Genjitsushugisha no Oukokukaizouki - Volume 18 - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: The Moment the Era Changed

As the Great Tiger Empire’s forces were about to arrive on the fields of Parnam, the scouts they’d sent ahead saw clusters of field camps and forts built to defend the capital, as well as the waiting forces of the Kingdom of Friedonia. It was similar to how the Western Army in the Battle of Sekigahara deployed in a formation that would engulf the advancing Eastern Army.

However, unlike the Western Army in Sekigahara, which was a mishmash of differing military forces without a common goal, the Kingdom of Friedonia’s army was united in its desire to protect the country under the command of Souma and Liscia. The Western Army couldn’t properly use their formation because of allies who betrayed them or refused to fight, but the Kingdom’s forces could put this semiencirclement formation to good use.

Hearing about the formation from his scouts, Fuuga asked Hashim, “The Kingdom’s army didn’t shut itself inside Parnam Castle?”

“The castle’s round walls are ill-suited to defense. If you consider both sides have tens of thousands of men at their disposal, fighting the decisive battle in the open field makes sense,” Hashim said with a calm expression. “However, I would have expected them to meet us in battle at Red Dragon City...”

“Hmm. Looks like they pulled us in this far for a reason.”

“A reason?” Mutsumi cocked her head to the side.

“Yeah.” Fuuga nodded. “If there wasn’t, Souma’s retainers wouldn’t have gone against his wishes and given their lives to buy him time like that. There’s gotta be a good enough reason for them to have done it.”

Fuuga viewed Owen and Herman’s actions in a serious light. Souma wasn’t the type to order his retainers to their deaths. The way his men had fought at those two bases—prepared to blow themselves up to delay the enemy—must have been a decision they’d made for themselves out of loyalty.

Turning that around, there must have been something that made his retainers think, If we sacrifice ourselves here, the Kingdom can definitely win, and, Our sacrifices won’t have been in vain.

After watching the Kingdom’s forces for some time, Fuuga gave his orders.

“All forces. Get in position. They aren’t going to come here to attack us when they’re already holding advantageous positions. Keep your guards up, and be ready to launch a general offensive at any moment.”

“Yes, sir!”

The Empire’s forces got into formation and entered the fields where the Kingdom’s forces were waiting.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Souma... It’s almost time, huh?” Liscia murmured from beside me.

I watched from the main camp, near Parnam, with Liscia, Aisha, and Naden as the Great Tiger Empire’s forces entered the plains. For this battle, we wouldn’t be shutting ourselves inside the castle. That was partially because Parnam Castle wasn’t well suited to defend, but also because the city’s structure, reaching as far as the walls, was part of the magic circle used to summon a hero.

It might only be able to be activated once every several centuries, but generations after I was gone, they might need to summon someone from Earth in the past once again. To make sure it was still possible when that time came, I needed to avoid any heavy damage to the summoning system. Thus, I’d built defensive fortifications in the fields and prepared to meet the enemy.

“All right,” Liscia said to herself, thrusting her rapier into her belt. “Well, Souma. I’m off.”

Per Liscia’s request, she would lead an army, just like she had in the Amidonian War. I was officially in charge of this war, but Ludwin would be giving commands. Defense Force Commander-in-Chief Excel had an important role to play, so we decided that Ludwin would direct the entire army, with Kaede as his advisor.

The army was split into east, central (south), and west groups. The eastern side was commanded by Liscia, the western side was commanded by Weist Garreau, and the center was commanded by Julius.

Because this was a battle between two much larger forces than those in the Amidonian War, the decisions made in the field were vital. We couldn’t afford to leave Liscia, who had the ability to command, sitting in reserve in the main camp.

Looking at Liscia, who seemed so dependable in battle mode, I said, “I know you wouldn’t stop if I asked you to, so I won’t, but don’t push yourself.”

“I ought to say the same to you. You’re always getting yourself into trouble.”

“You think?”

“In the refugee camp, you rushed out to protect Juno from those ruffians, and then in the Amidonian War, you were almost killed by Gaius VIII. From what I hear, you acted recklessly during the demon wave, when you fought Ooyamizuchi, and when you saved Maria. All that despite not being very strong.”

“Urkh... I’ve got no argument.”

Having been together as long as we had, she knew all my weaknesses.

Liscia chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect it all—our family, our house, and our country.”

“You’re one gutsy mom.”

“Aisha, Naden. Take care of Souma for me.”

“Yes, ma’am! Understood.”

“Roger that.”

Nodding with satisfaction at their responses, Liscia left the main camp.

Liscia, Aisha, Naden, and Yuriga—as well as Roroa, Maria, and Juna, who weren’t here—were working in their own ways. So that our family, including the kids who were in Venetinova, could all meet together in one place again someday.

Today, I’m bringing Fuuga’s era to a close.

◇ ◇ ◇

At the same time, in the main camp, at Ludwin’s command station, Ludwin, Kaede, and Julius were reviewing the strategy together one last time. Kaede’s partner, Halbert, and his other partner, Ruby, were also in attendance.

