This is not an update, I'm just correcting the order of the chapters. One was lost.
March 20, Anno Domini 2022/1640 Central Calendar/September 5, 2006 (Japan, Behind the Gate)
Pricipality of Que-Toyne
Gim
These Prussians are insane. That's the opinion circulating among the people of Itami and all other Japanese who were stationed in the fortifications of Gim. Those who had the opportunity to get to know the Germans from the north, especially from the former GDR territory, i.e., their Prussians, realized how unnatural the drill instilled by the Prussian Kings was for them.
These Prussians, of course. They were closer to the Balts in name than to the Germans from their world. It's not surprising, many native Prussians were Germanized Baltic Prussians. Here, enlightened ideas and enlightened absolute monarchs had no influence on their character.
This meant that we were dealing not with disciplined formalists mindlessly obedient to higher ranks and with a very stiff sense of humor. Instead, we encountered extremely spirited people who had their own opinions, enjoyed rebelling, and had a sense of humor that was not so hermetic.
Although, for the sake of accuracy, most of the Prussians we know were never really Prussians, they were simply Brandenburgers under a different name.
That's why those Prussians who learned about their counterparts in our world quickly renamed the Kingdom of Prussia to the Kingdom of Brandenburg. They made it clear to the Japanese that the only Prussians they tolerate are those related to their adopted homeland, Poland.
Under no circumstances were they associated with the Germans, as they themselves say. We Germans rejected them in 1454 when we rebelled against the Teutonic Order in an armed and successful uprising.
That was the only more serious issue in their relations. As for everything else? Well, although it is true that their character is extremely foreign to the Japanese themselves, it didn't really bother them and was even helpful.
It helps a lot that they have a Polish sense of good manners rather than a German one. And that's not surprising, as they have been part of the Polish cultural sphere for centuries. A very important part, we must add. The Prussians have made great contributions to Polish culture, and since the subjugation of the Teutonic Order, Königsberg quickly became a Polish cultural center.
It was the Prussian printers who created the first standardized written form of the Polish language, and for many years, it was Prussia that printed the most books and publications in Polish.
And the gem in the crown was the University of Albertus in Königsberg, founded in 1554 by the last Grand Master of the Teutonic Order and the First Duke in Prussia, Albert of Hohenzollern. Privately, he was the nephew of the King of Poland, Zygmunt I the Old, the penultimate Jagiellonian on the Polish throne. That is why there was something called the Duchy in Prussia.
(An aside, although commonly referred to as the Duchy of Prussia and Prussian Duchies, that is a mistake. Formally, it was the Duchy in Prussia, as the Duke of Prussia, from the time of secularization until the partitions, was the King of Poland. Therefore, one could say that Frederick II usurped the title of King of Prussia. Illegally, of course, although the person concerned would not care, as he was busy, for example, counterfeiting the Polish currency on a large scale. This, of course, created significant inflation, making life difficult for Poland.)
Although the one who granted the right to confer academic titles to this university was Albrecht's cousin, Zygmunt II, the last Jagiellon. This also made the university superior, the second oldest in the Commonwealth.
The university itself was thoroughly Polish, giving birth to many Polish scholars, and Polish remains the traditional language of instruction to this day.
This was also the reason for the traditional knowledge of Polish among the Prussians, starting in ancient times from the higher circles and now even the common folk speak Polish or its Polanian variant, much like German.
Of course, among the Japanese who were incredibly curious about the world, they quickly immersed themselves among the Prussians, wanting to learn as much as possible.
Itami was not one of them, not that he didn't like it. He was simply too lazy to learn more than the basics. On the other hand, he was a commander, so he had to grasp more to be able to present in his report who these Prussians are, what their history is, and why the hell they say they are Polish.
That's why he spent time with the local commander, trying to find a common topic. Trying... that's a good way to describe it.
"Lourians are strangely calm, aren't they?" Itami asked in English. Fortunately, this Wiekier knew English, as he came from a merchant family, so he had contact with various people, including the English.
Wiekier looked at the Japanese man before agreeing. "Indeed," he added, "Although I think it's more like the calm before the storm."
Itami nodded. "Just like us, Saderian disappeared somewhere."
Wiekier shrugged. "Only you wiped out the whole army of those fools. We still have ours standing."
