Please Raise It Preciously!

There was a war.

It started with a tyrant dreaming of continental unification…..

The imperial army, following solely the purpose of conquest, turned everything in its path into barren land soaked with blood.

The allied forces falling helplessly, and innocent people being violated.

Everyone facing their advance foretold only a despairing future, but even that finally reached its limit.

Their powerful army was created by squeezing the blood of the citizens, and even the loyal subjects by their side were only eager to fulfill their personal desires under the pretext of war, neglecting public sentiment…..

The people, disgusted by such behavior, were finally enlightened by a rebel force, and eventually all rose up in revolt on the same day at the same time.

The legitimate heir of the imperial family who should have inherited the throne in the past.

Facing a rebel force led by one who had nearly lost his life to his brother’s plot.

‘My younger brother. Not content with ousting me, the rightful heir, from my position, you have caused far too much innocent blood to be spilled in an attempt to prove yourself worthy of the emperor’s seat. That too is my sin for not stopping you, so I will bear all the crimes you have committed.’

With a resolute voice, the blade fell like a guillotine.

The revolutionary who held the severed head of the tyrant in his hand, standing at the top of the imperial palace, shouted to the scene of civil war:

‘Hear me, Empire!! From this moment on, this empire will be reborn, casting off its history stained with blood!! Those who will write a new history with me, Ganian Astora, lay down your swords!’

The revolutionary Ganian.

That is the name of the emperor who ended the bloody history that had continued in the Astora Empire and wrote a new history for the empire.

The citizens who had only sought a peaceful life under a strong country, praised his name and appointed him as their hero and new leader.

Believing without doubt that following him was the way to the peace they had long dreamed of.

‘The Empire must compensate for all the damage it has inflicted until now.’

But that was just an ideal.

In reality, the leaders of other countries who had been targets of the war were displeased even with the concept of a ‘new empire’ that the one who became emperor through revolution was trying to achieve.

‘I understand your feelings, but if we follow all the conditions specified now, the Empire will collapse. That ripple effect will surely affect not only the Empire but the entire continent.’

‘Even that would be a small price compared to maintaining the Empire. Isn’t that what you wanted when you committed revolution?’

‘……It stemmed from a desire for the Empire to find the right path.’

‘The right path, you say. Are you saying you’ll pretend everything you’ve done until now never happened? Despite the victims standing right before you?’

‘Ganian Astora. If you’ve inherited that position, take proper responsibility.’

‘Unless you admit that revolution itself is a struggle for hegemony from the beginning.’

The moment the peace treaty conducted with the new leader was nullified due to opposition from hostile countries.

Afterwards, as planned, the allied forces pushed forward, but the Empire could not respond properly.

Even the war until now was the result of squeezing the taxpayers’ blood, and above all, the Emperor himself believed that the war should not continue any further.

‘…Please wait a little longer.’

‘We cannot. We want compensation immediately.’

‘Just a little, give us time to find a point of coordination.’

‘We have no leeway either. If you don’t keep this promise right now, we will continue the war again.’

‘Until the Empire collapses. To repay the long-cherished wish of blood we’ve shed all along.’

Even though a time had come when no one needed to fight anymore, they didn’t allow even a moment’s respite.

Was their hatred towards the Empire so great?

Did they consider him foolish for not dissolving the Empire after the revolution and merely taking its place?

No, that’s not it.

This could be understood immediately through the civil war that broke out within the allied forces the moment they thought they had gained the upper hand.

Those who thought the Empire’s downfall was imminent attempted to break alliances within the allied forces…..

Subsequently, civil war broke out within those forces to compete for hegemony, and time continued where they pointed swords at each other while facing the Empire.

Why were they pointing swords even at comrades they had fought alongside?

Was what they truly desired not peace at all?

‘No, I was mistaken from the beginning.’

The Emperor realized.

From the start, even before the Empire moved, they were people focused on growing their power even a little while eyeing each other.

They had only formed alliances because the Empire appeared as a common enemy.

Moreover, in the long-intensified war, they had become accustomed to blood, and the leaders of each country were already seeking means to secure their own interests through war.

Since catching a toothless tiger is possible anytime, they try to subdue or eliminate the remaining competitors before occupying that place…..

If sovereignty is handed over to those who consider this justice, the same history would only repeat itself.

‘We must not end this war yet.’

Yes, the war that had continued for over 20 years was no longer divided simply into perpetrators and victims.

Rebellion and revolution, the survival and pride of countries. Historical and cultural resources and national spirit, revenge and conviction….. And the clash between justices that cannot be divided into right and wrong.

Foreseeing the crucible of chaos that would be created as all these elements intermingled, the Emperor made one last request to one of his vassals before creating a new battlefield.

‘Archduke Aries.’

Kariel Aries.

The mentor who discovered me about 10 years ago, corresponding to the final stages of the war.

Who provided me with an opportunity to maintain minimal humanity.

‘You are a vassal serving the Astora imperial family, but at the same time, you have been permitted to manage an independent land in the Empire….. Therefore, I know that the land you manage has preserved the image of the once-powerful Empire, being an exception even during the long war.’

From what I heard from the person himself, the Emperor at that time looked very precarious.

In stark contrast to the epithet of Iron-Blooded Monarch he would later earn.

As if he considered that moment’s utterance to be the last of the humanity he would leave behind.

‘…I will leave you with one task. Please, until the appointed time comes, won’t you provide a place that will be an exception to the conflicts of the war happening now?’

