IN a metropolis of the Holy Kingdom of Qualia's Southern Province, where the provincial legislature was concentrated, a single Paladin impatiently walked through the cathedral located in this city renowned for producing grain from its fertile terrain.
"Hey, Lonius! You in here, Lonius?!"
"Yes. How may I help you, Paladin Verdel?"
A man threw open the doors with a bang and stomped into the sanctuary. His face lacked refinement, with his high cheekbones, hooked nose, and rough skin which clashed with his regal attire.
Paladins are the station above regular soldiers in the Holy Kingdom of Qualia.
In Qualia, a religious nation led by the Holy King who founded their religion, every citizen follows the same faith and prays to their god every day. It's even said that around 30 percent of the population works in religious vocations.
In a country like that, it's only natural that their military is heavily influenced by their faith. And it's the Paladins who're favored and trusted by the people.
Ranked from Under to High based on their skill, Paladins are elite soldiers who undergo rigorous trials and training. They are wellversed in various disciplines and techniques as well as martial arts. Their lineage plays the biggest part in their selection.
Paladins are indispensable elites who can work Miracles that're only surpassed by the Saints. They're usually deployed throughout the kingdom, solving domestic problems that require force, subduing the Demi-humans and Mabeasts that occasionally appear, and guarding key figures. Such is a Paladin's duty and life.
This man, famous for his crude behavior, was one of those very Paladins meant to have tireless discipline, a steely spirit, the natural virtue to lead the flock like a clergyman, and, above all, should've been baptized. He was a High Paladin named Verdel.
Paladin Lonius, who was praying at the altar, quietly looked back at Verdel, whose armor clinked as he came closer.
"This is a place of worship. Please be quiet, Sir Verdel."
"It's the damn Dark Continent! I don't give a frack if it's the northern half! It's still the damn Dark Continent! Why must I go where the Barbarians live?!" Paladin Verdel howled his crass complaints.
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"But we will receive Congress' favor if this mission succeeds. And this is a holy mission bestowed upon us by Saint Soalina of Blooming
Burials. There is no greater honor."
"Hmph! We'll see 'bout that…"
Unlike Verdel, whose vulgarity insulted their shared profession, Lonius was the model of grace and refinement. He was the model example of a Paladin, with a strength of character that could be seen from his calm demeanor and how he wore the Order's uniform to the letter.
Being the man he was, Paladin Lonius pieced the situation together solely from Verdel's brusque comment.
The Cursed Sea of Trees—a part of the Accursed Lands—was located in Idoragya's southern continent. Lonius had received word just the other day that Saint Soalina had sensed an omen of apocalypse from that region and issued orders to investigate it.
The initial plan was for him to lead the reconnaissance team, so he grew skeptical when orders suddenly came from above to add a second Paladin for combat support.
The fact that this man, who had a tracklist of misdeeds and a history of problematic behavior unforgivable for a Paladin, came to Lonius to air his complaints proved that there was more going on in the background.
Various plots were at work within Qualia's political strata.
It's impossible to tell what even a well-behaved priest or pure sister is thinking once you peel back the layers. Did ulterior motives slip in because they'd become too large as an organized religion, or was it solely the work of sinful men…?
Assuming this investigation succeeded, all the honor and acclaim would go to Verdel. If they ran into any trouble or failed the mission, the blame would land squarely on Lonius.
Though he was talented, his lineage wasn't up to snuff, leaving him forever stuck as an Under Paladin. He silently gnashed his teeth.
Then again, it's not all bad having Paladin Verdel on the team.
Their chances of survival increased with his presence, so that was a plus. Although he was far from a model soldier, Verdel was still a High Paladin. His prowess was guaranteed.
Lonius, who was worried about leading his first scouting mission related to a Saint's omen, finally felt some of the pressure lift off his shoulders.
Survival comes first. It's not worth getting a promotion if I die in the process. Lonius thought of his beloved wife and newborn daughter. This must be God's providence. Naturally, he was a devout believer.
"How many troops are they sending on this mission?" he asked. "Since they sent you to assist me, Sir Verdel, I assume we'll be able to borrow a large number of soldiers from the Southern Province…"
"Nah, looks like it's just us… Those Congressional fat cats said to hire mercenaries in place of soldiers."
"…Huh? Why would they want that—"
"Hell if I know! Dammit! I don't have any connections with the Mercenary Corps! Worse yet, anyone worth a damn is off dealing with the North's problems!"
Lonius totally agreed with him there. But as a man shackled to reason, he didn't rant and rave like Verdel. Instead, he used his quick wits to turn the situation in his favor.
"Please leave the hiring to me, Sir Verdel. Some of my old friends are on good terms with the Mercenary Corps. Let me see if they can arrange something for us."
"Hm? You've got connections, Lonius? Well, damn! You're useful after all! I'll leave that annoying bit to you then!"
"Please do."
Lonius started coughing when Verdel slapped him hard on the back.
Verdel sauntered away laughing heartily, without looking back at the other man. He lacked etiquette, but he wasn't a bad person. Lonius could kind of understand why he was popular with some of the Paladins.
Still… Lonius's thoughts raced a mile a minute. The Northern Province is under Saint Soalina's jurisdiction. Orders to investigate based on a prophecy should have gone to the Northern armies.
But the scouting location is the Accursed Lands located within Idoragya's southern continent—commonly called the Dark Continent for a reason. It's the person in charge of the Southern Province, Qualia's closest territory, that's dispatching men… I see, so the South's assemblymen jumped at the opportunity.
Lonius silently parsed the situation further.
As long as Saint Soalina of Blooming Burials is busy handling the North's emergency, the other Saints can't risk national defense by immediately dispatching. There are even rumors of the Veiled Saint heading North as reinforcements… This isn't the time for assemblymen to be fighting among themselves.
The Northern Disturbance was growing in scale by the day. Demi-humans, Mabeasts, and various unexplainable phenomena were causing all sorts of problems.
Even if you looked back throughout history, it was unusual for not only the Order of Paladins' main forces, but also two of Qualia's four Saints, to be dispatched to the same location.
Lonius felt indescribable unease about the North and his country's reaction to whatever was happening there.
The arrival of a prophesized apocalypse-bringer—that's what the Saint wants us to look into… I hope we can make it back alive.
Paladin Lonius began praying, hoping his prayers would drown out the anxiety crashing down on him.
◇◇◇
"THE Flesh Trees have been completed on schedule. We also built a Storehouse, so we can now produce a steady supply of food for the residents of Mynoghra's Imperial Capital."
Emle, Warrior Captain Gia's former adjutant and a current civil officer with Mynoghra, reported to Atou on the construction progress in front of a grove of eerie trees.
Several months had passed since their last inspection.
Construction of the Flesh Trees was completed and the operation seemed to be proceeding smoothly if the attached Storehouse, Management Post, and workers going between them were anything to go by.
The only two problems were its uncanny appearance and the unfortunate realization that eating its meaty fruit was akin to eating Human flesh. But living creatures are surprisingly adaptable and the mental breakdowns that'd happened at first had all but stopped.
Atou nodded with satisfaction as she listened to the report and gave her opinion on minor building improvements and upcoming policy changes.
"Good, good. It sounds like Food Production on the farms is going well, so there's no problem staying the course. Once construction of the houses is completed as planned, please start construction of the Palace in earnest."
Takuto and Atou were basically always in communication with each other. The King had the ability to see every aspect of his entire empire and even directly contact each person individually if he wanted to.
But perhaps it was because they'd transferred to this world together that Takuto and Atou's connection was especially strong. Even if they were far apart, they could unconsciously share information and their opinions.
That was why Atou was in charge of inspecting and giving directions when it came to these types of facilities. Most of the Dark Elves' problems could be solved by asking her, and they thought it disrespectful to ask the King about trivial matters.
