Chapter 187: Changes in Borotosh
The teleportation scroll gifted by Peruth had been left untouched in Margburg Castle’s study for two years.
The magic cost was incredibly high, and the materials required were precious and difficult to gather. Rather than using it as a one-time means of swift travel, Yu Mo preferred to think of it as a gift.
This gift was a reminder that His Excellency the Cardinal awaited his visit in Tusihe.
Everyone in the castle knew that their lord traveled to Tusihe every two months to stay for three days.
After the temple was completed there, the area attracted many nobles and wealthy merchants, quickly becoming the largest city in the North.
The knights who accompanied their lord on each visit noticed the changes around Tusihe each time they went.
However, even more change had taken place in Margburg.
In just two or three years, Yu Mo’s territory, Borotosh, had developed a whole new look, with Margburg at its center.
“The newly built roads in Margburg look impressive. They have separate lanes for both directions, so there’s no frequent congestion. There are even dedicated paths for carriages and pedestrians, which are convenient and beautiful. I think even the King’s Road can’t compare to this,” said His Excellency the Cardinal, who had once again made his way to Borotosh, lavishly praising the renovated main street of Margburg.
Yu Mo believed that most of the cardinal’s praise stemmed from his favoritism rather than any objective assessment.
But he had grown used to Peruth’s standards.
When such streets were initially designed, many officials came with suggestions, saying that splitting the road into two sides was too complicated. They also advised widening the carriage lanes without a separate pedestrian path.
They still wanted to divide privileges based on social class.
Such suggestions filled the construction period in Borotosh, and they weren’t limited to just building roads.
Expanding schools, adding hospitals, renovating factories, organizing farmland reclamation—all these initiatives had faced various forms of opposition.
But ultimately, just like many decisions before, the lord’s will prevailed.
In Borotosh, the lord’s will was absolute.
“This time, as I came over from Tusihe, I saw that the outer city has already been completed. That was quick,” Perut remarked with admiration.
“The factories that were built when I first arrived here are now within the outer city limits. The whole of Margburg has tripled in size. Eloren has done an impressive job.”
“But don’t overdo it. Winter Snow Festival is coming up again soon—why not take a break?”
For the past two years, Peruth had made a habit of staying for ten days in Margburg during the Winter Snow Festival.
The servants and knights of Margburg Castle, and even the growing number of magicians of the Night Order, had become accustomed to the cardinal’s occasional presence.
Unlike Yu Mo’s regular visits to Tusihe every two months, Peruth would often appear in Margburg unexpectedly.
The longest he would stay away was a month, and the shortest just three days. Sometimes, he would stay for three or four days; other times, he would come only to have a meal and leave.
As the Winter Snow Festival approached, it was no surprise that Peruth arrived early, making people wonder if his temple was ever attended to, given how much free time he seemed to have for these visits.
As for the suggestion to rest, Yu Mo stated that he couldn’t take a break until his work was done.
“The border area between Borotosh and Larta, Aram, is in chaos. I’m planning to go check on the situation. Do you want to come with me?”
“Of course.”
Following behind Yu Mo, Amos—who had already prepared for this trip over the past couple of days—thought silently to himself: the moment His Excellency Peruth arrives, he’s left with nothing to do.
As expected, his teacher turned to him and said, “Amos, stay in Margburg.”
Amos, now a tall young man, asked respectfully, “Should we inform Magician Adeline and the others to come along?”
“No need.”
“Understood.”
Borotosh had been running smoothly for some time, and routine issues typically didn’t require the lord’s direct attention. But the situation in Aram was different.
The nearby Duchy of Thuka was plagued by the Death Plague, which had begun spreading into Aram. If Aram descended further into chaos, Borotosh would inevitably be affected as well.
Cardinal Peruth had the most experience dealing with the Death Plague. Back when the Pope was still alive, he had supervised the containment of the sickness along the border.
With Peruth present, no other magicians needed to accompany them.
…
As Yu Mo and Peruth led a group of knights toward Aram, a convoy from the royal capital was approaching Borotosh.
“It’s been a long journey, but we’re finally almost there!”
The carriage curtain lifted, revealing a fair-skinned face. Charli’s eyes, like amethyst gemstones, took in the unfamiliar northern landscape.
Although the scenery wasn’t much different from what they had passed along the way, Charli couldn’t help but smile in anticipation, knowing this was where her brother resided.
“Makin, will we reach Margburg today?” Charli asked the knight riding beside the carriage.
The tall, blond knight chuckled, “I know you’re excited, Charli, but this slow carriage isn’t going to get you to Marquis Cecil today!”
Charli waved him over and whispered, “Then how about we ride on horseback and rush there together?”
Feeling the chill of the northern wind against his face, Makin grimaced as though in pain and leaned closer to the carriage to mutter, “Princess Charli, the people who came with you aren’t going to let you ride there alone.”
For this trip to Borotosh, His Majesty the King had arranged quite a number of attendants to ensure the princess’s safety and comfort along the way.
The rule-abiding officials and overly cautious attendants seemed to wish the carriage would go even slower, so not a single northern breeze would touch the princess.
The Emperor clung to life thanks to Princess Charli, treating her as vital as his own life. If it weren’t for her strong insistence, he wouldn’t have allowed her to make this journey to Borotosh.
“If you can bear their endless pleas and warnings, then I won’t stop you,” Makin said.
Charli laughed suddenly, “This is my brother’s territory.”
She stepped out of the carriage, cheerfully insisted on having a horse brought over, and, despite the cold wind whipping her silver curls around wildly, held firm to her decision.
“We’re speeding up,” Charli announced, “I’m reaching Margburg today!”
Ignoring the gasps and protests behind her, she winked at Makin and took the lead, galloping forward.
