Chapter 3

This is the current situation in the country of Earthcris, where Ashera was born, and its neighboring countries.

Here, I, Ashera, will explain the current state of the countries in the world where I was reincarnated.

In the center of a large continent, running north to south, lies the kingdom of Earthcris, the country where I was born.

When I was three years old, the year after I surprised my mother and others by growing rice, a war that had started about half a year before my birth had been going on for four full years and entered its fifth year. However, it wasn't a constant battle; during the snowy season, a natural ceasefire would occur.

There are reportedly one or two armed conflicts per year.

Even during ceasefires, assassins are frequently sent against the royal family, and the number of assassins is enough to cover three countries. I have heard that it is a state of constant unease.

In the first one or two years after the war began, there was no time to breathe, and we were engaged in a back-and-forth struggle with the cunning three countries. However, due to the circumstances of the war's outbreak, the country united as one.

Additionally, there is the issue of food supplies in each country. War is fought by people, and without food, people cannot survive.

The three countries, who had intended to conquer this country in a short period, were overwhelmed by the unexpected military strength of Earthcris and faced a tough battle. What they had thought would last only a few months had already stretched to three years. The countries, which had less food production than Earthcris, gradually lost momentum. Furthermore, the weather became unstable at the same time the war began, and the grain harvest was halved.

The shortage of food led to a decline in fighting spirit.

Despite the three enemy countries working together, the Earthcris army defeated enemy forces one after another and gradually brought parts of the enemy countries under its control.

At one point, the three countries attacked Earthcris simultaneously. However, while crossing the vast river that forms the border with Earthcris, they were suddenly hit by a torrent and nearly annihilated. In another area, they were struck by a massive tornado and left in a state of near destruction. The remaining country, unaware that the other two could not attack, was swiftly annihilated due to overconfidence.

This did not happen just once. Even when they changed their strategy, every time they tried to invade this country, they faced the threat of annihilation. In the first battle, the three countries were overwhelmingly defeated, and the same thing happened in subsequent invasions.

If this continued for a fourth or fifth time, the three countries were struck with fear.

The three countries were terrified.

—Earthcris is protected by the goddesses of creation.

It was impossible not to think so.

They were stunned.

By the brilliant strategy of the country that had turned against them.

By the cunning of the country that had turned against them.

By the fact that the country that had turned against them had been hiding its claws.

By the fact that they had directed their blades at an opponent they should not have.

Despite this, the upper echelons of the enemy countries still harbored a strong desire to conquer this country.

The abundant water source.

The fertile land.

—Most importantly, a land blessed without natural disasters.

Since the war began, the other countries had been suffering from poor weather and food shortages, but Earthcris remained unaffected and had a bountiful harvest.

—This continent, surrounded by the sea, currently has four countries.

The continent is shaped like a diamond viewed from the side.

The northern part, corresponding to the top of the diamond, is a steep mountain and cliff.

It is so steep that it cannot be climbed.

This country, Earthcris, runs from north to south through the center of the continent, backed by these mountains.

It is rich in crystal stones, enough to make crowns from crystal.

To the west, the country of Urd is backed by mountains and faces the sea to the west.

People from Urd tend to be tall.

The inland area is mostly for livestock, and the western coast is rich in seafood.

The country immediately to the east of Earthcris, across a large river, is Jend.

It is backed by mountains in the northeast, has rivers and lakes, and the southeast faces the sea.

This country is the richest in water resources.

The easternmost country is Ambeur.

It is backed by mountains to the north and faces the sea to the east, a country that has developed through fishing and trade with other continents.

Indeed, the conditions of the countries on this continent are almost equal.

All three countries had mountains, rivers, and seas.

They had abundant water sources.

They had the bounty of the sea and the bounty of the rivers.

It was a foolish act to launch an attack and lose countless lives just to seize Earthcris.

From the perspective of Earthcris, even though they had been provoked for over a decade, they could not understand the reason for such actions.

