The Regressor Only Protects Me [EN]: Chapter 86

86. Mangyeong’s Weapons

In war, the most crucial elements are training, supplies, and weaponry.

Sion’s forces were at a disadvantage compared to Dong-an due to the commanders’ inexperience, the soldiers’ inadequate training, and the significant numerical disparity.

No matter how diligently they trained from that point forward, Mangyeong wouldn’t be able to bridge the gap with Dong-an in those three critical areas.

Dong-an’s warriors were essentially well-honed war machines, battle-hardened from constant fighting in previous conflicts.

However, Mangyeong possessed its own unique assets, specific to its circumstances.

Chief among these was the ogre.

When Sion initially began training him, many voiced their doubts.

Some even expressed outright disapproval.

But when the ogre first proved his worth in battle, those doubts and complaints transformed into admiration and cheers.

He had become an indispensable asset to Mangyeong, serving as both a powerful weapon and a valuable source of labor.

The Head of the Order Department led Sion to the Head of the Labor Department.

The Labor Department Head, wiping sweat from his forehead with a towel draped around his neck, addressed Sion.

“Well, what did you think? We’ve minimized the inherent limitations of the existing catapults, you see? The ones restricted by movement, and we’ve ensured accuracy. You’ll likely be quite satisfied. Whew—! It’s sweltering today, so hot. All thanks to the boiler, you see.”

Following the Labor Department Head, Sion entered what was once the school gymnasium, listening intently to his explanation.

This space had been repurposed from an elementary school gymnasium.

It now served as Mangyeong’s armory.

And a core strategic location for Mangyeong’s war efforts.

The carts that once held sports balls were now overflowing with Mangyeong’s weaponry, meticulously organized. Reassembled arrows were bundled together and stored neatly on one side.

These were the war supplies slated to depart for the Pamian Apartment complex that very day.

The gymnasium also housed a boiler system, an invention of Sion’s, and the workers were deeply engrossed in their tasks, seemingly oblivious to the presence of their lord.

The rhythmic sound of Sion and the Labor Department Head’s footsteps echoed through the gymnasium.

But even that was largely drowned out by the din of the workers’ activity.

“Take a look. What are your thoughts?”

The Labor Department Head gestured forward.

Sion’s gaze fell upon the ogre, who was squatting in the center of the gymnasium.

He was crouching quietly.

-Krrr…

He seemed to be sniffing, trying to catch Sion’s scent.

The ogre possessed a remarkably keen sense of smell.

He remembered the scent of those he feared.

On either side of the gymnasium’s second-floor balcony, workers were using pulleys to ascend onto the ogre’s back to continue their work. A massive catapult was mounted securely on his back.

The Labor Department Head’s voice boomed through the gymnasium.

“When I first laid eyes on that catapult… Haa, this guy… I was stumped on how to best utilize it. Ah, but what if we embedded the bottom plate of a bus into the monster’s back and then reassembled the vehicle in that state? That’s the kind of brilliant idea I had. Huh? I came up with that kind of idea. Well… currently, even this required a significant amount of labor, so we’ve only managed to produce one, but we’re planning to build two more. Now, this way.”

Sion followed his lead, examining the contraption in greater detail.

The bottom plate of a city bus had been disassembled and seamlessly embedded into the ogre’s back.

And atop that, the bus’s upper frame had been reassembled, forming the framework for the catapult.

The creation of this novel weapon involved the combined efforts of numerous experts and laborers.

It was a project that Sion had been eagerly anticipating.

Previously, catapults were notoriously difficult to move, often requiring as many as two ogres, and their operation demanded a substantial workforce.

However, by affixing the catapult directly to the ogre’s body, the need for extraneous labor was significantly reduced.

It was an innovative and highly productive achievement by the Labor Department.

They were rapidly becoming Sion’s most potent weapons.

[You have acquired an Ogre (Catapult).]

[Weapon (A-grade) + 1]

“Excellent. It surpasses my expectations.”

Sion praised, his gaze fixed on the ogre.

The Labor Department Head responded with an awkward smile, scratching the back of his head.

“Aha… It’s nothing, really… I simply carried out the lord’s instructions to the best of my ability. Hehe. Being praised at my age makes me awfully shy.”

The Labor Department Head gestured for Sion to follow him once more.

There were still numerous weapons to showcase to the lord that day.

“Besides the catapult, there’s also the giant crossbow, isn’t there? I’m contemplating how to… mount that as well. That crossbow, you see? Even though its range is shorter than the catapult’s, its accuracy is unparalleled, isn’t it?”

“But weren’t there significant challenges in producing the crossbow?”

“It’s not that there weren’t any problems, but all the core functions are operating normally. Take a look.”

The Labor Department Head walked to another area and picked up a crossbow that was resting on a school desk.

Historically, the development of such a crossbow would have been a lengthy process, but modern times were different.

It was relatively straightforward for modern humans to recreate artifacts from the past.

This was because they were highly advanced, possessing a wealth of knowledge unmatched by any previous civilization.

“If you pull this lever, the string will automatically release and fire the bolt forward. To reload, you simply push the lever forward again. The rate of fire is… if you become proficient with it… let’s see… Ah, yes. Approximately 10 shots per minute? Something like that.”

Given that archers could typically fire around 4 to 5 arrows per minute, the crossbow’s rate of fire, at 10 shots, was twice as fast.

“Good.”

The crossbow emitted a clanging sound each time it was reloaded.

Sion meticulously examined the crossbow.

It was a unique Mangyeong creation, constructed from basic materials like screws and nails.

It was the Labor Department Head’s invention, built according to the provided blueprint.

“What is the daily production rate for crossbows?”

“About 10. We currently have 35 in stock.”

“Please ensure that you also prioritize arrow production. Supplies are of paramount importance.”

“Ah, about that? Actually, the arrow production speed has been slowing down. After investigating the issue, it appears that the arrow specifications for bows and crossbows are incompatible…”

Different arrows were required for bows and crossbows.

While the arrows used for bows could have slightly varying specifications, crossbows demanded arrows that precisely matched the designated specifications.

However, it was impossible to perfectly align the specifications of crossbow arrows and bow arrows.

Crossbow arrows were short and designed for penetration, similar to the Pyeonjeon [a type of short arrow used in Joseon-era Korea], while bow arrows were longer.

Nevertheless, it was not feasible to replace all long-range archers with crossbowmen.

Bows still held inherent value.

Bows offered the advantage of their unique long-range striking capability and a higher production rate compared to crossbows.

Sion turned his head and observed the children sitting in a circle, tearing apart padding.

The feathers used for arrows were sourced from this padding.

Fortunately, Mangyeong possessed a substantial quantity of padding, as they had just passed through winter.

“But you must continue to do your best. All of Mangyeong’s labor force is diligently preparing for war. Demonstrate your capabilities through close collaboration with the Order Department Head. To achieve victory in war, it’s not enough to simply fight well. You must prepare meticulously to win.”

“Of course. I’ll do anything at the lord’s command.”

Sion smiled at the Labor Department Head’s enthusiastic response.

Sion proceeded to tour the armory in its entirety.

The primary weapon of Mangyeong’s standing soldiers was a spear, crafted by attaching a blade to a pole.

Anything long and sturdy could serve as a pole.

Vacuum cleaner pipes, mop handles, strong pieces of wood, or even stand poles.

The ideal choice was a billiard cue.

It was durable, sharp, and of the appropriate length.

Killing power was enhanced by securely fastening a sharply honed blade to the pole.

The standing soldiers possessed approximately 1,000 such weapons.

Aside from the manufactured weapons, the remaining tools consisted of blunt instruments or tools.

Among the soldiers engaged in close-quarters combat, the most valuable weapon was the dagger.

Consequently, the armory was producing daggers in-house, although they were admittedly crude.

This was because they were created by repurposing existing items without undergoing any fine-tuning or specialized processing.

Someday, they would need to establish a factory capable of performing regular processing, including intricate fine work, but that time had not yet arrived.

Both labor and resources were scarce.

Ultimately, weapon production could only advance to the most basic stage at this point.

Despite the rudimentary level of production, the labor force dedicated to the task was fully supported by the force and committed to crafting weapons with unwavering dedication.

The armory’s internal inspection proceeded smoothly.

Sion turned back toward the area where the soldiers were assembled.

The soldiers were all dressed in plain clothing.

This was because wearing protective gear would impede movement, thereby reducing mobility and combat effectiveness.

However, protective equipment was still essential.

“This is a shield made from an existing car door. And this is the new version. A new face.”

It was a lighter version.

The Labor Department Head picked up one of the shields.

“The original car doors were heavy and required two people to carry, but this new version is small enough for an individual to carry. Well, most adults can carry it without too much trouble.”

“Are there any issues with shield supply?”

“Well, car doors are being readily procured by those lads who are constructing the castle, you see, and they’re working in tandem. When building the castle walls, only the car body is needed, so they have no need for the doors.”

