Quest 1, Part 10: [Meeting]

After taking a bath I find my clothes gone from their place. The maid didn’t say anything about this, what will I wear now?

“Where are my clothes?” I ask from my molested maid.

“I sent them back. Princess, I’m aware that is your favorite dress, but Mistress Al Rel’m ordered me to-”

“I ordered the maids to take it away. Please, you are our Princess, you should wear clothes that show you are royalty. I admit, that dress goes well with your beauty, but you can’t wear that always.” Interrupts her Neth as she enters the giant bathroom with maids behind her.

Every single one of them has a few of my best dresses in their hands, carried cautiously. They seem worried a little, but of course they are nervous. One piece of dress cost more than all of their earnings in a hundred year. Most of them are unique quest rewards, but there is one high level monster drop. It’s rarity is mystic class, meaning it is part of a hidden quest. I never found out what that is sadly.

“It’s not like I can’t clean them with magic… And that’s my favorite! It was-”

“I know, a gift from the Dragon God. If he were to hear you he would laugh at your cuteness, Princess.” She interrupts me.

“Thou… Interrupting your own princess. ” I put my tongue out, making her giggle a little.

“Only our most trusted are here so it’s fine isn’t it? Anyways, I won’t let you run off. Clothes are very important for us women. And with your modest-” This time I interrupt her.

“I dare you to say it, I dare you. I get it just leave me alone.” I spout angrily.

“Cute~” She says laughing.

I brush her off and walk to the the maid galery. Checking the dresses I see that they were selected for the occasion. Sadly I hate changing and browsing clothes, so I choose my favorite among them quickly.

“I shall wear [Kumiko Azumi] then.” Unique clothes have their own names, they are named by the creator or wearer from the lore.

The dress has a background story too. Long ago a young maiden fell in a forbidden love, so they promised to run away together. The woman waiting under a cherry tree was waiting for a long, long time. She decided to create the most beautiful dress she ever made while waiting and surprise her love. She finished it, but the man did not arrive even after that. No one knows how long she was waiting, until a peasand child came with a letter. The child smiled then ran away.

She opened the letter fearing that her love abandoned her. But reality was even more cruel. The letter contained the most painful worlds she could imagine. Her love was killed by his own father when he announced that he will leave. A thousand years ago. She was waiting for that long, under the cherry tree.

After reading that, she disappeared, but the most beautiful dress she ever made, remained.

“I knew it~” I hear a faint voice behind me but I ignore it. If she knew I’ll choose this why bring others?

The maids dress me and I leave for the conference room. We will have a meeting before the guest arrive, I can’t abandon governing all the city to my helpers. I even act as a judge when someone’s guilt can’t be decided easily, when it’s a political issue or it’s an act against royalty.

Since I ordered Tronos to make a branch for receiving complaints or audience, I have to bother myself with that once a week. I was acting quite lazy until now, but there will be many work for me now on.

I smile a little towards the other me in the mirror in front of me. I’m a real princess now, ain’t I? Will I be able to this? There will be a lot of work.

The Wa Lolita[1] dress I’m wearing perfectly fits me. The clean design and strong colors give off a noble look and the simple frills represent youth and beauty. The fine material slightly tickles my arm, wearing it is very comfortable and refreshing. Maybe Neth was right.

I like japanese style clothes, kimono and the miko dress, but chinese clothes are also charming. European dresses are also fine, but I’m bored seeing them. Lolita and old, princess dresses are much cuter.

How annoying thinking about things I still don’t remember~

This room is also huge. Inside there is an enormous U shaped table made out of dark wood sculpted by masters. The chairs are of the same design but one, that is slightly bigger and is at the curve, in the middle. Yep, that’s my luxurious chair.

Actually it is like that because my height is too little compared to the table. In the middle of the shape there is empty space right now. We can put anything we need there. War table, large maps, a criminal. I’m proud of myself, since most of the mansion was designed by me.

Some of the personnel are already here, and greet me with a small bow, hands put on heart. This is a kind of salute in this country, originated from noble greeting.

I sit down on on the middle and wait for everyone to arrive. I’m glad this many people are with me, but it’s still not enough. The management will only become harder in the future, however I have a plan to fix that.

Tronos is the last one to arrive, accompanied by two guards and a prisoner. I was not informed about that, I’m curious why did he bring them them here.

“So, everyone is here. Let’s begin the meeting. Since… We don’t want an eyesore here too long, Tronos, why don’t you start?” Says Neth after he sits down.

With an annoyed look he stands up again and speaks.

“Greetings. As you see, this person here was captured by the guards because he was badmouthing the princess in public. The reason why is he here, because he was spouting that he wants to speak with her.

Since he knew the secret word for requesting audience I brought him here, but for his actions I can’t allow him to be free.”

I look at the face of the guy for the first time. He is an average looking blond haired man in his twenties. I use magic on him.

[Tester]

Name: Sloh Tron

Race: Human

Level: 2

Age: 23

HP: ~300

ST: ~320

MP: ~100

Interesting. I’ve never seen him, but a player could know the password as we posted that on the forum. The question is, what does he want?

