Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: World Quest
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The Imperial Palace Banquet Hall.
In the magnificent hall that showcased the Alpharion Empire's immense power, colorful magical lights illuminated the entire space, and the melodies of court musicians echoed throughout. Nobles from the central aristocracy, along with the young ladies and scions of their families, were trickling into the banquet hall.
The Emperor of the Empire, 'Friedrich von Alpharion.'
He stood with his chancellor on a balcony on the upper floor of the hall, looking down upon the festivities.
The nobles attending the banquet were already holding wine glasses and chatting amongst themselves.
But they were not the main stars of the evening.
"They're starting to gather."
"Your Majesty, when do you plan to descend?"
At the chancellor's words, the Emperor shook his head.
"The guests of honor have yet to arrive. Ah, there they come."
Ooh-!
A stir went through the hall.
New faces had appeared in a place where they always met the same nobles.
The 'adventurers from the stars,' who had repelled the northern threat, began to enter the Imperial Palace Banquet Hall.
The male adventurers entered the hall one by one. They were all dressed in formal attire styled after the Alpharion Empire.
The Emperor watched them with a pleased smile.
"Excellent. Is this your handiwork?"
"As your humble servant, it is my duty to attend to such matters."
The elderly chancellor, his face covered by a white beard, bowed his head, overwhelmed by the Emperor's praise.
Next, it was the female adventurers' turn.
The female adventurers entering the hall in beautiful dresses were also quite stunning. Some possessed a beauty that would surely keep the young noblemen sleepless at night.
"Indeed, dressed like this, they are all handsome men and beautiful women. So these are the beings from another world, the so-called adventurers from the stars."
Beings who could not be judged by appearance alone.
The Emperor watched them with calm eyes.
Since their appearance on this continent, the Emperor had investigated them in various ways.
He knew that their true existence was in another world, and they possessed separate bodies here. They could also disappear at will. For the most part, they were benevolent toward the people of this world.
And.
"To think that she was one of them."
*Clack, clack.*
At the sight of the last two women to appear, the murmuring in the hall ceased.
As the gentle music of the musicians, focused solely on their work, filled the air, one of the two women who entered the hall—the shorter one—was…
The descent of a goddess.
Truly, a beauty that could topple nations.
Few words could exist to praise her beauty.
The current Emperor couldn't help but complain a little to the first Emperor. The portraits hanging in the corridors of the section reserved only for the royal family failed to capture even a fraction of the Great Mother's beauty.
A youthful appearance and a small frame.
But such a young exterior did not detract from her beauty.
Her white hair shone like silver, reflecting the lights of the banquet hall. Between the bangs that covered one eye, an obsidian gaze shone with a sharp light.
The girl had cast off the appearance of a cloaked adventurer. The pure white dress that enveloped her body made her beauty shine even brighter.
The Emperor was purely in awe of this pinnacle of beauty.
"Hah."
"She is indeed beautiful, but to think such a small girl is one of the forgotten heroes of old."
The Emperor clicked his tongue at the chancellor, who was tilting his head in confusion.
"Tsk, do you also judge others by their appearance alone?"
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. It is a matter difficult for my limited understanding to grasp."
"As you know, the adventurers from the stars are beings whose age cannot be gauged by their looks. The flow of time for them may be different from ours."
The Emperor turned his gaze from the bowing chancellor and glanced around the quieted hall.
Then he burst into a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha!"
The eyes of the young noblemen looked as if they would pop out. Even the young ladies wore expressions as if they were dreaming.
However, that girl was not a being they could reach. They were only permitted to feel a sense of reverence.
And the beautiful red-haired woman beside the girl was vigilantly scanning the surroundings with a sharp gaze. Because of her, they would be even less able to approach.
The Emperor gazed at them, lost in thought.
The Hero who defeated the Demon King. And her companions.
Had the Demon King, in his very last moments, cast a curse to erase their names from this world?
Their names had been forgotten.
A 'name' contains the essence of a being. For their names to be forgotten was the same as their very existence fading away.
Even the current Emperor, Friedrich, would not have recognized her presence had he not read the first Emperor's journal. He would have simply dismissed her as someone who resembled the portrait but was clearly a different person.
Only the first Emperor, who had been close to the ancient hero, had not forgotten the Great Mother and left a record of her.
"Oh, First Emperor."
The current Emperor sighed.
Ironically, most of the first Emperor's journal was filled with complaints about the iron-clad protection of the female companions surrounding the Great Mother.
The fact that the first Emperor had wanted to take the Great Mother, who looked like a small girl, as his empress was a secret the current Emperor would have to take to his grave.
At least until his own descendants gained access to the secret chamber of the Imperial Palace.
