32 - Episode 1 "The 6th Day of Living in a Different World






 --Alkimaira.

 That is the name of the military superpower that has claimed the name of the champion in World #3 in the game [Tactics Chronicle].



 However, one day, without warning, the country was transferred to "another world".

 Alkimaira, which was transferred to the other world with its capital, was forced to intervene in an interspecies war on its second day in the other world, and participated in the first war in the other world.



 The army of the Warriors, led by the King of All Evil, utterly defeated the elite advance force of the , one of the Elven nations, and achieved complete victory. The triumphant army returned triumphantly, and a two-day victory commemoration was held at the capital of the country.



 No one there could be seen with an anxious look on their faces.

 Everyone was enjoying their glorious days, thinking of a hopeful tomorrow, despite the unprecedented crisis of being transferred to another world.

 This is due, in no small part, to the absolute existence of the , who leads his people.



 --In the midst of all this, in a room in the royal castle that towers over the capital of Alkimaira, there was one man who seemed to stand apart from them all, his air heavy with a sense of oppression.



"Gu......,......



 The man who was panting in agony still looked like a young man.

 The young man, who is struggling alone in a room called his office, is about to fall down on his desk and is shaking his head desperately to wake himself up.



 If he is distracted, he may lose consciousness. His breathing is erratic, and his internal organs are constantly complaining of a malfunction. The dizziness and headache are getting worse, and the taste of death is crawling on the tip of my tongue. He is in trouble, no matter what he thinks.



 But still, he grits his teeth.

 He was determined not to end up like this.

 If he were to lose consciousness at this point, he would not know what he had worked so hard for.



"......Yes, that's right. I won't end up in such a half-assed place. ......



 I dare to say my thoughts out loud and inspire myself.

 And then, "Yes, that's right," I think more deeply. If it were dismissed as a trivial stubbornness, that would be the end of it, but that stubbornness and rebelliousness was halfway turning into a belief. Then I would not give up that belief here. I decided to do my best.



......



 Yeah, but... Still.

 If I'm not careful, those weak words leak out.



 I did decide to do my best. I decided to do my best on that day, at that time, in that place. I promised the girl that I would do my best even though this world is so hard on me.



 But it seems that weakness is not something that can be easily discarded. People do not change so easily. I will never forget the vow I made that day, but I can say that it is inevitable for a human being to be attacked by when he or she is not in the right frame of mind.



 And that whispers to me.

 How did this happen?

 Why am I suffering so much?



"...... someone, please tell me. ......"



 A ray of light interrupted his muttering.

 He looked out the window and saw the sunrise. It was the third sunrise he had seen from this room since his arrival in the other world.



 The people of the city, bathed in sunlight, begin to do their own activities.

 A construction worker of a certain cooperative heads for the construction site with an elated look on his face.

 A certain innkeeper starts to cook bacon and eggs, greeting his early risers.

 The owner of a certain tavern dumps his drunken customers in front of the bar and returns to his store.

 And then...



"How did this happen ......!"



 On the morning of his 6th day and 0 night in another world, the king of a certain castle (Helian) arrived.

 He was dying of exhaustion.









    + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +









 ......No, there's nothing there by any means.

 Helian, surrounded by layers and layers of virtual windows, thinks this over in his mind.

 Looking back on the past few days, I can't help but feel that I had it coming.



 It was noon on the third day after being transferred to another world.



 That day, Helian had revived Lillipha with a friendly revive at the bar in the place of the beginning, and after he had managed to settle the situation, he had issued a gag order.

 This was because, if the people of Alkimaira were to find out that he had the ability to revive them, it could cause serious problems.

 Then, he exchanged only urgent and necessary promises with Leifa, who had somehow calmed down enough to exchange words with him, and returned to the castle.



 --So far, so good.



 But Helian, who had returned to the castle, was in a state of excitement, perhaps because of his joy at being able to revive Leifa, and said, "I can't rest! I've decided to go for it!" Just get to work!" Driven by an enthusiasm that knew no bounds, I set to work immediately. I got to work.

 And the volume of work was rather unfashionable.