The answer to this question came unexpectedly from a war opposition minister who had fled from Ambeur to Earthcris.

—The king of Ambeur deeply dislikes the king of Earthcris.

This single statement left Earthcris in shock.

It was an unexpected personal grudge.

No, there must have been national interests involved, but it boiled down to that.

—Over a decade ago, the current king of Ambeur, then the crown prince, studied abroad in a country known for its academic excellence on the other side of the sea.

He was supposed to study, but as soon as he was freed from the constraints of his country, he became engrossed in play.

He hardly attended classes.

He thought the lessons would be the same as what he had learned in his own country.

As the only crown prince with no other royal heirs, the throne would roll to him even if he slept.

Taking advantage of the absence of his annoying overseers, he decided to skip classes.

At the same time, the current king of Earthcris was also studying abroad, but they only greeted each other occasionally in the dormitory and never went out to play together.

He always wore the school uniform with its white base and silver embroidery neatly.

He was a man, but his features were so beautiful that it was embarrassing. His long silver hair was loosely tied and hung over his shoulders, and his deep blue eyes emitted a sharp, cold light.

The current king of Urd, who was also studying abroad at the same time, was rugged and well-built, typical of Urd. Moreover, he was simple-minded and easy to handle, and they shared the same way of thinking.

They quickly hit it off and played together.

As royalty, they were praised wherever they went, and it felt good.

His unique purple hair and eyes from Ambeur were very popular.

The reddish-brown color unique to Urd was also beautiful, but he was overjoyed to be told that purple was more mysterious.

Near the end of his two-year study abroad, which was more like a two-year spree, he suddenly remembered the task he was supposed to complete before returning.

It was when he visited the government office in the palace for a trade-related job assigned by his father that he encountered three officials, one of whom he had seen as an economics lecturer at the academy.

"We cannot agree to that."

"There are various conditions in trade. We should have taught you the details at the academy."

"Well, there's nothing we can do. We will prepare what your father personally requested."

In other words, they would not prepare what the crown prince had requested.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince of Ambeur, this was a test your father prepared for you. We have been waiting for you since you enrolled."

He was stunned.

In other words, he was told he was disqualified.

His two years of idleness and lack of effort were exposed.

There was no excuse. He had done nothing.

Until then, he had just listened to the talks of his country's officials and nodded occasionally, which was enough.

His father wanted him to learn here and show his skills in trade.

In the end, he could not complete the task, and when he returned to Ambeur, his father and the officials looked at him with cold eyes.

Over the years, even after becoming the king of Ambeur, trade with the continent did not develop.

Meanwhile, trade ships were coming and going to Earthcris, which was prospering more than Ambeur.

He gritted his teeth and glared at the trade ships passing by Ambeur on their way to Earthcris.

Furthermore, in trade with other continents, Earthcris was given priority.

The crown prince of Earthcris had used his study abroad properly for the benefit of his country.

At the same time, the crown prince of Ambeur was always compared to the crown prince of Earthcris when he was reprimanded by his father.

The details of his study abroad spread among the upper nobility, and the crown prince of Ambeur heard that he was being mocked behind his back.

All of this was the fault of the crown prince of Earthcris! He barked.

No, that's not true—there was no one to advise him.

Anyone who spoke up would have their life taken immediately.

The king of Ambeur would throw a tantrum at every opportunity, loudly proclaiming how he was the victim.

It was a perfect case of shifting the blame.

The king of Ambeur, with his pride as high as a mountain, harbored a pointless jealousy and resentment.

Indeed, it was pure resentment.

He wanted to weaken the country in any way he could.

From the time he was a crown prince, the king of Ambeur began sending assassins to the king of Earthcris persistently.

He also used the prince of Urd to incite the king of Urd.

Nobles who flattered his status.

Weapon merchants who anticipated the demand for war.

People who further fueled his clouded thinking.

And, through marriage, he involved Jend, and the three countries formed an alliance.

