I Became a Slave to a Mythical Shepherd

Episode 82. Demeter (1)

The process of ‘technological development’ is carried out in a way quite different from popular perception.

For example, looking at science fiction films of the 1980s, people in the past imagined the 2020s in which flying cars covered the city.

However, I couldn’t predict a strategy simulation game based on the Trojan War (a human wearing an elephant mask instead of a monster to keep the historical evidence) and a bad game company selling DLC infinitely.

Conversely, the same is true in the past.

In Greece around the 1st century BC, farmers were plowing the fields with wooden plows and nobles were writing on wooden boards.

And at the same time, there were steam engines, automatic doors, and analog computers.

Technology always moves as needed.

If we brought the weaving and spinning machines from England during the Industrial Revolution to the early Joseon Dynasty, they would not function at all.

There is no huge colonial market to consume the consumables the machines produce on a large scale.

From nob le mt l. co m

Let’s take a more famous example.

In East Asia, metal movable type was just a pretty useful catch.

And in Europe, where early capitalism sprouted, it became the seed of the Reformation and the rise of nationalism.

In other words… Whether or not a technology thrives does not depend on the usefulness of the technology itself.

You have to look at the situation.

Whether society needs the technology, and whether society can sustain the technology.

“Father, then, will I be able to open steel farm implements in Troia?”

“Perhaps… I think it will be difficult. Landlords and slaves would rather take the steel off and sell it.”

like now.

As soon as I handed that one word to me, the eunuchs standing behind me handed Priam something drawn (not paper, of course, but a piece of cloth or a wooden board.).

Priam hastily scribbled something on their notes, telling them the contents of the order and the address to which it was directed.

While the eunuchs who have been given orders go to different rooms and corridors, the elders sitting next to them whisper various stories into the king’s ear.

Priam, who had listened to every single syllable of the whispers, answered me again, scattering thanks and answers little by little for their advice, just as a mother bird distributes food.

“For my part, I have no means of forcing you to keep the iron plowshares to the landowners and slaves. It’s their freedom and their right.

As Antenor here told me, steel is much more expensive in Troy than it is in Antandros.”

“Thanks for the advice, Father. And I would also like to thank you wise elders. May Athena spare your wisdom.”

At Priam’s answer, I wiped my hands neatly and gave up. After bowing politely to Priam, I walked out of the palace through a long corridor.

Then he returned to the mansion and started packing.

The attendants asked what was going on, so they asked for clothes and miscellaneous items.

Soon, a carriage is wanted in the streets, and some guards are given to me in the palace.

I’m thinking of leaving for a while.

Steel farming tools cannot be spread in Troia.

In Antandros, which was a quiet small town anyway, the aristocrats were not very powerful.

I have contributed more to the city than they have, and I have more respect than all of them put together. Of course they all respect me.

Paris is the actual builder of Antandros.

But the case of Troy is different.

The history is deep, and the power of influential people is also deep-rooted.

Above all, since I am not the ruler of Troy, I cannot control it.

At Antandros I was able to propose and force the use of steel farm implements to the influential landowners.

Naturally, I could have prevented them from pranking and selling steel, and I could have taken the lead and performed well in front of them.

Therefore, if you want to improve farming tools and innovate farming methods, the right place is not Troy…

“I have to go to my city.”

It’s Antandros.

It’s been a while since I’ve been looking at the house again.

***

If you look at the calendar of this era, you will realize the necessity of standardization.

In Antandros, the year Antandros was built is used as the era name, and a year has about 350 days.

In Troyia, the year is written in the same way as ‘4 years after Laomedon ascended the throne’ like the era of East Asia, and a year has slightly less 360 days.

The solar calendar and the lunar calendar are exquisitely mixed, and the notation of the year differs from region to region. It would be even more amazing if my sense of date remained intact.

So, for a while, I wrote down the Gregorian calendar, which could not exist in this era, on a clay or wooden board that only I could see.

what year? How do I know what year it is now? So, I wrote an era suitable for my purpose.

I couldn’t check it because I was busy for a while, but after the appearance of Gemini, I took out the dusty wooden boards for the first time in a while and checked them.

The numbers written in my own era were certain.

“A year before Doomsday.”

The so-called ‘f*ck it all looks like sh*t’ power.

Criterion: The year Achilles turns 15.

Now is -1 year.

