episode_0010

A little while after the Kram Empire, the Navr Kingdom, and the Helvetia Republic entered into all-out war.

The war entered a phase of expansion.

This time, not from the south, but from the north.

The player who had reserved participation in the war finally got involved.

Or, to be precise, should I say they were ‘made’ to participate?

“Those Elaine bastards, daring to stab us in the back?”

“We must never forgive them. Let’s give those jackal-like bastards a taste of hell!”

“But our kingdom is already at war. You want to create another front?”

“Why not? We can’t leave a potential enemy as a dangerous factor. If we can, we should strike first.”

The Elaine Kingdom signed a military cooperation agreement with the Helvetia Republic, including material support.

The parties involved were careful about security, but the content was leaked (suffered) to other countries long ago.

And to the two countries most directly affected by the treaty.

Naturally, those two countries had no intention of forgiving the sons of bitches who dared to stab them in the back.

“In any case, a two-front war is inevitable in this war. Then we must occupy the most advantageous position possible.”

“The supply convoy will have a hard time securing supplies… Anyway, I understand. The military will prepare immediately.”

Geographically, the Kram Empire and the Navr Kingdom are side by side.

And the Helvetia Peninsula borders both countries to the south, with the Elaine Kingdom adjacent to the north.

Therefore, if they engaged in combat, fronts would be formed in both north and south directions.

Instead of passively creating an unfavorable situation, they chose a preemptive strike that was slightly more advantageous.

As a rule, the more you move first in any situation, the more choices and military leeway you can have.

They tried to secure an advantage by striking the enemy first.

“S-Breaking news! The Kram Empire and the Navr Kingdom have launched a surprise attack without a declaration of war!”

“A massive army is pouring in across the border! How are we supposed to stop them?!”

“F-First, let’s send the standing army in the capital to at least delay them. In the meantime, summon mercenaries.”

“Damn it, why did you have to meddle in the war…”

From the perspective of the Elaine Kingdom, it was an unexpected bolt from the blue.

Who would have known that they, who were only thinking of taking advantage of the situation, would become targets from the very beginning?

The army and military expenses had already been considerably depleted due to the recent peasant rebellion.

It would take at least a few months to replenish troops and reorganize forces.

They were forced to be beaten helplessly, facing the invasion of foreign enemies in the state where the country was most vulnerable.

“Alamo Fortress has fallen!”

“Reports say that five villages near the border have been occupied by the enemy!”

“The Count’s family, who were escaping after losing their territory–”

“Please, please speak one at a time!! I can’t understand anything if you all chatter away as you please!”

Not long after the front lines opened, news of defeat continued to pour in.

News that a city or village had fallen, a fortress had collapsed, and defeats in battles large and small were constantly arriving in the capital.

There were so many reports pouring in through messengers, carrier pigeons, and all sorts of means that the situation was properly conveyed, but they had trouble organizing the information.

“Let’s act rationally. There’s no point in getting angry and fighting here.”

“Order the lords with private soldiers to delay the enemy as much as possible. As soon as the armies from the safe areas in the rear move south, let’s set up a defensive line to stop the enemy.”

“Won’t the damage be severe?”

“…We have to endure it. Protecting this country, whatever the cost, is our top priority.”

Still, the country would not collapse.

The Elaine Kingdom was too strong to be shattered so futilely.

Even if they struggled a bit at the beginning and suffered huge losses, they would soon reorganize and launch a counterattack.

Of course, no matter how the war situation changed, it would take a long time before the war ended.

* * * * *

“Looks like they’re getting wrecked pretty hard.”

Today is peaceful… no, not peaceful, but unsettling Elaine Kingdom.

I, holed up in a room with a window in my hideout, commented while reading today’s newspaper.

A surprise attack without a declaration of war. The Kram Empire is really extreme.

Or did they consider that being caught with the treaty was the same as being declared war?

Either way, these guys will have a hard time in the future. It won’t be easy to counterattack if they get hit hard from the start.

“Congratulations, Miss Calia. Your wish has come true. How do you feel?”

“Why are you suddenly calling me?”

