Chapter 807
Episode 200: The Secret of the Bivement Royal Family (Part 2)
Beneath the uninhabited island where the Bivement royal family was in hiding, there existed a passage leading to the underground world.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a tunnel descending into a true underworld or demon realm, but rather a corridor connecting to the “intermediate layer”—a realm inhabited by beings like Ameris after the world had split in two.
This passage wasn’t created by the royal family, nor by the current rulers of the island, the Lutero Federation. It was a path forged long ago by the Cheongmyeong tribe during the height of the ancient Sun War. Back then, each dominant faction had constructed such passages, many of which still remained scattered across the world today.
Among the surface dwellers, only the royal family was aware of this fact. Ameris, due to memory distortions caused by his sealing, had forgotten the existence of these passages.
“Since I sensed the Great Serpent awakening, fortunately, the worst-case scenario we feared hasn’t come to pass. Had the Great Serpent’s memories and powers remained intact, none of the sealed races in the intermediate layer would have survived,” Airan said with a smile after Bivol left.
Airan’s confidence in Ameris’s weakened state was based on the reckless behavior of the Jeokmyeong tribe in the mortal realm. Their strength, powers, and memories were all incomplete.
The same applied to the Jeokmyeong.
While it was true that Jin’s military might was closest to the pinnacle of the mortal realm, if it had been the prime era of Rakiman and the Red Fleet, the battles wouldn’t have been so one-sided. At the very least, they could have mounted a decent resistance.
“That’s right, Your Majesty. It’s a great stroke of luck for us that the Jeokmyeong were immediately put on the defensive upon awakening. Even those arrogant and brutal bastards won’t be able to refuse the hand we extend,” Airan continued.
“If we can successfully acquire their technology through this deal, replicating it will no longer be a dream. Moreover, if we begin searching for the buried Cheongmyeong now, we might even awaken Eltiot… The empire will rise again! It will stand tall as an eternal empire no one can destroy!”
The royal family’s voices brimmed with excitement.
Since ancient times, they had endured humiliations that felt eternal, all for survival and the chance to seize opportunity. Throughout those long years, they had never once ruled as an overwhelming power.
In ancient times, they were treated like insects by mighty tribes like the Jeokmyeong and Cheongmyeong. Even after the “Great Sealing,” as civilizations rose and fell on the surface, they barely survived extinction.
Eventually, they founded Bivement, but as current human history proved, Bivement had never truly achieved the absolute stature befitting an empire.
That was because of monsters like Runkandel and Ziphl. Ziphl’s sudden appearance threatened the empire’s very existence, and just when survival seemed impossible, Runkandel appeared.
For another thousand years after that, the empire had walked a precarious tightrope, wary of both sides, with only the oldest members of the royal family managing to stay hidden.
Thus, the Bivement royals desired only one thing:
Complete and secure survival.
The power to reign alone over the world was the most crucial means to that end. They had no interest whatsoever in the resurrection of the Sun God.
In fact, they were determined to prevent it at all costs. If the Sun God were to be reborn, they would once again be doomed to live as insignificant insects, bound by their fated roles.
“As soon as Bivol returns, we will begin searching for the buried Cheongmyeong. Inspect all regional passages. Our enemies—especially Runkandel—can use Ameris’s and the record mage’s abilities, so they will soon learn of the buried Cheongmyeong’s existence. We must secure them first.”
“Understood, Your Majesty!”
“If the deal with the Jeokmyeong succeeds, the surface situation will change rapidly. The Jeokmyeong will rage like mad… But amidst that reckless upheaval, we will be the ones who never lose our footing. We will be the last to survive, as always.”
As the royals dispersed, Airan remained alone in the conference room, gazing out the window. A cool breeze was blowing.
October 8, 1803.
It had been exactly one week since Jin drove the Jeokmyeong attackers from the Kinzello Third Branch. Since that day, the Jeokmyeong had not appeared in the mortal realm—at least, not as far as the Balmel Union, Ziphl, and Kinzello knew.
In truth, the Jeokmyeong had ceased hunting on the surface but had already met with Airan in person to finalize their deal, brokered by Rakiman and Simat.
The Jeokmyeong and the royal family had already exchanged significant benefits. The Jeokmyeong, using the blood of humans sent by Airan and ancient buried ones, quickly opened a second fortress, while the royal family was developing weapons using their technology.
All of this had happened beyond the watchful eyes of the great powers—a privilege reserved for those who controlled the intermediate layer.
“Beradin has been making quite bold moves since ascending as Gaju,” Jin remarked as he scanned the news reports.
