“His Majesty, Duke Mikairinov Hangazone Mercana, rules over our Mercana Principality.”
“I see.”
“Our nation was originally a colony of the Jagus Principality on the Lauren Continent.”
“Is that so? By the way, do you happen to know the names of any other nations on the Lauren Continent besides the Jagus Principality?”
“There is the Norha Principality and the Darato Principality. I have heard rumors of another kingdom beyond the eastern mountain range, but I know little of it....May I continue?”
“Yes. My apologies for interrupting.”
“Think nothing of it. If there is something you wish to ask, please do so as it comes to mind.”
“Thank you.”
“...Our independence from the Jagus Principality was achieved in the year 231 of the Continental Calendar. We have maintained our national isolation since the following year.”
Jin raised his hand.
“Yes?”
“Do you know what year it is according to the era name used back there... on the Lauren Continent?”
Paerova Sondvik considered the question for a moment.
“I believe they also refer to it as the Continental Calendar. Strictly speaking, the one used on this continent is the Pandor Continental Calendar, abbreviated as PC.”
“And what year is it currently according to their Continental Calendar?”
“Hmm, I apologize, but I do not recall the exact number. I believe it should be somewhere around the year 3900. A specialist in the royal capital would likely have the precise figure.”
“I see. That is a helpful reference nonetheless.”
Assuming it was roughly the year 3900, that would mean 441 years had passed since the year 3459, the time Jin had known. It wouldn't be unusual for new nations to have emerged in that span.
(Perhaps I’m in the same world, and I’ve simply been displaced into the future.)
For the first time, Jin felt a flicker of genuine hope. However, one point still concerned him.
“Um, if the country is in isolation, wouldn't information regarding foreign affairs be restricted?”
“That is correct.”
“Then, the fact that you are disclosing this to me means...”
Paerova Sondvik offered a knowing smirk.
“It means I intend to certify you as a state-certified magi and eventually escort you to the royal capital.”
“...”
Just as I thought, Jin mused.
(I’ve been completely reeled in...)
In his current situation, Jin had no means of escape. He decided that the wisest course of action for now was to comply quietly. Cooperating would likely grant him access to even more information.
“As a consequence, you will no longer be able to return to Taji Village. Do not think ill of us. Our country suffers from a shortage of magi. If the state does not manage its talented magi, the very foundations of our nation could be jeopardized.”
“...I understand.”
On the surface, Jin nodded obediently. Paerova Sondvik settled back into his chair.
“Now then, since that is settled, I shall answer any other questions you may have.”
＊ ＊ ＊
Once his discussion with Paerova concluded, Jin returned to his room. Finding himself alone at last, he took the opportunity to reflect on everything that had transpired since the day he woke up in Taji Village.
“Even without much information to go on, did I stand out a bit too much?”
He wondered if he had been too thorough with the repairs back in the village.
“But still...”
There were people in need and broken tools in front of him. He had the power to fix them.
“In a situation like that, I couldn't just stand by and watch.”
Granted, as Kachea had warned him repeatedly, his working speed had probably been far beyond the local norm.
“Then there’s Lorenz...”
He had sensed something suspicious about the man.
“Hmm... I suppose I got a little too excited when I saw a golem.”
Then again, that encounter had allowed him to gauge the current technological standards and the state of resources in this era.
“And then Jed Alamold.”
What would have happened if he had refused the invitation then?
“I likely would have been brought here by force anyway.”
If that were the case, the fact that he was being treated as an honored guest—while not ideal—was certainly not the worst outcome. If anything, it was a relatively favorable position. Jin convinced himself that it was a fair trade for the information he had gained.
“But still, to think this continent is so starved of magi-type resources...”
This was the new information he had just gathered. It wasn't just magi-crystals that were rare; even basic magi-stones were hardly ever mined here.
“No wonder magi-devices are so expensive.”
The bath heater in Taji Village was apparently a relic from the pioneering days. Now that the country was isolated, such items might be impossible to replace if they were lost.
“Even the golem Lorenz owned was a military surplus unit....Or rather, perhaps it was a strategic investment for his role as an informant.”
With the historical context and the nation's current state now clear, many pieces of the puzzle were falling into place.
“Since there are so few magi, I wonder if the Jagus Principality originated from Mitsuho or Fusou Island?”
Paerova hadn't known the answer to that, so Jin would likely have to wait until he reached the royal capital for an answer.
“And the Pandor Continent... it turns out this is the same landmass people on the Lauren Continent used to call the Pandor Continent.”
Perhaps the name had drifted over the centuries, or perhaps the colonists had simply adapted it to their own tongue.
“Regardless, the probability that I am in the future of Ars has increased significantly.”
If that were the case, another question weighed on his mind.
“According to my memory, the Lashier Continent was much closer to the Pandor Continent than the Lauren Continent... I wonder why they chose to colonize this side instead.”
It was possible they had colonized the Lashier Continent as well. Or perhaps Lashier was resource-poor, or home to dangerous beasts that made it unsuitable for settlement.
“...Either way, that’s not the main issue.”
He couldn't solve that mystery through thought alone, so he set it aside for later. The question that troubled him most was...
“...What has happened to Hourai Island?”
This was the crux of the matter. As their creator, Jin believed that if Laojun were still active, he would have detected Jin's mana and attempted some form of contact. Yet, more than twenty days had passed since his arrival in this world without a single sign. Jin was forced to confront the implications.
“Has it broken down or shut down for some reason?”
It was a painful thought, and one he found difficult to accept. He didn't believe the Hourai Island he had built so meticulously would simply fail.
“If so, then why...?”
The most plausible explanation was hibernation. Since Jin was gone and no longer required its services, the island might have ceased all non-essential functions and entered a deep sleep until it was needed again.
“That sounds like something Laojun would do.”
But Elsa was there, and the Jin Family was there. And eventually, Jin's children and their descendants. How could the island ever become unnecessary?
“I suppose I won't find the answer just by thinking about it. In that case, the next goal isn't just establishing a base, but finding a way to Hourai Island... no.”
If this really was the Pandor Continent he remembered, then going to Mitsuho should lead him to a Warp Gate, Jin reconsidered.
“In any case, I need to find a way to cross the sea.”
Finally, a concrete goal had begun to take shape.