Kaede pointed at a map of the battlefield. “If His Majesty’s plan comes to fruition, the Great Tiger Empire’s forces will gradually lose momentum. Until then, we have to hold this half-encirclement formation and defend it so that the Empire’s forces can’t advance any farther. We must fight this field battle as if it were a siege battle, you know.”

“Yeah,” said Ludwin. “Thanks to Kaede and her earth mages, we already have bases to defend and tunnels connecting them. If we focus solely on defending, we should be able to hold them off.”

“I suppose so...” Julius nodded.

However, despite his verbal agreement, he had a troubled look.

“Sir Julius. Is something the matter?” asked Ludwin.

“No...I think we’ve done more than enough preparation for any ordinary battle. But knowing that Fuuga and Durga have a way of turning such things on their heads...it’s hard to feel at ease. Despite our preparedness.”

“I see where you’re coming from...” Ludwin nodded with satisfaction. “He’s a single individual who’s able to change the battlefield through his own feats of bravery, after all.”

If Fuuga came charging in on Durga’s back, this formation wouldn’t have the defensive power to stop them. They’d deployed antiair repeating bolt throwers to create a situation in which it was harder to send Fuuga to the front line for fear of him getting injured, but if they put the Empire’s forces in a position in which fielding him became necessary, then he would come regardless.

And if Souma’s plan worked, Fuuga’s side would definitely find itself pushed into a corner.

“A wounded beast can be incredibly frightening, you know,” Kaede murmured, capturing the grave atmosphere in the room.

“And that’s what we’re here for, isn’t it?” Halbert said, thumping his chest confidently and dispelling that atmosphere. “If Fuuga shows his face, then me, Ruby, and the elites of the Mobile Wyvern Cavalry will stop him with everything we’ve got. It’s the whole reason we were deployed here as an anti-Fuuga unit.”

The combination of Durga and Fuuga could turn the tides of any battle by itself. The former was faster and more agile than the dragons of the Star Dragon Mountain Range, and the latter was a better warrior than Aisha and could fire lightning bolts on the same level as Naden’s. This was why Souma and the others saw them as the greatest threat. For this reason, a special unit had been formed centered around Halbert and Ruby with the Mobile Wyvern Cavalry, and their sole mission was to counter Fuuga.

“Captain Castor’s keeping half of the enemy’s air force busy over in Red Dragon City. That means we can throw everything we’ve got at stopping Fuuga.”

“Yes. I’m not about to let that big cat do whatever it likes.” Ruby nodded in agreement with Halbert. Being a dragon who carried a knight, she apparently felt a rivalry with Fuuga’s mount, Durga.

Kaede looked worriedly at the two of them.

“I know I shouldn’t say this as one responsible for giving orders in this operation, but still... Don’t be reckless. If the war ends and we win, but you two are gone, leaving me alone with Bill... I’ll cry, you know.”

Hearing Kaede speak to them not as their commander but as family, Halbert and Ruby both nodded.

“Yeah! Let’s all make it back home with smiles on our faces.”

“I agree. You let me hold Bill, so I won’t be dying until I let you hold the child I’ll be having with Hal.”

“Hee hee, Velza must be worried too. Let’s all make it back home smiling.”

Ludwin and Julius looked at one another and smiled wryly.

“Now I suddenly find myself wanting to see Genia.”

“Likewise, Sir Ludwin. Let’s put this war behind us and hurry to Venetinova to pick up Tia and Tius.”

They each reaffirmed their commitment while thinking of their loved ones.

At this point, Commander-in-Chief Excel showed up. They all stood up straight at her arrival. Excel smiled at the five of them, producing a fan from the sleeve of her usual frilly outfit and pointing it in their direction.

“It’s time. Now then, people, let’s have you all get to your positions.”

“““Yes, ma’am!”””

The five answered Excel’s quiet words with a salute.

◇ ◇ ◇

The Great Tiger Empire’s forces began deploying into position so they could attack the Kingdom’s defending forces...

“I-I have a report!” A messenger shouted as they rushed into Fuuga’s main camp. “The Kingdom’s camps have begun making massive orbs of water!”

Hearing this, Fuuga and the others stepped outside their tent. They looked up to find great balls of water floating in midair. But the balls were more than mere water—they appeared to be receivers used in fountain plazas across the continent. It seemed Souma was intending to use them for a broadcast.

“So you’ve still got something to say this late in the game, Souma...?” Fuuga murmured.

Soon enough, Souma appeared on the receivers in his military uniform.

“This is an announcement for everyone seeing this image,” he began. “I am the king of the United Kingdom of Elfrieden and Amidonia, and leader of the Maritime Alliance, Souma E. Friedonia.”

Fuuga was perplexed by Souma’s words. The people of the Kingdom of Friedonia obviously knew him, and Fuuga’s men all saw him as the enemy they needed to defeat. Considering that fact, it was strange to start with an introduction.

Souma wouldn’t take long to explain why he was doing this.

“This image is currently visible in fountain plazas all over the world, and anywhere there is a simple receiver. In other words, this is a worldwide broadcast. The same as what was utilized by the Great Tiger Empire against the former Gran Chaos Empire. They investigated the Gran Chaos Empire’s frequencies in order to hijack them and broadcast the image of Valois surrounded by Great Tiger Empire forces...”

