A Beautiful Tradition
I had to set this whole mess right. Because I was the President. No—the Emperor!
"Uh, Head Maid?"
So I carefully summoned the one who actually held the power. Korea had never even had a character like this originally—just how high up was a Head Maid, anyway?
"Yes, Your Majesty. Did you call for me?"
I hadn't heard so much as a footstep, yet the Head Maid closed several meters of distance in an instant and answered my summons.
...Kind of terrifying? It just hit me. In the game, the Maid Corps had been Korea 3's superhuman combat force. This Head Maid was one of the captains of that superhuman unit.
"So, about the war..."
What was I supposed to say? We were going to war, that much was settled—but should I tell them not to pick a fight that was too outrageous?
While I was still tangled up in that worry, the Head Maid nodded as if she had already understood perfectly.
"Ah! Please don't worry yourself. We have no intention of fighting without a declaration of war, the way those wicked Japanese do."
?
What kind of obvious thing was she saying? Don't tell me that option had actually come up in some strategy meeting?
"War will begin for a legitimate reason, so please place your trust in us."
An ominous feeling crept up my spine at the Head Maid's words, delivered with a perfectly serious face.
"And for the record, what is this 'legitimate reason'?"
"We intend to demand the return of our ancestral land of Manchuria, and advance the moment they refuse."
You could start a war over something like that?
My expression must have looked less than thrilled, because the Head Maid offered a new answer.
"A somewhat better method would be to follow Germany's successful precedent—they are scheduled to fire a few shells at us. Officially, that is."
Uh. That. Um.
...Was this the Poland thing? What was it again—they seized a radio station and staged it to look like a declaration of war against Germany?
So the justification would be that China attacked us first, and we were merely counterattacking. The only real similarity with Germany seemed to be that the whole thing was a false-flag operation.
"Didn't it originally take half a year?"
That was how it worked in the game... Set a war justification, and war would automatically break out six months later.
Reality would have some variance, but I'd expected it to take about that long.
"When it is Your Majesty's word, how could we possibly spend so much time?"
A chill seemed to flicker through the Head Maid's eyes—calm as a still lake.
Oh! Excellent loyalty. But then—did that mean war would break out even sooner?
Hmm. Now that this was reality, wouldn't it take time to shift into wartime footing and stockpile supplies? There was bound to be pushback, too.
"Your Majesty's wish is the wish of every citizen."
...Uh, that was a lovely sentiment, but. Was that physically possible? Sensing my doubt, the Head Maid answered in detail.
"If we draw on the donations gathered to reclaim the Promised Land, it is more than feasible."
"The Promised Land?"
"Yes. Our ancestral homeland. The funds our people have diligently collected for Manchuria, where milk and honey flow."
I was left completely speechless.
Manchuria was the Promised Land? And what was with the milk-and-honey exaggeration—resources, I supposed?
Rummaging through my hazy memories, I vaguely recalled some event message popping up the moment I crossed the Manchurian border while playing the game. Was this it?
I'd skipped all those useless events, so I had no idea...
Hmm.
Hmmm.
Come to think of it, unlike Korea 1 and 2, these people had been packed with competent characters. Now that the game had been patched into reality, those abilities would only shine brighter.
"I'll trust you to handle it well."
I patted the Head Maid's shoulder a few times, doing my best to look solemn.
In my judgment, it was a perfectly dignified performance!
"Ah, Your Majesty... It shall be done exactly as you wish."
The Head Maid trembled for a moment, then looked up at me with moist eyes and answered in a sultry voice.
Hmm! With outstanding subordinates, things would take care of themselves! Completely different from Korea 2, which had been stuffed with incompetent generals and vile traitors!
Our country was Korea 3!
You could practically call it Super Saiyan 3!
I'm counting on you guys!
Conquer Earth for me!
I grinned and hit play on a movie, munching on the popcorn and cola the maid had brought me.
Weren't they going to conquer the planet even if I did nothing? Hahaha! Life was beautiful!
Whoooosh.
Crimson flames shot high into the sky. The fiercely burning fire was purifying the wicked Chinese embassy!
For Koreans whose patriotism burned this hot, yesterday's stone-throwing session simply hadn't been enough.
So they set it on fire!
This was an undeniable flame of patriotism!
"Myaa!"
"Nyaaah!"
Proud Korean citizens—cat beastfolk—came running with oil and firewood, hurling them on to feed the blaze even higher.
What a magnificent fire it was!
Wheee-ooo!
Firefighters poured out of the arriving fire trucks and gazed upon this fireworks show with thoroughly satisfied faces, keeping the flames from spreading.
"Alright, everyone! Don't get too close!"
"But I want a better look..."
"Hey! Absolutely not!"
Safety blindness, tsk tsk. A dog-eared girl clicked her tongue and coldly shoved them back.
"Nya! I have to throw this!"
