Qua-Toyne Principality
Central Calendar Year 1639, Month 3, Day 22.
It has been one month since the Qua-Toyne Principality entered into a diplomatic relationship with the country called Japan.
This was the most transforming month in the history of the Qua-Toyne Principality.
Two months ago, Japan made contact with the Qua-Toyne Principality and its neighbor, the Quila Kingdom, and established diplomatic relationships with both countries.
The amount of food that Japan wanted to purchase was on an enormous scale, however, the Qua-Toyne Principality, which possessed land blessed by the Goddess of the Land, was somehow able to answer that amount so they accepted the request ── although there were some parts of the request that was impossible for them.
The Quila Kingdom was, by nature, a barren land where it was hard to grow crops. However, there seem to be treasure-like stockpiles of underground resources in below their lands, as a large number of ores and crude oils, according to Japan's investigation, which would then be exported to Japan through an almost identical treaty of commerce that Japan had with the Qua-Toyne Principality, furthermore they received Japan's technology provisions to commence mining.
On the other hand, in return for these imports, Japan exported basic infrastructures and foreign military presence.
An evolution of the stone-paved road, a seamless road that connected major cities, then the large scale transportation system called a railway, furthermore they constructed large-scale port facilities. If these were completed, then the circulation of goods inside the country would become a livelier. The preliminary calculations showed that it would result in a period of growth that would be incomparable to any other until now. This was what the Economy Ministry had reported to Prime Minister Kanata.
Although the Qua-Toyne Principality also requested an export of weapons, Japan wasn't able to accept this request since it was prohibited by and quote "Are not ready, and would use those weapons against us," hence it was so.
Then, the Qua-Toyne Principality also requested various assistance in technology, but due to the new law called the "New World Technology Dissemination Prohibition Law", they wouldn't be able to transfer core technology that could have potential military uses.
Nonetheless, the useful technology that came from Japan had fundamentally changed the daily lives in both the Qua-Toyne Principality and the Quila Kingdom. The water service technology was able to provide clean drinking water at all times (although they originally had water service technology, they didn't have the concept of clean water and only always drank fresh water), the electrical technology that illuminated the surroundings with light as bright as the day even in the dark of night and could power various machinery, and the propane gas that could create a fire just with a press of a switch and boil water in few minutes. Above their surplus resources, they had received these numerous new technologies.
Since only one month had passed since then, it hadn't been spread out on a large-scale operation yet, but just seeing the sample of these technologies made the Economy Ministry officials astonished as if their minds had been blown away.
The country will become extraordinarily affluent... So they said.
"What an amazing country that Japan is. They have surpassed the Three Great Civilized Lands. Perhaps the standard of living in our country may too surpass that of the Three Great Civilized Lands."
Kanata said this to his secretary with an excited tone. Ever since the diplomatic mission delegation returned from Japan, he was always in such a mood.
"For a fringe country outside the Civilized Land obtaining a standard of living that surpasses the Civilized Lands' nations, from the world's common sense, it's unthinkable. However, the mission's written report... No matter how many times I have read it, I honestly still couldn't believe it. Perhaps if everything in the report is true, then I can believe their national affluence truly has surpassed that of the Civilized Lands."
"Hahaha. I ended up becoming so thrilled. How unbecoming of my age. I felt as if my heart had returned to my time of youth. During my Premiership, the country is developing dramatically... Is there any job worth doing more than this?"
Kanata and his secretary looked towards the future of their country, their hearts were excited with hope.
"However, we were saved by obeying their terms. They've already wiped out most of the bandit raids that plagued us for some time now, and they're efficient in doing so... When I imagine if we somehow anger them and assumed hegemony over us with their technology and national power, it makes me shudder.
"That's true. However, it was unfortunate that they couldn't export their weapons. If we had their weapons, then at least the fear of the threat from the Louria Kingdom could slightly decrease..."
The beautiful evening sun was setting in the horizon where the farmlands stretched out. Beyond that was the Louria Kingdom.
That country was envisioning to annex the Qua-Toyne Principality and the Quila Kingdom to unite the Rodenius Continent.
"How I wish to avoid a clash with the Louria Kingdom..."
"Their population is larger and their army size surpasses our country's own by a wide margin, after all... From the Intelligence Bureau, there was information that they seemed to be building a large number of warships and that the shipbuilders were working without any rest. It's clear that they are preparing for war, but will we use the diplomatic card as expected, or should we war with them from the front... Either way, I don't feel any sign of being able to settle this peacefully."
And so, their conversation continued.
Louria Kingdom, Capital City: Jin-Haag, Haag Castle. The Royal Council.
The Louria Kingdom, a country that occupied the western half of the Rodenius Continent. A major power country with a population of 38 million people.
Although it was originally a mid-sized country, as a result of continuous wars of aggression, it finally arrived at its current status as a major power.
This country was advocating human supremacy and so, only pure humans were allowed to live there. Elves, dwarves, beastkin, those who were called demihumans were persecuted as hideous creatures. Moreover, it was a national policy for them to exterminate demihumans, so it didn't have a good relationship with the neighboring countries, the Qua-Toyne Principality and the Quila Kingdom, which both had high population ratios of demihumans to humans, and there was always tension on the borders with these nations.
the Louria Kingdom's capital city, Jin-Haag, was a city surrounded by three layers of walls, which around 700,000 people called their home.
