Ematol

(Talk to Ematol)

Ematol: Let the Wind Lead! Follow the Sparks! Greeting, Great Honorary Knight, and to you, Helper in White. I, Investigative Team Weapons Officer Ematol, am at your service. What can I do for you?

Follow the Sparks?

Paimon: By sparks... could you mean... the Spark Knight?

Ematol: That's right! That's my personal motto!

Ematol: Out of all the elite warriors of the Knights of Favonius, the most powerful must be our revered and adorable Spark Knight!

Ematol: She traverses every inch of Mondstadt with a lively demeanor; and her petite and nimble form carries enough firepower to completely annihilate an entire legion.

Ematol: No matter how numerous the enemy force is, they will all be burnt to ashes and scattered by the winds to the sound of the Spark Knight's delightful laughter and rumbling symphony of her "explosives so powerful that they shouldn't exist in the world"!

I—Is Klee really that powerful?

I—I never realized that...

Paimon: Y—Yeah... and what's with the "shouldn't exist in the world" you mentioned?

Ematol: Ah, for that question, you've come to the right person! I'm a pretty skilled alchemist myself...

Ematol: Although I'm not nearly as learned as Master Sucrose or Master Timaeus, and so far behind Captain Albedo I can't even see his shadow on a winter's morn, I do have my own expertise and have designed many explosives for engineering use!

Ematol: However, their explosive velocity simply isn't in the same league as the Jumpy Dumpty. They are only capable of deflagrating, rather than transitioning to a high brisance detonation...

I'm lost!

In layman's terms, please!

Paimon: Yeah! Deflagration this, detonate this, all Paimon understood was "explosive"!

Ematol: Oh no! I'm so sorry, I got carried away and didn't do a good enough job explaining, it's all my fault!

Ematol: Anyway, ordinary explosive materials are two, maybe even two and a half generations away from the masterpieces designed by the Spark Knight! In terms of cost, they aren't even close to the same level either.

Ematol: When I asked the Spark Knight about the secret ingredients for Jumpy Dumpty, she only answered:

Ematol: "Jumpy Dumpty's formula was given to Klee by Klee's mother! If there's a secret ingredient, it must be her love for Klee!"

Ematol: But it's understandable for her to say that! Since the formula for such a powerful explosive is something confidential that could affect the balance of power between nations, it's simply above the pay grade of someone as low and insignificant as I!

Ematol: All I can do is try to follow in the footsteps of the Spark Knight and try even harder to develop my own formula for explosive materials.

Ematol: I will work hard, and strive to achieve my goal, that one day I could make something that's at least... one twentieth as powerful and cost-effective as the Jumpy Dumpty!

Ematol: Oh, the mere thought of it makes me tremble with excitement... The perfect rate explosive rate, an earth-shattering shockwave, a concise build, and low cost...

Ematol: Hehehe... Jumpy Dumpty... Hehehe...

Calm down!

You're getting carried away again!

Paimon: P—Paimon has never met someone like this... Let's just call her... "Bombaholic" in the future!

Paimon: Let's get out of here, (TravelerTravelerThe player's chosen name for the Traveler)!

Paimon: If we get a chance, we need to remind Albedo... Pay attention to the Bombaholic on his team, and take care of her mental state!

Weapons Specialist?

Paimon: Paimon has never heard that title before. Sounds impressive.

Ematol: Indeed! If you don't mind, Great Honorary Knight, please allow me to give you a brief introduction to some of the responsibilities of the investigation team as I understand them...

Ematol: "In addition to basic military intelligence reports, we also investigate, collect, and analyze combat-related data of the Knights, finding ways to continuously improve tactics and combat capabilities."

Ematol: Therefore, learning the habits of the Knights and modifying their weapons and equipment are both part of our responsibilities.

Ematol: The so-called Weapons Specialist, in truth, is a knight who is responsible for testing experimental weapons.

So you must also be a skilled combatant?

Are you also a Master of Weaponry?

Ematol: Not at all. I know nothing about combat. If I were to take up a sword, even a wild boar could take on twenty of me.

Paimon: ?

 ?

Ematol: But I'm tougher than nails! Haha!