A cat beastfolk hoisted a wooden piece of furniture she'd brought and approached a firefighter.
"Throw it and come right back."
The firefighter gave a sidelong glance, confirmed the situation, and opened a path for this patriotic arsonist.
"Yes!"
The cat girl scampered forward and hurled the wooden table into the flames with all her strength.
Thud.
"Nyaaah! It's burning so well!"
The firefighter quickly pulled the cheering patriotic arsonist back out.
"Wh-what on earth are you doing..."
The Chinese ambassador, staring at his burning embassy in utter desolation, asked a firefighter.
"Pardon? We're making sure the fire doesn't spread, of course."
The firefighter answered as if the man were saying something bizarre.
What was this idiot even talking about? As if he weren't busy enough already—now he had to listen to this nonsense from a difficult customer.
Firefighting was rewarding work, but it was truly exhausting...
"Shouldn't you be putting the fire out?"
The Chinese ambassador's face, still stained blue from the previous day's patriotic activities, pleaded pitifully.
"It'll go out once there's nothing left to burn."
The answer came back with open irritation.
"Isn't your job to extinguish fires?"
The ambassador gritted his teeth. The firefighter's face twisted as he replied.
"The Chinese embassy is your territory, isn't it? Then you put it out. I'm a Korean firefighter."
"That's right!"
"Now that's a real firefighter!"
Truly correct words! The Koreans all nodded in unison, thoroughly convinced.
"...Police. Call the police."
"The police? Look over there."
Following the firefighter's pointing finger, a spasm crossed the Chinese ambassador's face.
"Alright, everyone. Are you all carrying firearms?"
Every single person gathered before the police officer held a gun in their hands.
"Yes! Isn't my pistol cool?"
"I've got a shotgun!"
"This is a K-2! I bought it at the PX when I mustered out!"
The Koreans cheerfully showed off their respective firearms. The officer regarded them with a stern expression.
"Pay attention! Do not forget that these weapons are loaded with live rounds!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Chinese ambassador's face turned ashen as his legs began to shake.
Live rounds? What on earth for? They're not going to shoot us, are they?
Unfortunately, no.
"Training in advance for the war—your patriotism truly delights me."
The officer, a former soldier, led them to aim their weapons at the burning Chinese embassy.
"Ready!"
Gun barrels of every description pointed at the blazing building.
"Fire!"
Ratatatat!
Bang! Bang!
Fortunately, they did not shoot the ambassador. They simply poured gunfire into the burning embassy. Why they would do something so dangerous was beyond comprehension.
Madness.
Madness ruled this place.
"...What kind of insanity is this?"
The ambassador, who had been watching in a daze, finally collapsed onto the ground. A police officer monitoring the perimeter rushed over and slapped a ticket onto his forehead.
As if he had been illegally parked.
"Even an ambassador can't get away with this sort of thing."
Too drained even to answer the sneering remark, the exhausted ambassador peeled the ticket from his brow. Malicious red lettering was stamped across it.
Return Manchuria at once, or we will not stand idly by.
...These little-country bastards are about to learn that being good at fighting isn't everything.
Did they even understand the population difference? What about military power? Setting aside shell stockpiles, China was ahead in every category!
...There was the fatal disadvantage of lagging in superhuman forces, but even accounting for that, China held the upper hand.
The Chinese ambassador had already reported every detail to his homeland.
Troop movements.
The assault on the embassy.
.
.
.
Those things happened often enough—so to ensure his homeland made no mistake, he had even included the most critical fact of all: that the Emperor had officially denounced China.
This damned country moved according to the Emperor's will. War was a certainty.
Somewhere in the Imperial Palace.
"Just start by launching the missiles! Isn't that a declaration of war right there?"
A wolf-eared girl in military uniform shouted in frustration.
"We still need a reason people can accept!"
A red-haired girl dressed in frills and ribbons pointed out the problem.
"They're living on our land without permission—what's wrong with kicking them out?"
The girls snarling at each other here were among Korea's absolute strongest. The moment war began, they would wield absolute authority as captains of the superhuman units.
"Now, everyone. We must also consider how other nations will view this."
The Head Maid mediated the quarrel.
"If we win, that's all that matters. Who cares?"
The wolf girl heaved a great sigh. The frilled girl, still mid-argument, answered her.
"That's true, but—we're the ones in the right! A surprise attack is out of the question!"
"Please don't worry. They will be the ones to attack first."
Only after hearing the Head Maid's detailed plan did both sides stand down.
"Not bad."
"We'll go with that!"
Looking satisfied, the two left the room, and the Head Maid returned to her proper post—
to the Emperor's side, where he was enjoying a film.
"Your Majesty, is there anything you desire for dinner?"
"Just a hamburger is fine."
"That isn't very good for your health... Very well."
The great Emperor of Korea was savoring culture. This Emperor would lead Korea to victory!