Newspaper Article: The Effects Begin to Show
While the Hero Party and Julius’s group were on the move toward the South Territory, a paper-based information bulletin, the Yotsuba Newspaper, was released worldwide by the Yotsuba General Trading Company.
◎ Did the Titania Kingdom Fake an Engagement Cancellation?
The Titania Kingdom allegedly used the Hero Party to place a long-term curse on Lord Julius, heir of the South Margrave House, stripping him of his abilities. They then attempted to fabricate charges and annul his engagement before exiling him, but failed.
Instead, acts of infidelity by Princess Elizabeth, Duke’s daughter Milian, and Viscount’s daughter Almeria within the Hero Party were exposed, leading to a reconciliation with the South Margrave Territory under conditions including three years of autonomy.
Statement from Lord Julius, heir to the South Margrave House:
“I never imagined I would be betrayed by my own country.”
We will continue to follow the Titania Kingdom’s response…
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◎ The Leader of That Organization Revealed
It has been confirmed that the leader of the famed adventurer clan “Shiranui” is none other than Lord Julius, heir to the South Margrave House. Additionally, it has also been revealed that he is the head of the “Yotsuba General Trading Company,” causing a scramble for responses across various sectors.
Statement from Lord Julius:
“I wasn’t hiding it, I just had duties with the Hero Party, and it wasn’t something worth bringing up.”
To think the head of two massive organizations is the same person… truly a man shrouded in mystery.
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◎ Lord Julius Announces His Engagement
The famed Jade Princess, Princess Flora, has announced her engagement to Lord Julius, heir to the South Margrave House. It is said that men across the land who admired her broke down in tears…
At the same time, he has also become engaged to Shiranui’s Unit 1 Captain Yukimi, Unit 3 Captain Charlotte, and Unit 7 Captain Nemesia. A most joyous occasion.
Additionally, an alliance with the Albul Kingdom has been announced, along with plans to jointly develop the Forest of Demons.
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◎ Declaration of War Against Tsutora Kingdom, Jill City-State Confederation, and West Derobi Kingdom
The South Margrave House and the Albul Kingdom have entered a state of war with the three nations currently invading Albul.
Updates on the war situation will be reported as they develop…
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◎ Yotsuba General Trading Company Lowers Titania Kingdom’s Rating to Minimum Rank?
The Yotsuba General Trading Company has announced the withdrawal of operations from the royal domain of the Titania Kingdom, the Duchy of Gulf, the Marquessate of Harmetz, and others.
As a result, all stores outside major cities have been closed, and even in major cities, operations have been reduced to food sales only, handled by golems.
Statement from Chairman Julius:
“With the inclusion of the Hero Party, trust in the royal family and associated nobility has fallen to the ground. We cannot entrust the safety of our employees to them and have decided to withdraw. We apologize for the inconvenience caused to the residents.”
Statement from a Titania royal official:
“We are currently verifying the facts.”
When will the investigation conclude? The concerns of the citizens continue to grow…
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◎ South Margrave House and Albul Kingdom Agree to Develop the Forest of Demons
Recruitment for settlers has begun. Food, clothing, and housing guaranteed. No limit on applicants at present.
―――――――End of excerpt from the Yotsuba Newspaper
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The information racing across the world threw everyone into an uproar.
The places that felt the effects immediately were the royal domain, the Duchy of Gulf, and the Marquessate of Harmetz, where the Yotsuba General Trading Company had withdrawn.
Yotsuba had stores in every city, including minor ones, and many of them were large-scale establishments.
Those stores all turned into shuttered ghost towns overnight…
The carriages that used to travel between cities disappeared, and transportation was paralyzed.
Public works? All halted or indefinitely postponed.
The only thing still being sold was food, by golems. Surrounded by security golems.
No human interaction at all. Buying things felt like using a vending machine.
And the first to leave the territories were the adventurers, those who hunted monsters and handled escort jobs. They weren’t bound to the land.
They relied on Yotsuba for everything, from weapons, armor, and potions to their favorite alcohol and food, even inns and medical treatment.
The higher-ranking adventurers, who cared more about quality, were the first to leave.
Then followed the second sons who couldn’t inherit farmland, young women looking for work, and even the poor.
Everyone began heading toward the South Margrave Territory, where new residents were being recruited…
The Margrave House hired the departing adventurers to act as escorts for the migrating residents.
That surprised the people heading south, and filled them with gratitude.
Those who remained were left stranded and at a loss…
Farmers with inherited land and eldest sons couldn’t leave, and the larger landowners were often influential figures.
Voices demanding accountability from the lords grew louder with each passing day.
The royal family and the nobles barely managed to control the situation, preventing rebellion by the skin of their teeth…
As for the Duchy of Gulf and the Marquessate of Harmetz, since war was near, they still needed food and iron, so the impact wasn’t as immediate.
Even so, the consequences of Julius’s exile would steadily tighten around them like a noose.
When that time came… would the kingdom begin its decline like rolling down a slope?
Meanwhile, the three nations that received Julius’s declaration of war began preparing for battle, but once the newspaper spread the news among the common people, many started fleeing, throwing things into chaos.
Still, because all three had been declared upon at once, there was a sense of relief, they wouldn’t have to fight alone.
On the condition of temporary cooperation, the three nations formed an alliance.
As a result, while the common people remained in turmoil and some even fled abroad, those in power were already discussing how to divide the Albul Kingdom after their victory.
… Completely unaware that their own downfall was just around the corner.
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