Building a Modern Nation in a Fantasy World

Chapter 48 - 48: Gunpowder Acquire

After Alice left, Arthur pulled the sulfur and grounded saltpeter(potassium nitrate) from the drawer, setting them carefully on his desk. His fingers drummed lightly against the wood as he mulled over his next steps.

Gunpowder... just a small batch for now.

He called for his valet, who arrived promptly, bowing slightly.

"Bring me charcoal, a mortar, and a pestle," Arthur instructed. His tone was casual, but his eyes gleamed with intent.

The valet hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "At once, Your Majesty."

As the valet departed to gather the requested materials, Arthur leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly.

Magic may have rejected me, but that doesn't mean I'm powerless.

If he could successfully create a gun, he wouldn't need magic to defend himself. And if he could mass-produce firearms, Keldoria's entire military structure could be reshaped.

We may lack mages and elite knights compared to other kingdoms, but with the right weapons, we can fill the gaps.

Instead of relying on a select few gifted individuals, he could train ordinary men and women into an army of sharpshooters. A force capable of standing against any threat, regardless of magical ability. A military that wasn't bound by bloodline or talent but by discipline and strategy.

The thought sent a rush of anticipation through him. @@novelbin@@

Keldoria has been in decline for years, but that changes now.

Just as his mind raced with possibilities, the door opened, and the valet returned, accompanied by two other servants carrying the requested items.

"Your Majesty," the valet said, bowing slightly. "As you requested—charcoal, a mortar, and a pestle."

Arthur sat up, his expression composed despite the excitement simmering beneath the surface.

"Good. Set them here," he instructed, gesturing to the desk.

As the servants arranged the materials and left.

Arthur rolled up his sleeve and prepared to make the Sulphur crystal into powder.

Arthur pick up the Sulphur crystal placed in the mortar and began grinding it with the pestle, his movements steady and methodical. The crystal resisted at first, but as he applied more pressure, it crumbled into fine yellow powder. He worked in silence, his mind racing with possibilities.

If I can perfect this... if I can successfully produce gunpowder, then magic won't be the only path to power. Keldoria won't have to rely on mages and knights alone. Ordinary people—farmers, craftsmen, even the weakest of soldiers—could become a force to be reckoned with.

The sharp scent of sulfur lingered in the air as Arthur methodically crushed the last of the crystals into fine powder. Satisfied with the consistency, he set the sulfur aside and dusted off his hands. Precision was key—any mistake in the mixture could mean failure or, worse, disaster.

He reached for a clean cloth, wiping the mortar before moving on to the next ingredient. Charcoal. He grabbed a few chunks, their deep black surface staining his fingers as he placed them into the mortar.

The finer the powder, the better the burn rate, he mused, pressing the pestle down and grinding with slow, deliberate movements. The brittle charcoal broke apart with ease, reducing to dust far quicker than the sulfur had.

Saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal... three simple components, yet together, they hold the power to reshape this world.

As he worked, his thoughts drifted to the future. If he could successfully produce a reliable firearm, Keldoria's military would change forever. No longer would they be at the mercy of kingdoms with vast armies of mages and elite knights. A single trained soldier with a gun could become more valuable than low level mages.

As the charcoal ground down into a fine powder, Arthur carefully set it aside on his study desk. He then opened the desk drawer and reached for the hanging scale he had crafted a few weeks prior.

In this world, only traditional balance scales existed, requiring counterweights and careful adjustments to measure mass. Too slow, too inefficient, Arthur thought. To ensure precise measurements, he had designed a more practical alternative—a hanging scale.

The hanging scale was made using a simple yet effective mechanism based on Hooke's Law, which states that the force exerted by a spring is directly proportional to its extension or compression, provided it remains within its elastic limit. (F=kx) 

Arthur had constructed it using a sturdy metal spring, a calibrated measuring plate, and a metal hook. The principle was straightforward: when an object was suspended from the hook, the weight of the object would cause the spring to stretch. The amount of stretch, measured against a pre-marked scale, would indicate the precise weight.

Unlike the traditional balance scales used in Keldoria—which required counterweights and careful adjustments—the hanging scale provided a direct reading without the need for additional weights. This made it far more efficient, especially for measuring smaller amounts of material with greater accuracy.

