Production produced was from modern-day Earth and food he often ate during his life there.
He had no idea what system allowed that miracle to happen. But it was a fact that technological progress could produce one of the greatest treasures known to man—an abundant food supply.
"Yes, yes, that's absolutely correct. Isn't it delicious? He's created even more delicacies than that! I love grapes!" Facts aside, Atou was getting out of control.
She's banned from eating grapes for a while.
Atou was too excited to guess what Takuto was thinking as she spoke enthusiastically about various things she shouldn't have.
.
------------>
.
Emle's spirits soared when she saw what a good mood Atou was in. She was delighted someone in a much higher, isolated position than herself had spoken to her as an equal. She responded to Atou's giddiness with a smile and the attitude of a younger coworker talking to an older female colleague she had struck up a friendship with.
"That's the cluster of purple balls, right? Which reminds me: I planted the seeds I found in them. And guess what? They've already started to bud! I can't wait to see them grow! Now we can harvest lots of fruit without troubling His Majesty!"
"Foolish child! How could you do that without asking His Majesty or me for permission first?!"
"Elder Moltar's right, Emle," Gia sternly scolded. "That wasn't wise. Why would you do such a thing?"
It was the insensitive men in attendance who rudely butted into the girls' budding friendship.
Takuto didn't want to interrupt the girls, but something Emle said had caught his attention enough to warrant following up.
"M-My curiosity got the best of me, and I thought it'd be okay because they taste so good…"
"You planted modern-age fruit from the Land of the Gods?"
Atou caught on to the same key point a few moments after Takuto. Her stunned gaze burrowed into Emle, causing the Dark Elf's shoulders to jump. She looked so pitiful, shrinking away like a scolded child, even Elder Moltar and Gia decided to take her side and mediate for a lesser punishment.
However, Atou and Takuto's thoughts were racing in a completely different direction. They didn't care that she acted without permission.
Every food produced by Emergency Production was from modern times and not of this world—yes, they were all from Takuto's world and time. In other words, finished products brought about by the advanced technology of the modern age could be used in this underdeveloped world.
Simply put, he had access to solutions from the future.
How much a nation can expand its population is directly linked to how much food it can produce.
Just thinking about the value of introducing high-yielding modern crops brought about by combining the best of biotechnology and genetic engineering to his empire made Takuto's head spin.
That wasn't all either.
This revelation inspired an even greater one: producing modern food meant he could also produce modern resources.
Wasn't it impossible to use Emergency Production to produce Strategic Resources in this world? Not exactly—he just realized the only thing he couldn't produce were the Strategic Resources that existed in the game.
He had already tested and proved it was possible to produce goods from the modern world he once lived in. Now he needed to see what else it would work on.
For his first test, he held his palm out and thought of the item he wanted. Onto his palm fell a metal that was lighter than it appeared—aluminum.
Takuto cracked a smile.
He had access to base metals such as aluminum and steel, precious metals from naturally occurring chemical elements, fertilizer nutrients such as phosphate rock and potassium, and not only was gunpowder an option, but even smokeless gunpowder!
If he could produce the most important Strategic Resources that changed the shape of warfare, then it would be possible for him to form a powerful army before anyone else. And together with a mastery of Magic Technology, the various resources that were the origin of modern technology would create further possibilities.
Of course, he would need the necessary population, industrial power, and basic technology required for mass production of such things to get to that point. But even with that roadblock, Takuto was riveted by this system that removed the worry of finding Resources as long as he was willing to devote large amounts of Mana to it.
Oil was one such resource the people of his world were willing to kill over. More than anything else, securing resources regardless of having a source nearby would make Mynoghra a strong empire.
With that in mind, what Takuto needed most was Mana. And lots of it. An incomprehensible amount…
Using an astronomical amount of Mana to forcefully produce Rare and Important Resources—an impossible plan if Takuto wasn't the king, but there is no empire without a king and no king without an empire. No problem there then.
Takuto began formulating his strategies as he organized the rush of information spinning in his mind. The corners of his lips lifted, and a quiet laugh slipped out.
This was one of the few times a scheming, evil smile showed on his face. A wicked smile curled Atou's lips as she understood the conclusion he had drawn.
"I-I'm sorry…d-did I make a mistake?"
"No, we've entirely overlooked that. You actually did a marvelous job." Atou smiled gently at the frightened adjutant, showing she was pleased with a nod.
We have even more of a cheat-like advantage in this world than I thought.
Filled with this surreal realization, Takuto began revising his empire-management policies.
<2<-x-X-x->2>
IDORAGYA is the collective name of the large continent connecting two vast, circular landmasses divided into smaller continents to the north and south.
On the southern landmass called the Dark Continent, many regions are unsuitable for building settlements, such as the Accursed Lands, and the whole area is known to be infested with highly aggressive Barbarians. It's made up of developing nations far behind the more advanced nations to the north, and to the far south is the mysterious Uncharted Territory, creating chaos and confusion worthy of the name the Dark Continent.
On the other hand, merely two big empires control the northern landmass called the Lawful Continent: the Holy Kingdom of Qualia, an empire of light ruled by Humans, and the El-Nah Alliance of Elementals ruled by Elves.
Various factors are intertwined in the prosperity of an empire. It's impossible to explain in just a few words how these two empires prospered and reached a relatively peaceful, though slightly strained, coexistence as followers of the same order. But the one known major contributing factor to that is—
—the ultimate weapon called a Saint.
◇◇◇
THE Holy Kingdom of Qualia has adopted a provincial system to efficiently manage its vast territory. It's a unique empire with provinces possessing administrative authority located in the four cardinal directions around the Holy Capital of Qualiane.
The Northern Province is the least developed as it contains much of the frigid northern territory. At the northernmost tip of that province, in a land with so little value that only a few desolate fishing and farming villages exist, a girl wearing a white outfit unsuited to the climate gazed out at the snowy land.
"It's time, Saint Soalina. The messenger reported that the band of Barbarians is advancing this way as we anticipated. Show them the miracle of God's will."
"…It shall be done."
Paladins dressed in extravagant armor with pure-white capes guarded one of the Northern Province's Cardinals who'd imparted that message to the Saint, his eyes trained on the distant expanse of snow-covered land.
