/
Chapter 66
The Terror Spreading
Conference Before the King, Central Kingdom, Central World
The Central Kingdom is a civilization in the Central World based around magic. They differ from the Holy Mirishial Empire, which has based itself on research gathered from the magical engineering of the ancient sorcerous empire, in that they studied intensively the ancient ways of magic to develop and mature the abilities of individual mages to their fullest. It is for this reason that the number of mages within the kingdom is limited and they have only deployed 2 great mage warships to the World Union Fleet against the Gra Valkas Empire.
Assembled before the king are the kingdom’s elites, the great mages, waiting for the information that will have a major impact on the kingdom’s operations.
“It’s about time we see the results of the confrontation between the World Union and the Gra Valkas Empire
”
The ships they have sent are 2 of their great mage warships
 Boasting a size that surpasses those of their wooden ship contemporaries, these 2 great mage warships are the elite force of the kingdom’s top class of mages. They have heard that the enemy, the Gra Valkas Empire, conducted a surprise attack on the Holy Mirishial Empire’s port city of Cartalpas, laying waste to the empire’s home forces and inflicting damage on the fleet of the participants in the 11 country conference.
However, since it was a surprise attack, there is no way they can win against a fleet prepared in advance by the World Union Fleet. Furthermore, the world’s strongest nation, the Holy Mirishial Empire, has sent 3 of its main fleets. There is no chance for them to lose.
“It would be nice if our military has done a lot of damage
”
One of the junior mages worrily mutters.
“What are you talking about? We sent the best of the best! It’s only natural we would win!”
A senior mage wastes no time in responding.
“Ah, of course we would be victorious. However, we only sent 2 ships
 If the forces of the other countries were to be destroyed first and our kingdom wouldn’t be able to do much, that wouldn’t be good for us diplomatically
”
The junior mage points out, at which the king begins to speak.
“That’s indeed worrisome
 There is certainly no doubt that the World Union Fleet can be called the largest fleet in history and nothing less since the Holy Mirishial Empire is involved in it as well. With Mu sending their main force, this is indeed a clutter of strong countries
 Well, we can’t be certain about the outcome of the battle so it can’t be helped.
In the chance that the enemy is powerful, the kingdom’s best mage, Admiral Faltas, can make use of the ancient magic of the light ray, the ixion laser.”
“That is indeed terrifying.”
They were eagerly waiting for the magic transmission.
Knock knock (tl note: Who’s there?)
“Please excuse me!!!”
The mage which has received the magic transmission enters the room.
“Hohoh!!! There you are! Right, so, how did it go?”
“Da
 damage nearing complete annihilation
”
“Ha! Of course the enemy would get annihilated!”
“An expected outcome!”
“I’m afraid that is not the case. The World Union Fleet has sustained damage nearing complete annihilation and have begun pulling back.
More than half of the magic fleet of the Holy Mirishial Empire has been sunk.”
“!!!”
The room froze. The report then continues.
“The World Union Fleet, including Mu, was helplessly obliterated by the Gra Valkas Empire. The Union of Second Civilization Dragon Knights has also been completely wiped out. With the detached force of the Holy Mirishial Empire being cornered into inferiority, they have deployed the superweapon of the ancient sorcerous empire, the Ravernal Empire, the aerial battleship Pal Chimera.”
“Woaaaah!!!”
“The ancient superweapon from the fairy-tales
 I have heard about it from rumors but for it to actually exist
”
“For the Holy Mirishial Empire to be backed into a corner and forcing them to deploy the ancient superweapons
”
The place was lively. The mage that has come to report found it hard to continue.
“With the overwhelming power of the aerial battleship Pal Chimera, many enemy ships were sunk, but
 The information’s reliability is still being confirmed, but it is said that the main batteries of the enemy superdreadnought have shot down and sunk one of them.”
The place froze. The ancient superweapons being shot out of the sky was something that shouldn’t have happened; something beyond imagination. As the silence continued, the king raised a question.
“What is the superdreadnought called?”
“The Grade Atlastar.”
