Northwest Republic

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Northwest Republic (西北共和国)
Type	Republic / sovereign nation
Location	The Ash Forest, on the northwestern frontier of the Main Plane 399
Capital	Void City 399
Government	Republican system administered by Consuls and Grand Consuls; noble status is honorary and carries no ruling power 391 550
Founder / Patron	Established under Void Mask (Sui Xiong) 391 397
Status	Active 897
Founded	Officially proclaimed in Chapter 397 397
First Appearance	Chapter 391 391
Population	Approximately 300,000 citizens at the time of the surname-registration policy 757
Core Cities	Void City, Dragon Roar City, Gold Panning City, Glimmerstone City, and Black Rye City 777

Background / History

The Republic arose from Void Mask Amusement Park, the Four Northwest Towns, and nearby frontier villages. Its homeland, the Ash Forest, was once a notorious forbidden zone saturated with negative energy: ordinary people could not survive in its wilderness for long, while tools and other materials rapidly deteriorated. 399

Void Mask's founding declaration rejected feudal ownership of the state. The Republic was defined as a country jointly owned by its citizens, where all social strata were equal before the law, with protected rights and corresponding obligations. 391 Philex formally announced its establishment as the first republican system in the world's recorded civilization. 397

Philex had previously united the Four Northwest Towns and laid the groundwork for the country's formation. As the Republic's second-ranking Consul, she oversaw the towns and surrounding frontier villages. 399

The Republic later expanded beyond its original core. Gray Tower City withdrew from the Arcane Tower Federation and joined as an exclave, while Double-Headed Stork City of the Gold Coin Federation joined during a drought to gain access to the Republic's dependable water supply. 638 806

Territory and Settlements

Void City

Void City is the capital and the Republic's foremost commercial, entertainment, and transportation center.

• Its permanent population exceeded 50,000 during the Republic's early years. 399
• It is protected by more than ten Legendary powerhouses and two true gods. 399
• Visitors who obey Republic law are guaranteed protection from harassment and violence. 399
• Its portals connect to capitals and major cities throughout the world, making it a global hub for luxury trade. 883
• It hosts the World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament once every ten years. 883

Other Core Cities

• Dragon Roar City — one of the original Four Northwest Towns. 399 777
• Gold Panning City — formerly Gold Rush Town. 399 777
• Glimmerstone City — a prosperous industrial and educational center led by Philex; home to Isuka Magic School. 399
• Black Rye City — formerly Rye Town, a major commercial and agricultural settlement with a formidable guard force. 399 777

Environment

• The Republic's inhabited core lies within the former Ash Forest, where purification arrays now suppress undead threats around settled areas. 827
• Demonic Beasts remain a persistent danger despite purification, requiring regular military extermination campaigns. 827
• Its frontier position and surrounding mountains, desert, snowfields, and seas make large-scale invasion exceptionally difficult. 518 822

Government and Law

• The Republic formally rejects rule by hereditary nobles; noble titles are honors rather than sources of political authority. 550
• The Church of Void Mask is restricted to roles of supervision and fairness and is not permitted to overstep into direct political rule. 550
• Religious coexistence is maintained through government coordination and the Church of Void Mask's leadership among local faiths. 558
• The death penalty is rarely used, generally being reserved for proven major crimes such as murder; enforcement instead relies heavily on efficient investigation and arrest. 556
• National policies are rapidly distributed even to remote pioneer villages through dedicated propagandists and substantial administrative investment. 759

Surname Registration Policy

The Republic introduced mandatory surname registration for all registered citizens after military reorganization revealed that roughly 300,000 people shared fewer than 600 names. 757 758

• Citizens without surnames may design and register one through Civil Affairs offices. 758
• A newly designed surname may be registered by no more than 200 families in each registration round. 758
• The policy was intended to improve administration while increasing citizens' confidence and sense of belonging. 757
• Its adoption challenged the traditional social monopoly of noble families over surnames and status. 762 763

Society

Racial Policy

The Republic accepts people of every race—including half-orcs, undead, demons, and white demons—provided they obey its laws. 553 883

• Racial discrimination is treated as a serious offense and may be punished by electrocution. 553
• Large numbers of half-orcs have settled in the Republic, including both migrants and native-born generations. 553
• This broad racial tolerance has also made other nations reluctant to approach the Republic for alliances. 883

Education

The Northwest Republic is regarded as having the best education system on the Main Plane. 827