Ematol: When I was trying to analyze the formula for Jumpy Dumpty, I went through... Let me count... 27 incidents, and the blast sent me flying in 19 of them!

Ematol: But after bandaging myself up and applying splints, I returned to the team's garrison the next day and went back to work!

Ematol: My colleagues were very understanding and helped me keep the incidents hidden from Captain Albedo. Otherwise, I would've missed out on work!

Ematol: Following the Sparks is not for the faint of heart or the undisciplined!

You don't have to push yourself that hard...

You could've asked your Captain for some leave...

Paimon: Now Paimon's really worried about this Knight's mental state... If we get a chance, we should ask Albedo to keep an eye on her.

Paimon: Caring about nothing but your work is a bit much!

Why are you squirming like that?

Ematol: Oh! It just that the Great Honorary Knight and The Helper in White are so concerned about my work... It's exciting! But it almost makes me quite nervous...

Ematol: Great Honorary Knight, Ematol, Weapons Specialist of the Investigation Team reporting in! Currently executing an urgent mission: Annihilate the Invasive Anglers.

Paimon: Whoa! You became so formal all of a sudden. Are we really held in such high regard in the Knights of Favonius?

Annihilate...?

The Invasive Anglers...?

Ematol: Huh? You haven't heard about it, Great Honorary Knight? it must be because you've been so busy lately. Such things aren't important enough to warrant your attention!

Ematol: It's quite simple, actually. Not long ago, a merchant from Sumeru came here on business and "released" a few Anglers in Cider Lake...

Ematol: Anglers are a type of fish native to Sumeru and have basically no natural predators in the waters of Mondstadt. This means they can multiply quickly and take over the lake, leaving little room for other species of fish to survive.

Ematol: After evaluating the issue, the Knights of Favonius assigned Phonia and me to handle it.

Ematol: If you happen to encounter another knight from the investigation team on the other side of the lake, that would be Phonia. She's operating, uh, "that one detection device," an alchemical device developed by Captain Albedo...

Ematol: I don't remember the exact name, but it can detect underwater creatures and identify the unique bodyshape of the Anglers.

Ematol: As for me, my job is to deploy bombs at precise locations to annihilate these bullying invasive species and restore peace to Cider Lake.

Ematol: Impressive, isn't it?

So... You're blast fishing?

Klee can do it.

Paimon: Right... Paimon was just gonna say, Klee's an expert at that.

Ematol: No, no, absolutely not! We cannot trouble the Spark Knight with such a mundane task! The Spark Knight's time is incredibly valuable and should only be allocated according to her own will!

Ematol: Besides, it's not like the Great Honorary Knight often... "uses heavy naval cannons to blow up pigeons"?

That's a bit extreme...

That's overkill...

Paimon: If you did that, not even a single feather would remain! That's definitely going way too far!

Ematol: That's what I mean! The Spark Knight's bombs are like heavy naval cannons, and those schools of Anglers are little different from flocks of pigeons.

Ematol: But our objective happens to be "eliminating the pigeons without harming the finches beside them." That's why I am the perfect man for the job.

Ematol: Although the submarine bombs I use are imitations of the Spark Knight's Jumpy Dumpty, they are only one tenth as strong.

Ematol: With the help of specially designed detonators and the positions provided by Phonia, I can guarantee that the Angler nesting grounds are demolished without harming any native fish species in Cider Lake!

Paimon: Paimon gets it now... You want to target and eliminate only those fish, without harming any others.

I understand the logic...

Ematol: Great! That means it was a good analogy! Of course, the pigeons have done nothing wrong. I just wanted you to know how powerful the Spark Knight's weapons are!

What did the pigeons ever do to you...?

Ematol: Oh! My analogy doesn't seem to be fitting... I'll have to come up with a better one next time. Anyway, I have nothing against the pigeons. I just wanted you to know how powerful the Spark Knight's weapons are!

Ematol: However, it is not yet time for me to start. Phonia hasn't completed her preliminary recon work, and doing anything rash right now would surely startle them...

Ematol: But Phonia is maddeningly slow, and she has a bad temper. Every time I get close to her, she starts complaining about how I'm messing up her equipment and making her go deaf.

Ematol: I don't dare to rush her... But if this keeps up, just when will I finally be able to sail in my dear little boat and drop my beloved bombs...?

