Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 145

145

“Freeze! Are you cheating?”

“…”

Before departing for the kingdom, Zion sat in the carriage, gazing at the scenery outside the window.

More precisely, he was watching Kim Yu-hyun and Eos, who were standing face to face, engaged in conversation.

‘They’ve gotten quite close in just a week.

Kim Yu-hyun, that guy, must have put in a lot of effort?

He’s head over heels, absolutely ecstatic.

…Well, I suppose.

It’s not my place to talk, considering I’m about to get married in a week.’

If you ask if it’s a bad thing, it’s not.

In fact, it’s a very good scene.

Until now, Zion had seen Kim Yu-hyun as a rough, dry, and empty person.

In the novel, Lucia kept following him, comforting him, but this time, she’s not there.

Despite his skills, our protagonist, Kim Yu-hyun, isn’t that mentally strong.

Zion concluded that a woman is much better at managing such a man’s mentality than a smelly guy like himself.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

Jaan, who had resolved all the discord between Kalta and Aighior that had been going on for months and was preparing to return to Kalta, approached the carriage.

Following Zion’s gaze, she looked at Eos and Kim Yu-hyun for a moment, then burst into a soft laugh, “Pfft.”

“What is it?

Why are you laughing?”

“I’m just amazed that my brother is making such expressions and saying such things.”

“You weren’t any different.”

‘Me?’ Jaan retorted, inadvertently turning around, but when she met Zion’s eyes, she cleared her throat, feigning nonchalance and turning away.

Of course, Zion had no intention of letting her go so easily.

“Why do you keep avoiding my gaze?”

“…Because I’m embarrassed.”

“Embarrassed? Why?”

“D-Do you really want me to say you’re handsome with my own mouth?”

“Didn’t you say I looked strange before?”

“T-That was a lie. I didn’t mean it.”

He was acting like a child, being embarrassed about something so trivial.

Adult men and women should just say they like each other and see each other when they want to.

As Zion kept staring at her, Jaan finally snapped, annoyed, to defend herself.

“D-Don’t keep staring at me! You’re just teasing me…”

“Correct. I am teasing you right now.”

“H-Huh?”

“I’m teasing you. As you said, I see you as Jaan, not Temujin, so is there any reason why I shouldn’t play these kinds of jokes?”

At Zion’s question, Jaan blankly stammered, “O-Oh, okay,” and finally shook her head.

Even she thought her overly sensitive reaction seemed foolish.

Still unable to look Zion in the face, Jaan cautiously opened her mouth.

“Strangely, I find it very difficult to look you straight in the eye.”

“Try harder. You know that not being able to look me in the eye could be grounds for breaking off the engagement, right?”

“That’s unfair.”

“I’m giving you and your tribe all sorts of gifts, so if you can’t even do that much, it’s definitely grounds for breaking off the engagement.”

All sorts of gifts?

Zion had only promised to provide food until trade with the kingdom resumed, so what other conversations had taken place in the meantime?

“…Are you sure it’s okay?

It could just end up being a suspicion without any real basis.”

“You’re being quite rational, considering they’ve likely been deceiving you all this time?”

Zion found it absurd that the woman who had literally crushed the windpipes of several warriors for insulting him was saying that, but it was perhaps a natural reaction.

Of course, Jaan stated that that was one thing, and this was another.

“That’s because they insulted my betrothed in front of me, so there was a clear reason for punishment. But you only have suspicions, not concrete evidence. I’ve heard that the nobles of the kingdom value justification very highly, so I’m worried that you might be turned against.”

“My reputation isn’t so low that I’d be pushed around by those nobodies.”

There are no great noble families in the northern part of the kingdom that can compare to the Clausens.

In fact, the great noble families usually reside near the center of the kingdom.

The Clausen Margraviate [territory ruled by a Margrave, a noble rank] is a unique case, armed with loyalty to the kingdom.

The Margrave is officially a Count, but his power rivals that of a Marquis family.

This is because they always have to defend the border, so they have autonomous authority and even the power to requisition from the territories of surrounding nobles in case of emergency.

The north, which at best considers a Baron family to be the highest, is on a different ‘class’ altogether.

‘Besides, my reputation has skyrocketed like crazy.’