Urged by the Cardinal with his shrewd and cutting gaze, the girl stepped forward. Seconds later, unsettling shrieks rose in the distance, followed by plumes of snow kicked up into the air as a horde of Demi-humans charged toward them, trampling the ground as they went.
They were about half the size of Humans, with rough blue skin, shark-like eyes, razor-sharp fangs, and faces devoid of intelligence. They wielded clubs, sharpened sticks, and crude axes cobbled together with sticks and stones.
This was the horde of Snow Goblins, several thousand strong, that had suddenly appeared in the Northern Province.
For Qualia, which had an army of over 10,000 units in each province, a horde of Goblins inferior to Humans in every way was no different than a swarm of gnats. But that only applied to the empire as a whole—the horde was still a threat to defenseless citizens.
As it was, several villages had already been destroyed, and their residents' lives lost since the horde appeared.
The Snow Goblin horde was now hunting its next prey. And there was but one person who stood in their way—a girl of seventeen wearing robes of white and gold, known for her ephemeral expressions and flower accessories.
The common folk had various names for her: God's Compassion, the Flower Maiden, the Beautiful One, Guardian of the World. Her true title was Saint Soalina of Blooming Burials, one of Idoragya's Seven Great Savior Saints.
She was the embodiment of godly Miracles that the Holy Kingdom of Qualia venerated.
"To bring calamity upon this land and strike terror into man's heart is a sin that cannot be forgiven. God's sorrow has peaked. The time for you to repent is long gone," Soalina spoke with flowing eloquence.
Would her words even reach the Snow Goblins whose intelligence was up for debate? Soalina poured out her heart regardless, as if reciting a poem or aria to comfort the souls of the lost.
"The anguished cries of the innocent, the voice of our peaceseeking God, I hear ye!"
Soalina raised her hand and thrust her palm in front of her.
The Snow Goblins moved nimbly through the terrain. The threat they posed was imminent—a few seconds more and the flowerlike girl would be trampled underfoot. The Cardinal started to panic behind her, and the Paladins drew their swords.
But Saint Soalina spoke with quiet calm, "For the sin of corrupting the order of the Holy Kingdom of Qualia and for the wickedness of defying our Holy God Arlos—I entomb ye now in a blooming burial."
Hellfire purged the land.
There was no lead up to it—a swirl of all-consuming flames simply appeared before Soalina.
The horde of Snow Goblins was reduced to ashes along with the dirt and vegetation, filling the area with disturbing shrieks and the nauseating smell of burnt flesh. The cries of the dying could be heard until they were caught up in the swirl of blooming flames and petered off.
The once frigid land now looked more akin to a region afflicted by everlasting summer, which was tolerable for the resilient Paladins, but the Cardinal and his attendants were so hot, they had to remove their capes and roll up their sleeves.
The horde of thousands of Snow Goblins that'd left a path of destroyed villages in their wake had been reduced to a pile of crumbling cinders once the Saint joined the battle.
The flames went out. Silence fell over the area as no one spoke a word about the miracle they had just witnessed.
Change occurred soon after.
A single flower quietly bloomed. Then flowers started popping up in a steady stream that accelerated into a wave of growing plants.
It wasn't long before the whole area was covered in flowers, blanketing any trace of the fire. It was like watching flowers being laid down for the deceased at a funeral.
A single unit capable of easily decimating a whole army—this was why the Saints were said to be the ultimate weapon.
"…Cardinal," Saint Soalina spoke to the man behind her without taking her eyes off the flower petals being scattered by the snowstorm blowing through the newly-created field.
"What can I do for you, Saint Soalina?"
"What of the conversation we had the other day?"
"The other day? What conversation might that be?"
"Dispatching Paladins to investigate the omen of apocalypse coming from the Accursed Lands located on the Dark Continent."
"The Dark Continent is outside our kingdom's jurisdiction. Dispatching troops to that area requires petitioning each country and the lords reigning over the territories our men will pass through. We also have to consider war expenditures and rewards. You, more than anyone, should know we can't mobilize the Order of Paladins on a whim. Is the omen valid?"
Her inquiry was met with a longwinded and snide rebuttal. It was plain as day he didn't want to go through the trouble.
The Cardinal was taking advantage of the fact none of the Paladins on standby were watching to shake his head. Only he knew what he meant by that gesture, but it was easy to tell this wasn't the first time he had discussed such things with the Saint.
"Yes, there is definitely an omen of apocalypse… You needn't mobilize the Paladins. I can go by myself—"
"You fail to comprehend your own position, my saint!"
The Cardinal's angry voice caused the apprentice clergyman at his side to tremble.
Saint Soalina turned around and quietly looked at the Cardinal. Her eyes were devoid of emotion. Frustrated even further by those doll-like eyes, the Cardinal let out a loud sigh and gave her a scornful look.
"For heaven's sake, where do you think that foolish idea will get you? Please develop a better understanding of your importance. You are no longer some peasant farmer girl, you understand?"
Saint Soalina kept her silence before his blatant insults. Rather than gritting her teeth in silent frustration at not having a good comeback, it seemed more like she lacked the emotions to be moved one way or another by slander of that level. Her reaction seemed to come from both a philosophical outlook and resignation.
"Tch! There are several people I can personally mobilize. I will give them the order."
Nevertheless, Saints held an untouchable position. A mere Cardinal had no reason or right to object to her decisions. He finally gave up trying to talk her out of it and offered an alternative.
Soalina's lips formed their first youthful smile as she nodded. With that, one of her concerns was laid to rest. She pretended, like always, not to hear the Cardinal muttering "Stupid peasant girl" under his breath as he left. He seemed to forget she had supernatural hearing.
…The Saints were isolated and lonely. Granted extraordinary physical strength and the power to do miracles from the Holy God Arlos, they were required to have absolute dedication and loyalty as followers of law and order—even when they were exposed to the vile jealousy of those who envied their position.
She did nothing but use her miracles today and every day to save everyone, to protect every smile, and for those she could not save.
"Thank you. May Arlos's blessing be upon them…"
The Cardinal quickly prepared to withdraw the troops without waiting for her words. As she emotionlessly watched his back walk away, Saint Soalina of Blooming Burials whispered into the wind, "I have to save them…"
Her words melted away into the frigid landscape.
