Chapter 72 - Welcome to Neo-Hanyang
It was truly by chance that the First Imperial Princess, Dan Minha, saw the ‘Tablet of Revelation’.
Although she was officially acting as regent, in reality, all decision-making power was tightly held by Dan Minha’s mother, the Empress, who refused to let go.
As a result, her desk was often piled high with ‘miscellaneous tasks’ that the Empress didn’t need to bother with.
With eyes heavy with fatigue, while examining various inspection documents submitted by the Office of the Inspector General,
“This is…”
The intricate craftsmanship that didn’t fall behind even compared to the advanced machines of the Great Imperial Empire. And the subtle magical power clearly felt despite it being just a photograph of its form.
It was identical to the symbol of the Revelator that the goddess who appeared in her dreams to give revelations had spoken of.
Of course, until now, Dan Minha had never seriously believed in the goddess’s revelations.
Wasn’t it absurd?
That the world would end, and only one person, the Revelator, could prevent it.
But unlike before when there wasn’t even a hint of the Revelator, now this being called the Revelator was clearly manifesting at the entrance of the Great Imperial Empire.
Although she wasn’t particularly keen on bringing outsiders into the palace in such a turbulent political situation, she couldn’t go outside the palace either.
Dan Minha decided to meet the Revelator in person and judge for herself.
A few hours later.
“…”
Watching from afar as a group of women pulled carts loaded with sex automaton storage containers through the Junggwang Gate,
Dan Minha frowned, briefly considering withdrawing her decision and expelling them even now.
“Your Highness. How could you allow such indecent and immoral people into the palace? And sex automatons at that…”
Even her maid, who had served her since childhood, offered sincere advice while watching the ghastly scene, but.
“Still, aren’t they better than those lizard eunuchs who keep entering Geunjeongjeon and seducing Mother?”
It was already too late.
How could an arrow that has left the bow be put back in the quiver?
Dan Minha adjusted her official robes while looking at the colorful scene, and slowly stepped out of Jaseon Hall.
As darkness had completely fallen by now,
Only the LED inside the lantern was emitting a clear white light.
As Dan Minha set foot in the front courtyard, she examined the visitors through the face veil.
The goddess had said that the Revelator was one who led heroes.
…But the heroes were all, a bit, well, something.
First, two small girls bowing deeply to her.
They were wearing very cute little outfits, having tried to dress in the Great Imperial Empire’s style.
And the woman greeting her with a dazed expression had cobwebs all over her clothes, as if she had been rolling around in some warehouse.
“Human! Nice to meet you, woof!”
And a beastkin whose tail wagged twice per second.
She wasn’t particularly concerned about etiquette, but Dan Minha felt like each of them had a screw loose somewhere.
At least,
“Elise greets the rising sun of the Great Imperial Empire, the First Imperial Princess.”
The woman who performed the perfect court etiquette and greeted her politely while drawing her chest in exuded dignity, but.
The most important figure.
Daringly and irreverently, even at the place to receive the Imperial Princess, they kept their hood pulled low and merely bowed their head slightly to show respect.
“Are you the Revelator?”
Dan Minha asked calmly, trying hard to hide her rising disappointment.
However,
“…No. Please wait a moment.”
Unexpectedly, a bold woman’s voice flowed out from under the hood.
“Oh my!”
“Th-This indecency…!”
As the woman slowly removed her hood,
Exclamations of shock burst from the lips of the maids surrounding the Revelator’s group on guard.
Huge melons that were difficult to understand how they had been hidden popped out, precariously covered by just a single thin cloth.
Even her lower body was in a state with her private parts wrapped in white cloth, so vulgar, vulgar indeed…!
“Oh my, Saha. You’ll need to change clothes in a bit.”
The woman who introduced herself as Elise casually took out a cloth and covered her body as if nothing was wrong, despite that indecent appearance.
Slightly dumbfounded,
Dan Minha bit her lip lightly to regain her composure and asked a question.
“The Revelator?”
At that question, Elise’s eyes half-opened.
“So you knew? Well then, just a moment.”
And then,
Creak──
As she watched her open the sex automaton storage container on the cart they had brought, Dan Minha wondered what on earth she was doing, but.
“Heave-ho.”
“Oh my…”
Seeing a man pop out from inside, her mind went blank for a moment.
