Side Story – Friction [1]
[9]
Luna didn’t need to look at the map.
She could easily reproduce the map of the continent in her mind without needing to glance at it again.
The expansion speed of the demonic realm, which had once spread as if to engulf the entire continent, was rapidly decreasing once more.
This indicated that the World Tree had chosen to actively protect the continent with its remaining strength.
The Elf’s belief that their mother truly loved this continent ultimately proved not to be misplaced.
A new boundary line between the demonic realm and the continent would soon emerge.
However, since the balance had already been disrupted, this boundary would inevitably be far more fluid than in the past.
If left unchecked, each demon would become a medium for erosion, expanding the demonic realm.
The demons would continue to push into broader areas of the continent, eventually seeking to cover it entirely.
Thus, those who lived on the continent were fated to endlessly struggle within this uncertain boundary zone, neither fully belonging to the demonic realm nor the continent itself.
“…”
Establishing defensive lines and repelling the assaults of the evil god’s followers was, realistically, entirely possible.
While the situation might differ within the demonic realm, outside it, the continent’s forces clearly held the upper hand.
Although the continent had lost much of its high-tier power due to the series of events beginning with the demonic realm expedition, the same was true for the evil god’s followers—any force above the junior lord level had been wiped out.
At this point, the only entity capable of single-handedly turning the tide was… Anthonyus.
An unprecedented worst and strongest apostle, one who had independently initiated contracts with the evil gods.
However, after collapsing the papacy, the fallen apostle had remained dormant.
Despite possessing a force that Luna herself couldn’t counteract unless she intervened directly, he remained silent.
“How long… will he hold out?”
Luna muttered quietly as she recalled the last time she saw Anthonyus.
Neither Luna nor anyone else could predict how long the hatred and will Anthonyus harbored would keep him as Anthonyus.
That point could come tomorrow or several years from now.
“…”
For now, stabilizing and reinforcing the defensive line against the demonic realm was crucial.
Defending the southern region geographically fell to Speira’s forces. They would surely take an active role in defense to gain public support.
Thanks to this, the empire was less burdened. Though the frontlines were wide, they needed to focus primarily on blocking the influx of the evil god’s followers from the collapsed Alimo.
What Luna had to decide now was how far to allow the expansion of the forces centered around Speira.
Misusing influence could be handled by applying moderate pressure and suppression for now.
However, there were regions that absolutely had to be secured, even considering potential direct conflicts.
“…Grania.”
Grania.
A city located on the outskirts of the desert.
Luna had visited Grania with Ray.
“…”
On their way through, they met the elves and the World Tree.
And Ray had resolved there to burn the remainder of his life.
As memories Luna didn’t wish to recall surfaced strongly, she tightly closed her eyes before slowly opening them again.
“…”
Regardless.
Grania was a desolate city, but it housed the most critical strategic facility: the Warp Gate.
Most importantly, securing Grania made cooperation and exchange with the ‘Elves’ possible.
However, Grania, where the empire’s central influence had always been weak, had chosen to collaborate with Speira’s Sacred Country.
Not just Grania, but the nearby cities in the southwestern region had historically been closer to the south rather than the imperial center, and now these areas were almost entirely falling under Speira’s influence.
Though this area wasn’t highly productive, having been hit hard by desertification, losing it would make it impossible to dispatch reinforcements to the World Tree’s domain in times of crisis.
Could they really entrust the protection of the World Tree to Speira and her followers?
A question so absurd it made even Luna smirk derisively.
“…It needs to be reclaimed.”
To draw a clear line against those creeping forces.
It had to be secured no matter what.
*
“I need more time.”
It was a story she’d heard before.
Still, Johanna turned her gaze from the throne to look at Luna.
Luna supplemented the explanation she had previously lacked.
“…I need time to reach beyond.”
Reaching beyond wouldn’t save Ray alone.
But it was certain that reaching beyond was necessary to save Ray.
The more actively Luna moved to protect the continent, the longer it would take to reach that point.
It couldn’t be delayed too long. Moreover, in Luna’s view, time favored not the continent blessed by the World Tree but something else.
This was a race against time for both sides.
“I need your help, Johanna.”
Luna repeated the same request.
Someone had to carry on the bloody struggles in her stead.
This someone had to be someone Luna trusted and strong enough to withstand countless calamities.
Johanna, facing Luna who asked her to walk through endless darkness, requested only one thing:
“Keep your promise.”
“…Yes.”
Yes, that was enough.
Johanna nodded and rose from her seat.
“So… where do I go?”
“Grania.”
“Ah, there?”
The place where Ray and Luna had gone.
