Chapter 25
“Muuuuut..!!!”
By now, the early-bird wake-up routine was something I was used to. If I got up early in the morning, Ophelia would bring over the scrunchie she bought and tie my hair up tightly.
“Eh, eeh..”
“Princess, please turn over and lie face down.”
“Nnngh...”
Without getting out of bed, I’d roll halfway over from where I’d been lying and then lie face-down while Ophelia tied it for me.
After rubbing my eyes for a moment, I blinked into the now-clear view and saw something annoying hovering in front of me.
[You have regained some of the princess’s dignity. The rank of Command Issuance has increased. Command Issuance: F+ -> E]
“Eh. It went up.”
The rank of Command Issuance had gone up. When on earth? I’d been sleeping soundly, so I wondered if there had even been a chance to regain the princess’s dignity.
“The rank of Command Issuance has gone up, I see.”
“Can you see it too, Ophelia?”
“Yes.”
“Hee, I see.”
Ophelia could apparently see this status window too. Command Issuance had already climbed two ranks, and even the letter had changed. Could it be that yesterday’s monster-killing spree had worked?
Honestly, I didn’t know, but either way it was good news! This should let me replace some of Minyum and Ophelia’s parts.
“Then shall we try it once?”
“Would you like to try?”
“Yes! I think I can do it!”
I don’t know much about growth-type skills, but I do know they aren’t supposed to grow this fast. They say it takes years of struggle to raise it by one letter rank, so maybe it’s all because of my EX skill?
“Minyum, come here.”
ㅡClack!
Minyum rushed over the instant her name was called and stood in front of me. She might even end up taller than me if she keeps growing a little more, and I might never see the cute little Minyum from before again.
But still, I like it! Bigger robots are better. The bigger, the better.
“Ophelia, are you ready?”
“Yes, anytime.”
“And Minyum too?”
ㅡClack!
At some point, Suri had also come toddling over beside me and was watching me use my ability. The pup was rolling around belly-up on the blanket without a care in the world.
“You little thing, watch the princess work.”
ㅡBeep?
“Come on, sit!”
After seating the pup nicely beside me, I took hold of Minyum’s shoulder and Ophelia’s hand, with Minyum kneeling on one knee in a reverent pose.
“Ophelia’s hand is big.”
“The princess is a little smaller than average.”
“..How tall am I, then?”
“About 128 cm.”
“Th-there’s no way!!”
I doubled a person’s height and it still wouldn’t even reach 3 meters? Am I a dwarf? Should I go looking for Snow White??
“Sigh.. f-for now...”
I needed to focus to use the skill, and I’d asked that for no reason. This is a battle of mental strength; let’s not worry about it. I’m going to grow to 500 meters anyway..
“Swap Ophelia’s 1 kilogram of rare metal with Minyum’s hair dryer!”
This time it was an unprecedentedly complicated command. It was basically a college entrance exam passage.
ㅡVwoooom….
Before long, I felt mana flow toward the fingertips of both my hands, and a bright light swept once across Ophelia and Minyum’s bodies.
Minyum... got a little smaller? The hair dryer would probably be a bit more bulky than 1 kg of rare metal. But in terms of performance, the side with the rare metal is actually better.
I’ll buy a proper machine later and make a booster for it.
“Minyum, how is it?”
As the black parts of the hair dryer disappeared, Minyum turned completely white.
ㅡClack!
“Mm! It suits you! White looks better!”
The crude, plastic-looking parts were gone, and although it had gotten a little smaller, its durability must have gone up a lot.
“Ophelia... hmm, there doesn’t seem to be any change.”
“That’s right.”
Come to think of it, even when Ophelia removed Suri from her body, there hadn’t been much change. Instead, she’d gained the incredible ability to pull the hair dryer out of her hand.
ㅡWhiiir
It was quieter than the one Minyum used, and the warmth somehow felt softer.
“It’s warm.”
“Is that so.”
The ability was becoming more advanced and could even do this now—just how amazing are we planning to make it later? I’m scared of my own growth; I’m really going to become S-rank.
“Ahem! It’s because you caught monsters and the princess’s level went up! Right?!”
“No.”
“Waaah.”
No, then why did the rank of Command Issuance go up overnight?
Come to think of it, it was weird that it had gone up at dawn too. If monster subjugation was what was supposed to raise the princess rank, it should’ve gone up the instant I defeated them.
“Because a photo of the princess was posted to Kim Chaea’s social account last night.”
“Mm.. uh...”
Come to think of it, yesterday I took a photo with Kim Chaea and uploaded it to Instagram. I didn’t upload it myself, but when Kim Chaea tagged me, my profile was posted along with it.
If you tag someone, it gets posted together as “Kim Chaea and so-and-so~”. But why would that...?
