This article details the particularities of Underworld. For the background and behind-the-scenes details, please refer to Project Alicization 1/4.

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Summary

Underworld is the world created in Project Alicization 1/4 that is described in Alicization Arc.

Law System

Human Empire (Continued)

The rule against harming other humans has a less-common yet expected backstory to it. Quinella had been fearing the people whose parents might die before having passed down all of the rules, which would free their hand to kill and thus learn the secret of increasing their System Control Authority parameter, so they could potentially supercede Quinella's own SC Authority level. She had needed to decrease the probability of that by any means possible, which was why killing is forbidden.

The following thousand or more Taboo Index corrections were all intended to make the humans' lives the safest, listing the dangerous disease-spreading swamps, poisonous plants not to feed to livestock, and so on. The ultimate goal was to make everyone so reliant on the Taboo Index that they would stop thinking for themselves and, again, potentially question the Church's authority.

That said, the phrasing in the Taboo Index-bestowed Verses is generic enough for some shrewd people to be able to circumvent some of its tenets using a convenient occasion or thinking out of the box.

Known Clauses

• Book One, Chapter One, Verse One: Rebeling against the Axiom Church is forbidden.
• "Another’s life must not be intentionally shortened for any reason, aside from those listed in a separate verse."
• No claiming items that belong to other humans without permission.
• All children must be taught the clauses of the Taboo Index.
• Book One, Chapter Three, Verse Eleven: "Thou shalt not cross the End Mountains that encircle the Human Empire."
• Kissing another person's lips is forbidden. (likely unless they are married)
• Entering swamps deemed to be the source of diseases is forbidden.
• Hunting more animals than permitted is forbidden.
• Abandoning one's Sacred Task during work days is forbidden.
• "Holding multiple Callings at once is forbidden."
• One can only hunt animals if they have the Sacred Task of "Hunter".
• Deliberately destroying items that are sold in the shop is forbidden.
• One must pay for an item if it was broken accidentally, unless the owner excuses it.
• Running away after committing a crime is forbidden.
• Deliberately destroying goods that belong to others is forbidden.
• Obstructing the nobles' right to judge is forbidden.

Other Laws

The rules, standards, laws not mentioned in the Taboo Index work the same way, but if, for example, a village law contradicts an Empire Fundamental Law (帝国基本法, teikoku kihon hō) or an Empire Fundamental Law contradicts the Taboo Index, the higher law takes priority.

The Dark Territory has only one well-defined rule: the weak shall follow the strong who are their allies. For example, when Kirito kills a goblin party leader, the next goblin immediately steps up and the rest of the goblins follow him.

Human Empire Society

Sacred Tasks

A Sacred Task, or Calling (天職 tenshoku), is an assigned occupation that everyone in the Human Empire has. It is usually given by the local figure of authority at the age of ten in spring, but there are exceptions. The first Sacred Task in a person's life cannot be picked by the person or taken back.

A promotion allows to change the Sacred Task. If the Task can be completed, then once it is, a new one can be chosen at will. If a Task does not generate income, the locality will pay the person. If the Task requires extra tools or weapons, those will also be given, which may turn out to be an advantage. It is also possible to help someone else with their Sacred Task.

The Sacred Task may tie a person to their workplace location, only allowing them to travel until the next weekday. In practice, most villagers are "leashed" in that manner.

Continued on page 5.

References

• Underworld - Fan Wiki
• Sword Art Online Alicization Arc - Yen Press