The army of law and order was undeniably sensing the signs of change coming to the world.
◇◇◇
"IT'S time for some good ol' building fun!!!"
Atou's enthusiastic voice echoed through the Accursed Land's forest.
Mynoghra now had citizens and personnel assigned to important empire-management roles, even if in name only at this point. With the basic foundation of an empire in place, it was finally time to get to the part Takuto and Atou enjoyed the most: Domestic Affairs.
"Mighty King Takuto's empire is still in its infancy. It must now be fortified and expanded to become influential enough to rule all the land and powerful enough to reach the heavens. We are counting on all of you to help with the first step toward that goal."
The stone dais that had become Takuto's home base since arriving in this world had drastically changed in appearance.
It was now reinforced with the throne the Dark Elves had put heart and soul into making for him, a quilt knitted from grass draped over it and onto the floor, and a simple building with a roof had been built around it. While the building was a simple design consisting of linking several nearby trees with wood planks, it still made Takuto's mood soar.
The cherry on top was his new clothes. Takuto had set aside his drab hospital gown to wear the unique outfit the Dark Elves had made for him. The fact things were proceeding smoothly, along with the tastefully designed clothes he now wore, satisfied him.
Presently, a meeting was being held at the simple wood table set before the throne. Only Atou and Elder Moltar were sitting in on this meeting, but someday this table would be full of his trusty council members.
Takuto trembled with joy as he dreamed of such a future.
Everything was proceeding according to plan.
Takuto softly closed his eyes and redirected his attention toward the information he had on the internal state of his empire.
Mynoghra's overall Mana supply was steadily increasing.
Mana can be produced by specialized facilities or the terrain, but the most common source comes from the set amount collected from an empire's citizens every month as a type of tax. The percentage collected is based on citizen happiness.
Inhumane means of forcefully collecting hefty taxes regardless of citizen wellbeing or draining the people of their Mana are two strategies a player can use. But in the end, running an empire full of happy citizens is the best way to get the most Mana.
I will guide everyone to ultimate happiness with my own hands!
Put another way, citizen happiness was essential for Mynoghra's growth.
Brimming with the kind of determination unsuited to the ruler of an evil civilization, Takuto contentedly stroked his throne and enjoyed the fruits of his people's labor.
The meeting chugged on with him being little more than a figurine stroking the throne in the background, since talking wasn't his thing.
"With that settled, what types of structures should we build first, Lady Atou?"
"Hmm, good question."
Atou rubbed her chin in thought.
Takuto had discussed his plans with her beforehand, so he could leave the explanation in her capable hands. She only took that thoughtful pause to go through the economic policies they had already covered. She quickly nodded to herself and relayed what Takuto wanted done.
"First, we will build facilities for producing Food. You can't fight on an empty stomach, after all. Not that we will be fighting even on a full stomach."
"Food is indeed very important. But can't His Majesty just produce an infinite supply of it?"
"Of course he can, but why must our king waste his precious time on such a trivial thing? And besides, it will become a logistics problem as our territory expands."
"You are absolutely right. Please forgive my lack of insight."
"No need for that. Anyway, for the time being, let's create a facility that produces Food Icons." Atou waved off his apology and pulled something from her pocket.
Though Elder Moltar sometimes struggled to understand Atou's peculiar wording, he thoroughly grasped her intentions and accepted the strange object—some kind of sapling—from her.
"Please plant and grow this tree. After that, we need to build a Management Post, a Storehouse, and a Silo, and then we're all set. I will give you more details later."
"What kind of tree is it?"
It was a little bigger than the palm of his hand and had roots and strangely constricted branches. Unfortunately, Elder Moltar had no knowledge pertaining to this sapling, so he didn't know how it would mature or what fruit it would bear.
What he did know was that he'd received direct orders to plant it, unlike the time Emle planted the grape seeds without permission.
Clearly, this was unlike any other plant. In more ways than one—
"It's a Flesh Tree."
"Pardon?"
"A Flesh Tree!"
Indeed, this was far different from any other plant.
Atou had repeated its name as if boasting about how amazing it was. She was proud of it.
Meanwhile, Elder Moltar had no idea how to react. All he knew was this plant wasn't of his world. Actually, he hoped such a disturbing plant would never exist in this world.
"Forgive me, Lady Atou…but could you, well, please explain in more detail…"
"It's one of the Food production facilities unique to our civilization. I called it a Flesh Tree, but to be precise, it's a tree that produces mysterious meat-fruit that tastes like Human flesh."
"Sounds evil, doesn't it?" Takuto chimed in, now bored just petting his throne.
It was a fairly bland reaction, all things considered. Clearly, this tree came as no surprise to the two of them.
Elder Moltar groaned.
Food was essential and meat could support and strengthen more people than grain and vegetables alone. But just because their alignment had changed to evil didn't mean their food preferences had as well.
In fact, Elder Moltar still preferred fish to eating livestock. He inevitably worried about how high of a hurdle this food source would prove to be. His people wouldn't be able to swallow Human flesh that easily…
"I will follow your orders. However, I believe it will take time for people to adapt to eating Human flesh. How do I put it…there are some among us who have unpleasant memories."
"Well, this facility won't be providing all the meals, so people will have a choice," Atou reassured.
"Everyone has foods they like and dislike," Takuto added.
Elder Moltar sighed with relief.
Cringe-worthy food sources aside, the Food problem seemed to be solved. Dark Elves understood the suffering of starvation best.
Elder Moltar was grateful to the King for eliminating the need to make his clansmen choose who starved and who ate. But it was ironic that the solution to their suffering was eating fruit that tasted like Human flesh.
<2<-x-X-x->2>
CONSTRUCTING Flesh Trees also provided good prospects for the future of the empire's Food Production. And since they were also cultivating new farmland, food shouldn't become an issue unless their population rapidly increased.
There were some big discrepancies between how things worked in this world and Eternal Nations, but the key strategies to make an empire prosper were roughly the same.
These key strategic points were: Expansion, Economic
Development, Military Planning, and Research. Of these, Takuto had placed Expansion on hold in favor of advancing Economic
Development by increasing their Food Production with Flesh Trees.
This left Military Planning and Research.
