Note: As usual, this belongs under the TEASER tab. I was translating Strategist Knows Everything when I got curious about this story, It’s from the same author so it’s about warfare, too. But more of a Sci-fi fantasy. Set in future with isekai elements.

Also, Dreadnought, literally i.e. ‘fear nothing’. A predominant type of battleship in the early 20th century.

Summary:
Year 1999.
Due to a meteorite collision, Holes connecting Earth to a parallel world opened.

Lemuria Confederation, one of the two major powers in the parallel world, launched an invasion against Earth, disregarding their bafflement.

The Earth’s side fought hard against the parallel world’s magic, enlisting aid from Astoria Kingdom which was the other major power from the parallel world, and succeeded in developing magic technology.

With the appearance of magic technology, the war fell into a stalemate. At last, an armistice between Lemuria Confederation and Earth was established in year 2002.

And then 50 years later.

Lemuria Confederation and Earth repeated waging wars and declaring truce while somehow maintaining balance.

In the middle of that, at the border zone of the parallel world’s Astoria and Lemuria, one Japanese boy descended.

His name is Yuuki Mamoru.

Nicknamed Sir Dreadnought.

One of the 48 knights who supported Astoria Kingdom.

Prologue (1)

Year 1999. July.
The moon specified in Nostradamus’s great prophecy.
Disaster rained incessantly.

Big and small, various meteorites fell into Earth.
However, the meteorites did not kill anyone at all.
The problem was what happened after. On the sites where the meteorites fell, various sizes of dimension warps were generated.

Particularly, six huge warps called Hole made appearance in Japan, America, Australia, China, Western Russia, Eastern Russia, and they were unbelievably connected to a completely different world.

The name of that world is ‘Estia’.

In Estia, there were two continents named Gondwana (a combination of Australia and Eurasia put together) and Laurasia (combination of South and North America continents, including Japan). And the two major powers ruling each continent are at war.

The names of these two countries are Lemuria Confederation, which rules Gondwana, and Astoria Kingdom, which rules Laurasia.

As for the war, Astoria is superior and had robbed Lemuria one part of its continent.

The first one to come in contact with the bewildered Earth is one of Estia’s major powers – the Lemuria Confederation.

The Lemuria Confederation came over in a vehicle called “airship” through the Holes in China, West Russia and Australia.

As a result of the conference lasting a few days, these three countries decided to investigate the Holes in cooperation with Lemuria Confederation.

Without noticing that it is the beginning of a nightmare.

December 24, 1999.
At the time when the twentieth century was about to end, three investigation committees from Lemuria Confederation visited through the Holes in China, Russia and Australia.
There were about 10 people for each country. Not one of these three countries were vigilant.

25th of the next day. Early morning of Christmas.
Before the sun rose, the leader of the investigating committee conveyed the decision of the Confederation’s Council to each of the country’s leader via telephone.

“We will invade your country.”

Simultaneously, the investigation committee of Lemuria secured the Holes in Russia, Australia and China, eliminating the surrounding defense corps who never knew the reason why they were killed.

Each of the person thought to be “investigators” were actually soldiers who boasted overwhelming combat power.

One battallion from the Chinese army which was immediately sent to recover their Hole was completely annihilated by just one man.

To say nothing of small arms, even canons from tanks cannot reach the man. On the contrary, the man’s mysterious words invoked unnatural phenomenons – making tanks explode in an instant then gathering several humans and burning them exhaustively.

The nightmare did not end there. Before the day ended, 100 more military personnel of equal strength to the man were deployed to each country through the Holes.

Conventional weapons did not even graze the enemy.
The people from the main troops of Lemuria Confederation causing the unnatural phenomenons were called “magicians”.
In other words, they were the “weapons”.

People living around the Holes were killed in the blink of an eye, and human presence vanished from towns and villages in just one day.

Thus, the history’s worst Christmas came to an end, and Earth welcomed year 2000 in the form of invasion from a nation in the parallel world.

Year 2000. The Earth’s side suffered a series of defeats without effective measures to use against magicians.
It had become not only a war between Lemuria and the three countries, but a struggle between UN forces and Lemuria troops.

Russia immediately engaged and launched a nuclear strike, but the Lemuria Confederation nullified not only the nuclear weapon, but also the nuclear contamination through the power of the mysterious magic.

As a result, Russia, China and Australia judged that they could not win with just one country and requested cooperation from the United Nations. UN forces were dispatched to answer that request.

However, even with the military forces of each country combined together, magicians were unstoppable. More than half the territory of Russia, Australia and China were plundered by the Lemuria Confederation. Then people of Lemuria migrated there.

