I Became a Slave to a Mythical Shepherd

Episode 85. Demeter (3)

“Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen… that’s all. The rest to the other side.”

At my instruction, the workers put down the box and rest for a while, and soon begin to turn in the direction my hand points.

There wasn’t anything very heavy in the box they were carrying, so I took out one myself and opened the lid.

As the box rocked, several bundles of tough linen rustled inside. I said, lifting one of them.

“What did you say, Anoitus?

…No, no. Don’t come, wait there.”

We still have to wait for more than 3,000 years before the genre of zombies comes out.

For voodoo to spread to Haiti and a black revolution in Haiti for terrified Americans to overlay voodoo with fear of a black rebellion.

By the way, Anoitos in front of me right now is a zombie no matter who sees it.

“Ah, my lord. Please wait a moment.”

Actually, it’s not surprising.

After I asked for a ship to go to various places in the Mediterranean within a few days of ‘ask’, I had to burn my limbs one by one, and then sort the hundreds of seeds and seedlings I had barely collected.

I felt a little guilty at the gait of Anoitos, who was staggering beside me.

Stumble.

“Take care of yourself.”

“Go, thank you.”

Uh… Looking back, I don’t think it was meant to be just a little bit.

Anoitos quickly gets up, walks next to me, glares at the package, and snaps his fingers as if remembering something.

“As far as I know, it is barley from the land of the Latians. The package behind it… oh, it’s from Iberia. Next to it is Sicily. It is written here.

uh? is not it? No, I saw what was written here…”

Speaking gibberish, Anoitus pointed to each package in the box. It is pitiful that the tips of the fingers tremble as if the strength in the fingers is not working properly.

I thought that was enough, so I told Anoitus to get some rest, and soon after he was ushered into the guest room of the palace, he fell asleep.

As soon as those who escorted Anoitus to the guest room returned, I told them right away.

“We will provide an appropriate price for the Anoitos’ company. Add about 10 to 20% to the set amount and put it on top.”

“I understand, lord. Then, what will you do with the seeds brought by Mr. Anoitus’s workers?”

“Leave it for now, and move it to the place we talked about in advance starting tomorrow.”

“I will follow your order.”

“Let’s go.”

After hearing my words, the attendants slowly leave the palace storage room. When Anoitus’s workers had finished their work and disappeared, the warehouse was completely silent.

Sunlight streamed in through the half-open door, but it was completely dark, and dust glistening in the sunlight caught my eye.

It was dry and dark, making it a good place to store seeds.

When I touch the barley grains in the sack I opened earlier, I feel better at the rustling texture.

Turning around, there were dozens and dozens of boxes with dozens of sacks of that size piled up.

Most of the seeds of the civilized world that can be gathered in a short period of several months have been collected.

grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables. These are the things that feed thousands of tribes and hundreds of cities.

Thinking about it makes me feel pious. I put my hands together and prayed to Demeter.

If this thing goes well… I’ll be able to reap pretty good results.

***

This is the fact that I had to reflect on the most after coming to Asia Minor in the 10th century B.C.

‘I am an ordinary person with knowledge of the future, not a superman.’

This important fact should not be forgotten.

This world is full of crazy people whose genealogies and Olympus gods pop up even if you go back just one or two generations, and even a truckload of them couldn’t fill them all.

There are also heroes like Hector who were as active as demigods even though traces of gods were thin in lineage.

If I, a mere civilian who has learned some martial arts in such a place, harbors an arrogant mind, the end will come immediately.

Can I destroy several cities by myself by force like Achilles, or can I f*ck a human or a monster like Odysseus?

I have to extract as much performance as I can with a slightly better body than this ordinary person, an average intellect, and the level of future knowledge that a modern person would have on average.

“So, I am going to ask the owners of the mountains, forests and fields for these things.”

I politely got down on one knee and stated all my demands.

The forest was silent until I finished my words. Only the occasional rustling of fir branches and the chirping of mountain birds continued.

Tit. Tit. Sasasak. Tit. Sasasasak. Tit. Sasak.

[therefore.]

The wind stops, and the fir branches stop shaking.

The mountain birds stop crying and raise their dark eyes toward the sky.

[Did you mean to violate the providence?]

“I also know that crops are grown and harvested over the course of a year. This is what the goddess Demeter has already taught mortals.”

[And you…]

A white, callousless hand appears from the wind and caresses my chin.

A myriad of other arms and faces emerged from the earth, the wind, and the trees.

[Trying to make that teaching ineffective.]

Countless fairies whisper to each other and glance at me.

“All I have is the desire to highly worship Demeter. Also, first of all, since this vegetable garden is located at the foot of Mt. Ida, I asked the owner, Ino… no, Inone-sama, for their intentions in writing, and asked for their consent.”