Don't let me keep you!

Ematol: You're too kind! Great Honorary Knight and The Helper in White, please take care!

(After finishing the last event challenge)

Ematol: Teeheehee! What a wonderfully executed mission! Perhaps... the Captain will allow me to write the training manual when we create a "bomb squad"!

How is the mission progressing?

Paimon: Judging from how proudly you're talking to yourself, the mission must be going swimmingly?

Ematol: Oh! Great Honorary Knight and The Helper in White, I'm happy to report that the mission to "Annihilate the Invasive Anglers" has been completed!

Ematol: Phonia has double-checked and confirmed that I have cleared out all the Angler nests. Not a single fish slipped through our net!

Ematol: However, there were a few nests that were quite tough. I had to use multiple bombs to get rid of them. The heavy rocks were really difficult to deal with.

Ematol: No wonder all the Spark Knight's bombs, large or small, have such a high ratio of explosive charge to weight! It's all about ensuring sufficient detonation pressure to crack hardened targets! She is so incredible!

Great job!

That's difficult to understand...

Paimon: Great. More technobabble that we can't understand...

Ematol: However, strictly speaking, charge quantity isn't the answer to everything. The primary issue is that explosive energy disperses in every direction and is not focused in a single direction.

Ematol: Could a cone-shaped casing be used to concentrate the explosive energy so it would penetrate thick defenses...?

Ematol: Then a cone-shaped case like that would have to be made of sturdy metal... That's something I need to research...

Ematol: Right! With the extra bonus from this operation and a week's salary, I'll treat the Spark Knight to a few grand meals to thank her for her contributions to the operation...

Ematol: And also discuss with her how to make a type of bomb with a new structure that can focus the explosive energy... Heheheh...

What's with that sudden shift!?

You jumped to that topic way too quickly!

Paimon: Yeah! It's great that you want to treat Klee to a meal, but you're the one who did all the work.

Paimon: Wouldn't you feel you did all that work for nothing if you just give away everything that you earned through your own hard work and time to others?

Ematol: Nothing of the sort! Everything I know about bombs, I either learned from the Spark Knight or I was inspired by her to invent it myself!

Ematol: If the Spark Knight hadn't shown me her bombs and explained so much about them, I'd still be... a regular knight without neither strength of arm nor skill with a blade.

Ematol: And I wouldn't have been able to complete the mission this time!

Ematol: That's why I honestly feel the credit for the success of this mission belongs to the Spark Knight! The Spark Knight is not interested in Mora, but she's definitely into food!

Paimon: W—Wow! Such irrefutable, solid logic!

Woohoo! The Spark Knight has a new apprentice!

Woohoo! Klee's student's going to pay for the meal!

Ematol: Shh! It's not like that, really!

Ematol: The Spark Knight shall always be completely free. A bond like that between master and apprentice, that would be a constraint upon the Spark Knight! I do not wish to impose such trouble on her!

Ematol: At most I'll just... Well... Observe the Spark Knight from afar and study how she crafts and deploys bombs...

Ematol: Right! Just treat me as a copycat bombmaker in the wild!

You are...

Ematol: Ematol, Weapons Specialist of the investigation team, reporting to the Great Honorary Knight and The Helper in White!

Ematol: You may have heard of me, but since you're captain-level heroes who've seen many knights, so it's understandable if you don't remember me!

Ematol: If you don't mind, please allow me to give you a brief introduction to some of my responsibilities in the investigation team...

Ematol: "In addition to basic military intelligence reports, we also investigate, collect, and analyze combat-related data of the Knights, finding ways to continuously improve tactics and combat capabilities."

Ematol: Therefore, learning the habits of the Knights and modifying their weapons and equipment are both part of our responsibilities.

Ematol: The so-called Weapons Specialist, in truth, is a knight who is responsible for testing experimental weapons.

Ematol: I was sent to carry out the mission to "Annihilate the Invasive Anglers." I am happy to report that I have successfully eradicated all the invasive Anglers in Cider Lake, and have had the chance to test out a prototype bomb...

Ematol: I am completely satisfied!

So you must also be a skilled combatant?

Are you also a Master of Weaponry?

