Chapter 6: Patrolling the Territory
After settling the matter with Garen, Josh finally felt a sense of relief. When he asked the maids, his suspicion was confirmed: today was Watcher's Day in the month of Second Sprout, which, by the calendar of his previous world, would be May 5th. Coincidentally, today was also Planting Day.
The continent of Muya still functioned under a feudal agrarian system, and this festival was both a celebration and a symbolic act—marking the beginning of the agricultural season as serfs sowed their first seeds, hoping for a fruitful harvest in the fall. It was a day of new beginnings, not just for crops but for people as well—something that stuck firmly in Josh's memory. More importantly, he clearly remembered that it was just before Watcher's Day and Planting Day when he traveled to Valoran.
"Well, I guess this counts as a pleasant little surprise," Josh mused to himself. He wasn't sure how long he'd been unconscious after returning, but he had awoken at around six in the morning. He distinctly remembered casting the spell and traveling to Valoran at around seven the previous evening. And there, he'd spent an entire night and wandered in the forest for half a day. No matter how he looked at it, the timeline didn't quite add up.
"Whatever... Whether time stopped here or flows differently over there, it doesn't really matter. Either way, it worked out in my favor, didn't it?"
Josh shrugged it off easily. He even started wondering where his next magical journey might take him.
"Hopefully somewhere more peaceful. I don't need another terrifying near-death experience with a ridiculously strong enemy I can't even scratch. One of those is enough. If this becomes a regular thing, I might just retire from dimension-hopping altogether."
To be honest, Josh wasn't too fond of difficult challenges. He was a prince, after all. He had food, luxury, and even women if he wanted. Even if he did nothing for the rest of his life, his Augustus bloodline guaranteed him a future. His father would still arrange a respectable marriage and secure his lineage.
"Have I already become the human equivalent of a salted fish with no dreams?" he muttered.
Just then, a well-dressed young man in formal noble robes approached and gave a respectful bow.
"Good morning, Honored Son of Augustus IV, Lord Josh."
"Morning, Sir Frank," Josh quickly returned the greeting.
Frank Anderson was both Josh's steward and advisor for the territory. Though Constantinburg wasn't a major city, it still had its share of minor nobles. But Frank, with his title of Knight, ranked far above them—and of course, none could compare to Josh's royal status.
Frank was hand-picked by Josh's father. Though Josh didn't yet have an official title, he had been granted a decent-sized fief. If Josh ever mastered magic to a respectable degree, he could potentially return to the capital and take on more important roles. If not, he'd still receive a noble title and be allowed to live out his life in his territory—quiet but dignified. Constantinburg, while not rich, was self-sufficient enough to support one idle nobleman.
Frank continued, his tone polite yet firm. "Today is both Watcher's Day and Planting Day, my lord. I believe it is appropriate for you to inspect your lands and greet your people. You've been in Constantinburg for nearly a week now, but you've stayed confined to your castle, receiving no visitors and holding no public appearances. That is not in keeping with noble decorum, my lord."
Josh sighed inwardly. Noble decorum, my ass.
"Alright, fine. I get it," Josh said, waving it off. "I'll finish breakfast and then we can tour the territory together. And tonight, let's host a banquet—invite the local nobles. That sound good, Frank?"
"Of course, my lord." Frank bowed again and turned to leave, sensing that Josh wasn't enjoying this conversation. But before he went, he paused and added, "Also, my lord, the next time you encounter an assassin, please do not handle it alone. You were unharmed and managed to capture the culprit this time, but next time might not go so well."
"I'm not doubting your strength," he added hastily, "but such matters are your guards' responsibility."
"Yeah yeah, I got it. Now off you go—I'll come find you soon."
Finally alone again, Josh relaxed. Though a bit stiff, Frank was the ideal nobleman—no surprise that he had been assigned to Josh by the Emperor himself. His loyalty and competence were unquestionable.
The Anderson family had a long noble lineage, but Frank wasn't from the main branch. Complicated bloodline politics, really. Still, he had proven himself enough to earn a position in the imperial household and eventually became Josh's steward.
To be fair, Josh admired the guy. Frank had reached Tier 3 in magical cultivation by age twenty-five—nothing legendary, but far above the continental average. And Josh? He was only sixteen and already nearing Tier 3 himself.
All he needed now was some time to stabilize his foundation and tame the disobedient void elements swirling inside him. Once he did that, Tier 4 would be within reach.
After breakfast, Josh changed into a noble's robe, gathered his guards, and set out from the castle. Interestingly, both his castle and his territory shared the same name—Constantinburg. He was already thinking about changing that. It was just too confusing.
"Seriously, am I supposed to remember the name for the castle or the land?" he grumbled.
Soon, with Frank and his guards leading the way, Josh began his inspection. He was genuinely curious about what his territory looked like and how his people lived.
And then…
"This is my territory?!" Josh couldn't take it anymore. Barely thirty minutes in, he pulled Frank into a wooded area and finally let himself vent. He hadn't dared speak up earlier because the city had disgusted him so much.
"The streets reeked of garbage! Open sewage everywhere! This place is barely better than the slums of the capital!"
"This is just how things are, my lord," Frank replied, also visibly uncomfortable but holding his composure. "You were raised in the capital, which is far more developed."
"Developed my ass," Josh snapped. "It's a disgrace!"
Then, thinking for a moment, Josh turned to Frank. "Frank, I want you to form a proper administration team—pick good people. The first task: a complete population census. Can you do that?"
"Certainly, my lord," Frank replied, though clearly puzzled. "But... may I ask, why? Constantinburg has a large number of vagrants. A census may not give you accurate results."
"Vagrants? That's easy." Josh smirked. "Just count all permanent residents first. No need to issue IDs or anything complicated—just write them down. I want everyone included: beggars, homeless, even slaves. I want a full count. Got it?"
"And the vagrants? What about them?" Frank asked cautiously.
"If they find work and contribute, they can stay," Josh said firmly. "But if they're just loitering and begging—kick them out. I don't care."
"Um… isn't that a bit harsh, my lord?" Frank swallowed hard. It was the first time he'd heard an order like this. Sure, slaves could be punished or driven out, but free citizens were still subjects of the empire. Forcibly expelling them could cause political trouble.
Josh just snorted. "I said what I said. Get it done."