“···driving me crazy.”

Of course, since they twisted history around and joked around a lot, there was no guarantee that Achilles would land in Troy as soon as he turned 15 years old.

No, rather the war would have been delayed a lot.

Even in the 21st century, wars do not start when the supreme leader stamps his stamp saying, “I want to hit the next country.” Not to mention, ancient ramen with much less administrative power.

If war clouds are rolling, word should come by now that the Achaeans are on the move.

More than anything, at this point in time when Helene has just started looking for a suitor, now that there is no justification for war, the odds of a war happening a year later are slim to none.

Still, you have to be prepared.

Not in Troia, where my movements are limited and the results of my movements are slow, but in Antandros, where my movements are swift.

Ino seemed to be busy adjusting to Troia for a while, so I intentionally left it behind.

Theo brother was also moving here and there following Priam’s fortress, so instead he moved in a wagon accompanied only by suitable escorts.

Twenty-five escorts per carriage. Four or five attendants followed.

It was a simple procession, if simple.

Especially when I consider that I was placed on an equal footing with Anchises, and that Anchises made quite a pompous procession to Antandros.

But for me, this fit the constitution.

Just as a Korean who has not been accustomed to greasy food for the rest of his life seeks kimchi while living in Europe, my body sometimes fiercely refuses to be treated as a ‘precious person’ because of my experiences over the years.

“Hey, Paris-sama is coming!”

“Paris-sama!!”

After moving for a week like that, I met a wider network of roads, and soon faced a city I missed.

You can see the ranks of people lined up in front of the city gates.

I jumped off the wagon and was the first to be welcomed by Skleos.

“My lord, I’m glad you look well.”

“Scleos? How has it been?”

“As you’ve come to see, everything is growing. No people, no roads, no gold and silver treasures.”

Skleos smiled benevolently and tried to pat me on the shoulder as he always did, but then, startled, brought his hand back to normal.

I giggled at the sight and walked towards the next group of people. From behind, Skleos coughed as if he was embarrassed.

The rest of the people were lined up, led by Anoitus. Anoitus bows first as a representative, and other elders and influential people follow.

I lightly waved my hand and instructed them to raise their heads. Then, with a gesture, he summoned Anoitus to me and said,

“Did everyone wait a long time?”

“it’s okay. It’s just waiting for the master.”

“Still, it’s very burdensome to have you come out like this because of me. Let’s try to change it next time.”

To my words, Anoitus replies with a pleasant laugh.

“Like I said, we’re fine. For someone we respect and love, waiting this much is not a task.”

“But next time, I’ll make the governor’s residence… no, wait for you at the palace. It will be comfortable for you too…”

“Lord.”

The tone of Anoitos who calls me becomes slightly heavy.

He bows deeply to me and says.

“Get used to it. You are our lord.”

“…”

“We are loyal and respectful, and the lord just needs to receive our loyalty and respect.”

You can’t get used to it until you get used to it.

It’s been years since I’ve been around your house as a slave kid.

It seems just yesterday that I was walking side by side with you, looking up at you and flirting with jokes.

They are looking up at me with an expression that seems to be somewhere between worship and trust.

Receiving those gazes somehow made me feel awkward, so I said quietly to Anoitus.

“I want to get out quickly, but is the palace finished?”

“About half of it is still being built… but the other half is still in good condition.”

And, as if he had read something in my appearance, Anoitus smiled and said,

“What are you going to do if you are having a hard time from now on? Sooner or later, we will have a banquet with all the citizens who are not here.”

“Turn it off… For now, go to the half-built place. Only you and Skleos are following.”

“Yes, I understand!”

I dismissed the influential people who met me, and the three of us headed for the palace of Antandros.

It was my palace.

As Anoitus said, most of the half-built palace was under construction, except for the audience room, the office of Skleos, the deputy monarch, and the servants’ quarters and warehouses.

That’s it, it’s only really basic functions.

There was a cluttered atmosphere around the place, but I did not bother to move to another place, unpacked my things and headed to the audience room.

The servants, who were not familiar with the manner of serving the monarch, stood hesitantly, and the elders and influential people who had sneaked into the palace lined up.

“My lord, I’m sorry, but we need more quarries for the newly built castle. Perhaps I can ask the mountain nymph, Oinone, for permission to invade her territory…”

They are the complainants.