He paused.

“This is more or less the same thing. The difference is that we of the Maritime Alliance have switched our frequencies to those used by the Great Tiger Empire, as identified by our spies. I’ve also informed the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom, Spirit Kingdom of Garlan, and even the Seadians in the far north that I will be broadcasting on this frequency at this time.”

With a bold expression, Souma held up one finger.

“Now, unlike the forces of the Great Tiger Empire, who’ve come all the way to Parnam, the people back home can just turn off the machine and not watch. But let me say...if you watch to the end, it’ll be worth your while. You won’t regret it! What I will reveal will affect all of mankind, whether in the Kingdom of Friedonia or the Great Tiger Empire.”

Souma declared this with absolute confidence.

“Do you wish to charge in at once and disrupt the broadcast?” Hashim asked Fuuga, but Fuuga shook his head.

“I doubt it’d be that easy to stop. We’ll be in more trouble if we’re distracted by his words during the battle. Let’s hear him out for now, as long as he’s not just buying time. But make sure the troops are ready to move at any moment.”

“As you wish.”

The projection of Souma carried on while Fuuga and the others watched.

“Currently, the forces of the Empire have pushed all the way to our capital, Parnam, and they’re in a staredown with my own forces. We’ve been able to conserve our war potential up until this point in order to meet them at our best. The Empire’s morale must be high too, since the future rests on this one battle. It will be an intense struggle, I’m sure... But before that, there’s something I want you to hear. Oh, by the way, I’m not about to start talking about the morality of launching an invasive war of aggression at this point.”

Souma gave a performative shrug.

“I know there’s no point in that. I could condemn it, but the people enraptured by the great man, Fuuga, wouldn’t listen to a word I said. They’re only interested in seeing the conclusion to his epic tale.”

The Empire’s forces were surprised to see Souma demonstrate some understanding of why they had invaded. If you one-sidedly condemned people, they stopped listening. However, if you showed partial understanding, they momentarily set aside their bias and opened their ears.

He’s good at this kind of stuff, thought Fuuga, impressed by Souma’s eloquence. It’s one area in which he’s better than I.

Souma continued.

“A great man, Fuuga Haan, appeared in a small corner of the Union of Eastern Nations—changing a world locked in stagnation. He drove off the demon wave, unified the Union of Eastern Nations, and defeated the massive Gran Chaos Empire while seizing half of its land. All this to build the Great Tiger Empire of Haan, the largest empire our history has ever known. Then he resolved the issue of the Demon Lord’s Domain, which had long tormented mankind, and unveiled the true nature of the Demon Lord and the Seadians.”

Most of those achievements had been accomplished with the cooperation of the Kingdom of Friedonia and the Maritime Alliance, but Souma didn’t say that. It was self-evident to the people of the Maritime Alliance, and he felt as though it would be better not to boast if he wanted the Empire’s citizens to listen to him.

“Now, the time has come to settle things between Fuuga Haan and the last powerful opponent that remains.”

He raised his hand into a thinking pose.

“Many of you must be thinking... ‘Fuuga Haan can go as far as it takes,’ or ‘Fuuga Haan can conquer this continent.’ Perhaps you’re of the mind that ‘once we’re all one country, world peace will come,’ or ‘things are hard now, but we’ll be rewarded once Fuuga dominates the entire continent.’ Those living in countries ravaged by Fuuga might feel ‘it was necessary for this historical achievement.’ And seeing our nation invaded by him, you think, ‘If it’s to realize his grand dream, you can’t really blame him for destroying them.’”

Souma understood the way Fuuga’s supporters felt. It was these kinds of thoughts that led people to support Fuuga, even when his actions were inhumane. So long as their thoughts remained unchanged, Fuuga could rise again, no matter how many times he was defeated. That was proof that he was a great man and the reason he was the favorite child of this era.

“But...that’s all an illusion.”

Souma’s demeanor changed. He looked almost pitying.

“Because even if he does defeat me, and brings the entirety of the Maritime Alliance under his sway, and continues on to subjugate the remaining independents like Nothung and Garlan...that still won’t mean that he’s conquered the world. I want you to see this.”

A map of the world then appeared on the broadcast. It was a familiar map with the diamond-shaped continent, along with the outlying islands of the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago Kingdom and the Spirit Kingdom.

The people of the Empire cocked their heads to the side, wondering what Souma was talking about, but Fuuga alone had his eyes wide open.

“I get it! You’re going to use that information here, Souma!” Fuuga shouted as another map appeared above the first.

The second map was mostly empty, but there was a tiny fragment of land near the bottom center of it with islands scattered around.

Souma didn’t hesitate to identify this newly added blank map.

“You see...north of where we reside here in Landia is another world, mirroring our own in size. This far-off land is known as Seadia. It’s where the people we called demons—the Seadians—came from. Landia and Seadia were cut off from one another by a mysterious magic. However, a hole opened up connecting them, bringing swarms of monsters that threatened this continent and endangering the Seadian refugees.”