Takuto and the usual members of the empire-management council had gathered again to decide Mynoghra's economic policies.
"Today's meeting agenda is to talk about Research, yes?" Elder Moltar started. "We don't have much manpower to devote at the moment, but I believe it is of great importance regardless…"
"Indeed it is. Research creates new technologies. And new technologies always give big leaps in power to a nation. It is urgent for us, as a small country, to obtain advanced technology."
"I completely agree with you. And so, Lady Atou, what technology should we begin researching?"
"Magic Technology, of course!" Atou declared with delight as if this was what she had been waiting for all along.
"I'm hyped!"
"Hehehe! It's something to get hyped about, isn't it, my king?"
Takuto and Atou were unusually obsessed with Domestic Affairs. It was this crazy obsession of theirs that had them constantly working on Mynoghra's domestic development right after being suddenly transferred to another world.
It was still unclear what fed that madness, but whatever it was, to Elder Moltar and the Dark Elves, this was better than being ordered to conquer the world or slaughter everything that breathed.
"Ooh! I have a slightly deeper understanding of magic myself, so I also feel the hype about new Magic Technology. Now then, what kind of technology are we going to research?"
Elder Moltar had stopped feeling as nervous around the King lately. His awe and respect remained unchanged, but the bonechilling fear he experienced during their first encounter had gone since he'd become the King's vassal and an evil being himself.
So now he used less formal language during meetings with the King. It may have also had something to do with the fact that most of the talking was done by Atou and not Takuto. Of the two, Atou was easier to talk to.
This only expedited Takuto's isolation and lack of communication skills. The meeting went on nevertheless. The topics were all approved by Takuto, of course.
They had moved on to talking about Magic Technology research and the technology they wanted to be prioritized.
"Military Technology. The magic you use now targets only individuals or groups made up of no more than a few dozen units at a time. Military Technology expands your range and allows you to exert your magic over whole invading armies or large terrains. It requires a Mana Source to use, but…I can get into the finer details about that with you later."
Elder Moltar listened to Atou's detailed explanation with rapt attention. He'd spent much of his life working toward uncovering the most magic could offer. Though he'd had to neglect his studies since becoming the busy clan chief, he still had a strong desire to peep into the abyss of magical knowledge.
He also took pride in his combat magic, but only in one-on-one battles. He could easily incinerate a few dozen rogues with fire magic like Atou said, but without some miracle, his range couldn't be expanded to cover an army.
What else did this realm of magic only the King knew of have to offer? Elder Moltar trembled in anticipation of obtaining unheard of wisdom.
"Please select several people who excel at magic for this research. We'll have them develop the new technology. Don't worry, it's not that difficult of a technology—you'll have it ready in no time."
"Yes, ma'am! In that case, I will immediately set about selecting the people for the job and constructing the research center."
"Yes, do that," Atou said to Elder Moltar, then muttered, "Things are going to get busy…"
Hearing what she said, Takuto hummed "Mm-hm" as he returned to stroking his throne.
<-x-X-x->
AND that was how they decided on their current research policy.
This was the safest route given their current state as a small empire. Researching more advanced technologies would be less effective and require a large dedicated team. Keeping that in mind, Elder Moltar carefully selected the people for the job and explained his reasoning in detail.
"All that's left now are our military policies, yes? What do you have in mind, Lady Atou?" Elder Moltar asked.
"Well, increasing our numbers is the overall goal, but we can't devote too much to it yet. Having a military costs you Resources, Mana, and Upkeep fees without producing anything. What's the point of even having one?"
"That said, we can't protect ourselves from outside invaders without one. We currently have about a dozen or so Warriors. To be honest, that is an inefficient force to protect the King… Forgive my insolence for asking, but is it possible for His Majesty to create strong subordinates with his powers?"
Elder Moltar made a sound argument. Although a military ate a lot of resources without doing much in return, not having one wasn't an option.
Atou took Elder Moltar's proposal to heart and considered various measures for when the need arose. But she couldn't come up with a good plan to expand their military forces off the top of her head.
"Hmm. You're talking about making a military that wouldn't require conscripting citizens, right? There is a way, but it would still consume lots of Mana and Resources. And I'm most concerned about how building a military might draw unwanted attention from the outside. Frankly, we can't afford that right now."
"Increasing our national power must come first then? I will inform the Warriors that we will be training even harder," Warrior Captain Gia replied with a grim expression.
Atou was perplexed by his reaction since there was no immediate need to focus on a military or actively strengthen their forces. But then it clicked for her and she addressed Gia's concerns with confidence.
"Oh, right, your people are worried about being hunted down.
Am I right to understand that bounty hunters might come for you?"
"Yes, ma'am. I highly doubt the Alliance will send their troops after us, but there is a bounty out for Elder Moltar and I as we are well-known. And Dark Elves can also be sold for good money, because we have no rights."
"Hmm, I see…"
Atou contemplated the problem and looked to Takuto to make the decision.
He anticipated an enemy might show up in pursuit of the Dark Elves and he'd accepted them as citizens, knowing their problem would become Mynoghra's. So he wasn't going to hold it against them now.
The problem was how to deal with it. Takuto had no complaints about their current strength, but deciding on a policy to enhance their forces with the future in mind would help reassure his citizens. "Let's make a Hero."
Atou readily accepted her king's suggestion. It was the method with the lowest cost and least risk.
"Lady Atou, what is a Hero?" Gia asked.
"Mynoghra has Heroes who serve directly under the King," Atou began, explaining what the Dark Elves didn't understand in Takuto's stead. "They are all ridiculously powerful monsters with more than a few screws loose—they're all loose! There are restrictions in place that prevent us from summoning them all right now, but one is possible."
"I don't mean to question our great king's direct subordinates, but are Heroes really all that powerful?" Elder Moltar asked.
Heroes are unique units that exist in Eternal Nations.
Atou was classified as a Hero unit, and it went without saying that she was Takuto's favorite.
They are such powerful units that the outcome of a game session can be determined by their use. But the Dark Elves naturally had no way of knowing this, leaving them doubtful and perplexed.
"Heroes are overpowered."
"Yes, Heroes are terribly overpowered."
"O-Overpowered how?"
"Heroes are powerful from the start. And if that isn't special enough, they also have a disposition for becoming more powerful as time passes. The longer you leave them be, the stronger they become."
