I Failed to Be a Hero, So I Became the God of Three Realms

The day had stretched long, and Kaito returned to his room utterly drained. But the moment he stepped inside, his fatigue gave way to curiosity—a letter lay on his desk. His room had been locked, yet there it was.

The crest on the envelope was unmistakable. There was only one person who could send such a letter directly to him.

Lilith Umbrosia, the Demonic Empress.

"She wasn't supposed to contact me until her visit next week," Kaito thought as he opened the letter. A flicker of unease crossed his mind. Is there trouble brewing?

As he read, his worries seemed both founded and unfounded. Lilith had managed to convince the majority of demons to accept the treaty. Her visit to the capital was no longer necessary—or perhaps, more honestly, she couldn't come. She hadn't explained why.

But the letter carried more than just updates.

"So, there are still demons resisting the treaty," Kaito muttered, continuing to read. Most were low-ranked and non-sentient demons, the kind that could be deterred by the badge she'd given him. Even high-ranking demons, more sentient and powerful, were expected to hesitate in attacking him outright. The badge had that kind of authority.

Yet, as Lilith warned, some demons were arrogant and defiant enough to ignore even her crest. These were high-ranking troublemakers who wouldn't dare create portals within the Empire—Lilith had ensured that. But they might infiltrate the borders instead.

Kaito sighed. Strengthening the borders was non-negotiable now.

The letter ended on an ambiguous note.

"I cannot visit the capital just yet, but I will soon."

Soon? How soon? There was no answer. Folding the letter, Kaito set it aside and headed to his office.

Valeria was already there, enthusiastically outlining plans for the Civil Servant System and the Royal Academy. Gabriel stood nearby, silently observing.

"Hey, Val," Kaito began casually, dropping a bombshell. "I just got a letter from the Demonic Empress. She's not coming."

Valeria blinked. "What? Why?"

Kaito explained the contents of the letter in detail. He explained the situation, and the need to strengthen the borders as soon as possible.

"That makes sense," Valeria nodded thoughtfully. "I've heard that high-ranking demons are skilled in infiltration and espionage. They can even disguise themselves as humans. We'll need to be strict about border control and immigration policies."

"Exactly," Kaito agreed. "Gabriel, can you issue an order to the Knights? Increase security and scrutiny at the borders immediately."

"As you wish, milord," Gabriel, who had been sitting in a corner and listening to the conversation so far, replied smoothly. Then, glancing at Kaito, he added, "There was something else you wished to discuss with me, wasn't there?"

Kaito nodded. "Yes. I've been giving it quite some thought. How about abolishing Slavery by replacing 'slaves' with 'civil servants.'"

Gabriel raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "That sounds rather intriguing. Can you explain a bit further?"

"The idea is to replace slavery with the Civil Servant System," Kaito explained. "In this, Slave Traders will be mandated to sign a contract with the 'Civil Servants Guild' and turn their Slaves into Civil Servants. Their work is similar, and it might seem like they're the there's not much different. But they're fundamentally different. Civil Servants are fundamentally free. They aren't bound to any lord. Instead, they work for the state—technically, the guild—and earn their livelihood."

Gabriel listened carefully, his expression was as unreadable as ever, but a bit of eagerness could be spotted in his eyes. Finally, he spoke. "A novel idea, milord. I can already see the smiles it would bring to so many faces. Implementation is feasible, and all it would take is your will. But enforcement will require a strong framework. Do you have something in mind?"

"I've been considering drafting a new law for this purpose," Kaito said. "How effective are the Empire's laws currently?"

"Laws in the Empire are strictly enforced and largely unbiased," Gabriel replied. "They take precedence over nearly everything, though the Emperor—or in this case, you—retains final say in trials."

Kaito nodded. "Good. Then here's what I propose."

The Moral Rights Law

1. Right to Education:

Everyone has the right to education.

Enrollment in the Royal Academy is open to all ages, with state sponsorship available in special cases.

All children under 15 are required to attend school and are prohibited from professional work.

2. Right to Work:

Everyone has the right to work in any field or profession of their choosing, on the basis of talent rather than any other criteria.

All workplaces must provide schedules that allow employees to pursue education.

Children under 15 are not permitted to work.

