~Chapter 12: Rising Road~

Marcus had a dream. The scenery he saw in his dream was a library as usual.

No, it was different than usual. The empty bookshelf was now again full of books. It was the first sight he had seen since he first came here.

Marcus was delighted at this beautiful sight, he thought that it was the opportunity to solve his many problems.

'Good! There was a lot of knowledge I wanted to know.'

Marcus, who was about to approach the bookshelf excitedly, suddenly stopped walking.

It was thanks to the fact that he had repeated dozens of times to think calmly at times like this. He stifled his excitement as he wandered about in the library.

'Let's judge it soberly. Why is the missing book full again?'

The first thing he could think of was that a lot of time has passed.

After returning to Rome and receiving permission from Crassus, several days had passed since the grand opening of gladiatorial competitions began.

If he counted the time, more than two months have passed since he first picked up the book.

"Does it take more than two months to wait before I can pull out the next book?"

If this hypothesis was correct, he can take a break. To be honest, even this was not satisfactory. To that extent, Marcus felt his thirst for knowledge.

It was impossible to solve this problem without even connecting to the Internet in real-time in his head.

Even if he wanted to make soap for hygiene management right now, he didn't know how to make it, and even if he wanted to make an early furnace, he didn't know the principle.

At least once every two months, if he could get the knowledge he needed, it would be a stopgap.

'The problem is that there's no guarantee that I will able get the answers I'm looking for with just one book.'

If it was a recipe for a simple object like soap in the early days, it seemed that one book would be enough. However, it was impossible to produce an object in which various technologies are complexly intertwined with a single book.

For example, what if B and C are additionally needed to make A? It will take more than six months to acquire the minimum knowledge.

Maybe it was just taking time every year and not having any results. he looked around to see if he could get a book like an encyclopedia, but he couldn't find anything of that kind.

'The important thing is to accurately distinguish the priorities of work. And I have to select only the book that I can do the work with certainty.'

No more than six books per year of accepted knowledge. If he put it like this, it was tight.

Besides, when the time comes later to build military service, he could no longer spend his time only on acquiring this knowledge.

Useful strategies and tactics, information about the opponents he is fighting, and detailed terrain on what will be the battlefield.

Even if he thought about it for a little bit, there was so much necessary information that it became annoying.

'Huh... I can't help but complain. How can I get knowledge of even six books in a year?'

There was still close to a decade left until Marcus takes full control of his forces.

In ten years, he can read about 60 books or less, so if he chooses carefully, he will be able to do anything.

The problem will be when the assumption that the condition for picking out a book was when a certain amount of time has passed is wrong.

In this case, there was no answer, so he decided to look at the state of the library two months later and think about it.

Now he had to choose what to pick for his second book.

'But let's be stable for now. There is no guarantee that I will be able to pick up a book again in two months. I have to assume that this might be my last chance.'

In the end, Marcus did not choose the book he needed right away, but the one that would give him the clearest advantage.

A rare masterpiece left by Julius Caesar and the essence of Latin literature.

It was a Gallic biography.

**

Compared to their wealth, the Crassus family had surprisingly few meals close to a small banquet. To be honest, anyone can not call it even a small banquet at all, it was just a smile meal of a noble family.

It was different from Lucullus, who said that every meal was a feast worthy of gourmets.

Still, today's meal was packed full of delicacies that could not be easily tasted.

Crassus raised a glass of wine with a hearty smile that was not usually seen and said.

"As everyone knows, today's seat is to praise Marcus for his achievements. Let's eat and enjoy ourselves."

"Thank you. I will take it as an encouragement to do better in the future and will continue to work hard."

Crassus smiled happily at Marcus' answer and nodded.

Tertulla, who had been worried about her eldest son until now, was also looking at him with proud eyes.

"Did Marcus do such a great job?"

Crassus nodded as he looked at his wife's elegant and beautiful face and said.

"Of course. It has been verified that the water wheel improved by this child's proposal works very well. In addition, the division of labor has increased the productivity of the artisans to an incomparable level. Above all, Marcus, the improvement plan you proposed this time for the gladiator game is great. It could make a really big profit."

