Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Prelude to War
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"How is the betrayal of the Asbestos mage our Blackscale's fault?"
A month ago, in Blackscale.
Orjan, the Grand Assembly Hall.
Before Kyle arrived, the ministers were engaged in a heated discussion.
"There are rumors that Prince Basen didn't subdue the mage but instead won him over."
"Is that true?"
"Who knows if it's true or not."
Even without stirring, all news from Blackscale reached Orjan.
But sifting truth from falsehood was left to the listener.
"How did Prince Basen end up going that far? Wasn't it originally just an expedition to explore the eastern mountains?"
"Did you see that new weapon, the cannon, they demonstrated recently? They say it was being transported to the southern colonies. With a shortage of warships, the expedition team was included."
"So, did His Majesty know about all this and plan it?"
"But there wasn't much opposition back then, right? That's why they even assigned overseers."
The Blackscale ministers, who always thought they controlled the situation, grew only more confused as an unprecedented continental incident unfolded.
"Let's set aside talk of Prince Basen for now. The important thing is that the Five Alliances aren't pleased with us."
"'Not pleased'? You're putting it too mildly. They're openly demanding compensation for damages and an apology. And Prince Basen is at the center of it all. We can't just drop the topic."
"That's just an excuse. They've always needed a pretext to target Blackscale—have you forgotten that?"
"Exactly. Once that pretext is cleared up, they won't have grounds to pick a fight..."
At that moment, the outer doors of the Grand Assembly Hall swung open.
"His Majesty Kyle Rak Orjan arrives!"
The left-side guards rushed in, and Kyle walked down the center path.
Kyle sat on the throne and spoke.
"I'm pressed for time, so we'll skip the formalities. You've all heard the news, I assume."
In response, Administrative Minister Rabun said,
"You mean holding Blackscale responsible for the mage who fattened his purse in Asbestos and then fled?"
"Yes."
"The ministers have been in session since early this morning, discussing it."
"Any progress?"
Rabun summarized the key points.
"First, we need to verify if Asbestos's claims are true. If so, whether the responsibility truly lies with Prince Basen and General Iyan Tata, who led the pirate suppression. And even if all that's confirmed, we must decide if meeting Asbestos's demands serves our national interests."
The ministers, on edge from the all-night meeting, nodded in agreement with Rabun's recap.
But Kyle, having heard it all, shook his head.
"You seem to have skipped the most important topic."
"Pardon? What important topic...?"
"We need to prepare for war, don't we?"
The ministers exchanged uneasy glances.
Asbestos's demands were outrageous.
And it was true that Blackscale and the Five Alliances had clashed over every trivial matter for the past century, souring relations.
But after too long a period of peace, they complacently assumed no real war would break out.
Kyle thought differently.
"We will fight the Five Alliances. And as our founder Rakrak once said, if we fight, we must win."
At that, Finance Minister Nirgak stepped forward.
"But Your Majesty, it's still uncertain, isn't it? You might call it mere theory, but war is something Blackscale must avoid, even at great cost."
Though it directly opposed the king's view, most ministers seemed to agree.
Kyle felt regretful.
"I wish that were the case."
"Then why...?"
Kyle turned his head.
Summer was approaching.
One of the assembly hall's folding doors stood open.
The sun hung low but already carried intense heat.
"If the gods desire it, can mere mortals walking the earth stand in their way?"
Blackscale's nobility had a duty to serve as soldiers in wartime.
Lizardmen also had high fertility rates, and their nature allowed men and women alike to fight, so lizardmen made up a large proportion of the troops.
This trend persisted in other nations too—elite units with good equipment and combat training typically came from the founding race.
These forces also served as a class system, garrisoning the capital Orjan, repelling pirates, guarding borders, and forming the standing army, numbering just over 10,000.
'But I can't move the entire army.'
Seong-un had heard Eldar's report on Runda but didn't pay it much mind.
Ultimately, even if Runda joined the Five Alliances, the big picture wouldn't change—and he didn't think she'd betray them anyway.
'Runda's simple. She sides with the strong.'
For Seong-un, it was easy to predict, making it convenient.
What puzzled him more was Eldar. He'd noticed no signs of betrayal, but couldn't fathom why, leaving a nagging unease.
'No betrayal at this timing?'
Of course, Seong-un never let his personal feelings affect his gameplay.
