Hakai no Miko

Beneath Menahem's feet, down from the carriage, was covered with a light gray one. The feel you can feel through your shoes is not just from the cemented soil. It's harder than that. When I sat back and touched it directly with my hand, I only thought the touch was stone.

Standing up, Menahem sees those with the city of Bornis.

Then the path covered with that light gray one continued much further.

"This is what I hear rumors, 'Soma's Way'...!

Menahem had also heard that the Son of Destruction was carrying out major road maintenance work in parallel with the pioneering of the Sorbiant Plains. It's no strange thing for a lord to develop a path within his territory. But that was strongly impressed by Menahem's memory because the incredible rumors were disputed there.

The Son of Destruction uses magic to make a path made of stone.

When I heard this rumor, Menahem laughed with his nose "No way" too. Freakin 'Dwarf's high civil engineering technique must have laid a highly complete cobblestone, I thought about it.

But this is not to the extent of rumors.

"How did you make something like this...?!"

Whatever's in front of you isn't about cobblestones. Instead of a gap where one hair goes in, I don't even see one joint. Now it was as if I could only think of one giant rock truly cut out into the shape of a street.

No wonder Menahem is surprised.

This "Soma Road" was a concrete paved road.

The concrete used here is not the Portland cement of the calcium-based binder used in modern Japan. It is a geopolymeric concrete with aluminium based binders made from a mixture of natural materials such as volcanic ash and light and raw lime transported from Maha Genovandera.

This was built in the ancient Roman Empire and is still similar to the ancient concrete - known as Roman concrete - used in architecture such as Pancratheon and Colosseum, which retain its shape.

The dwarves of this world had already discovered that a mixture of volcanic ash, light stone and lime, like the ancient Romans, would harden like stone. But the dwarves who lived in caves and pits only used it as a reinforcement to their dwellings.

It was the Ethereal Horse who came up with the idea of using it for paving the road.

Asphalt paving, which is inexpensive and has an overwhelmingly short construction period, dominates modern Japan, but some areas incorporate durable concrete paving, such as in snow countries where wear and tear from tire chains is severe. The memories of traveling to these places reminded the Ethereal Horse of concrete paved road laying.

"Father. How about 'The Way of Soma'?

It was Joash's word after he realized how shocked his father was.

In this era, when it comes to the main streets, it is usually to the extent that the large stones that stand in the way have been removed. For this reason, if it rains a little, rainwater flows like a river, and depending on the location, it becomes muddy and takes away the wheels of the carriage.

But this "Soma Road" is different.

It's not just the weather that doesn't dictate. A flat, strong road with little irregularities would also lessen the strain on carriages running there. That meant less damage to the luggage on that carriage as well.

Furthermore, carriages can be faster than ever.

Normal roads have no problem with this "Soma road", even at speeds where carriages jump at irregular speeds. Jebor's adage is that time cannot be bought with gold, but this "Soma Road" will save you more time on transport than ever before.

The more distant the destination, the greater will be its benefit, also taking into account the less frequent repairs due to the reduced load on the carriage when driving.

Previously, the merchants funded each other and talked about creating a new path south of Bornis. However, I hear it has also been frustrating. But if you look at this, you're convinced of that too. If we are shown such a path, we are determined to disappear, for example, our willingness to go out of our way to cut it at great expense and effort, much inferior to this.

"... How well is this' Soma Road 'made? How far are you going to make it?

To the words of his father, who was half-witted by no one, Joash said with a shrugged shoulder.

"Now it's just the way from Bornis to Jeboa and Holmea and the main road to the Sorbiant Plains. But you think Soma is going to spread it out like a net to all the areas that control it?"

This "Soma Road" was one of the major undertakings undertaken by Ethereal Horse throughout his life. After this it will also spread with the expansion of the dominant area of the Ethereal Horse, extending to almost all of the West Side as a major trading route around Bornis during the full season.

But the construction costs thrown there were enormous, sometimes enough to raise concerns from the heavy ministers, he said. But still, Ethereal Horse even continued to build the "Soma Road".

Martin S. Ackerson, a leader in Son of Destruction research, says this about it.