Itami had to agree. "True," he added, "I've noticed that the magic in this world is much more useful, making it harder to destroy them. And the commanders are more sensible. They try all sorts of tricks, like tunneling or using weather magic to obscure their sight, or camouflage magic. They don't march obediently towards their deaths."
"Well, they have to compensate for the fact that they consist solely of humans," the Hetman observed. "Their enemies utilize their racial diversity. Elves live long, so they're much better at everything due to their experience. Dwarves, on the other hand, are incredibly tough and stubborn in battle. Gnomes are small and difficult to notice. They also have access to half-human races. So, humans themselves don't have to be as excellent as the Lourians."
"Agreed," Itami replied, inwardly grimacing. It seemed that Kurata was in seventh heaven seeing so many non-humans in Gim. He was even obsessed with the locals, trying to see as many of them as possible and document many of them on his phone. Fortunately, many of the local soldiers proved to be quite understanding towards the Japanese and allowed themselves to be photographed. And Kurata knew how to behave to not alienate them, although a few times they had to get him out of trouble.
Itami was somewhat annoyed; he understood that he was fulfilling his dream in this way, but he didn't have to be so troublesome about it.
"Nevertheless, it doesn't mean that Toynans are in any way inferior because of it. They're not dumb either. Actually, I've noticed that they're very cautious," Itami added.
The Hetman raised his hands. "No wonder, with such an army that attacked them, one has to be really cautious. Just think about it, two million soldiers mobilized by a medieval kingdom. Que-Toyne couldn't even field a quarter of that number."
"Indeed," replied Itami, feeling concerned. The Saderian army was much smaller and still posed a serious problem to clear out. He shuddered at the thought of the "Polish" Gate being used by the Lourians. How many civilians would have died on that fateful day if it were the Lourians and not the Saderians who entered Ginza?
Even now, they couldn't account for all the casualties, which numbered in the tens of thousands. He never intended to find out what damage a two-million-strong army from the western Middle Ages could have caused.
The Hetman noticed Itami's grim thoughts. "I see you're wondering, what if the Lourians entered your world?"
The Japanese man only looked him in the eyes before looking elsewhere again.
"Son," the older man began, and Itami looked at him. "If I may speak frankly, of course."
"You may," Itami quickly replied.
"Good," said Wiekier. "Son, I have good advice. Leave the speculation to armchair generals, historians, poets, and novelists. Instead of worrying about what if, just focus on what is. Less stress, clearer thinking. And above all, create solutions for existing problems, not those that exist solely in someone's mind."
Itami nodded silently. In a way, the old Pole was right. "You're right. I better think about whether there are any noteworthy manga from your world!"
Wiekier laughed, seeing the change in Itami's attitude. Then he asked, "What is manga?"
Itami was surprised. "Well, you know, in the West, we call our comics manga."
Wiekier understood and then rolled his eyes. "Really? We always call any picture story a comic, regardless of the country it comes from."
"Even from Japan?" Itami was taken aback.
"Even from Nipponia!" Wiekier replied. "My son likes Nipponese comics, so I know something about it. I've never heard him or any of his friends who like them call them anything other than comics," he added after a while, recalling his son's favorite comics.
"Interesting," Itami said. "I have to remember that for the future." He was very curious about what pop culture from Hetman's world the Japanese had invented. What games, comics, or animations were created and which ones didn't exist in his world? Of course, this wasn't the only Japan that interested him.
The Japan that also existed in Arcadia was also the subject of his interest. However, he knew all too well that someone else would be the first to visit that Japan. Not that he was complaining; he didn't mind the extra work.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly felt a tremor, and moments later, the sound of an explosion reached his ears along with the shattered glass carried by the shockwave.
"Kurwa, what's happening?" the Hetman cursed in Polish. Itami didn't know what he said, although he had already become well acquainted with the distinctive expletive.
Instead, he immediately rushed to the window, which provided a great view to the west of Gim. As soon as he saw a large cloud of gray smoke covering the trenches, he knew things were bad.
"General, I report that the Lourians have launched a general assault," Itami automatically said, disregarding the fact that Wiekier was the Hetman, not a general, and not his superior. But he didn't care about that now; it wasn't the time or place, especially since the shrill cries, belonging to Lourian dragons, heralded an aerial strike.
