Chapter 130. The Miracle(?) That Selenia Brought
Chapter 130. The Miracle(?) That Selenia Brought
The three of them left the building and headed to the parking lot.
Serenia stared at the car with wide-eyed admiration.
"I did ride in one earlier... it's truly amazing... Do all the citizens of this country own one?"
"Hmm... people in our country probably have at least one per household?"
Serenia was still peering around, touching the displays and buttons inside the car.
[What a country mouse lol lol lol]
[Like a Joseon delegation going to the US and getting amazed lol lol]
"So that department store is where you shop, right?"
"Right."
Since the department store wasn't far, they arrived quickly.
Employees in black suits opened the doors for them, and a personal shopping manager immediately approached and greeted them politely.
"Welcome, Mr. Song Hoon. It is an honor to escort you on this shopping trip."
He wasn't a heavy shopper or big spender, but...
Somehow, he had become a VVIP at the department store.
'Was it because of the card I was using?'
[Wow, first time seeing a VVIP exclusive shop;;]
[There are some other people though...]
[Huh? Isn't that person a celebrity?]
As soon as Serenia entered, her eyes sparkled like a child's as she looked around everywhere.
"Well... you came to Korea to have fun, so pick out anything you want."
He said it indifferently.
After all, the royalties from the Hongyeom Fruit were already substantial.
And he had plenty of money left from clearing major gates.
'Enough for several generations to live on without working...'
"R-Really...?"
She hesitated slightly, but her eyes were full of anticipation.
When he nodded as if it didn't matter, Serenia pulled Laila along, asking her about various things and pointing at items with her finger.
'Surely she won't buy everything in this department store...?'
The employee recorded every item on a tablet with deft hand movements.
"Oh, right! Hero, I brought a gift too... I'll give it to you later when there's time!"
"...?"
A gift from this queen...
Worry took precedence over anticipation.
"First, I'll show you a lot of other things."
"I'm looking forward to it!"
And so, they spent several days pouring time into Serenia alongside Laila.
Luxury brand shopping was a given, and they showed her a movie in a private theater.
Then they had a relaxed dinner at a restaurant with a resident hotel chef, and also introduced her to the sights and culture of Seoul.
"Wow... this is all a first-time experience for me!"
Serenia followed them around, eyes sparkling as if everything was endlessly fascinating and enjoyable.
"What are we doing next?"
---
However, there were those who were distressed by this peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.
Diplomats from major nations around the world were burning with anxiety.
Their embassies and intelligence agencies back home activated emergency communication networks and kept a close watch on the situation.
"Still no official contact?"
"What do you mean they're doing now?"
"...Shopping, a movie theater, a restaurant?"
"This is really driving me crazy..."
They wanted to contact Song Hoon as soon as possible, in order to establish a foothold for formal diplomacy with Queen Serenia.
Because all the possibilities—the information, technology, etc., of her kingdom—were right before their eyes.
"For now, don't approach too hastily."
"If another country approaches first, we'll assess the situation after that..."
The person in question, Song Hoon, didn't seem to be in any hurry at all.
Moreover, the queen herself was leisurely enjoying her sightseeing.
Thus, the three of them were spending a peaceful time together.
"If we put it off any longer..."
However, they couldn't figure out how to broach the subject first or how to act.
They hadn't even sent the gifts they had originally planned to send.
"Don't just think one-dimensionally that everyone will be happy to receive a gift!"
They were extremely cautious, afraid of being misunderstood as trying to curry favor with a gift.
However, as time passed, their anxiety peaked, and finally, after a meeting, each nation made a decision.
"Whether it turns into porridge or rice, let's just send the gifts first..."
And from that moment on, gifts poured into Song Hoon's residence.
Expensive artwork, jewels, rare wines, diplomat-exclusive gift sets, traditional crafts, and even a transfer contract for a luxury yacht...
"...Huh? The security room is at full capacity now?"
The security personnel didn't know what to do, so they eventually contacted Song Hoon.
Only then did Song Hoon realize how much of a nuisance it was and asked the security personnel for help.
"Um... I'm sorry."
Sweating profusely, they moved all the parcels to the living room.
"This... it's just a small token, but please have a meal on it."
Inside the envelope he handed over at the end of his words was a quite generous amount of cash, far too much to be called a small token.
"Hero... what is all this?"
Laila, who had been quietly watching from the side, tilted her head in curiosity as well.
And Serenia, who had been sitting comfortably on the sofa, also came over.
'Come to think of it, why isn't she going home...'
Song Hoon looked at Serenia and said.
"These are probably gifts sent to get in your good graces."
"Gifts...?"
"Just a gesture of wanting us to remain on good terms with your country."
Serenia's eyes widened, and then she suddenly clapped her hands and exclaimed.
