Chapter 84: Solar Eclipse Ceremony
However, Kyle also had no intentions on giving up making the Dwarf the Technology Minister.
The Finance Minister, Salusin Oh, said, “Until now, the position of Technology Minister had been first served by Zaol, and then by numerous Lizardmen after her. Why is it that you’re giving it to a Dwarf, who used to be a slave?”
“You’re saying strange things, Finance Minister. Since when did one’s species matter when it comes to the position of Technology Minister? To me, it sounds like you're saying that the former Technology Ministers until now had received the honor because they were Lizardmen regardless of their talent. Was Zaol that kind of person?”
Salusin bowed.
“That’s not what I was trying to say.”
“Then do you agree that Zaol and everyone else who served as Technology Minister were talented and knowledgeable in technology, regardless of their species?”
“Yes, but they were also all…”
Saluisn was about to talk about the tradition that Lizardmen had been the ones making up the government until now, but Kyle was quicker.
“...Lizardmen. I can’t meet all the Technology Ministers there were until now, but the fact that they were all Lizardmen was because the Lizardmen were the most talented of their time, right? That simply isn’t the case this time.”
Kyle had paid respect to all the kings of the previous generations, so it was difficult for Salusin to push for his point.
“His competence is in question, Your Majesty.”
“I’ve checked his competence myself.”
“...With all due respect, it is my understanding that a king needs to listen to all the other ministers’ opinions when choosing the right minister.”
Kyle nodded and said, “Finance Minister, do you know about the altitude of Polaris?”
“...Yes, I do.”
“Explain it to me.”
“I am aware that it is the angle at which one looks up at the North Star of the celestial sphere in relation to the horizon.”
“And do you know what the altitude of Polaris in Orazen is?”
At those words, Salusin Oh’s expression turned embarrassed.
The altitude of Polaris was determined by latitude, through which one could figure out the time of sunset and sunrise. Astronomy and arithmetics were basic knowledge for the aristocrats, so Salusin also knew about the altitude of Polaris, but didn’t remember the figure that Kyle had asked about.
Among the other ministers, the Astronomy Minister spoke up.
“I know it.”
“Answer.”
“Orazen’s altitude of Polaris is 32 degrees and a half.”
The other ministers were relieved. If the Astronomy Minister hadn’t responded, the Dwarf would have given an answer he had prepared beforehand. They thought that was all part of Kyle’s plan, but it was only the start.
“Then do you know the altitude of Polaris in Maganen and Zarin?”
“...Pardon?”
“I asked if you know the altitude of Polaris in Zarin, the Elf city at the edge of the northern coast, and Maganen, the village in the far south.”
“I…do not know.”
“Is there anyone who knows?”
Even the Astronomy Minister, who was confident in arithmetics, couldn’t answer this time. He didn’t know how far away Zarin and Maganen were, and even if he did, he had only memorized the value of Orazen’s altitude of Polaris rather than having calculated the answer, so it would be no use.
Rumf, who had been silent and had his head lowered until now, then said, “I would like to answer.”
“Go ahead.”
“Zarin’s altitude of Polaris is 37 degrees and a half, and Maganen’s altitude of Polaris is 30 degrees.”
“How is that so?”
“The altitude of Polaris varies 1 degree every 250 li. So since you have to go north by 1250 li to Zarin from here, Zarin’s altitude of Polaris would be 5 degrees higher, and Maganen is 625 li south from here, so 2.5 degrees would be subtracted..”
Kyle nodded.
“That’s right. You have answered what the ministers here couldn’t.”
At those words, the Astronomy Minister stepped forward.
“How are you satisfied with one question and answer when choosing a minister?”
It meant that he couldn’t accept this.
Kyle held back his smile and asked again, “Alright. There is a circular paddy. If the diameter of this paddy is twelve steps, what is the area of this paddy?”
The Astoronmoy Minister thought for a moment and answered, “You get the area of a circle by multiplying the radius by itself and then by 3, so the size of the paddy is 108.”
“Rumf, how much do you think it is?”
“It’ll be approximately 113.”
Two different figures. At Rumf’s answer, the Astronomy Minister laughed at him.
“That Dwarf has miscalculated the ratio of circumference to diameter of the circle.”
“No. Didn’t you get 108 because the ratio was assumed to be 3?” asked Rumf.
Then Kyle asked Rumf, “What do you think the ratio is?”
“It is bigger than 3, but smaller than 4.”
“You are right.”
At Kyle’s words, the Astronomy Minister asked, “But Your Majesty, according to Zaol’s Algebra Theories…”
“It says 3. However, the recent arithmetic books that were imported from abroad show that the value is greater than 3 and less than 4, just as Rumf said, and the reasoning is supported by a formula. It seems that you have been neglecting your arithmetic studies.”
Several questions followed, but because of the Astronomy Minister’s outdated arithmetic knowledge, he either gave a slightly wrong answer or answered later than Rumf. The Astronomy Minister thus had no choice but to back down.
“...I have underestimated the studies of a small country, Your Majesty.”
“Then put in the effort and study more. You don’t need to be embarrassed.”
As the mood in the grand hall grew heavy, Kyle cleared his throat.
“Ahem! So has this matter been settled?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
The one who voiced his opposition was again Salusin, the Administration Minister.
“I will admit that the Dwarf is unusually knowledgeable, but didn’t you say he used to be a slave?”
Kyle nodded.
“I found out that Rumf’s father was from Danyum, but his mother was a slave of Orazen’s former Technology Minister. After his father passed away, Ramf’s mother raised him alone, and due to his talents, the former Technology Minister sent him on small errands, thus giving him the chance to go in and out of the palace. And because of that, while he hasn’t received formal education, the knowledge he has gained through observation is comparable to the technology department officials. How could I dismiss him just because he used to be a slave?”
