43 The Merchant Looks Out and Prays for the World After the Final Battle

Our prayers reach God.

Through me, God responds to His people’s requests.

-Merchant Ange I-

The Frontier leaders fill the small office, making it uncomfortable even to breathe: Acting Frontier Commander Agias Willow, Frontier Priest Felipo, Frontier Sorcerer Odysson, Northern Commander... something-Pine, Cavalry Captains Origis and Marius Willow, and me, Frontier Master of Coin. With all these people gathered together, you know the topic of discussion is going to be anything but pleasant.

The chatty fatty’s face is completely solemn, while the chatty bandaged one is smiling. That just confirms it. They must be about to reveal something terrible. Whatever the bad news is, they are surely going to test our very limits.

“The time has come.” Acting Commander Willow’s voice rumbles heavily. It’s as if he’s telling us to prepare for the worst. “The vampires have declared war on both the elves and us. This will be the final battle. In the name of the Rorangia Holy Empire, they say they will ‘subjugate this land and drive out the infidels...’ no, perhaps they’ve already begun.”

A map of the continent is spread out before us. Each area of control is marked by a distinct color. The east and west are predominantly black and white, with a tiny speck of red to the south; as if trying to shove reality into our faces.

“Many of the outlying towns to the west have been attacked and taken over,” he continues. “Individually, they don’t seem like much, but taken all together, it is quite a large-scale assault. It’s quite likely they will proceed to attack the fort as well. We also have reports that they are simultaneously employing this large-scale tactic on the elves.” He places a small black pawn on the western corner of the red section. To the north, where the black and white sections intersect, he places a large black pawn and... a large white pawn. Of course. “According to their declaration of war, the invasion army headed toward the elves is led by Thunderstorm. In response, the elves will most likely send an Apostle of their own. We cannot say for sure whether it will be Absolute or Deep Sea, but Ten Thousand Bells seems out of the question.” As he speaks, he places a large white pawn on the north section of the red area. That’s the elven girl, isn’t it? “Ten Thousand Bells will not move from here, as she herself has declared. We believe the defeat of Golden on this land is part of the reason for her decision. That’s the end of my report.”

Did someone just swallow audibly? It can’t have been me, I was careful to keep it quiet. It doesn’t matter, really; it could have been all of us. War, huh? This battle will be on a scale unlike any before it; surely the whole continent will be dragged into it.

I knew this time would come. Killing monsters, refusing to bow to the elves, fighting back against the vampires, worshiping God, following an Apostle, killing the Golden, refusing to die... and instead attempting to live with glory. It was only natural that this would happen.

Even so, it doesn’t stop the shivering. It doesn’t change the fact that this is terrifying. Military tactics are like a foreign language to me, so I cannot tell who or what is winning, or even predict what might come next. Nevertheless, there is one thing I do know: humanity is backed into a corner. And there is no way for us to escape.

Within the red section on the map, there are some semblances of a frontline and a backline. The Frontier, which encompasses the fort on three sides, is considered a danger zone, while the capital to the south is a safe haven... or at least that’s the common conception. The nobility and the poor live together in this narrow land, clinging together for dear life.

However, this safety is only temporary. If the vampires wanted to, they could destroy the fort in an instant. No, they could obliterate it and leave not a single trace behind. That’s reality—the cold-hearted reality that surrounds us.

“Allow me to add one thing,” Father Felipo pipes up. I doubt it’s going to be anything positive. “Normally, the vampires would submit their announcement in the name of one of their three Apostles. They followed this convention when signing the Baltrial Treaty. While the elves invoked the Ewlogond Republic, the vampires entered into the treaty under the name of their lead Apostle, Golden.” Such extensive knowledge... that’s not something one would know without specifically digging for it. I doubt he learned it at seminary. How long has this man been planning for war? “But now they’ve invoked the name of the Rorangia Holy Empire. This is quite alarming. There is only one other instance where they did this, and that was when they founded their country. In other words, it’s the first time since the war that suddenly brought them to power as described in the holy book.”

Some history? No, more like a fairy tale. About three hundred years ago, on a full-moon night, the vampires suddenly appeared. Led by the Demon God, they wiped out the thunderous insectors, then proceeded to jump into the war between the elves and the dwarves. This is how they rose to power as the strongest tribe on the continent... or so the story goes. Heh heh. Whatever, that has nothing to do with us, who live in the present.

This great revolution that began in the Frontier is what legends are truly made of.

“We should take their statement of a ‘final battle’ quite literally,” continues the priest. “In other words, it will be a full-on offensive involving the entire nation. What I’m trying to say is...” Slowly, like watching a tiny crack become a gaping chasm, a smile forms on his face. “The perfect opportunity for our revolution has arrived.”

