First Steps to Imperial Rule
The number of villagers, including children, is somehow over 1,000. It is a small village that lives on a small amount of cultivated land.
The inhabitants of the village were now trembling with fear. The sound of the ground trembled over and over again. The villagers went in the direction of the noise to see what was going on, and what they saw was a scene of a group of people who looked different from humans even from a distance.
An attack by the demons. The information brought back by those who had gone to scout the area caused panic in the village.
The villagers gathered their belongings and tried to escape. However, before the villagers could escape, a group of people on horseback arrived and ordered them to gather in the square.
The residents of the small village had no power to resist the demons. Terrified, the people gathered in the square in the center of the village.
"Who is the chief?"
"...Yes. It's me."
The chief, while trembling, stepped forward at the question of a man riding a particularly large horse.
"I am sorry for making a fuss. I thought it would be more confusing if I told you in advance."
"Haa..."
Even now, he was confused enough. The village chief could not express his feelings.
"There is no danger, so don’t worry. If you can stay calm, we can disband."
"......How can I help you?"
"Construction"
"Construction? What kind of construction?"
"Waterworks."
"Water?"
"……You want to know?"
As usual, Ren was short on words.
"Just in case"
"Then, I will explain in detail. There is one construction project to draw water from a little distance away."
"Huh!?"
"What?"
"No, I was a little surprised. It was unexpected."
"I was the one who was surprised."
"...Where does the water come from?"
"Nearest River"
"... As far as I know, it is four ri?"
"Four ri… 16 kilometers?"
(TN: 里 (ri), a unit of distance. From the early modern until the end of the Edo period, it is approximately between 3.6 to 4.2 kilometers. From the Meiji period, it is approximately 3.927 kilometers or 2.44 miles)
"Eight kilometers by continental standards."
"Is one ri equal two kilometers? That river in terms of distance."
"...How did the demons get such a construction project?"
He understood that they were doing construction work to build a waterway. But that's all he understood from Ren's explanation.
"Don't you want a waterway?"
"Is it us?"
"Yes"
"We want it. Right now we're carrying a bucket from the well in the village to the field."
"Then, do you need construction?"
"No way, construction for this village?"
Finally, little by little, the village chief was able to understand what Ren was saying. However, this time, he can't believe it.
"It's not just for this village. We need to make a straight line to connect the river, which has been largely bypassed. We're going to make a couple of branches from it and bring it into the farmland of the surrounding villages."
"......No, so why would the demons do such a thing?"
"To help with the public works project."
"Public works?"
"The Nord Federation has changed its name to the Nord Empire. Among the member countries of the empire, there are also demon countries, so we will ask them to cooperate with the work of the country. Oh, and the elves as well."
"...Um, perhaps, you are?"
"Me? My name is Kaiser Ren Breitkreutz, who became the emperor of the Nord Empire. I'm your ruler."
"......I beg your pardon!"
The chief had intended to ask if he was a human, but the answer that came back was outrageous.
The village chief hurriedly knelt down and rubbed his head on the ground. He thinks that his previous attitude could be called disrespectful. The villagers around him did the same. They straighten up and bow their heads deeply.
"It would be difficult to talk"
"But!"
"I don't need that kind of thing. It's a waste of time. It's inefficient."
"…Are you sure?"
The chief timidly raises his head and asks Ren.
"That's what I'm saying. Do you want me to order you to get up?"
"No, then excuse me."
The chief stands up like before. Along with that, the villagers also raised their faces.
"I understand what you are saying. I am very grateful."
"It's too early to thank me. It's not going to happen anytime soon."
"I know that. So... how many people from our village?"
He is grateful to have a waterway. However, it would be a problem if it took a lot of manpower for that purpose. Even so, if Ren, the emperor, orders it, he cannot refuse.
The chief asks Ren.
"Is there anyone who can use magic?"
"...If it's a life magic."
The chief doesn't understand the meaning of Ren's question.
"Is it still useful? No, but there's the question of power..."
"Umm, Your Majesty?"
"If there is someone who can help, please help."
"That's, yes"
"I'll show you an example, if you can do it, let me know."
"An example?"
"...This place. Chief, stay away for a while."
"Ah, yes"
As soon as the chief followed Ren's instruction and stepped back, a thumping sound echoed through the plaza. The ground in front of Ren had caved in significantly and it continued to do so several times.
"Eh? Your Majesty?"
"What?"
"That is?"
"Compress and harden the soil with earth attribute magic. Repeat this to create a waterway."
"...Magic for Civil Engineering"
"Now that we're here, let's finish it. Wait a little longer."
