Even among a person's five fingers, there are some that hurt less; why wouldn't it be the same for the seven vassal states?
The vassal states, the Empire's most reliable allies and subjects, each have their own distinct cultures and ideologies. Rose, Marigold, and Rudbeckia, which are close to the Empire, are firm pro-imperialists, while Lobelia, Azalea, and Lilac, which are far from the Empire, may not be anti-imperialists, but they possess a strong sense of independence.
Among them, the Azalea Vassal State was a famous country in many ways. I spoke as I read a pamphlet.
"Everyone. There's something you need to know before we go to the Azalea Vassal State. The Azalea Vassal State is a republic!"
"What's a republic?"
"Okay. So we start from here."
I expected this. In a world where the Empire and kings openly exist, a republic is a somewhat unfamiliar political system. Since the Azalea Vassal State is also a country ruled by a Council of Lords in place of a vassal lord, outwardly it looks the same as any other vassal state. Shay, who has no interest in politics, likely wouldn't know.
I explained it to him.
"A republic is a political system where councilors elected by the majority gather to decide on all matters, rather than a king or a vassal lord."
"Really? That sounds good?"
"I can't say it's necessarily good, but it's certainly stable. A single absolute ruler won't ruin the country out of whim."
There are wise kings and foolish kings in the world, but any monarch can make mistakes or misjudgments. A republic reduces such mistakes by having multiple people share the decision-making. If you think about it, it's a system that guarantees a floor.
Shay nodded.
"Not ruining the country out of whim is a good thing. If I have to choose a country to live in after everything is over, I'd prefer a republic."
Then Hilde stepped forward, her eyes sparkling.
"Did you know, Shay? The Military Nation is a republic too!"
"Huh? Really? Hughes, is that true?"
"Surprisingly."
Surprisingly, it wasn't wrong.
The Military Nation is a sort of council system where entities called 'Signal Soldiers' build a network, exchange information, and make judgments to reach decisions. That too could be called a republic.
Hilde shrugged and answered.
"The decision-making process is similar~. The Military Nation's command center is the tightest and most diligent council. Though they weren't exactly elected by the majority~. But isn't that the same everywhere~?"
If you called something like the Military Nation a republic, the Azalea Vassal State would feel wronged, but well, the Azalea Vassal State is in no position to talk. They were also only elected by a 'relative majority', not by 'everyone'.
However, Shay didn't bother to point out this difference. Without particularly caring, he simply concluded.
"Then a republic is a bad thing. Because it's from the Military Nation."
"...If you react like that, it makes it seem like the Military Nation is a bad country~."
"It is a bad country. I've never had a single enjoyable or happy moment in the Military Nation."
Hilde, who still harbored affection for the Military Nation, bristled and asked back.
"Can you judge a country based on personal experience? You have to look at the big picture. The Military Nation didn't let orphans like you starve and raised you perfectly fine!"
"What are you talking about. My thoughts are my own freedom. It's not like I destroyed the Military Nation or anything."
"You only didn't do it this time, but you did it before!"
"If I didn't do it this time, that's enough."
Yeah, yeah. In the past once, and in a cycle that doesn't exist in this world, I might have brought down a country. As long as I do well going forward, it's fine.
"Now, now. Anyway, to conclude, this place is a republic and has no absolute monarch like a vassal lord or a king. So even if 'Nuna' invades, they will resist at first. Let's see how 'Nuna' treats those who hinder 'Nuna's' rule."
Seeing 'Nuna's' response will reveal her personality.
The terrain is visible through the window. We have descended close to the ground. Shay asked the Blue Tower Master.
"Elisha. How much longer until we arrive?"
"I can land right now. The location is important. Where should we land?"
"Where should we land, Hughes?"
He asks me as if it's a given. Pondering while looking at the map, I pointed to one spot.
"The Wall of Harmony. Let's land in a village near there."
Shay, who was looking at the map, was puzzled by the location.
"Isn't it near the border with the Empire? Is this okay?"
"If we're too close, we could be observed by 'Nuna'."
"But if we're too far and can't see anything, it's pointless, right?"
"The Wall of Harmony is the only passable route for people through the Alpi Mountain Range, which separates the Azalea Vassal State and the Empire. If not here, the only ways are to follow the river out to the Mediterranean Sea, or to go around all the way to the distant Enger Plain."
There is a geopolitical reason why the outer three of the seven vassal states have a more independent culture. The Alpi Mountain Range has existed as a natural barrier, protecting the Empire's cultural sphere from the ethnic groups of the Enger Plain.
The Azalea Vassal State, which was incorporated into the Imperial sphere relatively late, was considered part of the ethnic groups until then. Although now they interact closely with the Empire through the Wall of Harmony, neighboring vassal states, and various other routes.
"Since patron merchant guilds and travelers constantly come and go, we can find out the rumors circulating within the Azalea Vassal State. We can also learn about the deployment of soldiers and personnel."
"So there's a method like that!"
Shay, who had been admiring, suddenly looked at the place name written on the map and asked.
"But why is the wall named the Wall of Harmony?"