'The issue isn't the standing army—it's the conscripts.'
10,000 troops alone couldn't face the entire Five Alliances.
Nor could he send the full standing army out for war.
'A certain ratio must guard regions, another must be deployed outward. The standing army are elites—if overcommitted to one side, overall force quality drops.'
Fortunately, Seong-un wasn't too worried about this.
Lost World allowed fine control in some areas, but not others—especially national affairs, where players couldn't micromanage systems directly.
They could only indirectly influence by selecting ministers' abilities and tendencies for court entry or dismissal.
This often led to insufficient forces, suboptimal troop quality or composition deviating from player intent.
If the player had successfully shaped the court as desired, things would go well; otherwise, they'd fight with a ragtag army.
But Seong-un wasn't concerned.
'Being smart is the best.'
Kyle Rak Orjan devised an appropriate force structure from his seat.
First, he split the standing army into two: Central Army and Provincial Army.
The Provincial Army stayed for regional defense; the Central Army reorganized forces centered on Orjan for handling rebellions and security gaps.
Per Kyle, this Central Army was the vanguard for aggressively striking external foes.
Separately, Kyle ordered additional conscription.
These extra troops split into Central and Provincial drafts, mirroring the standing army division.
'Central forces draw from less critical areas even in war. Provincial ones need rapid extras for defense, but with basic training and light duties otherwise—farming, etc.—to stockpile resources maximally in wartime.'
Thus, 4,000 Central Army and 8,000 First Central Conscripts gathered.
Sequential recruitment minimized civilian unrest and allowed more later.
'Pulling all war-ready troops at once gives short-term edge but long-term harm. Imbalanced gender ratios stalling population growth is common in prolonged wars. And this war...'
Seong-un gauged the numbers, then shook his head.
'...will be enormously long.'
Even Earth's history rarely saw continent-spanning wars.
Conquerors built overwhelming advantages via tech gaps, but most lasted lifetimes, sometimes passed to heirs.
Seong-un didn't see himself or Kyle at that level.
'Above all, same continent means similar civ levels.'
Anyway, the swiftly gathered 8,000 First Central Conscripts underwent intensive training.
Meanwhile, diplomacy soured rapidly.
With soft-line ministers, Blackscale sent envoys seeking reconciliation short of full apology—but Asbestos beheaded them, scorning mockery.
A war already brewing spread its atmosphere across both nations and the continent as word reached the people.
Kyle named 2,000 Central Army plus 8,000 First Central Conscripts—10,000 total—as the Ironclad Legion.
The Ironclad Legion marched north from Orjan.
A land unknown to any.
"Do we really have to do it this way?"
"You know not all strategies are visible..."
Wisdom slowly rotated his star-shaped head.
Before him stood a figure wearing a large lion mask alone—Jangwan.
Wisdom said,
"Are you sure about this?"
"No."
"...Then why?"
Jangwan replied,
"I don't like Nebula. I don't want him conquering this continent."
Wisdom said,
"Even so, it's just a game. I don't want to lose to Nebula either. But if we give our all and still fail, that's that."
"You're right, Wisdom."
Jangwan blinked the lion mask's eyes, then shook his head as if annoyed.
He tossed aside the massive lion mask covering his upper body.
A black-haired woman, reaching Wisdom's chest, stood there.
"It's just a game. I'll execute the best strategy I've devised."
"...Hmm."
"You think betrayal's unlikely for you, but it can come from anywhere. So, a safe backup plan is needed."
"But executing this weakens your power. Hardly a pure gain."
"You know that's not true."
Wisdom knew Jangwan was right.
A gap still existed between Nebula and other players, hard to close.
"Apostles."
"Even with perfect prep, their presence can decide victory or defeat. I don't know much, but stats say so."
"True."
"Then we're done. Don't feel burdened. It's not exploiting—it's a strategy for all."
Looking down, Wisdom saw countless kobold priests in prayer.
The lead kobold high priest raised his head.
His eyes gleamed with holy light.
Jangwan had possessed him.
"Come."
Wisdom called his tribe's prime candidate.
Ledin, one of Stone King Dermaldin's hidden sons.
Wisdom possessed Ledin and drew a dagger.
The massacre later called the "Day of Blood" began.
✓ You can now select an 'Apostle'!