Disclaimer: This is fanwork based on the manga the Quintessential Quintuplets (Go-Tobun no Hanayome), by Negi Haruba. Its setting, characters and plot belong to its rightful creator. I write this only for fun and as a little writing experiment.
The Goddess Wills It
Nowadays it may be hard to believe, but the initial reaction to Quintus Negi's discovery was lukewarm at best.
Although the Itsuki Commonwealth was the main supporter of maritime exploration, Quintus Negi's voyage and other similar endeavours were officially a joint project sponsored by all the Nakano powers, in order to foster diplomatic ties and strengthen the dynastic alliances. Expeditions were expensive and, without anything of value to show in return, it was difficult to convince others to continue the efforts.
Publicly, the Ichika Empire agreed that it was necessary to investigate that mysterious continent. However, the imperial ambassadors also pointed out that their country's attention was focused on the frontier, protecting Nakano territories from raiders and invaders, and could not commit to a new expedition.
The apostolic envoy of the Church of Miku noted that the inhabitants of the recently discovered lands were most likely pagans in dire need of conversion. Sadly, the Church was too busy with internal strife and the risk of a schism to organize a proper mission.
The Kingdom of Nino was the most vocal in its opposition to the exploration efforts. In the words of the royal ambassador, "the children of Rena would be better served if Lord Captain Negi's fanciful tales were forgotten and the expedition cancelled". From the point of view of the Kingdom, oceanic exploration was a waste of time and money; when a new expedition was finally arranged, their agents drugged one of the crews in a desperate (and ultimately failed) attempt to sabotage it.
The only Nakano power that showed any kind of enthusiasm about the discovery was the Republic of Yotsuba. Sadly, their merchant fleet was more adapted to the Mare Scola than to oceanic voyages, so in the end it was up to the Itsuki Commonwealth to organize a new expedition.
Truth be told, Grand Princess Kodansha considered the idea of not allowing a second expedition, but after hearing Quintus Negi's pleas, Her Highness accepted. And in the second year of the Discovery, captain Negi set sail again en route to the New Continent, which was provisionally named "Uesugikunia" by the Commonwealth's cartographers.
This time, however, the fleet would follow a different path. One that would lead them to the ancestral lands of the Isanari and the fabled Raiha Island.
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The Raihas and the Nakanos
When Quintus Negi met the Isanaris, he felt pity rather than admiration. In his letters, he claimed that the descendants of the once powerful clan lived in squalor, their dreams of hegemony crushed long ago. Still, despite their impoverished state, they proved more welcoming than the Futaro tribes he had encountered the previous year.
But the place that impressed the captain the most was Raiha Island. Negi's letters to the Grand Princess of the Commonwealth were full of praise when describing the way of life of the natives:
"In the island, which I have said before was called Raiha, there are very lofty and beautiful mountains, great farms, groves and fields, most fertile both for cultivation and for pasturage, and the excellence of the rivers, in volume and salubrity, surpass human belief. Its inhabitants are all destitute of arms, which are entirely unknown to them, for they are a very peaceful people.
When we first arrived, they were fearful and timid, but after proving our good disposition to them, they came to us and called each other to join them. Women and men, children and adults, young and old, laying aside the fear they had felt a little before, flocked eagerly to see us, a great crowd thronging about our steps, some bringing food, and others drink, with greatest love and incredible good will.
They are neither lazy nor awkward; but, on the contrary, are of an excellent and acute understanding, although they do not comprehend the significance of trade, for they are honest and generous in excess. They exchanged valuable things for trifles, content with the very least thing or nothing at all. But I forbade giving them a very trifling thing and of no value; and instead I gave them many beautiful and pleasing things, which I had brought with me, in order to win their affection, and that they might become good Mikuists and inclined to love the Grand Itsuki Princess and all the people of Rena."
Negi's report was so positive that, in the end, the Commonwealth agreed to maintain the funds for exploration. The same year, the Republic of Yotsuba decided to open its first trade post to deal with the natives.
And one year later, the Church made its first move.
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The Goddess Wills It
As explained before, the Church of Miku was not in a good position in the early years of the Discovery.
