“We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.”

  — Carl Sagan, Cosmos

  The borders of the Kingdom of Artarstan were shrouded in ice year-round. Half the land was covered in snow for half the year, and the other half was buried under it for the entire year.

  People praised the King of Artarstan as the 'Guardian of the Frozen Land' or the 'Emperor of the Tundra.' But to the north of the frozen lands, it was so cold that nothing existed. Therefore, there was nothing to guard, nothing to protect.

  Among other kingdoms, the title was mocked.

  'A sentinel guarding a useless block of ice.'

  The King of that land, Kal Batur III.

  His official title was long enough to fill a sheet of parchment.

  By the Grace of God and the Protection of Eternal Ice, King of the Kingdom of Artarstan, Ruler of the Frozen Lands, Conqueror of the Ice-free Port, Successor of Tarhan, Blood of the Khan, Guardian of the North, Lord of the Tarus River, Father of the People of the Snowfields, Master of the Hunters of Artar Plateau, and Protector of the Tart Holy Land, Kal Batur III.

  But the King heard another name far more often. The name whispered by foreign envoys as they tilted their wine glasses.

  ' The Ice Beggar.'

  A king of a nation with no gold mines, no ruins. A kingdom that couldn't even import grain in winter because trade routes froze over.

  The King knew the mockery well. So he always thought: Someday, I will make them shut their mouths.

  Artarstan was rich in resources. Methane seeped from the ground, and refined iron was excavated. But even those places froze for half the year, making development difficult. The only things viable year-round were leather and timber, but trade routes were blocked by ports and roads that froze for half the year.

  Blocked trade routes meant difficulty in securing funds, which led to a vicious cycle of being unable to secure an Ice-free Port (Sangsi Port). Furthermore, the warm equatorial regions, where civilization layers were well-formed, often crumbled helplessly against invasions by other kingdoms that had excavated ruins.

  His father, Selkuru II, had been anxious about being left out of such colonial wars. The King, raised under him, added one more title on his coronation day, embodying his fervent wish.

  'Conqueror of the Ice-free Port.'

  A dream his ancestors failed to achieve. From the day he became King, he had run toward that dream.

  No neighboring country would welcome a nation openly building an army through trade. So, he first created someone to generate funds in secret. Kadan, the half-brother of the Northern Margrave. He was a man with a twisted sense of humiliation regarding his birth. The reason he obeyed his brother, the Margrave, wasn't because he was his brother, but because he was a noble.

  To such a man, the King made a promise. Secure an Ice-free Port, and I will grant you that port as your fiefdom and bestow upon you the title of Marquis.

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  Backed by the King, Kadan pioneered southern trade routes under the guise of a leather merchant and monopolized the northern leather business. Kadan’s acumen was formidable; he absorbed all competitors through threats and bribery. The King supported his moves and secretly funded the war chest from behind. He married off his sisters to other nations to secure allies.

  Then one day, contact came from Kadan.

  > From: Kadan Erdenei

  > Subject: Application for Confirmation of Ruins Ownership

  > Discoverers: Eren Kai Liro, Ari Noa Velan

  > Location: Frozen Land Sector (Currently mapping astronomical coordinates)

  > Special Note: Currently operating as heating elements

  > Attachment: Notarized documents with 3 witnesses pursuant to the Hardin Law

  > Request: Urgent recognition of ownership and commencement of exploration required to claim undiscovered artifacts for the Kingdom.

  >

  The King’s heart pounded. A kingdom with no gold mines, no ruins. Finally, an opportunity had come to that kingdom.

  He issued orders immediately. Issue the ownership certification documents and spare no support for the excavation of the ruins.

  Some time later, artifacts excavated from the ruins arrived at the royal palace. The King set aside all other matters and headed to the audience chamber. Ministers were lined up on either side, and in the center lay an object resembling a short, thick cylinder. The King looked down at it.

  Yellow paint worn by time on the surface. Black symbols interspersed here and there. It looked far shabbier than he had imagined.

  "Is this the artifact?"

  Disappointment seeped into the King's voice.

  "It looks too ordinary. Explain it."

  The King sought Kadan as he spoke. He soon found him standing next to the artifact. Dressed in finery as if accustomed to the palace, Kadan exchanged nods with the ministers before stepping forward immediately upon hearing the King’s words.

  "Your Majesty."

  Kadan bowed politely.

  "Even ancient artifacts cannot escape the flow of time. Please look not at its form, but at the time it has endured."

  The King asked the question he was most curious about.

  "I heard it works. What does that mean?"

  "Would you like to touch the artifact?"

  The King slowly placed his hand on the rough surface of the cylinder. Instantly, his eyes widened. A gentle warmth, incongruous with the bitter cold outside, was felt. It was a heat radiating from the object itself, distinct from indoor heating.

  "It... generates heat on its own?"

  Murmurs arose among the ministers.

  "Isn't there fuel or fire inside?"

  A minister asked with a wary look. Kadan smiled and led the minister to the cylinder.

  "As you know, fire needs air holes to burn. But look. Is there a single hole?"

  Kadan elegantly spread his hand, clad in thick fur, pointing at the artifact.

  "This is a great blessing for Your Majesty."

  At that, the ministers present shouted in unison.

  "This is a great blessing for Your Majesty!"

  The King clenched his fist slightly.

  Finally.

  A kingdom with no gold mines, no ruins. That kingdom had finally obtained something that could overwhelm other nations.

  "How many are in the ruins?"

  "Your Majesty."

  Kadan opened a list.

  "The total number of cylinders excavated so far is 3,452. Unfortunately, not all cylinders emit heat. Some could not withstand the passage of time. However, thanks to Your Majesty’s grace as vast as the sea, there are 1,205 functioning artifacts like this one."

  Gasps erupted among the ministers. Objects that generate heat without fire in a land of cold. And over a thousand of them.

  Batur quietly opened his mouth.

  "The discoverers have now earned their rightful due. As the legitimate successor and rightful ruler of this country, I recognize their ownership. However, I wish to purchase the rights for the proper use and research of these artifacts. What do you think?"

  "It is a proper and just action, but a matter to ask the owner."

  Kadan pointed to Eren, who was standing nearby, looking slightly nervous. Batur’s gaze turned to Eren.

  "Oho... Were you the discoverer? Why have you remained so quiet?"

  Eren answered cautiously.

  "I feared that my ignorance of royal etiquette might inadvertently offend Your Majesty, so I entrusted the speaking to Kadan."

  He paused to catch his breath and asked.

  "Are you considering purchasing the entire lot?"

  The King nodded silently. Eren thought for a moment. There was nothing bad about trading with the King. The quantity was vast, and managing and selling them on his own would be a daunting task.

  "I am merely grateful for Your Majesty's grace."

  Eren bowed his head deeply.