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.

    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.

    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, he thought. But I won''t know for sure until I test it.

    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.