Episode 203 Succession Ceremony (5)
I valued not being noticed by others more than selfish desires.
I wanted to live quietly, leisurely, doing what I wanted.
It seems that some incomprehensible force is not willing to allow me to easily live a simple life.
It seems that they are trying to put a crown that is so heavy on me, who has lived without ambition or selfish desires.
A spacious changing room with mirrors lined up like folding screens.
“Oh my, our Geomma! Is it because he’s so tall that he looks particularly good in anything he wears?”
Media looked at me from various angles. Then she rubbed her hands with the wax and spread it on my head.
A bright smile naturally appeared on Media’s lips.
“With your hair styled like this, you look like you’re trying to become an idol… but you’re not!”
The wise media never lies. That kind of setting suddenly came to mind.
‘What does it feel like to try to become an idol and then fail?’
It’s an ambiguous metaphor that seems like a compliment but isn’t.
Media opened and closed the distance, checking to see if there were any messy patterns. If there were any, she came closer to the foot and gently smoothed them out, then checked again.
I repeated that process for two hours. I was her mannequin for two hours.
“How about the length of your trousers? Do they fit properly? If they’re too short for a man, it’s hard to walk because the crotch gets tight.”
Media asked. She knelt on one knee and folded my trousers. The composition reflected in the mirror was extremely dangerous.
“Okay, it’s okay.”
“If you don’t mind, then that’s fine. But if you’re embarrassed and don’t say anything, then that’s not okay! If you’re embarrassed in front of tens of thousands of people later, it’ll be embarrassing.”
“It’s really okay.”
Media looked genuinely concerned. I waved my hand to show that I was okay.
‘Why is the media interfering with my clothes in the first place?’
It looks like an aunt brought her niece to a department store to buy her clothes. The problem is that the aunt looks so young. She’s almost seventy years old.
Even though she always tried not to be fooled by appearances, Media’s beauty was fatal to men.
‘Damn. Isn’t it so unfair that she’s 70 years old with that face?’
As I was drooling inside, the door to the locker room opened.
“Why do you spend two hours dressing someone up?”
The one who entered was a swordsman. He was dressed in the same uniform as Mediana and me, but he also had a white coat draped over his shoulders.
“There are only two hours left until the succession ceremony, Media. There are things to do before then.”
“That’s why I need to spend more time grooming him. In two hours, I’ll have to make my swordsman look like the coolest guy in the world!”
Media insisted, holding her slender waist with both hands. The swordsman covered her forehead.
“Right now, there are state guests from all over the world waiting outside. Before the succession ceremony, Kanggeomma has a duty to show his face to them at least once.”
“Since you’re already waiting, just wait for one more hour.”
“Finish it in thirty minutes. No more than that.”
The inspector turned his gaze to me. He looked over me as if checking my condition. The next moment, the fatigue that had been woven into my wrinkles cleared away. The inspector said.
“How are you feeling?”
“Honestly, it doesn’t feel real. It still feels like a dream.”
“I know that feeling well, 40 years ago. These clothes were given to me back then.”
The sword emperor slightly turned his body to look. On his white robe, the two letters “Sword Emperor” were engraved in large gold letters.
“It is engraved with the hero’s name in white, symbolizing nobility, and gold, signifying brilliance. Yours is to be brought by that gnome, Murat.”
Come to think of it, I still don’t know what nickname I’ll be given. I heard that Manager Seong himself named it.
I asked by text and got a reply saying it was top secret. Manager Sung added a meaningful comment saying that it was something to look forward to.
At that time, I had stayed up all night for several days, so I didn’t pay attention, but when the day came, I became curious. At the same time, I was anxious. According to the inspector, the word ‘검’ is definitely attached.
However, if you look at it that way, the choices are very limited. The sword is the most common example of a weapon. That’s why so many heroes use swords or knives as weapons. That’s why there were so many hero nicknames with the word ‘sword’ in them. It was already saturated.
Within that narrow range of choices, what kind of nickname would Chief Sung have chosen? Since the nickname is clearly written as a two-letter word, it can’t be ‘Sashimi Geomseong’. It certainly can’t be ‘Geomma’, my real name.
If that’s the case, I’m planning to visit Manager Seong in the hospital as my first schedule for Chilseong. That’s right. I wouldn’t have thought of such a thing unless there was something wrong with the medicine I was taking.
The new Seven Star Hero’s nickname is Sword Demon? People can really trust him. He’s quite reliable, if only it weren’t for my nickname.
“… … .”
Suddenly, I felt a lump in my throat. Maybe it was because the suit was so tailored that it clung to my skin. I took a deep breath and watched the fight between Media and the swordsman.
After such a fierce debate, the sword master won. Media’s personal greed could not overturn the sword master’s reasonable logic.
“Ahem!”
Just as the winner’s smile was about to appear, the sword master brought his fist to his mouth and coughed in vain. Media was glaring at him and chewing his thumbnail. The sword master was afraid of the aftermath.
“Okay, let’s go out now. There are a lot of people waiting. The white robes will arrive just before the succession ceremony, so for now, just go out in your uniform.”
The swordsman walked ahead. Media and I followed behind him.
Then he stopped in front of the door. The inspector slowly turned around and looked at me. His eye level, which had been higher than mine, had now become lower.
“There’s some dust on your clothes.”
The inspector said as he patted my shoulder. However, there wasn’t a speck of dust on it because Media had just finished smoothing it out.
“It feels like it was just yesterday that I first saw you, but how did you end up here?”
“That’s right.”