Arthur had painstakingly calibrated it using known weights to ensure its accuracy, marking increments carefully on the scale plate. With this, I can measure the exact ratio of gunpowder components, he thought, running his fingers along the markings.

He carefully hooked a small pouch of ground charcoal onto the scale, watching as the spring stretched and settled. He noted the measurement, then did the same for the powdered sulfur and saltpeter. Each component had to be perfectly proportioned— 75% saltpeter(potassium nitrate), 15% charcoal, and 10% sulphur. Too much or too little of any ingredient could result in an unstable or ineffective mixture.

After carefully weighing each component, Arthur placed the sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter into a small barrel. To aid in the mixing process, he added lead balls, ensuring the ingredients would grind together more thoroughly.

He began milling, rotating the barrel steadily to refine the mixture into a finer powder. Since this was only a test batch, he didn't intend to mill for too long—just enough to blend the components properly. Fifteen minutes should suffice, he thought as he continued, focusing on the rhythmic motion of the barrel.

As the minutes passed, Arthur kept an eye on the mixture, ensuring the grinding was even. After fifteen minutes, he stopped, carefully opening the barrel. A fine, dark powder greeted him—his first successful batch of gunpowder.

He scooped a small amount between his fingers, rubbing it slightly. Not bad,

Arthur stood, wiping his hands on a cloth. He then carefully spread the handful of gunpowder across the metal plate, it's dark grains glimmering faintly in the light. The small pile seemed so insignificant, yet in it lay the potential to change everything.

He took a long wooden stick, its end already charred. With a steady hand, he ignited the end and watched as the flame flickered to life. The heat from the fire danced on his fingers as he held it at the right distance.

He leaned forward, carefully lowering the burning stick toward the edge of the gunpowder. A brief moment of hesitation passed. This could either work... or it could blow up in my face, Arthur thought, a slight grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

Finally, he allowed the flame to touch the powder. There was a brief hiss, followed by a crackling sound as the gunpowder reacted. Then, without warning, a burst of energy erupted from the metal plate, a sharp crack that echoed loudly through the room. A thick cloud of smoke billowed upward, quickly filling the space with a pungent odor.

Arthur's heart raced as the room was enveloped in smoke. The small amount of gunpowder he had used wasn't enough to cause a catastrophic explosion, but it was more than enough to make an impact. Perhaps I overestimated the quantity, Arthur thought with a wry grin. But it worked.

Before he could even move to assess the situation, the door to the chamber swung open, and Ken rushed inside, concern etched on his face. "Are you okay, Your Majesty?"

Arthur, coughing lightly from the smoke, waved him off. "I'm fine, Ken. Just a little experiment gone wrong. Please open the windows, let the smoke out."

Ken quickly obeyed, moving toward the windows and opening them wide. The cold air rushed in, and after a few moments, the smoke began to thin, though the smell of gunpowder still lingered in the room. Arthur stepped back outside into the hallway, taking a deep breath, his lungs grateful for the clean air.

"I should've used less," Arthur muttered to himself, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "A teaspoon or less would've been more appropriate for a test."

Ken, ever dutiful, stood by, watching the scene with a mix of concern and curiosity. Once the room cleared, Arthur nodded at Ken. "You can close the door now."

Arthur then entered the chamber alone leaving Ken outside, Arthur's eyes immediately fell on the residue left behind. The metal plate had small scorch marks, and the fine layer of ash and debris told him that the experiment had worked

He ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts racing. This could work for flintlocks, revolvers, and cannons, but it's far from ideal for advanced weaponry like automatic rifles. He sighed, inspecting the traces left on the metal plate. The smoke, the residue, and the lack of power... I'll need to refine the formula. Smokeless powder is what I need and is the key to more advanced firearms, but this is a start.

Arthur paused, taking a deep breath as he surveyed the room. For now, this is enough. The gunpowder had proven successful, and while it wasn't yet capable of creating an automatic firearm, it was powerful enough to pierce armor and kill with lethal precision. That, in itself, was a significant step forward.

He smiled, feeling a surge of pride. Now, the real work begins. His mind shifted gears, and he began plotting the next steps in his mind. I need to start manufacturing weapons, beginning with the gunpowder. Then, the firearms themselves. If I can produce reliable ammunition and simple, effective guns, I can change the balance of power in this kingdom.