48 – Emperor’s Gallery in Another World
Having started living in the royal palace, he enjoyed a laid-back happiness.
What is he doing right now?
As usual, managing the gallery… Visiting the queen’s office has naturally become part of his daily routine.
“Checkmate.”
“…Another round.”
“We’ve already played five games… Tsk.”
“Sigh.”
He intended to only play a game or two of chess. But he couldn’t escape.
Beatrix, lit by the flame of competitiveness, stopped him.
“Why did you leave it like this? You’ve abandoned the queen.”
“Because it’s advantageous?”
“Explain… give me a more detailed explanation.”
“Well… the queen is an important piece. But it’s not always like that. Now the path is open, so it’s advantageous.”
“…”
Beatrix fell silent at Ju-ddang’s explanation.
It was a situation that required a slightly difficult judgement.
A plan leading to a checkmate by the occasional sacrificial queen.
It was a non-standard play that broke away from the norm, and she seemed to not understand.
The sacrifice of the queen.
Exchange the queen for a less valuable piece and create an advantageous position.
Whether her head hurt from the need to foresee several moves ahead, Beatrix rubbed her jaw muscles intently.
‘Hm. Peaceful.’
Giving advice to Beatrix about chess based on the recorded game.
While she was struggling, Ju-ddang managed the gallery.
Simply hanging around in the queen’s office.
Coming here to help with work, or giving vitality to Beatrix.
No such thing happened.
‘Coming over to play a few times made me too comfortable.’
Even now, he is lounging on a chair, stretching his legs, despite being in front of the queen.
The tension of Ju-ddang relaxed long ago at the thought of it being like a playground.
As Beatrix didn’t seem to care much, there was no one to say anything here.
“What is the Hero doing?”
“…I’m concentrating.”
Ju-ddang slightly changed the target and teased the Hero sitting next to him.
Sitting next to him under the pretext of being a guard, but perhaps he’s just managing the gallery.
Looking at him touching the air with his hand, is he maybe playing a game?
He thought about asking what game he was playing and joining him, but it failed due to her surprise.
‘Well, he’s just on guard duty after all.’
Even though we’d chatted a bit and become closer, revealing the raw side of gallery feels quite embarrassing.
It’s like showing a diary I had been writing unnoticed to others, or exposing one’s flesh.
Still, won’t the day come when we learn about each other’s gallery and play games together?
Daydreaming about the distant future, I lay on the sofa.
Knock, knock, knock-
Someone knocked on the door.
At the same time, my hazy mind cleared and the messy interior got cleaned up in an instant.
Beatrice stood straight with the majesty and dignity of a queen.
Duke and the warrior took a proper posture with stiff movements like a private soldier.
“Come in.”
“Your Majesty. We have received a reply to the letter sent to the empire.”
“…”
She seemed off and stared intently at the letter in her hand.
Then, extended it to Duke.
“Even if I read it, it won’t mean much.”
“Hmm.”
Is he getting the sense of what the Empire is going to talk about?
Duke gently tore the letter open and read its content.
About the harmony and communication across the continent, organizing a chess tournament… and so on and so forth. They needed help because they alone can’t justify it with their power.
To put it short.
Come to the empire. Let’s play chess.
“What kind of world competition is this?”
Handing the letter to Beatrice, she nodded in agreement.
“It’s nothing more than an excuse.”
“But why do they sound so confident?”
“From the empire’s perspective, it’s just enough of an excuse. And of course…it’s more than adequate in reality.”
“What?”
Beatrice added an explanation.
“It’s advantageous for the empire… that Duke is in the kingdom.”
Duke is in the kingdom.
Even with this alone, the Empire had gained a favorable advantage.
While Judd cheered in the kingdom of Osen, he became friends with the queen? If so, the probability of accepting this proposal for the kingdom increases.
On the contrary, are they awkward with each other? Then, the kingdom should sell Judd at a high price no matter what.
“That’s harsh.”
“In any way, Judd would have accepted it with a high probability.”
“But I might refuse.”
I don’t want to go out or need time for a walk with the goldfish.
There were plenty of such excuses, weren’t there?
However, Beatrice shook her head.
“That’s not it either…”
Judd refuses and joins the kingdom? Then, the Empire just needs to pressure the kingdom similarly.
Including Judd, he crumbled the situation. Even the reaction of “rather good” may not be shown.
Even if I refuse and leave the kingdom.
This is not a loss either.
“The Emperor already knows everything. Regardless of the choice, there is no loss for him.”
“… Is the Emperor smart?”
“He didn’t win the Emperor’s position by rolling the dice.”
Pure political power!
Wasn’t the problem that such a person was not on the same side, but on the red team?
