Kyuujin Yuu was in a desperate, life-threatening situation at the Succubus stronghold. Just when he thought it was all over, it happened. An unfathomable yet clearly extraordinary surge of magic power erupted across the world, engulfing him himself in profound darkness. What was going on? As he reeled in confusion, the scene that unfolded before his eyes stunned him even further. The view that met his gaze was none other than the familiar, desolate wasteland of the Dark Continent.
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"They got away... did they?"
Yu looked around, his gaze darting about. In the distance lay a vast forest, and opposite that, a city he had visited before. This appeared to be somewhere on the outskirts of Dragontan. In other words, within Mynoghra's domain of control.
"We're safe... is everyone here? The folks from Fonkavun too... yes."
Takuto surveyed their surroundings and began counting heads. No one was missing. At least, it seemed all the individuals from the nations and factions cooperating with Takuto had made it through.
"Well now, that was quite the thrashing! I must admit, even I didn't anticipate such thorough preparation on their part!" Vittorio spoke with a cheerful, dancing cadence.
"Truly, I never expected them to fortify things so completely. Still, it was good they were on guard. Worst-case scenario, we were planning to use you as bait to buy time for the activation."
"Heh! How cruel!"
Vittorio was already skipping about merrily. His disguise had been undone, restoring his usual clownish appearance. Everyone except Takuto had their eyes wide at the sudden appearance of this bizarre figure, but Takuto decided he could explain later. With their final gambit having successfully resolved, he let out a sigh of relief.
"Still, for such a difficult-to-use Grand Ceremony, it was the perfect timing. I'm actually quite impressed by this arrangement!"
"The part where our borders get fixed in place hurts, though. We can't colonize anymore, so it's not like it's an advantage for domestic affairs."
Takuto and Vittorio conversed.
It seemed they were discussing the current situation, and after understanding that, Yu—impatient with the two who were getting worked up and convincing themselves on their own—raised a voice of protest.
"Hey, what are you two just agreeing with each other for! What the hell just happened? Explain it to me too!"
"M-More importantly, Master! By now, the succubi's invasion of the Dark Continent must have begun! We have to prepare immediately or we won't make it in time!"
"R-right! But how are we supposed to beat something like that? That combo is just too unfair, isn't it!"
The panicked Hero Party. The Fonkavun Party was struck dumb with bewilderment.
Realizing that it was time for a breather anyway, Takuto decided it was necessary to explain things to them as well and promptly laid out the mechanism behind what had just transpired.
That is, the reason why there was no need to worry about the invasion of the United Continental Alliance...
"It's fine. I actually used a powerful magic that can only be used once in a game called the Grand Ceremony. Each nation possesses an incredibly powerful ability. I used that to buy time."
"What do you mean?"
Yu tilted his head, not understanding.
Aya was the same. It seemed he needed to break it down further.
From Takuto's perspective, this was also a good chance to confirm the effect of the Grand Ceremony, which he hadn't used in ages, so he decided to explain its ability in detail.
"The Grand Ceremony. This is an incredibly powerful ability that a nation can only use once during gameplay in my game, 'Eternal Nations.' Mynoghra's Grand Ceremony is called 'Somber State.' Its effect is that, the moment it is activated, any nation hostile to Mynoghra becomes completely incapable of interfering with each other for a certain period. We can't do anything, but they also can't do anything—it's a nation-scale barrier."
"Ah! That's why we came back to the city. It wasn't an ability related to escape, but because mutual interference is impossible, anyone residing in a hostile nation is forcibly returned to their own..."
"Correct. Fortunately, we've seen the opponent's hand. Let's take this opportunity to prepare thoroughly."
It seemed Aya's level of comprehension was higher this time. After nodding in understanding, he even explained further to Yu, who still hadn't grasped it and was wearing a dopey expression, using simpler examples.
Meanwhile, Takuto uses a telepathic link to summon his Mynoghra subordinates.
Since he was physically present as Takuto himself, this was to prevent Yu and Fonkavun's envoy from discovering the secret of his shadow double.
Once he finished, Yu—who seemed to have finally been convinced—chose the moment the transmission ended to ask a question.
"Ah, I kinda get it now. Seriously convenient magic this. At least country-scale, right? As expected of an SLG. ...Incidentally, how long does this magic's effect last? What does one turn of an SLG translate to in real time?"
"Well? Hard to say without looking into it in detail. Still, you could probably count on at least a year, couldn't you?"
"Mm," Yu murmured, an ambiguous response that could mean understanding or not, as he sank into thought.
Takuto himself didn't possess the means to answer this question definitively. If he checked the etypedia expanding in his mind, something might turn up, but at least there were numerous past cases where game systems had been adapted to fit the real world.
If they were to perfectly replicate the flow of time in "Eternal Nations," it would likely span decades, but he had an unfounded conviction that wouldn't be the case.
"One year... huh. That's enough time to do a lot of things... Haa, I guess I'll train too. Can't keep going like this."
With a bored sigh, Yu kicked at a small stone on the ground and let out a massive, weary breath.
It seemed his inability to do anything against the Succubus army had hit him hard.
Training to regain strength was a classic, sturdy RPG choice, but Takuto didn't want him to just return to a wandering life right now. At the very least, he wanted him to keep a line of communication open.
"So the party is disbanding?"
"No, I'm thinking more like... let's just keep it as 'independent action.' I'll pop back every so often, and I'll keep a way to contact you. And, uh... if you could help out financially, that'd be great, you know?"
"Of course, as long as you produce results."
He wasn't completely withdrawing, which was a relief.
The range of the Grand Ritual's effect included Mynoghra and its allied factions.
Leaving Fonkavun aside, the cooperative relationship with the Hero's camp was currently quite weak.
If his departure was interpreted as dissolving the alliance, putting him outside the effect's range, it would leave him vulnerable to being targeted by the Succubi.
But it seemed that concern was ultimately unfounded. Yu also apparently saw merit in having Takuto act as his sponsor.
Either way, the current reality is that we must at least share the recognition of needing to strengthen our military capabilities here.
Yu seemed to understand that much at least.
Takuto suddenly wondered what kind of RPG-style military strengthening would look like.
Enhancement using a system... or perhaps leveling up by defeating enemies?
He thought that if there was a reference to be had, he might try implementing it within Mynoghra.
"By the way, just for reference, could I ask how you plan to train?"
"Ah, it's still vague. For now, I'm going to have a talk with 'that thing' about it."
"...That thing?"
Hmm? Takuto considered for a moment.
Then, after a short while, he recalled that unlike himself, Yu was able to communicate with the being who had summoned him.
"The 'Foolish God.' It's a strange one that just dumps troublesome jobs on you, but for better or worse, it's our patron deity!"
Yu smiled radiantly.
Looking at that dazzling smile that seemed to know no doubt, Takuto couldn't help but wish that the god would grant Yu's request.
=Eterpedia===
[The Dimly-Lit Realm]Grand Ritual: Mynoghra
Upon activation, it fixes the national borders and erects a nation-scale barrier that thereafter renders all interference from hostile nations or factions impossible.
Additionally, while the state of war during the Grand Ritual's activation is maintained, any units that have invaded each other's territories are instantly returned to their own national territory.
※This effect can only be used when the nation is "Mynoghra."
※Once used, it can never be activated again.
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