Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“That over there is the capital of the Empire... Etherinas.”

The holy capital seen looking down from the carriage going down the hill road was a sight of buildings of mysterious forms gathered inside an outer wall that looked unusually low, how they were built.

Some artist drew the holy capital from a hill like this as if it were a god’s toy basket and was imprisoned, they say.

But receiving the evaluation from a later emperor that ‘the ancestor would have liked it’, he was immediately released, and the painting that went up for auction was bid at an enormous value, I heard.

“It’s a specialness befitting a capital that has been in one place for tens of thousands of years.”

In reality, the outer wall that had gotten closer was sufficiently large.

It was just that the buildings inside that were directly touched by the First Emperor’s hands were too big, so the sense was off.

“Confirmed, Viscount.”

I passed through the capital’s city gate by presenting the family’s seal from inside the carriage.

“Let me down here.”

“Yes? It’s still near the city gate? The place where the Viscount will stay will come out after going in quite a bit.”

“I have something to see on the outskirts.”

The coachman left looking for lodging where he could feed the horses.

And Morris and I arrived at the destination without even walking ten steps.

A somewhat small and shabby cathedral not far from the city gate.

“Why the cathedral...”

“I want to look at some land.”

“Yes? You’re going to buy land in the capital?”

Morris said in surprise.

“Even if you organized the family assets, the prices in the capital are different, aren’t they?”

“They are different. But it’s still livable.”

Morris tilted his head.

Even if he emptied the family assets, he would think it would be hard to buy a house in the capital that needs a butler’s management.

That is correct.

With the money I have now, even if I say I’ll buy a house in the capital, it was barely enough to get one floor of a multi-generational house where many people live together.

If looking for a decently built house in a less noisy place, half a floor might be burdensome.

“I’ll look for a decent mansion in one of the villages closer to the Equira Sword Family. While the family head is training, I can prepare it cleanly.”

“Yes, there will be enough money left to do that.”

“I will follow your words.”

Morris tilted his head once more, but as if he intended to watch what I do for now, he didn’t add more words and followed.

The chapel inside was quite spacious.

A simple space with no wall decorations, chairs and candlesticks thickly stained with the traces of time.

If there was one exception, only the statue of the Emperor standing behind the platform was managed pure white, to the point that it would be believable if said it was brought in just yesterday.

Another characteristic was that people in particularly shabby clothes were sitting on the chapel chairs.

The one sitting separately far away and dozing off was unmistakably a vagrant who wandered the streets and came in, but the priest who was organizing the furniture inside didn’t bother to kick him out.

“Who are you?”

The priest who was organizing the furniture inside felt the presence and turned around.

A blonde youth with a thin body and shining eyes.

The body silhouette was a bit different, but I who recognized the person by those eyes smiled gladly and shook hands with him.

“Hello, I’m Ronan Gradias.”

“I’m Priest Miriel. What business do you have at the cathedral...?”

“I want to buy some land.”

Miriel made a puzzled expression.

“Land? The land around here already has owners, so the cathedral can’t buy it. If you want to know the owners, it’s possible here too, but going to a nearby brokerage...”

“No. It’s correct that I want to buy it here.”

I revealed my purpose.

“I want to buy some land outside the city.”

***

Since it’s the Empire, all the land of this world is the Emperor’s.

But some land was already borrowed and used by others first, and that person was recognized as the de facto owner.

Then, if wanting to borrow the Emperor’s land that still has no owner, where should one go?

Going to a nearby cathedral was enough.

Offering appropriate money and receiving the ownership certificate of the nearby land that had no owner stamped with the seal of a cathedral belonging to the Holy See, that money and the buyer’s name also go up to the territory’s city hall.

At that time, if the lord doesn’t make an issue, it is recognized, and if he makes an issue, it can be rejected.

The capital was the same.

Going to the cathedral, one could buy ownerless land nearby, and that contract content also goes up to the capital’s city hall.

And if the Emperor doesn’t make an issue, that qualification is recognized.

“How far are you going away?”

I came out of the city like that together with the priest.

“Near the city gate, there will already be some people who bought it.”

“You mean there’s another person like you?”

“Originally, the capital has all sorts of people, doesn’t it?”

I see them as geniuses.

I came seeing the future, but those people purely guessed this fact, didn’t they?

“This place will be good.”

Yes, perfect.

Here, later the Emperor won’t say ‘stop the nonsense and give up the rights’, and the surroundings will become moderately prosperous, perfect land for setting up an office.

“...It’s just a wasteland near the city gate?”

“Please listen once, Priest.”

I pointed to the opposite side of the city wall.

The hill I came down riding the carriage was visible over there.

“Imagine that a few years later, suddenly a bigger city wall appears over there.”

“...Yes.”

“And when that is completed, this old city wall here becomes unnecessary.”

“Yes?”

“Then they’ll tear it down. And up to here becomes the capital.”

“Aha...”

I swung my arm forcefully as if dividing the capital’s city gate in half.

“Like this, the moat on the west of the city gate is filled. They say it was made by digging what wasn’t originally a river stream.”

“Oh...”

I stretched my hand following the river stream flowing along the moat on the right.

“The original river stream, the eastern waterway, remains as is and the river water comes down that way, and government offices come in near that river.”

“What kind of government office?”

“The Imperial Magic Institute, meaning they’ll put the guys who bang around all day researching a bit away from the imperial palace. Even if they wanted to move, there was no suitable place, but as soon as the capital expands, they move starting from there.”

