kscans

Chapter 156 - The Arts Theater and the Little One, Part Four

"This is the academy. It is a school where the children of commoners can attend freely and without charge."

The Little One guided everyone to a building on the edge of the capital. It was built with its back to the towering outer wall so that it could serve as a shelter for soldiers in case of an emergency. The sturdy school, built with the assumption that soldiers might be stationed there, was very large, as it brought together children from all over the capital. It was structured with three floors above ground and one below, with the basement also serving as a stockpile warehouse.

"There are twenty students per class, and we have elementary and middle school divisions. Those with excellent grades also have the opportunity to transfer to the noble academy."

The guests looked up with interest.

"A school for commoners? Is education really necessary for commoners?"

A dubious noble looked down at the Little One. Returning his gaze with a graceful smile, the Little One spread a fan before her lips.

"Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. It is important to have them learn many things to see what talents each person possesses, you know?"

"What kind of talent could a commoner possibly have..."

As they stared at the children coming out of the school with looks of disgust, the nobles suddenly noticed the boards many of the children were carrying. Boards that seemed mismatched for their small bodies. Holding thin boards about a meter long and seventy centimeters wide, the children spotted the Little One and came running.

"It’s the Little One!"

"It’s true, it’s the Princess!"

Breaking into a smile at the swarm of children, the Little One threw off the cat she was wearing on her head.

"Hey everyone! You all look well."

"Yes! We’re going to the theater’s forest now!"

The nobles were a bit taken aback by the crowd of children, wawaa. Watched by their strange eyes, the children waved cheerfully and departed.

"What was that? They were all carrying boards."

At Crown Prince Marcello’s curious question as he watched them go, the Little One headed to a nearby general store. It was a general store specializing in academy supplies, selling stationery in exchange for tickets distributed to students by the school. The stationery used by students at the academy was supplied by the state. Of course, it was also possible to purchase items with coin.

"It’s this set. A sketching set."

The Little One held up a set containing the board the children had been holding and a shoulder bag. Inside the bag were charcoal, watercolors, and brushes. There was also a palette and a water container. The water container was a collapsible one made of leather. The board that had caught Crown Prince Marcello’s interest was a drawing board.

"These are tools for freely drawing things before your eyes, such as landscapes, people, and animals. They started being sold about a year ago to commemorate the opening of the Arts Theater."

"Drawing pictures? Commoners?!"

The nobles and royals stared with wide eyes.

Sculpture, carving wood and stone, was a common hobby within reach of commoners. Many artisans of decorative crafts were also commoners. However, painting was a different story. Art supplies were expensive and out of reach for commoners. Many paints used precious minerals as raw materials and were only obtainable by the wealthy among the nobility. Tools related to painting, like brushes and turpentine, were also made only by specialists, and each one was a special order that cost an exorbitant amount of coin.

And commoners, children no less, were doing such painting?

As those around them stared as if seeing something unbelievable, the members of the Frontier delegation exchanged mischievous glances. They had witnessed and knew of the dramatic changes in the world of painting over the past few years.

"These are called watercolors. They are art supplies that allow one to paint with ease. They do not require turpentine or specialized tools. Since they can be washed off with water, even children can use them without worry."

Indeed. The Little One had been developing plant-based dyes. She had managed to create dyes and pigments, but the problem was the binder. The binder needed to give paint its essential viscosity was nowhere to be found in Frontier. However, Kilfan had it.

Kilfan was a country that had undergone its own unique evolution and a country to which new knowledge was constantly being brought. Receiving the cooperation of the current Kingdom of Kilfan, to which all of that had been transferred, the Little One’s ambition had swelled and blossomed.

Seriously, I have nothing but thanks for that god’s screw-up.

After the Little One’s explanation, the guests peered at the bottles of paint and brushes in the bag with curiosity.

"With water? What strange paints."

"The theater’s forest? Is it related to the Arts Theater we were invited to?"

"To provide such advanced education to commoners... Frontier is mad."

Fragments of malice were mixed in here and there.

You should say things like that where I can’t hear you.

The royals who heard the nobles’ contemptuous and resentful murmurs looked torn between embarrassment and anger.

"Well, this is how it is in Frontier. We open our doors to those who wish to learn and accept everyone. There are cases where they cannot learn due to family circumstances, but the basic principle is equality."

The Little One went on to explain other unbelievable things, such as how the school used the stockpile in the basement to provide lunch for the children, something unheard of in other countries.

"For free? What a waste. Why do such a thing?"

"What do you do with old stockpiled food in your country?"

"...Let’s see. What’s still usable is used by the military. We distribute it to the soldiers. Things that are no longer viable are disposed of."

It seemed the others felt similarly, as they all nodded in unison.

"That’s right. When you rotate stock, it’s pretty much the same everywhere, isn’t it? In Frontier, we divide our stockpile into monthly portions and rotate in a new month's worth at a time. The oldest portions are then provided for school meals."

That way, the stockpile was always fresh, and they wouldn’t have to panic in an emergency. The children could eat a nutritious meal, and even having just one satisfying meal was important for maintaining their health.

This was also something the Little One had proposed.

Learning about the flow of emergency stockpiles and the school system, she had pushed the idea on the knight order that if they kept using it this way, nothing would go to waste and it would be easier than replacing everything at once. The stockpile, divided into twelve months, became easier to manage, and the school lunches, which were made from the stockpile plus a few other ingredients, were welcomed by the students’ parents. Before, each family had to pack a lunch every day, and those who were poor had to go through their lessons without eating, which was a sad state of affairs.

"If you’re going to teach them equally, then food is important, isn’t it!!"

