I Was Reincarnated as a Marquis in Another World

One of the pillars supporting the Croilet Kingdom is the technology department of the Academy.

Inside the Academy, about 90% of the students are composed of nobles and quasi-nobles, which gives the military department a guaranteed pathway to commission as officers, making the technology department feel somewhat overshadowed.

Moreover, the importance of technology has not yet been fully emphasized, as they are conducting research on weapon production, material studies, agricultural tool improvements, and transportation enhancements together, which does not allow for a high level of specialization.

However, for commoners or serfs, if one successfully gets into this place, it is considered one of the sure paths to success, with quasi-noble treatment awaiting them.

Thus, outside the Academy, the technology department is often depicted as a paradise for commoners, promising “beautiful wives, wealthy lifestyles, and social honors” simply by gaining admission.

However, I, SIEL von Croilet, was certain that this place was far from a paradise.

Because I was witnessing firsthand students suffering through pains similar to those I endured when I was in graduate school back in Korea.

“Charles! At this rate, you’re going to spend four years in the master’s program. This isn’t a joke; I asked you to investigate the relationship between the size and power of bullets used in matchlock rifles, which has the highest chance of passing as a thesis topic, right? But how can you analyze it like this?”

“Martin Koji! The department head said our research results aren’t satisfactory and reduced the research funds… now we’re going to have to live on pickled herring and salted meat.”

“Heh, during my master’s, I managed to leave on time at least every two or three days… but now that I’ve started my doctorate, I can’t even leave on time for a week. I should have noticed when the Academy provided a dedicated residence for doctoral students…”

Even though it wasn’t my fashion trend, these poor friends were wearing checkered tops and slightly faded pants, along with half-torn leather aprons, something you might expect from engineering students.

Still, I had experienced hardship in graduate school, where the funding was insufficient and after paying tuition, I had no living expenses.

This was partly due to the command I had given to the president of the Academy and other professors: “Those who complete a master’s program or higher are treasures of the kingdom; even if I cannot provide them with a generous salary, ensure that they are not burdened by money.” So, everyone had a bit of an oily appearance.

As professors were about to open their mouths again to squeeze more from their students, a graduate student recognized me, knelt on one knee, respectfully, and said, “Professor, His Majesty the King is here.”

“I think we should discuss the thesis later. We meet His Majesty the King.”

Upon hearing this, the professors turned with suspicious looks and soon confirmed my presence, then stood at attention.

Then, the highest-ranking professor among them spoke on behalf of everyone.

“It is a great honor for the technology department that His Majesty the King comes to this humble laboratory…”

I patted his shoulder, which bore traces of gunpowder experiments, stood him up by shaking his hand, and said, “The weapons you have researched have played a significant role in this war. Especially if there were no cannons made by mixing wrought iron and steel, our army would have suffered a catastrophic defeat against Franche’s forces. It’s a beautiful sight to see that even after such accomplishments, you are focused on furthering your research. I will certainly not forget your hard work.”

At my words, the Academy students pursuing graduate studies and the professors looked at me with expressions filled with emotion.

“Therefore, effective immediately, I will grant each professor between 100 and 300 gold coins according to their contributions and positions. Furthermore, master’s students will receive 4 gold coins and those completing doctoral studies will receive 9 gold coins. These will be issued in the form of promissory notes, so be sure to claim them at the Academy’s treasury later. Also, I have borrowed the entire ‘Tears of the Goddess’ for dinner tonight, and I will cover all expenses, so feast and enjoy.”

While the rewards for students other than professors may seem small, no matter how much they contributed to the project, the weight of “student and professor” is necessarily different.

Additionally, unlike students, professors have followers ranging from 5 to 20, so it was appropriate to distribute accordingly.

“Your Majesty, thank you…”

“Thanks to you, we’ll be able to enjoy delicious food… thank you.”

Both professors and graduate students showed genuine gratitude for their rewards, indicating it was appropriate.

I clapped my hands to gain their attention and then said, “However, after ample rest, you must resume serving me diligently. Moreover, the reason I’ve come here today is that I want you to develop a new weapon. I also wish for it to demonstrate maximum efficiency and power.”

Upon hearing my words, the professors brightened at the prospect of creating something new and the possibility of receiving additional funding upon successful research.

On the other hand, the graduate students seemed pale, recalling the struggles they endured when making weapons like “sniping” and “cannons.”

Watching their contrasting reactions, I thought, ‘As always, professors enjoy research and development while graduate students are tragically ground down like slaves…’

However, this was the path they chose for success, so I must give them a promise of comfortable living and hope for the future while urging them to endure with grit…

Unlike modern graduate students, here in this world, acquiring a master’s degree and graduating provides treatment and status comparable to that of a ‘professional.’

With that in mind, I opened the paper I brought and said, “First, I believe it would help to groove the inside of the barrel in a spiral, which would reduce the residue from the explosions. Additionally, just like throwing small balls, where the difference in distance and accuracy between those with and without spin can be observed, I think if we put bullets perfectly suited to this, it will enhance the hit rate and range to some extent. If possible, I would also like a new ignition device to be developed.”

