Chapter 127

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on February 8, 2025

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest Telegram

The city kingdom of Faceulan.

It’s officially called the Faceulan Mage Realm, but most people simply refer to it as a city kingdom.

That’s because it’s one of the representative three great cities in the eastern continent.

A nation where the reputation of being a city outweighs that of being a mage realm might seem paradoxical.

But conversely, it indicates just how focused this city is on fulfilling its primary role.

This advanced urban management system makes it possible for the city-based national operations to function more efficiently compared to other countries in the east.

A hub of commercial activity and trade.

Based on this, various industries have developed.

Distinctive specialties include magical tools crafted with unique techniques and visions characteristic of the mage realm.

Such dense production centers naturally bolstered commercial development.

Moreover, the elite central army and public security forces are appropriately scaled. When reinforcements are needed, mercenaries can be mobilized instantly thanks to the nation’s immense influence and wealth.

The specialized magic corps requires astronomical maintenance costs that ordinary nations couldn’t afford, yet here they thrive.

And due to the limitations of being an urban nation, there’s a high concentration of merchants and trade guild branches.

This population density has driven up real estate prices within the city kingdom.

The High Mage distributes land to his vassals. Though they don’t receive feudal territories like traditional lords, they’re treated similarly to central nobility.

Considering magi require astronomical resources, providing these as part of the state system makes this place incredibly appealing to them.

As both a mage realm and city kingdom, it’s only natural that mages flock here.

Here, mages are said to rank above even nobles, enjoying blatant privileges not seen in other nations.

Thus, mediating between mages and nobles becomes the king’s responsibility, maintaining a delicate balance of governance.

However, currently, this balance has completely collapsed into corruption.

This is why the city kingdom sees so many destitute citizens.

Short-sighted policies squeezing every last coin now result in former taxpayers becoming paupers, drastically reducing tax revenues.

“There exist only two kinds of people in this Faceulan: mages or incompetents.”

For instance, mages—being nobility and all—despise those who cannot wield magic.

Privilege breeds endless satisfaction and pride.

I am not like them. I am better than them. I am undeniably superior.

Arrogance and pride bring joy with every breath.

Superiority offers effortless gratification surpassing actual achievement.

Yet ultimately, such superiority is meaningless self-gratification requiring constant affirmation.

“Why don’t you reflect after being mocked by trash, flies attracted to filth, and vermin? By doing so, you’ve proven yourself not just incompetent but utterly useless. Is this thing even human? Can you explain yourself convincingly?”

The sharp-faced man cast overtly disdainful glances at the trembling youth before him.

“…”

The youth, missing an arm, had turned pale as a frightened rabbit, shaking weakly.

All his escorts had been gruesomely killed—burned alive or dissolved by acidic substances until only their remains were left.

The corpses and putrid stench still filled the vast stone chamber.

While servants dispassionately cleaned up, the youth felt more terrified of the current situation than the phantom pain from his missing arm.

“What should I do with you?”

The question was more rhetorical than genuine inquiry.

“How embarrassing will this be when word spreads? What will others think of us?”

Eventually…

“All witnesses must be eliminated.”

After all, these parasites who leech off the system without paying proper taxes are expendable.

Rats might at least serve some purpose as test subjects or food.

Of course, humans make excellent experimental subjects too, but using citizens violates strict taboos established since the founding of the mage realm.

Even though everyone secretly breaks this rule, getting caught could destabilize the entire foundation.

Even incompetence has its role.

Without them, our clothes, homes, food, and tools would require far more effort to produce.

Incompetence has its place.

Therefore, they deserve some respect as workers serving us.

But tramps are different.

They consume and defecate without contributing anything useful.

What reason or purpose do such beings have for existing?

None.

They merely live for the sake of living.

If they truly wish to dedicate themselves to our grand achievements, sacrificing their useless bodies would be meaningful.

Yet they refuse.

Why do such beings exist?

The young head of the 13th noble house of magic didn’t understand.

“If you weren’t my brother, what would happen?”

Had he not been family, he would have been killed immediately, as evidenced by the tragic fate of his escorts.

Even as a mage, enduring such humiliation and disgrace instead of committing ritual suicide is pathetic.

Rather than complaining about your own inadequacies, if you had shown remorse and attempted to rectify your mistakes…

Baylante would have consoled and encouraged you.

Instead, associating with obsequious sycophants has stripped you of all pride and self-respect.

“Trash.”

The one-armed youth closed his eyes tightly, resembling a mouse cowering before a cat.

“How pitiful.”

When Baylante snapped his fingers, a pale-skinned man eagerly approached to listen.

“Eliminate all potential witnesses. And find out who did this to him. Even my foolish little brother wouldn’t have let himself be reduced to this state.”

Admittedly, the circumstances are unusual.

The severed arm doesn’t bleed.

There’s no sign of cauterization or any treatment.

What kind of phenomenon is this?

A magical phenomenon that’s difficult to discern.

So…

“If we can gain assistance, there’s no need to be adversaries.”

“Brother! How can you―”

“Why do you speak without thinking?”

“Why do we tolerate someone who continually tarnishes our family name? Because you share our blood. That alone makes us special, something others must acknowledge.”

