Chapter 79 - Gun Powder

He slowly opened up his eyes after he heard the loud sound of the chicken outside of the mansion. It was loud enough to awaken him, at the same time, recalling that he had a special task for this day.

He was looking around and saw Arisu was still hugging his body while her face was squeezing on his chest. The strong light given by the moon entering this room, let him see the beautiful face of Arisu.

"Well, she looks fine there's nothing to worry about." He said in a weak tone so he couldn't disturb the woman sleeping next to him.

Furthermore, he was guessing what was the time right now. Based on his observation, he thought it was already three o'clock, and for him, this was the best time to have an expedition back again in the Assima Forest. Why? He was just simply avoiding the damage that could give by the sunlight, also, she was aware that the monsters were aggressive at this time. But what he could do? He should finish this job as soon as possible since he had no idea what the exact time travel of the Rattin Kingdom was.

He was gently removing Arisu's hand away from him. After that, he pushed himself into a seated position and stopped when his back hit the concrete wall.

"Sorry about that, lady Arisu. This job is important for all the villagers and even you." He muttered in a deep tone, eventually wearing his shirt and the village's robe before coming back to his place. Where Emma was surely waiting for him.

Riku stood up, looking at Arisu in the way that he enjoyed the time he spent in this place. Before he leaves, he fixed the blanket for her since some of the parts of her body were revealing that could surely catch everyone's eyes.

"I'm going to leave, thanks for letting me sleep in your place." Although she was sleeping, still, he said these words and instead used the door. He used the balcony, utilizing his [Fly] skill as it was the fastest way to reach the guest's hall.

Black shimmering wings appeared on his back, he was spreading them widely, didn't care even there were some feathers dropping on the brick surface.

Swoosh!

When the moment he was ready, he slightly jumped into the air and headed to his destination without making any second thought.

__

In just a blink of an eye, Riku easily reached the place. And as expected, Emma was waiting for him, at the same time, already packed the belongings in this expedition which was some food and other stuff. The only thing he needed to do was to cover his entire body with a white blanket.

To begin with, Emma was sitting on his bed and had a huge smile on her face after she saw Riku arrive at the place. "Welcome back, Riku. What happens to your conversation with King Luke?" She approached him in that way.

"It's not good, Emma." He replied, then took the ripped blanket out of his closet.

Of course, she was curious about this. "Not good? Why? There's something happened in the mansion?" She asked, slowly walking closer to him.

While wrapping the white blanket in his entire body. He gradually nodded his head, facing the wooden closet. "Yes, King Luke had an illness right now. So they asked me if have an idea and if I could help him."

He lied. He can't say Arisu was the one who invited him to the mansion, planning to have a baby with him. Or to be exact, he just doesn't want to add more fire.

She was kneading her chin, recalling her situation back in the Mystic Forest when she was badly injured. In her mind, Riku was the main reason why her wounds suddenly heal, and at that time, he was using medical herbs that could find around the area. She admitted at first, that man was just messing up with her. Since in this world, people were using healing magic and healing potions to cure their wounds, so who's person would believe using herb could fully heal her wounds?"

"Is that so, Riku. Hmm... It must be the main reason why she already left when we came back from the expedition. Aside from that, I noticed that he was having a hard time walking." She said her observation before adding. "What's your answer to them? Do you think you can help him?"

He had an unsure expression, knowing that he had lacked medical knowledge, but one thing he was sure, he was doing everything that could help King Luke. "I said, I'll help him once I came back from this expedition and create the land mines needed by this village."

"What I have expected from King Luke, he'd still wanted to protect his village even he had a bad condition. I hope he will get better soon because the Arzotoc village needs him." She responded and looked at their conversation about King Luke would end like that.

"I hope that too." He replied, seemed finished preparing himself for this expedition.

Riku already informed Emma that they were going back to the Assima forest to collect the materials they needed to build the land mines. However, she had no idea what kind of materials they were going to look for since Riku didn't mention anything to her.

"Before we leave. What thing we are going to find in that forest?" She asked him once, then slowly heading out of the room, well aware sooner or later that they were going leave this village.

"We need a gun powder." He replied, but Emma was confused in that term.

Gun powder was the first explosive to have been developed. Also, it was one of the Four Great Inventions of China, it was invented during the Tang Dynasty. While the earliest recorded chemical formula for gun powder dates to the Song Dynasty. Also, it was commonly known as Black Powder to distinguish it from Modern Powder, which is the earliest known explosive.

In order to create a gun powder, they have to find potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur, these three were the main materials to create it.

Potassium nitrate, also known as Saltpeter or Saltpetre, decomposes at high temperatures to provide oxygen for the reaction. It means the gun powder doesn't need to be exposed to air burn- and that was why the smothering fireworks won't stop burning. Where we could find this chemical? It can be found on the rock, walls, and in caves.

The next one was the charcoal, but he thinks he will not have a hard time finding this material since he can make a lot of charcoals. Yet, charcoal was one of the important materials to create land mines since it was represented simply as being a source of carbon, which act as a fuel.

Alas, the last material which was sulfur. It could also act, though its inclusion has more do to with the fact that it undergoes an exothermic reaction (a reaction that gives off heat). At relatively low temperatures, providing more energy and lowering the ignition temperature of the charcoal. Where could find this element? Often in the volcanic areas.

In his mind, he was lucky that he explore himself from the lot stuff because he will not have this knowledge if he doesn't. Moreover, Riku thought that the Assima forest was a good spot where they could find those elements.

"Gun powder? I have no idea what's inside your mind right now. Aside from that, your terms are confusing me, so I have decided that just tell me the materials we are looking for so I can help you." She responded cheerfully as she was also to have this expedition. Why? Since it was the day when Riku would teach him about the monsters' level and their abilities.

"That's what exactly I'm going to tell you." He said along with a deep smile on his face. "Let's go, Emma. We have to leave this place and come back to this village before the sun goes down."

Inside his mind, he doesn't need to find spring for the land mines that would be the main key to triggering the explosion. Why? He already had the ferric he was just melting it and magnifying it into a springform.

...

The two left the village without being noticed by the villagers, aside from the guards who were guarding the entrance while some of them watching if there were suspicious people roaming around their village.

They opened the huge gate for him along with the huge respect given by his position in this village.

"Are you going out for the new expedition, sir Riku and adventurer Emma? It's not too early for both of you to leave?" One of the guards asked them.

Riku understood that the guard was worried about them since the monsters in the forest right now were way aggressive. Yet, he slowly shook his head, "No, this is a perfect time."

The guard could not do anything about it, just simply bowing his head with the other guard to show their support and respect to him.

GOOD LUCK, SIR RIKU, AND ADVENTURER EMMA! THE FOREST SPIRIT WOULD PROTECT YOU, AND WE ARE FOR BOTH OF YOU TO COME BACK!

They said at once while seeing the two waving their hands.

"Thanks!"