第６１８堀：ハイデン王国現代記 兆しの章 (Part1)
### Chronicle of the Haiden Kingdom: Chapter of Omens
Before the Haiden Kingdom was established, a great war once engulfed the world.
The Demon King’s Campaign began when a monarch of monsters, known as the Demon King, emerged from the ends of the East, threatening to shroud the world in darkness.
Before the overwhelming might of the Demon King’s army, nations were helpless. Many kingdoms fell, and it seemed the world was nearing its end. However, the ancestors of the three founding families who built our Haiden appeared from parts unknown. Through their fierce, courageous, and peerless efforts, the Demon King’s invasion was halted.
It was thought that peace had returned to the world...
But the Demon King’s lingering grudge possessed a king who had fought alongside the heroes to defeat him, sparking the War of the Mad God.
Exhausted by the Demon King’s Campaign, the nations lacked the strength to resist. They fell into despair, believing there was no way forward.
Yet, the ancestors of Haiden’s three founding families did not succumb to that despair; they threw themselves back into the fires of war.
After a long and grueling struggle, they defeated the pathetic king possessed by the demon who had claimed to be a god. But the world was left in tatters. Though they had survived, they lacked the strength to stand on their own.
It seemed only a slow, lingering death awaited them...
But then, a miracle occurred.
A goddess descended and bestowed a miracle upon the world.
Her name was Haire, the Goddess of Red Hair.
Goddess Haire had been watching the efforts of the founding families and our people as they struggled to live.
Through her miracle, the land was revived, the wounded and fallen were healed, and they succeeded in rebuilding the nation.
More than five hundred years have passed since that miracle.
Now, the world is once again on the verge of being shrouded in darkness.
There is discord with our neighboring country, Findal—once an ally that fought alongside the founding families during the Demon King’s Campaign—and rot spreading within Haiden itself.
And the shadows of monsters are beginning to emerge.
Sensing the crisis, a girl from the Kamishiro line—one of the three founding families—has begun to move. She is of the current generation, though she has yet to inherit a formal title: Kagura.
***
**Side: Yuki**
"Alright. This should do. As expected of you, Mikos."
I handed the manuscript back to Mikos.
She’s used to writing various articles, so she certainly has a way with words.
"Oh, stop, you’ll make me blush, Yuki-sensei."
"Hey! What do you think you’re doing!?"
Kagura burst in while we were working in a peaceful atmosphere.
"What are you so worked up about?"
"Did something happen?"
"No, no, I’m asking what you’re doing!"
"What do you mean, what..."
"I was just editing the story we heard from Sota-sama, as requested by Yuki-sensei. We can't exactly write it down as is, can we? I’ve heard about gods and Dungeon Masters from Yuki-san, but no one would believe that. If we suddenly start writing about other gods, the followers of the Haire Church will have our heads, won't they?"
That’s right. Mikos and I were summarizing the information we received from Sota-san.
It’s fine to tell the royal family and those in important positions, but spreading the truth to the general public is problematic.
That’s why we needed to craft a convenient narrative.
If we frame it as "signs of the Demon King’s revival," we can likely coax the various nations into a more cooperative stance.
Conversely, if we start talking about gods and dungeons, people will just look at us like we’re crazy.
Everything changes depending on how you phrase it.
...The world is such a pain.
"I mean, the general flow is fine. But why does it end up making me look like the protagonist!? It’s obvious the real protagonists aren't me, but you guys!"
"No, no, Kagura, you *are* the protagonist."
"Exactly. It all started because Kagura summoned Yuki-sensei and the others. Besides, if we don't put Kagura at the forefront, we won't be able to infiltrate the Haire Church, right? Do you think Yuki-sensei and the others could just walk into the headquarters of the Haire Church and start investigating without any issues?"
"...I suppose that’s true. But what about the Princess, or Princess Stasia..."
"Haah, there’s no way the royals can go there. Especially since both countries were on the brink of total war. And honestly, from what I’ve heard, the Haire Church headquarters sounds suspicious. You want to send the princesses into a place that dangerous?"
"Ugh..."
As Mikos said, the Haire Church had become quite shady based on Sota-san’s story, so we couldn't *not* investigate it, but we were struggling with selecting the right personnel.
Well, as it turned out, the "handyman" Kagura was the one chosen.
It’s quite convenient. A hero of the Haiden Defense Battle, the second daughter of the Kamishiro family, possessing the black hair inherited from the First Ancestor, and still a student—which makes it easy to invent excuses for her wandering around. Plus, coming from such a historic family, the opposition can’t easily say no. It’s quite devious!
"Well, we aren't going to spread this story right away. This is just our plan for when we’re cornered and need to explain ourselves. If we have this well-prepared, no one can say we’re just making things up on the spot."
"Exactly. Groundwork is important, Kagura. Besides, we aren't actually lying, so there's no problem."
That’s right—no lies, no fabrications.
It’s a fact that the Demon King’s Campaign happened, it’s a fact that the War of the Mad God occurred, and it’s a fact that Kagura worked hard.
We’re just leaving out the "behind-the-scenes" details.
There’s no need to stir up the public unnecessarily.
That’s the important part. Since we aren't lying, we can stand tall.
"U-um, Kagura-senpai. I’ll help you too..."
"Uuu, only Solo is kind to me! Let’s make sure our names stay in the book Mikos is writing!"
"Eh!?"
*Sigh.* Solo is the type to ruin himself with careless kindness.
"Well, we’ve started the preparations to fool the public, but before that, there’s the matter of the kidnappings at this Magic Academy. You came to talk about that, right?"
Either way, we can’t move forward without confirming the incidents reported at this academy.
It would also hinder the holding of the multi-national conference.
If the kidnappings are real, we might be able to dig into the shadows and gain information useful for investigating the Haire Church.
"Ah, yeah. For now, the Academy Principal, my sister, and a few trusted teachers have begun an investigation. Judging from the people who tried to kidnap Solo, it feels like someone on the inside is leaking information, so we can’t move a large number of people, and the investigation is stalling."
"I’d imagine so."
And to think it’s been going on for years.
A bandit group calling themselves the "Assembly of Wisdom"? There’s no way they could independently target people who wouldn't be missed, avoiding the children of influential nobles, without help.
There must be an accomplice or an informant on the inside.
Princess Carrie and the King were furious when they heard this.
Of course they were. It means the nation’s tax money and the effort spent raising budding mages were being snatched away by that "Assembly of Wisdom," and that their own citizens were being abducted.
They were absolutely livid. It’s only natural.
"So, have you identified these self-proclaimed 'Assembly of Wisdom' bandits?"
"Not yet. But based on the situation, there’s no doubt their base is in the city."
"Then we’ll look into it."
"Eh?"
"You’re short on people, aren't you?"
"...Yeah. Things are so chaotic inside Haiden right now that we can’t spare anyone."
I’m sure of it.
Purges within Haiden, the reshuffling of executives, the subsequent reorganization of the military, surveillance of the Haire Church, explanations to other nations, and the preparations for this academy’s multi-national conference.
Even from what I know, it’s clearly an absolute mess.
There’s no way they have any reserve forces in this situation.