The season had turned to autumn and the air was a bit cool. It was a night with a beautiful moon, and in a certain room inside the castle dimly illuminated by torches, the swaying of the flames cast shadows to several people. In this room, an important council meeting that decided the fate of the country was happening.
It was the King's Royal Council. The Louria's Kingdom's supreme council, the gathering of the topmost people who controlled the fate of the country.
With the Louria Kingdom's 34th King, Haag Louria XXXIV, as the head, the rest were:
Kingdom Defense Knights Order General, Patagene.
Prime Minister, Maos.
The Three Great Generals: Pandor, Miminel, and Smark.
The Head of the Royal Magicians, Yamirei.
The other people who gathered were also the upper echelons of this country, they took their seats with a serious expression.
Amongst them, there were people clad in dark robes who give off unpleasant vibes.
"The council will start."
Prime Minister Maos moved forward and solemnly started the conversation.
"First, a word from the King."
King Haag Louria XXXIV began to give his speech.
"Everyone, for the preparations until now, a certain person has endured harsh training, a certain other person secured resources without any spare time for sleeping, and then another person has put his life to risk for obtaining information about the enemy country. Everyone has been working laboriously. To exterminate the demihumans ── the vile beasts, from the Rodenius Continent, is the ambition handed down from our predecessors. To succeed in their dying wishes, every single one of you has been working desperately. First of all, let me state my gratitude for your work."
The King bowed his head slightly.
"Oo..."
"How very gracious"
While everyone was awed by this, the King continued.
"I already received the report that the preparations have been completed. Everyone ── let us begin the council."
The council room was filled with silence. This war will be different from the ones before as if this night was the last night before the war of aggression, they were engulfed by extreme tension.
Maos, as the one who was in charge of the current military operation, looked towards the generals and began to talk.
"First... We aim to unite the Rodenius Continent. However, the Qua-Toyne Principality and the Quila Kingdom have a strong bond. Although it could be outright said that they are allies. If we start a war with one of them, then there is a high possibility that the other country will come to intervene. In other words, we will need to wage war against two countries at the same time. What do the generals think about this, can we win against these two enemies?"
General Patagene, a 30-year-old man with a black beard and a robust muscled body that showed even when his body was covered with silver armor, replied with full confidence.
"One country is a bunch of farmers and the other is a desolate poor nation. Each of them has many demihumans, so their unity is weak. There is no chance that we will lose. Even in quantity and quality, our country is unwaveringly superior. Prime Minister, do not be worried. I will explain the war plan's outline in the latter half of the council session."
"I understand"
General Patagene conversely asked the Prime Minister about a concerning matter for him.
"Prime Minister, do you have any information about the country called Japan that contacted us one month ago?"
The Prime Minister was also the head of the foreign affairs. Japan had also made contact with the Louria Kingdom, but since they had entered into a diplomatic relationship with the Qua-Toyne Principality and the Quila Kingdom first, they were judged to be an unfriendly force and were turned away.
"It's a newly emerging nation that is located about 1,000 km northeast from the coast of the Qua-Toyne Principality. From the fact there is a distance of 1,000 km, it will be unlikely that there will be any military interference. They were surprised at the wyverns of our dragon knights and said that it was the first time that they had seen it. They should be a barbarous country that doesn't have any dragon knights. Although, there wasn't much information about it."
Wyverns could be said to be the sole and only military aviation force in this world. A lack of wyverns means that there wouldn't be any air fire support on the ground or the sea.
Although a Knights Order wouldn't be annihilated just from an aerial attack, if they were exposed to a constant flame ball attack, their morale wouldn't last long.
Since the Japanese diplomatic mission said that this was the first time that they had seen wyvern, they were deemed as a puny country that has no wyvern. At least for the "G10N" Pilot, the Japanese already witnessed it.
"Is that so. Then, even in the case, Qua-Toyne Principality requested Japanese help, it wouldn't be something significant."
Patagene lifted one corner of his mouth.
"However, to think that our generation will finally unite this Rodenius Continent and exterminate the wretched demihumans, I am happy."
Haag Louria XXXIV said so happily.
"Great King, on the dawn of that union, don't forget that promise ── Kukkuku"
An eerie voice entered into the conversation.
The men who were wearing the pitch-black robes, were envoys that were sent by the Great Country of the Third Civilized Land, the Papardia Empire, to participate in this Royal Council session. The owner of the voice was an especially creepy man amongst them.
Haag Louria frowned at the man who was swaying left and right. Not only the order they gave to him was horrendous, the high-pitched voice and the ugly appearance of the man, furthermore their unpleasant behavior, got on the King's nerves.
"I know!"
The anger-tinted words of the King resounded in the council room.
Tsk… They are looking down at us, thinking us as barbarians outside the Three Great Civilized Lands. After we unite Rodenius, then we will invade the Phillades Continent with our national power!
The King had already considered sending a military expedition to the Third Civilized Land, the Philades Continent after he had united Rodenius Continent, and subjugating those countries that had looked down on the Rodenius Continent as an "uncivilized nation" at every opportunity.
If the king could show his true disposition, then he would immediately have had that unpleasant man executed. However, to receive military assistance from the Papardia Empire for the current campaign, he couldn't treat the envoys badly.
"*cough*... General, please explain the outline strategy of the current military operation."
Maos coughed and interrupted the conversation to change the mood inside the room.
"Yes, let me explain it."
