Chapter 92 New Years II

Translator: Isekai Shousetsu

First month.

Its the important day when we welcome the new year.

For me, its the first new year since Ive become king.

Since Ive become one, its become necessary for me to fulfill the role of the highest religious priest.

Well, its not that difficult a thing. It would be fine if I just imitate Julia who had taken up the role as representative of her bed-ridden father, the old King Rosyth.

However, there are two particular problems.

First, the announcement of Tetras lineage.

Everyone was surprised.

Thats only natural. Rather, even I was surprised.

Tetra, whose belly had swollen to a large size, mutters beside me.

Normally, new years celebrations are celebrated only by the countrys citizens.

However, for some reason, a distinguished foreigner by the name of Abraham had come to the country.

Although the great clansmen, as well as the commoners who had known had been gossiping

As expected, no one could have ever imagined that Abraham was Tetras real grandfathr.

This will have extremely huge repercussions politically. Why? Its because Abrahams only direct descendants are Tetra and the child inside her.

All the others had died accidental or natural deaths, so their line is going extinct.

It wouldnt be an issue if Abraham was just a normal consul. However, he is a tyrant - a dictator.

Hesprobably thinking of having the next children succeed his own bloodline.

If that happens, Tetra would stop getting treated as just a noble concubine.

Really, I havent intended to have a political marriage of convenience, but it had naturally become one. How extremely troublesome.

That said, its still not coming to a head so lets put it for later. Itll probably begin after the child gets borndamn, my stomachs hurting.

As for the next problem, its that we have to deify the three gods we had recently decided to be our chief gods. At any rate, no one has ever done this up until now.

The great clansmen and the sorcerers all have to think together for the rules regarding the deification.

It wont just be a simple deification. We need to show to the whole country that those three gods will from now on be the guardian deities of the Rosyth Kingdom.

For the meantime, we made an impromptu altar and held a ceremony there.

If we mix the new anti-curse system as well as the usual methods, then I think that should be enough to somewhat counter spells.

After all, the number of sorcerers in our country are more than either of the three countries. Above all, we still have the barrier put up by Julia before her pregnancy.

There is a possibility that Julia might fall ill, and the barrier might not hold up the year after that. If that happens, were out. Our country would then have to face spells directly. Its no good to just keep defending. We also need to retaliate.

Now, our country is running about hurriedly to construct this anti-spell system. Although it would probably take around five years at the shortest before its completed.

According to Julia, whats important in this system utilizing the gods is religious piety.

We would build temples in each area where peoples piety would be gathered. We would then build a grand temple where such piety would then be gathered and combined.

The piety we collect in that grand temple would then be changed into sorcery power and channeled to the barrier.

Thats how the new system would work.

We will build temples on each area. Its easy to say but such an undertaking would take money and time.

We should be able to put out enough money. Time, however, is a different matter.

We can only go on patiently.

Construction is advancing quite well, huh.

Yes. Itll probably finish earlier than planned. Well, with the construction of the new temple, such leeway would immediately disappear.

Ismere quips with a little sarcasm.

I had ordered her to construct the grand temple by all means.

Because of that, she had to revise her plans so shes angry.

That said, theres several political reasons for this.

Ill be troubled if she doesnt consent.

I had come to the planned site of the new capital city.

The rabble of the new year has ended which gave me leeway to visit. As I thought, I have to see it for myself, yes?

Water control is advancing favorably. I already had them construct some dikes in the rivers in the area of the site. With this the flooding from the thawing of snow and strong rains would more or less disappear.

That said, you cant say its already flawless. Should a once-in-a-ten-year downpour fall then the dike would collapse.

Well, it hasnt been four months since the start of construction so things couldnt be helped.

According to Ismere, the real thing starts from here.

I heard theyd make tributaries and would further enlarge the dikes.

There are seven hills in the planned site of the new capital.

These hills wont get inundated with water even if the dikes were to collapse.

In other words, these are the safest places in the city.