“I understand.”

As Sion had envisioned, war preparations were progressing steadily.

Sion concluded the equipment inspection and was about to turn back.

However, he realized that he had overlooked the last, and perhaps most crucial, piece of equipment. He turned to the Labor Department Head and inquired.

“Department Head, are the fire suits ready?”

“Ah, the fire suits. That’s right. This way.”

The Labor Department Head led Sion onward.

To a warehouse located within the gymnasium.

Inside, fire suits, the kind worn by firefighters, were stacked high.

These were the fire suits that had been collected from every fire station in Manan-gu [a district in Anyang, South Korea].

Even the gas masks were all A-grade quality.

And these fire suits were also the cornerstone of the Bisan-dong [a neighborhood in Anyang] defense force.

* * *

In the past, the city’s roads were typically straight, paved with asphalt, and lined with sidewalks.

But since the world had been ravaged, the city’s roads had undergone a dramatic transformation.

New pathways had emerged, winding between the collapsed buildings.

Choi Hyun-ji leaped from the living room of a 7th-floor apartment, where a gaping hole had formed in the floor, directly into the living room of the apartment below.

Thud-!

When she landed on the sofa, a cloud of thick dust billowed into the air.

She glanced up at the gaping hole in the ceiling and said.

“Come on down.”

“…”

Sion followed her, jumping down lightly, followed by Jin Jae-hee.

Thud-!

Jin Jae-hee casually brushed the dust off her upper body while standing on the bed.

The dust was incredibly thick.

But Ha Yun-ha hesitated, faltering.

The drop seemed a bit too high.

“Ah, it’s okay. Just jump down.”

Choi Hyun-ji said with a smirk, and Ha Yun-ha soon took the plunge.

“Kyaa-!”

“Don’t make so much noise.”

“Ah… I’m sorry. Lord… I was just startled.”

Jin Jae-hee silently helped Ha Yun-ha to her feet.

Ha Yun-ha bowed to Jin Jae-hee.

“Ah. Thank you…”

But Jin Jae-hee, turning away, simply followed Sion out of the room without uttering a word.

Afterward, Choi Hyun-ji emerged from the apartment, traversed the hallway, and made her way to the window.

This had once been a 7th-floor apartment.

But beyond the window, a collapsed building had created a new pathway.

A new road had formed as the building had toppled to the side.

“In reality, wanderers don’t simply stroll along the roads, practically begging to be killed. They discover new ‘roads’ by navigating between buildings and rooftops in this manner.”

Choi Hyun-ji took the lead, followed by Kang Sion, Jin Jae-hee, and Ha Yun-ha.

After scouting this location, Choi Hyun-ji had identified a clandestine route from Mangyeong to Dong-an.

She had personally volunteered to guide Sion, the lord of Mangyeong, along this route.

They navigated between buildings for some time.

In certain areas, they crossed makeshift bridges constructed by wanderers.

“These are insider tips that can only be obtained through our wanderer community’s intelligence network.”

Before they realized it, they had crossed from Mangyeong and entered the Dong-an territory.

As Choi Hyun-ji had assured them, they were able to infiltrate the core area of Dong-an while evading the watchful eyes of those guarding the border.

From there, they decided to delve deeper using the sewer system.

“Was it here…?”

Creak-.

When they opened the snow-covered sewer access point, the stench wasn’t as overpowering as they had anticipated.

This was because humans had largely ceased using toilets since the collapse of civilization.

Of course, that didn’t mean there was no odor at all.

Click.

Choi Hyun-ji switched on her flashlight and illuminated the path ahead.

The interior of the sewer was cramped.

Even when entering one at a time, they had to stoop low to proceed.

“But honestly, this route is too inefficient for a large number of soldiers to use. In the first place, if that many troops were to move, the enemy would likely become aware of it.”

Choi Hyun-ji’s voice, echoing from ahead, reverberated through the sewer.

Soon, they could discern a faint light.

There was no ladder originally present to ascend from the sewer, but wanderers had placed one there.

They climbed up the ladder in turn.

“We’re here. Just a little further now.”

By traversing between buildings, they had now approached the innermost part of Dong-an.

This area was the commercial district near Anyang Beomgye Station [a subway station in Anyang].

In the past, it had been renowned as a vibrant bar street, frequented by many young people seeking a place to drink.

A beam of light emanated from the end of the corridor inside the building.

“Hoo… we’ve arrived. Ah—! I feel like I’ve been hiking.”

Sion walked forward.

The heart of Dong-an resided just beyond that point.