‘Your Majesty, forgive my impertinence, but I don’t have confidence to handle that. The current proposal is essentially no different from asking me alone to face the leaders of all countries…..’

‘At least for the children.’

‘……’

‘Adults who have experienced the past times have walked an irreversible river, but their successors are still untainted. So I want to give at least them a chance. I hope that bearing such responsibility ends with my generation…..’

At that time, it wasn’t an order given to a vassal.

A request to one who had ascended to the position of leader before himself.

And the last conscience he left behind, which might be tainted by the bloody history that would continue again…..

‘I will follow that order, Your Majesty.’

Kariel finally accepted such earnestness, and as the Emperor predicted, it took 20 years for the leadership to be replaced… The war ended only after 30 years had passed.

Everyone looking back on that time would think:

That it was nothing short of a miracle that the educational facility built on the border didn’t collapse during that time.

That’s a fact I feel even more keenly, knowing the more tragic routes that could have ended.

Therefore, I understood why everyone focused their attention on this academy, and furthermore, I foresaw that even more interest would gather than before.

In fact, until now it was a place where only those seeking peace gathered, but from now on, even those who hid in chaos will gradually reveal their existence above the surface.

A boy from a lawless area. An exchange student invited from a land called the Demon Realm, and an ancient weapon with self-awareness created with technology lost hundreds of years ago…..

No, it won’t end with them.

More diverse students will gather at this academy in the future, and as a result, many events beyond common sense will also occur.

I, inadvertently retracing the history of this world, was keenly aware of this fact.

“Excuse me? You’re taking a cabbage for a walk?”

Of course.

If it’s already this much now, how much worse will it get later?

---

“Is there a problem?”

“…No, but it’s a cabbage, isn’t it?”

I asked incredulously, unable to understand the eccentricity of the person I encountered on the way.

A female teacher with hair sprouting like sprouts on her head, impressively… I believe her name was Ranpa.

From what I briefly heard from Teacher Lloyd, she’s a person said to have a good reputation not only among students but also among teachers.

However, what she showed during this early morning outing was something anyone would describe as eccentric.

“Ahaha, it looks strange, doesn’t it?”

Teacher Ranpa stroked the cabbage while facing me, who was looking at her strangely.

There was a deep fondness in her gaze as if she was looking at a pet.

“I thought so at first too, but my thinking changed after meeting a student while working at this academy. Since keeping a dog goes against vegetarianism, it’s good to take cabbage for walks like this.”

“…Why does keeping a dog go against vegetarianism?”

“Well, because dog food contains all sorts of meat products. One of the reasons for being vegetarian is to awaken the preciousness of life, but it would be troublesome if my companion forgets that point, wouldn’t it?”

Well, dogs originally like meat, not grass.

No, more than that, shouldn’t vegetarianism end within the category of preference?

If you deny meat-eating itself, doesn’t that mean lions and tigers are wrongly designed creatures from the start?

“…For that reason, by showing people taking cabbages for walks, we’re raising awareness about pet dog activities.”

“Ah. Yes, haha. That’s an interesting idea.”

Our Teacher Ranpa, who continued to spout nonsense.

I half-heartedly went along with her words while looking down at the cabbage being dragged along the ground.

The cabbage being dragged along the well-ordered brick floor of the academy. Its lower part had largely lost its original shape.

“Um… hasn’t the cabbage become a bit tattered?”

It’s frayed here and there, covered in dust…

If we compare this to a dog, isn’t it like forcibly slamming it on the ground and dragging it around?

“Ah. Don’t worry! I’ll wash and eat the intact parts.”

“What? You’re going to eat it?”

“It would be a waste to just throw it away~”

Well, that’s true, but….

Do people normally eat animals they’ve taken for walks?

Was the awareness about pet dog activities about worrying over dog meat soup?

“Are you interested too, Teacher Seine?”

“Ah, yes. Well… I think it’s a good hobby.”

Still, I should respect her preferences.

Of course, political correctness is important in an era that transcends borders, isn’t it?

I still like my dad, so what’s the big deal about taking a cabbage for a walk?

“Oh my~ So you have the same thoughts as me, Teacher~”

Perhaps even such minimal understanding felt touching to her?

Soon, Teacher Ranpa’s eyes lit up as she smiled, and she took something out of her administrative bag and handed it to me.

“Ah, since we’ve met like this, it must be fate. Here, I’ll give you a gift. Here, take it.”

“…What’s this?”

“Please raise it preciously!”

After handing me the gift, Teacher Ranpa went on her way, pulling the leashed cabbage.

I looked down at the object placed in my hand at the spot where she had left.

A thick vegetable with tightly packed seeds.

It was a cabbage.

-Puhiing.

A noise heard while blankly staring at that cabbage.

Belatedly coming to my senses and shifting my gaze sideways, I could see a sturdy white horse staring at me intently.

The sturdiest of the horses raised by Maris’ breeding department. This one, named Unicorn because it’s said to only carry pure maidens, was also one I had borrowed from the breeding department as I had some business in Academic City.

I held out the cabbage in my hand to the unicorn and asked.

“Want to eat it?”

-….Hing.

Oh my, it’s refusing this good thing.

Is it because I didn’t wash it?

“Can’t be helped, since I received it with good intentions, I’ll have to cook and eat it later somehow.”

Though I’ll have to postpone that for later as I have things to do now.

I put the cabbage down in the cart pulled by the unicorn and set foot on the path continuing towards Academic City.

Along with the box containing Deus Ex Machina, the weapon recovered from the recent incident.