The important establishments such as the royal palace as well as the grand temple would be constructed on top of these hills.

Honestly speaking, the rivers arent that much of a threat, the problems are the hills.

The hills?

Yes, hills are things that are like small mountains after all. If theres a mountain stream, then theres water flowing underground. Things would be okay on clear weather but should rain fall, itll be quite horrible. Therfore, drainage equipment, in other words, a sewage system is absolutely necessary.

Sewage, huh Sewage installation comes even before water supply, huh.

Well, I guess theres no problem since theres a river nearby for drinking water.

What are you going to do, specifically?

First, well bring water diverters into the city. Naturally, since weve furnished flood gates it wont flood even in the worse cases. We will let greywater and rainwater flow into this river. The water from the wells should be enough for drinking.? When it becomes insufficient, I think its best we obtain water via aqueduct. That would be better than river water, yes?

An aqueduct, huh

Its something you see in Rome, huh. If were to build something like that then it would definitely cost us an enormous amount of money.

Or rather, do we even have the technology to build one?

Itll be tough with the current technology of the Adernia Peninsula. Its also a long shot even with Cretian technology. However, I think that by the time this capital city is finished, the craftsmen here would have reached a level that wont lose to that of the Cretians. I dare say theyve already reached a level where they could stand side by side with them when it comes to roads, you know.

The Cretians are far ahead in construction technology. However, we dont have that much of a difference when it comes to public works.

Since Cretians are divided into smaller states, bridges and roads might be used by enemy armies.

Therefore, they dont make things like that so much.

Furthermore, they are a sea-faring nation.

I might as well ask, when will I be able to live here?

In about four years. Although itll be six years later until it could function into a fully functioning capital city. Well, if Your Highness would say that we should just focus on the capital then we should be able to shorten that much more

Roads and flood control, as well as the construction of the Grand Temple has been decided after all.

Since those projects would also take some people, it couldnt be helped that it would take time.

My King, cant you mobilize some more personnel? If we have just a thousand more then we should be able to hasten progress.

Stop joking, these projects are already putting pressure on our treasury. If you consider the possibility of the outbreak of war hereafter, then any more expenses should be unreasonable.

Right now, around 3,000 people are working on these various projects. If you include the standing army, then the total would rise to 4,000 Its easy to see, right? This number is about 1.6% of the population. Were constantly mobilizing that many people for these projects.

A war would take just two weeks even on the long end. Meanwhile, weve already mobilized these 1.6% of our population for four months.

Well, its not like its just expenses that are rising; income is rising too.

Revenue has drastically increased compared to the previous administration thanks to the sales tax from the Cretian merchants as well as sales from the liquor, garnet, paper, salt, and the like.

Road construction hasmade around 20% progress. This is thanks to the fact that this country, in the first place, had lots of simple roads made from soil that has been tread on. Furthermore, there are few to little troublesome obstacles such as mountain ranges and forests. The concrete that Your Majesty has invented had been very easy to handle as well. Things are advancing smoothly. For the meantime, the road to the DeMorgal Kingdom is pretty much complete. Within six months, the one to the Belvedere Kingdom would also be completed.

In the plan, a road connecting the current capital to the DeMorgal Kingdom would be constructed. The same goes for the Eville Kingdom and the Belvedere Kingdom. These three roads received maximum priority.

In the beginning, our country already had some so-so roads.

Everyone could easily see that these roads would help hasten the advance of the army as well as increase human activity.

The road leading to our arch-rival, the DeMorgal Kingdom, as well as the one leading to the Belvedere Kingdom were, to Adernian standards, especially fine.

This time, those roads were paved with broken stone and are furnished with drainage.

As such, construction time was short.

Well, in the first place, the Rosyth Kingdom has an area a size smaller than Iwate Prefecture. Since the road distance was short, the construction wasnt that much of a troublesome affair.

By the way, the construction of the roads that would stretch from the new capital havent started yet.

