Chapter 19
“Y-You really won’t be going, Your Highness? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…”
“I said I’m not going. I want to be alone, so don’t show up again.”
“If you end up blaming me later…”
Zap—
“T-Then I will be in the banquet hall.”
Rikal’s cold gaze.
Hanon, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire, quickly ran off.
“He always acts like this at times like these… so annoying…”
Rikal finally got rid of Hanon and sighed in relief.
Today was the day of the Imperial Banquet, which also doubled as the ‘Zatum Expedition’ strategy meeting.
And Rikal had to participate in the banquet as <Light of the Empire> while hiding his true identity.
To do so, he had to completely deceive the eyes of the people in the capital.
He had gotten rid of everyone else, but the most troublesome one was Hanon.
A man so competent that he was still by Rikal’s side after all these years.
It was usually convenient to have him around since any minor inconvenience would be dealt with immediately.
But during times when Rikal needed to be alone, like right now, it was frustrating to have him there.
Of course, Hanon had been stubbornly clinging to Rikal, puzzled by the fact that someone like him who plays ‘Maple Leaf Story’ every day was not attending the banquet today.
Fortunately, Rikal somehow managed to get him off his back.
“…No one’s around.”
The garden outside was quiet.
Everyone was attending the banquet, so there was no one outside the building.
Rikal put a pillow under the blanket to make it look like he was sleeping and threw himself out the window.
Swish—
Rikal ran across the rooftops, avoiding people’s gazes.
‘…These guards aren’t doing their job properly.’
He slipped past the sentries and made his way outside the capital’s walls.
There, in a deserted spot near the wall, Rikal took out a brooch.
It was a transformation artifact given to him by Rai.
Whoosh—
With a flash of brilliant light, Rikal’s appearance changed.
Becoming <Light of the Empire>, Rikal steadied his breath and headed for the city gates.
“Halt!”
The guards blocked his path.
He almost felt a surge of irritation, but he held it in.
He hadn’t fully synchronized with the persona of <Light of the Empire> yet.
But as soon as he started speaking, he quickly immersed himself in the role of <Light of the Empire>.
After all, it was something he was already used to doing in the game.
“I, was invited to the Imperial Banquet today!”
He showed the invitation he had brought, as Rikal—no, as <Light of the Empire>, JeBbit.
The guard who took the paper and looked at the invitation opened his eyes wide in shock.
“C-Could it be… JeBbit, sir?”
“That’s right!”
“To meet JeBbit in person…! P-Please, go right in.”
“Thank you. May happiness follow you!”
The guards, as if meeting a celebrity, were overcome with emotion.
JeBbit chuckled lightly and headed toward the banquet hall.
‘That guy Hanon made me really late. But I should be able to arrive just in time for the start of Act Two.’
He originally planned to attend the banquet from the beginning.
But it took a long time to get rid of his aide, Hanon.
Still, since the strategy meeting would start from Act Two of the banquet, he wouldn’t be late for that.
JeBbit passed through the vast gardens of the Imperial Palace and arrived at the entrance of the banquet hall.
He showed his invitation to the guards at the hall’s entrance, who reacted the same way as the ones at the gate.
“Huu…”
The doors to the banquet hall began to open.
JeBbit took a deep breath and stepped inside the hall.
However,
“Hawawa…?”
Something was strange about the atmosphere in the banquet hall.
People who should have been smiling were collectively sobbing, and the leader of the expedition, Galliard, was kneeling on the floor.
Rai was standing alone in a corner of the hall, and when he spotted JeBbit, he began frantically waving his hand.
“Huh…? JeBbit…? JeBbit! You came!”
“What? That person is JeBbit?”
“There were rumors that the Crown Prince managed to deliver the invitation to JeBbit, but it turns out they were true?”
“She looks exactly like her in-game avatar from Maple Leaf Story!”
“It’s JeBbit, JeBbit!”
