Seoyoon governed the Arpen Empire and learned about the logistics and the people.

When she was only looking over the Northern regions, she just had to develop the city, but there were more things that needed attention now that the lands expanded and monsters increased in numbers.

Fortunately, Yurin followed her like she was her own little sister and helped out whenever she could.

“Hey sis, Eton Village sent a request for investment. First time hearing about this village.”

“Eton Village is located on the eastern shorelines. You can see it if you go south from Port Varna, and the shorelines are beautiful with a rich fishery from what I remember.”

Seoyoon rode on Wy-Three and travelled to various parts of the Northern continent.

“If a sea route were to be established it would have the potential to grow into a midpoint stop for all sea trade. I need to look into investing actively.”

“Wow, sis. You can see all that?”

“Yeah. You will be able to do it too once you’ve got more experience.”

Seoyoon responded with a gentle smile.

That smile was extremely beautiful, causing Yurin to lose her mind for a moment.

It was like her conscience just melted away.

‘She is really beautiful.’

Yurin thought that her brother was dating someone very pretty and kind.

‘Truthfully, my brother and sis were people with walls in their hearts…’

It was a mystery as to what triggered their hearts to intertwine with one another!

Broadcast stations also tried to delve into that secret, but it was impregnable.

Weed and Seoyoon’s relationship.

How they first met and how they began dating was an issue all viewers wanted to know about.

‘Last time, he cooked ramyun for sis separately and even put in a large egg.’

Yurin was paying close attention to the small things at home.

For her cheapskate brother it was an unbelievable change, and Yurin thought that it was love.

“Sis, how’s sandwiches for lunch?”

“Sandwiches?”

“Yep. I found a really good place near the palace!”

Upon Yurin’s suggestion, they decided on sandwiches for lunch. When work was really busy they had light lunch, but it was nice to search for good restaurants.

Wherever Seoyoon went, she unintentionally promoted the places and that were helpful for the development of the Earth Palace.

Someone expressed an opinion that there was no need for artwork in the Earth Palace because of Seoyoon’s presence.

“Wow… Uh… Ha….”

“Out of this world, otherworldly.”

“She’s shining even in broad daylight. She is just radiant.”

“She looks unbelievable up close. It’s puzzling how a human being can look that beautiful. Seriously.”

People travelled the Northern continent and had to stop by the Earth Palace because it was a chance to see Seoyoon in person. There were people standing on the streets and even on rooftops.

“Psh. She probably fixed herself everywhere from head to toe.”

“I don’t know just how many stats she spent on appearance and charm. Maybe 300? 400? She couldn’t have invested over 500.”

“I heard she looks nice even in person.”

“Plastic surgery.”

Many people spoke carelessly out of jealousy.

Yurin frowned after hearing the words coming from a distance.

“Sis, don’t you get angry hearing that kind of stuff?”

“I don’t know. Should I be angry? I’ve been told I was pretty since I was 5 years old, so I don’t want to react to anything about my looks.”

“…”

She was just alway beautiful from the moment she was born and had grown accustomed to praise and accusation alike..

Seoyoon knew that her appearance was the wall that prevented people from getting close to her.

Envy, jealousy, admiration, obsession.

They made her vigilant against people in the past, but now she was fine.

There were now people by her side that melted her frozen heart and made many memories with her.

“This is so delicious.”

Seoyoon smiled brightly as she ate the sandwich.

***

The economists of the Grass Porridge Cult finally figured out Kaybern’s order of destruction.

“Mistress. Morata will follow.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. The last thing that needed confirmation was the city quest. It weighed less than development, population or economy but the city quest was a factor. The regional influence was quite significant. The nobles and highly reputable users of the citizens were also involved.”

The economists pulled out two full A4 sheets of formula calculation.

It was a complex formula determining Kaybern’s targets, and even before the announcement there was a commotion among themselves.

“Even when we submitted a thesis to the world’s best academic journal, Journal of Finance, we didn’t have something this precise.”

“Of all the people who verified it, 300 were university professors.”

“We were so delayed because we perfected it so much.”

“Anyways, we pulled off an amazing job.”

At the weekly conference led by American economists, they analyzed Kaybern’s next target.

They celebrated the intellectual accomplishment, but the public did not even look at the formula.

They merely skimmed through all the complex symbols and figures they’ve seen for the first time!

– Insane. Mistress will be destroyed in 17 days and Morata is next.

– Wow… Morata’s fate is only a few weeks…

– According to the statement, it was so fortunate that not many quests regarding the city reputation were carried out. If the city had a long history, it would have been destroyed way beforehand.