Crassus, who had been praising Marcus until his mouth was dry, turned his gaze to Spartacus standing behind him.

"I saw the gladiator fight held the other day. It's a ghostly skill. If you continue to do your job well like that, I'll give you a fair reward."

"You will never be disappointed."

Spartacus answered moderately and bowed his back.

His debut match in Rome could be summed up in one word: shock.

His opponent was a Gallic gladiator who had made a name for himself in Rome and his record was 7 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses from 11 matches. However, when he fought with a stranger from Capua named Spartacus, he was crushed without lasting even a minute.

The audience in Rome gave enthusiastic cheers to the appearance of a new divinity that fights like a storm.

"I was counting on him to show something great someday. I'm really happy that my prediction was right."

The younger Publius rejoiced in his brother's success as if it were his own.

"Thank you. Publius."

"To be honest, I didn't have the confidence to run the business my father started, but now I'm relieved that my brother is here."

It gives a good impression of distinct features to Marcus.

Publius was a boy who was sure to become a tall, handsome man when he grew up. In addition, he was good at studies and had a good personality enough to be loved by everyone, so it was not unreasonable that the original Marcus harbored an inferiority complex.

Marcus also had an outstanding appearance, but he must have had complicated feelings since he was lesser than his younger brother in everything except his face.

Of course, current Marcus didn't even consider his younger brother as a competitor.

The performance he was now raising far exceeded the level that a mere 11-year-old kid could follow.

In just a few months, the trust of Crassus, the head of the family, had completely tilted toward Marcus.

"Marcus, how is the development of the stirrups and horseshoes you proposed, going?"

"I conceived and explained the use and structure, so I came up with a product that could be used experimentally. However, since it still needs further improvement, it seems impossible to make it into a product right away."

"Yes. It's not urgent anyway, so I think it's better to focus on improving perfection instead of being impatient."

When the main course, the meat dish, was served, the conversation stopped for a moment and everyone focused on the meal.

Perhaps because it was a dinner that had been open for the first time in a while, the variety was truly gorgeous.

Even if he lists the types of meat on the table, it is impossible to count on one hand: piglets, deer, calves, wild goats, hares, and so on.

Perhaps because he had been a clay spoon in his previous life, Marcus' heart was filled with emotion when he saw such a splendid table.

As he frantically inhaled the meat, he heard his Mother Tertulla's gentle voice.

"Since it's a celebration, why don't we celebrate your inauguration as a judge once again?"

"That's what I expected from the beginning, so I'm not surprised."

"Oh, you became the chief judge among the judges?

Marcus also quickly swallowed the meat he was chewing and said a word of congratulations.

"You are indeed my father. You are truly amazing. If you are the chief judge among only eight judges, shouldn't it be said that you have taken over the post of consul?"

"Your brother is right."

"If my father becomes an archon, our family will have produced an archon for two consecutive generations."

Even the slaves standing behind them clapped their hands and cheered.

"Congratulations, Master!"

"You will go down in Roman history!"

"Haha, it's not confirmed yet that I will become an archon, so let's do that."

Crassus shook his hands and smiled so brightly that his teeth were showing.

In the end, the dinner of the day ended in a friendly atmosphere, one of the best in the history of the Crassus family.

The younger brother and mother were satisfied and went back to their respective rooms. But Marcus did not return instead remained.

Crassus, who had been tipped off in advance, did not return and kept his seat too.

When everyone left, Crassus asked with a puzzled expression.

"Yes, why did you ask me to see you alone?"

"I asked because I have something to say about the business. My mother and younger brother will not be happy if I talk about business during a meal."

"You've grown up to be considerate of that. Now, wherever I go, I can proudly introduce you as my son."

"It's too much praise. I still feel that there are many shortcomings."

Crassus shook his head and filled Marcus' glass with wine himself.

"Feeling that is proof that you matured. I was worried about you, but I think it was useless. Maybe I'm disqualified as a father for not recognizing your talent."

"I can't believe that. Everything I've been able to do here is because I'm my father's son."

"Haha, thank you for the empty words. Then let's get to the point. What do you want to talk about?"

