Trenches, Guns, and Magic

Helga pulled out a long, narrow weapon case from beside the folding table. With a "click," the metal latches sprang open. The lid was lifted, revealing several brand new weapons neatly arranged inside.

Morin's attention was instantly drawn to them.

Lying in the case was something he had seen countless times in his past life, but which had never appeared in this world: a pump-action shotgun.

Helga took one out of the case, holding it flat with both hands, and presented it to Morin.

"This is a general-purpose model. The tubular magazine can hold six rounds of 12-gauge buckshot. The magazine is located under the barrel, loaded from the feed port at the bottom..."

Her speaking pace began to quicken, her animated appearance a stark contrast to the blushing girl who had just stepped off the airship.

"The firearm principles you proposed earlier, I repeatedly tested them after perfecting the design and making prototypes. I also optimized them. The current cycling reliability is very high; at least during continuous firing at the shooting range, there haven't been many feeding issues~"

When Morin had tasted the sweetness of the gold-plated double-barreled shotgun Cecilia gave him on the Western Front, he immediately realized the overpowered nature of a shotgun in close-quarters combat within 80 meters.

So later, when he returned to the Empire, he shared his thoughts with Helga.

At the time, he felt that while a shotgun was indeed effective, the combat endurance of a double-barreled shotgun was simply too poor. Only a spellcaster like him, with the help of [Mage Hand], could achieve an extremely high rate of fire with a double-barreled shotgun.

Therefore, he quickly thought of the classic pump-action shotgun.

And this weapon, in the world before his transmigration, was indeed deployed on the European battlefield near the end of World War I.

When those high-morale American soldiers brought this weapon across the ocean to Europe, they made the German troops miserable in trench warfare.

However, in this current world, since America had not achieved independence, the Holy Britannia Empire clearly had not procured this weapon.

Morin also didn't know if the legendary gunsmiths Winchester and Pedersen still existed in the North American colonies across the ocean, nor did he know if these two legendary gunsmiths had invented this weapon.

But regardless, on the continent of Europa, this "trench artifact" would first be born from Helga's hands.

And compared to a traditional shotgun, the biggest advantage of a pump-action shotgun in Morin's view was naturally the endurance provided by a 6-round magazine.

For an ordinary soldier in trench clearing operations, a 6-round semi-automatic shotgun was clearly much safer than a double-barreled shotgun...

At this moment, Morin took the gun with some impatience, his right hand gripping the classic shotgun-style grip, his left hand naturally resting on the fore-end.

The feel of the pump action was extremely smooth. Pulling it back and pushing it forward, the entire stroke was clean and crisp, without any superfluous drag.

Visually, this shotgun designed by Helga looked more like the "famous" Model 10 shotgun from a certain video game in another world, except the "controversial" bottom ejection had been changed to side ejection.

In addition, the wooden heat shield covering the top of the barrel and the bayonet lug at the muzzle were all present. The ammunition it fired was also the classic 12-gauge buckshot and slugs, all utilizing brass casings.

Morin raised the gun and aimed it, then lowered it and repeatedly played with the pump action. He even flipped it over, rested the stock on his shoulder, and tested the motions for competitive speed shooting.

"Helga, did you steal the ideas out of my head?"

Helga was stunned for a moment, then realized Morin was praising her. The corners of her mouth turned up, but she quickly pursed her lips.

"I did not... It was after you described the usage scenarios and pain points of the double-barreled shotgun that I redesigned the plan according to your requirements."

"Not bad, not bad~"

Observing Morin's reaction, seeing him turn the gun over and over in his hands, Helga knew her boss was truly satisfied.

So she bent down and pulled another case from under the table.

This was the very case she had been carrying when she disembarked from the airship, which now appeared to have been prepared specifically for Morin.

Helga placed the case on the table, resting her hands on either side of the lid, but didn't open it immediately.

"This... is specially for you."

She lowered her head, her voice dropping.

"I noticed you particularly liked the gold-plated shotgun Sister Cecilia gave you, so this time I also..."

She trailed off halfway and opened the lid directly.

