ensuring no coarse fragments remained. Once the charcoal was sufficiently ground, they mixed it with sulfur and potassium nitrate, carefully following their predetermined ratios.

Faustus then poured the mixture into a hand-powered grinding mill—a stone wheel mechanism Arkan had designed.

"Why do we have to grind it repeatedly?" Faustus asked, intrigued.

"The finer the powder, the more stable and powerful the explosion," Arkan explained. "If the grains are too coarse, combustion won’t be even, making the bullet’s velocity inconsistent."

Faustus nodded, recalling the fundamentals from the books Arkan had given him earlier.

Once the gunpowder reached the desired fine consistency, Arkan sifted the mixture through a fine mesh, ensuring no clumps remained.

On the table, several empty cartridges lay prepared—handcrafted by the local blacksmith based on Arkan’s design. Though still rough in appearance, they were sufficient for the first trial.

Arkan picked up one cartridge, carefully pouring the gunpowder inside using a small funnel.

"The correct charge for this bullet?" Faustus asked.

"Around 4.5 grams of gunpowder per cartridge," Arkan replied. "Any more, and the chamber pressure could damage the rifle."

Once the gunpowder was loaded, the next step was to insert the projectile.

For this trial, they used round lead bullets—simple but effective. Although not as advanced as modern bullets, they were far superior to arrows or primitive explosive weapons found in this world.

Using a basic press tool, Arkan seated the bullet into the cartridge and sealed it with a thin layer of wax, preventing the gunpowder from leaking.

He held up the finished round, examining it with satisfaction.

"And this... is the first step toward a warfare revolution," he murmured.

Faustus gazed at the completed bullet, a mix of awe and apprehension in his eyes. "So... how do we test it?"

Arkan walked over to a gun rack, retrieving the Springfield M1903 he had crafted earlier. Despite the limitations of this world’s technology, the rifle had passed mechanical tests and should function properly.

"We’ll test it outside," Arkan stated. "I’ve already set up targets in the courtyard."

The two left the laboratory, heading to a designated testing ground. Stacks of hay bales and wooden boards had been arranged as target dummies.

Arkan took position, loading the cartridge into the chamber.

With a single pull of the bolt, he cocked the rifle, ensuring the bullet was securely in place.

"Alright," he muttered, taking a deep breath. "Let’s see if our theory holds."

He took aim at a wooden board in the distance—

And pulled the trigger.

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion erupted, shaking the air. A cloud of gunpowder smoke billowed from the rifle’s muzzle, while the target splintered apart, leaving a gaping hole in its center.

Faustus stood frozen, his mouth slightly open in disbelief.

"This..." His voice trembled. "This is incredible..."

Arkan lowered his rifle, a satisfied grin on his face. "And this is just the beginning."

Faustus stepped closer, inspecting the wooden target, his fingers tracing the bullet hole. "With this kind of power... warfare in this world will change forever."

Arkan nodded. "But remember—this weapon is a double-edged sword. If we can develop it, so can our enemies. That’s why we must protect this secret at all costs."

Faustus turned to him, his expression serious. "Understood. I’ll make sure not a single word of this leaks out."

As the sunset painted the sky in shades of orange and crimson, Arkan stared at the distant horizon. He knew—

This was merely the first step.

The road ahead was long and treacherous—but one thing was certain.

The era of firearms had begun.