“Maybe the Empire knows that we understand all this situation.”
“Hmm. This is a checkmate situation.”
“Most of each other’s hands are already revealed…”
“There’s no other answer but to go, right?”
She nodded her head.
I intended to go anyway, but there was no other way than this.
‘Should I refuse once and bounce off?’
I’m curious about what kind of reaction the emperor would show if I say no.
But there was no need to touch the lion’s whiskers unnecessarily.
“I’ll just play a little chess and come back.”
“…That’s not it.”
“What’s this. Is it not?”
“It doesn’t seem to be out of pure intention.”
“Eh.”
“There’s no pure intention in what the Empire does to the Kingdom.”
Perhaps they hatched some scheme.
Her expression slightly crumpled as she speculated.
Because she had a slight idea of what the trickster might do.
“Uh. But I need to go.”
But, naturally, she could not go alone into enemy territory.
Winning money in a gamble was not the end.
The end was bringing that money outside.
The trickster’s gaze went towards the hero.
“It seems that the hero should go with me. Is that okay?”
The woman sitting comfortably in her chair and mindlessly flicking at the air looked up at the trickster.
“Of course, I was planning to go.”
How could she leave this man alone?
Even if he refused, she was planning to force him to go and protect him.
“That’s reassuring. Shall we depart tomorrow?”
“I’ll take care of sending the letter and preparations, you just wait, trickster.”
And so, it was decided they would depart for the Empire the very next day.
Inside the carriage moving towards the Empire.
“Ugh…”
“Now, for starters… I’ll give you a blessing.”
The trickster began with motion sickness from the carriage.
He had less motion sickness the last time he rode the carriage…!
Perhaps because he had relaxed. His stomach was already churning.
“Ugh… these cunning imperial bastards… already plotting such mischief…”
“It’s regular motion sickness, Trickster. Just calm down and rest.”
The struggling trickster eventually rested his head on the hero’s lap.
“Ah… Mr. Hero. Thank you.”
“…No.”
Kai, about to say something like ‘I should thank you more’ instead, sealed his lips tight.
As my head touched his thigh, I was overwhelmed by a ticklish feeling.
“…”
As Kai kindly lent me his thigh, I shifted my gaze out of the window.
Frowning, I covered my smirking lips with my palm.
We had five days till we reached the empire.
It seemed like it would be a pleasant journey.
***
Who is the Emperor, you ask?
The one who commands an expansive territory and numerous nobles. The one who can make even the mighty guilds quiver.
And he was suitably famous.
─ I want to sleep with the Emperor.
Title) Isn’t the Emperor handsome?
Seriously..
Is this guy gay?
Why is this bastard like this from morning?
This one isn’t a girl, right?
Definitely not a girl, lol
No matter how you look at it, he’s just a gay guy
Even the way he writes is feeble, seriously
It smells like sh*t on the Gal from the morning
Ah, sorry, lol – I just pooped
The smell just got worse
Is this a gallery or a dumpster here?
Both of you, get out!!!!
Honestly, isn’t the Emperor handsome?
Seriously… I wish I could see his handsome face again.
I’d love to do laundry on the Emperor’s abs…
All the Emperor’s fanboys have gathered, lol.
– Ugh, it’s awful how they fawn over the Emperor
– Can you guys please leave…
– Yeah, lol, I don’t listen to what the uglies say, those worse than the Emperor, lol
– Yeah, lol, it’s just like how much you guys love boobs, lol
– Ugh, these girls who like the Emperor are really crazy, but I can’t disagree with them
– But, is he really that handsome?
– If you had the Emperor’s face, even your farts would be hilarious, for real
– I went to the actual Imperial social event once, they all giggled and fell in love at his handing over a wine glass…
– ? Where was the continuity?
– The other nobles had to bear it, delivering humorous lines, having garden dates, drinking wine, talking all day, and then crying alone at home
– Why are you suddenly sharing your story?
– Lol, it’s because I’m gay…
– What’s your problem, then? Lol
– It was my face that was the problem
– Lol, the end is open
– Damn! Is this even a country?
– I wonder what life is like for the attractive…
– If all the handsome guys died… would I not become a handsome guy…?
– Feel free to hate this Emperor dude, seriously
– He is clearly a mom’s boy… and he is also very competent
– Eesh, an alpha male and an emperor too??? I’m opposing the empire from today on, yes
– Screw the empire ㅠㅠ I cheer for the kingdom ㅠㅠ
– I’ll start sending my soul to the kingdom today ㅠㅠ
– Eesh, is this even a country?
Of course the Emperor was handsome, but….
The most famous reason was because he was very competent.
In terms of steadily growing the empire, he didn’t belong to the average.
