199: Different place, different mindset, right?

In front of the Great Dorn Bridge, a huge crowd of townspeople had gathered.

When the first city wall of Goldendorn was completed, the Great Dorn River had been located a short distance from the town. But as the town expanded day by day, it had now grown all the way to the river’s edge.

The area centered on the Great Dorn Bridge had become a new enclosed zone, encompassing docks for steamships and much more.

Thanks to the massive influx of immigrants and refugees, and the need to provide them with work, the city wall and the bridge had been built by an enormous workforce—so much so that what had once seemed like a national-scale project was now finished in just a short time.

Alchemically hardened stone had certainly played a big role. But what truly pushed forward this frontier expansion was the collective effort of every resident of Goldendorn.

And it wasn’t just locals gathered here. People from the Mizoho Shrine Nation, who had fled here for safety, were among the crowd too.

We took them in as refugees in Goldendown, but Mizuho’s craftsmen were all skilled. Not only that, but the people of Mizuho were also mostly dexterous and serious-minded, contributing greatly to the quick completion of the great bridge.

It was a pleasant surprise that, with most of the Mizuho people working on the great bridge, they quickly got on well with the residents of Golden Dune.

Kyle stepped onto the great bridge, and the crowd erupted in cheers so loud it felt like it might split the sky.

Evah, who was nearby, carried Kyle's voice to the golden dune.

I cast the spell of wide-range amplification.

I thought it was my own original spell, but Eva—now bearing the Sage’s (Wise Man’s) sigil—can apparently use it just by whispering it normally.

Kyle began with a stiff bow, naming the nobles who’d funded him as he offered his thanks.

Next, the king’s valet, Van, praised Lord Eriksil, the Marquis of the Frontier, and awarded him a medal.

When Van said "Inferno Dragon Wing Medal," the nobles present nearly screamed—so much so I noticed their shock. Later, I found out it was an honor so rare even dukes rarely received it.

Yeah. Kyle’d totally deserve that.

After the ceremony ended, Kyle stepped back onto the dais. He finished his speech as a noble, as a lord. Then, his address to the people began.

"Beyond the people of the Eriksil Frontier Domain, I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone living within our lands. I’m proud of you all—your unwavering support, your full effort, when the Empire’s invasion was suddenly announced just months ago, and we were tasked with strengthening our defenses."

They’d just nodded along with a “huh” when it was about thanking nobles and such, but when he turned and thanked them directly, the crowd erupted.

The cheers rang so loud they could’ve reached the clouds.

“This city of Elquisil was built on a dangerous frontier. But thanks to all of you, it’s become a safe place to live. Still, frontier settlement has only just begun.”

Yeah. Golden Dune is now a magnificent city, protected by multiple layers of walls. But step just a little outside, and you’re in a wild that’s still full of deadly monsters. We’re not done with the frontier just because we’ve cleared the nearby areas.

“Today, Elquisil has reached a major turning point. It’s something they said was impossible—crossing the Great Dune River!”

Whoa! The crowd went wild.

"On reaching this day, we owe much not only to our own people, but also to the citizens of the Mizoho Shrine Nation. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all!"

A roar so loud it felt like the sky itself was trembling echoed through the blue heavens.

The crowd still buzzing with excitement, Zaid stepped forward to quiet them down. The villagers gradually hushed, muttering under their breaths.

Man, he really fits the role of a villain.

Once things had settled a bit, Zaid continued with the ceremony.

"Then, we shall now cut the ribbon."

Van led the way, followed by the nobles lining up before the long ribbon stretched across. Near the back, Kyle and I followed suit.

Kyle probably wanted me beside him, but Zaid shot that down—rightly so.

I’m flattered, but sitting between Van and Kyle, leaving the nobles in the dust? Not happening! Zaid, solid call.

When everyone was handed scissors brought in on the festival day, a fanfare blared.

At the precise moment we’d rehearsed, we cut the ribbon—music swelled to its peak, cheers reached their height.

Watching the faces of the townspeople, beaming with joy, I made up my mind to keep pushing forward.

◆

It was supposed to be an opening ceremony, not a completion one—but with the imperial army advancing, holding an event on the bridge now seemed ill-advised. It got canceled.

Leifan sighed, grumbling.

