Hand Over Earth's Entertainment Right Now! [07]
Hand Over Earth's Entertainment Right Now! [07]
This is my second visit to the White House.
Even though it's the same building, the atmosphere is different.
The first time I came, I landed in a hurry and tore up the lawn, and due to various unavoidable circumstances, I knocked out the security guards. Looking back now...
It was truly a dragon-like visit.
I had just charged forward blindly.
But today, I'm walking in.
The area around the White House was packed with people.
Hunters, citizens, reporters holding cameras.
There were even children holding their parents' hands.
I don't know where they all gathered from; it was so crowded I couldn't even see the road. It's just surprising that this many people gathered in just two days.
Soyeon-eonni walked beside me.
Her steps were confident and unruffled.
She's elegant whenever I see her.
I was thoroughly trained too, but...
I still have a long way to go regarding etiquette.
I wonder if the day will come when I can walk like her.
Though it doesn't matter if I can't.
"A lot of people have gathered to see the Princess-nim."
Sturdy fences lined both sides of the path leading to the main gate, and people were packed in tight along the gaps.
The moment I took a step, cheers and murmurs rushed in from all sides at once.
"It's the Dragon Princess!"
"She's here, she's really here...!"
"Princess-nim!"
Click, click along with flashes. The sound of shutters pressing came in succession.
As people holding microphones blocked the way and chattered away, the security guards quickly approached and forcibly dragged them away. You all have it rough, too.
I took in the gazes with my whole body.
I'm already used to this level. It was similar at every official event in the Great Goryeo Empire. The scale is a bit different, but the situation itself is not much different.
It's a shame to just pass by.
Should I show a little fan service?
I lightly raised my hand and waved.
Just once. It was only that much, but...
"Waaaaah...!"
"She waved! She waved at me!"
"Princess-nim, over here, over here!"
Some held up their smartphones and filmed.
Some screamed without any real meaning.
Someone was crying their eyes out.
I don't know why they're crying, but...
They must be crying because they're happy, right?
To be this happy over a single hand gesture.
Let's show them one more thing and go inside.
I raised the corners of my mouth slightly.
"The Princess-nim sm-smiled!"
"Ph-photo. Did you take a photo?"
People dressed in Hunter gear shouted in unison.
"Thank you, I was there that day too!"
"Thanks to you, I survived! I came back from the dead!"
"Please exterminate the monsters for me!"
Some of them looked familiar.
There were those who had spoken to me.
There were also those who had sat down in fear.
Is the fear from back then gone now?
"Now, let's greet the Princess-nim. Hello."
A woman holding a child lifted the child's hand and waved it. The child didn't seem to know what was going on, but smiled brightly and reached out to me.
Seeing that innocent child, my heart warmed up for no reason. Thinking that a single playful whim had saved so many people.
Everyone is lively...
They are enjoying this situation.
If I could, I'd want to just play too.
It was a little disappointing.
I fixed my wandering eyes forward.
The attendants in front of the main gate bowed in unison. The door opened, and I stepped inside.
First of all, there were no ordinary citizens.
People who looked like politicians, military officials, broadcasting station people. It was completely different from the scenery I saw on the street. The atmosphere was subdued.
It wasn't quiet, but it wasn't noisy either.
They looked at me while talking in low voices.
Carefully, and then carefully again.
I walked down the hallway following the attendant's guidance.
Broadcasting station people stuck to my side.
"Princess-nim, the content of today's speech..."
"I shall speak once I enter."
"The conditions for exchange with Earth, specifically..."
"I said I would speak once I enter."
"Regarding this Gate incident..."
"You will know once I enter."
...The same thing three times.
Ugh, annoying.
Can't they understand what I'm saying?
I didn't stop walking.
An attendant opened the way in front.
That inside is today's stage.
Then, shall I go in?
✦✦✦
A microphone on the podium.
Rows of chairs, the front seats already full.
Even cameras turning from all sides.
I looked around the room once.
I stepped up onto the podium and stood in front of the microphone.
As soon as Soyeon-eonni took her place behind me.
People's gazes were focused all at once.
Not even the sound of breathing could be heard.
As if they didn't want to miss a single word.
Without blinking an eye.
Everyone was holding their breath.
Cold yet hot heat.
After calmly clearing my throat.
I brought my mouth to the microphone.
"Greetings. Humanity of Earth. I am Wang Yeon-bi, Princess of the Great Goryeo Empire. I do not know all the customs of this place, so I ask for your understanding if there are any discourtesies."
People sitting in the front row hurriedly moved their hands to take notes. Along with the murmurs, flashes went off incessantly.
A moment later, a hand went up from the front row.
A woman in a neat suit.
Probably someone from a broadcasting station.
"You said Great Goryeo Empire, but where exactly did you come from?"
Asking that question first, huh.
It would be faster to show them directly than to explain in words. I gathered magic power in my palm.
