Saint Licketena: The Ambitious Ruler of Rakaje Kingdom

Saint Licketena, the sovereign of the Rakaje Kingdom, is a member of the Honyaskaya people. Twenty years ago, when humans invaded the surrounding nations of the Kototo Strait, Rakaje joined the Northern Alliance to resist the invasion. During this conflict, King Lupon, Licketena’s father, was killed in battle, and Licketena ascended the throne. While Lupon was a ruler who prioritized the well-being of his nation, Licketena harbored ambitions of expanding his territory through conquest.

When Rakaje captured human soldiers, they handed them over to Prince Licketena. He was particularly fascinated by human males who studied politics and was influenced by their teachings that a nation should serve its people, and in return, the people should be dedicated to the nation. Inspired by the concept of civilizing "barbaric" cultures, Licketena decided to conquer and colonize neighboring troublesome tribes.

After becoming king, Licketena maintained the existing feudal system but integrated humans into the nobility. These humans brought advanced scientific knowledge, and by collaborating with Teyone, the head of the scientific nation Yurthe who had become godlike in power, Rakaje and Yurthe merged. Licketena first conquered the lands of the Poho people, who were indigenous tribes preserving the traditional culture of Honyaskaya.

The forced occupation of Poho territory met with fierce resistance. The village chiefs of the Poho people were either enslaved or killed by Teyone's deadly weapons for their defiance. Despite the international ban on slavery, a few kingdoms, including Rakaje, continued the practice illegally, reducing the Poho people to the status of illegal slaves.

Although the Poho people paid heavy taxes and provided tributes, their demands for independence persisted. To suppress these demands, Rakaje initiated a campaign of indoctrination.

The indoctrination taught that:
"The kingdoms, including Seolwarin, are at the feet of their people, swaying to their constant complaints. Particularly, the nation of DoOn foolishly runs its affairs based on the opinions of its citizens rather than following their sovereign. A nation must stand above its people to govern and advance them. As residents of this nation, the state serves you, and in return, you pay taxes. Your primitive civilization has benefited from our advanced culture, and you are privileged because of it. The state is not beneath you; it is your caretaker. The sovereign looks after you with a father’s heart, and the nobility works tirelessly on your behalf. Slaves work because they are slaves, citizens pay taxes because they are citizens, and nobles rule because they are nobles. This order is divinely ordained, and opposing it is blasphemy and a crime against the state."

Some of the strong-willed natives succumbed to this indoctrination, believing that their subjugation was a divine fate and striving to accept it. However, a few chiefs retained their identity and resisted. One such chief narrowly escaped enslavement but was forced to pay taxes to the domain lord and tributes to the state, leading a humiliating existence.

To be continued...