Chapter 4 – The Anxious Pharaoh and the Leisurely Traveler
Even without being guided, Hikigaya knew how to get to Memphis in this era.
The ancient Egyptians never built cities far from the Nile; as long as one followed the river, anyone could travel to every city in the kingdom.
Hikigaya traveled south along a tributary of the Pelusiac branch.
This branch would completely dry up about 150 years after Ramses' death, but for now, its water flow was abundant enough to support one of ancient Egypt's grandest cities.
While exploring the ancient Nile, Hikigaya was not worried that his lost companions might be in danger.
Before being swallowed by the Black Sun together with Horus, he had left a part of his power in each companion—both a mark and a guarantee for survival.
Not to mention, Haruno already possessed the "Sun" inside her.
Magic in this era was mainly used for medicine, healing, and divination; battles relied on courage and combat skills.
Therefore, Haruno, who had the "Sun," didn't need his worry. And since Yukino had Hazazi with her, there was even less to fear.
Hikigaya could feel that all three were safe but did not know along which part of the Nile they were stranded.
Gliding through the air, the great river that shaped Egypt sparkled under the sunlight.
The river water rippled gently with the wind blowing in the opposite direction, and on both banks grew the iconic papyrus of Lower Egypt.
People were still few in number at this time.
After leaving the construction site at Pi-Ramesses, Hikigaya noticed human traces thinning rapidly.
But there were quite a few boats on the river, perhaps because of the city under construction.
The great Pharaoh was still in the process of stabilizing domestic order and accumulating national strength.
Three years later, he would suffer a crushing defeat against the small Western Asian state of Kadesh, completely ruining any chance of the kingdom's revival.
From then on, he could only focus on suppressing rebellions.
Memphis, said to have been founded by Menes, was still Egypt's largest city and administrative capital.
Unlike Upper Egypt, the Nile had many tributaries in Lower Egypt, and the cities were closer together. Hikigaya easily found it.
Famous three thousand years later, Giza lay not far to the west of Memphis. The wind and sand from Giza were clearly felt in the city.
This city witnessed all of ancient Egypt's history.
The Pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty, who believed in the supremacy of force, commanded their troops here.
When the bloodline of the reckless Pharaohs was cut off and usurped by servants, great generals ascended the throne here and established the Ramses family as heirs.
Under the Ramses family, the kingdom's order was reestablished.
In Asia, it regained allies and vassals, and the fierce Hittites agreed to maintain a non-aggression pact with Egypt.
After careful governance by his grandfather and father, the kingdom showed signs of revival under Ramses' control.
Yet, this Pharaoh had no mood to think about those matters now.
This Pharaoh, who in the future would father over a hundred children like laying eggs, loved his queen deeply.
Their marriage was not purely political; she never abandoned him even during Ramses' most difficult times.
Inside the palace, Ramses bumped into the royal physician, Pariamak, who was now over fifty years old—a rare longevity for the time and a symbol of knowledge and authority.
"How is my Nefertari?" Ramses spat eagerly, making the old doctor silently complain in his heart.
Not long ago, ministers thought this Pharaoh utterly unqualified: young, hot-tempered, aggressive, and disrespectful of traditions.
He openly confronted Theban priests.
Nobles accustomed to Ramses I and Set I felt uneasy about this Pharaoh. Akhenaten's arrogance had destroyed the once mighty 18th Dynasty and nearly doomed the entire Egyptian empire.
Those tragic days were not far behind.
By contrast, Set I's eldest son, Khaemwaset, was clever and steady, and ministers thought him a more suitable Pharaoh.
"I want to see her," Ramses declared firmly. Nefertari was not just his beloved wife; if anything happened to the virtuous queen, it would shake Ramses' ability to rule Egypt.
But the old physician refused.
"I do not recommend it. The queen is asleep. The nurses have rubbed her body with oil laced with a sleeping potion. She needs rest to prepare for the upcoming childbirth."
"What?"
"Yes, you are going to have a child, but I fear it is premature and very risky."
"How do you know?"
"Our medical staff performed routine tests. They mixed the queen's urine with barley and wheat; both sprouted, but the wheat sprouted earlier, so you will have a daughter."
"That's the exact opposite of what I learned!"
Ramses was angry, but the physician's expression remained cold—always the same when treating patients, even the queen.
"What you mention is a different test, used to pray that the life's seed you wish to enter the queen's womb will remain in the child's spine and bones. Allow me to remind you, the father creates the child's bones and tendons, while the mother creates the muscles and bones."
The old physician lectured endlessly, feeling very satisfied to give a medical lesson to someone who had once been his student but was now Pharaoh.
Ramses opened his mouth wide, realizing he had made a foolish mistake.
He also understood he could not see the queen right away.
The old man was also one of his tutors and was loyal—so Ramses could not question his medical judgment or his professional responsibility.
"Then I demand a smooth delivery." The young ruler, annoyed at losing the argument, ordered firmly.
"I'm afraid I cannot guarantee that; my skills are limited."
"Then my power is unlimited! It must be a smooth delivery, whatever it takes!" Ramses said angrily and then turned and left.
He didn't know that at this very moment, a new visitor had arrived at his palace—and no one noticed.