Zhenya
Zhenya
Title: The Grand Duke is someone who will write history
Author: Water Gallery User
Content: It felt like I was seeing Her Majesty the Emperor.
That charisma that overwhelmed the broadcast.
That dignified voice.
A figure that will be talked about in history even after ten thousand years pass.
The living embodiment of history!
Long live Her Majesty the Emperor!
Water Gallery User 1 - Looks like a history expert came over from the <Imdang Gallery>!
Water Gallery User 2 - As expected of our Gallery Owner! Haha. Looks like he even stole the attention of a history expert. Haha.
Water Gallery User 3 - But why are they praising the Gallery Owner, only to shout "Long live Her Majesty the Emperor" at the end?
ㄴWater Gallery User 1 - That's like the slogan of the history experts from <Imdang Gallery>!
ㄴWater Gallery User 2 - It's because if you ask a history expert to pick the greatest figure in history, it's always Her Majesty the Emperor. Haha. Do you not agree? Long live Her Majesty the Emperor!
ㄴWater Gallery User 3 - Long live Her Majesty the Emperor!
"As expected of my mom."
The identity of the DonkeyGalller who just left the post 'The Grand Duke is someone who will write history' on the <Water Ability Gallery>.
Zhenya Drebovna Drebana.
Serving as a regular knight in the Imperial Western Defender Knights,
She was the 19th daughter of the Emperor, Kalina.
She was active on the <Imdang Gallery> as a history-expert DonkeyGalller.
Like most history buffs, she too was a devotee of the Emperor. Especially since shouting 'Long live Her Majesty the Emperor' at the end of a post was like a signature for the history experts browsing the gallery.
Furthermore, since the Emperor was Zhenya's mother, it was only natural that she was a huge fan of Kalina and a total mommy's girl.
True to being a mommy's girl, Zhenya readily followed even Kalina's difficult requests.
One example of this was how she followed the order to guard the path where the Pink Grima swarmed, without a single complaint.
Pink Grima.
They were as big as a person's forearm when just born, and as big as a person when fully grown—they were, as the name suggests, pink-colored house centipedes.
The fact that even the pink color felt inexplicably filthy wasn't simply because of the Grima's appearance.
They were multi-legged monster bugs that were so disgusting that people couldn't even bear to speak their names, calling them Pingri to sound cute!
Even the princesses, who absolutely followed the Emperor's orders, were horrified by their grotesque visuals and avoided them.
Only the 15th princess, Milena, who was a soldier through and through, and Zhenya, the mommy's girl, were standing firm to defend the front lines.
To such a Zhenya, the appearance of Saklasi was unwelcome news.
The first Water Transcendent, the Grand Duke, bestowed with the Imperial name—the whole world was in an uproar.
In Zhenya's eyes, he looked like an uninvited guest stealing the spotlight that should only shine on Kalina.
Like this, depending on their tastes or personalities—that is, their basic interests regarding men—there existed a subtle difference in how each princess felt about Saklasi.
Anyway, Zhenya's only interest was her mother, the Emperor of the Empire, Kalina, but after watching this public broadcast where Saklasi appeared, her thoughts changed.
"I've found the second great person in my life to stan."
Zhenya, who had not yet reached the emotion of love.
She was palpitating with excitement, wondering how much of a history-making path Saklasi would walk in the future.
Thinking that this current excitement was simply because she had discovered a great figure.
"I am Saklasi Stan Drebin."
After facing Abaddon directly and then appearing on a live public broadcast, it was already deep into the night.
It wasn't until the morning when the day broke that I stood on the temporary podium at the [Busanosk] Koopong Camp. Our logistics for today had already been arranged to be handled by another branch.
"They were colleagues who had been like family since childhood, or colleagues I met here but relied on in the same situation. I feel a deep sense of responsibility along with the devastating feeling of not being able to protect them."
Everyone had haggard faces from not being able to sleep properly. The funeral had been held late into the night, and it was just after the cleanup of the horrific scene had barely finished.
"From now on, I will do my best to protect this [Busanosk] camp where the Soi tribe resides."
With the help of Veronica, the commander of the Imperial Southern Defender, one or more high-ranking ability users would be stationed at the [Busanosk] Koopong Camp on a rotating basis.
"Furthermore, I plan to improve the conditions for all Soi tribe members."
Rather than being relieved by my words, sobbing sounds erupted from here and there, perhaps because the horrific tragedy of yesterday came to mind.
"I declare. My top priority from now on is the extinction of all demons in this world."
Demons liked the Soi tribe as prey, but there was a reason they were more exposed to danger than the ability-less beastkin.
According to what I heard from Kalina,
Beastkin could recognize doppelgangers if they were blood relatives, but the Soi tribe didn't even have such a method.