 Although it sounds good to call it the work of a king, the actual contents of the work itself were not that difficult. In short, it is just an extension of the game.



 The king accurately grasps the resources that each corps has and allocates the appropriate amount of work (tasks) to the most urgent internal affairs, taking into consideration the aptitude of each corps.

 In other words, it is simply a matter of sucking out information from a displaying various kinds of information, and with the support of the system, making full use of tools such as flowcharts and Gantt charts to make reservations for the most appropriate actions for each personnel.



 A certain king (player) used a simple tool saying "I don't want to make project management documents in a game ......", but Helian's method, which allows detailed , is superior in terms of maximum effectiveness.

 Among the top players, there were only a few who could make such detailed , and Helian belonged to the minority. He had a hard time in the first six months, but through years of playing, he has mastered the use of various tools.



 And with overflowing enthusiasm, she started to work on all of them based on the guideline <>, and the result is what you see here.



"But that doesn't mean it was a good job to put off until later. ......"



 After all, sooner or later, we might have found ourselves in this situation.

 And I think it was a bad thing that the work was manageable.



 For example, the evaluation of war merits was handled by receiving from each member of the VI Corps led by Camilla and obtaining of each soldier.






 In the real world, it would be impossible to achieve a <<< correct and equal evaluation of war merits>>, but Helian has the king's (player's) exclusive ability of . By making full use of the filtering technology that had been cultivated in the game era, it was possible to make a somewhat equal evaluation of the war merits on the accumulated .



 If possible, we should do it. At least for the first game, we should make the utmost effort to give a correct and equal evaluation. With this logic, three days ago, Helian started to work on the evaluation of war merits with great enthusiasm.



 --As a result, he had to spend a whole night just for the evaluation of war merits.



"...... Well, it was necessary work, that's for sure. It helped me find the Gobutaro bloodline and so on."



 One of the individuals who distinguished himself was an unnamed goblin soldier.

 Although the number of his kills was only four, he had defeated a commander class enemy, a captain of war, among them.



 And, to his surprise, he was a direct descendant of Gobutaro. There are a fair number of goblins of Gobutaro's lineage, but he was one of the bloodiest of them all.

 He was also a new goblin without a name - children of fertile races are sometimes not given names - so Helian decided to reward him by giving him one himself.



 By the way, he named him <.



"...... is not a cut-and-dry job."



 I don't mean to say this to anyone - or perhaps I'm talking to myself a little, but I'm not cutting corners.



 It is just that when I thought about what kind of name would be good for <> bloodline, I could only come up with <>.



 I will admit that it is a bit naive.



"Mr. Helian, I brought you a report from the Third Army Commander (Ertina)."

"-Oh, thank you."



 I received the report on internal affairs that I had asked for.

 I thank Levee for bringing it to me and begin to look over it.



 There is no need to read the report in detail.

 Once you have read the report, it will be saved in the and you can refer to it at any time through the . You can also analyze the information through the . The fact that the information was submitted in the form of a report means that the work of compiling the information was outsourced to an external party (Eltina).



 As I was flipping through the report and saving it in my , I suddenly became aware of Liewe's eyes on me. I felt that he had something to say to me.



"......What's wrong? Is there something urgent to report?"

"No, it's not that. ....... I am afraid you should go to sleep now. In the meantime, Eltina and I will take care of your business."

"...... No, we can't rest yet. There will be several tasks left that cannot be started without my permission.



 In short, there are projects that have not yet reached a higher level of decision-making, and therefore, subsequent work has been stalled. For example, one of the projects is the that we are currently working on.



 We can't just go ahead with the pioneering without a plan, but we can't leave the motivated workers behind either. Even as we speak, those who could be working are left in the status of "waiting". We want them to start working as soon as possible.



 However, since pioneering is a major national project, a detailed plan is needed to start it.

 Appropriate personnel must be assigned to the appropriate duties, the workload must be properly distributed, and a must be made to maximize efficiency. And quickly.



"But ......"

"Don't worry about it. Besides, I've already taken care of most of the urgent work. We just need a little more patience."



 Some examples of the work that we have done so far include <, , including , and many more.



