The morale of the people within a territory is something mysterious and difficult to grasp.
The day after the castle was completed, Lucien opened the territory information panel.
[Lord's Name: Lucien]
[Territory: Lucien City (Town)]
[Population (Humans): 1426 (Click to view details)]
[Population (Pokémon): 428 (Click to view details)]
[Morale: 100 (United)]
[Satisfaction: 25680]
[Technologies: Animal Husbandry, Fishing, Pottery, Clay Figurines, Papermaking…]
After yesterday's celebrations and the completion of the castle, morale had risen to its maximum value of 100.
Lucien immediately noticed that, at this level of morale, his people displayed extraordinary enthusiasm and passion in everything they did. At home or at work, the difference was obvious. Workers, farmers, and ranchers all operated with a level of efficiency he had never seen before. Even the Pokémon worked with renewed vigor.
Under the leadership of Elena and Elif, the workers began construction of the Grand Arena with tremendous enthusiasm.
The completion of the castle also boosted the satisfaction level within the territory by ten thousand points overnight, bringing it to twenty-five thousand. This already accounted for one quarter of the requirement needed to advance toward the Industrial Age.
Unfortunately, Lucien soon realized that morale was not something that would remain at one hundred for long. After observing the territory for some time, he discovered that once the excitement faded and daily life settled into routine, morale gradually declined and stabilized around ninety.
Although ninety was still an exceptionally high value, Lucien felt it was difficult to return to anything lower after experiencing the benefits of maximum morale.
He began analyzing the data of his residents to understand the cause.
The answer became clear immediately.
The people of the territory now had new desires. Once basic needs such as food and clothing were met, they naturally sought spiritual fulfillment. Books, newspapers, and Pokémon battles all provided entertainment and relief from boredom.
Lucien realized that as he developed his territory, he also needed to consider the spiritual needs of his people.
He looked over the technology panel again.
In addition to the standard city-building technologies, several entertainment-related technologies also existed.
For example:
[Bard: Required to unlock the Opera House. Once unlocked, some residents may be inspired to create and perform songs based on life in the territory.]
There were also technologies such as Sports Match, Tavern, and Public Bathhouse.
Sports Match functioned like modern athletics, allowing the formation of teams that could compete against each other while spectators watched.
The Tavern, much like those in medieval fantasy stories, would serve as a place where people could drink, talk, and relax after a long day. Unlocking it would also provide simple brewing recipes.
The large public bathhouse would serve as a place for people to bathe and socialize. Staff would be present, and drinks and snacks would be available.
Lucien studied each technology carefully.
Since the population requirement for progressing toward the Industrial Age was still far away, it would be better to focus on expanding entertainment options in the meantime.
These facilities would satisfy the spiritual needs of his residents and attract travelers from other territories. More importantly, these technologies did not require satisfaction points to unlock. Facilities such as taverns and bathhouses could simply be built directly.
The territory's farmers were already brewing barley beer, which could easily be supplied to taverns.
A bathhouse could also be run with ease. Water type Pokémon could help supply water, and Fire type Pokémon could heat it.
With Pokémon assisting, none of this would pose a difficulty.
Lucien determined that the next step would be to continue expanding the town.
Thinking this, Lucien summoned Elif and asked, "How is the construction of the Great Library progressing?"
Elif replied, "Your Highness, after two months of work, the library you ordered is essentially complete. The craftsmen have used movable type printing, as instructed, to produce a large number of books for the library."
The books were neatly arranged on wooden shelves. The carpenters had also crafted many tables and chairs so that people could sit and read comfortably.
"In three more days, the library will officially open to the public," Elif reported.
"Very good," Lucien nodded in satisfaction. "Has the news about the library's opening been published in the newspapers?"
"It has, Your Highness. Traveling merchants are expected to carry these newspapers to the surrounding territories within the next few days," Elif replied.
Meanwhile, in Castelia City.
As the largest city in the southern region of Unova, its population had reached nearly one hundred thousand. It was the start of a new day.
Scholar Derrick rose early, as he always did. After getting dressed, the first thing he did was not eat or wash up, but go to the door to retrieve the newspaper he had subscribed to.
Newspaper in hand, Derrick went to the dining table, eating his bread while reading.
The newspaper had arrived in Castelia City a month ago, supposedly delivered from a place called Lucien City. At first, Derrick had been amazed by the clean white paper, but soon he became absorbed by its contents.
It contained many fascinating articles. There was basic academic knowledge, but what interested Derrick most were the insights and explanations about Pokémon.
As a scholar who graduated from Eindoak University, Derrick was different from most academics. From his university days onward, he had been fascinated by Pokémon. They possessed extraordinary power, capable of producing fire, water, electricity, and much more.
However, after reading these newspapers, Derrick suddenly realized that his understanding of Pokémon had been far too shallow.
Different Pokémon possessed different elemental types, and those types determined their strengths, weaknesses, and how they could assist humans in both daily life and agriculture.
For example, today's newspaper introduced a Pokémon called Combee.
[Combee, a young hive magical beast, possessing the Bug and Flying types. Three small bees form a single body and diligently gather nectar under the command of their Vespiquen. The honey they produce is far superior to ordinary honey. It is considered the king of honeys, rich in nutrients and perfect for making desserts.]