Ematol: Not at all. I know nothing about combat. If I were to take up a sword, even a wild boar could take on twenty of me.

Paimon: ?

 ?

Ematol: But I'm tougher than nails! Haha!

Ematol: When I was trying to analyze the formula for Jumpy Dumpty, I went through... Let me count... 27 incidents, and the blast sent me flying in 19 of them!

Ematol: But after bandaging myself up and applying splints, I returned to the team's garrison the next day and went back to work!

Ematol: My colleagues were very understanding and helped me keep the incidents hidden from Captain Albedo. Otherwise, I would've missed out on work!

Ematol: Following the Sparks is not for the faint of heart or the undisciplined!

You don't have to push yourself that hard...

You could've asked your Captain for some leave...

Paimon: Now Paimon's really worried about this Knight's mental state... If we get a chance, we should ask Albedo to keep an eye on her.

Paimon: Caring about nothing but your work is a bit much!

(Let's just sneak away.)

Paimon: (She's obviously too happy to care about anything else... Let's just leave her be...)

Available before starting Sir Pouncelot Joins the Lot!

(Talk to Ematol)

Ematol: Oh, where are you, Sir Pouncelot? Where do I even start to look...

Are you alright?

Ematol: H—Honorary Knight!

Ematol: H—Honorary Knight! I—I—I'm here to report that the squad cat I was charged with caring for... knocked me out and escaped...

Squad Cat?

Knocked you out?

Ematol: Well, it's really embarrassing, and I could never let the Honorary Knight worry about me...

Ematol: And our captain's busy with debriefing reports at headquarters... so, I must find Sir Pouncelot on my own!

Are you sure you're alright?

Ematol: Y—Yes, yes I am! Thanks for your concern! I'm just a little woozy after eating a paw to the head...

Ematol: Sir Pouncelot didn't really hit me that hard, he was just a bit upset... It's all my fault for being too weak...

Ematol: I shouldn't have gotten it into my head to pour Phonia's powder on the toy before giving it to the cat...

Ematol: I just thought it smelled nice, you know? But Sir Pouncelot saw it as a threat and... Either way, I deserved the beating!

Ematol: In any case, it's best I picked up training again. I don't use normal weapons at the frontline, but even slinging bombs requires quite a bit of strength...

Ematol: It's okay if I can't take on a boar, but being knocked unconscious by a single swipe from a big cat... Let's just say that I'd fail the next combat skills assessment as I am now for sure. I must uphold my duty as a knight!

Ematol: Or perhaps... I could design a bomb-firing device with a caliber exceeding the launch tube width based on Liyue's explosives and Fontaine's muskets?

Ematol: *ahem* Well, no matter what, that's a job for later...

Ematol: And e—either way, this was all my fault. I—I can't trouble you with it, Honorary Knight, no way! You're basically Captain-tier, after all! I'm sure you have lots of more important things to do!

Ematol: Well, I shan't bother you, then.

Well, I'm not sure just what you're going through... but good luck regardless!

Ematol: Y—Yes, Honorary Knight, (‍sirsirText for male Traveler/ma'amma'amText for female Traveler‍)! I—I'll do my best! Yeah! My best!

Ematol: Let the sparks fly, and the explosions roll! Honorary Knight and the Helper in White, how are you enjoying "Dodoco's Boom-Bastic Escapades"? I'd be happy to answer your questions, whenever you feel like asking them!

Care to tell us more about the story behind the latest episode of Dodoco's adventure?

Ematol: Absolutely, I'd be delighted to! When Lisa made me responsible for the sequel, she came up with a load of ideas about the plot...

Ematol: "The big, bad Spikey Fish King, repelled by the valiant Dodoco, slunk back to his lair, tail between his metaphorical legs..."

Ematol: "The Spikey Fish Vanguard said to him: Your Highness! Why don't we gather all the Spikey Fish Elders, Spikey Fish Guards, and Spikey Fish Sweepers, and launch an unstoppable counterattack?"

Ematol: As for how the story pans out... it's probably best if you experience it yourself, Honorary Knight! After all, I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise!

The tension's building! Go go, Dodoco!

Paimon: We're rooting for you, Dodoco!

I'm gonna take a break now, but I'll be back!