Patagene stood up from his seat and walked to the middle of the council room, which was lower than its surroundings, and lined up the tabletop wargame-like pieces on the map of the Rodenius Continent that were unfolded on the table.
"The total forces prepared for the current operation are 500,000 soldiers. 400,000 soldiers will be sent to the Qua-Toyne Principality as the force for the main operation, while the remaining soldiers would be left to defend the homeland. For the first wave, we will invade Gim, a city with a population of 100,000, near the border of the Qua-Toyne Principality, and gain control of it. Then, we will procure the necessary logistics locally."
There were five pieces to represent the Knights Order placed in Louria's territory. Then, Patagene moved four of them to Gim. Qua-Toyne's side also had similar pieces, but they were smaller.
"After we control Gim, then we will attack the Fortress City, Ejei, located 55 km from Gim, with full power. Between Ejei and the capital city, Qua-Toyne, 540 km away, there are no towns with walls like in our country. So if we capture Ejei, the strongest city in the Qua-Toyne Principality, we only need to march forward and capture the rest of the towns and villages, and then it will be finished."
Then, the pieces that were placed in Gim, moved to siege the capital city. He moved to explain the piece on a tall support and the ship pieces.
"Our wyverns are enough to deal with their Air Force. Then, at the same time in the sea, a great fleet of 4400 warships will travel along the north coast and land on Maihark's north coast to control the Trade City, Maihark. The Quila Kingdom, who completely depends on food import from Qua-Toyne, will be cut off from any supplies and cease to be a threat."
Patagene then divided one piece into half and placed it on the border of the Quila Kingdom.
"The Qua-Toyne Principality only has 50,000 soldiers and one can think that the force that they could deploy rapidly was less than 10,000. If we hit them with the entire force that we had prepared this time, then even the cleverest scheme wouldn't have any meaning in front of our overwhelming numbers. Our preparations for the last 6 years will finally bear fruit."
"I see..."
The King was convinced that the dearest wishes of his predecessors would be achieved, and he was so elated that he was smiling from ear to ear.
"This evening is the best day of my life! I give my approval for the war against the Qua-Toyne Principality and the Quila Kingdom."
"Yes, Your Majesty!
Louria Kingdom's Royal Council session ended with the war order from the King.
Louria Kingdom, Capital City: Jin-Haag, Haag Castle, Underground Barracks
In the corner of the room, illuminated by dim candlelight...
The flame flickered from the minute movement of the air and made the shadows of the men reflected on the wall sway back and forth.
"Fufufu... Finally, the decision has been given! It has been a long time."
A slanted-eyed man was speaking with a robe-wearing man.
"Yes. It has been a long time."
One section of the robe-wearing man's hand had been degenerated and was festering.
Immediately after the Royal Council session, the order to form the subjugation army was transmitted to the lower echelons. However, since they already finished their preparations before the session's decision, it was just more of a notification.
Adem, who had been selected to become the second-in-command of the main force of the Eastern Subjugation Army, sported an eerie smile while looking at the flickering flame.
"The demihumans ought to be exterminated. That I could participate in the subjugation campaign of the worthless country that grants rights for those pieces of trash, even more, to be in the frontlines... is an honor...! I will──"
Adem's slanting eyes slightly opened and changed into ones of fury. But, he immediately closes his eyelids.
"── No, it's nothing. In this world, the weak are the meals of the strong. Powerless people are only meat waiting to be eaten. The corpses of demihumans... Nay, the lives of my parents and siblings had taught me this law of the word. And this time, I can teach this law to those demihumans… I am rejoiced in this bliss!"
"My Monster Users Corps are unrecognized shadows that have never seen the light of day. The Knights and the Nobles looked down upon us and continued to throw abuse on us. But even Monster Users like us had been given a place in this operation, so I am also in supreme joy tonight!"
That day, each person took their meals with alcohol and held a pre-war party. That tumultuous party continued late into the night ──
Qua-Toyne Principality, Japanese Embassy
The sun showed its face on the horizon and the eastern sky became brighter as the birds started singing. A pleasant wind and humid air flowed into the room from the opened window.
The career diplomat from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tanaka, awakened from his sleep with a nice feeling and took a really deep breath.
Qua-Toyne Principality didn't have cars, factories, or airplanes, so the background noise was the songs of the birds, the murmurs of the streams, and the clattering of the horses. Compared to Japan, his sleep was unimaginably good.
"... It seems today will be a busy day."
It was something he muttered out of the unpleasant premonition he had, but this was proven to be true.
"Ambassador! Ambassador!"
The staff knocked at the door to Tanaka's room.
What happened so early in the morning?
Tanaka was a bit puzzled while opening the door.
"Good morning. Is something wrong?"
"An official from Qua-Toyne Principality's Foreign Ministry suddenly visited without an appointment saying that there is emergency information that he needs to convey."
In the communication between countries, visiting without an appointment, meaning that there was a tremendous emergency happened. Or perhaps, this was the normal way of diplomacy in this other world. Tanaka thought about this while he hurriedly changed his clothes.
After a quick face washing, his suited-figure opened the door to the reception room, 15 minutes after the staff had knocked at the door of his room. Inside was the troubled face of Yagou, the official from the Qua-Toyne Foreign Ministry.
"Good morning, sorry if I have made you wait too long."
"Tanaka-dono, please excuse my rudeness to visit so suddenly in this early morning. But there is a worrisome development that I must inform you."
