Chapter 580: The German-Soviet War(3)
Chapter 580: The German-Soviet War(3)
Living in this world, I’ve often felt a certain sense of doubt. Specifically, why does this world seem so... mild?
In a medieval setting, it would be normal for human rights to be non-existent and for wars to break out constantly due to the greed of kings and lords. Not to mention things like the slave trade, experiments that abandon all humanity, torture, and various other barbaric acts.
Earth didn't just have those things in abundance; traces of them remained even into the relatively modern era of World War II. The Holocaust—an industrialized system of slaughter—is a prime example. A genocidal massacre that showcased the extremes of eugenics.
Of course, the Holocaust receives a lot of attention because it happened in relatively recent history. It’s shocking to think that such advanced technology was mobilized for such a purpose.
But even putting that aside, there are almost no events in this world that truly rival the horrors of Earth. At most, there was Savior’s massacre of the Demon Tribe and the slaughter of Beastkin by humans during the Race War.
The massacre of the Demon Tribe happened during a time when hatred for demons was at its peak, so there were mitigating circumstances, and the Beastkin slaughter was merely a fragment of the war.
Even when you add it all up, it falls far short of Earth. Earth was a place where wars broke out at every opportunity; you just learned to live with it. Compared to the human sacrifices of the Aztec civilization or Belgium’s exploitation of the Congo, this world is practically a paradise.
I suppose that’s the difference between a world managed by gods and one left to its own devices.
‘Even the Savior’s massacre of the Demon Tribe is recorded as having been stopped by Luminous.’
Furthermore, Luminous’s twin sister, Mora, directly protected the Demon Tribe. The nation born under that protection was Helium. Without Helium, demons would likely still be facing severe discrimination today. The difference between an ethnicity protected by a state and one that isn't is immense.
‘To the people of this world, wouldn't Earth look like the Demon Realm itself?’
A world where half of history is filled with war, where world-altering events happen at every turn, and where people commit acts that even a demon would hesitate to do.
This world was able to mature relatively quickly because the gods passed down language and philosophy, but Earth had no such thing. It was a world where people only recorded "A person dies if you hit them in the head" after they had already split someone's skull open.
Perhaps it was because they could commit such madness without a second thought that they were able to achieve such rapid development.
"……So, I’m telling you this in advance. Don’t be too shocked later."
"……"
I summarized these thoughts and gave Mari and Cecile a spoiler. I told them how horrific World War II was and what crimes Nazi Germany would soon commit against the Jews and the Slavic people.
Mari and Cecile’s reactions were similar. Both of them had their eyes wide, wearing expressions of pure disbelief. Cecile, in particular—who had been drawing parallels between the Jews and the Demon Tribe—was clutching her mouth in horror.
‘I’m glad I told them early.’
Originally, I had planned to reveal it through the book as a surprise. A sort of revenge for all the times they’d teased me. But my mind changed after seeing the articles North had recently put out in the press.
[North’s shocking predictions for the plot. Is this truly something a human can imagine?]
[Even demon worshippers—no, even demons themselves—would shake their heads at this.]
[As civilization develops, human rights improve. That is why the slave trade was officially abolished.]
[However, this is treating people not as humans, but as mere livestock. How is this any different from disposing of diseased cattle?]
As the serialization of Blood and Iron resumed, North began making his usual provocative predictions. He offered a detailed forecast regarding Nazi Germany’s massacres. He predicted they would take people under the guise of the slave trade, use them for labor, and then "dispose" of them once they were broken.
It wasn't just for labor; they were used for various purposes, but the end was always disposal. The methods of disposal he predicted were quite cruel—throwing them into large pits or simply executing them by firing squad.
It was a prediction that was quite close to the "correct answer," but people poured out fierce criticism, asking how a human being could even think of such things.
‘Cecile was so furious she wanted to go catch him right then and there.’
Naturally, Cecile, who was deeply immersed in the plight of the Jews, came to me with a face full of rage. She asked if this wasn't beyond treating people as livestock or tools—if it wasn't treating them like mere insects. She insisted that if such things were done, God would never forgive them. She made things quite difficult for me in many ways.
That’s why I decided to tell her the truth. I was worried she might take independent action, or that the entire Demon Tribe might rise up in protest.
"……Isaac."
"Yes, Mari."
"Was Nazi Germany a country where demons lived on a national scale?"
Mari, who was relatively less shocked than Cecile, asked quietly. I fell into thought for a moment at her question.
The reason I told her, and not just Cecile, was because of the child in her womb. Until she reached a stable period, she needed to be careful of even a falling leaf. As someone who wanted to prevent even the slightest shock, I felt it was my duty to inform her.
"Rather than demons…… it was a country that followed a demon wearing the mask of a hero. Hitler was the hero of Nazi Germany, and it was a time when hatred toward the Jews had reached its peak."
"To do such things for the sake of one man’s ideals……"
"You’re right. God wouldn't allow it. But in our world, God does not interfere in the mortal realm."