Ren continues to make the hole in the ground bigger and bigger. After sinking deeply into the ground, the next step is to widen it horizontally. When the hole was big enough for three or four people to lie down, Ren stopped working.
"Well then, the test. Can you fill this hole with water? I want it to be at least half the height."
"Yes. we will do it."
"In the meantime. I'd like some larger stones, too."
"Stones... I understand."
The chief doesn't know why, but he ordered the others to pour water from the well into the hole and have some stones carried to the plaza.
"It's about time we got ready."
Ren, who had been watching the scene, took action again. What he began to do was to release fire magic toward the stones he had gathered. The demons who had accompanied Ren helped him, and soon the stones turned red from the heat.
"Ah, so that's what you mean."
The chief finally seems to understand what Ren is trying to do. Ren kicked the reddened stones down into the hole. Steam gradually began to rise from the hole.
".......No sign of leakage. The hot water is good. Yes, it's a pass."
"Bath magic..."
"If you fill it with water magic, it will be perfect. But I tried it before and it was pretty inefficient, so I haven't done it since."
"Haa"
"All we need is to harden the soil. Who can do that?"
Ren asked the villagers, but they were too stunned to raise their hands.
"...Disappointing. No one can help with the waterway."
"I'm sorry"
"No, I'll have you dig a well instead."
"A well?"
"The place was found on the way here. I'll tell you where it is, so dig it. You can use that well until the waterway is built."
"Really!?"
If a new well is built, they may be able to increase the fields around it. Thinking of that possibility, the chief's face suddenly brightened.
"What's the use of lying?"
"No, that's right."
"However, the place I found is much closer to the river than here. If the river floods, the fields may be ruined. If that's all right with you."
"If we can increase the farmland, that's fine. It's just a matter of planting fast-growing crops."
There are certain times of the year when the river overflows. All they have to do is to avoid those periods when there is a lot of rain.
"Okay, I'll tell you where. Some of you follow me."
"Yes. Right away."
The hopeless situation of being attacked by demons had somehow turned into hope. However, the change was so drastic that none of the villagers could realize it.
They don't know what is going on. That's what the villagers are feeling right now.
◇◇◇
After showing the villagers where to dig a well, Ren returned to the village. It is necessary to have a water field even for camping. The nearest water source was the well in this village.
He had decided to do so from the beginning and left Ralph and a few others behind to prepare for the encampment.
When Ren returned, he found that the villagers had finally understood what had happened while he was gone, and the village was full of life, the opposite of what it had been when he first visited.
Tables and chairs were set up in the plaza, and Ren was led to them.
"...Ralph?"
Looking at the dishes on the table, Ren asked Ralph, who was left behind in the village.
"The food is what we have prepared. But they want to take care of the cooking."
"I see."
"The villagers are waiting, so why don't you have a meal?"
The villagers were still gathered in the plaza. What was different from before was that they were sitting around the plaza, not in one place. There were dishes lined up in front of these villagers as well. And small bottles of what appeared to be alcohol were also in front of the villagers.
"...Some kind of festival?"
"No, it's a banquet to welcome His Majesty."
"I thought I told you not to burden the village?"
"I did say that. I told them that each of them would bring their own alcohol. And as for food, we are providing enough to make enough for the villagers."
"Then, okay. But a banquet?"
"It is the emperor's duty to be seen in public."
"……I understand."
Although he was crowned emperor, he did so because it was necessary for him to achieve his goals, and he did not want to be feted by the people. He sat down in his chair with some reluctance.
The chief, who had been waiting for him, stepped forward reverently.
"Your Majesty the Emperor, thank you very much for visiting our village."
"……Yeah."
"It is a pleasure and an honor for all the villagers to welcome you."
"You see."
"Yes?"
"No need to be so formal. We don't want to keep them waiting. Let's start eating."
"...Understood. Then, everyone, His Majesty has given his permission! Enjoy the meal!"
At the voice of the chief, toasts were raised from all over the plaza. The villagers began to eat as they pleased.
Ren, seeing this, began to eat the food in front of him.
Soup with various vegetables simmered in it. The soup is a dish he usually eats, but as soon as he put it in his mouth, Ren's movements stop.
"……Spicy."
"Was it too spicy for your palate?"
The chief hurriedly called out in response to Ren's reaction.
"No, it’s delicious. I was just surprised because I haven't had spicy food in a long time."
"I see. It's relatively common around here, but is the castle's cuisine different?"
"I thought chili peppers thrive in hot climates."
"Pepper..."
"Yeah, what is this hot stuff?"
"It's red mustard."
"...I see. I thought red mustard was made in warmer climates."
This is one of those things that he crammed into his head with his academy days in the hope of gaining a little useful knowledge.
