How to Live as a Tyrant’s Spoiled Brat Chapter 357

(357)

It took a little over two months to stabilize the port at the end of the line.

He persuaded the local councilors, created an advisory body to the governor, and appointed a vice-admiral of the Skyspear Fleet to allow Shuv Ardella to excel as the Mermaid Princess.

And when I returned to the capital city of Soletaraon, it was late autumn with a cold wind blowing.

“It’s cool.”

The dawn of the first day.

On the deck of the Nibelungen, Jerilis grabbed my hand and we jumped towards the palace.

I turned around urgently and shouted at Marcus and Sir Tentia.

“I will go straight to the palace with Your Majesty. Marquis Marcus will repair the Nibelungen after landing, and Lord Tentia will come to the palace…… Aaaah!”

I was used to keeping my balance in the air thanks to the 'invisible hand' gloves.

But Jaylilith enjoyed a direct glide, her face turned towards the ground, hurtling down like a meteor, rather than an elegant levitation with the hem of her dress fluttering.

Kwakwakwakwa!

The main palace, which looked like a fingernail below, gradually grew larger.

It was as thrilling and exciting as a wyvern glide.

“Ah, it was a pleasure, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t look so lost, my dear. I have a lot of work to do.”

We turned at the last moment and landed gently on the roof of the palace.

The guards on the roof of the main palace looked dumbfounded as they saw the Emperor and the Grand Duke fall from the sky.

The first person to greet us when we returned to the capital was Hadritan.

“Archduke Valencian!”

A genius administrator with white hair in a ponytail, black wire-rimmed glasses covering his face, and an intellectual look.

I lightly raised my hand and greeted him.

“Duke Hadritan. It’s been a while. You’ve done a lot of work.”

He sounded unusually emotional.

“There has been much happening here, Your Majesty. Look. This is Your Majesty’s city!”

He guided me and Jaylilith to the terrace facing the main palace.

The main palace was located higher than the villa palace and could overlook the entire capital.

I gasped as I saw that the capital had expanded more than fivefold.

White stone buildings stretched far into the horizon.

“Originally, there was nothing outside that wall.”

“Not anymore, Valencian. Not anymore.”

The construction, which involved countless bribes, gold, interests, and death, was completed.

The new city center of Soletaraon has been completed.

We climbed up the long wall that was once the city's outermost defense line and looked out over the new city.

All of the Archducks, including me, Celerazie, Helena, and Hadritan, as well as the Holy Emperor Jaerilis and the Black Saint Mateos, have gathered.

Even though we were looking from 30 meters above, there were several stone buildings taller than our eye level.

Cornell, who had been active on various committees such as the inspection and district selection committees, gave a tour of the city to our dignitaries.

Knock. Knock.

It was very natural to see him walk ahead even with a cane.

* * *

“The residential areas were divided into the south and north. This was because it was determined that overcrowding was the main cause of slum formation. In preparation for the increase in the population of the capital, all buildings in the residential areas were built of stone with at least five stories. By prohibiting the construction of rooms smaller than a certain size, the average standard of living of each citizen was improved.”

The sharp voice penetrated my ears well.

“The large workshop area is to the west. The magic-related workshops are gathered around the Street of Learning, and the technology-related workshops are gathered to the west of the Ivory Tower.”

The capital's second cathedral and the Temple of Amon, located far away, were glimpsed.

Although the distance between them was considerable, they seemed to be secretly looking at each other.

It seems that he had some pride in the god he worshipped.

I snickered, Mateos tilted his head as if something caught his eye but he couldn't tell what, and Cornell continued explaining as if he didn't know anything.

“The canal was also expanded for logistics. That 15-story stone building is a symbol of recent construction technology using rock golems…….”

It was such a shameless and cute thing to do.

“The following is a safety plan design. The spread of sacred streetlights has suppressed the natural erosion of the occupants, and wide open spaces have been created in the middle of the residential areas to prevent crushing in the event of a mass evacuation. Emergency gates will be installed in the middle of the outermost wall…….”