"Before we commercialize stirrups and horseshoes, there is something I want to do. This is beyond my ability, so only Father can do it for me."

Crassus nodded his head as he brought the glass of wine to his lips and said.

"I'm willing to listen, so keep talking."

Marcus continued with a serious expression.

"I want you to pass a new law."

"First of all, I'll listen to what kind of legal content it is and judge it."

"I'm trying to create a new concept that doesn't exist in Rome right now. I discussed the specifics with Septimus, but he said it would be possible

It was a one-sided explanation from Marcus to Septimus, but he did not bother to tell the truth. Because it doesn't make sense that all this came out of his head when he was only twelve years old.

On the surface, it was decided to match the abstract concept proposed by Marcus with Septimus materializing it.

Septimus also agreed.

Septimus, fascinated by Marcus' genius, was now virtually his man.

"According to what you said, it seems to be legislation in the form of defining something new... I think a more detailed explanation is needed."

"Yes. I would like to introduce a system called patent. This system, in simple terms, guarantees the monopoly rights to individual inventions."

"Do you guarantee exclusive rights to inventions? It's not easy to understand at first glance."

"It's a concept that hasn't existed before. I'll explain it in detail."

The core point of a patent was to prevent others from copying his product and taking advantage of it.

The origin of patents is surprisingly old, dating back to the 15th century.

Although Rome was an ancient society, it had a stronger atmosphere of law and contract than the Middle Ages.

Since this was Rome, if the purpose of the patent was well understood, it will be able to attract the approval of the majority of lawmakers.

And once the patent law was passed, it was possible to reap huge benefits from it.

Marcus meticulously explained to Crassus, even giving specific examples.

Crassus, like a Roman, immediately understood the purpose of the patent. And soon after, he even figured out why Marcus was trying to pass this law.

"So you're thinking of patenting the stirrups and horseshoes."

"Yes, and we plan to register a patent for a new technology that will greatly improve the riding comfort of wagons."

"This is a great idea. It's such a legally profitable concept. Besides, it's not about extorting money by force, and it has a solid basis and justification."

"Yes. The purpose of the law is to further promote technological development by guaranteeing the ownership of the technology. In addition, this will prevent the risk of cutting off excellent technology from being passed on. It can happen, so we need to put in place a system to prevent it."

Crassus straightened his posture with his eyes shining. This was because the more he listened to it, the more attractive the bill became.

While taking advantage of the individual, it will also enhance the benefit of society as a whole.

It was truly an ideal form of legislative activity.

"This is a bill that must be passed unconditionally. But there is a problem. Aren't you going to doubt that?"

"Yes. So, I hope my father proposes this bill through another member of the legislature or the tribune. And I think he can give the impression that he will refine this bill into a more perfect form by citing examples of the abuse of patents that I have come up with."

"Hmm~ Yes. That seems like the most ideal way. But how on earth did you come up with this idea?"

When the expected question came, Marcus chuckled and scratched his head pretending to be embarrassed.

"Even if the stirrups and horseshoes I desperately thought about came out, wouldn't it be possible to copy them from somewhere else and make the same thing? still."

"It's not normal to come up with a new concept out of something that others just think is inevitable. You must be a genius, too."

"Not to that extent."

"No, no. I got a great son, right? Ha ha ha!"

Crassus laughed heartily and patted Marcus on the back.

Anyone could see that now, he looked like a parent who was anxious to show off their children.

Marcus bowed his head in gratitude and smiled in repentance.

The plate was laid out perfectly. Now was the time to call his forces in earnest.

*

In front of the Roman amphitheater, a huge crowd was gathered.

It was usually like this on match days, but recently the heat had become even hotter.

The Colosseum, the representative building of Rome, was not yet built at this time, so gladiator fights took place in a smaller amphitheater.

Perhaps because of this, several people expressed their anger at not being able to watch the ever-growing gladiator fights.

Marcus looked at them with delight because it was proof that the idea he had drawn was working well.

"Yaaaaaaaaa!"

The sound of shouts from inside the arena resonated like thunder.

"Good, good. It's heating up."

"Because it is what the young master envisioned, of course, it has no choice but to succeed."