In many media formats, Nazis and demons are treated as one and the same. There are even games dedicated entirely to killing Nazis, which says it all. They are people who deserve to die, yet it’s ironic how much popularity they garner as villains.
"……Were they punished?"
Cecile asked me in a low, heavy voice, having recovered somewhat from the shock. I looked at her face. It was a complex expression, a mix of anger and bitterness. She was furious at the acts of the Holocaust, yet she sincerely grieved for the tragedy of the Jews.
While the readers treat Blood and Iron as a fictional story, the people I love know that all of this is history. It wasn't strange at all for Cecile to feel both anger and sadness simultaneously. After all, the Demon Tribe had once faced a situation similar to that of the Jews.
"Yes. Nazi Germany is completely defeated. And everyone who had even the slightest connection to the Nazis was punished. Most of the high-ranking officials were sent straight to execution."
"And after that, the Jews founded Israel with the help of the world?"
"You remembered. That’s right."
"……"
Cecile fell into deep thought after hearing my answer. Her melancholy eyes looked as if they might shed tears at any moment.
"……Did all of Nazi Germany agree with the massacre of the Jews?"
While Cecile was lost in thought, Mari whispered her question to me. Since it was real history, she seemed to be treading carefully.
"No, that’s not the case. While it’s true most people went along with the Nazis, there were those who still had a conscience. A representative figure among them was Oskar Schindler."
"……Oskar Schindler?"
"Yes."
"I’ve heard that name somewhere…… who was he again……"
Mari tilted her head, trying to recall Oskar Schindler. But it would be hard for her to remember him immediately. Although he had been mentioned here and there in Blood and Iron, he was always described as a corrupt businessman.
Even during the invasion of Poland, he had jumped in just to make a fortune, joined the Nazi Party, and was a very greedy individual. Because of that, many people didn't know much about Schindler. He was just treated as a "passing extra" and hadn't been spotlighted yet.
"……I thought he was described as a corrupt businessman?"
Cecile then voiced her doubt. As expected of a demon with an extraordinary memory, she seemed to remember everything. I nodded in response to her question. Then, I began to speak about the man who received the title of "Righteous Among the Nations" from the Jews.
"That’s right. He was like that at first. But as time went on, he began to protect the Jews. It was as if he felt something after seeing the atrocities of Nazi Germany."
"How ironic. While people are falling into madness in the midst of war, a worldly and selfish man becomes more human."
"Are you going to write about him too?"
Mari, having noticed something after Cecile’s comment, asked quickly. I responded with only a smile.
Oskar Schindler is a righteous man who cannot be left out of the history of World War II. There were many other righteous people besides him, but he was a unique case. A greedy and selfish businessman undergoes spiritual growth and protects the Jews. If you just heard the premise, you’d laugh and ask if that was even possible.
Perhaps because of this, there were even claims later on that sought to disparage Schindler. However, the fact that he went bankrupt while protecting the Jews is enough to refute them all.
"It’s not just Schindler. There’s also a story that Cecile-noona might like."
"A story I might like?"
"Yes. A Nazi Party member who helped with the massacre of the Jews and then fled, but was eventually captured by those same Jews and executed. By the way, this is also a true story."
"Can you tell me about it?"
The life returned to her red eyes, which had been gloomy just a moment ago. When it came to her own race, she wore her emotions on her sleeve. Since I had already revealed the Holocaust, I decided to tell her other stories as well.
The story I was about to tell her was about Adolf Eichmann, a tale perfectly suited for a saga of revenge or poetic justice. He wouldn't appear until after the Holocaust was in full swing, but since I’d already given spoilers, it didn't matter.
"The story goes like this……"
After hearing the whole story, Cecile’s reaction could be defined in one way.
"What a relief. If a piece of trash like that had lived a long, healthy life, I wouldn't have been able to sleep."
She felt thoroughly vindicated.
As the appearance of the Holocaust drew nearer, the plot of Blood and Iron was undergoing a sudden shift.
The first reason was that the Soviet Union, which had been pushed back helplessly by Germany, had finally retreated all the way to Moscow.
The second reason was that Finland, which had lost land to the Soviet Union, had joined Nazi Germany.
And finally, because of what happened that December……
[Tora! Tora! Tora!]
[Japan finally breaks all common sense. An air raid on the United States without a declaration of war!]
[Can Japan truly bring down the giant known as the United States?]
[But why?]
It was because of the Attack on Pearl Harbor, which had made the United States absolutely livid. Up to this point, the development was well within expectations.
However, as always, the world had a way of moving in strange directions.
[Just what is this 'Oil' that Japan would go to such extremes for it?]
[Oil, once looked down upon as 'Black Water.' Could this Black Water be a fuel that can replace coal?]
[The commonality between coal and Black Water is high firepower. Xenon must have intended this point.]
Oil was beginning to emerge as a major topic of discussion.
