I Became a Slave to a Mythical Shepherd

Episode 60. hometown (2)

From nob le mt l. co m

Let’s go inside the walls, you can see the stream of Antandros. Even though I was away for a few months, the scenery didn’t change much.

Still, somehow it feels strange.

“Anoitos? Has anything changed in the city?”

I asked Anoitos, who was standing next to me, pulling the hem of his clothes.

“Prince, please be kind.”

ah.

…Now I know what has changed in this city.

The scenery of Antandros, looked up by a 9-year-old slave boy, and Antandros, looked down by Paris, a prince approaching the age of 16, were quite different.

“Paris-sama, take a tour of the governor’s residence. Shouldn’t it be converted into a palace in the future?”

When Governor Nikis speaks, Anoitus also agrees from the side.

“That’s right! Probably because the size is cramped, we will have to tear down the mansions next to it and expand it by three or four times.”

“Should I be so rude? I don’t want to make too much noise.”

“of course. Because it symbolizes the authority and glory of the city, it is the residence of the monarch. I bought the land and mansions around it. Let’s take a look around.”

“That’s nice, but my older brother…”

I glanced towards Hector for a moment. Hector just waved his hand quietly.

“Go. Now you are the ruler of this land, and you must prepare to rule.”

“thank you. Uncle Skleos… Skleos, ask Hector’s older brother for guidance.”

“I understand, lord.”

So I headed straight to the governor’s residence at the top of the hill.

As a new tenant.

It was a strange feeling.

***

Hector, left alone, was left between eyes that looked at him curiously or awkwardly.

“… Hector-sama? Are you okay?”

Only then did Hector, realizing that his expression had hardened, hurriedly opened his mouth.

“It’s okay. However, I was just a little surprised. The scenery of this city is very unfamiliar.”

“I will guide you through the city. Are there any places you would like to visit in particular?”

Paris entrusted the guidance of Hector to Skleos, the blacksmith.

It means that Hector already knew where he was going.

“Can I see your famous forge? Comparable to Hattusha’s?”

“Not really.”

Skleos thought for a moment, then smiled and continued.

“It will surpass Hattusha’s.”

Soon guided by Skleos, Hector walks out to the outskirts of the city.

In the meantime, Hector could look out over the city of Antandros.

Of course, almost everything was behind Troy.

It is not a trading center like Troy, and it is not as populous as Troy.

It is not as splendid as Troy, nor is it as concentrated in wealth and power.

All kinds of decorations and murals on the outer walls of the mansions are shabby compared to those of Troy.

From nob le mt l. co m

Likewise, the temple of Zeus at the top of the city was about half the size of the temple of Apollo at Troy.

what about the port? There are only a few fishing boats moored in the city’s harbour, between which a few puny merchant boats roam in pursuit of salted fish.

Even if Antandros enjoyed great prosperity and did not know how the situation would change, the most prominent elements of the city did not change much from before.

however···

Hector could feel it.

This city is on the move.

It is said that a child’s arms are weak and his hands do not have calluses, but it is as if a sense of vitality is running rampant inside him, not knowing how far he will grow.

On the outskirts of that city, demolish the walls and build new ones. Downtown is expanding.

Many mansions are not old. It’s about tearing down the old one and building a new one.

Even now, the sound of carpenters and masons shouting can be heard from everywhere. In the noise of stones breaking and trees splintering.

Before he knew it, the steps of Hector and Skleos headed somewhere where huge heat was moving.

Hector at first overlapped the heart of the giant with hot blood flowing.

That was the forge of this city.

At first it looked like a row of towers built of black smoke. And when I got closer, I felt like I was going to be deafened by an unimaginable noise.

When the coughing didn’t stop from the moment he approached, Skleos held out a wet cloth.

Skleos said as he passed the Tartarus-like palace of flame and smoke.

“This waterwheel moves that hammer, and it blows that fire over there. That’s all you need to know.”

“Is the power of the river replacing human work?”

“Of course, we are offering a corresponding sacrifice.”

Bang, bang, bang, a terrifying sound shook my heart and toes.

However, the craftsman puts a lump of iron under the hammer and shapes it here and there without being afraid, as if the roaring sound is no big deal.