"Well then, shall we make our way down?"
"As you command, Your Majesty."
The Emperor and his chancellor descended from the balcony.
Due to the Great Mother's request to remain unknown, he could not treat her as such, but he was certain of one thing.
On this continent.
The names of the forgotten Hero and her companions.
They would once again be praised and resound.
*
"Wow, I didn't think this game had an OST, but the music's great, huh?"
"It has a classical feel, but it's a bit more upbeat."
The guild members marveled at the performance of the imperial court musicians.
I held onto the hem of Chris's dress and peeked my head out, looking around the banquet hall.
Unfamiliar people.
But familiar music.
It was a melody that had echoed from simple instruments in the war barracks.
My nose tingled for no reason.
"It's nice..."
"Hm? What is?"
"Ah, nothing."
I shook my head at Chris's question.
The central hall was still empty. But there would probably be a time for dancing there.
On the tables at the edge of the banquet hall were lavish foods and expensive-looking wines.
Come to think of it, I've never tried drinking in this body.
Can you even get drunk in virtual reality?
"L-L-Look at that. Still waters run deep, they say. I guess he does have the looks for it."
Chris snickered and pointed toward the window.
"Hmph."
Over there, Death of Death was striking a dramatic pose, holding a wine glass and gazing outside.
"You're an adventurer, right? Please tell us about your adventures!"
"Move, I was here first!"
A crowd of what appeared to be young noble ladies had already gathered around Death of Death.
My jaw dropped.
Seriously, that kind of thing works in the Alpharion Empire?
Young noblemen also began to gather around the female users one by one. They extended their hands and introduced themselves.
"Ah, haha, I see."
Beimerung, while accepting the self-introduction of a rather young-looking master, shot a troubled glance in our direction. I giggled from behind Chris.
No one approached me and Chris. That was because Chris was puffing out her chest and glaring at everyone around us.
"Grrrrrr!"
"Sis... that growling."
As I was looking around from behind Chris, the music changed.
*Dum-da-dum, dum-da-dum.* A little loud. *Da-da-da-dum.* Very flashy. What was this? Someone's entrance theme?
"Feels like a division commander's entrance!"
"Hahaha. What, the Republic of Korea doesn't have conscription anymore, does it? Did you watch some old military drama or something?"
Following the gazes of Seopseobi and Go Seung-woo, we could see two people descending the stairs from the upper floor.
They were the Emperor and his chancellor.
*Rustle.*
The surrounding nobles all lowered their postures in unison. The ladies in dresses lifted their skirts, and the scions in formal wear knelt on one knee.
Chris nudged me.
"Should we?"
I shook my head.
"They said we don't have to."
Chris relayed the message to the guild members.
The Emperor, who had stepped into the center of the hall, opened his mouth to address the quieted assembly.
"I express my gratitude to all of you for attending this event today."
Then the Emperor looked our way and smiled.
"As you know, the guests of honor for today's banquet are the adventurers over here. They are the heroes who repelled the demonic threat that loomed in the north. They may be unfamiliar with the etiquette of the Empire, but as they are my invited guests, I ask for your gracious understanding."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
"As you are all well aware, the Empire's current situation is not so simple. The potential threat in the eastern gorge, which we have not yet fully subjugated, has begun to stir. The monsters are growing more ferocious, and their onslaught grows fiercer by the day."
The Emperor looked directly at us.
"This may be sudden, but I ask for your understanding. Heroes, may I entrust the eastern part of the Alpharion Empire to you?"
*Ting.*
-World Quest Initiated-
[Repel the demonic threat looming over the eastern part of the Alpharion Empire]
[Conditions for opening the 'Endless Gorge' expansion pack have been met]
[29 days, 23 hours, and 59 minutes until the opening of the Alpharion Empire's eastern region, 'Erin's Gorge']
"You got it too?"
"Yeah. I think this is popping up for all users. My messenger is blowing up right now."
"So the next expansion is the eastern part of the Alpharion Empire."
The initiation of a World Quest.
The high-level users gathered here also began to comment one by one.
With that, the Emperor moved to his seat. It was a surprisingly secluded spot, a considerate gesture from the Emperor for us to enjoy the banquet without pressure.
However.
I couldn't help but let out a small smile.
"The Emperor is a smart one."
The current Emperor understood the psychology and motivations of the users and knew how to use them.
The Emperor's sudden request had inflated the users' expectations.
Of course, there were people who played RPGs seeking tranquility, but the high-level users gathered here were not them. They all wanted to get ahead of others, and they craved more dangerous and heart-pounding adventures.
To the Emperor, who gave me a nod of acknowledgment, I also offered a slight smile.