In any case, Atou, a perfect subordinate who fully understood the King's will, tended to leave important things out.
Actually, she left out the important details fairly often.
This time was no different.
Emle glanced around them and made up her mind. Not only had she been an adjutant to the Warriors, but she'd also served as the clan's secretary and communications officer due to her vast knowledge. And so, she timidly brought up what'd been bothering her all this time.
"E-Excuse me…Lady Atou?"
"Yes, what is it, Emle?"
"We haven't…been told anything about that yet…"
Her slender finger, which had regained a healthy color, pointed to the townscape, which had slightly more developed buildings than a simple settlement.
There were trees cut down according to plan, a group of aerial dwellings constructed like a beehive using the giant trees that were left behind. On the ground, food grew where seeds had been planted in the sectioned farmland. It was a residential area where simple defensive fences and wells were built, making it look more like a town, but there was something terribly wrong with it.
The original forest had died out, and what could only be described as evil-looking scenery had taken its place. The giant trees left standing had begun to warp, and terrifying colors had started to bleed into their leaves. The same distortion had reached the ground—the plants grew in frightening shapes and a veil of smoke seemed to cover the whole town.
The color of the water coming from the wells was clearly unsuitable for drinking, and it was unsettling watching the young Dark Elves calmly bathing in it.
To put it bluntly, their new home had transformed into something horrifying—terrifying even.
"Oh? I didn't tell you? Hahaha. My bad." Atou laughed it off with all the innocence of a schoolgirl who'd forgotten her textbook at home.
Emle was used to the evil king's closest aide's tendency to leave things out by now, so while she wasn't surprised by it, she still needed to ask about what was happening to their forest.
"That's all right. Why has the forest changed like this? Or rather…is it safe…?"
"It is. By becoming Mynoghra's citizens, you became evil beings.
Well, you probably don't notice the difference but as you already know, that change came from the King's glorious power. And that power not only influences his people but his land as well."
"Th-That's the reason for these changes…"
Atou summed up the disturbing changes with that brief response.
In other words, the land became evil like its citizens.
Emle, who still didn't view herself as evil, tried to accept that fact though it baffled her.
"It's called Cursed Terrain. It's absolutely wonderful, perfect for defense as it buffs evil-aligned beings and debuffs neutral and goodaligned beings."
"Wow… Wait, how does this buffing work for evil beings?"
Emle's question was valid. If she was indeed evil, she should be receiving some kind of positive benefit from the land. And yet, she remained disgusted by its appearance and honestly didn't have the best impression of it. The same went for whatever buff she was supposed to get.
Atou smiled softly, expecting her doubts.
"Please try it for yourself by taking a deep breath." "O-Okay!" Emle deeply inhaled and then exhaled.
"How does it feel?"
"Very refreshing despite how it looks… Kind of like getting a burst of energy?"
"That's proof you are an evil being. You're changing without even noticing it."
"Oh my!" Emle squeezed her hands together in awe.
Now that she thought about it, she had eaten the mystery meat from the Flesh Tree the other day and had felt less disgusted by it than she expected. Her reaction to it was so bland she'd even thought, It's a little chewy, so maybe it will taste better if we slowly simmer it next time.
Atou just said that it was surprisingly hard to tell you were becoming evil, which seemed truer by the second. The more Emle thought about it, the more she started to believe she could get along just fine living in these creepy surroundings.
In a sense, she actually preferred a quiet atmosphere untouched by outsiders. She came to accept it for what it was.
She was also being affected in more ways than one.
"But there is one big problem…it's really conspicuous…"
A new problem arose as soon as she found a satisfactory answer to the last. This time it was Atou who brought it up. Emle had to force back her knee-jerk reaction to shout, "Of course it does!"
There was no way distorting a space this big would go unnoticed. Fortunately, this area existed inside the Accursed Lands. The colossal forest would cover them for a while until their nation prospered and expanded.
The greater chance they had of exposing themselves to the outside world, the greater the danger. Even more so for something so evil-looking.
"At any rate, it's inevitable for our existence to become known to the outside world. Let's enjoy the present for all it's worth, rather than worrying about the small stuff!"
Emle stopped herself short of saying, You just kicked the problem aside since we can't do anything about it…
She was talking to her superior, albeit a slightly lacking one, and the King's confidant. Just because the other woman spoke to her so casually didn't give her the right to rudely comment.
Besides, she could snark all she wanted, but it didn't change the fact that Emle couldn't think of a way to solve the issue either. In that case, it was smarter to abandon what couldn't be fixed and turn their eyes to what could be, like Atou said.
As they'd just discussed, their existence would become known eventually. At least the existence of the great king, Takuto Ira, was not small enough to be kept secret.
Emle, however, wasn't worried.
Takuto Ira, the doomsday king who would destroy the world.
His presence gave her infinite relief, and his subordinate Atou gave her people a vision of the future in which Mynoghra's enemies would perish.
How lucky and blessed their race was!
Looking at the children running around laughing, the young people working, and the Warriors training, Emle entrusted her worries to the boundless confidence she had in her King.
The future looked bright; sadly she still had a mountain of work to do for their empire and King. Emle vowed once again to do everything in her power to secure a prosperous future.
<-x-X-x->
PALADINS Lonius and Verdel set out from the Holy Kingdom of Qualia, headed for the Accursed Lands with an expeditionary squad with a core of about fifty mercenaries they'd successfully hired.
Mercenaries and adventurers exist in this world. The entire continent hasn't been explored yet, and Idoragya is teeming with dangerous creatures such as Mabeasts and wild animals. Inevitably, the demand for those who make a living fighting had increased, and they are highly valued in both the public and private sectors for all manner of jobs.
One such mercenary company had joined the Paladins on this mission. They were the most suited for the job, having made their living exterminating Mabeasts and running scouting missions for empire expansion, rather than fighting on the front lines.
Their small squad covered ground at a good pace. But problems naturally arose along the way.
High Paladin Verdel had been pleased with Paladin Lonius's connections and mission coordination at first, but his mood soured the deeper into the forest they marched.
"Saints, I'm bored. Why the hell do I hafta be part of this mission? Dammit, I wanna go home! I'd rather be listenin' to some fancy priest's bullshit sermon back at Central than be here."
"The Northern Disturbance must be at fault. They normally would have let us form a bigger reconnaissance squad than this. The fact we're stuck at this scale goes to show how much of a bind Qualia is in right now."
"Uh-huh, you just keep thinking that…"
Verdel waved Lonius off as he walked with his mouth open in a big yawn. His firm gait, despite his heavy plated armor, was the one Paladin quality about him.
Relentless training and latent talent drew out powers ordinary people lacked.
Bargo, the leader of the mercenary corps they'd hired, joined in the conversation, as he'd witnessed firsthand the strength of the Paladins said to do the work of hundreds of soldiers.
"The Northern Disturbance, eh? It ain't got nothin' to do with my boys, but sounds like they got their hands full up there…"
"Oh? You fellas aren't going? I heard there's a big fat bounty up for grabs, y'know?" Verdel said.
"Money's only good if yer alive to spend it. I heard it's pretty dangerous business. Ain't safe for makeshift warriors like us."
"Well, I can't argue that. Mercenaries are bossed around even at the best of times. You're as good as dead if you don't know a shit job when it comes to you."
"That's not all… I heard them Witches are comin' for the North."
Both men used crass language. They seemed like they'd become quick friends at this rate, but Lonius had to sigh over their exchange which made it impossible to tell the Paladin from the mercenary. As he listened in, he tilted his head over an unfamiliar word that'd entered the conversation.
Witches.
Bargo definitely said that. Lonius had never heard it before.
Is something more happening in the North? Curious, Lonius joined in their conversation, knowing he was interrupting their fun. "Witches? Captain Bargo, what're you talking about? I've never heard of them before…" "It's just a rumor—"
"Saints, don't go there! I'm bored enough as it is without you addin' that depressing shit to it!"
