Nihonkoku Shoukan Volume 1 Chapter 3 Part1

Minasan Oidemasu! This is Yukkuri demasu!

I have translated until part 5. It's just hadn't been edited yet.

Yukkuri is lazying around as always and forgot to put the maps. Check for the Map about the conclusion of Chapter 1. Check for the Map about the conclusion of Chapter 2.

Scroll down the page to see the map.

As always,

DISCLAIMER: There is no guarantee that my translation is 100% correct. Please correct me if I was wrong.

Plus, if you want to thank someone goes to the guys at Ainus.h.i.+ Translation who give me the RAW for this LN. They're the real MVPs.

Author:

みのろう (Minorou)

Translator:

Yukkuri Oniisan!

Editor:

Online Grammar Editor!

Chapter 3

The Counterattack

Part 1

Central Calendar Year 1639, Month 8, Day 29.

Kingdom of Louria, Capital City Jin-Haag

This capital city was constructed above a gentle hill, giving it the appearance of a city sticking out from a mountain if seen from afar. Then the summit of this city, where the King resides, was the towering edifice of Haag Castle.

At first, it looked like a mountain castle, but there was no slope of a mountain.

Surrounding the prosperous royal capital was three layers of walls, furthermore, the other side of the wall was nothing more than a plain covered by short gra.s.s. As one traveled through the cobbled road that crisscrossed this plain towards the capital, they would see the city rose behind the walls, as if it was a humongous fortress. In addition, from within the city, one could see the endless plain beyond the wall, which gave the citizen of the Capital felt that they were special.

The triple walls height in order from the outermost layer were 20 meters, 25 meters, and 30 meters. Each wall was a structure constructed so they would impede invaders while the defender could repulse them with bow and arrows from atop the walls.

It was like they were protected by the impregnable iron wall. After annexing numerous surrounding countries, the Kingdom of Louria become the largest nation on the Rodenius Continent, so there was no more country that could attack its capital city. Even if a rebellion rose up and a large army arrived at the capital by surprise, the three walls' defense would obstruct the enemy's progress while Louria could make preparation to counter-attack the enemy by overwhelming force and annihilate them. These walls not only aimed for hostile forces inside the Rodenius Continent, but also as a defensive measure against invasion from the powerful states of the Civilized Lands.

At Haag Castle, a council of war was about to be held.

The main members of the council were 3 people.

·         Kingdom's Defense Knights Order's General, Patagene,

·         One of the Three Great Generals: Miminel

·         The Head of the Royal Magicians, Yamirei.

Other than them, there were many other military officers in attendance. The members of the Kingdom's Defense Knights Order, the Captain of the Capital's Defense Infantry Battalion, the Royal Dragoon Knights, and other units that were essential for national defense were all present. A man wearing a black robe was present as an observer.

However, every face of the attendees were grasped by a dark expression.

「We will now open the council.」

The presiding officer declared the start of the meeting.

「General Patagene, may you please explain the current situation.」

Prompted by the presiding officer, Patagene stood up.

His face, which was always full of confidence, was now filled with exhaustion and became a shadow of his former self.

「Everybody, my deepest grat.i.tude for your presence in this emergency meeting. I will now explain the current status of QuToyne invasion operation…… on the war this time, in the opening of the conflict, our army had succeeded in capturing the town of Gim, the border city of QuToyne Princ.i.p.ality. By using the opportunity while the enemy attention was directed on the land battles, we send a great fleet of 4,400 wars.h.i.+ps and 140,000 soldiers to invade Trade City Maihark. Our plan was on good progress up until this point.」

He paused his words as he took a deep sigh.

「At that time, the nation of j.a.pan entered an alliance with the QuToyne Princ.i.p.ality and announced its partic.i.p.ation in the war. It seemed that j.a.pan did not recognize us as a nation, but as armed insurgents instead.」

「Such travesty……」

Even though this might be just the action of a frustrated enemy of their strings of defeat, to have the att.i.tude to send something like a provocation to Louria, the military officers voiced out their irritation.

「While traveling to Maihark, our fleet of 4,400 wars.h.i.+ps clashed with 8 j.a.panese wars.h.i.+ps on the QuToyne waters. Unable to inflict damage on the enemy, our side lost 1,400 wars.h.i.+ps. In addition, we also lost 250 wyverns of the Dragoon Knights who had been dispatched as aerial support. In the subsequent report, it is stated that the soldiers that partic.i.p.ated in that war had been greatly demoralized and temporarily can't partic.i.p.ate in any action.」

The military officers had heard about the unconfirmed battle report before, but they didn't believe in it, 「there's no way such a large difference of power exists!」. However, when that report was officially released in the council, they were astonished that it was the truth.

If they were able to sink even a single opponent s.h.i.+p, it would mean that they have a chance of winning. However, considering the huge amount of casualties and yet without any military gain, it could be said that it was a futile endeavor. It will remain in Rodenius Continent's History as a great defeat.

