Chapter 526: Narrative Trick(1)
Chapter 526: Narrative Trick(1)
With the emergence of mana engines and the introduction of the coke refining method, the economy gradually began to regain its vitality.
The flow of money, which had been largely stagnant due to the gridlock, began to circulate once more, and people's activities became more vibrant than before.
Of course, because factories were still being built, prices and interest rates hadn't dropped yet, but the general consensus was that life had become bearable again.
The policies implemented by various nations were starting to show results, and employment levels were returning to what they were before the Great Depression.
[A Great Depression like this could happen again. No, it is bound to erupt in the distant future.]
[We need more specialized institutions. Did the Great Depression in Blood and Iron not also occur after the Machine Revolution?]
[In the far future, a Great Depression caused by an excess of supply, rather than a lack of demand, may arrive. We must prepare for this.]
The Great Depression had lasted less than half a year, but its aftermath was terrifying.
Much like how the Lehman Brothers collapse sent Earth's economy into a tailspin, the entire world here had essentially buckled under the pressure.
The problem was that this was the first global economic crisis. It wasn't just one country's economy failing; the entire world had been shattered, just like the Great Depression.
Interest rates and prices skyrocketed without mercy. Jobs were impossible to find. Yet, because monsters couldn't be ignored, people still had to acquire goods.
Having been struck so hard once, people couldn't help but be on high alert. Thanks to this, 'Philosophy' and 'Economics' became completely distinct from one another.
Originally, philosophy and economics were intertwined disciplines. Since philosophy is the root and father of all academic fields, this was inevitable.
However, this Great Depression caused them to separate completely, and it was predicted that even more specialized institutions would be established.
[Minerva Empire: Discussions on establishing an institution with independent authority. The economy is a matter for experts. We were lucky this time, but the moment the Imperial Family intervenes in the economy in the future, it could spiral into a bottomless abyss.]
[Nobles protested, but Emperor Berit countered by stating he would grant the institution an authority that even he would find difficult to touch.]
[Emperor Berit later discussed the establishment of a Commoners' Assembly, similar to the Ters Kingdom, stating that as the world becomes more complex, the limitations of a monarchy will be revealed...]
Furthermore, a bombshell statement—no less explosive than a revolution—was dropped: the Minerva Empire might establish a Commoners' Assembly.
Unlike the Ters Kingdom or Machina, the Minerva Empire had not experienced a revolution, and public sentiment toward the crown was actually quite favorable.
While there had been noise regarding the struggle for imperial power, that was a political issue; the common people hadn't suffered much from it.
However, the Minerva Empire was a nation that had taken a direct hit from the Great Depression.
Emperor Berit and the rest of the Imperial Family must have felt the limitations of a monarchy deep in their bones.
[To support a massive empire, more talent, more ideas, and more politicians are needed.]
[If the people are the roots, then politics is the stem. No matter how strong the roots are, if the stem is thin, it is difficult to bear fruit.]
[Implementation will be gradual after the Great Depression is fully resolved. The Great Depression is the priority.]
Just as a great wind of change was blowing through the Minerva Empire, other nations were following suit.
First, there was the Minerva Empire's arch-rival, the Ters Kingdom.
[The Minerva Empire seemed like a country that would never fall. We only endured through steadfast unity; our actual strength was several levels below theirs.]
[But through this Great Depression, we realized the Empire will not last forever. From now on, the Empire will not be the same as it was in the past.]
[Mana engines will spread not just to the Empire but to the entire world, and our Ters Kingdom will become as strong as the Empire.]
[The era of science, not magic, and the era of quality, not quantity, shall arrive.]
There are many reasons why the Minerva Empire dislikes the Ters Kingdom, but this also traces back to the Race War.
The Ters Kingdom is a nation heavily influenced by Albenheim. Moreover, it was one of the civilizations that stood firm during the Demon War.
Historically and culturally, it was bound to be close to Albenheim, whether it liked it or not. During the Race War, it technically participated but barely contributed.
Geographically, the Ters Kingdom is in a brilliant strategic position to strike Albenheim's flank.
However, they feigned ignorance during the Race War and refused to grant passage. To the Human Alliance, the predecessor of the Minerva Empire, this was infuriating.
