The capital of the 'sun in the sky', a 'very big' city. The government office was finally completed after six months under the leadership of the Ministry of Construction.
In the government office, each administrative organization was taking its place one after another and was busy with its own work.
The Ministry of Education, which is in charge of education and religion. After two weeks, a meeting was held hosted by the Minister of Education, Wind and Cloud.
"… A school has been built in each village in the center of each administrative district."
"… We are continuing to supply the insufficient teaching materials by printing them on woodblocks. However, we are seriously short of paper for printing. We have asked for cooperation from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, but it seems that it will take some time to expand the paper workshops."
'Wind and Cloud', who received the report on education, checked it carefully once again.
"Do I have to wait until the paper workshop is completed?"
"yes."
"By the way, what's happening with the metal type?"
A person from the Ministry of Education who had been sitting in the corner of the conference room stood up and reported on the progress of the metal type.
"…Unlike woodblocks made of wood, metal type made of divine material is not easy to make letters. Since each letter has to be molded, I don't think it will be possible to make it this year."
Woodblocks were easy to carve letters into, but they had the disadvantage that later on the ink would seep through and crack the woodblock.
First, metal type was made in the blacksmith shop under the Emperor's instructions, but because there were so many divine letters, it took a long time to cast them.
'Wind and Cloud', who had been organizing his thoughts with a complicated expression, immediately gave instructions.
"First, I will report the current difficulties to His Majesty the Emperor. However, I hope that we can complete the metal type by the end of this year, even if it means investing more manpower."
"Okay, I understand. With the help and support of various departments, I will try to finish it within this year."
"Now, let's discuss the next agenda item: the construction of higher education institutions."
"yes."
People from the Ministry of Education began to talk, one by one, about the need for a period of higher education.
"… Every school produces at least one or two geniuses. It is true that the current curriculum cannot satisfy their thirst for knowledge."
"… We were planning to build a middle school for students who graduated from elementary school anyway. I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to build a middle school in advance and run it as a pilot project."
"… I think that educational institutions for geniuses are also absolutely necessary."
"… His Majesty the Emperor will not have much objection to this proposal, as he has emphasized the importance of education."
Most of those attending the meeting were in favor of building higher education institutions. 'Wind and Cloud' accepted their opinion and passed the construction of a higher education institution.
"… Then, with the support of the Ministry of Finance, we will build a middle school."
The meeting continued for some time after that. After a while, 'Wind and Cloud' cautiously asked the great sorcerers in charge of the religious side last.
"…What is happening with the doctrine of Cheonilgyo?"
"… The investigation of each tribal god is almost finished. For now, we plan to spread Cheonilgyo centered around the main temple with the completed basic doctrines."
The names of the gods were almost the same for each tribe, with only differences. The creator god, the sun god, the earth god, the darkness god, the thunder god, the spirits, etc.
'Wind and Cloud' was spurring the creation of Cheonilgyo by accepting the will of the Creator God.
"… I will not spare my support, so I hope you will continue to work hard in the future."
"Yes, sir!"
* * *
The middle reaches of the Swan River (Potomac River, now Washington, USA). Forest west of the savage tribe village. I hid in the bushes and continued to search for the 'clear soul'.
But, there wasn't. I stepped back and quickly moved towards the large rock. And then he lay down again and looked ahead.
Now is the time for patience.
'… This is fun.'
The method suggested by 'Clear Soul' was not to compete by hitting a target with an arrow. Is it similar to a modern survival game?
The method was to spread out in a forest full of trees, find the opponent first, shoot them with arrows, and win. However, since arrows made of iron can hurt each other, they decided to use only arrows made of wood.
'Where could it be stuck?'
It's been an hour since I left her in the forest. I have been searching for the 'clear soul' for a long time, but I have never caught sight of it until now.
'Should I open the map window?'
'no.'
'Let's wait a little longer.'
In fact, if I had gone into this duel with the map window open, I would have been able to find the 'Clear Soul' easily. But, it wasn't as fun, and more than anything, my pride wouldn't allow it.
I just wanted to spar with her using all my fighting power.
'I don't think it'll be far away.'
I strained my nerves and looked around carefully once more. good. In that case, I will move first. I slowly got up from my seat and ran forward.
He quickly hid behind a tree, pretending to be deliberately cautious in an attempt to deceive her.
Phew!
There was surprisingly a lot of tension. The leather armor he wore to protect himself from injury began to slowly soak through with sweat.
'…keep enticing.'
I continued to move between the trees, waiting for the 'clear spirit' to shoot his arrow. At that moment, I heard the sound of the wind cutting through my ears.
The direction is southwest.
'You've been caught.'
I rolled over to avoid the spot and an arrow flew at me just as I expected. Not one, but two.
Ting! Ting!
Two arrows bounced off the tree and fell pointlessly to the ground. Before I knew it, I was looking for the 'clear soul' who had revealed his location to me while taking a stance to shoot an arrow.
'Clear Soul' was running with sweaty feet to move to new cover.
'That's fast.'
I was pulling the bowstring hard when I saw her hiding behind a tree, and I had no choice but to release the bowstring again.