Itami clicked his tongue as he saw nearly the entire sky in front of him being covered by the air forces.
"I understand, Lieutenant," Wiekier said without delay. "Go gather your men and prepare for defense. Meanwhile, I will call for reinforcements." Itami nodded silently, then rushed out of the office, calling Kuwahara on his portable radio along the way.
Meanwhile, the Hetman quickly activated the radio station in his office and connected with the unit being prepared for a counterattack or precisely for such an occasion. The third and fourth artillery divisions of the 11th Regiment should be an effective solution to these problems.
March 20, Anno Domini 2022
Principality of Que-Toyne
Pilar Village
The Star trucks with WR-40 Langusta rocket launchers, which had been sitting silently until now, came to life. For weeks, the artillerymen operating these launchers had been forced to watch their comrades having fun while they were left with tedious work. Most of the time, they helped the logisticians transport ammunition to the Krab, so no brilliant ideas would scare them.
Now everything was about to change; the Krabs were put on standby, waiting for precise fire support requests. Meanwhile, the role of the main suppressor was to be taken over, as it should have been, by the Langustas.
All the Langustas were armed with M-21FK Feniks-Z missiles, which had cluster warheads. Just like Poland in our world, the Commonwealth did not disarm itself from cluster munitions.
On the other hand, in the world of the Commonwealth, there weren't too many prohibited weapons or international disarmament treaties. In fact, there were only two such treaties, the prohibition of chemical weapons and biological weapons, signed in 1924 and 1935, respectively. Other than that, everything was permitted.
One Langusta has over 40 barrels with a caliber of 122 millimeters. When combined with the fact that one division has over 18 Langustas, it results in over 720 rockets fired in a single salvo within 20 seconds. And with two divisions preparing to fire, over 1440 rockets will rain down on the Lourians within 40 seconds. A deadly firepower.
Colonel Weiss personally made sure that the launchers reported their readiness as quickly as possible. Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long; only four minutes passed from the combat alarm to the readiness report for firing.
He informed the Headquarters that he was ready to fire the salvo. He didn't have to wait for permission to open fire; as soon as he pressed the button in his command post, he received the fire zone.
He had to admit it was quite extensive; in fact, he received the order to destroy everything from the forest near Gim to the first line of trenches. That covered an area of twenty square kilometers to be turned into a battlefield by the rockets. Let's add that there was another smaller fire zone indicated on the Topaz, placed along the path between the trees, with orders to use incendiary projectiles.
Weiss saw that the Langustas would have some fun shooting. It didn't bother him; after all, he was an artilleryman. And like every artilleryman, he enjoyed blowing things up.
Without hesitation, he provided the coordinates to the launchers and then gave the order to open fire. First the third division, then the fourth, as soon as the third division's rockets were depleted. As soon as he heard the distinctive sound of the launched rockets, he quietly said,
"Surprise, motherfuckers!"
Moments later
Gim City Walls
The third reconnaissance unit assembled on the designated section of the wall, one of the remaining pieces of fortification surrounding the town. The Lourians played a nasty trick and blew up a significant portion of the city's fortifications and tore through the field fortifications in front of the city.
Itami clearly saw how the Toynian units were retreating from the trenches in front of the city, often leaving behind heavier equipment. The enemy chose the right moment; the watch was held by the locals instead of the Prusians who were resting in the city, awaiting their turn.
From what he learned, the Lourians used spells on a massive scale, much greater than anyone had expected. First, they used spells commonly classified as siege-mining spells, responsible for demolishing parts of the walls and destroying the field fortifications.
Then, under the cover of artificial fog, they launched their attack, also utilizing underground tunnels. As soon as the Lourians emerged from the tunnels, they revealed themselves and showed how audaciously they approached the enemy, neutralizing the range advantage.
Itami had the chance to see a few of these tunnels on this side of the wall. Elite Lourian units, using camouflage spells, infiltrated the city and created chaos as soon as they struck.
Before reaching his own troops, Itami had to fight through a few of those who had targeted the headquarters. They were really troublesome bastards; it took half a magazine of P9 to kill just one of them. Fortunately, the Type-64 was far more effective.