How can your brain work when you’re hungry!!

Overpowered by the bellowing of her younger self, they had begun to divert the stockpile to school meals, but the members of the knight order now looked back on it with fond nostalgia, their eyes softening. It had been a wise decision. Families of wealthy students provided the missing ingredients, and since there were many children, the burden was minimal, a practice that continues to this day. Wealthier children attend school longer, so there is never a break in this support. The state and the knight order, who had started providing lunch, were thanked by the people, and an unexpected synergy emerged.

Kindness is returned with kindness.

This swept away the image of the knights and soldiers as intimidating and unapproachable, and they began to receive small tokens of appreciation and words of comfort from the people. It was a small change, but as is often the case in the world, it grew into something much larger. The Frontier Knight Order had now grown so close to the townspeople that they would exchange small talk.

Ah, truly. Happiness is something that rolls around right beside you.

For them, the symbol of happiness was the Little One who used to run around in a chartreuse poncho. With faint smiles, the knights watched the grown-up little girl. No matter how much she grew, what they saw was a small child. They swore in their hearts to protect with all their might the Little One, said to be the second coming of the Golden King, who had been called a fairy or an angel.

"This is the orphanage. It is separate from the church, and they act as parents to the children, cherishing and raising them with care."

This too was a large building. The guests’ mouths fell open. From the two-story, long brick building, the cheerful voices of children echoed. At a glance, it was a fine building that could pass for the mansion of a low-ranking noble. Director Balbes’s orphanage, having merged with the church’s, was now considerably larger. Priests and sisters dispatched from the church served as teachers and also looked after the children’s daily lives, and there was even a form of vocational training conducted with the cooperation of the townspeople. The children were busy carving wood and stone, weaving baskets, and making various other things. Some were diligently engaged in needlework, such as knitting, embroidery, and patchwork. While impressed by their skillful hands, the guests also toured the orphanage’s fields and livestock pens.

"What fine fields. The vegetables are green and look delicious. It is still warm in Frontier, so we can expect a good harvest."

Masahad’s face couldn’t help but break into a smile.

Right, it’s about time for snow in Donautil, isn’t it? For Donautil, located near the northernmost tip of the Arcadia continent, a dry and cold region, the southernmost Frontier must seem enviable.

"The livestock looks healthy too. ...But isn’t there a lot? It doesn’t look like an amount the orphanage can consume."

In Augfel’s line of sight as he muttered dubiously were rows of livestock pens and chicken coops. Taking advantage of its location on the outskirts of town, the orphanage’s garden was four times the size of the orphanage itself. It was complete with not only fields but even an orchard, a veritable miniature farm and ranch.

"Uhm. Well, half of it is sold to another place."

The Little One subtly averted her gaze and stared into space. That was right. Half of what was harvested here was sold to the sweets business that Zack had started. Milk, eggs, seasonal fruits, and so on. Large quantities were needed for confectionery. It would not be an exaggeration to say the orphanage’s garden was expanded for that purpose. The orphanage and the Castle of Sweets were two sides of the same coin. They also made donations to the church from there, overcoming past conflicts to build a good relationship. The church, in turn, was able to entrust all matters related to orphans to Director Balbes and prioritize its original duties, a win-win for both sides. They had obtained a peaceful daily life free of any worries.

It was a long road to get here, wasn’t it? Yep.

The Little One couldn’t help but be lost in deep emotion.

The passage of ten years was by no means short. It had been a process of trial and error, twists and turns, sometimes clashing spectacularly, until things had finally settled where they should be. For the Little One, who knew the orphanage when it was at rock bottom, the joy of seeing its current comfortable state was all the greater.

With eyes filled with loving-kindness, the Little One wore a satisfied smile, while the royals looked on with curiosity. Oblivious to them, the Little One pattered around the town. Even a single scratch on a pillar brought back various memories. Ah, this is fun. Oh right, over there too... I caused some trouble here, too.

Following behind the girl lost in her own nostalgia was a dignified group, obediently trailing after her. Since the Little One used to run all over town, the capital was used to the sight of knights, military officers, and civil officials chasing after her. They were accustomed to seeing noble personages wandering about. The people on the street might be momentarily captivated, but they would quickly lose interest. They didn’t become overly familiar or try to pry.

Ah, again. Must be the Little One. ...And that was it.

Whether for better or for worse, Frontier was very broad-minded. This was something they shouldn't get used to, but the royals of the Little One’s team were gradually becoming nonchalant about it.

"...Isn’t this bad?"

"Should I act more like a lady?"

"You’re already a shut-in by that point, aren’t you?"

Katsumi and the Little One muttered to each other.

"If they get used to this, maybe their perspective on commoners will change when they return to their countries. There’s one chance, right?"

"No chance, you fool. Don’t underestimate the genuine Middle Ages."

Chihaya, hearing their conversation without them needing to cup their hands, gritted his teeth alone.

One chance? No chance? I don’t understand. What are you talking about!

Unaware of Chihaya’s furrowed brow, the party headed for the famous landmark of Frontier’s capital, the Castle of Sweets. At the Little One’s request to show them natural, everyday life, they had not received any special greetings at the academy or the orphanage. A strange group that just dropped by and left just as casually. No one would have thought they were state guests. The fact that the people of Frontier’s capital were strangely accustomed to nobles also worked in their favor.

The nobles from each country, having been shown one unconventional thing after another, were holding their bursting stomachs. But this was still just the beginning.

And so, the turbulent opening curtain passed mostly peacefully.

The Little One nonchalantly flicked away the occasional falling fragment of malice with her fan.♪