Chapter 12 - Spring, the Prelude to a New Story
This marks the end of one chapter.
From the next chapter, a new development will begin.
The long winter has finally ended, and the snow piled in the shadows is gradually melting away. The days, once short, are gradually becoming longer, and the refreshing breeze carries the scent of spring. It's a fresh, invigorating smell.
Around the time when the signs of spring began to show, our predictions became reality.
The neighboring kingdom to the east, the Kingdom of Retnark, finally began its advance.
As usual, we gathered around a newspaper I picked up from the library, and everyone read the front-page article together.
"It's begun."
"Just as we predicted. I'm not at all happy about it, though."
"The outcome is predictable, but I hope the casualties will be minimal. I have acquaintances there, after all."
"It's finally happening. I wonder how it will all unfold."
"It's begun, hasn't it?"
"...Oh, this doesn't look good."
Following me, Frederica, Zenobia, Caroline, Josephine, and Angelina reacted.
By the way, Angelina is the name of a large woman. It's a meaningless detail, but the name Angelina means 'little angel.' I don't think it matters much, but it still feels a bit off. A brawling, large woman named 'little angel'—it just doesn't fit.
Shaking off these unnecessary thoughts and looking around, I noticed that many others were buzzing about the war.
Even the intimidating staff seemed to be letting it slide this time and didn't immediately scold anyone.
Our kingdom, the Kingdom of Brenark, is shaped like a slightly elongated trapezoid, with the Royal Capital located slightly to the right of the center. The fortified city is nestled between two major rivers on a relatively flat plain. The only significant features are the large forests to the north and south of the river.
For Retnark, which is advancing from the east, the river and forest are no obstacle; they can march straight to the Royal Capital of Brenark. Given the disparity in forces and the lack of any unusual tactics, they are likely to advance straightforwardly.
"Even before the war, the Arrogant King's incompetence had people fleeing during the winter."
Especially the mercenaries, who would never join a war they are likely to lose. Life is precious. Regular soldiers would also flee if they had a place to go.
With many nobles and officials who favored peace giving up and fleeing, no one wants to die needlessly.
Especially when the cause is the king's incompetence, the desire to serve faithfully dwindles. Fleeing is justified and expected.
"There's no hope of winning. The question is how we'll lose..."
"I don't think the Arrogant King will surrender willingly."
"That's true, but even a determined resistance won't work with the overwhelming force difference. I'm worried about the remaining citizens."
Given the character of someone called the Arrogant King, it's safe to say that surrender is out of the question.
While the exact numbers of troops haven't been disclosed, the steady outflow of people indicates a lack of military strength. Moreover, Retnark is an invading military regime, so their forces and morale are vastly superior.
In an open battlefield, they would be swiftly defeated. Defending the city would be pointless as well, since no allies are coming to their aid. This highlights the importance of diplomacy.
However, it's expected that they will defend the city to the bitter end.
The small towns and villages along the road to the Royal Capital are particularly pitiful. Given the brutality of Retnark's forces, those who don't flee will be plundered and ravaged. Even the towns and villages that remain will not be spared.
The local security forces and lords have been called to the Royal Capital, leaving the regions vulnerable. Regular patrols are insufficient, and the regions are in a dire situation. With the outflow of personnel, even basic security has become a challenge.
"It's expected that the enemy will reach the Royal Capital in about seven days, but they'll likely stop at the towns along the way. The full-scale battle might take a bit longer, but we have no chance of winning anyway."
"...That's not a pleasant thought."
It's likely to unfold as Josephine said. We, inside the walls, can only watch. A miracle would be needed to avoid defeat.
In the event of a defeat, the kingdom would likely collapse.
The royal family would undoubtedly be executed, and the territory would be fully integrated into Retnark.
The crucial question is what will happen to us.
When I asked the staff, who are also employed by the state, they couldn't give a clear answer.
They said that once the time comes, they will provide an explanation, but they can't answer now.
I have no hometown or family in this world, and I don't really know much about the Royal Capital or other towns, so it's almost a matter of indifference to me.
However, many of the staff and inmates have people waiting for them back home. For them, this must be extremely worrying. This is a remote area, and even if they moved now, it might be too late. There's no guarantee of seeing loved ones after the war.
Many are visibly anxious, and I can't help but feel a bit sorry for them.
In this remote camp, located in the far west of the kingdom and far from the battlefields, life is peaceful.
However, if things turn dangerous, I won't just sit and wait for trouble. I have plans to deal with such a situation, but I'd rather not have to use them. I believe the staff here are also thinking about various contingencies.
A few days after the news of the enemy's advance, detailed information is either being suppressed or is simply unavailable.
