"I know a little bit about the situation at that time.

Anne testified.

"At that time, I was assigned to Fort Keowan with five of my colleagues.

The "Fort Keowan" mentioned by Anne is what we now call the "Keowan Ruins.

The current affiliation is with the Kingdom of Egelea, but at that time it was also the Kingdom of <>.

* * * * * * * * *

<.

This fort, which is a little off the main battlefield and has a huge warp gate, is useful for dispatching armies and evacuating the people.

<

Anne and her colleagues were spending their days patting down the soldiers stationed at the fort.

"What was the magical weapon that arrived yesterday?"

"It's called <>, and it's supposed to be one of the decisive battle weapons.

That's great!

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Hear me out. Apparently it's a defective weapon... and once activated it's capable of unleashing its fury on friend and foe alike.

Why would you build such a thing?

Why would they make something like that? Maybe they wanted it to go off at the last minute when they were sure they were going to lose, so they could take a shot ...... at the enemy?

I don't like that. I don't like that.

I don't like that either. So why don't we just leave it activated and escape through the warp gate?

That's true.

In the early days of the , there was still an easygoing atmosphere outside the front lines.

* * * *

"I heard such a conversation at ......."

Anne finished.

"Well, is it not generally inappropriate ......?"

"Yes, I think it's normal if it's a conversation in private time."

It was Arnold who answered Jin's question.

"But <> were deployed in such a fortress, weren't they?"

"Yes. That gave me a hard time. ......"

Jin remembered the time when he had traveled with Reinhardt and Erza four hundred years ago.

"But you still had time to spare in the last period, didn't you?"

"Yes. Even though we were invaded to the Loren continent, there were no countries on the other side of the Krüger Mountains. In fact, they seemed to think that the logistics of the would be extended, and that this would be advantageous to them.

Jin refuted Arnold's words.

"But there is such a thing as transition ......."

"Yes, that's right. As long as we and they have the means of , it is almost impossible for us to be at a disadvantage due to extended logistics.

"I guess so."

In any case, as long as there was no damage to civilians, it was still a good thing, it seems.

"But in the year 3153 of the continental calendar, the first civilian casualties occurred.

This is Chelle.

"...... the 83rd, 84th, and 85th golems that Mr. Arnold created. The 83rd, 84th, and 85th golems that Mr. Arnold created.

Chelle has these memories because she has the knowledge and experience of all the golems and automata that Arnold has created so far.

* * * * * * * * * *

The year 3153 of the continental calendar. < began.

The war situation was unfavorable to the side of <> and the front was gradually moving south.

Nevertheless, it was a good thing that they had established a position in the Krüger Mountains and were fighting a thorough war.

On May 15, the finally broke through the defense line of the Kruger Mountains.

In no time at all, the resumed their southward march, and in the blink of an eye overran the present Kingdom of Franz and the of that time.

The evacuation of the inhabitants was not completed in time, and more than 10,000 civilians were killed.

* * * * * *

I have been told. There were many evacuees in Fort Kewan where I was at that time.

Anne explained the situation.

And Lor,

"There were also many refugees in Fort Kulu where I was.

Lol also talked about those days.

"I guess people's lives were gradually squeezed from that point on."

"Yes, Jin is right. Even in Borolon, where I was at the time, the atmosphere became somewhat tense, and there were self-imposed restrictions on entertainment.

"I see, the general public gradually became more and more aware ...... of the situation."

Jin said, and all the members there agreed.

"Then the is the period when is still being pushed around, right?"

"That's right."

At this point, Goose spoke up.

"I'd like to hear what Zion, Marikka, Rorona and the others have to say about this.

To this, Zion responded.

"Yes, I would. I wasn't born at that time, so this is just what I have heard.

* * * *

This was before the outbreak of the <>.

The continent of Gondor, where the <> lives, is located in the north and has long winters.

The winter of that year was unusually long and severe.

It was the end of March, when the snow usually begins to melt.

The northern lands were still covered with snow.

At that time, a meeting was held between the clan of the "Madness" and the clan of the "Cinder Burner", both of which sounded like extremist groups.

"Let's stop living in the far north and head for the fertile lands of the south.

"Yes. "Yes, that's right. So, what exactly are we going to do?

Invade, of course. We are strong.

You're right. We're strong. We're strong enough to defeat the fragile human race.

Well, I think that's pretty much what they said.

Of course, there were those who disagreed.

<

"No, no war. No, war is not good. Instead, we should trade and import food.

"That's right. We should discuss this with reason."

But they will not listen to us.

"What are you talking so naively about?

You'll only get licked if you're so weak-minded!

The extremists refused to listen.

Then, after half a month, the moderates changed their opinions.

"We have that much power," he said. What's the use if we don't wield it now? Let us win the southern land for our descendants!

"Oh, that's my people!"

The radicals did not find it strange that the moderates had changed their opinions, and they proceeded to prepare for war.

Then, on April 24, 3151.

Across the Pazdekst isthmus, a total of 2,000 men of the <> invaded the Laurentian continent.