Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Wiesbaden
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Having regained his composure, Mayor George II of Aachen was the very model of a gentleman.
But he was different from the usual stuffy aristocrats. As a man who was on friendly terms with the adventurer Abigail, he dispensed with the trivialities and got straight to the point.
“You’re saying the Captain of the Knights Templar wanted to see me?”
“Indeed. Furthermore, an invitation has arrived from the royal family.”
After the initial greetings, George II, who had cut right to the chase, presented a decree from the royal family.
“It is a missive whose contents were exchanged via magic, so it lacks the royal seal, but it is genuine. A courier with the formal invitation is likely on their way to Aachen as we speak.”
Not only Kang-seok but also Seong Yu-jin and Choi Yu-ra, seated on either side of him, focused their gazes on the decree.
[The Savior of Aachen, the Dark Destiny Lord, and his party are hereby invited to the royal court.
You must make haste to align with the schedule of the regular event.]
Aside from the title bestowed upon Kang-seok, it was a concise order that stated only the essentials.
“The mana consumption increases with the number of characters, you see. The formal invitation will likely fill an entire page.”
“Ah, I see.”
Letting George II’s explanation go in one ear and out the other, Kang-seok narrowed his eyes.
He had only been concerned about his name becoming known among Players due to the World Quest, but it seemed he had grossly underestimated the impact of being the ‘Dark Destiny Lord.’
How would the natives perceive Players?
What would they think of Kang-seok and his party?
The title ‘Savior of Aachen’ was clearly favorable, so it was fair to say they had gotten off to a good start.
‘Still, to be invited to the royal court so suddenly…’
The Kingdom of Britannia was by no means small. Neither its territory nor its population fell short of any other major power.
The only issue was that the nobles’ power was so strong that the kingdom lacked the ‘unified strength’ of other nations, but it was the royal court nonetheless.
“Mayor, may I ask what this regular event is?”
Seong Yu-jin asked George II cautiously. He responded with a gentle smile.
“The royal family holds an event every couple of months. Including the irregular ones, it’s no exaggeration to say there’s one almost every month. Each event naturally has a different level of importance, and the one coming up soon is not particularly significant. Think of it as a simple ball.”
However, even a ‘simple ball’ was a burden for the party.
As people from the modern world, they had no idea of the scale or proceedings of a royal ball.
Noticing the troubled expressions on Kang-seok and Seong Yu-jin’s faces, George II added.
“There’s no need to feel so pressured. The current king of the Kingdom of Britannia is a wise ruler.”
“What kind of person is he?”
This time, it was Choi Yu-ra. Though it felt a bit impolite, it was tempered by her characteristic cheerfulness, and George II was not so rigid a person. He answered benevolently, like a grandfather speaking to his cute granddaughter.
“He is gentle and caring in times of peace, but on the battlefield, he is fiercer and sharper than any beast in the world. And his physique is so imposing… He is truly a man among men.”
“I… see.”
What Choi Yu-ra had been curious about was his age and personality, not a litany of praises worthy of a royal epic.
But perhaps asking a state official like George II about the king was nonsense from the start.
‘Let’s ask Abigail later.’
Though no one said it out loud, Kang-seok, Seong Yu-jin, and Choi Yu-ra were all thinking the same thing.
The conversation between George II and Kang-seok’s party was not very long. After some belated small talk, they discussed the matter of Andras’s corpse.
The gist of it was that the city of Aachen would cover all the compensation for the Keyman Company's damaged airship.
Moreover, the value of Andras’s corpse was so substantial that it seemed Kang-seok’s party would be paid a considerable sum, even after an equitable distribution.
They already had enough money, but money was one of those things where more was always better.
Recalling the gold and treasures piled up in Andras’s nest, Yang Jun-gyu suddenly began to grin.
Fortunately, George II didn't cast a suspicious glance his way. He seemed to think Jun-gyu was just smiling out of happiness for the reward money.
As soon as their conversation with George II ended, the party left the city hall, and as expected, Abigail was there to greet them.
* * *
Abigail led the party into a small pub next to the city hall. It was still daytime, so there were no other customers.
“I say this out of concern, but I hope you won’t refuse the royal invitation.”
“We have no intention of doing so… but the invitation is a bit bewildering.”