Its only pointless to lay down roads in a place where there arent people yet. Besides, the construction materials were being transported via water transport.

Well be putting them off for the meantime.

That said, its like a dreamfor me to be single-handedly undertaking the construction endeavors of a whole country.

Its just a small country in the sticks, however.

Nevertheless, its star is in ascendance, yes? Its thanks to your rule. From now on, this country will become the most prominent country in the Adernia Peninsula. Perhaps, even unification is possiblehow does that sound to you?

Ismere says half-jokingly with a laugh.

I do personally want to make that a reality though.

Come to think of it, hows it going with Qingming? You guys got together?

Wha, what are you saying! Thetheres no way thats

She turns deeply red. It really helps that shes easy to read, huh.

I want you to honestly tell me. Its actually because I had just received a marriage proposal for you. Well, its not a bad one anyway. However, while I will be recommending such a marriage of political convenience, I wont be obligating you to it. I think its desirable if youd be able to freely marry someone you love.

Uhm. Ill pass on the marriageIll be looking one by myself after all.

I see. If theres anything I can help with, tell me immediately, okay?

I bid my farewell to Ismere as I said that.

Oh? Interesting.

I had just finished reading the first volume of Qingmings Chronicles of Traversing the Continent.

The subject of the first volume was the Scarlet Empire.

Mixed in with the episode regarding the impetus of Qingmings parents to travel and their destination are the customs, culture, tradition, geography, and history of the Scarlet Empire.

I really want to go myself. But I guess its impossible, huh.

Thank you very much. This product called paper is really easy to useit really helped me a lot. Furthermore, to give it to me just like that

Dont dwell on it. It will be our pride to have such a great book come from our country.

I had given Qingming paper free of charge.

Not only that, I had prepared servants and a manor for him and put in order an environment where he could write.

In Earth, works like The Travels by Ibn Battuta, Book of the Marvels of the World by Marco Polo, Great Tang Records on the Western Regions by Xuanzang, A Record of Buddhist Practices Sent Home from the Southern Sea by Yijing, and the like are popular.

This book written by Qingming rivals those worksno, without a doubt, his book is better than those works.

If I were to make a huge blunder, this country would definitely get destroyed.

Despite that, Qingmings book would go on and survive without a doubt.

If I were to support him, then I would also go on through his book.

My existence will survive into posterity.

Howeverif I were to complain about one thing, its that its hard to read from it. The farther you get into reading the book the wider it gets that its becoming a hindrance.

However, it couldnt be helped with the books nature, yes?

Yes, it couldnt be helped with books in scroll form.

In other words, what Im saying is to stop it with the scroll style books.

Why dont you try bound books?

Bound books?

Yes. You would cut paper at fixed intervals and bundle them together. You then open holes through them and bind them with string. After that you would attach cardboard or thickpaper as cover in order to protect the book. This way, it wont be a bother to read and you would also be able to use both sides of the paper.

For someone like me whos used to modern Japans bound books, reading such hard to read scrolls are just too much.

Besides, keeping and organizing bound books would save space.

Bound books are several times more superior.

But I would have to admit that scrolls are quite cool.

Certainly, that way would be much efficient, yes? Why havent I thought of thatAs expected from King Rosyth.

Haha

Im plagiarizing my ancestors, you know.

By the way, Qingming, what do you think about Ismere?

N? I think shes a good person. What about it?

Nothing, dont mind me.

This reaction

Ismereyou need to put in a lot more effort, you know.

Nikolaus, how are things with you? Have you gotten used to life here?

Yes, since the food isnt that much different from Cretia and the weather too is gentleits not a bad life.

Not bad, huhits quite like him to not say flattery like its the best or what not.

Above all, its nice not having eggs getting thrown at me when I go out.

I dont know which to grieve, the lowness of Cretian cultural standard or your annoyingness

Its probably the latter, huh.

By the way, King Rosyth, which side are you on?

Which side of what?

