[FMMIKA] Chapter 284: Gudako's Diary (III)

August 12th, 6th year of the Dragon Emperor's Calendar.

We're boarding a ship, leaving India after living there for half a year.

Looking back, the past six months have been pretty nice, except for the scorching Indian weather that really got on my nerves. Everything else, though, is going quite well.

In India, we've established schools, hospitals, constructed roads, railways, and even ports. We've built cities, gardens, factories, farms, and, of course, sanitation facilities and composting.

Rebellions in various regions have been mostly quelled, with only a few stubborn Hindu fundamentalists, Brahmin priests, and devotees hiding deep in the mountains.

Their days are surely numbered.

During these six months, I've gained significant insights.

Indians, as it turns out, are quite laid-back. But, from my perspective, this same carefree nature can be found in Africans, Native Americans, and even many Europeans. It's more about their societal nature than their ethnicity.

People living in hunter-gatherer societies, nomadic tribes on vast grasslands, and plains, understandably tend to be more laid-back.

As serfs and low-caste people, there's no real incentive for them to work hard; it's almost like I've made up my mind to grow up and work as a laborer only to slack off until I die.

The result of working oneself to the bone is ending up in the ICU, while your boss buys a new sports car next year. Then, they let you go and replace you with a fresh batch of eager workers.

People can be domesticated, huh?

Ancient India had indeed built a splendid civilization.

However, when the Aryan invaders entered India, for thousands of years, the caste system and Hinduism tamed the native Indians into a docile, indolent, and inferior people.

In Europe, Germans, for example, went through centuries of disciplined training and became the epitome of punctuality and seriousness, while their Austrian counterparts didn't quite achieve the same.

By the way, in the New World of America, there are actually more Germanic peoples of German descent than Anglo-Saxons.

All this evidence suggests that national character can be modified and shaped, not set in stone.

It's indeed a painful and lengthy process, but the ultimate outcome is promising.

As long as we persevere, this world will become a better place.

In proper human history, whether it's the Arabian Star and Crescent colonialists from the medieval era or the European colonialists after the Age of Discovery, they didn't quite do it this way.

They simply saw India as a cash cow, isolated themselves from the local population, and merrily collected exorbitant taxes from the upper-class Brahmins and other elite groups.

They enjoyed their lavish lifestyles.

After all, the wool comes from the sheep, and it's the common folks who suffer in the end.

Looking at it this way, the ancient Aryan colonizers were quite clever.

Although their time in control of India's highest authority was relatively short, even when new colonial powers arrived, they still had to rely on them to rule and collect taxes.

It is a delight to be in the ruling class, savoring wealth and luxury.

Even though they were considered outsiders in the eyes of the new colonizers, they remained masters in the eyes of the common people, living in opulence and prosperity for a thousand years.

All of it was shattered by the empire in one fell swoop.

I imagine those folks must've wanted to devour that Dragon Emperor alive.

Though, from a modern perspective, they probably had it coming.

With these thoughts in mind, we're steadily approaching the final destination of our journey.

Japan.

...

August 12th, 6th year of the Dragon Emperor's Calendar.

We're in Malacca.

This vital port city is now the empire's trade hub and naval stronghold in Southeast Asia.

From this epicenter, the Empire embarks on its conquest and colonization of the scattered nations in Southeast Asia, much like the chaos that's happening in India.

The once-dominant Majapahit Empire in Southeast Asia has fallen into disarray, and the powerful Buddhist countries have all been replaced by the Islamic faith countries.

However, all of this doesn't mean much to the empire.

With ironclad warships, steam-powered airships, steam-driven soldiers, and massive artillery using black powder, not to mention the military governance of Imperial battle mages, the feeble resistance of these Southeast Asian sultanates seems like child's play in the face of the empire's overwhelming military might.

War, conquest, followed by social reformation; the empire's military and government function like clockwork.

To be honest, it terrifies me.

I thought that narcissistic guy was just talking big, but he's genuinely prepared to usher in an Age of Steam.

Thankfully, he belongs to the lawful good, if he were chaotic evil, this world would be in for a rough ride.

...

August 18th, 6th year of the Dragon Emperor's Calendar.

We're at Shuangyu Port.

I remember that in proper human history, the Ming Dynasty is supposed to be in its isolationist phase, right? But the situation right now is entirely different.

This port, Shuangyu, is bustling. It rivals any European port with merchants and goods coming from all directions.

If I could, I'd love to venture into the heart of Ming.

Unfortunately, this plan doesn't work out.

It's not that they don't allow it. It's just that there's nothing to see, even if we go.

According to what Mash and the others say, the real China transcended proper human history thousands of years ago, creating its own dimension.

Maybe cultivators are real?

The China that remains in proper human history is just a remnant, a shadow, a transfer station, and a thread that keeps proper human history stable.

According to Mash, there won't be any action from dimensional China until another civilization of similar transcendence appears in proper human history.

However, at present, dimensional China has established some connection with the Dragon Emperor.

If the empire continues moving forward, we can establish formal diplomatic relations.

...

August 20th, 6th year of the Dragon Emperor's Calendar.

We finally arrived at Hakata Port in Japan.

Now is the time of the Muromachi Shogunate, under the Ashikaga family, to be precise.

The Warring States period hasn't begun yet, and it will take a century or so to see Oda Nobunaga in action.

If I wanted to see figures like Minamoto no Raikou or Minamoto no Yoshitsune, I'd have to rewind several centuries.

As for the current Shogun, they are completely in the dark.

But, it doesn't matter.

I have no interest in this era of Japan whatsoever. I also have no idea why that guy brought me here in the first place.

By the way, whether that guy wanted me to go to India or the New World of America, I figured it out by now.

It's all about coveting my unparalleled beauty and trying to woo me, right? Which is why he shows me the world he has conquered.

He is quite the player.

If he wants to have his way with me, my virginity will have already been taken by him long ago.

But he doesn't just want my body; he wants my heart as well, right?

That's why he organized this journey, to show me his power and hope that I will genuinely embrace his ideals.

At this point, even if he popped my cherry, I wouldn't seek revenge on him. Instead, I would wholeheartedly become his woman.

Now that I think about it, a chill suddenly runs down my spine.

In any case, now that I know his plan, I won't just go along with it so easily!

Is this guy really a harem king? Is this how he picks up women? Dragging me all over the world to show off his ideals?

If he really wanted to have me, he should've chased me properly, for fuck's sake!

Whether he's a domineering CEO or a cute puppy, he should've used his handsome face, wealth, sweet words, and gifts to woo me, dammit!

Does he chase other girls like this?

Did he build such a massive harem using this method?!

If that's the case, I will be the first to resist!

...

August 23rd, 6th year of the Dragon Emperor's Calendar.

I'm enjoying life in Japan, even though it was originally meant for India. My mood's a bit complicated.

What happened to that samurai spirit they're always talking about?

This isn't the late 20th century, is it?!

Why do they treat me like some Westerner when they see me anyway? I'm Japanese for fuck's sake!

Unbelievable. If I were a guy, would those Geishas be offering their services already?

Just thinking about it makes me uncomfortable.

By the way, is it because of my skin color that they mistake me for a Westerner? And maybe it's because of how I look and my physique.

Well, it might not be polite to say, but the Japanese people in this era are pretty short. The average height isn't even 4.5 feet. With my build, when I walk down the street, they look shorter by at least a head.

Pretty disappointing.

...

August 25th, 6th year of the Dragon Emperor's Calendar.

These past few days, I've been going through Japan's historical documents. It turns out that over half a year ago, the empire made its move on Japan, just like the Black Ships incident, perhaps even worse.

Back then, the Tokugawa Shogunate, despite being extremely corrupt due to long-lasting peace, still maintained a semblance of unified rule. However, the Ashikaga Shogunate today is on a downhill slope.

Moreover, even at the height of the Ashikaga Shogunate's power, they only had control over the Kansai. This constant back and forth makes it clear that Japan's complete assimilation into the Empire is imminent.

Japan's internal situation is chaotic now, with two opposing voices.

Some want to confront the Empire head-on, no matter what the cost. They're prepared to die.

The other group is desperately trying to grovel before the Empire, infiltrate its system, gain technology, power, and all that, to regret later.

Hearing about the second approach, I couldn't help but get a bit excited.

Great minds think alike, as they say. This tactic of groveling before the strong and then repenting, it's truly the way of the cunning.

There's no need for the empire to drop two atomic bombs. Just send a few tens of thousands of troops, and everyone will quickly start groveling.

Some might resist, wanting to preserve their emperor or protect their own interests, but once they realize they're no match for the empire, they'll continue groveling.

At first, they might have dreams of change. But under the empire's rule, these folks will likely forget all about it. With the empire's governance, give it one or two generations, or perhaps three to five, Japan as a nation and people will cease to exist, fully assimilated into the empire, just like any other country.

Thinking about it, it's somewhat melancholic.

I've now fully understood that guy's plan.

The Age of Steam is about to arrive. This singularity is going to become that guy's possession.

Thinking of this, my emotions are quite complicated.

===

As she wrote up to this point, Ritsuka let out a sigh, put down the pen, and opened the window, gazing at the sea.

"Fou! Fou! Fou!"

It seemed Fou sensed her thoughts, as it nimbly jumped onto Ritsuka's shoulder, watching the sea with her.

"What should I do, Fou?"

While petting Fou, Ritsuka mumbled to herself.

"I can't just be like those Servants, becoming that guy's weapon of war, can I?"

"It's such a hassle."

"Why get involved in this grand scheme... hahhh..."

Ritsuka mumbled tiredly and sighed, her gaze melancholic, and with her striking looks and figure, it could easily captivate quite a few people.

If someone who knows Ritsuka well, like Mash, were to see her like this, they would undoubtedly have thoughts like "What an amazing woman, it's just a shame she talks".

===

Author's Note:

After spending two years in the singularity, Gudako's mindset had somewhat changed.