Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Frank and Alva founded the Freedom Assistance Association in Biketo City of the Hollyma Kingdom. At first, it was simply a secret union to unite all common civilians who were exploited and struggling through life in the city. Through the union, they could help each other find a way to survive.
All kinds of members participated in the Freedom Assistance Association. Factory workers, paupers, craftsmen, and small vendors. Even saints who shared their beliefs and goals joined the association. Most of them were apprentice wizards who lived under the pressure of churches, supernatural Bloodline Knights, and even ghosts and liches. This small underground union, the Freedom Assistance Association, had expanded rapidly and gained a diverse group of members.
Frank had become a wizard. His mind power grew as he started to extract Source Form from the magic network. After a couple of years, he had reached level three. He became a level four wizard in the next decade. He extracted Source Form freely and reached new levels without any difficulty, leaving everyone in awe. No ordinary descendant of gods could have done that; one would probably have needed to be the son of god to achieve so much.
Alva and an orc, Wilbert, who was a supernatural Bloodline Knight, joined the association. Most supernatural Bloodline Knights were descendants of Blood Wizards. Though they could not learn witchcraft, they could still gain great power by upgrading their bloodline. Some powerful supernatural Bloodline Knights had far more power than others at the same level.
The trio led the Freedom Assistance Association. They started to come up with many ideas to alter the current situation. The first one they came up with was to take control of a city and put into practice their systems and ideals.
After almost a decade of effort, through the Freedom Assistance Association, they gradually gained control of Akeley, a small remote kingdom in the alien lands, and started to introduce their policies there as they wished. It was a miniature kingdom, one with only one major city and a few towns, located in the mountains where the alien lands met the dark forest.
They banished the few clergy inside the city and attempted to build a perfect society for commoners. However, they became disillusioned soon after. There was nothing wrong with the policies. It was just that, with only the power of commoners available, the city they built was nothing but an outdated, backward place, out of step with the advancements of steam and mechanics.
Trade, economy, agriculture, urban infrastructure, and even civilization regressed rapidly. Nights in the city turned into pure darkness. Without steam locomotives or airships, even workshops and factories started to close.
Also, without wizard towers and the rituals of the Goddess of Harvest to help them cultivate crops, the growing population of citizens could not live off of the limited land inside Akeley. They now lived worse lives than they had lived under the exploitation of the saints. Many started to escape and leave the kingdom.
However, once clergy and saints mixed in with the commoners, it did not matter if they had good intentions or not, common civilians would become unnecessary and secondary to them. This was because everything the commoners had depended on saints. However, to saints, commoners were dispensable. Commoners needed the power of saints.
Agriculture, transportation, life itself. The supernatural system had been perfected for such a long time, and it had become an essential component of every aspect of the world. One could not live without supernatural powers.
“Commoners depend on the supernatural system to live. They cannot produce anything of value. They are no match for the saints with nothing but their handiwork. In the newest alchemy industry workshops, steam machines are starting to replace manpower. Agriculture has developed rapidly, as well. I’ve heard that, in the wizard kingdom, with only one wizard tower, one can control the harvest of crops for miles around,” said Frank. He took off his glasses and threw them onto the table.
Alva’s face stiffened, and he said, “Not just that. Military powers of all the kingdoms depend on saints, too. The presence of commoners has become unessential, and…”
Frank nodded and said, “No need to say more. I know. This is not a civilization of humans, but gods and saints. Common civilians cannot integrate into this society. If you consider the system of the world as an enormous machine, commoners are not even a tiny gear. The gears of this era are the apprentice saints. With the era marching forward as it is, commoners will be left behind.”
Frank inhaled deeply as if he witnessed the future and said, “What a dreadful future.”
In the secret conference room of the Akeley Freedom Assistance Association, the trio looked downcast. In an earlier meeting, a few more members had withdrawn from the association. The failure in Akeley hit them hard with the truth of the world.
Wilbert, the orc, was adorably short and chubby but had a serious expression that did not suit him. He raised his head, “If we could, say, let commoners use alchemy equipment, and do things that only apprentice saints can do now, then they could actually be a part of this era. Let them use simple supernatural power by using alchemy equipment, and learn and utilize the knowledge system of saints. In that way, they would no longer depend entirely on saints. They would no longer be a liability to the supernatural civilization, but basic gears and crucial supporters. Also, think about it, if the 99 percent commoners on this continent could be the gears of this supernatural era, pushing the era forward, and making use of their wisdom and power for this supernatural era, till then, the whole world will be new, every individual will be the creator and beneficiary of the supernatural civilization.”
Frank and Alva immediately raised their heads as Wilbert gave his speech. Alva asked right away, “How is that possible? Commoners using alchemy equipment? They do not possess mind power.”
Other than the ordinary alchemy products, to an alchemy item, saints were like batteries. They required the saints’ mind power to activate their supernatural power. From steam locomotives, airships, wizard towers, small telegraph transmitters, printers, witchcraft pistols, to everyday witchcraft items, all required mind power to power them. This was why the base of the supernatural civilization, the basic gears, are apprentice saints, not commoners.
Frank stood up instantly. His eyes shone with excitement, and he said, “It’s possible! As long as we are willing to try, to put in our effort, there is nothing that can’t be done. If we succeed, we will be the ones who changed the world! We will be heroes to commoners. Our heroic deeds will be celebrated more than those of all the gods! We will be at the center stage of this era.”
Frank jumped for joy and accidentally crushed his glasses. Flames shone brightly in his eyes as he stared at Alva and Wilbert. Frank reached out his hands and said, “Let us begin once again!”
Alva sighed, stood up, held Frank’s hand, and said, “It’s not going to be easy. Success or failure, either way, I feel this will be a bumpy, dangerous ride. You are not freeing the commoners, you are breaking the system of the world.”
Alva laughed out loud all of a sudden and said, “What could we do? I am your brother!”
Wilbert held Frank’s hand and said, “Count me in!”
—
“The three musketeers have not changed a bit!”
Lu Zhiyu was sitting in the floating space city. He was hogging Eva’s “television.” On the screen, Frank and the other two were having a meeting.
Eva walked back and forth behind Lu Zhiyu, making a sound now and then. Lu Zhiyu knew what was Eva up to. He smiled, stood up, and said, “Alright. There you go. I will not take more of your afternoon relaxing time.”
Eva looked at the trio on the screen and said, “Why do these three deserve our attention? A level three alchemy warlock, a level four wizard, and a supernatural knight. They seem to be nothing special. Your highness never pays much attention to anyone, even gods. But with these three, I sense…”
Lu Zhiyu looked to Eva and said, “Look at them, anyone familiar?”
Eva took a close look and immediately compared them to some video data from the database. There were some minor differences, but Eva recognized them instantly and asked, “Them?”
“This trio shall shine brightest in any era.”