"Now the Azalea Vassal State is a vassal state, but in the past, it was a barbarian land outside the Imperial sphere. To protect against that barbaric land, they blocked the only passage. At that time, it was called the Wall of Severance. After firmly protecting the Imperial sphere like that, they changed the name after conquering the Azalea Vassal State."
"To the Wall of Harmony?"
Shay tilted his head.
"But, if they want harmony, shouldn't there be no wall?"
You really hit the nail on the head. You usually only say foolish things, but you're sharp at times like this.
The name is the Wall of Harmony, but it still remains a wall. The reason is obvious... but I shouldn't explain that far.
"Because the name inherently carries a wish. Wanting harmony means they haven't achieved harmony yet."
"...That's somewhat poetic. Hughes, you really sound like an educated person."
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"I am educated?! Have I ever given off the impression that I'm uneducated?"
Why do you keep trying to make someone your equal? There's no one here who is your equal! Stop being disappointed!
"Then I'll adjust the trajectory. From here, if we just slightly twist the direction of gravity, we'll arrive at the Wall of Harmony. Just watch the view of our arrival out the window."
"The Alpi Mountain Range is famous for its breathtaking scenery, right~? It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so let's savor it this time!"
We gathered around the small window of the Mini Floating Castle. As the Blue Tower Master slightly twisted the Apple, inertia was felt, and the ground began to approach rapidly.
The Alpi Mountain Range, one of the Empire's most spectacular sights. The perpetual snow lightly resting on the meadows covered in beautiful grass and flowers looks as if a celestial god has gathered the four seasons together. The mountain terrain is rugged but so beautiful that nature lovers can't resist going to enjoy the scenery. And then they lose contact forever, but even after hearing such stories, dozens of people are lured into the Alpi Mountain Range every year.
You can't blame humans for being like moths drawn to a flame. Because walking in captivated by beauty is the same.
The beautiful mountain range that captivates people would be a spectacular sight from this height.
"Uh...?"
Before our eyes, the picturesque Alpi Mountain Range could be seen with a massive hole blown through it.
***
Plans always tend to go awry. This is especially true for travel plans with many variables. Since it's a distant foreign land, no one knows how the local situation might have drastically changed by the time we arrive.
However, a hole being blown through a mountain was far beyond expectations.
Originally, I planned to park the Mini Floating Castle in an inconspicuous, secluded spot and infiltrate. Unidentified flying objects are bound to provoke the wariness of locals.
"There's no time for that now!"
The Blue Tower Master roughly parked the Mini Floating Castle and then raised the Apple. An invisible force originating from the Apple expanded. The inertia of all things shook as it touched that energy.
Wide-Range Gravity Reversal, a war-grade spell that would be insufficient even if it took a year's worth of human mana, covered the entire area of the Wall of Harmony.
"Heup!"
As the Blue Tower Master lifted the dirt and dust, the Wall of Harmony buried in the soil, and what were clearly the figures of people who had been inside it, were revealed. I didn't want to explain how I knew.
Because most of them were crushed under tremendous pressure, unrecognizable.
"Who could do such a thing..."
"I'll look for survivors. Just a moment."
This must have been a fortress where hundreds were staying, but there are hardly any living people. The thoughts I sense are... about thirty or so. Hmm. I am the King of Humans, so I guess I can say I can find humans.
Just as I was about to step forward, the Sword Empress moved first.
The Sword Empress is like Shay. Rather than her intellect, she possesses sensitive and delicate senses. It is a different caliber from the beastly instinct commonly referred to as animalistic intuition. It feels a bit more empathetic and emotionally rich than that.
The fine hairs on the Sword Empress's arms and the nape of her neck stood up slightly. Her majestic Qi was delicately woven into a fabric, stretching out toward the world.
Cheonban-gyeong, Cheon-gyeong.
From within that soil, the Sword Empress felt breath sounds, vibrations, warmth, and tremors. She didn't precisely measure and calculate all those senses, but intuitively, she could feel only the human lives among them.
"Disciple. Dig out the place I point to with your sword."
"Yes!"
Without asking why, Shay drew Jizan. As the Sword Empress, who gauged the distance, signaled, he slowly swung Jizan to cleave the soil.
Jigon Style, Earthquake Wave.
That slash slowly and leisurely cleaved the soil. Rather than cutting, it felt like grabbing both sides and pulling them apart. At the end of that opening, an old man protecting himself with a faint Qi that seemed about to break appeared.
"There's a survivor here!"
The Sword Empress did my job for me. I hurriedly pulled the person out. While Shay and the Sword Empress rescued the remaining survivors, I wiped the dirt off the rescued old man's body and asked.
"Are you okay? Something happened here, right?"
"Cough, cough, wheeze."
The old man couldn't speak as he spat out the dirt that filled his mouth. After urgently and desperately throwing up the dirt, he panted heavily and grabbed my sleeve tightly. The old man's hands were trembling.
"Before repaying the grace of saving my life, cough. First, inform the Empire...! This is urgent news!"
It wasn't just trembling from a lack of strength. Because the face of the veteran, who had been through many trials, was filled with terror and horror.
He gasped as if he would breathe his last at any moment and desperately pleaded with me.
"The King of Humans is heading for the Empire! You must deliver this...!"