From the moment they entered the outermost village of Borotosh, this royal convoy couldn’t stop expressing their astonishment, leaving them too distracted to continue advising the princess.
This place was nothing like anywhere they’d passed along the way!
The streets were free of vagrants, and it was rare to see scrawny children running barefoot. People here seemed to be living well, with shops and stalls bustling with customers.
What surprised them most was the well-maintained roads of Borotosh. The highways between towns were well-paved, crowded with carriages, not just of nobles but packed with plainly dressed commoners.
The roadside fields were neatly organized, and the clusters of new and orderly residential areas stretched as far as the eye could see, each block thoughtfully planned.
This sense of order permeated every corner of Borotosh, becoming especially evident as they approached the heart of the territory: Margburg.
“Is… is this really that barren northern land, Borotosh?!” someone in the convoy couldn’t help but exclaim.
The streets of Margburg were even wider than those in other places, and there were many strange, large buildings in the outer city. On the other side, vast fields stretched out, with green crops still growing in the cold season!
Charli unconsciously slowed down, taking in these sights she had never seen before.
Amos had received word from the gate about a convoy from the royal capital. He frowned as he made his way to the outer city, immediately spotting Charli and Makin at the head of the procession.
“Hey! Amos!” Makin saw him and waved with a bright smile.
“You look quite distinguished now—almost like a young noble!”
“You’ve grown too; you look like a bear.”
“Hey!”
The reunited friends shared a few joyful greetings from horseback.
“I didn’t hear from my teacher that you’d be coming?” Amos asked as he led the way for them.
“I didn’t tell my brother. I wanted to surprise him,” Charli replied.
Every year, she sent letters to her brother, hoping he would return to the capital to see her, but he never agreed. Since coming here, he seemed rooted to this place, so she had finally come herself.
“Where is my brother? Is he in the castle right now?”
“Teacher went to Aram and won’t be back for a couple of days,” Amos replied, noticing her disappointment. He hesitated, then added, “I’ll send a message to him, asking him to return as soon as possible.”
But Charli surprised him by saying gently, “No rush. If my brother has work to do, I’ll just wait here.”
Makin muttered, “That’s not what you said earlier…”
Looking around, Charli, captivated by the Margburg she had read about in her brother’s letters, kept asking Amos questions:
“Amos, what’s that big building over there?”
“That area is the factory district, which provides many jobs for Borotosh. It produces items such as clothing, shoes, long-lasting food, and a variety of everyday necessities…”
“Are those wheat fields? How can they grow in this season?”
“Those fields had new seeds developed by magicians. They were extremely cold-resistant, and the fields had been treated with an alchemical substance created by magicians, called ‘fertilizer.’ There was even a factory in the factory district producing this fertilizer…”
Upon reaching the inner city, the royal visitors couldn’t get enough of the new-style buildings.
“Why are they all wearing the same clothes?”
“Those are factory workers; it’s just the end of a shift, and they are on their way home.”
“Oh my, are those children using magic?! And for something like this!” someone in the convoy exclaimed.
Charli also noticed the group of children in matching uniforms. They were using magic to clean up the street and lighting the streetlamps one by one.
“Those are students from the local school. They are voluntary city patrollers, keeping the city clean and safe.”
Most of these children were supported by the lord and, aside from their studies, had a vibrant extracurricular life.
They had been to the factories and worked in the fields, and during festivals, they patrolled the city in groups, distributing aid and maintaining order—often more capable than many adults.
“Margburg has six schools, and judging by their uniforms, these are students from the first primary school,” Amos explained to Charli and Makin.
As for those in the royal convoy who exclaimed, “They’re just commoner children! How can commoner children learn magic? How could noble magicians do such tasks?” Amos simply ignored them.
Margburg remained lively into the night, with crowded taverns filled with people singing loudly.
On the streets, vendors sold a strange roasted food, and people gathered outside as if unbothered by the cold, chatting and enjoying their food as aromas and smoke wafted through the air.
In the square, an old man played a fiddle, and under the glow of burning torches, a dance for commoners took place.
Their dancing was far from the elegance of the palace balls Charli had attended; here, people danced with vigor and joy, enough to chase away the chill.
There were no stern-faced patrols with swords driving away vagrants, nor were there priests in white robes hunting heretics.
The people strolling through the streets of Margburg walked neither in a hurry nor with wary expressions.
Charli took it all in, her eyes bright.
“This place is wonderful.”
*
When Yu Mo arrived in Aram, he realized the situation was worse than he’d anticipated.
“The land here has already died,” said Peruth beside him with a sigh.
Ordinary people couldn’t see it, but magicians could: a dark haze loomed over Aram, blanketing the city below.
This haze settled, gradually covering the land and town beneath it.
Yu Mo had heard of the Death Plague before, and when he first came to this world, he had learned of its horrors and dangers through the story’s background. But now, for the first time, he was witnessing a city on the brink of collapse and people infected by the plague.
Emaciated like skeletons and devoid of expression, people lay in every corner of Aram, awaiting death.
Their gazes were vacant and numb; they didn’t even wish to flee.
The earth was black, and the city itself seemed to sink into a deathly silence.
Yu Mo had seen a place similar to this before, in the space between life and death, in Peruth’s illusions. It was a place from his memories, where he was born and grew up—a place he had once escaped from.
“This place can’t be saved anymore. The land is polluted, and people’s vitality has been drained,” Peruth said calmly, having seen too many scenes like this.
“I can seal off Aram for you, to prevent further contamination of Borotosh,” he suggested.
“Not for now,” Yu Mo said, standing atop the city wall, gazing into the distance. “I want Charli to give it a try.”
He had recently received word that she had secretly slipped away from the royal city and should be arriving soon.