“Had all kinds of plans—marathon, food stalls, you know…”

Just then, Nobuna, who’d been passing by, joined in.

“Ah, so you had something planned?”

"Yeah. Figured folks who brag about their stamina or their legs could make it back and forth in half a day—bridge’s just about the length of a regular carriage ride in a day."

A day’s journey by common carriage. Maybe half a day if it’s one of the Goldendown-bred horses they raise and sell.

On foot, slow and steady, two days at best.

"Come to think of it… that’s an insane distance for a bridge…"

"We all pushed hard. And the public opening’s just postponed. Once we’ve driven the imperial forces out, we’ll hold it."

"Got no intention of losing, right?"

"That’s exactly why we’re preparing."

"The Mizoho Shrine Nation won’t hold back on helping."

"Count on it. Speaking of which—how are the citizens holding up? Any complaints?"

The Mizoho residents who fled here are treated like refugees, housed in high-rise apartment buildings built along the city walls.

There were thousands of empty rooms to begin with, but even a small country like this couldn’t handle every single resident fleeing here. At first, some of them had to sleep in the castle’s great hall, piled up like firewood. The reaction from the Mizoho citizens was something else.

Most of them were just grateful to have a roof over their heads, eager to head into the big hall. But Nobuna’s warriors? They’re like, “The great hall’s ours. You go rent a room. We’re the ones who should be sleeping rough—we’re the ones who failed. We’re the broken soldiers. We don’t deserve comfort.”

And then the citizens? They’re like, “What are you saying?! You’re the ones who saved our lives! Just being alive is enough for us! Please, sir, you go rest in a proper room!” And that’s how the shouting match started.

Honestly, the people of Mizuho are something else. Even the tightly knit residents of Golden Dune would’ve had a few complaints if they’d been in the same spot.

In the end, the samurai held firm. Everyone just started crashing out in the great hall. The locals ended up cramming us into the high-rise apartments, no choice.

Ten people in a room built for four.

Now that the expansion’s finished, we can actually assign everyone to a normal-sized room.

“Nobody’s complaining. Most of the citizens used to live in tenements—basically huts grouped together. They’re actually happy the rooms are bigger now.”

“Those migrant housing units are pretty cramped, though.”

Well, they’re free, so yeah, the single rooms are tight.

"Still, they're a bit bigger than the dorm rooms. Best part? We’ve got running water now. Toilets on every floor. Everyone’s shocked by that."

"Good. Glad you’re not complaining."

"Not complaining. But I hear people saying they miss home all the time."

Leifan’s face darkens. He’s remembering the nomad settlement destroyed by Hydra.

"Yeah, it’s fine. Everyone’s fired up, heading back to their old homes. Chopping down the Empire’s roots, building like mad, right?"

"Chopping down the roots?"

"Means killing them all."

"Whoa! Let’s not go full slaughter, okay?!"

"Come on. They came here to kill us. They knew the risk. Should’ve expected it."

"No way. They don’t think they’ll lose, not for a second."

Shit! The Mizoho citizens are polite, skilled, and hardworking—but when it comes to fighting, they’re outright savage! More belligerent than those lizardmen!

"We’re gonna take down the imperial army, but Kyle’s got no plans to wipe ‘em out!"

"Kyle’s really kind, you know. Make sure everyone hears that."

"Please, for the love of all that’s holy, make them listen!"

After that, it got properly spread around. Still, I was shaken, no lie.

Mizoho Shrine Nation… yeah. Definitely not a country to mess with.

I finally understood the terror of a small nation that’s survived for ages.

Feedback: "..." in the order of the comments.

Actually, I’ve been trying lately to make it clear who’s speaking before the quote, changing up the style a bit.

Probably started doing it around chapter six.

You know how sometimes you're reading a novel, hear a line in your head, think it's character A talking, and then—bam—it's actually character B? Happens all the time.

So I figured, if I'm gonna write it, might as well fix the parts I find hard to read. I started giving each character their own way of speaking. Made it stickier, more distinct.

This style—plain text first—is one of the newer tricks I’ve picked up.

So if you’re reading it now and think, “Ah, this is what they’re doing now,” that’d be nice.

Did I make it a bit easier to follow?

Would love to hear your thoughts.