Anyone is fine! As long as they’re capable!
Dedicate yourself to the empire!
He didn’t discriminate against anyone, no matter their ethnicity or anything else.
If it were any other country, such a radical action would not have been attempted.
The Elf would say, “This guy has short ears, doesn’t he? Well, he’s a waste?”
The Demons would say, “This guy has no horns? What? He has a huge horn between his legs? Chop it off.” Therefore, it was a world where such words wouldn’t sound strange.
Yet, the Emperor promoted an unconventional approach!
In this way, the empire’s stature continually grew.
A large empire is much like a modern corporation.
Such a corporation’s continued growth resulted in today’s empire.
Title: But is the Emperor mad?
Isn’t it scary to indiscriminately accept different races for the growth of the empire?
We could be devoured by other races, you know.
ㄴThe empire’s anti-discrimination laws and immigration preference policies for different races seems crazy…It’s like taking anyone with talent.
ㄴRather, it might have become stronger by accepting them.
ㄴIt seems humans are somehow accepting these different races?
ㄴLooking at the Osen Kingdom too…
ㄴHumans are the weird ones, ㄹㅇ.
ㄴBut isn’t that inflating itself to absorb the neighboring countries?
ㄴㄹㅇ It does seem like a unilateral move.
ㄴThat’s why it’s scarier ㅋㅋㅋ.
Other countries frowned.
Absorbing different species indiscriminately for growth did not look normal.
From Noble mtl dot com
Are these bastards from the empire trying to invade us?
Conquer the continent? To achieve a feat that no one had ever achieved before?
It was so ground-breaking that such thoughts naturally arose.
Title: The countries next to the empire should deal with it ㅋㅋ.
Elan, Bier, Osen, solve it yourselves ㅋㅋ.
ㄴYeah ㅋㅋ We don’t care ㅋㅋ.
ㄴOsen is a bit pitiful.
ㄴThe other two will take care of themselves.
ㄴIt’s certain that they want to consume Osen.
The Emperor had only one thing in mind.
“I will devour the ocean and establish a realm of humanity!”
That was his intent when trying to establish contact with Judick.
While the Emperor was at work in his office, the Knight Commander, Ersha, returned with news.
“The warrior and the guest have arrived.”
“Proceed.”
He nodded his head quietly.
Then he resumed his work.
“…I’m not sure when the work will end.”
The large size of the empire meant there was a lot to do.
***
Judick had adapted and his seasickness had improved, but his body still swayed.
“Ugh, I feel like I’m dying.”
“Judick, are you alright?”
“Maybe.”
Now, to handle some work and take a break.
Judick wandered the interior of the palace.
Although he had been granted access… Is nobody here?
The palace was eerie because it was so quiet.
As he wandered around, looking around like a country bumpkin and heading inward, a woman who appeared to be a chamberlain bowed her head.
“The Emperor is still busy. Will you wait a bit?”
“Uh, yes.”
“Guest, then I will guide you separately.”
“Mm… yes.”
Oh, yes! I can’t refuse such a request.
Especially when a pretty sister smiles warmly, Judick’s body stiffens.
As Judick nodded his head, the woman led Judick and the warrior somewhere.
“It seems like we are heading to a guesthouse.”
“It seems so.”
They changed direction to a different building from the main palace building.
The guesthouse they refer to is strikingly quiet.
It was dazzling, as if the exterior was gilded in gold.
The maidens waiting in anticipation greeted them as they arrived.
They naturally attached themselves to the merchant and the warrior, leading them off in different directions.
“Then, the guest will come this way…”
“Ah, but he is my escort.”
“His Majesty wished to meet personally. Please wait in this room.”
“…”
There is… something suspicious afoot.
They naturally separate the pair and lead them to different places? That seems suspicious.
The merchant, picking up on this, cast a glance towards the warrior.
Nod.
A reaction came back signalling that this was not out of the ordinary.
I suppose it’s fine to follow then.
Entrusted to the maidens, the merchant moved deeper into the separate building.
But, just what is the scheme?
Could this be some sort of threat behind a blade?
The worrying didn’t last long.
An anomalistic smell tickled the merchant’s nose.
‘This is….’
A sweet smell… Oddly making my head go blank… feels like I am starting to get giddy.
This is clearly a trap at face-value. Shouldn’t I run away?
As the doors to the separate building opened, there were numerous eyes greeting the merchant.
Oh my, look at their bosoms.
“Guest, wouldn’t you like to come inside?”
He was swayed by the soft voice of the beautiful sister.
Just take a peek and leave, right? If nothing happens, all is well.
“Yeah.”
The merchant plunged his head into the lion’s den.