The guided tour around the city walls ended with a final glimpse of the start of construction on a massive moat on the outskirts of the city.

The construction of the moat is not something that needs to be done immediately, but rather it is a kind of job creation project that will serve as a bread distribution center for the lower classes.

“Let’s go, guys!”

“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”

“Can we really live here?”

I heard various words being carried by the wind.

“What a beautiful city.”

“It will be remembered for a long time in history.”

“It will be a building that symbolizes the reign of His Majesty Jaylilith.”

I smiled and muttered with satisfaction.

“I’m glad it ended before winter came.”

Hardritan smiled, pushing up his glasses.

“Population is power. With this city as a foundation, Your Majesty’s power will continue to grow.”

Jaylilith looked around the new city.

Her languid eyes suddenly came to life, and she smiled unusually brightly and muttered.

“What a truly great and beautiful city. I am satisfied that it is mine.”

It was a voice that conveyed a sense of responsibility towards the world.

It was completely different from the time before the return, when war and destruction continued as if everything was pointless.

I looked back at our archduke's who had followed her.

“Valencianus?”

“Little brother. What do you see?”

Helena of the military, Hadritan of administration, Celerazie of magic, and me of strategy.

They were all passionate about their respective fields.

Yes, Jaylilith is no longer a noble tyrant.

If we work together, we can make her a great emperor who will go down in history in this life.

* * *

"let's go!"

“At this age, should I go out to the fields?”

“The Pope is leaving too! If you don’t want to go on a pilgrimage, watch your mouth.”

The period between late autumn and early winter, after the harvest, was the busiest time for clergy.

It was because there was a ceremony to prepare for the next spring.

“Oh, Light. We have lived another year thanks to your grace this year. I pray that you will grant us the same grace next year as you did this year……”

As the priest walked through the field reciting prayers, a gentle sacred energy rose up and seeped into the ground.

The productivity of cultivated and uncultivated lands can differ by two to ten times.

A smooth food supply was the source of the creation of large cities with a population of hundreds of thousands, and it was the source that allowed the Gwangmyeong Church to take root in all directions.

Of course, the ceremony of consecration was the responsibility of the priests in each village, manor, and knight's lair, and was not something that the high-ranking clergy of the cathedral should undertake.

But the black saint Matthias, tired of paperwork, wanted to get some air, Pope Argus was wary that the clergy would lose their original intentions due to being worn down by administrative procedures, and somewhere an evil archduke wanted to increase the octo to prepare for the surging population.

That was why the cathedral priests were sent to tour the farmlands near the capital for periods ranging from half a day to a week.

“You have chosen me, so work a miracle for me.”

Matthew performed feats worthy of the title of saint.

Saaaaah-!

As he prayed, the clouds parted, a huge pillar of light poured down, and the earth-saving ceremony was completed over an area 5 km in diameter.

It was a level of consecration that would require a priest to walk around for three days and wear shoes that resembled each other.

“Oh!”

“A miracle!”

“Apostle of Light!”

The priests and nuns felt an overwhelming sense of divine power and fell into a trance, while the dirt-covered serfs were so shocked that they fell down and trembled, unable to even raise their heads.

I walked up to him and asked.

“Are you feeling a little better?”

Sweat beads formed on Mateos' forehead.

His black eyes sparkled like a curious boy.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I feel very refreshed.”

When he moved to the next field, he did not ride a carriage or a horse, but simply walked slowly.

I also motioned to Rudy to turn the black four-horse carriage around, and followed Mateos along the dirt road between the fields.

Self-punch. Self-punch. Self-punch. Self-punch.

The fierce yet refreshing scent of life was carried by the wind.

How long did it take, Mateos asked softly.

“I wanted to follow the will of light and make the world a better place.”

"yes."