Hector is not a blacksmith, but a man who must wield a spear and wield a sword.

It’s not that I haven’t experienced the steel sword completely, and I know how much effort it takes to complete it.

I also remember how condescending the Hittite was when he gave him the iron sword as a gift.

But under that overwhelming power, metal is quickly forged into weapons.

What would the Hittite aristocrat look like if he were to see that scene?

Achaeans, Amazons, Hittites… What would the kings of potential enemies look like?

Hector says, being careful not to tremble.

“Is there anything like that in Hattusa?”

And, you get the answer you expected.

“no. As far as I know, no.”

“Then how did you come up with the idea to make something like that?”

This time, an unexpected answer came.

“Paris did.”

Skeleos said.

“Did Paris do it? From where to where?”

“From start to finish. Paris… No, I’m sorry. Paris has done it all. He conceived the idea, designed it, and gave instructions to the workers.

I apologize for being rude to a member of the royal family.”

“It’s okay. You said Paris was your servant.”

“···That’s right. It’s been since I was 7 years old. From that time on, he was already a guy who thought of these equipment little by little.”

Skleos took out a small pair of scissors and said with a clap.

“Then, when he was 9 years old, he was abducted to the temple of Zeus, and after waking up, he moved energetically as if he had made up his mind.

From nob le mt l. co m

Looking back, how ridiculous this is. I made these things with the advice of a 9-year-old. Monsters that would astonish even the gods.”

Skleos pointed out three or four waterwheels spinning slowly in the distance.

A larger number of blast furnaces and hammers connected to it constantly emitted heat and noise.

“More precisely, Paris-sama made it. By borrowing my hand… the gods bless Paris. It was a pleasure to serve him by his side.”

Skleos gives Hector a subtle smile.

“…if it’s not rude, can I ask you one more question?”

“Ask any number.”

“Do you think Paris will make a good life as a prince in Troy?”

“Didn’t you come back to Antandros anyway? You will be fine here.”

“Let’s just assume. home only.”

Skleos did not ask why he made that assumption.

However, I remembered that Hector’s behavior was somehow strange.

Skleos brooded over the bizarre question for a moment… then burst out laughing.

“Paris is a great blacksmith. He could be a good prince.”

“I think there is a stark difference between the two.”

“It could be. But Paris will be able to do both.”

Shaking his head gently, he said.

“Paris is different.”

Seeing that proud face, Hector didn’t bother pointing out that Skleos had again said ‘Paris’ instead of ‘Paris’.

There are relationships that are not bound by trivial ceremonies.

In addition to Skleos, ask the others at the forge about Paris.

‘Smart little boy’, ‘high master’, ‘the owner here’… There are various evaluations.

Hector couldn’t imagine what kind of life trajectory Paris would have taken while living in this city. Still, one thing was certain.

Paris is now a prince and a monarch.

His surroundings will not be the same as before.

***

Unexpectedly, the awkwardness I felt when I met Mr. Skleos or Anoitus quickly disappeared. There was no misunderstanding or resentment left behind, such as concealing one’s identity.

I think it was because everyone had time to prepare their minds.

Priam’s son Paris was a prince. And became the ruler of this place. It’s a very simple and obvious fact. And maybe it wasn’t even that important.

There has been a ‘minor change’ to Faris’ status, but everything will continue as it did. The aberration wheel would run properly, and the blast furnace would spew fire as well.

“Anoitos?”

“Ha, don’t.”

“Why is that? Aren’t you going to go catch Drakon with me?”

“Please, don’t make fun of me…”

The only thing that is uncomfortable is the unfamiliar title and various entertainment. It’s all problems once you get used to it.

“…”

“…”

Oh, it’s about city people.

“…”

“…”

“Here, according to the contract concluded between Priam, king of Troy, and Paris, lord of Antandros, all of you are free!”

“…”

“…”

not the villagers.

Someone raised their hand.

“Uh… Uncle Phillips?”

“Wow, Prince? I dare to ask you a question, so please accept it…”

“Just talk.”

“Are we not slaves now?”

“that’s right. Everyone is a free citizen.”

“Then what do we eat? I lived my whole life by raising sheep.”

“I bought both the sheep and the land.”

