Naze Boku no Sekai wo Dare mo Oboeteinainoka? - World 1 - The Last Federation (Part 1)

TL, ED: Pascal’s Wager

「Kai! No……no, you can’t. Don’t die!」

Fortress Ruins・Zu・Flamm──

In the southern Yurun Federation, this was the base of the Humanity Rebellion Army’s resistance that tried to liberate humanity.

On the second floor, a blonde girl named Rinne screamed in a room filled with bright sunlight.

「Hey, answer me. Kai, Kai, come on……」

Lying on the bed was a boy with ultramarine hair.

The boy called Kai had his eyes closed and was wrapped in a thin towel. There was no reply. He showed no signs of opening his eyes.

「Kai……」

「It’s too late.」

Reirin, a girl with pointy ears, muttered behind Rinne, who was making a weak voice.

Although she was petite and had a lovely face, her ears, which were much longer than those of humans, and her skin, which was clear and white, were characteristic of elves and not humans.

「Humans can’t be saved. I give up, Rinne.」

「No way!?」

「I didn’t expect this either. I didn’t expect this to happen……」

「Hey, is there really no way to save Kai!?」

Rinne bit her lips as she clung onto the elf shrine maiden Reirin.

「For the sake of helping Kai, I’ll do anything!」

「Uh huh. There is only one thing left to do.」

Reirin pointed first to Rinne, then to the room they were in.

「There is a hometown elven spell for resuscitation.」(TL: Hometown seems to refer to where Reirin came from)

「There is……how do you do it……?」

「Rinne, you must strip naked here, then sing, dance, and run in front of the sleeping Kai. Continue for three days. You must not stop for even a moment.」

「Here?」

「Uh huh.」

「I just need to be naked?」

「Yes. And keep chanting the spell of resuscitation.」

「Okay! I’ll do anything to save Kai────」

「Don’t do ittttt!?」

*rustle* The towel fluttered in the air.

Jumping out of the bed where he had been peacefully napping, Kai tried his best to stop Rinne, who was about to undress, with all his might.

「Kai, is it okay for you to move!?」

「I was just taking a nap……」

「But you have a fever.」

「It’s a slight fever. We know the cause, so it’ll go away soon.」

Calming down Rinne, who was looking up at him worriedly, Kai turned to the grinning elf shrine maiden behind him.

「Reirin, stop messing with Rinne and say something. 」

「Hmm? Well, it was a blessing in disguise. The elven elixir was originally toxic for humans, and it’s fortunate that the side effects were limited to a slight fever.」

「……The person who made it isn’t aware of the side effects?」

「Yeah. I don’t know!」

Reirin nodded broadly without looking offended.

An elven elixir──

The existence of such a drug had been confirmed in the canonical history of Kai, but it would be rare in history to find a human who actually drank it.

Furthermore.

There is no doubt that Kai is the only person in the world who had taken an elven elixir prepared for humans.

“If the lord is like that, we will be in trouble when fighting the holy spirit race.”

“I’ll make a special elixir that will heal your wounds in half a day.”

A wound on his left shoulder.

It was before Kai visited the Yurun Federation. It all started when Kai was injured in a fight with the cryptid tribe he encountered in the Io Federation’s elf forest.

Giant behemoths──

The scouts sent by Rath=IE, the hero of the cryptids, were very powerful. If Kai had not fought, the human rebellion resistance would have suffered tremendous damage.

「I’m grateful my wounds have healed, but……」

「Is that so? Humans can’t heal a wound like that. If the lord continues to be injured, it will be a problem in the battle against the cryptid race.」

「Hey, flat elf!」(TL: Likely implication about the chest area)

After putting on the clothes she had almost taken off, Rinne clung to Reirin’s back.

「You lied!」

「Wh, what is it. The spell you just cast is a venerable tradition in the elves’ hometown──」

「That’s not what I meant. You said there would be no side effects for the medicine you gave Kai!」

「……Well, that was unexpected for me too.」

The elves’ elixirs are poisonous substances for humans.

Kai knew that, but it was a miscalculation to think that even an elixir formulated for humans would have a side effect of a fever.

「I’m not saying it won’t affect you. I didn’t have any experience in making elixirs for humans, so you’re lucky to just have a slight fever, right?」

「Well, yes, but……」

「Oh, I’ve got an idea.」

Reirin claps her hands together.

「I’ll make a potion that will eliminate the fever as a side effect. That’s the solution. 」

「Can you do that?」

「However, the side effect will be a constant coughing fit.」

「It’s no good!?」

「I could also make an elixir to stop the coughing. But the side effect of the cough suppressant is that your entire body will get chills.」

「Is there any elixir that doesn’t have side effects?」

「Probably not.」

The elf shrine maiden gently shook her head.

