Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: The Empire
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Chris met with the envoy from the Alpharion Empire. I was tired from my rare outing, so my guardian, Chris, handled it for me.
"Yawn."
I yawned.
*Rub, rub.*
I rubbed my eyes.
Logging in right after seeing the cherry blossoms.
On days with long outings, I should go straight to bed.
*Pat, pat.*
I was sitting on the lap of Chris, who was perched on a tree stump, letting her stroke my head.
"An audience? A ball?"
"Yep. The emperor of the Alpharion Empire sent an invitation. To the first, second, and third clear squads of the 'Tree of the Abyss,' respectively. The emperor's envoy has already left, and I told them I'd pass the message to the No Name Squad."
"Hmm..."
First clear squad, the No Name Squad.
Second clear squad, the Red and White Squad.
Third clear squad, Skada's Attack Squad.
All of us were invited to the imperial castle of the Alpharion Empire.
"Red and White and I are originally from the Alpharion Empire, so that makes sense, but isn't Skada's squad affiliated with the Betarion Empire?"
"Technically, yes. But you have to see players as mercenaries for hire, right? Strictly speaking, they're unaffiliated. They might be using this as an opportunity to draw them to their side."
I nodded.
The two empires were fighting for their interests under the surface. Players battled each other in faction wars to mine precious magic crystals.
The players fought to obtain magic crystals through quests, and the Alpharion and Betarion Empires used those players to their own advantage. In a way, the two empires were quite remarkable. To think they would use the 'adventurers from the stars' for their own gain.
I voiced a sudden thought.
"By the way, inviting the heroes who defeated a corps commander means..."
"That the empire was also keeping an eye on the situation in the north, where the demons' influence is growing. Isn't it strange? The empire, which seemed so busy with its power struggles, is finally making a move."
It seemed they hadn't cared at all about the dark cloud hanging over this continent—the demons. Does this mean the empires were actually doing their jobs?
Then perhaps.
"Didn't an invitation come from the Betarion Empire too?"
"Sharp, aren't you? That's right. The Betarion Empire sent an envoy too, but I heard they turned back after confirming the Alpharion Empire's envoy was already here."
Is the order determined by the first clear squad? Since I, from the 'No Name Squad,' am affiliated with the Alpharion Empire.
In any case, Skada's squad was probably invited because they're mercenaries with no official affiliation.
"Are they trying to give us a reward for the first clear instead of the game company? Hehe. Praising our achievements and throwing a banquet event as a bonus. Nobles attend, we dance at a ball! It's a classic event in fantasy games, right?"
Of course, the superficial intention was likely as Chris said.
To praise the achievements of their own mercenaries while also trying to win over those from other nations.
But, I feel like there's something more.
***
The capital, it's been a while!
I bounced up and down in front of the fountain in the central plaza of 'Patama,' the capital of the Alpharion Empire.
*Hop, hop.*
"Chris, Chris! It's the fountain!"
Chris chuckled as she watched me hopping in front of the fountain.
"Heh, why are you acting like it's your first time seeing it? We saw it all the time when we were leveling in the plains, right? We even went shopping here together."
"It's been a long time since the last expansion pack, hasn't it?"
I hadn't visited the capital since starting my adventures in the north. After the expansion opened, I'd been using the towns in the northern part of the continent and the elf forest as my base.
"Did you stop by your house?"
"Oh, my housing. Hmm, I doubt anything's happened to it."
Chris seemed to have remembered my house in the imperial capital.
I had blocked players from entering with the door lock function. I knew it didn't apply to NPCs, but even if a petty thief picked the lock and got in, there was nothing to steal.
*Clomp, clomp.*
I walked along the main street with a light step.
The imperial capital is quite large. Still, the massive buildings are easy to see.
As I followed the road leading straight from the plaza, the imperial castle, showing off its immense presence between the stone buildings, came into view.
"It's so big you can see it from here. We'll be the first players to go inside, won't we?"
As if boasting the power of one of the continent's only two great empires, the vast inner castle grounds, visible even from here, were filled with splendid medieval-style buildings. I wondered if the buildings on the Astria Continent had their own architectural styles, like the Baroque style on Earth.
"You said no players can enter that castle yet, right?"
"Yep. It seems the NPC guards and knights block anyone from entering."
It might be possible to force your way in, but what player would pick a fight with an entire empire? You could end up being barred from ever operating in the Alpharion Empire again.
We walked for a while and finally reached the imperial castle.