• Free evening literacy classes are operated jointly by the Churches of Void Mask and Knowledge. 827
• Roughly one year of study enables students to recognize several hundred characters and write basic sentences. 827
• Military service also serves as a route to literacy and practical education for young citizens. 827
• Technical and vocational schools attract migrants, including half-orcs seeking tuition-free education. 553

Economy and Infrastructure

• The Republic suffers from a chronic labor shortage due to rapid development in farming, manufacturing, construction, and pioneering. 510
• Legendary necromancer Tuya'an organized nearly 2,000 skeleton workers for construction projects, with signal towers allowing remote command across multiple sites. 516
• Its factories use refined production processes and trained labor to produce high-quality goods at exceptionally high efficiency. 908
• Assembly-line production of armor and weapons made Void City the world's largest arms supplier. 680
• The Republic's simplified stamped-steel full-body armor is lighter and more practical than traditional full plate while still allowing soldiers to wield spears and charge. 668
• Glimmerstone City's prosperity rests on industries including high-grade grain, medicinal herbs, negative-energy crystals, and magical education. 399
• During the continent-wide drought, the Republic maintained a stable water supply because of its cold climate, accumulated ice and snow, groundwater reserves, and limited agricultural demand. 806

Military

Armed Forces

Branch	Role
Patrol Army	Temporary civilian service focused on public order and disaster relief. 827
National Defense Army	Long-term force responsible for eliminating Demonic Beasts and defending settlements. 827

The National Defense Army is supported by detection arrays across the country and devices around settlements that mislead approaching Demonic Beasts, buying time for mobilization. Since its formal establishment, no Demonic Beast has broken through its defenses to attack a residential area. 827

Military Reform

After observing the Gold Coin Federation Northern Army, Sui Xiong and the Republic's leadership unanimously approved reforms to make the National Defense Army equal to or stronger than that force. 826 827

Renard's special training program lasted half a year and emphasized:

• Physical enhancement, supported by magical-beast meat and divine power. 828
• Faster formation changes and coordinated tactics. 828
• Mastery of multiple weapons, especially while wearing heavy armor. 828

An experimental unit of more than 100 soldiers demonstrated combat strength said to equal a force of a thousand troops. Many trainees advanced in rank despite not originally being ranked combatants. 829

Rapid Mobility Force

The Republic established a rapid mobility force to counter enemy raiding units. 837

• Personnel are equipped with Summon Phantom Steed wands, lightweight armor, enchanted weapons, bows, and crossbows. 837
• Clerics accompany the force to restore wand charges and provide support. 837
• The unit draws on the Republic's large population of retired adventurers and adventurer-trained youths. 837
• During the Gold Coin Federation conflict, Leon led the force alongside seven Legendary powerhouses. 844

Relationships

• Void Mask / Sui Xiong — founder, divine patron, and principal protector of the Republic. 391 397
• Philex Isuka — second-ranking Consul; unified the Four Northwest Towns and administers the original town territories and frontier villages. 399
• Renard — military strategist and commander-in-chief of the National Defense Army; led major military reforms. 403 827
• Church of Void Mask — leading religious institution, limited politically to supervision and fairness. 550
• Gold Coin Federation Merchant Faction — commercial and political partner; the Republic considered supporting it against the Noble Faction and later assisted against mobile raiders. 719 840
• Arcane Tower Federation — distant southern power whose former member, Gray Tower City, joined the Republic. 520 638

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Founding of the Republic — Void Mask's republican principles are declared, and Philex officially proclaims the nation's establishment. 391 397
• Ash Forest Development — the Republic converts a lethal negative-energy frontier into a protected, prosperous region centered on Void City and the Four Northwest Towns. 399 516
• Defense Against External Pressure — faced with the prospect of attacks by Legendary experts or demigods, the Republic prioritizes civilian evacuation, military preparation, and the defense of its republican order. 518
• Gold Coin Federation Crisis — it prepares for possible intervention, trains a 1,500-man force, supports the Merchant Faction indirectly, and eventually calls for peace while maintaining neutrality. 719 738
• Military Modernization — after the rise of the Gold Coin Federation Northern Army, Renard reforms the National Defense Army and develops elite experimental units. 826 829
• Human–Orc War — the Republic remains neutral, restricts military use of its portals, and limits its involvement to humanitarian aid and refugee protection. 897