The joint declaration on the nature of the Seadians that’d been released by the Maritime Alliance and the Great Tiger Empire had already made public that they were refugees from another world. This is why people understood that the Seadians had come from a place Landians didn’t know, and they could imagine it was somewhere up north in terra incognita. But they never imagined the world of the north could be as large as the world of the south.

People tended to believe the information they could see for themselves. Based on the population of the Seadians, people assumed that whatever nation they’d come from couldn’t be any larger than the islands of the Spirit Kingdom of Garlan. In order to prevent panic, the elites of the Maritime Alliance and the Great Tiger Empire had made no attempt to correct that misconception. And this was why Souma had chosen now to reveal the truth.

This is my proof that Fuuga’s conquest of the continent won’t lead to him conquering the world.

This meant that what mankind had thought was the finish line was no longer that now. They believed that if Fuuga could realize his grand ambition and conquer the continent, that would be the end. The world would be one, Fuuga’s epic story would conclude, and true peace would come to the world. That was why people supported Fuuga even when it was painful, and even if countries had been destroyed or were about to be destroyed, they just had to endure it until he crossed the finish line.

However, that finish line no longer existed...

If his goal was still world domination, even if he brought the Maritime Alliance under his dominion and conquered Landia, the challenging days would continue. Of course, some might ignore Seadia and consider just dominating Landia to be the goal reached. However, that wasn’t a view all of mankind could share.

The people who’d sacrificed for the grand dream couldn’t be satisfied by stopping at some point along the way. Those whose nations had been annexed by the Great Tiger Empire in the name of unifying the world would be indignant, asking what they’d lost their homelands for if he stopped only “halfway.” The people who’d walked this hard road for his dream would be angry, asking what all their efforts had been for.

Souma’s words created a clear divide among Fuuga’s supporters. Of course, Souma understood this, so he went on talking plainly, as if it didn’t concern him.

“From what the Seadians have told us, Seadia is a world overrun with monsters. The demon waves were the result of some of the monsters from that world drifting into this one, so there must be a great number of them indeed. Our lack of information and understanding means there’s no telling what lies in ninety-nine percent of the land there. We can’t rule out that there could be more kaiju like the one that attacked the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago. The gate to that world has been closed, but the monsters and Seadia still exist. If something were to connect the worlds again, it’s possible the same tragedy could be repeated.”

Having said this, Souma raised his right hand to eye level.

“In order to prevent that, the Maritime Alliance believes we must cooperate with the Seadians and advance into Seadia from our side. As a first step towards that, let me show you this video...”

Souma snapped his fingers, and the projected image switched over to a scene of a dense jungle.

The area shown was likely tropical, like the Spirit Kingdom of Garlan. A cacophony of birds could be heard chirping in the background. The viewers felt as if they could feel the heat and humidity from the other side of the projection.

In the forest, four men and women were walking along. They were dressed like an adventuring party consisting of a male swordsman, a male brawler, a female mage, and a male priest. The brawler who was walking at the back, keeping a wary eye behind them, called out to the leader, the swordsman walking at the front.

“It’s so hot... Hey, Dece. Are they really here? Maybe they moved already?”

“This is where the reported sighting was. If they aren’t here, then we need to confirm that and report it.”

The priest walking in front of the brawler turned and chided him.

“It’s dangerous to let your guard down, Augus! There are reams of monsters here that aren’t recorded in the Monster Encyclopedia, after all,” the priest said, tightly holding the encyclopedia of monsters that Ichiha had published as if it were a holy text.

The mage who was walking beside him chuckled. “Ha ha. I know you’re a priest by role, but it’s funny seeing you hold that encyclopedia so preciously. Is it that important to you, Febral?”

“Of course, Julia. This is my bible.”

Dece smiled wryly at this declaration from Febral.

A shadowy figure raced up to the four of them. It was a green-haired female thief.

Dece wasted no time before talking to her. “How was it, Juno?”

“Yeah, they’re here. At two o’clock. We’re downwind of them, so they haven’t noticed us yet.”

The thief, Juno, pointed back in the direction she’d come. The other four nodded with serious expressions on their faces.

Then Juno glanced in another direction, away from the four. The people watching the broadcast felt as though she’d just looked them in the eye.

Dece, the group’s leader, pulled the sword from his belt and told his companions, “Okay, let’s go. It’s hunting time.”

◇ ◇ ◇

These events had happened about a month before the war broke out, while the Kingdom of Friedonia was busy preparing for the coming of the Great Tiger Empire.

Juno had come to Parnam Castle one night. She’d been by so many times she’d lost count, joining King Souma and his queens for secret tea parties. But that wasn’t what she’d come for that day. Souma had used Little Musashibo to contact her and say he had a job for her.

With practiced steps, Juno climbed trees and the walls until she reached the balcony. Souma and Liscia were already there, with tea laid out on the table like always.

Juno furrowed her brow suspiciously at this sight. “Is this the time to be leisurely drinking tea? War’s coming, you know?”

“Yeah?” Souma replied with a hint of resignation in his voice. “You’re right. There’s probably no avoiding war with the Great Tiger Empire.”

“Then this is no time for tea parties,” Juno asserted, deeply concerned. “Don’t waste your time on me.”