"S-Sorry…"
"I just wanna finish this recon up quick and say goodbye to this place forever."
Verdel suddenly threw a fit. It was common for this moody man to shift a conversation based on his moods, but this was too deliberate.
Lonius was suspicious of why Verdel purposefully put an end to any conversation about these Witches, but he kept his mouth shut. He knew well enough that he wouldn't get the answer even if he asked.
"Ch-Cheer up, Pal Verdel. We're in luck, since there's a relatively large city for interactin' with the neutral countries right on the border to the Dark Continent. It ain't so bad since we can rest up there. Hella better than campin' out here."
"Tch! That's something at least…"
"C'mon, let's wrap up this dull mission and enjoy ourselves!"
Apparently, Captain Bargo knew the right thing to say to stop Verdel's tantrum. Unfortunately, Lonius was still left in the dark. He couldn't question the mercenary about the Witches with Verdel around. He was swept along with the flow, while still hung up on that word.
"Ya good with that too, Pal Lonius?"
"Yes…it's fine."
What are Witches? Does Paladin Verdel know?
The information disclosed to a Paladin drastically varied with their rank. It wouldn't be strange for Verdel to have been told classified secrets an Under Paladin like Lonius wouldn't have…
In the end, Lonius advanced to the final city with his questions left unanswered.
◇◇◇
THE ground they had to cover for this reconnaissance mission made it difficult. While there were villages they could stop at along the way, people didn't go near the regions close to the Dark Continent where the danger of running into Barbarians increased, inevitably making it harder to resupply.
To make matters worse, the Dark Continent was a barren land, which relentlessly limited travelers. It wouldn't have been as bad if it was just rough roads and harsh climates, but there were numerous threats to survival, such as toxic land that was fatal just by stepping on it and forests that inflicted unknown diseases with no cures.
Therefore, invading the Dark Continent required the utmost care and the assistance of a professional guide. Even the Paladins, the pride and joy of the Holy Kingdom of Qualia, had to venture into it prepared.
It was at the last city built as a stopover point for envoys and merchants to do business with the neutral nations of Phon'kaven and Sutharland located in the Dark Continent that Lonius's platoon enjoyed what would be their last hot meal for weeks.
"Gah!! So this is the last drink I'll be able to get?! Saints save me!"
Verdel downed a whole tankard of cheap-tasting ale. He slammed it down on the table like he was drunk, even though his unreddened cheeks attested to his strong tolerance.
"Pal Verdel…is it…appropriate for Paladins to drink?"
Paladins are warriors primarily tasked with fighting evil forces.
But they are also supposed to be devout followers of the Holy God Arlos. Therefore, an ordained official drinking in public is looked down on in Qualia.
Captain Bargo was sweating bullets when he asked Verdel—one of those ordained officials—who started drowning himself in alcohol the second he set foot inside the tavern.
"Bah! Don't be petty, Bargo! In thinking of his people's suffering, the Lord our God gave permission to shed our priestly garb in our own homes before our families. In other words, he permits us to let loose after work!"
Bargo took that as a degenerate clergyman's shady workaround to break the rules. But he was just a hired hand. Lonius may have been his direct employer, but he wasn't going to push the topic with his employer's superior.
What's the most important thing for a mercenary corps? If anyone asked Bargo, he'd undoubtedly answer: "Having a silver tongue that keeps your employer pleased at all times."
When it came down to it, mercenaries were just another type of merchant. Sure, there were a lot of criminals and has-beens who lacked tact in their corps, but as a man who'd reached leader status, Bargo wasn't stupid enough to upset Verdel.
Such tactics were the secret to a mercenary's success in life. The same couldn't be said for the other Paladin, Lonius, who seemed incapable of overlooking Verdel's sins.
"You are quoting from book 3, chapter 4, verse 3 of the Teachings of the Holy God Arlos, yes? He is permitting temporary relief from one's priestly duties in the presence of family, not the consumption of alcohol."
"Mm, mm! Looks like we've got a different interpretation here, Lonius. We need to discuss it at length someday! HAHA!"
Lonius rebuked Verdel for his drinking, his jaw set in a hard line. But his stern warning fell on deaf ears as the ale put the High Paladin in a good mood.
Consuming alcohol wasn't completely forbidden by their religion. But they were taught to drink in moderation at the right time and place.
Enjoying a small amount in the privacy of their own home was fine, but their character and faith would come into question if they were caught throwing back drinks while laughing loudly in a bar like Verdel.
Lonius wondered why such an ungodly man was conferred the rank of High Paladin but grudgingly changed the topic, since he knew Verdel wouldn't right his ways.
"Anyways, Sir Verdel, about Saint Soalina's prophecy… What's really happening in the Accursed Lands?"
It took many days to travel to the Accursed Lands. They would have to keep walking from morning until night to get there in a decent timeframe, so they had to preserve as much physical strength as possible.
Thinking this was the last chance they'd have to discuss such a serious topic at length, Lonius voiced his concerns. Verdel's expression soured as soon as he heard his question. He was digging deeper than his rank allowed.
Bargo, who was munching on some smoked fish at the same table, grimaced without them noticing.
Verdel leaned heavily against his chair. He ran his gaze over the room, confirming the only guests were their hired men, and spoke what was, for him, a low volume.
"Hey, Bargo…"
"…We're mercenaries. Ya probably already know this, but trust matters most in this greedy line of business."
The mercenary captain, who knew exactly what was expected of him from those two words, gave the answer Verdel sought.
Basically, everything said from here on out was highly classified. Meticulous care needed to be paid to keep it secret and Verdel was confirming Bargo wouldn't leak information. And Bargo had given the perfect answer.
Mercenaries prized credibility. They were doomed to lose work and become bandits if they screwed up so bad that it damaged customer trust.
Verdel silently contemplated the matter with his arms crossed, fully aware of the creed mercenaries lived by. Lonius waited for him to speak instead of rushing him. He needed any information he could get out of his superior officer right now.
Verdel finally opened his eyes, took another look around the room, leaned closer to the table, and spoke in a voice only Lonius and Bargo could hear.
"It's gotta do with them Witches."
The temperature at the table dropped a whole degree.
He couldn't tell whether it had actually dropped, but Lonius felt a serious chill. Witches—the term he'd picked up on and dismissed
that very afternoon. Determining this was his sole chance to learn more, he quickly got his question out with no heed to formalities. "What in the name of all that is good and holy are Witches?"
"No clue," Verdel said as he brought the tankard to his lips.
Annoyed to find it empty, he called out to the bartender for a refill.
Lonius and Verdel's relationship didn't go back far, although it wasn't that recent either. Realizing further questioning would only be deflected, Lonius gritted his teeth and pondered what was being unsaid.
Whether he felt bad leaving him in the dark or just wanted to gain favor with his employer, Bargo offered Lonius the modest amount of intel he had on the subject.
"They say all that mayhem in the North is Witches' doin'."
"Witches… So there's more than one?"
"We think it's jargon made up by some evil cult or Mabeasts.
Nobody can say for sure, though…"
Bargo knew this much simply because he was a mercenary corps captain. Mercenaries put themselves where the danger was and made a tidy sum off it.
Information was the greatest currency and the price for not having enough was their very lives. Collecting even the tiniest scrap of info wherever he could was what made him privy to knowledge even an Under Paladin like Lonius didn't have.
"No mercenary has seen it for themselves? Any of you boys have comrades with more information?"
"You should know this better than we do, but the North is in dire straits. I had a buddy up there and I can't even get in contact with 'im anymore."
The Holy Kingdom of Qualia's Northern Province—the region currently suffering a maelstrom of chaos and destruction ever since these Witches suddenly appeared. Thousands of mercenaries were lured by the temptingly large bounties into handling things there.