Ematol: No problem! I'm not going anywhere, so whenever you're ready, Honorary Knight!

Ematol: Hmm. Perhaps for stability, tail fins might... Oh, hello there, Honorary Knight! 7th Company's Weapons Officer, Ematol, reporting for duty! What orders do you bring?

Well, what are you doing?

Ematol: Reporting in! As per normal, I am working on new bomb structures! And... as per Phonia's request, I am "wargaming in silence, so as to spare her ears the damage"!

Err, bomb structures, you say...?

Ematol: That's right! I mean, you must have seen the Spark Knight's lovely, gorgeous Jumpy Dumpties too, yes?

Ematol: Though I, Ematol, am just a lowly, bog-standard alchemist of no significance, I still have a dream!

Ematol: Not to delve into the structures of gold-mercury amalgams, but to achieve even a twentieth of the might bestowed upon Jumpy Dumpties by their construction!

Ematol: And that's why I've been working on an all-new design! Explosive speed — perfected! Shockwaves — shattering! Craftsmanship — simple. Cost... reasonable... Ah, I get the shivers just thinking about it...

Ematol: ...Ah, uh, sorry. Got carried away again, didn't I? Anyway, if there are any bombs... I mean, any things I can do for you, please let me know, Honorary Knight!

Alright. I shan't disturb you, then...

Ematol: Oh, no worries, no worries! You just take care, Honorary Knight!

Weapons Officer?

Ematol: That's right, that's me! We work in logistics, in the rear-line, so it's normal that you haven't heard of us. What we do is develop and test experimental equipment.

Ematol: For example, I'm currently designing a new long-range projectile... Anyway, if there's anything I can do for you, Honorary Knight, feel free to let me know!

Are you taking part in the Wargame as well?

Ematol: Well, uh... To be more precise, Phonia... I mean, Commander Phonia, pulled me into this business...

Ematol: I mean, I'm not the brightest spark, so this "complicated tactics" stuff flies right over my head. I'd love nothing better than to study explosives, and follow in the Spark Knight's footsteps, setting them off, free as the wind...

Ematol: Ah, but if you need help repositioning the Wargame board, do let me know! Ematol, 7th Company Weapons Officer, shall be glad to render her services!

It's fine, continue as you were.

Ematol: Oh, no worries, no worries! You just take care, Honorary Knight!

Ematol: Hmm. Perhaps for stability, tail fins might... Oh, hello there, Honorary Knight! 7th Company's Weapons Officer, Ematol, reporting for duty! What orders do you bring?

Well, what are you doing?

Ematol: Reporting in! As per normal, I am working on new bomb structures! And... as per Phonia's request, I am "wargaming in silence, so as to spare her ears the damage"!

Ematol: Seriously, it's not like she needs to recognize voice patterns anymore! But still, she calls me noisy and asks me not to get close, saying that intel gathering is also a test for the ears... C'mon, isn't that just too much?

And how's your work going?

Ematol: My work... Oh, you mean the development of long-range explosives? Well, it's going well! Thanks for your concern, Honorary Knight!

Ematol: As for the details... Uh, would you like the brief version or the slightly more thorough one?

Let's have the simple spiel.

Ematol: Sure! Put simply, I've made a launcher that can pierce heavy body armor at long range. However, the launch tube has to be scrapped after a single use, and aiming is a hassle and a half...

Ematol: So, the next problem we need to solve is cost-effectiveness and accuracy. I'm not sure what to do right now, but I'll keep working on it — in the name of the Spark Knight!

Let's hear the specifics.

Ematol: Of course, of course! Hehe, I didn't expect you to be interested in weapons development, Honorary Knight!

Ematol: First, I'm not really learned concerning archery or related mechanical devices, but when using explosives to propel projectiles, one of the easiest ways to improve range is to increase the amount of charge used.

Ematol: There's a famous saying: "If one pack of charge won't do, try two". Have you heard of it?

Ematol: Unfortunately, increasing the charge means increasing the caliber of your ammunition, which will worsen the velocity retention of said ammo. And if your ammo doesn't hit its target, you might as well have used no charge at all...

I see...

Ematol: So I thought, perhaps we could create a nested structure within the projectile, the outer casing of which would fall away in flight so that the payload hit its target faster and more accurately, relying solely on kinetic energy to pierce armor...