Many officials advised the king of Ambeur to reconsider the invasion of Earthcris, but they were either killed or framed by the king, driven by jealousy, and those who flattered him.

The old minister from Ambeur who brought this story to Earthcris had loudly opposed the war and was rescued by Earthcris spies after his mansion was attacked.

The king of Earthcris and those who heard the story were greatly astonished.

To the king of Earthcris, it didn't matter who the king of Ambeur was or what his personality was.

What mattered was maintaining good relations with the neighboring country, as with the previous king of Ambeur, and ultimately protecting the people of Earthcris.

The king of Earthcris acted based on his principles as the ruler of the country.

That's why he was so disappointed.

King of Ambeur,

You are unfit to rule. And,

To try to assassinate someone out of personal grudge, let alone a reverse grudge, is unacceptable as a person.

Moreover, to put countless lives at risk for such a reason is unforgivable.

He had considered showing mercy if he ever attacked the royal family of Ambeur, but he realized it was impossible.

—Three years later.

Ambeur, Jend, and Urd were exhausted.

They had lost countless lives.

They could barely feed themselves. They were in a quagmire with no end in sight.

Jend and Urd had clearly lost momentum.

No matter how many times they invaded, they were thoroughly defeated each time.

However, they continued to forcibly extract food from the people for the war effort.

They had initiated the war and attacked multiple times.

Even if they surrendered, the royal family would be eliminated.

—The royal family should protect the people for the sake of the country.

But,

The royal families of Jend and Urd only thought of their own safety.

They had to defeat Earthcris to survive, they said.

The situation in Ambeur was the same.

The only difference between Jend and Urd and Ambeur was that the king of Ambeur was still obsessed with his baseless revenge and showed no signs of giving up.

He continued to claim that Earthcris was the root of all evil.

It was madness.

And the cost of his selfishness was borne by the people of the three countries.

—This behavior plunged the people into despair.

Men were taken for military service, and crops were not properly managed.

Despite the heavy labor and years of poor harvests, they had barely enough to eat.

Suddenly, soldiers would break into their homes and take all their meager reserves, saying it was for the country.

The people's anger towards the arbitrary and tyrannical state grew.

Husbands. Brothers. Sons. Fathers. And even grandfathers.

They were sent to the battlefield one after another.

With no guarantee of their return.

And they took all the food from the people—

For the sake of this country?

Anger spread throughout the country.

This is a joke.

Is this what a country does?!

It's just plunder. Thieves!!

A country that lets its precious children starve is not needed!!

A country that sends fathers, husbands, and sons to their deaths is not needed!!

Mistake after mistake.

The result of neglecting the people's livelihood—accumulated anger finally erupted, and the people rebelled.

The people and those who shared their ideals clashed fiercely with the kingdom.

It was a wonder where they found such strength, but the people's momentum was overwhelming.

This sparked a chain reaction, and rebellions broke out everywhere.

Now, the three neighboring countries are on the brink of internal collapse.

In the fifth year of the war, even as winter passed and spring arrived, the enemy countries did not attack.

They were in a state of war within their own countries. It was impossible for those who could not govern their own countries to attack others.

Until the situation was resolved, they could not invade Earthcris.

If only the war would end now.

Everyone thought so.

Earthcris was not unscathed either.

Many lives had been lost.

But, a conclusion must be reached eventually.

—There is no such thing as a draw in war.

If a ceasefire were to be reached, the neighboring countries would surely repeat the same folly, ignoring their own people.

This has been evident over the past few years.

—Therefore.

After much deliberation, when Earthcris decided to rise up, it was determined to—

Unite the four countries on this continent, including Earthcris, into one.

Therefore, even though it is peaceful now.

The time to unite the continent will come soon.

That's why we are waiting for the right time.

The people of Earthcris, grateful for the goddess's protection, cultivate their crops.

For those serving on the front lines near the border.

For their remaining families.

And for the day they may have to serve themselves.

And they pray every day.

No life should be lost.

May peace come soon, they pray.