Although I spoke off the cuff, historically, with rifled guns and corresponding minié bullets, or rather… with the inception of Lorenz bullets, the disparities in range and accuracy saw a remarkable increase.

In fact, during the American Civil War of the 1800s, when minié rifles were utilized with minié bullets compared to the smoothbore muskets held by British forces, the former displayed a significantly higher hit rate and range.

Indeed, the effective range of smoothbore matchlock rifles is around 50-100 meters, while for rifled rifles, when aimed at human-sized targets, the average hit rate is about 90% at around 200 meters, and in sniping, it can reach up to 20% accuracy at a maximum distance of 500 meters.

In other words, you can begin with an overwhelming distance advantage over the opponent.

This aspect was also why junior officers took the lead, and soldiers could no longer be seen standing in rows, stoically fighting the enemy.

Of course, anyone who saw the scenes created through sniping and cannons might argue, ‘Didn’t you eliminate all romantic notions?’

Once they experienced the power of a rifled gun, I believed they would certainly come to understand my words.

After all, facing an enemy with a shooting distance where they hit while you can’t even hit, is sheer terror.

“As Your Majesty says, if you groove the barrel in a spiral, residue from gunpowder and lead will mainly accumulate there. This would improve situations often faced on a battlefield where accumulated residues would prevent firing. Also, if it’s grooved in a spiral, the range might increase as well. However, if you have such thoughts, why did you come to seek us out? You could have just ordered the creation of a prototype and given directives for improvements…”

“Well, it is indeed in sequence to determine its theoretical feasibility, then create a prototype. But think about it. Grooving six lines in the steel barrel isn’t an easy task; therefore, it’s prudent to assess feasibility and ideate the ideal shape before creating a prototype to save time and costs. Next, you’ll need to study efficient tools for grooving the interior and economical methods for producing the bullets.”

“Also, I’m not just giving you orders like a mere machine obeying commands; the purpose is to think of ways to move toward your goals and achieve ideal developments.”

As I countered the professor’s words with irrefutable logic, he soon bowed his head and replied to me.

“Your Majesty is right. I’ve been thinking too conventionally about research…”

“I understand; cannon prototypes did break with just two or three shots initially, but still, I ordered that prototypes be made and improved based on those experiences.”

“I apologize…”

Then, before leaving the laboratory, I threw out a word to inspire the professors and graduate students.

“While other research is crucial, the task I have posed will become a weapon that shifts the balance of war on par with sniping and cannons. So, if you want to graduate, those in the master’s and doctoral programs need to deliver results in this research. And if your research is successful and you are recognized for producing exceptional results by three professors… I will grant you a special exemption from your thesis and give you the opportunity to become either a specialized instructor or a professor at the technical school. For those professors who contribute significantly, I will bestow a technical medal and pension.”

After saying this, I opened the door to leave the technology department’s lab, and beyond the door, I heard the screams of the graduate students.

“If someone else told us that grooving a barrel would reduce residue, we would take our time to verify it… but it just had to be His Majesty who said that… Especially considering that none of the items His Majesty proposed have been unproven, right?”

“At least it’s better than being asked to produce something that’s clearly impossible? You should graduate soon, and then marry Lady Anna, right?”

“…. I haven’t seen her face much lately…”

Their despairing voices pained my heart, but it was unavoidable for them to undertake such tasks.

Instead, I should ensure graduate students’ rights are protected by increasing living expenses under the pretext of educational support, and grant housing for master’s and doctoral students who have families.

Also, I should order professors not to overwork them due to continuous late nights and overtime…

Next, I ordered students from the administrative and military departments to study administration, conscription, logistics, roads, and transportation efficiency.

Initially, they displayed an elegant demeanor, as this field is regarded as the pinnacle of education in this era, but when I lingered for nearly an hour listening to their topics, at the door, I heard.

“Last year, that Baker chap, who said he’d stop at a master’s degree instead of pursuing a doctorate, was a genius. To think that implementing a conscription system would mean even serfs must fulfill the duty to participate, reducing taxes to 40% and seeking means to compensate for the budget shortfall?”

“Other oversight officials will likely have their heads spinning with this, but they’ll simply be executing 95% of the policy we’ve created. If I had known this would happen, I should have stuck with being an overseer instead of a professor…”

“I was deceived by the promise of a barony when becoming a dean… Logistics efficiency? The system established by His Majesty is already so efficient that even minor improvements are incredibly tough…”

Such murmurs revealed similar reactions as those from the technology department’s graduate students.

Hearing them, I felt regretful; however, I wasn’t certain how large the next war would be. Still, I knew that the technological and administrative foundations I established were essential.

Although it would take at least 1-2 years for proper reports and results to emerge, if successful, our kingdom could truly transition into a modern state.

If we fail to advance, the amount of blood from the citizens of the kingdom that I would have to spill would only increase.

Rifled rifles and specialized ammunition may not be produced as easily as matchlock rifles, but what if we could deploy weapons ahead of the times?

From the opponent’s perspective, it would be a source of unimaginable anxiety.

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