The grudge persisted, and while Albenheim was in political turmoil, numerous skirmishes occurred between the two nations.
[The world will shift from being led by the Empire to a struggle over who can pull ahead.]
The Ters Kingdom, which had previously been suppressed by the Minerva Empire's military and economic might, had completely changed its tune.
Just as the world entered a 'New Cold War' after the Lehman Brothers crisis, this world began to move in a similar direction.
War wouldn't break out immediately, but the Minerva Empire's national power had clearly weakened.
Once the Great Depression receded, it was obvious that various conflicts between nations would rise to the surface.
[Three new volumes of Blood and Iron released in a single week!]
[Mana engines installed at the publishing house. No more paper shortages.]
Around the time the seeds of conflict were being sown across the globe, Isaac attempted a massive triple release.
He had also installed mana engines at the publishing house. In truth, the publisher had been facing a shortage of timber, the raw material for paper.
How was this resolved? Simple. Emperor Berit personally assigned workers to that sector.
Since the New Deal was in effect, there was plenty of justification. From Musk's perspective, it was a move welcomed with open arms.
[Hitler's rise using National Self-Determination. What is National Self-Determination?]
Volumes 11, 12, and 13 of Blood and Iron covered the period from late 1937 to late 1939.
In particular, much was said about National Self-Determination, a profound and sensitive topic.
In this world, racial classification was stronger than ethnic classification, but groups like the Stavirk people and Dark Elves possessed distinct ethnic identities.
Because of this, it was expected that there would be a reaction from the Stavirk and Dark Elf sides, but most of it died down due to the massive event that occurred at the end of Volume 13.
[The result of utilizing National Self-Determination was the Invasion of Poland—in other words, war.]
For the Stavirk people crying out for independence, the situation became awkward, to say the least. As for the Dark Elves, they were such a quiet race that their reaction remained unknown.
In any case, National Self-Determination—the topic both Lina and Isaac had worried about most—was settled this way, but many other incidents remained.
The Anschluss. The Second Sino-Japanese War. Kristallnacht. The Munich Agreement. The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, and so on.
During this period, the United States was struggling with the Great Depression and didn't play a major role. As for the Soviet Union... aside from the non-aggression pact, the Great Purge was underway.
So many historical events were erupting that it was difficult to highlight each one, but the general reactions were as follows:
The Anschluss?
[Hitler is great!]
The Munich Agreement?
[How terrible must the Great War have been for Britain and France to act like that?]
[Regardless, Hitler is a genius!]
The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact?
[As expected of Hitler! But wasn't the Soviet Union his rival?]
It seemed... idiotic, but that was the reality. It was likely because Hitler was still being treated as the protagonist.
Of course, the discourse wasn't solely focused on praising Hitler. A prime example was Kristallnacht.
If Operation T4 was the predecessor to the Holocaust, Kristallnacht was the event where Nazi Germany's madness truly began to manifest.
[Was there really a need to escalate it this far? A Jew lit the fuse, but it was Goebbels who spread the fire.]
[The Jews have now turned from a target of propaganda into a practical threat.]
[It reminds me of how the Demon Clan was treated as devils and the incidents where they actually became threats.]
However, everyone 'accepted' even Kristallnacht and moved on. Isaac was shocked by these reactions but could only smile bitterly.
The Demon Clan of the past had been treated similarly. The difference was that the Jews had no country, while the Demon Clan had Helium.
History had consistently proven the fate of an ethnicity without the protection of a state. The Jews were the pinnacle of that.
While they accepted Kristallnacht, people began to feel an underlying unease regarding the 'madness' that was slowly beginning to sprout.
Finally, regarding the 'Nanjing Massacre' that broke out during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
[That is war. Even if it is tragic, war turns people into that.]
[That doesn't mean the massacre is justified. The Empire of Japan will one day face Divine Punishment.]
[Killing those who resist is natural. But this is beyond the pale.]
Many people were horrified and couldn't hide their bitterness.
Even in the Xenon Chronicle, there were numerous tragedies, but the wars always ended with the protagonists' victory. At the very least, there was a glimmer of hope.
Furthermore, Blood and Iron was being treated as fantasy. Thus, people had inwardly hoped that war would be somehow different.
That hope was thoroughly crushed. War, regardless of time or place, is accompanied by horrific tragedies.