"It's surprising that it's at this level, even though it's still in the early stage."

Danae and Septimus, who now clung to each other like Marcus' personal secretaries, also expressed their feelings one by one.

As Marcus was walking while exchanging words with the two, he felt a slight shock from behind.

The young girl who was jumping up and running, ran into Marcus and fell.

"Ouch!"

Tears welled up in the eyes of the girl who fell on her butt.

"Oh, sorry. Are you okay?"

The one who was at fault was the girl, but Marcus comforted her and lifted her.

The crying girl who looked more than one or two years younger than Danae brushed off her dirty tunica while blushing, wiped away tears, and bowed her head in a polite voice that was not expected from her age.

"I'm sorry. I was so excited that I was rude."

"No, that's okay. But from now on, even if you feel excited, look ahead while running."

"Yes. Thank you for forgiving me."

The girl bowed her head once more. Then, with a calm step, she moved to her slave who was running away in despair.

Seeing the distant figure from behind, Marcus felt a strange premonition.

He didn't know why, but he felt like he will run into that kid again somewhere.

As the girl disappeared into the distance, Danae patted Marcus on the back and puffed out her cheeks.

"This is why children are a problem. They run around just because they are a little excited."

"You're just a kid too, hahaha. But isn't that kid a little bit more mature than her age? Even if her clothes aren't flashy, she is probably from a noble family.."

"Ugh... that's right. But I had enough of that level of immaturity when I was back in my hometown."

"What are you going to do with a kid whose name you don't even know, burning your rivalry?"

Marcus smiled and said while patting Danae on the shoulder.

Shortly after the light disturbance subsided, a fat middle-aged man hurriedly came out of the amphitheater.

Looking around, he spotted Marcus and ran at full speed to greet him with bated breath.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I am Cornelio, who was hired as an Aoktor (promoter) this time."

"Nice to meet you. I didn't wait too long, so don't mind. Shall we listen to the report first?"

"Yes. First of all, to maximize the individuality of each gladiator, we are creating a story with appropriate fleshing. And the fact that the gladiator's verbal battles are posted outside the arena before the match is very well received. Classified into 3 to 4 weight classes and ranked Sharing is still in progress."

"Okay, good. What about Spartacus?"

"The match is just about to start anyway. Would you like to go in and see it for yourself?"

Marcus nodded. Cornelio ushered Marcus to the VIP table prepared in advance.

Just in time, Spartacus was entering the arena.

It seemed like he had become a different person than when Marcus saw him in Capua.

The splendor of the outfit was different from before. The silver guards on his wrists shone dazzlingly in the sunlight.

"A warrior who took the stage again thanks to the support of the crowd! Spartacus! As previously announced, this man's ambition is to achieve 100 victories, an unprecedented record in gladiator history! How long will this man's challenge last? "

Spartacus raised his hand and let out a roar.

"Wow!" A shout of laughter covers the area.

The presenter then introduced the other party.

"A strong Germanic gladiator, Atari, entered the arena brandishing an ornate scabbard."

Marcus watched the match with a relaxed mind.

This was a thoroughly calculated stage.

The direction of the match, the roles played by the gladiators, and the situation create tension. Atari, the opponent of the match, and the audience would not have guessed. All circumstances could not escape calculation.

"Now! Who will be the winner of this confrontation!"

The presenter's voice became the signal for the opening of the war.

Atari and Spartacus charged at each other simultaneously. Both seemed to have no regard for defense.

Atari's sword extended out with a sharp light.

Spartacus lightly twisted his body and deflected the bloody blade. He held out his sword with one hand.

-Whiiing

The sound of cutting through the air was a formidable threat.

-Caang!

The two swords collided in the air. Unable to overcome the shock, Atari's body was pushed back. Even though he was given a sword wielded with one hand, the difference in strength was evident.

For a moment, a look of bewilderment flashed across his face covered with his shaggy beard.

Still, Atari was a veteran who had won close to ten victories in Rome, which was said to be the highest level.

Acknowledging his lack of skills, he brought out all his abilities to the bottom without losing his cool.

The audience's exclamation burst out with just that movement that properly shed Spartacus's onslaught.

