Chapter 20

Thank you for reading.

Regarding the parts that have been published, I have intentionally left the typos, omissions, and additions as they are, hoping that they might serve as reference material later on.

Please understand.

There are people who use the typo reporting function to proofread.

I decline any requests other than typo and omission reports.

If it becomes too excessive, I will block it.

Please bear with me.

"You tend to make all sorts of things when I take my eyes off you for a moment."

After dinner, during study time, Mr. Romanov rubbed his chin with a smile and said this.

His gaze seemed to be on Regulus, who had woken up from his nap and was wide awake, and the cloth picture book (draft) I had made for him.

Thanks to the head chef's efforts, a savory custard, or rather, a steamed egg dish, appeared at dinner, and the conversation naturally turned to the cloth picture book.

"You mean, 'If there's no textbook, make one!' Indeed, you are worthy of being the 'Blue Hand.'"

"It's not that grand. I was just at a loss about what to teach a three-year-old."

"No, no, don't be modest. Mr. Rottmayr said that you are thinking of teaching the people of the domain through Regulus' education. He was deeply moved by your consideration for the people's lives."

Hmm, that's a bit different.

I was just hoping that the decline of Kikunoi was due to a lack of human resources, which is a rather optimistic view, and it was a form of escapism.

People grow when they are raised, so if you invest in education, you can have the resources to do anything as long as you have the time and resources. However, if the problem lies in the land or culture itself, there's not much you can do.

But if you can raise people who can address the root of the problem, there's a chance for a comeback.

That's what the story of the hundred bales of rice is about, I think.

When I say this, Mr. Romanov takes on a very serious expression.

"In other words, you want to raise capable people for when you become the lord... You plan to make Regulus your right-hand man, don't you?"

"Of course not! I'm not that grand. I don't have the power to do anything for the people, and even if I did, I lack the necessary skills. But there are a few things I can do for Regulus at home. That's all."

Because Regulus is the heir to Kikunoi, and I'm going to be killed by him.

It's not that I want to die, but I can somehow assert that the vision I saw when I fell down the stairs is something that will happen in the future.

If that's the case, I need to do what I can before it happens.

It would be irresponsible to say, "That's it, I'm done," after I die.

"But if it goes well, you want to use it as a model to establish an early childhood education system, right?"

"Preferably. But I don't have the capital, so I'll have to rely on my father."

"Capital is indeed... But will your father implement such an educational system for the people?"

"That's... Ah... But if I instill the importance of education in Regulus from now on...!"

"That's a rather optimistic view."

Ugh, indeed.

On the fluffy rug in the center of the room, Regulus is skillfully buttoning up the small felt fox and raccoon dolls with his small hands.

Raising a child to be healthy and well-rounded is really difficult.

So, day by day, time passes... Well, on the third day when the princess said, "Wait."

Regulus stuffed the cloth picture book I made into the tote bag I made, and I wore my usual waist pouch and attended the daily song time.

Repeating the same thing every day is good for building patience. Continuity is power.

The peonies, swaying in the gentle summer breeze, never get old. Each day, they evoke a fresh sense of wonder.

They seem to bloom without ever withering, and today they exude a different charm, more delicate and fragrant than yesterday's elegant beauty.

"Good morning."

"Good morning!"

"Indeed, a noble cause."

The princess waved her thin silk fan and beckoned us.

"Come closer," she said, and I led Regulus to her knees. She told us to hold out our hands, so we did.

Then, a colorful piece of paper with geometric patterns, flower petals, and butterflies fell into our palms. This is...

"Origami! Or, is it chiyogami...!?"

"Hehe, how do you like it? Isn't it beautiful?"

"Yes! It's amazing!"

The vivid paper in my hand made Regulus exclaim, "So pretty!" Children are so honest at such times. I really like this too.

"Wow, this is amazing...!"

"Indeed, indeed. After all, I had Igor make it."

A name that doesn't belong came up.

Igor, wasn't he the god of technology and medicine, and the god of wind and commerce, as taught by Mr. Romanov?

"Wha!? Made by a god!?"

"What, you. You said you didn't know me, yet you know his name?"

"Well, I studied really hard after that!"

"Hmph. Well, it's fine."

The princess raised her eyebrows slightly, looking a bit displeased, but that was all. She seemed to have more important matters to discuss.

She flicked her fan and said, "Quickly."

"Huh?"

"What are you making that foolish sound for? Make something for me. You said you would give me something beautiful with this paper, didn't you?"

I didn't say that.

Well, I did say, "Beautiful paper," because I thought the chiyogami paper would suit the princess more than the white origami paper I made.

But since I received it, I might as well.

