“Allow me to introduce myself—I’m Charlotte Estania, hailing from the wilds of Nobogorod.”
The Empire Academy was left reeling that day, for a multitude of reasons.
You see, to them, Nobogorod was the land of barbaric demons. They were imagined as brash in speech and appearance, practically indistinguishable from monsters. And let’s not forget the added bonus of the Academy being located in the South, about as far as you can get from Nobogorod on the map.
But lo and behold, the demon named Charlotte who appeared before them was nothing like their preconceptions. Her tone wasn’t aggressive, her actions were anything but reckless—they were downright careful. And as for her appearance? She looked almost exactly like a human—beautiful, even!
But the shock wasn’t over for the Academy just yet.
“Actually, there’s something I’m curious about. Could you help me understand?”
“Ah, this part here is rather confusing. From what I know…”
“Hmm? Ahaha! Nobogorod isn’t as primitive as you might think. This here is…”
It turned out Charlotte possessed a scholarly knowledge that was well beyond impressive. So advanced, in fact, that she breezed past the Academy students like they were standing still. She could even manage in-depth conversations with the professors! Needless to say, many people were absolutely gobsmacked.
When you think of demons, the first image that pops into your head is one of battle-crazed warriors. Men, women, children—none of that matters; they all charge forward with bl**d-curdling roars. But reality tells a different story. Nobogorod boasts the highest ratio of troops per capita on the continent. Even the mighty empire, with a population near fifty million, struggles to maintain an army of just 400,000 soldiers. And discussions about reducing the number of Legions are already on the table.
Contrast that to Nobogorod, with its population of only eight million, yet an army numbering nearly 90,000 soldiers. No other nation dedicated more than one percent of their population to military service. And with that reputation, it was no wonder that when people thought of Nobogorod, they thought of nothing but war.
Which is why Charlotte, the scholar-demon with a keen mind for academia, was shattering everyone’s stereotypes.
[CHARLOTTE ESTANIA. ADAPTING EXTREMELY WELL TO THE ACADEMY]
Thanks to her adaptability, the imperial observers monitoring her finally exhaled in relief. If Charlotte had struggled to integrate or exhibited strange behavior, it could have jeopardized the already fragile perception of Nobogorod.
Just when it seemed things were going smoothly for both Charlotte and the empire…
“Hey, Charlotte. You’ve heard the news?”
A somewhat friendly classmate approached cautiously.
“There’s a war brewing!”
“A w-what?”
“War has broken out at the southern border! The Kingdom of Benito has declared war on the Holy Kingdom!”
This revelation hit Charlotte with alarm. From what she knew, many of the continent’s nations, including the empire, worshiped the god Lunen. The Holy Kingdom was supposed to be the epicenter of Lunen’s very first miracle, thus its importance was undeniable. Surely a place of such spiritual prominence couldn’t just be attacked.
“Wait… is that even possible? Though the Holy Kingdom isn’t the most powerful, it houses the central church of the Lunen faith. Technically, every follower of Lunen could be considered a part of the kingdom.”
“So far, that’s true. But the kingdoms bordering it in the South seem to have other ideas.”
“What do you mean, ‘other ideas’? How?”
“I’m not entirely sure, but what I do know is that even after the Holy Kingdom excommunicated Benito’s king, the neighboring kingdoms stayed silent. Not only didn’t they retaliate, but some are even rumored to be quietly helping Benito.”
At this revelation, Charlotte’s eyes sparkled with sudden recognition. To those who assumed she was just the daughter of a council chairman, a sheltered flower who knew nothing of the world, the scene unfolded like any other. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. If her father, Kalande the chairman, ever heard this description, he’d likely burst into uncontrollable laughter. Charlotte was no mere flower; she was steeped in the cutthroat world of politics. Quietly crafting her own network of spies within the council, even her father was none the wiser. She was far sharper in political acumen than most seasoned councilors gave her credit for.
Charlotte caught a whiff of something familiar, a scent laced with political intrigue. This wasn’t just a simple war—it was a web of dirty politics unraveling before her eyes.
“So, what now?”
“What do you mean?”
“It seems the situation beyond the border might be worse than we thought. Rumors say the Legions are being redistributed, and there’s even talk of the academy going on hiatus.”
“Hiatus?! Why all of a sudden? The war isn’t even on our borders!”
Charlotte was baffled, and when she questioned the classmate further, the girl admitted she was merely passing along what she had heard.
‘No… this doesn’t make sense…’
Charlotte pinched her temples and sighed audibly. Having worked so hard to become the first exchange student from Nobogorod, enduring the humid Southern weather and navigating the prejudices against demons, her academy life was just getting underway. This couldn’t be happening!