So the greater the charge, the less the power, meaning the less the charge...

Ematol: Yeah, that's about right as well!

So you mean, the greater the charge, the less the charge...

Ematol: Uh... What? Is that... right? Well, in some sense, I guess...

Ematol: Whatever the case, I thought that we could create a nested structure within the projectile, the outer casing of which would fall away in flight so that the payload hit its target faster and more accurately. We would then rely on kinetic energy to pierce armor...

Ematol: See, all we need to do is to replace the low-density propellant that originally propelled the payload with a more powerful one with several times the density, and we can push the projectile out at incredible speed...

Ah, so that's it.

I don't quite get it, but it sure sounds impressive...

Ematol: However, the defects of such a device are also evident. The barrel and launch tube must also withstand immense pressure, and must thus be very heavy, to the point that an ordinary knight would not be able to move it...

Ematol: A weapon system that should have been carried by a single knight would then have to be dismantled into several parts for transport, and even its loading platform would have to be very sturdy just to withstand the recoil...

Ematol: Ah, I'm so sorry, great Spark Knight... When it comes down to it, my proposal is, in truth, an insult to the apex art form that is explosive weaponry...

What in the world are you saying...

Explosive weaponry? Apex art form!?

Ematol: A-anyway! I'll stop fantasizing now. I... I need to continue our breakthroughs on the path of explosive-assisted armor-piercing munitions!

Are you taking part in the Wargame as well?

Ematol: Well, uh... To be more precise, Phonia dragged me into this business...

Ematol: She even said something like, "You're taking part even if you don't know the first thing about chess. This is an order I'm giving you as an intelligence officer"... Seriously! She doesn't force anyone else to do things in that way, just me!

Ematol: It's abuse of authority, I say! Abuse from an abusive meanie! Almost as bad as... as a Specter, or a detonator with a signal malfunction!

Ematol: Uh, no, wait, probably not that bad... But still, very, very bad!

Ematol: *sigh* It's fine, I'll let it slide. She did help me a whole bunch back when we were working on Dodoco's Boom-Bastic Escapades, after all...

Ematol: And this is the first time I've ever seen her working all through the night, painting those game pieces all by her own volition. Still, while we're on the topic of comparing tabletop games, wouldn't you agree that the ones I made are more enjoyable...?

Ematol: Whatever the case, just let me know if you need help repositioning the Wargame board! Ematol, 7th Company Weapons Officer, shall be glad to render her services!

It's fine, continue as you were.

Ematol: Yup, don't you worry about me! Just let me know if there's anything you need help with, Honorary Knight!

Ematol: Hmm. Perhaps for stability, tail fins might... Oh, hello there, Honorary Knight! 7th Company's Weapons Officer, Ematol, reporting for duty! What orders do you bring?

Well, what are you doing?

Ematol: Reporting in! As per normal, I am working on new bomb structures! And... as per Phonia's request, I am "wargaming in silence, so as to spare her ears the damage"!

Err, bomb structures, you say...?

Ematol: That's right! I mean, you must have seen the Spark Knight's lovely, gorgeous Jumpy Dumpties too, yes?

Ematol: Though I, Ematol, am just a lowly, bog-standard alchemist of no significance, I still have a dream!

Ematol: Not to delve into the structures of gold-mercury amalgams, but to achieve even a twentieth of the might bestowed upon Jumpy Dumpties by their construction!

Ematol: And that's why I've been working on an all-new design! Explosive speed — perfected! Shockwaves — shattering! Craftsmanship — simple. Cost... reasonable... Ah, I get the shivers just thinking about it...

Ematol: ...Ah, uh, sorry. Got carried away again, didn't I? Anyway, if there are any bombs... I mean, any things I can do for you, please let me know, Honorary Knight!

Alright. I shan't disturb you, then...

Ematol: Oh, no worries, no worries! You just take care, Honorary Knight!

Did you gain anything useful from the simulations?

Ematol: Reporting in, Honorary Knight! I've calibrated the explosion radii of several types of bombs, and tested their effects in simulated environments! I... guess that counts, right?

Ematol: And like I said earlier, it would be ideal if we could also increase our real explosion parameters by ten times!

