Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Arrival in Europe.

Kim Kiwoo had no intention of hiding these conversations in the laboratory.

It didn’t matter much whether the vaccine was born in the laboratory, or whether it was made by the Imperial University or other research institutes.

What mattered was whether the vaccine was developed or not.

Thanks to this, the conversations that took place in the laboratory soon spread widely within the empire.

Every statement that Kim Kiwoo made was an issue in itself.

“My goodness… Can they really defeat such dreadful diseases?”

“His Majesty said so, so there must be no doubt.”

“Then maybe one day we can live in a world without diseases!”

“Haha. Even so, wouldn’t that be too hard?”

The news about this did not end at the level of heating up the academic circles.

It shook every corner of the empire.

People were shocked after hearing about the vaccine.

Of course, the existence of microbes and bacteria was also somewhat an issue, but it did not have as much impact as the concept and development of the vaccine.

It was natural in a way.

Microbes and bacteria were just discoveries.

On the other hand, if the vaccine was developed, they could escape from the fear of disease.

The imperial citizens accepted this much more greatly.

Their lifespan could be extended by the vaccine, so it was natural in a way.

“It’s amazing.”

Also, the stories related to the vaccine deepened the imperial citizens’ fantasy about science.

Science had already made their lives easier and richer as it progressed, and this tendency only increased with the vaccine.

“I wonder how far science will develop?”

“I want to be a scientist too…”

As a result, many imperial citizens changed their careers.

No one denied that the future was an era of science.

In other words, many people wanted to be the protagonists of that era and decorate a glorious page in imperial history.

“Gosh! What is this…”

However, the imperial citizens who decided to become scientists soon gasped.

The most common way to become a scientist, the entrance competition rate of Imperial University, skyrocketed.

The imperial citizens met a huge obstacle before they even became scientists.

***

The entrance competition rate of Imperial University went beyond reason.

Then, this issue was discussed at the imperial meeting.

“Your Majesty! The number of applicants is too many compared to the quota of Imperial University! We need to find a solution as soon as possible!”

“However, it is realistically difficult to increase the size of Imperial University any further. How about creating a new university instead?”

“I agree with that. Many talents are wasting their time trying to enter Imperial University. Isn’t this a clear loss to waste these high-quality human resources?”

Of course, there were also strong arguments against this.

“The cost of applying to Imperial University is not easy either, but you want to make another university? Where do you think that money comes from? Digging up the ground?”

“We should not waste our national finances now that they seem inexhaustible.”

“It would be better to invest those funds in other strategic industries.”

Eventually, both sides confronted each other sharply over the issue of establishing a new university.

“Hehe. Waste… You seem to have forgotten how the empire has developed so far. If more universities are created, naturally the speed of academic and technological development will also increase. As a result, the empire will become more prosperous and powerful, and national finances will become more solid.”

“Well. That’s enough with Imperial University and Black Sky Research Institute, and the research complex in the palace. Anything more than that is a waste.”

“You only think of one thing. Look at the imperial citizens who are constantly failing at Imperial University. Isn’t their human resource waste a waste?”

“That will naturally settle down when public opinion subsides. There is no shortage of work in the empire right now.”

“Hehe. How can you be so sure? I don’t think this is a temporary phenomenon at all.”

Kim Kiwoo listened to their arguments and thought.

‘Neither of them are wrong.’

Of course, there was plenty of money to spend, but it was not infinite.

Kim Kiwoo had tried his best to use these funds as efficiently as possible.

But if he paid money to scholars and set up separate research funds like he did with Imperial University now, he wasn’t sure if he could afford this huge expenditure.

But he also sympathized with those who supported establishing a university.

He also felt that this social phenomenon would not subside anytime soon.

If this phenomenon continued for a long time, it would become a serious social problem.

In order to use more productively those imperial citizens who wanted to enter university, creating a university was best.

‘Hmm… I guess I’ll have to compromise somehow.’

Kim Kiwoo organized his thoughts and spoke to his ministers.

“We should sympathize with both sides. A new university was certainly needed. But the financial issues had to be considered as well. So how about this?”

“Please tell us your opinion, Your Majesty.”

“In the past, when the first middle schools were established, the empire provided a certain amount of money to the students. But as the number of middle schools increased, they stopped this support, didn’t they?”

“That’s right.”

It was a measure taken because they couldn’t afford the budget deficit if they kept giving money to the growing number of middle school students.

The ministers knew this well, so they all nodded.