[This is a separate issue from that.]

[Because we don’t like you as much as Ino.]

[Of course, I remember the respect and sincerity you’ve shown us, but…]

The fairies pause for a moment and look at the garden at my feet.

It is a small garden that is only a few pyeong. The land that has just been cultivated with stones just picked and plowed.

[If you plant crops here, ask them to grow quickly?]

“It will take a very short time. For annual weeds, you don’t even have to worry about it. At most, if you take care of a few saplings, we will only honor the masters of the forest with great satisfaction.

Mountains and forests are the realm of gods and fairies who deserve respect, but isn’t this field plot just a small part of what humans are allowed to do?”

[Still, it’s a request I can’t fulfill.]

[It is also an insult to the gods, and furthermore, it is also an insult to us.]

[I will not curse you because I have affection for the past. But this is arrogance.]

– Rumble.

“Of course, a difficult request has to be paid accordingly.”

[…]

“First, I will pay this amount of silver, and with the rest I will add seventy pigs.”

The eyes of the fairies who sternly scolded mortals who distorted the providence wavered for a moment.

“I will tell Demeter that when I was raising next year’s harvest, several fairies near Mount Ida were there to help.”

[…]

Of course, silence has many meanings,

In this case, it seems to have been consensual.

The seeds planted in the garden suddenly start to emit blue light.

The red soil field is covered with fresh grass that is just growing.

I just stare blankly at the sight, then hear the call of the fairies.

[Why are you just watching?]

“Oh, thank you.”

Only then did he come to his senses and finally ordered the clerks to start working. The clerks begin to write down in detail the growth process of the plants they have just witnessed.

You can hear muttering as you put up signboards with the names and origins of crops all over the garden.

That’s an artichoke from Egypt, this is a sapling of an olive tree grown in Sicily, and again this…

The wooden board and the clay board are filled with brief drawings, texts, and analysis that follows through both.

Based on those data, I plan to weed out crops and varieties that are well suited to the land of Troia.

Unless I can sit back and do seed improvement for decades, this was my best bet.

The fairies will take care of those crops for at least one year, and the clerks who have been placed will stick by the garden for that long, watching them grow in the way I have described.

Then… a process that could take decades could be reduced to a few years, hopefully a year or two.

I returned to the city after offering the fairies oxen and pigs and various burnt offerings that would be several dozen times the harvest from the field.

It seems that it was worthwhile to suffer Anoitos.

***

After twists and turns, the seeds for planting and growing were improved, and the equipment to be used for planting and raising the seeds was innovated.

If you have touched crops and farming tools, the next step is farming.

“Here, dig deep into the ground, plant seeds in it, and then cover it with soil like this.

There was really no other way to do this, so I had no choice but to call people together and demonstrate.

Anyway, even if you say a monarch, your dignity is weaker than a tolerable district chief.

Was the population under the jurisdiction of the head of Gangseo-gu about 570,000? Even if I surpass 57,000 people, I won’t have a wish.

Anyway, even when such a being, even a native-born slave, tried to spread his hands here and there with dirt on his hands, people didn’t say much, and soon realized that there was no need to stop them.

I carefully sowed and covered the soil plowed with a new plow, explaining the meaning of my actions to the elders and clerks nearby.

The scribes transcribe in detail every movement and process I do.

Soon, one of the farmers watching from afar raises his hand.

“I enjoy taking questions. Let me tell you.”

“Do you have any special reason for that?”

“Yes. So from now on, I want you to bury the seeds in the ground like this.”

“I don’t know how to read and write, but I know how to farm.”

The farmer who noticed me glanced at the ‘scarecrow’ I developed from afar and said.

“…It seems like it would be much more difficult to work if you bury the seeds one by one like that.”

“I won’t say no. But hey, you’ll get more fruit because you prevent birds and insects from flying in and eating the seeds like that scarecrow.”

I command Anoitus and Skleos and the other elders who have followed me to make the slaves farm like this.

However, I do not think that the slaves will obey the uncomfortable and difficult way.

It’s just insurance. There is nothing wrong with spreading these improved farming methods.

Anyway, after the ‘demonstration’, Anoitos, who was looking around, came up to me and whispered.

“My lord, since the completion is coming soon, I think it would be a good idea to go.”

“completion? Ah… yes, it’s time to finish this as well.”

I shake my hands and get up and move my hips. There is a clicking sound in the joints.

“Prepare the fattest and most handsome cow. And gather the finest ears of wheat and tie them up.”

“I understand, lord.”

In the distance, I see a watermill spinning with a squeaking sound. Since it is the tallest structure in the neighborhood, it is bound to stand out at once.