I thought he might say that. Captain What’s-his-name’s smile is so wide it’s about to fly off his face. How annoying. Odysson must agree with me, because he’s smirking as well. Acting Commander Willow and Captain Marius are grinning lightly, while Captain Origis and Captain Zakkow are beaming like they’re invincible.

“Yes! Clashing head-on with full strength! It’s not like we were ever in a position to hold back anyway. Not only are our forces weak, but they also lack stamina. Plus, no matter how much time we were given, there’d be no hope of uniting the country... humanity is already on the brink of annihilation,” remarks Father Felipo.

He has a point; we surpassed our limits long ago. The northern reaches might be wartorn and barren, but in the south people’s hearts have rotted into oblivion. Parents sell the flesh of their children, while children sell the bones of their parents... no matter how many times I experience it, my hand still shakes when I give them money in exchange. Same thing when I give the vampires their product: I shiver and shake, but no tears come out. Meanwhile, from their mansions above the back alleys, the nobles enjoy their feasts.

It’s a nightmare. To humans, it’s a nightmare. Chased into a corner due to weakness, smeared in wretchedness, and treating wine and women like the peak of culture... it sickens me. Naive logic like “slow but steady” won’t work anymore.

“If the vampires are bringing their full might to bear, then naturally the elves will follow suit. For the first time, an opening will present itself... we shall stake our all-or-nothing decisive battle on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We are weak and have short lifespans; this is the only option available to us,” concludes the priest excitedly.

Heh heh. Talk about crazy. And these adults, who somehow survived until today, are all smiling naturally. Ah... the image of a certain absent someone appears in my mind—the profile of that raven-haired girl.

“Essentially, we will be focusing on defense and hit-and-run tactics,” states Acting Commander Willow as he places two new red pawns on the map. “Our main force of Origis’s two thousand cavalry, Felipo’s two thousand foot soldiers, and Odysson’s one thousand magic soldiers will be positioned here, in the northern Frontier. Felipo will be their commander. Maintain a defensive position, and if the situation calls for it, send soldiers out to nearby areas.” Hmm... considering the need for diplomacy with the elves, Father Felipo has to stay here. However, to station two impulsive and straightforward men with him... “We will then dispatch Marius’s two thousand cavalry and Zakkow’s two thousand foot soldiers to the Hell Expanse as a side army. Jashan will be their commander. Support the locals in their defense, but remain flexible.”

Ah, I see. So that’s it. How calculating. Acting Commander Willow has no intention of defending the Hell Expanse to the death. If things take a turn for the worse, he wants them to pull out and preserve their soldiers. At the very least, the cavalry should make it back. And he’s dispatching the perfect people for the job. The impulsive ones have a tendency to let their emotions get the better of them, after all.

Captain Zakkow seems to understand this; he nods resolutely. Yes, that’s the correct response. The time spent waiting for an opening is worth ten thousand gold, and the soldiers reserved for the final battle will be equally valuable. Inevitably, there will be sacrifices. That’s the sort of battle we’re entering into.

“I will lead a force of a thousand cavalry in hit-and-run tactics going west,” concludes the knight.

Heh. Heh heh... that face. The light in those eyes. I could fall for you right here, Agias Willow. You intend to take on the most dangerous role and clash with our enemies using a thousand of our most elite cavalry. Yes, you are certainly not holding back. Your stout resolution and self-confidence are blinding. You plan to fight on the front lines, survive by any means necessary, and then command our armies in the final battle... what an amazing man.

“One last thing: we must be wary of the Apostles’ movements.” Father Felipo tries to gather the large black and white pawns in his fat hand, but they fall out. Just leave them be then, man. He can be an idiot at the weirdest times. Stop copying him, Captain What’s-your-name... hey, you’re pretty good at that.

“Ahem. Where will the vampires’ Crumbling Mountain appear? Where will the elves’ Absolute and Deep Sea be positioned? The true battle begins once we understand the Apostles’ locations. Until then, please don’t do anything rash,” warns Father Felipo. He picks up a large red pawn. “In this way, we shall do all that we can.” The lone large red pawn. The symbol of our hope. “And we shall await a divine revelation...” he recites, placing the pawn reverently onto the side of the map, “...from the hand of God.”

It’s as if he’s challenging and praying to God at the same time. Everyone closes their eyes. I follow suit and pray.

I pray that our precious wish for a future where humanity can exist proudly comes true. I pray that that means our victory. I pray that if it means defeat, the sacrifices we shall make are not too great. I pray that in exchange, many get to enjoy that happy future. I pray so that one day we can be happy that children are born. I pray for a wonderful world, where parents can watch their children grow.

“Deus Ex,” we chant. Now, our final battle has begun.

44 About Drops in DDR / The Cavalry Fights Alongside the Raven-Haired Knight

The world that God perceives is the world that I perceive.

Humanity’s sadness is cold, and its anger hot. That is our world.

-DDR Stream/VOD Part 2-

Today the news was so scary that I can’t even laugh. A nuclear-powered submarine vanished without a trace.

Hey guys, it’s PotatoStarch! The world sure is dangerous, but I’m still here making war in my video games, wearing my bright red tracksuit from middle school, and chowing down on a piece of toast. Another peaceful day in Japan... right? Well, not really, but whatever. I have to focus on DDR.

We’ve entered the final battle phase. The trigger for this event is the vampires losing one of their Apostles, so it’s only natural that it happens now. Although it’s quite rare for them to lose Golden; most of the time it’s Crumbling Mountain that is killed by Absolute. That makes Crumbling Mountain seem weak, and the strategy sites call it a “basically a guaranteed event” and “the internal administration ending its turn.” However, it’s really just a matter of bad chemistry. For example, if we were to take Thunderstorm and Absolute, who are now clashing heavily in the center of the continent... wait, why do I know that? There are so many markers on the map; I can’t check their forces’ numbers or stats, but just knowing their positions is a huge advantage. Hmm... just looking at this makes me feel uneasy.

There are no markers for the other Apostles. That’s normal. Not even for Sakiel. Do they only show up during battle? But there was nothing during the battle with Golden... Hm... let’s put a pin on this. For now, they’re far away. Those two are destined to be in a long-distance stalemate anyway.

This is what I mean by “chemistry” between Apostles. Sakiel would defeat Thunderstorm with ease, but would be absolutely destroyed by Crumbling Mountain. Physical melee fighters are scary. Not to mention it would basically be a muscled-out man chasing after a little girl. Uh, yeah... gotta be really careful. In the end, how the Apostle battles turn out greatly affects our chances of victory.

Incidentally, if the first Apostle to drop out is from the elven side, the final battle phase isn’t triggered. Instead, the vampires get very cocky. This leads to the elves getting desperate and almost enslaving the humans. They don’t just make them a vassal state, oh no. The men are sent to the front lines as human shields while the children are fed to their familiars. It’s truly horrific. But the most savage thing of all is that the elves get wiped out eventually, too.

Ha ha ha! DDR is such bullshit, isn’t it? But we all knew that already.

I’m so glad I didn’t have Kuroi side with the vampires. Remember that tusk bonus I received after skewering the sherboa during the first monster wave? I still have it equipped. If I’d offered it to the Demon God as I’d planned... well, it certainly wouldn’t have been funny.

Dragon Demon DX. Not Deluxe, but DX.

What it stands for, I have no idea... all my searching resulted in nothing—in fact, some even called me an idiot in the process. Whatever, I swear I’ll make this final battle end in a victory for the humans! Which is why, Kuroi, I need you to learn Summon magic! Normal tactics won’t beat the Demon God. I don’t even know how to defeat her. However, in this DX version, a Devil God exists. Fight fire with fire, and a god with a god. I have no choice but to double down on this. In order to win, Summon magic, one of the strongest types, is an absolute must. Once that’s unlocked, I can aim for even more power.

And! And! The way to strengthen her skills is to just kill vampires. Not that fending them off is an easy feat, but in two ways, this is a great chance to grant power to the Devil God.

First, it’s an opportunity to increase Kuroi’s fame as a martial artist. In that way, I can spread the results of the strengthened religious structure I created here in the Frontier. It’s missionary work. Evangelizing through battle.

Second, it’s a chance to steal faith points from the Demon God. When vampires are defeated, they drop ash and pebbles. Those pebbles are important. Like the leaf decorations of the elves, the pebbles contain the power of the Demon God’s blessing. I’ll offer those to the Devil God, turning them into “Devil God tokens.”

In other words, they are experience points. I feel a bit awkward calling them by that old standby of video games, but I’ll take it. I’ve got to do all I can. The method is the same regardless of the god, so no worries on that front. And as part of the battlefield tradition, the Church has taken custody of all the pebbles dropped so far.

That reminds me, we haven’t collected the pebble from Golden yet. Of course, Kuroi lost consciousness back then, but it’s still a mystery how we lost it. Then again, when it comes to Apostles and their servants, their blessings end up being inherited by someone else, so it wouldn’t have been some game-breaking power. It’s just a little annoying.

Anyway, that’s how it is. So hurry up and go to the next battlefield, Mr. Hot Knight and company. Defeat as many vampires as you can and show the world just how strong and cool we are! Together! More, more!

-Knight Agias I-

A black knight sweeps across the plains, swords in both hands. Atop her steed, she looks like a raven stretching its wings. Lady Kuroi, are you planning on diving head-first into that mass of five hundred vampire soldiers? Then I shall shave away at their outer perimeter, fighting for no one but myself and my own fame.

I raise my hand above my head and show five fingers. I flex them once, then bring my arm down. A thousand cavalry split into five platoons. With the high speed of two hundred cavalry, they control the battlefield.

Then we watch the fury of Lady Kuroi.

Surrounded on all sides by malice, she unfalteringly charges forward. Lightning and boulders hurtle towards her, but reddish black shadows shield her as she races forward. The rest is a chaotic dance. Infernos shoot up with every flash of Lady Kuroi’s dual blades. Shrieks echo and ash flies through the air.

Her black horse fears no vampire. It bears down upon enemy after enemy, almost as if enacting a violent dance itself. And they’re not alone. Red-black shadows appear to fight alongside them.

Strong. Lady Kuroi is strong. She’s stronger than she was before, and she’s still trying to get even stronger. Lady Kuroi, what is it that you seek to destroy after throwing yourself without conceit into your training? What is stronger than Golden? The Demon? The Dragon? Or possibly... No, more like...

It is awe-inspiring. An Apostle’s presence is heroic beyond comparison. She is still just a human, of course, so she performs reckless actions and suffers wounds, but... it’s as if her duty is to become a blade.

We cannot lag behind, then. There is no honor or glory in letting our great leader fight alone. I flash a hand signal—bending my thumb, I sweep it through the air. Two hundred cavalry split into four groups. Fifty cavalry become a single sword. All along the perimeter, my men follow suit, forming twenty small blades. The vampires, forced to pay attention to Lady Kuroi, are easily shredded. Sharply and swiftly, we exterminate them. From the inside, a raging inferno; from the outside, twenty rings of fire. We will not let these beasts, too used to tyrannizing the weak, escape.

Five hundred vampires destroyed and turned into ash... and not a single man lost. Lady Kuroi is unharmed, as well. Now, she begins her usual rounds. She’s been doing this ever since we started our hit-and-run tactics. She patrols the battlefield, her feet turning white with ash. She seems to be trying to find something, and refuses to get on her horse.

Another step. Yet another step. What is going on? In this way, she descends even further into—no, ascends the stairs to glory.

I send out scouts, set up patrols, and have those who will be resting here do maintenance on their horses and equipment. We cannot let our guard down, but we can take a small breather. We have been in dozens of battles so far.

The horrors of the western side of the Frontier are almost too much to bear. Based on messages alone, it would be impossible to estimate just how deeply the vampires have invaded our territory. The liberated towns were all ravaged beyond repair... they are unrelenting savages.

The five hundred vampires we just defeated were the largest force in the area. This should buy us the time we need to evacuate the citizens, but regardless, the situation is unsettling. The vampires’ actions were extremely systematic. Normally, considering their beastly nature, one would expect them to attack humans in a more scattered fashion. Such highly coordinated tactics...

Furthermore, the expected follow-up to multiple invasions by smaller forces would be to charge clean up with a larger force, yet there’s no trace of a great army approaching. Are they just testing the waters? Or perhaps disturbing the frontlines to see how we react? If that was it, then their retreat tactics really need some work. We have Lady Kuroi’s power—what’s the point in having all of their forces destroyed? In fact, I don’t believe they have the strength to attack the fort any longer.

What is the vampires’ goal? Until we find that out, our hit-and-run strategy will not end. Hm, Lady Kuroi has gotten onto her horse.

“Wait a second—” I was going to suggest we eat.

“Mmgh?” Something fills her cheeks. A dried potato? Lady Ange must have given it to her. Whoa, she’s stuffing another one in.

“Be sure to chew well. Those can sit heavy in the stomach,” I warn her after a pause. She nods and speeds up her mastication, then tilts back her water flask. Finally, she swallows. What a strange way to eat.

Her dark steed’s horseshoes echo against the ground. The wind tosses her raven hair. In her eyes, two fires burn as she looks at me.

No, these battles are not ending yet. I understand. If it is your next enemy you seek, then I shall lead you to them.

God positioned Lady Kuroi not on the Frontier or the Hell Expanse, but here on the western front. Perhaps I should think more about what that means.

I set off, my horse cantering forwards. On to the next battlefield. And then the next battlefield.