“I permit you to speak.” I declare and the guards free his mouth.

He stares at me for a time and starts to yell something, but a quick hit in the stomach interrupts him instantly. I have no idea how these players were chosen. Are they all idiots?

After coughing for a few seconds, he starts to speak normally.

“I know you killed them! How could you! They are real people! You know what happens to them if they die!”

Staring at him for a few seconds, I crack into a smile.

“I have no idea what thou are talking about. You should also realise WHERE you are. Start your story from the beginning.”

I just watch his eyes as they are filled with rage then confusion, then realization. This idiot tried to speak about player issues in front of npcs... That's a bad omen.

“You still did not complete the first quest? How?” He says confused. After a few seconds of thinking he continues. “We are not what we were anymore. You should-” He tries to tell me, but loses his strength and crumbles on the cold floor.

“Fuck off, that was the interesting part. I won’t let you die before you tell me.”

I jump up from my seat and [Blink] in front of him, causing the guards to fall backwards. I put my hands on top of his heart and send a high level heal spell into his body. Since he still does not respond, I try a resurrection spell, but it fails. I’m not capable of using such magic yet.

For the last chance I put my right hand on his face and send the most powerful manawave I can into his brain. The response is immediate and precise, mind reading kicks in and I copy everything I see. I can’t understand it yet but given time, I’ll be able to learn the truth. I’ll also try to copy him inside a slave’s mind. That might be interesting.

Hoooh. That’s a great idea. I can just clone a brain. What will happen if I do that?

“Interesting~” I say playfully as break into a wide smile.

“Feed him to the dragons. I got what I wanted.” I say and walk back to chair still smiling. I’ll have to speak to that deity, and complete the first quest. If the world won’t allow me the take the short way, I can just do it the way it wants me to.

“Next.” Says Neth professionally after I sit down.

“The Princess was speaking about the slavery system before. May we hear the details?” Asks Tronos uncaring.

“Right. I will change a few laws here and there, so we can regulate slavery.

First, I will ban slavery under the age of 12. It’s just useless and stupid. Later today I will speak to the Head Priestess about opening orphanages together. These will also be schools to teach personnel for the city management, police and army. If they are grateful, they will be more of use.

Secondly, all slavery not approved by the country is forbidden. After the establishment of the law they will have two weeks to register them for a small fee. Every one of them will be known for us. Also, slaves children will be sent to the church. Slavery will be time limited according to their crimes. Killing or intentionally causing the death of slave will also be considered as a crime.

This will be a lot of work, but we will have plenty of educated workers. Slaves will wear the slave collar, so the owners will also benefit from it. Since there will be fewer they will cost more, meaning they die less.

Of course I accept suggestions.”

After a few seconds of waiting no one raises their voice, but the plans will be refined until we actually start them. Neth introduces the next subject. The meeting last for a few hours, making my legs go numb. Most problems we talk about are solved easily thanks to my “otherworldly knowledge”. The rest can be managed in slightly less effective way. In overall, the city will prosper even more.

I’m a little angry about the dead guy, some kind of reason I’m not allowed to learn the truth. Well, he was weak against the world’s mind magic sadly. It annoying when they put your most desired object in front of your face then take it away.

Still walking towards the audience chamber to prepare receiving the priestess, strong nausea hits me. A feeling different than before, yet very familiar. Bending my head a little I stop and lean towards the wall next to me. In time hand reaches it and supports me before I lose balance and trip.

Images flash through my head, feeling and experiences I never seen before. Just as I felt myself becoming something else, I realized what is happening. The data. The memories I stole from others.

Even if I can’t understand them, my brain can. With this much information I hit the limit. Maybe around 200 years worth of information? A human brain can’t handle that in such a short time. Will my personality merge, or bend? This is getting much more interesting day by day. I can’t remember anything of them, it’s like a forgotten dream. But the experiences still remained.

The way to swing the sword. The bad habit of touching my nose. Such useless things. I can’t use anything from it. My body is too different to use the same martial arts but the information of the potential of this magic is very enlightening.

I shall use this to my advantage, but with caution. Maybe this is the most dangerous thing I have discovered in this world.

I remove all the useless data from my brain with small burst of mana. I can’t let trash affect me. I may damage my own self a little, but the odds are on this side. I have to be strong.

Finishing the process my head feels much lighter. Like after a good sleep. I try to get myself together but my limbs won’t move as I command them. I fucked up a little it seems.

No problem. I still feel them. The brain is an amazing self learning computer. I pinch my muscles with my hands, and feel the response. Yes, I know they are there, I just have to adjust. Sending a little mana to help control, I’m able to walk again after a few seconds.

Now a leg, but what if I hurt an eye? My breathing? My heart? A memory? I can’t put myself in such a danger anymore.

I arrive in the hall, and sit on the throne slowly. To not hinder the next plan with my mistake, I think off all the possibilities I came up with for the talk. My body works. My brain works.

The last part of the quest starts now.

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[1] Wa Lolita - Kimono style lolita dress