 The number of personnel to be moved is so large that the charts created for are like a complicated puzzle, but that's nothing new. It is not for nothing that I have been managing superpowers in [Tactics Chronicle] for many years. Once you get the hang of it, it is possible to set up a that is close to the optimal solution based on the rule of thumb of many years.



 Now that the game has become a reality, we need to be a little more creative to reconcile the game and reality, and there is an unfashionable level of pressure with the fate of more than 100,000 people in our hands, but I would like to think that it is working so far. ......



 And so, somehow, we have made it this far. I don't want to mess it up by slacking off just before the end. That would make me lose my sense of what I have worked so hard for.



"So, how about a cup of tea at least at ......? It may only be a comforting thought, but it may ease your mind in some way."

"...... Right. Then, please, a hot cup of tea."

"Yes, sir. I'll bring it right away."



 Silently, Levee leaves.

 Helian watches her back and sighs, "I'm sorry for making you feel uncomfortable.

 I had never thought about it that much in [Tactics Chronicle], but from now on, as a king, I will have to think about how I treat my subordinates.



 In addition, he will have to be careful about how he allocates work.

 Even without the influence on the plan in progress, the orders are still very stressful. In the game I was not afraid to give orders, but now that it has become a reality, I am not so sure.



 For example, Ghardi, who simply looks scary and makes me nervous.



 ...... No, I am not joking, but I am really afraid of him.

 I tried my best to be cautious and punish him when I had an audience with him, but it also means that you need to be prepared when you deal with him.



 He is a huge man over 2 meters tall and intimidating, and he looks like a combination of a mafia chief (father) and a bandit head (master). When he smiles, he has a unique charm, but to an ordinary Helian, he is usually a frightening opponent.



 Don't be so naive.

 Not many people in the real world can maintain their composure when asked to talk one-on-one with a mafia boss.

 If there were, it would be something else disguised as an ordinary person.



"I'm also very careful when I give orders to Nogarde. ....... He's even a bit difficult."



 In addition, he is proud and needs to be careful when giving orders. He is dependable on the battlefield, but I honestly feel that he is difficult to deal with in everyday life.



 Not to say that he is like a nuclear weapon, but as a nation, Nogarde is almost like a decisive weapon. In times of peace, they have little use other than to intimidate other countries. Even in the game era, it was a rather troublesome experience.



"Now that I think about it ......, I wonder how he didn't lose his temper during the war the other day."



 


 Nogardo had recognized him as a king and had not complained about being on his back, but he did not like being touched on the head. Perhaps it is the same now that he has become a reality.



 It was a horrible thing to do, no matter how much blood was flowing in his head.



"......Wait a minute, I... My thoughts are going in a strange direction. You are on the verge of escaping.



 I mutter to myself and turn my attention back to my work.

 Analyzing himself, Herian racks his brains to win a good night's sleep.






"The rest of the work is ...... information operations to the home country of Noblewood and instructions to create topographic maps on paper as part of the pioneering policy ...... Oh, and opinions from Ceres and Camilla about logging in the Abyssal Forest (Abyss). I'll have to ask. I don't know if I should touch it. And we need to take countermeasures against the monsters in the Abyssal Forest. ...... Speaking of countermeasures against monsters, we need to take countermeasures against the latestone forest too. It's a location that could be attacked by ordinary monsters, and it's urgent to repair the outer wall of the capital......, but if we want to support them while keeping the Alkimaira's existence well hidden,...... we'll have to back them up with the 6th legion,....... Do we mobilize the 5th and 7th engineering corps all at once while having them But if we devote too many resources to the V Corps, we will have to revise some of the pioneering plans we are making now. ......"



 ...... funny .

 I'm supposed to be working hard to reduce my workload, but the more I think about it, the more work I have to do.



"...... Anyway, let's finish the work in front of us now. Then I will sleep. At least three hours of sleep. Until then, just hang in there, okay?



 With what little energy I have left, I operate the various virtual windows, trying to keep my spirits up.

 With the smell of death from overwork on the tip of his nose, Helian sets about the task at hand.









    + + +









"Hey ......, finally done ......!"