“Now, now,” Souma chided her. “The part about us having a job for you is true. Don’t just stand around; have a seat, and let’s discuss it over tea.”

“Come on, Juno, sit down,” Liscia urged. “You’ll have black tea, right?”

“Uh... Sure.”

Juno hesitantly took a seat. While Liscia served tea and coffee, Souma spoke.

“What are the adventurers doing? We’ve broken off our contract with the guild, so I don’t believe adventurers have any responsibility to participate in the war effort.”

“You’re right. From what I’ve heard, most of us are planning to hightail it out of here before the war breaks out,” Juno said. “Though, if the Great Tiger Empire and the Maritime Alliance fight, the whole world will be at war, so nowhere will be safe. People are thinking of going to the countryside, where the fires of war aren’t as likely to spread...”

“I see.”

“Oh, and there are some idiots who want to side with the Great Tiger Empire and make a name for themselves. They must think that if they prove themselves fighting for the aggressors, they’ll be able to reap some tasty benefits.”

Juno gulped down the tea Liscia served her all in one go, then grinned.

“There’s also an even smaller group of even bigger idiots, like us, who’re talking about serving the country as volunteers. There are a good number of adventurers who love this country, even if they don’t have ties to you like I do. After all, it’s a country where they earn good money and never have to worry about missing a meal... Well, if you leave a fanatical worshipper of Ichiha Chima like Febral alone, he’ll help you with everything he’s got.”

“As king, that’s gratifying to hear.”

“I agree. I appreciate the sentiment too,” Liscia added, smiling wryly along with Souma.

They spoke words of gratitude but didn’t seem to want the help. Juno cocked her head to the side, wondering why that was, and Souma awkwardly scratched his cheek.

“The thing is, I have a job proposition for adventurers who are cooperating with us. It’s a far more important quest than joining us on the lines of battle.”

“An important quest?”

“Yeah. So, Juno...” Souma’s expression grew serious. “Could you go ahead of us on an adventure to the world of the north?”

◇ ◇ ◇

As Juno and her party walked through the jungle, a narrator with a deep voice spoke over the footage.

“And now, those adventurers are traversing the undiscovered world of the north.”

Those in the know would have been able to figure out that this deep, somewhat ostentatious voice belonged to Weist Garreau. However, Weist was currently deployed among the defenders in the field outside Parnam, showing this broadcast was different from those that had come before.

“This is the world that the Seadians, the people of the north, were driven from by monsters. It is a world full of many unknowns for us, the people of the south. The chief of the Seadians, Mao, has told us that there are monsters out there so massive that they can change the landscape, giving birth to new islands and erasing others. Thus, our maps will likely be of little use.”

The broadcast showed Juno and the others emerging from the jungle. In the distance, they spotted something. It was red, hairy, and huge—seemingly feeding on a deer the size of a grown man it had presumably killed.

Juno and the party quickly hid in the grass at the sight of it.

“It’s a redbear, just like in the report,” Febrile announced. “They exist on the southern continent too. It doesn’t appear to be a monster, but...it’s still too large.”

Augus sighed. “Redbears are, what, two meters tall at most? That thing looks like it’s at least three meters.”

“It shows that even wild animals grow bigger and stronger here in the lands of the north,” Febral said, to which Dece nodded.

“Only the strong can survive in a world overrun by monsters.”

“Survival of the fittest, huh?” Julia said in a relaxed tone.

Juno’s expression grew tense. “So...what do we do? If that thing is roaming around here, our camp’s in danger.”

Their eyes all gathered on their leader, Dece.

After some time, he said, “Let’s hunt it. It’d be bad if we lost track of it while heading back to report. Massive as it is, it’s still a creature we know how to handle, so we should be more than capable of beating it.”

“Aw, yeah!” Augus clenched his fists as if he’d been waiting for this.

Dece and Augus would walk out in front of the group, drawing the redbear’s attention as they fought it, while Julia and Febral supported them with magic, and Juno would stay in the middle, disrupting the beast so it couldn’t go after her allies in the rear. With those roles decided, they got into position and slowly closed in on the redbear.

Just as Dece raised his left hand to signal them to attack...

“Huh?! Hold on, Dece! Above you!” Juno shouted, noticing something.

The sudden yell made the redbear stop and turn towards Juno and the party. However, given the urgency of Juno’s warning, she didn’t care that the redbear had noticed them.

The members of the party looked up. As they did, they saw something descending rapidly from the sun’s direction.

“Hide!” Dece commanded.

His companions reflexively concealed themselves in the brush. Soon enough, the aerial assailant assaulted the redbear that had been eyeing Juno.

“Gugahhhhh!”

“Gagwagh?!”

The massive creature that had flown down seized the redbear with both legs, forcing the beast to the ground. It then bit into the redbear’s neck as it struggled to escape, twisting and breaking bones with ease. The redbear, killed instantly, remained limp. Its assailant feasted on the remains, which were now no more than a hunk of meat. The thick fur proved no obstacle as it messily stuffed its maw.

As this scene from the wild unfolded, Juno and her party regrouped, trying not to attract the predator’s attention.

