I Became a Slave to a Mythical Shepherd

Episode 39. disturbing omens

After digging the ground about 1 meter, a large gravel stone is placed at the bottom to create a porous space that can absorb enough water when it rains.

On top of it, small-sized gravel and well-drained masato are covered to keep the shape of the road, and finally flagstone is laid and paved.

In this way, when it rains, the water is absorbed under the pavement, so water does not accumulate on the road.

The Roman road is well suited to the climate of the Aegean basin, where it rains frequently in winter due to the complicated coastline and archipelago.

And if you don’t have enough budget and time, you can omit things like flagstones.

“…How long will the road last if you lay it with care like this?”

“From my point of view, as long as you do intermittent repairs…”

In Italy and Spain, even in the 21st century, Roman roads are repaired and used.

“More than 2,000 years.”

Actually, that’s nonsense. It was only 7 generations ago that the kingdom of Troy was established on this land.

This means that the history of this region does not exceed 200 years even if it is generously counted as 25 years per generation. But how can humans measure the time of a thousand years?

However, neither the blacksmiths nor the work foremen put on a toe.

This was the authority I had built up through my business.

The rough design was done by the Romans a thousand years later, so now it’s time to move on to the next step.

“The grains you mentioned are big and hard stones! My sister said that if you go there, you will be there!!”

“Did you check? The granite fields are to the southeast. Thank you, Ino.”

“Am I good at everything? There, when the sun goes down, other fairies will appear in the hills to the west too! Talk to them!”

A quarry, a waterway for loading and unloading materials, and a safe place for workers to eat and sleep.

Ino, who lived with the gods of the rivers and streams and flirted with the fairies of the hills, mountains, and forests, couldn’t help but notice.

“Paris? Is this mountain right?”

“I checked with Ino several times. I’m sure this time.”

Take Theo and other workers, go to the place Ino told you about, offer a lamb and recite prayers.

Fresh crimson blood smeared on the ground, and a gentle vibration came from the ground.

[…you mean you want to find granite in this mountain?]

And that vibration becomes the voice.

I swallow a gulp and answer.

“That’s right. Oinone, the fairy of Mt. Ida, led me here.”

Soon the mountain trembles, and the grass rises up as if a huge hairy beast wakes up from sleep.

[That child… yes. Follow the direction the grass lies.]

“I will never forget this favor. I hope more wild animals will stay and prosper on this mountain.”

Development where the fairies inform the yolk land, offer sacrifices to the native gods and get permission.

I overlapped the sight of the ward office officials taking stamps.

Well, this is how development permission came up. So, should I go to work right away?

“in action! You have to pay for what you have earned so far!!”

“What should I do if I load this mule with so much luggage! This four-legged beast is more expensive and more important than you! understand?”

Of course, it is natural to use the manpower that has been accumulated so far, and that alone is not enough, so we hire more locally and accelerate construction.

“Hey, I heard that food is distributed here.”

“Who did you hear from?”

“I don’t know if you’ll laugh at me if I say this, but in a dream, Hermes-sama…”

“…”

Mr. Skleos and I face each other.

again

Anyway, when the manpower gathers like that, they set up a soup kitchen and feed those who were starving to death. When they recover their strength, after a brief training, put the tools in their hands.

Digging the ground vertically.

throw away the dirt

Carrying and pouring stones and sand.

Lay flagstone and capstone on top of it.

In all the process, the steel shovel blade and pickaxe flashed.

Blacksmiths work tirelessly to cut steel and pour hot molten metal into molds.

Of course, the product of that effort was as expensive as gold of the same weight in other regions, so there were those who tried to run away with their tools in their hands. Some of them were successful.

however,

“Now, now, I was wrong. Please, have mercy…”

“I’ll lock you up for now.”

“I understand, Master Skleos.”

The fugitives did not get far.

In a way, it was natural. We were the only blacksmiths who could make a pickaxe or something out of steel, so if we tried to dispose of things in this area, we were sure to get caught.

Since it is necessary to connect six or seven cities including Antandros, the expected length of the road is about 150 kilometers.

After a year, between 30% and 40% of the rough goal was completed.

“Everything is connected between Antandros and the surrounding villages.”

It was all we could do right now.

“What do I do after that? Other cities would reject it.”

