Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Potassium Nitrate Extraction

    As Arthur walked through the halls outside the great hall, his thoughts shifted toward one of his key experimental projects. I should check on the nitre bed and see if I could begin the crystallization process. Last time I inspected it, the process was still in its early stages. But now, roughly after 4 months, I should be able to extract a small sample even if it is less concentrated.

    Arthur knew that the quality and concentration of the potassium nitrate wouldn''t be optimal yet. Normally, the decomposition process in a nitre bed requires at least six months or more to reach full potency. The longer the organic matter broke down, the more concentrated the yield.

    Arthur then thought to himself, However, I wasn''t mass-producing it just yet. This was merely a test to determine if the method was working in this world. Besides, since it is in a different world, environmental factors might influence the speed of decomposition differently here. It''s best to check early rather than wait blindly.

    With a slight change in course, Arthur turned away from the path leading to the library and instead made his way toward the project site. Ken followed silently behind him, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.

    Upon arrival, Arthur saw Clint overseeing the site, where several large stone pits had been repurposed as containers for the potassium nitrate production process. The sharp, overpowering ammonia stench from the last visit had faded somewhat, now replaced with an earthy, musty odor mixed with a faint hint of rot. It was an improvement—less offensive, though still far from pleasant.

    Clint noticed Arthur approaching and quickly stepped forward to greet him. "Your Majesty, it is an honor to meet you. Have you come to check out how we are doing?."

    Arthur nodded as Clint led him toward one of the stone pits. Peering inside, he could see that the original mixture of organic materials—straw, manure, and decomposing plant matter—had broken down significantly. What was once a dense, pungent heap had transformed into a drier, crumbly, soil-like texture. Some fibrous remnants still remained, but the majority had decayed well.

    Arthur''s eyes gleamed with interest. The decomposition is faster than I anticipated. If left undisturbed for another month, the concentration of potassium nitrate would increase further, making extraction more efficient. Still, I should attempt a small-scale leaching test today to confirm that the nitrification process is working.No?v(el)B\\jnn

    Arthur turned to Clint and said, "I''ll show you how to extract potassium nitrate. That way, when it becomes more concentrated in the future, you''ll know exactly how to harvest it."

    He continued, "Since it''s still early in the process and nitrous earth is yet to mature, the potassium nitrate concentration is lower. I might not be able to extract as much potassium nitrate as I would later on."

    Clint nodded in understanding and called over the other members. Curious and eager to learn, they gathered around to observe Arthur''s method, keen to finally see the extraction process he had often spoken about.

    Arthur crossed his arms, surveying the prepared workers. "We''ll start by collecting the decomposed material—what we call nitrous earth. This is where the nitrates have formed." He gestured toward the pit. "Gather a manageable amount and place it in that wooden trough."

    The workers hurried to comply, shoveling the dry, crumbly substance into a long, shallow trough lined with cloth. The air carried a faint, musty scent, the ammonia odor now greatly reduced.

    "Now," Arthur continued, "we''ll leach the nitrates out using hot water. Pour heated water over the nitrous earth, but do it gradually."

    A worker carefully ladled steaming water over the material, soaking it thoroughly. Arthur pointed to the bottom of the trough, where a small spout allowed the liquid to drain into a clay basin.

    "This is the leaching process," he explained. "Hot water dissolves the potassium nitrate and other soluble salts, drawing them out of the decomposed matter. The liquid that collects below is called the lixivium—it contains the nitrates we want."

    Arthur''s gaze sharpened. "Gunpowder."

    The unfamiliar word hung in the air, drawing curious murmurs from the group.

    Clint furrowed his brow. "Gunpowder? What is that?"

    A small smirk played at Arthur''s lips. "I like your curiosity, Clint. But for now, think of it as a tool—one that will strengthen this kingdom in ways you cannot yet imagine."

    Though unsatisfied with the vague answer, Clint bowed respectfully. "If you say so, Your Majesty."

    Arthur gave a final nod. "Continue your work. Know that what you are doing here will shape the future of this kingdom."

    With that, he turned and strode away, Ken falling into step beside him. As he made his way back to the library, his thoughts drifted.

    Even if I tried to explain gunpowder to them now, they wouldn''t truly understand. They will only realize its significance once it''s complete—once they see its power firsthand.

    ---

    Not part of the story,

    Fun fact: You can actually make potassium nitrate using the process described above! While it''s definitely cheaper to buy it from a supermarket, it can be a fun experiment if you''re up for the challenge.

    Of course, I wouldn''t recommend using manure—it would smell awful! Instead, you could just use wood chips, straw, or similar organic materials and regularly moisten them with urine. Since manure is naturally rich in nitrates, skipping it means the decomposition process will take much longer—about a year or so.

    I once tried this myself but eventually abandoned the project because I couldn''t consistently collect enough urine.

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    I''m considering rewriting my story since, after rereading it last night, I noticed inconsistencies in my writing style and gaps in the world-building. Given that I had gain some experience with writing, I think a full rewrite would be beneficial. What do you guys recommend? Should I rewrite it or not?

    As a small-scale test, I rewrote Chapter 1 yesterday and updated it on Webnovel. If you''re interested in the original version, it''s still unchanged on Scribble Hub and Royal Road. If possible, I''d love to hear your feedback on the rewrite—whether you think it improved or got worse. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story!