「If we were to weaken our elixirs for human use, it would be no different from human medicine. How many bad side effects can be reduced while still maintaining strong utility? This is where we show our skills.」

「……sounds like a good argument.」

「Right? But aside from the lord’s condition, what about what’s going on over there?」

Reirin turned to look at the window of the room.

She put her hand on the windowsill and looked up the spire, the top floor of the fortress.

「Have you decided on whether to advance to the Schultz Federation yet? If you want, we can head there on our own. Staying with the human rebellion army is suffocating.」

「I agree. Hey, Kai, I won’t be happy if there are more humans, okay?」

「I don’t know if I’d say that……」

The sidhe Reirin and the mixed-race Rinne.

Both were inherently incompatible with humans.

The increase in the number of mercenaries accompanying them in the Human Rebellion Army is probably not reassuring to them, but more of a「depressing feeling」.

……I couldn’t calm down when I entered the elves’ hometown, either. (TL: Kai POV)

……I know that feeling, too.

Both Rinne and Reirin had to pretend to be human in the presence of the mercenaries. That hassle probably is one of the reasons why they don’t like it.

「That monster, the rasterizer you said?」

The elf shrine maiden sighs bitterly.

「Knowing that it’s the hero of the cryptid race, Rath=IE, controlling the rasterizer means that it’s a stalemate in this remote wilderness……」

「I’m not sure if it’s Rath=IE’s work yet.」

「In all likelihood, it’s settled, right?」

Reirin says while staring out of the window.

「Before Alfreyja-sama’s leopard-like change, the angels witnessed the Fang Emperor’s invasion of the Io Federation. In the same way, didn’t the viscous creature slime also say the Fang Emperor had invaded the Yurun Federation to destroy the holy spirit race?」

「Ahh. I do remember Rikugen Kyoko saying that.」

While nodding, Kai pulled his jacket over his shoulders.

The elven elixir had left him with a slight fever, but he wouldn’t be able to take a nap with Rinne and Reirin in the room anyway.

……Even so, what is this feeling?

……Even though my body is sluggish from the fever, I feel like my five senses have been sharpened to a frightening degree.

Even through the walls, I can clearly hear the presence of mercenaries walking outside the room.

Is this another power of the elixir?

By taking an elixir with an elf’s magic power, the magic power will temporarily reside in the human body. But, it seems like the effect of the residing magic power on the human body will vary on the individual.

「Hey Kai? Is Jeanne still at the meeting?」

「With Commander Balmung of the Yurun Human Resistance. We have to talk to Schultz’s Human Resistance before going to Western Schultz.」

「I don’t like that.」

Using Kai’s bed as a chair, Reirin sat down vigorously.

「If you’re a sidhe, you would gather all of your brethren to discuss. Elves, dwarves, fairies, and even the angels if there is no choice. We have no secrets. But why do you humans insist on talking to so few?」

「Because it’s faster.」

「That’s wrong!」

Reirin pointed at me.

「The only way to finish things quickly is to silence opinions. Some problems can only be solved by everyone sharing their knowledge. Humans want to rush the discussion.」

「It’s a sidhe────no, it’s nothing.」

The sidhes live far longer than humans.

Kai swallowed the words he was about to say.

Elves, dwarves, fairies, and angels.

All four of the sidhe races are long-lived.

As Reirin said, she even spent almost a month without sleep discussing issues.

……Are the demons also as long-lived?

……I’m not sure about the holy ghosts and cryptids, because there is not much data on them.

「Anyway, it’s important to decide quickly. Especially for an expedition like this one.」

「I don’t care, though. I don’t mind if Jeanne and the others decide on their own?」

Rinne lied on a bed.

Like Reirin, the two of them had gotten into the habit of occupying their own beds whenever they could.

「I don’t like talking about difficult things. I don’t like conference rooms because they’re too small.」

「I don’t want to be surrounded by humans. But, I think it would be polite to contribute the story progress……mu?」(TL: SFX for annoyance)

*piku* (TL: SFX for being caught by surprise)

The elf shrine maiden shook her long ears.

「Hey. Kai, are you thereー」

「Baka Ashran! I said Kai was sleeping because he had a fever. Jeanne told you to leave him alone if he was sleeping！」

「Ah……shoot.」

The young man and the girl scolding him’s voices were clear.

Both of them came from the passage across the door of the room.

「O, oi. I wonder if he woke up now……」

「I don’t know. Do you want to knock just in case?」

「──No, it’s okay, I’m awake.」

Before the knock sounded, Kai opened the door to his room.