Geocentric or Heliocentric. although it seems that Lady Tetra is on the Geocentric side.

Oh really? She supports Geocentrism, huh.

Well, if you think about it spontaneously, its only natural to think that geocentrism is correct.

If its that girl, shes probably say something like, In the first place, how can you come to an abnormal conclusion that rather than the others are revolving around us, its us thats revolving. It would just be fine if you just looked honestly.

Hmm, I wonder which side Im on

This is another world so it wont be surprising even if the Geocentric model is correct. I guess in the end

I think Ill go with the heliocentric model?

Uoooooo!! As expected of Lord Almis! From the very beginning I had thought that you had extensive knowledge for an uncivilized Adernian but as expected youre the greatest king!!

The greatest king, huh. Thanks.

Also, sorry for being an uncivilized Adernian.

Nikolaus had just gained someone that understands him so he got very excited and didnt notice my wry smile.

I think I just understood a part of why this guy gets eggs thrown at him.

Im happy to know someone like you exists. This country, when compared to the Cretian states, are culturally inferior after all. By the way, I have something Id like to ask, how do you think the Adernian alphabet could be made?

Adernian alphabet, huh. Well, certainly not having an original alphabet is inconvenient. If you tell me to make do with Persis alphabet if the Cretian alphabet did not exist, then Id probably go mad. However, Im not exactly knowledgeable in that area

As expected, hes weak when it comes to those things. This guy is a science guy anyway.

This world still doesnt have a distinction between science tract and cultural tract, so I had assumed hes probably knowledgeable there.

Do they have strong and weak subjects?

Im very sorry I cant be of any help. However, personally speaking, I have something that I think is more important than making an alphabet.

Something more important?

A calendar.

A calendar?

Is there something strange with the current one? Although I dont really get it

Although this countrys people dont notice it muchtheres a gap between the actual seasons. Its around 40 days.

Hmmif you think about it that might indeed be the case? But Im really not knowledgeable in that area.

The current calendar is something made about five hundred years ago. A forty-day gap would mean theres an eight day gap every hundred years. Well, again, I dont really get it.

Whenever I see this gap, I get very irritated and

In other words, in your opinion, we should revise the calendar?

I seewell its not like the people of this country are experiencing unexpected inconveniences by living their lives in accordance with this calendar anyway.

The commoners plant their seeds according to the seasons they had learnt from experience rather than from the calendar after all.

Revising the calendar would have a huge effect on the citizenry soits not something we could simply do. Well, anyway, Ill think about it.

Understood, then I shall make my way to making it immediately.

This guy. He really doesnt listen, does he?

Oi, Yal. I actually have two important thinks I want to talk about with you.

I had summoned over Yal.

Yals expression tightens as he heard those words.

He seems to be nervous.

The first thinghow about getting married?

Married!?

Yals eyes widen.

I, Im sorry. I hold deep respect and admiration towards Lord Almis and I swear my loyalty to you. If you tell me to die then I am prepared to do so. However, I dont have such kind of love towards milordBesides, theres already Lady Julia and Lady TetraI cannot possibly

What the hell are saying.

Ill pass on that too.

Upon seeing my expression and realizing his misunderstanding, Yals face turns deep red.

I, I humbly apologize. No, I had heard that the elite had a taste for that sort of love amongst men so I had

I dont have those kinds of hobbies.

Even if I did have such tendencies, I wont be choosing you. Ill be choosing pretty boys, you know.

So, did you say marriage?

Yal asks again to which I nod.

Yes. How old are you again?

Ill be 28 years old this year.

As such, isnt it bad that you arent married yet?

A huge part of Adernians marry in their teens. Its already late in their twenties.

Well, its common to see divorces amongst people married to arranged marriages so you also see marriages up until the mid-thirties.

Nevertheless, being unmarried is bad.

A marriage proposal for you has arrived. Its not like you have a woman you love right?

Unfortunately, this person has never experience that thing called love since birth

Isnt that pitiful. Even I had two, and both had bore fruit.

