I Became a Hero With a Lot of Experience

15 – 015: Royal Capital (2)

After a long and short journey, we finally arrived at the long-awaited royal capital, but my heart was endlessly cold.

Certainly, compared to the fortress city whose name I couldn’t even remember, the royal capital was luxurious.

Tall skyscrapers lined up like dominoes, and the distant royal palace boasted a grandeur reminiscent of a scene from a fantasy movie.

However, on the flip side, that was it. Everything was within the realm of imagination.

The awe of seeing a massive movie set gradually faded as with any spectacle, and as time passed, the appreciation waned, and interest disappeared.

Yeah, this feeling is like looking at an old residential area in Europe.

Buildings boasting a glorious history of hundreds to thousands of years are undoubtedly beautiful.

However, the convenience of living there is far from matching that of a 300-million-won apartment, making it a place one would hesitate to live in.

It was an honest impression I felt upon witnessing the royal procession.

As Jarvis had mentioned, the sewage treatment facility seemed adequately equipped; there was no stench in the streets. However, the streets were filled with garbage.

＜Experience Points: 16＞

＜Experience Points: 21＞

＜Experience Points: 12＞

Countless pieces of garbage took on human shapes, with heads bowed.

As in the Joseon era, it seemed there was a law that everyone must bow their heads on the king’s procession route. Every person passing by did so without exception.

The moment I saw the numbers engraved on their heads, I couldn’t help but furrow my brow.

Even though we had been on the road for over twenty minutes, except for children, there wasn’t a single maiden in sight.

As everyone knows, I am a person overflowing with agape love, never discriminating between maidens and non-maidens. However, I couldn’t help but lament at the dismal sight.

It was when I was trying to understand somehow, turning my eyes away and consoling myself internally.

＜Experience Points: 102＞

Facing the overwhelming force of a three-digit number for the first time, the thread of reason snapped.

“You damn rag woman…!!!”

I stood up from my seat and headed towards the king’s carriage as if crossing a bridge, knocking on the carriage roof with the intention of smashing the window.

“…What is it? (Experience Points: 79)”

“Seeing the streets overflowing with garbage, did you truly govern politics so damn poorly?”

“If you’re going to talk nonsense like that, go back to your place quickly. You’re insane. (Experience Points: 79)”

The king said so and closed the window again. What in the world did I expect from this person?

An individual who can’t even guard his own daughter can’t possibly protect the maidens of the people.

The path of a filthy rag seemed more fitting for a not-so-virginal road, but still, the surrounding scenery was somewhat tolerable.

Claiming that only photos remain from a trip, I took out my phone from my pocket and captured the street.

As a crazy person wandered around on the king’s carriage, everyone’s gaze turned toward me, but what does it matter?

I’ve come all this way; I won’t be intimidated by curious looks or snickers.

“Oh, damn….”

Taking pictures to my heart’s content, although it wasn’t known to me, it seems the experience points of the individuals in the photos are visible.

Fortunately, I am the world’s most promiscuous bastard who doesn’t carry a single family photo, or else, I might have witnessed an unsightly scene.

It won’t show in portraits, right? I earnestly hope not.

At the end of an unknown duration, we finally arrived in Wangseong.

First, as the king and queen disembarked from the carriage with the queen’s support, I elegantly jumped down from the rooftop.

“…Crazy guy. (Experience points: 79)”

I, who could walk on two legs, felt a twinge of envy as the king sarcastically remarked and then moved along with the knights.

It was while stretching and waiting for guidance. At that moment, Penny descended from the carriage, her shoulders slouched.

Penny, having alighted from the carriage, had a particularly reddened face, especially around her eyes.

Unless she secretly had ramen last night, what could have happened between Lars and her?

“Hmm….”

With my extraordinary brain, I speculated that it was surely because Lars got upset for not receiving special treatment from her.

Surely, even if someone had made a mistake in their lower garment, a decent person wouldn’t think of getting involved with the princess.