「What’s wrong, Saki and Ashlan?」

Two mercenary soldiers from the Urza Human Rebellion Army.

The tall young man with a light atmosphere is Ashlan, while the other, a petite girl with orange hair, is Saki.

Both of them are some of the few friends Kai met again in「this world」.

──Although.

──The two of them don’t remember what they did in the canonical history.

「Oh, good, you’re awake. You don’t look so pale, do you?」

Ashlan, looking relieved, waved to the two girls behind Kai.

「Yo. Don’t stay cooped up in your room, Rinne and Reirin, how about talking a walk with me sometime?」

「Leave them alone. Rather than that, Kai, let’s convene.」

Saki stabbed Ashlan’s side with her elbow.

「Jeanne is calling for the captains of the Human Rebellion Resistance. She wants us to call Kai if he’s awake.」

「What about me?」

「What about me?」

「You both too. Commander Balmung wants to talk to you. It’s the usual conference room.」

「I’ll get ready soon. Let’s see……」

He took a quick look around the room.

Kai didn’t have a lot of personal belongings, though. A few clothes and communication devices purchased in this world. And the bayonet 「Drake Nail」and its bullets brought from the canonical world.

……There were six drake bullets left.

……Were there only two rounds left of short-form elf ammunition?

The bullets he brought with him were running out. This was the most pressing concern for Kai, but he had no solution in mind at the moment.

「Kai, you don’t have to bring a bayonet with you.」

「It’s a habit. I don’t want to give it up.」

「Ehー……I’ve been thinking for a long time, but even though you’re not a mercenary, you’re a lot more like a mercenary than us. Are you prepared?」

「I’ve often heard similar things.」

Saki couldn’t help but smile as she sighed.

Just as he tried to leave the room.

「Kai, what are you going to do with that?」

Rinne pointed to an old pendant that sat in the corner of the table.

A locket pendant──

The ornamental part was openable, and the open cavity could hold medicine or photographs. The accessory itself was not uncommon. The chain was inexpensive and gold-plated, and did not have any expensive decorations like jewels.

「Are you leaving it alone? Or do you want me to keep an eye on it?」

「……I’ll take it.」

He hooked the pendant on his finger and picked it up.

「Hey Kai? When did you start carrying such fashionable things?」

「There’s medicine inside. It’s for the wound on my shoulder.」

I casually replied to Ashlan, who asked me curiously.

It seemed that Rinne’s whisper was not heard by the two mercenaries.

「Saki, is it the third floor?」

「Yes, yes. Jeanne and Commander Balmug are waiting for you. And the captains of both human rebellion resistances are waiting.」

「Okay.」

Kai left the room, giving a look at Rinne and Reirin.

Fortress Ruins・Zu・Flamm, third floor.

In the room that was formerly a royal court, a loud voice echoed like a lion’s roar──

「Gentlemen, I have kept you waiting!」

The northern Urza Federation and the southern Yurun Federation.

A large man shouted out, looking around at the mercenary captains who had been selected.

「So loud!?」(TL: urusa)

「Noisy!?」

At the end of the conference room.

Rinne and Reirin, who have better hearing than humans, both put their hands over their ears, but there was no sign the man in question was paying attention.

「I finally got in touch with Min, the commander of West Schultz. It took some time to receive a communication signal, but we were able to quickly settle things.」

Balmung, commander of South Yurun.

With his golden hair and beard reminiscent of a lion’s fur, he is a man called 「Lion King」.

The captains lined up in a row were all strong and sharp, but Balmung was even taller and more muscular than the rest.

「You have probably guessed it. The Schultz Humanity Rebellion Resistance responded that they would fully approve of this proposal.」

The Lion King’s gaze, as he continued, turned to the other commander standing next to him.

「Jeanne-dono. May I explain it for you?」

「Yes, yes, according to plan.」

Jeanne, the commander of North Urza.

In the Urza Federation, which was ruled by the demon tribe, he succeeded in taking back the royal capital Urzak. He was a beautiful young man who had been praised as the savior of the Federation.

His silver hair was tied back in a glossy bun, and his features were dignified and beautiful. He was the「Knight of Spiritual Light」supported by both the people and the mercenaries.

──And a lady in male clothing.

──However, there are only a few people in this world who know Jeanne is a girl.

Such was Jeanne.

He gently glanced at the people sitting at the end of the conference room.

「Listen carefully. All of you and I will challenge the『outside』of the Federation from now on!」

Roared Balmung, the Lion King.

「During an operation the other day, we unexpectedly engaged the leader of the holy spirit race, and I’m sure you all clearly remember what she said there.」

The captains were silent.

