And so, that day…
Kanna received a report. It was from Freesia, regarding Mogrei.
So, I finally understood why Freesia reacted that way.
The northern lands where the Shiodore clan resides…
The Raksha clan is a newly emerging power there.
They’re not entirely new though. They were originally nobles from the northwest who expanded their territory and naturally extended their influence northward.
To be precise, due to monsters rampaging in the west, populations scattered on the outskirts fled to the Raksha clan seeking refuge. The report says the Raksha clan took this opportunity to develop their city.
As clans grow larger, territorial disputes are bound to happen.
Though an all-out war hasn’t started yet, constant conflicts between the established powers and the rising forces continue.
And above them all stands the Raksha clan.
Most of those under their command are small baronies or viscounties, but they’re families who have long fought against monsters at the frontier.
The central authority has little control over them.
Even the Marquis, with all his military might and responsibilities, keeps getting restrained for a reason.
The problem is both the Raksha clan and the Shiodore clan hold positions similar to the Marquis. Either one will absorb the other, or they’ll fight to the d*ath.
Coexistence?
No such thing exists.
When people fight to protect what they hold dear, they’re capable of anything.
Anything at all.
That’s why many righteous individuals end up becoming twisted as they age. Because family comes before ideals.
Out of love.
They do whatever it takes to protect. Once you grow attached, deviation becomes common. Many legends have fallen due to love.
Even if you start out harvesting souls with noble intentions, when young ones become harvesters, they can still change.
Tisah didn’t go down that path though.
Anyway, this conflict between the two clans might not be as significant right now.
It means the western front is retreating. From the perspective of Brightshin-born harvesters traveling the nation, a city at the northwest edge has vanished.
Fell to monsters.
Monsters never seen before broke through existing defenses. For example, while they prepared giant-slaying equipment expecting one massive beast, swarms of ant-like creatures appeared instead, or vice versa.
So I sifted through the memories of harvesters.
Time is infinite, and there are countless perspectives to analyze.
And I found a pattern suggesting the cause.
From the capital to the far west…
There was Maleficent. A witch who firmly controlled that region. In other words, she kept the west stable.
But when she died, that suppression ended. All creatures began competing for the newly available territory. Meaning, the environment changed.
Since this wasn’t a mechanical system but an ecosystem, the changes didn’t appear immediately.
They probably tested the waters, wondering if the previous presence truly disappeared, then gradually moved. That’s likely why we’re only seeing the effects now, nearly half a year later.
Additionally, there’s another factor.
The rejection of mechanical devices in society also played a role.
In immediate combat zones, mechanical devices are still widely used. But that’s not the issue – it’s the regions away from the front lines.
The cities supporting these areas collapsed. Walls alone mean nothing without support behind them.
The sudden environmental shift among monsters combined with the rejection of mechanical devices caused problems.
Many people died in the west.
Unfortunately, it was beyond my sphere of influence, so I gained no warmth from them.
If only I’d noticed sooner… I could’ve gone to help when word spread about the deaths in the west and harvested more souls.
What was I doing back then?
Hmm…
It was during summer vacation.
Yeah.
Can’t be helped.
Anyway, the impact was significant. People aren’t stupid, so they did try to contain the expansion of monster territories. However, vast lands became monster habitats.
That much human territory was lost, leading to decreased productivity.
Now I understand why prices weren’t stabilizing.
Some secretly continued using old power systems to run mechanical devices, while others developed new ones utilizing human vitality – though we call those combustion systems since they burn life force.
They’ve replaced old power systems with combustion systems to keep the mechanical devices running.
At first, those who zealously destroyed mechanical devices eventually rationalized continuing to use them when they saw the financial impact.
After enthusiastically working for someone else’s justice, they found themselves standing amidst ashes.
Unless, of course, the missing head of g*n and Rufu Company – or the force that absorbed them – sabotaged things early on. As it stands, we’ve only suffered losses.
