Nation of Negesta
“We must take revenge for our fallen brethren at once! I, Balbus, will scatter the human army like dust!”
“Calm down, Lord Balbus.”
Baran-san soothed Balbus, who was seething with rage and on the verge of destroying everything around him. There was no way Balbus could remain silent when a much smaller, bald uncle like Baran said such things. His fist struck the ground where Baran had been standing, creating a resounding crash as the earth was torn apart. Yet, Baran stood there unfazed, shaking his head silently. Even in his fury, Balbus was still able to dodge that attack with ease, proving he was indeed an S-rank.
“I’ve heard your words. I was planning to crush them someday.”
“If you truly care for our brethren’s lives, I would like you to listen to me.”
“Lord Balbus, let’s at least hear her out.”
“Hmph…”
At the sound of Nice’s voice, the furious Balbus quieted down. From this perspective, it seemed like Nice was the real leader. While Balbus was strong, it was Nice who handled the strategy. It reminded me of my relationship with Kurinka. Using our heads… and suddenly, that math problem resurfaced in my mind, sending a shiver down my spine.
“We need to learn about the humans capable of defeating our strong Beastkin.”
“…They must have used some filthy trick.”
“I cannot say for certain, but first, let’s discuss the Kingdom of Kashiram.”
“That person is amazing. While praising the Beastkin, they are gradually steering the conversation towards their own agenda.”
Kurinka whispered to me, and I couldn’t help but admire it. Indeed, Balbus was still glaring down at Baran, his fists clenched, though he had calmed somewhat. However, the situation remained dangerous. If that person wasn’t S-rank, a single misstep in words could lead to death. Baran-san elaborated on what kind of nation Kashiram was and what its military was like. The troops mounted on Pasiv were practically unbeatable in ground combat. They could maneuver skillfully on any terrain, rendering the advantages or disadvantages of the landscape irrelevant. And then there was the king and Weiss. The king was nearly as powerful as an S-rank, meaning that nation had two S-ranks. Baran-san himself possessed enough strength to keep ordinary Beastkin at bay. Perhaps it was this display of power that led Balbus to consider Baran’s explanation.
“Next, let’s talk about the Silent Nation of Noibranz. You mentioned their army is approaching…”
“According to the late Burton, they should arrive in about ten days.”
“That’s absurd! I’ve seen the map of this continent, and no matter how low you estimate, it would take months for humans to march here on foot! Did Burton lose his nerve just before death?!”
Balbus erupted in fury once more at the report from the Beastkin messenger who had come to announce Burton’s death. Nice placed a hand on his arm silently, calming him down. It felt like their relationship was more than just boss and subordinate.
How strong did Balbus think they were? There were plenty of strong humans out there. In my estimation, if Balbus went all out, he might be able to fight evenly against an S-rank, but battles aren’t decided solely by strength.
“The approaching force is likely the army of ‘Midgards.’ They tame monsters and ride them, allowing them to cross the continent at speeds unmatched by regular foot soldiers.”
“M-Monsters?! There were those who could control monsters in the Garden of Beasts, but…”
“For them, it’s no different than taming horses. They are a great nation with all sorts of skills.”
“If they’re that impressive, they might even be able to fight the Demon Lord Army.”
“Indeed, they are called the Silent Nation for a reason. In the previous defense line, that nation reportedly didn’t allow any envoys from other nations to cross their borders.”
“T-That would lead to diplomatic issues…”
Kurinka’s interjection shifted the mood into a more serious discussion. I understood that Noibranz was an impressive nation, but what should we do next? Midgards was human too, and surely they wouldn’t go all out. They didn’t seem like the type to reason with.
“And above all, that nation has…”
“Enough! If they are indeed approaching in ten days, we will simply meet them head-on!”
“Lord Balbus, if we clash with them, the Beastkin will not come out unscathed. Please, let us handle this.”
“I will not borrow the hands of humans!”
Baran deftly dodged Balbus’s furious swing, yet he didn’t even let out a sigh. Despite Balbus being uncontrollable, Baran was remarkably patient.
“Nice! Gather everyone in the capital immediately!”
“With all due respect, Lord Balbus, I agree with Baran.”
“What did you say?!”