And the marble building going up next to it too.

Its interior may not be as good as the temple of Hephaestus, but it must have been decorated in its own way.

An ivory image of Demeter holding an ear of wheat overlaid with gold would be placed in the center, surrounded by silver-plated plows and sickles, hoes and rakes.

There were murals and reliefs symbolizing the blessings and curses, joy and anger of the goddess everywhere. There are, of course, gems in it.

All that remains is to clear away the stones and wood debris that naturally remain after construction.

I rubbed my hands and looked down at the ground.

“Since the metal is extracted and used, should I pay tribute to Hades as well…”

“What did you say?”

“No. Let’s make preparations as scheduled.”

And just a few days later, the temple of Demeter was completed.

***

Citizens of Antandros flocked to participate in the festival to mark the completion of the new temple.

Of course, poets and singers, clowns and sleazy people who are indispensable to such an event flocked to create a more chaotic atmosphere. No matter how you look at it, it is not a holy or sacred atmosphere.

well, not bad

“Let’s start.”

And that ant-like crowd splits left and right in front of me. It wasn’t like some kind of magic that the crowd moved on its own, it was thanks to the soldiers controlling it here and there.

Crossing through the crowd, I climb the high steps of the temple.

Several elders, represented by Skleos, line the steps of the temple in their most splendid clothes. After bowing to me from left and right, they walk behind my back.

After I climbed all the steps, the heavy temple gate opened by itself.

[Only the Lord of Antandros can enter.]

“Everyone wait.”

The elders stopped at the gate with their heads bowed. As I walk into the temple, I hear the sound of hinges moving behind me, and the door closes.

[So… are you satisfied?]

A distant voice, as if coming from far away, yet warm as if whispering right in my ear.

I fell to my knees at that voice.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m satisfied or not. The important thing is whether the Great One who makes the grain grow is pleased with it.”

Outside, a small, creaking sound echoes as wood rubs against each other. It was probably the sound of the wheels moving.

and laughter.

When I raised my head, the statue of God was moving.

No, the god statue stood still.

Just as a soul escapes from a statue of ivory, marble, and gold, a certain form was pouring out of the statue.

The figure smiled softly and perched on the black stone altar.

Beautiful blonde hair gently waved even in a windless room.

[I was choosing a present for you.

I thought about what kind of wealth I would give you, but you are already richer than any other king on earth.]

The goddess stands up and walks towards me. The nearby torches somehow take on a more cozy glow than before.

[So I thought about giving you power, but you already have this city firmly in your hands.]

“Thank you for your words.”

[Don’t say that. I know that if I do not return anything but fear and intimidation to those who believe, soon weeds will grow in my sanctuary at Eleusis and the singing of the gods will cease.]

The goddess strokes my hair lightly.

[It hurts my heart that I can’t give you two things you humans want most. So I decided to give the next valuable thing.]

“What is that?”

At my question, the goddess bent down and met my eyes and smiled brightly.

[Immortal Glory.]

…That sounds like a floating cloud.

When I was about to ask a question, the goddess first stood up. she whispers to the sky

Quietly, gently, firmly.

[My great brother, hear my request.]

Saying that, Demeter waved her hand, and a gust of wind erupted around us.

Following Demeter, I looked up at the ceiling, and suddenly the marble dome of the temple disappeared and I looked up at the starry sky in the distance.

And, the sky shakes.

The stars in the sky, which were just sparkling dots and dust, become lions, heroes, water bottles and fish.

And to the empty western corner of the sky, Demeter points out.

[That place is for you.]

Stars I have never seen rise to the sky like jewels and settle down.

Draw a circle and make a circle.

When I blink my eyes, the stars rise in a certain shape. its shape…

“…a water wheel?”

[Yes, you can call it the waterwheel seat.]

Demeter smiles at me again.

[I will make the people of the earth always look up to you for your achievements. Even if 10,000 years pass, mortals will not forget you.]

The image of the goddess gradually fades.

[Can this compare to what Hephaestus and the other gods returned? I hope you will be happy.

Enough then.]

The next moment the goddess was gone,

The door to the temple opened behind him.

Everyone in the crowd was looking up at the sky.

All of them were praying.

***

“You why? Why are you suddenly burying the seeds in the ground?”

“Because the priest told me to do that? Last time I went to the watermill to grind flour, and Demeter’s priests told me to do this. They said that if you do this, you will receive the grace of the Goddess.”

“…Goddess’ grace? Are you just asking for seeds?”

“okay.”

The farmers of Antandros were bewildered, but carefully buried the seeds in the ground.

Just the way their lord spread it.

Just the way their Goddess wished.