– Let’s go tour Morata before it’s too late. Go visit if you haven’t already.

– Don’t come, everyone! The gap is only 3.6% compared to Mistress. Morata might be destroyed first if we aren’t careful.

– That’s it. The holy land of the North…

The news heated up the Northern users.

Morata was their homeland and the founding city of the Arpen Empire.

The news of that very Morata being destroyed brought great shock to the users.

***

Before moving to the dwarf village, Weed hunted for the time being and gathered information about Knatul and Malin.

He raked information with the Mapan Council at the Great Library of Morata and also received reports from adventurers.

In the meantime, he heard the statement from Grass Porridge Cult.

“Is the destruction date of Morata guaranteed?”

– Mapan: The economists are said to have put their entire career on the line. Kaybern is going to destroy the capitals of the old kingdoms in the Central continent before reaching Morata. The thing is that if we destroy a part of Morata intentionally, that could push it back down the priority list and buy some time.

Destroying Morata with their own hands.

Crumbling landmarks and facilities and driving out the population would reduce the development rate and allow the city to be pushed back from Kaybern’s priorities.

Even so, it would only buy them a week or two.

“It’s a meaningless option.”

– Mapan: Still, Couldn’t we move the landmarks to somewhere nearby in that time? If all the architects put in their time and effort, I am certain that we can transport the landmarks entirely to a nearby location.

Except for the Dark Giant Star, 99% of the buildings were new with little history, but loved by the users nonetheless.

There was the Light Tower, sculptures and several Great Landmarks.

“In light of that fact, I will not agree to destroying the city to gain time.”

Weed didn’t think there was a noticeable difference even if they could earn more time.

Morata was his first Northern city too and he had a deep attachment, but delaying the destruction of Morata would mean another city of similar development would be destroyed.

Cheating time by moving landmarks elsewhere, wouldn’t save Morata, the new location could never be the city they knew and loved.Honestly, the tremendous expense of moving would be the same as rebuilding Morata after its destruction.

‘So Kaybern will reach Morata after all. I knew that day was coming.’

Weed did not want to lose Morata.

The city was the start of the Arpen Empire.

That was something he couldn’t just let go of, that easily.

If someone talked about the Arpen Empire, Morata was always mentioned and if that place were to disappear off the continent, stories of Arpen would feel empty.

He grew attached to the back streets and the plank houses of Morata.

All the money he earned through the years of Royal Road was invested to develop the city.

Great Landmarks were a given, and even now it was breathtaking for him to see the commercial buildings he had raised from stone blocks.

The city Weed considered home was about to turn into ashes.

‘I want to protect Morata. I’m sure the Northern users are thinking the same.’

Unlike the Central continent, where it was easy to travel to other cities, Morata was a centerpoint in the North where the majority of the population lived.

If the years when everyone lived together in Morata did not exist, the Grass Porridge Cult or the culture of the Northern users would not have been established.

‘I cannot afford to relax right now. I have to proceed with the quest as soon as possible.’

Weed realized the clock was ticking.

He wanted to stop the dragon and defend Morata if possible.

“Chase-nim, I heard you travelled to the east. How is your situation?”

– Chase: I believe the other adventurers and I will reach The Ring of Fire in two days.

“It will be dangerous, so be careful.”

– Chase: Now that you mention it, the volcanic ashes are filling the sky already. Thank you very much for your concern.

The adventurers travelled to the Ring of Fire to learn about Landony.

Kaybern wasn’t the only problem, so a sliver of information could be vital.

“Haruna-nim, have you discovered anything?”

– Haruna: I’m sorry! Nothing yet. I will hurry as much as I can.

“I know it’s late, but thank you for your assistance.

– Haruna: Huh? Yes! I will do my best.

Haruna who was scolded badly back at the dragon’s lair was knocked out by Weed’s whisper.

– Haruna: I am on my way to investigate the Fairy Garden and I will let you know soon.

Seechwi, Geomchi2 and the other apprentices roamed the land of the orcs.

“Brother, how is it over there?”

– Geomchi2: The orcs were all killed off. Hmm… The dragon seems extremely violent.

“The Red Dragon is told to be the worst in terms of temper.”

– Geomchi2: Though I think the girlfriend has done something.

“Your wife?”

Geomchi2 was speechless for a second.

He was very content each time Seechwi was referred to as his wife.

– Geomchi2: It seems to be related to the dragon… I think we scored.

(To be continued…)