The case was lined with deep red velvet, upon which lay a pump-action shotgun structurally identical to the one just shown.

But the visual impact of this gun was on a completely different level from those general-purpose models just now.

The surfaces of metal components like the receiver and barrel were meticulously engraved with intricate gold patterns. The flow of the patterns extended along the lines of the gun body, every turn and corner carefully designed.

The material of the wooden stock and fore-end had also been upgraded to a higher-grade walnut, polished smooth and warm to the touch, with a clear grain.

The texture of the entire gun had transcended the category of a "weapon," closer to a piece of art imbued with killing intent.

Morin's mouth simply fell open.

Like most men, Morin's hobbies included cars, guns, and balls. And right now, the latter two were right in front of him.

He lifted the gun from the velvet lining; the weight in his hands was perfect, and the gold patterns reflected a soft luster in the light of the tent's oil lamp.

"Helga Schmeisser."

Helga's shoulders shrank, unsure if Morin was happy or about to scold her.

"You are simply..."

Morin turned around, freed one hand, and placed it directly on Helga's head, ruffling it vigorously.

"You understand me too well!"

Helga's hair was mussed up, but the smile on her face could no longer be hidden. Every time Morin praised her, her expression was always brighter than encountering any other happy event.

The blush on her cheeks burned all the way down to the base of her neck, but she didn't dodge Morin's hand at all, even nuzzling into it slightly.

"There are matching ammo pouches, maintenance tools, and a muzzle bayonet in the case."

Helga, her cheeks flushed, finally recovered her wits. She reached into the bottom layer of the case and pulled out a bayonet.

"The bayonet is made to the specifications of the M1898/05 and can be attached directly to the bayonet lug on the muzzle."

Morin took the bayonet, hooked it onto the muzzle, and locked it with a click.

The combination of a pump-action shotgun with a bayonet on the front—its close-quarters combat effectiveness in the trenches made one's scalp tingle just thinking about it.

After setting down his second "exclusive weapon," Morin looked through the remaining general-purpose models in the other cases.

"How many did you bring over in total this time?"

Helga: "80, along with matching brass-cased buckshot and slugs. Enough for initial testing."

"80 is enough... Have the instruction unit test them first. If the results are good, we'll go through the formal Army approval process for mass production."

Morin nodded. Conducting battlefield tests for new weapons was originally one of the functions assumed by the instruction unit.

Furthermore, the current battle in Bucharest provided a perfect testing environment. Close-quarters combat between the two sides was exactly the stage where shotguns shined.

"Besides this..."

Helga said as she opened another case nearby.

"We also brought a batch of modification parts for existing weapons, optimized based on feedback from you, boss, and the instruction unit soldiers."

She took them out of the case one by one.

"New grips for the MG14 light machine gun and MP14 submachine gun. The structure has been re-optimized so it won't be as tiring to hold for long periods."

"There's also a 3x optical sight, which can be mounted on the top of the M1915 semi-automatic rifle's receiver using a special mount..."

Helga paused here, then pulled a cylindrical component from deep within the case.

"And this."

Morin took it and looked. It was a sound suppressor.

This accessory was also a product Helga developed after Morin handed over the relevant technical theories to her following the conclusion of the "black ops" in Budapest.

"Boss, I don't even know where you get so many marvelous ideas... Anyway, after you gave me the principles of acoustic suppression, I led a team to make some test models. They should be somewhat better in effect and quality than the ones you hastily made back then."

"This version is mainly for the M1915 semi-automatic rifle. It can be slipped over the muzzle using this dedicated connection device."

While Morin was already dazzled, Helga pulled another noticeably much larger cylinder out of the case.

"I also made one for the MG14 light machine gun."

Morin looked at that thick suppressor, his expression becoming somewhat odd.

"A suppressor on a light machine gun?"

"Mhm, the effect isn't actually too good. The noise is still quite loud during continuous fire."

Helga admitted honestly.

"But if you only fire short bursts, the noise can be suppressed considerably, and it's also difficult for the attacked target to discern the specific direction the gunshot came from."

"Light machine gun teams should find it useful during ambushes..."