Not all mercenaries, however, are blinded by gold. Some put their lives and safety before promised money. And those were the very mercenaries Lonius had hired for this job.
"With all hell breakin' loose, there's no way scaredy-cats like us would risk our necks just to take a peek. So we're keepin' our heads low and doin' jobs in the South instead. Safety first, y'know?" Bargo shrugged.
They had survived this long as mercenaries—an occupation with a high mortality rate—because they knew how to weigh the odds. Lonius could sense a strong will to live from Bargo's unabashed declaration that his men were cowards and scaredy-cats.
Did he find Bargo's convictions admirable? Or was he just sick of keeping quiet? Whatever the reason, Verdel accepted the foamy tankard from the bartender and merrily rejoined the conversation.
"You can't have any fun if you don't live to enjoy the day! Ain't nothing wrong with staying on the safe side."
"Yeah, but that ain't all, Pal Verdel. I've got somebody waitin' back home to do… certain things with me, you see. She's a prostitute but you couldn't find a better woman." Bargo held up his pinky finger, cheeks flushed.
Amused by his lewd gesture, Verdel's stern expression melted into a wide grin as he clapped Bargo on the back.
"No way, man! You've got a woman?! Just quit this dangerous business, then! I'd be happy to introduce you to better work! I've got good connections in the South!"
"Heh heh. You mean it? I wasn't planning on retiring until I saved up some more and had a replacement in place, but I'd be livin' it up good under your care."
"Yeah, you do that!"
Bargo closed the distance with Verdel, who'd become moody, and made the conversation take off. Lonius was impressed by his expertise in grasping the human heart.
Who knew if the mercenary captain actually had a lover back home? But just bringing it up pulled Verdel out of his shell and even got him to offer work connections.
He's likely after information.
Just as Lonius predicted, Bargo scratched his head awkwardly and broached the real subject while Verdel was in a teasing mood.
"You heard what cowards we are, Pal Verdel. We ain't gonna just happily go where the Witches are, y'know? How do I put it…my woman, her name's Calico… I can't go dyin' now that things are getting good if ya know what I mean."
"Hm? That wouldn't be good, would it?" Verdel paused for a long minute but eventually answered. "Nah, you don't have to worry about them. We've got a basic idea of what we're getting into."
Verdel was disclosing one of Qualia's highly confidential secrets. Lonius listened in close, making sure he didn't miss a single word.
"And what might that be?" Bargo asked.
"Dark Elves took refuge in this region. My hunch is that we're going to inspect the possibility of them causin' trouble there."
Lonius had also heard the news about the Dark Elves. It was said they'd turned their backs on all that was holy and devoted themselves to evil thoughts. Lonius was enraged when he heard of their folly and imprudence, rejecting God's love like that. It all made sense if the prophecy referred to them.
"Dark Elves, eh? I'd heard rumors they were exiled from El-Nah, but who whudda thought they'd made their getaway to the Accursed Lands…"
"That region's always been shady as hell. Maybe they're trying to start up some sorta wicked cult or something?"
Not even Verdel seemed to know more than that. But that alone was valuable information. Lonius knew the dangers Dark Elves posed, after all.
"They're startin' up an evil cult?" Bargo scratched his chin. "I'd normally like to laugh that off, but it actually seems likely. Curses and assassinations are the first things that come to mind when ya think of Dark Elves. Rumor has it that the infamous named ones with bounties on their heads are still on the run too. Who knows what a group of 'em will get up to…"
"The Curse Sage Moltar and Gia the Assassin, huh?" Verdel leaned back in his chair. "Both are first-class bounties. I once crossed blades with Moltar and he's quite the formidable enemy."
Lonius's eyes went wide as he finally realized the danger they posed. If the Dark Elves, known for their curses and assassination techniques, had improved their skills in hiding, they'd eventually turn their blade on the united front of the Holy Kingdom of Qualia and the El-Nah Alliance of Elementals.
How many innocent lives would be harmed when that happened?
Lonius clenched his fists.
"Well, we've only got orders to run recon," Verdel said. "Don't cause a scene even if you see them Dark Elves. Hightail it outta there if things go south."
"Good to know. That's enough to keep my boys happy," Bargo said with an ingratiating bow.
He was truly a masterful conversationalist. Though he'd failed to pry out more intel on the Witches, he'd pulled enough information from Verdel to guarantee his men's safety.
Lonius was stunned by Bargo's resourcefulness. Meanwhile, the convictions and sense of justice that made up the core of his being couldn't let what Verdel said pass.
"Hold on, Sir Verdel. Is it really appropriate for one of God's vanguards, a Paladin, to say something like that? Shouldn't we thoroughly eradicate the threat of evil if it's taken root there?"
Lonius was of the opinion they should immediately eliminate a known threat. Throughout his career as a Paladin, he'd witnessed many situations where slow decision-making had caused serious tragedy. He despised how Qualia's complex political system had the harmful effect of giving a grace period to the wicked.
He may have only made his comment out of a brazenness that comes from youth, but there was indeed some insight and validity to it. Which was why Verdel answered him seriously.
"Lonius."
"Yes? What is it, Sir Verdel?"
"Here's a piece of sage advice from your superior. Everyone's impatient to prove themselves when they're young. But those pretty words from the old bats at the cathedrals and the shiny medals aren't worth shit in the long run. If you pursue only instant results, you'll eventually make a fatal mistake. Develop an eye for the big picture. Got that?"
That doesn't answer my question, Lonius concluded.
Verdel's advice didn't strike a chord with him. He would be lying if he said he wasn't trying to prove himself, but he hadn't once forgotten his duty as God's disciple. His pride refused to accept Verdel's advice for what it was.
"Sometimes, as faithful servants of our Lord, we have to lay down our lives to fight evil. But that isn't something we should rush into. You and I have reasons not to throw away our lives—the same goes for Bargo here. That's why…"
After a slight pause, Verdel looked around and finally realized the funny faces Lonius and Bargo were giving him. He gave his head a firm shake and downed a glass of water instead of ale, as if to signal he drank too much.
"Ack! Gettin' old makes you a nag! I'll leave the lectures to the old bats at the cathedrals!"
Thus, Verdel's sermon disappeared into the hustle and bustle of the night without coming to an end.
◇◇◇
THE reconnaissance team finally set foot inside the Dark Continent the next day. They couldn't hide their grim expressions when they saw the scenery that starkly contrasted the flourishing landscapes located within the Holy Kingdom of Qualia which was blessed by Arlos.
Red, barren land stretched endlessly around them. Enormous, rugged boulders stuck out of the ground here and there, blocking their path.
At first glance, the sky seemed blue, but the weather could change at any minute. The region clearly had poor drainage—any rain would cause a flood.
This land's natural state seemed to reject life and perfectly fit the name the Dark Continent.
"Barren as far as the eye can see. Some vegetation seems to grow here, but you can barely feel any life from it," Lonius muttered, scooping some of the sand off the ground. This was his first time venturing into the Dark Continent.
Across from him, Verdel kept his gaze trained forward, looking more pensive than usual. "It's like this everywhere," he said. "Just when you think there's a better spot, it's got a name like the Accused Lands, Viper Meadows, Drunken Swamp, and whatnot. Ain't a decent place for Humans to live."
"But aren't there several neutral nations here?"
"Yeah. They're struggling just to survive."
I can see why with terrain like this, Lonius thought.
A single look around made him doubt much could grow there. If everywhere else was just as bad, how in the world did they survive? Or rather, the real question was: why were they even trying to survive in such a place?
"The other nations will receive God's blessing if they just show allegiance to us…"
His comment received no response. Lonius looked up to find Verdel was in the middle of saying something to Bargo and had missed what he said. The two men seemed to be discussing the path they'd be taking through these Accursed Lands.
