Let's Create a Nation

"Mr. Rhode, did I hear that wrong?"

Norn couldn't quite grasp why the topic had jumped to this point. He had simply shared the same thought as Rhode—wanting magic to be learned by more humans.

Why, then, had it come to creating a human kingdom?

Why? How had things turned out like this?

"You didn't hear wrong!" Rhode's voice was firm.

He didn't know how the first human kingdom had formed in Frieren's world, but that didn't stop him from pushing this forward.

To create a kingdom belonging to humanity.

That would be, in history, the first human kingdom on this continent.

Ideal Nation Aer.

"Are you insane?"

Serie finally couldn't hold back and stepped out from behind a nearby tree.

"What? Done eavesdropping?"

Rhode had long spotted Serie's unmistakable golden hair, and now that she came out, he began to tease her.

It didn't matter if Serie heard this—after all, Rhode was still hoping to get her help.

"Ahem, I was just passing by." Serie wouldn't admit that curiosity about what they were discussing had made her follow them. "But were you serious? Rhode."

"Of course I'm serious. When the time comes, we'll make Norn the king, and the two of us can be Great Sages."

Even though the title of the first human king was tempting, Rhode didn't have the courage to take on that responsibility.

Because if such a kingdom were truly established, and he became His Majesty the King, he would have to be responsible for all humans across the entire continent.

Rhode was no such saint.

"You—" Serie narrowed her eyes, sizing Rhode up. "What are you really plotting?"

In her view, Rhode wasn't the type to be some great saint.

Sure, the guy was a good person, willing to teach magic to his kin unconditionally, but he was far from a saint.

And what he had just said was no different from a saint's deeds.

Rhode spread his hands, looking innocent: "I just think, since Norn wants more humans to learn magic, why not directly establish a kingdom belonging to humanity?"

"That way, magic can be passed down systematically, and humans can have their own sanctuary."

Norn finally snapped out of his shock: "Mr. Rhode, this is too sudden."

Norn had never dared to hope for something like this.

After all, this continent had so many races, and only five named nations—even the Dwarven Kingdom had once been destroyed.

It was easy to imagine how difficult founding a country would be.

Territory, subjects, an army—it would all be incredibly tedious. Just thinking about it, Norn felt it was impossible.

"I won't even get into what's needed to build a nation—how will you gain recognition from other races?"

If you want to establish a country, at the very least, other races have to acknowledge you.

Without that, conflict is inevitable.

"Serie, have you ever heard this saying? When you're strong enough, everything you do seems reasonable to others."

"But you're not strong enough yet." Serie poured cold water on him without mercy.

"No matter. I can wait. Whether it's twenty years or thirty, I have the time. Besides, in my world, sometimes a single city can be called a country."

"How is a single city a country?"

Serie didn't know what kind of country that was supposed to be. If all its territory was one city, the whole nation would be doomed the moment the city fell.

Besides, the Dwarven Kingdom had fallen because their entire capital was conquered by the Demon Race, and almost all the dwarves of the royal bloodline died in the capital, leaving the other clans leaderless. That was a completely different case from a country that collapses when its city falls.

"We just need a name—to put out the banner of a human kingdom, unconditionally accept all humans, and provide them shelter. Over time, both subjects and an army will gradually emerge."

Norn immediately understood Rhode's meaning.

Right now, humans were scattered across this continent, without even a single sizable settlement.

What Rhode was doing was raising the banner of a human kingdom to attract humans from all over the continent to come and join.

As time passed, this one-city kingdom would naturally become a proper nation.

"But isn't this world too dangerous for humans right now? I'm worried."

Norn feared that even if their name reached other human villages, those people might be too afraid to move.

This world was too perilous. Ordinary people had no way to fight back against monsters—how could they cross such great distances to reach the kingdom they built?

If that caused other humans to give up on the idea, their efforts would be wasted.

"So isn't that why we need to teach magic knowledge?" Rhode patted him on the shoulder.

Thus, fate closed its loop at this moment.

"I understand!" Norn looked at Rhode with admiration.

This man had already thought so far ahead—he felt somewhat unworthy.

"But this whole 'making me king' thing..." Norn said with a wry smile, worried he couldn't bear the responsibility.

"It's fine, believe in yourself. You're the most suitable among us!"

"But..." Norn still hesitated.

"If you really don't want to, then let Serie do it. A human kingdom with an elf as king—do you think that's appropriate?"

Serie looked confused. How had the topic circled back to her again?

Before she could speak, Rhode continued: "If I have to do it, fine, but I'll be a hands-off boss and delegate everything to you. What do you think?"

"How is that any different from me doing it?" Norn muttered under his breath.

Serie shot Rhode a speechless glare. "What a willful guy."

Rhode shook his head, completely ignoring Serie's words.

He could only say Miss Serie's cursing skills still needed practice—this level of insult was nothing to him.

If Serie put on a disgusted expression and called him something like a scumbag, it might actually cheer him up a little.

Don't misunderstand—he didn't have that kind of fetish. He just thought it would be amusing to see Serie make that face.

"So you see, in the end, you're the one who has to be king. Don't worry, Serie and I will assist you."

"No, I haven't agreed yet."

Serie was getting anxious. Why should she help someone else become king? That was no fun at all.

"You will agree." Rhode leaned close to Serie's ear, so near that it tickled her face.

Norn didn't know what Rhode said, but he saw Serie's expression shift from reluctance to contemplation, her pupils slightly contracting, and her small hands unconsciously fidgeting with the hem of her clothes.