Chapter 692

【 THE EMPIRE’S REACTION 】

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Western Territory, Morningstar City.

Inside the grand hall of the temporary City Lord’s residence.

“What did you say?! The whole territory of Maple Leaf has already been reclaimed by the elves?”

Duke Berencia stared at the administrative officer delivering the report, his expression filled with shock.

“Y-Yes… yes, Milord,” the officer replied cautiously.

Duke Berencia drew a quiet breath, unable to conceal the astonishment and confusion in his eyes.

“One month… no, it has not even been a month, has it? How could they possibly have done this?”

“Milord, it is said that the elves used a floating fortress to assault several heavily fortified cities, striking them down through relentless bombardment from the air,” the officer said, swallowing before continuing. “Moreover… moreover, the Evil Titan God is rumored to have fallen at the hands of the Goddess of Life herself.”

“The Goddess of Life intervened and eliminated that Evil God?”

Duke Berencia froze slightly, his fingers loosened, then curled again, as if he were trying to steady his thoughts.

“That is correct. According to intelligence reports, all the statues of the God of Dusk and Twilight worshipped by the Red Maple cultists cracked and shattered on their own, almost simultaneously,” the officer answered respectfully.

The duke opened his mouth, then closed it again, clearly unprepared to accept such news.

After a moment of silence, he finally muttered with difficulty:

“Wasn’t that Titan supposed to be an evil god so powerful that even the gods feared it? So how… how could it have been defeated so easily?”

The officer shifted uncomfortably, his face betraying that he had no clear answer either. To be honest, the events unfolding were far beyond the scope of anyone in his position.

Duke Berencia, for his part, had not truly expected an answer. He was merely trying, with great effort, to steady the storm raging in his own mind. His hand reached for the crystal goblet before him, only to find it empty.

Just as the Duke lifted his head, he noticed the officer still standing there, hesitating, as if weighing whether to speak or not.

The duke’s heart skipped a beat, a sudden foreboding creeping along his spine.

“…There is more bad news, is there?”

The officer swallowed audibly. However, due to his excessive weight, the movement was barely noticeable beneath his thick, fat-laden neck.

“M-Milord… y-you see… Maple Leaf… the entire territory of Maple Leaf has announced its secession from the Empire and declared independence,” he stammered.

Duke Berencia: “…”

With a faint cracking sound, the expensive crystal goblet in the Duke’s hand shattered into fragments. Count Mis, who was silently nearby, visibly winced as he eyed the scattered pieces on the floor.

“…Say that again? What exactly happened to Maple Leaf Territory?”

Duke Berencia narrowed his eyes, his gaze dark and livid as it fixed on the reporting officer.

The temperature in the entire hall seemed to drop several degrees under the weight of his gloom.

The plump officer wiped the sweat from his forehead and replied with a stutter:

“M-Milord, Sofia, the heir of the Wells House, has declared Maple Leaf Territory independent. Furthermore, she has also abolished all noble titles and the hereditary aristocratic system within the territory, renaming it as the Free State of Maple Moon.”

As he spoke, the officer took a crumpled booklet from his robes.

“T-This is their propaganda pamphlet…”

Duke Berencia snatched it away and began reading with narrowed eyes. As he continued, his expression grew darker and darker.

When he finished reading the entire paper, he forcefully flung it to the ground.

“What Free State of Maple Moon?! And to actually dare abolish the nobility?! Is that damned girl trying to make an enemy of the entire Empire? To think that a single provincial territory has the gall to declare independence and upend centuries of established tradition… such audacity! It is outrageous!”

He was so furious that the edge of his anger bordered on a manic laugh.

In truth, the Holy Maniya Empire did have independent vassal states, but these were limited to single cities, often referred to as city-states.

These cities were not directly governed by the imperial central authority nor by local nobles and enjoyed a relatively high degree of autonomy. Nevertheless, these vassal would never dare to speak openly of abolishing the noble system.

“M-Milord… there is more,” the officer said carefully. “Maple Moon have already announced their alliance with the Elves, and have recognized the Church of Life as their official religion.”