The other major power of Estia, Astoria Kingdom, were unable to remain indifferent to that situation. Using the Holes in Eastern Russia, US and Japan, Astoria Kingdom made contact with these three countries and agreed to help in exchange for some lands.

Both Lemuria Confederation and Astoria kingdom had land problems due to the population growth.
In this situation Japan, United States and Russia which sensed an impending crisis of the whole Earth being invaded, accepted the suggestion and dispatched engineers according to the instructions of Astoria.

Astoria told the engineers from those three countries that offensive magic is the most effective against Lemuria’s barriers.
However, it was basically impossible to use magic like humans from Estia because Earthians could not emit large amount of magic power.

Therefore, Astoria zeroed in on the fact that it is possible to transmit magic through touch instead of using the body’s interior. The technology to artificially produce magic by carving it into the special ore “Lapis” of Estia, which holds the feature of emitting magic outside when loaded with magic power, were taught to the engineers.

But that pseudo-technology was never developed in Estia where magic is possible. To make it usable at an actual combat level, the engineers tried trial and error.

The experiment lasted approximately one year and finally, the prototype needed for Earth’s version of magic tool called “magic technology” was somehow completed.

The name of the tool is “Gear”. In order to pump magic power to this thing made of Lapis, the large prototype that needed to be carried on your back is necessary.

Smaller sizes were gradually made, and the Gear was downsized into a somewhat large bracelet. A satisfactory result came out, and deployment was finally decided.

And now, September 2001. A unit of the Lemuria Confederation invading the Korean Peninsula and the Magician Corps chosen from the members of JDSF clashed.

The result is Japan’s victory due to an overwhelming superiority in numbers.

Ever since the war started, it was Earth’s first clear victory.

The war situation completely changed after the appearance of the Gear.

The Lemuria Confederation was gradually forced into fighting hard, and so they agreed to form an armistice agreement with each country in July, 2002.

And then 50 years later, year 2052.

Each country in Earth procured war potentials in the form of magicians and concentrated their efforts in training them.

Even until this day, Lemuria still assume Western Russia, China and Austrilia as their own countries. Thus, forces were deployed due to this reason.

The war against the parallel world is not over yet.

Prologue (2)

January 5, 2052.
Astoria – Lemuria border zone.

Even if a year ends and starts again, the front lines have nothing to do with it.

If it’s on Earth, the frontlines would be the vicinity of central Russia.
The accidental battle that started when the recon units made contact developed into a full-scale battle of both armies from Astoria and Lemuria.
The number of soldiers from Lemuria troops is 2000. The separate battalion composed only of magicians is included in that, it was predicted that the number of magicians from Lemuria army was almost 1000.

On the other hand, Astoria which is behind in military deployment only numbered 1000 soldiers.
The concentration of magicians scattered in various front lines in different places are also late.
It was a disadvantageous situation for Astoria.

As reinforcements to the troops that are gradually being pushed, Astoria Kingdom’s First Princess Lilicia Astoria sent in two remarkable soldiers belonging to the group called Knights which does not even reach 50 members.

“That princess… Did she mistook me as her soldier…?”

“Not a soldier, but she must have thought you’re a Knight. Actually, she did not mistook anything. You were awarded the Knight’s title by Her Highness Lilicia who is a Princess of Astoria Kingdom.”

A boy with raven black hair around 166~169 cm tall, and a white-haired young man around 180 cm tall walked to the base where 2000 Lemuria forces were stationed.

“Giving me a title without permission and then officially proclaiming it without permission. It’s not like I wanted that.”

“Sir Dreadnought. She certainly gave it to you arbitrarily but isn’t it convenient in various ways? The Knight position, that is.”

“I’m satisfied of its convenience, but I’m not from this world, you know? I’m a Japanese from Earth afterall.”

“Right, Mamoru is an Earthian and a Japanese. I always forget that, am I becoming forgetful…?”

Innumerable bullets flew from the base which noticed the approach of these two.

Attacks generated by magic are also mixed in them and came flying at high speed. The white-haired young man cannot do anything.
No, it may be more correct to say that he did not do anything.

≪Protection≫

The boy named Mamoru, Yuuki Maromu, glanced straight and muttered that as he faced towards the base where troops are stationed.

The black bracelet on Mamoru’s right hand shined and afterwards, a barrier spread out in all directions with Mamoru and the young man at the center.

“Or is it because Mamoru is too strong? I wonder which is it?”
“It’s because Cain-san is forgetful.”

While the two of them are having that exchange, bullets are coming towards them continuously but everything were repelled by the barrier Mamoru raised.

“So the reason why you covered all directions?”
“Homing missiles were mixed in.”

Immediately after, more than one bullet from the rear swoop down on the two of them.
But that was also deflected by the barrier in all directions.

“You can recognize it well?”

