The Regressor Only Protects Me [EN]: Chapter 160

160. The King of Samsa-dong (2)

Ha Yunha wordlessly held out her arms.

One by one, the maids approached and began to dress her.

A maid cautiously inquired,

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

At the sound of her voice, Ha Yunha, who had been staring blankly, blinked and seemed to regain her focus.

“Huh, uh?”

“You don’t look well.”

The reason for Yunha’s poor expression was simple: the news of the hero’s return had been a false report.

She had allowed herself to feel hopeful, but in the end, nothing had changed.

She was already troubled by the false report, and according to intelligence, she had also faced an assassination attempt.

Today was the day for discussing the assassination attempt and holding a major conference regarding the Red Dragon [a powerful monster or entity].

In reality, the major conference was just Yunha deciding whether or not to approve matters decided by the parliament through debate.

That was the absolute authority of the king.

At the maid’s concern, Yunha forced a smile and replied.

“Ah… I was just thinking about something. And… when it’s just us, you don’t have to use that title. You’re the same age as me. All that ‘Your Majesty, Your Majesty’ stuff… We’re not even an empire, just a kingdom, so why ‘Your Majesty’? Honestly, it’s a bit cringey.”

The title of ‘Your Majesty’ was typically used to address an emperor.

Therefore, in Mankyeong, which was currently just a city-state, it would have been more appropriate to call her ‘King’ or ‘Your Highness’.

However, within the palace, Mankyeong was often referred to as an empire, and the officials used the titles ‘Your Majesty’ and ‘Emperor’.

At Yunha’s words, the maid smiled and fastened the buttons of her palace attire, saying,

“Even if Your Majesty thinks so, others don’t. You can lower your hands now.”

Ha Yunha obediently lowered her hands.

“And I’m not an emperor. If there is an emperor, it’s only ‘that person’ [referring to the hero, Kang Sieon]. I’m just an acting one, you know?”

“Yes, yes, I understand. Your Majesty. Would you like to sit here? I need to finish your makeup.”

“Really. Are you even listening to me?”

“Please close your eyes.”

“Yes…”

The maid carefully finished Yunha’s makeup.

Outside in the hallway, the sounds of people bustling were already audible.

Then, someone knocked on the door.

Entering the room were Minister of Land Affairs Lee Seokjin and Commander-in-Chief Hwang Minjae.

Lee Seokjin smiled and approached her.

“You look beautiful as always.”

“Ah, no, I don’t.”

Ha Yunha trailed off, avoiding his gaze.

Lee Seokjin scanned Yunha up and down with a suggestive look.

Then, he smiled and leaned in to remove a strand of hair from Yunha’s cheek.

“The diplomatic envoy from Gangnam [a region or faction] is also at this meeting. You must pay attention to your appearance.”

At those words, Yunha replied in a slightly trembling voice.

“…Ah, yes. Thank you.”

“Your Majesty, I will escort you to the conference hall.”

Hwang Minjae bowed his head in salute to the king.

It was a stark contrast to Lee Seokjin’s behavior.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yes. The ministers from Dong-an [another region or faction] are already seated, and our executives are waiting as well. I will wait outside the door.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll be out soon.”

Hwang Minjae bowed his head once more and left the room.

Lee Seokjin waited for Hwang Minjae to leave before speaking to Ha Yunha.

“You still seem gloomy because of that incident the other day.”

The incident he was referring to was the rumor that Kang Sieon had returned.

Ha Yunha looked at herself in the mirror and nodded slightly.

“I suppose.”

And she couldn’t help but be concerned about Lee Seokjin’s remarks about the hero at the parliament hall.

In any case, the news had been a false report, and the search operation for Kang Sieon that had been ongoing for the past five years had returned to square one.

Even if Lee Seokjin made negative remarks about the hero, there was no way to stop him within the faction.

The Minister of Land Affairs was in charge of all land, buildings, markets, and wanderer residential areas belonging to the faction, and in terms of departmental importance, it was not very high.

However, other departments could only carry out projects with the permission of the Minister of Land Affairs.

The power of the Minister of Land Affairs came from that.

A man whom even Ha Yunha, the king of Mankyeong, could not easily control.

Ha Yunha did not have the status window [a game-like interface showing stats and abilities], which was the king’s authority, making it difficult to control power, and as a result, figures like Lee Seokjin emerged.

Lee Seokjin checked the necklace with the red gemstone embedded in Ha Yunha’s neck before naturally placing his hands on her shoulders.

“Don’t worry too much. Didn’t I promise you? I will find the hero without fail. Besides, if the hero had passed away, there should have been some changes in the faction, but that hasn’t happened, has it?”

“I know…”

“Trust me and follow me. I will guide the future. …Then, I will meet the ministers from Gangnam first.”

Lee Seokjin smiled at Ha Yunha in the mirror and then left the room, the sound of his shoes clicking on the floor.

Squeak- Bang.

Once again, only Ha Yunha and her maid remained in the room.

Ha Yunha shrugged her shoulders and trembled slightly.

Lee Seokjin’s footsteps faded away and gradually disappeared.

Then, the maid blurted out a surprisingly vulgar remark.

“That slimeball pervert. Should I cut off his dick and shove it up his ass, then grind it to dust, and then stab him with a rusty knife and put him out on the market street? How dare he treat our King like that. Wow, that trashy bastard, really. Your Majesty, are you okay?”

At the maid’s colorful curse, Ha Yunha’s trembling shoulders subsided.

She burst into laughter.

“Puhahahahaha-! Ah-! Really. What is it? Ah, I’m tearing up.”

“Ah! No! Your Majesty! Your eye makeup will be ruined, so lift your head and laugh. It took hours to do your makeup.”

“Like this?”

Ha Yunha lifted her head high and made a silly face.

