The next few days were spent by thinking, planning and learning. I had decided to help the makeshift commune.
First off, I had nothing to do except train. I wouldn’t be safe outside the protection of the ship. My race was bound to attract some unwelcome attention, the kind which I couldn’t deal with. While my body was stronger than my Tier suggested, there were people stronger than me all around. Also, I had not been trained in sword fights, the close quarter combat training of the academy taught me to break away and search for a gun. It was strictly limited for the do or die moments. True, I had my pistol and rifle, but, even combined, their batteries would barely sustain 500 shots. Only thing keeping them operational was the fission core of the ship.
Second, I had nothing but time on my hands. The previous generation of genetically modified humans had managed to push their lifespan to 200. And I had newer modifications, almost guaranteeing a lifespan of 250 years. I was 34 this year. Also, each Tier of cultivation, both as a mage and warrior, would give me another decade on top of that.
And the last reason was the simplest. I just didn’t want to live in a medieval world for 300 years. Sure, it wouldn’t be a modern heaven anytime soon, but some luxuries would go long way. Like actual edible food, instead of the gruel, bread and roasted meat. And toilet paper.
Thus I started to learn. First thing to do was to review the history and sciences. Since I knew I was in for the long haul when I got my mission to asteroid field, I had brought a digital copy of the archives. I had them, and I had to review them. After all, even though I had spent 8 years in the University of Mars, I was learning mechanical engineering, not chemistry. While designing all manner of engines, battleships and space habitats was something I could do, making sulphuric acid or sodium carbonate wasn’t among that list.
After reading through and thinking through rough outline of a plan, I started talking with Brian. There was so much I didn’t know about this world, and much more that I had simply assumed.
It was lot to take in, but the most interesting thing to me was the economic situation of the elves.
First was the income of the residents of this world.
Each villager, on average, would earn about 5 coppers a day, or 150 coppers a month. Another way to put it would be they would earn silver and a half, as silver was worth 100 copper coins. The next higher currency was gold pieces, with each being worth 20 silvers.
In larger towns, one could expect to earn about 3 or 4 silvers a month. And this was only for the dumb laborers.
If one was a soldier or a guard, he could expect 5-10 silvers. It wasn’t too different for other jobs. But some, like class 1 blacksmiths could earn up to a gold every month. If he was a class 2, like Henry, it went up to 10 times that.
Next were the taxes. While the details changed in every country, broad strokes were the same. For villages, taxes were required to be paid by the whole community by the headcount, instead of it being paid by individuals. Generally, it came to 2 silver per person per year. For town residents, they were paid by the job you did, instead of how much you earned, on a monthly basis. The amount taxed could go up or down based on the mood of the local lords, anywhere from 15% to 50%.
Another thing I asked was about the agriculture and light industries. Thankfully, they were not too different, even if was not the same. The clothes they wore were cotton, but instead of dying them, each bulb grew in different colors. There were olive trees growing, but they had a plant that had a much higher oil content, and it also grew like grains, like wheat. Also, while they had “trees that bled white”, they were not aware of the uses of rubber.
I was planning on continuing perfecting my plans for kick starting society; but Galdwin interrupted me, announcing a “council” meeting tomorrow. It took me couple more sentences to get the gist of it. The 4 who had shown at my door when they first arrived, Galdwin the adventurer, Henry the smith, Larysa the mage alchemist and the veteran Milan had formed some sort of pseudo government, and included me in it without my knowledge.
“I don’t remember joining, though?”
“Lloyd, the village has some issues, so they decided to step up. What we ask of you, is to come and give advice as you see fit. You have no responsibilities to anyone. The other 3 are the most knowledgably people in the village, and you know things we don’t. Well, and I am kinda the lackey of the group…”
There was no demerit to me joining them to listen. If I were to industrialize this world, the thing I was going to need most was population. A revolution like this couldn’t be done with one man alone. I needed the loyalties of the village to do anything.
“Alright, I will attend this meeting of yours, but tell them to hold it here, in the ship. Also, invite Brian as an observer.”
