We Do Business In Full Auto [EN]: Chapter 240

240

The Eternal Empire (2)

Tatatata!

A helicopter cuts through the sky.

Fighter jets escort the helicopter in formation, and I take in the developing empire with my own eyes.

“Has it already been 15 years?”

The empire’s capital, now grown to the size of Seoul, comes into view.

In 15 years, the empire’s population has tripled. It was a truly explosive increase, and as long as the food problem is solved, the population will likely continue to grow steadily.

Various vaccines, advanced technologies, and superior seeds brought from Earth have solved problems such as poverty, famine, and disease.

With the disappearance of war and improved nutrition, young couples focused on having children, and as infant mortality rates decreased, the population showed an explosive increase.

Now, it is common to see families with four or five children. I didn’t feel the need to prevent population growth and had no intention of restricting it.

As a result of focusing all efforts on development, in just one year, many more young people will be born.

The coming-of-age ceremony on the Karen Continent starts at age 16.

At this rate, the population will approach 1 billion in 20 years.

But that’s okay.

The continent is vast, and there are many places to develop.

Since it was a single continent about the size of Earth, it could sufficiently handle a population increase to about 3 billion.

If the population explodes beyond that, it would be problematic, so around that time, we should slowly introduce birth control policies.

But that was still a distant story.

High-rise buildings are abundant everywhere.

Currently, such buildings are only in major cities, but gradually, high-rise buildings will begin to appear in the provinces as well.

“It feels like a different world.”

“Hahaha. Your Majesty. I think I have done all I can do.”

I glance at Duke Calburn.

He feels younger than when I first met him.

After reaching the 7th Circle [a high level of magical ability], his body gradually became younger, and he now has the appearance of someone in their early 50s.

A young body means he is still fit to work.

“There is still much work to be done, Duke. If you want to quit state affairs, you will have to become the president of the university.”

“Are you still planning to exploit me?”

“Of course.”

“Five more years. After that, I want to retire.”

“Five years, huh.”

Five years is a bit too early, isn’t it?

The Imperial Central University boasts the highest authority among the universities in the Crystal Empire. It’s like Seoul National University in Korea [a prestigious university in South Korea], but the authority that the Imperial Central University holds here is beyond imagination. Graduates of the Imperial Central University were eligible to take the high-ranking civil service exam. They even started as 5th-grade civil servants, so it must be said that they have tremendous prestige.

I am trying to seat Calburn as the head of this Imperial Central University.

“Ten years. Just suffer for ten years.”

“Ten more years?”

“Yes. If you fill that time, I will let you go.”

“Thank you.”

“Hmm… I feel like I’ve been tricked.”

Duke Calburn probably didn’t think he could retire right now either. He might have just been probing.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

“I was actually thinking of five years, but it seems like the negotiation went well.”

“I was also thinking of ten years.”

“As expected, you are a sly old fox, Duke.”

“Your Majesty is the same.”

“I should also work for about ten years and then step down. By then, Soo-jung will be able to govern the empire well.”

“The Crown Princess already has the ability to do so.”

“Still, shouldn’t I guide her a little more?”

“We can retire together then.”

“Yes. We have achieved an immortal empire, so we can rest. We can hand over all power and travel, and then resume governing after about 20 years.”

If not, it would be nice to just retire with Lisa and disappear.

Crystal Empire Prime Minister’s Residence.

The Emperor of the Empire handles only the major issues, and the remaining minor tasks are handled through the Prime Minister.

As promised, the Emperor ennobled Lee Seul-gi as a Duchess and appointed her as the Prime Minister of the Empire, and she had to work her bones to dust here for the past 15 years.

She had the power to move the empire, but she was already approaching her late 40s, working only.

She occasionally returned to Earth to rest, so she maintained an appearance of someone in her early to mid-40s with constant care, but the passage of time was an inevitable flow.

Prime Minister’s Office officials constantly came and went to the Prime Minister’s residence, and they brought a stack of documents each time.

If she didn’t have the Four Heavenly Kings-level brains [extremely intelligent individuals] to assist her, she would have quit her job long ago.

“Prime Minister, about the free school lunch program that will be implemented this time…”

“Leave it.”

“About making elementary education compulsory.”

“Leave it.”

“His Majesty mentioned the issue of social welfare.”

“We can just use the ones from Earth… No, that won’t do. Haa.”

She got up from her seat and opened the window.

Suaaaaa!

Clear air, incomparable to Earth, rushes in.

High-rise buildings were erected, and cars began to appear on this land, but the Emperor insisted on eco-friendly cars.

The fuels used in factories are also eco-friendly. They mainly used hydrogen and oxygen obtained by decomposing water, and all cars were either hydrogen cars or electric cars.

This is all because ‘Magic Engineering’ was introduced to the Empire.

With the combination of magic and science, things that were unimaginable in the past were being promoted one after another. And that’s where we are now.

“Ugh. I should retire too.”

