The forest region where Takuto Ira and the others awoke and welcomed the Dark Elves—the Great Cursed Realm. This vast land of deep, impenetrable forest, which repelled outsiders, was sometimes called the Dark Continent by those who inhabited the rest of the continent. In short, it was a derogatory term that aptly described a land too barren for human habitation, lacking in productive capacity like agriculture, and teeming with savage barbarians and other threats to humanity. Yet even for such a harsh land, it remained an irreplaceable homeland for those who endured its trials and lived on with strength. Among the various peoples who inhabited this Dark Continent, one nation possessed the greatest national power: the seafaring nation of Sutherland, which claimed as its territory the coastal regions, small islands, and rocky reefs at the eastern edge of the Dark Continent—a nation that loved the sea. The dwarves, a distinctive race of short stature but immense physical strength, were in a state of chaos that belied their usually bold and rough-and-ready temperament.
"This is utter madness! Their opponents are agents of evil! Even if we're going to counter those northern bastards, partnering with a Dark God is unthinkable!"
"Then what are we supposed to do? Just let it be? They'll come for our country sooner or later—that's guaranteed. We don't have time to sit on our hands! Or what? Like you said before, we load everyone onto ships and flee like cowards?"
"You were the one who laughed at that plan, saying it was impossible..."
The air in the cramped, cluttered council room was thick with the smell of ale and fish dishes as the dwarves sat in a circle, spitting venom and hurling insults at one another. These were the leaders of Sutherland, the maritime nation, known as the Fleet Commanders. The heads of the Dark Continent's most powerful seafaring state had gathered in this very place.
Among them, one figure observed the endless quarrel from a slight distance from the circle. Amidst the short dwarves, her height was particularly striking—she was Tonukapoli, the staff-bearer of Fonkavun.
(How long are these drunkards going to keep this up...)
The cow-headed old woman sat cross-legged, watching the commotion of the dwarves from afar with a distant gaze. After a moment, she let out a single, deep sigh, then closed her eyes and began to meditate, as if her interest had completely waned.
Of course, the dwarves here were fully aware that Tonukapoli—the staff-bearer from Fonkavun herself—had been specifically invited to attend. They also understood well that hurling coarse insults at one's companions in this setting lowered the dignity of the nation and invited contempt from other countries.
Even so, it was impossible to stop this heated, unruly group of dwarves—especially their leaders, the Fleet Commanders. If there were any chance of the bickering ending, it would only be if they themselves grew weary of the endless exchange, or if the barrels brimming with ale ran dry.
It seemed that this time, it was the latter.
"There, now, keep your head. Getting all riled up won't conjure up any plans. ...More importantly, Fleet Admiral. You're the one I'm asking, don't you have contacts in the Elven Kingdom too? So? Any intel come in?"
Finally, progress was being made in the conversation.
In Sutherland, the groupings by clan or race common in other nations didn't exist. In their place, there were entities called "Fleets," a type of profit-oriented guild.
Each Fleet competed with, and sometimes cooperated with, the others, driving the mighty nation of Sutherland forward through fierce rivalry.
The representative of each Fleet was its Admiral, and among them, the one with the greatest influence was the Grand Admiral.
Grand Admiral Doban, leader of the most massive Fleet and the boldest dwarves. He was, in essence, Sutherland's de facto ruler.
Brave and dauntless, with excellent judgment, decisiveness, and ample courage. On top of that, he was the most silver-tongued among dwarves. Even Doban, whom everyone agreed was the ideal Admiral, found the problem currently plaguing Sutherland to be intractable.
"Hey, you lot! Trying to get information for free? Your business sense has really gone downhill! ...Well, that's what I'd normally say, but times aren't normal, are they? I've heard something rather interesting."
At Grand Admiral Doban's words, the other Admirals finally lent their ears. The clamor from moments ago had vanished, replaced by seasoned veterans earnestly trying to secure their own and the nation's interests.
"The 'All-Faction Summit' or whatever they called it, right? A damn shady affair, but just like we figured, the outsiders started steering the ship. Fonkavun and Quolia were sitting quiet as borrowed cats. ...Though I'll admit it was refreshing to hear those damned elves were in the same boat!"
The contents of the 'All-Faction Summit' – a staged event supposedly determining the fate of the Idoragia continent – were already known to Doban.
Never underestimate the intelligence network of those born and bred as merchants. To the people of the Orthodox Continent, the dwarves' status didn't matter.
Where there was profit to be made, dwarves would dive right in, and the foolish nature of humanity was to grow loose-lipped at the scent of gold, regardless of race.