Thankfully, he knew better than to question me, leaving me in silence once again.
As I was about to return to my studies after Galdwin left, I was uninterrupted again, by Josse this time.
“Boss, we hit a dead end with the goblin mana core research.”
“Oh? It has been a week since you started, right? What do you have for me?”
“It is impervious to heat changes for starters. I managed to test it up to 2680C, and as low as -265C. It had no signs of melting, or a phase change. It definable is some sort of crystal, but I can tell you anything more about the material without a quantum electron microscope. It was hard, but also extremely brittle. No tool, including micro diamonds or laser cutters, could damage it, but it can shatter too easily. Even after it was ground to dust, it didn’t show any new reactions. Only, that it melts into molten metals when in powder form. No test managed to find any difference in the metals, including weight and density tests, as if it turned into gas. Yet, sensors managed to catch nothing.”
It was interesting, yet, in the end amounted to very little. I decided to shelve the project. I simply didn’t know much about magic. Every time ii tried to approach the mage expert resident of the village, she managed to avoid me. Sure I might be a coincidence that she had chosen to go out to gather herbs the first time, but it was not when it happened for 4 times.
Soon the 4 arrived for the meeting, alongside my invited guest. While the Henry, Brian and Galdwin seen the interiors, other 2 had not. Yet they still managed to look more dignified that the smith, who had already been here. I guided them to the room where I had served the guest last time.
“I have been here once already,” the smith gawked, “but this place is so magical. I haven’t seen metal tables, doors and walls anywhere else. I don’t think even the grandmaster smiths haven’t seen anything coming close.”
“Alright, Henry, if you are done being fascinated, we should start the meeting. I still wonder why your apprentice here, through.” It seems like either Milan didn’t enjoy me changing the location, or me inviting someone else.
“It’s because I invited him. As for why I did so, you will be able to see it in a week.”
Three of them frowned at me, but Henry didn’t bother. He was here when we first talked about industrial revolution with his apprentice, so he should have an inkling of what I wanted to do.
“Let’s start the meeting. Before we start talking about the main problem, give a report to fill in others about the situation of your responsibilities. Henry, why don’t you go first.” As always, the old man wanted to take control. At this point, it might even be an instinct. Many ranking officers had such a tick, irrelevant of the time location or world.
“Alright, the lumberjacks are making steady progress with the wood. Trees here are straight and tall, so it doesn’t take too much work to create lumber for houses. The trees won’t last too long though, eventually we will need to pass the river for lumber. Even now, at this side, there is a goblin attack every other day, but the guards are more than enough to deal with them. We are going to need more guards when we have to cross the river.
Making houses is not going too good. While we won’t be able to finish them for winter, they should be okay as long as each family lives in one room. It definitely won’t be comfortable, but it beats freezing to death.
The main problem is iron. I didn’t expect so much demand, so I didn’t bring all I had. Originally, we were supposed to be less than 50, not more than 150. And now, I am running short on iron.”
Next one to continue was Larysa.
“My side is also struggling. There are too many mouths to feed, so food won’t last us even till winter. I can make greenspur potion to speed up the development of the plants, but even then it won’t feed even the fifth of the populace even if I exhaust all my materials.
One a positive note, it was great that we managed to find a mana tree here. My herbs are taking the environment well. I should be able to make minor stamina and minor wounds cure potions soon.”
The last part was what drew my attention. I couldn’t let this woman run away this time.
“I should be able to help you with the construction materials in a month or so, but food issue is beyond me. Even if I open my food reserves, it won’t last 2 weeks. Also, Larysa, please come back when you have time. I have couple questions to ask you.”
She managed to hide it well, but my implants managed to spot the signs. Increase of heart rate, eyes widening by small margin, facial muscles twitching alongside the ears. It was panic. And fear.
If you want ideas I have a funny one seeing that you point out Release That Witch. Start looting Chinese history. Poison gas, flame throwers, crossbows, kites, etc. Banded armor but that is more Roman. Modern tactics, screw chivalry. Figure out a way to get one of the ship mounted weapons onto the battlefield, only needs one shot if you can blast the enemy commander.