“The Elves?”

Duke Berencia paused briefly, then erupted in fury.

“Those damned long-eared wretches dare to extend their hands into imperial territory?! Do they intend to provoke another holy war?!” His voice thundered through the hall, causing the magical lamps to flicker dimly.

Being a legendary-rank expert, the Duke’s presence alone exuded immense power. Hence, the moment he released even a fraction of his aura, everyone in the hall felt an overwhelming pressure they could not resist.

Only after noticing the pale faces and trembling bodies of those around him did Duke Berencia forcibly suppress his rage and withdraw his aura.

Even so, his expression grew increasingly grim as he looked at the pamphlet crumpled on the floor.

He had never imagined that Borderlord Otto, who had routed the Empire’s 3rd Imperial Corps so thoroughly, would be taken out so quickly, just like that.

Even accounting for the intervention of the Goddess of Life, thereby preventing the Evil God from saving Otto, this speed was far too ridiculous.

To think that the Elves, whom only just a couple of years ago had barely managed to survive after the fall of the World Tree, would now act boldly enough to seize a territory from the Empire and even dare to abolish the noble system!

If this matter somehow reached the Capital, especially the Imperial Court, he knew all too well how many treacherous schemers would seize the opportunity to attack him.

After all, the one responsible for handling the matters regarding Maple Leaf Territory now rested within his household, the House of Berencia.

When Duke Berencia thought about the consequences once news from Maple Leaf Territory fully spread, he felt a throbbing ache in his temples.

Seeing the duke rubbing his temples, Count Mis hesitated briefly before speaking.

“Milord, I think Maple Leaf being in control of the Elves is still preferable outcome… being controlled by that evil god. Nonetheless, I believe we must proceed carefully and handle this issue with utmost caution…”

“A-Actually, I forgot to mention it, but Count Mis, the areas surrounding Augsburg City have also been incorporated into the Free State of Maple Moon,” the reporting officer interjected.

Count Mis: “…”

In an instant, the count’s expression changed abruptly, and he quickly revised his stance in a panic.

“M-Milord! We cannot allow those lost lands to fall into elven hands! The Elves are probably thinking of making that so-called Maple Moon State into their puppet vassal. Remember, Maple Leaf City was once been the elven royal capital, so clearly this is their way of retaliating against us!”

“Milord, we must dispatch troops immediately and reclaim those territories before the situation in Maple Leaf fully stabilizes!”

Count Mis spoke with urgency, leaving Duke Berencia momentarily speechless.

After a minute, the duke let out a long, measured sigh.

“Count, do you truly believe we can defeat the elven army that so easily annihilated the Red Maple forces?”

At that, Count Mis was left momentarily speechless.

“B-But… is this not an act of war? The elves openly backing those rebels from Maple Leaf, as you yourself said! Isn’t this an attempt to provoke a holy war against the Empire?” Count Mis insisted, his tone trembling slightly under the pressure of losing his own dominion.

The Western Territory was not particularly wealthy to begin with, and the lands surrounding Augsburg City were fertile and strategically defensible. Therefore, losing them would be like cutting flesh from his own body.

Duke Berencia did not respond directly, but the slight tightening of his fist revealed that his mood was equally grim.

After a moment of silence, he spoke through clenched teeth.

“I’ll report this matter to the Imperial Court and let them make a decision.”

“Milord!”

“Enough,” Duke Berencia interrupted. “This is no longer merely an issue we can handle ourselves as it concerns the Church of Life and the Eternal Church, as well as the elves and Holy Maniya Empire. If there is to be a resolution to all of this, then it can only come through pressure from both the Imperial Court and the Eternal Church, since only they have the authority to force the elves to withdraw back to the Elven Forest and ensure they no longer interfere.”

With that, Duke Berencia cut off Count Mis’s attempts to persuade him further.

Turning his gaze southward, Duke Berencia let out a cold laugh.

