Chapter 136
Chapter 136
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: The Saltpeter Shortage
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Even though their gunpowder reserves must be low, if they don't take any action..."
Regarding the issue Wisdom was pondering, Krampus spoke up.
"What if Heukrin's gunpowder production exceeds ours?"
"How?"
"Charcoal is just a matter of quality—any country can produce it easily. Sulfur isn't too hard to produce at our current civilization level. But saltpeter, potassium nitrate? That's possible, right?"
Krampus was referring to the saltpeter fields.
To make saltpeter plants, you first needed specially selected earth called "hamto."
This hamto was scraped lightly from under the floors of old houses, in kitchens, or along wallsides, but the amount available was limited.
Then, this hamto was thoroughly mixed with human urine and ash, dried for several months out of the rain.
Once fully dried, it was spread on the ground, turned over repeatedly, and dried for a few more months, then covered again with livestock manure and soil. Finally, fire was set atop it to bake.
A white, moss-like substance would form—that was the saltpeter.
However, this saltpeter was full of impurities, so to increase purity, it had to be boiled in a cauldron.
Even low-quality saltpeter took three months, while high-purity versions could take years.
Producing saltpeter this way not only required time but also vast spaces to dry the mixtures during the process—these were called saltpeter fields.
"But saltpeter fields have their limits. No matter how skilled Nebula is, there's a maximum production capacity."
"What if they have skilled alchemists or mages?"
Wisdom shook his head. At least, that's how it looked to Krampus.
"No, it's simple. Saltpeter fields require not just long periods of time, but space and manpower too. At our current civilization level, agriculture is the foundation for every nation on the Third Continent. Would they divert the time, land, and people needed for farming just to make weapons? Even skilled alchemists and mages can't change that. They might help produce slightly higher-purity saltpeter, but... true change requires a fundamental technological revolution."
Krampus nodded.
However, unlike Wisdom, Krampus believed the truth was simpler and clearer: Seong-un wasn't plotting some grand scheme.
"Wisdom, aren't you overcomplicating this?"
"My thinking is complicated?"
"Yeah. We have to acknowledge Nebula's skill. Let's say he's the most capable player in Lost World. But he's not using bugs or cheats."
"Even if he were, it wouldn't surprise us now... Everything he's done has been within the bounds of common sense."
"Exactly. So this time, he's probably playing at a level we can understand. No need to underestimate the enemy, but no point wasting energy overestimating him either."
"Occam's razor, huh."
It was a logical principle derived from the words of Francesco, an English philosopher and monk: "One, do not multiply entities unnecessarily. Two, if fewer assumptions explain it, don't make more."
For example, a black apple hanging from a tree with a hole in it might have been drilled by someone, painted black, and traces cleaned up artificially—but it's far more likely just worm-eaten.
Wisdom said,
"Right. Let's discard unnecessary assumptions. So, simply put, what explains this?"
Krampus replied,
"For Nebula, the current situation poses no problem at all."
"No problem? Black powder is now a primary weapon of war. A few battles have already overturned military doctrine. And with gunpowder weapons improving constantly, it's changing in real time."
Krampus shook his head.
"I'm not denying that. But right before the war, Heukrin bought up massive amounts of niter. At the time, Jangwan, who controlled the niter mines, figured Heukrin would secure their own somehow, so he'd profit and gain an edge in the war."
"I don't think Jangwan made a mistake. That quantity of niter would be depleted after just a few battles regardless. In fact, toward the end of the previous battle, Heukrin's black powder quality dropped. They were using saltpeter from their fields, not high-purity stuff."
In black powder for weapons, potassium nitrate—the propellant—made up the largest portion. Its rapid expansion upon combustion provided the energy to propel the projectile.
And it showed the greatest variation in purity during production.
Krampus said,
"But they have enough for their needs."
"Enough?"
"Nebula doesn't have potassium nitrate for a prolonged war, but he has enough for the immediate battles. So..."
Wisdom continued,
"Nebula's aiming for a short, decisive war?"
Krampus nodded.
"Yeah."
Krampus even grinned, pleased with his deduction.
Logically, it seemed sound.
But Wisdom shook his head again.
"Wrong."
"Wrong?"
Wisdom said,
"To be precise, Nebula will aim for a short war. But we won't accommodate that. Just because he wants it doesn't mean it happens."
Wisdom pulled up a map.