“Gasp! If Your Excellency disappears, the empire will collapse!”

The Prime Minister’s Office officials were horrified.

But Lee Seul-gi was already thinking about retiring at this point.

“I want to get married too.”

“Um… it’s a bit late for that…”

The officials were sweating bullets.

Regular meeting time.

Every Monday morning, the central nobles of the empire gather for a meeting.

Today was an important announcement day.

‘Perhaps because I told them it was an important announcement, the nobles’ expressions looked very uneasy. Every time I made an important announcement, the nobles had to stay up all night. They are nobles in name only, but if you become a powerful person in the empire, you will be worked to death. Recently, they are even reluctant to accept the title of nobility, which gives a sense of the amount of work.

“The Crown Princess is entering!”

Squeak!

The door opens and Soo-jung, now 23 years old, enters.

A silver-haired maiden with dazzling beauty. That child is my first daughter and the Crown Princess of the Empire, Soo-jung.

She still had her old appearance, but she was becoming more like Lisa, skilled at hiding her expressions, and it was impossible to know what she was thinking with her subtle smile.

She had a cute side when she was young, but now I feel like she has left my arms.

No, isn’t this natural?

Soo-jung greets me and sits on the left side of the seats for the ministers.

Soon, Soo-ah also enters.

“The Commander of the Imperial Guard is entering!”

Squeak!

Soo-ah, heavily armed in armor, enters.

Soo-ah, who turned 18 this year, was treated as an adult in the empire and was able to take office as the Commander of the Imperial Guard without any problems.

Of course, Soo-ah had no particular interest in politics.

However, she had been learning the sword since she was about 5 years old and showed outstanding skills, and her magic had already surpassed Soo-jung.

It is truly an amazing growth.

“Dad! Soo-ah is here!”

“Okay.”

Soo-ah yawned, sat opposite Soo-jung, and dozed off.

By nature, Soo-ah had no particular desire for power. But in reality, there was no knight who could surpass Soo-ah, so I put her in that position. Of course, no one objected.

Lee Seul-gi opened her mouth with a rather tired face.

“His Majesty is said to be making an important announcement today, so let’s listen.”

“Hmm.”

I get up from my seat.

Step by step.

I slowly come down the stairs and look around.

I have employed talented people evenly, and women accounted for 40%.

Everyone’s eyes are on me.

My steps stopped in front of Soo-jung.

A daughter with very rare silver hair and silver eyes.

I put my hand on Soo-jung’s head.

“From this moment on, the Crown Princess will rule as regent.”

“……!”

Everyone showed surprise.

Judging from the fact that Soo-jung’s smiling face loosened a little, my daughter seemed quite embarrassed.

“Soo-jung. Let’s hug once.”

“Why, why are you doing this? Like someone who is about to leave.”

“I don’t think I’ve hugged you since you were 10 years old.”

Soo-jung has grown up so much now.

I pat Soo-jung’s back.

“You will be able to do well.”

“Huh? Is Dad dying?”

Soo-ah wakes up and looks at me.

Soo-ah also runs up and hugs me.

“You two sisters are leading the empire well.”

“Where are you going?”

Soo-jung asked.

That’s what everyone is wondering.

“I have to go on a trip. With Lisa.”

“Wow! You’re just going to play! I thought my dad had some terminal illness.”

Soo-ah said it outright, and Soo-jung could only sigh softly.

“Anyway, you are the ruler of the empire from now on. Then I’m going!”

“……”

Then I left the Emperor’s palace without any regrets.

That night.

Lisa and I were still preparing to leave for our trip.

The luggage is full.

A huge amount of luggage is being sucked into the subspace. At this point, it should be seen as moving rather than going on a trip.

A luxurious magic caravan was floating in the air in front of the Imperial Palace.

Our couple will travel all over the continent in that caravan. We will go anywhere and capture all the beauty of this world in our eyes.

After packing some luggage, we come out to the terrace.

Artificial lights were now filling the streets.

The capital of the empire is flourishing splendidly.

It is the result of the efforts made over the past 15 years.

Pour, pour, pour!

My wife filled my glass with wine.

Now my wife is also in her early 40s. But her appearance has hardly changed. My wife also practiced magic during the past time and reached the 7th Circle, and she gradually became younger and regained the beauty of her 20s. Of course, I haven’t aged in 15 years.

“Thank you for your hard work so far.”

“What hard work? You worked harder.”

“I expected this day would come someday. But I’m glad it came quickly.”

“Were you also looking forward to this day?”

“Of course. It was my dream to capture everything on the continent in my eyes.”

My wife smiles softly.

Now my wife and my life are basically guaranteed for more than 300 years. I don’t know if my wife won’t reach a higher level than that, but if she reaches a similar level to me, we will really be able to live together for thousands of years.

I held my wife’s hand tightly.

“I don’t want to waste a single moment with you.”

“It will be like that from now on.”

We held hands and looked out the window.

The moonlight fell gracefully, and our gaze lingered beyond the city.