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Breton Empire (2)

It wasn’t long before the steamboat Chris was riding reached Rondanium, the capital of the Breton Empire.

After getting the ghost horse back from the ship where the horses were loaded, Chris and the other soldiers are given a coat.

“Captain, they give you a piece of clothing.”

“what’s this? Does it look kind of funny?”

“It is still very warm. It also feels good.”

‘Has the weaving technology developed enough to be able to produce coat-type military uniforms like this already?’

Chris took the coat and admired it again.

I felt it when I saw a steamship or a tank, but the Breton Empire’s technical skills were extraordinary.

I feel that I am following the process of the industrial revolution on Earth, rather than just roughly learning military technology that is useful right now.

Because of this, the technology developed evenly without being concentrated on any one part.

The soldiers, including Chris, received their overdue salaries from the military base on the mainland at once, and went on vacation one by one according to Elom’s orders.

Among them, Chris even received a special promotion.

“Wow, the captain has already fired a sergeant.”

“The sergeant’s rank didn’t suit me at all.”

Originally, the rank was something that had to be raised step by step, but Chris’s achievements were not average, and the history of the Imperial Army itself was short, so it wasn’t a very unreasonable promotion.

Since the Imperial Army was only a few years old, the number of high-ranking NCOs and officers was sorely lacking, so they used to fill the numbers this way.

Not only that, Elrom took extra steps to not offend Chris.

Thanks to this, Chris was able to skip the NCO training that had been put off so far.

Now, the troops of Elom will spend a month or so vacation in the capital.

It seems quite long for a vacation of only one year, but it seems that it will take that long until the next destination is decided.

Chris made a promise, calling for joy at the unexpected leisure.

‘Within this month, the Breton Empire has to come to an end. If time is not enough, they will even desert.’

The main mission of the Imperial Army is to occupy the colonies of other continents and establish a bridgehead for advancing into the continent.

The probability that Elrom’s troops, who are veterans with real-life experience, will be sent to maintain public order in the mainland of the Breton Empire is extremely low.

That would be a huge waste of power for the Imperial Army.

Of course, Chris had no intention of wasting a year on the battlefield.

He said goodbye to his men, which might be his last.

“Captain, would you like to come to my house? The others will stay in the soldiers’ quarters, but my parents are in Rondanium.”

“The captain says he’s staying at Lt. Col. Elom’s house.”

“Is your house better than the Count’s?”

“Sergeant Chris! We’re leaving right now, so come quickly!”

Elom, noticing Chris’s embarrassment surrounded by his subordinates, threw a rope at the right time.

Chris pretends not to win against him and says goodbye to his men.

The ghost horse and Elom’s horse eventually left the sea-smelling harbor and entered the city.

There were a lot of new buildings that looked like they were just built in the vacant lot that was originally empty.

The stalls are overflowing with goods, and the faces of the citizens are also very bright.

Chris quietly asked Elrom, who was next to him, for a guide.

“Colonel Elom, could you tell us about the capital and the empire?”

There were many eyes and ears around him, so he used a polite tone, but Elrom had no veto.

He sounded a little nervous, but answered sincerely.

“I don’t really know because I’ve been away for a year… But since I read the letter and heard the rumors, let me tell you a little bit.”

Elrom is still the son of the count.

Although he is a party that is rapidly losing power due to the upheaval of the empire, he is keenly aware of the changes in the empire.

Chris listened moderately to his words and interpreted them in his own way.

The Breton Empire abolished slavery, which was very unusual for a country in this world, and insisted that all people except the royal family have equal rights.

But this is just a nice façade.

In reality, all the people were in the process of being turned into more luxurious slaves.

First of all, most of the aristocrats who survived the bloody purge to abolish the feudal system and centralize power were deprived of their fiefdoms and ended up living in the capital.

Naturally, the family of Elom was no exception.

The head of a family moved to the capital was given the title of ‘senator’.

At first glance, it seems like a good treatment, but in reality, it is quite pitiful.

This is because the Parliament of the Breton Empire is only the queen’s arms and legs, and the British-style bicameral system was adopted in the first place.

A British-style bicameral senator is not a member of the real power, but a simple honorary position.

All they deal with is trivial and unimportant matters.

The only thing that is good is the name, and the salary and power are inferior to those of the House of Representatives.

So, if the situation is better for the commoners than the nobles, it is not necessarily so.

For now, they are screaming happily thanks to the food and materials pouring in from the colony… … .

In fact, there are not enough hands to use to operate the factory, so even young children go to work.

There are no labor laws in this world, so you’ll be forced to work until you die.

At least, the time taken for industrialization is short, so the trend of population growth does not keep up with the development of technological power, so the situation may be slightly better than during the Industrial Revolution on Earth.

If the supply of labor power is insufficient, wouldn’t the treatment of workers naturally get better?

Chris listened carefully to all the information Elrom provided.

Even if the development of the empire was out of the normal tech tree, it was on the way too much.

Given his ultimate goal, knowing about the Empire is as important as following the Black Banner’s trail.

While the two were talking, it started to rain in Rondanium.

“Somehow the weather was fine… Sergeant Chris, let’s go quickly.”

Soon the two arrived at a mansion with a gloomy appearance.

Although the site is rather large for a building in the capital, it does not feel well maintained as the walls are covered with vines.

When I open the gate that no one guards, I see weeds that have become fresh from the rain.

“this.”

Seeing the scene, Elrom seemed to be in awe, and he couldn’t even properly utter a lament.