There is one fact that is no different from Joseon in the 19th century or the Aegean in the 12th century B.C.

– “We have heard of Skleos’ reputation, and by importing the high-quality iron, we too enjoy the days of wealth. …However, since the defense of the city and the protection of citizens are of the utmost importance, we, the nobles of Gargara, refuse to build the road…”

If allies can use the road, so can the enemy. Therefore, I would rather use water transport.

Basically, due to the nature of cities that defend and wage siege by sticking together on hilltop walls, the existence of roads that help the besiegers easily obtain resources is tantamount to suicide.

The story would change when the road network was completed and the cities could be jointly defended and mutually supported, but for now, their claims were true.

“They are right in principle…”

Someone strokes his beard and interrupts a meeting that has been in the middle of trouble.

“…So, rather than arguing about that, shouldn’t we persuade them with other interests?”

When I turned my head, the governor was standing there.

“Governor.”

“I have to convince the nobles of each city, give gifts to the governors of each city, and win favor with the monarchs.”

The governor was right.

But neither I nor Mr. Skleos can do that.

I’m a slave, and Skleos is a blacksmith with a high rank, but he’s a commoner.

As long as the city’s rulership is given to the native aristocrats who contributed to the city’s construction and development, the persuasion had to be done by the prestigious Antandros nobles.

“We will go.”

the governor says

He looks at me for a moment and then says something respectful. There, many people tilted their heads, but as soon as the words continued, the question was buried.

“The other elders of Antandros also promised to accompany us. Then the nobles of the neighboring cities will also open their hearts.”

“Ah, I will go too.”

Anoitus also raises his hand.

“I may not be of native nobility, but with my father’s reputation, I might be able to help.”

So, how did it go?

“The nobles of Assos have decided to change their minds.”

“We grant Antandros’ request out of friendship! The sincerity of the elders from Antandros melted all doubts. May the gods bless us.”

It was a success.

“…as expected, you’re doing well.”

“I mean.”

“Scleos? Citizens of Assos now support building roads. Then even Gargar, who stands between Assos and Antandros, will be hard pressed to reject.”

The governor who came to liven up the atmosphere with speeches and jokes in the middle of the banquet hall wiped the sweat from his forehead and said.

“Can’t we convince other cities in this way?”

It actually came true.

The important thing was ‘authority’ and ‘existence of a responsible person’.

The governor is nominally the manager of Antandros, but he can leave at any time, so he cannot be held responsible.

Uncle Skleos has no rights or responsibilities because he is not an aristocrat with the right to vote, even though he has a high position.

Only the nobles of Antandros.

Their agreement became a solid backing for us.

“… Brother Theo?”

“Uh, why?”

“This may sound childish, but are elders higher than Mr. Skleos?”

“What nonsense is that?”

Nobles are not masters of commoners, but that doesn’t mean nobles don’t have privileges…

complicated. Is this an ancient identity system?

Anyway, it was good to insert the card of friendly nobles into the business.

One by one, the puzzles fit together.

And one by one, flagstones are laid.

The imaginary dotted lines drawn on the map become real roads, and horses, carts, and people travel on them.

The workers, who at first thought of running away or planning a riot, are also satisfied with the wages and treatment and start building a village next to the construction site. What about transporting daily necessities there? The Chamber of Anoitus is in charge.

And when two years pass…

“Glory to Hermes, for the patron of all wanderers has blessed our undertaking!”

“Praise to Hephaestus! He gave us the boon of steel!!”

I turned 15

We have completed the road network.

***

“… Tomorrow is the banquet.”

Tomorrow was the day to celebrate the completion, play and eat offerings to the gods who helped us.

Of course, playing and eating is only for the guests, and we were supposed to be busy serving guests.

In addition, only the main roads were built, and the swords remained for a long time. There may be a mountain of work to be done.

Anyway, it was finished.

It has already been 8 years since I first met Mr.

The 7-year-old boy turned 15 years old.

As far as I know, Achilles was 15 when he went into battle, which was old enough to be considered a general in this day and age.

It didn’t take long for the boy to become an adult.

“Tomorrow, even nobles and commoners from neighboring cities will come. It will be a very tiring day.”

Skleos looks out of the blacksmith’s shop as if soaked in emotion. I closed my mouth.