After finishing the briefing session with the mercenary guide, the reconnaissance team began down a pathless road. There were no easy-to-follow landmarks, and it was hard to tell what direction they were going. It was only their sheer skill and preparation that made it possible to confidently continue down the path they were on.
"…I've gotta say, we've got a good band of mercenaries right here."
Verdel spoke after they'd trudged in silence for a while. He meant what he said. Glancing at his satisfied side profile, Lonius strongly agreed with his appraisal of the mercenaries he'd hired.
"They are a skilled group of men. They could play an integral role in our forces if they joined the Provincial Guard. But they continue this way of life because they don't like belonging to organized groups."
"Hmph. Can't we just slap some sense into 'em? I'll happily do it myself."
Verdel grinned at the mercenaries, already working out a plan to absorb them into the armed forces without their knowledge. They would become invaluable soldiers if they went through Verdel's infamously fierce boot camp. But training soldiers was not a Paladin's job.
Paladins had more work than they had time. Besides, they couldn't spare one of the few dozen Upper Paladins assigned to each province to something as meaningless as training a mercenary band.
Verdel's plan was near impossible to make a reality, regardless of his personal desire to do it.
"Paladins have much to do. You make it sound too easy to—" Lonius began lecturing Verdel with a sigh when a shout cut him off. "It's a Hill Giant!!"
One of the mercenaries warned from the vanguard.
Verdel and Lonius immediately drew their swords. Their relaxed expressions were replaced with a sharp glint in their eyes and the steely resolve to overpower any enemy.
The fifty mercenaries stopped all at once and Captain Bargo, Verdel, and Lonius headed to the point of concern, just as a giant humanoid monster appeared from the shadow of a rock tower.
Hill Giants—the Barbarian race that primarily resided within the Dark Continent. They stood over ten feet tall. Monsters that easily exceeded a two-story building could kill a Human with a single blow from its huge body.
To make matters worse, its skin was harder than rock and couldn't be scratched with normal weapons. Even Qualia's main army needed to be prepared to lose men to defeat one of these evil brutes. The losses would be even greater for a band of mercenaries.
"Damn! We ran into a hella nasty one right out the gate! Get ready for battle, boys! Move the wagons back and bring out the bows!"
The mercenaries moved like a single living creature when Bargo barked their orders. The supply wagon retreated to the back of the group, and the cavalry moved forward to divert the giant's attention. The infantrymen held their swords at the ready in front of the Hill Giant, and the archers climbed the rocks to get to higher ground.
Lonius stared down the Hill Giant, who approached them with glee, while also confirming the mercenary band had moved into position, their coordination so perfect even a famous strategist would be impressed.
"How fitting for the Dark Continent. Evil beings act like they own the place."
Lonius may have been lower-ranked, but he was still one of the Holy King's Paladins tasked with annihilating all evil. Neither his mind nor resolve were so weak as to buckle with fear before such threats.
But the reality was that Hill Giants posed a grave danger that couldn't be underestimated.
The strength of Qualia's Paladins can be roughly estimated by their court rank. Any Paladin, even an Under Paladin, is a force to be reckoned with. Their strength is equivalent to an Ogre Class Barbarian. But they are outclassed by the even stronger Hill Giants.
"Sorry to bother ya, Sir Paladins, but can ya lend us a hand? This ain't one we can take down on our own without losses."
"Of course, Bargo. Create a diversion with a volley of arrows.
We'll deliver the killing blow while it is distracted."
Captain Bargo requested help as Lonius thought he would. Their contract covered the mercenaries guiding and guarding them to and from the Accursed Lands.
Skirmishes along the way were included in the terms of the contract, so the Paladins weren't expected to partake in any of the fighting. But this encounter was outside expectations. They were in no position to squabble over a breach in contract.
The Dark Continent's Barbarians were more ferocious and heinous than Lonius anticipated. His hands turned cold and clammy as he realized his hunch that they wouldn't meet anything worse than an Ogre Class was proven horribly wrong.
"Nah, I'll handle it alone."
One man stepped forward with the sound of his plate armor clinking. As soon as Lonius realized it was Verdel, the High Paladin tasked with the same scouting mission, he confirmed his intentions without letting his emotion show.
"…Are you certain?"
"Eh, it's no skin off my back. Can't let this small fry hold us up."
Lonius was shocked Verdel was motivated to do anything when he was the poster child for self-serving laziness. He considered offering assistance, but held his tongue since he feared the potential consequences of upsetting him. He also wanted to get a handle on Verdel's strength.
"The archers will distract him first, Pal Verdel," Bargo said. "Friendly fire ain't pretty, so would you mind waiting until I give the signal to go?"
"Nah, I don't need archer support. Can't have the giant gunning for our archers, either. You fellas can sit this one out, Bargo."
"A-Are you positive—"
—that's smart? Bargo stopped short of finishing his sentence. He'd often heard rumors of how powerful Paladins were.
They were men of valor said to be a match for a thousand soldiers, and martial arts experts wouldn't even be a good match for them. High Paladins, in particular, had surpassed the realm of what was humanly possible. Those things were common knowledge. But even if that information was true, fighting a Hill Giant completely alone was unfeasible.
Bargo's ability to manage risk as a mercenary captain had him view Verdel's decision as reckless. They were in a crisis. He didn't have the time to slyly talk him down like he had in the tavern last night.
Not wanting to make things worse, Bargo looked to Lonius to do something about it. Unfortunately for him, Lonius merely shook his head, his eyes squeezed shut.
"It's fine, Bargo. Please do as Sir Verdel says."
"But—Never mind. We'll follow orders."
Bargo gave up, knowing there was nothing left for him to say. In the end, he and his men were nothing more than hired mercenaries. They had no right or reason to disobey their employers over being told to sit out a fight.
The mercenary captain decided to see how things played out, all the while planning an escape if things went south.
"O Lord, our maker! Grant me the strength to stand against evil!"
As soon as Verdel spoke, something holy sprung forth around him. The Hill Giant switched targets to Verdel, as if he sensed the change in the air.
Verdel squared off with the Hill Giant. He began spinning his two-handed sword in a unique manner.
"Is that one of 'em Holy Sword Artes?" Bargo asked Lonius from where they watched the action at a distance.
"Yes. It's a secret technique Qualia developed to strengthen the body with divine power by praying to our Lord while using a Sword Arte. Not only does it increase your combat abilities, but it also gives you massive advantages against evil."
Holy Sword Artes were the reason Qualia was both a mighty religious empire and a mighty militaristic one. These Artes, which even regular soldiers could use the most basic forms of, were extremely effective against the forces of evil when used by Paladins at the highest level.
Even the Hill Giant, who was supposed to be a neutrally-aligned Barbarian, seemed hesitant to go up against Verdel's holy power. "Will he really be all right? Whole mercenary companies are dispatched to take down Hill Giants, y'know? I don't care how high up Sir Verdel is in the ranks, a single Paladin can't possibly…"
Bargo still couldn't gauge Verdel's strength. The mercenary profession required caution to survive. Bargo was the particularly cautious type. That prudence made him apprehensive of the risks of taking on a Hill Giant alone. But his fears were about to be proven unnecessary.
"Watch. It's starting."
Bargo quickly shifted his gaze from Lonius to Verdel. At almost the same time, the Hill Giant brought his large fist down on Verdel.
"LOOK OUT!!"
"That's nothing."
Verdel switched from defense to offense in a split second.
"…Ha!"
"GRUOOOOH?!"
Verdel dodged the Hill Giant's blow with agile movements that seemed impossible with his heavy plate armor and spun his sword around to slice its arm with minimal effort.
"Weak! You can't defeat me with just a big body!"
The Hill Giant was enraged by the blood gushing from its arm. Anger was clearly visible on its ugly face as it tried to swing its fist down a second time.
But— "GAGH?!"
Its legs buckled.
When exactly did that happen? Lonius thought.