And so, who has sent the proposal?

No one specific had been decided yet. However, Im thinking of having you marry a girl of the lot from the former DeBell Faction.

The former DeBell Faction?

Yes. The recent state of affairs are horrible, yes? Theres a need to put in order domestic affairs. Im thinking of considerably forgiving them.

In reality, a huge part of the nobility dont really hold any sort of loyalty to me. What worries them is their own territory.

The former DeBell faction and the Ars faction dont differ in that regard. As such, rather than getting too comfortable with the Ars faction, it would be better if I pardon the former DeBell faction.

Well, its not like well have it done immediately. I want you to consider and think about it for me. Also, the second matter, this one is rather important and urgent matter.

What is it?

Ill have you go to the Zoldias Kingdom.

The Zoldias Kingdom is a country located to the west of the Eville Kingdom.

A large part of their territory is mountainous so its quite an agriculturally barren country.

However, their soldiers are quite strong.

Furthermore, it seems theyve been doing their best recently in opposing the Gillbed Kingdoms push south.

Is this a counter measure against the Eville Kingdom?

Thats correct. Well be applying pressure on the Eville Kingdom.

Make friends with distant countries while counquering near countries. That is the foundation of diplomacy.

As for the reason why I cant personally go

The first one is that there are dim prospects of an alliance. Therefore, itll make the Eville Kingdom happy if I ((went personally) and returned without any results.

The second reason is that the Belvedere Kingdom and the Eville Kingdom are located between my country and the Zoldias Kingdom.

Even if I did manage to push for an alliance with King Zoldias, itll be pointless if I wouldnt be able to go back.

Youll leave in maybe two months. Itll take some preparations after all. Ill have you stay there for a long period of time. The shortest would probably be a year. Itll be quite the pressure after all just by having you stay there.

I understand. Then I shall prepare immediately while thinking about the marriage proposal. Although I have one request

Hmm?

Yal has a request? This is quite rare, huh.

What is it?

Im thinking that I want a clanname. No, even now I do have one but its a name common among the commoners so

Basically, in the Adernia peninsula, names consist of three parts - a praenomen (personal name), a nomen (clan name), and a cognomen (family name).

For example, Tetras whole name is Tetra Ars. Tetra is her praenomen while Ars is her nomen. She doesnt have a cognomen since her family is the most prominent amongst the Ars clan.

In the same way, Julias name is just Julia Rosyth. In other words, her family is the most prominent amongst the Rosyth clan so she also doesnt have a cognomen.

By the way, in the great antiquity, its said that people only had nomen. However, in accordance with the increase of population, names grew longer little by little.

Just like in Japanese, the bad point of Adernian names is that you cant make and combine names infinitely.

Hmm, certainly, its not good to have such an overused nomen and cognomen in diplomacy, huh

Ive already granted Ron, Roswald, and Gram nomen. Those three are landed clansmen, after all. Furthermore, there are those that despised their former nomen, the greatest example of which is Lulu.

I had given each of the three the nomen Aemilius, Fabius, and Calpurnius respectively.

Their origins areyou already know even if I dont tell you, huh. The Adernia peninsulas geography, culture, and even climate are similar to that country after all. Just not completely.

The reason why I hadnt given Yal a nomen is that he doesnt hold any territory. Personally, I think it would be good to give him a large territory but Yal himself refused. Well, for someone like Yal whos working both as a diplomat and a domestic bureaucrat, territories and the like would only be a heavy burden.

Thenhow about Claudius? Theres an excellent person that held that name.

Claudiuswhat a fine name. Then from now on, I shall take the name Claudius.

Yal happily smiles.

Authors notes:

Come to think of it, Ron still doesnt have a family name, huh. Since its a pain thinking up something, I just lightly searched wiki.

By the way, Bartolos name is Bartolo Pompeius.

With this, the domestic governance part ends. Next is the plot battles, birth, and the war.