That said, however... there were always problems that couldn't be solved no matter how much information you had, and sometimes, ignorance truly was bliss.
The intelligence Grand Admiral Doban had obtained by mobilizing all his personal connections, contacts, and capital was precisely the kind of thing one was happier not knowing.
"The damn thing's a problem just to listen to. Like I said, the summit's contents played out just as we predicted – completely pointless. The only thing left is for each faction to do whatever the hell they wants. The real pain is that the northern nations have locked hands tight. They're calling it the Orthodox Continental Alliance. Ha! Their military power is obviously excessive."
At those words, the Admirals grimaced, while Tonukapoli's eyes widened with interest.
It was information that would eventually become common knowledge across the Dark Continent, but the fact that Sutherland, seemingly the furthest removed from such developments, possessed it at this stage could only be called surprising.
"So what happened to the Lord of Ruin, Doban? That entity stands opposed to the Holy Kingdoms. Surely they won't allow this situation, no matter what?"
"I can't say I know that much. There are rumors of a major clash, but over on their side, information seems to be censored too, so no details have come through."
A sigh of disappointment escaped from everyone present.
The King of Ruin—that is, the evil nation of Mynoghra—was what could be called their last hope. Against the increasingly powerful forces of holy good, he was a unique entity with unknown abilities. An entity that might possess the power to defeat them.
Because he was an evil nation, the danger of contacting him was far too high. But even so, they couldn't just stand by and watch the current situation unfold.
Because...
(I don't want those outsiders to come rampaging through again like last time...)
Yes, they had already been contacted by players and Succubus.
The player defeated by the Hero Yuu, Masato Kigou, had originally been active in Sutherland.
The fleets lost due to their frivolity numbered two. One fleet commander had died in battle; the other had hanged himself to take responsibility.
The dwarves had not forgotten this fact, and there were no fools here who would accidentally let it slip in front of outsiders.
Though their appearance and demeanor might easily deceive, their vigilance toward threats was the highest of all.
"Tch, if only that King of Ruin had just gathered those vulgar women together and smashed them all to bits, that would've been easiest. What the hell is he even doing anyway? Don't tell me he got killed at that failed summit meeting?"
A natural question rose from one of the fleet commanders.
Information about the King of Ruin was scarce. Since they didn't even know the details of the summit, this kind of judgment based on the current situation was understandable.
But then, an interjection came.
"Allow me to explain that."
Only now did Tonukapoli finally lift her heavy frame.
Her goal was to add new allies to the alliance between Mynoghra and Fonkavun. —No, it was to conclude a new military alliance with Mynoghra as its leader.
She had come here for that preparation.
"That old hag Tonukapoli... right, we called her, didn't we? Sorry, forgot all about that!"
"If you have time for idle banter, you'd better sober up that alcohol-soaked brain of yours, Fleet Admiral."
Doban welcomed the bull-headed staff carrier who finally joined the meeting, flashing a grimly satisfying grin.
Her presence here was significant, as the meeting's primary purpose revolved around her. Fonkavun, where the unknown nation of Mynoghra currently lay closest, and Tonukapoli, situated even nearer to it.
To secure the future of the dwarves, her words were now more vital than ever.
"Rest assured, the King of Mynoghra still lives. But this concerns a nation's very survival. In your terms, it means the potential end of all future trade."
"But even if we all mobilize, what can we do? You might not have seen it, but the enemy's strength is no joke."
"They are... outsiders beyond our ability to cope with."
No one accused the fleet admirals voicing these weak points of cowardice.
It was the plain truth for the dwarves.
Currently, the disparity in military power was desanguaging. Just the overheard reports painted an enemy force too formidable to tackle. Furthermore, they possessed unique abilities.
Even Sutherland, with the greatest national power on the Dark Continent, was ultimately just undeveloped barbarians to the forces of good.
Let alone against ability users...
Sutherland had indeed sought aid from Mynoghra. But circumstances had changed.
The natural prediction arose among them that even the King of Ruin might be unable to contend if all nations and ability users on the Main Continent united.
Yet Tonukapoli dismissed even this possibility.
"Now, listen up, you drunks. Let me explain the current situation. The King of Ruin, Takuto Ira, has erected a massive barrier over the Dark Continent."
Doban looked skeptical. He didn't doubt such an unbelievable event of immense scale. He'd learned the hard way that these people were capable of pulling off such feats with ease.
