༺ Land That Flows Like A River – 4 ༻

The Meta Conveyor Belt was a land that flowed. It was the most efficient means of transportation in the Military State.

It may not be the fastest, but it was certainly the most efficient. Simply by getting on, one could go from the eastern end to the western end of the Military State within a few days. And if one wished to go even faster, they could simply move around on top of it.

Such actions could be performed through the medium of vehicles or, if that was not possible, on foot. The more one hurried, the faster they would do. It was a masterpiece that even the rigid State, known for its efficiency and uncharacteristic flexibility, would be proud of.

However, the land was fair. Mother Earth bestowed benevolence equally on everyone, so even the land that flowed like a river did not solely embrace the Military State. As such, it allowed anyone to walk upon it.

Whether they were enemies or allies of the Military State, all were children of the Earth.

As a result, the Military State was often troubled by enemies who had occupied the land that flowed like a river.

“…It looks like I’m gonna hear some nagging.”

Due to the nature of a flowing land on the Meta Conveyor Belt, it was impossible to mention its exact location. But to make an estimate, the temporary headquarters was established 10 km behind them.

Historia, who had returned against the flow of the Conveyor Belt, entered the largest container with a cigarette in her mouth.

Inside the container, high-ranking officers, including general officers, were holding a meeting with a map of the Military State in front of them. Among them were individuals of higher rank than Historia, yet when she entered, she merely nodded her head slightly before finding her place.

A few general officers turned their heads slightly and acknowledged her greetings. Among them, a middle-aged man with a cheerful demeanor, sitting in the highest seat, furrowed his brow and called out to Historia.

“Major General Historia. Where have you been?”

“Just went out to poke them a bit.”

“I am fairly sure I prohibited any and all solo operations.”

“That’s why I just shot at them a bit. And didn’t engage in direct combat.”

Historia responded in short bursts and sat down. Her attitude was unapologetically bold, as if she did not care about rank or protocol.

However, no one mentioned anything about it.

The person in question was one of the Six Star Generals. Though she was of lower rank due to her young age, she was still one of the Military State’s top forces.

Simply put, she was among the top five in terms of strength within the Military State; a one-man army, capable of carrying out operations alone.

It was impossible to forcibly stuff an entity outside the standard into some criterion.

Either the standard would break or the entity would not be able to endure, thus breaking out of such bounds.

One of the general officers defended Historia.

“Commander. The Major General also followed along for reconnaissance purposes. There were fruitful results, so let us leave it at that and-”

“Aaaang? Hey, Lieutenant General. What if we lost one of the Six Star Generals? Operations exist for a reason! It is all for the sake of our allies, but if a key figure, a Star General, acts on her own accord, what then?”

And, though some might not believe it, Historia was surprisingly conscientious. She cared for her subordinates in her own way and even showed some courtesy to other general officers. Was it perhaps because of this? The general officers did not touch her and respected her boundaries, even if they occasionally pointed things out.

Because…

“Speak for yourself, will you? You, Mister Northern Commander, took a leave and went to fight alone, didn’t you?”

Compared to Patraxion, who boldly filed for leave for the sake of dueling, Major General Historia’s actions seemed rather cute. All she did was break away from the main force briefly and caused a slight conflict in the name of reconnaissance.

Patraxion responded shamelessly.

“Thanks to that, I participated in this operation, didn’t I? If I had been in the North, I wouldn’t have made it in time. And because I conducted a reconnoitering skirmish, we roughly know the enemy’s strength.”

Historia chewed on her unlit cigarette and replied.

“I heard from the signaller. About how you were so scared of the Progenitor that you returned without any results to show for it.”

“It wasn’t that I was scared. I just didn’t feel the need to risk my life in such a fight. As I already said before, it’s a loss if a Star General dies in such a place. Besides, at home, I have a rabbit-like child and a fox-like wife waiting.”

“I wonder why such deep thoughts didn’t occur to you before you went.”

“…Look at this brat talking back to me.”

“Hooo…. Ah, it’s not even lit.”

“Now you’re even outright ignoring me?”

Only Historia could comfortably deal with Patraxion, the zenith of the Military State in both strength and experience. The general officers silently admired Historia, who spoke so freely in their stead.

“You brat…. You really should be thankful to my daughter. If I didn’t have a daughter your age, I would have dealt with you long ago.”

Even though Patraxion grumbled, he stopped faulting her there. Instead, he turned his gaze back to the table and called for the staff officer.

“Anyway, now that our general officer who went on reconnaissance has returned, let’s start the meeting. Chief of Staff. Go on and explain.”

“Then, I shall begin.”

The staff officer inserted a packet into his bioreceptor. As mana was infused, alchemic threads made of mana wove a piece of cloth around his arm. After the materialization was complete, the staff officer unwrapped the cloth.

The cloth wrapped around the Chief of Staff’s arm was a map of the Military State created from the packet.

If shapes could be formed, then so could pictures. Packet technology had advanced to the extent that it could contain information and the Military State was the first to adopt such practices.

When the staff officer unfolded the cloth on the table, a large map showing all areas of the Military State quite literally unfolded.