 Upon receiving the news that the restoration of the domestic facilities had been completed, he plunged down on the desk in his office.



 A heavy thumping sound is heard as he hits his forehead, but even with the pain he cannot resist the desire to sleep. The relief that his work was over helped, but he was sure that if he relaxed, he would fall asleep in less than five seconds.



"......I can't do it anymore. I can't go any further, it's physically impossible. I'm going to sleep. I'm going to sleep. I'm going to sleep. I mean, if I don't sleep, I'll probably die for real. ......"



 He gets up unsteadily and walks down the private passageway to his bedroom. Even the king's aide (Levee) is not allowed to use this direct passage, which is reserved for the king's (player's) use. You arrive at the bedroom with ghostly steps, holding on to your consciousness that threatens to jump out of your body if you are not careful.



 Come to think of it, this is the first time I've slept properly since I came to the other world.

 On the first day, I passed the night unconscious after being killed by an ogre, and on the second day, I was brought to the bedroom in a state of unconsciousness caused by the repercussions of a secret blowout.



 If passing the night in a state of unconsciousness is described as "sleeping," then at this point I've been in a state of 2 nights and 6 days, but even so, I've normally been in a state of 3 nights. I fall into bed, dismayed at the harshness of life in another world. I don't even have the energy to change my clothes.



 Slipping under the covers, Helian closes his eyelids peacefully to enjoy the sleep he has finally managed to get on the sixth night of his otherworldly life.





 --At the same time, a loud explosion roared from the direction of the south.





"--! What's going on?



 A thump, a vibration.

 The solid castle did not shake, but the window frames made a slight noise. The air shook as if fireworks had popped off. The sound of the explosion was distinctly different from the sounds of daily life. He jumps up the futon and immediately opens the virtual window.



Tactical Window: Open! Select: map!



 The blast came from the south. Refer to the map of the south section of the castle.

 


"...... Gardi and Nogard?"



 For some reason, the two legionnaires responded.

 On the edge of the main street--just around the area where the Red Ogre was defeated--there are unit marks indicating the 5th (Gardi) and 8th (Nogarde) corps commanders.



 On the positive side, it means that both corps commanders are dealing with some kind of problem, but they are too quick to respond to it.



"............Why are they on site?"



 I sat up from the bed with a bad feeling.

 At the same time, there was a quiet knocking sound. I allowed him to enter, and the door was opened with a voice saying, "Excuse me. At the other end of the door, there was Levee with her back straightened as usual.



 Herian accompanied Levee to the scene of the crime, saying briefly, "Follow me.









    + + +









"What are we going to do about this mess? This is definitely something that Levee and Balan would complain about!"

"I don't care. You destroyed it. You can explain to them honestly that you created this mess.

"Don't be silly, I was just fighting back! You're the one who came out of the woodwork and kicked my ass!"



 Helian arrived at the scene.

 In front of a collapsed building, two army commanders were screaming and yelling.



"............ what are you doing?"



 I walk up to him, putting my hand on his head as a dull pain resonates.

 Helian asked just to be sure, even though he had a bad feeling that was turning into a certainty.



"Is it the king?



 Nogard, who had noticed Helian, turned to face him, seemingly paying no attention to Gardi, who was wrinkling his brow and shouting. Galdi, too, noticed Helian's presence.



 At this point, Levee, who was standing beside him, began to emit a silent rage, but Helian held out one hand lightly to stop her. It is a bad idea to make a decision before you have heard what is being said. You should listen carefully before you make a decision. Even if you don't need to hear it from the devastation in front of you. ......



"Explain. Explain to me why you are here. And why are all the buildings you ordered repaired destroyed? I thought I heard a report that all the facilities had been repaired.

"No, but listen, General. I'm sure that my unit, together with the wingmen of the Seventh Corps Commander (Robin) have finished the restoration of all the facilities. And when I was congratulating my men on their work, Nogarde came to visit us."

"You're so self-consciously delusional, you muscle-bound man! I was just passing by.

