Evelyn's POV
The shooting range was only the beginning. With Mr. Darius bringing in more blacksmiths to join the project, our capacity to produce both guns and ammunition increased. Mr. Gareth, ever the strategist, suggested we take the next step.
"We should form a mercenary group," he said one afternoon. "One that specializes in guns."
At first, I thought it would cause problems with the Adventurer's Guild. But Gareth quickly shook his head.
"No. We'll only recruit cultivators at stage two or three. New adventurers, really. It will be a way for them to get their first real experience. And since our group will focus only on escort missions, the guild won't object. If anything, they'll be relieved—escort work is something most adventurers despise, which is why they always charge extra."
He had a point. By taking that burden off their shoulders, we'd be filling a gap while also spreading the use of guns. With my mother as our silent backing, no one would dare try to double-cross us.
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That evening, while training with Marcus and Lina, the two of them brought up something I had been expecting.
Marcus lowered his sword and asked, "Evelyn… won't introducing guns like this make fighters like me—and mages like Lina—obsolete?"
Lina looked uneasy. "He's right. If anyone can pick up a gun and fight, then what's the point of all our training?"
I smiled faintly. "No. Guns won't make you obsolete. Let me show you why."
Because we had our own private training grounds, I didn't have to worry about prying eyes. I stepped back, giving them some distance.
"Shoot at me," I said calmly.
Lina stiffened. "What? Evelyn, these guns can injure a stage five cultivator. I can't just—"
"Relax," I interrupted. "If you won't shoot at me directly, then aim for my mana puppets instead."
I waved my hand, and four goblin kings appeared—fully armored, shields raised, swords in hand. They looked imposing, but they were just constructs of my magic.
"Go on," I said.
Marcus looked intrigued and raised his gun without hesitation. Lina followed reluctantly. When they fired, the goblin puppets immediately reacted—raising their shields to intercept the bullets.
Lina's eyes widened. "Wait—did they move faster than the bullets?"
I shook my head. "No. They can't. What they can do is anticipate your aim. The moment you pull the trigger, they know where the bullet is headed and block it."
The two of them lowered their guns, visibly unsettled.
Marcus frowned as he sat down on the grass. "Then if that's the truth… why bother making guns in the first place? If trained cultivators can just react to them, what's the point?"
I joined them, sitting cross-legged. "Because not everyone is a stage four knight like you, Marcus. And not everyone has the talent to become a mage like Lina. Guns are useful for beginners—for stage one to stage three cultivators. They allow inexperienced fighters to defend themselves, to gain time, to survive."
I let my words sink in before continuing. "The mercenary group isn't just about spreading knowledge—it's about giving people without talent a chance. And yes… it's also about business. The more people learn about these weapons, the more we'll sell. In the future, maybe guns will become strong enough to rival even higher stages. But for now, this is their limit."
Marcus leaned back, thinking it over. "So they're not meant to replace us. Just… give others a fighting chance."
"Exactly." I smiled faintly. "A sword is still sharper. Magic is still more destructive. But sometimes, survival is about the tool you can wield when nothing else is left."