The space changed at once.
The universe unfolded before their eyes.
The dark background was filled with stars.
An illusion crafted with magic power.
However, no one would feel it was a lie. It felt like if you reached out, you could touch it, and there was even an illusion of cold air brushing past.
Such precise illusion magic... is impossible unless you are a dragon.
And those who watched this, too.
"What is this..."
"Is it real...?"
"Aliens are attacking!"
"Th-the floor is gone!"
A few people stepped back. Some reached out and only grabbed empty air.
By the time the confusion subsided a little, one of the countless stars drew closer.
Closer. Closer. It narrowed down in an instant.
It was blue. Just like Earth.
But it wasn't Earth.
Just a similarly looking planet.
"...It's incredibly beautiful."
Someone gasped.
When a military official sitting in the front row stood up, the person next to them grabbed their arm and pulled them down.
A reporter who was stepping back with their lens pointed upward tripped over a chair and fell flat on their back. No one cared. Everyone was looking at the planet.
"This planet is Artemis. It is a place where Elves, Dwarves, Lizardmen, and Dragons live, and it is the center of the Great Goryeo Empire."
I withdrew the magic power.
The universe filled with stars slowly melted away like mist, and the space returned to normal.
No one said anything.
Everyone looked down at their hands for a long time.
The hands that had reached out and grabbed only empty air earlier.
As if they had dreamt a fleeting dream.
The first to speak was from the back.
"Considering the difference between the Empire's technological power and Earth's current level, I am concerned about whether a truly equal agreement is possible. Can safety be guaranteed in a situation where there is an imbalance of power?"
Similar words followed.
Words of concern. Words about whether there is room for threats. Words about the large difference in power.
There were those who agreed... and those who were concerned.
I thought about it carefully while listening.
It's an expected question. To think it hit the mark without missing a single one.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"I understand your concerns. However, what would the Empire, which has everything, gain by invading this place? Tell me."
Everyone shut their mouths tight.
"I'm sorry to say this to Earthlings, but from the Empire's perspective, this place is nothing more than a backwater rural planet. Resources, strategic value, military-wise. There is nothing the Empire would covet."
Someone raised their voice.
As if shouting for everyone to hear.
It pierced the silence at once.
"If the criteria for exchange conditions and the authority to judge are vested in the Empire, there is a concern that it could practically result in an asymmetric dependency relationship."
The room froze.
"They set the standards, they judge the value, and they decide the rewards. It's called a trade, but we become a consumer nation."
As that point suggests, it's not wrong. In fact, there was a possibility that it would happen.
If someone other than me had been in this seat, humanity would have been thoroughly toyed with.
So I answered more slowly.
"You can't feel fun from something forced, can you? I know that because I've tried it myself. If the dependency you fear occurs, the result will only lose my interest."
Soyeon-eonni added quietly from behind.
"It means you have been chosen."
A short silence descended.
At that moment, the one who raised their hand was a reporter sitting in the front row.
They stared straight at me and swallowed hard.
Watching their trembling hand, I felt a sense of pity for some reason.
Like a death row inmate facing death.
They don't have to be so scared.
I am a very merciful dragon, and...
"This is a personal question, but I'm curious about the reason you came to Earth."
Finally, it's out. This important question.
I ran out of the house because I was bored with a life without entertainment, but I can't tell them that as it is.
I have to dress it up a bit.
"I don't know about others, but I value Earth's culture more than anyone."
The room became quiet again.
"I saw something here that is hard to find anywhere else. I was deeply impressed by it. That is the reason. There is nothing more important than that."
Someone quickly opened their mouth.
"Earth is currently under the threat of Gates. Can you help us with that? It's a matter of survival for us."
"I will give a reward commensurate with the trade goods. Of course, I will prepare protective measures on our side so that it only works on monsters."
"Can you reveal the specific scope and criteria for the technical support you proposed as an exchange condition right here?"
"Medical technology, defense technology, and various other things the Empire possesses. What you receive will depend on what items you bring."
Questions begat more questions.
It continued like that for a while.
"You mentioned entertainment content as a major subject of exchange, may we understand this as the official trading standard?"
"It goes without saying."
I nodded.
"The more interesting and fun things a country brings, the better things they will receive."
Low voices spread throughout the room.
"Earth's future... depends on entertainment."
Someone whispered from the back.
The words spread. From here to there.
Eventually, someone urgently picked up a phone.
Shouting to gather all the game companies in the world immediately. The room fell into chaos in an instant.
That's it. I've already said everything I needed to say.
It was a satisfying speech.
I stepped back one step from the microphone.
The core has been delivered.
Let's stop here.
The sound of applause grew one by one.
At first, it was one or two people.
From the military side, from the politicians.
From the broadcasting people. From the Hunters.
At some point, it filled the room.
I looked down at it from the podium.
Now I really want to rest well.
