Chapter 236
Chapter 236
Iron Emperor — Chapter 236
Chapter 75: Great Gauri
Three months had passed since the Grand Gauri Expeditionary Force to Roselin returned. It was a short span, but something had visibly changed. The markets.
"Jewelry freshly arrived from the Kingdom of Haian! Cheap!"
"Specialty wine just in from Roselin today!"
Trade had become vibrant.
Goods from the Kingdom of Roselin and the Kingdom of Haian could now be found easily, as if they no longer cared about the scrutiny of the Three Great Empires. The quantities were still modest, but the increase was unmistakable.
Gauri's economy, which had been strongly self-sufficient in character, had now set foot on the continent.
And there was one more curious detail: goods from the Kingdom of Malin—which, like the old Kingdom of South Roselin, had been isolated and left to struggle alone under the blade of the Federal Empire—were also trickling in, though in small numbers. Yet these imports were actually fueling a revival of Gauri's market economy, and the reason was cultural difference.
The number of pure Gauri people was small, but they had all become Gauri's upper class.
Culture flows from the top down.
As a result, the Gauri lifestyle was recognized as high culture and high-class taste. In particular, the spread of Gauri-style culture, spearheaded by the Hailon family, had utterly transformed everyone's way of life.
Another reason was that there had been no restrictions whatsoever on this. No—it had been actively encouraged. In the end, though the land was different, Gauri remained Gauri.
"How much for this pottery?"
"This piece, I should say, was crafted by the finest pottery artisan in all Gauri..."
These uniquely Gauri cultural products began to flow outward. Pottery and Gauri-style jewelry, in particular, were among the goods that sold for high prices.
Among the games, Yutnori took Haian Kingdom by storm. Because it was simple—anyone could play with just wooden sticks carved from a tree—both children and adults took it up, which further improved Gauri's reputation.
Around the time these exchanges were growing lively, word flew in from the Kingdom of Roselin that King Alsein himself would visit Gauri. Not to be outdone, King Bera Han of the Kingdom of Haian sent word that he, too, would visit Gauri, together with his queen, Lian Su.
"Uljeol."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Risel, who had been wholly occupied with the magical defenses of each fortress, came running at Jin-cheon's summons.
"The Kingdom of Haian poses no particular problem, but the journey from the Kingdom of Roselin to here is long. And in a land not yet stabilized, would it not be somewhat troublesome for a king to leave his post so readily?"
"......."
Risel was the sole wizard on the continent capable of long-distance teleportation.
"You'll have to endure some hardship."
"I shall go to Roselin... personally."
In the end, Risel despite his age, teleported to Roselin himself.
One day, as the sun hanging in the sky began to slowly pour out its scorching heat, a fervent welcoming crowd filled the streets of Jolbon, the capital of Gauri.
Gauri was receiving state guests for the first time in the fifteen years since its founding here.
"Waaaaah!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
To the magnificent drumbeats resounding across all of Gauri, soldiers of the Kingdom of Haian advanced step by step. At the very head, King Bera Han, Queen Lian Su, and King Alsein entered, accompanied by their royal guard knights and Bels, who had become a marquess. Behind them, of course, Risel rode in a carriage, his weary old body receiving the welcome of the crowd.
A murmur of admiration escaped King Bera Han's lips.
"It's astonishing."
"Indeed it is."
Riding beside him, Alsein, who had returned to Gauri, gazed around with deeply moved eyes and answered.
Perhaps because they had traveled together from the Haian capital and grown somewhat familiar, their conversation carried the atmosphere of old friends.
Perhaps it was because their positions were similar.
"In a way, I envy him."
Bera Han's face was full of admiration and envy in equal measure.
"I understand that feeling well."
King Bera Han spoke again to the nodding King Alsein.
"There is no shadow here."
"That's true."
To their eyes, the Gauri people they saw bore no shadow. The sight of children running alongside the procession as a sovereign king passed by was frankly shocking. The soldiers keeping the streets didn't even restrain them; they simply smiled at the children fondly.
"So this is Gauri's true face..."
The countless common people reflected in Bera Han's eyes.
The bright smiles on their faces made clear just how happily they were living.
"If this surprises you, you haven't seen anything yet."
"What do you mean?"
It was King Alsein who roused King Bera Han from his reverie.