“This is their current location. And here is the position of our forces waiting behind them.”

Within the territory of the Military State, separated by thick borders, the Meta Conveyor Belt was emphasized as a broad oval and apparead like the skeleton of the State. It was clearly depicted larger than its actual size, encircling the entire nation.

The staff officer’s pointer hovered over one place in the southeast of that oval. Then, it moved slowly along the belt.

“If they continue like this, they will momentarily stop at the Far East Terminal, then change direction to head northwest. If they continue to follow the belt, they will circle the Military State. However, during their pursuit, they will not remain in our nation indefinitely. They will surely exit the flow of the belt at the Far East Terminal or immediately before.”

The moment the pointer reached the Far East Terminal, it started to move separately from the belt. Though it seemed almost like a cheat to run off into empty land after following the path until now, the staff officer’s stick moved across the map at the same pace, unfazed.

Where the pointer, running through the roadless empty land, finally stopped was…

“Most likely, they will exit and head towards the Eastern Coastal Road. Whether by land or water, they will use any method in their disposal to head north.”

Patraxion, looking intently at the map, watched the dark land above the Coastal Road with a somewhat uneasy expression. Even the map depicted the country as dark and murky; a land that would provoke revulsion in any human, even if it was merely spoken of.

“If they follow the Coastal Road north, then is it the Duchy?”

Towards the east lay the Sea of Leviathan. A gulf where unknown monsters rage, forever sinking into its depths. Between the sea and the mountains lay a land that was dark, always filled with mist.

The staff officer pointed at that place with his stick and nodded.

“The Progenitor, Tyrkanzyaka, is the Sovereign of Vampires. If she has woken up after a long slumber to find herself being pursued, it makes sense for her to head towards the Duchy where she has allies. She alone is a nation unto herself… but still a vampire. Knowing her own weaknesses better than anyone, she would not stop in the middle of the State without her army in tow.”

The conclusion was just one.

Whether they had to kill or subdue, the enemy must be stopped before they approached the Coastal Road.

Historia, who had been quietly listening, spoke in a suppressed voice. No one knew whether it was because of the cigarette in her mouth or simply because she was incredibly taut with strained force.

“We must gather our forces at the Far East Terminal and attack them. The Far East Terminal is a halfway point, with a huge delta for repairing the Meta Conveyor Belt. There, we can surround them with a sufficient number of troops.”

Though the staff officer was a rank higher, he explained to Historia in a duly polite and detailed manner.

“Command Center has issued orders under the Commander’s judgment to press for evacuation if subjugation is not feasible.”

“But.”

“A large-scale encirclement operation is irrational and illogical. The enemy is few, powerful, and has various options for footholds. If we go as far as to launch an encirclement operation against the Progenitory of the Duchy and end up killing her, the Military State will be in a difficult position. We need to maintain at least a cordial relationship with the Duchy. Furthermore….”

The staff officer gauged the reactions of the general officers gathered, as if it was awkward to bring up, before adding quietly.

“In the first place, victory cannot be guaranteed. After the political opposition with the Sanctum, no saintesses or bishops have been stationed in the Military State. In contrast, vampires are arcane mysteries of ancient times and beings that govern all things devoid of life. If it drags on until night falls, we might end up being the ones to lose.”

A pessimistic yet rational judgment, characteristic of the Military State.

But for Historia, it was unacceptable. Hamelin, that cursed river where countless lives were buried. The truth of the incident, though to be forever lost, was right before her eyes. Yet, she was expected to let it slip from her grasp?

If the Military State would not permit it, she would even go out alone in search of it.

Just as Historia was about to jump up from her seat…

『This is Military State Signaller, Piye. A direct order from the Command Center is being issued.』

A dry, rigid voice filled the meeting room. The stars filling the assembly hall all turned their heads in unison towards the messenger who brought news. Historia’s face, in particular, was more fierce and earnest than ever before.

The gaze of numerous general officers converged in one direction. Despite the pressure, the signaller continued to report calmly.

『As of this time, the information is declassified. According to an urgent dispatch order from the Command Center, General Prelvior will soon arrive.』

The moment such news was delivered, a wave of agitation spread among the general officers. However, this agitation was not out of worry or fear, but rather a trembling filled with a strength felt when a stout pillar supported from behind.

Even Historia couldn’t hide her excitement, clenching her fists in her mind.

However, Patraxion, sitting alone at the head of the table, pressed down his roughly worn hat. After covering his face so that his expression could not be seen, he murmured to himself.

“When they were headed to the capital, the order was to carry out Active Engagement Avoidance, yet now that they’re withdrawing, that granny, the Mage Marshal, is called….? I can’t understand at all.”

The sole Magist in the Military State. The Creator of Standard Magic.

The most ordinary Mage, as well as the War Mage.

The Milky Way.

Mage Marshal, General Prelvior.

“What is Command Center thinking? Are they seriously planning to wage a war against just the three of them?”

They were absent here, thus issuing orders only through the medium of signallers; an entity whose true identity was unknown to all.

Patraxion murmured softly towards such a Command Center.