But I have to do my best until the end.
I smiled brightly at the camera and waved. I stepped down from the podium and left the room.
Soyeon-eonni spoke up first beside me.
The way she looks at me... it seems kinder than usual for some reason, is it just my imagination?
"Two applications for the establishment of religious organizations have been received. During your speech. They are revering the Princess-nim as the messiah of the new world."
I came here because I wanted to play.
Isn't 'messiah' too much?
Still, at this rate, I'll be able to secure time to enjoy entertainment. It was really hard.
I am finally free too!
✦✦✦
People were gathered in the hallway.
Most of them were reporters related to the media.
There were far more than when I came in earlier.
"Regarding the trade conditions, more specifically..."
"I said everything in the speech just now."
"Are you willing to negotiate with each country individually..."
"It depends on the situation."
"Do you have plans to visit Japan too..."
I didn't stop walking.
Soyeon-eonni opened the way with the security guards beside me. We exited the hallway.
When we came outside, a loud roar was heard.
It was the people waiting outside.
Since it must have been broadcast anyway.
They must know how the situation went.
"Princess-nim!"
"Dragon Princess!"
"Let me touch your tail!"
I raised my hand and waved one more time.
For some reason, the cheers grew louder and louder.
Only after quickly boarding the prepared vehicle did the world finally become quiet. It was so loud that my ears hurt. My head was also ringing.
Soyeon-eonni sat next to me and said.
"The number of people at the rally in front of the White House has tripled since two hours ago."
"Really? Was there anything strange?"
"For the most part, yes. Some are holding counter-rallies, but the proportion is small."
"Then that's fine."
The car started. The crowd passed by outside the window. Those holding smartphones and filming, those waving, those just staring blankly.
I took out my smartphone and looked for posts on the community. What kind of posts were mainly uploaded?
I was curious, and I was looking forward to the reactions.
[Summary of the Dragon Princess's full speech]
Earth, the entertainment powerhouse will survive.
Make games instead of missiles.
Finally, the era of gamers is coming.
[My head is still spinning]
Is it true that we get Gate response technology through entertainment? Maybe because they are aliens, it's an idea I couldn't even imagine. It's sad for culturally weak countries.
[Entertainment industry stock prices soar]
Escaping poverty starting today.
You guys do it too before it's too late.
I stopped at the last title.
As soon as they knew that entertainment would be the standard, the global industry moved. This kind of thing is much faster than other races. They weren't even interested in the first place.
Soyeon-eonni glanced at the screen.
"The Earth's economic structure has started to change."
"Then isn't that better? It's better to make fun things than to fight."
Soyeon-eonni looked out the window.
Without agreement or rebuttal.
Then she said again.
"If the competition overheats, there will be those who try to use you, Princess-nim. It probably already happened."
Use, huh. It lingered briefly and passed.
I won't be taken advantage of that easily.
I have enough life and experience, in my own way.
"I can just filter them out."
"Can you do it yourself, Princess-nim?"
"You can help me, eonni."
Soyeon-eonni looked at me.
"What's with that look?"
"It's nothing."
Starting from the first visit to the White House to today's speech. The things I aimed for when I first came have been finished to some extent. There are no repercussions at all.
I conveyed the intention of exchange and stated the trade conditions. I also built an image to some extent. From one to ten, everything succeeded according to plan.
Earth is really going to change.
A world where entertainment becomes national power.
Whether it will get better or harder.
What kind of result will come out...
is a problem that depends on humanity's hands.
I took out my smartphone.
Trying to check the next visit schedule.
Soyeon-eonni spoke first.
"Princess-nim."
"Yes."
"Today is the last day of this visit."
My hand stopped.
The last day? Already?
Lies! This is a lie!
Give it back. My entertainment!
"You remember the condition of three times a week, right? It was decided by the Dragon King."
I remembered.
When Grandfather held up his third finger.
Three times a week. That no more than that is allowed.
"Then does that mean I have to go back now?"
"Yes."
"I haven't finished reading the comic books yet."
"You can read them later."
"I haven't even tried the games yet."
"You can do it later."
Soyeon-eonni's voice gradually lowered.
I knew it was futile.
But I had to try once.
I returned to the hotel room.
I didn't have much luggage.
I packed a few things in my bag.
My eyes kept going to the shelf.
Do I have to leave them behind?
Soyeon-eonni was standing silently behind me.
"Princess-nim."
"I was in the middle of reading it. It's fine to take it, right? I'm going to show the items here to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs anyway. It won't be a problem."
Soyeon-eonni didn't say anything.
She didn't stop me either. Is it permission?
The signal that the dimensional shift was ready came.
Soyeon-eonni took her place first.
I followed behind her.
Just before leaving, I looked back at the room once.
Computer, smartphone charger, comic books left on the shelf. It was a place I would come back to soon.
Because I'll be back soon.
Wait there patiently!