"They become stronger just standing around…?" Elder Moltar was stunned by the possibility.
In war, those who are smiled upon by the Goddess of War and Luck tend to be lucky enough to survive while leaving their mark on the battlefield. Such people were called heroes in recognition of their achievements.
But to be born with the qualities of a hero? And to become stronger and more experienced without having to lift a finger? Now that was a being worthy of being called a hero.
And if such a soldier were to command the troops, their military strength would rise to immeasurable levels.
Just by leaving them alone, they became stronger.
The Dark Elves present for that explanation couldn't conceal their excitement over having a hero in their midst with realitybending powers.
"Put simply, creating Heroes is the key to our national defense problems while we need to lay low and don't have the national power to maintain a large army."
Forming an army usually requires enormous amounts of resources, time, and personnel. But military problems could be easily solved by having just one of the Hero units that made Eternal Nations a great game.
Their powerful abilities were more than enough to defend the empire, and unlike the game, they only required the costs spent on a single unit. They had unwavering loyalty and didn't draw unnecessary attention either. Being inconspicuous would buy their empire more time to grow.
Time worked in their favor. The more time they had, the more powerful their Hero units would become. In other words, even a smaller nation with limited national power could have strength on par with the larger nations if they had the right Hero.
Takuto felt the differences between this world and the game on various fronts, but in this respect, it could be said that the system of Eternal Nations was working to their advantage.
"Ooh! What a reliable ally to have! If such a strong person joins our military, it will raise warrior morale to its zenith, bringing out ten times as much strength and enthusiasm in the troops! Don't you agree, Gia?"
"Yeah! I completely agree, Elder Moltar. The strength of the vanguard is the strength of the army! There are countless examples of brave and strong commanders who have overturned the odds to win against larger armies. I wouldn't expect any less of our empire and King than to be able to summon such a person!"
If they had a hero, they would be able to hold their own, and other countries would have to acknowledge them. At the very least, the empires located in Idoragya's southern continent wouldn't be able to carelessly pick a fight with them.
The presence of a powerful soldier during a skirmish greatly impacts morale for both sides.
A good example of this is when the strongest soldier from each side fights in a one-on-one battle. Their bravery during battle and loud war cries cutting across the field can inflict severe mental damage on enemy forces.
A single hero is often said to be a match for a thousand men. Just the presence of a hero quadruples an army's capabilities.
That was how Elder Moltar and Captain Gia interpreted Atou's use of the word "Hero"—wrongly.
"Oh, yes, I forget to mention it, but I'm one of those Heroes," Atou nonchalantly dropped that bomb. "And since you seem to have the wrong idea about us, let me show you what we really are—"
While the news shocked everyone, they'd no trouble accepting that their great King's closest aide was a Hero.
Then, for some reason, Atou stood from the table and briskly walked toward the forest outside the imperial court. The building with no walls where the throne and council table were set up counted as their simple imperial court. Since the court wasn't that big, everyone could clearly see Atou outside of it.
When she finally came to a stop, eerie tentacles erupted from her back. They were elongated and resembled wireworms, with the uncanny way they squirmed and clicked. The moment that this sight reminded the Dark Elves the girl they called Atou was an extension of the Darkness—
—the trees in front of them were instantly mowed down.
"We are called Heroes because one of us can destroy a whole army."
"Woooaaah!!!"
Trees snapped and fell on top of each other. A single swing from one of her tentacles had cut down dozens of mature trees at their trunks.
.
-------------->
.
Elder Moltar unknowingly groaned before her tremendous attack power while Gia gaped, instantly understanding the strength behind that single strike.
They'd had the completely wrong idea—they'd categorized heroes as individuals. They thought heroes were individuals with unrivaled military prowess.
But these "Heroes" were beyond that—monsters with strength rivaling whole armies.
A one-man elite force.
The ultimate weapon capable of overturning any outcome.
That was Mynoghra's Hero.
"If we continue to build up our strength like this, we can contend with the empires surrounding the Accursed Lands no problem," Atou said, walking back to the court as her swaying tentacles retracted. The Dark Elves couldn't fathom how that worked. "The two largest empires are far off to the north. They currently have no reason to send a large army our way."
Those who'd just learned of her ability welcomed her back flabbergasted.
"This isn't even a hundredth of my full power, but…do you understand the strength of a Hero now?"
"S-Such unfathomable strength!" Elder Moltar said in awe.
"I-I can't believe you're this powerful!" Gia exclaimed. "You made me realize all over again just how great and mighty you and
King Takuto Ira are!"
"Hehehe! I will annihilate all of King Takuto's enemies, so don't worry about military affairs. As long as we don't plan to strike, we won't have any problems with just me to fight."
Atou took her seat and held her head high. Her expression seemed to say, How do you like them apples?!
With her on their side, Mynoghra's military strength was secure. Not only that, but the Dark Elves were confident she could easily crush any enemy who came after them. Their eyes brightened with jubilance. Yet another one of their afflictions had been taken care of by their great king.
"Atou…"
"Yes, my liege?!"
The King called out to Atou, who was bragging about her abilities. Delighted simply by him speaking to her, Atou's face lit up with an innocent little girl's smile as she happily turned toward the King she adored. However, contrary to the words of praise she expected to receive, she heard "Make sure you clean this mess up" instead.
"…Yush, sir."
Clearly, his comment to Atou implied, Don't go destroying the forest for no reason!
This helped everyone regain their calm. Truthfully, there was no need for her to have destroyed a piece of the forest. If anything, having to pick up the felled trees only added to their workload.
Atou walked toward the trees she cut down, shoulders slumped. Elder Moltar and Gia hated to see her like that, so they called for the Warriors and picked up the mess alongside her.
Atou cleared the downed trees with tears in her eyes over being scolded when she expected praise.
As Elder Moltar watched her back, he thought, This young girl has power on par with an army, and that power grows daily.
With that fact echoing in their heads, the Dark Elves cleaned up the trees with inscrutable expressions.
<-x-X-x->
MYNOGHRA's Imperial Capital—as the small settlement was called— brimmed with activity, as if buzzing to make its growing prestige and glory known.
Having come to inspect the city that day, Takuto looked at the cityscape in awe of how much they had built up in such a short period.
