The construction of Maust Castle proceeded smoothly, although it was a large-scale civil engineering project.


    However, it was not only the castle that was being built. The castle was remodeled at the same time.


    As for wealth, he suspended the trade union and allowed anyone to open a market and set up a store.


    He has largely switched to a system of taking taxes from those who make a profit, as he did in the past in his own fiefdoms of Sanmura and Nayvre.


    When there is a union, you have to belong to it to be able to open a store (of course, you have to be screened and paid to join). In addition, price adjustments are done internally, making cheaper items more expensive.


    This was a good way to protect the vendors, and eventually the lords were able to get money from the union.


    However, it is useful only until the time when the size of the city does not change much.


    The city had already announced that Maust would be the capital of the province, and the population was growing rapidly. This meant that more and more people would want to do business, and the number of stores and markets would have to be increased. Such a city does not need unions that hinder its development.


    Despite the opposition from the unions, "I am the invader of Maust, so to speak. I will not follow the ways of the previous lords.


    "Besides, those who have been in business here for a long time will surely benefit from their experience," he said. You can think of it as a win-win situation, because you pay less money to the union. You''ll still have to pay taxes on the profits, though."


    The union does not have the power to push back. They backed away quietly.


    Trying to take taxes from the poor does not work, and the amount you can take is limited. Then let them make a profit and take a large portion from it.


    With the money they get, they hire more workers.


    They sometimes requisitioned peasants to some extent, but they paid more wages than before.


    This was possible because of the city of Maust. Because of its large population, the city can absorb much more wealth than Nevre if it is the home of the people.


    As the number of workers increases, more and more people will try to do business with them. It should be a good cycle.


    As I continue to do so, I have been given another power.


    --I acquired a special ability, the "High King''s Vision". Your economic sense about cities and trade becomes as good as Oda Nobunaga''s. It is always active unless he is intoxicated or in a daze.


    What is this ......?　Is this an ability ......?


    --I''ll explain.


    Oda Nobunaga is speaking again.


    --You''re right, this is more of an assessment of you than an ability. Your foresight has allowed you to be as good as this High King. So, for the time being, I have given you this ability as a special ability.


    Perhaps, this special ability is something you created on your own ......?


    --Yes. This profession is an exceptional one, and you are the only one in the world, apparently. So, it''s a trial-and-error process.


    I wonder what kind of special ability you have, but I guess he appreciates me in his own way.


    I am not sure if I can do it.


    It will take some time to complete, but I did not wait for that and officially moved to Maust. For the time being, I have set up a temporary base in the hills near Maust.


    It is quite different from the castle on the water where I am going to move to, but this temporary base is not so bad.


    From here, we can see the town''s development clearly.


    "I was wondering where you''ve been, sir.


    Serafina lines up beside me. There was a nice breeze.


    "I''m not sure that seeing it from a distance will hasten its completion, but I''m still enjoying it."


    "I understand. But it''s a good time to start building the castle. I think it would have been difficult to unify the prefectures afterwards, since it would have provoked the great lords of the other prefectures.


    "Yes. We can gather men from all over the province because we haven''t had to fight a major war."


    I combed my hand through Serafina''s hair, which was blowing in the wind.


    Seraphina had become much more beautiful than when we had met in Minelia.


    "Your husband is the coolest man I''ve ever met. He is a great lord who is not ashamed to be seen from any angle.


    "What a coincidence. I thought Serafina was the prettiest girl I''d ever seen.


    "A woman becomes beautiful when she is in the presence of the man she loves."


    Now that there are only two of us, our words are naturally sweet.


    "Actually, Master, I have an important report today, and I was looking for a place to stay."


    "Big news?"


    I got a little defensive.


    "It''s not a good story, is it?"


    "On the contrary. It''s very good news.


    What the hell was that?


    "Did Serafina''s father win big?"


    Serafina puffed her cheeks out in a deliberate manner.


    "It''s between the Master and me."


    Then, naturally, the answer was narrowed down.


    No way, no way. .......


    "You''re having a baby?"


    Grinning, Serafina nodded.


    "Good for you, Serafina!"


    I immediately hugged Serafina.


    I was a little worried that I had no heir. But now my fears were put to rest.


    "Will it be a boy or a girl?


    "How can I know yet? But either way, I''m going to raise him in such a way that he won''t be embarrassed when he becomes king. I believe that the Master will be king.


    "Yes, you''re right. I won''t be satisfied with just one province."


    I''ll end this war-torn era with my own hand.


    In my mid-teens, I used to dread the possibility of dying in a war. The only way to prevent people from suffering such misery is for someone to reunite the kingdom.


    Perhaps it will take several major wars to do so, but I will do it.


    I''m not going to end up a lord of one province.


    "Well, Serafina will have to rest for a while. Take good care of yourself.


    It is not uncommon for women to die in childbirth. Giving birth is a risky business.


    "Don''t worry. I am a saint by profession. I''m sure my baby will be blessed."


    I''m worried about Serafina''s body, too.


    We''ll have to get them all to pray at the county temple later.


    But we can''t worry about that now. Now is the time to rejoice.


    "I''ll let the chief minister know right away. I''ll let them know right away so that they don''t cause Serafina too much trouble. ............ Well, speaking of important ministers, I''ll let them know ......."


    First I thought of Laviala''s face.


    I''m definitely happy to have a child, but when I tell him, it''s a bit of a subtle guess. .......


    I have not had a child with Laviala for a long time. I don''t know how true it is, but there is a story that it is hard to have children if you have elven blood in you. I wonder if it is because elves are young for a longer period of time compared to humans, and therefore, they are not able to have children as much as humans do.


    Still, I must say something. Let''s call Laviala.