“That’s a wyvern, right?! Why’s it so big and strong?!” Juno whispered.

Julia whispered in response, “It looks like five, maybe six people could ride it.”

Febral’s face twitched. “We’re used to seeing domesticated wyverns, but it seems they’re rather high up on the food chain in this world. Since we’ve come here, it’s just been one discovery after another that upsets all our common understandings. My word...”

“So, what now, Dece? Our mission was to investigate the redbear and eliminate it if possible, right?”

Dece thought about Augus’s question a little before shaking his head.

“This is too far outside our expectations. In a situation like this, without any hope of assistance from the other teams, it would be reckless to engage that thing. Even if we managed to overcome it somehow, I doubt we’d have the stamina left to get back to camp afterwards.”

“It’d really suck to kill that wyvern, only to be wiped out by another redbear on the way back!” Juno added.

“Yeah.” Dece nodded in agreement. “Wild wyverns have a wide territory, so it probably won’t linger here. We’ve confirmed the death of the redbear we were targeting. Let’s pull out. We can report what we saw back to headquarters.”

““““Got it.””””

Juno and the party left silently so as not to be detected by the wyvern.

The video continued displaying the wyvern feeding on the redbear for some time, but eventually, it moved to a close-up of Juno’s face.

“Come on, Mr. Little Musashibo! Quit filming; it’s time to scram!”

With that, the video switched. Unlike the tense atmosphere up until this point, there were images of jungles, forests, rivers, waterfalls, and beaches unlike anything the people had ever seen. The video then showed scenes of massive creatures struggling against one another in the vastness of nature as the narration began to speak again.

“This is the land the Seadians were driven from. A land of new horizons that we Landians of the south have never seen. This is a savage world where monsters and other powerful creatures vie for survival, and no one knows what has been left behind.”

The video showed images of a ruin in the jungle and a pyramid sunk beneath the sea. Were there truly such places in the world of the north?

“What awaits us there? Traps? Treasure? What will come to the explorers? Glory or death? No one yet knows the answer. There are no nations here. No kings. No class structure. Only villages of those who have taken the first step. This is a world where anyone can become a great man. If you can win the people’s trust, you can establish a country where you will be king. Or perhaps you will continue to roam in search of adventure.”

The video looked from the high mountains to the jungle below and then to the countless islands beyond. With that, the narrator delivered his final line:

“What will all of you see in this world?”

◇ ◇ ◇

When the video finished, the Great Tiger Empire’s camp was silent.

They would take a little longer to process what they’d just seen. But with time...they would figure it out. The impulse welled up from deep inside them.

I watched them from the main camp of the Kingdom’s army.

“Is that the secret plan you were talking about, Souma?” Naden asked from beside me.

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I used the record and playback functions that became available to me after I met with Mao in order to produce it. It’s a promotional video to invite people to the frontier.”

When I was holding talks with Mao in Mao City, the topic of whether she could release some of what Genia would call “overscience” for us to use had come up. Mao and Madam Tiamat had certain limitations placed on them, so it would be difficult for them to release any technologies they hadn’t created themselves, but they could expand the functionality of the jewels we were already using.

It turned out that the images being broadcast were stored inside the jewel, and it was possible to extract and rebroadcast them. In other words, I could use this recording and playback function. Using this feature, I wanted to make a promotional video that would help shift people’s attention from “conquering the continent” to “advancing into the world of the north.” What I had Mao doing up until the last minute—even using the time Owen and the others bought for me—was editing the video and preparing it for broadcast.

“I’m sure someone out there’s already said, ‘War isn’t a game.’ But there are guys who treat it like one. Fuuga and his supporters probably see his ambition of conquering the continent as one grand game. The sort of thing where conquering the world means you win, and losing means it’s game over.”

“Ah... We warriors often liken victory and defeat to a board game,” Aisha said with some awkwardness, possibly because she could see how it applied to herself.

Well, Caesar himself said, “Alea jacta est,” so it was probably pretty common to compare war to games or gambling. (Disregarding for the moment whether he actually said it in reality.)

When I considered that, I had a thought. Fuuga and his men are playing a simulation game. One modeled on Romance of the Three Kingdoms or the Sengoku period, where you move forces around on the map and attempt to unify the country under your rule...

But in simulation games, there was a pattern. Once your faction grew and you overcame encirclement, it became boring since you would’ve almost finished conquering the land. Being the most powerful force by the late game means you’re just repeatedly stomping on weaker powers, turning the game into a chore. If there happened to be two major powers in the late game, then it devolved into a slog where you had to fight the same enemy repeatedly until they were destroyed.

This was the kind of situation Fuuga and his men were in currently. They’d destroyed nations and had their own countries destroyed, so they had to see it through to the game’s ending. They would defeat the Maritime Alliance, accomplish the grand feat of uniting the continent, and then all their troubles would be rewarded. They just had to hang on until then.

But what if they were presented with a different game?

What would they think if they were playing a simulation game that turned into busy work and saw a promotional video for a hunting action game or one where they could explore an uninhabited land? Wouldn’t they want to play that game instead?