Yagou stood up and deeply bowed. Tanaka said, "What happened?" while trying to reign in his private relief that even in this world, it's common sense to visit by making an appointment.
However, that relief was broken in an instant.
"I think you already know about the Louria Kingdom west of our country. As the result of careful investigations of information obtained from many channels, we are certain that the Louria Kingdom is approaching to invade our country."
"A w-war!?"
"The Louria Kingdoms soldiers already gathered in the west, towards the direction of the city, Gim, 20 km from the border. If I can be honest, if the war begins, then we couldn't export the food in the agreed amount to your country. We are truly apologetic for reneging on the treaty..."
Tanaka was speechless when he heard those words.
Since being severed from Earth due to their country suddenly transferred to this world, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been assigned with a task under the pretext of "so that the citizens don't starve". They had established friendly diplomatic relationships with the Qua-Toyne Principality, that possessed huge farmlands, and the Quila Kingdom, that possessed confirmed Japan's "ill-needed" resource deposits that covered most of the country (although until they could mine it, Japan needed to get by with what they had in the strategic resource stockpiles inside the country). It was a "miracle" that they could obtain the food and resources that were "needed" by the Japanese citizens. But right now, there was a possibility that that indispensable food import will cease. If the food import from Qua-Toyne ceased, then in less than 1 year, hundreds of thousands... No, perhaps millions of citizens will starve to death.
Somehow the thought of that happening is the most unlikely scenario to happen considering Japan's assets prior to their encounter with Qua-Toyne.
"Can your country still do the export somehow...?"
Although he understood that when the flames of war enfolded the nation, it's not a situation where they could worry about other countries, Tanaka, who didn't have any power to decide this serious situation, could do nothing but inquire.
Even if he did, there was no reason for Japan to involve in this conflict.
Yagou grimaced and cast his eyes down.
"The Louria Kingdom has the largest military power in the Rodenius Continent. They already concentrated such forces at the border, and it seems that they keep reinforcing that force. In any case, because the number is too great, when the combat begins, even though we have the local advantage, we need to be resigned to losing several cities. If that happens, then ensuring the movement of goods like we're doing right now, will be an extremely difficult ordeal."
Yagou made a fleeting upward glance as if to await Tanaka's expression.
"It would be helpful if we could have reinforcements..."
Yagou remembered the transfer of their Airforce that he observed when he was dispatched as a delegation member to Japan. The tremendously strong aircrafts the Ki-84 and the G10Ns powerful figures had been seared into his eyelids, even to this day.
If they received Japan's reinforcement, he intuitively concluded that this country wouldn't be annihilated in this war.
"Japan... She has no intention to join a war unless it has to, but she won't join in if it doesn't harm her any way possible. I am really to say this, but a military reinforcement is..."
Of course, Yagou already heard about this when he was dispatched to Japan. He asked since there was nothing to lose in this situation and so Tanaka gave a frustrating answer. Even though Yagou had expected this, he dropped his shoulders in disappointment.
"Then, this is unfortunate, but there is a high possibility that it will be difficult to export the food. Since I have no right to say otherwise in your country's domestic matters, I have no choice but to relinquish this request..."
To obey the order he was given and have to lose a friendly nation or to have a justification of conquest of the Louria Kingdom and save the citizens and the Qua-Toyne Principality from this crisis.
If Japan were to lose the former, it would mean establishing new diplomatic ties with the Louria Kingdom, given that they now control Qua-Toyne and possibly the Quila Kingdom should their campaign be successful.
If Japan were to choose the latter however...
He felt a shiver went down to his spine as he knew the outcome of that particular scenario.
After the information of the suspension of food export and the invasion was received by the Japanese Embassy, in an unprecedentedly swift response, 3 weeks later, Japan decided to send their troops overseas for the first time after their transfer from the Home Islands and their conquered territories since the Second World War.
Central calendar Year 1639, Month 4, Day 11. Morning.
Near the Louria-Qua-Toyne Border
The Campgrounds of the Vanguard Force of the Louria Kingdom's Eastern Conquest Army
There were repetitive magic communication messages from the Qua-Toyne Principality's Foreign Ministry, to demand that the soldiers be withdrawn from the border.
But they were completely ignored. It was as if they were completely determined to wage a war.
"Tomorrow, Gim will fall."
Adem, who was appointed to lead the vanguard force, was talking to a communication operator.
From the top of a hill, they were looking at the 30,000 strong army that was spreading underneath their very eyes.
A 30,000 strong army was by no means a large one considering the total amount of soldiers that the Louria Kingdom had, but it was more than enough for waging a single battle. Even if it was just a vanguard force, Adem had been given a command, and so, he eerily smiled.
20,000 infantry, 5,000 heavy infantry, 2,000 cavalry, 1,500 specialized soldiers (soldiers that were specialized for siege armaments like catapults or battering rams), 1,000 raiders, 250 monster users, 100 magicians, and then 150 Dragons. Going just by the numbers, the infantry was the largest group, but a squadron of 10 Dragons could stop the track of 10,000 infantry soldiers. Furthermore, there were 150 Dragons in this force.
He could see how much his country was expecting from this vanguard force. Adem, who was aware of the weight of the mission upon him, rather than feeling nervous, his happiness outweighed it even more.
Wyverns were expensive weapons. If every wyvern possessed by the Louria Kingdom were gathered in one place, it would only number 200 units.
However, 500 wyverns would participate in the current war against the Qua-Toyne Principality.