At some point, Verdel's refined Special Arte had severed the giant's tendons.
"GRUOOOOOOOH!!"
It was, quite literally, a one-sided battle.
Every one of the Hill Giant's attacks were evaded, and each time, its skin renowned for being tougher than rocks was wounded. And those wounds weren't just nicks and scratches. One arm was severed and its bowels spilled from its abdomen.
Each slash from Verdel's sword had the power to slaughter the heinous monsters of the Dark Continent.
The victor was decided before long.
The final moment was cinched when the Hill Giant had fallen to its knees after having an ankle severed and the dizziness brought about by grievous wounds caused its head to fall forward.
Verdel rushed up to its giant body faster than the eye could follow and brought his Paladin Sword down on its head.
…The strength of a Paladin can be roughly estimated by their court rank.
An Under Paladin stands on par with an Ogre.
A Mesial Paladin stands on par with a Lich.
And a High Paladin…
"URAAHHH!"
"GUGYAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
A High Paladin stands on par with a Lesser Dragon.
"Unbelievable…" Lonius muttered in awe.
The single blow that bashed in the Hill Giant's head was stronger than any before it. Despite being attacked by a puny Human sword, the Hill Giant's head burst open, and its brains splattered on the ground, like it had been crushed by a huge battering ram.
The combination of a High Paladin's extraordinary physical strength with the buff granted by Arlos's blessing made it possible to easily crack the monster's iron skull and end its life in an instant.
Verdel spun his two-handed sword. The gore on the blade splattered a red line on the ground, signaling the battle's end.
"You're amazin', Pal Verdel! You wiped the floor with that Hill Giant!"
"Hey now, don't go letting down your guard. If you've got time to be happy, get ready to move out. It'll be a hassle if Mabeasts are lured by the scent of blood," Verdel said, scowling at Bargo, who'd come running over all excited.
The mercenaries were whooping after witnessing a fight fit for the history books. Verdel's scowl deepened over the weakness they were showing in that moment, but he knew their excitement wouldn't subside even if he complained, so he just clucked his tongue and said no more.
"That was a remarkable fight, Sir Verdel. With your power, solving the problem in the Accursed Land should be a breeze."
"Tch. I wonder about that…"
He didn't take well to Lonius's compliments either.
What was bothering him so much? Whatever it was, Verdel was in a foul mood to the last.
<-x-X-x->
◇◇◇
THE Dark Elves had cleared a section of the forest to make space for
Ceremonial Grounds between the site where Takuto's residential Palace was going to be built and where the citizens resided. It was a simple space Atou made by ripping out the trees, roots and all, to level the ground where they then randomly lined up stones they'd found lying around.
But as simple as it was, it served a strategic purpose for Mynoghra.
"King Takuto, it's ready for you. We have the exact amount of food needed."
"Okay, thanks, Atou."
Food was piled up in the center of the Ceremonial Grounds. The terrifying chunks of meat from the Flesh Trees made up most of the pile, but some of the crops harvested from the newly created farmlands peeked out from between the fleshy fruit too.
Takuto walked up to the mountain of food and held his palm over it. The food instantly warped and started to pulsate as if it was being condensed into the middle. It convulsed into a single lump as it throbbed. The color and shape changed until it became a lump of flesh. All the while, bluish-white magic light poured onto it from Takuto's palm.
The magic's linear path wrapped around the fleshy lump, spinning it round and round until it gradually whipped it into shape.
Something was about to be born.
Atou watched Takuto work with exhilaration as life was evidently being breathed into the lump. Eventually, the faint light emitted by his Mana stopped, and something covered in sticky goo plopped onto the ground.
"GYEEEEEEEE!"
It was a Long-legged Bug, Mynoghra's Scout unit, that let out a familiar cry.
"Wonderful work as always, King Takuto. Allow me to express my delight over the successful birth of a new unit."
"Thanks. I'm glad it went well, Atou. I was worried it wouldn't work."
Takuto placed his hand on his chest and let his relief show. Atou raced over to encourage him.
Mynoghra finally had a solid foundation as a budding empire and a little more freedom in its productivity, so he decided to experiment by producing units the normal way. He was a tad nervous because he had never tried any of this before, but with the guidance of some mysterious knowledge stored in the back of his mind, he completed the process without any hiccups.
"I had no idea it worked like this while playing the game, but it's kinda entertaining to think this is how all the units were produced."
"I agree. Who would have thought they could be produced by manually gathering the required Food and Resources in one place and mixing them together with a dash of Mana… What kind of system is at work here?"
"The Eterpedia in my head doesn't say anything more about it…"
Takuto had died in his world and been reborn as one of Eternal Nations' commanders. He could only perform the same actions he would in-game, which differed on many levels from this world, thanks to the mysterious information that flowed into his mind.
Takuto named the information that popped into his mind whenever he had any questions Brain Eterpedia after the Eterpedia glossary and help menu in Eternal Nations.
He used the Eterpedia to learn how to produce units with the Ceremonial Grounds. In the game, all he had to do was select the unit he needed from the list and click the Production Icon, but certain rituals were required to do the same in this world.
Why did he even have a Brain Eterpedia? Why did it list every kind of ritual and the steps from A to Z? For that matter, why were they even in this world?
The answers to those questions never entered his mind, which meant the system running his Brain Eterpedia was incredibly limited.
"I see. So, we know how to use the system, just not how it works. In that case, we need to continue experimenting, investigating, and theorizing about it…"
"Yeah. I'd say so, Atou." Takuto turned from Atou to his new Scout. "Okay, my newest bug, cooperate with the other bug scouting the areas outside the forest."
"GYEEEEEEEE!"
The Long-legged Bug disappeared into the forest depths, letting out its usual high-strung shriek. As she watched it go, Atou asked Takuto about his strategy.
"By the way, have you figured out what goes into spawning military Squads yet? We've only spawned single units so far."
"My Brain Eterpedia covers it, but it looks like creating Squads requires specific citizen units as a base. For example, if you want to make a Cavalry, you need a thousand horses, a thousand volunteer soldiers, and the Resources, Mana, and Training time to equip them. And if that's not bad enough, they need a ton of Food every month to maintain!"
"The system is really unbalanced, isn't it? Or is it just too easy to produce individual units? I think it's best to solidify our forces around a few select Hero units, after all. Oh…now I get it! That's why you chose the Long-legged Bug!"
"Yep, Long-legged Bugs can be upgraded to Headhunting Bugs in the Technology tree. Once they're upgraded, they're only slightly weaker than the Calvary units we just discussed. They're way more cost-effective."
Some units, including Long-legged Bugs, can be upgraded. Upgrading is the way to transform a unit into a more powerful version by applying new technologies and resources. Long-legged Bugs fall under the upgradeable unit category and can be upgraded twice once the Technology tree requirements are met. The cost stays low, as it still counts as single-unit production and is an insect-class unit.
Atou's eyes lit up as she pieced the information together to see the overarching strategy.
"Oh! Now I know where you're going with this, my liege! The next Hero unit will be—"
"I debated it, but I'm going with Isla, Queen of the Bugs."
"I knew it would be Isla! She's quite the overpowered character, after all!"
Isla, Queen of the Bugs is one of Mynoghra's unique Hero units. She's an insect-class Hero unit with overwhelmingly powerful traits. One of her traits is the permanent enhancement of all insect units. The enhancement value is an extraordinary +2 and the effect can be obtained without any debuffs.
This ability to turn a Long-legged Bug, a Scout unit, into a firstclass combat unit is an advantage that can be used in the early stages of the game and the final stages. The benefits are immeasurable, as it gives bonuses to several other insect-class units.
In fact, most of Eternal Nations' players who play as Mynoghra summon Isla over Atou. That goes to show just how powerful and perfectly in line this Hero unit is with Mynoghra.