When Kang-seok revealed his honest feelings, Abigail nodded. He added a few words acknowledging that it was understandable, then deliberately lowered his voice.
“This is my personal opinion. So take it with a grain of salt.”
Usually, this was the kind of story one couldn’t afford to take lightly.
Tensing up, Yang Jun-gyu looked around with a rigid expression. Choi Yu-ra grabbed his head to stop him from doing anything conspicuous.
Facing Kang-seok and Seong Yu-jin, Abigail spoke.
“The royal family didn’t invite you simply to commend your achievement in defeating Andras.”
In fact, they hadn’t thought that was the main reason either.
“It’s been over three months since the first Player appeared in this world. The Players I’ve met so far, like Kang-san or yourselves, have been upright and good people. But according to rumors, there are some very nasty ones out there.”
Roxley of the Keyman Company had said something similar.
Players who were perceived as ‘hostile beings’ by the natives of this world.
The number of Players targeted by the Great Summoning was a staggering 370,000.
Was it possible that there were no criminals or mentally unstable individuals among them?
Even a perfectly normal person could fall into ‘deviant’ behavior after coming to another world like this.
Abigail asked.
“How many adventurers do you think there are in the Kingdom of Britannia?”
“Um… I’m not sure.”
“Even counting all the transients, there are probably less than three thousand. And among them, only about a thousand are three-star or higher.”
Kang-seok and Seong Yu-jin instinctively understood why Abigail was mentioning numbers.
“Players are strong. Moreover, they boast a terrifying growth rate. Any decent Player would surely be rated as three-star or four-star or higher. And among them, there must be some like you, Kang-seok, who are on par with five-star… no, six-star.”
Players were strong. And their numbers were not small.
“A Player is a superhuman. And there are hundreds of those superhumans in the Kingdom of Britannia alone. It’s as if hundreds of three-star or four-star adventurers suddenly appeared. Isn’t it natural for the country to feel a sense of crisis?”
“A nation doesn’t want a force it can’t control—was that it?”
Choi Yu-ra said, to no one in particular.
This was a nation that likely viewed even adventurers with distaste, only tolerating them out of necessity.
But now, beings had appeared who, unlike those adventurers, were not even from this world and were growing stronger at an incredible rate. And not just one or two, but hundreds of them.
Even Yang Jun-gyu could understand now. Abigail clicked his tongue.
“It’s beyond my dull mind to fathom the royal family’s intentions. But I can at least guarantee that this invitation holds many complex meanings.”
The atmosphere grew heavy. Kang-seok fell into thought, his lips sealed, while Seong Yu-jin and Choi Yu-ra also refrained from speaking rashly.
Yang Jun-gyu didn't quite whimper, but he furrowed his brow like a dejected puppy.
Abigail laughed.
“Look at you all. Don’t worry too much. You’ve performed a great service, and it’s highly likely the royal family perceives you as ‘necessary assets.’ Who knows? His Majesty the King might bestow a grand reward upon your arrival. Or perhaps they’ve summoned you to express the royal family’s favorable stance towards Players. No, that’s probably the most likely reason.”
It was slightly annoying how he said that after scaring them so much, but he wasn’t wrong.
“Thank you for all the advice.”
“Not at all, not at all. You saved my life, so it’s only natural. For now, go back and get some rest. The earliest you’ll depart is tomorrow.”
Just as with George II, the party exchanged brief farewells with Abigail and left the pub.
Less than an hour had passed from the time they entered the city hall to when they left the pub, but the fatigue was immense.
Choi Yu-ra had originally planned to ask various questions about the king, but she no longer felt up to it.
“It would be so nice if we could just go to the capital for fun without any other worries.”
As Choi Yu-ra muttered her complaint, a reply appeared in letters of light in the air.
[You do not need to worry too much.]
[As Abigail said, even if there are multiple meanings, it is highly likely a favorable summons.]
[I am saying this based on your Reputation score, so please be at ease.]
“Reputation score?”
“That has a value? Can we check it?”
The first question was from Choi Yu-ra, the second from Kang-seok. Iris replied readily.
[It is possible. Your—that is, Mr. Choi Kang-seok’s—Reputation is currently 350.]
