Fertilizer (2)
"E-eh, poop? That's dirty..."
The alchemist answered Brown's question. Her mouth was covered with cloth, but he could see her eyes crinkling in disgust. Brown and his guard were also wearing cloths over their mouths. It helped mitigate the pungent ammonia stench a little.
"I'm researching a new method."
"!"
He had toured countless fertilizer factories. He had assumed this one would be no different from the others or from the alchemists he'd met. But this factory started from a completely different point than the others, which all relied on digested food waste as their base material. Still, it was too early to celebrate. They might just not be using it, but they could probably make it from plant-based organics or other methods. He needed to check further.
"So, how do you make the fertilizer?"
"Well... first, at high temperatures..."
The alchemist began explaining the fertilizer production process she had devised.
"...reacting to produce... ammonia, then mixing it with..."
She described how ammonia synthesized through the process could be combined with other materials to create fertilizer.
'Jackpot.'
It was strikingly similar to the nitrogen fixation method researched in his previous life. Not only would this enable chemical fertilizer production, but it would also allow for mass production of gunpowder. The fact that it could produce poison gas was a concern, but mining and transporting gunpowder ingredients had limits. With this process, they could manufacture far more gunpowder than before.
Of course, the empire's resources meant they wouldn't run short on gunpowder anytime soon. Still, preparing ahead never hurt.
"However, ammonia production is still low, so I'm working to improve that."
"Ah..."
"I need to replace the iron catalyst we were using... or adjust the optimal temperature..."
Unfortunately, there were issues to resolve before they could implement it right away.
"Could I get a sample?"
"Of the fertilizer...? Hmm... sure."
Brown received two types of fertilizer from the alchemist and pondered as he left the factory.
'How can we increase ammonia production?'
He remembered the process because it was famous from World War I. But until they boosted ammonia output, it would be hard to put into practice.
'Still, the fact that research is underway is positive.'
He'd heard she was collaborating with other alchemists. For now, confirming the process was being researched would have to suffice.
"Your expression looks a bit brighter. Did you find what you were looking for?"
Serena Arwin approached him as he sorted his thoughts.
"Yes. It'll take time to put into practice, but it's promising for now."
"That's a relief. So now..."
"...no more worrying about the smell sticking to us."
His guard let out a small cheer. They'd toured the factories together and suffered the stench side by side, so he could empathize with her joy.
"Though we'll probably need to visit that one again."
"Eek."
Chemical fertilizer plants also used ammonia, so the smell wasn't great. Her brightened face fell again.
"But we won't have to go often after today."
"Hehe..."
They chatted as they returned to the lab. But Brown's mind was already filling with a new concern.
'The Hero... what about her...'
Given the unfolding events, the future where she awakened as the Hero seemed increasingly distant. It was some consolation that the original story had other Heroes besides her. But she was the protagonist. If she didn't become the Hero, he couldn't predict how the future would unfold.
'Hmm...'
Lost in thought as he walked, he arrived at the lab before he knew it.
"Mr. Brown?"
As he entered, Luna Karen spotted him and came over.
"Did you solve what you were looking for?"
"I found a lead. Want to take a look?"
"Uh... this is..."
Karen took the two bottles he handed her, looking puzzled.
"From the fertilizer factory."
"...Don't tell me."
"No, not that. The alchemist made it."
"Hmm..."
"I think this could help with gunpowder production too."
"Alright, I'll check it out."
Karen took the bottles and headed off somewhere. Brown sat at his desk and reviewed his documents again.
"Um, Senior?"
"Yeah?"
It was Warren who approached him. With his keen interest in firearms, Brown had been keeping an eye on the junior researcher.
"I designed it based on what you mentioned before. Could you take a look?"
"..."
Brown took the paper Warren offered and examined it. It was a design for the Gatling gun he'd talked about previously.
A magazine loaded at the top, hand crank turning multiple barrels to unleash a barrage of bullets. The base had wheels for horse-pulling.
"Looks... well-designed. Good work."
"...Is it okay?"
"Of course."
"...Thank you for checking!"
After chatting with Brown, Warren returned to his seat.
'Gatling gun designed... now if we solve the lead fouling issue with bullet coating and enable mass gunpowder production...'
Operating the Gatling gun wouldn't be hard then. It would help hold back the demonic beasts pouring from the dimensional gate.
Brown set aside stray thoughts and began writing his report.
"Mr. Brown?"
Someone called him again. This time, it was Karen.
"This... came from the fertilizer factory?"
"Hmph. Things aren't heading in a good direction."
"Yes. It's not just the Boern Empire—other kingdoms are observing it too."
"A headache... How's the cooperation with the Solar Church going?"
"We're making various attempts to curb the Demon God Cult's activities within the empire."
The emperor rubbed his temple as he questioned his minister.
"Set the Demon God Cult aside for now. What about the war?"
"The front lines are holding steady, but the alliance is slowly pushing forward. However, both sides are dealing with the Demon God Cult's..."
"Then the war might end faster than expected."
If the war ended quickly, it wouldn't be ideal for the empire. Revenue from it would plummet, potentially causing economic issues.
"Prepare countermeasures. Finally, the dwarves."
The delegation from the Stonegart Kingdom was still in the empire. They wanted to share the empire's new technologies.
"Sharing resources and technology..."
"Hmph. We can't give that away easily. They have hidden tech too, don't they?"
"..."
"Maintain our stance until they bring it up first."
"Yes, I'll relay that."
The minister bowed at the emperor's words.
Meanwhile.
"War. Hmph. Whatever. The stronger side wins, right?"
"Aren't you a bit too disinterested?"
"Ah, was that too half-hearted? Hmm... the one with better backing wins."
"..."
The dwarves, yet to leave the Boern Empire, were chatting.
"What about the incidents starting in the empire..."
"Oh, you mean the Demon God Cult stuff. That's definitely a problem..."
"Damn it, that's not our concern. What's important now is figuring out the empire's new weapons and tech!"
"Hmm... true..."
The dwarves prided themselves on their superior technology. But the empire's new weapons and tech had already surpassed them. They weren't angry or sad about it. They just yearned for it.
New technologies and weapons. The empire wasn't sharing the information easily.
"Approaching the military to check weapons or visiting arsenals..."
"We already did that. And got warnings. Still not giving up?"
"Rumor has it they've made small firearms for personal defense."
"If they're available to civilians, we could acquire them easily. Let's check right away."
"Already did. Rumors abound, but no actual items."
"Sigh..."
They fell silent for a moment. One dwarf broke it.
"What if we offer to share our new tech?"
He meant magitech not yet revealed to the world—advanced tech unique to dwarves.
"Good lord, are you sane? Sharing that tech?"
"Damn it, to get their tech, don't we have to give something?"
The sudden proposal gave the dwarves pause. Was trading their tech worth it?
"...That's not for us to decide."
"Then contact the homeland..."
After much deliberation, the dwarf delegation sent a letter home.