"I declare. It will not take that long. I will eliminate the threat of demon doppelgangers and ensure that the ability-less Soi tribe can live freely as well."
At my words, the Soi tribe members, who had been bowing their heads in sorrow, looked up at me. I finished my words with even more emphasis, as if making a vow.
"I swear it in the name of the Drevo Empire's Grand Duke, Saklasi Stan Drebin."
Acting Manager Aurin, Deputy Manager Manneric, General Manager Serin, and Deputy General Manager Shed gathered in the manager's office on the top floor of the dormitory.
"Everyone, thank you so much for your hard work yesterday. I'm truly grateful."
"Grea!!! Stan!!! Grand!!! Duke!!! Your!!! Highness!!!! We!!! are!!! ho!!!nored!!! Of!!! course—!!!"
"Yeah, Manneric. I get it. Just listen from now on."
I quickly pressed the stop button on the malfunctioning Manneric.
"So the Pitfiend is dead?"
"Yes, I couldn't stop it. But... are you okay?"
"Hm? Serin, why are you using honorifics again? You're making me feel sad."
"After watching the broadcast, I just felt like I should..."
Serin said in a small voice. I acted to project authority, but did I look too scary?
"The Lord is generous! If Serin is to become the Lord's female, it is right to treat him comfortably!"
Thump! Thump! Bang!
Aurin was speaking on his own accord and hitting the floor with his tail. It wasn't a high ratio, but I was glad the building was made with [Mano] materials.
'It seems like an unconscious action, but if it were any other building, it would have collapsed.'
"Hmm! Since it is what the Lord desires, it is only right for Serin-gong, who will become his wife, to follow!"
"No, Viscount Shed! Are you going to keep talking nonsense like you have been?!"
"Hahaha!"
The Imperial Palace is nice, but the Koopong Camp had its own comfort.
"I'm managing my feelings well. Everyone, please treat me as usual."
"Well, if you say so, okay!"
Serin answered primly as usual, then continued teasingly.
"Seriously~! You cried your eyes out yesterday, but on the broadcast, you looked like a scary person without blood or tears~ For a moment, I even used honorifics without realizing it! Do it again, do it again~ That line!"
Serin made an intimidating expression as best she could and mimicked my voice.
"I guarantee it. I will make you pay the price. So that you don't make an irreversible mistake."
"Ah, don't tease me~ I thought I was going to die inside while acting that out~"
I laughed at Serin's prank. Serin was lifting the mood so that we wouldn't fall into a depressed atmosphere.
"Lord, this Shed! Watching the broadcast, I have fallen for the Lord once again!"
"Knight Shed. I'm really grateful to you. For protecting Serin."
"This Shed is honored to be tasked with the mission of protecting the Lord's people and property!"
If it weren't for Shed, Serin would have been in real danger. A serious, fatal wound with a hole in her chest. It was only because it was Shed that she could endure it.
Even though he was a Lieutenant-level ability user and had the toughness unique to beastkin, in addition to the recovery power of a water ability user, he was on the verge of death.
Even if it were another Lieutenant-level ability user, if Serin, a Soi tribe member who received a physical ability penalty, had been hit by the Pitfiend's attack, it would have resulted in an irreversible, horrific outcome.
Thinking back to my first meeting with Shed, I had received his oath of loyalty as a joke back then, but it was a really good thing.
"Come to think of it, it hasn't been that long, has it? Thinking about that time, I'm filled with deep emotion~"
As I smiled with an emotional expression, Shed looked curious about what it was.
"Aurin is curious about what the emotional event was!"
"You see~ It was when I first went to the Imperial Palace~"
As I smiled meaningfully at Shed, Shed's eyes blinked busily, his mouth hanging open with a 'Could it be?' expression.
"Hu~h? What happened at the Imperial Palace before?"
Seeing the flustered Shed, Serin quickly caught on and chimed in.
"Someone said to me, 'Who are you to be wearing ceremonial robes so carelessly?' I think that's what they said?"
"Lo, Lord!?"
"Wow~ How could they say something like that! Who on earth was it?"
Shed called out to me with a pale face, and Serin chimed in, laughing as if it were fun.
"Who knows? Instead, they asked me, 'I don't know if you've even heard my name.'~"
"Knight Shed! I didn't recognize you back then and committed such a huge mistake! Please, I beg you to forgive me!"
Shed jumped up, hurriedly knelt on the floor, and bowed his head.
"It's okay, it's okay. I'll forgive you, so can you do me one favor?"
"If it is the Lord's command, this Shed will follow anything!"
"I want to hear it one more time. Especially this line. 'Who are you to be wearing ceremonial robes so carelessly?' "
"Lo, Lord~~~!!!"