Then, the maid also burst into laughter.

“Puh-huh-huh… Puh-huh…!”

After Kang Sieon and Choi Hyunji left the faction, she felt very fortunate to have people around her who could share their true feelings with her.

That alone gave her the strength to endure the past days.

* * *

Ha Yunha, who freely expressed her emotions by crying or laughing in private, was a different person when meeting foreign ministers.

The ministers from Gangnam who faced her often called her the Ice Queen.

A cold expression that never revealed any emotions on her face.

She neither affirmed nor denied.

The expressionless face that came from her beautiful and cold demeanor somehow felt solemn and imposing.

The ministers from Gangnam swallowed nervously.

Because she was walking towards them.

Watching Ha Yunha’s haughty gait, the ministers from Gangnam whispered to each other.

“The king of Mankyeong. Indeed, she has the appearance befitting the Ice Queen.”

“Even though she looks like that, she is said to be endlessly benevolent to the citizens of Mankyeong. She is only ruthless when dealing with other countries.”

“A charming leader. A leader should be like that.”

“Whether she is charming or not depends on whether they accept this agenda.”

“That’s true too. But there’s no other way. If we withdraw the alliance, they will have two fronts to deal with.”

“Let’s see how it goes.”

The ministers from Gangnam looked at Ha Yunha, who was sitting in the seat of honor.

The maid pulled out the chair, and Ha Yunha sat down.

And she stared straight ahead.

Ha Yunha’s red lips parted, and her voice echoed softly in the conference room.

“Begin.”

* * *

Among Ha Yunha’s political and diplomatic strategies, the most frightening aspect was that she placed the interests of her own country at the center of everything.

Ha Yunha’s basic negotiations came with three conditions.

Ⅰ. No clause regarding the citizens and territory of Mankyeong can be included in any treaty.

Ⅱ. Treaties that violate the basic principles of Mankyeong are not allowed.

Ⅲ. Mankyeong does not participate in or support wars of conquest or preemptive strikes.

The first was to ensure the safety and property of her own people, the second was that only forces that shared the beliefs and values of labor, the basic principle on which Mankyeong was founded, could be dialogue partners, and the third was a basic condition added after realizing that wars of conquest were meaningless through the Great War three years ago.

Negotiations with Mankyeong are only conducted when these three conditions are met.

Excluding Incheon, there were a total of three forces that had interacted with Mankyeong, whether hostile or friendly, and among them, only Gangnam agreed to comply with Mankyeong’s requirements.

Of course, the last of the three conditions above eliminated the justification for any forces trying to provoke Mankyeong.

In other words, because such conditions were applied equally to both allies and enemies, it was possible to defend the country from surprise preemptive strikes.

But the nature of the war had changed.

The minister from Gangnam said.

“According to our intelligence, the Northwest Alliance broke through the 30th floor of the Lotte Tower Dungeon [a dangerous area] the day before yesterday. They are definitely approaching the Red Dragon at the top of Lotte Tower, and our troops can no longer postpone the attack on Jamsil [a strategic location].”

Lee Seokjin clasped his hands together and retorted.

“I told you that preemptive strikes are not allowed. That is one of the basic conditions for negotiating with us.”

“Clauses can be amended at any time. Furthermore, keep in mind that if the Northwest Alliance captures the Red Dragon, Mankyeong’s power may also collapse.”

“Mankyeong will not collapse. Mankyeong is armed with strong beliefs and civic consciousness. Even if we lose in the round, we will survive.”

“Then the ruler will die. If you lose, will they leave the ruler alone like that? Well, I know. The one who actually rules Mankyeong now is the queen over there, but more important than anything is the decree [a symbol of power or authority].”

The minister with the grizzled beard leaned back slightly and continued.

“Because Kang Sieon owns the decree. So, will Kang Sieon stand still? If Mankyeong collapses, there will definitely be a problem with his safety.”

Then, Lee Seokjin chuckled and replied.

“Ah- you don’t have to worry too much about that. What’s important is the development of Gangnam along with Mankyeong.”

At Lee Seokjin’s attitude, the minister from Gangnam asked with a puzzled expression.

“…As far as I know. I heard that Mankyeong considers the safety of the hero as the top priority. What you just said is a little different from what I know.”

At those words, Lee Seokjin clasped his hands together and placed them on the table.

“Minister. What did I say? When the hero first founded Mankyeong, it was for the sake of Mankyeong, that is, for the sake of the citizens. This is what the hero wants and anticipates. We are continuously sending large-scale expeditions both internally and externally to pursue the hero.”

“Ahem…”

The minister from Gangnam blew air through his nose and swallowed his words.

Then, Ha Yunha joined the conversation.

“One, preemptive strikes are not allowed. Absolutely not.”

Yunha, who had been silent until now, organizing her thoughts, looked at the ministers from Dong-an and said.

“Mankyeong’s three basic clauses are clauses that protect ourselves, labor, and citizens. That value is eternal, and the citizens also have beliefs and values according to those clauses. If we lose those values and pursue other values, internal unity will decrease. Preemptive strikes are absolutely not allowed. Of course, support is also not allowed.”

“…Your Majesty. But.”

“But, you say.”

Ha Yunha cut off the minister from Gangnam’s words.

“…We can trade, though.”

Mercenary groups.

That was Mankyeong’s great strength and means of doing business.

‘She’s finally pulling out the mercenary card.’

The minister from Gangnam shook his head slightly.

In the end, they would have no choice but to spend a fortune to purchase Mankyeong’s mercenary corps.

For the past three years, Gangnam had been giving Mankyeong huge rewards and hiring Mankyeong’s ogre units and elite troops.

This meeting also returned to square one due to Ha Yunha’s stubbornness(?).

She stubbornly insisted only on Mankyeong’s interests.