“Is that high or low? Given the circumstances, it doesn’t seem low.”
If Kang-seok’s Reputation was low after receiving a royal invitation, there would be no Player in the world with high Reputation.
In response to Choi Yu-ra’s question, Iris answered in detail.
[Reputation is a complex measure of how widely you are known, how you are known, and to whom you are known.]
[A blue gauge, as you can see before you, means a good reputation has spread, while a red gauge means infamy has spread.]
Iris visualized the Reputation score for each member of the party—though once again, Yang Jun-gyu was left out. All three had blue gauges.
This time, Seong Yu-jin asked.
“Iris, what’s the benefit of having a high Reputation score?”
[You can meet individuals of high class or rank, such as nobles and dignitaries. The meaning and weight of your words also change.]
[While it hasn’t spread throughout the entire Kingdom of Britannia yet, Mr. Choi Kang-seok’s fame is spreading very rapidly. Soon, even a child in the remote corners of the kingdom will know the name ‘Dark Destiny Lord.’]
The voice, full of goodwill, felt like a jab to Kang-seok’s gut.
But it was something he was now quite used to, so he took it in stride. He didn’t lose track of the main point.
“It seems we really don’t need to be too nervous. Being hostile to us would be an act that alarms all Players. As Mr. Abigail said, there are hundreds of Players in the Kingdom of Britannia alone. Even the royal family wouldn’t easily do something that could provoke them all.”
It was a logical and valid point, which lightened their spirits.
Choi Yu-ra shrugged.
“Anyway, it’s pretty cool that Reputation is quantified. If my Reputation gets high enough later, will I get an event to meet a prince or something?”
There was a classic game she had played that was similar. At first, you could only meet castle guards, but as your reputation grew, you could meet knights, ministers, and eventually the king.
Thanks to Iris’s speculation that ‘dialogue with more people could lead to stricter information constraints,’ Yang Jun-gyu, who had been left out of the conversation, asked with wide eyes.
“Yu-ra, do you want to meet a prince too?”
“Well, it’s not that I particularly want to.”
Choi Yu-ra answered vaguely, glancing at Kang-seok. But he was still staring into the air. Iris had displayed new letters of light.
[Ah, for reference, this is a quest.]
[Quest: Head to Wiesbaden.]
[Visit the royal palace located in Wiesbaden, the capital of the Kingdom of Britannia.]
[Achievement Quest: Visit all the capitals of the seven major nations.]
Kang-seok let out a dry laugh. He casually waved his hand to dismiss the letters of light and asked something that had just occurred to him.
“By the way, Iris. Do you happen to know the story of ‘Solomon’s 72 Demons’?”
[72 Demons? Are you referring to the 72 Demonic Beasts?]
Seong Yu-jin answered.
“Solomon’s 72 Demons is a legend from our world. But the names of those 72 demons seem to be the same as the names of the 72 Demonic Beasts in this world. Could there be some connection?”
[Hmm… I’m sorry, but I don’t know. This is the first I’m hearing of it. I don’t think I’ve lost the related memories due to information constraints, either.]
“Hmm.”
He thought it was a plausible theory, but had he been barking up the wrong tree?
‘No, it’s too early to jump to conclusions.’
It was highly likely that Iris’s role or position within ‘System Yggdrasil’ was not very high. Just because she didn’t know didn’t mean he should dismiss the connection between Solomon’s 72 Demons and this world’s 72 Demonic Beasts.
As the conversation reached a lull, he felt the connection with Iris sever. Kang-seok turned back to the party without any lingering attachment.
“Alright, now it’s time to do the most important thing.”
“Are we going to the Adventurer’s Guild?”
Yang Jun-gyu asked, and Kang-seok shook his head. He gestured to Seong Yu-jin and Choi Yu-ra as he answered.
“No, shopping.”
It was no illusion that the two women’s eyes sparkled. Kang-seok let his shoulders droop slightly and patted Yang Jun-gyu’s head.
This shopping trip was sure to be an appealing journey not only for Seong Yu-jin and Choi Yu-ra but for Kang-seok and Yang Jun-gyu as well.
Because it was a shopping trip to buy an airship.
“Let’s go to Mr. Hunt.”
Shaking off his fatigue, Kang-seok grinned and took the lead.