American: Native Empire

Many things were happening in the empire, but Kim Kiwoo spent most of his time managing various research projects.

Many of the items created by these researches had passed the experimental stage and gradually spread throughout the empire.

One of the most representative ones was the lens.

“Look! I can see clearly in front of me! Hahaha!”

“My goodness… Is this really real?”

Many people who encountered glasses for the first time were greatly shocked.

Until now, the decline of eyesight was almost incurable.

That is, if one’s eyesight deteriorated due to presbyopia or other factors, they had to suffer for their entire life.

But with the development of lens processing technology, glasses were made and eyesight correction became possible.

Thanks to this, people who suffered from vision problems shouted with joy.

The people who were happy with the development of lenses were not only those with low vision.

“Wow! It’s like it’s right in front of my nose!”

“This is a really amazing thing. Don’t you think?”

“Hehe. Of course, it’s a device made by His Majesty. It’s only natural!”

Especially among the sailors, telescopes were very popular.

They were able to easily identify distant objects through telescopes.

They also supplied telescopes to the observatory, which lacked them.

‘Good.’

Kim Kiwoo smiled with satisfaction after receiving reports on these situations.

Kim Kiwoo had been constantly improving lenses using high-purity quartz.

Through this, the lens processing technology had risen to an unrecognizable level.

Of course, there were still limited lenses that could be supplied to the public, but this would improve over time.

‘More importantly, this is not the main purpose.’

Glasses and telescopes were nothing more than by-products that came out of the process of achieving Kim Kiwoo’s goal.

‘Finally.’

Today was a historic day when the main goal was achieved.

Kim Kiwoo ran to the palace’s research complex as soon as he heard the news of its completion.

“Your Majesty!”

When he arrived at the place where lens research was conducted, all the researchers came out and greeted Kim Kiwoo.

“Haha. You don’t have to come out like that.”

“We apologize. But we couldn’t stay still on such a meaningful day.”

Kim Kiwoo had simplified greetings so that research would not stop in between whenever he visited.

Now that culture was firmly established.

But today seemed to be hard to do that.

‘They are all smiling.’

The researchers had been immersed in research for a long time without much vacation.

Their faces were clearly covered with fatigue.

But today they looked very bright. 

There was not a single researcher who looked gloomy.

“This is not the time. Let’s go inside.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

As Kim Kiwoo walked into the building, all the researchers followed him closely.

And they saw it.

The thing that was made after countless trials and errors.

The microscope, that is.

Kim Kiwoo approached the microscope and touched it here and there, checking it with his eyes.

‘There’s not much change in appearance.’

He had checked the results from time to time during the trial and error process.

Since Kim Kiwoo did most of the work to set up the structure of the microscope, there was not much room for change.

Kim Kiwoo organized his thoughts and looked at the senior researcher.

“I heard through my officials that it’s different from last time.”

“Don’t worry. This time it’s certain.”

The senior researcher’s face was full of confidence.

“Then I’ll see it with my own eyes.”

“Yes. We knew you would do that and prepared everything in advance.”

“Is that so? Then let’s check it right away.”

Kim Kiwoo did not hesitate and brought his eye to the eyepiece part of the microscope.

Then…

‘Wow.’

The squirming microbes entered Kim Kiwoo’s eyes.

It was the first time he saw the movement of microbes since he came from modern times to the past.

Kim Kiwoo adjusted the screws back and forth for a long time, checking and rechecking the world where microbes lived.

How long had it been?

After finishing all the checks, Kim Kiwoo took his face off from the microscope.

“…How is it?”

There was a tense atmosphere among the researchers.

They had already checked the performance of the microscope and observed the microorganisms, but they were not sure if they had met Kim Kiwoo’s standards.

However, Kim Kiwoo’s next words quickly dispelled this mood.

“Very good.”

“Then…”

“Yes. It’s a success.”

“Is that really true?”

“Wow…!”

“Finally!”

Thud!

One of the researchers even collapsed on the floor, as if he had lost his strength.

Kim Kiwoo held his hands and helped him up.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. It happens.”

Kim Kiwoo patted his shoulder and then looked around at the other researchers.

“You all have worked really hard. You can rest for a while. I’ll give you a generous bonus and vacation. Got it?”

“Yes!”

“Woohoo!”

With the cheers of the researchers, the first microscope finally revealed itself to the world.

***

The news of the microscope’s creation became a hot issue in the academic world.

Kim Kiwoo sent five of the seven prototypes to the Imperial University, and assigned the remaining two to the palace research complex.

And so, on the day when the microscope was introduced to the intellectuals of the Imperial University for the first time.

“Hehe. Are these all people who came to see the microscope?”

“Of course. You’re one of them too, right?”

“Sure. As a scholar, I can’t miss such a great device.”

