Chapter 39 (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Of course, even though he was complaining internally, Gawain knew there was nothing he could do about how this world had turned out.

The development of a civilization came with its own rules, but was also fraught with uncertainty. Sometimes, an explosive breakthrough in technological innovation could advance a civilization to greater heights, but in most cases—especially in cases where feudal ignorance was overwhelmingly dominant—the development of a civilization could stagnate for hundreds of years.

In a world where supernatural forces existed, class mobility was highly restricted, which would only exacerbate the effects of the calamity it had experienced.

The existence of supernatural powers awarded many conveniences to the people beyond their time. However, at the same time, such powers had also shackled the development of this world’s civilization. It allowed the upper classes to live easy, comfortable lives, but ensured total dominion over the majority of “normal people” who had no powers of their own. Due to the scarcity and arbitrary nature of “magical talent”, it was difficult for society to develop upon it as a driving force. And because it did not add value to the masses, the lucky few whose magical gifts manifested would only become new aristocrats and would not, and did not have the power to change the fates of the majority.

Supernatural powers did not belong to “normal people”, and this was a rule that was taken for granted.

Therefore, this made society’s progress move at a snail’s pace, for on the one hand, the normal people, who made up the majority of the population, had no power to change their current circumstances, and on the other hand, the upper class, who enjoyed the convenience of superpowers, simply did not see the need for social progress. In fact, even the commoners did not think societal progress necessary—they just prayed that one day, they would wake up with magical talent.

In a world where frost arrows existed, who would think of inventing refrigerators and air-conditioning?

However, frost arrows were just frost arrows. They could not make eating ice cream on a hot summer’s day happen, nor for doctors to preserve serums and create vaccines anytime, anywhere.

This was the case in this day and age anyway.

Gawain was quite certain that this was wrong. Having supernatural powers should not become a limiter on societal progress, and this place should not be forever trapped in the Middle Ages. The so-called “magic” was after all only a form of energy utilization, and its flexible and convenient nature should become the driving force of development, not a shackle— except none of this was something that could be solved right now.

He stressed the importance of his understanding and the synthesis of statistics to Herti and Rebecca in more detail, as well as other points to take note of when drawing up the forms. Of course, since they had never collected such statistics, and that the uneducated masses were also unlikely to provide their family names and ages, he thus relaxed the requirements of the forms, only requiring them to gather the information of the craftsmen, while the commoners need only register their names.

Everything else had to wait until the new territory was built.

No one had ever collected the statistics of the commoners, for to the aristocrats, the lives of commoners had no value—not even as cannon fodder in war. The only role of the civilians was to be a free labour source that churned out agricultural products. Because no one recognised the value of a “human”, no one recognised the need to register population data.

It came as a comfort that Rebecca, who was clueless about every other thing, was good at this. She understood Gawain’s intentions quickly, and dashed off to collect statistics with a group of people enthusiastically.

Considering her previous decree that allowed serfs to become free citizens through military service, this “incompetent” Viscountess was not really without merit.

Perhaps with the proper education, she could be tricked into human resources management. ( Yeah right! )

Fortunately, the population they had to census was less than nine hundred, and Knight Phillip had also already taken note of the survivors after they had settled down in Tanzan Town. With the help of Herti, Rebecca was able to organize the requested information in a timely manner.

After receiving the statistics, Gawain decided to divide the team into two groups and head for their “new home”.

The first was the advance party. Consisting of him, Rebecca and Herti as its leaders, the party included half of Knight Byron’s soldiers and militia, as well as key craftsmen and a hundred labourers. They were to set up a temporary camp at their destination, identify water sources and other conditions, and lay out precautionary measures against wild animal attacks.

The majority of the commoners would then follow, escorted by Knight Phillip.

It would be unwise to barge into a barren region with more than eight hundred people, even if there were no elderly or sick amongst them (they were unable to escape). However, it was safer for the ineffectual commoners to follow behind the advance party.

No amount of preparation was enough to break in barren land, but the first step to doing so was always necessary. After as much planning and delegating as they could do, Gawain and his party finally left Tanzan Town and advanced south towards the Dark Mountains.

They marched along the flatter banks of the tributaries of the White River, with the knights and leaders in front to lead the way. The soldiers flanked both sides of the party as guards, and the skilled craftsmen, along with their supplies and tools, were wedged in the middle, well protected.

On horseback, Herti looked back at the not quite large party, and suddenly remarked profoundly, “We seem to have become pioneers too…”

“We are pioneers,” Gawain looked at her as he smiled and said.