Chương 51: Normal day
As Rafael strolled through the city, taking in the sights, he mulled over his current situation. In a month, I'll become a priest. But what exactly does a priest do? I should ask Julius about it and also find out the difference between a priest and a cleric. And if priests have access to the church's money, oh, everything will change! I'll find a room just for myself and fund some private projects, like sending someone to China.
Goddamn my memory! Why, even with ELSpam, can't I remember the ingredients for gunpowder? Come on... Gunpowder... Three ingredients... Charcoal and... Is it potassium? Or phosphorus? Maybe sulfur... Fuck! Why didn't I pay more attention during those museum visits? Okay, it's not potassium, so that leaves two other options... What if it's magnesium or sodium? Nah, those don't ring any bells. I'll start with phosphorus and sulfur—that's my best guess.
What I do remember is that charcoal has a lower percentage, between 10 to 20%, while compound X is also around that percentage, and compound Y takes up the rest.
As he walked, he noticed houses made of mud and even some made of bricks. Now closer to the outskirts, there were more people in sight. Not every street was paved with stones—just like in other cities, only a few main roads were paved, while the rest were bare ground. Occasionally, Rafael would see another cleric walking or talking with the townsfolk.
With distillation, I'll make pure alcohol, which will help save people from dying even from scratches because of sepsis. And, of course, it will open up a whole new world of drinks.
Finally, Rafael arrived at another church, where a mass was in progress. The church was made of stone bricks and was double or triple the size of the small one in the inner circle. Curious, Rafael stopped by the entrance and observed the scene.
The commoners were seated on the ground, facing a group of clerics at the altar. In the center was a man with green strips around both arms, reading from the Bible. Why aren't there any benches for the people here? And why is everyone at the altar facing away from the crowd?
It wasn't until centuries later that clerics and priests began interacting with the people during mass. Wait, why are they speaking in Latin? No one here understands it except the clerics.
To Rafael, it seemed the mass wasn't meant for the people at all; they were just there, almost as an afterthought. Not wanting to waste time, Rafael found a cleric outside and asked for directions to the next church. His morning passed in this manner, and by noon, he was heading back to the inner circle.
Concrete. This will transform this kingdom. While others still live in houses made of mud or mansions of clay and stone bricks, it won't compare to what this place will become. After I learn Latin from the High Priest, I'll write two or three sheets about the scientific method and make lots of copies to send throughout the kingdom.
Rafael continued to daydream about his inventions and future plans as he approached the gate. However, something caught his attention—the number of soldiers at the entrance had doubled.
What happened? Despite his curiosity, it wasn't enough to stop him from asking why the number of guards had increased. After identifying himself, the men let him pass without issue. Alright, where can I get food around here?
First, Rafael went back to his room connected to the back of the small church, but Julius wasn't there. He then decided to check the clerics' chambers at the mansion. When he arrived, he found only three clerics, already eating. "Hello, brother, what brings you here?" one of the men asked, recognizing Rafael as the High Priest's new apprentice.
"Hello, I'm looking for food, but not that porridge. I want at least a soup or something better," Rafael replied, wrinkling his nose in disgust at the food on their plates.
"Ah, porridge is all we have. It's rare for us to get anything different. Only the priests and High Priest have the privilege of eating better food. Well, I guess since you're his apprentice, you also have that privilege," one man said with a sad expression. It seemed not everyone was fond of porridge, but without it, they would starve.
"Where can I find something different, then?" Rafael asked.
"Talk to the cooks at the mansion. I think that's your best bet for quality food." Rafael thanked him and said goodbye, then wandered aimlessly, trying to find the kitchen or someone to help him. This place has almost no windows! How am I supposed to see in the dark?
Small windows were placed far apart, but despite his joke, the amount of light was sufficient. Even ordinary people wouldn't have trouble seeing.
After exploring for a while, he finally found someone who looked like a servant—a woman he recognized from when Frederic learned about paper. She eyed the random cleric wandering the corridors suspiciously. "What are you doing here? The exit is that way," she said curtly.
"Wait, I'm trying to find the kitchen to pick up some food for the High Priest. He doesn't want to eat porridge today," Rafael explained as he approached her.
The woman, about 170 cm tall with short black hair and a slim build, gave him a thorough once-over before telling him to follow her. Rafael relaxed upon hearing that. For a moment, I thought she might kick me out or something… Frederic, you lucky piece of shit!
He thought, admiring her as he followed.
Was I dragged into the path of chastity? No... NOOOOO!
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực