“By the way, Granny Kasi, how is your health faring?”
“Ah, much improved, dear. It’s no wonder Emilia has taken a liking to you.”
“Wha- Granny Kasi, whatever are you implying…!”
At the dining table, Tyler feigned concern for Granny Kasi’s health.
In truth, during their last encounter, Tyler had already discerned through his mind-reading that Granny Kasi was feigning illness to remain in Sunny Town to keep an eye on him.
Were it not for Banning’s inquiry, Granny Kasi would have nearly forgotten her own charade.
Yet, experience is the mother of wisdom.
Granny Kasi expertly diverted the conversation toward Banning and Emilia’s relationship, allowing her to avoid any slips of the tongue.
Tyler, no less cunning, was not keen on having the conversation focus on his relationship with Emilia, and thus, he swiftly redirected the conversation.
“Speaking of which, Granny Kasi, how did you come to know Emilia?”
This question, while appearing to rescue Emilia, actually steered the conversation in the direction Tyler desired.
After their exchange, Tyler learned that Granny Kasi had once been a bounty hunter for The Quest Guild for a time.
However, she only accepted simple retrieval tasks or letter-writing jobs, befitting her guise as a kind-hearted old lady.
This revelation only made Tyler more curious as to why Granny Kasi was hiding her identity as a Level 67 “Mercenary Sage”.
What lay hidden in Granny Kasi’s past?
Later, as they discussed their reasons for residing in Sunny Town, Granny Kasi confessed that The Big Migration had brought her here.
During The Big Migration, like many others, Granny Kasi had been separated from her family.
While searching for her loved ones, she learned her husband resided in Sunny Town.
She journeyed far to find him, only to discover upon her arrival that he had passed away peacefully.
Afterward, in order to search for her other family members, Granny Kasi joined the Traveling Merchant Caravan.
She believed that continually moving from place to place with the caravan would increase her chances of finding information about her family.
(The Big Migration, again…)
Tyler wanted to ask about The Big Migration, but refrained for fear of revealing his true identity to Granny Kasi.
Later that night, while escorting Emilia home, Tyler finally had the chance to ask.
Given their close relationship, he didn’t need to worry about raising suspicions even if he slipped up.
“My erudite teacher, Emilia, might I inquire about The Big Migration?”
Banning’s unexpected praise made Emilia a bit bashful, but she then proceeded to share all she knew.
Tyler listened attentively, occasionally interjecting with a question or subtle hint.
After this barrage of queries, he finally learned the truth about The Big Migration.
.
The momentous historical event, “The Big Migration” of the Human Alliance, transpired between 181 and 182, its aftereffects persisting for three years and impacting innumerable lives.
[Note: The current date is June 20, 187.]
In 181, the year the Abyssal Empire’s tactician, The Eternal Winter Lord, made his grand entrance.
That year, under the ingenious strategies of The Eternal Winter Lord, the evilkinds’ army pushed the Human Alliance’s forces back more than 500 kilometers within a mere six months, severely disrupting the production structures of the Human Alliance nations. 𝒩𝞸𝓋𝗅𝐞xt.𝔠𝔬𝔪
At the behest of the ruling classes of various countries, a vast number of civilians uprooted themselves, carrying their families to their so-called new homes.
However, due to numerous reasons, such as poor organization and coordination, the Big Migration turned into a massive exodus.
Many people became separated from their families during this time, scattering to the winds.
To this day, the Big Migration remains a dark memory that many are loath to revisit.
“Many people might think that the Abyssal Empire’s army was too strong, or that the Human Alliance’s forces were utterly incapable. In reality, the situation is much more complex,” Emilia, unable to contain herself, began to elaborate.
In the past, unable to afford magic books due to poverty, Emilia had read a wide variety of literature, including war-related content.
Through these books, she learned of some of the deeds perpetrated by the Empire’s tactician, The Eternal Winter Lord.
This formidable enemy of the Human Alliance had left an indelible impression on her.
“The reason the Abyssal Empire triumphed was actually due to five years of strategic patience and preparation,” Emilia succinctly recounted the story concealed behind that year’s war, revealing it to Tyler.
.
The Eternal Winter Lord had not joined the Abyssal Empire in 181; the exact time of his enlistment remained unknown to Emilia.
However, she knew that as early as 176, the Abyssal Empire had adopted The Eternal Winter Lord’s advice and begun to bide its time.
From 176 to 181, the Abyssal Empire’s army consistently took a passive defensive stance.
Over these five years, their frontlines were forced to retreat more than 100 kilometers, leading the Human Alliance to believe that they were finally gaining the upper hand.
In reality, during these five years, the Abyssal Empire had rapidly established a highly stringent legal system under The Eternal Winter Lord’s advocacy.
Any behavior that hindered production was severely punished, resulting in a saying among the evilkinds: “All are equal before the law.”
The wholehearted production efforts of the evilkinds granted their army immense power.
Their weapons were sharp and durable, their warhorses robust and well-fed.
Their soldiers were well-trained, their granaries brimming with stores.
Over these five years, the Abyssal Empire not only bolstered their conventional forces but also stealthily created two new elite units.
One was the rampaging Steel Rhino Corps, and the other, the sky-dominating Soaring Dragon Squadron.
By 181, the time was ripe, and the evilkinds’ army shifted from defense to offense.
The highly mobile Steel Rhino Corps and the Soaring Dragon Squadron reclaimed the lost 100 kilometers of the frontline in less than ten days.
They then forced the Human Alliance’s forces to retreat another 100 kilometers within the same amount of time.
The Human Alliance was left in disarray, retreating over 500 kilometers before finally stabilizing their position.
“It is said that the Soaring Dragon Squadron was mounted by evilkind magicians who unleashed fire magic while diving, a tactic the Human Alliance’s army had no answer for…”
Witnessing Emilia’s unceasing enthusiasm, Tyler realized that she was a “war fanatic.”
This did not imply that Emilia enjoyed war; she was, of course, a peace-loving child.
Her passion for war lay in strategy and tactics; had she not been a magician, she could have become an outstanding military scholar.
After listening to Emilia’s explanations, Tyler not only unraveled his long-standing questions about the Big Migration but also gained a deeper understanding of the Abyssal Empire.
However…
(“The strategies of The Eternal Winter Lord… Why do they remind me of ‘Roman Law’… and ‘Blitzkrieg’?”)