"Combee?" Derrick recalled that merchants in Castelia City had recently been selling unusually sweet treats.
He had never imagined that Combee could be domestically raised.
Combee were not rare. Derrick had studied them during his university years. He knew they normally responded only to their Vespiquen's commands.
Yet the people of Lucien City had managed to raise them successfully.
His curiosity about this Lucien City grew stronger.
Derrick continued reading and reached the next announcement:
[Warmly celebrating the opening of the Grand Library. Beginning today, the Lucien City Grand Library will officially open to the public. Thousands of books are available, and both nobles and commoners are welcome to read freely.
The academic atmosphere is strong, and anyone may borrow books after registering, as long as they return them within the agreed period.
All books have been reprinted on new paper, promising an entirely new reading experience.]
"What?!" Derrick's eyes widened in excitement.
A Grand Library? Open to the public?
His heartbeat quickened.
As a scholar, nothing was more irresistible.
If what the newspaper said was true… then this was the kind of place he had dreamed of all his life.
A city where humans and Pokémon lived together. A city with a thriving academic atmosphere.
A city with a Grand Library open to everyone.
At that moment, Derrick felt an overwhelming desire to go there immediately.
He made up his mind, he would leave today.
After breakfast, Derrick swiftly packed, said goodbye to his family and fiancée, paid for a spot in a merchant caravan, and left city, heading straight toward Lucien City.
After several days of difficult travel, the caravan finally arrived.
Gazing at the lively city in the distance, Derrick's eyes shimmered with longing and excitement.
He had arrived. He had finally arrived.
Upon entering the city, Derrick parted ways with the caravan. The moment he stepped inside, he froze in amazement, the humans here truly did live alongside Pokémon, just as the newspapers had described.
Girls sat sunbathing with Petilil resting beside them.Inside shops, Machop and Machoke helped carry goods.At street corners, Hoppip floated while holding signboards to guide pedestrians.
"Wow…"
Derrick stood speechless.
The Pokémon weren't harming humans. They weren't chained, threatened, or mistreated.
They were simply… coexisting.
It felt like stepping into a dream.
As someone who had always adored Pokémon, Derrick couldn't help thinking: Can humans and Magical beasts truly live together like this?
Filled with curiosity, he wandered through the streets, watching humans and Pokémon interact harmoniously.
His first priority was to find an inn.
After asking a helpful resident, he quickly located one, checked in, dropped off his luggage, and immediately rushed out to see the Grand Library mentioned in the newspaper.
He asked for directions again, and thanks to the enthusiastic guidance of the locals, he soon arrived.
Before him stood a tall, majestic building shaped like an enormous upright book. A wide staircase made of smooth concrete led up to its entrance.
Derrick climbed the steps and stopped at the doorway. The scent of ink and freshly printed paper drifted out.
Inside, a wooden counter stood opposite the entrance.Behind it was a young receptionist, and beside her stood a tall Pokémon with long ears and a humanoid shape.
Derrick recognized it instantly, he had seen it in the newspaper illustrations.
It was…
Lopunny.
The moment Derrick stepped inside, the girl and the Lopunny both smiled and nodded politely.
"Excuse me… is this the Great Library?" Derrick asked.
"That's right," the girl replied softly. "This is the library His Highness Lucien built for everyone. At present it holds over a thousand books, all reprinted on clean white paper. And His Highness plans to collect books from every nearby town and store them here as well."
Following her gesture, Derrick looked deeper into the building.
The instant he saw the interior clearly, his eyes widened and he stood frozen in disbelief.
Five full floors.
Each level packed from wall to wall with wooden bookshelves. Books everywhere, an ocean of knowledge.
It was a place scholars dreamed of.
"Can I… can I read here?" Derrick asked, almost trembling.
"Of course," the girl said warmly. "If you register with me and Lopunny, you can even borrow books and take them home."
"Really?" Derrick was stunned. "Aren't you afraid someone won't return them?"
"We verify the borrower's identity," she explained. "We also collect a deposit equal to the price of the book. When you return it, the deposit is given back. And if you're already a resident of Lucien City, we only need your home address and basic information."
Hearing this, Derrick nodded in admiration.
"That's an excellent system!"
The girl smiled. "Feel free to ask if you need anything. I'll be right here."
Derrick immediately moved toward the bookshelves.
He began reading hungrily, page after page, and was astonished to discover several rare and precious academic texts among the collection.
On the spot, Derrick made a decision.
He would settle here. And after stabilizing, he would bring his parents and fiancée to live here too.
Inside the castle.
Elif spoke with concern.
"Your Highness Lucien, are you sure it's alright to put the books His Majesty gifted you in the public library?"
"Don't worry," Lucien replied. "Those on display are only reprinted copies. I still have the originals. And honestly, those books can play a far greater role when placed in the library."
Since the library opened, Lucien City had welcomed countless travelers from other towns, many of them scholars and educated individuals.
Several had already spent their savings to buy houses and settle permanently, even bringing their families.
As Lucien looked over the reports, a new thought came to him.
Should he… return to Eindoak and reclaim all the books from the Royal Library as well?
...
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