Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character-Chapter 75: [74] The First Shot

-Arkan Lawrence-

The next morning, Rainer and I returned to Gunnar’s workshop, eager to see the progress of his work. As we arrived, the familiar scent of hot metal and oil greeted us, mingling with the faint smoke drifting through the air.

But the moment I laid eyes on his workbench, I was stunned.

Instead of just a single component as I had requested, the old blacksmith had built a fully assembled version of the mortar—though its shape was crude, asymmetrical, and far from perfect.

Rainer, standing beside me, blinked in surprise. "This... is faster than I expected."

Gunnar laughed, wiping his soot-covered hands. "You’re slow. I couldn’t hold back my curiosity, so I just built the whole thing. It might not match your fancy sketches exactly, but it should work."

I stepped closer, inspecting his creation. The basic structure of the mortar was there—a metal tube serving as the barrel, a simple base to stabilize it, and a rough trigger mechanism at the bottom.

However, I quickly noticed some flaws.

First, it was too heavy. A mortar should be portable, carried by two or three soldiers—but Gunnar’s version looked like a giant iron boulder with legs. Second, its elevation angle was too stiff. Mortars needed adjustable angles to fire at different trajectories.

I ran my fingers over the surface of the metal—it felt rough. "The material is too thick. We can reduce its weight with a lighter alloy."

Gunnar scoffed. "Hey, I’m not a mind reader! I built it based on instinct and experience. If you want me to improve it, you’d better explain in more detail."

I chuckled. "Fair enough. I’ll give you clearer specifications. But still—this is impressive for a first attempt." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Rainer examined the trigger mechanism, curiosity flashing in his eyes. "How does it fire?"

Gunnar shrugged. "That’s still a mystery. I followed the sketches, but I need more details on how a small explosion can push the projectile out of the barrel."

I nodded. "We still need to refine the gunpowder and ammunition system. Once that’s done, we can conduct a field test."

Gunnar grinned, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Then hurry up, Lord Noble. I can’t wait to see this thing in action."

I smirked. "Don’t worry. You won’t be disappointed."

I, Rainer, and Gunnar walked through the open fields outside the settlement, carrying the first experimental mortar. The morning air was crisp, but my mind was already racing with possibilities.

We had chosen this location carefully. If the test worked, the explosion would echo for miles. I didn’t want panicked villagers thinking a monster or rogue mage was attacking.

Besides, this was the first weapon of its kind in this world.

As we walked, Gunnar kept turning the mortar shell in his hands, inspecting every detail with the sharp eyes of a veteran blacksmith.

"So... this is what you call a projectile?" he muttered, skepticism in his voice. "It’s made from lighter metal than a traditional cannonball... but why does it have black powder inside?"

I gave a small smile. "That’s the key to everything. Gunpowder is an explosive material that generates massive pressure in an instant. When ignited inside the mortar’s barrel, the explosion pushes the projectile forward, launching it toward its target."

Gunnar frowned. "So it’s like a cannon—but without dumping gunpowder directly into the barrel? How does that work?"

I nodded. "Exactly. Instead of pouring loose gunpowder, each projectile contains a pre-measured explosive charge inside. Once ignited, the explosion inside the projectile provides enough force to propel it forward."

Gunnar fell silent, rubbing his beard. "If that’s true... then this weapon could revolutionize warfare. No need for massive, heavy cannons. Just a few iron tubes and these shells, and—"

His eyes widened in realization.

I smirked. He finally understood.

Rainer, already familiar with my unusual ideas, simply sighed. "We’re here. What’s next?"

I set the mortar down, then took a small shovel and dug a shallow hole to anchor its base—ensuring it wouldn’t shift when fired. Meanwhile, Rainer stood ready, awaiting my instructions.

I took a deep breath. "Rainer, I want you to demonstrate how a soldier would fire this weapon."

He raised an eyebrow. "I have no idea how this thing works."

I smiled. "That’s the easy part. Just follow my instructions."

I crouched beside the mortar and pointed at its components. "First, make sure the base is stable. The mortar must have the correct angle to hit its target. Second, inspect the projectile before loading it—any cracks or damage could cause premature detonation."

I handed Rainer the first mortar shell. He studied it carefully, then nodded and positioned himself.

"Alright. I’m ready."

I stepped back. "Now, carefully drop the projectile into the barrel. Don’t hesitate."

