2nd in the Imperial hierarchy
2nd in the Imperial hierarchy
The internet developed by the Empire.
And the Gallery.
It was similar to the Gallery from the world I originally lived in, but slightly different.
Each gallery had a broadcast tab.
To give an example of the tabs in the <Water Ability User Gallery>.
| Live Broadcast | All | Gallery Owner | Info | Question | Broadcast... |
'Huh? Gallery Owner? What the, when did this tab appear?'
Anyway, a new Live Broadcast tab had been created at the very front of the current tabs, flickering with a red light.
<Water Ability User Gallery>
Title: What is the Live Broadcast tab?
Author - Ruler of Water
Content: It wasn't there before, but now it is?
Water Gallery User 1 - Water Transcendent! Water Transcendent! Water Transcendent! Water Transcendent! Water Transcendent!
Water Gallery User 2 - Revere Grand Duke Stan! Revere Grand Duke Stan! Revere Grand Duke Stan! Revere Grand Duke Stan!
Water Gallery User 3 - You electric bastards, you don't have someone like this, do you? You electric bastards, you don't have someone like this, do you? You electric bastards, you don't have someone like this, do you?
Water Gallery User 4 - Hug me, hug me, hug me, hug me, hug me, hug me
Water Gallery User 5
Water Gallery User 6
Water Gallery User 7
Water Gallery User 8
.
.
.
"What the, what is this?"
As soon as I posted, it vibrated like crazy. When I went in, dozens of comments had been posted in an instant.
"Where did the others go?"
Tiring.
"Wow, this is driving me crazy. Just hearing this sound now... No, I just woke up. That's why I'm in this state. How could a person get like this just from hearing a sound?"
When I recalled Marina's continuous 'Yes!' answers last time, it was just a twitch, but this time, ignoring the guy that was doing more than just twitching and asserting itself strongly, I checked the private message.
(Gallery Owner-nim! Hehe, if you write a post now, you won't even be able to check the comments! Hehe, a ton of anonymous users have flooded in! Hehe! So... do you want to have a call... with me?)
Hoo. Haa. Hoo. Haa.
I took a deep breath in my heart. Princess Yelena wants to talk on the phone.
'But is it okay to have a call in my current state?'
Imagination isn't a sin, but wouldn't the physical changes be a sin? Feeling a strange sense of guilt, I sent a reply saying okay.
Ttururu~
The phone rang immediately.
"Hello? This is Saklasi. It's my first time meeting you over the phone. Princess Yelena-jeonha."
-Huhu, just hearing your voice makes me happy.
A cute voice with a slight low-pitched tone coming from the speaker.
I don't know how a cute voice of a girl my age can go so well with a low-pitched tone.
Anyway, even her voice was pretty. It probably wasn't just because I'd already seen her pretty face.
The short laugh of 'Huhu' felt like, 'As expected of a princess, she has class.'
Her clear pronunciation and the affection embedded in her voice pierced into my ears through the phone speaker like a whisper.
A strangely erotic feeling stimulated my brain, and the photos Yelena sent kept coming to mind.
'Please, go back to normal! What are you going to do if I end up seeing Princess Yelena in person like this!'
Upon hearing her voice, the guy was asserting itself so strongly it was insane.
'Even if it's just a call, is it really okay to talk in this state?'
As my guilt grew, I continued speaking in a trembling voice.
"I, I am also honored to be able to hear your voice. Princess Yelena-jeonha."
-Aigoo~ Why are you like this~ Between us~ Could you call me Yel. e. na.?
What kind of relationship do we have? If you keep acting like that, I, who haven't even held a girl's hand in 20 years, can't handle it!
Please have mercy!
I couldn't say that.
"Ah, then I would be grateful if you called me by my name too. Yelena."
-Huhu, I don't want to.
"Pardon?"
-Do you dislike being called Gallery Owner-nim?
"Outside of the gallery, isn't it a bit...?"
-Then, without making it obvious, drop the 'Gallery' and, hmm~ Master!
'Please have mercy, Princess~~~!'
I ended up hugging my pillow tightly and lying face down.
Does she not know she's an incredibly pretty person?
If someone like that calls me Master with a luxurious yet cute voice that goes well with a low tone, I can't stand it!
-Since I came to 「Raigen」 as the Grand Duke's acting regent, 'Master' isn't entirely wrong either.
But who calls someone that like that!!!
"Th-that may be, but there are ears listening..."
-Aha! When no one is around? So only when we're alone? You're so lewd. Have you already thought about a situation where it's just the two of us?
It seems like this is the hardest moment since I came here.
Even so, I shouldn't just jump at it because I like it.