What he said, especially the part about "Modern tactics, screw chivalry."
Anyway, I've seen some documentaries about Medieval Europe. And recent historians admit that romantic novels and Hollywood portrays Medieval knights all wrong. They portray them has "heroic" and romantic, defending the weak, living by a moral code of honor, etc. In reality - historically - many knights of Medieval Europe were trained, glorified bandits in armor. They were territorial and plundered travelers and did what they wanted to the local peasants - i.e., generally-speaking, not nice people.
As far as Release That Witch: I do enjoy the manga. It does have it's clever moments, adorableness and fan service. However, while I started out really liking the Chinese WN, I started to hate it around halfway. There are far too many logic faults and inconsistencies (even with the story itself). It feels more like a rough draft. Also, the author keeps pushing Communist China propaganda and heaps on ridiculously huge advantages on humanity's many enemies. Imagine WWII Earth soldiers and a handful of witches (who each have maybe 1 or 2 powers, many of which aren't even combat-oriented) versus hordes of demons with countless magic powers, some of which can regenerate wounds almost instantly or are otherwise nearly unkillable. It's like a drawn-out battle between Green Arrow and Doomsday.
I feel as though gunpowder isn't an issue, but instead a necessity. It's effective, cost efficient and increases your war capabilities by a hundred fold against enemies without it. Trying to not develop it because other novels used it wouldn't be logical, since all scientific advancements would eventually lead to the development of gunpowder.
Also the MC is from our world, thus the logical conclusion of any human stranded in a medieval world would undoubtedly be to develop gunpowder.
Also there is literally no way he wouldn't mix in some mana core dust in some way, "for science."
@Riandera Plus everybody can learn to use a gun whereas only a minority with mana capabilities can wield magic. As such, gunpowder would help break the hierarchy already in place within the fantasy world.
There's a good reason gunpowder is often introduced by transported or reincarnated persons in isekai: It is extremely effective. The introduction of reliable guns made Medieval-style full plate armor, shields, longbows and crossbows obsolete and drastically changed the way warfare was conducted.
Gunpowder can also be used for other effective weapons, such as explosives to destroy gates and fortifications (or traps), explosive arrows, and explosive spears. Imagine a stick of dynamite or similar on the end of a long spear or lance, designed to detonate on impact...
And just imagine how explosives will spook the enemy's horses/cavalry. With enough exposure and selective breeding for the right temperament, you can have horses that tolerate it. But if the enemy doesn't have gunpowder, they won't have that, and horses will buck them off and bolt.
Granted, there are a bunch of isekai where the MC decides not to introduce gunpowder or they get mad when someone else from Earth introduces it. They do this for moral reasons: Arguing that gunpowder would drastically alter warfare and likely lead to bloodier, deadlier conflicts or completely upset the continent's (or world's) balance of power, toppling entire nations. But - in this story - it sounds like the continent is already embroiled in constant bloody conflicts and civil wars, so the worst is already occurring. I don't think they plan to share gunpowder with their neighbors, anyway.
Consider, too, that the MC comments on how this world has a heavy reliance on magic, magic metals and cultivation (Tiers or whatever). Think about it: The implication is that even if the MC were to teach the village how to make gunpowder (or, alternatively, make it for them without telling them how), it would maybe allow them to fight on an even playing field with, perhaps, Tier 2 or 3 opponents (if that). Because magic metals, magic and cultivation are so potent, the usual argument that gunpowder would throw the world out of balance goes out the window. Leveling the playing field would give more power to commoners and - in theory - give commoners more value on the battlefield and break the hegemony that nobles have and help disrupt the class system.
@Xpacetrue An excellent reply. Those are indeed good reasons for introducing gunpowder.
Especially since as you've put it, they are already in constant war, so why not bring in something to change the landscape and possibly alter the course of these endless civil wars.
it's kind of like the sengoku period in Japan around the 1500s, where most of the civil strife ended after the tokugawa shogunate took control the mainland.