“Whether they win or lose, the game we know as the epic tale of Fuuga is in the process of ending. What will the people of the Great Tiger Empire think if they’re presented with a much more fun game now? Where one can advance into an unknown northern frontier? They’ve been told it’s not just Fuuga’s epic tale waiting for them there, but a story in which any of them could become great men themselves.”

“The more I hear, the nastier this whole scheme of yours sounds,” Naden said with a sour look. “Come to think of it, you sounded like you thought it was distasteful yourself when you said, ‘I’m going to bring an end to Fuuga’s era.’”

“I see how it is... By forcefully bringing about an era in which people no longer need Fuuga, you cause him to lose his superiority as the favored child of this one... This strategy seems entirely focused on taking down Fuuga personally. If the people of the Great Tiger Empire realize that...” Aisha trailed off as she looked at the forces of the Great Tiger Empire.

“Exactly.” I nodded. “Seeing what we’ve shown them, can they still continue this boring game?”

◇ ◇ ◇

Fewer than one percent of those who saw the video Souma showed properly understood the meaning of it. But even those who didn’t understand it still felt something.

The people of the Maritime Alliance and other countries like the Dragon Knight Kingdom that weren’t siding with the Great Tiger Empire likely thought, “Why’s he showing us this now?” They could understand that Souma and the other brains of the Maritime Alliance had some plan for after the war. But in order to carry out whatever that plan was, they would need to do something about the Great Tiger Empire first... There was no point in dreaming about the future until they dealt with the crisis before them. The video did nothing to raise their morale, but it didn’t cause a great deal of confusion either.

On the other hand, the people aligned with the Great Tiger Empire felt a stir within their hearts.

The Great Tiger Empire had grown to a massive state with a large population. All of these people, originally from different countries with different ways of thinking, were currently banded together by Fuuga’s charisma. You could say that the Great Tiger Empire was where people had come together to entrust their dreams to Fuuga’s grand ambition of conquering the continent.

Fuuga understood that, so he’d held up his far-reaching vision for all to see, gathering support by letting them think they were participants in his epic tale. Those who pushed back against his narrative became villains in the story, and those who supported him played the role of his allies, creating a system that might be called the “theatrical way of domination.”

Everything centered around Fuuga, including the era itself.

But now, that era had begun to waver. With so many people gathered in the country, they interpreted the video Souma showed them in many disparate ways. The old guard, who were warriors in spirit, like Fuuga himself, couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. They were a bunch of dreamers, not driven by any sort of profit, who’d come from a small corner of the Union of Eastern Nations to race across the continent, declaring their hegemony. Once they learned there was another adventure to be had—one unlike any they’d ever known before, in a world that could be theirs—then of course they would get excited.

“This...is going to cause a split,” Shuukin murmured to himself.

Far to the west of Parnam, on the border between the Great Tiger Empire and the Euphoria Kingdom, the staredown continued as both sides waited for Souma and Fuuga to settle things. The two forces had done nothing but glare at each other for days now, but out of nowhere today, a water sphere for broadcasting had appeared above the main Euphoria camp. Projected in it were Souma’s speech and that video.

“Lord Shuukin? What do you mean by a split?” Elulu asked from beside him.

“Elulu.” Shuukin looked at her with sadness in his eyes. “What did you think when you saw that video?”

“Me? I thought the world of the north seemed pretty interesting...”

“Yeah. I’m sure it is for you,” Shuukin said with a wry smile at Elulu’s earnest words. “But for me...I’m drawn to it so strongly that I can’t help myself. A world I haven’t seen? Adventures I’ve yet to taste? Knowing it’s out there, I don’t want to compete with the other nations of mankind for dominance; I want to go and find it. I’d heard about the world the Seadians came from, but I never imagined it was as big as our own world. And we could actually go there? Honestly, I envy the adventurers.”

Shuukin crossed his arms and groaned before continuing.

“If I’d known about that world before this war...I might’ve advised my friend Fuuga to stop trying to conquer the south so that we could advance into the north instead. Although...Fuuga and I were already in a position where we could no longer do that...”

“Lord Shuukin...”

As Elulu looked at Shuukin with concern, there was a loud clatter behind them. Surprised, Elulu turned to look and saw Lumiere had thrown the rapier that hung at her hip down on the ground, scabbard and all.

“M-Miss Lumiere?”

“They changed the ‘end’ on us...”

Lumiere gazed up at the sky with a look of frustration.

“I thought...we were almost there. Just a little further, and the continent would be united. I wanted my name included in that great achievement... That’s what I thought when I stabbed my friends and Lady Maria in the back to join this side.” She spoke in a level tone, but it sounded like she was crying. “Yet now...I’ve lost sight of where the end is. If the people want us to conquer another world just as big as this one...how many more years will that be? Can we maintain a country of this size for that long?”

Elulu tried to say something, but Shuukin put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. He must have decided that all they could do was leave Lumiere alone until she settled down.

“Elulu, we all gathered under Fuuga’s dream. But we all pursue it with different levels of passion. Some cheer Fuuga on of their own accord. Some believe in him blindly. Some believe because those around them believe. And some never had any choice other than to believe... Those differences will appear in how they react after seeing that video.”