The inside of the coffin was more comfortable than expected.
Although it was pitch black without a single point of light, there was oddly enough padding material that fit the human body perfectly.
And the faint scent of perfume lingering from Saha’s long stay inside, ooh, ooh…
Moreover, whether Saha was unexpectedly talented at pulling rickshaws or not, thanks to her steady driving skills that showed no shaking, I was able to sleep soundly and even snore.
But that was only for a while.
Creak.
Suddenly, light poured into my eyes as I was drowsily rolling around in dreamland.
As I opened my sleepy eyes, there was one unfamiliar woman’s bewildered face wearing a military cap.
“Ah, ah…”
After letting out an incomprehensible groan, the lid closed again with a thud.
Judging by the 18th-century Joseon-style attire, it seems we’ve properly entered the palace grounds.
Then that’s a signal that we’ll soon arrive at our destination.
Ahem, ahem, I unnecessarily cleared my throat alone.
As I waited calmly,
“Ark-nim? I’ll open it now.”
Elise’s voice whispered softly from outside the coffin.
I responded by knocking on the lid like tapping.
Finally, enjoying the moonlight pouring in fully to my eyes now adjusted to the darkness,
“Heave-ho.”
I unnecessarily put some spirit into it and popped out.
My eyes hurt a little every time I see bright light, but I’ll get used to it soon.
“Ark-nim? That person is the Imperial Princess of the Great Imperial Empire.”
At Elise’s words, I turned my head slightly to look.
Unlike the modified hanbok our heroes had roughly put on, there was a woman wearing traditional ceremonial robes that were voluminous and dignified on a different level.
Although her face wasn’t visible due to the face veil,
A database already existed in my brain.
5-star. Minha.
One of the few new characters that my past self couldn’t pull.
At the time, I was experiencing financial difficulties, so I couldn’t hit pity and died miserably, treating her as ‘sour grapes’.
She was popular on the gallery too.
Because she was a yandere character type that had become quite rare recently.
It was irrelevant to me.
It probably will be in the future too.
I don’t particularly plan to pull for her.
So, with the sense of dealing with an NPC here,
“Pleased to meet you. I am the Revelator, Ark.”
I recalled the traditional greeting method I had seen in historical dramas and greeted as politely as possible.
And I waited.
…By now, there should have been lines like, raise your head, or something.
“Your Highness?”
“Ah, aah. Ah… Yes, raise your head.”
Thank you, nameless court lady.
Thanks to you, my neck health has been preserved.
The conversation went incredibly well, better than expected.
Even when we took Yohena, Ari, and Renatel out of the coffins, there was a commotion each time, but it seemed to pass well.
And during the private audience,
No matter what request I made──
“Do as you wish.”
She nodded her head like an all-affirming angel and accepted everything I said.
Citizenship for me and the heroes, acquired!
Free pass to enter and exit the palace freely, obtained!
It was suspicious how well things were going.
Of course, there was a slight restriction attached.
Just as I was about to pay my final respects and leave,
Grip!
“Ugh.”
The Imperial Princess grasped my wrist with truly hero-like intense grip strength.
“However, there may be those who gossip about allowing foreigners to enter and exit the capital, so you must come to the Eastern Palace to pay your respects once in the morning and once in the evening without fail.”
“…? I will do so.”
I thought she might demand bribes or something like that.
What’s so difficult about showing my face twice?
After readily agreeing to that request,
I came out of the palace with the heroes, proud and triumphant.
[Tower of Wishes 21st Floor – Great Imperial Empire Zone 4 Cleared!]
And jingle jingle, divine stone deposit complete.
“Yawn…”
Although I had slept quite a bit, fatigue suddenly hit me due to the unexpectedly long time required for each zone on the 21st floor.
Seeing the weariness on the heroes’ faces as well, it seems we’ll need to slow down the clearing tempo for a while if it continues like this.
“Well then, shall we go back now… Huh?”
Just as I was about to return outside the tower,
[You can now enter the Tower of Wishes 20.5th Floor!]
[The 20.5th Floor of the Tower of Wishes is Neo-Hanyang of the Great Imperial Empire, serving as the role of the second hub city.]
[You can build a general store in Neo-Hanyang.]
[You can build a guild house in Neo-Hanyang.]
New notification windows popped up one after another.