“So I took the path of priesthood. But it seemed that what I wanted to do and what I actually did were becoming increasingly different.”

I nodded silently, and Mateos glanced at me.

“Did you know that I recently went to the greenhouse run by the Countess, the Grand Duke’s maid, and performed a ceremony to celebrate the blessing of the earth?”

“I know. It’s a greenhouse where I grow my favorite tropical fruits. When the harvest comes out, I’ll offer it to the saint.”

He looked as if he had been stabbed in the side.

“Thank you… No. That’s not it-.”

“Hahahaha.”

I burst out laughing, and he opened his mouth wide and began preaching in anger.

“Don’t laugh! You damned son of a bitch! If I had spent that time plowing wheat fields, I could have made a huge farmland. If I had spent that time going to the relief center, I could have saved a hundred dying patients! But a greenhouse for growing tropical fruits!”

I waited for him to vent all his anger, and soon his anger turned into a tidal wave and a stream.

“I know. Of course, thanks to that, I received a lot of donations. I know. Those donations are what really helps the frontline clergy. I know. I don’t run around the field, but I have to go around the royal family and nobles and get donations. That’s how I help the field. This is how it goes when you’re in command, no matter what job you’re in.”

The job of a high-ranking official in an architecture workshop is not to do construction work, but to win construction projects, and the job of a high-ranking official in a blacksmith workshop is not to strike a hammer, but to receive orders for high-end weapons.

This was a story he had told me once or twice already.

I knew he wasn't looking for a solution.

I just quietly listened to his story.

Then Mateos let out a deep sigh.

A complex and subtle emotion spread across his manly face.

Her picturesque eyebrows trembled, and her black eyes were filled with sorrow.

“……But I came up here too quickly. I had almost no experience on the front lines, and I was immediately assigned to support the front lines. That’s why I don’t think this nostalgia will go away.”

I blurted it out as if nothing had happened.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to be like this sometimes?”

A cool breeze was blowing, the earth dug pleasantly with every step I took, the sun was shining brightly, and the surroundings were quieter than ever.

It was a perfect situation to get drunk on the moment, but like a saint, Mateos gave up the pleasure and discussed the future.

It seemed as if he had no right to enjoy the happiness of reality.

“……And now, the temple is being planned. Countless relics will be produced in the new workshops in the capital. The Purification Corps of the Church of Light will be armed with these weapons and march into the land of the pagans.”

I deliberately asked a slightly off-topic question.

“Are you not having any problems with blasphemy?”

Instead of answering, Mateos lifted his hair and revealed the stigmata.

"ah."

On the forehead of the saint preparing for the temple, the stigmata were shining more brilliantly than ever.

He looked at me and smiled faintly.

"grandee."

“Yes, your majesty.”

“Once the war starts, people like the Archduke will be needed more than ever.”

“Yes? Well said…….”

“I know the story of Langsowa very well. I send soldiers because that is what God wants, but I hope they return with as few deaths as possible.”

It was a smile full of pride from someone who has done their duty.

“So I will bet on the Grand Duke.”

“Saint.”

“May the radiant light look upon you and your empire. May all your schemes succeed, and may all swords be broken in your path.”

He already knew that I was not a biological human.

Therefore, the type of blessing that would infuse divine power into one's being was not bestowed.

All he did was take a simple silver ring, as thin as a thread, off her finger and hand it to her.

I took the ring with both hands.

"thank you."

As I looked at that complex, subtle, and earnest expression on the face of the Duke of Mangnani as he looked at me, I had that thought.

I wonder if, since the saint wishes for it like that, the light will really help me.

* * *

“I believe in magical engineering, not in the divine. The mechanical knights who fought alongside His Highness the Grand Duke are also products of my magical engineering.”

“Take off your clothes so I can collect your decisions!”

“Marquis Marcus, sister! Are you saying this because I praised Mateos? Why are wizards so petty!”

“How petty!”