The shock was slightly mitigated only because the current era was closer to the 'Middle Ages.' Even so, the impact of the Nanjing Massacre remained unchanged.
[There is only one way to win a war: discard your humanity. You must become a sword or a spear, not a person, and kill your opponent to seize victory.]
[The victor takes all. Even if that 'all' is history.]
The reactions of scholars were mostly composed. Since they possessed more knowledge than the general public, they could evaluate things with relative detachment.
But the commoners were different. Blood and Iron was read by countless people, and the proportion of commoners was far higher.
Among commoners, some became knights or adventurers, but most were far removed from war.
Even if they occasionally fought monsters, they rarely faced other 'humans.'
[War is only beautiful to those who have not experienced it.]
A phenomenon perfectly matching those words was beginning to emerge.
Just as people who became adventurers, lured by the plot of the Xenon Chronicle, experienced all sorts of hell, those who enlisted out of admiration for knights also faced their own hell.
Fortunately, no war had broken out anywhere yet. However, the Nanjing Massacre had provided a glimpse into the true nature of war.
[Murder is evil. But in war, if you do not kill your opponent, you die. To what extent can evil be tolerated?]
[The Nanjing Massacre committed by the Empire of Japan is clear evil.]
[Can a massacre be justified? If not, then you have committed an indelible atrocity.]
As the story entered the full-scale war arc, somewhat philosophical content began to pour out.
The Nanjing Massacre alone was enough to spark endless debate.
There were even historical precedents, such as humans massacring beastkin during the Race War and the Savior's Demon Hunt.
[What side of us will Blood and Iron show next?]
While many scholars and people were buzzing about Blood and Iron...
As the Great Depression showed signs of receding, the Duchy of Bellua, which had been eerily quiet, began to regain its liveliness.
The Duchy of Bellua served as a bridgehead connecting the Minerva Empire and numerous other nations.
Naturally, economic activity was most vibrant there, and the same went for adventurers.
Especially since it served as a hub, there were many high-quality yet affordable pieces of equipment available.
Therefore, any adventurer who had built up a certain level of skill inevitably visited the Duchy of Bellua.
"Hehehehe..."
"Are you that happy?"
Anne, a female adventurer who had grown her short-cut hair into a bob, chided the man who was laughing creepily.
Her expression clearly showed her annoyance. After all, everyone would stare strangely at a massive man laughing like that.
Regardless, Roy, an adventurer who had recently been gaining fame, couldn't hide his wide, splitting grin.
"Of course I'm happy! I, uh... I won the event! Do you know what that means?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm so damn jealous."
There was only one reason Roy was this happy: he had been selected for the 'event' personally curated by Xenon.
The event originally awarded points based on how many Demon Worshippers one took down.
However, as Demon Worshipper activity had recently decreased, the event had to be concluded early.
And the winner was Roy. He had risked his life hunting Demon Worshippers just to secure a meal with Xenon.
There had been some perilous moments, but thanks to the support of his partner, Anne, he had made it through safely. His skills had improved by leaps and bounds in the process.
"Why are you jealous? You're coming too, anyway."
"What? Why me?"
"If it weren't for you, I would've died several times over. He'll let this much slide, won't he?"
"Uh..."
At Roy's suggestion, Anne's expression became awkward. She knew he was a die-hard fan of Xenon.
She had assumed he would want a private meeting, so being dragged along herself left her feeling a bit dazed.
Anne blushed slightly, feeling embarrassed, and spoke quietly.
"...Is it really okay?"
"What is?"
"...Never mind. You dense idiot."
Her expression quickly shifted to one of frustration. Regardless, Roy, having won the event, was too busy beaming with joy.
"What are you going to do when you meet Xenon? Get an autograph on Blood and Iron too?"
"Of course! I want to get every book I've collected so far signed. What about you?"
"I'll probably just stick to the Xenon Chronicle if possible. Blood and Iron is interesting, but not as much as the Xenon Chronicle."
As Anne said, Blood and Iron was a more polarizing work than the Xenon Chronicle. It was interesting because it was Isaac's work, but it was an acquired taste.
In particular, it was more polarizing among women than men.
While men generally liked it, women did not.