3. Right to Live:

Slavery is officially unrecognized. That means, 'slaves' can no longer be called 'slaves.' They're now 'civil servants.'

Civil Servants will be contracted with the Civil Servants Guild and will be free from any lord. Their prior lord or trader shall earn a specific amount of commission off their job, but they'll retain no rights.

Civil Servants are free individuals who work and live by their own will, not under any lord's command.

After presenting his proposal, Kaito hesitated. The laws seemed ambitious—maybe even too ambitious. Would they be met with resistance?

To his surprise, both Valeria and Gabriel reacted with enthusiasm.

"Excellent!" Valeria exclaimed. "This will revolutionize the Empire!"

Gabriel nodded. "I'll present this to the Senate at tomorrow's meeting. With proper support, it should pass without issue."

Kaito exhaled in relief. One step closer to a better future.

"Now then," he said, shifting gears. "Let's discuss the Royal Academy. There are still a few things we need to finalize."

With that, the conversation turned to the Academy—the cornerstone of equal education for all.

Kaito was surprised to learn that this world lacked any form of educational institutions. The absence of schools and academies struck him as an opportunity, but he was determined to avoid creating something that only served the elite. He wanted equality at the core of this new system.

"What do you think about the courses to be taught?" Kaito asked. "I've got a few suggestions: the Royal Knights Academy, Royal Civil Academy, Royal Literature Academy, Royal Law Academy, and Royal Magic Academy.

Gabriel's face lit up. "That sounds like an excellent plan! As for the location, there's a city near the capital. Its lord was recently arrested for treason, so the land is available. It's a large city with plenty of free space, but it doesn't hold much value otherwise. We were even considering merging it with the capital."

"That sounds perfect," Kaito said, already envisioning the project. "What's the city called?"

Gabriel hesitated before answering. "It doesn't have a name, actually."

Kaito blinked, caught off guard. "No name, huh? Well then... let's call it Academy City Astarte."

Gabriel nodded, clearly pleased. "That's a wonderful name, milord! From now on, it shall be known as Astarte, the Academy City Astarte."

With that, Kaito felt a sense of closure on two significant issues: slavery and education.

Then, something hit him. "Oh, right! Gabriel, what's the status of the Talent Search? I nearly forgot about it after announcing it myself."

Gabriel chuckled softly. "It's progressing, but the sheer number of participants from across the Empire has made sorting them out challenging. It'll take about a week to finish. However, we've already identified three promising candidates with rather unique talents."

Kaito leaned forward, intrigued. "Really? Tell me about them."

Gabriel began, "The first is Nicol, from a poor peasant family in Nanzig village, far to the west. Most people possess one of the four Elements – Fire, Water, Wind, or Earth. There's also Light, which helps in healing, and Dark with unknown powers. But there's an seventh Element called Null. A lot of people possess this element, but it has no predefined spell. Rather, everyone has their own Null magic spell, which is unique to them. No two people can use the same spell. Although, most Null spells are not too significant. In Nicol's case, he has Wind element, but more importantly, Null too. His Null magic is to be able to read other's mind. It is an extraordinary ability with devastating possibilities."

Kaito nodded thoughtfully. "That's an incredible thing! With his magic, he can immediately read the other person's mind, and evade away unseen dangers, or acquire unknown facts that other's can't. His value is far beyond what most might think. Make sure to keep an eye on him, it can also drag him into unintended chaos. What about the others?"

"The second candidate is Elize, an Elf from the Forest of Zekon in the far east. Her talent lies in her unparalleled swordsmanship. Though she lacks brute strength compared to most, her skill with a sword is unmatched. In fact, she's undefeated in all battles so far, even against seasoned knights."

Kaito frowned. "Why isn't she part of the Royal Knights already?"

Gabriel sighed. "The Royal Knights only accept humans, due to long-standing tradition."

"That's ridiculous," Kaito muttered. "Elize's talent is exceptional. Make sure she's monitored as well."

Then, a thought struck Kaito, and he asked, "Why are only humans allowed in the Royal Knights? Is there a specific reason?"

Gabriel explained, "The Royal Knight Order was established centuries ago to defend the Empire from natural beasts. Back then, non-human races were rare, and other nations didn't exist. Over time, this cultural bias became tradition."

