Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Ophelia's Assignment
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This is no joke. You think this is a joke?
Thigh Burger Set for 1 random person [82]
“Th-these guys...?!”
The moment I said I'd give away a Thigh Burger gift card, 82 comments flooded in. Of course, about a third of them were just random, meaningless chatter.
Look at them, ignoring me when I ask for something, but flocking here the second I offer a prize.
“Your Highness. It is time for your bath.”
“Ugh... do I really have to take a bath every morning....”
“Yes. Maintaining bodily cleanliness is an essential act.”
“O-okay, I get it...”
Ophelia offered to help with my bath, but honestly, it's not that serious. I vehemently refused, so now I go into the bathroom alone. It'd just be weird, you know....
I slid my body into the perfectly heated bathwater and slowly gazed at a laminated sheet that listed, in order, the cosmetics and other bath products Ophelia had bought on her last shopping trip.
“Aroma candle... hmm, everything's set up nicely.”
A pleasant-smelling candle was lit, the bathwater was at 37 degrees Celsius. Bath salts, bath milk, and a few drops of essential oil had already been added.
First, a full-body cleanse with body cleansing oil? Then wash my face with a dedicated facial cleansing oil. Slap a mask pack roughly onto my face, then soak in the tub for 10 minutes.
At some point, a bathroom clock had appeared, so I could roughly keep track of the time.
“The minute hand... just needs to reach the 11!”
After that, I shower again with a cleansing gel, and then dry off with a nice, warm towel. All done.
“Ophelia, I'm done.”
“This way.”
“Okaay...”
When I step out, Ophelia applies all sorts of things to my entire body. This is the hardest part.
Sshh-sshh.
Body mist (she sprays something on me), body serum, and body lotion—a three-step process of slathering stuff all over me. For my face, I understand toner, three types of serum, and an ampoule... but I don't know the rest. I just close my eyes and zone out while Ophelia does her thing.
It does feel nice when it's all over. For one, my scent changes. The lingering smell in the house that had bothered me since my body changed has also vanished after Ophelia did a massive shopping run and worked her magic.
After that, I put on fresh, soft clothes and sit still for about 15 minutes to let whatever-it-is she applied soak into my skin.
While I'm waiting, I play on my phone, and Ophelia prepares breakfast.
“How infuriating... I have to give a Thigh Burger to these people?!”
Of course, they're infuriating, but they can still be considered potential subjects. There are already over 40 comments praising ‘Her Highness,’ right? If I do this regularly, I'll become a true princess, and the power of my ‘Issue Command’ skill will become incredibly strong.
“So... with 250,000 won... and each one costing around 8,000 won... maybe I should give one away every week.”
It might not be effective if the same people who always comment keep winning. Maybe I should go to another gallery? But I wonder if anyone would trust a brand-new, anonymous account giving away Thigh Burgers.
“So... four times eight is... 32,000 won. Ugh, my precious money.”
“Your Highness.”
“Huh? Ophelia? Do you need something?”
“Using the treasury to distribute wealth and gain the support of the people—such plutocracy and vote-buying—is temporary and finite. It should be limited to building initial recognition.”
“Ack.”
I was planning to keep doing this, but... does she mean this won't work?
“They desire the gift card Your Highness offers, not to support you. Furthermore, this type of promotional activity, which relies heavily on random chance to encourage participation, will see the probability of winning plummet as more people join. This will eventually lead to a weakening of support.”
“Mmm... you have a point, but....”
It's not like a post on the Awakening Gallery is going to get five million comments. What Ophelia's saying isn't wrong. So, does this mean my plan to become president with Thigh Burgers is a failure?
“Haa... what should I do.”
“I have slowly reviewed the announcements on the Awakening Gallery. The conditions for becoming a ‘named’ user, which would allow your real name or nickname to be mentioned, include being a C-Rank Hunter active for over ten years, a B-Rank Hunter active for over five years, or an A- to S-Rank Hunter.”
“Ah, right. I remember that.”
After all, the Awakening Gallery is a place where people from all over the world discuss the Awakened. The real Hunters mostly gather on the ‘Active Hunter Gallery,’ but there are still a few active Hunters on the Awakening Gallery.
They put those restrictions in place because if active Hunter users became ‘named’ just for being real Hunters, the gallery would quickly turn into a clique.