I try to maintain my usual routine, but the heavy atmosphere is unavoidable.
This isn't the time for empty reassurances, so I find myself wishing for a swift resolution.
A few days later, the news reported that the invading forces had reached the Royal Capital.
As expected, the Brenark forces chose to fortify the city. The Retnark army, which arrived in the evening, set up camp with ease, and the battle is expected to begin the next day.
Most of the city's civilians have already fled to the countryside, leaving the city largely deserted.
While there are strict rules against attacking the various guilds, which have networks across the continent, most of the staff have already evacuated, leaving only the Newspaper Guild. It's a tough job for them.
We spent a restless night, and the next morning, we waited for the newspaper to come out.
"Oh, here it is!"
We gathered around the newly printed newspaper and quickly scanned the articles.
It seems that a large-scale magical attack on the city walls began in the early hours of the morning but was somehow repelled by a magical artifact. It's still early in the day, so the main battle is yet to come. The magical artifact used for large-scale protection is likely to deplete its magic stones quickly and won't last long. The decisive battle should be over within a few days at most.
"Hmm, they seem intent on repelling the attack with the magical artifact."
"At this rate, they won't have enough magic stones left. The city walls will likely be breached by the end of the day, don't you think?"
"But there must be something else. If the Royal Palace is the final battleground, there must be a trump card there."
"A trump card... I doubt it's some grand strategy. More like a last-ditch effort, I'd say."
After that, the Newspaper Guild was too busy to provide detailed reports, so we didn't get more information for a while.
---
In the end, the city walls were breached the day after the attack began, and the invading forces easily entered the city.
However, the kingdom's forces began guerrilla warfare in the urban areas, using ambushes and hit-and-run tactics.
The invading forces, however, did not engage in these tactics and instead advanced down the main streets, overwhelming the defenders with sheer numbers and rushing toward the Royal Palace.
As many soldiers stormed the palace, there was an unexpected massive explosion.
It seems the Arrogant King, not only targeting the enemy but also his own forces, had orchestrated a suicide bombing.
The sudden explosion was massive, destroying not only the Royal Palace but also a wide area around it. Even from a considerable distance, the shockwave and debris caused significant damage.
The invading forces suffered catastrophic losses, and the city, with the palace at its center, turned into a pile of rubble. The few remaining residents disappeared, and the situation was even worse than anticipated.
The invading forces, who had not yet entered the city, were now desperately searching for survivors and providing aid.
The commander of the invading forces, who entered the nearly empty Royal Capital, declared the official fall of the Kingdom of Brenark, and all its territories were formally absorbed into Retnark.
The war is over, but things will be tough for everyone from here on out.
It's unclear whether the devastated Royal Capital will be abandoned or rebuilt. The former residents might return, and whether they wish to rebuild or give up will determine the future.
The main figures of the Brenark royal family, including the royals, were officially declared dead.
They were unaccounted for, presumably blown to pieces, but some might still be alive. There's no way to verify it, so all possibilities remain open.
While the extensive cleanup is far from complete, the fallen Kingdom of Brenark still has many inhabited areas outside the capital.
Retnark, which had been preparing to confront the nobles of the former kingdom's territories with their military or envoys, was hit with another major event. A new coup has erupted in Retnark itself. It's a large-scale operation targeting the absence of the main army, and a civil war is inevitable.
As a result, the remaining occupying forces in the former Kingdom of Brenark had no choice but to withdraw, leaving behind a nominal governor and a small garrison.
Before any proper governance could begin, the former Kingdom of Brenark was effectively leaderless.
While there are nobles in the various regions, they lack significant military power and struggle to maintain local autonomy. The residents are deeply anxious, with increased crime and a surge in refugees and orphans creating a mountain of problems that cannot be resolved quickly, leaving many people in dire straits.
Briefly, to the north of the Kingdom of Brenark and Retnark lies the large country of Donditch.
Donditch is a large and prosperous nation without territorial ambitions. It views the conflicts between the two kingdoms as a nuisance and has been ignoring them for a very long time.
To the south are the small states of the demi-human races, which have no interest in human conflicts and remain completely unresponsive. There are reasons for this, but that's a story for another time.
The Romariel Mountains rise to the west, and to the east of Retnark is a vast ocean.
The conflict between the two kingdoms is contained, making the situation simple and clear. One might even consider it fortunate.
Now, what about us in the Girls' Re-education Camp?
"I've gathered you all today because you probably already know. Our country, the Kingdom of Brenark, has unfortunately fallen. The state that appointed us as re-education camp staff no longer exists. Furthermore, it seems that Retnark, which has occupied our country, has no intention of governing. Our presence here is no longer necessary. Therefore, we are officially releasing you as of now. Head of the camp, please take the floor."