“The brethren who went to Noibranz were our elite forces. You know that, Lord Balbus. The late Burton would have put up a decent fight against me, and you must have acknowledged that.”
“Ugh…!”
Even Balbus listened to Nice. From my perspective, Nice was calm and intelligent. She seemed to understand Balbus completely, knowing exactly how to convince him. That was the only way I could see it.
“I cannot grasp the details of the battle, but if they were all killed, then to underestimate Noibranz’s forces would be to insult our fallen brethren.”
“Y-You have a point… But what should we do?”
“We should form a joint front with Baran. I don’t know what strategies he has prepared, but we should not miss the opportunity to utilize them.”
“H-Humans and…”
In an instant, Balbus was flustered. That massive figure was being wrapped around by a small cat. It felt like how I would get scolded by Kurinka. Oh, that math problem popped into my head again. Ugh.
“…Have we reached an agreement?”
“Yes, let’s hear your proposal. However, if you show even the slightest hint of underestimating us, we will not hold back.”
“I understand. Now, let’s continue the discussion.”
Finally, Baran took a breath. It seemed he had been anxious somewhere in his heart. Thanks to Nice, things had settled down, but I thought Balbus was truly troublesome. Yet, I wondered if I still wanted to be with him.
“Fufufu… Power is resolved by power… Oh, Beastkin… The sin of trampling the Holy Royal Capital and obstructing the faith in Uze… Where will it flow to… Fufu, fufufufufu…”
I turned to see it was Ryoho. Even after his wounds had healed, he remained seated, casting a chilling, vacant gaze. This person, even when pushed to the brink, still believed in the Uzei Religion. No, perhaps he was broken in some way. The Uzei Religion and Tenryu-ken had all been crushed by the Beastkin. His murmurs, filled with resentment, never ceased, as he continued to mutter something endlessly.
“What a pitiful man, unable to abandon his foolish faith even at this stage.”
“Lord Balbus, enough with the insults…”
“Indeed, we too were subdued by power. What’s wrong with that?”
Balbus’s words held a strange persuasive power that silenced Baran. The Beastkin had deep-seated issues and painful pasts that I could hardly imagine. Yet, I couldn’t understand why they continued to oppress others. In the end, it felt like they were no different from monsters, but saying that would surely anger them.
“Survival of the fittest, acting according to that principle. The strong live, and the weak are consumed. That’s how reversals happen.”
“…That sounds no different from the Demon Lord Army.”
“What?”
“Let’s end the debate there. Now, regarding the strategies for the approaching Midgards…”
It seemed Baran stepped in just as things were about to escalate into a fight. Could we really understand these Beastkin? Baran-san said so, but I thought it was impossible. The Demon Lord Army had originally been human, yet they had become monsters in body and spirit. Even knowing the circumstances, there was nothing I could do; in the end, we had to fight.
“Noibranz… Lua-chan. Do you remember what the king said during the Combat Tournament?”
“Huh? I think…”
――――To excel, one must cultivate “power.”
――――In this age of Adventurers, the benefits they bring cannot be underestimated.
――――The cultivation of Adventurers, that is, the cultivation of power, will only enhance this further.
“You remember well…”
“The Kingdom of Avangarde relies heavily on imports, but it is by no means a poor nation. Yet, the emphasis on cultivating power… Perhaps they are fearful of the shadows cast by the Demon Continent War.”
If there was a terrifying nation on the same continent, it would indeed be uncomfortable. It was only natural to want stronger Adventurers, ready for an attack at any moment. But Adventurers weren’t the property of the nation, and there would be times when they would venture into Noibranz. Yet, the king spoke such strange things.
“Perhaps he was hoping for an exceptionally strong Adventurer like Tiferia to become a permanent member…”
“I never expected a human to come,” Baran said, as if recalling something significant.
◆ Town near the Southern Border of Negesta ◆
“We have completed the securing and suppression of supplies!”
“Very well, then let us rest in this town for today.”
