65. Politics, Economy, Education

“What’s the political setup like in this world?” Shiro asked.

“Ah, well…” Sophia began, unfolding a map.

The town they were currently in—Sotohaim—lay at the northernmost edge of the Hainzworth Kingdom.

Directly north stretched the Great Tree Sea of Demons. To the east, the elven kingdom of Amatias. Southeast lay the Mage Academy Kingdom of Oxtonia. Far to the south, the commercial city-state federation of Feliorin.

Just southeast of Oxtonia stood the beastfolk kingdom of Bystyle.

A small nation nestled between Hainzworth, Oxtonia, and Feliorin—the Firumia Holy Kingdom. The headquarters of the Temple. Also the site of the third “Seal of the Abyss.”

West of Hainzworth, between the Great Tree Sea and the kingdom’s western edge, sat the dwarven realm of Metelioor.

North of the Great Tree Sea stood the dragonfolk kingdom of Dragonia.

At the western edge of the Great Tree Sea, a small territory belonged to the Demon Kingdom.

“These nations together make up what’s known as the ‘Sentria Region’ of this continent. That’s the rough geography,” Sophia said, then continued.

“Politically, basically all nations are monarchies. Each has a king, nobles swear fealty, and each manages their own territory. Each country has its own unique strengths, and they coexist through cooperation.”

She explained.

“Overall, governance tends to be peaceful. Of course, there are places where things go sideways—but the Temple and various Guilds keep watch, so nothing too wild can happen. Plus, nobles themselves have inherited the values of peaceful coexistence and diversity from the Age of Creation, so they’re likely aiming for that in their rule,” Sophia said with a smile.

"Ah, well, the only difference is the Filmiar Holy Kingdom. Their doctrine holds that they act in accordance with the mission of the Goddess Firumia. The temple network is everywhere—functioning as society’s safety net. They take in healers, orphanages, those unable to work, anyone at all. All free of charge."

Shiro heard this and blinked in surprise.

"Can they really sustain that kind of generosity? I mean, financially…?"

"Haha, well, most people would think that way. But the temples are funded by donations from all walks of life—so, yes, enough money does come in."

"I see. So no one questions how it’s used?"

"Ah, no. Given the temples’ history, everyone knows they won’t deviate from the Goddess Firumia’s teachings. After all, ninety-nine percent of this world believes in her."

Shiro paused, wondering whether this was now beyond the realm of interference or not. But since he couldn’t reach any clear conclusion, he dropped it.

"Then what about criminals?" he asked, suddenly.

"Rarely. If you’re in trouble, you go to a temple—someone’ll help. You could live off it for life without lifting a finger. Though, to be honest, there aren’t many who’d actually do that. Still, the point is, there’s no real motive to commit crimes. Of course, people are greedy—different reasons, different situations, so it’s not like it never happens. Power struggles, for instance," Sophia said.

"Still, it's a monarchy. The succession system's surprisingly solid, and the education framework's well-developed. With the adulthood ritual skill system and the career ladder, most people find satisfaction at their individual level. So, on a system level, discontent rarely arises. That's part of why it's stable," Sophia added.

Then Shestia chimed in.

"By the way, the Hainzworth Kingdom acts as a breakwater against the Demon Sea of Trees. So it's home to all sorts of races, has a high number of adventurers, and is culturally advanced. You should visit the capital once. Come with me. I’ve got friends there."

Shestia spoke with a rare, thoughtful smile, as if recalling something pleasant.

"Right. That sounds good. No matter what, I’ll need to travel the world to solve problems. So the capital of this kingdom is a solid starting point," Shiro replied.

"Oxtonia, the Magic Academy Kingdom, is worth considering too. If you want to study magic or the Demon Kingdom, head to the capital, Cambria. There's the Great Library," Aria suggested.

"If you're training martial arts, go to the Beastfolk Kingdom. As for weapons and armor, the Dwarven Kingdom's your best bet," Albert said.

"Shiro, Firumia's Sacred Kingdom, the Holy City of Farail, is important too. It's a temple's holy ground," Shestia said. Then, with a hint of longing:

"If you're after good food, go to the Commercial Union City-State of Feliorins. Shiro, you really must go there!" Shestia said, eyes gleaming.

"...Yeah. That’s a vital place. Not just the holy site, but the food’s good too. Definitely want to check it out," Shiro replied, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

"Speaking of education systems, what exactly is the setup?" Shiro asked, still curious.

"Ah, up to ten years old, basic education is available at local schools across the region. After eleven, anyone who wants can study at the Magic Academy City. Oh, and all schools are free—academy too."

"Wait—free? All of them?"

"Yep. The Academy City is, in essence, a nation of its own. That country runs on funding by nurturing talent and leasing out results to other nations. So students get free education. Once they produce results, they pay a corresponding tax—though that's negotiable depending on what kind of results they deliver," Sophia said.

"Admission exams at eleven?" Shiro asked.

"Nope. Anyone over eleven can enroll anytime. Of course, classes are scheduled by period and timetable, so there are set start and end points. You can take any course at any age—total freedom," Sophia explained.

"...Kinda feels really open-ended, huh?" Shiro muttered.

"Haha. Yeah, pretty much. This world's got all sorts of races. Not just appearances—mindsets, lifestyles, growth rates, even lifespans differ. The system has to be flexible and free to accommodate that kind of diversity. And population’s low. We’ve gotta cooperate or we’ll vanish in no time. After all, there’s a common enemy—beast spirits—out there," Sophia concluded.

Shiro realized he’d designed the world’s underlying system with deep thought, but hadn’t considered the cultures of the beings living within it.

The world only existed because life was present. He felt a quiet regret—his own rigid system had been built in isolation, shaped only by his own will.

『Shiro, don’t dwell on it. It’s precisely because your system was designed this way that such a culture could arise and grow. You should be proud.』 Mitoka encouraged him.

――――――――――

(Author's note: You can view the actual map here: https://note.mu/progvanc/n/n1399ba7d7a97)

If you found it interesting, please consider rating, bookmarking, or leaving a comment—it really helps!