"Nebula can currently muster over 30,000 expeditionary troops excluding defenders. Considering their estimated black powder, that's enough for about three battles—after the second, they'll exhaust all high-quality niter powder. Meanwhile, our territory he has to attack is too vast."
Wisdom pointed to key points in Asbestos and Mangul.
All were castle locations.
"Of course, if we attacked Heukrin, it'd play into Nebula's short-war scenario. But we won't."
"...You're right."
As Krampus sounded regretful, Wisdom said,
"But thanks to you, Krampus, we've got a lead."
"A lead?"
Wisdom moved his hand.
To Krampus, it seemed an odd spot.
"Mangul's coastal region...?"
"Yes. Alkum. Mangul's niter mining area."
At that, Krampus clapped without thinking.
Wisdom explained,
"Alkum has niter mines and warehouses storing it for sale to various nations. Far from Heukrin, defenses against war are lax. For Nebula, if there's no niter, just get some. Alkum will be Heukrin's next target."
As Wisdom predicted, Heukrin was building many ships, most revealed as warships.
Wisdom, Krampus, and Jangwan pretended ignorance of Nebula's plans while bolstering Alkum's defenses.
Meanwhile, they built warships along their coasts, thoroughly preparing for naval combat.
Two months later, Heukrin's fleet of 150 warships set out for the Third Continent's southern coast.
It was a surprise attack without warning, but Krampus, ever vigilant at sea, spotted it easily.
'We were waiting.'
The three-nation alliance seized the perfect chance for revenge.
Heukrin's fleet reached the waters off Alkum, but Mangul's 130 warships, Asbestos's 100, and Danyeom's rebel 30 merchant ships—totaling 260—lined up to horizon, encircling Heukrin.
The result was an alliance victory.
Regrettably for the alliance, it didn't inflict heavy damage on Heukrin.
Admiral Iyan Tata's Heukrin fleet lost only two sunk and five half-sunk. The alliance suffered eight sunk and thirteen half-sunk—greater losses numerically.
But as the alliance's first win against Heukrin, it was encouraging.
Jangwan sneered it was a meager victory compared to resources wasted overextending on warships, but Krampus saw it differently.
"If our calculations hold, Heukrin can't use proper gunpowder weapons from the next battle on."
Considering ships engaged, losses were even, but the alliance's aggressive push and Heukrin's massive firepower expenditure shaped the battle.
Beyond victory, the alliance's goal was depleting Heukrin's black powder.
As Wisdom assessed, tactically minor, strategically overwhelming.
"What next? Will Heukrin hit Alkum again?"
"Doubt it."
According to Heukrin spies, some warships had been sold to civilians and converted to merchant ships.
Wisdom weighed Nebula's options.
"One: Nebula focuses on defense. Black powder quality too low for offense."
Krampus pointed out,
"But in a prolonged war, we hold the advantage maintaining gunpowder arms."
"Exactly. So Nebula's choices are limited."
Wisdom's Heukrin niter estimate included Yeokgwa's stock. Excluding Yeokgwa, Danyeom likely had substantial reserves.
"...Hit Danyeom?"
"Hard to say. If they do, Danyeom might rejoin our alliance. Burden for Heukrin."
"Then?"
Wisdom pointed at Krampus.
Krampus blinked.
"Me? What?"
"Yes, you, Krampus. Two reasons."
"Two?"
"First: Heukrin will now aim for a final short war as a last resort."
"Second?"
"Heukrin will target you."
And Wisdom was right.
Krampus's reforming independent nation lay at the most vulnerable point in Wisdom and Asbestos territories.
Asbestos couldn't yield prime land, but its trolls had built high castles against foreign attacks—valuable defensive strongholds for Krampus.
Asien Castle was where Danyeom rebels established New Danyeom.
20,000 Heukrin troops marched on Asien Castle.
But this time, the alliance's expectations weren't met.
Day 5 of the Asien Castle siege.
Asien's walls crumbled under Heukrin's nonstop bombardment.
Krampus whispered to Seong-un.
"Where'd they get it?"
"What?"
"The gunpowder."
When Krampus explained about potassium nitrate, Seong-un nodded as if understanding.
Then Seong-un said,
"You're not the only ones who can trade in potassium nitrate, right?"
"What?"
Seong-un pulled up a map.
"Look at the map closely. You think it's just your lands on it?"
Krampus looked at the map in confusion.
Then realization dawned.
The map wasn't of the Third Continent.
At the five o'clock direction on the map, protruding thickly at the edge, was something.
The Fourth Continent.