The war hero who led the victory in the war against Nudia, the protagonist of the party in the royal castle who never boasted, the skilled individual who defeated Chess King and received his surrender, and the one who receives favorable attention from countless figures in the kingdom is none other than Zion Clausen.

Even King Edgar IV of Hispania and Princess Vanessa, who has been keeping her brother in check and competing for the position of the next king, are highly likely to side with him.

“Since it’s a matter of the kingdom, you would know better. I just hope things go well.”

“If my concerns are true…”

“…”

Then, for a moment, a blue light flashed in Jaan’s eyes.

The deep, lingering light was clearly murderous intent, a strong will to break someone’s spine in half.

“…Since it’s a matter of the kingdom, it should be left to the people of the kingdom.”

But the words that came out of Jaan’s mouth were not the kind of words that a villain called ‘Khan’ would utter.

While Zion was internally exclaiming in admiration, she slowly released her tightly clenched fist.

“If I had heard those words with the intention of waging war against the kingdom, I would have immediately ridden out to cut off the heads of those arrogant northern nobles without hesitation.”

For a moment, Zion felt a chill, as if she would do just that.

Not even neatly cutting them off with a blade, but tearing them out with her bare hands!

“But I have made a decision, made a choice, and taken action. It would be right to trust you and leave the matter to you at this time. I don’t feel good about owing you another debt, though.”

“I believe I already mentioned that part? This isn’t a free handout, but part of a transaction, so I will definitely demand a corresponding price later.”

“You did say that. But I still don’t understand. What could you possibly want from me and my tribe in the future? Even now, you seem much brighter, much nobler, and much more honorable than us.”

Jaan’s words weren’t wrong.

In fact, comparing his situation to that of the northern barbarian tribes, the tribes’ situation was so dire that it seemed like there would be nothing to receive even if he demanded payment.

‘But the combat power is different.’

You can’t keep deploying named characters even in a war of attrition.

Even the strongest individuals are still living, breathing beings.

In other words, they need adequate rest to maintain their optimal condition at all times.

And to buy them time, he needed individuals with decent skills, a powerful ‘mercenary’ group that could move and fight as one.

In Zion’s view, the northern barbarian tribes were not just a barrier against the north but a kind of mercenary group that could be active even in the fight against the celestials [powerful beings from another realm].

“I’ll explain it all later. Not now.”

“Alright. I’ll listen to the reason when the time comes. More importantly, when are you planning to visit the north?”

“What is it? You said you were embarrassed, but now you seem disappointed that I’m leaving?”

“W-What are you talking about! I’m just trying to confirm the wedding schedule!”

Ah, yes. Yes.

As Zion made a ridiculous expression as if to say that, Jaan glared at Zion, trembling, and turned her head away with a snap!

The ‘Khan’ looking like that, pouting, was something unimaginable in the original novel.

‘In the novel, she’s a woman who skewers warriors to death for disobeying her orders.’

Zion sincerely hoped that this time, her anger would be directed not at the tribes or the kingdom, but at the pointy-eared, unlucky elves and the do-gooder, perverted celestials who were pretending to be kind.

“I’ll have to return to the royal castle to report on the situation first. Before that, I need to finish things with the northern nobles. It’ll be hard to come back within a month, even at the earliest.”

“…Are you telling the woman you promised a future to wait that long?”

“Please understand that I’m not being unreasonable. I’m also an incredibly busy person. You know that, right?”

“I know, so I honestly want to hold you back even more.”

Jaan, who can’t even look him in the face because she’s embarrassed, is still good at saying such things.

Zion hesitated for a moment whether he should say this, but thinking that she wouldn’t really do this, he cautiously brought it up.

“If, just if, you get tired of waiting, come to the kingdom as a guest. It would be a headache for both of us if you came noisily, but if you come quietly, I’m sure the royal family would welcome you.”

“…Would that really be alright?”

“It would be alright. But I’d prefer you didn’t. The nobles, if not the royal family, would subtly look down on the northern people.”

“I’ll think carefully before deciding. Thank you for your concern. Zion Clausen.”

With those words, they decided to part ways for a while.

Since they are both busy people with a lot to do, it is almost impossible to be tied to one place.

In fact, the term marriage alliance was used as a way to calm the atmosphere that seemed like it would explode at any moment, so Jaan was fully prepared for that part.