"I know men are stronger when there's no mana. But how should I put it... it feels like women are being coddled too much? Beyond that, it feels like classes have been divided."
One of the many reasons was that, unlike the Xenon Chronicle, there were almost no charming and proactive female characters.
Anne spoke exactly what she felt while reading Blood and Iron. Roy looked blank for a moment after hearing her words, then eventually nodded.
"I guess that makes sense. Since there's no mana and the existence of gods is uncertain."
"It's realistic and highly persuasive, so it's interesting, but it's a bit bitter. I heard humans in this world were similar before they awakened to mana."
The status of women's rights in this world was quite high compared to the era. However, this only applied to women who had awakened to mana.
If one awakened to mana and trained, physical ability became largely irrelevant. It was decided by who could control mana better.
The same went for human rights in general, not just for women. While Earth had humans with power rivaling that of gods, this world had actual gods from the beginning.
Therefore, everyone held the belief that all were equal under the gods. It just wasn't always fair.
"And Nazi Germany is a bit... weird. At least in my eyes."
"Weird?"
"Yeah. You know the Baby Factory?"
"Ah. That."
At Anne's explanation, Roy also showed he understood. Though mentioned in passing, the famous 'Baby Factory' incident had appeared in Blood and Iron.
An incident that offered a glimpse into Nazi madness, where men and women were forced to mate for the 'cultivation' of Aryans.
The fact that it was an institution run by the state was an even greater shock.
Fortunately, it had been buried under Hitler's 'achievements' and hadn't caused a massive stir.
Above all...
"But didn't we have something similar?"
"There are records that it happened during the Race War. It's not certain, though."
Since similar events had almost occurred in reality, it didn't even cross over into 'controversy.'
In this world, 'eugenics' was accepted as fact rather than a hypothesis.
One would be treated as a lunatic for denying it when Elves existed right there.
Furthermore, it was one of the atrocities committed by humans during the Race War. War is a place where many evils, including murder, are justified.
There had even been an attempt at the insane act of mass-producing half-bloods by using Elves, the pinnacle of eugenics.
Fortunately, it had only remained an attempt. Had it actually been carried out, they would have faced the full brunt of Albenheim's wrath.
"And the Demon Worshippers did something similar recently."
"...Don't talk about it. I feel like throwing up just thinking about it."
While Anne spoke nonchalantly, Roy grimaced as if he were nauseated.
As someone who had purged the most Demon Worshippers, he had witnessed their atrocities firsthand.
An entire village being Demon Worshippers was the least of it. He had seen things that couldn't be put into words.
The Baby Factory was just one example. Roy shook his head.
"Still, those bastards did it to use babies as sacrifices. Nazi Germany is... whatever. People can make mistakes. It looks like they're trying to make up for it with Operation T4 this time."
"The plan to make Aryans great by using the disabled and the elderly? Isn't that just a plan to kill them all? That's how it looks to me."
Anne, who had caught a glimpse of Nazi Germany's sinister nature and madness, quietly offered her opinion.
Instinctively, she felt that Nazi Germany was a group that was mentally quite warped.
In response to Anne's suspicious question, Roy shook his index finger back and forth in denial. Not a chance.
"That can't be it. Hitler himself only has one ball, doesn't he? Besides, his soul partner Goebbels has a disabled leg from polio. If anything, people like that would sympathize with the disabled; they wouldn't be crazy enough to kill them all."
"Hmm... is that so?"
It was a story that sounded plausible when one listened to it.
The problem was that Hitler and Goebbels were demons beyond imagination.
Since the madness of Nazi Germany had yet to fully erupt, it was something that could neither be predicted nor imagined.
"Yeah. If anything, who was that guy at the end? Oskar Schindler? Wouldn't he be the one to commit abuse? From the looks of it, he's a man crazed with greed, just like Bourgeois III."
"Well, we'll find out when the next volume comes out. Anyway, what do you want to eat?"
"I don't know. If there's nothing to do, let's just go to the Maishal Territory."
"Sure."
The bomb had already been planted.
"By the way, when are you going to shave that shitty mustache?"
"Hey now! Calling the Great Führer's mustache shitty! How impudent!"
"Sigh. You idiot. Just don't go saying 'Heil Xenon' to Xenon later."
Now, all that was left was for it to explode.