"When you see the place where His Majesty the Yeolje cultivates his private lands, you will truly be left speechless."
"Is that so? Haha, I look forward to it."
"Hahaha!"
At Alsein's words, Bera Han burst into matching laughter.
Alsein could see he was laughing now, but he thought that the man probably wouldn't be able to laugh any longer once he saw minotaurs pulling the farming implement called a plow.
"Wait, what in the world is that?"
"What in the world..."
As Bera Han, who had been laughing, caught sight of something and couldn't hide his shock, Alsein turned his head and was equally appalled.
"That site is where they are building the Archmage Risel's Magic Tower..."
"It's magnificent!"
Lian Su, too, could not hide her astonishment at the enormous wooden tower that seemed to pierce the heavens.
"How tall is that..."
"A little over fifty mir."
At their astonishment, a Gauri military officer guiding them answered in a voice full of pride.
"It's not even finished yet and it's already that enormous..."
At Bera Han's astonished voice, the Gauri officer smiled and continued his explanation.
"That building is constructed purely from wood. Even the pegs are made of wood. When it is complete, I'm told it will slightly exceed ninety mir."
"N-Ninety!"
Bera Han, Alsein, and Lian Su were appalled. When Alsein had still been in Gauri, it had exceeded twenty-some mir and he'd thought it impressive then. But now, hearing it was planned to rise beyond ninety mir, he could only marvel.
Just as they could not tear their eyes from the colossal wooden tower, a resonant voice rang out from one side, announcing Go Jin-cheon's arrival.
"His Majesty the Yeolje enters!"
As that voice resounded in all directions, all the people lowered their bodies as one and shouted in a great roar.
"We behold His Majesty the Yeolje, parent of all heavens and all peoples!"
The voice was so thunderous that Bera Han and Lian Su could not hide their bewilderment. They could see that this was not something coerced by anyone, but reverence springing from the heart.
Jin-cheon stepped up onto a great dais prepared for the occasion and gazed down at them with majesty.
"As I thought."
Alsein looked at Jin-cheon with entranced eyes. Bera Han and Lian Su were no different.
It was as if they were beholding an object of adoration. Even the emperors of the Three Great Empires, they thought, would not seem this imposing.
No emperor, however boundless his realms, could become an object of such fervent awe among his people, they thought.
To them, Jin-cheon's form was that of a true sovereign.
The mere sight of even the children, who had been running about, now prostrated flat on the ground, made it obvious enough that this was loyalty bordering on religious devotion.
King Bera Han, King Alsein, and their party dismounted and advanced before Jin-cheon.
"People, raise your heads!"
No magical measures had been taken, yet Jin-cheon's voice pierced the sky, shook the earth, and made hearts tremble.
Even as the people rose one by one, they were still busy bowing repeatedly toward Jin-cheon to offer their respects. The children were inching closer and closer to the dais where Jin-cheon stood, hoping to get a little closer look at him.
"My friends of the Kingdom of Haian and the Kingdom of Roselin, I welcome you to Great Gauri."
Jin-cheon was looking at them with a faint smile.
A short while later, once they had ascended the dais, received Go Jin-cheon's welcome, and taken their places, music began to play.
"Let the feast begin!"
"Waaaaah!"
As Go Jin-cheon's hearty voice rang out, the people of the capital cheered and began to gather in clusters. On one side, laborers sent from the imperial palace were distributing wine and meat to the people; on another side, huge barrels of wine were being carted in.
At this sight, King Bera Han and Lian Su could only gape, unable to find their words.
It was one shock after another.
A banquet held where the common people had gathered?
And even if it was the command of the Yeolje, the sight of the people running about excitedly, putting out food, and making a feast was entirely beyond their common sense.
King Alsein, who understood how they felt, quietly spoke to them.
"If we had commanded them to do the same, the people would probably have frozen stiff and merely put on the semblance of a festival. Ah, in Gauri they say that making merry like this is what a feast is."
"I truly cannot believe..."
It was a scene overflowing with vitality.
Of course, off to one side, Dae Mu-deok was wearing a displeased expression. No matter what, he found it a bit objectionable for the Yeolje of Great Gauri to behave this way. But he could not break Go Jin-cheon's convictions, and when even Eulji had joined in, saying it was good and making a fuss, he had given up resisting long ago. So he had at least hoped that when the King of Haian and the King of Roselin arrived, the banquet would be held in the Imperial Hall.
