Chapter 45: The Concept of Enchanted Weapons

"I've learned a new spell!"

As Arnel excitedly burst into the study, Bruno was reading a condensed version of The Imperial History.

Since he had come to this world, he needed to understand its historical trajectory. Besides, Bruno had always had an interest in history and books of that nature, so he found the reading neither dull nor tedious.

It wasn't that he didn't want to read the full version it was just that the complete Imperial History only existed in the Royal Library of Saint Lawrence, the capital of the Norman Empire.

It was said that a full set of Imperial History could fill up three entire rooms!

For that reason, most of the publicly available versions were abbreviated, typically covering only the past twenty years of Norman Empire's history.

"A new spell? You?"

Hearing Arnel's words, Bruno finally lifted his head, his tone filled with disbelief.

"What do you mean, me?" Arnel straightened his neck and lifted his head proudly. "I am the apprentice of the Grand Mage Glenn Galvin! I dare say that no one in the entire Idar Territory understands magic better than I do!"

After saying that, Arnel scratched his head and added, "Well… except for you, though you're not a mage… but you're pretty impressive…"

"…"

"What new spell did you learn?" Bruno asked curiously.

"Wind Acceleration!" Arnel said smugly. "Ever since I came to Idar City, I've felt… much more at ease. Even though I'm being exploited by you, a despicable noble… it's not as bad as I originally imagined."

"At the very least… the Hanging Garden is indeed a remarkable wonder," Arnel admitted bluntly.

"Just yesterday, I somehow managed to cast Wind Acceleration instinctively, without any formal guidance…"

"Not bad." Bruno casually praised him.

"That's it?" Arnel looked at Bruno expectantly.

Bruno pretended to think deeply, then solemnly said, "That's it."

Arnel: "…"

"Don't be in such a hurry to leave. I actually have a task for you," Bruno called out just as Arnel was about to turn away in disappointment.

"What is it?" Arnel asked, annoyed.

"What do you think of the idea of enchanted weapons?"

"Enchanted… weapons?" Arnel froze for a moment, standing in place.

Bruno nodded. "Yes, enchanted weapons. What do you think would happen if we inscribed magic arrays onto soldiers' weapons?"

Bruno left it at that, but Arnel was suddenly struck by the idea.

That's right!

If levitation arrays could be inscribed onto the massive stones used in constructing the Hanging Garden, then other magic arrays could certainly be inscribed onto weapons as well…

The fusion of magic arrays and weaponry!

This was an unprecedented concept—but that didn't mean it was impossible!

Arnel was now completely certain: this would be a revolutionary breakthrough!

It could even change the very nature of warfare in the future!

Imagine a battalion of soldiers, all wielding massive blades wreathed in flames, charging into battle. What a terrifying sight that would be!

At that thought, Arnel suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

If such enchanted weapons were widely adopted… then mages might lose their last remaining battlefield advantage!

After all, mages were typically physically weak, and their primary reliance was on chanting spells to unleash magic. But if enchanted weapons were mass-produced, then every soldier would essentially become an apprentice mage capable of casting magic attacks!

This was terrifying…

"I originally had one concept for enchanted weapons, but since you mentioned learning Wind Acceleration today, I have another idea as well…" Bruno continued, ignoring the dazed Arnel.

"Go on, slowly…" Arnel swallowed hard, his expression stiff.

"One idea is to inscribe the fire enchantment you've been studying onto the standard-issue weapons of Idar's soldiers, allowing them to ignite their blades during combat for greater lethality," Bruno said solemnly.

"In theory, this is feasible. But there is one critical issue that needs to be addressed…" Arnel added.

"What is it?" Bruno immediately asked.

"The stability of the fire enchantment! Since enchanted weapons are meant for battle, they will inevitably collide with enemy weapons. Simple bumps and knocks in daily use might be fine, but in the heat of combat, intense clashes could easily damage or deactivate the fire enchantment inscribed on the weapons."

"How do we solve this?"

Arnel rolled his eyes. "I literally just heard about the concept of enchanted weapons for the first time today. How could I possibly know the solution already?"

"But… there are two main approaches. One is to select weapon materials with higher stability—ordinary weapons have extremely limited affinity with magic elements, making it difficult for fire enchantments to remain active for long periods. The second is to refine and optimize the structure of the fire enchantment to minimize the risk of it failing due to violent impacts."

"I understand the second point, but for the first… you're actually suggesting that I start mining magic crystals, aren't you?"

Arnel quickly nodded.

Although the discovery of a magic crystal vein in Armis Mountain was a closely guarded secret known only to a select few, Arnel being the only mage in Idar was naturally one of them.

He had been eyeing that magic crystal deposit for a long time, but since Bruno had strictly forbidden mining it, he had no choice but to suppress his desires.

No mage disliked magic crystals!

Magic crystals could not only store mana for extended periods but also serve as key materials in crafting various magical artifacts.

Their versatility came from their high affinity with magic elements and their exceptional stability.

"Don't you think… using magic crystals for standard-issue weapons is a bit too extravagant?" Bruno countered.

"Then at least let me extract some for experimentation!" Arnel said eagerly.

"We'll see…"

This time, Bruno didn't immediately refuse. After all, it was a potential solution to the problem.

"And what's your other idea, my dear earl?" Arnel asked with a cheeky grin.

He was already feeling overjoyed after all, it seemed likely that he would finally get his hands on some magic crystals soon.

"The second idea is to integrate your Wind Acceleration spell into a new speed-enhancement magic array and apply it to arrows, creating fast, precise, and deadly projectiles."

Upon hearing this, Arnel felt a chill spread from his feet up to his entire body. If such arrows were successfully made, they would truly be capable of killing unseen!