“Hmph. Abolish the nobility? Equality for all people to live in harmony? Such ludicrous thinking!” He sneered softly, the corners of his lips curling with scorn. “Without the strength of us nobles, without the vast knowledge we possess, and the help of our loyal retainers, can ignorant commoners truly govern by themselves?”

He shook his head slowly.

“Utterly ridiculous.”

༺⟐༻

The players were largely unaware of the upheaval caused by the radical reformation currently sweeping across Maple Moon, and of the profound effects it was beginning to have on the northern and western territories it bordered. They knew even less about the immense ramifications the news would carry once it spread throughout the Holy Maniya Empire and the southern Kingdom of Aries.

Only a handful of players, those who frequently traded with human merchant guilds, had caught wind of such rumors suggesting that the reforms introduced by Sophia had sent shockwaves through human society.

Even so, the vast majority of players paid little attention to it.

By this point, the players had long been conditioned to experience the world of Seigües as a true, alternate reality. Yet in practice, unless a quest or event directly affected their lives, most remained indifferent to care.

Thus, no matter how much turmoil the Free State of Maple Moon caused in the human society, as long as the human faction did not openly dispatch their armies, few players felt any need to pay special attention or worry.

Instead, it was the newly established diplomatic council of Maple Moon that drew notice, as they worked tirelessly to strengthen their defenses, particularly in the north, which bordered the Empire.

At this stage, however, most of the soldiers they were able to muster were still predominantly human.

With the completion of the recent questline, many players had already withdrawn from Maple Moon. Some returned to the Elven Forest to grind levels in dungeons, while others turned their attention to exploring the underground regions.

Yes, the underground.

When the Maple Leaf Territory map was unlocked, the corresponding underground regions beneath it were naturally made available to players as well. Battling underground monsters and engaging in ruthless conflicts within the chaotic lands controlled by the Dark City-States had become one of the players’ favorite pastimes.

This did not mean that Maple Moon lacked players. In fact, a considerable number still remained across the territory, since the reconstruction of the ruined facilities and buildings across the State of Maple Moon still relied heavily on the elves support.

After all spreading the Goddess’s faith, suppressing bandits, repairing city walls, restoring production lines, and establishing schools all involved player participation.

Of course, all these efforts were naturally being compensated.

Moreover, although Sophia’s reforms had abolished the nobility system and established a completely new governing framework, this new government was still in its infancy, fragile and untested.

Thus, to operate the entire state effectively, it would require continuous experimentation, careful management, and constant improvement. Every policy, every decree, needed to be adapted to the realities of this world, rather than simply replicate what’s been done on Earth.

Besides, rigidly copying the systems of governance from Earth into Seigües was largely unrealistic as local conditions, cultural nuances, and the unique challenges of this magical world had to be carefully considered to ensure stability.

If such matters were left solely in the hands of untrained, illiterate commoners, chaos would inevitably follow, eroding the very foundations of the reforms and plunging the fledgling state into disorder.

Fortunately, on one hand, there were players who were interested in this kind of game, which focused on empire building and political strategy. Thus, they were able to offer guidance and assist with planning. On the other hand, there were also individuals among the Maple Moon officials who were experts in these matters, thereby allowing the two groups to brainstorm effectively and incorporate a practical approach to how the new diplomatic council would function and operate.

This was the greatest difference between the world of Seigües and the medieval era on Earth.

Back in the medieval era, nobles had largely monopolized knowledge and simply relied on their loyal retainers to directly govern the land, leaving the common people largely ignorant.

As long as the commoners remained uneducated, noble rule remained unshakable.

In contrast, in the world of Seigües, the spread of knowledge was far more extensive. The true core advantage of the nobility lay in the extraordinary powers in each noble household, passed down from generation to generation, along with the secrets of how to properly employ and nurture such powers.

Yet all of these were, at their core, merely tools for maintaining rule through force, mechanisms designed to assert control rather than foster true growth or prosperity.

At least in the world of Seigües, extraordinary power had not yet become a means of developing productive capacity or advancing society in a sustainable way. Its use was still largely tied to authority, protection, and dominance.