「After capturing Gim, the Army sent the Eastern Lords Army as the vanguard unit in order to conquer Fortress City Ejei. However, just after they finished establis.h.i.+ng their camp, their magic communication ceased. The scout investigation discovered extensive traces of destruction, so it is conjectured that they had been annihilated by really powerful explosion magic projections. The Main Force of the Eastern Subjugation Army that remained in Gim also received unidentified attack that is considered to originate from the j.a.panese Army ── very few survived ── for all intent and purpose…… they were annihilated.」

The large conference hall fell into a heavy silence. No one ever experienced this kind of situation in their previous invasion wars. There were many who were agonizing on how they would explain this to their subordinates.

「General Patagene, just what kind of enemy is j.a.pan? That vaguely-worded『Unidentified Attack』, how can we defend against it?」

A defense army officer asked.

「There is a report of an arrow of light that pursued the wyverns during the naval battle. The survivors of Gim also testified that 『the wyverns were shot down by a light with smoking trails』. So both of these might be a similar thing, correct?」

Patagene had read the report and was aware of the similarity. He asked the magician.

「Yamirei-dono, what kind of magic is this?」

「It will take a large amount of mana to bring down a wars.h.i.+p or a wyvern with just one shot. For 250 wyverns, a large number of magicians are needed. In addition, to add a tracking function into it, honestly, this doesn't like what a human coul-…… No‼」

Yamirei who was examining the doc.u.ments on his hand opened his eyes wide as if he noticed something.

「No way…… It can't be……」

「Yamirei-dono, is something wrong?」

「A pursuing arrow of light…… It's just like the guided light magic bullet in the legend! Can it be that they are the Ancient Magi-Empire!?」

Yamirei notices the similarity of j.a.pan's supposedly utilized magic with the super-weapon 『Guided Light Magic Bullet』 used by the Ancient Magi-Empire mentioned in the legends.

The legendary superpower that was known by everyone in this world  ── the Ancient Magi-Empire.

A country of a superior race of humanity, who treated other races than themselves as livestock, an arrogant nation who didn't fear even the G.o.ds.

Other than the ancient superpower that left the 『Prophecy of Return』, he couldn't explain the current abnormal situation.

However, this conclusion was rejected by Miminel.

「If they are really the Ancient Magic Empire, they will not attempt to establish a diplomatic relations.h.i.+p with the neighboring countries. Furthermore, doesn't the legend mentioned that 『On the noon of the Return, the whole world will be engulfed by a brief darkness』?」

That kind of phenomenon where the day turned into the night hadn't happened yet. Instead, there was a day when 『the night briefly became as bright as day』. It happened about seven months ago, the day j.a.pan was transferred to this world.

「Yes, you're right……」

Pategene himself almost believed that it was the Return of the Magic Empire, as he loudly cleared his throat.

「Hrumph. If that is the case, then we must consider the possibility of the j.a.panese forces attacking the Capital. I would like to hear everyone's opinion on how we strengthen our defense from now on.」

「General, I have an idea about this matter.」

The strategy officer of the Defense Knight Order raised their hands.

「As you gentlemen already knew, Jin-Haag possessed three walls that needed to be breached through before reaching the inner city. Furthermore, these walls were constructed in such a way that it will be difficult to be conquered from the outside. It can be called as an impregnable iron wall…… No, an impregnable G.o.dly wall. The plains outside the city also provided an excellent field of view, so it will be easy to detect the enemy early. So I propose to establish a continuous 24 hours surveillance system, by increasing the guard s.h.i.+ft.」

It would take time for the enemy units to arrange their formation.

With a 24-hour early warning system, even when the enemy approached and established their campsite in the night, they would be able to send troops ahead to disturb them. Or so what the strategy officer's plan will be.

「Also, according to the Magic Communication Record, the previous j.a.panese Army's explosion magic projections were conducted when our army was not moving. Taking this into the consideration, if the cavalry keeps moving then it would be unlikely for that magic to hit them. There are also 150 wyverns remained for the Capital defense. Though it is still unclear what kind of magic or armament the light arrows are, as long as we make sure that the wyvern took flight in several small groups from different locations instead from a single location, we can estimate their trajectory and have a clue on where to counterattack. The Capital's defense is very strong. Even if the j.a.panese Army arrives to lay a siege on the city, this Jin-Haag won't fall that easily. They might have annihilated our soldiers and units, but we still have a hand to strike them. To arrive at the Capital, they need to pa.s.s several cities, so let place soldiers on each location. Surely they won't come to the capital with enemies position still on their rear. Even if they go straightly to the Capital, we can perform a pincer attack and wipe them all.」

The strategy officer spoke with great confidence.

The military arguments seemed to be correct, and every military staff was relieved to some extent. No matter how powerful the j.a.panese Army will be, they believed that with its strengthened defensive position the capital city of the Kingdom of Louria won't fall.

「Now, let's discuss the strategy to conquer QuToyne Princ.i.p.ality from hereafter……」

Though the defensive one was a simple matter, when the war council turned their discussion into offensive operation, n.o.body could come up with a good strategy. Because of the utter lack of information of the true ident.i.ty of the j.a.panese Army's attacks and their army composition, the council ground to a halt.

And without any particular solution, the council lasted until midnight.

☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽

At the very least the Kingdom of Louria had no intention for a scorched-earth policy like a certain Empire in a certain manga.

NEXT CHAPTER: j.a.panese did the Gendo pose, on 19-06-19 if I don't get that busy at work.