Let me say it again. I am not a slave to Professor Elena at the Halo Academy, but rather a teaching assistant. I might even be considered as a potential successor as the next assistant after Cindy.
Naturally, I have a lot of responsibilities, not just assisting Elena or teaching Cindy, who recently obtained a doctoral degree, how to write.
In addition to writing, there was a lot of work to be done. Furthermore, while working as a teaching assistant, I have learned numerous advantages and disadvantages.
First, let me talk about the disadvantages – it’s busy. Incredibly busy. It’s not just a matter of being busy; there is a mountain of research to be done, and I have to move around here and there.
Not only do I have to approach other professors for information related to Elena’s research, but I even have to reach out to professors from different departments, not just in history, to request materials. As mentioned before, there is no internet here, so to find information, I have to either read books or, if not that, physically run around. And I was currently in the midst of doing just that.
Furthermore, Elena often sought my opinions whenever she was writing papers, as she seems to highly regard my knowledge of history and philosophy. The problem is that she, having accumulated knowledge and experiences that ordinary humans could never fathom, can be quite daunting in many respects. Therefore, I am making efforts to assist her even a little.
Next, an advantage that is similar to a disadvantage is her vast knowledge related to history, pouring out like a rushing stream. Elena’s research lab was already filled with numerous historical books and papers, even containing ancient texts whose origins remain unknown.
There’s even a diary written by a human soldier from the era of racial war. Not only that, but it’s so well preserved that it’s an immensely valuable relic of history. Yet, Elena casually tossed it to me, suggesting I should give it a read.
When I asked her if it was alright for her to give me something so precious, she simply replied that it wasn’t a significant period by her standards. Thanks to her, I am once again reminded that she is an elf with a lifespan close to a thousand years.
To an elf, 300 years ago would be like 30 years ago to a human, so differences in perspective are inevitable. Nevertheless, by my standards, it’s quite an important item.
‘It seems the army is the same wherever you go.’
The contents of the diary were indeed very military-like, whether one should call it rough or just realistically practical. It’s filled with the mundane details of an insignificant soldier rolling about.
Whether it’s rushing forward to take down an elven warrior by any means, even if comrades fall, or drinking improperly purified water leading to stomach troubles, or finally, biting into bread only to feel the grit of sand.
One striking aspect here was PTSD. There’s a daily rant about the army, yet surprisingly, there’s almost no depiction of symptoms related to PTSD.
Of course, occasionally they dream of colleagues dying or hear their voices as if they’re haunted. There have been mild symptoms, but compared to the harsh conditions of the military, they were relatively minor.
The reason became apparent with each battle against the elves. Every time they fought them, a strong sense of hatred and resentment emerged, calling them ‘ear freaks’ or feeling indifferent even if tearing apart those damn creatures.
‘It seems there’s contempt directed towards the elves.’
While it’s difficult to treat stress after trauma, there’s a way to somewhat alleviate it: by justifying one’s actions.
Comparing soldiers from World War II and the Vietnam War reveals a certain significance. World War II had a firm belief in fighting against a great evil, the Axis powers, but the Vietnam War was different, simply fighting for national interests.
The owner of this diary was similar. Apparently, before the racial war, elves didn’t just look down on humans; they treated them like monkeys.
Even the owner of this diary suffered explicit racial discrimination from elves in the past, implying it was prevalent throughout their society.
In response, humans formed an alliance and declared war on Alvenheim. It could be seen as self-inflicted, and the downfall of the elves was due to their excessive disdain for humans.
The difference between the old and new generations of elves might stem from this.
‘Rank… There’s almost no difference from now.’
Even the hierarchy among ordinary soldiers resembled something akin to ancient Rome, such as centurions and commanders. The owner of this diary was initially an ordinary soldier but later got promoted to a centurion.
Nevertheless, compared to knights, he was nothing more than an ordinary soldier, as common as they come. The gap between knights and soldiers cannot be easily bridged, and the reason is the use of ‘mana.’
Even if mana exists in this world, it’s absolutely not something everyone, from dogs to people, can wield. Elves and demons were exceptions, but in ancient times, only the chosen few among humans could manifest it.
Fortunately, as time passed and civilization progressed, knowledge accumulated, making it more accessible. Currently, all academy students can use mana, and even someone like me, who only received basic physical training at the mansion, can enhance their body using mana.
However, that’s about it. I cannot wield mana in a way that allows me to slice rocks with a sword imbued with mana, like others. It takes considerable effort to manifest it externally, even if the potential exists within.
Of course, unless you’re an unrivaled genius, you can’t use mana as you want. These are what are commonly referred to as ‘heroes.’
‘Looking at it this way, it’s amazing that humans won the racial war.’
The strength of an elven warrior depicted in the book was truly calamitous. Splitting five soldiers in half with a single stroke was merely the basics, and what’s more terrifying was the magic.
It’s written that when the elves were cornered, the magic they unleashed in a final act wreaked havoc to the extent of nearly wiping them out.
Fortunately, with the support of the knights, the elves were eliminated, but the diarist’s unit suffered critical injuries, requiring substantial time for recuperation.
Afterward, with the war over, discharge followed, leading to engagement and eventually marriage, culminating in the birth of lovely children.
‘It was really well written?’
It’s not just an ordinary diary; the immersion is no joke. There are moments where I was deeply engaged, elements that drew me in, and even incidents born from the distinct military culture that provoked laughter.
Of course, it’s not without depth. The diary’s owner sometimes contemplates whether it’s right to engage in war, facing skepticism, or feels powerless, unable to do anything when a comrade falls.
Nevertheless, I am convinced that this diary is an artifact of immense historical and cultural value. I found myself lost in contemplation after closing the worn-out journal.
‘There truly is a vast difference between regular soldiers and knights.’
When people think of war, they often think of knights, neglecting the ordinary soldiers. Frankly speaking, as written in this diary, regular soldiers are essentially meat shields.
They may handle other human soldiers, but they lack a lot when facing elves and demons who can wield mana from birth, as well as races with inherently superior hardware.
If we liken this to a game scenario, it’s akin to a single zergling confronting a zealot instead of a marine. This is the reality for regular soldiers who can’t even defeat human knights.
‘However, a regular elven warrior is on par with a human knight.’
As mentioned before, they are regular warriors. Just as there are knights among humans, there exist similar ranks among elves.
The difference is that while warriors rely solely on physical prowess, they are essentially unarmed combatants. Elven knights, on the other hand, are combat mages who combine magic with combat.
As if facing a single warrior isn’t difficult enough, how much more challenging would it be to confront a knight? According to records, it took four to five human knights to take down a single elven knight.
The internal division within Alvheim was a contributing factor to our victory, but the humans, like a swarm of ants, played a significant role by relentlessly pushing their forces.
Even with the support from the demons, we could not launch an attack, but we could defend ourselves. Especially remarkable was how the humans spared no effort, even resorting to covert operations, while the elves refrained from such tactics. Despite the efforts of their warrior commander, Ikher, well… as you know, he was imprisoned, thanks to the relentless trolling by the Council of Elders.
Looking at it this way, the Council of Elders’ actions were incomprehensible to the extent that one might think they were in favor of the humans.
‘Back then the beastmen were not just lacking in civilization at that time but also lacked proper unity. Moreover, beastmen excel only in physical attributes.’
Even among the beastmen, regular warriors cannot wield mana; their hardware itself is just insanely superior. The fundamental reason why the massacre of beastmen, akin to the Holocaust, was possible 300 years ago was due to the disparity in civilization.
As the saying goes, ‘Divide and conquer,’ it’s much more advantageous to fight two battles of 100 against 50 each than a straight 100 versus 100. The massacre of beastmen happened through such a process.
Anyway, after 300 years, with the advancement of civilization, various educational institutions were established, and the accessibility of mana drastically increased, leading to an upward leveling. To grasp mana, the presence of a ‘teacher’ is crucial, and educational institutions have taken on that role. It is the experience and driving force of human development acquired through the racial war 300 years ago.
‘But setting that aside, how powerful are devils, really?’
In Xenon’s Biography, numerous devils as mentioned in the literature make appearances. Not the Seven Deadly Sins but devils commonly referred to as mere minions.
The Seven Deadly Sins will be driven out anyway by the main characters, so let’s assume that’s settled. The problem lies with the ordinary devils. Not only do they possess considerable power, but their sheer numbers are staggering. The fundamental reason they were able to occupy Alvenheim, or rather Elvenheim as depicted in the book, was due to their overwhelming quantity.
Will the allied forces hold up while the main characters confront the Seven Deadly Sins? Humans might have their numbers, but fundamentally, they’re destined to collapse in the face of a significant difference in specifications. Of course, if they somehow manage to withstand it and it’s briefly described, readers will easily accept it. After all, Xenon’s Biography is not about ordinary soldiers but the story of heroes.
‘In order to effectively counteract such numbers…’
Magic was perfect for that. To be precise, it’s potent ‘firepower’.
In this world, gunpowder and cannons exist. However, only humans and dwarves use them; elves and demons naturally rely on magic, and giants don’t depend on machinery.
Moreover, there are spells that emit firepower several times stronger, so they don’t feel the necessity to use cannons.
In a world where magic substitutes for science, the progress of ‘machinery’ was significantly slower compared to my past life.
‘Nevertheless, a magical engine has been invented.’
Everyone knows that Ains invented the magic engine. Currently, with support from the dwarven nation, Makina, he’s in the process of jointly inventing magical locomotives.
Although the invention of magical locomotives, symbolizing the civilization of machinery, has occurred, there’s still skepticism surrounding its potential superiority over magic and its efficiency.
‘I won’t include this in Volume 18 but consider it for Volume 19.’
If five human soldiers can wield the power of a human knight, would they believe it?
By the way, this plot twist will not be resolved in Xenon’s Biography but will unfold in the future during the Second World War-esque novel that I will write. Although the universes are not connected, I plan to showcase the peak of a mechanical civilization.
Even though there’s a high chance, as Luminous said, that dwarves might bring tanks to the exhibition, I have to make use of what I have. I turned my head while gazing at the old journal.
In the direction I turned, I saw Elena working on her thesis and Cindy researching materials next to her.
“Have you finished reading it all?”
Perhaps sensing my gaze, Elena momentarily set down her pen and looked at me. Adjusting her slightly slipping glasses, she had an intellectual appearance.
Upon hearing her question, I lifted the old journal and replied.
“Where did you get this from?”
“From my apprentice. Apparently, it’s a journal written by their ancestor.”
“Then what is that apprentice doing now?”
“They’re deceased. Because their descendants passed away early, it was handed down to me.”
“··· ···”
It’s a moment when the aura of the elves stacked even higher. Elena, noticing my uneasiness, propped her chin with both hands and made a subtle expression.
I’ve seen that expression many times before, so I know well what it means. It’s the face she makes when she casually tosses a thesis or interesting material at me, asks me to read it, and then demands my opinion.
“So, after reading it, what do you think?”
As expected, Elena asked for my thoughts on the worn-out reading journal. Cindy, who had been researching materials nearby, seemed curious too, setting down her stack of papers and turning her gaze towards me.
Still with dark, intense circles around her eyes and piercing gaze, there was a deep curiosity within. I wonder why everyone seems to lean on me as one.
I rolled my eyes thoughtfully, pondering what to say, and just blurted out the thought in my mind.
“I’m curious about how the elves discriminated against humans in the past. Disdain towards elves is evident throughout the diary, yet there’s simultaneous awe for their power.”
“You read it correctly.. During the racial wars, elves were indeed a bundle of arrogance itself. They held not just humans but all other races beneath their feet.”
After saying this, Elena brought up a rather unsettling story.
“I used to wonder why these arrogant elves didn’t conquer other nations. Even though they’re elves, the lack of a desire for dominance seemed odd. However, Xenon’s Biography answered that question all at once.”
“Xenon’s Biography?”
“Yes. It was explained in Xenon’s Biography. The incident of the dark elf expulsion. They went into chaos, trying to dominate each other, which led to a massive fallout. The aftermath of that incident probably instilled a sense of restraint among them. Of course, their inherent arrogance wasn’t fixed, hence the bloodshed during the racial wars.”
“I see.”
It’s possible. Indeed, as she mentioned, the elves before the racial wars seemed somewhat inclined towards fascism.
Even if imperialism were rampant and occupying other countries at this very moment, given the situation, the Dark Elf expulsion incident might not have seemed peculiar, and caution might have been exercised in all matters. Moreover, bound by the ‘law’ as a shackle, the scholarly nature of the elves might have compelled them to stay quiet.
“That could be possible. But do you believe everything written in Xenon’s Biography?”
“Just that alone explains why the Council insisted on the formation of laws and further elucidates why Alvenheim remained silent. I’ll be presenting it soon at Yggdrasil.”
Yggdrasil is where prominent scholars gather periodically to present their research findings. While there’s no specific name, it’s akin to a seminar. Originally, only elves could attend, but after Arwen’s open policy, other races were allowed. This expanded its scale significantly.
Occasionally, due to differences in lifespans, situations arise that aren’t laughable. Sometimes, when a few humans vanish, the elves finally grasp the disparity in lifespans.
After carefully considering Elena’s story, a question suddenly occurred to me, so I asked her:
“Professor.”
“Yes?”
“If there were no mana in the world, what do you think would happen?”
At my question, both Elena and Cindy blinked, wearing puzzled expressions. Their expressions clearly conveyed a lack of understanding.
It’s not like my question was difficult, so I can’t fathom why they’re reacting like this. As I pondered with a tilted head, Cindy, in her characteristic hesitant voice, asked.
“What are you talking about…?”
“What?”
“Without mana… I don’t understand what you mean…”
Following Cindy, Elena spoke next.
“I feel the same way. A world without mana? Is that even possible? If there’s no mana, wouldn’t humanity have become extinct long ago?”
“Is it really that extreme?”
“‘Of course. We can’t even handle ogres without magic, let alone deal with orcs, without mana, we elves would be nothing more than pretty dolls. Lifespan is closely related to mana, so we’d probably be similar to humans. Perhaps humanity would have peacefully gone extinct.”
Some rather pessimistic speculations poured out. Cindy beside me nodded in agreement, sharing a similar sentiment.
As someone with memories from a past life, I couldn’t help but feel bewildered. After all, I retain vivid memories from a past life while they are people living in this world; naturally, there would be differences.
I scratched my head and reluctantly agreed.
“Well… I understand your thoughts. It seems like an impossible story.”
“It is impossible. Unless, of course, there comes a weapon comparable to magic, but if it’s written in a paper, it might as well be a novel, not a thesis.”
Surprised by those words, I tried to remain as composed as possible and quietly spoke up.
“…Then, how do you perceive Ains’s invention of the mana engine?”
“Well, Xenon is a regressor, so it might be possible for them. If it weren’t for that, we wouldn’t have even thought of it.”
So, that’s why there was the talk about bringing a tank. I let out a wry smile after hearing her response.
‘…I should just throw in some breadcrumbs.’
I contemplated whether to write a thesis about it but decided to set it aside for now.
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