Genjitsushugisha no Oukokukaizouki - Volume 19 - Chapter Ep

Epilogue: Reorganizing the Continent

About a month later, near Balm, the capital of the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom, in the royal castle of the dragon knights that was built into the mountainside...

In the meeting room there, a five-nation summit had been held to address the issue of magic bug syndrome. The representatives came from the Kingdom of Friedonia, the Great Tiger Kingdom of Haan, the Gran Chaos Empire, the Republic of Turgis, and the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago Kingdom. Over the past month, the meeting room had been rapidly remodeled and expanded, transforming it into what could now be called a conference hall, although the round table in the center remained unchanged.

The attendees in the room included: myself and Liscia from the Kingdom of Friedonia; Queen Jeanne and her consort Hakuya from the Euphoria Kingdom; Kuu, the head of the Republic of Turgis, along with his wife Leporina who served as his bodyguard; Queen Shabon and her consort Kishun from the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago Kingdom; Grand Bishop Souji and former saint Mary from the Lunarian Orthodox Papal State; King Garula from the Spirit Kingdom of Garlan, accompanied by Princess Elulu as the representative from the Father Island; Queen Sill from the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom; Mao, the representative of the Seadians in the north; and Shuukin, Lumiere, and Lombard, who represented the remaining retainers of the Great Tiger Empire of Haan. Additionally, Julius was present as a representative of the Kingdom of Lastania, which I had promised to restore.

To summarize, representatives from every nation in the southern hemisphere—except for Lady Tiamat of the Star Dragon Mountain Range—were gathered in this room. It was an impressive assembly of important figures, and that might even have been an understatement given the significance of this gathering. If a bomb were to go off in that room, the ensuing chaos would have made the troubles we had faced before seem insignificant in comparison.

To prevent such a disaster, this room was heavily guarded by security personnel from every country, as were the castle and the entire Dragon Knight Kingdom. Such a high level of security was necessary to accommodate the heads of all these nations in one location. Although discussions could have been conducted via broadcast, having all these leaders gathered together would convey to the people of the southern hemisphere that the decisions shaping the next era were being made by those present.

When the moment arrived, Sill, who occupied the chairperson’s position, spoke up. “Now, we will begin the second Balm Summit.”

Everyone present turned their attention to her. Sill had provided the location for this summit and was seen as a neutral party among all the nations involved, which is why she had been chosen to moderate. Although I had proposed the meeting, if I had taken on the role of moderator myself, it might have seemed like I was trying to follow in Fuuga’s footsteps.

“Now then, Souma E. Friedonia, the one who called for this summit, please proceed.”

“Right,” I said as I stood up when Sill called on me. “First, I’d like to express my gratitude to the leaders of each country who responded to my call, especially given how busy we all are. I’ve gathered you here today to discuss how to govern and bring stability to the Great Tiger Empire and the world, now that Fuuga Haan is no longer with us... Madam Mao, if you would please.”

Mao replied, “Okay,” and as she did, a map of the southern hemisphere was projected in the middle of the conference room.

The leaders, who had been informed in advance about this, remained calm, while the guards oohed and aahed.

“In short, we’re here today to reorganize the world,” I said, pointing at the map. Then I clapped my hands together. “Now that I have taken time out of your busy schedules, we all know each other well enough, so let’s skip the overly wordy formalities. I’d like you all to speak freely.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

I continued, “To begin, let’s address the easiest issues first. Our first topic is...the Republic of Turgis.”

“Ookya? You’re starting with us?” Kuu asked, tilting his head to the side. I nodded in response.

“The Republic of Turgis recently annexed the region of the Great Tiger Empire which used to be the Mercenary State of Zem, right?”

“Y-Yeah. But don’t go telling us to give it back, okay? Old Man Gimbal was put in charge of the territory by Moumei, the former viceroy, and he entrusted it to us because he believed we could govern it well. I know we’re bros and all, but no other country has any say in this.”

Kuu looked upset. Does he think I’m going to ask him to return the territory? How’d he jump to that conclusion?

“I said we’d start with the easier decisions first, didn’t I? Not only do I have no objections, but the Kingdom of Friedonia and the Euphoria Kingdom will also support your acquisition of the territory. Isn’t that right, Jeanne?”

I glanced over at her, and she nodded in agreement.

“Yes. The people of the Zem Region were the ones who requested the annexation, so even if my sister’s Mankind Declaration were still in effect, we wouldn’t be able to condemn you for it. If you can provide stability to that region, which has experienced too many changes in rulers, it would be a welcome development for my country as well.”

“There you have it. If our countries, which share borders with you, support it, then I don’t think any other country will object. Am I right?”

I looked at the other participants, who responded with a resounding “No objections.”

Kuu’s eyes widened in surprise at how easily his annexation had been accepted. “Hold on, we’ve got a border with the Lunarian Orthodox Papal State as well. Are you okay with this, Old Man Souji?”

When Kuu directed the question to Souji, he scratched his shaved head thoughtfully.

“I don’t really care. This is something I’ll discuss later, but my country is too much of a mess internally for me to govern right now... The Republic can do what it wants.”

“You heard the man, Kuu. Any other concerns?” I asked.

Kuu finally accepted the situation and shook his head. “No, I don’t have any. We’ll take good care of the Zem Region,” he declared, thumping his chest with one hand. But then... “Just one thing, Madam Jeanne,” he added hesitantly, looking in her direction.

“Hmm? What is it?” Jeanne asked, tilting her head to the side.

Kuu clapped his hands together in front of his face. “Please, let us borrow your Drill Princess. Zem has a lot of mountains, and the land isn’t very fertile, but if we can drill tunnels through the mountains, we can develop it into a transportation hub. This’ll help drive trade between the Kingdom of Friedonia and the Euphoria Kingdom too. I don’t think it’s a bad offer, so how about it?”

Jeanne glanced to the side to gauge Hakuya’s reaction. He smiled gently and nodded. Seeing this, Jeanne turned back to Kuu and did the same.

“Understood,” she said. “Please, feel free to work her as hard as you like.”

“Ookyakya! I really appreciate it! I’m also planning to station Nike in the Zem Region. He’ll look after her, so there’s no need to worry.”

It seemed the Republic had sorted out their business. Now, it was time to move on to the next place.

“Next is the Spirit Kingdom of Garlan. What do you want to discuss?”

Currently, the administration of the Spirit Kingdom of Garlan was divided between the conservatives of the Mother Island and the liberals and reformists of the Father Island, the latter of whom had allied with the Great Tiger Empire. However, as part of international measures to combat magic bug syndrome, the high elves of the Mother Island had also begun embracing reform and liberalization. Meanwhile, the Father Island had lost the support of their backer, the Great Tiger Empire. Additionally, the leaders, King Garula and Princess Elulu, had developed a good relationship. Because of their distance from my country, I had little choice but to let them handle their own affairs, but...what decision had they come to?

Garula signaled to Elulu with his eyes and began speaking in a slow, relaxed manner.

“The Spirit Kingdom of Garlan will shift away from our previous policy of isolationism. From now on, we will actively seek to engage with other countries. With this change, the Mother Island is prepared to welcome high elves from the Father Island. Our two islands have become one nation once more.”

“From this point forward, we will establish relations with any country! And since they’re our closest neighbors, we’d like to get along with the Great Tiger Empire. Right, Lord Shuukin?” Elulu said with a cheerful wink in his direction.

Shuukin smiled wryly at her enthusiasm. Just as the Spirit Kingdom of Garlan seemed to conclude, we were preparing to move on to the next subject when Souji raised his hand.

“Sorry, but could we discuss the Orthodox Papal State next?” he asked.

“Well... I’m unsure whether to address you or the Great Tiger Empire first,” I admitted.

“I think it’s better if everyone is aware of what’s happening with us first,” Souji replied, then looked around at each of the leaders before continuing. “I mentioned this before, but the Orthodox Papal State is currently in turmoil due to constant purges. This is the consequence of treating our political opponents as heretics and subjecting them to inquisitions and suppression. Mary and I have put an end to the worst of it, but even with the Kingdom of Friedonia’s support, the country remains ungovernable as it stands.”