There was a rumor that the Papardia Empire had given them military support. Nobody below General Pandor, who supervised the ground troops, knew if this was true. After all, there was no coat of arms in the wyverns' armor, so there was no way to identify them, other than through speculation.
In any case, 150 wyverns were assigned to the vanguard force. Adem was pleased with this overpowering force.
"What we should do about the booty in Gim?"
Albeit frightened, the communication operator asked Adem, who was still sporting a savage smile.
Adem was a ruthless knight and his cruelty, that he had shown in the occupied territory when the Louria kingdom started the aggressive wars, was also widely-known amongst the soldiers.
"I won't reprimand any plundering at Gim, they can do what they like. They could have fun with the women, but after they have finished using them, they must dispose of every single one. Don't let a single one leave the town alive. Notify this to the entire army."
The operator's face stiffened.
"Yes, Sir..."
He turned his back as if to flee, but Adem stopped him.
"No, wait! As expected... They could have fun with them, but leave 100 of them alive. They could spread the fear... Then, if there are any families of the enemy Knights in the city, deal with them as cruelly as possible."
Adem continued to laugh creepily.
"Now, let the feast of extermination begin!"
"Yes, Sir! I will notify this."
A frightening order.
Adem didn't have a human heart. While thinking so, the operator faithfully conveyed Adem's command.
The same day, afternoon. Qua-Toyne Principality, Western Region, Gim.
The Base Headquarters of the Western Region Knights Order, the 1st and the 2nd Dragon Squadron of the Qua-Toyne Principality.
Moizi, the Commander of the Western Knights Order, was succumbing to the feeling of irritation.
The total forces of the Western Region Army was 2,500 infantry, 200 archers, 500 heavy infantry, 200 cavalry, 100 light cavalry, 24 Dragons, and 30 magicians. Because of the semi-emergency system, it was a considerable force considering Qua-Toyne's resources, but the enemy force that was sticking alongside the border far exceeded them in the number.
All of the communication from Qua-Toyne's side had been completely ignored by the Louria Kingdom.
Some of the citizens had already started evacuating from Gim and the Qua-Toyne government had also called for the citizens to evacuate.
"Are there any replies from Louria?"
Moizi asked the communication magician.
"At the moment. there are no replies. Although we are certain that the messages had been received by the other side, they are still being ignored."
If there was a difference in the number of military forces, then depending on the strategies, they could fight without losing the battle. However, this time, that difference was too overwhelming.
"What is the answer for the reinforcement request from the Central Headquarters?"
"There aren't any definite answers, only... 'In the middle of an emergency assembly session'."
"Bloody rats! Even though we have no moments to spare... If we don't receive any reinforcement, with only our current military forces, we will have to give up Gim! Damn it!"
Their impatience didn't change any of the situation, which led to a more cruel reality than they had imagined──
Central Calendar Year 1639, Month 4, Day 12. Early in the morning. Gim
Suddenly, red smoke rose from the border. At the same time, there was a tense communication sounding from the Magic Communicator at the Headquarters.
"A huge force of Louria's wyverns is invading towards Gim! Simultaneously, infantry... Tens of thousands of them crossed the border and began to invade! We repeat, a huge force of Louria's wy-… Guaa! Run a*bzzzt*"
The magic communication ended.
The red smoke was a sign of Louria 's invasion. Moizi, the commander of the Western Knights Order, who witnessed it, bellowed his order.
Inside the town of Gim, the emergency bells tolled. People, who had remained in the city, realized the fact that they had been too late to escape from the flames of war and their faces were stricken with fear.
"Sortie every Knight from the 1st Dragon Squadron and the 2nd Dragon Squadron, and engage the enemy wyverns! Disturb them as much as possible! Arrange the Heavy Infantry to stand at the front row and regular infantry behind them, do not let the lines break! Archers will be at the rear and support from the maximum range! Light cavalry will at times assault from the right flank! The 200 cavalry will perform a raid! Wait until you receive instruction! Magicians don't have to attack, but everyone needs to manipulate the wind so it will blow upwind at Gim!"
All 24 Dragons soared to the sky and increased their altitude. The squadrons divided into two; one squadron flew at a cruising altitude, while the other squadron flew at the ceiling altitude. To perform air-to-air bombing while intercepting from the front, it was a textbook ambush formation.
After they had flown for 5 kilometers, they could see a large number of black points appearing in the western sky ahead. That number surprised the Qua-Toynese Dragon Squadron. It was the First Dragon Attack Wing of the Louria Kingdom's Eastern Conquest Army's Vanguard Force. Their number was 75 units ──
The Qua-Toynese Dragon Squadron didn't falter and with dauntless courage, they thrust into that flock of black points.
All of the 75 Lourian Dragons caught sight of the Qua-Toynese Dragons.
"Perform an air-to-air flame ball attack."
Aldebaran, the Commander of the Dragon Knights who led the units, calmly ordered. He intended to finish the battle with one hit. The whole 75 wyverns opened their mouths in lines like a wall from the top, the sides and diagonally.
Fireballs were gradually forming in their mouths.
"5 seconds before shooting, 4, 3, 2, 1 ── Shoot!"
The 75 wyverns shot their flame balls at the same time. The rotating flame balls generated airflow around them. The fireballs located in the inner gained thrust, and so their range was extended far beyond that of the fireball located on the exterior. By using these phenomena, they successfully performed a fusillade before the Qua-Toynese Dragons could even begin their attack.