Although somewhat surprised, Morin thought about it. Aside from being a bit too advanced for its time, it really did make sense.

"Finally, this."

Helga pointed to a weapon in a separate case that was clearly larger and thicker than an ordinary rifle.

"The M1915 anti-armor rifle that Mauser commissioned us to mass-produce with them. The caliber is 13.2mm~"

"We redesigned the recoil-absorbing structure of the stock based on Mauser's original design."

She patted the thickened rubber pad.

"With the recoil of such a large caliber, an ordinary soldier firing two shots prone would have his shoulder give out. We improved the overall buffer structure of the weapon and applied for a patent along the way. Although the cost has increased a bit, the overall performance has also improved significantly."

"But if it receives a good response among the troops, we at Schmeisser can also build a better reputation. This way, the military's orders leaning toward us will naturally increase."

Morin: "This set of strategies was probably told to you by Cecilia, right?"

"Ah... you found out, boss?"

"After all, if I left it up to you, you wouldn't be able to come up with these words even if you thought about it all night~"

"..."

After hearing this long list of introductions, Morin truly realized that Helga hadn't come here just to "see the boss."

This girl had practically packed all the new projects currently advancing at the Schmeisser Company into the armored airship and brought them to the front line.

"Good work."

Morin reached out and ruffled Helga's head again. The head beneath the ponytail shrank back, then rubbed against his palm shyly.

Since the conversation had reached this point, Morin naturally thought of some situations currently facing the Kampfgruppe, and looked at Helga.

"Helga, I've run into a problem right now."

"Tell me, boss~"

"I need a type of individual weapon that allows ordinary soldiers to project metallic silver... The silver-laced explosives currently on the positions are effective, but those are stationary. The soldiers need a type of silver ammunition they can carry with them and use at any time."

Morin spilled out his thoughts from this period.

"I've considered silver bullets, but there are huge problems... Because pure silver is too soft, if made into a rifle bullet, it won't grip the rifling; accuracy and range will be ruined... Even if we make a structure like a dum-dum bullet with a silver flake embedded in the bullet head, the front line lacks the conditions for mass processing."

Hearing this, Helga didn't answer immediately, but frowned in thought for a few seconds.

"Silver bullets are indeed unrealistic... The hardness of metallic silver is too low, and its density is inferior to lead. Ballistic performance as a rifle bullet would be very poor."

"But—"

Her hand reached toward the 12-gauge buckshot shell on the table, just as Morin reached for it simultaneously.

The two hands touched the ammunition almost at the same time, their fingertips brushing against each other on the brass casing.

Helga violently snatched her hand back.

Meanwhile, Morin, who had entered "immersive thinking mode," clearly hadn't noticed what happened. He picked up the buckshot shell and held it up between them casually.

"Boss, you thought of it too?"

Helga's face was flushed red, but the switch in her brain regarding weapon design had clearly been flipped. Blushing, she began to continue.

"The lead pellets in the buckshot... can be replaced with silver pellets."

"Shotguns inherently don't have rifling, so there's no need to consider the issue of spin stabilization. Although the hardness and density of silver pellets are inferior to lead pellets, within the effective range of a shotgun, the ballistic difference is entirely acceptable."

"Moreover, the manufacturing process for silver pellets is far simpler than silver bullets. You only need to melt the silver and cast it into spheres of a fixed diameter. Ordinary sand casting is sufficient for mass production!"

Morin slapped his thigh.

"Hey, don't say it, I actually have the ready-made conditions here."

He told Helga that the factories and workshops requisitioned by the Kampfgruppe in Ploiești had been processing various prefabricated silver shrapnel pieces these days; casting silver pellets would not be a technical difficulty for them at all.

Helga grew more excited as she spoke, already sketching a cross-sectional diagram of silver pellets loaded into a buckshot casing on a blueprint.

Halfway through drawing, she suddenly stopped her pencil and looked up.

"Right, boss, what are the 'silver weapons' you just mentioned used for? Why is the enemy we have to deal with afraid of silver?"

Morin leaned against the edge of the table, arms crossed, and answered in a very flat tone.

"They're vampires."

