There were so many things I wanted to say and argue about.
Like how even though the holy sword ignored defense and resistance, being a tank by nature meant Icked additional damage skills, so my DPS against bosses was starting to fall off.
Or how I wished I could use these "fragments" they mentioned to gain even a fraction of Rnd''s genius swordsmanship.
Or questioning what kind of boss monster would take defense-piercing damage, then cowardly flee into their fortress and lock the door - what kind of character design was that?
As a gamer experiencing meta changes firsthand, I wanted to discuss it, but Han Se-ah still firmly believed I was an NPC. So I had to keep these thoughts bottled up inside...
''What now...?''
Seeing the knights approaching proudly with their magnificent banners held high in the distance, the words that rose to my throat dropped back into my stomach from sheer absurdity.
It was like being furious about Manager Kim''s lecture at work, then encountering a naked madman urinating on the main street while heading home. Would you still care about what Manager Kim said when there''s a lunatic right in front of you?
When something too ridiculous happens, previous concerns be trivial inparison. Why would a noble''s carriagee to a boss monster''s fortress, rather than the base camp at the gate?''Imperial Army, and the Imperial Guard at that? As in the personal guard?''
Seeing themander beside me trembling like a mouse before a cat at the sight of those tall banners, the borate insignia must be Imperial, and the g beside it bore the familiar Goddess Faith symbol.
The ck-armored knights carried both the Goddess Faith symbol and Imperial banner high, as the continent''s Emperor also imed to be chosen by the Goddess. While the Heavenly King''s armor grotesquely depicted human muscles, these knights'' armor was magnificently designed to set men''s hearts racing.
Full te armor in pure ck that showed off sleek, gentle feminine curves with a narrow waist. ck from head to toe, with gold decorations on parts like the visor and gauntlets.
They approached so openly and proudly, as if this wasn''t the front of a boss monster''s fortress but some city square.
"My word, what is this?"
"Hm? Why so surprised, brother?"
"Shut up and bow, even if you''re Kingdom adventurers, don''t you recognize them?!"
The traineemanders frantically adjusted their clothes and tried to control their hired mercenaries and adventurers who had gathered in surprise. The adventurers and mercenaries moved obediently ording to themanders'' fuss, apparently experienced in dealing with important people.
And such movement naturally piqued Han Se-ah''s curiosity. As a streamer, she couldn''t stay still when something new appeared like an event.
She immediately turned her camera toward the carriage receiving strict escort behind the banner-bearing knights. Seeing four massive ck horses with gleaming muscr coats pulling it, this must indeed be someone important.
"Wow... what''s this? Those horses look almost like floor 50 monsters. Just one horse must be worth more than most adventurers."
-The horse looks better looking than me lololol
-I bet selling our whole party wouldn''t buy one of those horses lololololol
-Are horses really that expensive? Seems exaggerated
-Even today racehorses cost more in upkeep than sports cars, does this look like a cheap horse?
-My dream was raising horses like that on a ranch, more than magic and romance, these magnificent horses drew me to gaming
Obviously, even in a fantasy world with magic, the technology level was around medieval to early modern. Even pack horses used by merchant caravans cost more than a peasant''s earnings, so war horses that could clearly fight monsters must be worth more than bags of gold. ?α????ΕS?
If just the horses were that impressive, the carriage was even more luxurious. Unlike Princess Bradamante with her "White Feather Shield", ck and gold seemed to be the signature colors here, with ck wood decorated in gold leaf.
Seeing its elongated form through Han Se-ah''s camera, it almost felt like a medieval version of a limousine - maybe that was intentional.
"Rnd, themanders seem really shocked - is someone importanting personally?"
"Probably. With so many knights escorting the carriage... ah, and they said Imperial Guard, not just knights. Must be at least a ducal house, or maybe even royalty."
Not just Han Se-ah but our whole party watched the approaching procession with curious eyes. Themanders stood at rigid attention while adventurers and mercenaries gathered nervously behind them.
A red carpet rolled out from under the slowly stopping carriage, and the door opened gradually.
"The Eternal Sun of the Empire, spreading the Goddess''s words throughout the Imperial--"
"Enough. Did I not say to skip the tedious formalities?"
The person who stepped out was a woman smaller than expected. Thinking foolishly about how many important people were blonde, like the Goddess, I felt pokes in both sides of my ribs.
"Rnd, if she''s the Empire''s Sun... isn''t that the Empress?"
"Um, Rnd? She seems really important - should we show proper respect too?"
Ah, not just important - this was something else entirely.
※
A small, petite frame about 160cm like Katie. A young beauty with cat-like upturned eyes, swaying short golden hair, and fair skin that unmistakably marked her status.
"We greet the Empire''s Sun--!"
"H-how could such an honored onee to this ce?!"
Despite her cute appearance, she bore the fearsome title of 6★ Imperial Empress.
Born 6★ ''Great Empress'' Charlotte
Looking at it now, all three natural 6★s including myself were blonde - ''Pdin'' Rnd, ''White Feather Shield'' Bradamante, and ''Great Empress'' Charlotte.
And these three were clearly modeled after the story of France''s Twelve Pdins. Some briefly patriotic French viewers spammed the chat with French gs and baguette icons in revolutionary spirit before being mercilessly purged by the AI.
As Han Se-ah and I stared nkly at the chat, dumbfounded by the sudden appearance of another natural 6★, she walked steadily toward us.
While Princess Bradamante was an elegant, dignified woman, Empress Charlotte was a girl withzy yet yful eyes. Comparing her to a well-mannered golden retriever or satisfied cheese cat would probably be insulting both the Imperial and Royal families.
"Ah, Your Imperial--"
"Enough. I have no desire for formality from the hero party carrying out the Goddess''s will."
No wonder all the Imperial Guard wore feminine armor - they must be the Empress''s female knight order. The viewers would love that. As I was lost in such thoughts, the Empress approached naturally as Irene went to greet her.
True to her yful, free-spirited image, she seemed to dislike ceremony,zily waving her wrist before striding up to examine us - specifically me and Han Se-ah - like zoo animals.
"Um, hey... how are we supposed to act before an empress? I mean, empress or emperor aside... this really isn''t helping!"
-What do you expect, average yers like us crawl before viscounts and can''t even meet counts, let alone emperors lololololololol
-Emperor empress whatever, we haven''t even seen the princess you noob lololololololol
-If we knew that would we be watching streams instead of cutting off Heavenly Kings'' heads lololol
-Asking chat about pce etiquette is like asking dating advice on 2chan
-But it''s funny how the princess is prim and proper while the empress is so casual, nice twist
Han Se-ah trembled under that tant gaze. Even a streaming genius like her found it hard to be shameless before the Imperial Empress.@@novelbin@@
Finding even Han Se-ah''s nervousness amusing, the Empress raised her lips slightly and signaled her knights. Suddenly a tea table appeared on the ins. At least they didn''t insist on ck for the tea set - a tea party suddenly materialized in front of fortress walls that were a battlefield five minutes ago.
"So rather than tedious formalities, I''d like to hear what exactly is happening here. A hero''s tale of the tower - how fascinating."
"Ah, y-yes..."
Even Han Se-ah became docile before such a straightforward important person.