Salusin shook his head. It was a line he could never concede. The technology department was only slightly above the hunting department in terms of importance. They made miscellaneous tools or machines that the palace needed, so they were mostly craftsmen who weren’t regarded highly. It was a seat that Salusin and the other Lizardmen aristocrats had no reason to not give up, but today was the first meeting for the young king, and Salusin felt that this small concession would be pivotal in directing public opinion going forward.
“No, you must not.”
“Because he has a low status?”
“Yes,” Salusin said. “It is not a simple argument that this Dwarf has a low status. The reason Your Majesty is king is because Your Majesty has inherited the blood of the great Thunder Dragon King, and the reason why the ministers here today are in this place is because they are the descendents of the warriors who had fought alongside the great Thunder Dragon King. The same is true of the Dwarf. Dwarves were Black Scale’s enemies until the very end. And even after this country was built, they tried to plot a rebellion. This Dwarf is the descendent of that kind of species.”
At Salusin’s words, the other ministers threw him glances of admiration. The logic was that everyone attending this meeting was here because of the blood they inherited, so if Kyle wanted to make the Dwarf a minister, he would be going against the traditions of the royal family.
Kyle thought differently about the matter, but as of now, rhetoric was important.
“Do you not know what love for the people means? In the past, the warrior Tatar fought ten Trolls to save a Halfling, and the Thunder Dragon King opened the gates to slaves. Since the Dwarf has an unusual talent, why can’t any exceptions be made?”
“Things will spiral out of control with one exception. If more are allowed to become ministers even if they aren’t Lizardmen, who will be by Your Majesty’s side?”
Kyle thought to himself.
‘Those who aren’t Lizardmen.’
Kyle questioned whether Lizardmen were really good at their jobs and thought they should only be appointed if they were competent. Moreover, Salusin’s opinion could be quite rude to the left ministers who took care of the palace.
However, it seemed that the matter had hit a nerve in all the aristocratic Lizardmen. They all bowed and shouted, “Your Majesty, I beg your kindness!”
“We beg your kindness!”
Kyle then said with a disapproving face, “Alright then. I’ll have to think about this matter for a while. Well, I’m thinking of having Rumf as a technology official first. Do you oppose that as well?”
As Kyle showed concession, the ministers exchanged their opinions by glancing at each other with their heads down. The technology department was an unimportant post in the first place, and it was filled with craftsmen, so promotion was rare. In the ministers’ perspectives, the fact that Kyle had given up so easily made them think that Kyle hadn’t actually intended to make the Dwarf a minister, but to give him a good enough position. In the end, Salusin made the final judgment.
“We do not oppose that, Your Majesty. The technology department is originally a place for craftsmen, so if he’s as talented as the officials, you may appoint him as you wish.”
“Then Rumf, this is it for now. You may leave for today.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Then Kyle moved straight to the next agenda.
“The next topic is about the upcoming solar eclipse…”
During the meeting that day, the ministers did not take any of the topics lightly.
***
Shune Lak Orazen, the second son of the late King of Serenity, sat alone on the wide maru of the temple of Night Sky.
At times of worship, the place was filled with priests and believers of Night Sky coming from various places to pray, but in the middle of the night, it was normal for there to be no one. Usually, it was also time for Shune to be asleep, but Shune was currently plagued with a concern.
‘How did something like this happen?’
The solar eclipse was approaching. That in itself wasn’t surprising to those who knew it was coming. Shune also understood solar eclipse to be a phenomenon where the moon briefly covered the sun. And since they were major astronomical phenomena, they were recorded without fail, and based on those records, it was possible to calculate when and where a solar eclipse would take place. However, a solar eclipse was not something everyone understood since not everyone was equipped with such knowledge.
Without any knowledge, a solar eclipse would be seen as a strange and terrifying occurrence that suddenly made everything go dark even in the middle of the day. It would be fortunate if it was simply taken as a strange phenomenon that way, but it was inevitable for some to overthink it. Either as an omen or revelation related to God, or as an ominous sign about the future.
‘Especially for those who believe in Night Sky, it would seem like the established order is broken.”
Some could even use a solar eclipse to incite chaos in the country. And in order to prevent something like that from happening, the Night Sky religious order observed the astronomical phenomena and warned the people in advance. When the priests informed the people of what would happen and told them that it had nothing to do with Night Sky’s will, it allowed everyone to maintain their peace of mind.
‘Therefore, astronomical observations and forecasts from the order need to be accurate.’
If the astronomical observations made by the order were wrong, peoples’ faith in Night Sky would weaken. So until now, members of the religious order had been holding the solar eclipse ceremony alongside the palace rather than making judgment solely based on their own knowledge.
And due to the fact that Shune, who was young for a priest, had been a member of the royal family, he was tasked with hosting the solar eclipse ceremony, which was a type of ritual for predicting the solar eclipse. Given it was a joint effort between the palace and the Night Sky religious order, the order had decided that his background would be helpful. And it wasn’t a difficult task either.
The priest in charge of the solar eclipse ceremony would be presented with three predictions made by the calendar priests of the Night Sky order, the astronomical officials of the palace, and the king. And the priest had to choose the one they thought to be most correct and hold the solar eclipse ceremony then. In the past, the three predictions had always been the same.
‘But why are they…different this time?’
The times put forward by the calendar priests of Night Sky and the astronomical officials were the same.
However, the time that the king, Kyle Lak Orazen, had presented was four hours later than the other two predictions.
1. Li is a traditional Chinese unit of distance and is standardized to be half a kilometer
2. The number in the raws was 675, but the math doesn’t match
This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