The manga is being scanlated (currently up to chapter 46)
As far as harem hijinks go, it is very moderate so far. The girls are certainly eye-candy, but only one of them is definitely going after the protagonist.
Politically, I have to give the author props for trying to make it the motor for the plot.
Of course the JSDF are cast as the good guys, only taking control of the territory immediately surrounding the Gate, no atrocities against civilians, protecting the peasants that have been dispossessed by the Empire's scorched-earth retreat, etc. And the japanese politicians are mostly moderate in their intentions towards the other side, even when they are aknowledged to be corrupt, intending to impose a peace on the other side that gives them trade and mineral extraction concessions.On this side too we have USA and Russia who want to get in on this new world exploitation bonanza, by hook or crook, and also China that is toying with invading Japan to take over the gate and colonize the other side with some billions of chinese citizens (pulling a Tibet in short) solving their resources an pollution problems.More interesting are the politics of the other side, where the roman-modelled Empire has conquered most smaller kingdoms and even exterminated some demihuman races, and is not well liked by many subjects. There are no open rebellions nor heroic rebels, but there are many factions that work to benefit their own kingdoms or peoples, even by trying to get the JSDF to start an invasion in order to topple the Empire. Also, the emperor is getting on age if still strong, and which of his many children will succeed him is up in the air, thus many conspiracies between them to undermine each other.
Frankly my main peeve with the story are the issues that are NOT mentioned: if the Empire can open gates from their world to ours, can they open MORE gates? To many different worlds? For instance from Earth to other worlds hopefully uninhabithed? THAT should be the more important resource that should come from the other side. Why would anyone be satisfied with only one more world to colonize? Neither does anyone consider whether the Empire could somehow close the gate they opened, which would make sense for their security.Furthermore, on the other side magic exists and works, GODS exist and have agency, and it also works on this side. But nobody is interested in learning and analyzing it.Also it turns out that the other side never had earthquakes, but after opening the gate it was contamined by Japan's seismic activity. And nobody seems to think that this may have bigger implications...
As far as harem hijinks go, it is very moderate so far. The girls are certainly eye-candy, but only one of them is definitely going after the protagonist.
Politically, I have to give the author props for trying to make it the motor for the plot.
Of course the JSDF are cast as the good guys, only taking control of the territory immediately surrounding the Gate, no atrocities against civilians, protecting the peasants that have been dispossessed by the Empire's scorched-earth retreat, etc. And the japanese politicians are mostly moderate in their intentions towards the other side, even when they are aknowledged to be corrupt, intending to impose a peace on the other side that gives them trade and mineral extraction concessions.On this side too we have USA and Russia who want to get in on this new world exploitation bonanza, by hook or crook, and also China that is toying with invading Japan to take over the gate and colonize the other side with some billions of chinese citizens (pulling a Tibet in short) solving their resources an pollution problems.More interesting are the politics of the other side, where the roman-modelled Empire has conquered most smaller kingdoms and even exterminated some demihuman races, and is not well liked by many subjects. There are no open rebellions nor heroic rebels, but there are many factions that work to benefit their own kingdoms or peoples, even by trying to get the JSDF to start an invasion in order to topple the Empire. Also, the emperor is getting on age if still strong, and which of his many children will succeed him is up in the air, thus many conspiracies between them to undermine each other.
Frankly my main peeve with the story are the issues that are NOT mentioned: if the Empire can open gates from their world to ours, can they open MORE gates? To many different worlds? For instance from Earth to other worlds hopefully uninhabithed? THAT should be the more important resource that should come from the other side. Why would anyone be satisfied with only one more world to colonize? Neither does anyone consider whether the Empire could somehow close the gate they opened, which would make sense for their security.Furthermore, on the other side magic exists and works, GODS exist and have agency, and it also works on this side. But nobody is interested in learning and analyzing it.Also it turns out that the other side never had earthquakes, but after opening the gate it was contamined by Japan's seismic activity. And nobody seems to think that this may have bigger implications...