The 75 concentrated flame balls released from the 75 wyverns, aligned with each other and mutually ignited to fuse into a huge arrowhead shape and created a wall of flame. Without decelerating, that wall of flame flew towards the Qua-Toyne Principality's Dragons.
The twelve Qua-Toynese Dragons took evasive maneuvers when the wall of flame covered their entire field of view, but it was too late by several moments. The entire unit was engulfed by the fire and crashed down.
"Did they divide their force into two? ...All units, watch the sky."
Forty seconds after Aldaveran gave his order, 12 wyvern units plunged in a single line from the sky with the sun behind their backs. It seemed that they had decided that air-to-air bombing would be not effective and instead they would perform a close-range aerial attack (dogfight).
When the Qua-Toynese 2nd Dragon Squadron fired their flame balls when they passed the Lourians, three units of the Lourian Dragon received a direct hit and fell.
The wyverns gliding from the high sky were aided by gravity and they were further accelerated by an angled oblique approach and slipped through the Lourians. Several Lourian units were pursuing them.
The Qua-Toynese Dragons saw that the battle turned to melee and they would be crushed, and so they scattered. However, the Lourians were pursuing them. Excluding the 15 Units under Aldebaran, the other 48 units were rushing towards the 12 Qua-Toynese Dragons with a 4 to 1 ratio. In just twelve minutes, both the 1st and the 2nd Dragon Squadrons of Qua-Toyne had been obliterated.
"Let's support the ground force. All units, perform supportive attacks."
The wyverns then began to attack the Qua-Toynese ground force.
"Da-Damn it! Not only the enemy's Dragons were high in numbers, but their skills are also good!"
Moizi finished watching the battle in the western sky from the command room and slammed his fist on the wall.
"To think that it will end this early... For the Dragon Knights Squadron to be annihilated, then that means...!"
The enemy Dragons narrowed down their attack target, the ground force, and rained down flame balls from the sky. The flame ball falling from the sky expanded the moment they hit the ground and spread out flames everywhere. It was a vicious flame that didn't disappear once it was ignited, so the damage to the ground force was increasing.
There was only one counterattack method available from the ground. To launch an arrow from a ballista enchanted with wind magic.
However, the magic arts needed to retain the magic power were difficult to use, and they couldn't be prepared in such large numbers. At most, ten arrows was the limit, and they weren't guided (didn't have any homing capabilities). It was better than doing nothing, but the arrows drawn on the string of the anti-air ballista would only hit the empty air.
Anti-air attacks of this world rarely hit. There were slightly more effective weapons in the Three Great Civilized Lands, but even so, they had more significance as a diversion.
Due to the ground support from the huge Wyvern squadrons, the Qua-Toynese ground force suffered extensive damages.
A large amount of flame balls, which continuously rained down from the sky, were sufficient enough to disturb the formation of the ground force.
They already lost one-fifth of their strength and their formation had become scattered to avoid the flame balls, which the ground soldiers could only flee from. That was where the 25,000 infantry and heavy infantry of the Lourian Eastern Conquest Army rushed in.
The Qua-Toyne Western Region Knight Order, without being able to exercise their power, was annihilated in less than 30 minutes. There was no longer any person that could move.
The border city of Gim fell into the hands of the Louria Kingdom.
Moizi was tied up with a rope on his wrists and became a prisoner.
Gim was already besieged by the Louria Vanguard Force.
"Even that fierce Moizi had lost his fangs like this. Weak… We hadn't even put the monsters on the field yet."
Moizi stared daggers at Adem.
"Humph, whether to boil me or to grill me, do as you like."
Moizi snorted.
The Lourian Advance Force General Second-in-command Adem was elated and showed an unpleasant smile.
"That reminds me ── aren't your wife and daughter remaining in Gim?"
"W-Wait... what are you going to do to them!?"
"Hey! Capture Mozi's wife and daughter and bring them here. Let them be completely ravished with and then let them be eaten alive by the monsters in front of him."
"Stop it... Stop it! We are prisoners of wars, you scum, son of a───"
Moizi tried to rush towards Adem, but he was quickly restrained.
"Don't worry. After you have watched everything, you will also become a meal for the monsters... Hihihi."
"Curse you, curse youuuuu──────"
The frightening order of Adem was executed on that day. Plunder, rape, murder, all kinds of acts of violence were carried out everywhere inside the city, and the entire Moizi family also followed a miserable path of destiny.
The surviving one hundred people were released and conveyed that devastating event to every city.
However, this action was also received by Japan, and it gave them the justification of "Saving the people of Qua-Toyne from the unilateral genocide".
A hypocrisy made by a country from another world.
It was darkness.
It was pure utter darkness.
She hated this. She hated being in the dark since she was a child. The times she always snuggled close to her parents for warmth and protection.
Oh, how she missed those times.
"Oi."
She heard a voice.
It was the voice of a man with a different accent than she usually heard in Gim. It sounded... Foreign?
"Oi, kid, wake up."
...Now that's just rude.
She's 16, in Qua-Toyne, it qualifies as an adult. So technically she isn't a kid. And she doesn't look like a kid.
"Uh, Sarge, what are you doing?
Another voice was heard.
Sarge? Strange name.
"Private, first of all, I'm helping this kid after I shot her with an experimental dart that makes the victim experience temporary 'death'. Second, why are you calling me Sarge?"
