Episode 250
The whirlwind of a busy life, which once seemed endless, often feels like it flew by in the blink of an eye when you look back.
Time, like an arrow shot from a bow, once set in motion, seems to travel far in the blink of an eye.
“They say there’s a new continent across the Atlantic!”
“England must be the first to reach it! We can’t let the French beat us!”
“Portugal will be the first to discover the new world!”
The announcement of the inevitable discovery of a new continent stirred up a storm of excitement, just as expected.
As for the Aztec Empire, I vaguely mentioned it, unsure if it had been established yet.
However, the deep-rooted tradition of human sacrifice in Mesoamerica was a historical fact, so regardless of who was there now, similar practices were likely occurring.
I drew a clear line: save the suffering peoples and punish only those who committed atrocities.
But I also warned that when Europeans crossed over, they would bring devastating diseases, including smallpox, and should be cautious.
With the course of history altered, would nations like the United States or Canada even exist in the future? Or would entirely different versions of them emerge?
Only future generations will be able to answer that.
Meanwhile, amidst the busyness, destiny finally brought the fruit of life.
“Master, the baby is born! It’s here!”
“Oh! How is my wife? Is she well?”
“Yes, Your Majesty is in good health.”
By keeping my promise to stay in the capital until the child was born, I was able to witness the sacred moment of life’s arrival after two years.
This day was not just a personal celebration.
“Master, everything is ready.”
“Let me take a deep breath first.”
“We’ll wait until you’re ready.”
Though everyone was waiting outside, no one rushed me.
As I slowly approached the room, Fatima respectfully opened the door.
I expected to hear the cries of a newborn, but the room was surprisingly quiet.
“The baby was crying loudly just a moment ago but fell asleep quickly. It’s common, so don’t worry.”
“Phew.”
I was tense, fearing something was wrong, but there on the bed was a tiny, breathing life, peacefully asleep.
I found myself staring at the little one, not out of intention, but naturally mesmerized.
“Even at birth, the baby’s features are so distinct. Truly remarkable.”
“Indeed, I’ve seen many children, but this one is special, being yours.”
Something stirred within me.
At the same time, my mouth went dry.
Despite all the planning, seeing my child in person was indescribable.
Even having lived two lives, this was my first time becoming a father.
“Are you here?”
“Uh… yes…”
“It’s okay. The baby is sleeping soundly. You can hold them without waking them.”
Right, the baby was sleeping so deeply that careful handling wouldn’t wake them.
Yet, having never held a baby before, I hesitated, simply watching.
As I continued to gaze at the child, countless thoughts crossed my mind.
I wondered how this child would navigate the world as the son of an apostle.
Even though this child is mine, they are different from me.
They can’t live exactly as I did, nor can I shape them to do so.
Having already altered history so drastically, it was difficult to provide a clear vision for the future.
I chose to give the child the surname of the Eastern Roman Emperor, not mine, for this reason.
On the surface, it was because the child would be the next emperor of Eastern Rome, so it was only right.
“You look incredibly happy, yet your expression is complex.”
“Hmm?”
“You rarely show your emotions, but your own child seems to be an exception.”
I hadn’t realized it, but Anna’s words made me smile.
“I just hope this child doesn’t grow up too full of themselves…”
“That’s a challenge. People from all over the world have gathered to celebrate this birth.”
Indeed.
This birth was not just a celebration for me or Eastern Rome.
People from Europe, Africa, and Western Asia had gathered to witness this historic moment.
“Master, it’s time to go.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
I decided not to hold the baby myself, fearing I might wake them, and instead, Fatima carefully carried the swaddled child behind me.
As I emerged from the high place in the palace, the sight of the crowd gathered below came into view.
“Ooooooh!”
Even from afar, the roar of the crowd reached us.
I worried that the noise might wake the baby, but thankfully, the child remained blissfully asleep.
Children are truly fascinating.
Is there any other creature so vulnerable and pure?
“Child, on the day you were born, the world whispered your name.”
