Welcome, visitor from afar.
You have reached your destination — the Empire of Asura, the only empire in the world where, day or night, no one fears monsters or fight. Even the mindless monsters that roam in darkness are nowhere to be sight.
All of this exists because of our wise, kind king.
Even after slaying entire demon armies alone, stopping their invasions across the world, and forbidding them from ever daring to dream of setting foot on the Central Continent again, he never claimed glory for himself.
He even killed the foolish King of Atlantis — the Falling Continent.
The so-called King of the Seas believed our king would be weakened after fighting demons.
Instead, he was defeated alongside his entire army by a single tired man. That loss shattered the Fishermen's hierarchy among the races. Once respected and feared, they had bragged for centuries about being undefeated — until they fell all at once.
With their reign over the seas broken, the enslaved races they had crushed for more than a millennium finally appeared again: Merfolk, Mermaids, Amphibians. Their numbers had dwindled, and the curfew over the oceans was lifted.
Now anyone may sail freely. Better yet, travelers can contract with sea folk for protection — safe even from sea monsters.
Our king built the capital, Almondia, from special stone gathered by mountain Golems and forged by renowned Dwarven artisans.
The entire city shines — day and night — and because of that light, the mindless monsters that stalk the dark never come near. It is the safest place in the world, even safer than the Holy Forest of the Fairies in the far northeast. The greatest proof of this is how many fairies and pixies have chosen to live here, far from their homeland, simply because it is safer.
Go anywhere in the world and you will hear every race praising the King's power and fairness.
If you doubt it, travel to the far northwest. There you will find the remnants of the former Demon King who once led invasions against all other races. Today, the site is nothing more than a tourist and educational landmark. Even the new Demon King has left it untouched — a reminder to demons themselves. They now keep a motto there:
"A wise king leads his people to peace and prosperity,
not endless war."
That saying exists for a reason. Demons are the second strongest race in the world — second only to dragons. They had never lost a war before that demon king's reign.
Their first defeat came not from him, but from the Divine Race — a race no one knows anything about, not even our wise king.
They do not bother with the lower world. They never descend to the continents. Instead, they drift above them on a flying landmass, looking down on those below.
Drunk on power after driving the Beastfolk from their continent and annihilating the Immortal race, the Demon King believed all battles would be as easy. With magic rivaling our king's, he attacked the flying continent itself, using the souls of enslaved beings to fuel his spells.
The result? A single brick of the outer wall was shaken.
In response, the Divine Race sent their Prophets — their proud elites. Each one of them, according to the King himself, was capable of killing our king alone.
They annihilated the entire demon army, every being in the area — even a captured Beastfolk slave. Only the Demon King was left alive, spared after they carved their signatures into his face with their blades.
Our fair and kind king was different. He never killed those who surrendered. Generals, soldiers, servants — all were given a second chance. Those who accepted lived.
When he learned of the enslaved races, he offered them new lives in Asura. That is why Trolls, Giants, and Beast-kin live within our empire today. Together, we achieved prosperity we never could have reached alone. They performed labors we could not — and in return, they lived better lives than they had ever dreamed of not even when they were still free.
In short, our empire reached a level of advancement that gave rise to something called human supremacy. And yet, we are known as the kindest race — because in our kingdom, all races are welcome.
All except demons, who are forbidden from setting foot on the continent.
Whoever you are, if you visit, you will find happiness here.
As for me — I'm the poster girl from the Noir-Gardon store, right in front of the Royal Palace in the main district, beside the fountain crafted by Leonardo Di Pastar.
Today, we celebrate our King's wedding to the last Great Elf, Luminara.
By marrying their goddess, humans and elves are united — the only woman the proud High Elves would gladly kneel before and beg to serve as maids.
To all visitors of the empire, of every race: buy a charm from our store and a poster praying for the happiness of our King, Arthur, and our future Queen, Luminara. And… our future Prince, Arus—
Whoops. That wasn't supposed to be said yet. I hope Arty won't be mad at me for that mistake.
Anyway, I'll be waiting for you in the capital, Almondia — even if you don't visit the store. I'll always be waiting, because I'm the King's number one fan, and I couldn't be happier for him.
Yours truly,
Maria Noir