"Wow! This is amazing!"
"Seeing it in person is totally different than in-game, right?" Atou said.
"Yeah, totally!"
As the Dark Elves' nutritional state improved, they grew more motivated toward their work. The place where their shabby old settlement once stood was now lined with lumber piles for construction, and Dark Elves who were older than the rest were issuing instructions in powerful and energetic voices.
When Takuto looked up at the trees, he saw buildings being constructed high above him.
Elves and Dark Elves specialized in precisely this kind of treehouse architecture that used the trees from their trunks to their canopies. These buildings supported by enormous trees that didn't exist on Earth were no different in size from those built on the ground, and it looked like an aerial city with bridges connecting the trees up high.
"How do we climb up there?" Takuto marveled.
"A guide is supposed to meet us, but I wonder where the entrance is too," Atou replied.
"Great and mighty King, thank you for coming to do an inspection today," someone said to Takuto as he was staring up at the treetops.
He turned toward the familiar voice to find Emle, who had been promoted from adjutant to a member of his empire-management council.
"With your permission, I will be serving as your guide."
With his severe case of stranger anxiety, Takuto was relieved someone he knew (to a certain extent) would be his guide. Although it went without saying that Emle herself was a nervous wreck about being assigned this important role.
"Oh, you'll be our guide?" Atou said. "I look forward to your tour then. Shall we get going, King Takuto?"
"Yeah, let's go."
And so, their inspection began. He'd been eagerly awaiting these buildings in the treetops—buildings purely of a fantasy world.
I wonder what the scenery looks like from up high.
Hyped, Takuto enthusiastically followed Emle.
◇◇◇
THE view from the treetop buildings was superb. Takuto was initially worried he might disappoint everyone if he had a panic attack after climbing up so high, but he didn't have any issues when he actually went up—he was more thrilled by the view than anything.
"What's that?" he asked.
"Those are houses under construction. We haven't made much progress with them, as we are mostly focused on growing Flesh
Trees."
Takuto and Atou followed Emle up one of the finished buildings and had their tour conducted from there. They closely examined the buildings under construction while listening to the sounds of trees being connected and builders shouting instructions to each other. "Where are the Flesh Trees?"
"You can see the Flesh Trees being planted over there. The accompanying Storehouses have been built and the saplings are growing on schedule."
Prompted by Emle, Takuto looked down from the building's edge and saw strikingly distorted trees and Storehouses built around them.
"We are setting up farms and warehouses where we've cleared the trees. We also plan to secure a certain amount of space in anticipation of further large-scale construction projects in the future."
They even took things into consideration that they hadn't been instructed to and dealt with it accordingly. Takuto was impressed by their dedication to take action without detailed instructions and felt a little relieved that he didn't need to micromanage them.
"As for a water source, we found a spring nearby, so that shouldn't be an issue for the time being. We plan to dig a well soon."
Emle must have tirelessly committed this report to memory. Takuto attentively listened to her fluid explanation without missing a word. His playstyle always prioritized Domestic Affairs. He loved being able to personally observe and analyze these minute details not normally depicted in-game.
"We plan to turn this building into a government office for handling civilian personnel records and paperwork."
Takuto could tell the size of the facility from where he stood on the balcony surrounding it. It was a little too big for a house and not quite right for a major administrative building.
"Properly speaking, the administrative building should be more imposing to show off Mynoghra's power to all who see it, but I decided to restrict it to this size as that's an unnecessary use of our resources at this point."
Smart decision, Takuto agreed.
What mattered right now was functionality. Excessive decorations and uselessly large buildings were costly and less beneficial. Seeing his pleased nod, Atou spoke approvingly on his behalf.
"Good thinking. We can make additions all we want later, so having minimum functionality is enough for now."
Emle explained various other facilities to them after that. Most of the buildings were under construction, and they'd already received reports on them beforehand, so most of what she told them was just supplementary information.
In any event, the planned tour had concluded. Emle bowed to Takuto in front of the future government office to express her gratitude for him personally coming to observe the fruits of their labor.
"Is everything to your liking, Your Majesty? We Dark Elves are putting forward our utmost efforts to faithfully carry out your orders in hopes of paying back even a smidgen of the grace and mercy you have bestowed upon us," Emle relayed with a self-conscious look on her face.
Takuto was enveloped in indescribable emotion as he sensed the firm conviction and fanatical reverence she held for him. He turned his head and looked around him.
People were bustling about busily continuing their work. As soon as anyone saw him, they swept into a deep bow, expressing their unwavering devotion.
Not long ago, they'd been withered husks on the verge of death. Faces that had once been mirrors of despair now brimmed with pride and hope.
Takuto had given them an opportunity and their souls had responded in kind. The brilliance of the soul, the strength of will, and the endless possibilities that people possessed fascinated him.
"…Yeah, I'm impressed." The words came naturally.
"Really impressed."
His response was simple and concise, but it expressed exactly what Takuto thought, and so it reverberated with Emle. She felt something hot forming in her eyes and instinctively rubbed at them.
"I'm glad I invited you to be our citizens," Takuto said from the bottom of his heart, expressing how he felt about all the Dark Elves.
"Ahh…ahhh! We're so grateful and happy!!!"
Emle couldn't hold back her tears any longer. It felt as if all their hardship had been rewarded. As if all the suffering of their past had disappeared. The warmth that rose up from her heart flooded her eyes.
"Those are words of praise directly from your king. Make sure you share them with everyone else."
"Yes…of course!!"
Tears rolled down her cheeks, staining the ground. The occasional sob slipped out, like she was trying to stop crying in front of them and was failing horribly.
"Silly girl. I understand how you feel, but you're letting it show too much…"
"Don't cry."
Atou and Takuto had no strategy to handle this kind of situation. They simply waited for Emle to calm down.
◇◇◇
"SNIFF! I'm so sorry for letting you see me like this!"
"It's all right. The King is sympathetic to your plight." "Yep, yep."
Emle finally calmed down. Under normal circumstances, it's not professional to cry in front of your superiors, no matter the reason. But Takuto and Atou treated Emle with more kindness than necessary. Takuto was especially considerate of her.
Man, that's the first time a girl's cried in front of me. I had no idea what to do! I'm glad she put herself back together!