By the way, he had the opportunity to witness the deadly effectiveness of the so-called Hunters. Strangely enough, they all looked like women, and quite unassuming at that. Nevertheless, they could easily grab a fully armored knight by the neck and lift him with one hand, then snap his neck and toss him around like a sack of potatoes.
He was glad to have them on his side.
"I'm running out of ammo!" Kurata shouted.
Itami stopped shooting, reached for a magazine on the table, and threw it to Kurata.
"Thanks!" Kurata exclaimed, reloading his weapon. He tossed the empty magazine back to Itami, who caught it and handed it to a half-human woman with cat ears.
Her name was Mini, one of the medics assigned ad hoc to his team, but the need for ammunition prompted Itami to change her assignment, using gestures, of course. He didn't know if she had a translator or a spell, but anyone could understand hand gestures.
Instead of treating the wounded, which was doubtful as they sat on a nearly ten-meter-high wall using blankets as shields, she served as an ammunition supplier. She loaded new rounds into empty magazines from the JSDF crates nearby.
She was immensely helpful, quickly and efficiently replenishing the shortage. Thanks to her, the third team could keep firing at the attackers, covering the retreating Toynians.
"Damn fog, can't see anything through it!" Shino growled, realizing at the last moment that she was aiming at an ally.
"Note that for the report, thermal vision is essential here," Itami murmured to himself in response to her remark.
"When will the artillery support finally arrive?" Corporal Daisuke Tozu shouted, and then everyone heard the distinctive sound of rockets whistling.
"Did you say something?" Kurata joked, but his expression changed when hell broke loose.
The first salvo detonated above the ground, and hundreds of thousands of projectiles rained down, unleashing carnage. The Japanese soldiers witnessed countless explosions and heard a cacophony of screams. The explosion smoke mixed with the fog, creating a grim atmosphere of horror.
No one fired their weapons; some even winced at the spectacle. After a moment, another salvo came, exploding farther away, continuing the apocalypse.
It lasted a brief moment, but they were certain that this wave of attack had been broken.
"What was that?" Kurata asked.
"Cluster munitions. It's surprising we didn't bring them to Alnus," Itami explained.
"Too much risk. After such a salvo, there are plenty of unexploded bomblets that act like mines, posing a threat to everyone. We want operational freedom," Kuwahara pointed out.
Itami nodded. He was well aware of the drawbacks of that weapon; after all, it was the reason for the ongoing campaign against it. He himself didn't have a high opinion of it; yes, it was cruel, but on the other hand, it was effective. One such salvo could destroy an entire enemy offensive.
"So, are we in the clear?" asked Senior Sergeant Tetsuya Nishina.
Itami took out his binoculars to try to see the enemy camp. Then he clicked his tongue. "Not yet. The enemy intends to continue their advance."
"Madmen! Do they know what they're getting into?" replied Kurata.
"Apparently so. They're up to something," replied Itami, noticing the distinctive attire of the mages who started doing something.
The entire third platoon looked at their commander, who just glanced at them before returning to his observation. Suddenly, something caught his attention. He observed it for a moment and then spoke up.
"Kuwahara, take Topaz. I see a VIP that needs to be taken care of by the Krabs. I'll give you the coordinates."
Kuwahara took Topaz. He was one of the two Japanese soldiers in the platoon who knew how to operate it, the other being Itami. Not that it was difficult; in fact, it was incredibly simple. Anyone who can operate a tablet can do it without a problem.
The problem lies in the device's language. It's only in Polish, so one has to memorize what to click and how to call for support. You could say it's like playing a Japanese version of a gacha game without knowing a single character of Japanese.
Kuwahara waited for Itami. After a moment, Itami spoke...
At the same time Gim Outskirts
Hark gazed ahead, over 50,000 people were obliterated by two rocket salvos. Monstrous rockets that break into thousands of small fragments that explode upon hitting the ground. He didn't regret them; they were the worst of the worst. They had been purposely sent as the first wave.
"They've been playing with us this whole time," Hark said after a while, and none of his aides could disagree. "They had a secret weapon ready all along, capable of wiping us out in one strike. Why didn't they do it?"
He asked himself. No one dared to answer.