In this world, the nobles had once functioned more as a protective canopy, sheltering ordinary people who were weaker and unable to defend themselves, providing stability even if it came with strict hierarchy and obligations.

However, as time passed, whether this protection truly outweighed the oppression it imposed—or whether it was the other way around—was something no one could say with certainty.

At present, however, even without the concentrated power of the nobility, other forces remained. There was the Church of Life, a stabilizing spiritual authority; the players, who could intervene with their extraordinary skill and strategy; and, in the future, extraordinary experts cultivated by Maple Moon itself, capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities and maintaining order in ways the old system had never allowed.

From this perspective, even without the nobles, the entire state could still function normally, so long as it possessed sufficiently strong backing.

As for whether new extraordinary experts might, over time, gradually form a new class, or perhaps become a different kind of nobility in another sense, that was a matter for the future…

Such concerns were no longer something Evé needed to worry about.

At its core, abolishing the nobility was merely a means to an end for her, especially given how deeply human nobles in the world of Seigües were intertwined with the Eternal Church or the churches of other human gods.

Over more than a thousand years of development, although friction between the nobility and the churches had never ceased, the two had ultimately existed in mutual dependence.

Without dealing with them, it would be difficult for Evé to pry loose the faith of human society as a whole.

The “Equality for all?” dogma her new Godwarden Sophia keep preaching about?

Well, frankly speaking, it was little more than a slogan.

—At least, that was how Evé viewed it.

Nonetheless, having such slogan and an aspiration was still better than having none at all.

It was like Kuafu chasing the sun. ¹

One might never truly catch up to it, yet through constant effort, when one finally looked back, one would realize how far one had already traveled, certainly much farther than if one had never tried at all.

And if, one day, the dragon slayer were to become an evil dragon himself…

Well, to put it bluntly, if that evil dragon proved beneficial to Evé, she would not mind turning a blind eye.

In the end, her ultimate goal was to strengthen herself, not to bring sweeping reform to this world.

She knew for herself that she was no savior.

Even though some believers of the Church of Life in the human lands had begun to proclaim her as one, she understood the weight of the title and the impossibility of living up to such expectations.

As for the matter of the Free State of Maple Moon, the Imperial Court of Holy Maniya Empire debated about it for three days and three nights.

But as usual, in the end, no conclusion was ever reached.

Interestingly, the nobles reacted far more intensely this time than during the rebellion of Otto, while the Eternal Church remained relatively calm.

This was understandable, since the reforms Sophia introduced had struck directly at the very foundations of the nobility.

Nevertheless, no matter how fierce the arguments or how heated the rebuttals became, no one in the Empire believed that this was the right moment to confront the elves and the so-called Free State of Maple Moon head on.

The way Red Maple Kingdom was destroyed had truly frightened the nobles.

From the Eternal church’s perspective, however, it was merely a single diocese, containing only a population of five million at most.

So if a holy war with the elves were to break out at this moment, with flames of conflict spreading and various evil forces across the land ready to stir, the consequences would no longer be limited to a mere five million people.

Only the upper echelon of the Eternal church knew that its most critical concern at present was the upcoming Holy Crusade against the Demons which was scheduled half a year later.

In the end, the imperial court and the Eternal Church merely dispatched representatives to Maple Moon State to issue formal condemnations.

Even the imperial punitive army canceled its mobilization, recalled Marshal Duke Berencia, and stationed only the Second Imperial Corps in the Western Territory.

Evé knew, however, that this did not mean they truly feared the players or Maple Moon.

Rather, they were simply waiting for the complete unsealing of the realm of Seigües three years later.

Ultimately, the conflicts among the various factions stemmed from struggles among their respective patron deities themselves.

This was the game of gods, and the tragedy of mortals.

¹ Kuafu Chasing the Sun” – (夸父追日) is a famous ancient Chinese myth about a giant, Kuafu, who tries to catch the sun to bring light and warmth to his people but dies of thirst, symbolizing immense ambition, perseverance against impossible odds, and the human desire to conquer nature, with his staff transforming into a peach forest.

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