The envoy from the Alpharion Empire had already met with Chris. Since I had grown tired after our outing, my guardian, Chris, took care of everything in my stead.
"Yawn."
I stretched my arms and yawned.
This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.
Rub, rub. I rubbed my eyes.
Logging in right after a day of flower-viewing...
On long days like that, I should just go straight to sleep.
Pat, pat.
I sat on Chris’s lap, resting against the tree stump as she gently stroked my head.
"Audience? A ball?"
"Yeah. The Emperor of the Alpharion Empire has sent an invitation. To the first, second, and third raid teams that cleared the *Abyss Tree*. The envoy has already left, and I told them I’d inform the Noname raid team."
"Hmm..."
The first clear team was the Noname raid team.
The second clear team was the Crimson-White raid team.
The third clear team was the Skada raid team.
We were all invited to the royal palace of the Alpharion Empire.
"I guess it makes sense for me and the Crimson-White team since we’re from the Alpharion Empire, but isn’t the Skada raid team part of the Betarion Empire?"
"Technically, yes. But the players are really just mercenaries, aren’t they? Officially, they have no allegiance. Maybe this is an attempt to recruit them."
I nodded in understanding.
Beneath the surface, the two empires were engaged in a power struggle over valuable mana stones, using players to fight in proxy wars.
Players fought quests to obtain the mana stones, while the Alpharion and Betarion Empires profited from them. It was impressive how the two empires were using the "adventurers from the stars" to serve their own interests.
A sudden thought crossed my mind, and I spoke it aloud.
"Inviting the heroes who defeated the demon commanders... does that mean the empire has been keeping an eye on the northern regions, where the demons' influence is growing?"
"It would seem so. It’s interesting, right? The empire, which seemed so preoccupied with internal politics, is finally starting to move."
It was strange. The empires, which had seemed indifferent to the looming demon threat, were finally taking action.
"Did the Betarion Empire send an invitation as well?"
"Sharp as always. Yes, they did send an envoy, but upon seeing that the Alpharion Empire’s envoy had already arrived, they left."
So it seemed the order of invitations was based on the raid clears. As the Noname raid team, which had secured the first clear, was part of the Alpharion Empire, it made sense.
Anyway, since all the raid teams were technically mercenaries, the Skada raid team had been invited as well.
"Maybe it’s the game company’s way of rewarding us for our raid accomplishments? Haha. They’ll celebrate our achievements and throw in a banquet for good measure. Nobles will attend, we’ll dance at the ball! It’s a classic fantasy game event."
Chris’s explanation made sense on the surface.
They’d celebrate the achievements of their mercenaries and try to recruit foreign mercenaries to their side.
But I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to it.
---
The capital city. It had been a while!
I bounced up and down in excitement in front of the central fountain in the Alpharion Empire’s capital, Patama.
"Chris, Chris! It’s the fountain!"
Chris chuckled, watching me jump up and down in front of the fountain.
"Hehe, why are you acting like you’ve never seen it before? We’ve passed by here countless times when leveling in the plains region, and we’ve shopped here together."
"It’s been a long time since the last expansion pack!"
Since we started our adventures in the northern regions, we hadn’t visited the capital. After the expansion pack opened, we had mainly based ourselves in the northern villages and the elven forest.
"Did you stop by your house?"
"Oh, housing. Well, not much to check there, right?"
Chris seemed to recall my housing in the imperial capital.
I had made sure to lock the doors to prevent other players from entering. NPCs didn’t seem to be affected, but even if some petty thief managed to break in, there wasn’t much they could steal.
Thump, thump.
With light steps, I walked along the main street.
The capital of the empire was vast, but even from here, the massive buildings were clearly visible.
Following the road that stretched straight from the plaza, the grand presence of the imperial palace loomed ahead, its stone structures rising between the other buildings.
"You can see it from here. We’re the first players to get inside, aren’t we?"
The massive inner courtyard of the palace grounds boasted a collection of ornate medieval-style architecture. I wondered if the architecture in Astria followed any distinct styles, like Baroque on Earth.
"No players have been allowed inside the imperial palace yet, right?"
"Right. NPC guards and knights prevent anyone from entering."
Technically, it might be possible to force your way in, but no player would dare go against the entire empire. Doing so might mean being banned from ever participating in the Alpharion Empire’s activities again.
After a long walk, we arrived at the palace gates.
Two guards stood in front of the massive gates, accompanied by a knight in ceremonial armor.