The princesses are all unique, and since they've been at the center of absolute power for a long time and have eternal lifespans...
'They're probably far from normal ways of thinking.'
It's not a joke to me, but it must be a joke to Yelena.
Suddenly, trauma from my original world came to mind.
In my original world, it wasn't like I had planned to go to my first bar ever with this novel's original author friend from the start.
There was a girl who was the prettiest among my college peers.
By chance, she spoke to me first, so I, a total novice at dating, felt comfortable talking to her and we became close.
She seemed popular in our department, but there was no news of her having a boyfriend or any sign of it.
So I misunderstood. That I was the closest guy to her.
Thinking the atmosphere was good, I ended up being the one to suggest we go together since we could drink once it turned January 1st.
The result was obviously a bust.
She made all sorts of excuses.
That she had to go see the sunrise as an annual family event, that she had to eat rice cake soup at home with her family using ingredients she bought herself, that she had to go to her grandmother's house, and that she had to do a big cleaning when she got back,
She ended up pushing back the promise to meet on the 1st by a whole week.
She probably rejected me in a very roundabout way so that I, a close peer, wouldn't get hurt.
I, who had misunderstood on my own, was so, so embarrassed.
She kept sending chocolate-talk messages apologizing, and when I replied that I was sorry for suggesting it out of the blue and let's meet when school starts, she sent me a crying emoticon.
She was the one who sent me a bunch of gift icons saying happy birthday as soon as the clock struck 12 on New Year's Day...
She was a really kind girl who cared about my feelings even after rejecting me until the end.
Recalling that embarrassing memory, I was able to take Yelena's teasing in stride.
Let's not misunderstand again. I steeled my heart and continued the call, and the Imperial family's decision was as follows.
The Imperial family decided to bestow upon me the name 'Drebin', a name only for the Imperial family, and treat me as royalty.
'Hoo... what if they find out later that I'm not their nephew.'
And they announced me as a Transcendent, officially recognized 「Dragonia」 as a dominion following 「Minos」 and 「Raigen」, and newly created the position of Grand Duke, which is higher than an Archduke, and appointed me to it.
The Empire's official rank 2.
Power I only saw in games became reality.
In addition, they decided to call the newly pioneered trade route in the frozen lands the Saki Route.
Saki was a term that called my name like a nickname.
'Before I knew it, I became like a celebrity called by a nickname.'
The reason they named the route after my nickname and the reason they condone the <Imdang Gallery> criticizing the Imperial family were the same.
There had been a fearful public opinion formed about High Elves, calling them 'monsters that live forever and keep getting stronger.'
I was now included in the image-making process to resolve the public's psychological distance and fear caused by the sole Transcendent and the Holy Water Ability Users who never die and keep increasing in number.
At first, I only hoped for something like, 'Can a Water Ability User who gets ignored become a noble if their rank is high?'
But now, I've become such an enormous existence that I have to say 'Do not be afraid,' like an angel in the Bible.
Also, profits were already skyrocketing. Just designating 「Raigen」 as the Koopong logistics hub increased the profits of 「Busanosk」 several times over,
and now I can't even guess how much more the profits will increase once the Saki Route opens for the first time.
Wealth from Koopong, power from the countries I hold as Grand Duke and dominion, the honor of being royalty, the power of being one of the only two Transcendents in the world—in less than a month, I went from an ordinary twenty-year-old college student to having my position completely changed.
'I do like overpowered characters, but I didn't think I'd be this overpowered...'
They say I have to go to the Imperial Palace tomorrow and show my face.
That was a bit too burdensome, so to my question, 'Will I be able to do well?'
Yelena eased my worries, saying not to worry at all and that there would be no responsibilities to take on or things to do. Just be myself.
And she added.
-For once, please come to praise Yelena, the faithful servant of the Master who is suffering as the acting regent of 「Raigen」.
With that erotic request, the call ended.
Hoo. Haa. Hoo. Haa. Hmm, I've calmed down.
Anyway, since I've become royalty, no one will pick a fight with me even if I walk around in front of the Imperial Palace wearing formal court attire. Will they kneel on one knee just by seeing me, like Katerina?
Ttiririri~ Ttiriririri~
Even after the call ended, I couldn't get up right away, so I was lying on the bed imagining this and that, when I heard the intercom ring.
"Ah...."
Quite some time had passed since I came home from 「Dragonia」, so it was about time for her to arrive.
I felt like I knew who had come. As soon as I thought of it, my body rapidly became fine enough to stand up immediately.
As expected, my guess was right.
A long snout, scales around the eyes, and vertically slit golden pupils visible on the intercom screen.
"Th... you came quickly."
"Ariun has finally arrived. My Lord and husband! Open the door quickly!"