Gunmage
Chapter 186: The dagger and the fire storm

Chapter 186: Chapter 186: The dagger and the fire storm

"They don’t hate Ophris because they were colonized,"

Selaphiel corrected.

"They hate Ophris because the country was colonized... by elves. They fear elven magic might secretly fall into human hands. And in some ways... they’re right."

"...I see."

Lugh then turned his attention, stating plainly,

"This country is in real danger."

He began again, voice low but firm.

"Not because of the magical civilizations—but because of the blade they’ve chosen to wield."

"Hmmm?"

Selaphiel stared at him, prompting him to elaborate.

"From what I’ve gathered, Heieg could’ve ended this war long ago with the resources they already have at their disposal."

"...What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that if Heieg decided to invade Pyrellis today, they’d cut through our defenses like fire through wax—reaching the capital in no time at all."

Everyone in the room tensed.

"How is that—"

"—possible?"

Lugh completed the sentence, letting out a weary, distressed smile.

"This war has dragged on for ten years. Heieg refuses to negotiate. There haven’t been any ceasefires. We haven’t reclaimed even an inch of territory since it started. Drakensmar would have been our first real success, but..."

He paused. There was no need to explain the rest—they all knew. Then he continued.

"Our conscription age has dropped from twenty-two to eighteen, while the enemy maintains their army in pristine condition. Not only that, they’ve been upgrading it—outfitting their forces with mechanized equipment."

"Where are you going with this?"

Jahira, visibly annoyed, cut in. She clearly had little patience for human conflicts.

Lugh cut to the chase.

"Here’s what I think. Heieg doesn’t just want a victory. They want an overwhelming victory. And even that... is just a stepping stone."

Isolde and Selaphiel, more informed than the other reclusive elves around them, leaned in—already forming their own theories.

"You mean to say—?"

"Ophris isn’t their goal,"

Lugh finished.

"Why do you think that?"

Isolde asked.

Lugh raised a hand, scratching the side of his head. His voice, dry and low, echoed through the room.

"It’s easy to make conjecture. Two regional powers—Ophris and Heieg—have been waging war for years. And yet, no other human nation has gotten involved."

He glanced around before delivering the punchline.

"Heieg definitely has bigger plans. It might be bold to assume, but... I believe that if Ophris falls, Jazeer is next."

The silence that followed was deafening.

All the elves in the room turned their gazes on him, their stares intense, almost piercing.

After a while—

"Ridiculous."

"You’re overestimating those weapons."

"I can’t believe I was actually listening to this."

Lugh sighed deeply.

He’d expected this.

If he couldn’t even disillusion the people in this very room, then the situation was truly dire.

For a brief moment, he considered abandoning the kingdom to its fate, but he quickly cast the thought aside.

The task he had been given—the one tied to the Mawglass—would become exponentially more difficult, maybe even impossible, if Ophris crumbled and Heieg was allowed to run unchecked.

Isolde looked skeptical. Selaphiel, on the other hand, seemed to genuinely consider his words—after all, he had shot her.

After a moment of thought, she finally spoke.

"I just can’t see it working. While the gun is certainly impressive... I doubt it would seriously threaten me if I was prepared. A lot of humans wielding this weapon could pose a threat at first, sure—but it wouldn’t last. They’d be wiped out. I think you’re underestimating elves and magic far too much."

Lugh’s frustration flared. Why couldn’t they just open their eyes and see?

What good is a fireball spell when artillery can delete your army from fifteen kilometers away?

Was he underestimating magic? Probably. Definitely.

But not nearly as much as they were underestimating firearms.

Suddenly, a thought struck him. He raised his head.

"Thousands of people equipped with what weapons? This one?"

He held the revolver up in the air.

"Yeah. Why?"

Selaphiel asked, already suspicious.

Lugh eyed the gun for a moment.

"Hey... do you know about knights?"

"...Yes, I do. What are you getting at?"

Selaphiel asked.

Lugh nodded in approval.

"You know how knights have a primary and secondary weapon?"

"Secondary weapon?"

Zephyr chimed in. He had grown noticeably more confident over the past few hours.

Lugh glanced at him.

"Let me explain better. You know how knights wield a spear or a sword and shield? Sometimes just a long two-handed sword?"

Everyone looked at him like he’d lost his mind. What was this kid even talking about?

Selaphiel remained patient, nodding for him to continue.

"Since you know so much about knights,"

Lugh continued,

"You should also know that they usually keep a small dagger on them. For emergencies."

Selaphiel nodded again, then added,

"Well, not all of them."

"Not all of them,"

Lugh repeated under his breath, then said aloud:

"This—"

He pointed to the revolver in his hand

"—this is the dagger. The equivalent of one."

Selaphiel’s eyes narrowed.

"You mean to say—"

"There are bigger guns?"

Jahira interrupted.

Lugh steadied his breathing.

"...Yes. Yes, there are bigger guns."

"That still doesn’t mean anything, though,"

She muttered.

His eye twitched.

Selaphiel cut in again.

"Well, Lugh... you’ve certainly brought up some interesting theories. I’ll be sure to relay this to the Queen."

"Many thanks,"

He said, already knowing it wouldn’t matter. They likely wouldn’t pay his words the slightest bit of attention.

After all, the Queen herself was an elf—an absurdly powerful one.

And the stronger they were, the more arrogant they became... the further removed from possibilities they were.

Sensing his mood, Isolde spoke up.

"There’s a group of people who make the same points as you. Although, not many pay them much heed."

Lugh’s eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Yes. It’s an entire noble family. House D’Aramitz. But there’s just one issue."

Lugh grew wary.

"And what might that be?"

"They have access to gunpowder. A near-unlimited amount of it. They’re also well aware of how vulnerable mages are to non-mystical attacks."

She paused before finishing.

"They fit all the criteria you mentioned. And... they’re the prime suspects for the assassination attempt."