“As I said, in order to improve the ability the princess possesses, a lot of preparation is needed.”
“Ah... so, like acting like a princess..?”
“Yes.”
For now, it meant I had to act like a princess. That alone was already incredibly embarrassing, but okay. I get what she meant by acting princess-like.
And that’s why I even wore the clothes Ophelia told me to wear, right? But how is my photo going up on the internet princess-like behavior...
“Kim Chaea’s Instagram follower count is 24,176. For an ordinary person, that’s not a low follower count.”
“Mm.. okay.”
“It means it was a suitable way to expose the princess’s existence to a lot of potential subjects.”
“Huh..?”
I had no idea what Ophelia was talking about. What does “potential subjects” even mean..?
“For those in power, what’s important is a base of support from the citizens. Princess, by exposing yourself to the media and receiving the support of many subjects, it means you can raise the power of the Command Issuance skill.”
“Huh..?”
I had never thought about that at all. Wait, wasn’t I just supposed to act like a princess? Why do I need to win people’s support too?
Can’t a princess just rest at home? The princesses I saw in comics were always going around and having fun with nobles.
“Do you know the most suitable way to do that?”
“Hmm.. enter politics?”
“That’s not a bad choice.”
No, please, I was joking, Ophelia.
As far as I’ve confirmed, the medium called the internet is an excellent way to raise the princess’s fame. Through all kinds of SNS, social media, or video platforms, we can leave the princess’s existence in people’s minds.
“S-so you’re telling me to do internet streaming or something...?”
“Internet streaming can be one method too. But Princess, your ability to lead a stream with cheerful banter is a little lacking, so I think we’ll choose another method.”
“A-another method..?”
Ophelia sent Kim Chaea’s Instagram link through my phone.
“Take photos and upload them.”
“U, uhh...”
“Looks are a powerful weapon. Objectively speaking, the princess’s looks are in the top 0.00001 percent for cuteness, so you’ll be able to gain a lot of support.”
“Is this for real..? You’re kidding, right..?”
Ophelia gave no answer to my question. Don’t tell me she’s seriously planning to do this? To use the princess’s face to gather supporters for me..?”
“Certainly, too hasty a judgment can backfire. I’ve prepared an alternative that the princess can easily use.”
“What is it..?”
* * * * *
[LifeRuined : I’m the princess, so hurry up and praise the princess
Not a joke. Serious]
-ㅇㅇ : lol, dumbass
-멘통 : (Beep-beep?)
“....”
[LifeRuined : I’m really the princess
Just say one thing praising me, please;]
-맥시맥시 : Bro, what’s with you today?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ : Don’t mess with the sick one, lol..
ㄴ 맥시맥시 : (Punishment machine)
This ID has been blocked by the Awakened Manager.
[Block time : 1 hour] / [Reason : Life-ruined princess, get lost lol]
/ [Available time : 2045/11/16 11:32:53]
“....”
“Princess, the hot water is ready. Let’s go in and take a bath.”
“Ophelia. What if this doesn’t work..?”
“It’s fine. Because I have roughly 840 different outfit designs to raise the princess’s profile. Even if this fails, there’s another method.”
“Ah.”
This can’t go on. At this rate, I’ll really end up becoming an Instagram princess who gathers followers by posting cosplay photos.
“U, uhh..! Ophelia! Could I maybe spend a little money right now?!”
“Based on the recorded monthly spending pattern of the princess, you have spent about 1,178,000 won per month on mobile and desktop game purchases, subculture goods, stream donations, unnecessary delivery food, online lectures watched less than once, and excessive purchases of tea, snacks, and sweets.”
“Kehk.”
“Excluding money needed for future royal reconstruction, or money already earmarked for use, I have limited your personal spending to 250,000 won per month so that you can establish proper financial habits.”
“Hwaeek.”
I’m 27, though. Shouldn’t I at least be allowed to spend as much as my age..? Of course, I did spend money pretty carelessly..!
“Th-then I can spend 250,000 won, right?!”
“Yes.”
“Heh, hehe..!”
[ㅇㅇ : One Cyburger set to one random person
Write “I praise the princess.” Lurkers, fixed nicks, and semi-fixed nicks all okay]
-맥시맥시 : I praise the princess
-ㅇㅇ : In line
-멘통 : I praise the princess
-가갤입단 : What is this even for, lol
-한죽검 : I praise the princess
-ㅇㅇ : I praise the princess
-ㅇㅇ : I praise the princess
-램즈카빌GOA : I praise the princess
-ㅇㅇ : I praise the princess
-도슝좍 : Princess, princess..
-후스타 : Isn’t this the guy we just blocked?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ : Mod!!! Please let him get the burger before you ban him!!!!!