But Jin-cheon was not one to listen to that, was he?
"Have a cup."
"It is an honor, Your Majesty."
When Jin-cheon approached personally with wine, Alsein naturally held out his cup to receive it.
"King Bera Han, receive a cup as well."
"Ah, it is an honor."
Bera Han, not even noticing that Jin-cheon had casually dropped formal speech, lifted his cup with a bewildered expression and received the wine. Jin-cheon also urged wine upon Lian Su and filled her cup, then walked to the edge of the dais and shouted.
"Raise your cups!"
"Waaah!"
As Jin-cheon, his face full of smiles, raised his cup to the sky, the people cheered and hoisted their cups heavenward.
"For Gauri!"
"For Gauri!"
When Jin-cheon led the toast, the people naturally echoed him. As if exhilarated, Jin-cheon looked toward Alsein and shouted.
"For Roselin!"
"For Roselin!"
The cheers of the people followed.
His face full of smiles, Alsein rose with his cup, went to Jin-cheon's right side, and looked at Bera Han as he shouted.
"For Haian!"
"For Haiaaan!"
At Alsein's lead, the people followed, not to be outdone.
At the sight of them, Bera Han found himself raising his cup, stood on the left side opposite Alsein, and shouted in an excited voice.
"For the eternal friendship of the three kingdoms!"
"For the eternal friendship of the three kingdommmms!"
The wizards lent appropriate assistance, carrying the voices of Alsein and Bera Han far and wide. And indeed, the people, as if delighted, raised their cups and echoed Bera Han's words.
"Heh."
Jin-cheon glanced once at each of the two kings flanking him, let out a pleased laugh, and faced forward to shout.
"Empty your cups!"
"Let's empty them!"
"Waaah!"
At Jin-cheon's final cry, tens of thousands of cups tilted at once toward people's throats.
"Kah! This is good!"
Having emptied his cup clean, Jin-cheon rejoiced like a child and shouted. All around, people were gulping their wine and making merry.
Swept up in the atmosphere, Bera Han, too, was following along as if accustomed to it, despite this being his first time at such an event. The three of them thus enjoyed themselves, exchanging cups, then turned and returned to their seats.
"Her Highness the Yeolhu enters!"
With the attendant's voice, Eulji and Princess Yunias made their entrance. Perhaps because it had taken time to dress, their appearance was somewhat late, but the two women demonstrated what beauty was. In Eulji's vibrant smile was a fresh elegance; in Princess Yunias's serene smile was a quiet dignity.
"We celebrate the visit of His Majesty King Alsein and His Majesty King Bera Han to Gauri."
When Eulji and Princess Yunias offered their respects simultaneously, Alsein and Bera Han returned the courtesy and gave their thanks for the women's welcome.
With the arrival of the two women among what had been an all-male company, Lian Su was the most delighted and offered her greetings.
"Your Highness the Yeolhu and Your Highness the Princess are truly beautiful."
"You flatter us."
"You are beautiful as well, Your Majesty."
At Lian Su's greeting, Princess Yunias and Eulji each spoke a word in turn. Lian Su slowly approached them. Then, taking Eulji's hand and looking at Princess Yunias, she said with a smile in her eyes.
"The Princess looks so bright and clever; Your Highness the Yeolhu must be truly happy."
"Pardon?"
"......."
At Lian Su's greeting, Yunias wore a flustered expression, and Eulji, who had suddenly become the princess, looked at Jin-cheon with a face on the verge of tears.
Receiving Eulji's near-tearful look, Jin-cheon covered his face with his hand, and Alsein gave an awkward smile and said a word to Lian Su.
"She is my younger sister, Princess Yunias."
"Ah, I see. So there was a reason the Kingdom of Roselin and the Gauri Empire are so close."
"......."
At Lian Su's reply, which showed she still had not grasped the situation, Alsein glanced at Jin-cheon's expression and had to add another word.
"My younger sister is, however, still unmarried..."
"......."
As Lian Su turned to stone, Eulji's clear voice reached her.
"I am Eulji, the Yeolhu. I am very pleased to meet you."
With her head deeply bowed, Lian Su was reproaching herself for a major diplomatic blunder, while Jin-cheon, giving up on explaining the misunderstanding that recurred every time he met people, was simply drinking straight from the whole jug.