Quarry… If it’s a quarry, Ino will take care of it.

“As soon as we return to the capital, we will investigate him. Anything else?”

“New mansions for nobles are encroaching on the roads. Wouldn’t this be an act that obstructs the passage of citizens and disrupts the order of the city?”

“I’ll call them in and ask them what’s going on. As for roads… I’ll think about buying land and widening it. What’s next?”

“Poets not allowed to the market are taking the stage. The citizens are happy, but it is a nuisance because it is out of control…”

Thanks to the rush of work, it was not until after a while that I was able to call Skleos and Anoitus separately to talk.

When I took them out to the garden, I found that the walkway was winding and winding with bricks piled up here and there.

Watching the workers hurriedly clearing the pile of bricks right in front of the monarch, Skleos reports.

“Steel production has been increasing moderately these days.”

A fact that can be known just by looking at the black smoke rising from the blacksmith’s far away.

“As you said, weapons are being produced on a large scale, so the price of Antandros steel swords and steel arrowheads will soon become very affordable in Troia as well.

. . No, I will, lord.”

“How long will it take for it to double as I ordered?”

“Hmm, I think it will take quite a while to get there.”

“Why?”

“More than anything else, the time and money required to mine iron ore are not enough. No matter how hard the artisans at the blacksmith’s work, they can’t do anything about sourcing materials.”

“Gathering up materials?”

“okay.”

Skleos and I had a discussion with each other in a strange tone mixed with flattery and honorifics.

Anyway, the only people listening to this conversation are Skleos, my servants, and Anoitus. There was no one to be embarrassed by this absurd conversation etiquette.

I came to a brief conclusion from Skleos’ report.

“After all, you need people to mine iron ore.”

“you’re right.”

I tried many other issues, but the conclusion was the same.

According to Skleos, the availability of cheap labor in Antandros and neighboring cities was gradually reaching its limit.

“It’s not that the new settlers are growing like weeds, and now the growth of Antandros has slowed down.”

“Stabilization, to put it mildly. not bad. but···”

The city needs more manpower available. At least for the time being, we will need more coal and iron ore, and we need workers to supply them.

In other words, it means that those who are already doing other work will no longer have to do it and will have to move to coal and iron mines.

It was also good to come to Antandros.

After setting the target to be defeated, I asked Anoitus, who was looking at the hyacinth flowers in the garden.

“Anoitos? Is there a temple of Demeter in our city?”

“hmm? As far as I remember, there are no temples. Still, the sanctuary is set up simply, right?”

“Then put some burnt offerings with the iron coins I’m throwing. I think I will be indebted to you in the future.”

“I’m indebted to you?”

“I’ll explain in detail later, so can you prepare things first?”

“Is it possible?”

“Ah, I will deliver something later, so give it to Demeter later.”

“All right.”

Now that the situation in Antandros has been roughly grasped at the palace, it is time for a field trip.

I went back to his estate with Skleos.

Several farmers wandered about cutting weeds with scythes, while others plowed the fields with oxen.

In the field where various commands and songs resounded, I pointed out something to Skleos.

“…Did the scythe originally look like that?”

“It was originally like that. I’m using the one you and I brought the first time.”

okay. When he and Skleos were in full swing spreading iron farming tools everywhere, the top priority was to reduce the resistance of farmers and landlords.

As such, although the material may be iron, many agricultural tools were produced that were not much different in structure and usage from the days of wooden or stone tools.

For example, now I…

“Isn’t that a stone knife?”

“no. better.”

···A metal attachment in the form of a half-moon stone knife was an example.

Farmers are tying weeds and arranging straw with the primitive equipment. While whining.

I couldn’t be late when I was in Antandros before, but now I see a lot of strange types of farming tools.

Traces of grunting with wood and stone remained, and there were many iron farm tools made in a way that simply reproduced them.

“No, but it is, isn’t it too inefficient?”

The shock of seeing the half-moon stone knife that is still used… no, the half-moon iron knife did not go away.

Of course, Skleos didn’t even understand what I was talking about. Because Skleos had never seen farming tools better than that.

“That… First of all, quality doesn’t matter, so let’s start with this one. Let’s just make a simple mold for casting.”

When I showed the picture I drew hastily, Skleos tilted his head and asked.

“What is this?”

It is now.

Now is the time to say these lines as the protagonist who has arrived in this savage other world.