“Because of theory. In the first place, you’ll understand it once you see it, y’know?”

“No, I can’t really see it.”

“Is that so? Well, my role is to be the shield so I don’t really mind. But, Cain-san please do your work too, okay? I heard the enemy have almost 1000 magicians.”

Mamoru told that to the relaxed Cain, but Cain just answered with a smile.

He’s not motivated at all, Mamoru thought while looking up the sky.

“The enemy is coming. There are about 30 magicians. Probably the close combat types.”

“Will Mamoru handle them?”

“Please stop joking. Offense was entrusted to Cain-san. Because I don’t have ‘many’ effective attack means on-hand for a many-to-one situation.”

“Is that the humility of a Japanese I’m hearing? Sir Dreadnought.”

“I’m in front of Sir Break, the strongest among Astoria’s Knights. I’m very much humbled.”

Cain grinned at Mamoru’s way of speaking and took out a double-edged sword out out of thin air.
And then, he casually made one swing.

Countless number of slashes flew from Cain’s sword and every magician approaching Mamoru’s barrier were chopped to pieces.

Mamoru cast his eyes down when he saw the magicians being hashed before him.
Even if he is in a war and they were the enemy, and even if it’s unavoidable, people dying is something he can’t get used to.

“Sorry. I can only to make a spectacle that makes your mood worse.”

“Don’t worry. I just didn’t expect it. But…”

“Hmmm?”

“Can we make them retreat like this?”

Cain answered Mamoru’s question while making the sword disappear somewhere just like when he took it out.

“Now that Dreadnought and Break came out, they will indeed retreat as expected. Her Highness who dislikes taking you out in the battlefield, especially sent you out with me. Because the enemy will retreat with just your name.”

Mamoru was reminded of the girl two years his senior who is as cold as ice. He shook his head and muttered, “Impossible.”

“The reason why you’re getting caught up in troublesome things is because trouble loves you. Her Highness has nothing to do with it.”

While Cain laughed at that, he saw the Lemuria troops move to abandon their base so he turned on his heels.
Mamoru also turned back when he saw that.

However.

“Look. You’re loved by trouble.”
“Really…!”

Mamoru looked back immediately to the base when he felt a strong magic.
Was it to cover the evacuating troops, or is it someone who thinks they can beat strong Knights alone?

A Lemuria soldier was preparing something like a huge rifle on the outer wall of the base.

The length was approximately 10 meters, and there were approximately ten magicians around it.

“Convergence Magic Motion Gun [Calamity]? They’re taking out something rare?”

“A defective weapon that can give off one shot in exchange for the life force of 10 magicians. Makes you wonder what the Lemuria army think of their magicians, huh?”

“Something dispensable. Astoria and Lemuria are different. The reason why they are fighting each other is due to difference in opinions.”

“But we’re fighting against those dispensable people…”

“If you feel bad for them, then die. If they can kill you, they will be heroes of Lemuria. And the soldiers you will have to kill in the future will be saved, too.”

At Cain’s remark, Mamoru shrugged his shoulders and lifted his right hand forward.
Calamity had already been filled with large amount of magic, it would not be strange if it discharged any time.

Mamoru sent a fleeting look behind him and then sighed.

Behind Mamoru and Cain is the Astoria army’s garrison.
Now that the soldiers relaxed at Mamoru and Cain’s arrival, it might be impossible for them to prevent Calamity.

“I don’t intend to die and I can’t let my allies die, too.”

“Well, that’s good. Just in case, this is an advice from your senior…if you want to finish the war as soon as possible, show off your strength. If you think you can’t do it, then just win here.”

Mamoru laughed a little at Cain’s advice.
At the same time, Calamity released a pale flash of light.

Mamoru murmured in a somewhat strong tone while looking at it.

≪Aegis≫

A jet black shield surfaced in front of Mamoru.

It emitted a grave presence and blocked the bluish-white light ahead released by Calamity.

The collision lasted several seconds.
The black shield Aegis hindered the bluish-white light, it did not even scratch neither Mamoru nor Cain.

Seeing Aegis catch Calamity’s blow without even leaving any trace behind, a soldier of the Lemuria army murmured.

“Sir Dreadnought…”

The Knight of Astoria who continued exposing himself to the enemy’s attacks, always standing at the front lines during the time of war.

Easily intercepting any kind of attack with a peerless shield that has not been broken even once.

The defense known as Estia’s Hardest, giving despair to the enemy and a supreme sense of security to his allies.

The toughest Knight who reigns over the battlefield just like an impregnable fortress.

For all that, never mind the Lemuria forces, even most people from Astoria are not aware of it.

That Sir Dreadnought is an Earthian, from the race who cannot use magic.