However, once her location was discovered, the match was virtually over. I fired warning shots as I ran towards the tree she was hiding under.
Swish! Swish!
The 'Clear Soul' couldn't move an inch from its spot, as if the threat shot was effective. Her gasping for breath was loud, as if she knew she was in great danger.
And, not wanting to lose like this, 'Clear Soul' counterattacked.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Five shots from the speaker. However, I had already turned to the right and was out of her attack range. At that moment, the arrow I shot flew fiercely toward her.
Phew!
The 'clear soul', who was hit in the back with an arrow, fell to the ground screaming in pain.
"shit!"
They said they were controlling the power, but it seems like it was quite a shock to the 'clear soul'. I ran towards her who had fainted.
He quickly placed his hands on her back as if her spine was broken.
'therapy!'
[Tiring!]
[All illnesses cured.]
After the treatment, I shook the 'clear soul' awake while he was still unconscious. 'Clear Soul' stood up from his seat and blinked his eyes repeatedly with a bewildered expression.
"Did I lose?"
"I was unconscious until a little while ago."
"…okay."
The disappointment was short-lived, but the 'clear soul' looked at me and cleanly admitted its defeat.
"I learned a lot. I lost. Your Majesty the Emperor!"
Phew!
"We've been here for quite some time. We'd better hurry and head back to town, people might be worried about us."
"Yes, I understand, Your Majesty the Emperor!"
'Clear Soul' smiled brightly and answered powerfully.
After a while, as we walked side by side towards the village, I felt the hot gaze of the 'clear soul' from earlier.
'No way? No way.'
* * *
'The sun in the sky', 'a very big' city. training school. 'Roaring Thunder' was watching the trainees circling the training grounds from the platform with a fierce gaze.
'Your stamina is just as good as mine.'
After twenty laps, the trainee warriors started to fall down due to lack of stamina. Throughout the training grounds, the drill instructors shouted at the top of their lungs.
"What are you doing?"
"Don't run!"
"I'm telling you to pull out all the strength you have."
"If you don't want to skip dinner, run."
The trainee warriors had no choice but to stagger and run, dragging their exhausted bodies under the instructors' shouts.
After a while, around the thirtieth lap, stragglers began to appear in large numbers among the trainee warriors.
"… I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"… I think this is where my limits end."
"…I give up."
"…I just can't move my feet."
An extreme test of physical strength. The trainees must continue to roam the training grounds until the 'roaring thunder' and the drill instructors tell them to stop.
And soon, only one trainee remained in the training ground. Wounded arrow. As if to show that he was a warrior of a savage tribe, he did not stop running even though his upper body was drenched in sweat.
'He's more poisonous than me.'
The 'Roaring Thunder' that had been watching him since a while ago shook its head as if it was tired of it.
"Are you number one again this time?"
The white chief who was assisting him answered.
"… Yes. Combat power, strategy and tactics, engagements, etc. He has never missed first place in any training so far. Even his ability to lead warriors is excellent."
"Well, it doesn't make sense for a great warrior to be trained as a trainee warrior."
"That's true."
'Roaring Thunder' immediately gave instructions to Baek In-jang, as if further extreme physical tests were meaningless.
"Let's stop here. Let the trainee warriors rest."
"Understood, Master Cheon In-jang!"
As the white chief stepped aside, 'Roaring Thunder' muttered to himself with eyes burning with competition.
"I guess I'll have to try it out sometime later."
After a while, the trainee warriors were enjoying a sweet rest after the extreme physical test. 'The Wounded Arrow' also took a rest among the trainee warriors, looking regretful.
'I wanted to know what the limits of my physical strength were… What a pity.'
For a moment, 'The Wounded Arrow' was very satisfied with entering the training camp. In fact, as a great warrior, he could have been promoted to the rank of Baek In-jang directly from the 'Sun of the Sky', but he declined the offer and started as a trainee warrior.
Of course, the biggest reason was that I wanted my abilities to be properly recognized. But now, the knowledge he learned at the training center was actually helping him a lot.
How to handle weapons, how to manage stamina, how to devise strategies and tactics to suit the terrain, how to manage warriors, the skills needed for survival, etc.
'His Majesty the Emperor made all of this… .'
Although it was new to me, I couldn't help but continue to be amazed. 'The Wounded Arrow' regretted his past rudeness in front of His Majesty the Emperor and vowed to himself once again.
'I would like to meet His Majesty the Emperor next time and formally greet him as his ambassador.'
* * *
Tutelo tribe village, upper reaches of Death River (Roanoke River). After traveling for several days, we finally arrived at the Tutello tribe village.
The Tutello warriors who had guided us had told us in advance that the Tutello people had come out all the way to the outside of the village.
"Welcome. Thank you so much for accepting our invitation."
"...."
A man who appeared to be the chief of the Tutello tribe stepped forward to greet us and nod to someone. At that moment, about fifty of our group were quickly surrounded by fully armed and ornately tattooed Tutello warriors.
Without realizing it, one corner of my mouth twitched.
"It seems a bit too grand for a welcome greeting."