"In an era when abundance was still being pushed by the amount of gold and silver in the hand, only the Son of Destruction understood abundance to mean that people, objects, and funds would move incessantly. As a result, he invested enormous funds in building roads and other facilities that are fundamental to logistics. And it was the foundation that underpinned his mighty forces later"

However, although the "Soma Path" was created with so much money invested, much of it will be destroyed in the Great Reforms, leaving only a few behind in the remote (hectic) areas of the Sorbiant Plains, etc.

The "Soma Road", which also remains in the Continent of Modern Cerdeas after thousands of years, tells the story of the high technology of the time it was built, such as it is still used as an important living road for local residents. In a dark age when the Great Reformation burned down records and manipulation at the time of construction and destroyed the oral biography of Dwarf craftsmen, it would also be impossible to believe that the Son of Destruction had made it into a demon called upon.

Joash laughs bitterly at Menahem for continuing to watch "Soma's Way" without getting tired of it.

"Come on, Father. You won't have a body if you're surprised to this extent. This is still the beginning, too."

◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆

As Joash put it, Menahem's consternation continued even after he reached the city of Bornis.

The first surprise is that the city is clean anyway.

Like any other city, there's nothing like dirt falling on the side of the road or an intense smell of manure drifting from the alley. As we observe the city, even if horses and cows drop their shit, a little kid comes from somewhere and collects it cleverly with a broom.

"Master Soma is a clean person. Anyone who urinates outside of a prescribed location will be fined. Livestock manure is also being recovered by orphans."

He protested with half a cry that the Ethereal Horse "would do the government outside the city if it wasn't improved" on too bad a smell during the summer when it was a heat a few years ago. You can't possibly get the stigma of getting rid of your lord with a stench, the city's celebrities rushed to improve the environment.

As a result, the city of Bornis set up the first public outpost on the continent. Moreover, it was a water-washed toilet that, thanks to the proposal of the Ethereal Horse and the power of Dwarves and others, pulled an underground waterway from a river running through the center of the city to miss the filth.

This has dramatically improved the city's living conditions, he said.

That's not all. It was also surprising what would be a "newspaper" summarizing current events in the city and surrounding countries. Even the merchant city of Jeboa says there are never many people who can read the letters, but if you ask them if they can sell something like that in a city like this, they will do the proxy reading for about a penny if you take it to the children in the orphanage.

When Joash finally arrived at the other house, begging for an explanation whenever he found something else unusual, he first drove the user to the Lords' residence for a glimpse of the Ethereal Horse. And until the messenger of that reply arrives, he invites his father to take a bath to shed his travelling dust.

The bath provided for Joash's separate house is not a common steam bath in this world. It was a big tub with water. It seems that this was also spread by the Son of Destruction.

"The Lordship's residence is built for Soma, and it has a stunning bathing area."

The large baths that boil large amounts of water are wasteful to use on their own, he said, along with those close to him. They also said that after they had finished bathing they were open to soldiers in general, and that they were well received by many.

Menahem, hearing about it, faces how immoral it is for the inflexible young men to gather naked.

That was a mistake, and as he went up from the water with Joash, who smiled bitterly, and wore it in his dress for a look, he was told there was a carriage picking him up from the decree.

Menahem was slightly surprised by the generosity with which he came all the way to the carriage where he was picked up. When I left the other house with my son, who looked good at it and showed it, there was one elf beauty waiting for me there.

"Yo ho! Chief, it's an honor to have you pick me up yourself."

To the exaggerated mouthfeel of my son, I find out that this elf beauty is Chief Eladia, who partitions the court of the Son of Destruction.

"If you are Master Joash, you deserve it. My Lord tells me that the gates of Bornis are open for Joash at all times."

Eladia gracefully graciously shows with her hands the carriage that was parked behind her.

"Please, get in the carriage. My Lord awaits you both with a long neck."

Enchanted by Eladia, the two boarded the carriage.

Menahem is convinced that this is the infamous witch Eladia, to Eladia, who smiles and talks to her son until she reaches the Lordship's official residence.

This is how she said she was just talking, but her body felt a smelly hue. But what it doesn't feel nasty about is probably because of the brilliance it conveys from the end of the conversation, the grace and elegance it feels from one finger movement as well.

This would also give a nod to the story of leaning one or two of the countries.

But more than that, Menahem had something to worry about.

Finally Menahem asks Eladia, not curious.

"Excuse me, but how are those clothes?

The clothes of women officers of this era are like ancient Greek chitons with loose piercing clothes fastened with strings and pins. What Eladia was wearing, however, was clothing like a thick blouse with thin sleeves.

