"Muskets... muskets..." Gwen muttered. "Sorry, sir, I've never left the Northern Territory. I've only heard about the Empire's muskets. Could you tell me how powerful they are?"
"Why don't you tell me first what you know about muskets? You're from the White Crow Duchy?"
"Yes. I was born in a village. Later, war broke out, and both my parents died, so I fled as a refugee. As for muskets, I only know what I heard—that the White Crow Duchy's army was utterly helpless before the Empire's muskets. It was only when the priests of the Silent Temple stepped in that they barely managed to drive the Empire's soldiers away."
"Yes, that battle was also the only successful battle Transcendents ever fought on a battlefield. The Silent Temple organized a large number of priests in heavy icefield armor to charge the enemy lines, and they actually pushed through the barrage of bullets and broke the defense... Unfortunately, it was only a brief flash of glory. Too many from the Silent Temple died, and they never recovered."
Even after the White Calamity struck, they lacked the strength to protect their followers. They even abandoned the resistance. If not for Nora, it was uncertain how many refugees in the Northern Territory would have survived.
"A musket is a weapon used at close range. In theory, it can fire a bullet several hundred meters, but..."
Isaac spread his hands.
"All I can say is that the Empire's infantry manual strictly forbids firing from beyond a hundred meters. Its exact wording is, 'That would only waste precious powder.' Normally, firing range does not exceed seventy meters. In fact, the closer, the better."
Gwen frowned. "Then... doesn't that seem worse than a bow?"
There were plenty of experienced hunters in the Northern Territory who could hit