-JeBbit! JeBbit! JeBbit! JeBbit! JeBbit!
The voice of Leo, who spotted JeBbit, echoed through the hall.
Responding to his voice, people began chanting JeBbit’s name as they moved toward him.
‘I expected some attention, but not like this…’
“You’ve come, JeBbit!”
“Why did you show up so late!”
“JeBbit, you’re so cute—”
‘W-Wait, they’re getting too close… If this happens…’
People started crowding around JeBbit.
JeBbit began to back away.
If they made contact with him, his illusion magic would be exposed.
“You shouldn’t come too close…!”
But the excited crowd did not stop.
When they completely surrounded JeBbit,
-Please, wait a moment!
Someone stepped in front of the people, blocking their path.
***
Famous people getting surrounded by crowds at banquets is common.
But this time was different.
Right now, <Light of the Empire> was considered the final key to conquering Zatum.
He had hidden his identity for a long time, and speculation about him had run rampant.
In such a situation, it was only natural that people would flock to him the moment he appeared.
As expected, people rushed toward JeBbit from all directions.
In this situation, physical contact might reveal that he was an illusion.
I had no choice but to step in and help.
Not out of concern for Rikal, but because I didn’t want to be interrogated later, either.
“Please, wait a moment!”
Everyone’s gaze turned to me at my shout.
I squeezed through the crowd and stood in front of JeBbit.
“I understand how delighted you are to see JeBbit, but please be cautious when approaching him. For example… try to avoid touching him.”
“Why?”
“And who are you to stand in JeBbit’s way?”
Some people protested.
I was dressed in shabby mage robes, unlike the nobles in their fancy clothes, so I guess it was understandable.
“I am the illusion mage, Rai Oat.”
“Rai Oat…? Isn’t that the name of the person who created Maple Leaf Story?”
“I heard the Crown Prince handed JeBbit the invitation at the Illusion Magic Tower.”
“So JeBbit and the Illusion Magic Tower were acquainted?”
“Yes, yes, though not particularly close…”
I had blocked them for now, but I couldn’t think of what to say next.
I had to prevent JeBbit’s identity from being discovered and also avoid any physical contact…
I hesitated for a moment before just blurting out whatever came to mind.
This whole situation was already a mess anyway.
“Well… JeBbit is, you see, a sort of… ‘delicate young lady’.”
“A d-delicate young lady?”
“Indeed, with that pale complexion and petite frame…”
“Yes, that’s correct. JeBbit is extremely vulnerable to bacteria, which is why you must refrain from any physical contact.”
A collective gasp of pity escaped from the crowd.
It seemed the illusion’s appearance was working in my favour.
“Not long ago, JeBbit visited the Illusion Magic Tower and explained her situation. She said she wanted to join the <Zatum Expedition>, but was reluctant to attend a crowded banquet.”
Before I knew it, even the Emperor had approached and was listening.
“At first, we decided that, regrettably, JeBbit would not attend the offline strategy meeting. After all, if she got sick by attending the banquet, it would be a disaster.”
People collectively nodded their heads.
JeBbit’s image, which I had modelled to be lovely, seemed to have enchanted them.
“But then, the Crown Prince visited the Illusion Magic Tower. He made a very sincere request to JeBbit, saying that everyone was eagerly waiting for her and that she would become the hero of this expedition.
JeBbit pondered for a long time, even after the Crown Prince left. After much deliberation, she decided to muster the courage to attend the strategy meeting.”
Ooooh…!
People started shedding tears of emotion.
Why were they so immersed in this, really?
“So that’s the story…”
“She’s truly… a radiant light…”
“I almost made her uncomfortable… Such a lovely person…”
“How could such a beautiful lady…”
The people were overwhelmed with emotions like kindness, pity, affection, and maternal instinct as they gazed at JeBbit’s appearance and backstory.
Young ladies stared at her with loving yet sorrowful eyes.
And some of the noblemen were already looking at her with infatuation.