The place where Johanna, unable to follow Ray, harbored a secret sense of regret.
The place where she secretly yearned to stand beside Ray like Luna someday but suppressed such feelings outwardly, leading to occasional frustration.
Johanna felt a small connection to Ray through Grania and nodded with slight satisfaction.
“I’ll prepare. Let me know if there’s anything before we leave.”
Johanna glanced back at the throne one last time with a somber gaze before turning away.
After Johanna left, Luna stood still and moved her lips.
“Jimy, please accompany Johanna.”
“…Alright.”
Jimy, leaning against a pillar, sighed and asked Luna:
“Is it a dangerous place?”
“It is. So please protect Johanna well.”
The danger wasn’t merely due to combat but also because anyone might stab a knife in the back at any moment.
Had this been a matter of vested interests, they could have filtered out potential threats beforehand, but the unpredictable actions of those driven by hatred or faith were harder to foresee.
With Jimy’s insight, however, even minor traitors would be easily identified.
Jimy’s acumen and experience shone brightest in chaotic battlefields, and Johanna needed to leverage that.
Luna sternly warned Jimy:
“Don’t fail. It would be bothersome.”
Since allowing the existence of forces coalescing around Speira meant friction was inevitable.
If they didn’t firmly suppress it from the start, they’d eventually have to redraw the entire situation.
Understanding the situation, Jimy nodded.
“We just need to secure Grania’s Warp Gate safely, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“But… if Grania is occupied and they’ve rendered the Warp Gate unusable, won’t we end up isolated?”
“That’s fine.”
If Grania were secured, collaboration with the elves—not just humans—would be easily attainable.
Of course, if the opposing side sabotaged the Warp Gate by blowing it up, Johanna and Jimy would temporarily be isolated.
In an area largely under the influence of Speira’s supporters, deploying elite troops in small numbers deep inside was quite risky.
“Anyway, a warning needed to be sent.”
“…?”
Confused, Jimy received a twenty-sided artifact resembling a gemstone from Luna.
Examining it, Jimy asked:
“What is this? Is it an artifact for escape? Or can it summon people?”
“No.”
The ‘original’ version of the artifact Luna gave could theoretically perform such functions.
The original artifact, believed to be in possession of Speira after Ernst once owned it, was a top-tier artifact utilizing a special empowered Dragonheart.
The one Luna handed over was a replica that failed to replicate even half of the original’s capabilities.
Even though creating the replica required exceedingly rare materials and vast resources, it was essentially defective with minimal practical use.
Under ideal conditions, the unstable portal created by the replica could only transport substances the size of cookie crumbs for a fleeting moment.
Thus, for Luna, this artifact was worth no more than a disposable bomb.
*
Though it hadn’t been officially declared,
the continent now referred to the forces rallied around Speira as the Sacred Country.
And recently, the Empire had issued a clear warning to this Sacred Country.
A warning to withdraw from regions like Gracia in the southwestern part.
Since this issue involved securing warp gates, it wasn’t something the Sacred Country could casually concede.
Of course, in terms of sheer power, the Sacred Country was insignificant compared to the Empire.
Though the Sacred Country had succeeded in winning the hearts of the continent’s populace, should Luna decide to act decisively, destroying the Sacred Country would be effortless.
However, members of the Sacred Country were already growing arrogant.
They had confirmed that infringing on the Sacred Country’s symbolic status and losing the nearly depleted southern breadbasket would impose significant burdens on the new Empire.
Therefore, many advocated securing Grania and the warp gate to clearly delineate boundaries with the Empire while riding the current wave of momentum.
This choice leaned more toward fanaticism than rationality, advocating for a direct confrontation with the Empire.
When the Sacred Country tightened its stance, the Empire swiftly mobilized troops to reclaim Gracia by force.
Information about the Empire’s movements easily reached the Sacred Country.
With numerous individuals sympathetic to the Sacred Country and hostile towards the Empire, information leaked naturally.
“Johanna…”
Speira mentioned a name tinged with dark longing.
Luna was attempting to secure Gracia using high-tier powers she trusted completely, including Johanna.
In this situation, persisting with armed conflict against the Empire and provoking them…
Would greatly increase the likelihood of Luna resorting to extreme measures to annihilate the Sacred Country.
Speira fully understood this possibility.
And from her perspective, such an outcome wasn’t entirely undesirable.
“…”
She pondered how to respond.
“…It’s too early.”
The veil of fanaticism hadn’t yet thickened enough for corruption to set in from within.
Thus, openly revealing hostility too soon wouldn’t be wise.
However, subtly pushing matters forward wouldn’t hurt.
“The surviving Royal Guard should suffice.”