Theological conflicts threatened the supremacy of the First Apostle, and politics complicated its alliances with the other Nakano powers. Critics argued that the Church behaved like a worldly entity rather than a spiritual guide, and even then it proved to be ineffective in that regard, incapable of defending its territorial possessions against its more aggressive and powerful neighbours. The Ichika Empire, which had been granted the title of "Defender of the Faith", acted as its main protector, but that agreement also put the Church in a position of dependence.
Thus, it is not surprising that the idea of spending its resources in a continent far away was not very popular at first among the members of the Church. Nevertheless, the first missionaries arrived to Uesugi shores in the year 3 of the Discovery.
In the beginning, the first contact was somewhat positive. The Futaro civilization valued scholarship and writing as the supreme values of their society, and the missionaries' holy books of Miku were accepted much better than the Itsuki Commonwealth's gifts of food. However, despite some initial common points, soon the mission went sour. The gap between cultures seemed too large, and the clean-shaven Futaros refused to grow moustaches, which was anathema to the priestesses of Miku.
One of the missionaries said: "The people of Futaria are clever but two-faced. They will pretend to care for our teachings, but in the end they only wish to trade the things they need. Beyond that, they are faithless. One of them even put snot in the sacred matcha, as a prank, and we drank it before we noticed it!"
Tensions arose between the natives and the missionaries, and it seemed the endeavour would end in bloodshed until the local chieftain challenged the leader of the mission, Sister Sue, to a duel. Not a duel of weapons, which was considered barbaric among the Futaros, but a debate. If the Goddess was so good and wise, they said, surely her arguments would triumph over theirs. If not, the missionaries would leave, never to bother them again.
The challenge was long and difficult; at one point, Sister Sue and the Futaro chieftain raced across the camp asking and answering questions at the same time.
In the end, the Mikuists prevailed. The chieftain knelt before the leader of the mission and offered her a bowl of matcha, the sacred drink of the Church, signalling his conversion, and his people imitated him. It was the first time in centuries that the Church had converted people from outside Nakano lands, and when the news arrived to the Old Continent, priests and laymen rejoiced.
The First Apostle saw in this conversion a chance to recover the influence and the prestige of the Church, an opportunity to bring the word of Blessed Miku to people that had nothing to do with the Nakano countries and their power plays. In the year 4 of the Discovery, in the Council of Rice, the First Apostle announced a new era of proselytism:
"Oh, people of Nakano, people of Rena, people chosen and beloved by the Goddess. You who honour the words and works of Blessed Miku and her Holy Church! To you our discourse is addressed and for you our exhortation is intended.
Beyond these lands, beyond the ocean sea, a new frontier awaits. Its people are good but lost, for they do not know the word of the Goddess. Who can show them the light, if not you?
As the Blessed Miku said: "Take responsibility". It is our responsibility to bring her Light to those who are still in the dark. She also said: "Be as fierce as fire". The fire of Faith burns in our breasts. Heaven awaits to those who heed Her call.
Go forth and preach the Word! The Goddess wills it!"
And thus, the faithful of Miku embarked on a new odyssey, with hope and illusion, the first true wave of Nakano settlement in the New Continent. But they were not going to be the last.
Author's notes:
The main inspiration for Negi's account on the Raihas is the letter written by Columbus after his first voyage. Meanwhile, the part about the First Apostle calling for the conversion of the New Continent was inspired by Urban II's speech at Clermont that kickstarted the Crusades.
I decided to shorten "Fuutaro" to "Futaro". I'll made similar adaptations to Japanese names, following the usual changes by the official translations.
Names for the New Continent (because they can't use all the same, can they?):
-The Ichika Empire calls it "Futarokunia" ("the country of the Futaros").
-The Kingdom of Nino calls it "Uesugia" ("land of Uesugi").
-The Holy Church of Miku calls it "Futaria" ("land of Futaro").
-The Republic of Yotsuba calls it "Uesugisania" ("the nation of the Uesugis").
-The Itsuki Commonwealth calls it "Uesugikunia" ("the country of the Uesugis").