No matter how reckless, ignorant, foolish, inadequate, or inappropriate someone may be…

One blessed with noble blood and talent deserves respect.

Right and justice in this world are privileges of the strong.

Thus, even pursuing evil and injustice is entirely up to us.

“However, as both a noble and mage, you’re even worse than incompetent.”

He spat contemptuously.

“You pretend to work hard but don’t actually try. You seek excuses instead of solutions. You surround yourself with fools whispering pleasant lies. Do you find amusement in ruling over worthless vermin? Such behavior brands you as the lowest form of humanity – despised even by trash. How embarrassing to have such a brother.”

“But Brother! That’s too much―”

“Do you even deserve your sense of self-importance? Pathetic.”

Even his suppressed anger dissipated under Baylante’s icy gaze.

“Tsk tsk.”

Provoking such a reaction proves how truly inept and despicable this younger brother is.

With a dismissive wave, Baylante signaled he no longer wished to associate with him.

===

As twilight fell…

The situation spread simultaneously throughout the downtown area, primarily targeting designated slums.

“Why?! What wrong have we done?!”

Men armed with spears and clubs began beating people indiscriminately. One struck on the head bled profusely while clutching his skull with both hands, only to be kicked down and retching helplessly.

“AAHHH!”

“Don’t move!”

“Would you shut up already?!”

“Shall we rip out your tongue?”

“It’ll be hot for a bit, won’t it?”

“Look at this crazy bastard. Is that really talk?”

These burly men acted as casually as laborers performing routine tasks.

Though engaged in violence against fellow humans, none showed any signs of guilt or recognition of their victims’ humanity.

Even those who feel remorse beating livestock displayed pure enjoyment and superiority here.

Tattered rags dirtied beyond repair with urine, feces, and sand clung to their bodies like cherished garments now subjected to cruel punishment.

Their tormentors were fellow humans and citizens, possibly even former neighbors.

“AUUUUGH!”

A child was kicked aside like a rock in the street.

“Monsters. They say beating kids keeps them quiet.”

“Still… isn’t that going too far?”

“Having nothing and producing nothing, why do they breed like rats? They’re eating away at our grain stores! Am I wrong?”

“Let’s stop talking.”

The one attempting to intervene was dragging a screaming woman away by her hair.

Witnessing this scene, the young noble accompanying the investigation party felt it was surreal.

“Are you scared?”

“No, I’m not…”

“They’re not people. They’re beasts and vermin. Thinking of them as human makes them seem frightening. Have you even caught a rat yet?”

The burly man chuckled, prompting raucous laughter from nearby youths.

“Compared to these guys willing to work hard for a meal, what’s wrong with their minds?”

“I find them too dirty to associate with.”

“Leave them be. If this helps them relieve stress, let them. As long as they don’t commit crimes, it’s fine.”

Crime…

Is the current situation not criminal?

The boy felt his mind go blank.

Until now, his world seemed to function normally.

But what is this?

Though he despised the filthy and wretched ones, he still harbored minimal sympathy and concern.

Honestly, their constant following with grotesque pleading eyes and smell was unsettling.

Some even tried stealing.

Why live like that?

Yet perhaps this is why they have no choice but to live this way…

Even the boy, who looked down on them, considered them minimally human.

But look at those around him now.

The neighbor who smiled days ago talking about his children is now kicking and stomping on kids.

The uncle devoted to his wife is dragging a frail, dirty woman by her hair into an alley.

Mocking and tearing apart the ragged clothes of a desperate man, twisting ankles, kicking stomachs, making bets on who’ll bleed first…

The uncle who always complained about his wife while doting on his daughter is slicing ears with a knife, gleefully collecting them in a leather pouch…

What am I seeing?

Where am I?

If this is a dream, it’s a hellish one.

But…

“AAAAAAAHHH!”

Mages burning people alive, proudly showcasing their abilities while ignoring the writhing, burning figures of unknown commoners.

“Hey! Since you came to watch, why don’t you try killing a few?”

“Me?”

“You little brat. Did you come here just to watch?”

“Isn’t that why I’m here?”

“Like hell. When I was your age…”

A heavy sword was thrust into his hands.

Since it’s your first time, they suggested starting with the unconscious old man lying there.

Suddenly forced into this…

The boy was pushed toward the fallen elder.

“Stupid kid.”

Snicker snicker.

Like festival revelers, they laughed and joked, soon to return to normal lives mingling with others.

These insane perpetrators of slaughter and destruction will simply disappear back into society wearing masks of normalcy.

What is the truth?

“Spare… me…”

An elderly man with shattered teeth, spitting blood, pleaded tearfully toward the sword-wielding youth, barely audible amidst the chaos but piercingly clear to the boy.

‘This…’

Something’s wrong. This isn’t right…

“Hey! Hurry up! Why so hesitant?”

“There’s nothing difficult about it! Just stab! Go on!”

“Hey! Don’t rush him! You were shaking and crying like a baby when you started too!”

“Hey! Boss! Don’t bring up old stories!”

If I stab this old man…

Will I become like them?

Suddenly, his stomach churned violently.

“Ughh…”

“Here we go again.”

“What’s so difficult?”