"Isla can also produce various Larva units in addition to strengthening other insects. She doesn't have the highest Strength, but her Breeder skill that can be used in both Domestic Affairs and
Warfare is game-changing."
"You made a wonderful choice, King Takuto! This will solve our labor problem too!"
Larva, the special units bred by Isla, aren't the most efficient. But they can be used to cultivate land and for production, freeing up workers. Although a large amount of Food is required to activate and maintain the Larva, it's beneficial in the long run to be able to produce lots of workers without having to wait for the empire's population to grow.
Takuto hadn't realized it sooner because he rarely used Isla as a part of his game strategy, but she was the best possible Hero to summon at a time like this. There were other Hero units to pick from, but they were all too specialized in one or two things to be useful right now.
Atou applauded Takuto's choice as she rummaged through her memories to recall the distinct traits of the several Hero units they could pick from. Takuto seemed happy to receive her approval as well.
"It's a popular early game tactic for Mynoghra, right? Seeing how a lot of players start there, it's a safe play, I'd say."
"I personally find it boring, though," Takuto groaned. "But sticking to hardcore play in real life is dumb. Gotta use what we can to our advantage."
"You can say that again, my liege. Speaking of which, what do you have in mind for our strategy after Isla?"
Atou asked about what Takuto had planned next before they even began the summoning process for Isla. She asked partially because she enjoyed exchanging empire-management ideas with him and knowing his plans let her assist him better.
Unaware of his confidant's inspiring reasoning for her question, Takuto unveiled his strategy simply because he enjoyed discussing empire management with her.
"Good question. After securing our production capacity with
Isla's Larva, I'll make a few Mi-Go."
"Oh yes, the Medic support units, right? They improve the empire's hygiene even during peacetime and they can be used to heal other units during battle. And the most wonderful thing about them is that they're a single unit, which keeps Upkeep costs down."
Medic support units can heal injured units on the battlefield.
Additionally, stationing them in a city improves that city's sanitation.
The forces of evil might not have to worry about hygiene much, but the Medics were a great choice because they could also take care of elements that weren't in the game, such as healing sick or injured citizens outside of battle.
"Our combat capabilities shouldn't be a problem for now with Medics and Headhunting Bugs on our side. But even with Isla's abilities active, I'm worried the Long-legged Bug series won't be strong enough," Atou said, voicing her concerns.
Waging war with bugs using Isla is a powerful strategy during early game, but starts losing its edge by mid-game. Mynoghra's Bugclass units alone can't keep up with the severely inflated endgame encounters.
Takuto knew this would be a problem. He addressed Atou's concerns while reaffirming his own knowledge.
"I agree. The strongest Bug unit Mynoghra can make is the Hungry-hungry Blue Bug that the Headhunting Bugs can upgrade to, but…there's a limit to how many you can have, and they're ridiculously slow, which makes them tricky to use." "I do love them Hungry-hungry Blues, though."
"So do I… Anyway, the standard tactic here is to produce a ton of Magic Archers or Elite Knights, but…I think Shoggoth is what we want. I like them personally too."
Atou silently contemplated Takuto's plan for a moment. As he'd said, players typically spawn high-end units that are cheap and have a certain level of strength, rather than Shoggoth, which has a relatively high production cost but low Upkeep.
She slapped her hands together as she realized Military units cost a ridiculous amount when you added their Upkeep to the initial production costs.
"I get it! Unlike in the game, an individual unit like Shoggoth has a much cheaper total cost than a Squad, right?"
"Exactly. You could say Military units cost too much in general, but the huge variation in Upkeep between Squads and individual units makes all the difference in the long run. I just added up the numbers and Shoggoth is the overwhelmingly better value."
"So, basically, we can use Shoggoth all we want this time around? They took so much to produce in the game, too! But they're practically a bargain with the cheap Upkeep costs here…"
Tears clouded Atou's eyes as she became thrilled with the idea. She seemed to have forgotten these Combat units called Shoggoth were a thousand times more grotesque than the Long-legged Bugs. "Yep. We'll have the perfect defense once we make the Shoggoth Lords unique to Mynoghra too. We can only have three at once, but I'm sure we'll have most of the Hero units summoned by then anyway."
Shoggoth is a unit that can be produced around mid-game. They are a useful unit that can be used well into endgame by upgrading them with the Technology tree. In-game, their high production and Upkeep costs were a problem, but they had the solution to that now.
Atou couldn't hide her excitement over this strategy that felt like a mod customized just for their needs.
"Aahh! It brings me back to the good old days! Back to when Shoggoth sprung infinitely from the Floating Castle and attacked the enemy cities with violent productivity! To when the enemy defenses melted away at laughable speed! When Hungry-hungry Blues slipped into the enemy city during the ruckus to devour their citizens! How satisfying it was to go around destroying the overwhelmingly powerful forces of good with even more transcendental power! …Peace talks? In your dreams!"
Atou spoke at breakneck speed while waving her arms like a little girl excitedly discussing her favorite things. Her enthusiasm spread to Takuto, rousing the same excitement in him.
"Yeah. Yeah! You destroyed the main enemy forces, growing even stronger until you obliterated every last unit. Our invincible army built around units with a high continuous battle rate led the world to ruin. It was so much fun!"
"You filled the map with so many units, your computer kept freezing too! Let's do the same thing here!"
"I'm definitely not keen on filling the world with so many Shoggoths it freezes, but I'm all for building up our forces to take on the whole world."
They were just two young adults passionately talking about their favorite game. It probably looked silly to anyone watching from the outside. But to Takuto and Atou, what the rest of the world thought didn't matter when they had their most important person right there. So they were able to enjoy the moment.
"Aww… Looking down from the top of the Floating Castle with you as the land below burns… Wouldn't that be wonderful, King
Takuto?"
"Haha! I can only pray it doesn't come to that."
"True. Peace for the win! I also feel a greater value in these idyllic days spent chatting with you."
Conquering the world was a means, not an end, to them. Their objective was to live in peace and build an empire just for them. Neither had forgotten that.
"I'm glad you're on the same page as me, Atou."
"Well, some Heroes love conquering the world, and others love to engulf it in turmoil…"
"We'll have them join us someday too, huh? We need their abilities, and I personally want to meet them, but…I sure hope they don't cause trouble."
"The rest after Isla have terrible personalities."
Mynoghra's other Hero profiles came to mind. All of them had every screw loose—not just a few—and they were like problematic children Takuto worried he wouldn't be able to stop if they went on a rampage.
Silence hung over them as their enthusiasm died.
"I hope we can live in peace…"
"I hope we can just live in peace…"
Funnily enough, they said almost the same thing at the same time. They both secretly wished they'd stop being perfectly in sync for these things.
They found themselves in an indescribable mood after that, until Atou suddenly looked up at Takuto.
"Say, King Takuto…?"
"Hm? What is it, Atou?"
"Have we ever succeeded in getting a Peace Victory?" Cold, hard reality struck them.
A Peace Victory is one of several victory conditions in Eternal Nations. As the name implies, it's the victory condition preferred by pacifist players, achieved by building up a certain level of friendship with every empire. "..."
Takuto fell silent, after which he forced himself to speak.
"A-A few times. We pulled it off at least a FEW times!!"
"L-Let's not talk about it! No more of this topic! Nope!"
Mynoghra plunged headfirst into war every game session, all while Takuto insisted on pacifism. Atou shouted, forcefully bringing the conversation to a close as if to hide that fact.
Dark clouds still hung over Mynoghra's future.
<-x-X-x->
◇◇◇
TAKUTO and Atou had successfully spawned a unit and laid out the plans for their future military strategies. Although they spent some time messing around during the planning, it was still morning when they wrapped things up.
Takuto had conducted his experiment in the early morning in case any problems arose. Since he finished much sooner than expected, he headed back to the Palace Construction Site to enjoy a relaxing breakfast with Atou.