But no matter how much I analyze it, is it really justifiable to shed tears to the point of swollen eyes over such an incident?

“Is a light waist linked to a light head?”

Even with a mind as vast as a flower garden, it’s surprising how I almost burst into laughter out of sheer disbelief.

“……. (Experience points: 1)”

Penny, slightly bowing her head, went inside silently.

As I waited for someone to offer guidance, a knight approached me as I had thought.

“I have been tasked by His Majesty to guide you. While you’re in the palace, I will assist you. (Experience points: 2)”

Was this person considerate of me or did he take the initiative to guide me because his experience points were low?

“I’d like to rest a bit for now. Where’s my room? Another underground cell?”

“No, I’ll guide you to your room. (Experience points: 2)”

Being leisurely able to appreciate a castle I hadn’t even had the chance to glimpse when on Earth, I didn’t stop capturing it through my lens.

The continuous flashes and clicks from behind started bothering the knight.

“Um… Sir, I’ve been hearing noises and seeing flashes since earlier. What on earth… (Experience points: 2)”

“Oh, do you want to see?”

Even though I thought that magic existed in this world too, it seemed it wasn’t widely known.

The moment the knight saw the photo that perfectly preserved the scenery I had captured, he doubted his own eyes, closing and reopening them several times.

“How is this possible… (Experience points: 2)”

Seeing the knight astonished at this existence, I couldn’t help but shrug my shoulders.

Is this what they call a cheat from modern civilization?

For the first time since being summoned to this world, I felt a hint of excitement at something truly out of this world.

“Oh, this is called a smartphone. With this, you can take photos or listen to music.”

“…Music? (Experience Points: 2)”

“Yeah, check this out.”

To demonstrate, I played the song I listened to last night.

And…

“Loli Loli Shin, coming in (Get ready-woong!), really dangerous, if you’re not a reliable person, please disappear quickly! Lovely Loli Loli Shin coming in (Get ready-woong!)!!”

Not even a second passed before regretting that choice.

“…….”

“……. (Experience Points: 2)”

“…It’s a song from a neighboring country.”

A song that has never been popular in Korea for even a moment.

*****

The room I was assigned was on the upper floors of the castle, offering a great view of the city outside the castle walls.

Being assigned a room so close to the royal quarters allowed me to imagine the kind of treatment I would receive in the kingdom.

Looking at the city spread out under the blue sky, I finally felt a bit of relief.

“Hey, this room is close to the royal quarters, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. (Experience Points: 2)”

“Then, is the princess’s room nearby too?”

“It’s right next door. (Experience Points: 2)”

“…They gave me a good room for once, huh. Ah, the underground dungeon would have been more appealing.”

The moment I realized the neighboring room, a persistent virginity odor seemed to seep through the walls.

“Is the soundproofing good in this room?”

“…As a mere common knight, I may not know the details of a place I won’t stay in for long, but surely it must be good. But why… (Experience Points: 2)”

“If I hear sobbing noises from the next room, I won’t be able to stand it. That guy, Las, wouldn’t he be roaming around at any given chance?”

“…It’s true that the princess and Captain Las once had that kind of relationship, but that’s already in the past. (Experience Points: 2)”

“Really? Despite that, you seemed gloomy yesterday and rushed off immediately.”

“……. (Experience Points: 2)”

The knight, upon hearing this, narrowed his eyes as if the world had turned dark and closed them.

Yeah, it’s no wonder, considering the princess doesn’t give a thought to such matters.

“Speaking of that guy, when will he be reprimanded? I heard it’s tonight. I know it’s not my place to ask, but perhaps…――. (Experience Points: 2)”

“If you know it’s impossible, don’t do it. It seems like even you might develop emotions.”

“…Yes. (Experience Points: 2)”

Perhaps he was about to ask for Ras’s defense, but there was neither a reason to defend that guy nor a desire to do so.

“Is that guy from a good family?”