"Then let's change it," Kaito declared. "Blocking talent based on race is absurd. What do I need to do to make the Royal Knights open to all?"

Gabriel smirked slightly. "Once the 'Moral Rights Law' is passed, the 'Right to Work' clause will allow anyone to join the Order. There might be some resistance, but you could issue a decree to formalize the change and set an example."

Kaito chuckled. "You're sneakier than you look, Gabriel."

"Who's the last one?" He asked, finally.

"The third candidate is Filo, an apprentice mage from the outskirts of the capital. His talent lies in his unique magical affinity. He is a rare Dark mage. While he is capable of a lot of unknown great deeds, unfortunately, Dark magic is stigmatized, and he's been ostracized as a result."

"That's awful!" Kaito exclaimed. "His talent is rare and worth cultivating. Gabriel, can we ensure he doesn't face further discrimination?"

"If he's selected through the Talent Search, and we publicly recognize Dark Magic as legitimate, it could help," Gabriel suggested.

Kaito nodded in agreement. "That's fair. He'll earn respect through his accomplishments."

And with that, the discussion wrapped up. Plans for the Royal Academy were set, and three promising individuals stood out amidst the Talent Search.

Nicol Austere, the son of poor peasants in Nanzig village, was born with an insatiable hunger for knowledge. Despite his parents' love, their lack of education left him yearning for more. His only solace was in self-study, but that was never enough.

There's a myth, whispered in the darkest corners of the world, that Null magic is the manifestation of one's deepest desire. Whether truth or fable, Nicol's gift—or curse—manifested as the power to read minds.

It all began with a dream. One word echoed in his mind: Reveal.

The next day, while playing with his friend Claude, he absentmindedly whispered the word. A strange, mirror-like cloud appeared above Claude, showing a vivid image: Claude eating sweets.

Nicol, curious, blurted, "Hey, Claude, do you want to eat sweets?"

Claude stared at him, wide-eyed. "Yeah, I was literally thinking that just now! How did you know?"

"Just a hunch," Nicol lied, brushing it off.

But it was no coincidence. Time proved his suspicions right. Nicol's power grew, but so did people's fear of him. They called him a monster, avoiding him like a plague.

Now, he's a loner with nothing but questions. But when the Emperor, known for his fairness and bold reforms, announced an opportunity for all to prove their worth, hope stirred in Nicol's heart.

Maybe fate isn't set in stone. With that thought, Nicol set out to change his life.

Elize Erezia, the daughter of a noble Elf family in the Forest of Zekon, was a prodigy with the sword. Her natural talent was undeniable, but her parents despised it. They wanted her to focus on magic—on mastering her Fire and Wind affinities, the hallmarks of noble elves. But Elize's heart belonged to the blade.

Tensions grew until, unable to bear their constant scorn, she fled the forest. She made her way to the capital and trained tirelessly to become a Royal Knight, a lifelong dream. But dreams can shatter.

The Royal Guard didn't accept non-humans. Elize's efforts, her sacrifices—they all meant nothing.

Left with no choice, she became an adventurer. Though she excelled in her new life, the sting of rejection never faded. Her dream felt farther than ever, and deep down, she feared it would never come true.

But then, the Emperor's announcement changed everything. A chance to prove her worth, to rise above prejudice, to pursue her dream.

Is it possible? Could this be the opportunity I've been waiting for?

Renewed with hope, Elize picked up her blade and stepped forward, ready to face whatever trials awaited her.

Filo Aurnald, the son of a middle-class family in the outskirts of the capital. His life changed at eight years old, the day he discovered his magical affinity. At first, his family celebrated; a rare Element like his was a mark of distinction. Or so they thought.

Then the whispers began. Then the stares.

Filo's affinity was Dark, the sixth Element of the Hexagram system. Dark magic, associated with demons and misfortune, was feared and despised by humans. Soon, his family was ostracized. Friends stopped visiting, and invitations ceased. They became pariahs.

For years, Filo shut himself away, retreating into solitude. Survival, not happiness, became his only goal.

But the Emperor's announcement broke through the walls he had built around himself. A small spark of hope flickered.

A chance for redemption? It seemed impossible, yet he couldn't ignore it.

Filo stepped outside for the first time in years, the Emperor's words echoing in his mind. If there was even the slightest possibility of changing his fate, he had to try.