I asked Calia, who happened to come into the room, and got a blunt answer. So I showed her today’s newspaper.

“The war has gotten bigger as you wanted. Do you feel anything?”

“Well… I’m a little disappointed. It would have been nice if more countries were involved.”

What an extreme answer. I understand that you hate human society because you’re a demon.

“That will happen soon. Soon.”

That wish will be fulfilled without even wishing for it. A war involving only four countries is too small in scale.

At least half of the continent has to be swept away to create proper social chaos.

So I’m going to involve other countries.

I have a couple of good ways to do it.

“By the way, is the manuscript you were writing finished now?”

“Yes. I sent it through the merchant guild, so it will be in Doje’s hands soon.”

Because land logistics were blocked by the war, I sent my new work by sea.

This time, it’s not a book for civilians, so only a few copies will be printed and given to the national upper class by the Helvetia branch as gifts.

I expect everyone to understand it unless they are complete idiots, as I wrote it as detailed and easy to understand as possible.

I’m not kidding, I made it so that anyone with a high school level of intelligence could understand it.

I’ve given them this level of ultra-high-end knowledge… I hope they don’t collapse so futilely? I believe they will last at least a year or two.

I might get a little depressed if they get crushed even after all this.

“Then what are those papers on the desk? You said you already sent the manuscript.”

“It’s the manuscript for a new book. I asked someone else to write it.”

Calia has a lot to do besides ghostwriting my manuscripts, so I found someone new to write for me.

He’s an elderly grandfather, but his handwriting is quite beautiful. He’s even an atheist.

Thanks to him, I was able to finish it quickly in a few days.

The content is a bit sensitive, so I can’t publish it under the pen name Ishmael, but I think it will get a huge reaction as soon as it’s released.

If I do well, I might even be able to throw this entire continent, which is based on the Goddess religion, into chaos?

In some ways, it’s the most dangerous and destructive knowledge I’ve ever published.

“I’m curious. Can I ask what it’s about?”

“Hmm… let’s just say it’s a ‘refutation.’ You can check the details when it’s released.”

Anyway, Calia is an atheist, no, closer to a hater of God, so it wouldn’t be a problem to reveal it. But I kept it a secret for the sake of anticipation.

These things aren’t fun if you tell them in advance. You have to watch them all together on the day of release to get the best taste.

“By the way, what brings you here? I heard you were going to the north on a business trip for a while.”

“The branch manager urgently called me back. He said he has something to entrust to me, no, to us together.”

“Even me?”

I was a little embarrassed.

Calia, a rare veteran in the organization, and I, who am highly regarded for accumulating enormous achievements rapidly, are needed at the same time. What kind of mission are they going to entrust to us?

I’m only good with my head and have poor athletic ability, so I’m not confident in spy work.

While I was wondering, Calia asked me.

“Mr. Ishmael, you said you used to be a professor? A job similar to an academy instructor.”

“Yes. I know it’s hard to believe.”

In this world, I’m just an illiterate who doesn’t even know the common continental language, but I’m clearly an intellectual.

A top 0.1% highly educated person who held a teaching position at a leading university in Korea.

…It’s been a while since I’ve reminisced, and I’m suddenly annoyed. To be in this situation because of that damn goddess.

“Then what subject were you specialized in?”

“Politics. And a little bit of mathematics, economics, and law.”

Politics is ultimately a technique for operating a country.

It is a discipline for the authoritative distribution of social values.

Therefore, in order to conduct in-depth research, it was necessary to be proficient to some extent in mathematics and economics. Also about the laws that form the basis of the national system.

I may be clumsy compared to professors in those fields, but at least I’m above the undergraduate level.

“Then you must also know advanced knowledge such as logarithms and coordinate systems?”

“Of course?”

Those are basic concepts that are taught in high school in Korea. Even coordinates come out in middle school, so why is that advanced knowledge?

…Oh, now that I think about it, John Napier, who developed logarithms, was a man from the early 17th century. By the standards of this era, it’s the latest knowledge.

“That’s good.”

Calia had a satisfied expression and pointed at me with her finger and ordered.

“Mr. Ishmael, you must become an instructor at the academy.”

Huh?