Atou happily followed him in the best of moods, delighted to spend even more time alone with her king. They hadn't had as much time together lately with all the projects she was overseeing.
Lots of materials had been carried into the planned construction site for the Palace, where Takuto and Atou had moved the stone dais to. The building project was progressing smoothly.
They didn't have a large Dark Elf population to start with, and the number of people they could devote to construction was limited. As a result, the structure was more of a large mansion rather than a palace. Still, it would undoubtedly become a magnificent royal residence assembled with a unique architectural style.
Takuto would eventually grow this town into a huge city worthy of being Mynoghra's Imperial Capital, and he'd make his Palace large enough to pierce the heavens.
Dreaming of looking down from the top floor of his Palace, which hadn't yet taken shape, he entered the tent built around the stone dais and sat cross-legged in front of the table the Dark Elves had cobbled together.
"C'mon, let's have breakfast. The Dark Elves made such an amazing table and rug for us, we must use them to their fullest." "It's crafted from a simple piece of wood and isn't of the quality fit for a king if you ask me."
The rug was coarse and the table a plain slice of round wood cut straight out of a giant tree trunk with no embellishments. Atou was dissatisfied with the makeshift furniture, but Takuto appeared surprisingly happy with it, so she couldn't complain.
"We're going for simple anyways, so it works. Besides, they put their hearts into it, and that's what really matters."
Takuto spoke to her the way he might a young child. He was a lower-middle-class man at his core and wasn't a fan of extravagance for its own sake.
As for Atou, she wanted to trumpet Takuto's awesomeness to the world, so his simple tastes made her a tad dissatisfied. Still, any displeasure vanished in the face of her policy that whatever Takuto wanted came first.
"That's true. Their devotion is the real deal, and you can certainly sense it from the time and materials they put into making this furniture when they lack both. We need to acknowledge its value from that angle."
"They said they'll make us something even better in the future, and I'm more than happy with what we have for now."
"All right. I understand. Everything is to be as you see fit, my king."
Handmade furniture typically costs a fortune back home, Takuto thought as he ran his hand over the table, enjoying its natural feel.
Already sitting on the table was the fast-food breakfast Takuto had produced. Normally, the Dark Elves would serve the King themselves, and they'd offered to, but Takuto turned them down. If they had the time and energy to spare waiting on him, he preferred they direct them toward building the empire's foundation first.
Plus, he wanted to enjoy whatever alone time with Atou he could get.
"That being said… King Takuto, why don't you eat something a little healthier now that you have more Mana to spare?"
Takuto chewed his hamburger like he was in heaven, sauce on his cheeks. Processed foods actually cost more Mana than healthy food, but that was his little secret.
"Because it's something I can only eat now. This is paradise, compared to a diet of hospital food."
"I really just want you to eat more healthily, King Takuto."
"The King of Ruin is evil, so it's only right that I eat lots of unhealthy fast food. Want some, Atou? I mean, is a salad really enough for you?"
"Yes. I find this most agreeable."
"Really? Isn't that a little too healthy for an evil Hero?"
Takuto eyed the bowl piled sky-high with a salad like it was some sort of foreign sludge. Eventually growing bored of the topic, he redirected the conversation to whatever seemed interesting as he sucked soda up his straw.
"By the way, how are the Dark Elves doing? Is construction going okay?"
"It's going well—so well that it's a little worrying, my liege. My concern is some people are pushing themselves a little too hard to repay the boon you've granted them."
There was something unearthly about the Dark Elves' dedication to repaying their debt to him for saving their race. They had been adamant about it ever since they became evil beings of Mynoghra, and Takuto was concerned about it becoming a problem.
"Hey, I'm happy they're so eager, but pushing themselves until they break is too much."
Bodies fall apart when they are pushed past their limit.
As someone whose body had always been broken, even when he'd done nothing, Takuto couldn't let them continue down their current path unchecked. But he couldn't order them to take mandated breaks just for that.
"We need to build various facilities urgently too. It's hard to order them to stop when they're this motivated and keep producing results," Atou reasoned.
"Maybe I should tell them to take it slow after they finish some more buildings. We should let them go at their own pace for now."
"I think that's a wise decision. Besides, hearing those words directly from you, their king, would be a greater reward than any jewels."
"Blegh, I feel like I'm gonna be crushed under their expectations. On the bright side, the construction of housing and Food Production facilities is complete. Feels like we've finally finished the tutorial."
"It does feel that way. All that's left is finishing the Palace and expanding the facilities according to the King's policy. What do you want to build next?"
"About that, I'm thinking of discussing future policies with the Dark Elves and getting their opinions from now on."
Atou looked hysteric after hearing that unbelievable remark.
A civilization's commander is absolute, and their words take precedence over all else. Accordingly, such a commander has no reason to seek what others think about managing their empire. "You want to include them? I know we accepted them into our empire as intellectuals, but isn't it better if the King's ideas take precedence, with everyone else's only given in support of yours?"
Elder Moltar and Gia already held important positions in Mynoghra. Atou thought that was good enough and that further interference from them would cause problems in overall empire management.
But Takuto, yet again, seemed to have a different opinion.
"I'll make the final decisions, of course. But I've come to realize hearing what they have to say can help me see things from another angle."
Takuto was concerned about the more intricate factors that weren't present in the game, such as human emotions, health, and day-to-day life. The game didn't cover the smaller issues like the Dark Elves overworking themselves. Obviously, these issues needed to be addressed in the real world, and if left unattended, they'd only lead to their downfall later.
These factors had made Takuto decide the Dark Elves should be more closely involved in empire management. He believed tapping into their thinking would help them identify problems he and Atou might not notice otherwise.
"Besides that, doesn't it bother you? All the work lately."
"…I've definitely noticed an increase in impersonal work." Atou nodded. "I guess it wasn't just my imagination then."
Problems that were not portrayed in-game had come to a head. Although they distributed it to some extent, Takuto and Atou were responsible for an enormous amount of work. They were managing a budding empire after all, however imperfect it might be.
Confirming necessary information, giving instructions, inspecting each department, and every other kind of tedious managerial work kept piling up on them.
"At this rate, our civilization will become a sweatshop. We may be evil, but I want our working conditions to be healthy."
"The game never covered what a burden this much work would actually be. I can't believe I never realized the impediment it might cause…"
"The same goes for the Dark Elves, too. They'll have an easier time accepting orders after sharing their thoughts and opinions first, rather than being unilaterally ordered around. It's important to make them feel included."
"I believe it's only right for the citizens of Mynoghra to faithfully obey the King's orders without having an opinion of their own, but…it never occurred to me to approach it your way. If that's your reasoning for it, then I can accept hearing them out before finalizing policy decisions. Your strategic thinking never ceases to amaze me, my king!"
Atou beamed and held her head high with satisfaction at comprehending the King's thought process. Smiling at her adorable reaction, Takuto immediately pointed out how this very conversation put his theory to the test.
"See, didn't talking it out help you more easily accept my decision?"
"Ack… I see. So this is what you meant."
Atou's expression fell as she realized she walked right into that one. She couldn't deny Takuto's explanation helped her more readily accept his plan. She would've still felt dissatisfied with his choice if he'd just told her to follow orders without question.
Of course, it never occurred to Atou to go against her king's orders. She would just pout a bit about him not taking her feelings into consideration. And that dissatisfaction was the very problem Takuto was trying to solve by including people in the decisionmaking.
Atou felt ashamed at her short-sightedness, while also being impressed by Takuto's discernment. Moreover, her loyalty grew even greater in the knowledge of how he compassionately respected his subordinates.
Breakfast was almost over before she knew it, and the time for chitchat came to an end. They'd become so absorbed in conversation it'd taken more time to finish eating than usual, but Atou was very pleased to have these private moments with Takuto.