“Hmm.”
“70% alcohol, 16% sulfur, 14% charcoal.”
“Failed.”
I drew a big X over the new combination method I had just tried.
That was already my 13th failure.
Sigh. When will I be able to make decent quality gunpowder?
Even if it’s not a powder with strong explosive power, I just want to make something serviceable for outdated firearms. Ideally, something I can use in a memorization form.
I’m adjusting the ratios in the laboratory I’ve prepared in advance while researching gunpowder production, but the results have been unsatisfactory. The materials seem right, but at this rate, I won’t be able to finish testing the gunpowder by the day I decided to start exploring the dungeon.
Should I just buy some?
But the price of gunpowder is outrageous, so that’s a bit concerning.
It’s better to make it myself, as it allows for using my skills more effectively. High-quality gunpowder is state-controlled, making bulk purchases difficult. So, I have no choice but to experiment like this.
If I find the optimal combination, I can utilize my crafting skill to produce gunpowder instantly from there.
That’s the best advantage of my skill. If I can make it myself, I can skip the crafting process!
It’s a skill that lets me whip something up in seconds like in a game, so developing something this way is an important element that can enhance my combat power.
If I can somehow create high-quality gunpowder, my tactical options will widen, and fundamentally, I can boost my firepower several times over.
I’d also like to try making tools like grenades if possible, but that’s still tough. I really don’t understand the principles of grenades. I think I remember seeing something about metal shards flying everywhere on that ancient X-tube, but actually implementing it seems challenging.
Sigh.
“…If I could just mimic modern firearms somehow, that would be convenient.”
It’s definitely not an easy task. Rather, it would be better to use magical materials in a fantasy way… Hmm?
Now that I think about it, wasn’t the vial that Viola threw quite explosive?
Perhaps I should shift my focus that way? Although it seems that the explosive power was a bit weaker compared to gunpowder, it might not be bad—
“Johann! We have a guest!”
I snapped out of my thoughts at Millia’s voice and looked towards the workshop door after leaving the laboratory. Millia shouted again upon seeing me come out.
“GU-EST! AT THE DOOR!”
“I know, so be quiet. My head is ringing.”
Ugh, my eyes hurt. Being in the laboratory for too long isn’t good for my condition. I still need to greet the guest, though. Since Millia mentioned a guest, at least they’re not from Yeomyeong-gwan. It would be a bit much to cast a guest-warding spell. I wiped my face, covered in soot, with the towel I had placed nearby and looked at the silhouette standing at the door.
One arm is missing.
“Viola. What brings you here?”
“I heard from Lewis that you’re going to the dungeon. Can I come along?”
“Is your body all healed up?”
“Almost! So, can I come in?”
Now that I think about it, entering someone else’s workshop without permission is considered rude, right? No one around me cares about such things, so seeing Viola asking for my permission feels strange.
“It’s fine to come in.”
At my permission, Viola stepped into the workshop. She scanned the place briefly and made a short comment.
“There are lots of amazing things.”
“I just enjoy making different things.”
“Right, right! You made Patrasche, created exploding powders, and made handheld crossbows…”
Millia was babbling about my items as if she were some sales clerk. At this rate, I felt like she’d give away all my secrets, so I quietly covered her mouth with my hand and pulled a chair from nearby to seat Viola. I couldn’t just make her stand there since she’s not feeling well.
“A dungeon, huh… Can you go in that condition?”
“Are you underestimating me because I’m one-armed? My main job is alchemy, so having one arm doesn’t matter at all.”
Viola pretended to lift her arm to show how fine she was. It proved meaningless. I coldly conveyed my thoughts to her.
“The dungeons we’re going to are unexplored. I can’t just recklessly take someone who might not even be able to handle themselves into a dungeon.”
I cut off Viola’s request and stared hard into her eyes. What lay within them was anger and frustration. I could feel her insecurity, as if she was questioning whether I too was looking down on her, and a desperate urge to get help.
What happened to her in the past few days?
Has she gone through something bad, leading her to this state?
