Chapter 455: New Year, False Rumors, Major Construction (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 455: New Year, False Rumors, Major Construction (4)
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The massive construction project began that very day.
Jin and his companions were thrown into a frenzy of activity, so busy they barely had time to greet their new family members, exchange New Year’s blessings, or even get to know one another.
It was, quite literally, a massive undertaking.
“Young Master.”
Casimir stepped up beside Jin.
They were standing on a sailing vessel circling Tikan Free City, observing the progress. There was almost no outside labor involved. Instead, members of the Black King Corps were personally transporting and installing the equipment.
The combat vessels had also been brought by the Black King Corps. Although their main base was a mountain fortress, as mercenaries, they possessed a vast array of equipment for naval warfare.
“Sir Casimir.”
Jin said, turning to him.
“Thanks to you, a day like this has finally come for Tikan. Excluding the Great Powers, there are few places left in the world with a defensive capability on par with Tikan’s.”
As he spoke, Casimir looked deeply moved. His eyes were so moist, it looked as if a tear might roll down his cheek at any moment.
Suddenly, Jin recalled the thoughts he’d had before he first met Casimir.
‘When I first decided to build my base in Tikan, I thought what Sir Casimir needed most was a foundation of national power for the day the city became a kingdom.’
Tikan had a small population, few talented individuals, and no natural resources. Relying entirely on the Seven-Colored Bird’s intelligence network, it had never managed to escape its status as a minor nation, even after becoming a kingdom in his previous life.
‘That’s why, back when I didn’t know the dangers of the Mirror—the sacred object of Colon—I wondered if I should offer a deal to share its benefits.’
Yet even without using the Mirror, they had managed to construct a defense system second only to the Great Powers.
Both Jin and Casimir had achieved a result so magnificent that neither could have imagined it when they first met. Once the construction was finished, there was a very high probability that Tikan would be elevated from a ‘Free City’ to a ‘Kingdom.’
That was why Casimir was so overcome with emotion.
“As soon as the construction is complete, I intend to declare to the major powers and nations that we, too, have become a sovereign state,” Casimir said, his moved expression hardening into one of resolve.
“Yes, I expected as much.”
“And if you are willing, Young Master, I would like you to become the first King of Tikan.”
It was an unexpected proposal—and one Jin had no intention of accepting.
“Me? Why on earth would I do that?”
“Because you are the one who has accomplished the most.”
Jin felt a surge of panic, realizing Casimir wasn’t just testing him; he was being completely sincere.
“In Runcandel, aren’t there Flagbearers who also serve as kings of certain nations?”
“That is merely symbolic. They don’t actually perform the duties of a king; they simply accept the crown under the pretext of offering protection. It’s not a form of tribute I particularly care for.”
“I am aware of that. And that isn’t what I meant by my proposal.”
Jin shrugged and shook his head.
“I must decline, Sir Casimir. You should be the king of this free state. Besides, for Tikan, I am nothing short of a double-edged sword.”
“You, a double-edged sword? That’s preposterous! Why would you think that?”
Because I saw it. In my previous life, I saw you and your people establish Tikan as a free state without anyone’s help.
Jin didn’t voice those thoughts. Instead, he met Casimir’s eyes.
“You must know this as well. Once we declare Tikan a sovereign nation, the Great Powers—especially Runcandel and the Imperial Family—will view it with great displeasure.”
The four Great Powers: Runcandel, Zipple, Viment, and Kinzelo.
Among them, Zipple and Kinzelo were unlikely to apply direct pressure, even if Tikan became a nation.
‘As long as Father is around, Zipple won’t dare to recklessly touch me or anything related to Runcandel. They might apply indirect pressure, though.’
As for Kinzelo, although Zephyrin had targeted Jin with serious intent this time, she had fled after sustaining significant damage herself.
‘She won’t be able to attack me again until she recovers. Besides, Zephyrin’s actions at the Black King Mountain Fortress were completely different from how Kinzelo has dealt with me so far. I can’t rule out the possibility that attacking me was her own independent decision.’
After the Black King Corps incident, Jin and his companions had tentatively concluded that Zephyrin was the Demon Dragon belonging to the ‘Kinzelo Leader.’
—With that level of martial skill, she must be a dragon in direct service to a god-like being, just as Murakan suspected. Only a few come to mind, though I still don’t recognize the name Zephyrin at all. She’s either an ancient demon who never appeared during Murakan’s and my era, or she’s a being erased from history.
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—Erased from history...?
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—Zipple didn’t just erase the history of the Old Runcandel. As you know, the same goes for the Great Mage Chenmi, and there are quite a few others who were erased even from the memories of dragons who lived through those times.
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—Then the Leader might also be someone who fell victim to history manipulation. I had similar thoughts when I saw the Linpa brothers describe their first meeting with the Leader.
