Chapter 85 - This Wasn't What I Wanted
*Rumble-rumble-*
> Even if addicted to games, it seems walks are enjoyable. It's later than usual.
"It's been three days holed up inside the house, after all. Must be pretty stiff."
Like yesterday, the bunker was peacefully quiet. Sora and I were checking on gallery business amid the stillness. Though calling it business was a stretch—it was really just me cleaning up the messes I'd made.
Was the walkie-talkie that moving? I'd given it casually, but she'd turned into a full-on follower. A great Archmage, no less. It was getting way too burdensome, so I'd asked her to dial it back—with a little bribe slipped in.
She hated it so much I tacked on an extra generous condition. I could guess what wish it'd be anyway. As long as it was within bounds, I could handle it—so I proposed lightly.
Had I messed up again? No clue what she wanted. Super uneasy, so I left an escape hatch.
The great Archmage submitting her application for unpaid slavery. Luckily, not something outrageous like wanting to see my face. It was one of the requests I'd anticipated. But full acceptance was impossible, so I offered my prepared alternative.
It was a bribe I planned anyway, packaged as an alternative. Glad she liked it. An Archmage Padak felt off. Sure, Hero Padak, Dragon Padak, Elf Leader Padak—but no more, or it'd be too much.
Said my piece and bailed. Being force-worshipped drained me.
"Phew... Toughest chore done..."
> Why belittle your own position? I cannot comprehend.
The rumble stopped as Sora questioned. Curious about my motives, it seemed.
"Haha. First time getting worshipped. Honestly, too much pressure."
> Understood. But such things will happen often. I recommend getting used to it.
Sora advising me to adapt. Always grateful, but harsh words. Not my thing. I gave a wry smile and checked another issue.
Glancing at the map for terrain—then spotted an absurd hidden feature. An insane collab between favorites and map: total surveillance.
I opened the map and tapped the star tab at the bottom. Countless white dots twinkled across it.
"This wasn't what I wanted..."
For smooth ops, I'd urged some gallery users to spawn gonics and added them to favorites. Now it tracked their locations live. Helped pinpoint Imperial Capital, Eldrassil, Cardum—but the result? Worst.
Live stalking? Not my hobby. Couldn't undo the upgrade though. Fine, use it smartly.
First, toggled off all but Padaks. No need for regular gallery users.
Left with four white dots. My unpaid slaves' positions.
"Southern edge is Seasooja... Western mountains? Dwarf, so probably Gongchul?"
The southern dot darting back and forth—Seasooja looked busy. Southwest and northeast: two more. Southwest stationary, likely Red Dragon-nim. Duke zooming fast—Hero life, busy. Sorry for extra Padak work on my account.
> Astonishing feature. Surely very useful.
Nod. Super useful. Just bugged me.
To shake it off, time for a planned use.
Ant hell I created—dragging each other in. Beautiful. Added repeat offenders (30+ releases) to favorites, activated location. Red blinking dots on map. Perfect for chronic trolls. Could nab future criminals too.
Observing casually, two red dots caught my eye. Near Valerian-nim's white dot in the Imperial Capital.
"That's the palace, right?"
> Matches Valerian-nim and Adrian-nim's locations. Likely inside the palace.
Sora backed my guess. Why two chronic trolls inside?
Zoomed map, checked their gonics. "Whoa... Not just similar, huh?"
'NotJustForMe' and 'ComeWatchWithMe' stuck like glue—like besties at work or a couple living there. Palace couple? Only Emperor and Empress. Probably bureaucrat pals. Work broke them?
For intel, activated Valerian-nim and Adrian-nim locations. Four dots—perfect timing, mid-meet.
Organized thoughts, messaged Valerian-nim.
Gift barrage for natural convo. Would reveal company.
Snapped out of daze, sent three more bottles. "Trolls at family dinner... Four drinkers..."
No way..?
Sora quiet too? No knee rumble.
"Uh... Sora? Servants join royal meals, right?"
> Unfamiliar with royal etiquette. But high possibility.
Yeah? No way Emperor and Empress are troll couple? Smacked my ridiculous brain, took a break. Too much screen time messing with my head.