“I think we can apply the same thing this time. We should reduce the financial support for the scholars of the new university as much as possible. And only give scholarships to those who show outstanding research results among them.”

“Oh…!”

“I think I know what you mean.”

Of course, the cost of supporting research at the university would be considerable.

But the biggest expense was still the fixed income that went to the scholars.

If they could reduce that to some extent, they could try to establish a new university.

“But then, would the citizens of the empire want to enroll in the new university?”

“That would be their choice. But in my opinion, there will be scholars who will enroll for sure.”

The current university was a place where learning and various research were conducted almost simultaneously.

In other words, the scholars of the university were both students and researchers.

But if they cut their basic salary drastically, many citizens would hesitate to enter the new university.

But in the end, thirsty people dig wells.

Scholars who wanted to hone their academic skills would definitely come to the new university.

It was unfortunate, but this was the best Kim Ki-woo could do for them.

And the other ministers did not oppose Kim Ki-woo’s opinion either.

“Then proceed with this proposal as it is.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After that, new universities began to be established in the empire.

And some of the scholars who were at the imperial university joined the new university as professors.

The reaction of the scholars was two-fold.

“Who would want to go there, even if they can do research at the university, while receiving that much money?”

“But wouldn’t those who couldn’t get into the imperial university go there? I think there will be a lot of scholars flocking there.”

“Oh, come on, do you really think so?”

Many people were skeptical about the newly established university, but as soon as recruitment began, their worries proved to be nothing but groundless.

“…I’d rather go to a new university than waste time like this!”

Of course, the salary level was too low compared to the imperial university, so the competition rate was not high, but they filled up and exceeded the enrollment quota.

Thus, gradually, the base of scholars in the empire widened.

***

When a huge change was happening in the empire, Europe Expeditionary Force, which had contributed somewhat to this phenomenon, was heading towards the vast sea.

“…Is this really the map that His Majesty gave you?”

“Yes. He gave it to me a long time ago.”

The captains and navigators of each ship gathered in Captain’s Cabin of Flagship.

They looked at the ocean map that came out of Brilliant Flower’s arms as if they couldn’t believe it.

“His Majesty knew what was beyond the sea! But why did he show us this now?”

“That’s because His Majesty ordered me to reveal this map after we left.”

“Is that so?”

“…If he judged so, then it must be right.”

The captains and navigators nodded their heads one by one.

No one in Captain’s Cabin doubted the authenticity of this map.

They didn’t even think for a moment that Kim Ki-woo had lied.

“Haha. It feels like we’re losing our momentum. Doesn’t this mean there’s no point in exploring an unknown continent?”

It was just a light complaint.

Brilliant Flower replied with a smile.

“Do you want to sail without this map?”

“Hey, why are you so scary? If I joke around one more time, I’ll be in big trouble.”

“If you want an adventure, just let me know. I’ll try my best to accommodate you.”

“I love adventure! Of course we’ll decline! Hehe.”

The atmosphere in Captain’s Cabin soon became harmonious.

Everyone felt anxious after sailing into the vast sea, regardless of whether they were captains or sailors.

Of course, they all volunteered to join Expeditionary Force, so they were less affected by it, but sailing on an endless sea where they didn’t know where it ended caused people to feel an instinctive fear.

But now that fear had gone down a lot.

They had a destination, and they knew how long it would take to get there.

Soon after, Brilliant Flower uttered his last words.

“Then everyone return to your own ships and let all the sailors know about this.”

“Yes!”

A loud answer echoed in Captain’s Cabin.

Then the existence of the ocean map spread to all the sailors.

“Is that true?”

“Oh! There was a continent beyond the sea after all! Hahaha!”

The reaction of the sailors was similar to that of the captains.

They shook off the fear of the unknown that had been lurking deep in their hearts.

After that, Expeditionary Force’s vanguard cut through the high waves and headed east without stopping.

Brilliant Flower marked his current location on the ocean map using the latitude and longitude he found using the marine clock and the latitude measuring device.

‘It’s going very smoothly.’

Of course, his heart thumped every time a huge wave hit, but so far he had been sailing without any accidents.

There was no sign of any natural disasters, and they had brought enough salted vegetables and kimchi to prevent scurvy.

‘Please protect us until we reach the other side of the continent.’

Brilliant Flower looked at the endless horizon and prayed to the spirits over and over again.

Time passed like that.

And finally.

“Land, land is in sight!”

“Hahaha! We’ve finally arrived!!”

Expeditionary Force’s vanguard reached the European continent.