Imperial palace banquet hall.
In the splendid hall that directly showcases the mighty power of the Alpharion Empire, colorful magical lights illuminate the entire hall, and the music of court musicians echoes. Central nobles and young ladies and gentlemen from noble families are entering the banquet hall one by one.
The emperor of the empire, 'Friedrich von Alpharion'.
He was looking down at the banquet hall from the upper balcony with his minister.
The nobles attending the banquet were already holding wine glasses and chatting with each other.
But today's protagonists are not them.
"They're gathering now."
"Your Majesty, when are you thinking of going down?"
The emperor shook his head at the minister's words.
"The protagonists haven't arrived yet. Ah, there they come."
Ooh-!
The hall stirred.
New faces appeared at this place where they always meet the same nobles.
'Adventurers from the stars' who defeated the threat in the north started entering the imperial palace banquet hall.
Male adventurers entered the hall one by one. They were all wearing formal attire in the Alpharion Empire style.
The emperor smiled contentedly watching them.
"Good. Is this your handiwork?"
"As a servant, it's only natural to pay attention to such matters."
The elderly minister with a face covered in white beard bowed his head, not knowing what to do with himself at the emperor's praise.
Now it was the female adventurers' turn.
The appearance of the female adventurers entering the hall wearing beautiful dresses was also amazing. There were women with beauty that could keep the young gentlemen of noble families awake at night.
"Indeed, dressed like this, they all look like fine young men and women. Are these the otherworldly beings called adventurers from the stars?"
Beings that cannot be judged by appearance alone.
The emperor looked at them with calm eyes.
Since their appearance on this continent, the emperor had also investigated them in various ways.
He knows that they have their original existence in another world and have a separate body here. They can disappear at will too. They are generally friendly to the humans of this world.
And.
"To think she was one of them."
Tap tap.
At the appearance of the last two women to enter, the stir in the hall ceased.
Amidst the gentle music of musicians focused only on their work, the appearance of the shorter woman among the two who entered the hall was:
The descent of a goddess.
Truly a beauty that could topple a nation.
There would be few words to praise her beauty.
The current emperor couldn't help but complain a little to the founding emperor. The portrait hanging in the corridor of the area allowed only to the imperial family didn't capture even a fraction of the Great Mother's beauty.
A youthful appearance and small stature.
But such a young appearance did not detract from her beauty.
White hair shining silver reflecting the banquet hall lights. Sharp obsidian eyes shining through the bangs covering one eye.
The girl threw off the adventurer's appearance wrapped in a cloak. The pure white dress enveloping her body further enhanced her appearance.
The emperor purely admired the epitome of beauty.
"My my."
"Indeed she is beautiful, but to think such a small girl is one of the forgotten old heroes."
The emperor clicked his tongue looking at the minister tilting his head.
"Tsk, do you also judge others only by appearance?"
"I am ashamed. It is difficult to understand with my shallow insight."
"You should know too, but adventurers from the stars are beings whose age cannot be gauged by appearance. The flow of time they live in might be different from ours."
The emperor turned his eyes away from the bowing minister and looked around the quieted hall once.
And he burst into laughter.
"Hohoho!"
The eyes of the male children of noble families looked like they would pop out. Even the young ladies had expressions like they were dreaming.
But that girl is not a being they can reach. They are only allowed to have feelings of awe.
And the beautiful red-haired woman next to the girl. She was on guard, shooting glares in all directions. Even more so because of that, they won't be able to reach her.
The emperor fell into contemplation looking at them.
The hero who defeated the Demon King. And her companions.
Did the Demon King cast a curse to erase their names from this world at the very end?
Their names were forgotten.
'Names' contain one's existence. The fact that their names were forgotten is like their very existence becoming vague.
Even the current Emperor Friedrich, if he hadn't seen the founding emperor's memoirs, wouldn't have been able to reach the existence of her who reappeared on this continent. He would have dismissed her as a different person who just resembled the portrait.
Only the founding emperor, who was close to the old hero, left records without forgetting the Great Mother.
"Founding Emperor."
The current emperor sighed.
Ironically, most of the founding emperor's memoirs were full of complaints about the iron-wall protection of female companions surrounding the Great Mother.
The fact that he wanted to welcome the Great Mother in the form of a small girl as his empress would be a secret he should take to his grave.
At least until his descendants access the secret room of the imperial palace.
"Well then, shall we go down too?"