Utter shock

The ship was first verified in the battle over the Paganda Kingdom where it then went on to single handedly destroy the fleet of the Irnetia Kingdom and topple the superpower Leifor. It sank many of the stronger countries’ ships in the battle at the port city of Cartalpas, including the super-high performance warship of Japan, the country that dismantled the superpower Parpaldia Empire without losses.
It was a living legend simply from those exploits, and yet it has even gone on to bring down an ancient superweapon. Are there even any more ships that exist in this world that can be victorious over such a beast?
“So the rumors that Leifor was laid to waste by a single ship were true?!”
“No way!! It shot down the ancient superweapon?! The Gra Valkas Empire possesses that much power?!”
“And what of our kingdom’s great mage warships?!”
The transmission personnel found it difficult to reply.
“We haven’t received any direct transmission from any of our warships, but according to information from other countries, at the onset of the battle, they sank after receiving direct hits from bombs dropped by Gra Valkas Empire aircraft
 There’s also unconfirmed information that they were sunk in an instant.”
“What did you just say?!”
“Admiral Faltas was killed without being able to even counterattack?!”
The losses of the great mages are great and so the turmoil and shock spreads out.
The shock of the World Union Fleet’s defeat was near total, sending each country into unrest.
・・・
Japanese embassy, superpower Mu, Second Civilization Area
An emergency meeting was being held at the Japanese embassy. Among those seated were the diplomat Mizono and Asada, who was made the person responsible for the Gra Valkas Empire against his wishes.
“Details regarding the recent naval battle between the World Union Fleet and the Gra Valkas Empire are still incomplete, but written on the distributed documents are what’s currently been confirmed.”
Everyone takes a look at the documents that were handed out.
World Union Fleet Estimated Losses
Union of Second Civilization Dragon Knights, around 700 killed, annihilatedWorld Union Fleet, 2/3 sunk (including Mu)Holy Mirishial Empire Fleet, half sunkHoly Mirishial Empire Ancient Weapons, 1 aerial battleship sunkAircraft losses unknown (unofficial)
Gra Valkas Empire Estimated Losses
Surface Fleet, half catastrophically damaged or sunkAircraft, more than 300 shot downEstimated to have suffered mostly moderate damage

“Oh
 Oh god
”
Mizono was at a loss for words.
“Indeed. Both sides have suffered substantial casualties. Based on the numbers, it is apparent who won by default in this naval battle, but politically, this is clearly a defeat for the Holy Mirishial Empire.”
The nation which was said to be the world’s strongest has led the charge with its own main force. However, they have failed in their baseline objective of kicking the Gra Valkas Empire’s naval forces out from the Second Civilization Area.
“Once they’re done, the shock towards every country will be massive.”
“This
 aerial battleship
 What is it?”
One of the staff members asks. The moderating staff replies.
“It’s just as described there: a battleship that flies. The Holy Mirishial Empire used 2 of these very old weapons to inflict massive casualties on the Gra Valkas Empire, but they retreated immediately after one of them was sunk.”
Mizono takes a deep breath and looks over to Asada.
“The only certain thing about this is that we will be busier from now on
”
“Yeah
”
Asada and Mizono have both been unable to rest adequately lately. They understand within their minds that this was a big deal for the country so it can’t be helped, but in the end, they still wanted a break.
“Well then, as for our fundamental course of action this moment forward, we will ask Mu for information regarding the current
”
Slam!
The door opens and an embassy staff member comes in.
“Pardon for intruding into the middle of the conference. Mu’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called asking for a meeting with the ambassador ASAP. The section chief himself has come to have the meeting as fast as possible with them offering to wait as soon as the ambassador is free. This situation
 is simply unheard of.”
Mizono forces a smile.
“
So they’ve come!”
The diplomat Mizono has decided to host Audigs, section chief of the Superpowers Department of the Country of Mu’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
That same day, in a conference room
Sitting inside the conference room with a tense expression was Section Chief Audigs of the Superpowers Department of Mu’s Foreign Affairs Ministry. With their expression clearly overflowing with vigor, Mizono sitting on the opposite side was also tense.
“Thank you for taking the time to meet me despite my sudden visit.”
With the simple exchange of greetings out of the way, Audigs began to talk.
