NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 33 - The History of the Kilyam Family
It was my first carriage journey. Well, it’s the first journey in this life, to be precise. There were no encounters with thieves or dramatic cliffhangers—no typical cliche developments. The journey proceeded quite smoothly, likely due to the formidable armed retinue accompanying us.
This first-ever journey in my new world turned out to be quite a long-distance travel.
The Lakeside Mansion is located at the western end of the Glass Region, and the capital, Glassbridge, is situated closer to the eastern end. In other words, it’s almost at opposite ends.
After passing through the “Spirit Forest,” the private land owned by the Duke’s household, we entered a well-maintained wide road. This was the “Spirit Road,” the main artery connecting the east and west of the Glass Region. By following this road, we would eventually reach Glassbridge.
“In the next town, we will take a break and change horses. During that time, a lunch will be prepared for Lord Lyon.”
“With this pace, have we covered half of today’s schedule?”
“Yes. If the weather remains as it is, we should arrive in Eanoa by evening.”
Along the road, there are relay towns at regular intervals.
Among them, the three cities known as—Eanoa, Cones, and Theoresto—have mansions of the Duke’s family for short stays. This is where we would lodge.
This entire area is governed by the Moriss family, the birthplace of Moriss-jii, who serves as the Duke’s representative, so preparations are perfect. No corners were cut as we proceeded directly towards Glassbridge.
The armored horses were incredible.
At the horse stable in one of the towns along the way, we changed horses. Until then, they had been tirelessly advancing at a steady pace. Truly, a military horses. Apparently, normal riding animals used by commoners wouldn’t fare this well.
Under a comprehensive security arrangement, we arrived safely at the Duke’s main residence after four days.
Considering I heard that it would take almost twenty days on foot, this was an incredible distance covered in just four days. It’s nothing short of amazing.
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The first two days after arriving were dedicated to complete rest to recover from the journey. At least until the [Rite of Manifestation], there was no need to engage in troublesome social interactions.
“As for the capital’s main residence, Lord Lyon has his own quarters. We’ve prepared the interior for this day, but if there’s anything lacking, please point it out, and we’ll make arrangements immediately.”
True to Moriss’s-jii words, there were dedicated facilities—a bathroom, a dressing room, a dressing room for changing clothes, a bedroom, and a two-room living space.
Quite luxurious treatment, isn’t it?
Not just the furniture but everything, from the wallpaper and curtains to the lighting—even the doors and window frames felt brand new.
When inquired, it turns out they renovated the place meticulously to dispel concerns about me getting sick due to a change in the environment.
The room had a calming atmosphere dominated by shades of blue. The furniture had rounded corners to prevent injuries, drawing curved lines. When I saw the bed with a canopy, which was a standard bed, I couldn’t help but get excited.
“Can I sleep here today?”
“Of course, milord.”
Even during the journey, I slept in a regular bed. But that was like a hotel; it was borrowed. Having my own bed to sleep in every day, placed in the center of the room, not for public use, but properly attached to the wall, was such a simple yet joyous thing.
“Hehe. Good night!”
With a plop, I drop onto the clean and soft bedding. I love the clean and soft bedding! I thought it would be good to have a pillow that I was used to, so I brought my own pillow from the Lakeside Mansion. Therefore, without any difficulty in sleeping, I was able to rest sufficiently from the first day.
And today, after the period of rest, I’ve been receiving private lessons since morning. The first one is a lecture on the history of the Kilyam family.
“Lord Lucas, the first of his name, created the Spirit Lake, known as the Crescent Lake, with the great power of the spirits. This is where everything began.”
It was different from what I had heard when I arrived at the main residence.
The stay at the main residence is intended to be short-term until the rites. I had assumed that, so I came here with a sightseeing mentality. But in reality, they intended to observe my condition for a while, and depending on my health, the short-term stay might turn into a full-fledged relocation. Naturally, the adults around me were aware of this. So, this major move was planned for that purpose.
“The blessing of the spirits brought a breath of greenery to the lands around the lake, and rapid forestation occurred.”
They didn’t tell me this clearly not to be mean. It was to avoid letting me down or getting overly excited. If I heard it that way, I couldn’t really complain.
“If there’s no hindrance to your health”—this condition was absolute. If I were to move away from the lake and my health deteriorated even a bit, the plan was to return to the Lakeside Mansion at that point.
“The formation of a forest usually takes several hundred years for a natural forest, or fifty to a hundred years for a human-made forest. However, it was accomplished at a speed many times faster.”
Now, onto the lesson.
I wasn’t paying much attention because it wasn’t the first time I’d heard this information. It was mostly written in the book “History of the Kilyam Family” in the study at the Lakeside Mansion.
As forestation progressed, settlers arrived, somehow hearing about the promise of bountiful harvests from the spirits. Moreover, they were free to cultivate the land.
As people began to feel the benefits in their daily lives, everyone willingly started working hard, and colonization accelerated exponentially.
Listening to this, I recalled a novel I read a long time ago.
A story about a family of American pioneers, moving inland from the east coast and gradually advancing into the western interior. Despite not being wealthy, they joyfully embraced the daily blessings of nature, enduring its threats while living lively and robust lives.
Risking one’s life in pursuit of a new frontier. Even if the world changes, the human spirit of the frontier must remain the same.
“In the era of the second lord, Lord Noah, several villages were established. Small villages merged and developed into large cities.”