At those words, Philippos sat down with a slightly bewildered expression.

And the next thing I raised my hand was…

“father?”

“King, Prince! If you call me father…”

“Anyway, this is my territory. Even if King Priam himself comes and says anything, it doesn’t matter.”

“…really then, the sheep, the land, and the house are all ours? Khumm, no, I mean, is it ours?”

“that’s right. Everything belongs to mother and father. No goats, no sheep. So, if you buy it freely…”

“Where do you get them to sell them?”

It’s not what I expected

When the villagers gathered at the village hall widen their eyes when they see me as a prince, I burn the slave documents in front of them and have an emotional meeting with my mother and father.

My plan was to hesitate awkwardly, then hug each other tightly and cry so much that the ground collapsed, then declare a filial son that I will do well in the future, or move to a nice house…

“How do you move houses? Your great-grandfather lived here too… Oh, isn’t that your great-grandfather?”

After a bout of ‘freedom’, I returned to the cabin where I had lived my whole life.

My mother handed me a bowl of rabbit porridge and said, and I drank the porridge bewildered.

First of all, the father’s question, ‘Where to sell it?’, was solved simpler than expected.

The Lord of Antandros will need a lot of wool, so he promised to pay a higher price than before.

The villagers were delighted, but uh… they weren’t just jumping for joy. I was just as happy as a part-timer saying, ‘Oh, my hourly wage went up by 500 won!’

So I was able to receive as much gratitude and reward as the convenience store owner who raised my hourly wage by 500 won.

…Ha, something is very different from what I thought. In fact, I was hoping for a more dramatic reaction from people like Skleos and Anoitus.

The elders who treated me kindly knew my true identity and trembled and begged for forgiveness…

Of course, there was no one in Antandros who cared about me as a money maker.

Anyway, such a lukewarm return to gold.

Besides, there is one more hurdle to overcome.

There is one person I haven’t met yet.

I looked up at the sky and saw that it was getting dark. Time was running out.

I swallowed the rest of the porridge and set the bowl down on the table.

“I’ll just get up. I have to prepare for the coronation soon.”

“enthronement? Will he, from now on, carry a cane or something?”

“Right, Father. He asked me to make a royal scepter with a lot of gold and a jewel inlaid. I’ll let you touch my father next time.”

“Paris?”

“Yes, mother?”

“Could we, in the future, be able to sit around and eat like this? Not every day, but at least once every ten days…”

The mother’s expression is unmatched.

You could say it was fake, or you could say it was the king’s order.

However, it is a relationship that has been going on for over 10 years.

I laughed, feeling that my heart was moved more by the awkward face of my mother than by Priam’s tears.

“great.”

After leaving the house, I fastened my cloak.

It’s not winter, but it’s night, and the cold wind blows pretty hard.

Will I bring Menelaus and Helen, already married, to Troy as usual?

Could that be what causes Agamemnon to invade with a large fleet?

I don’t know, said Aphrodite.

“I’ll give you the most beautiful woman in the world…”

What is ‘giving’ and what is ‘receiving’?

Of course it is ‘love’. Aphrodite’s son is Eros, the god of love, so making someone fall in love with someone is no small task.

‘receive’ Helen. In other words, get Helen’s love.

Even if the future of many people changes, God’s will must be carried out.

It is a gift that cannot be refused.

Because the act of receiving that ‘gift’ determines which of beauty, power, or wisdom is the highest value.

The fact that I gave up power and victory and chose Helen is the process of confirming that Aphrodite is the best goddess.

And Menelaus and Agamemnon, enraged by this, lead all the lords of the land of Achaia to defeat Troy and its allies.

Will the Achaeans really come? Will the future come when Agamemnon and Achilles are divided, Hector is slain, and Troy is burned?

I don’t know.

Perhaps other histories have been so different. Cities and countries move, but emotions between people can move easily.

I stand in the middle of a familiar hillside.

As if in a small whisper, I called the name of the person I had to meet.

“… Ino?”

Once again.

“Ino!”

Ino walks from far away.

From nob le mt l. co m

Looking at it, I ponder for a moment.

While I build a new city and kill the monsters.

How twisted would the future be for the two of us?

What will become of the two of us?