“I have come with a request for the country of Japan. There exists a town in Mu’s northwest plateau, Alue, which has a population of 134,000. The town is situated 20km from the national border with the former Leifor and is considered a border town.”
Mizono felt an immensely bad hunch. He continues.
“There also exists a small town on the former Leifor’s side of the border. According to extremely reputable information at hand, the Gra Valkas Imperial Army is currently amassing at the said border town. There is no doubt about it.”
!!!
A shock runs through the diplomats, including Mizono. With the declaration of war and the subsequent maritime invasion, the possibility of a land invasion wasn’t far from expectation. However, with the possibility finally materializing into reality, the shock was great.
“A land
 invasion
”
“Directives have already been given to the town to evacuate and our own army is amassing at Alue. However
”
A momentary silence.
“However
 With the battle at Baltica and at Cartalpas, it is apparent that our military is at its wit’s end against the Gra Valkas Empire. We are being one-sidedly defeated. Furthermore, they have also overwhelmingly cornered the Holy Mirishial Empire, sinking even their final resort, the aerial battleship of the ancient sorcerous empire.”
He continues.
“Before our country fought in this war, only a handful of people, engineers, and others insisted that the threat posed by the Gra Valkas Empire was massive. Many in the military, among the diplomats, and even the politicians
 They
 they never imagined that they were this powerful!
They thought that we would be able to fight to some extent. With the Holy Mirishial Empire on our side, they thought that we would be able to drive them out of the Second Civilization Area.
Now, with the possibility of a land invasion growing by the second, the citizens of Alue are exposed to danger. The casualties we’d suffer when the empire and Mu clash within the town
 Just thinking of it makes me shudder in fear.
When they do invade, they certainly won’t stop at Alue. They will march all throughout the continent, repeating what they may do in Alue to the rest of the country. In the end, we just don’t have the power to stop them.”
He takes in a sip of water.
“The engineers that have been warning us about the Gra Valkas Empire’s threat also said this: If Japan were on our side, we’d win! We must beg Japan for aid!

My country has only one request: aid in the form of military reinforcements. The country of Mu begs for military reinforcements that can effectively kick out the Gra Valkas Empire from the Second Civilization Area!
I understand that your country has its own various circumstances, but
 We beg that you send reinforcements as soon as humanly possible!! If Japan were to deploy their military even a day earlier, hundreds if not thousands of lives will be saved!! I will send a formal document on this request at a later date!”
Mizono was overwhelmed by Audigs’s overflowing ardor. Choosing his next words, he begins to speak.
“Mu is one of our country’s most important friends. With that in mind, I will personally expedite your request to the government as fast as humanly possible. However, if I may offer my personal opinion, our country has various legal limitations when it comes to your request, especially with some of its more difficult parts.”
The fact that Japan has its own circumstances and that there are legal limitations regarding armed response is well understood. However, the fatherland is veering close to being in a life or death situation. Audigs knows that he must do whatever it takes to pull Japan into the defense of the fatherland. He knows that he couldn’t just give up Mu’s fate so easily.
“In the event that Japan’s military will come, our country is prepared to provide support to the maximum. I’m sorry to point it out again, but a decision made a day earlier will have saved several thousands of lives. Please
 to come to the decision to send aid a day earlier
 I beg of you
”
Audigs lowers his head deeply in front of the Japanese foreign affairs officials. A sight unthinkable from the perspective of other civilized countries

He had even come to let go of his pride for the sake of saving the fatherland.
“
Please, raise your head. We will settle your request as fast as humanly possible and then send it to our government.”
The conference ends. Mizono hastens to gather and compile information on the request.
・・・
Technological Intelligence Bureau, Leifor sub-branch, Leifor Autonomous District, Gra Valkas Empire
The intelligence bureau was packed with higher-ups from the military who are holding a conference with the other executives.
“As you all know, the recent battle resulted in massive casualties on our side for the first time since the empire was transferred.”
With the commander in chief of the Eastern Fleet, Caesar, present, the staff of the intelligence bureau were nervous.