The pencil in Helga's hand dropped onto the table with a "clack."

"...What?"

"Vampires. The kind of monsters from the folklore you definitely heard growing up in Thuringia."

Morin pointed in the direction outside the tent.

"There's a whole bunch of them in Bucharest right now, and they've been trying to come over and bite us every night these past few days... So now you understand why I'm scraping silver together from everywhere, right?"

Helga's mouth hung open; her brain was clearly still processing this information.

Morin clapped his hands, teasingly saying: "Want me to take you to the front line trenches someday to see? I guarantee it will be an unforgettable experience for life."

Helga stumbled back two steps, her hands waving frantically in front of her.

"No, no, no! Going to the front will only cause you trouble!"

She quickly pulled the topic back to her field of expertise.

"I... I think I'll head over to the factories in Ploiești to communicate with them about the manufacturing process for the silver pellets, and try to rush out the first batch for test firing as soon as possible!"

Seeing this, Morin stopped teasing her, his expression turning serious.

"Alright, keep an eye on this silver pellet business. The faster, the better."

"Also,"

He walked up to Helga and reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. This action was almost as natural as if it were etched into his bones—so natural that Morin only realized what he had done after doing it.

And Helga froze in place.

The two were silent for about three seconds. Then Morin was the first to remove his hand and clear his throat.

"I will arrange for someone to be responsible for the safety of you and the other Schmeisser Company technicians at the front line. You must bring guards when you go to Ploiești."

Helga merely nodded slightly, unable to even make a sound.

Morin turned to walk out of the tent. As soon as he lifted the flap, he bumped into Kleist, who had been standing outside for who knows how long.

"Commander, tonight's defensive deployments need confirmation."

"..."

"...How long have you been standing here?"

"Commander, I just arrived. I didn't hear anything."

"..."

Morin glared at him in annoyance and strode toward the command tent.

Two days passed in a flash. While the entire Kampfgruppe maintained its frontal defense, various preparations targeting vampire creatures were also advancing intensely.

In the frontline trenches, more "Anti-Vampire Claymores" were buried in position by combat engineers.

After several consecutive nights of actual combat testing, the deployment scheme for this weapon had evolved from the initial "better than nothing" to a quite mature system.

The spacing between each group of Claymores, the angle of the coverage arc, and the coordination relationship with machine gun fire points were repeatedly adjusted to optimum levels.

At the same time, a batch of silver-plated bayonets was issued, through internal selection, to the most skilled soldiers in each company and platoon.

These bayonets were rushed out in the blacksmith workshops of Ploiești. Although the craftsmanship couldn't be called fine, the silver layer was attached firmly. It was sufficient for stabbing Blood Servants in close-quarters life-and-death struggles.

However, this thing was mostly a kind of last resort. At least the propaganda from NCOs of all levels to the grassroots troops advocated using flamethrowers and silver-laced explosives to attack vampires.

As for the progress on Helga's end, it was faster than Morin anticipated.

After the young girl made a trip to the factories in Ploiești, the entire process from casting silver pellets to loading the casings was established by the second day.

The 12 lead pellets originally loaded in the 12-gauge buckshot shell were replaced with silver pellets of the same diameter. After fine-tuning the powder charge, over thirty test rounds were fired at the shooting range.

The test-firing results were compiled into a report overnight by Helga and delivered to Morin early the next morning.

The overall shooting performance, in Morin's view, was entirely sufficient. After all, it was currently a weapon used to paralyze vampire creatures at close range. And he was more concerned with another issue.

"What about the production output of this ammunition?"

"Boss, according to the factories' current production capacity, they can cast about three thousand silver pellets per day... Converted into loaded ammunition, that's roughly two hundred and fifty rounds."

"Two hundred and fifty rounds..."

Morin calculated in his mind. With 80 shotguns, each gun would only receive three and a half rounds per day...

To be honest, it was a bit low, but for the front line, this output was actually quite good. Under current conditions, Morin couldn't really ask for too much.

"Produce at this rate for now. Once the silver material supplies arrive, we'll consider expanding production. But I estimate it won't be long anyway..."