I almost got hit by Rina as a joke, but I managed to dodge it.
I laughed so much at her reaction, her face growing redder the more she listened to .
However, just a little—really just a little—she showed so interest.
In this world, there are only novels and drawings, but no videos.
It might seem quite lewd, but even Earth’s porn can be considered a product of science and culture.
Humans have an innate sexual desire and inevitably need a way to release it.
Although there are individual differences, no dium conveys ssages as effectively as video.
Rina, however, wasn’t interested in porn but rather in video as a dium itself.
“You’re saying even commoners can easily do that?”
“That’s right.”
“It’s a technology that’s hard even for nobles to access, but it seems that’s not the case in your world. Just hearing about it makes it sound doubtful.”
“If science develops enough, it’s possible. Besides, there’s magic too.”
Though video-call magic hasn’t been invented yet, it will erge soon since the elves are researching it.
Elves are unmatched in the depth of their magic, even if their developnt is slow overall.
The problem lies in their unique narrow-mindedness and isolationism.
If they could fix these, they would advance much faster than other races.
“That, and the concept of democracy is fascinating. To think commoners could vote to choose their king, disregarding social class.”
“Do you think it’s a good idea?”
“It’s not about good or bad. I think it would be hard to apply to our world. Fairness and equality may seem similar, but they are fundantally different.”
Exactly.
Democracy doesn’t grant power to a specific class but ensures political power shifts through elections.
For soone like Rina, a mber of the elite, it’s not very appealing—she would have to relinquish all her authority and power.
Also, as she said, fairness and equality are different.
At this point in ti, there will inevitably be dissatisfaction with democracy.
Historically, democracy took root firmly only because people witnessed the atrocities of totalitarianism during World War II.
“You’re right. Honestly, there’s no need to rush into a new system.
As I ntioned earlier, radical progress inevitably brings turmoil. In this world, individuals possess great power, so there’s a lot to consider.”
“Instead of blindly applying it, we should start with the basics.
For instance, even the emperor shouldn’t have the right to unjustly deprive people of their freedom.”
“That’s true, but fundantally, freedom should be guaranteed. And if freedom is violated, there needs to be soone to address it.”
In democracy, the most important thing is civic awareness—citizens understanding their freedoms and rights clearly.
Ironically, those freedoms and rights are often easily suppressed by ‘power.’
In my ho country, South Korea, the Gwangju Democratization Movent occurred, and in Myanmar, a coup destroyed democracy.
Of course, there have been many cases where democracy showed its strength, but they were all initiated by the citizens themselves.
There’s a reason people say the true power of democracy cos from its citizens.
In that sense, for democracy to take root in this world, it would require a long and arduous process.
After all, even totalitarianism hasn’t erged yet, and freedom and rights are already sufficiently guaranteed.
Maintaining the status quo might be enough for now.
“At least in your generation, democracy won’t take root, so don’t worry. Unless a revolution breaks out in the Kingdom of Teres, that is.”
“That would be concerning. Our people might be stirred if they witness such a revolution.”
“But you have no justification to stop a revolution, do you? You can only watch. Let’s see… Based on the knowledge you’ve shared…”
Rina asked for a sheet of paper and a pen, apparently to organize her thoughts.
It’s much better to write things down in a notebook than trying to sort it all out ntally.
As she filled page after page, a smile gradually appeared on her lips.
Whether it was because a brilliant idea had struck her or simply the joy of imagining possibilities, one thing was clear:
There was going to be a significant change in the political system of the Minerva Empire.
“Hehe.”
She was so pleased that a peculiar chuckle escaped her.
Whatever happens, it likely won’t affect much.
Still, I was a little curious.
What kind of idea made her unable to hide her smile?
I leaned closer to see what she had written, but Rina quickly flipped the paper over, as if she noticed.
“Why? You can’t even show ?”
“It’s embarrassing. You might find it absurd.”
It wasn’t a lie; her faint blush suggested genuine embarrassnt.
It seed like what she had written was akin to a diary, sothing she was absolutely unwilling to share.
Though it was a different kind of embarrassnt, there was an inexplicable charm in her deanor.
Yet, her grace and elegance as a princess never faded.
“Can’t you just tell a little? You don’t have to share everything. You’ll co to for advice eventually, anyway.”
“You’re quick-witted as always. It’s nothing much. I just thought of a way to strengthen the royal family’s power while decentralizing authority below.”
“What’s the thod?”
“It’s not fully formulated yet. Essentially, it involves dividing powers and departnts more precisely, placing leaders in each, and adjusting it so they can check each other.
But since they might unite, I’d involve the Requilis Duchy.”
“That’s a blatant attempt to decentralize power.”
It seed she was trying to implent sothing akin to the separation of powers, but it was too obvious.
Anyone could see she was planning to scatter the power of the nobles strategically.
“From the start, it’s not even a proper separation of powers. The emperor will still hold the final decision-making authority.
I thought it was a bit one-dinsional, but I quickly understood when Rina continued.
“Didn’t I just say earlier? The funds of the Count Kerrison household were secretly flowing to demon worshippers.
