The French Republic. A Latin nation situated in Western Europe, it once held a vital position in the European Union, established to counter superpowers like the former United States. After World War II, it served as one of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (commonly known as the "Big Five").
However, the EU collapsed due to the Twenty-Year World War, splitting into the East and West EU along the Franco-German border. This new arrangement was nothing like the former free economic zone; it remained merely a mutual non-aggression pact and a military alliance limited strictly to matters of inter-state security.
This shift occurred because magic had manifested as a technology—and gradually, as military might—leading to an intensification of each nation's efforts to hoard resources, specifically those humans possessing magical aptitude. While every government in Europe recognized that the root cause lay in the "hoarding" initiated by the former United States, the rise of the New Soviet Union—possessing power greater than the former USSR—alongside the USNA, heightened the sense of crisis across European nations.
The EU possessed the Strategic-Class Magic Ozone Circle, perfected in Britain. The activation sequence for this magic was provided to former EU member states—naturally, including France, a constituent of the West EU.
However, France did not possess anyone capable of wielding Ozone Circle. Their limit was barely Tactical-Class Magic. Furthermore, the Great Asian Alliance, which possessed Strategic-Class Magic, had intervened in the struggle for hegemony on the African continent. This was a source of great headache for the French government, which had been supporting African forces.
Thus, France set its sights on Japan, which was in a state of tension with the Great Asian Alliance at the time. A small island nation, yet possessing world-class economic power and repelling pressure from neighboring superpowers... the land of the "Samurai." Among those dispatched to Europe to deter nuclear war was a Japanese magician. France approached her with an offer to immigrate, but she refused. Still, after persistent negotiation, she proposed a counter-offer: why not have a talented French individual marry into a distinguished Japanese magical family?
When asked if this would cause issues with their neighbor, Britain—home to the International Magic Association headquarters—she dismissed it, saying, "In the future, if our country rises to prominence, that nation is merely a former suzerain state with a reputation for finding fault." It didn't take long to understand she was referring to the USNA and Britain.
The French government sent children from surviving royal lines who possessed magical aptitude to Japan. That was in the late 2060s. Nearly 30 years had passed since then... Although France had miraculously gained territory in Africa through the "Miracle of the Niger Delta," the French government, considering the increasingly tense international situation, decided to rely on those old ties and that recent miracle to send out a single girl.
The girl's name was Efia Mensah. A 15-year-old from the west coast of Guinea, though her appearance was undeniably Caucasian. Her parents were also white, descendants of a British clan that had migrated to the Niger Delta region after World War II.
The term "clan" is used because they were a family of Ancient Magicians who had been driven out of Britain. This fact was completely unexpected even to the French government during Efia's background check. According to Efia, her ancestors had scattered across various regions to escape their pursuers before eventually fleeing to the land of Africa.
Then, through a strange, almost fateful encounter, Efia received unexpected wealth and honor. That meeting caused her magical aptitude to blossom, and she was allowed to study abroad at the invitation of the French government. Now, Efia was being summoned to the Presidential Palace—a place military magicians were rarely permitted to enter.
"Lieutenant Mensah, I apologize for the sudden summons."
"No, it is an honor simply to be addressed by you, Mr. President. For a common soldier like myself, it is more than I deserve."
"Fufu, I would certainly like to see such obedience and loyalty throughout our military. Oh, pardon me."
Efia served as a military magician (legally treated as a minor, though officially listed as over 18) at an army base near Paris. With ruby-red hair, emerald-green eyes, and a curvaceous figure that seemed mature for her age, she was adored as the "idol" of the base. If anyone attempted to sexually harass her, her "Imperial Guard" (a volunteer unit centered around the base commander; Efia never asked for this) would administer punishment without mercy.
One might question the discipline of soldiers acting this way, but since the leadership and combat ability of the base she served at had actually improved, the French General Staff simply muttered, "That is our army's 'Untouchable'," and left them alone.
Though, saying they "threw in the towel" might be a more accurate assessment than "left them alone."
"The recent situation is growing increasingly severe. We managed to suppress the wave of anti-magicism, but it is only acceptable while the heat in Eastern and Northern Europe is sparking toward the New Soviet Union. There is no guarantee that Western Europe won't be dragged into it if the tide turns... Therefore, Lieutenant Mensah. I want you to marry into a suitable family as an adopted daughter."
"...Eh? Pardon?"
From Efia's perspective, she couldn't find the logic in the President's story and tilted her head in question. The President said, "I apologize," cleared his throat, and began to explain.
"This is a story from nearly 30 years ago. The government at the time relied on that country called the land of Samurai—Japan—and sent children of royalty there. Not because they expected anything from the children born of those unions, but to construct a diplomatic route that didn't rely on Britain or Germany."
"I have heard that story as well. It is passed down as a heartwarming tale in Paris."
"Indeed. And the year before last, that country was attacked by the Great Asian Alliance and the New Soviet Union, yet repelled them with two Strategic-Class Magics."
A girl with big dreams for her motherland's prosperity journeying to the country once called "Zipangu, the Land of Gold" in Marco Polo's travels—in reality, it wasn't such a sweet story, but when Efia touched upon it being a heartwarming tale, the President smiled before adopting a serious expression to speak of information regarding Japan.
This fact was information disclosed by the Japanese government: one magic was fired at the Great Asian Alliance's Chinhae Naval Port. The other annihilated the New Soviet Union's Vladivostok Naval Port. The world recognized that these were two completely different phenomena, meaning two distinct Strategic-Class Magics were used.
"Lieutenant Mensah. If I recall correctly, you met two Japanese men in your hometown, the Niger Delta region?"
"Yes. They saved me when I was being assaulted... In the end, I never even got to ask their names."
When Efia was being assaulted by soldiers picking a fight over some clumsy mistake, she was saved by two Asian individuals—a boy and a magnificent middle-aged man. The man said, "I'm going to do a little cleaning. The sin of ruining my meal is heavy," and went outside, while the boy treated the injured Efia.
Her wounds vanished in the blink of an eye, causing Efia to feel a sensation that made her cheeks burn toward the boy. However, they left without even giving their names.
A few days later, she received a considerable amount of money from the man and the boy as "consolation for the trouble." With an invitation from a high-ranking French government official accompanying the man and her parents' encouragement, Efia studied abroad in France, had her magical aptitude discovered, and became a soldier. Her parents followed her to France, bought a house with the money Efia received, and were now working energetically in a town in southern France.
"Regarding that duo: one was Gouzo Kamiizumi—a hero who walked through the World War and the only living witness who knows the details of that Yotsuba revenge tragedy. And the other boy is named Yugen Kagurazaka."
"Yugen... that he is... Does that mean the person I am to marry is..."
"Yes, he is the one you said you met. The other side has also received the proposal favorably, stating 'There is no particular reason to refuse.'"
To Efia, he was her lifesaver, and the first person for whom she had ever harbored "romantic feelings." Realizing she was blushing and looking down, the President chuckled, but then switched to a serious expression to continue his explanation.
"Honestly, I struggled with this decision. Although France miraculously gained territory in Africa, this has placed us in opposition to the Great Asian Alliance, which is desperate to recover from its massive defeat there. Since that country [Japan] is currently in a state of peace with the Great Asian Alliance, sending you there now could be suspected as an intent to break the peace between those two nations."
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