I took out the mat from my waist pouch, and Regulus promptly sat down. He seemed to be expecting something, and he took a sheet of the beautiful geometric patterned paper from the bundle he received, his eyes shining.

First, I folded the square paper in half to make a rectangle. I unfolded it and folded the top and bottom edges to the crease I just made.

When I made sixteen squares by folding the paper, I folded it diagonally to make a triangle and ran creases on both sides.

I repeated the process of folding and unfolding to create four wing-like bulges, and then I folded the tips of the lower wings on both sides to make them thin.

After straightening the remaining upper wings, what I made was...

"A butterfly!"

"Wow, you're so skilled...!"

I placed the three-dimensional butterfly in my palm, and the princess sighed while Regulus cheered.

The princess seemed satisfied, and she picked up the butterfly from my palm and placed it on her thin silk fan.

"Indeed, it's beautiful. I'll keep it. In return, I'll give you the remaining paper, so make something for the chick too."

"Thank you."

"Thank you very much!"

It seems she liked it.

I tried to put the chiyogami paper back in my waist pouch, but I took a closer look at the beautiful patterns. The patterns were too beautiful to give to a child, and I sighed.

The princess laughed like a bell.

"Are you so captivated?"

"Yes...! It's so, so beautiful!"

"Hehe, then I'll tell Igor your thoughts."

"Yes, please tell him, 'Thank you for such beautiful paper.'"

"Indeed."

I stored the paper in my waist pouch, feeling satisfied.

Then, a question came to mind.

"By the way, how did you make this paper?"

"Hmm? That's Igor's domain, so I don't know. But... he talks a lot about his expertise, even when no one asks. I think he mentioned something about 'hangi'..."

"Hangi... 'woodblock'!?"

"What, you know about it?"

"Well, I don't exactly know... but..."

In my past life, I remember that there was such a thing as woodblock printing, and it evolved into movable type printing.

When I explained this, the princess narrowed her eyes.

"I see, I remember there was a technique called 'woodblock printing' here... Is there another method in a different world?"

"I don't understand the mechanism, but... if books can be easily distributed, there are benefits, I think."

"Such as?"

For example, when asked, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the easy sharing of wisdom and knowledge.

When I said this, the princess snorted in a bored manner.

"The only ones who benefit are humans, and I gain nothing."

"..."

The princess' scrutinizing gaze pierced me.

If I can't give her a satisfactory answer here, this conversation about the technology will probably end. My intuition tells me that's not good. Is there anything I can do?

While I was struggling to think, Regulus, who seemed to be bored with our conversation, started playing with the picture book and the felt raccoon and fox.

The scene, like a play, gave me a flash of inspiration.

"Princess, if books can be easily distributed, people might be able to see 'Violet Garden' plays."

"What!?"

"They might not be as magnificent, but musicals might be possible."

"What do you mean!? Explain in detail..."

The princess, now interested, cleared her throat.

"Plays have scripts, and actors perform according to the plot. I don't know what plays are like in this world, but in my past life, actors followed the script. A script is a book that outlines the detailed flow of the story and the lines the actors say in each scene."

"Hmm, continue."

"If it's passed down orally, it might be lost if the person who knows it dies, and human memory can be flawed. But with a script, the same play and the same lines can be enjoyed multiple times with different actors. In other words, if I write down the play I remember, from the lines to everything else, and make it into a script, it can be performed even without me, to a certain extent!"

"Indeed, if it's recorded... that's true."

"But there's another problem."

"Yes, what is it?"

"Low literacy rates. Even if it's recorded, it's meaningless if no one can read it. Education is not just for the elite! No! Education is necessary for everyone! Because if you can't read, you can't read the script! If you can't read sheet music, you can't sing correctly! If the audience can't understand the lines and lyrics, the play won't be evaluated! If it's not evaluated, even if it's art, it will decline! Evaluation is value, and value is money! Actors need to eat to live!"

"Oh, oh... that's true."

"To raise good actors, you need to create a situation where people can spend money on plays. For that, you need to be educated. If you're uneducated, you might be cheated and work for unfairly low wages or be exploited. Instead, if you receive fair compensation for your work and have a stable life, and if you have some extra money, people will seek entertainment. And that entertainment can be plays!"

"I see... If people spend money on plays, it will become a business. This will create competition and a culture of improvement... Is that what you're saying?"

"It won't be easy..."

This is a theoretical and somewhat radical argument.

But the development of entertainment requires a stable life, and for a stable life, education is necessary, and books are needed.

Besides, with a five-year-old's brain, I can't persuade her any further.

I'm about to overheat.

As I tried to steady my breath, which had become ragged, the princess' figure began to distort.

Before I could think, as expected, my five-year-old brain overheated, and my vision went dark.

Thank you for reading.