Hearing that the Royal Capital of Negesta had been occupied by monsters calling themselves Beastkin, it would be strange not to see this as an opportunity. Since the end of the Demon Continent War, our nation of Noibranz has only managed to control about half of the continent up to this day. It would be unacceptable for the remarkable progress of Noibranz to come to a halt. Our will is to serve King Braamd, and we dedicate our lives to him. This is the destiny of those born on the land of Noibranz. A nation does not exist for the sake of its people; rather, people exist for the sake of the nation. A weak nation that does not understand this has no future. Countries that preach sweet words for the sake of their people will not be recorded in history. Even if they did exist, they would be eliminated starting today. By the land forces of Midgards, which Noibranz takes pride in.
“But if you take our food, we won’t be able to survive…”
“What? Do you have a complaint?”
“Please, have mercy…”
“In that case, why not kill that child over there? If you want to live, reduce your food supply.”
“N-No way!”
“I’ll help you.”
One of our strong soldiers beheaded a yellow monkey. The small head flew through the air in a parabolic arc before landing miserably. The parent monkey, now just a head, let out incomprehensible cries, desperately mourning its loss in a truly pitiful manner.
“I killed three yellow monkeys today.”
“What are you saying? I killed five!”
“Both of you, if that’s the case, you can’t claim it was for King Braamd. I, on the other hand, have hunted ten today alone.”
While the soldiers boasted about their achievements, our nation’s Special-class Adventurer was trying to woo a female yellow monkey. Ignoring her terror, he forcefully attempted to drag her into a nearby mansion. Even with King Braamd’s endorsement, it was frustrating that such peculiar individuals could not be challenged.
“My lovely and elegant lady, from today onward, you shall be my mistress. Consider it an honor.”
“No! Please let me go! I have someone I’ve pledged my heart to…”
“Elegant! That is the proof of your purity! That is why you are worthy to be my mistress!”
“Someone, anyone!”
Dressed in a white collar and white tights, our Special-class Adventurer resembled a prince to those who could see. Such indulgence should not be permitted in the face of King Braamd’s ambition. The standard procedure would be execution on the spot, but with these individuals, I had no choice but to turn a blind eye. Special-class Adventurers, those who have reached the so-called S-rank, possess enough power to devastate a nation, and thus even royalty must tread carefully around them. If they could be swayed, the tides of battle could turn in an instant.
That is why I merely clicked my tongue in discontent. My personal grievances are unnecessary for King Braamd’s ambition. If it is for Noibranz, I would even lick the boots of those individuals.
“Captain Gaster! I will take over the duty of the Servant tonight in place of the fallen Domuro!”
“Very well, Domuro’s spirit will surely watch over you.”
A slight miscalculation was that we suffered casualties from the Midgards land forces. The battle at the border had dragged on longer than expected. I had heard that the soldiers of Negesta used strange martial arts, but they proved to be quite troublesome. I would like to commend the border patrol of Negesta for managing to inflict two casualties on Midgards. However, this was merely a minor setback; how could such a force stop the advance of Midgards? Even this squad possesses enough strength to annihilate a nation, so how could they possibly resist?
Moreover, one of Noibranz’s Special-class Adventurers stands before you. The power deemed equivalent to national military strength—where could there be a means to overcome it?
“Heh, the Beastkin and their foolishness are nothing more than livestock before us. I am convinced after the recent battle that Negesta will fall in a few days.”
Despite it being before a battle, I uncorked a bottle of wine stored in this town. Well, it’s fine; consider it an aperitif. Tonight, I shall drink leisurely.
“Hmm? By the teachings of the Uzei Religion, killing should be against their principles. How curious…”
Those who had bravely confronted us with such desperate expressions surely had no thoughts of that. In the end, what is truly important to oneself lies dormant within the instincts of living beings. Having been a squad leader for twelve years now, I have come to understand many things.
◆ Shin Report ◆
If Nisu hadn’t been here, these guys would have collapsed long ago.
Why is someone like Barbas at the top?
But even though he’s that smart, he can’t stay calm when it matters.
That’s quite unfortunate.
Noibranz?
First method: eliminate them all.
Second method: subdue them and send them back.
Third method: cooperate.
There’s no strategy to speak of.
Noibranz is a nation that even the Demon Army postponed dealing with.
In fact, there’s too little information available.
Above all, the continent’s half is a ridiculous opponent known as the Kingdom.
It would be more beneficial to attack the weaker nations surrounding it.
Or so it should have been.
How did it come to this?