Paved roads stretched out beyond the rotation of the water wheel.

If you walk east along that road, you can reach Assos in two days.

Conversely, if you walk west? You can reach Thebes in Cilicia, an ally of Troy, in a day and a half. If I was rich and could even ride a carriage, it would be faster.

During this era, the longest and most well-planned road network was built.

As workers who were paid with iron coins moved here and there, the price of iron ingots gradually dropped, and soon iron farming tools began to be popular in the area.

The farm equipment we made.

If two years ago we rejoiced that this Antandros was ours, now it is no exaggeration to say that the whole region is in our hands. You can tell just by looking at the faces of the guests who will be attending the banquet tomorrow.

“…Paris, you will have a lot of work tomorrow, so get some rest. I told Theo to prepare as well.”

“I understand, uncle. Thank you for your hard work today.”

“You are.”

I don’t care about other people’s eyes anymore, and I call Skleos uncle.

As I was about to leave, the workers nodded at me and greeted me.

To a slave who was a mere shepherd.

“Paris, are you leaving?”

“Do you have any spare spears? It’s because I’m not armed right now.”

“Ah… shall I give you a knife or a spear?”

“The spear handle, as long as it doesn’t have a blade, is enough.”

After the puzzled worker handed me the spear handle, I headed for the hill where my older brother Theo was, as always.

“…Are you here now?”

meet my brother Theo

“It was barely minus the training time. Tomorrow is the banquet day, do you know how much I notice when I am the only one who misses preparations?”

“Okay, let’s get started. The Governor-General said that the movement in the capital is unusual.”

I aim a spear without a spear at my brother. My older brother similarly raises the handle of his spear towards me.

The two wooden sticks pierce each other in neat trajectories, sway, bend…

– Kwajik!

I hit the middle of my brother’s spear handle, and the two wooden rods shatter and scatter in all directions.

Ha, I finally beat Theo hyung once.

No, since both of them lost their weapons, is it a draw?

“Heh, heck, uh, come to think of it, heck, I’ll be very busy tomorrow, Heo-eok, can I do this here?”

After running with the spear handle for several hours, I caught my breath and looked at Theo.

“You want to finish training?”

“Let’s prepare for the important tomorrow.”

“Anyway, the organizer is Mr. Skleos, and you are a servant servant.”

“Your business has grown. Everyone won’t go along with such shallow lies forever.

Gradually, all the influential people know that I am the key figure. Since it is an event where such people come in droves, I have to attend.”

“I don’t think you’re tired seeing how the words flow.”

“Look at me, please.”

As I lie down on the balladang, Theo sighs and sits down on a nearby stump.

So me and my brother look up at the sky.

A sky with Perseus or Hercules but no Gemini yet.

Imagine the constellations that will soon be filled there.

The lives and deaths of heroes that would be just as terrible.

“…I’ve done enough.”

When I muttered, Theo passed it over without answering, as if he thought it was moderately nonsense. I didn’t care about Theo’s reaction either.

Because it was a joke.

I did enough.

Count how many villages have sprung up along the roads in the past two years.

How many other people live there?

Countless wanderers, thieves, and orphans found their place and settled down like stars.

The odds of them being found trampled to death by Greek soldiers on some hill during the war were reduced.

Instead, it is more likely that they will organize a protest with iron farming implements on a village level, under orders from city governments connected by roads.

This place will not fall easily into the hands of the Greeks.

Can the Greek army withstand the thousands and tens of thousands of people attacking with iron weapons? Can he endure it and capture Troia?

too much

“Impossible…”

“Stop whining. Today’s training will end here.”

No matter what my brother Theo said, I sat down on the grass and went to sleep.

the next morning. When I went to Uncle Skleos’s mansion where a banquet was to be held while sneezing endlessly at the cost of homelessness, I was surprised by the quieter atmosphere than I expected.

“mister? Haven’t the guests arrived yet?”

“Ah, the banquet has been canceled. Get dressed quickly and get ready. We must wait at the North Gate of the Antandros Wall.”

“What is it?”

Brother Theo, who came running late, stood next to Uncle Skleos. Theo brother glanced sideways at the uncle, and eventually spoke in a nervous tone.

“Do as you say, uncle. now···”

something ominous

“An envoy has been sent from Troy.”