The deputy head announced the dissolution, followed by the head's speech.
"To all the staff and the inmates, this marks the end. I know this is a difficult situation, and many of you are eager to check on your families and friends. The staff will prepare for evacuation according to regulations, and we will remove the Magic-Sealing Bracelets and return your belongings. Those who wish to use magical artifacts for transportation can register."
"Staff, prepare immediately. Begin removing the Magic-Sealing Bracelets from the inmates. Hurry up."
Following the deputy head's announcement, the removal of the Magic-Sealing Bracelets began. We patiently waited our turn and were freed from the oppressive devices.
There was no initial excitement, but there was a profound sense of liberation.
Finally, a feeling of relief. The re-education period was due to end soon anyway.
Next came the return of personal belongings and the transfer of rewards.
I met my civilian clothes again after a long time. When I was transported to this world, I was jogging in short-sleeved running gear and shorts. I had nothing with me, so I had no belongings. In other words, I had nothing at all, which was quite dangerous.
"Yukarinowe, it's still cold in that outfit. Here, take this coat and put it on."
A staff member handed me a coat. It was thoughtful, especially since it's still chilly in the spring.
"Oh, thanks. I really appreciate it. Even if we never meet again, if you ever need help, don't hesitate to ask. I'll return the favor."
"Hmph, when that time comes, return it with interest."
Then, my Record Card, which had been created without my knowledge, was handed over. This magical artifact has various functions and is quite amazing.
"Just to confirm, will we receive the rewards for the monster hunts and such?"
"Yes, despite the current situation, we have made the payments."
Past tense? I don't remember receiving anything.
"Where?"
"...I see, you were quite naive. The payment is in your Record, which I just gave you. From now on, it can be activated by your magic power and you can check your balance."
The Record Card, officially known as the Record, is a universal credit card-like device with various functions. It's pretty amazing, isn't it?
I'm still lacking in basic common sense.
Let's see, then. Hmm, this is the Record.
The Record Card, the size of a credit card, is a beautiful silver color with my name subtly engraved at the edge. A small square watermark is visible in the upper right corner. When I infused it with magic, numbers appeared on its surface.
The currency used on the continent is the gist, and I confirmed a balance of about five million gist.
"...Isn't this a bit much?"
It's a significant amount. While the gist is roughly equivalent to the yen in value, considering I've been here for about three years and the number of days in a year is higher than in my world, it's a substantial sum. Given my position as an inmate, it seems quite generous, especially since I mostly focused on training and studies rather than work.
"We sold a lot of monsters from the Capros attack. The staff made quite a profit, and we returned a fair share to you. You were the most distinguished contributor, after all."
"That's nice to hear. You've handled things properly."
"Well, if we were resented, it would ultimately be a loss. It's best to be fair."
Fairness. That's a good thing, isn't it?
Once the preparations for evacuation are complete, we will depart in stages.
Several large trucks, similar to escort vehicles, are available for transportation. We will board them and head to various destinations.
It's a straightforward process, and the time has come to say our goodbyes.
"What will you do, Yukarinowe?"
"As I've said before, I have nowhere to go. I'll stay here for a while, gather information, and decide what to do. There's no one around here, and I can train in magic without restraint."
The valuable magical artifacts will be abandoned, and the large ones cannot be taken. The storage room still has plenty of uncured monster meat and vegetables, so I won't lack food for a while.
"In that case, I might stay too. I'm in the same boat as you, with no real plans."
"Really? Then we'll be together for a while."
Frederica will be staying a bit longer.
It's a little comforting. A little.
"I'm going to the Royal Capital. I need to check on my acquaintances and visit the Mercenary Guild."
"Like Zenobia, I need to head to the Royal Capital. They've probably evacuated, but I'm worried about the courtesans I left behind."
"Yeah, Zenobia and Caroline should be fine, but be careful."
"Zenobia, Caroline, take care. I hope to see you again soon."
"Yeah, we'll definitely meet again."
"Hehe, someday, for sure. Let's go, Zenobia."
Zenobia and Caroline, who were particularly close, set out for the Royal Capital.
It's a bit sad, but I know we'll meet again someday. I feel a deeper bond with many of the camp inmates than I expected. I'm sure it's not just me; everyone seems reluctant to part. We'll look forward to that reunion.
After that, a few more decided to stay, including Frederica, Josephine, Angelina, and some who had nowhere to go.
If we find a good town when things settle down, we might all move together. By then, the transportation artifacts will likely be gone, so we'll have to walk, which is a bit of a hassle but can't be helped.
After seeing everyone off, I returned to our now much quieter camp.
It feels like my home now.