Chris tried to put a joke on his side, but stopped when he saw his expression.

Entering the rundown stable, the ghost horse looked at Chris with tight pouting eyes.

After giving the ghost horse the apple he saved, he goes inside the mansion with Elom.

One of the servants, feeling a presence in the yard, was startled to find Elom.

“Come on, little boy! Are you back?”

“okay. It’s not like a family, where is your father? You prepare a room for this friend to stay. I will stay for about a month.”

Chris gave up his expectations for his room when he saw the color on his servant’s face.

After hearing about the whereabouts of the family head, the two men went upstairs to the second floor of a needlessly large, dusty mansion, and a girl in faded clothes greeted Elrom.

Are you around your mid-teens?

It resembles Elom and looks very fine.

“Older Elom! You are finally back! I’m so glad you’re safe on the rough battlefield. Who is the guest next to you?”

“Eltina. You’ve grown a lot since then. This is my subordinate, Sergeant Chris. I will be staying in this house for a while.”

Elom was genuinely happy to see his sister and let out a sigh of relief.

Eltina’s face darkens when he then asks about the family’s current situation.

Elrom, who read the inside, proposed to Chris.

“I am going to see my father. How about you being shown to the room first?”

“thank you.”

Chris also didn’t want to see his father.

Before long, the manor’s servant led me to a warehouse-like room located in the corner of the main building.

There was a servants’ room right next door, but he was rather glad that he had less chance to meet the owner of the mansion.

The room, which showed traces of hasty cleaning, was literally dusty.

If you spend one night here, you will get a lung disease that you didn’t have before.

Chris quickly used his magic to clear the dust.

While clearing the dust, it was Chris who was fortunate to have studied at the royal school called Sayd for now.

How long has it been since you broke up with Elrom?

Suddenly, a loud roar erupted from the second floor.

Seeing that different voices intersect, it is not that one side is pushing forward unilaterally.

What unfolds up there must be a match between father and son.

The servants in the next room seemed to be quite accustomed to the situation, and it was quiet without much fuss.

Chris could easily guess the state of the house by looking at the bottles thrown about in the backyard.

It seems that Elom’s father, who lost all authority in an instant, became a drunkard.

The hostess seems to have passed away a long time ago, and there is no trace at all.

As an empire, it’s better to keep an eye on them so they don’t do anything stupid.

I don’t even have to think about Elom, and his sister will be married like a sale before long.

The repertoire shown by the fallen nobles is so obvious.

Chris, who went through the royal family of Sayd, could easily guess that.

After the once thunderous voices stopped, Elom, who soon entered the room looking for him, complained in a rare, seething tone.

“It might have been better to stay in the officers’ quarters. What are you going to do now?”

“Once the rain stops, I will look around the city some more. I want to know more about the state of the empire.”

“That would be a little difficult. It rains all the time in Rondanium. “

“okay? Then I’ll just have to get hit.”

In this world, you won’t have to worry about acid rain yet.

As Elrom said, if it rains often, the amount that falls at one time will be small… … .

As Chris prepares to go out, Elom follows him without delay.

“… Why are you?”

“Ah, can I not follow you?”

Apparently, he didn’t want to stay in the mansion for long.

After thinking for a while, Chris nodded and accepted.

He thought that if Elom, a local, was with him, the eyes on him would be reduced.

The moment the two men are about to leave the mansion.

Eltina’s thin, high voice echoed from behind.

She looked at Elrom with a very uneasy expression and said,

“Brother, where are you going? Are you going to die already?”

“no. going out for a while Would you like to come too?”

Chris was filled with energy as he listened to the aristocratic tone of voice.

However, I also understood a little about Erom’s desire to spend time with his younger brother whom he hadn’t seen in a while.

When Elrom, who was conscious of Chris belatedly, showed signs of sorry behind Eltina’s knowledge, Chris let go of his anger and nodded.

“I would be honored if a woman like you would accompany me.”

“Thank you.”

Eltina smiled shyly and held Elrom’s hand.

From the looks of it, she looked like a very well-grown girl.

As soon as the rain stopped, the three of them left the mansion and had a relaxing and enjoyable time.

Rondanium’s advanced appearance was enough to surprise Chris again and again.

‘Now I know how the empire has developed like this in just a few years.’

It hasn’t even been 5 years since the players arrived in this world.

It is infinitely difficult to float a steamer and build a tank in such a short time.

No matter how much magic power is borrowed, it is impossible if the foundation is not properly prepared.

However, the Breton Empire and Rondanium met all of those difficult foundation conditions.

First of all, because it is an island country, ports were developed, and colonies were conquered using favorable geographical conditions and strong naval power.

They were able to secure enough food to withstand the city’s population growth.

Weaving and iron manufacturing technologies can be developed in an instant if you have proper knowledge.

This is especially true if it is a place where various materials are constantly flowing through advanced commerce, ports, and colonies.

Crucially, in the Breton Empire, there was a player who was a university history professor and a queen who fully supported him.

Eltina, who was enjoying refreshments at the teahouse with Elrom’s money, listened to the sound resounding in the plaza and pricked up her ears.

“Huh? What is this sound?”

“The royal horn… It’s the Prime Minister’s speech.”

Elrom shook his head as if he was used to it.

It was only natural that the current fall of his family was the fault of the queen and the prime minister.

Responding to the word prime minister, however, Chris groped for the longsword at his side and ran out into the plaza where the speech was to be held.

Elrom and Eltina faced each other for a moment at his sudden action.