It feels a bit strange to say, but I definitely need to become ‘named.’ How else will I get fans and support if my name can't even be mentioned directly?
“So... do I have to go get my rank evaluated...?”
The biggest problem is my identity. As far as legal citizens of South Korea are concerned, no one named ‘Eve’ exists. The reason is simple: I wasn't originally Eve.
It's the hardest problem to solve, and I feel completely lost. How great would it be if I had reality-warping powers? A princess should at least have that much.
“What do I do, Ophelia? I... uh, that... but... do you know about me...?”
Come to think of it, Ophelia could have found a lot of information about me on my phone. For instance, my personal information...?
The phone was originally registered in my name, and any accounts requiring identity verification would have been under my original name, the one on my resident registration.
“I am aware.”
“Th-then....”
“The past is of little importance. The fact that Your Highness is the most essential being for the reconstruction of the royal family remains unchanged.”
“Yeah... I see.”
Ophelia doesn't seem to mind at all. It could have gotten a little awkward, but I'm glad she's not making a big deal out of it.
After breakfast, there's not much to do. I only eat a proper breakfast thanks to Ophelia, and normally, I wouldn't even be awake at this hour.
After all, I was the king of the late-night convenience store shift.
“Ophelia, is there anything I need to do today?”
“I have a schedule from 1 PM for approximately three hours.”
“Huh? You have something to do?”
“Yes. It is a matter of absolute necessity for Your Highness, so I must regrettably be absent. As I mentioned before, if you have any urgent business or requests, please contact me via mobile phone.”
Ophelia somehow managed to get a schedule. I've lived in Korea for 27 years and have no appointments, yet Ophelia, who's been here for less than a week, has a schedule.
Maybe I've been living my life all wrong. Thinking about it now, I don't have any friends to make plans with or even just talk to.
I'm a total outcast, loser princess.
Still, if I had friends from my old life, that would probably be even more uncomfortable. ‘My friend suddenly turned into a little girl?’ Yeah, that's a bit...
“During my absence, I have prepared audiovisual materials on the desktop for Your Highness to review. Please change into the attire prepared in the first drawer of the cabinet before you begin.”
“Ah, okay.”
I don't know what it is, but it seems Ophelia has prepared something.
“Mecha-Doggo, what are you eating?”
Beep?
I was eating at the low dining table when I turned around and saw Mecha-Doggo munching on something. Looking closer, Suri was also chewing on something like a dog treat...? Minium was sitting and meditating.
“It is dog food.”
“Dog food...? Is it okay for Mecha-Doggo to eat dog food...?”
“We can all replenish a portion of our magic power through consumption, which is effective in lessening Your Highness's burden to some extent. Therefore, as long as we do not purchase overly expensive food items, it can be considered a cost-effective act.”
“Wow, I see.”
It's the same thing she mentioned before. But I'm still not sure if my magic power is actually being drained. Is my magic pool that massive? Or... maybe the consumption rate is just really low.
“Hehehe. Is it tasty?”
Beep!
This little guy is cute. Look at him eat.
“Well then, I shall go attend to my schedule. Your Highness, you must not respond if a stranger knocks on the door or rings the intercom. If they persist for a long time, please contact me.”
“Ahaha... okay. I guess I am... a child.”
“That is correct.”
I was about to say, ‘I'm not a child—’ but what do you know. Right now, I am a child. I'm confident even a sixth-grade boy could easily overpower me.
Of course, I have Suri and Minium, but it's best to avoid dangerous situations in the first place.
“Take care, Ophelia.”
“Thank you.”
With a respectful bow, Ophelia closed the door and whisked away. With her gone, the house somehow felt bigger. It was partly because there was one less person, but also because the once-messy rooms and clumsy furniture arrangement had been tidied up, making the space physically larger.
“She said she saved a video on the computer, right?”
She probably plugged something like a USB tail into the computer to save it, just like Mecha-Doggo. Mecha-Doggo was made from a phone and had a function like that, didn't it?
Whirrr.
While the computer booted up, I hopped off the chair and opened the drawer. Ophelia had mentioned she'd prepared an outfit. I guessed it would be something comfortable for watching a long video.
“Hmm. This... is? A top. And this is....”
—Stretch your sides, round and round~
—One, two, one, two, three~
You'd better be ready, Ophelia.
When you get back, you're going to face my furious flurry of fists.
—Other way~!
“Other way?!”
You'd better be ready...!!!