"Oh, right! I brought a gift too, but I completely forgot to give it to you!"
His brow furrowed naturally.
A gift from this queen.
Worry began to set in before anticipation...
"I definitely put it here earlier..."
After wandering through the living room, the broadcast studio, and the guest room, she hung her head.
"Ah... The captain of the guard must have it..."
She immediately took out the cell phone we had bought for her.
She started making a call somewhere.
"The gift we brought when we came. Please bring it to Hero's house right now!"
"There's no need to rush."
"But still!"
Serenia smiled brightly.
"I picked it out myself! You'll probably be surprised when you try it."
Something to eat...?
He started to feel even more uneasy.
'Come to think of it, they've been contacting me a lot lately...'
It had been several days since Serenia arrived.
The government's earnest request to persuade Serenia.
'It'd be too harsh to just ignore them... I should settle this clearly.'
"Do you remember the 'contract' we made at first?"
"You mean diplomacy with other countries, right?"
"Yeah, that was the purpose after all."
Serenia tilted her head for a moment, then straightened her posture.
The playful expression from just moments ago vanished, replaced by the dignified look befitting the ruler of a nation.
"Diplomacy at the national level is, of course, important. Before opening official diplomatic channels, we must at least clarify each other's positions."
"R-Right."
"In negotiations between nations, not just technology but also culture, defense cooperation, and many other discussions must follow to avoid confusion. Our kingdom also considers this the most important aspect in diplomacy."
Serenia's queen-like(?) demeanor.
She's unfamiliar, this woman...
'Still, because she was a queen, she was quite decisive...'
After pausing briefly, she shook her head and looked back and forth between me and Laila.
"But... I don't want to start in such a complicated way."
And she continued with a smile.
"As long as it doesn't harm the kingdom, I'd like you Heroes to do whatever you wish."
At her words indicating trust in us, he chuckled and made a joke.
"What if we make a contract advantageous to us and exploit you?"
"Hehe, I know you Heroes aren't the type to do that."
─ Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang once again.
"Did another delivery come?"
When he turned on the screen, the familiar face of a security guard appeared.
"Your guests have arrived."
He checked the screen, thinking no one was supposed to come.
Standing there at attention were the captain of the guard in full gear and a line of royal knights behind him.
"...This is crazy."
Shortly after, the front door opened and the captain of the guard stepped into the house with a solemn expression.
Even the knights' footsteps were perfectly coordinated with no wasted motion.
"To deliver the queen's gift... how could I come alone so carelessly?"
Serenia smiled as if acknowledging their effort and said,
"Thank you for your hard work. Go back and get some rest."
The knights all saluted in unison and quietly left.
'They really came just to deliver that...?'
"Hehe, you'll probably be surprised when you see it."
Serenia approached with a smirk, lifting the corners of her lips.
In her hands was a small, ornately decorated case.
The patterns were carved in unfamiliar script, and the surface shimmered softly like waves.
─ Click.
She released the lock and opened the lid.
Inside, something... wriggled...
'Wriggled...?'
A strange, vividly colored creature resembling a sea anemone slowly changed shape and wriggled inside.
"This is it!"
Serenia proudly pointed at the creature in the box.
"It's a dessert we only eat on special days in our kingdom. No matter how much money you have, it's a delicacy among delicacies you can't easily get!"
'Eat that... on special days...???'
If you think about it, an execution was also a special(?) day...
Laila, who was beside him, instinctively flinched and stepped back.
"...Um."
It was a subtly stiff smile.
However, Serenia paid no mind and skillfully peeled off a bit of the creature's skin.
Inside, a creamy, softly glowing flesh was revealed, and surprisingly, a sweet fragrance wafted out.
"Try it!"
He was at a loss for words.
And eventually, he squeezed his eyes shut and repeated to himself.
'W-Well, I won't die...?'
The moment he put it in his mouth, his tongue stopped briefly.
But the moment he chewed, his eyes flew open.
A sensation difficult to describe in words—a cold, starlight-like texture and a warm softness—spread simultaneously.
There was no fishy taste; the aftertaste was sweet like honey, and it went down as smoothly as vanilla.
"Wow, this is a taste I've never experienced in my life."
"Right? But..."
Serenia chuckled and said.
But the end of her sentence trailed off oddly.
"There's a small drawback."
"...Shouldn't you tell me that before I eat it?"
Serenia smiled and averted her eyes.
"If you eat it... your body hair grows!"
"?"
"When you live underwater, body hair is really inconvenient..."
He stared silently at Serenia.
'Body hair... grows?'
The words slowly circled in his mind.
Images of various people came to mind.
Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, and so on...
"That's not a drawback... it's a benefit, isn't it?"
No...
This wasn't just some benefit.
It was a miracle.