In front of the giant castle gate, two guards and a knight in ornate ceremonial armor greeted us.
Chris approached the knight and handed him the invitation she had received from the emperor's envoy.
"Confirmed. Lady Chris, Lady Rain."
The knight bowed his head with polite court etiquette and had the guards open the gate.
*Creeeak-*
"This way."
A middle-aged man in something like a butler's uniform guided us. His name was something de something, wasn't it? Anyway, judging by the long name, he seemed to be a noble. Then again, I'd heard that even butlers in the imperial castle were of noble birth?
The central imperial palace, a long and wide corridor.
The various decorations and works of art lining both sides of the corridor captivated my eyes.
As expected of an empire that has lasted a thousand years. I could feel its power even from these small details.
"A thousand-year empire."
The Alpharion and Betarion Empires from a thousand years ago, as I remembered them. No, they weren't empires back then.
What were these nations like a thousand years ago?
In truth, you couldn't even call them nations. They were just gatherings of humans who had lost their homes to the demons, united under the cause of driving them out and establishing a human kingdom.
Back then, the leaders of the two nations met in field tents. Splendid buildings like this? They didn't even exist.
Chris and I arrived in front of a large door.
*Tap, tap.*
Chris, who had been gawking and looking around the imperial castle, tapped my shoulder.
"Rain, Rain! Look at this! Is this the audience chamber? Is the emperor waiting for us inside? Will the ball start right after we meet him? What should I do? Should I have bought a dress? Maybe I can buy one from the auction house right now...!"
"Chris..."
I glanced at the butler and nudged Chris in the side. It was a signal to stop making such a fuss.
"This is the waiting room. Once all the invited guests have gathered, I will guide you to the audience chamber."
*Creek.*
The door opened, and familiar faces appeared inside.
*Pitter-patter.*
"Rain! Chris!"
"Beimerung, you were already here."
I took the hand of the pink-haired mage who had scurried over and smiled brightly.
"You and Chris were the last of our guild members to arrive."
Behind Beimerung, I saw the familiar faces of the Red and White guild. Death of Death and Cherni waved at us.
Next to them were the duo of bulky Warriors and the duo of Rangers, with the Mages and Spirit Masters nearby.
Chris looked at Beimerung's outfit with disappointment.
"What, Beimerung. Why didn't you dress up?"
"Huh? Dress up?"
Beimerung was wearing her mage robes.
Some people were wearing outfits resembling suits, but most were in their class-specific gear obtained from dungeons and the like.
I poked Chris in the side again.
"See, Chris? Everyone is in their usual clothes."
"Tsk, for an imperial ball event, you all have no sense of romance."
Chris clicked her tongue.
"Huh?"
I tilted my head as I looked at the people gathered in the room.
Beimerung asked.
"Rain, what's wrong?"
"Skada's squad isn't here."
"Oh, Skada? She said she'd be a little late, but she should be here soon. We still have some time before the appointment anyway."
Seeing as she was already calling Skada by such a familiar term after just a few raids together on their alts, it seemed Beimerung had already befriended her with her characteristic friendliness.
*Knock, knock. Creek-*
The wait wasn't long.
Just as we had been late, Skada's party also arrived soon after.
"Looks like you were all here first. Hehe, nice to see you."
The third clear party of the 'Tree of the Abyss,' 'Skada's Attack Squad.'
They appeared in the waiting room.
Led by the beautiful, brown-haired squad leader, 'Skada,' with the tank 'Park Jeong-gwon' by her side. A few faces from the alt raid party were familiar, but there were also some I'd never seen before.
"Is everyone here now? One, two, three..."
Chris started counting the people.
12 members from the Red and White Squad, 12 from Skada's Attack Squad.
Everyone was here. It seemed no one was too busy to come.
"Huh...? From the No Name Squad, only Lady Rain is attending...?"
Skada tilted her head as she looked at me.
I avoided Skada's gaze and grabbed Chris's sleeve.
"It's so crowded."
"There's quite a few of us. But the audience chamber should be pretty spacious, right?"
*Knock, knock.*
There was a knock, and the butler who had guided us earlier appeared again.
"It is time for the audience."
The 25 heroes reacted in various ways—some were slightly nervous, others were gleefully anticipating rewards.
I, too, began to feel a sense of anticipation, though for a different reason than theirs.
A thousand years ago.
The leaders of the two nations who fought alongside me against the demons.
Their bloodline.
Let's see what they look like.