If they were accomplices, they’d be executed, but if they were unaware, it would be unfair, right?
So, I’ll use this as a pretext to decentralize power. The recent strengthening of the counts’ authority has been causing various issues.”
‘Can it really be separated? You’d need a lot of manpower for that.’
“Our Minerva Empire has plenty of talent. But there haven’t been many places to utilize them. By creating new departnts this ti, we can solve the employnt problem too.”
So she says. I don’t know what kind of future Rina envisions, but if it works, it works.
‘Can she really co up with such ideas just from the information I’ve given her?’
She’s a genius, after all.
Even with the mories of my past life, I couldn’t think of ideas like that.
Rina then filled a sheet of paper densely with writing, folded it carefully, and looked as if she was ready to implent policies imdiately.
Her face reflected her eagerness to act.
“Can I co by often in the future? I want to hear more of your stories. We’re already set to be married, aren’t we?”
Now she’s saying she’ll visit openly.
Looking at Rina’s sparkling eyes, I couldn’t help but feel awkward.
I’ve seen that kind of gaze before—eyes brimming with affection. Coming from Rina, it left feeling flustered.
“How often are you planning to visit?”
“I have a mountain of tasks to deal with, so not imdiately. But once things settle, maybe two or three tis a week?”
“Mari might find it super annoying.”
“Then let’s make it once or twice a week. The more I learn from you, the more the empire will grow.”
Treating like so gadget from a cartoon, Rina’s enthusiasm was palpable.
I smirked wryly.
Again, Earth and this world are fundantally different in many ways.
So, no matter how much I share Earth’s history, it’s up to Rina to adapt it here.
What would be dismissed as nonsense by others is accepted because I, Zenon, am revered as a prophet.
Thanks to this status, it’s easier to be taken seriously.
“By the way, your world achieved rapid developnt over about 300 years, right? Was there a specific reason for that?”
“Yes. The Industrial Revolution marked a turning point where accumulated technologies reached a critical mass.”
“We need to hasten such a turning point here. Steam locomotives, right?”
“Right.”
“Then we should work more closely with Machina. If what you said is true, the dwarves’ era is coming. We might even consider recruiting Ains…”
Rina, unable to contain her overflowing ideas, began writing again on another sheet of paper. Her usually composed deanor had given way to fervent enthusiasm.
For , these are just ‘possibilities,’ but for her, they seem tangible.
One thing is certain: only those with such a pioneering spirit can advance the world.
Moreover, one crucial elent for this world’s developnt remains.
“Rina.”
“Hmm?”
“I forgot to ntion sothing. Developnt is good, but if not handled cautiously, it might invite divine wrath.”
“What do you an?”
At the ntion of ‘divine wrath,’ Rina blinked her large eyes and quietly asked again.
Her voice subtly trembled, as if she intuitively understood the weight of my words.
I calmly sipped the remaining tea and began speaking about environntal destruction—humanity’s greatest challenge post-Industrial Revolution.
“Our world achieved rapid developnt, but unfortunately, side effects began to erge. I’m not talking about science or culture, but about “nature,” the mother of all life.”
“Nature? Why?”
“Humanity recklessly destroyed nature while consuming enormous resources.
Forests were cleared, rivers polluted, seas grew harsh, and the sky developed holes, leading to abnormal weather patterns.”
“….”
By the ti I died, Earth’s average temperature was rising, causing increasingly inexplicable natural disasters.
So institutions even said that unless carbon emissions ceased imdiately, Earth wouldn’t survive.
So islands were already sinking due to rising sea levels.
“Thankfully, in my world, there was no direct divine intervention. Otherwise, we would’ve faced judgnt long ago. In this world, Hirte and the other gods might issue warnings.”
“…Is there a solution?”
“I don’t know. But with mana here, you could probably find a way to manage it.”
“Nature is the mother of all life, and yet humanity destroyed it? That’s pure hubris.”
Rina stopped her pen, seemingly absorbing the gravity of my words.
She had realized sothing.
Industrial Revolution inevitably brings environntal destruction.
But perhaps mana and magic could offer alternatives in this world.
Even gods like Hirt might hesitate to interfere, knowing it could provoke discontent from their children.
As the atmosphere grew serious, I glanced at the clock.
We had been talking for quite so ti.
“Let’s wrap up for today. You have a lot to do, don’t you?”
“Got it. This was a productive conversation. You’ll tell more later, right?”
“Whenever you want. Although… maybe the next ti will have to be in bed—I might not have much free ti otherwise.”
“Huh? That makes sense, but—hey!! Seriously!!”
Rina is most entertaining when teased.
★★★★★
The next day, just as The Chronicles of Zenon was being released.
“Father, did Mother say anything about the mansion?”
“This ti, she said she’d hold back.”
Father, who had just returned from a visit to the mansion, brought good news.
It seed that the incident with Jin’s demonization served as a sort of cautionary asure, as Mother hadn’t made an appearance.
“That’s a relief.”
“But she did say that if Jin and Lily don’t end up together, she’ll separate your bones and flesh.”
“…”
If that happens, I’ll have no choice but to run away for real.
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