-Sugak!

Finally, Spartacus sword bit Atari's waist. As a stream of blood embroidered the floor, the cheering of the audience reached its climax.

In the meantime, several exquisite counterattacks followed. Spartacus, who seemed to be overwhelmed, also faced a crisis, but came out exquisitely.

All as planned.

Just at the moment when the enthusiasm of the audience reached madness, Spartacus struck the decisive blow.

A single sword that extends from the collarbone to the abdomen.

Atari's body collapsed as blood spurted out from the sword strike.

It wasn't deep enough to take a life, but it was enough to finish the fight.

As Spartacus raised his sword, the fists of the spectators simultaneously soared into the sky.

"Spartacus! Spartacus!"

"The strongest gladiator!"

Spartacus shouted in a loud voice that made the stadium reverberate.

"Those who want to take revenge, hone your skills and try again as much as you like!"

The sight of his bold declaration set fire to the hearts of many men.

There was no mention of executing the defeated. Everyone in unison only praised the name of the victor, Spartacus.

**

"You have become very skilled."

After the match, Spartacus returned to Marcus' escort as usual.

Since he was not a slave in the training camp, he was mostly by Marcus's side when not in competitions and training.

"I tried my best because they told me not to decide the match too easily. I don't know if I did well."

"That was great. Your showdown in Capua was great, but there was no tension. People get tired of repeating things like that, so this was just right."

The first match left a strong impression with a landslide victory, and the second match was a thrilling victory.

It was going with the best flow.

"But isn't it because I don't show my full strength because I'm considerate of my opponents risking their lives?"

"With that kind of logic, you shouldn't even try to take your opponent's life in the first place. It's not important."

"...It certainly..."

"It's not good even for a loser to be slaughtered by an opponent with an overwhelming difference in skill in the first place. Since there's no time to show off your skills, you won't be able to leave a good impression on the audience."

Although Atari lost this time, he showed a wonderful counterattack even in adverse circumstances and showed an unyielding fighting spirit until he collapsed.

The audience did not boo him as a loser.

"You seem to have great insight. It's a question I'm feeling now, but weren't you afraid of me? You didn't know what I would do after being released from the gladiator training camp."

"It's not that I didn't have insurance, I'm confident in my ability to see people."

Spartacus was historically a person of character who did not indiscriminately kill even the hated Romans.

Marcus already knew this, but to Spartacus, it was just a surprise for his master's eyesight.

"I am truly grateful to you, Young master. If I had stayed in Capua, I would have been consumed by anger and lost myself."

"If you stay under someone like Batiatus, that's bound to happen. Come to think of it, didn't you say you had a wife? Do you know where she was sold?"

In an instant, Spartacus' body stiffened as if he was struck by lightning. Soon after, he lowered his head and shook his head with a face full of remorse.

"Unfortunately, I don't know. I know that she was sold as a slave to Rome, but..."

"I'm not sure I can find it, but I can investigate if you want. How about it, shall we proceed?"

Spartacus asked in disbelief.

"Can you find... her?"

"Don't be too hopeful. There will be many things to be prepared for. Even if I investigate, I might not be able to find her, or you might just hear that she has already died. And even if I find her, there's a good chance she will not be the woman you remember."

"Yes. But even so, I want to find her."

Spartacus answered immediately without the slightest hesitation. Then he spoke in his usual trembling voice.

"Even if she's already dead, or even if she's turned into a plaything thing for a certain noble, even if she's scolded me for not being able to protect her... I'm responsible for finding out her whereabouts. Please, please help me find my wife. please give her to me..."

Marcus nodded calmly. It was not a request that he would not be able to grant if he was determined.

"Septimus, I don't care how much money you spend, so start the investigation today. Spartacus tells Septimus the information about your wife."

"All right."

"Thank you! Thank you very much. I will repay this kindness even at the cost of my life."

Spartacus' eyes lit up. Soon, a single tear flowed from his eyes.

If anyone knew the usual Spartacus, it was a look that could not be imagined for him.

Marcus deliberately averted his gaze, pretending not to see the strong man's tears.

It has been several years since Spartacus and his wife were brought to Rome.