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—Even if that’s not the case, he could simply be a being who was naturally forgotten after losing an ancient struggle for hegemony. Regardless, Zephyrin’s recovery will be slow. Such Demon Dragons usually borrow power from a Demon God or a comparable existence, and the Leader’s condition was already poor back at the Sword Emperor Castle.
That was the conversation Jin had with Quicantel after the incident.
While many suspicions and unresolved questions remained, Quicantel had asserted one thing with certainty: because Zephyrin was the Leader’s dragon, her recovery would be slow.
These were the reasons Jin judged that Zipple and Kinzelo would not take direct action, even if they found Tikan’s elevation to statehood unpleasant.
Runcandel and the Imperial Family, on the other hand, were a different story.
“Runcandel’s reaction will depend on my mother’s decision, but she will likely steer things to ensure the clan gains the maximum benefit from Tikan. At minimum, she might demand tribute; at worst, she could demand we carry out missions for her. She might even make unreasonable demands to use this place as a base for the Guardian Knights.”
Of course, Jin had no intention of simply taking it lying down, but it was a situation that could become a great burden for Tikan itself.
“I’ve already braced myself for that much. Besides, the pressure from the Great Powers was an unavoidable issue, even without you. As for the Imperial Family... I assume you’re saying this because you recently rejected the Emperor’s proposal and intend to release the evidence of the biological experiments soon.”
Casimir continued with a bitter smile.
“Tikan has been a thorn in the Emperor’s side for a long time anyway. If anything, it’s because you are here that he cannot act recklessly. Therefore, I believe Tikan’s elevation to a nation... is largely thanks to you.”
Casimir didn’t know.
He didn’t know that in the life before Jin’s regression, he had successfully elevated Tikan to a free state entirely on his own, without anyone’s help.
Back then, Tikan hadn’t been able to escape its status as a weak nation, but Casimir had been called the Holy King and had protected their small home. As far as Jin knew, no power had threatened Tikan back then.
This was why Jin felt a pang of guilt.
Thanks to him, Casimir and Alisa had found Enya, and Tikan had gained national power incomparable to the weak nation of his previous life. But in exchange, they had also inherited far greater risks.
‘In the wars to come, will Tikan truly be in a better position than it was before my regression?’
This was a thought that had crossed his mind often since his bond with his companions in Tikan had deepened.
He wondered if his regression was truly having only a positive impact on them, or if he was causing them to shoulder a more dangerous fate than necessary.
Naturally, no matter how much he pondered, it was a question without an answer.
Soon, Casimir nodded as if he understood Jin’s heart completely.
Of course, he had no idea that Jin had regressed, but he understood Jin’s dilemma perfectly. Even setting aside the element of regression, forming a deep relationship with a special individual like ‘Jin Runcandel’ was something that required braving many risks from the start.
From the moment they found Yuria, Jin had been a benefactor for whom Casimir and Alisa would not hesitate to give their lives.
It was the same for the other family members.
For Quicantel, it was from the moment he saved Enya. For Jet, from the moment he took in him and his son. For Kuzan and Beris, from the moment Jin told them the truth about Taimun and took them in. For Julian, from the moment he saved the Lightning Dragon Kaltor.
Even the recently joined Ghost Squad and Black King Corps owed him for the lives of Fey and the other members, respectively.
In this way, all the members of Tikan had become family only after Jin had first given them so much. Their relationship had long since transcended mere calculations of profit and loss.
“We are always ready to sacrifice for one another. Isn’t that right, Young Master? So don’t overthink it. Especially that ‘double-edged sword’ comment—it’s quite hurtful, you know.”
Jin smiled and nodded.
“Still, I cannot be the king.”
“Then I shall do it. In truth, who wears the crown isn’t a significant issue among us. I only intended to offer it to you if you wanted it.”
“Oh... then wouldn’t it be alright if I did it, sir?”
The one who cut in was Jet.
He was dripping with sweat from carrying crates and installing equipment alongside the mercenaries. With his characteristic sociability, he was already navigating the tense atmosphere between the Black King Corps and the Ghost Squad, making sure neither side felt slighted.
Because of this, the others believed Jet would play a crucial role in resolving conflicts between the two mercenary groups. Jin found it amazing that such a capable man had once been a mere back-alley informant.
“Are you serious? If you want to do it, well... I won’t stop you. Though I can clearly see how that future would unfold.”
“Hehe, just a joke, Sir Casimir. Actually, I stopped by because I have news to deliver. It’s something I overheard while passing through the hallway carrying crates... Ah, there she is.”
A woman was waving from the direction Jet was looking.
It was Quicantel. As soon as they saw her, Jin and Casimir realized what news Jet had been about to deliver.
“Jin! That fellow just regained consciousness. Come quickly.”
The ‘fellow’ Quicantel was referring to was the Black Knight they had rescued from the Black King Mountain Fortress.