Never high skin exposure. Rather, it would be less exposed than it has been before. However, I feel rather glossy even because it emerges more lines of my body than previous loose clothes.

Eladia laughed cously.

"Oh? Master Menahem was with a strong business associate."

All of a sudden it's an extremely rude story to ask the first woman about the structure of the clothes she's wearing. Besides, she is originally a whore. I can't help thinking they want a sexual relationship.

To Menahem, who makes a hasty excuse, Eladia replies that she understands.

"Somehow your son Joash told me the same thing before."

Eladia shows Menahem the little round thing on her cuff when she gives her right hand.

"This is a button made by Soma."

Menahem admired Eladia for explaining the button. The mechanism is very simple. But its functionality is great.

In any case, this is a time when there is still no elastic cloth. The sleeves and collar of the garment shall be wide open for the passage of hands and heads. Then it really compromises thermal insulation. So, I usually tie them up with strings and stuff them with cloth to block the gap.

But this button is easier than that. Plus there's nothing like a string to get the extra part out of the way. It could also be devised as a garment decoration.

When I get back to Jeboa, Joash coughs (shears) on the side when I think I need to make it to a familiar clothing store right away.

"Father, Grandpa Mayart has already made some prototypes."

What Joash mentioned is exactly the name of the familiar garment shop artisan Menahem was now thinking of. I was getting excited about the button, but if I thought calmly, there was no way my son without this loophole would have left this much behind.

"There's a lot of interesting stuff in this city."

When Menahem told him to delude his embarrassment, Joash shrugged his shoulders exaggerated and showed them.

"I hope it's funny, but I want these things to speak to me first. When I said that to him, I decided," I didn't think it was that big of a deal, "so it's not a hoard."

To his grandly blurry son, Menahem frowns.

It was hard to believe I was going to say "not a big deal" all about changing my previous clothes dramatically. How can you be a big idiot who doesn't know how much things are worth, or a big person who can't be weighed down on their own measure? Menahem gets lost in judgment.

While doing so, the carriage arrived at the Lordship's residence.

As they descend the carriage, they are greeted by beautiful elf ladies. Even Menahem, entering and leaving the royal palaces of the nations, is slightly overwhelmed by the sight that sees this place as the rear palace of any great power.

"Master Soma is waiting for you in the garden detachment room"

To Eladia's words, Menahem frowned slightly.

Even though it's still a chilly season, I thought you weren't willing to entertain me by showing me to the garden rather than in the official residence.

But my son Joash said, "Is that where you just did it! That's a pleasure," he says. Ask with your eyes what it means, but the prodigal son doesn't try to answer just with a pranky grin.

"Over there, Master Soma is here"

Turning around the corner of the aisle of the official residence, Menahem breathed in the sight that spread in front of him.

"What is this...!

Surprisingly, there was a large pond in the garden of the Lords' residence, where a detached house was built to float and reflect the sunlight.

Pulling water into the garden to build a pond is not uncommon, even in Jeboa. But it was only made by pulling waterways from natural rivers. I didn't know how I was pulling water into this lord's residence higher than the river.

"There it is."

So what Eladia pointed out was the windmill.

"It's pumping water from the river down to this pond."

Menahem was convinced that it would be. He also hears stories of windmills made by Aoima in the pioneering village of the Sorbiant Plains.

But it won't just be for the landscape that we're pulling water up so far until we bother to use the windmill.

Looking down at the pond from the top of a small bridge that had been scaffolded from the shore to the off-room, there were many larger fish swimming in the water than I thought.

Perhaps the pond's water is also intended for use as drinking water in emergency situations. Also, I guess the fish kept there will also be food for emergencies.

But, nevertheless, purposefully pumping up water just for that matter until you build a pond in the garden is too wasteful. No, maybe this is also an indication of spare time.

Then he turned his eyes toward the detached house, and there was the figure of a human youth who could follow one Zoan.

In the distance, Zoan following behind looks like a woman, from where the chest part of the torso armor made by braiding the torso is raised.

"Oh? Apparently, my Lord couldn't wait for Master Menahem to arrive"

Menahem in Eladia's words, I still think.

A human youth who can always follow Zoan's female warriors.

"That's the Son of Destruction, Lord Soma Kisaki..."