Everyone listened quietly as Souji spoke. He was about to announce the decision he’d reached after a long discussion with me and Hakuya.

“So, here’s what I propose. I plan to separate the church and state in the Lunarian Orthodoxy. The capital, Yumuen, and the immediate surrounding area will be designated as a domain under the control of the Lunarian Orthodox papacy, which will function as the world headquarters of the faith. The rest of the country will be ceded to the Kingdom of Friedonia.”

“And that’s the proposal that Souji made to me,” I said, speaking after Souji finished. His idea was to reduce the Lunarian Orthodox Papal State to a city-state, similar to the Vatican, which would maintain enough authority to appease the faithful while stepping back from international power struggles. He was also trying to ensure that we would look after the people and land he would be leaving behind.

Geographically, it could just as easily have gone to the Euphoria Kingdom, but the people of the Orthodox Papal State held lingering hostility towards them from when Maria was Empress, complicating that option. To be perfectly frank, it was a huge pain in the butt for us.

There was considerable risk involved in acquiring territory with so many fervent believers. With Souji’s assistance, we had managed to create an atmosphere of religious tolerance within the Kingdom of Friedonia, but it was uncertain whether the people of the Orthodox Papal State would be able to adapt to that. The key would be whether we could soothe their hearts, as we had done in the former Principality of Amidonia. I would need to be very careful how I ruled there.

That said, if I refused to help and left them to fend for themselves, there was no telling when Lunarian Orthodoxy might cause us trouble again. I looked at the other participants.

“I intend to accept his proposal, but I realize that any further territorial gains will limit my ability to act. Therefore, we’re surrendering all the land we took within the Great Tiger Empire, with the exception of key areas like the port city, which was handed over to the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago Kingdom.”

Shabon nodded, as I had already discussed this with her.

“Huh?! You’re giving up the steppe region of Malmkhitan?”

“But if you do that...” Shuukin murmured.

Lumiere’s and Shuukin’s expressions showed a complex mix of emotions. The eastern territories of the Great Tiger Empire were lands we had taken following a direct confrontation between our two nations. Normally, returning such territory would be seen as a positive development for the Great Tiger Empire, but they no longer had the strength to maintain such a vast nation. It would only add to their burdens.

Regardless, Souji’s proposal faced no opposition and was approved. This left us to address the most pressing issue—how to manage the situation with the Great Tiger Empire.

“That leaves us with the Great Tiger Empire. Fuuga Haan’s remaining retainers, his younger sister Yuriga, and I, her husband, have already discussed this matter. It’s impossible to rule such a vast empire without the charisma of someone like Fuuga or Maria. Even if it were possible, maintaining it as a massive nation could lead to the rulers and people becoming arrogant over time, potentially causing new troubles for their smaller neighbors. This is something we must avoid.” I took a breath to steady myself and then looked straight ahead as I said, “The Great Tiger Empire will be divided into three parts.”

“Divided...you say?” Shabon asked, her eyes widening.

I nodded at her and then called out to Mao. “Madam Mao, please bring up the map.”

“Understood,” she replied.

As Mao raised her hands, a map of the Great Tiger Empire appeared above our heads. I pointed to the map, and two lines were drawn, splitting the country into three regions.

I looked at Shuukin and Lumiere. “I’ll ask the representatives from the Great Tiger Empire to explain things from here.”

““Right,”” they both replied, nodding.

Shuukin was the first to speak. “As already mentioned, Lord Fuuga’s heir, Lord Suiga, is still young and cannot bear the burden of ruling a vast country. Thus, we will divide the Great Tiger Empire into three regions—east, west, and center. We will appoint a king to rule each region. I’ll start with the west. This land, which includes the former territories of the Gran Chaos Empire and is closest to the Spirit Kingdom of Garlan, will become the Great Tiger Kingdom of Haan, ruled by Lord Suiga.”

The words “Great Tiger Kingdom of Haan” appeared on the map. With this size reduction, the region would revert from an empire back to a kingdom, as it once was.