His expression changed for a different reason. Why do that? Did something prevent a direct confrontation on the spot? With only this information, judgment was difficult, so he deliberately interjected to move the conversation along.
"Hmm? Are you saying we're cut off from the sea? That's the end of trade then. What, does the King of Ruin just want to harass us?"
"Don't be absurd. It's meant to protect our faction. It seems to be a barrier of unimaginable power; no matter what means are employed, enemies absolutely cannot intrude upon Mynoghra or its allied nations' territory. Truly, it completely overturns my understanding of magic."
Quite an interesting bit of intelligence. At the very least, it was decided that Mynoghra avoided a decisive battle at the meeting venue. Considering that Tonukapoli had been the one to invite them here, yet they still bothered to come all the way to Sutherland, it was highly likely their military strength was insufficient. The judgment made by Doban, the Grand Fleet Commander honed through numerous trade ventures and battles against sea monsters, was, at present, almost perfectly on the mark.
"So that's how it is! Set up a barrier and neither Quolia's holy knights nor those damned elves can get to this continent! That includes those Succubus too! Now that's worth a drink!"
"You haven't even formed an alliance yet, have you? Trying to get a share of the spoils like that is rather greedy."
"Well, fair point. So what does that make us? The most dangerous party right now. Mind you, we control the continental connection point, so they shouldn't be able to get in normally. But who's to say they won't come by sea? What are they planning to do?"
"How the Succubus will act is something even I don't know. At least for now, it's certain that Mynoghra and Fonkavun are safe for a while."
"Hmph!"
(With our current military strength, they've judged Mynoghra can't win against the elves or the Succubus. Is that it?)
Doban cursed inwardly without voicing his thoughts. This was somewhat beyond expectations. Originally, he had believed the disparity in military strength wasn't so great. On that basis, he had been calculating how best to sell their own position at a high price. That foundation was now being overturned. It was undeniable that the situation was far from optimistic.
While surreptitiously gauging the reactions of the other fleet commanders around him, Doban downed the last of his remaining drink in one gulp.
"You said 'for a while,' Tonukapoli. How long can that barrier of yours hold? Looking at how jittery you are, it can't be forever, can it?"
"Our reprieve is one year. In that time, we must unite this continent and prepare to counter them."
"Indeed. If you're going to clash with the people from the legitimate continent, that's the logical course of action."
(A plan to bolster military strength in the meantime? Is that even possible? Since we don't know the enemy directly, it's hard to deal with.)
"...Is it possible?"
"We have to do it. If we don't, everyone is finished."
The uncertainties were immense. The fact that the opponent was an evil existence was also a problem. But Sutherland certainly had no room to oppose the Succubus and the Continental Alliance of Legitimacy on its own. From the start, the moves available to Sutherland were limited.
Sometimes in life, one must take a tremendous gamble.
The first time I borrowed money to buy a ship,it was just like this. The same goes for when we charged into treacherous waters in search of treasure,and even when we set sail on a stormy day to make a big deal. It was always a dangerous game. Yet we emerged victorious in every single one of those ventures.
Those are the kind of risks one should normally avoid. But precisely in those moments,your body trembles not with fear,but with an excitement that surpasses it.
Doban stared at his own hands. He'd been drinking heavily since earlier,so this trembling wasn't from withdrawal. Clenching his trembling hands into tight fists,Doban slowly surveyed the fleet commanders around him.
Every last one of them wore a cheeky grin. These were good-for-nothings who lived for drink and gambling. Their eyes all said the same thing: "Give the order."
If that was the case,then there was no better way to prove what made him the General Fleet Commander of Sutherland than to step up now.
Doban slapped his hand decisively on his knee and turned his gaze to Tonukapoli.
"The sea is our second homeland. The first time,we were chased from the mountains and had to abandon our birthplace. But there won't be a second. I'll gladly show my ass for the sake of defending the sea,Tonukapoli! Right,everyone?"
The fleet commanders roared with laughter,catcalls and vulgar jeers flying through the air.
Tonukapoli let out another heavy sigh,waving his hand dismissively in assent.
"That said!We can't just offer up our asses. I just remembered a perfect tribute we can offer!"
Doban suddenly broke into a broad grin,as if a brilliant idea had struck him.
"Huh?What do you mean,General Fleet Commander?Did we even have something like that?"
One of the fleet commanders asked in genuine confusion. It wasn't unusual for this stubborn old dwarf to say outrageous things,but he had no memory of this particular tribute Doban was referring to.
The way he was making a show of it meant it couldn't be an ordinary offering.