I finally got to use a line I had always wanted to say.
Taking the baby from Fatima, I lifted them high for all to see, like the birth of a lion king.
The gathered crowd from around the world watched, applauding and cheering passionately.
The next emperor of Eastern Rome was born, cradled by the blessings of the world in every language, sleeping peacefully.
Even after this monumental birth, time did not stand still.
Fortunately, no wars or conflicts arose.
The world’s attention was focused on the new continent.
Who would be the first to discover the new world and reach the prophesied land?
What shocking sights awaited, and who would be the hero to save the suffering people of the west?
“If there is a great evil oppressing the innocent, I, Richard, will lead the knights to punish them!”
“His Majesty has ordered us to reach the new continent as quickly as possible! We must calculate precisely to build ships that can cross the Atlantic and determine the exact amount of provisions needed!”
“Your Majesty! The French have hired brilliant Egyptian mathematicians from Ayyub to do their calculations!”
“Those cowards. Instead of competing fairly, they hire mercenaries. We must hire equally skilled mercenaries. Bring in top scholars from Eastern Rome immediately!”
If anyone were to cross the Atlantic, the most advantageous would be England, Portugal, and the Iberian Peninsula countries, located at the westernmost part of Europe.
France, having occupied Andalusia, was also strengthening its ports to reach the new world.
But it wasn’t just European countries in the race.
“If my father, Saladin, was a force in the old Islamic world, I will plant our flag on new lands! By cooperating with my uncle’s Almohads and launching from Casablanca, we can be the first to reach the new continent!”
Even African nations joined the competition, and Eastern Rome was contemplating whether to participate.
“Messages are pouring in from everywhere. The Senate discusses this topic daily.”
“I expected it to be noisy. Announcing the existence of an unknown land was bound to stir things up.”
“Given our location, reaching there might be difficult for us, right?”
For Eastern Rome to reach America, it would have to cross the Mediterranean, pass through the Strait of Gibraltar, and then traverse the Atlantic.
This naturally put us at a disadvantage.
This was why Eastern Rome could remain calm amidst the frenzy to find the new continent.
It’s a good sign that all this energy is being channeled into such endeavors rather than internal conflicts.
The search for the optimal route to the new continent, calculating the distance, and determining the necessary provisions were becoming increasingly precise.
Intense debates were held, new calculation methods and approaches emerged, and innovative ideas to enhance ship durability were proposed.
The clear goal of reaching a confirmed unknown land, rather than an uncertain distant place, made all the difference.
“Scholars are thrilled. England, France, and Portugal are spending lavishly to attract top talent.”
“While reaching the new world is important, the glory of providing the theoretical foundation is immense. Our country should aim for that.”
“There’s already talk of national support for scholars. I’ve advocated for it too.”
This must be what it was like when nations competed to be the first to land on the moon in the 20th century.
It’s much healthier and more admirable than war.
Still, we need to keep watching how this world unfolds.
When the new continent is discovered, there’s a real risk of people being blinded by the gold and silver found there.
There’s no guarantee that a nation won’t rush to establish colonies, claiming to eradicate evil human sacrificers, centuries ahead of the original timeline.
Yet, the vast majority of people hoped for the current peace to endure. They cheered with every small step civilization took forward, yearning for even greater progress.
“I hope civilization continues to advance, so our children can experience a better world and enjoy all the good things it has to offer.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
“But I wonder, if we were to discover a new continent, would the natives there be friendly towards us? They might attack us first, you know?”
“Well… it’s not impossible.”
How the times would change and evolve was now beyond my control.
Even so, I still had plenty of tricks up my sleeve, ready to adapt to the shifting era. But playing the all-knowing prophet was becoming increasingly difficult.
Still, I longed to witness with my own eyes how far this era, this civilization, this history I had altered would go.
Could we build a civilization hundreds of years ahead of our time, steering the world with intellect and culture instead of blood and violence?
There were still so many things I wanted to do, so many tasks left unfinished.
So, I would keep moving forward.