Every day brought a new scoop: Beradin’s rise to Gaju, the rebellion of Kelliak behind it, the underground world, the emergence of Ameris and the Jeokmyeong, and Jin’s role in awakening them.
All these stories were now public.
“Ziphl’s journalists have been consistently pushing the narrative that Gongja is awakening underground forces to threaten the world,” Kashimir said.
Jin nodded.
“It feels like they’re trying to justify war. Since I was the first to threaten the world, Ziphl’s attacks on Runkandel and the Balmel Union are framed as self-defense.”
“Even after witnessing Gongja and Toushin’s power in the Battle of the Fierce Gods, and our union’s strength, they still act this way… They must have some backing—probably related to the Demon God Stone or Ziphl’s sacred grounds.”
Naturally.
Jin wanted to delay the war as long as possible. He wanted to complete the Golden Fleet, rescue his brothers from Laprarosa, and see Murakan return.
If possible, he wanted to start the war only after ascending to Changseong. A war fought under those conditions wouldn’t be one of blood, madness, and scars, but a true overwhelming victory.
If they could completely dominate their enemies, they could reshape the world without unnecessary death and destruction.
In other words, they could fight while protecting the lives of ordinary people as much as possible.
That was impossible for now, and they had to face a severely disadvantageous battle. Among all factions on the surface and underground, only the Balmel Union cared about civilians.
“Beradin knows exactly what worries me most: the deaths of comrades and innocent people. If war breaks out quickly, I will lose a lot—even if we win.”
He had already lived through those nightmares firsthand in the Battle of the Fierce Gods.
A war between great powers would bring even greater sacrifices. The entire world would become a battlefield, and the victor would face a desolate landscape unlike any before.
That weighed heavily on Jin’s heart.
The burden he bore as a time traveler.
He recalled the last words left to him by Ron, who ascended to Changseong in the past, delivered through Dante just before his death.
—“It’s not your fault,” he had said. Words meant for both Ron and Jin.
“Right… None of this may be my fault, but that doesn’t mean I can turn away. No matter what happens, I have to keep moving forward and do my part. I have to become the best this world can have.”
The effort to become the world’s best.
That alone pushed away the chaos inside him. Like a person who had just shaken off a nightmare, Jin changed his expression and met the eyes of his comrades.
“The war will start soon. Even if it’s not a full-scale conflict, localized battles are inevitable. Even if not Beradin, once the Jeokmyeong recover, they’re very likely to begin more aggressive activities in the mortal realm. After defeating them, Valeria investigated the Kinzello Third Branch and found that not only Ziphl but also remnants of the royal family had sent people there.”
“There was intelligence that Ziphl has been searching for the royal family remnants as well,” Quikantel said, pointing to a report.
“Not just Ziphl—we’ve been tracking them continuously since the fake Yona incident, using every possible method, including Valeria’s record magic. Yet, we’ve never caught a trace. It’s possible they’re hiding somewhere other than the surface.”
“I agree, Quikantel. Those mystics must have some hidden ability. If it’s related to the underground, this could be their opportunity.”
“As far as I know, the royal family holds no such secrets… Hmm. But considering that after Amir’s death, Airan Bivement suddenly inherited power, the previous emperor might have been a mere figurehead.”
Alongside Ziphl and the royal family, Kinzello was also a problem.
[Zephyrin—the demon dragon—is almost certainly one of my heads. When Zephyrin awakens, he will regain some memories and power from that era. Though his lost self won’t return fully intact. In any case, he won’t be a force trying to prevent the Sun God’s resurrection.]
“I hope he regains only a fraction of that power and authority. Or that Zephyrin’s unconsciousness isn’t connected to Ameris.”
[The latter would be ideal, but don’t get your hopes up.]
Just as Zephyrin finished speaking, the communication device in the conference room glowed blue and emitted a resonant tone.
{Governor! Urgent news!}
As soon as the message came through, Luet’s voice was heard.
“Speak, Chief Steward.”
{The Jeokmyeong have attacked Ziphl.}
“…What? Not Kinzello, but Ziphl?”
{Six hours ago, Ziphl’s second-class magic tower in Lamatan was bombarded by a Jeokmyeong fleet. Ziphl is currently on a wartime footing.}
The Runcandel and Bamel alliance had naturally assumed that once the Akmyeong tribe resumed their activities on the surface, Kinzello would be their primary target.
But instead, they boldly went after Jiple—a move no one, except the royal family, had anticipated.
“The fact that they’ve restarted operations this quickly… it looks like someone’s been helping them,” Jin said, narrowing his eyes. If it wasn’t a ploy by Jiple himself, then the most likely culprit was the remaining faction of the royal family.