"As you wish."
The emperor went down the balcony with the minister.
Although he couldn't treat her as the Great Mother due to her request not to be known, he could be certain of one thing:
On this continent.
The names of the forgotten hero and companions.
Would be praised and resound again.
"Wow, I thought this game didn't have OST, but the music is good?"
"It has a classical feel, but a bit more upbeat."
The guild members admired the performance of the imperial palace musicians.
I peeked out my head holding Chris's dress hem and looked around the banquet hall.
Unfamiliar people.
But familiar music.
The melody that used to echo from simple instruments in battlefield tents.
I felt a tingle in my nose for no reason.
"It's nice..."
"Hm? What is?"
"Ah, it's nothing."
I shook my head at Chris's question.
The center of the hall is still empty. But there will be time for dancing there too.
Luxurious food placed on tables at the edge of the banquet hall, and seemingly high-class wines.
Come to think of it, I haven't drunk alcohol with this body.
Can you get drunk in virtual reality?
"Lo-look, look at that. They say the quiet cat is the first to climb on the stove. Well, he is quite handsome."
Chris pointed towards the window snickering.
"Hoot."
There, Deathly Death was holding a wine glass looking outside, trying hard to set the mood.
"You're an adventurer, right? Tell us adventure stories!"
"Move aside, I was first!"
Young ladies who looked like they were from noble families were already clinging around Deathly Death.
I gaped.
My goodness, that works in the Alpharion Empire?
Noble sons were also gathering one by one around the female users. They were extending their hands and introducing themselves.
"Ah, haha, I see."
Bae Merong received the self-introduction of a young master who looked a bit young, and sent a troubled gaze towards us. I giggled behind Chris.
No one came near me and Chris. Because Chris was blowing steam from her nose and guarding in all directions.
"Grrrr!"
"Unnie... please stop that growling."
As I was looking around for a while behind Chris like that, the music changed.
Bam bam bam, bam bam bam. A bit noisy. Ba ba ba bam. Very boisterous. What is this? Someone's entrance song?
"It feels like 'Division Commander's entrance!'"
"Kuhuh. What, South Korea isn't conscription anymore, right? Did you watch some old military drama?"
Following Disappointing and Ko Seungwoo's gazes, I could see two people coming down from the upper stairs.
They were the emperor and minister.
Rustle rustle.
The surrounding nobles all lowered their posture at once. Young ladies in dresses lifted their dresses, young gentlemen in formal attire knelt on one knee.
Chris poked me.
"Us too?"
I shook my head.
"He said we don't have to."
Chris conveyed it to the guild members.
The emperor, who entered the center of the hall, opened his mouth towards the quieted crowd.
"I express gratitude to everyone who attended this place today."
And the emperor looked this way and smiled.
"As you know, today's banquet protagonists are the adventurers over here. They are heroes who defeated the threat of demons that appeared in the north. They may be unfamiliar with imperial etiquette, but they are guests I invited, so please be generous."
"We understand."
"You all know well too that the current empire's situation isn't so easy either. The potential threat of the eastern gorge we couldn't completely conquer has started stirring. Monsters are becoming ferocious, and their attacks are intensifying day by day."
The emperor looked straight at us.
"It may be sudden, but please understand. Heroes, may I entrust the eastern part of the Alpharion Empire to you?"
Ding.
-World Quest Occurred-
[Let's block the threat of evil that has come to the eastern part of the Alpharion Empire]
[Conditions for opening expansion pack 'Endless Gorge' have been met]
[29 days 23 hours 59 minutes until the opening of 'Erins Gorge' in eastern Alpharion Empire]
"Did you get it too?"
"Yeah. This seems to be appearing for all users? Messengers are going crazy now."
"The next expansion pack is the eastern Alpharion Empire, huh."
The occurrence of a World Quest.
The vanguard users gathered here also started saying one thing each.
With that conversation ending, the emperor moved to his seat. An unexpectedly secluded place, probably the emperor's consideration to enjoy the banquet without burden.
But.
I couldn't help but smile wryly.
"The emperor is smart."
The current emperor understood the psychology and behavioral principles of users, and knew how to use them.
The emperor's sudden request made users' expectations swell.
Of course, there are people who play RPG games wishing for peace, but not the vanguard users gathered here. Everyone wanted to go ahead of others and wanted more dangerous and thrilling adventures.
I also gave a slight smile to the emperor who left an eye greeting towards me.