"Certainly, red mustard is better suited to warmer climates. But it warms the body, so we try to cultivate it, albeit slightly."
"I see. It's certainly good for winter."
"Yes"
For Ren, who has been camping out and seasoning the food with only salt, the food in front of him was a feast. He was enjoying the food on the table, taking it in turns to eat it.
"Hmm?"
"Is something wrong?"
"It's sweet. I thought sugar could only be harvested in warm climates, but is that wrong?"
"Sugar is made by squeezing a plant called sugar beet. It is a plant that is tolerant of cold, so we make a lot of it."
"I thought it was sugar cane"
"Sugar is made from sugar beet in the north and sugar cane in the south."
"Heh. Sugar can be made in the north too..."
Ren does not have this kind of knowledge. He had no time to learn all of this. Ren wanted to have more conversations with the chief.
"I thought being on the northern edge of the continent, crops would be limited, but there's a lot."
"No, it's still tough. The climate is one thing, but above all, we have no land, so we have to limit the variety."
"I know that. That's why we are doing this construction work."
"Yes. Thank you."
"No, I don't want you to get your hopes up too high, so I'll explain it to you."
If the other party is honest, Ren will not be able to deceive him either. Ren changes his attitude depending on the person. The chief is a person who goes to his good side.
"What?"
"This construction project is meant to be a test."
"A test?"
"That not everything will go as planned."
"I see……"
Hearing Ren's words, the chief looked disappointed.
"My final goal is land surrounded by rivers. I want to turn that land into farmland. I've heard that the soil brought in by the river is fertile."
"Yes. But that area is often flooded by the river, which is why we live here, away from the river."
"Yes. The land is so overflowed that it is difficult to use the rich land. So we want to prevent it from flooding."
"What?"
Ren's idea is more than the chief expected. Of course, it was the first time he had heard of it.
"So don't get your hopes up. It's crooked, so it's prone to flooding. If so, just straighten it. It's that kind of simple thinking. In the beginning, it's just a channel that carries water for agriculture, but I want to expand it little by little and one day change the flow of the river."
"......That sounds daunting."
"We can't do construction in the winter when the snow piles up. I'd like to get it done in about three years."
"Yes?"
Ren's words also exceeded the chief's imagination. It is natural to be surprised about this.
"No, it can't be done any sooner than that."
"No, it's not like that. On the contrary, can you do it in only three years?"
"On the calculation, yes. If something goes wrong, it will be longer."
"Nevertheless……"
Ren's words were an unexpected pleasure for the chief, who had only hoped that the project would be completed while he was still alive.
"Let me tell you, it's because of the power of the demons and elves."
"……Yes"
The chief's face clouded as soon as he said that. With Ren's words, the chief is in a state of joy and sorrow.
"Is there still prejudice?"
Seeing the chief's reaction, a bitter expression also appeared on Ren's face.
"Since many people have been killed by the demons."
"It's the same with the demons. Many demons have been killed and women have been kidnapped. It's the mutual resentment."
"Yes……"
The chief's expression is still unsatisfied, although his mouth affirms it at Ren's request.
"What is the name of this country?"
"The Nord Federation... was it an empire?"
"Yes. Federation is fine. What does federation mean?"
"I think it meant a collection of several countries."
The chief's words elicited an impressed response from those around him. Many villagers do not know the name of the country, and even if they do, few know its meaning.
"What are those countries?"
"...Countries of demons and elves"
"Yes. The Nord Federation was originally called the Nord Empire. It's the same name as the country today. The Empire is the same as the Federation. The Nord Empire, which has an emperor with many kings, was a collection of many countries."
In fact, the human side was just calling themselves by their own name, but there was no need to talk about it. The villagers were even louder in their admiration than before at Ren's explanation.
"The reality, however, is that it is not really a single country. Why is that? Because neither the humans, nor the demons, nor the elves would come to terms with each other."
"Yes"
"They fought domestically without even thinking that they could cooperate with each other. As a result, they have accumulated hatred and resentment towards each other. I understand that."
"…………"
"Even so, both the demons and the elves chose to compromise. Even now, they still have a grudge and prejudice against the humans. But they are trying to overcome it for the sake of the country."
"How is that possible?"
"They've already taken action. That's what this project is about. They don't get anything from this project."
"…………"
"They are taking action with the awareness that they are citizens of the empire. Right now, only humans are doing nothing in this country. What do you guys do?"
"Even if you say so."
"With the cooperation of demons and elves, the lives of humans will be easier. But the demons and elves also need the help of the humans. Why don't you ask them first?"
"Even if we ask them..."
