Kays Translations

Chapter 112: And the World Begins to Move

237 days into my life in the other world.

On the second day of our visit to the city, after having breakfast, we were in the middle of a discussion at the Merry Trading Company.

It seemed that an incredible incident had occurred within the territory of the Human Kingdom, the Amaldia Kingdom.

Our source of information was from one of Drago's intelligence agents, and it was quite detailed. So, our plans to go out were canceled, and I was currently listening to Merinard's explanation along with Tsubaki.

---

The series of events began with the appearance of Orcs in the Amaldia Kingdom.

About two months ago, Orcs started being sighted all over the Amaldia Kingdom. In response, the king immediately sent troops and requested full support from the Adventurers Guild through the various local lords.

After two weeks, the situation had finally begun to stabilize. While Orcs continued to appear, the damage had become quite minimal. Thanks to the military and adventurers, the safety of the towns and villages was being maintained.

However, just at that time, the number of Orc appearances explosively increased throughout the entire northern region of the kingdom.

Not just in the forests, but also along the highways, farmlands, and even in close proximity to towns and villages—Orcs were spawning everywhere. The numbers were abnormal, and the damage was spreading continuously without stopping. Small villages were being wiped out, and the surviving villagers were evacuating to nearby cities.

In response, the king sent 30,000 soldiers, which was equivalent to 60% of the main force stationed in the capital, to the northern region. Naturally, the nobles governing various territories also sent their private armies north.

The problem arose from this point onwards.

The northern heroes unexpectedly declared independence in the southeastern part of the kingdom, near the border with the beastmen territory, and founded the Japanese Empire.

This was quite surprising since they had a good relationship with the king.

The Northern Heroes assumed the position of the first emperor, and the originally remote Border Count took command of the legions. How they managed to subdue him was unknown.

In reality, this founding had apparently been planned for quite some time. Using the Sage's "Transfer Magic," they rescued Japanese slaves from various regions, primarily the northern part, while gathering their forces. They hid in the Border count’s territory after releasing them from enslavement using the Saint's "Curse-Dispel Magic."

With the disappearance of a large number of slaves, it should have been quite conspicuous, but perhaps there were supporters in various regions. Or maybe it was due to the effects of their unique skills. 

As for the cause of the massive Orc appearances, it was the work of these heroes as well. 

The Japanese adventurer group led by the Sword Saint and the Sage infiltrated dozens of dungeons in the northern region, causing Orcs to massively spawn on the surface.

This meant that these heroes knew about the relationship between dungeons and Orcs. Whether it was a divine revelation or related to their unique skills was unclear. However, they had known this fact before we did, that was certain.

Returning to the main story, at this point, the Japanese Empire had a force of 20,000 while the Kingdom had a total force of 100,000.

However, the Kingdom had dispatched half of its forces northward. Furthermore, due to Orc subjugation in the north and the protection of refugees, they were facing a serious food shortage.

With Orcs to the north and the heroes to the south, they were caught in a tight spot, making it difficult to impose sanctions on the Japanese Empire.

In this situation, the Japanese Empire made its move. They demanded the "unconditional release of Japanese slaves" from the Kingdom.

Naturally, the Kingdom would never accept such a ridiculous demand. In a fit of rage, the king withdrew half of the troops that had been deployed in the northern region and declared war on the Japanese Empire.

But this decision turned out to be a mistake.

With half of their northern forces gone, they were unable to stop the Orcs from invading. Soldiers were dying one after another, and the number of wounded soldiers kept increasing. It was no wonder since Orcs were spawning endlessly.

The people living in the northernmost territories had no choice but to leave. The situation continued to worsen.

At this point, it was no longer about war. Eventually, they would have to send the troops back, but it was already too late. To stop the Orc invasion from the north, they had to deploy even more excessive forces.

In the end, the Kingdom reluctantly recognized the independence of the Japanese Empire. In exchange for the liberation of Japanese slave, they demanded the return of soldiers who wished to integrate into the Kingdom and the release of the native people.

On the other hand, the Japanese Empire insisted on the right for Japanese people living in the Kingdom to freely immigrate...

"So, did it all work out in the end?"

"They signed a one-year non-aggression pact and agreed on mutual migration across our countries."

"Doesn't this mean that everything went exactly as the Northern Heroes planned?"

"Yes, it does. They did something reckless... By using monsters."

"Eventually, this place might turn into something like the Eastern Continent."

"Even so, for the Japanese who were saved, they're like heroes."

"By the way, what are the military strengths of the Kingdom, the Empire, and the Beastmen Union?"

"Well, the situations of the three nations are..."

The situation could be summarized as follows:

Amaldia Kingdom

Population: 1 million (Including the capital and 20 territories)

Kingdom Army: 80,000 (50,000 deployed for northern defense)

Adventurers: 50,000

Japanese Residents: 70,000 (50,000 civilians, 20,000 slaves)

Japanese Empire

Population: 50,000

Imperial Army: 10,000

Japanese Residents: 10,000 (5,000 adventurers, 5,000 former slaves)

Beastmen Union

Population: 250,000 (Including the capital and 5 territories)

Allied Nation’s Army: 20,000

Japanese Residents: 15,000 (9,000 civilians, 6,000 slaves)

Merinard compiled the information he had heard, and it looked something like this.

In terms of sheer military strength, the Kingdom was superior. However, because they were allocating their forces to deal with the Orc invasion, the difference in strength among the countries wasn't that significant.

"Hey, Merinard. The Japanese Empire has too many soldiers for its population. How are they sourcing their food?"

"That is indeed a concern."

"I mean, there's a limit to how much the Border count can prepare. Meat aside, crops don't grow instantly, you know."

"This is unconfirmed information, but it seems they've been facing a food shortage for about half a year now. The cause is said to be the heroes buying up supplies and hoarding them."

There was no definitive proof, so it couldn't be stated with certainty. However, it seemed they used the Sage's transfer magic to purchase supplies from various places.

The southeastern part of the Kingdom, ruled by the Border count, was situated near the Great Mountain Range. Naturally, mining was flourishing there, and with the benefits of the rivers flowing from the mountains, agriculture was also thriving.

Using their ample funds, they began buying up supplies from various places. For half a year or even a year, perishable foods should be plentiful.

"I see. So, they've been making moves behind the scenes for quite some time. That's why there hasn't been any information related to the heroes until now; they've been deliberately concealing it."

"I've reported everything I know, but what should our future countermeasures be?"

"If the Japanese Empire's influence extends to the Beastmen's territory, I want you to withdraw to the village. Apart from that... is there anything else? We can continue as we have been."

"If it's the Village Chief's decision, then so be it. I will see to it."

Merinard's report was undoubtedly about an incredible incident.

Nevertheless, as far as today's discussion was concerned, there didn't seem to be any issues directly affecting the village. I was curious about what would happen next, but I intended to remain a bystander. Well, it seemed the Northern Heroes were quite enthusiastic, and regardless of their methods, they were acting based on their convictions.

Whether it was the Human race, the Beastmen, or even the Japanese people, "I don't care what happens to them; they can do as they please" was my sentiment. My responsibilities remained unchanged from the beginning: "To protect myself and the village."

"Let's go to the town, even though it's a bit late. There are still many things we haven't seen."

"Sounds good. Let's go!"

"Alright, I'm heading out, Merinard. I'll be back in the evening."

"Yes, please take care and come back safely."

—Finally, the world had started to move.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter