The OP Lich is a Returnee, Book 21 Prologue

Prologue – Trade Chat

(Magical World Disharmony Server, General Chat)

UsualSuspect, manoutoftime, muon, MewTwo, Avariel, Chummer, Golddigger, CrazyCelt, Blaze, DoYouEvenLyft?, MarcoPolo, MightMakesRight, MacD, Inquisitor, OrangeQueen, Lizard, RedFox, SemiSolidSnake, BabyShark, Lichwatcher, Not_the_Face!, TheLichQueen, Scholar, Salty, Anonymous3, Anonymous4, Anonymous7, Anonymous9, WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot, DigDug, Backlog, DarkAvariel, Knocker, GrimDark, BloodForTheBloodGod, BackDat@55Up and DarkAngel are in the chat.

BabyShark: Guys! Big news! They just announced season four of the Mahou Shoujo Kikansha anime!

muon: That’s the anime that was loosely based on LQ’s adventures in the other world, right?

BabyShark: Yes. Season 1 was about her return to Earth. Season 2 was about undoing the seals. Then, they had Season 3, the Long War Saga, which was half prequel and half her telling the people who went to her shrine about the war in the other world. Season 4 is going to be about the rebirth of Risen Athelia in this world! Rumor has that it is even going to include her speech to the UN!

MacD: I know LQ said that the anime was basically a fictionalized retelling of her adventures, but I wonder how much of what has been shown is truth? Not the magical girl transforming into a lich business, but the stuff about the other world, the war, and what’s gone one here.

Lichwatcher: Hard to say without the lady confirming or denying herself, but most of the major story beats from the ‘this world’ sections can be confirmed by eyewitness accounts. The actual words spoken might be different, but about 70% of the main story beats line up with official accounts.

Salty: So, the Japanese government really has a shapeshifting dragon working in their R&D department?

Lichwatcher: That is one of the beats that cannot be confirmed.

Knocker: That’s why they made it an anime. They can do things that aren’t possible in real life, and make it look plausible.

Scholar: Well, while I agree that the whole ‘dragon fighting through a dimension between worlds’ business is pure fantasy, they did do a good job with tying things in with pre-Awakening events. The Tunguska Event is still something of an unsolved mystery, after all. But if there was an actual dragon roaming around, other than the Dragon Emperor of China, or that new form LQ turns into, then we ought to have seen signs, right?

CrazyCelt: Entertaining as that is, I’m more concerned about the potential troubles brewing in Asia.

DigDug: What about it, Celt?

CrazyCelt: Well, I have a brother who runs a tour company, taking folks to different sites in the region. Mostly Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar, where there is less competition for English-speaking tour guides. Things are apparently getting pretty tense out there.

Knocker: Tense how?

CrazyCelt: Well, Some of the Lich Queen’s legions were in the area right after the declaration of the East Asian Alliance, but now my brother says they’ve started rotating away from the border, and local troops have started moving into the bases they made.

Lichwatcher: Oh, I heard about that. Supposedly, the legions were there to keep the border secure, but now that local troops are getting trained and equipped up to the same standards as the rest of the (living) EAA forces, LQ is letting them secure their borders.

TheLichQueen: Indeed. Putting my legions on the borders of the EAA was always a temporary measure, to ensure that the mortal members of the Alliance had the time to train and equip themselves properly. Risen Athelia continues to hold to our commitments to mutual defense with our Alliance members. However, it serves no one’s interests for the countries to become wholly dependent on our troops to defend them.

Scholar: How so? I would have thought having the strongest troops out in front would make sense.

TheLichQueen: Three reasons. First, and most importantly, if the defenders of the Alliance are solely undead, that means anyone who finds a way to counter the undead is an existential threat to the entire alliance, while having a diversity of troops means that no single weapon can take down all the defenses. Second, if Risen Athelia is the only one who fights, then that encourages one of two mindsets: either the dominance of Risen Athelia over all others, leading to the resentment of those who see themselves as under my heel, or the view of Risen Athelia as nothing more than an attack dog on a leash. Neither view is that of a partnership with respect on both sides, which makes it toxic, in the long term. And third, mortal pride. Being part of an alliance is all well and good, but it is bad for the soul of a nation for their people to not have any means of defending themselves from external threats, especially over generations.

MacD: So, do you always make plans in generational terms?

TheLichQueen: When possible, yes. Though I am not so hidebound as to be unable to adapt to situations in the moment. As an undead, time is no longer a finite resource for me. Unless I finally come across a foe that is strong enough to destroy me utterly, or find a way to ascend to whatever lies beyond mortal existence, I will still be here when the Sun finally consumes Earth as it turns into a red giant, some five to eight billion years from now. Well, I’ll have probably moved to another world by then, actually, since we only have about a billion years until the oceans boil off and life becomes extinct. It would be boring to remain after that.

BackDat@55Up: And here I thought I was being responsible by planning for retirement.

Chummer: Gives a whole new definition to long-term planning. So, basically, you’re willing to reinforce other EAA members, if needed, but you want them to be able to defend themselves so that they can take pride in their accomplishments?

TheLichQueen: Precisely. Currently, the smaller nations in the EAA are weak. But simply stepping in and shielding them from everything does not make them strong, it just coddles and smothers them. So, once they are prepared, we step back, allowing them to defend themselves, though we remain ready to strike, if they are in danger of being overwhelmed. This allows them to stand on their own two feet, even if they aren’t standing alone, rather than kneeling at mine.

GrimDark: Damn, that’s inspirational stuff.

TheLichQueen: Well, I do have over forty years of practice. Inspirational speeches are part of being a ruler. Even warlords have to be able to inspire their people.

SemiSolidSnake: Hey, don’t know if this means anything to those here, but a buddy of mine in Hawaii says that our favorite Lich Queen is prepping some kind of big construction project. Here’s pics of the site!

TheLichQueen: Ah, yes. That is for the project I spoke about at the UN. I’m about to lay the foundation for New Athelas on the ocean floor.

Scholar: Just how are you going to build on the ocean floor? SSS’s pictures don’t show any pre-built structures. The water pressure alone would make building that deep problematic.

TheLichQueen: The water is only an issue if you cannot remove the water.