Yes…Takuto was not patiently waiting for Emle to settle down with kingly calm. He was a panicked mess trying to figure out what to do when she suddenly broke down crying.
He started hating himself for not being able to offer a single word of consolation. He didn't realize that sometimes it was important to let a woman calm down on her own and that he wasn't wrong to let her cry it out.
"H-How are the daily necessities holding up?"
At least everything went back to normal without issue. Emle seemed fine now and had already switched back to work mode. She perfectly recited the information regarding the daily necessities he'd asked about to distract her.
"We have an overall shortage and the supply chain can't keep up. We still need to trouble you to provide those items, Your Majesty."
People need various supplies to live.
The Dark Elves lacked many necessities because they'd wandered as exiles with just the clothes on their backs. Clothes, tableware, cookware—there were a wide range of items needed for daily life, even if they limited it to the basics, and Takuto produced all of it with Emergency Production.
"I see. What is the reason for the lack of daily necessities?" Atou asked.
"There isn't enough manpower. Just preparing cotton clothes requires cotton farmers, weavers, and garment makers, and they also have to prepare the right tools for the job. Not only are there a limited number of people who can work, but we can't afford to divert anyone away from food production and construction…"
It was an easy problem to see. Mynoghra clearly lacked manpower.
Roughly five hundred Dark Elves had joined, and those numbers decreased significantly after removing babies, the sick, and the elderly who couldn't work. They couldn't extend their efforts to daily necessities.
"In other words, we still haven't reached a point of stable production. How would you like to handle the situation, King Takuto?" Atou walked up to Takuto and whispered in a voice only he could hear.
Emle saw their desire for privacy and stepped away with her head down. Confirming she'd gone, Takuto responded to Atou the way he always did when they were alone.
"We can't do much about a limited population."
"People can't be harvested from fields like food, after all," Atou replied.
"It's not cost-efficient to summon Homunculus with Emergency Production, and no matter how many of those things we produce, they aren't much use in secondary industries."
Nevertheless, growing the population was an urgent matter. Takuto made a mental note to work on that next after the problems with housing and food settled down.
"Well, I'll just take care of the daily necessities for now. I'm worried the quality will suffer if we force production."
"It honestly feels like we're cheating using Emergency Production to produce steel tools," Atou said with a smile.
In fact, Takuto's use of Emergency Production was the only reason why construction progressed so quickly.
The quality of a tool directly affects the quality and output of the end project. Differences in technology can change even a simple tool such as the saw to a tool that can move civilizations into the next phase. Working with tools from his last world—from the "Land of the Gods," as Atou had put it—made it possible to build ten times faster.
"It seriously gives you a huge starting advantage. Feels like such an overpowered cheat, I'd be hesitant to use it in-game," Takuto said.
"But since this is reality—"
"—I'll use it like crazy!"
"You're such a villain, King Takuto."
"Coming out on top by cheating is so much fun!"
"It totally is!"
Takuto and Atou entered their own world as soon as Emle gave them space. And unfortunately, with Long-legged Bug out scouting, there was no one to stop them.
But they deserved to fool around a little. After all, they finally had solid proof that they could manage a stable empire.
The Mana required for Emergency Production was being produced by the Dark Elves. Their happiness was steadily increasing and their Mana output with it. Takuto would have no problem producing the food and daily necessities needed to make them happy, at least.
In other words, their Mana balance went from negative to positive, indicating their empire had escaped ruin as long as they didn't run into any unexpected issues.
The most dangerous stage in empire management comes during the early build-up. Screwing up here could have lasting effects leading to their civilization's eventual ruin.
That was why Takuto was extremely pleased things were progressing smoothly. Not that he could relax yet. The world was full of dangers that could always threaten their peace.
Takuto was a peace-loving leader, and since he was, he'd spare no effort or action to overcome national crisis—even if that meant resorting to force.
"Anyway, as far as producing daily necessities with Emergency Production is concerned, let's do it without wasting much Mana. I don't want to reduce our extra supply needlessly and laying the foundation for our empire comes first," Takuto told Atou, suddenly turning serious.
Maybe he grew sick of their playful banter or was satisfied enough to get back to planning.
"Agreed. Your wish is my command, my liege," Atou said to Takuto, sensing the switch. She then called Emle back and started giving instructions. "Emle, let me pass down our king's orders. There is a limit to what we can do with our insufficient production capacity.
First, let's focus our efforts on primary industries and anything necessary for survival.
"The King will produce daily necessities with his miraculous powers until we develop a steady means to acquire them. I am sure you're already aware of this, but you are putting a burden on the
King. Make sure you don't take advantage of his mercy."
"Let me know if you have any clothing requests."
"His Majesty is specially offering to accept your clothing suggestions. Please let me know if there is anything you want enough to weep with gratitude for."
Takuto nonchalantly offered and Atou was immediately on board with it.
Emle was amazed, thinking Where else in the world can you find someone this giving? But then she scolded herself, for such a thought was disrespectful toward the King's compassion.
Their king had more generosity, might, and boundless mercy than they could imagine. She had no right to begin comparing him to others.
An entity that easily transcended their imagination and common sense—such was Takuto Ira, the King of Ruin they revered.
"Oh yeah, we don't really need a Palace yet, do we?"
Because Takuto was such a being, Emle had no trouble accepting those words came from him, but she blanched nevertheless.
"Unthinkable! In my humble opinion, it's preposterous for us to have somewhere to live when the King does not!"
"Then I'll just live with the rest of you."
Takuto had taken a liking to these houses in the sky. His sentiments as a Japanese citizen also left him uninterested in spacious living quarters. He actually thought the small houses up in the trees were cool, like a tree fort. But even if he conveyed his personal feelings on the matter, the Dark Elves wouldn't accept it.
Perhaps Emle couldn't come up with a decent rebuttal because she lunged in front of Takuto and went down on one knee, her beautiful face whiter than a sheet.
"O-Oh great and mighty King of Ruin, Takuto Ira! Allow me to humbly offer my opinion in your supreme presence! Please, please listen to my entreaty and grant us Dark Elves the ultimate honor of building your residential palace!"
"But it costs too much to construct—"
"We will sleep on the ground then!!"
