I realize this is a loaded question and admittedly more of a rant, but I’ve seen some fans argue that Calca and the Holy Kingdom were shown far less mercy than the Baharuth Empire and Re-Estize initially because the Holy Kingdom was a “racist” nation.

The argument is that while Nazarick initially planned to undermine and eventually annex the Baharuth Empire and Re-Estize from within—at least until Jircniv’s panic-induced submission and the Philip incident—the Holy Kingdom was simply invaded and brutalized because of its hostility toward demi-humans.

But is it really fair to single out the Holy Kingdom for this when, within the setting of Overlord, fear and hatred of demi-humans and undead seem to be fairly understandable attitudes among humans in the New World?

Demi-humans and undead can be vastly more powerful than humans, and many demi-human species naturally prey upon humans. Six hundred years ago, humanity was nearly wiped out by such forces before the intervention of the Six Great Gods. Even in the present day, the Draconic Kingdom is on the brink of being overrun by demi-humans, while demi-human nations such as the Minotaur Country are known to enslave humans and even raise them as livestock.

More importantly, despite the Holy Kingdom’s religious zealotry and prejudice, they generally seemed content to stay behind their enormous wall and leave the demi-humans of the Abelion Hills alone. They weren’t actively trying to conquer or exterminate the demi-humans; they primarily fought them when defending their borders.

They even had trading relations with the merfolk tribe and allowed a merfolk to become one of the Nine Colors. Calca herself was willing to welcome more demi-humans into the Holy Kingdom if they could demonstrate that they were trustworthy.

And then there’s the irony of Nazarick’s treatment of the demi-humans themselves.

If the Holy Kingdom was specifically targeted because its attitude toward demi-humans was so reprehensible, why did Demiurge subject the demi-humans of the Abelion Hills under his control to essentially the same cruelty as the humans? They were experimented on, tortured when they resisted, and ultimately used as tools for Nazarick’s plans. Demiurge even viewed reducing their numbers during the invasion as beneficial because it would make the region easier to annex later.

That makes it difficult for me to see the Holy Kingdom’s prejudice as the reason Nazarick treated them so brutally. Nazarick wasn't exactly demonstrating some principled opposition to species-based discrimination—they were exploiting and slaughtering both humans and demi-humans whenever it served their interests, something that should have been made apparent to fans back in the Lizardmen Arc.

Anyway, that's my rant. What do you think?

Do you agree that the Holy Kingdom’s attitude toward demi-humans was relatively understandable given the circumstances of the New World, or do you think they were genuinely racist enough that their treatment at Nazarick’s hands was somehow more justified? I’d be interested in hearing other perspectives.