“…He’s the heir to a viscount. So, he won’t face execution, but considering the situation, he will undoubtedly receive severe punishment. (Experience Points: 2)”

“Alright then. Isn’t it enough that a person who deserves to die is alive?”

“…… (Experience Points: 2)”

The knight responded to that question with silence.

A weighty silence, as if the air itself had gained substance, filled the room as the anticipated night descended.

*****

As the veil of darkness drove out the sun and cast its indelible shadow on faces in all directions, especially the shadows on the faces of women were particularly deep. Just by looking at those shadows, one could easily guess how he usually treated them.

“Seems like not everyone is reluctant about this.”

Among them, there were even some whose smiles seemed to have lifted slightly, and judging by their gathered appearance, they seemed to be candidates for the next commander of the knights.

With this incident, he would undoubtedly lose the position of commander. It was an opportunity for them.

They all bowed deeply when they saw me, and it seemed they considered me influential in this matter.

“…It’s about to begin.”

In the spacious hall, everyone held their breath in anticipation of the imminent judgment. Suddenly, the door opened, and the king, supported by the queen, entered the hall.

Thick bandages wrapped around his legs, unseen in the morning.

Behind him, Princess Penny, followed with her maids in neat steps, her face also shrouded in a dark shadow.

My former lover… No, I haven’t given up yet, so is she still my lover?

In any case, it seemed deeply saddening for him to receive such a severe punishment. The eyes that were swollen in the morning were still red.

“Thank you all for gathering. I believe you all know the reason why the knights are gathered here today without me having to say it. Now, listen to the sinner, Ras. (Experience Points: 79)”

At the king’s words, Ras, wearing white clothes reminiscent of the white robe of a convicted criminal, entered the hall restrained by a red rope.

Knights on either side escorted Ras to this place with drawn swords.

Judging by their expressions, they probably were knights who served under Ras.

As Ras, who had completely transformed into a true criminal, stood in the center, the hall began to stir.

But that too was brief. When the king tapped his armrest and made a facial expression, the hall quickly quieted down, as if to say, “Was it ever not like this?”

Once the hall stabilized, the king turned his head again to look at Ras, who was kneeling in front of him.

In a low voice, he spoke.

“The sinner, Rass, lost himself to carnal desires, failing to fulfill his duties and causing an irreparable stain on this country. Do you acknowledge this? (Experience Points: 79)”

“Yes, I acknowledge. (Experience Points: 17)”

“While it is a sin deserving death, considering the numerous contributions you and your family have made, your life will not be taken lightly. However, the merits do not outweigh your sins. (Experience Points: 79)”

“…….. (Experience Points: 17)”

“Therefore, you, Rass, will be demoted from the Royal Knights’ commander to a common knight, and your family’s title will be lowered from Earl to Baron. (Experience Points: 79)”

I furrowed my brows, thinking this might not be the end, but the reactions of the surrounding nobles were different.

There were murmurs questioning how, with so many merits, a demotion in title was possible, echoing throughout.

It was utter nonsense to me, considering I almost lost my life due to the mistake attributed to Rass’ name.

Is this really how it ends?

When I was about to protest the unacceptable outcome, trying to overturn it, the king continued.

“Furthermore, as a symbol of reflecting on your sins, I command you to wear this. (Experience Points: 79)”

As the king snapped his fingers, a maid holding a small box stepped forward hesitantly, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

The box she held was about the size of a smartphone and looked luxurious, as if it contained precious jewels.

The maid opened the box, and gasps escaped from everyone’s lips.

“Yo- Your Majesty, this…!!! (Experience Points: 17)”

Rass, who had been calm even when hearing about the demotion, began to waver as he saw what was inside the elegant box.

Instead of jewelry like rings or necklaces, what lay within the luxurious box was the symbol of reflection – a chastity belt.

“Until you earn enough merit to redeem this situation, you will wear it and reflect. Also, the key to the chastity belt will be managed by a warrior. (Experience Points: 79)”

“Your, Your Majesty!!! (Experience Points: 17)”

“…Me?”

Is this guy insane?