I didn’t even want to imagine what those men would think if they knew who was actually inside JeBbit.
Even the Crown Prince was looking at her with eyes that seemed to be brimming with love…
I deliberately ignored it and continued speaking.
“Anyway, that’s why you need to be extra careful about physical contact. JeBbit has sacrificed herself and joined us here for the sake of conquering Zatum, so I ask for your consideration.”
“That’s… correct…”
Clap, clap, clap—
Suddenly, a loud applause filled the hall.
Galliard was clapping his massive hands together.
“Thank you so much, <Light of the Empire>. Seeing your self-sacrifice reminds me of an old comrade. During the last battle with the Demon King, he sacrificed himself to pin down the Demon King. He died in that final battle, but without his sacrifice, we would not have been able to capture the Demon King.
But worry not. This time, we will ensure that <Light of the Empire>’s health is not endangered. Let’s complete this strategy meeting safely and then work together to defeat Zatum.
Now! Everyone, clear the way! Let’s show our admiration and respect for <Light of the Empire> not with handshakes, but with thunderous applause! Such self-sacrifice for the sake of humanity deserves our highest praise!”
Waaaaaahhh—
The crowd erupted in applause.
And like the parting of the Red Sea, a path opened up, allowing JeBbit to make her way to the round table.
These people are truly unbelievable.
Comparing someone who just plays a game to someone who actually sacrificed their life?
Isn’t that an insult to that person?
But it seemed my thoughts didn’t get across. Well, of course, they wouldn’t.
The people showered JeBbit with praises, even tears and admiration.
“Then, let us officially start the second act of the banquet!”
Once again, the grand music resonated through the hall.
And thus, the real strategy meeting began.
“Ha-wa-wa~? JeBbit has a powerful attack skill called ‘Genesis’!”
JeBbit, who had quickly adapted, was now actively participating in the strategy meeting.
Every time he spoke, the audience responded with reactions like:
“JeBbit is so cute.”
“I want to hug him just once.”
“I’ve never seen such a beautiful young lady before.”
“JeBbit’s beauty is lighting up this entire banquet hall.”
I looked at JeBbit, who seemed to be secretly enjoying these reactions, with cold eyes and stepped out of the hall.
I felt mentally drained just trying to keep up with this ridiculous party.
Anyway, Hina was there, so I could get the details later.
And so, the night at the Imperial Palace deepened.
…And the next day.
[The long-awaited ‘Zatum Expedition’ offline meeting finally held. Who are the expedition members?]
[The odds of winning the Zatum strategy meeting invitation. An interview with the lucky attendees.]
[A well-known user from ‘Maple Leaf Story’, who had been inactive for a long time, appears at the Zatum strategy meeting.]
[Shocking! The identity of the renowned user <Light of the Empire> is a delicate young lady?]
[<Light of the Empire>. Appeared at the banquet to help conquer ‘Zatum’ despite suffering from a rare disease. Attendees shed tears upon hearing her story.]
[The exact appearance and personality of <Light of the Empire> as in-game. The heartbreaking story behind that beautiful exterior has now captivated the entire world with ‘JeBbit Fever.’]
[Medical Guild: “We will develop a cure for <Light of the Empire>’s disease within a year.” They are currently requesting an examination from <Light of the Empire> to find out more about the rare disease.]
[‘JeBbit Fever’ spreading among artisans of various fields. Artisans are now creating items that resemble JeBbit or using JeBbit’s identity to craft tools. This trend has become known as the ‘JeBbit Goods’ craze.]
[Despite ‘JeBbit Goods’ not even being completed yet, over a thousand pre-orders have been placed. The skyrocketing prices of ‘JeBbit Goods.’ Some other members’ goods, like the ‘Fallen Power Warrior’ goods and the ‘Elf Empire Goods,’ are also gaining popularity…]
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Related articles flooded in as expected.
JeBbit had already become an idol.
“Now, it’s not even surprising anymore.”
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