When you cultivate the land, you’re guaranteed to get food. It might not resonate with the Japanese, who were accustomed to prosperity, but when you think about it, it’s incredible. The entire Valenfield entered a growth phase, and there was an abundance of labor. With an increase in those born and raised in this area, they grew roots in the land they cultivated.
“In the era of the third lord, Lord Connor, roads between cities began to be developed. Forestation spread along the newly constructed roads, and the scale of colonization expanded. The Casper family, the first branch family, was established in this generation. By promoting the colonization of the northern region, the territory expanded rapidly.”
A rare ability to bring down a rain of blessings. Lord Connor used it wisely without regret. After that, in the Glass region, freed from water problems, the population continued to increase smoothly.
But it seems different outside of the territory.
Within the Unified Kingdom, not even a hundred years old, conflicts broke out, and a spirit of independence grew in various places. The Heroes and those who fought alongside them have already passed away. With a change in generations, people began to quarrel and forgot about the unification that the heroes did.
“The colossal Giant’s Strike, a vast canyon separating the Glass region and the outside. This natural barrier fortunately prevented the chaos of the Unified Kingdom from spilling over to our Glass region. The era of the fourth lord, Lord Theo, can be considered as truly peaceful.”
Giant’s Strike is quite a remarkable name. With such a large canyon, the Glass region was able to stay isolated due to geographical factors that bordered on seclusion.
“However, peace did not last long. In the era of the fifth lord, Lord Hugo, the population continued to increase, and the number of living essentials began to fall short. The voice of the common people seeking trade outside the territory became louder, leading to the relocation of the capital to Glassbridge.”
Valenfield is located at the western end of the Glass region and is too far from other territories. Therefore, they boldly moved the capital to the east. If trade flourished, the flow of people and goods would change dramatically. They probably saw it as an opportunity for development.
The Glass region has countless rivers, but there is no sea. The rivers are cut off by the Great Canyon, so there’s no way for the sea to reach there.
Come to think of it, how about the supply of salt? Since there’s no sea, it should come from rock salt mines, salt lakes, or saltwater springs. Or maybe they import it.
On Earth, due to repeated tectonic crust movements, vast amounts of trapped seawater crystallized into layers or remained as salt lakes. That’s rock salt.
For Japanese people, when it comes to salt, it’s usually sea salt, and rock salt is something used by those who care about the taste.
Only a quarter of the world’s salt production is from sea salt. I remember being surprised when I heard that in a museum.
“For trade, the Gemini Bridge was built over the Great Canyon. However, this unexpectedly attracted external enemies. After a great joint effort by the Lord and the people, we succeeded in repelling the external enemies. However, as the Unified Kingdom approached its collapse, there were many forces aiming for the riches within Glass region.”
The Unified Kingdom began to crumble about a hundred years after its founding. Old nations before unification were regaining power, and new powers were emerging. As defectors emerged, the Unified Kingdom slimmed down each time, eventually shrinking to the current Belfast Kingdom.
“Strengthening defense became the next task. Lord Hugo spent the rest of his life starting the fortification of Glassbridge into a castle city and fortifying the Gemini Bridge.”
The Unified Kingdom was heading towards collapse, and those who sought to exploit the rich Glass region were not few. It was a turbulent era.
“The project did not end in one generation, but was inherited by the nephew, Lord Mason, the next head of the family, and finally completed. Well, let’s stop here for today. Next time, I would like to begin with the reign of Lord Mason.”
The first Lord Lucas and the hero who founded the Unified Kingdom were once comrades with similar aspirations, or so I’ve heard. Wasn’t there anyone who tried to stop Lord Lucas, who was heading to the barren wilderness?
Such questions arose.
For those who founded a country centered around heroes, what were their ancestors like?
This is just speculation, but in battles one after another, they only saw the aggressive side of the spirits. So, they easily let it go.
There’s also the possibility that they regarded being friends with the spirits as a hindrance. They might not have realized the true value of the blessings of the spirits, especially the transformative ability to freely produce magical elements.
If that’s the case, they must have been astonished to see the barren wilderness turn into a rich forest and plain. I see. Lord Lucas was the so-called “too late” type of protagonist.
From the perspective of outsiders, the Glass region would be a treasure trove. If they let their guard down, who knows what might happen.
“The More Bountiful the Harvest, the Lower the Head of Rice.”
This is a famous phrase known to all Japanese.
As the rice grains ripen, the weight causes the rice head to bow. Just as humans should be humble as they become more prominent and prosperous. As you grow and succeed, you should treat others with a respectful attitude—this is what the saying advises about the way of being as a person.
However, this doesn’t work in aristocratic societies.
If you bow your head, you’ll only be taken advantage of. A land of abundant blessings from the spirits. Protecting this treasure will be my future duty… It feels too heavy.
Isn’t there someone else who can take care of this? Maybe I can rely on my younger siblings… No, that’s impossible. Because I got a covenant with a Spirit King. I can’t imagine my younger siblings obtaining a covenant greater than this.
If I get fed up and decide to disappear, I’ll definitely be a wanted person. For now, I don’t have such intentions. I’ve grown attached, and besides, if it’s just a temporary journey, I think I can go outside the Glass region.
Anyway, let’s become stronger. No matter what happens, so that I can protect this land and everyone. Let’s become so strong that I won’t lose to anyone. Of course, as a magician!