Chris approached the knight and handed over the invitation she had received from the emperor’s envoy.
"Everything is in order, Lady Chris and Lady Rain."
The knight bowed formally in the imperial manner and motioned for the guards to open the gates.
Creak, creak, creak—
---
"This way, please."
A middle-aged man in what resembled a butler’s outfit led us through the palace. His name was something like "de Something-or-other." Judging by the length of his name, he was probably a noble. It was said that even the butlers in the palace were of noble birth.
The central palace was expansive, with long corridors stretching endlessly.
The decorations and artworks lining the corridor caught my eye.
As expected of an empire that had lasted a thousand years. Even in these small details, you could feel its power.
"A thousand-year-old empire, huh."
In my memory, Alpharion and Betarion hadn’t even been empires a thousand years ago.
What were they like back then?
Actually, they weren’t even proper countries at the time. They were just groups of humans, driven from their homes by the demons, banding together to reclaim their land and establish a human nation.
Back then, the leaders of the two factions met in military tents. There were no grand buildings like this.
Chris and I finally arrived at a large door.
Knock, knock.
Chris, who had been staring wide-eyed at the palace, tapped me on the shoulder.
"Rain, Rain! Look! Is this the audience chamber? Do you think the emperor is waiting for us inside? Will the ball start right after we meet him? Should we have bought dresses? Maybe we can still get some from the auction house...!"
"Unni..."
I glanced at the butler and poked Chris in the side, signaling her to calm down.
"This is the waiting room. Once everyone has gathered, we will escort you to the audience chamber."
Creak.
The door opened, and inside, familiar faces greeted us.
Thud, thud, thud.
"Rain! Chris-unnie!"
"Beimerung-unnie, you’re already here."
I ran over and grabbed the hand of the pink-haired mage, smiling brightly.
---
"Among our guild members, you and Chris-unnie were the last to arrive!"
Behind Beimerung, the familiar faces of the Crimson-White guild waved at us. Death's Kiss and Cerny were waving enthusiastically.
Nearby were the familiar figures of the tank duo and ranger duo, as well as the mages and summoners.
Chris frowned as she looked at Beimerung’s outfit.
"What’s this, Beimerung? Why didn’t you dress up?"
"Huh? Dress up? What for?"
Beimerung was wearing her usual mage’s robe.
Some players had donned something resembling formal wear, but most were wearing the specialized gear they had acquired from dungeons.
I nudged Chris in the side again.
"See, Chris-unnie? Everyone’s just wearing their regular outfits."
"Tsk, tsk. It’s a formal ball at the imperial palace, and there’s no sense of romance."
Chris clicked her tongue in disappointment.
"Wait a minute."
I glanced around at the people in the room, a slight frown on my face.
Beimerung noticed and asked, "Rain, what’s wrong?"
"I don’t see anyone from the Skada raid team."
"Oh, Skada-unnie? She said she’d be a little late, but she should be here soon. We still have some time before the event starts."
It seemed Beimerung, with her characteristic friendliness, had already befriended Skada after a few raid runs together.
Knock, knock. Creak—
We didn’t have to wait long.
Just as we had arrived a little late, the Skada raid team soon followed.
"Looks like everyone’s already here. It’s good to see you all."
The third clear team of the *Abyss Tree*, the Skada raid team, made their entrance.
Led by the brown-haired beauty, Skada, and accompanied by their tank, Park Jung-gwon, the team entered the waiting room. I recognized some of the players from our previous raid runs together, but there were also a few new faces.
"Is everyone here? One, two, three
...."
Chris began counting the people in the room.
Twelve members from the Crimson-White raid team, twelve from the Skada raid team.
Everyone was present. No one seemed to be missing.
"Huh...? Is Rain attending alone on behalf of the Noname raid team?"
Skada tilted her head as she looked over at me.
I avoided her gaze, tugging at Chris’s sleeve.
"There are so many people."
"It’s not just a handful. But the audience chamber should be spacious enough, right?"
Knock, knock.
A knock echoed through the room, and the butler who had guided us earlier reappeared.
"The audience with the Emperor is about to begin."
The 25 gathered adventurers showed a variety of reactions—some were nervous, others excited, and a few were already anticipating their rewards.
As for me, my thoughts were different from theirs, but I couldn’t deny the sense of expectation building within me.
A thousand years ago.
The two leaders who had stood beside me in the fight against the demons.
Their descendants.
Now, I would finally see them.