The Death Mage that doesn't want a fourth time

147 An audience with the gods - a suggestion to become emperor

The races created by Vida and the races of monsters who worshipped evil gods who had left the Demon King to join Vida's side, except for the Pure-breed Vampires who protected Vida's Resting Grounds, had each created their own nation that worshipped their god in the southern region of the continent.

The Zanalpadna Kingdom was named after its god as it was the only nation to be ruled by two races – the Arachne and Empusa – but the other nations were all named after their races.

Only the Noble Orc empire called itself an empire. Leaving aside the rumors and legends told outside the Boundary Mountain Range, it really was an empire.

As for why only the Noble Orc nation was an empire, that was because it was the leader that united all of the other nations in the Boundary Mountain Range.

"In other words, returning to a kingdom rather than an empire means relinquishing that role of leadership," said Vandalieu.

He was proceeding through the Great Flesh Den, a B-class Dungeon in the depths of the Church of Mububujenge, as he had these circumstances explained to him.

"Yes. As a result of my failure to stop Bugitas's treason, the High Kobold and High Goblin nations in particular suffered great losses. And the power of our nation has decreased drastically as well. In this state, it is impossible for my nation and I to fulfill the duty that is expected of us as an empire," said the newly-crowned Emperor, or rather King, Budarion, as he walked along with light steps.

During the battle against Ravovifard, his Rank had increased and he had become a Rank 12 Noble Orc Abyss High King, the same Rank as the 'Wise Emperor' Buugih of the past. He had obtained enough strength to be called one of the most powerful beings in the Boundary Mountain Range other than the Pure-breed Vampires, but it seemed that he and his vassals did not believe that the fighting ability of a single ruler was enough to solve the problems within the nation.

"I am sorry to the nations who tried to stop me from doing this, however," Budarion continued.

Following his announcement of his nation's new title at the feast, the nations' representatives that were present at the feast had tried to talk him out of it. In a heartfelt, earnest, desperate way.

If these were human nations outside the Boundary Mountain Range, this would be a chance for them to make great advances. Each of them would try to wrest themselves free of these relationships of power that had remained steadfast for over fifty-thousand years and try to establish dominance over the other nations.

Even if the rulers of those nations didn't have such thoughts, there would be some noblemen who would form factions, aiming to obtain greater rights and more land for themselves and their heirs; there was no doubt that some would try to spur the nation into action.

There would also be nations that would take action because they thought it would be bad if the position of leadership was taken by a nation that they had a bad relationship with.

However, the circumstances were different for the nations within the Boundary Mountain Range.

The ruler of each nation also acted as a priest for the god that their nation worshipped, and they would be reprimanded directly by their god if they were to take unreasonable actions. The gods worshipped by the nations considered the flourishing of their own people to be important, but since the maintenance of the barrier protecting this land from Alda and his subordinates was more important, they avoided causing harm to other nations that would weaken the gods of those nations.

And in this environment, where these city states existed inside a dangerous Devil's Nest, the benefits of being dominant over the other nations was minimal.