Hark snorted. "It's rather obvious. They were waiting for a messenger, with a request for a truce. When we showed that we'd rather die than surrender, they showed us what they're capable of."
Then he drew his sword and grabbed something resembling a microphone in his other hand.
"SOLDIERS! THIS IS YOUR FINAL ORDER. MARCH WITH ME TOWARDS THIS DAMNED CITY. MY FALL MARKS THE END OF YOUR OBLIGATION. ONCE THAT HAPPENS, YOU HAVE FULFILLED YOUR DUTY TOWARDS ME."
Then he threw the microphone to the ground and shouted, "Forward!" with a theatrical sword gesture. Not that anyone outside of the guard could see that gesture. Then he charged forward at full speed, followed by his guards. The ground was filled with the clatter of horse hooves and soldiers' boots.
Behind Hark, at a considerable distance, the cavalry rode, followed by the regular infantry. The dissipating fog revealed the full force of the assault.
Meanwhile, the mages unleashed all their power on the magical barriers, removing them from the camp and exposing it to the attack. They hadn't done it earlier due to a lack of magical stones and mages to simultaneously protect the advancing army and the camp.
Now, in the frenzied assault, the camp's defense was meaningless. They could sacrifice what remained to shield the army.
Unfortunately, there was a small gap. The shield protected the troops behind Hark but not Hark and his entourage.
That's why a 155mm projectile fired from the Krab easily hit and exploded on the ground behind him, while the cluster ammunition shattered against the shield. Hark felt the shockwave throwing him off his horse, killing the unfortunate animal, and fragments penetrating his armor.
Then Hark felt a tug and disappeared. Along with him, his entire retinue vanished, obliterated by an artillery grenade.
The soldiers riding horses and those running behind Hark were taken by surprise by the sudden fall of their King. The riders abruptly stopped, causing collisions among themselves. The same happened to the infantry when the front lines halted upon seeing the cavalry in front of them stop. The front rows were hit from behind, causing them to fall and trip everyone else.
The entire offensive came to a halt. Those who remained on their feet looked at each other. News quickly spread from the cavalry to the infantry and from the infantry to the rear. And from the rear to the command.
The Lourians didn't know what to do. The King's order was clear: when he dies, the order to attack Gim is no longer valid. Moreover, it means they have fulfilled their duty and can do as they please.
But it was quite obvious that they didn't want to die. Lourians quickly started discussing among themselves, many wondering what to do next.
"The King sacrificed himself for us."
"But why did he do it?"
"To end this senseless massacre."
"So, what now?"
"It seems obvious. We should go back home. That's what the King asked for. That's why he deliberately positioned himself at the very front, ahead of us."
Such conversations took place among them. Then the first units began to retreat. First the cavalry, then the infantry. The defenders, stunned by the whole event, silently watched as the Lourians started leaving the battlefield.
Gim's Walls
"What did we just witness?" Shino said.
"The honorable death of their King. That's what made them stop," Itami explained.
"But..." Shino began, "it's abnormal how quickly they found out! The Golden One barely fell, and shortly after, the cavalry stopped."
"They planned it," Kuwahara stated confidently.
Shino looked at him. "What do you mean?"
Kuwahara looked back at her. "Remember, their units attacked over and over throughout the day, only to be mowed down by artillery. Today's first wave was an example, but the next one, after a few minutes, was already shielded. Very powerful shields. However, strangely enough, their ruler wasn't protected. It's not a coincidence!"
"If they had such shields, why didn't they use them earlier?" Kurata asked.
"Who said they didn't use them? They were constantly protecting their camp! That's why sniper rifle shots or artillery shrapnel couldn't do anything to the place they were attacking from. That's why Hark could confidently stand on that hill!" Nishina spoke up, recalling the Prussians' complaints about how the enemy seemed invulnerable to attacks from that hill to their camp.
"Nevertheless, it doesn't explain why they didn't do it until now," Shino pointed out.
"It's simple," Itami interjected. "The spell Sh'chit Viwi, which means City Shield, is extremely demanding." His unit looked at him.
"Can you explain?" Shino asked.
