George was now in a town called Ulyabinsk, close to the capital of Las Vito, a land in the heart of the Wilhelm Empire. Now, it’s the third day of his stay in this town, a week after coming to the Empire.

<Although everything went as planned until now… It would be best to rethink how to proceed from now on… as the town was different from expected>

Galdina is rich in gold ornaments, jewels, and people change their attitudes openly when seeing our ornaments.

Usually, the gold and jewels can easily purchase beast people freedom, but in this case, as this twon treat the beast race as pests and not commodities, if the mediation with the authorities goes well, beast people could be gathered easily… The town inhabitants would be happy to not see again the considered pests.

This twon does not produce gold, but instead it is rich in iron and silver. Distilled liquors are also actively produced, and often it’s seen in the streets, lamps using alcohol as fuel.

It seems that it was originally a major producer of distilled liquor, the same as the Imperial city of Las Vito. The discovery of an iron ore in a nearby mountain range later led to the gathering of blacksmiths, and as consequence the opening of many bares, liquor stores and restaurants, where customers seeking blacksmith products gather. It seems that it became huge with the big flow of people coming to seek blacksmiths specialties. (The source who provided this information is a drunken man from a bar that George happened to stop by)

<I want to produce sake someday … but sadly, I don’t have any knowledge of sake brewing>

<Agricultural and architecture knowledge can be easily gained from having lived in Japan, but brewing needs special instruction. It’s still good that I know the principle, but I don’t know what equipment, technology, time, personnel, and others would I need. >

<Do you want materials related to sake brewing?>

As I walked around the town thinking about such things, I heard the words I was interested in.

“Hey, companion, you’re also going to Galdina?”

“Oh, I heard, the military is pulling troops from here and there.”

“Oh, I was not so lucky to be included in the team that march to Galdina, I’m in duty of defense against Dinant country as we’re currently in war.”

“The South guys are ridiculous… preparing an attack for if we’re invaded… as if anyone could ever cross Galdina and reach us alive!”

The conversation isn’t organized. Galdina never wanted to be involved in human wars so George never requested information about human’s affairs. However, if the battlefield takes place in Galdina’s forest, then it can’t be ignored anymore.

<This… I have to make sure to have understood well the situation…>

When George left the city, he flew away at his highest speed.

His focus is the Imperial City, and his goal is to obtain information.

If possible, I don’t want to be involved with humans, but this time that doesn’t count.

<there’s almost no doubt that the troops going to Galdina forest…>

That night, George took a deep sigh in a room of an inn.

After that, George arrived in Las Vito, walked around the city, and passed by the guardhouses near the castle, but everywhere the rumors were the same, and in the castle, he saw the soldiers were busy carrying luggage preparing for the expedition.

He focuses on a soldier that is currently taking a break and talking to his companion.

“It seems that Dinant sent soldiers into Galdina forest. So, our Majesty wanted us to follow him and investigate his intentions.”

That’s it.

<Not only have the empire but the kingdom too, taken part in this…>

The guards in the south are in full defense / offense formation guarding from a possible invasion of Dinant and if George in the north is collecting beast people it could provoke confusion and be mistaken as an attack. Meanwhile the chaos, Galdina’s response will not reach the north in the event of an emergency.

<I don’t want to imagine how much time it will take to recover if Galdina’s forest city now suffers an enormous damage. >

<Even so, the guards have become highly skilled and must be at the best of their new capabilities. But I don’t want to test this now. The risk is too high>

<I want them to gain experience in actual battles… If I smash both sides here, the next reaction would be a greater offense or nothing at all.>

If the first possibility becomes reality, the fighting would be tougher, and in the latter, if a battle with humans occurs someday, Galdina’s soldiers would be totally inexperienced.

<If we can avoid both reactions, I’d like to avoid it. >

Here, there are other five paths that George considered taking.

・ Investigate the opponents. Understand the risks and develop a strategic offense / defense operation based on the existing forces, which Galdina’s forest counts with.

・ A operation in which George leaves either the north or south, to guard on their own and if an emergency arises they send a reinforcement’s petition.

・ A operation where George strikes both sides.

-Before anyone approaches Galdina forest, George looks for one of the enemies and annihilates it, so Galdina’s troops concentrate on the remaining one.

And this is the last plan that leaves no place to regret later.

・ George negotiates directly with one of the enemies to form a peace alliance.

<I think it’s a safe solution, but …>

All enemies, if George so desires it, would be crushed to perfection. Or he can force them to withdraw by force. But it is clear as water that if he does it that way, the impression it would bring would be negative.

George doesn’t want to use the same tactics that human nations would use for war. Because he never thought positively of them.

But if George annihilates the empire’s army, which is the largest country on the continent, and has a long and incongruent relationship, other nations will think of Galdina’s forest as an imminent disaster and would join forces to destroy it.

A country as disgusting as the empire will definitely try to use this and crush Galdina if humiliated. Even a friendly country will take a hostile attitude towards Galdina if it happens. It may not be a big threat for George, but there is no guarantee what could happen to the newly formed Galdina’s city.

It may be possible to make improvements with time, but human life is too short. The moment Galdina is inscribed in history as a calamity to guard against, other generations would no longer doubt it.

This is an assumption that comes from George’s modern knowledge. It is a well-known story that human beings are creatures that emphasize history even if there’s no truth there.

The proof is that beasts are being abused until this day, thanks to beliefs.

<Okay, what to do now then…>

Sitting on the window, George looks through the darkness, while the moonlight reflects on his silver hair and brings a strange light to him, and he continues to draft a counterattack.