If he thought about it coldly, the probability of finding a slave who was captured a long time ago in Thrace was low, with only information of appearance, age, and name.

He will have to hire a lot of people, so he will have to scatter quite a few silver coins.

However, this was enough to earn Spartacus' absolute loyalty.

Spartacus' character was such that from now on he will lay down his life for Marcus.

The possibility of being attacked and killed by someone was as if it had disappeared.

**

Returning to the mansion, Marcus washed away the day's fatigue by soaking in the private bath.

Rome had large public baths, but Marcus much preferred private baths.

The reason was simple.

This was because public baths in Rome were more unhygienic than expected.

It was easy to mistake the Romans for good hygiene because they always enjoyed taking a bath, but in this era, there was no scientific idea about hygiene.

They didn't change the water in the bath often, and they didn't wash their body before entering the bath, but after applying oil to their body, they went into the bath and washed their body.

In fact, for the Romans, the bathhouse was not just a place to wash one's body, but a kind of entertainment facility.

It was not to go there for only a bath, they too knew that it was dirty but they go to enjoy the place of socializing with all kinds of people.

Marcus later planned to check the hygiene of the public bath when he took office. If he took good care of hygiene, the incidence of disease will be visibly reduced, and he could publicize it as an achievement.

But for now, since he could not go to the government post, he didn't have any intention to actively improve this problem.

Still, a bath was necessary, so as a last resort, the private bath was kept clean and used.

"Whoa... anyway, it's nice to soak in hot water."

Marcus enjoyed a leisurely rest while being attended by slaves. At first, he was awkward being waited on by female slaves, but now he's completely used to it.

'To be honest, I felt very good.'

Danae, who entered the bath, brought cold diluted wine and handed it to Marcus.

"Drink it, Young Master.

"Thank you. Wasn't it hard for you to follow me around the entire time? You can rest well since there is no work in the evening."

"Yes. Then I will take a rest thanks to you."

She didn't want to back off, but smiled and added a word.

"Spartacus-nim seems to be very grateful."

"That's right. The relationship between a man and a woman is very mysterious. Even though it must have been a long time, he remains with a more affectionate heart."

"You're going to marry a wonderful woman who suits you someday, right? Ah, that might be a little difficult."

"What? Why?"

Danae replied with a serious expression without a smile.

"I don't think there's anyone who would be a perfect match for you, Young master. A person who is too perfect gets into trouble for many things. It will always be a top-down marriage..."

The nonsense was taken so seriously that Marcus smiled and took a sip of his wine.

His face reflected in the longing was objectively quite handsome.

His height is also on the tall side for his age, so if he grows up like this, he will grow into a handsome man with thick lines.

Looking at his appearance alone, he was much more satisfied with his life than before.

"Anyway, it's a marriage... I'll have to do it when I'm an adult. I'll have to thoroughly check the conditions."

Almost all marriages in this era were arranged marriages. But an arranged marriage didn't mean they are unhappy.

Many couples had a happy married life even though they were arranged for political reasons.

Marcus would also marry in a form close to an arranged marriage, but he had the desire to have a happy married life.

"Is there already a family from where marriage talks come and go?"

"Well? I don't know but if it's my brother, maybe yes, but for me, probably not. My reputation hasn't improved dramatically yet, though rumors are slowly circulating."

"Ah... that's right. But it will only be a matter of time before your true value is widely known. Soon, Rome's most powerful families will scramble and covet for you."

"Apart from that, I'll have to covet my bride."

Families worthy of marriage had already been sorted out.

Of course, those on the list were people who would be useful to Marcus in the distant future, not now.

'Well, because marriage is about mutual understanding. Even if I offered to do it, I should keep in mind the possibility that they will refuse.'

Therefore, rather than thinking too much about one side, it was important to search for several candidates in case of an unexpected situation.

After all, Rome was monogamous. If he didn't divorce, he can't take a new wife, so you had to be careful about marriage.

There was nothing more he can wish for if I meet someone who has the best conditions but also fits well with him.

The steam from the slowly rising bath mixed with Marcus' vision for the future, like the scent of wine.

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~Thanks for reading this chapter~