“You have a rich imagination.”

“Thank you. And over there, isn’t it perfect for a station to appear? The new capital south gate is also close. When it becomes a bit prosperous, a grand bridge crossing the river will appear too. On the opposite side, a magic tower is newly built at the request of the Imperial Magic Institute, and a mage district and commercial district appear nearby.”

“You have a lot of greed too.”

“Then won’t this place become enormously expensive too?”

“...”

Miriel finally laughed.

It was a laugh of absurdity, like there is a person who imagines such ridiculous things so clearly that they are drawn vividly in the eyes.

“Priest, how about buying a little too? If it goes according to my words, a cathedral will be newly built too.”

“...!”

When Miriel flinched, I traced my memory.

“Probably near the new city gate... Won’t one be built around there?”

Ten thousand years ago, the era when the majestic First Emperor himself ruled the world.

It seems that a believer of his working at a cathedral on the outskirts of the capital, after having a hearty meal with acquaintances, walked through the midst of refugees and the poor with an expensive clothes on, patting his belly, and it caught the eye.

When he asked if I had caused a drought recently, the subjects were startled and answered no, so why are those starving, he scolded.

When the subjects answered ‘recently too many have flocked to the capital so relief hasn’t reached yet’, the Emperor said ‘at least while I’m here, don’t all starve together and live’ and inevitably added one more word.

“I should tell that guy at the cathedral at the end of the capital to share a bit.”

Since he wasn’t a person of just words, he directly sent numerous foods to that cathedral, and those foods returned entirely to the poor under the fierce gazes of the elders without any embezzlement.

From that day, the cathedral at the end of the capital not accumulating wealth forever and taking care of and relieving those who flocked to the capital became tradition...

If such a tradition arose, isn’t it usual for human society to use it.

After the Emperor left his seat, as if natural, they started planting guys they didn’t like, guys unpleasant to look at, guys I see as pathetic there, and if they accumulated even a little wealth, they excommunicated them as unbelievers who don’t follow the words of God and greedy.

Leave saying they can’t endure, or share everything that comes in.

Victims placed in this binary choice arose, and the clergy in front of my eyes was the same.

He had skill and rose early to the position of taking charge of a cathedral at a young age, but became disliked by giving direct advice to a high person in the capital and sat in that seat.

“...You seem to know well about the church.”

I’ve been involved for over ten years, so of course I know well.

“It’s tempting, but what land is it for a clergy. We just stay and work for a lifetime in the place God intended.”

When I met him later regarding demon race matters, he had gained weight nicely and his skin had a sheen.

Well, since it was after the capital grew and it was no longer the endmost cathedral, that also doesn’t go against the words of God, does it.

It can be said to be the price of enduring by persistently providing relief until luck came.

With his cooperation, I was able to buy some land outside the capital’s city in advance.

***

“Morris, then please take good care of my house.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll prepare it perfectly until you come out.”

Even so, since I can’t erect a building in the middle of a wasteland, I decided to purchase one mansion in a quiet village between the sword family and the capital.

Since I intend to become a magic practitioner, I might stay attached to the sword family longer, but strictly speaking, there is nothing of mine in the Equira family.

Having a base to use comfortably outside and a person to help was a great help.

Leaving Morris waving his hand in the village with good scenery, the carriage departed again.

“Now let’s really go to the sword family.”

The carriage gradually climbs the hill.

The slope becomes steeper and steeper, and at the moment when wondering how long it will climb, it opens up and a wide plain appeared.

And in the middle of a blooming flower field, a castle so high it pierces the clouds was standing.

It looks peaceful on the outside, but the inside is not.

A place where magic practitioners with no nobility or anything live by their own strict rules.

The students are not magic practitioners, but rather because of that, they had to thoroughly keep those rules.

‘Since I’m late, I’ll get scolded a bit.’

And that expectation was somewhat off.

“You’re a year and a half late.”

As soon as I entered the Equira Sword Family and stepped into the sword institute, I was called to the director’s office and put my hands behind my back.

“Was the training hard?”

“No.”

It’s a light question, but the moment you answer yes here, it’s excommunication.

Not returning because training is hard is desertion, and all training periods are erased as is, and re-entry is also impossible.

I calmly revealed the matters after the funeral with flesh added.

“After holding Father’s funeral, I completely settled the family and came. There was also a matter entangled with the Snow Pine in the process of returning the duty. Hearing that incident, the reason is understandable. Since it’s your own matter, there must have been something felt.”

He even records meticulously.

Probably he’ll send a communication to the Valdemar Count’s territory and check in his own way.

The moment the lie is revealed, it’s excommunication.

“Even if it’s a valid reason, if the outing period is long, the years are sometimes set back. Do you know?”

For example, if trained for 8 years and went out stopping for 2 years, one must train as a 6th year.

“You stopped training for over a year. The possibility that skill has declined is considerable. In that case, it would be right to supplement that much training.”

Meaning they don’t graduate carelessly.

“Prove that you are still a 9th-year student.”

That proof was held in the sparring ground.

Since sparring in the sword family is familiar like breathing, not long after the director sent people, preparations were finished.

Accordingly, I was standing in the middle of the sparring ground where young 1st-year students to 10th-year graduation candidates, and some Equira magic practitioners who came to watch for fun were seated...

And had come to hold a sword.

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