Shuukin continued, “Lord Suiga will be king, but given his young age, he cannot manage the important affairs of state. There is a possibility that someone may attempt to manipulate him. Therefore, until he comes of age, Lady Yuriga and the Kingdom of Friedonia will watch over him. During this time, Madam Lumiere and I will protect the country, and Lord Suiga will ascend to the throne when he comes of age.”

This decision strongly reflected Yuriga’s wishes. She wanted her older brother’s orphaned son to grow up in a relaxed environment while he was still a child. We had reached this decision in hopes of fulfilling Yuriga’s desire.

Next, it was Lumiere’s turn to speak.

“Now, concerning the central region—this area will be ruled by Sir Lombard Remus, who has previously served as a king. It is a difficult region that includes the Frakt Federal Republic, which exists only in name and lacks a functioning congress. However, Sir Lombard will use his experience as a ruler to manage this region despite its challenges. The area will be known as the Kingdom of Remus.”

The name “Kingdom of Remus” then appeared on the map above.

This one probably also counts as a restoration... I paused to gather my thoughts before speaking. “The new Kingdom of Remus encompasses the northern tip of the continent. However, the city of Haalga, which is ruled by the Seadians, will fall under my jurisdiction. This is important because Haalga is a key city on the route to the northern world. The gate will be jointly administered by all countries, but I would like to take responsibility for protecting the Seadians myself. I’ve already come to an understanding with Sir Lombard on this matter.”

I had discreetly informed countries outside the Maritime Alliance that there were relics from the old world, such as Mao, that could only be controlled by those of my bloodline. If the gate were to go out of control again, our response might be delayed if Haalga were administered by another nation. They had all understood this concern.

Once everyone indicated their agreement, Shuukin spoke again, “That leaves the situation in the east. We had asked King Souma, who is the husband of Lord Fuuga’s sister, to govern that area, but...he has already refused.”

“Of course. We lack the resources to oversee any additional territories beyond what we already manage,” I said.

Having already agreed to rule the territory that was once the Lunarian Orthodox Papal State, I definitely did not possess the resources to expand my domain further. Additionally, if my state appeared significantly larger than the others on a map, some might try to force me into the role that Fuuga had once occupied. I had no interest in that.

“However, it just so happens that Julius, who defeated Fuuga’s killer, Krahe, asked me to restore the Kingdom of Lastania as his reward. This country in the east will incorporate the area that was once the Union of Eastern Nations, where the Kingdom of Lastania was located. It also borders their former ally, the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom. I intend to restore the Kingdom of Lastania in the east and appoint Julius and his wife, Madam Tia Lastania, who is of royal lineage, to govern it.”

The name “Kingdom of Lastania” was inscribed on the remaining territory on the map. With this decision, the Great Tiger Empire of Haan was divided into three countries: the Great Tiger Kingdom of Haan (also known as the New Great Tiger Kingdom), the Kingdom of Remus, and the Kingdom of Lastania. Furthermore, it was decided that a portion of the territory where the New Great Tiger Kingdom had once bordered the Lunarian Orthodox Papal State (land they had acquired from the former Gran Chaos Empire) would be ceded to the Euphoria Kingdom, establishing a border between us.

◇ ◇ ◇

Through this process, the continent of Landia—except for the Star Dragon Mountain Range and the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom—was divided into six parts. This major reorganization, accomplished without significant chaos, became known as “Souma’s Cutting of the Cake.”

Consequently, the nations of the southern hemisphere joined the Maritime Alliance, which eventually evolved into the Union of the Southern Continent. Conferences were held in the capitals of each nation within the Union, similar to the one conducted in the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom, where issues between countries were addressed, leading to the emergence of an era of peace. Many remarkable individuals either vanished or chose to settle down to pursue other ways of life, heralding a new era.

Thus, the world was divided into two realms: the northern realm, filled with romance and adventure, and the southern realm, characterized by stable governance, where scholarship continued to flourish.

Northward ho, you with ambition. Northward ho, you who seek adventure.

Stay in the south, you who wish to live in peace. Stay in the south, you who wish to study.

Each of these people have their own tales to tell.

“It’s time to find the new me too...” I murmured to myself in a quiet corner of that world.