"D-Don't do that…"
The cost of a Palace was enormous. Its construction, with their current national production capacity, would be a heavy burden.
Takuto wasn't very interested in one either, and it ranked low on the empire-management priority list. Which was why he didn't hesitate to put it on the backburner. But things didn't end there.
He was thrown into an even greater panic when he saw tears forming in Emle's deep, ocean-blue eyes.
Gah! She's gonna cry on me again!
The King of Ruin, destined to destroy the world, had recently learned his greatest weakness was a woman's tears.
Confirming his defeat was imminent, Takuto decided to withdraw his previous proposal. The problem now was how to tell her.
Phrasing it badly would have the added effect of making her feel bad and any blunder on his side would end in sobs. He needed to avoid that at all costs.
Takuto looked to his trusted retainer for help. Sadly for him, Atou seemed to be deep in thought, contemplating what Emle had said. He suddenly felt like he was up a river without a paddle. Just when it seemed like he had no way out, help came from an unexpected place.
"Ho ho ho! I must also advise against that, my king."
"Hey there, Moltar!"
Takuto couldn't help but happily greet him. His appreciation for Elder Moltar skyrocketed.
"Good day to you, King. It is I, your loyal and humble servant, Moltar. Now, back to the matter at hand. Considering our unwavering reverence for you, asking us to accept such a command is a tad cruel."
"Hmm…"
"Where in the world can you find a loyal subject willing to commit the sacrilege of living under the same roof as their king? I realize we are being impudent raising objections about a suggestion that has come from your boundless wisdom, but please reconsider."
There was something unsettling about being on the receiving end of so much adoration. But the Dark Elves' strong reverence for Takuto was an indisputable fact. So he decided to make use of the special phrase he once read politicians used when they talked themselves into a corner.
"Deal with the matter as you see fit."
"Yes, sire! Everything for the King…"
Takuto glanced at Emle. He seemed to have safely escaped her tears.
"Well, we certainly can't overlook the extensive costs King Takuto's Palace requires. That said, I also want to see you living it up in a magnificent palace sooner rather than later." "I see."
Atou finally returned from being lost in a sea of thought to state her opinion. Takuto felt things would've settled more smoothly if she had said so sooner, but he couldn't blame her when this whole ordeal arose from his thoughtless comment.
"Besides, a Royal Palace does generate various Resources," she added. "The cost may be high, but if you look at the long-term, there are pros to building one early on."
"That's a valid point…"
Mynoghra's Palace has the bonus effect of producing various Resources just by being placed on the map. Its ability to produce Mana was especially appealing. Expanding and strengthening the Palace added even more bonuses.
Since it was something they had to build eventually, constructing it early on would reduce the burden on them later.
After all, there was no guarantee things would go this well in the future…
And so, Takuto was persuaded to change his policy. He'd initially planned to build the Palace once they had a little more leeway with their Resources, but taking the Dark Elves and Atou's opinions into consideration, he allowed construction to move forward ahead of plan.
Logic alone doesn't always lead to the best decisions. Obviously, this was another factor that differed from playing a game. "Everyone will be happier if we do it, so even if it makes things a little tight, we should go ahead with the Palace. I really want to get my hands on a Floating Castle someday too."
"I want one as well. After all, Floating Castle is the strongest national city in both defense and offense that you can produce at
Max City Level."
"Plus, it's totally awesome!"
"Awesome things are always important to have, my liege!" Takuto thought about the future.
By the time a player has reached Max City Level and fully developed their civilization, the game will be almost over, and the superior empires will already be set in stone. However, the Floating Castle still had an irresistible appeal and strength.
How awesome would it be to recreate one in this world?
Such thoughts filled his head.
But there was someone who couldn't wrap their head around the present, much less the future—Elder Moltar.
"P-Pardon me for asking this, my king, but what in the world is a
Floating Castle?"
"It's a citadel that floats in the sky."
"In the…sky?"
Elder Moltar had witnessed Takuto and Atou's unfathomable knowledge on countless occasions and he'd never ceased to be amazed. It was only all the more shocking with the way Takuto explained it like it was a basic concept that needed no fanfare, which left the long-lived Dark Elves gaping.
"It's a flying fortress city, to be precise," Atou interjected.
"Although it moves slowly, it can function as a city in the air. You know it's even possible to fly right into the enemy's capital and commence the final battle there?"
"Pure awesomeness."
"Awesomeness is the spice of life, isn't it, King Takuto?!"
"You can use it in the final battle…?" Elder Moltar looked around them.
Mynoghra's Imperial Capital was still under development, and it was already vast. It would only grow bigger as the empire prospered.
All of that would rise into the skies and fly?
It was so unrealistic, Elder Moltar couldn't imagine it. But if the King said it was possible, then it was.
The King of Ruin, Takuto Ira, was no liar.
He spoke so often of the unimaginable as if it were as commonplace as the weather that their common sense had trouble keeping up with him. Then it must also be true that the whole Imperial Capital would someday take flight.
The King simply stated a fact.
We're just too narrow-minded, this truth shocked us into denying
it.
Elder Moltar trembled with unrestrained excitement as his King showed off his infinite power.
How great and immeasurable was his power?
Emle was just as moved as her mouth hung open beside him.
The two Dark Elves were made keenly aware of how powerful and benevolent their King was. At the same time, they decided to pledge even greater loyalty to him.
"There is much for us to teach you yet. At any rate, building everyone's dwellings and Food Production facilities comes first. We expect much of you."
"Keep up the good work."
Atou and Takuto gave them words of encouragement. They said it with familiar ease, believing those were the right words for the two council members they'd come to know, but—
"Yes, sire!"
For some bizarre reason, Elder Moltar and Emle suddenly bowed and responded with unusual ceremony.
"I solemnly swear once again upon these old bones to serve Your Majesty with my whole body and soul!"
"I will do everything in my power as well! All hail King Takuto Ira! All hail Mynoghra!"
"Huh?!"
"Wai— Wh-What's gotten into you lot all of a sudden?"
The two Dark Elves suddenly started to glorify and praise them. Takuto and Atou were a little put off by their behavior and twice as flustered by it, though they managed to take control of the situation, since they didn't want to look bad in front of their subordinates.
<-x-X-x->