I could empathize as I had felt similar on the deserted island, but that didn’t change the fact that taking her into a dungeon was a separate issue. If I took a student who couldn’t even handle themselves and they died, not only would I feel guilty, but it would complicate future matters.
So, refusing from the start was my call.
“I can handle myself. Despite appearances, I was one of the main attackers in the party.”
“That was when you had both arms intact, wasn’t it?”
I pointed out the cold truth. But unlike a few days ago, Viola seemed to lack composure and unleashed her grievances at me.
“I’ve heard enough about being one-armed! Since becoming this way, those who used to talk to me have whispered behind my back, my research is disrupted, and I need to enter a dungeon for my test, but I can’t even get into low-level dungeons anymore! Ugh, life really sucks!”
Has becoming one-armed led to worse circumstances for her? I quietly waved at Millia, who had been silently observing from the back, and she quickly understood my intention and left the workshop quietly.
“So, you came to find me?”
“I told you, I wanted your help.”
“Still, bringing you to a dungeon is a whole different matter. It’s too dangerous.”
“I’ll manage on my own!”
“Is there a compelling reason you HAVE to enter a dungeon?”
“…I barely got half the scholarship and need to pay for next semester, plus I need to conclude my prototype testing, which requires entering a dungeon to test it out.”
“Does it HAVE to be in a dungeon?”
“It’s the most reliable way. To get a sales permit for explosives like that, they need to be tested directly in the dungeon. Even hiring someone would cost a fortune, and I don’t have that kind of money. Research funds are already tight.”
That was news to me. I never thought that there were such constraints since I had no intention of selling what I made.
Should I try selling a few things myself?
A wheelchair might fetch a decent price. Of course, it’s challenging due to material issues, but if I used sturdy wood like when I made one for Karina, I might be okay. There seems to be a demand if I use durable wood.
“Just bringing the reagents for testing would be better, right?”
“I need to see it with my own eyes to judge. The data stored from the last midterm was completely lost, so…”
“That sounds like a disaster.”
While her situation is tough, accepting unverified individuals is difficult. To think it through: unexplored dungeons are places even I cannot guarantee I can return from. I know some dungeons, but there are also those I don’t.
“Just allow me inside for once. I won’t be a nuisance—”
Desperation.
Every action and word from her was soaked in deep desperation. It was surprising to see her, who used to converse confidently with me, cornered like this. I lowered my gaze and stared blankly at the floor.
Receiving a scholarship from Kalon Academy indicates that she’s a pretty excellent student.
I’m not great at combat, but supporting someone should be possible. Although, with one arm, it would be somewhat halfhearted.
Sigh. I can’t afford to be too soft.
I looked directly into her eyes, filled with desperation, and spoke up.
“You could die. Is that okay?”
“If I get kicked out of here, it’s basically over for me anyway.”
So, there’s nowhere to retreat, huh…
“Fine. Let’s write a contract then.”
I pulled out a piece of paper I had bought earlier and placed it on the table, jotting down the contract details. It stated she wouldn’t hold me responsible if anything fatal happened and that she would cooperate with my research. Viola read through my contract and looked at me as if I were a strange person.
“…This contract is surprisingly generous.”
Is that so?
I honestly wrote the contract for the first time and just went with whatever came to mind.
Viola fixed some clauses with her pen and handed it back to me.
“…Honestly, since you’re the one providing help, I think it’s not too generous.”
“Is that so?”
I had planned to exploit her at a harsh ratio. I casually scanned the additional clauses Viola had added.
80 to 20?
It’s not bad for me, but it’s an even worse ratio than mine. Isn’t this basically a slave contract?
“What’s the usual ratio for a product contract between alchemists and trading companies?”
“70 to 30? Usually, the company provides the materials too—”
“I guess I’ve become a wicked merchant.”
“Aren’t you someone who doesn’t care about such things? One look at your face makes it seem like you’d exploit someone without batting an eye—”
“You’ve come to the right guy then.”
“Still, you’re my life-saver, right?”
Well, that certainly gives me a new perspective on my face.
I chuckled and extended my hand.
“I’ll count on you.”
I ended up with what seemed to be a decent grad student—or rather, an assistant.
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