"Then why don't you just walk right past it! You don't have to go out of your way to say, "Are you done cleaning up your mess, you fool? And when I ignored him, he suddenly kicked me in the face and said, "What kind of a stupidity is it to ignore my words! I'm just buying a fight that was sold to me!"

"And if he destroys the facilities he has just restored, he's in good hands. It's that kind of single-mindedness that causes you to blunder.

"Because you avoid it, Nogardo! We were only going to blow you up if you couldn't avoid us!"






 Once again, the two corps commanders were exchanging invective that was difficult to hear.

 In front of them, Helian felt a surprisingly cold sensation in his head. He tried to keep his composure and digested the report he had just received.



"............"



 ......In other words.

 Yes, I mean, I mean.



 Just as I crawled into bed, finally able to sleep for the first time in three days, an explosion was heard, the result of a skirmish that started with a quarrel.



 The explosion was the sound of destruction when Mr. Gardy, who was supposed to be in charge of repairing the facility, completely destroyed the facility that he had just repaired.



 It all started when Mr. Nogarde made an unnecessary provocation that did not need to be made.



 And the result of the two famous corps commanders' trivial quarrel is the pile of rubble spread out before our eyes.



 Is that correct?



"........................"



 Ha.

 Ha-ha-ha.

 Ha-ha-ha-ha.

 Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.



"Leve."

"Ha."

Red moon blessing activated.

"What about ......?"



 Rieve asked back with an involuntary but unmistakable response.



"Oh, no, I'm afraid that's ...... more than a little problematic in your current condition, Helian.



 Levee tries to rebuke Helian in a soft tone of voice.

 Helian only moved his eyeballs to meet her gaze. Her cold gaze makes the hairs on her tail stand on end.



"-Just do it."



 Herian's eyes were completely fixed as he quietly gave the order.



"............"



 --Never disobey.

 Rieve, judging this by her wild instincts, solemnly invoked the "Red Moon Blessing".



 A red phosphorescence rises from Rieve's body, and at the same time, Helian's body is overloaded.

 Helian nodded his head in satisfaction as he felt what little strength he had left being drained from his body.

 If he fell back on the bed, he would literally sleep like a dead man.



"...... King, why did you let Levee invoke the secret?"

"...... General?"



 Gardi and Nogarde indeed stop cursing each other and turn their attention to Helian.

 Helian told them in a calm tone.



"Galdi, Nogardo. You are forbidden to change your forms for three hours from this time, except in case of emergency.

""--!!!?""



 The two legionnaires' eyes peeled back as Helian turned on his heel and turned to leave. As if to replace him, Levee steps forward, her body glowing with phosphorescence, her fists clenched tightly.



Wait, O king! Isn't this an emergency! Don't tell me that you want me to go toe-to-toe with Levee in his demon form, in his red-moon state! The moon is out tonight!"

"Yes, General! I'm not even in my demon form, I'm in my fully humanized form! At least let me take my demon form!"



 Forgetting their earlier disagreement, the two of them do their best to persuade him. They knew that if they did not, their lives would be in danger.

 In particular, Ghardi, who was unable to display his true ability due to his fully humanized form, was desperate. If he continued to fight with Levee in his red moon state, he might seriously die.



 As if his plea had been heard, Helian suddenly stopped walking. The two of them hope for a ray of hope that there are extenuating circumstances.



 Against them - or more precisely, against Levee, who confronts them, Helian says one important word that he had forgotten to mention.



"Don't finish them off."



 The blood drained from their faces.



 And this time, Helian walked away, leaving only the two colorless legionnaires and the king's entourage in a state of seething anger.



"That's the way it is. How dare you disturb Herian's peaceful sleep!

 --Now I will risk my life and live to see the morning!

"It's a line full of contradictions, isn't it?

"I mean, you said no tome! Hey, calm down, at least take it easy on--"



 As Helian walked away, a series of tremendous blows reached his back, as if a heavy machine had hit the ground.

 The sound continued to echo intermittently after Helian reached his bed, and Helian, exhausted with all his remaining strength, fell into a deep sleep with the sound as a lullaby.





 --The next morning, reports arrived that two battered legionnaires had been found in a pile of rubble, but Helian did not pay any attention to them.