“The World Union Fleet, consisting of mostly antiquated vessels, were simply not a match for us. Our sole adversary, the Holy Mirishial Empire
 The analysis conducted by the intelligence bureau on their battle capabilities were mostly correct. It is proof of your excellence but

The enemy brought in a monster of a battleship that can fly in the sky. The number in their possession is currently verified at just 2 ships, but each ship possesses enough strength to account for a major portion of the losses our fleet suffered.
Luckily enough, we were saved by the so-called divine hand of the Grade Atlastar gunners, but we mustn’t rely on their divine hand on our policy moving forward. What the military wants is whether there aren’t any more irregular enemy weapons, how many aerial battleships does the Holy Mirishial Empire possess, the pace of their construction when they invest all their national power into it, and the details and specs of the ship.”
Hamidall, an executive of the technology department of the intelligence bureau’s Leifor sub-branch, stands up and begins to give his reply to the Eastern Fleet commander’s request. As a representative of the intelligence bureau, being unable to sense the aerial battleship’s existence was a serious blow, so Hamidall sweated profusely.
“The number of bases from which the ships can operate and their development capabilities are currently being investigated by the info collection department sent to the Holy Mirishial Empire. The technology department will do its utmost to investigate the information that will be brought back by the info collection department.”
“Politicians and the other government agencies don’t seem to understand, but the military is looking at the results of the battle with importance. However, if we could conquer the Holy Mirishial Empire, there won’t be any more enemies left in this world that can stand up to us. This places a great importance on the subject of an invasion of their homeland.
It would be great if the Holy Mirishial Empire doesn’t possess any other irregular weapons
”
Hamidall remembers the report of his subordinate, Naguano, from hearing the commander’s off-remark comment. A single word floated about in his mind from the recollection: Japan.
As mentioned by Naguano, their fighters and bombers fly at double the speed of sound.
As mentioned by Naguano, they possess bombs called guided missiles which once primed, are glued to their targets including aircraft, leaving no possibility for evasion. When used against ships, their range can exceed more than 100km.
As mentioned by Naguano, they possess warships which can single handedly deal and shoot down attacks from multiple directions by aircraft on the level of the empire’s Antares.
If Japan did indeed possess weapons with such outstanding and sci-fi-like capabilities, they would have been in control of the world by now. With that not being the case, as well as the results of the battle off the port city of Cartalpas, the possibility that it is deceptive information is exceedingly high.
His instincts tell him to give them this information on Japan but reason prevented this from happening.
“By the way, does the intelligence bureau have anything on the similarly transferred country of Japan?”
“Yes. It seems that they were in a state of confusion immediately after they transferred, but they got out of their predicament after establishing trade with countries from the Third Civilization Area and such. Their national and economic power is currently increasing due to diplomatic relations with Mu.
This isn’t just Japan but Mu’s economic power seems to be increasing due to trade between them.”
“
We need to bring down this so-called Second Civilization superpower, Mu
 It would be better to carry out commerce raids to reduce their national power bit by bit. Japan may be the same transfer nation as us, but considering how frail their cruiser was at the naval battle off Cartalpas, they wouldn’t pose much of a threat even if they were to raise their national power a bit.”
In response to the military’s inquiry, Hamidall continued to report on information the intelligence bureau considers reliable. Naguano’s face flickered in his mind, but if he were to report such unrealistic information which is later proven wrong, his ability to scrutinize information would be put to question.
The meeting concluded with the decision to weaken Mu’s national power by commencing commercial raids on their trade with other countries as well as pushing forward with preparations for a land invasion.
・・・
“Good work out there!”
His subordinates run up to him. Hamidall returned to the office exhausted from a conference attended by the military’s headquarters and diplomats.
“Naguano, come here for a moment.”
“Yes!”
“Sorry to interrupt, but have you looked more into Japan? Instead of the magazine riddled with deceptive information you showed us earlier, there exists ways to deduce their technological capabilities from the products being shipped into Mu. At any rate, I want diversified information on Japan.”
“Of course. Did something happen?”
Naguano, who has previously lumped together information concerning Japan, strangely asks.
“Nah
 Just in case.”
Naguano exclusively dedicated his work to investigating Japan.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!