But there did not seem to be objections from a single person.

“Rikugen Kyoko proposes.”

“I’ll deal with you humans another time. Let’s stop fighting. The cryptid race is coming for our land.”

In the vast grasslands of the Yurun Federation──

The oldest viscous creature slime『Original Spiritual Lord』Rikugen Kyoko said to the Yurun human rebellion resistance, who should have been her longtime nemesis.

……no, was it only humans who thought they were sworn enemies?

……the holy spirit race probably didn’t care about humans to begin with.

Even Kai couldn’t believe his ears.

Was this another race proposing to fight together?

And it was the holy spirits?

The holy spirit race was the most primitive and unintelligent race. Kai, Rinne, and even the sidhe Reirin didn’t doubt that.

But the truth was, the captains here also heard Rikugen Kyoko’s story.

「The cryptid race isn’t just targeting West Schultz. I’m sure they’re targeting other federations.」

It was Jeanne who opened her mouth to continue.

「The wyvern had appeared on the border of the Urza Federation. We’ve seen the behemoths invade the Io Federation as well. And one more fact, we humans don’t have the power to deal with the holy spirit and cryptid races at the same time.」

There is no doubt that the cryptids are targeting South Yurun.

And on that premise, the choice between the two一──

Do you deal with the holy spirit and cryptid races?

Or do you fight with the holy spirit race and take on the cryptid race first?

But the former option was practically impossible, as Jeanne had just proved.

「I’m aware of the consequences. You and I have risked our lives to fight against the holy spirit race. Many have considered them their lifelong enemies. I myself am one of them.」

Balmung, the Lion King, was the next to speak.

「But I have decided that the cryptids must be defeated first.」

Unrest.

The captains who had been silent until now began to murmur.

「……Commander. I’ve asked you this before, but I’d like to ask you again.」

The one who nervously raised his hand was the mercenary commanding officer.

Here in the Yurun Federation, he was also one of the men who had put his life on the line to fight against the holy spirits.

「I can’t imagine fighting together with the holy spirit race. So we’re going to be standing next to them, guns in our hands, fighting the cryptid race?」

「No, we will not.」

「Then what do you mean by fighting together?」

「『Do not interfere』. That is how I see it.」

There was no hesitation in Balmung’s answer.

「Captain Gainatsu, that’s a tough question that I have struggled with. There is no guarantee that what the holy ghosts call 『fighting together』will be the same as what the humans call it.」

「……Understood.」

「Humans and holy spirits join forces to challenge the cryptids. It sounds good, but it’s not realistic. There’s no way to have a proper strategy meeting with the holy ghosts. So that’s why I just said that.『Do not interfere』with each other.」

Humans are humans.

The holy spirit race is the holy spirit race.

Each heads for the Schultz Federation. There will be no interference from each other.

「We will defeat the cryptids with the three human rebellion forces: the Yurun Federation in the South, the Urza Federation in the north, and the Schultz Federation in the west. We don’t need the help of the holy spirits.」

「……Can you communicate that?」

「I don’t know!」

The Lion King drowned out the fears of his men with a laugh.

「We have been enemies for decades. In the first place, verbal promises, even among humans, usually end in betrayal. Because there was no guarantee the holy spirit race would keep their word, I told Rikugen Kyoko that before we parted ways in the meadow the other day.」

“We humans will do things our own way.”

“Don’t interfere in any way with our fight against the cryptid race. We don’t need your help!”

「Captain Gainatsu, you were there too. Right?」

「……Yes.」

「『Fighting together』means to protect each other. If the holy spirits betray us, it will be cancelled on the spot. That’s all I’m saying. Am I wrong?」

There were no further objections.

It was probably because he was relieved, not because he was silenced by the momentum.

It was a fear the Yurun Federation soldiers held.「Thank goodness. We’re mercenaries, we don’t need to join forces with the holy spirits directly.」──if this anxiety had been resolved, then there is no reason not to follow Commander Balmung’s decision.

「And the expedition to the Schultz Federation will be a joint force between Jeanne and myself.」

The Supreme Commander was Jeanne.

The reason for this was because the Yurun Humanity Rebellion Resistance had no experience fighting anything other than holy spirits.

It was Balmung’s idea that Jeanne, who had fought against demons, sidhes, and holy spirits, should take the overall command.

「I’ve ordered firearm modifications at the production plant, with technology provided by the Urza Humanity Rebellion Resistance. I hear that the cryptids are tough────as soon as we have enough equipment, we will leave for the Schultz Federation. Until then, we will have thorough training. That’s all!」