Countless scholars flocked to the place where the microscope was placed.

They visited regardless of their fields of study, making it impossible to find a spot to step on in front of the building.

And finally.

The microscope practice began.

“Please line up properly!”

“One person at a time, please!”

The guides let in the people who had lined up first into the building.

“Please come this way.”

“Oh!”

“This is…”

The scholars exclaimed at the unfamiliar sight of the microscope as they entered the building.

Jilgeun Namooteup smiled faintly and continued his explanation.

“The use of the microscope is simple. You just need to put your eye here, and adjust the screws to change the position. Would you like to try it?”

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

Soon, the first scholar started his practice.

Since it was already adjusted, he was able to observe the microorganisms as soon as he put his eye on the eyepiece.

“Ah!”

An exclamation escaped from his mouth.

He stared blankly at the movements of the microorganisms, then regained his senses and adjusted the screws.

Jilgeun Namooteup waited patiently for him, then gently tapped his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, but there are many people waiting behind you.”

Only then did he take his eye off the eyepiece.

After that, Jilgeun Namooteup gave another scholar a chance to practice.

When the guidance was over.

The first scholar asked Jilgeun Namooteup.

“…Is what I saw really true?”

“Of course. Didn’t you see it with your own eyes?”

“I did, but… I still can’t believe it.”

“Haha. I felt the same way at first. But there’s no trick here. This world is full of those microorganisms. Isn’t it amazing?”

Jilgeun Namooteup’s eyes sparkled as he spoke.

The same was true for the scholar who asked him.

“It seems that there are many things that we didn’t know. Someday, all those tiny things will be revealed, right?”

“Yes. That day will surely come.”

“I’m sorry for taking your time. Then, take care.”

“Not at all. Please take a look around.”

Even after the first practitioner left, many scholars witnessed the microorganisms with their own eyes through the microscope.

This way, they learned about the existence of microorganisms.

This sparked their interest in the microscopic world.

After that, they observed various substances through the microscope, and the level of biology began to rise rapidly.

***

‘I finally climbed over another mountain.’

Kim Kiwoo felt a deep sense of satisfaction when the microscope was officially used.

The microscope was a device that played a decisive role in the development of science. 

And it was also what the empire’s scholars, who were thirsty for knowledge, needed most.

If he provided this foundation, many people would research and exchange knowledge, and accelerate the progress.

Kim Kiwoo left his office with a relieved mind and returned to the palace.

“You worked hard today.”

“You too. It’s chilly outside, let’s go in.”

As always, the empress was waiting for him in front of the palace.

He told her that there was no need to come out, but unless there was something special, Deep Lake always waited for Kim Kiwoo’s return in front of the palace.

‘Hmm?’

But Kim Kiwoo felt something different.

He had lived with Deep Lake for so long that he could tell how she felt by looking at her, but today she looked very unhappy.

“Is there something wrong? You look pale…”

“Wrong? What could be wrong? Nothing is wrong.”

“…Is that so?”

She calmly smiled and replied.

Kim Kiwoo tilted his head but went inside for now.

After spending time with his family in the palace, Kim Kiwoo called in his steward.

“The empress looked bad, did something happen?”

“Well…”

The steward hesitated for a moment.

Kim Kiwoo realized it.

“She told you not to tell me, right?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry and tell me. I’ll talk to the empress later.”

The steward couldn’t disobey Kim Kiwoo’s words, even if the empress had asked him not to.

The steward paused for a while and then started to talk.

Kim Kiwoo listened to the steward’s words with a stern expression until the end.

Afterwards, Kim Kiwoo’s chest felt heavy as if a stone was on it.

‘Phew… Menopause.’

The empress was already well past middle age.

So finally menopause came.

Only then did he understand all of her actions.

Of course, they didn’t have any more children after their fifth princess, but there was a big difference between that and actually going through menopause.

“I see. You can go now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Kim Kiwoo sent out the steward and fell into deep thought.

‘Did I neglect her too much?’

She married Kim Kiwoo at the age of twenty when she was in her prime, and suffered a lot of mental pain because she couldn’t have children for a long time.

And she lived busy raising her children properly and doing her duties as an empress.

As a result, she hardly ever went outside the palace.

‘I was too harsh.’

The more he thought about it, the more he felt like he had done wrong to the empress.

He didn’t even take her on a trip, let alone go outside with her!

Even if he was busy with his work as an emperor and various researches, he could have made some more time for her.

Kim Kiwoo began to regret that he couldn’t do that.

‘…I should treat her better from now on.’

He wanted to make more memories with the empress who was depressed because of menopause.

He didn’t know how much longer she would live after all.

He had to treat her well while she was still here.

After that, Kim Kiwoo immediately put his decision into action.