Ch.82Expansion of Public Education

April of the 10th year of Amurtat.

Now firmly in the middle of spring. The scholars and intellectuals who had been enjoying it gathered in the public bathhouse’s assembly hall, in a manner unbefitting their dignity.

Of course, they had rented the entire bathhouse and added various decorations to maintain a minimum level of formality, but the fact that the nation’s scholars were gathering in what amounted to little more than a sauna-level facility was evidence that the entire academic community of Amurtat was seriously lacking in quality.

“His Excellency Tiberius, the rightful ruler of Amurtat, has issued an edict.”

And addressing the thousands of intellectuals gathered in the hall, a high court official dressed in uniform and armband began to raise his voice.

“Although our Amurtat has achieved remarkable growth over the past 10 years, that is merely the achievement of the current generation. If the next generation fails to follow our example, it will be nothing more than a fleeting mirage that disappears in an instant. Does it make sense for a father to be literate while his child remains illiterate? We are all His subjects who serve loyally under the protection of Amurtat and for His Excellency Tiberius, so you shall all obey the command of His Excellency.”

Speaking thus, he pulled out an elegantly finished parchment from his breast.

The parchment bore a royal seal, the meaning of which need not be explained.

At least, not to those gathered here.

At once, everyone prostrated themselves, and after confirming that all had knelt, the herald began to read the contents of the parchment.

“As the sovereign of Amurtat, I declare that our nation has thus far pursued only visible development. We have built the Stilyard and Bonyard, along with high walls and public facilities, operating them and extracting profits, but how much longer can this prosperity truly last?

Since ancient times, wise rulers have not shunned hearing harsh truths, and benevolent rulers have never spared efforts to enlighten their people. Although I, still belonging to the realm of the living, do not know how well I can emulate the ancient sages, it is the absolute duty of all 800,000 citizens of Amurtat to save those who cannot be enlightened because they cannot read, and those who, despite having brilliant wit, cannot make it bloom due to lack of wisdom.

Therefore, I command: Our schools, academies, and institutes are small, cramped, and even dilapidated, so how can the flower of scholarship bloom within these rotting branches? I shall sell my nation’s gold to build beautiful educational venues that all nations on this continent will envy. You shall teach letters to the children of Amurtat, instill wisdom in adults, and furthermore, spread the name of Amurtat throughout the world.”

With a rustle!

When the herald finished reading, he carefully rolled up the parchment and placed it back in his breast.

Now all that remained was the scholars’ choice.

To the scholars who had raised their heads again, the herald asked.

“As the representative of His Excellency Tiberius, I ask: Will you follow His Excellency’s command?”

At those words, the scholars bowed their heads once more.

*

“The money… the money is flowing out again…”

“Lord Counselor!”

“Pull yourself together, sir!”

“Ugghhh…”

The budget for repairing, rebuilding, and expanding school facilities naturally came from Amurtat’s treasury.

A considerable budget had already been spent on transporting 20,000 fully armed soldiers back and forth to Fahrenheit, and now with funds being recklessly consumed without giving time for the budget to recover, the counselor naturally had no choice but to collapse.

Fortunately, thanks to his subordinates catching him, he didn’t actually fall, but the counselor, clutching his head, couldn’t let go of the parchment listing numerous expenditures even as he was about to collapse.

“Good heavens… does it really cost this much?”

“That’s why I collapsed! Really… even with the Stilyard and Bonyard…! Our lord doesn’t understand the value of money!”

“Well…”

In truth, even though they were building schools, they weren’t constructing particularly large ones in a city with a population of just 800,000. However, trying to crudely imitate modern facilities with medieval technology was gradually breaking not just heads but also the budget.

First, they needed to establish elementary schools throughout the city for children aged 7 to 15, then high schools for secondary education for those aged 15 to 18. After that would come higher education institutions like universities and graduate schools… but that was it.

Of course, schools don’t spring up on their own, so the money needed to secure sites for elementary and high schools, hire teachers, purchase teaching materials, and cover maintenance costs amounted to the equivalent of a year’s income for a decent-sized small city.

Add to that universities, graduate schools, and buildings for the Academic Council where scholars could directly voice their opinions on state affairs… well, it was nothing short of a budget-devouring monster.

Fortunately, expanding the city walls wasn’t necessary. Not only was the population still under 1 million, but educational facilities were already included in public facilities, so there was still plenty of space within the walls even considering future urban expansion.

Of course, the counselor knew all too well that filling that space would consume that much more capital.

“Lord Counselor, is our treasury still alright?”

“…It’s still fine for now. The capital’s liquidity has just stiffened. Since the Bonyard and Stilyard are actively exporting, money will soon flow in again.”

“And if something happens before the money flows back in…?”

“Well… then we’re ruined.”

The reason South Korea experienced the IMF crisis in 1997 wasn’t because there was no money, but because there was no ‘immediately available funds.’

Of course, the counselor had no way of knowing about economic crises from another world, but after decades of overseeing administrative affairs, he could instinctively understand that when capital flow becomes rigid, something terrible happens. So even if results were guaranteed, a high-risk, high-return structure was far too much like gambling.

“His Excellency wants to grow Amurtat as quickly as possible… but why? Being immortal, why does he live as if chased by time like us mortals?”

“Come to think of it… there is that impression, isn’t there?”

The counselor was confused.

Why indeed?

Why would an immortal try to develop a nation from a mortal’s perspective?

It couldn’t be that a mortal’s mind had entered an immortal’s body, and moreover, from his standpoint, to complete all development before the end of mortal lives that were literally no different from mayflies to him?

It was literally madness.

“…Whether we like it or not, His Excellency Tiberius is different from other rulers. There are rulers who prioritize growth, but… he could grow over 100 or 1,000 years if he wanted to… yet he’s rushing as if ‘it must be now or never!'”

“Yes. While I can’t particularly boast about having served many lords… His Excellency Tiberius has… some peculiarities…”

“Could it be? I heard His Excellency was severely injured… perhaps at that time…?”

At his subordinates’ words, the counselor wore an expression that said, ‘Surely not?’

This is a world where demons exist.

There are countless cases of evil spirits dwelling in weakened humans and causing chaos.

Even if that human is a sovereign.

Besides, at that time, Tiberius didn’t just injure his head. He was in such a state that his brain fluid was flowing freely and his brain was exposed, so not only demonic possession but also infection or parasites could have changed his personality.

Even removing all external factors, he had received such a shock that half his head was nearly blown off, so it was possible that the impact had caused abnormalities in parts of his brain.

“Let’s end this conversation here. It is improper for mere subjects to discuss the mental state of the sovereign.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

Once the outline became somewhat clear, the counselor firmly instructed his subordinates who had discussed Tiberius’s mental state to keep their mouths shut.

If scandals about mere celebrities cause all sorts of trouble, what about rumors of mental instability about a nation’s ruler? That would lead to truly unimaginable consequences.

“Our duty is to assist him. As long as he sits on the throne and fulfills his duties, we must remain loyal to him. Understood?”

“Yes! Understood!”

“Your answers please me. Now, let’s get back to work.”

And so the terrifying question was put to rest for once.

But everyone knows.

Doubt, once kindled, is like a fire that burns endlessly….