第１８０６堀：イフ大陸での亜人差別排斥の経緯 (Part2)
Indeed, now that it’s been pointed out, I realize how absurd it is. To think they would pay such a heavy price—sacrificing lives to defeat a Demon Lord the North has never even seen—all to topple the Ohe Kingdom, which serves as a sort of bulwark against monsters, just because of a minor increase in monster activity?
"Yeah. When you put it that way, you have to wonder why they were even convinced to march their armies. It’s not just the supplies; they’re bleeding manpower, and the nations and nobles who were conscripted are absolutely livid."
"I agree. It’s an illogical justification, no matter how you look at it. And a force of twenty thousand? I hardly think that’s enough to bring down Ohe. Even if they succeeded, the merit would be... well, questionable."
"...Considering the casualties, it’s madness. Even if the Church tries to smooth things over, if they fail, there’s no turning back. Did the Church really think they had a high chance of success? What do you think, Yuki?"
I understood the dilemma. If they had sent troops without any hope of victory, it would invite all sorts of problems. Surely, the other nations wouldn't have lent their soldiers for such a fool’s errand.
"...That part is still murky. It’s true that the King of Ohe was injured in a surprise attack. If he had died, Ohe might have fallen into chaos, but as for the northern town actually falling...? Twenty thousand is a tall order. Even if they were trying to provoke them into overextending."
"Indeed. They were drawing out their forces with provocations, but I suspect Ohe would have regained its composure eventually. ...Does that imply they were planning for reinforcements?"
"Well, as Jessica says, if they intended to conquer it, they would have needed a second wave. But like I said before, why commit the forces in the first place? Based on what we know, the current strength isn't enough to take the city, and there’s a real chance the entire force—reinforcements included—could be wiped out."
Hmm. As Agil-san says, it is truly bizarre. Twenty thousand is far too few to conquer Ohe. If they were relying on reinforcements, that would require even more men and supplies. Given Baron Siana’s testimony regarding the growing dissatisfaction, what exactly was their goal?
"So, you think the strategy was actually to deplete the North’s military strength? That this was the true purpose of the 'preparations for war' in the North?"
"...In other words, Yuki-sama, you believe this wasn't an attack on the South, but a strategy to erode the national power of the northern countries?"
"It’s plausible, isn't it? In this instance, the Giadana Kingdom, including its protectorates, has committed a total of twenty thousand troops and a massive amount of supplies. That’s a clear drain on their military capacity. It makes more sense to view this as the intended outcome."
"I understand what you're saying, but... I’m not sure how realistic that is, either."
"I know. It’s a delicate balance. Twenty thousand isn't a small number, but for a major power, it’s just one expeditionary force. It doesn't leave the capital completely defenseless. And the major powers only contributed about ten thousand of that total."
It is difficult to call that a significant reduction in strength. The total military force of a major power easily exceeds one hundred thousand. While losing a tenth of their strength is certainly a blow, it is hardly crippling.
"For now, let’s wait for Baron Siana and the others to finish their investigation. As for the reason behind the persecution of demi-humans on the If Continent, it stems from past wars and a lack of understanding caused by their dwindling population. People fear what they don't understand."
"I see. When you put it that way, it makes perfect sense."
"Unlike us, beastmen and elves have innate advantages. Or rather, they excel in ways we don't."
"Mm. That’s true. I’ve often envied their physical prowess and their aptitude for magic."
"Indeed. At Lancer, I was astonished by the skill of the Vice Principal."
Principal Popuri was strange enough, but Vice Principal Lara possessed skill that bordered on the abnormal. It led me to the conclusion that all demi-humans are inherently superior.
"That’s a positive way of looking at it. But from the other side, it means they are a nightmare to stop once they become enemies. That’s likely why they want to 'manage' them. Though, if they push for total annihilation, they’ll only face desperate resistance. I don't know why they thought that was a good idea."
For now, I had learned the history behind the treatment of demi-humans on the If Continent, but the intentions of the North regarding the New Continent had only become more opaque. It seems the persecution on the If Continent was fueled by fear of the demi-humans' innate excellence and their scarcity.
Even so, the decision to launch an offensive against the New Continent remains a mystery. Then again, with living witnesses present, there is no better source of information. Comet, Kaya, and Claudia are proving to be quite important.