But as it stood,Sutherland didn't possess anything valuable that would serve as an appropriate tribute. If one squinted hard enough,there might be something,but it certainly wasn't useful for the war at hand.
However,the commander's expectation would be proven spectacularly wrong,and in the worst possible way.
"Hey,Bruno!I heard you brought back something very interesting from that other continent on your last voyage."
The suddenly addressed Bruno's face went slack,the flush from the alcohol draining away to leave him pale. He shook his head frantically. It was no act;the terror in his eyes was completely genuine.
Sharp-eyed fleet commanders, sensing the scent of entertainment in the air, watched the unfolding situation with grins plastered across their faces.
"Hey, hey! Cut it out, Supreme Fleet Commander Ojiki! I scraped together that one by taking out loans! I raised it with my own hands and was planning to breed it! If something happens to it, my wife will straight-up kill me!"
"Dead men can't pay back loans either."
"Either way you're getting killed by your wife, so just spit it out already."
"If you're a man, hide it from your wife."
The other fleet commanders heckled without mercy.
It seemed they had all arrived at the same conclusion. Fleet Commander Bruno, his face drained of color, had intended the dragon to remain a hidden trump card held by his fleet—but among the hardened veterans jostling for position on these seas, he was, regrettably, still a newcomer.
"So what exactly have you prepared?" Tonukapori asked.
The Supreme Fleet Commander seized the opening as though he had been waiting for precisely this moment, his voice rising.
"A dragon! And a mid-rank one at that! I acquired it as a pair from across the continent!"
Cheering jeers—nearly joyous—from the dwarfs filled the air, every last one a word of praise for Bruno.
Even Tonukapori could not help but widen his eyes in surprise.
Dragons were a type of magical creature possessing high intelligence, commanding fearsome combat prowess.
Razor-sharp claws and fangs. Exceptional mobility. And extraordinary vitality.
A mid-rank dragon, in particular, could not speak but was capable of communicating with humans through intent, and wielded devastating offensive capabilities such as breath attacks.
If equipped with specialized gear and incorporated into an army, it would be an exceedingly powerful asset.
At the very least, had Fonkavun been what it once was, the discovery that Sutherland had obtained a dragon would have prompted exhaustive efforts to maintain friendly relations.
But having witnessed what Mynoghra truly was, the dragon now seemed rather unimpressive by comparison.
"Listen, Tonukapori. We'll pool every fleet under my command to forge this dragon into a fighting force. A mid-rank dragon—no half-hearted beast can stand against that kind of power. It's the perfect way to show them our full strength and sincerity, wouldn't you say?"
"A dragon, huh..."
Total Fleet Commander Doban declares with supreme confidence.
Honestly, he'd think they'd be happier to receive technologies and goods from other continents that they've never seen before... but...
He hesitates whether to say so, but they're already so worked up that he decides to just play along for now.
"What's that? Got a complaint? Oh, I just had a great idea! Perfect timing—let's have our dragons spar with his to see what he's made of! We might actually be stronger, you know! Don't worry, we'll make sure they hold back!"
"B-Boss! The fleet commander! They only just calmed down! We can't do something as tricky as holding back!"
"Shut up, it'll work out somehow! Hey, Tonukapoli. Say it'll be fine!"
"Haa, is that so? ...Well, I'll make sure to pass the message along to the other side."
Tonukapoli thinks to himself that he'd better make sure to tell the King of Mynoghra to go easy on them.
He seems to have gotten a bit full of himself after acquiring dragons.
But have they forgotten? That the wars unfolding in this world are beyond mortal comprehension, impossible to overcome with common sense alone... That Mynoghra, too, is a nation governed by such transcendent beings.
(Well, the dwarves have never actually seen Mynoghra with their own eyes. Eventually, these drunken louts will come to understand, won't they? That there are beings in this world you simply cannot contend with...)
The inevitable encounter that would one day come. Tonukapoli finds himself harboring a rather malicious thought, wondering with some anticipation what expressions these boisterous dwarves would wear when that moment arrived.
=Eterpedia===
[Sutherland] Nation
Alignment: Neutral
Orientation: <Ocean-Focused> <Trade-Focused>
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~~The Second Homeland of Those Who Reached the Sea~~
Sutherland is a neutral nation built by dwarves who adapted to coastal regions and the sea.
Its primary industries include maritime trade and the harvesting of marine resources, giving it a character quite different from typical dwarven nations.
However, not all of their innate character as dwarves has been entirely lost.
Their nature has been passed down in shipbuilding and architecture, and they possess powerful naval strength.
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