Desperate for answers, she sought out the professors, but not without tact. She couldn’t just barge in without reason; that would seem rude and impolite. And she’d learned early on that revealing one’s inner thoughts too easily was a recipe for disaster, especially when you’re asking for favors or seeking information.
“Professor, I’ve brought the materials you requested.”
“Oh, thank you so much, Charlotte. I could’ve asked the teaching assistant, but you’re truly a help.”
“Not at all. I gained a lot from our last academic discussion.”
To make amends, the professor personally brewed her a cup of tea. Their conversation slowly veered toward the war.
“So, uh… Charlotte… do you have secure accommodations anywhere?”
“As an honored guest of the Empire, I’m sure something could be arranged, but why do you ask?”
“War has broken out at the southern border between Benito and the Holy Kingdom.”
“Ah, war? What a distressing turn of events.”
Her acting was impeccable. Anyone would’ve believed she was hearing the news for the first time. The unsuspecting professor only shook their head sadly.
“Seeing as the battlefield is so close, the academy must prepare for any possibility. Though neither Benito nor the Holy Kingdom is immediately close to us…”
The professor hesitated, swirling the teacup before continuing.
“Some believe this conflict may not stay confined between those two nations.”
“Even though both are somewhat distant from the Empire…”
“Well, in the past, southern kingdoms would’ve leaped at this excuse to interfere, given the perfect justification. But that hasn’t happened this time. Instead, some seem to be passively watching Benito’s side, while others may be quietly aiding them.”
“Watching and aiding implies…”
“That the Southern Kingdoms might be turning away from the Holy Kingdom.”
The long-maintained order of the South, the once unshakable authority of the Holy Kingdom, was now shifting—violently so. The Empire, sensing the instability, was preparing for the worst.
“Oh, but there’s no need to worry too much. This is all speculation after all. Unless things escalate, the academy won’t close.”
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?!
“WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?!”
The same question was echoed by the princess—every single syllable identical. Normally, Charlotte would have laughed at the irony, but now wasn’t the time for amusement.
[BENITO DECLARES WAR ON THE HOLY KINGDOM]
[THE HOLY KINGDOM BANSHES BENITO’S KING]
This isn’t just some random calamity! While the Western regions were concerning, no one could have imagined this upheaval in the South. The religious influence in the South was incredibly potent, where bishops and priests held power far above the average noble. Benito was expected to cooperate with the Holy Kingdom accordingly.
But nope! Benito just went all-in, disregarding both the excommunication and the surrounding nations’ worship of Lunen. Their actions were like those of a reckless adrenaline junky.
‘But they did have a plan. They weren’t just acting out!’
[SOUTHERN KINGDOMS RESPOND DIFFERENTLY]
[BENITO CRITICIZED. PEACE RECOMMENDED. OFFERS TO MEDIATE]
At first glance, it seems everyone is siding with the Holy Kingdom. But that’s misleading. If they truly were, they would’ve already mobilized their armies upon hearing of the excommunication. Instead, they’re using words—criticizing Benito and urging peace, but not actually lifting a finger.
All these actions suggest only one possibility:
“Kael, do you think the Southern Kingdoms have really turned their backs on the Holy Kingdom and are supporting Benito?”
After some consideration, I cautiously nodded. It’s the only explanation for the current state of affairs.
“Further investigation into the Southern situation would clarify things but… based on my predictions, yes.”
“If you say so, Kael.”
The princess declared with uncharacteristic trust, leaving me momentarily speechless.
“Still, I’d like to know the reasons. Could you explain?”
“Certainly. From what I see, it likely stems from the accumulated resentment against the Holy Kingdom over time.”
Back in history, the continent operated under the strict, dominating order of the Holy Kingdom, where religion ruled supreme. It was like the “opium of the people.” Even the slightest irreverence towards the gods brought harsh criticism, regardless of one’s status.
But nothing lasts forever, and the church’s influence began to wane. People still followed Lunen, but the church’s interference in societal matters diminished.
This was the case for the Empire, the eastern kingdoms, the western kingdoms—but the South remained different. The Holy Kingdom’s power over the South endured, and with it, the elevated status of their religious leaders. In every kingdom’s political affairs, their voice carried significant weight. For the rulers of the South, this was an undeniable nuisance. So, when Benito rose up, they outwardly sided with the Holy Kingdom while quietly hoping Benito crushed its authority.
“…Truly, wherever we go, self-interest always rules.”
The princess seemed utterly frustrated, but I merely shrugged.
And so, our journey brought us at last to the southern reaches of the empire.