Isn't that supposed to be his name? And wait what? An experimental dart!?
Then, she remembered. Before she was about to be raped in front of her father and got her clothes ripped off, she saw a small dart, she admittedly didn't feel anything about it at all, right at her left shoulder. And the next thing she knew, she was dead.
Or at least she thought she was.
Does that mean that these aren't the disembodied voices that would take me away to the afterlife? I knew that priest was lying!
"Well, sir, I have a former American soldier as an acquaintance back in Okinawa. He says that Sarge is a colloquial to Sergeant. I know my English, sir."
American? Okinawa? English
These words were completely foreign to her. But she can assume "American" is a person from a country, and this "Okinawa" was some sort of place.
"Well, Private, don't call me that. It makes me feel that I'm older than I am."
"But you are."
"Shut up, I'm already 27, Private! And call me sir, or Sergeant, that would be nice for once in this goddamn cave."
"For once? *gasp* Does it mean that someone other than me called you Sarge?"
"Private Kim Min Kyu, if you don't want to piss me off, I order you to throw this bucket of cold water right at her face! I'm tired of waiting for her to wake up."
"...Yes, sir."
Wait, wait, wait, no, no, no! I hate cold water!
Her plea had gone on deaf ears as a cold substance splashed right at her face.
Almost immediately, she opened her eyes, the upper half of her body rose from the floor and instantly shivered.
With her physiology as a cat demihuman, she was vulnerable to cold water. Like the time she stood on a frozen stream feeling confident that it wouldn't break. And as misfortune came, she fell and felt the cold, frozen water from her winter clothes. As soon as that happened, she immediately went home, replaced her wet clothes and went directly to her family's fireplace.
It was one of the most embarrassing moments in her life. And she vowed that it wouldn't happen to her anymore.
Except it had happened once more.
As she shivered due to the cold water, she saw two men wearing nearly identical caps and uniform; staring at her. And one of them, which she assumed was Private Kim Min Kyu, was holding a wooden bucket, and the other person which she assumed was "Sarge" was simply looking at her.
There was an awkward silence between her and them. She stared at them, and they stared back at her.
Her cat-like eyes and their round eyes met. As though locked in some sort of enchantment that they couldn't break.
It lasted only for a minute before Kim remarked.
"Well Sarge, she's awake now."
"...I can see that, Private."
It took her a moment to register where she was now, and asked a torrent of questions:
"Who are you? What happened? Where am I? What is this place?"
She looked around.
The girl saw it was cavern-like place with the usual cave walls and a simple fire was placed about two or three meters away from them.
They must've had moved me in case the water would hit the fire.
It was a simple, and yet childish deduction she had made. She felt stupid just by thinking about that.
She felt the cold air on her skin as if she was bare without clothes.
She looked at her body, slightly exposed to the two men before covering it up hastily.
Why am I naked!?
Countless of probabilities spinning in her mind, wondering why she was without clothes... And other things.
However, her thoughts were shaken off when the person called "Sarge" answered.
"Well, before we introduce ourselves, and tell you what had happened, let me ask your name first. And then, the name of your father."
"My name? As well as my father's?"
"Yes, you and your father's name."
"...Felicia. My name is Felicia. And my father's name is Moizi."
The two shared a shocked look at the mention of her father's name. They must've recognized from the name alone.
"I see... Your father's name is Moizi, right?"
"Yes, and do you know what happened to him? Please, I want to know what happened to my father."
She said nearly in a pleading voice. Hoping her father survived after he had been taken prisoner by the invading Lourian Army.
However, Sarge's answer shattered her hope.
"Sorry kid. Hate to tell you, but, after I shot you and nine others with that experimental dart, the commanding general of that invading army of theirs looked furious after he had assumed that you and the others were hit by a poison dart and died. He ordered the immediate execution of all POWs in the near vicinity and have their corpses be fed to those wyverns of theirs. Talk about a fantasy version of The Rape of Nanking. Seen that shit before, but never have I seen an overgrown lizard eat a human. Or Demihuman was it? Anyway, the only thing I can think of is the multiple incidents relating to alligators in Java."
After hearing Sarge's story and ignoring the last sentence he had said, Felicia widened her eyes in shock and despair as tears started streaming down on her face. Imagining her father's mutilated corpse being eaten by a wyvern as she sobbed deeply.
Why... Why did you have to die, father?
The memories she shared with her parents, it made her heart hurt. Now knowing the tragic fate of her father.
Amid her tears, Private Kim rudely remarked:
"Wow, Sarge. You made her cry."
"...Shut up Private."
It took about 15 minutes for her tears to dry up, and Sarge spoke up.
"Sorry about your loss, kid. My condolences."
He said in a soft and reassuring tone. It felt genuine for Felicia, enough for her to lessen her sobs as she spoke.
"I can't thank you enough. Although it's hard to take in, to think father died without fighting an honorable death makes his death more tragic than dying on the field."
She wiped her remaining tears as she said those words. Thinking, Me and mother should have evacuated with the others.
However, her thoughts were broken off when she realized something.
"Wait... Why are you calling me a kid? And why is my voice sound so different?"
"Acha~"
She heard Sarge making a sound while scratching the back of his head while Kim spoke up.
"Before we answer that, could you... Uh... Tell us that you feel something different about yourself?"
"Something... Different about myself...?"
Now that they've mentioned it, the two men seemed a lot taller than she was. And their height was roughly the same as her father's.
