In this new world, the use of Magic was illegal.
That had been the law for centuries. Even though these people naturally formed Magic Cores, they hadn't used them even once. Pretty much no one even knew how to cast a Spell.
According to public policy, that was like casting costly pearls before swine.
"Does this new law apply to ever race? What about the Magical Beasts?" Kuzon asked.
"Y-yes. It applies to all. The Magic Beasts have been domesticated by the almighty Midas Empire, so no one among them dare to defy them. Thanks to that, we now live in a utopia devoid of war and chaos."
Kuzon tried his best to hide his disgust, but it seemed a little leaked out every now and then—especially when he heard answers like this.
'The conditioning is so strong, huh? Or is he just trying to bootlick me?'
In any case, these people who were suffering, still appeared so grateful to the Midas Empire.
It repulsed him. free(w)ebnovel
"We now have order. Stability. Direction. It is all thanks to the Midas Race interfering with our primitive ways and giving us their laws that we could arrive at this development." The old man furthered.
"Praise the Midas Emperor."
Everyone bowed and raised their hands above in response to his words. They all jointly changed the words "Praise the Midas Emperor!"
Hearing those echoes disturbed Kuzon, but he kept his cool. Instead, he looked at the nearly hundred people who committed this act, feeling nothing but pity... and then shame.
However, it was at this point that he noticed something spectacular among the crowd.
It was a young lady among them.
'She's not joining them to say the words. And look at her eyes... the frustration... the anger...'
For some reason, seeing even one among this sea of sheep made him happy.
Not everyone had been brainwashed, at the very least.
"Is this world truly better off...?" Kuzon whispered as he gazed at the darkened sky.
He truly did not think so.
'There are still more questions I want to ask. I should also hurry, so let's get this over with.'
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Kuzon asked more questions and managed to learn even more about the world.
Apparently, a lot people were way better off than those living in the slums. Those ones loved in cities known as 'Zones'.
There were a total of one hundred zones all over the world, made into small cities that confined their residents into that particular box where they did jobs and engaged in monotonous labor until they died.
'Their paths are set for them, and they will continue the loop until they finally exhaust their lives—not able to leave the city even once.'
How was this a better world?
'Can't they see it? They're merely prisoners.'
He learned more, though.
This wasteland, where these people lived, once served as a battlefield. It was also a place where the non-skilled and non-talented could afford to live.
The comfortable lives in the city came with benefits, such as safety, security, and the warmth of civilization. However, that came with the price of taxes and the daily expenses they had to live under.
Some even went into debt as a result.
Those who could not cope with such a lifestyle, due to not having proper skillsets, had no choice but to live in the slums.
"We get provided with our daily rations from the benevolent Midas Empire, even though we do not work or deserve it. They still feed and sustain us." The old man had said.
Kuzon knew all of that was a load of garbage. It was all wrong.
'The Midas are probably keeping these people alive to serve as an example, a deterrent to those in the cities who do not want to lose their privileges. It makes them continue to work harder. As for these guys, they are given very little—just enough to keep them alive—and yet they're so loyal?'
Didn't they understand that they would have been able to eat healthier and better without the oppressive system, to begin with?
'Even paupers should live better lives than this...'
Still, that wasn't all.
Apparently, in this new world talent and skill were everything.
The talent that was required and appreciated couldn't be based or any combat-related skill. In a society where everyone needed to have a place, the lack of the preset abilities meant being forcefully ejected out of it.
That was why slums existed, and why 'Shelters' were built all over the world.
'Its just to maintain this defective system...' Kuzon thought to himself.
He could his head hurting anytime he thought very deeply about the matter. Plus, the fact that the people he was speaking to kept praising the Midas Empire didn't give him enough perspective.
He felt like there was something missing.
"The Midas Empire is responsible for the greatest atrocities in the history of this world. They claimed to have ended violence abd bloodshed, but they committed the worst kind!" A voice suddenly erupted from the crowd.
Kuzon's eyes twitched as he swiftly diverted his attention to the one who spoke.
'Ah, it's the same girl from earlier. The one who wouldn't behave like everyone else...'
He could already see people around her gasping in shock and begging her not to speak any longer, even going as far as restraining her, but she struggled anyway.
"P-please forgive her indiscretion, my Lord. I will make sure to punish her very strictly for this blasphemy that she has uttered "
"Please forgive the child."
"Have mercy!"
"Spare us."
The village elder and many others began pleading and begging.
It reached a point of irritation that Kuzon finally raised his hand, causing everyone in the pandemonium to freeze.
"Whose child is she?" He asked.
"W-we don't know. She was abandoned here in the slums, and we've been taking care of her ever since."
'So, even in their oppression, they remain kind people...' Kuzon smiled.
At the very least, he couldn't completely despise them.
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[A/N]
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