Chapter 57

"Galm, I have to tell you. It's not easy to get beer right away."

"I have the barley seeds with me."

"You're sharp... So, can we plant a field and grow it... or would any kind of alcohol do?"

"That's right. As long as it contains alcohol, I won't complain at this point."

Galm crossed his arms and nodded thoughtfully.

Toore, who had been listening to the conversation, rubbed his long beard and twitched his eyebrows.

Alcohol is said to have existed since the dawn of human civilization.

The mechanism is very simple: sugar ferments and turns into ethanol, creating alcohol.

In ancient times, there are anecdotes about how fruit collected in rock crevices by apes or rainwater collected in beehives destroyed by bears fermented into alcohol.

Since things left in nature can turn into alcohol, converting sugar into ethanol is quite simple.

Making it is easy, but considering the taste and alcohol content makes it much more difficult.

I hardly drink alcohol. If I do, it's just a little beer or wine.

So, I can't really tell if it tastes good!

But, there's a heavy drinker here, right?

He's eager for alcohol and would be happy to taste it.

I've already found a suitable ingredient.

"Galm, it's not grapes, but there's a good fruit."

"Hmm!"

"It's called guava. It's very sour, but the grapes used to make wine are also sour, right?"

"Indeed. Where can we find this guava?"

"It should be around here. We could make a guava orchard eventually. Since it grows naturally here, the climate should be suitable."

"Hmm. We should discuss planting and cuttings with the farmers. For now, we should collect it."

"Right. We'll leave that to the collection team led by Bartholomew. We'll also need seedlings for growing."

"Wow! Now that it's decided, shall I start the blacksmithing work?"

He's so straightforward.

Wait, hold on. If we're making guava wine, can we distill it too?

I hesitate to ask Galm, who has already started hammering the iron he took out of the furnace.

Then, I'll ask Toore.

Toore, noticing my gaze, speaks first.

"What is it, Joshua?"

"If we're making barrels, can we also make distillation equipment?"

"No problem. Dwarves may not be as enthusiastic about alcohol as humans, but they don't skip it. Everyone is familiar with it."

"I see. I want to increase the alcohol concentration to the extreme for part of it."

"You're up to something interesting again!"

"It's not a big deal. I want to use it as a disinfectant. We have potions for injuries, but it's always good to have a disinfectant."

"Hmm, hmm, hmm. I can make it, but..."

"I understand. I'll explain the disinfectant and its use for injuries when it's done. Is that okay?"

"Hehehe. As expected, Joshua. You understand me well."

In this world, the concept of disinfection doesn't exist.

Disinfection can prevent serious infections like tetanus, but with magic and potions, it's not necessary.

Compared to wound treatment with medicine in Japan, magic and potions are far superior. A two-centimeter wound can be closed in about ten minutes with a potion, not just on the surface but also inside the tissue.

I was almost shocked when I first saw it. In terms of surgical care, I think this world is more advanced than Japan.

Of course, it depends on the situation.

But, it's better to have a disinfectant. It can also be used for scientific purposes.

"Toore, Galm. Can we discuss the construction plan later?"

"Of course. We can start right away!"

"I'll go over the details with Sequoia about electricity first."

"Understood."

Toore is ready to start immediately, but Galm has already begun his blacksmithing work. It wouldn't be fair to interrupt him.

I think he's more interested in civil engineering, so he'll probably join in, but there are people waiting for him to finish his blacksmithing work.

For their sake, I want him to complete his work first.

Besides, I saw a penguin holding a fish by its tail outside the window, carried by Alru.

They will be here soon.

◇◇◇

In a room at the blacksmith's, the battery lecture by the penguin began.

The attendees were Sequoia, Alru, and me.

The penguin sat on the table, and we surrounded it, a rather silly scene, but everyone was very serious.

Well, Alru was smiling and seemed to be listening without much understanding.

The penguin's words are incomprehensible to Alru, so it can't be helped. She'll have to bear with it for a while.

Sequoia, connected to the penguin by the magic, can understand what the penguin is trying to say, even if the spoken language is not understood.

"Battery... the concept of a rechargeable battery, right, Joshua?"

"Right. I'm thinking about putting materials inside a battery container to see if it can become a magic stone."

"Hmm. Ideally, the container would be plastic, but let's use a glass container. The electrodes will be lead, and the solution will be dilute sulfuric acid. The wires will be copper, insulated with Stuka resin, right?"

"Right. So, we need lead and dilute sulfuric acid."

"Can you prepare them?"

Hmm.

Lead might have been in the list of minerals I collected before. Lead is rarely found as a pure mineral.

It mostly exists as a sulfide, often mixed with nickel or iron.

If I re-examine the minerals I collected, there should be some containing lead.

"Sequoia, can you help me check the samples of minerals I collected before to see if they contain lead?"

"Understood. What about sulfuric acid?"

"Sulfuric acid... I can't imagine how to make it, but how is it made?"

"To make it, sulfur and saltpeter would be good. Sulfur can be extracted from sulfides. It's not a rare substance, so there shouldn't be a problem with sulfur."

"Saltpeter. Should we go look for it?"

"It might be difficult, but sulfur and saltpeter are also materials for black powder. However, we don't intend to make black powder."

"Gunpowder isn't immediately necessary right now."

"We'll proceed with the mineral survey. Saltpeter, or potassium nitrate, is water-soluble and is also an essential element absorbed by plants from the soil. It's found in trace amounts everywhere."

"So, in dry areas. Isn't it true that potassium nitrate is formed by the decomposition of excrement?"

"Yes. In the past, there were methods like the 'nitre bed method,' but they take a lot of time and require expertise. Ideally, we should find a saltpeter vein."

"Understood. I'll look for it. I have two more things to discuss with you and Sequoia. It won't be immediate, but—"

He paused, holding up two fingers.