“I’ll tell you something because I’m an old man. Those who are now beyond this door are people who have a knife in their stomach. They pretend to be on your side on the outside, but they’re the ones who will bite you behind your back.”
“okay.”
“After I gave you Chilseong, I can’t help you as much as I used to. In short, I’m an old man in the back room. From now on, you, the young man, have to go through it on your own. Of course, Media will be by your side, but in the end, you have to prove yourself. Do you understand what I mean?”
His hand, which had been dusting off nothing, soon grabbed my shoulder. His heavy eyes stared at me.
I scratched my forehead once. I couldn’t think of a proper answer. So I just nodded quietly. At that, the sword master’s smile deepened.
“Yes, for a man, it’s better to be silent than to speak a hundred words. Hehe, it seems I’m the only one who’s worried. You’re so upright.”
The inspector took his hand off my shoulder and grabbed the doorknob again. He pushed with all his might. The gap in the door gradually widened.
Squeak-
The scenery beyond that had seemed thin began to come into view at a glance. I could see the people waiting for us. At first glance, they looked like nobles or high-ranking people.
A place where high-ranking officials from all over the world gathered. They were so busy chatting about their own things that they didn’t even realize the door was open.
Swiss President Gainsmann was the only one who noticed our arrival, as he had been keeping an eye on the door.
Gaines tried to wave at me with a cheerful expression. But he didn’t. Instead, he put his raised hand on his chest, close to his heart. Then he called my name.
“Your Majesty.”
The bustling noise that had been lingering in the hall died down. Dozens of eyes belatedly gathered together and turned to look this way.
A gathering place for political monsters. Their eyes were gleaming with a bloodshot look.
Gaines spoke again.
“I, Gaines, send my greetings to the new Chilseong.”
Gaines bowed his head deeply. People looked taken aback by his sudden action.
They looked around, their eyes rolling. They nodded silently to each other. As if they were unanimous in their determination not to bend their stiff necks.
At that moment, a voice was heard from around the corner of the chairman’s office.
“I sincerely congratulate Mao Lang of the Iron King Family and the Seven Star Lord Ganggeomma on his ascension to the throne.”
Mao Lang immediately caught everyone’s attention. They looked at her with a mixture of bewilderment and shock.
She paid no attention to the gazes of those around her. She raised and lowered the hem of her skirt gently and paid a noble courtesy.
The All-Mute Khan Elizabeth, who was standing next to him, saluted. The hand that was pressed tightly to her eyebrow was sharp.
“On behalf of the United States of America, I, Khan Elizabeth, extend my congratulations.”
The atmosphere was chaotic. Sweat was beading on the politicians’ foreheads. Their eyes were rolling around like marbles that had lost their bearings. A situation where there was a gap in the rules that had been tacitly agreed upon.
A young man bit his lip secretly. He even shut his eyes tightly before finally opening his mouth.
“I am Beharn, the eldest son of House Orland. May the new Seven Stars be blessed with eternal glory.”
“… … !”
The pride that a young nobleman gave up brought a new wind to the hall. Suddenly, someone struck his chest and appealed to him.
“I am Prime Minister of Russia, Toyoyev Kurin. We, Russia, promise to actively cooperate with you, Mr. Gumma.”
“I, I, I am the second daughter of the Italian Buona family! We too… … .”
So, the time for self-introductions came, regardless of whether they were you or me. In this situation, they chose to lose their pride rather than look bad.
The inspector whispered softly to me as I was quietly watching.
“How are you feeling now?”
“… … .”
I looked around at those who were seated before appreciating the view. Then I answered with sincerity.
“Not bad.”
* * *
… when I was about to fill two hours with self-introductions.
The marble floor shook as the sound of feet thumping could be heard. The small vibration made the inspector frown.
“You’re really good at keeping your promises. You come exactly five minutes before the succession ceremony.”
Changseong approached, pushing through the crowd with his shoulder. Those he collided with were thrown back, and those he brushed against were pushed far away.
Still, there was not a single word of protest. If I spoke to that beast of a man, I would have to return the radish.
Changseong spoke, baring his teeth like a bandit.
“Hahahaha! If only it weren’t so late. Don’t be so strict, Nibelung.”
“You brought the most important things, right?”
“of course.”
Changseong stood in front of me. He held out the white bundle he was holding in his hand.
“Your white coat. It may sound like I’m bragging to my subordinates, but it seems like Manager Sung has used his brain a bit. Your eyes will light up when you see the text.”
I received the white robe with a trembling face. The rough texture of the cloth soaked into my palm.
After swallowing dry saliva, I unfolded the white paper, wondering what it would say.
“uh…….”
I looked at the two large Chinese characters with wide eyes. Media, who was next to me, intervened.
“Wow! It’s okay!? Right, we should give our swordsman this kind of nickname. What do you think, Sword. Je. Yang. Ban?”
“It’s okay.”
“Can you stop saying such things with such a disgruntled expression? Be honest. Are you jealous of Lee Myung because he’s so cool?”
“Do I seem that narrow-minded?”
“huh.”
“… … .”
The inspector sighed. Just then, Jeolgungdo entered the hall.
“It’s time. Everyone, give us a tax cut.”
As the sword master nodded, a path was made for people to pass through. They were all nobles or high-ranking officials.
Knock knock. The sound of drums beating outside reached here. At first glance, it sounded like a heartbeat.
The inspector took a step back and covered me with a white robe. The weight of the epaulettes pressed lightly against my shoulders.
Everyone’s eyes were focused on me. People were looking directly at me, not behind me. The inspector spoke to me.
“Take the lead.”
His soft voice rang out once again in the brief silence.
“Follow me.”
