Ch. 65 - History of Maple Leaf (Aoi's Prejudice)

Maple Leaf Holy Empire.

It was well-known that the emperor, the country's representative, was educated as one who carried the blood of the gods.

Long ago, in the place where the current imperial capital was, there was a religion called Maple Leaf Holy Church and a settlement centered around it. A certain merchant guild visited and settled there.

The saint, who carried the blood of the gods, had lived a quiet life, saving only those who sought help from him. However, the merchants mourned and regretted his passiveness deeply.

“Why don’t you try to spread the wonderful teachings of the Maple Leaf Holy Church more broadly? Why not save more people?”

In response to these words, the saint spread the teachings of the Maple Leaf Holy Church widely and declared the founding of a country to protect its believers.

This was said to be the history of the birth of the Maple Leaf Holy Empire.

Since its founding, Maple Leaf had poured efforts into researching healing magic. As a result, it attracted people from other countries and quickly rose to become a major power.

When it absorbed the surrounding small countries, the saint began to call himself the emperor.

Was it that the merchants who realized the power of religion had an exceptionally high sense of business? Or did the founder of the religion at that time possess such a charismatic influence?

Either way, the Maple Leaf Holy Empire, which grew into a major power in just the first emperor's reign, succeeded in making its presence known in one fell swoop.

At the time, great nobles who would form the core of the country were born, but the person who assumed the position of prime minister, the second highest position in the Holy Empire, was always someone from the lineage of the first merchants.

"Is it because merchants manage the internal affairs that Maple Leaf's class system is so deeply rooted?" I muttered.

Strass frowned and cautioned me with a reproachful look. "… Think about where you are when you speak. We're already inside the imperial castle."

The place we were now was a large room, about twenty tatami mats (33 square meters) in size. Beautiful patterns adorned the walls and ceiling, and furniture was arranged at equal intervals along the walls. The room had ten comfortable single-seater sofas, each with a small round table.

At the only entrance and exit, two knights in silver armor stood motionless, holding spears like staves. There were two windows, but they were barred like those of a prison and seemed impossible to open.

Though the interior was luxurious, the room felt a bit stifling. Strass, Eliza, and I were sitting together, with Cote and Shenley seated on the sofas opposite us.

Meanwhile, Ayle and her group were either looking out the windows at the scenery or wandering around the room.

Watching them from the corner of my eye, I shook my head at Strass's words. "Since it's a system established by the country, it's strange to get angry just because someone pointed it out. As a major power, they should have the confidence to explain their own system with pride."

"I-I get it. I get it. Just be quiet, please." Strass hastily covered my mouth with his hand.

As I observed his unusually flustered behavior, he noticed and pulled back. "Ah… Sorry."

Eliza was watching the flustered Strass with great interest.

Indeed, the two knights at the entrance were glaring sharply at us, and the atmosphere was not very pleasant.

Even so, for Strass to be this agitated, Maple Leaf had to be a very dangerous country.

By the way, the class system I mentioned was something like a rank assigned to citizens within the Maple Leaf Holy Empire.

Since all the original followers of the Maple Leaf Holy Church were human, non-humans tended to have lower ranks. However, those who converted to the Maple Leaf Holy Church would rise one rank, and those who became mages or took on national duties would rise another rank.

The highest-ranking citizens were humans with magical talents and involved in public duties of the Holy Empire, while the lowest-ranking citizens were non-humans without magical talents who followed different religions and worked as apprentices in general jobs.

The class system not only affected living conditions and the right to attend educational institutions but also influenced the severity of punishments when crimes were committed.

Although there was no slavery, the lowest-ranking citizens in the Maple Leaf Holy Empire were treated almost like slaves, being convenient citizens who could be used up with minimal labor costs.

What was terrifying was that the most devoted followers, who blindly obeyed, could also be conveniently manipulated by the Holy Empire, even if they were the highest-ranking citizens.

In a way, it could be said that they had achieved the most efficient country management, but I did not particularly like this method.

While I was recalling and critiquing the origins of the Maple Leaf Holy Empire in my head, the door to the room opened from the outside.

"Esteemed guests, you are now permitted to meet with His Majesty Emperor Diageo of the Maple Leaf Holy Empire. Please come this way."

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