“Ah… don’t the people of Antandros know?

This is called ‘Homi’. It is perfect for cultivating a small vegetable garden. Let’s spread this out first.”

It didn’t take long for Homi’s prototype to come out. about a day or two? Since the mold for the casting was made, it seemed that there would be no great difficulty in making more in the future.

“I will tell you the purpose and usage of this item, so Skleos-sama, sprinkle some on the property.”

“Do you think this object will be useful?”

“It was just the first time I made it for an experiment. Because it is the smallest and the simplest form. Looking at it, besides the scythe, there are things to be improved everywhere.”

Unbeknownst to me, I laughed out loud.

No, it’s crazy, so I just throw seeds in the field and sow them. Even the concept of digging up the soil, sowing the seeds, and covering it again does not yet exist in this day and age.

I think I will have to stay here for a few months.

There’s a lot to tinker with.

***

“Hmm…

What is this?”

Anoitus pondered for a while as he held the strangely curved, small shovel handle in his hand.

I’m not sure what it’s used for, but, well, among the things Paris-sama handed out to use, did you really want something useless?

However, I couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed since I came here to offer something I don’t even know how to use.

When Anoitos raises his head, several priests who have been sitting quietly recognize him and bow their heads. There was already a fat pig on the altar, and it was ready to be burned by pouring oil on it.

Behind it is a beautiful marble statue of a god with a benevolent face, holding a torch and ears of wheat, perched somewhere.

The size of the statue was not large, but roughly the height of Anoitus’ shoulders, and there were only a few torches burning near it, but no building with a roof.

Originally, this city was not a city that worshiped Demeter so important.

After offering a new object, whether a hoe or something, on the altar, Anoitus knelt down and recited a prayer in his heart.

The priests walking around carrying ears of wheat grin at Anoitos and pass by.

“You’re going to build a new temple…?”

I still don’t know what the lord is planning.

but believe

He was always right.

The smell of incense smoked by the priests permeates Anoitos’s collar.

Feeling at ease with the incense, Anoitus slowly got up and told the attendants to bring other offerings…

[The merchant’s son.]

A warm and soft voice echoes like freshly baked wheat bread.

what, what

[What are you, calling Mother Earth?]

As if hearing with the soul, not with the ears, there is no substance, and, paradoxically, the sound is clearer than anything else.

It is not a human voice.

Anoitus hurriedly bowed his head in dismay.

“Holy…Mother of the Holy Earth, patroness of all farmers…”

[The merchant’s son, who lifts anchor and pursues gold in the distance, is looking for me.]

Anoitos is speechless at the voice that echoes again.

Gradually, the voice that has been heard like an imagination in the mind has a reverberation and a direction.

The materiality of the voice begins to appear.

then···

When Anoitus raises his head, the clean air gathers and transforms into a whitish human form.

The warm smell of grass fills his lungs.

[Did you happen to have a plowshare job in this land?]

He manifests.

direct to this place.

“I just came to offer a sacrifice as a representative of Paris, Lord of Antandros.”

Adds color to the air. With the ivory color of clean skin and the pure white color of the thin, clean veil that covers it.

[From that boy who gave a lot of honor and gifts to the gods…? Last time, Artemis accepted the bow lying horizontally and was delighted with her brother for a long time.]

A smile spreads like a wave on the face of a soft impression that has just emerged.

[Is it my turn now?]

A voice of satisfaction.

And the overwhelming presence beneath it.

Anoitus knew who was coming before him.

Before I knew it, a beautiful woman was standing next to her statue in plain clothes. While stroking the heads of the priests who served him.

Golden hair that rustled like ripe ears of wheat, and a face with a warm luster like the softest soil.

[Hey, wake up. Did you say you were the boy’s servant?]

“Ah, ah… yes, yes! you’re right!!”

It was clear first of all who he was referring to as ‘that boy’.

The goddess of the earth, the benevolent goddess who personally taught mankind agriculture, bows her head and looks down at Anoitus.

A wildfire-like halo grows behind the goddess’ back.

Anoitus is afraid, but at the same time feels at ease.

[Hey.]

That… voice, a fresh smell like freshly cut grass fills the air. As if deluded by the voice, Anoitos raised his head and faced the goddess.

“Hey, goddess…”

[What gift did you bring me, can I take a look?]