She blinked her eyes twice, looking down at her body. Then she realized the truth.
Her voice sounded young, she was short, her hands were small and soft.
"I've been turned to a kid!?"
"Shh, shhh, shh! Quiet down there! You're making too much noise! Calm down!"
"How can I calm down when I've been turned to a kid!?"
Unable to suppress the emotional turmoil she was feeling at the prospect of her being a kid. Sarge then placed his hand on Felicia's mouth, shutting it tight as she struggled to scream in muffled noises.
It took a good few moments to calm her down. When she did, Sarge released her from his hold as she struggled to breathe after being strangled by his hand.
"Now do you feel okay?"
He asked, feeling a bit irritated at her outburst.
"...Yes, I'm fine, but I'm still angry for being turned to a kid."
"Nah, you don't look that young." Kim butted in, adding a cent or two "Maybe twelve or thirteen years old give or take."
"Private, please don't butt in, please. Even if you're my friend, I won't hesitate to use my authority as your Sergeant to punish you."
"Yes, sir."
"Good," he said, before turning to Felicia, "Sorry about that. Private Kim is a good man, but his tendency to do things unfavorably makes me question his quirkiness."
"That's... Alright. So, who are you two?"
"Ah, that's right, nearly forgot about that. Pardon me but I'm Itami Youji, a Sergeant. And this man right here is Kim Min Kyu, a Private."
"Sergeant? Private?"
"Sergeant is a non-commissioned officer, while Private is the lowest of the Enlisted ranks."
"So, he's a foot soldier and you're his superior, right?"
"That's right. Anything else?"
"If you're a non-commissioned officer, then does that mean that you're someone that can't be promoted to a higher rank?"
"Of course not! I can be promoted to a higher rank, even that to an officer if I go through an education course that can allow NCOs like me to be a commanding officer like a Captain. Then I can lead a Company like Captain Tsubasa does."
Itami paused a bit, before going to the serious part.
"Okay, enough of that, now that we've introduced ourselves, let me ask you something, you want the long version or the short version?"
"Huh?"
"The short version it is then."
Itami cleared his throat before explaining what had transpired.
After he had shot her and nine others with the experimental dart, he and four others (including Kim) had spread out carrying those who had been shot by him by pairs to a secret passage leading to a spacious cavern under Gim.
This large cavern was used to be a base for the largest bandit group in the Qua-Toyne Principality after he and his entire company eliminated all of them.
As for how and why the bandits made a cavern under the city of Gim in the first place, they did not know. But they had a feeling it was relating to the fact that they can go inside the city without any hindrance.
"Wait, you two are from Japan, right?" Felicia asked mid-story.
"Yeah, we are. Why?"
"I've heard several rumors about your group. According to the rumors, you were a company of mercenaries that the Prime Minister employed from Japan to hunt down several bandit groups that had been plaguing the entire country for quite some time now. With the efficiency that not even the best knights could imitate, you've eliminated bandit group after bandit group with lightning speed, and in less than a month, there were no bandits ever since."
"That's right."
"And there were rumors that you people are like monsters, killing bandits without casualty, moving across the country in half the time a horse rider could travel, and possessing weapons that can shoot bolts of light."
"That's... Rather accurate. But there are still misconceptions about those rumors."
"There is?"
"Yeah. One, we're not mercenaries, we're soldiers. Two, we've been lucky that we found a map of the Qua-Toyne Principality's geography marking every bandit base from a random bandit corpse. Three, those bandits are stupid. Four, who the hell draws a map about every bandit base anyway? Five, those bastards were idiots. And six, they're easier to kill once you've infiltrated their base and kill them while they're drunk."
"You and your group are soldiers?"
"Yeah. And to make things short, we've been ordered to hunt them down and make the construction projects for your country much safer from those bandits. Is that all?"
She meekly nodded as Itami continued his story.
After they placed them in a relatively safe place in this spacious cavern. With a dozen men from his company had been spying on the Lourian Forces for a good few hours before returning to the cavern, but without causing any suspicions from the invading army.
After twelve hours have passed since the invasion from the Lourian Army began, and it was that exact time she had woken up.
"So that happened. Any questions?"
"...After you've shot me and the others with the... Experimental dart, does that mean that I'm the only with this side effect?"
"Probably, we haven't checked on the others yet, but I suspect the women I've shot had the same effects as yours except for the men since I've shot plenty of them. Most of which were bandits."
"...Where did you get those darts?"
"From Unit 731."
"Aren't they supposed to be a biological chemical warfare unit?"
Kim butted in, asking the question that has been bugging him since the moment his Sergeant mentioned that particular unit.
"Well, they are, but I heard rumors from High Command that since our transfer in this world, they've been shifting from chemicals to experimental drugs manufacture lately."
Itami answered Kim's question, before turning to Felicia who had been staring at them with a blank look since the word "Unit 731" came to mind.
Before she could register what they meant, Itami suddenly asked a question.
"Hey kid, do you know any healing magic? If you don't, then I'll have to teach you how to use a gun, particularly both the Arisaka Type 4 Semi-Automatic Rifle and the Arisaka Type 7 Assault Rifle once I've got permission from my Captain.
She had no idea what he was saying or implying. And what challenges she'll be facing soon.
"I can use healing magic. What can I do?"
"..."
"Something tells me that I won't like it."
"Yep."
Kim answered immediately despite Itami's disappointment in his actions.