Rainer followed my instructions, gently placing the mortar shell into the barrel. The moment it hit the bottom, a faint click echoed—signaling that the firing pin had been engaged.

I raised my hand. "Good. Now step back."

Gunnar, who had been watching intently, held his breath. "What happens next?"

I didn’t answer.

I simply watched the mortar with pure anticipation.

And then—

DOOOM!!

A massive explosion roared through the air.

A wave of hot air brushed against my face as the mortar shell shot into the sky, leaving behind a thin trail of smoke before it descended hundreds of meters away—

BOOM!

The ground shook. Distant birds scattered in panic.

I turned to Gunnar, whose jaw had dropped, eyes wide in shock.

Rainer grinned. "Holy hell... That was incredible."

I nodded, completely satisfied. "That’s how a mortar works."

Gunnar finally snapped out of his daze, turning to me with an expression of pure amazement.

"This... This isn’t just a weapon... This is a revolution!"

I smirked. Gotcha.

###

I sat beneath the shade of a large tree, feeling the gentle breeze sweep across the open plains. In front of me, Gunnar was still staring at the ground, his mind clearly struggling to process what had just happened.

Before today, he might have thought of me as just another ambitious young noble with wild ideas. But after watching the first mortar launch and explode in the distance, I was sure his perspective had changed.

I glanced at him with a slight smirk. "So... what do you think about my offer now?"

Gunnar ran a hand down his face, looking both frustrated and awed. "First of all... this is insane. Yesterday, I couldn’t even imagine the kind of ’cannon’ you described—and now, you’re showing me something even more advanced. This isn’t just a cannon... it’s the ’Hand of God’."

I raised an eyebrow. "Hand of God?"

He sighed heavily, tossing a small twig onto the ground. "Yeah, that’s what I’d call it. Something that can change the battlefield in an instant, bringing destruction with just the pull of a trigger. And you want me to create more of these things?"

I leaned my back against the tree trunk. "Of course. This is only the beginning."

Gunnar stared at me, his expression unreadable. "Are you not afraid of divine punishment?"

I fell silent for a moment. Ah, morality and faith...

Before coming to this world, I had never given much thought to such things. Agnostic—that was the best way to describe my beliefs. I never denied the existence of God, but I also never fully believed. I put my faith in logic and science, in things that could be proven through data and experiments, not in concepts that relied solely on faith and doctrine.

But this world... was different.

Here, gods, magic, and supernatural forces were real. I had seen them, experienced them, even used them—in the form of the mysterious system guiding me.

So, could I still call myself an agnostic?

I chuckled softly. "Hell, huh..."

If hell truly existed, I had probably already reserved a seat in the front row.

I gazed up at the vast blue sky above us. "Listen, Gunnar... I don’t know if heaven or hell exists in this world, and honestly, I don’t really care. What I do know is that humans will always wage war, whether they believe in gods or not."

Gunnar remained silent, listening intently.

"I’m not making these weapons because I desire destruction," I continued, my voice more serious. "I’m making them because I know that in a few years, this world will face something far greater than simple kingdom wars or religious conflicts."

I turned to look him in the eyes. "Something is coming. Something that could wipe out entire civilizations in mere years—if we’re not prepared."

Gunnar frowned, his eyes searching mine for the truth behind my words. "What do you mean?"

I took a deep breath. I couldn’t tell him about the future I knew, about the great catastrophe that would eventually come. But I could plant the idea that this world was not as safe as it seemed.

"All I’m saying," I said carefully, "is that we need to be ready. Because if we lack the power to survive, we will become nothing more than victims of history."

Gunnar looked down at his hands, perhaps imagining the burden he would carry if he chose to join me. To forge weapons unlike anything the world had ever seen... to become the hand that shapes the tools of war.

I wouldn’t force him.

But if he was truly a blacksmith at heart, he would understand.

The silence stretched for a few long minutes before Gunnar finally let out a heavy sigh.

"I don’t know if you’re a genius or a devil," he muttered. "But one thing is certain... I can’t ignore something this incredible."

I smiled. "So that means...?"

He rolled his eyes before standing up, brushing the dust off his pants. "You already know my answer, don’t you? I’m in."

I stood up as well and offered my hand. "Welcome to hell, Gunnar."

He clasped my hand with a crooked grin. "Yeah... Hell might not be so bad with you guys around."