Itami sighed. "It's a variation of the classic Sh'chit spell used for protection against attacks. This version of the spell is often used to protect cities and is employed for defending camps during wars. It's the most powerful version of the spell, providing all-encompassing protection. However, it requires a significant number of mages who must continuously cast the spell and magical stones to power it—constant replenishment."
"That's why it's used situationally, only in the face of direct threats. It's rarely used for defensive assaults because it's challenging to maneuver such a spell. That's why much weaker versions with a significantly smaller area of effect are used for direct defense. Hence, these spells are primarily employed on ships."
"Or on special armor," Kurata remarked, recalling the Lourian saboteurs who wore sponge-filled suits to absorb projectiles.
"Yes, but they are very expensive and, more importantly, rare," Itami said.
The third unit nodded silently. Their contemplation was interrupted by Mini.
"Excuse me, Lieutenant, what now?" she said in Japanese. She knew the language from her previous work with the Japanese.
Itami was surprised. "You speak Japanese?" Not without reason, he had been forced to communicate through sign language.
"Yes, but there hasn't been an opportunity to use it," Mini replied with disarming honesty. "Just follow me, load magazines, and so on." She spoke with remarkable fluency, which was why she had joined the Japanese team, imitating Itami's exaggerated gestures.
Shino chuckled sarcastically, while Itami held his head in his hands. The unit laughed along, witnessing the commander's despair.
An hour later
Kingdom of Louria
Rindol Bay
Hark, feeling sore, lay in his bed in the cabin of his ship. It was a small and agile brig called Lupuria, a secret toy he used when he didn't want to attract attention and just wanted to relax.
The golden armor he had worn for the past two weeks lay nearby. It was now a useless piece of scrap. It was never designed to withstand such a blow, but it had fulfilled its purpose.
Hark snorted at the thought of what the old Armorer, Jort, who took care of the equipment in the Royal Armory, would say. Thanks to him, when Hark was a child, he found it deep in the crates.
It had belonged to some hero named Toya Mocizki. A famous hero with a magical box who led a rebellion of half-humans against one of his great-grandfathers. He was known for having a decent harem and being like a demigod. Eventually, he lost, and his magical armor ended up in the hands of the kings of Louria.
"What happened to Mocizki?" you might ask. What could have happened? He was punished severely. His women were brutally skinned in front of him, impaled, dismembered, and then the remaining parts were cooked and he was forced to eat them.
Then he suffered the same fate, although what was left of his body was thrown to the lions to devour. Allegedly, he was known for his incredible endurance and regeneration, so he continued to live even as a torso. So he was devoured alive by lions for a couple of weeks.
A vile story with a profoundly instructive moral: don't pretend to be a hero, or you'll end up like him. Hark disliked that story; it always gave him nightmares of a dark-haired man with pleading eyes screaming for mercy.
Nevertheless, the armor itself was an intriguing rarity. It generated a personal shield, powered solely by the magic in its surroundings. It was resistant to almost any weapon, only magical blades could pierce it, and it protected against the weather. And most importantly, it had an evacuation system that teleported the user to a designated safe location.
Only thanks to it did he survive. It transported him directly to a small hidden cove, where his most personal and trusted people were waiting for him. Thanks to their immediate response, they managed to save him from his wounds. However, the scars he received had changed him beyond recognition.
Actually quite useful, no one will be able to recognize him. Fortunately for his favorite lovers, it was actually more alluring. Their man turned out to be a warrior who feared no death.
"So, what now, Darling?" the first one asked. Lupusia, a half-human with wolf-like features. She had ashen hair and gray eyes, which complemented her tail and ears. A nicely healed scar ran across her right eye, a memento from her days as a Gladiator in the arenas. That's where he found her and bought her from her previous owner.
"Just what do we do now? You won't leave what Ludius did unanswered, right?" the second one said, this time a half-fox. Her name was Lewicja. She had fiercely red hair, and equally red ears, but her tail had been cut off by one of her previous owners. Her eyes were violet, devouring him time and time again.
Hark nodded his head. "For what he did? For the deaths of so many people in vain? For the humiliation I suffered?" His eyes burned with anger. "Ludius will pay!" he exclaimed, then calmed down. "But it's not the time for that. This mongrel won't escape anywhere. For now, let's enjoy ourselves and prepare for the day of revenge."
Those two didn't need to be encouraged twice.