“And Jaan, you haven’t forgotten what I said, have you?”

“I’ve already firmly instructed the tribesmen and warriors.”

“Good.”

“But Zion. Is it really true that the monsters are suddenly leaving the Blade Mountains and coming down to the land again? Our warriors have been attacking them so much that they’re running away to avoid it.”

“Don’t worry. Whether by their own will or by force, you’ll eventually run into them.”

Perhaps when that time comes, the problem will be not that there aren’t enough to catch, but that there are too many to catch even if you want to.

Fortunately, both Jaan and Eos are alive, and the warriors haven’t been harmed much, so the probability that the northern barbarian tribes will be wiped out in an instant, as in the novel, has become very low.

“Master, I’m told that the preparations for departure are complete.”

Lishikta, taking advantage of the end of their conversation, slipped into the carriage.

As a knight who tries to keep public and private matters separate, she was trying to maintain an indifferent expression.

“I really have to go. I’ll bring you good news, so keep your ears open, Jaan Temujin.”

The shield to block the north has been set up for now.

Now, the only thing left to do was to remove the rats that had been gnawing at the shield from behind.

“Vice-Commander Schumacher.”

After finishing everything with the northern barbarian tribes, Zion called Vice-Commander Schumacher as he set off for the kingdom’s border.

The vice-commander of the Royal Knights tilted his head and turned his horse towards the carriage.

“Yes, Young Master Zion Clausen. Please speak.”

“You said you were from the northern noble territory, right?”

“That’s right, but…”

“Do you happen to know anything about them, even vaguely?”

“Well, I was young then, so it’s hard to guarantee that things are the same now as they were then.”

“It would be helpful if you could at least tell me about the tendencies of the nobles.”

At Zion’s polite request, Vice-Commander Schumacher stroked his chin and opened his mouth.

“As you’ve seen, the north has very little arable land compared to other regions. So, they mainly profit from trade. The nobles also tend to focus on that.”

“Trade, huh? Well, do they produce a lot of expensive goods?”

“It’s hard to say that. They can just live like ordinary nobles. Look at the land where those barbarian tribes live. Isn’t it extremely barren? Even though it’s below that, the northern noble territory is also at a similar level. You should assume that there aren’t many valuable goods.”

“Hmm.”

“I’ve heard that the situation has improved much more than before since the trade with the northern barbarian tribes started three years ago.”

Good, okay.

That’s enough.

Having roughly organized his thoughts, Zion thought about what to do next.

He had finished his work with the northern barbarian tribes, but Zion was still the ‘delegate’ who could act on behalf of the king’s decisions.

Zion’s authority applies until he ‘returns’ to the royal castle after completing all his missions, meets the king, and directly reports on the completion of the mission.

‘If you’ve got a hat, it’s only polite to wear it diligently.’

Don’t misunderstand, this is definitely not ‘abuse’.

The king clearly appointed him as his delegate, that is, the final decision-maker, with the intention that he should think, decide, and act for the sake of the kingdom.

In other words, no matter how strongly he responds to anything that could harm the kingdom, it all happens with the king’s permission.

‘At least three Marquises are needed to directly harm a noble of the kingdom.

Even Margrave Lichten cannot harm the body of another noble.

As just an heir, I obviously cannot intimidate the nobles of the north.

But…’

If he is the king’s delegate, everything changes.

In addition, the vice-commander of the Royal Knights, who has more influence than most nobles, is there as an escort.

Royal Knights and the Royal Castle Defense Forces are also accompanying him.

And decisively, Zion followed Edgar IV’s words and headed north, keeping it as secret as possible.

He judged that it would be bad for rumors to spread, and at first, he disguised it as a simple pleasure trip for nobles heading north, and in the end, he only said that it was ‘a certain noble’ who was entrusted with a royal mission.

They may have noticed something strange and dug into the situation and investigated to find out the truth.

He’s not too worried about that.

He never tried to deceive them outright.

But he had at least put up a smokescreen, and the kingdom would not have expected things to end so quickly.

‘Wait, everyone. I’m coming to meet you now with a sledgehammer.’

He hoped that his expectations would be correct.

Hoping to wipe out those parasitic bastards, Zion was eagerly returning to the kingdom with a pounding heart.