“That’s why you said...there’s going to be a split?”

Shuukin nodded in response to Elulu’s question.

The hearts of those who supported Fuuga were shaken up in a thousand different ways after seeing the video. For one example, the Great Tiger Empire’s forces on the Republic front...

Nata the Battle Maniac was only interested in fighting tough opponents, so the video didn’t resonate with him. Whether in the world of the north or the world of the south, he was happy as long as he could go wild.

In contrast, most former Zemish mercenaries who made up the Great Tiger Empire’s forces on this front felt differently. They had always seen rising by their skill with a blade alone as a virtue, and they were powerfully attracted to the world of the north, where that seemed possible. Mercenary State Zem had already been annexed, and many of them would’ve rather fought freely in the world of the north instead of under the regulations of the Great Tiger Empire. The top commander on this front, Moumei, would struggle to control his soldiers, whose morale kept falling.

For another example, there was the Lunarian Orthodox Papal State. They had pulled back from the Amidonia Region and were hardening their own nation’s defenses, but this video caused mass confusion for them. The existence of the Seadians in and of itself had already been difficult to reconcile with church doctrine, and now a massive new world had just been revealed. They argued over how to save a world that the Lunarians, disciples of Lunaria, the god of the moon, had not descended on.

Because the Orthodox Papal State had seen repeated infighting, suppression, and purges, there were sparks smoldering everywhere. There were suppressed and purged factions trying to use this confusion in order to make a comeback or take revenge, so there was no way they could take unified action against the Maritime Alliance anymore. And in the middle of all this, Saint Anne, who was the one who should have quelled the chaos, had shut herself in her room.

She gazed idly up at the sky from her balcony.

If we lose the radiance of our Holy King Fuuga and his dream of conquering the continent... Then...what was all of this for...?

The screams of burning heretics and the fresh blood of those who had died in battle, believing she was a saint, flashed through Anne’s mind. She’d gone on playing her role as a saint all this time, telling herself that it was all for the faith, all for Lady Lunaria. However...the scriptures she’d believed in were easily shaken by just one video.

Why were those people burned, then? Why was blood shed? Why did she have to send those who believed in her to their deaths on the battlefield?

These questions tormented young Anne. She had killed her heart to be a saint, but now that the very existence of saints was shaken, she was starting to feel a sense of heartache.

It might be easier to just cast myself from this balcony...

The thought tormented her.

Anne placed her hand on the railing, but another image flashed through her mind—the look in Mary’s eyes as the former saint extended her hand to her. If Anne was going to run away now, she should have taken Mary’s hand back then. It was her own responsibility that she hadn’t.

She had to face her decisions head-on. Anne would not let herself run away. Even if a day of reckoning for her sins was to come, she would play the role of saint until the very end.

That is how I’ll take responsibility, she swore to herself.

In this manner, Fuuga’s supporters had countless emotional reactions to the video. It was the same within the main force that Fuuga led, which had been psyched up to face the Friedonian army in a decisive battle. They still thought that conquering the southern continent would be a great achievement. That hadn’t changed.

However, once they learned about the existence of the world to the north, the point of this war was shaken.

Even if they subjugated all the nations of mankind, they wouldn’t control the entire world. This would divide the hearts of the people. Some would feel that dominating the southern continent was still a great accomplishment, so it should be done first. Others would doubt the need, as dominating the continent wouldn’t mean they ruled over the entire world.

As for the people whose countries had been absorbed by the Great Tiger Empire, the sentiment was this: while they’d been willing to accept the loss of their nations for the sake of accomplishing something great, if there was still a world that they could get their hands on without warring against their fellow man, why had their old countries needed to be destroyed?

Those who desired personal advancement thought that even if they won against the Kingdom of Friedonia, they only stood to gain so much from it. The lion’s share of the fame and land would go to the old guard, and unless they made quite a name for themselves, all they’d get was maybe some of the plunder. That being the case, they might have a better chance of making a name for themselves by adventuring into the world of the north.

The people who didn’t find their life’s purpose in battle and were mustering what courage they had for the sake of this grand dream—and who made up the vast majority of the Great Tiger Empire’s forces—thought: rather than face the unpredictable Kingdom of Friedonia, they were probably safer fighting monsters in the world of the north.

In this way, you can see how the people’s hearts were a chaotic mess, but the doubt budding in all of them was the same.

Just how valuable is this war, really?

With that doubt sown, there was no way they could fight to the best of their ability. Yet even as he stood inside a country thrown into disarray, Fuuga’s expression remained calm.

Mutsumi spoke to him, her tone full of concern. “It seems...the men really are shaken up by this.”

“Yeah...I know how they feel.” Fuuga nodded without hesitation, then followed it up with a shrug of dismay. “I’m sure that if I’d been shown that video all of a sudden, I’d have wanted to go north too. If I’d been presented with the interesting dream of developing a new world in place of dominating the continent... Well, the fact is, while I want to commit myself to this war, my own heart is swayed by the unknown frontier. And the stake that Yuriga pounded into my heart is still there.”

The two of them thought back to their meeting with Yuriga at the northern end of the continent.