[3 Years Later]
The Eastern Kingdom was the largest human nation in the world.
It occupied the entire Eastern Continent—and even though this was the smallest patch of land, as compared to the other continents, it solely belonged to the human race.
After the great battle against the Demons, the entire Northern Continent was lost to them—now covered in thick, uninhabitable Miasma.
As for the other continents; the Western Continent was home to the Elves and Fairies, while the Southern Continent housed the Therianthropes and Dwarves.
The races lived in peace—hardly relating with the other, except for the neighbors that existed on the same patch of land.
There was peaceful coexistence among the previously united races, but after years went by since the great war, they had grown distant.
Humans hardly had any relation with the members of other races, and likewise was also the case.
They shared certain resources, though, but that was the extent of their interaction with each other. Each nation simply focused on its denizens—just as in the past, when there was no threat to unite them.
With the Eastern Kingdom being the largest human settlement, others inhabited islands here and there, but their territory was linked very closely with the Eastern Continent.
There were several small nations, but they all bowed to the majesty of the most powerful settlement for and by humans.
The Eastern Kingdom had a total of 49 Regions—spread all across the continent were Nobles who managed each one.
Of the forty-nine, four were especially more renowned than the others, and so they were named Duchies. The ones who owned these estates were Dukes—the highest in the Aristocratic order, second only to the King.
The regions usually traded with one another, interacting as noble estates should. Power was largely decentralized, but… not completely.
Ultimately, at the helm of power, there existed three major forces.
The Merchant City—located in one of the Duchies of the Kingdom.
The Academic City—Ainzlark Academy.
The Royal Capital—the central authority of the Eastern Kingdom.
No one could oppose the first because of the wealth and economic power it employed.
However, for the remaining two… there was a simpler reason.
—MAGIC.
The Royal Family had the most powerful forces in their charge, and Ainzlark Academy basically bred new Mages by utilizing phenomenal technologies and having renown mages teach there.
This was the system of the world—the only way the people of the east knew how to live.
********
Ivan Smith yawned as he walked on his usual patrol at the borders of his assigned Region.
His red hair fluttered with the wind, but his nonchalant gait made it clear that he didn't care for the wind—nor his duties. He simply sought something more stimulating.
This Region was situated at the western borders, a place that pointed toward the Elf Nation on the map.
While it was every man's dream to gaze upon those beauties, they were separated by an unforgiving mass of water that made it virtually impossible to cross over.
Of course, there were means to defeat the forces of nature, but since the Kingdom had no interaction with the Elven race, nothing could be done.
This wasn't the cause of Ivan's disappointment, though.
"Shit… I shouldn't be here…"
As he walked along the coast of the Region, he watched the large body of water from his elevated platform.
The ocean was so vast—but peaceful.
That was the problem!
It had been three years since the first 'Demonic Disturbance' as it had now been dubbed, and ever since then, the Kingdom began taking active stances to defend the nation from another attack from the enemy.
Ivan was merely a First Year back then—no, that was an excuse. The truth was that he simply wasn't an impressive student back then.
He was weak, unable to contribute nearly as much as the others around him.
As a result, after the entire commotion had been resolved, he purposed within himself to become stronger.
After a couple more years in the Academy, he graduated as one of the most elite students in his year.
After graduating from Ainzlark, a mandatory one-year internship was imposed on the students. This way, they would learn more about their career in a practical environment.
As a result, the students who were once in a restricted learning environment were assigned to various parts of the 49 Regions.
An exceptional few were even fortunate enough to serve in the Capital—the territory of Royals.
Ivan didn't envy them, though. That had never been his goal.
Ever since he tasted weakness, the young man didn't ever want to experience something like that ever again. He sought ways to better himself.
Which was why, when he was posted to a Region at the border of the Kingdom, he was overjoyed.
There was nowhere more dangerous than the border!
With the unrest occurring within the Kingdom as well as the smell of war wafting in the air, Ivan wanted to be at the forefront of the action.
Only by pushing himself past the limit would he be able to achieve even greater growth.
"But, who would have expected this? Shit!"
He had been posted to the Western Border—a remotely safe place—and never had to do anything except patrol and Magic training throughout the six months he had spent there.
Ivan's frustration took a toll on his personality, and his restlessness bred negative emotions within him.
If only he had been posted to the Northern Borders, then maybe…
'Sigh, let's get this over with…'
Ivan's eyes eyed the massive watchtower that firmly stood at a distance and smiled wryly.
It was something the Kingdom had implemented on all borders of the Kingdom in preparation for any sudden incursion.
It was such a shame that it lay wasted there. No Demon had crossed the border in the past three years.
The humans thought of making a preemptive attack on the Demons, but the Miasma in the Northern continent was too dense. There was no need to expend more resources than necessary.
That was why… all the Kingdom could do was prepare themselves for an assault and strengthen their forces.
However, so far, nothing of note had occurred, and that irked Ivan to no end.
But… even that was going to change very soon.
