Chapter 36: A Chaotic Era
As Hikigaya turned and walked out of the temple, his expression looked slightly disappointed compared to the monk standing behind him, whose face was a mask of fear and humility.
Communication with a "man of culture" was indeed more efficient, but the information he had gathered caused the small spark of anticipation he'd held to fizzle out. Simply put, he wasn't in some "other world"; he had, once again, traveled back to ancient times.
However, it wasn't the prehistoric age, but the Middle Ages—or more accurately, the late Roman Empire era in the region south of the Danube. In this period, this place was part of Transalpine Gaul.
The Roman Empire! Doesn't that sound grand and powerful? Unfortunately, according to the habits of later historians, one had to add the word "Western" to the front and "Late" to the end. From the people in the temple, Hikigaya also learned that this country was currently suffering from relentless barbarian invasions.
Anyone with even a passing interest in history would know what kind of era this was. The Germanic tribes were rising in prosperity, the Western Roman Empire was breathing its last, and the Eastern Roman Empire had yet to see its dawn. In the same period in East Asia, the nomadic tribes of the north had moved past their early savage stages; although the ancestors of Murong Fu were currently charging down the road of self-destruction and would soon be disciplined by the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
Overall, this was an era where the barbarians of both East and West were making great strides forward together—a time of "competing in rot," where whoever rotted the least was considered the most powerful. The Western Roman Empire was currently the "lowest" player on the European map. Its territory had essentially become a playground for the Germanic peoples.
As for the Huns, later known as the "Scourge of God," they were currently the strongest foreign allies helping the Romans resist the Germans. Of course, the Huns would also help the Germans fight the Romans, or simply fight the Romans themselves. A "chaotic mess" was the best description for the space-time Hikigaya now inhabited.
To be honest, Hikigaya had zero interest in the historical debts between the Romans and Germans, but he was very interested in the Huns. When the monk in the temple first saw him, he had mistaken him for a Hun. From this, it appeared the Huns at least possessed typical Asian facial features.
However, these Huns appearing in Europe were certainly not the Northern Xiongnu who had migrated west two hundred years earlier. "Xiongnu" was the name given to them by the ancient Han Chinese—much like how the people of the Zhou Dynasty referred to all northern ethnic groups as "Di"—a purely discriminatory and derogatory term. The Xiongnu would not have called themselves "Xiongnu." The focus of debate for later generations was merely how
much actual connection existed between the European Huns and the westward-migrating Northern Xiongnu.
Since he had arrived in this era, Hikigaya decided to go see for himself.
However, as he stepped out of the temple gates, he saw that the building was surrounded by people. Leading them was an old man. If the clothing of the people he met before only made Hikigaya feel he had seen it somewhere, the clothing of this old man was very easy to recognize. It was the toga—the most representative of Roman robes.
A Roman's social status could be determined entirely by the length of their garment, whether it had stripes, the width of those stripes, and the decorations. Based on the old man's attire, Hikigaya judged that he was not a high-ranking official, but a man of significant social standing.
According to the customs of Han civilization, such people were generally called "local magnates." Although they held no official title, they actually controlled most of the local population and wealth. In the Eastern Han dynasties, such people were always a thorn in the side of the central government—targets to be both courted and suppressed. But in Rome, which lacked a civil service and was dominated by military strongmen, the central treasury was nearly exhausted. Without a sufficiently large legion, the local tycoons no longer feared the central authorities.
If the Emperor dared to get tough, they would follow the example of Crassus. After all, since the days of the Republic, Roman soldiers had discovered that the words of the dignitaries in the city of Rome were worth nothing, and it was more reliable to recognize money rather than people.
But even such tycoons had people they feared too much to resist.
"Lord Uldin, this is Falernian wine that we were fortunate enough to obtain a few days ago. Please deign to taste it."
The old man in the toga spoke a series of polite clichés to Hikigaya with great reverence. Behind him, a maid held a flask with a handle, and there was a carriage loaded with crates and linen bags. Some of the bags weren't tied tightly, revealing the precious metals inside.
The name "Uldin" was the second name Hikigaya had heard since arriving in this timeline; the first time had been moments ago inside the temple. This man was the leader of the Hunnic tribes currently living on the Pannonian Plain north of the Danube. The Romans considered him the King of the Huns.
But Hikigaya hadn't learned this name only after arriving here. Historically, there was indeed a Hunnic leader named Uldin. His most famous deed was leading the Huns settled in Pannonia to invade Thrace, capturing Castra Martis south of the Carpathian Mountains, and then "acting cool" (showing off).
And then... there was no "then." Right after he finished showing off, the Romans used diplomacy to disintegrate the loosely organized parts of his army. The soldiers still loyal to him were attacked by the Roman army on their retreat, and almost all were killed. Only Uldin managed to escape back to the other side of the Danube alone, disappearing from the stage of history thereafter. Compared to the later Attila, Uldin clearly followed a more "comedic" route.
But judging from the expression of this Roman elder, this Uldin must be quite formidable; otherwise, the man wouldn't be this terrified.
"I am not Uldin." Hikigaya had no desire to be mistaken for someone else, especially someone who, in his knowledge, had a comedic setting.
After explaining clearly to the Roman elder, Hikigaya left. In the temple, he had already gathered information about the surroundings. The fortress he had seen when he first arrived in this world was a station for the Hunnic army.
And rumors said that in another city called Lauriacum, a figure known as a "Saint" had appeared. She possessed miraculous protective powers—enough to block a whim-driven invasion by the Hunnic King Uldin.
Hikigaya didn't suspect that the "Saint" might be Doni in drag. If it were Doni, the possibility of him becoming a leader of some Germanic tribe was far greater; that guy would be like a fish in water among the Germanic tribes of this era.
Hikigaya felt that the so-called "Saint" was likely the only kin he had never met in the modern era. And following that logic, the Uldin who was historically a comedy character might not be an ordinary person either. When did the power of a Campione only "block" something when facing ordinary people?
With such expectations, Hikigaya Hachiman set his sights on the Roman city called Lauriacum and began his journey in this world.
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