"The other side of the river is the land of the Centaur tribe. The Centaur tribe now belongs to a country created by the beastman race called Therianthrope Country. In other words, the other side of the river is the territory of Therianthrope Country."
"Is that so?"
"It's natural that you don't know. It's a new country. Let me introduce you to the king, Luke, and the chief of the Centaur tribe, Chiron. You can talk with Chiron and decide what to do. He's ready to talk with you."
"……Yes"
"Even if a problem arises, it can be resolved through discussion. If things don't go well with Chiron, you can talk to King Luke."
"To the king?"
"Of course, I can do it, but I don't want you to negotiate everything through me."
"Yes"
As Emperor, Ren is King Luke's superior. It is not an equal negotiation. That would be meaningless.
Ren would like to have a king of humans and have all the countries on the same level, but unfortunately, this is not an acceptable situation right now.
"You should interact with the elves. They are the guardians of nature. And even though their plants are grown by human hands, they can tell us a lot about them."
"…………"
"Complaints?"
"No, I'm surprised how suddenly this happened."
"What?"
"The same goes for the waterways, but I was also troubled by the disputes with the Centaur tribe. I am not saying that it is only their fault anymore. We are at fault as well, for example, we have been taking the food from the mountains without permission from their land."
"I guess. From the perspective of the Centaur tribe, it means that the border was violated and the country's property was stolen."
"Yes. If I think about it as a country, I understand. But..."
"You thought that the whole of Nord belonged to the humans?"
"That's right……"
Many people do not understand a federation to begin with. The Nord Federation is a country of humans. They think so.
"If you accept the other party, you will be able to make compromises. I think they will forgive you if you ask them for food in the mountains."
"I understand. If the relationship with the demons improves, we can live in peace. Once the waterway is completed, our lives will be much better. This is all thanks to His Majesty."
"There is no need to thank me."
"It is only after His Majesty has been enthroned."
"Even so, I don't need your thanks. I'm not doing it for you guys."
Even though the chief's heart was full of gratitude, Ren denied it.
"...But it is a fact."
"I want to make this country rich. But it's not for peace. It's for war."
"War!?"
"Yes. This country will eventually go to war."
"Why? Even I, a village chief, can see that this country does not have that kind of power."
"So I will make the country rich."
"No way..."
"Let me give you an excuse."
"Excuse?"
"Even if I do nothing, the whole continent will soon be engulfed in war."
"......It'll be like the great wars of the past."
"It's probably more than that. Have you ever heard of the Great Iliad Treaty?"
"No, I don't know."
Only the central administrators of each country know about the pact, in which every country on the continent participates. The existence of the pact is unknown to local officials and the general public.
"It is an agreement that was made between the continental nations after the last war. It contains a number of provisions, but the main ones are to forbid wars of aggression and to cooperate to stop any country that violates the agreement. It is an agreement to prevent war."
"With that in mind, why would His Majesty start a war?"
"That agreement is about to expire. And when it expires, it can not be extended."
"……Why is that?"
"The great powers are not satisfied with their current affluence and are thinking of ruling the entire continent."
"What?"
"Even a small country is dissatisfied with its current position and wants to invade other countries to make them richer and bigger."
"That kind of thinking..."
Many countries do not want peace. It was a surprise to the chief.
"Not all. Some countries want to avoid war somehow. But those countries are powerless countries that are invaded by other countries. They can't stop them."
"This country too"
"It is a powerless country. But that doesn't mean I'm just going to sit back and let them destroy us. I will not be destroyed, but I will be the one to destroy it."
"…………"
"That's why you don't need to thank me. I'm trying to get the people involved in the war. It may be the emperor's right, but as a person, it's a crime. So you can hate me. I promise you that you will not be charged with a crime even if you do."
"…………"
The chief fell silent at Ren's words. He was not the only one. The villagers who had been chatting and listening to the conversation around them were now silently staring at Ren.
"......I'm sorry I made the atmosphere bad. Keep eating."
Seeing that atmosphere, Ren stood up from his seat and left the plaza.
The villagers' feelings of antipathy toward Ren for waging war were growing stronger. This feeling is especially strong among women with children.
On the other hand, the villagers are surprised to learn that Ren, despite his position as emperor, explains the world situation and the country's position to the villagers.
The villagers were also sympathetic to Ren's distress when he admitted his wrongdoing and even said that it was okay to hold a grudge. In reality, Ren's words were based on the fact that he does not care about being resented, but the villagers could not possibly understand that. They did not agree with Ren's words about going to war, but they understood.
Anfang is a small village in the Nord Empire. This was the first village to recognize Emperor Kaiser Ren Breitkreutz as its emperor and pledge allegiance to him.
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