Surprisingly, this turned out well compared to other scenarios.
Previously, a revolution overturned a certain country, turning a prince into just another man. This concept of dethroning kings spread widely.
Ironically, nations that embraced mechanical devices more readily were affected most by this idea.
The concept of overthrowing kings must be quite frightening.
Some countries even attempted new political systems to replace monarchy.
Then a neighboring country declared war, fearing this threatened royal authority – supposedly to suppress rebels and save the royal family.
Yes, they launched the invasion while the nation was in chaos due to the anti-mechanical wave. Things quickly worsened.
More people risked their lives fleeing from both sides.
Some snuck across borders by train, while others crossed directly through monster-infested territories.
Foreigners frequently appear in border towns observed by harvesters.
Especially in regions surrounded by monster territories where even armies would struggle to cross.
And these areas don’t reject refugees.
Because they’re always short on manpower.
International relations are a mess right now.
Really, they are.
I originally reviewed all memories to understand the relationship between Kanna and Mogrei, but this was the result.
Isn’t this beyond the petty squabbles between your group and mine at some small school?
Nope.
Well, sure, I like wars. And I enjoy when people k*ll each other, creating a harsh society where cheap human lives vanish en masse.
But that’s only when my harvesters are above it all, delivering warmth to me!
Right now, the warmth flowing there is slipping through my fingers!
Ugh…
Maybe I should advocate for peace after all.
Not that declaring peace now would do any good – I’d just get lynched by both sides. So instead, I’ll turn whichever side wins or loses into harvesters.
And warn them about the dangers of their world.
Or maybe not necessary here?
We’ll confirm memories after creating harvesters. If they don’t know their country’s situation, we’ll enlighten them then.
Just don’t make it overly religious like in the First World.
Since I can’t openly interfere, religions focused on saving others are useless to me. If a religion requires killing non-believers to save believers… Hmm, that sounds appealing.
Let’s keep religion as an option.
For now, we can only wait for duels to conclude.
Rather than joining factions that clearly label good and evil to punish the wicked, it’s better to maintain separation.
Neither faction is particularly attractive anyway.
On a moonlit night, I organized my thoughts while preparing tomorrow’s meat in the kitchen.
When I finished and stepped into the living room, I saw a bag sitting under the moonlight.
Rabo hung nearby, laughing cheerfully.
While emotions may only bring joy, joy is still joy.
*
Fourth World.
Here, even if demons chose a mundane d*ath, not much has changed.
Well, there is one change.
Remember that girl who obtained demonic knowledge? She immediately fled the mansion without looking back.
Since Jeber decided to send her away and clean up the mess…
The girl ascended from the laboratory to the mansion, shoved aside the artificial humans around her, and smashed through a window to escape.
With her level of enhancement, stopping her was impossible.
Once she became a harvester, the demon gathered all its remaining power and transferred it to her – likely their last chance.
She was destined for immediate modification and cultivation anyway. Just like the previous God-Demon child in my absence – though not a harvester then, she still had bombs implanted and her soul twisted.
It wasn’t simple loyalty to Jeber as her father.
Her soul was manipulated to unconditionally love Jeber.
All special ops from Lampinion who invaded the mansion died!
Thus, she became free.
Jeber went berserk, scrapping the upper-level artificial humans and playing with the two recently created demon children.
Meaning he vented his frustration and slept with them.
It’s debauched, but what can you do? He’s the only person around here.
As for the girl?
I’m not sure what she’ll do. Unfortunately, she obtained the demon’s memories after becoming a harvester. If she had them beforehand, we might remember her thoughts as a demon. But currently, there’s no such memory.
We can only watch through her eyes.
She’s desperately fleeing the city.
What will become of her, inheriting the demon’s power?
Suddenly starting a side story, this is getting exciting. I hope she does something cruel in a childlike manner. As a harvester, she’ll surely deliver plenty of warmth.
Hi hi.