Ematol: I mean, I've not got the brains for complex tactics, so I'll just focus on my explosives research, you know?

It's fine, continue as you were.

Ematol: Oh, no worries, no worries! You just take care, Honorary Knight!

Ematol: Hmm. Perhaps for stability, tail fins might... Oh, hello there, Honorary Knight! 7th Company's Weapons Officer, Ematol, reporting for duty! What orders?

Well, what are you doing?

Ematol: Reporting in! As per normal, I am working on new bomb structures! And... as per Phonia's request, I am "wargaming in silence, so as to spare her ears the damage"!

Ematol: Seriously, it's not like she needs to recognize voice patterns anymore! But still, she calls me noisy and asks me not to get close, saying that intel gathering is also a test for the ears... C'mon, isn't that just too much?

And how's your work going?

Ematol: My work... Oh, you mean the development of long-range weaponry? Well, it's going well! Thanks for your concern, Honorary Knight!

Ematol: As for the details... Uh, would you like the brief version or the slightly more thorough one?

Let's have the simple spiel.

Ematol: Sure! Put simply, I've made a launcher that can pierce heavy body armor at long range. However, the launch tube has to be scrapped after a single use, and aiming is a hassle and a half...

Ematol: So, the next problem we need to solve is cost-effectiveness and accuracy. I'm not sure what to do right now, but I'll keep working on it — in the name of the Spark Knight!

Let's hear the specifics.

Ematol: Of course, of course! Hehe, I didn't expect you to be interested in weapons development, Honorary Knight!

Ematol: First, I'm not really learned concerning archery or related mechanical devices, but when using explosives to propel projectiles, one of the easiest ways to improve range is to increase the amount of charge used.

Ematol: There's a famous saying: "If one pack of charge won't do, try two." Have you heard of it?

Ematol: Unfortunately, increasing the charge means increasing the caliber of your ammunition, which will worsen the velocity retention of said ammo. And if your ammo doesn't hit its target, you might as well have used no charge at all...

I see...

Ematol: So I thought, perhaps we could create a nested structure within the projectile, the outer casing of which would fall away in flight so that the payload hit its target faster and more accurately, relying solely on kinetic energy to pierce armor...

So the greater the charge, the less the power, meaning the less the charge...

Ematol: Yeah, that's about right as well!

So you mean, the greater the charge, the less the charge...

Ematol: Uh... What? Is that... right? Well, in some sense, I guess...

Ematol: Whatever the case, I thought that we could create a nested structure within the projectile, the outer casing of which would fall away in flight so that the payload hit its target faster and more accurately. We would then rely on kinetic energy to pierce armor...

Ematol: See, all we need to do is to replace the low-density propellant that originally propelled the payload with a more powerful one with several times the density, and we can push the projectile out at incredible speed...

Ah, so that's it.

I don't quite get it, but it sure sounds impressive...

Ematol: However, the defects of such a device are also evident. The barrel and launch tube must also withstand immense pressure, and must thus be very heavy, to the point that an ordinary knight would not be able to move it...

Ematol: A weapon system that should have been carried by a single knight would then have to be dismantled into several parts for transport, and even its loading platform would have to be very sturdy just to withstand the recoil...

Ematol: Ah, I'm so sorry, great Spark Knight... When it comes down to it, my proposal is, in truth, an insult to the apex art form that is explosive weaponry...

What in the world are you saying...

Explosive weaponry? Apex art form!?

Ematol: A-anyway! I'll stop fantasizing now. I... I need to continue our breakthroughs on the path of explosive-assisted armor-piercing munitions!

Did you gain anything useful from the simulations?

Ematol: Well, to be honest, Honorary Knight, apart from testing the explosion radii of several different types of explosives, I'm not sure I found out much.

Ematol: I mean, I'm not the smartest when it comes to understanding complex tactics, and I can't blow things up as I please in this new game of Phonia's... I mean, not a single parameter change? Really?

Ematol: *sigh* It's fine, I'll let it slide. She did help me a whole bunch back when we were working on Dodoco's Boom-Bastic Escapades, after all...

It's fine, continue as you were.

Ematol: Yup, don't you worry about me! Just let me know if there's anything you need help with, Honorary Knight!