Chapter 1357 – 1357. God’S Atlantis
I had expected that recruiting Elena wouldn’t be easy.
Elena is the Illusion Duke, one of the Five Dukes of the Empire. She is also the head of the Valdert Dukedom. Every single one of her actions affects the reputation of her ducal family.
An imperial duke becoming an idol? Even I thought it was absurd.
Even though District 6,700 is their own territory, if Elena debuted as an idol, the rumor would spread throughout Atlantis.
I looked around the practice room.
I could see Yuria and Mireyeong talking to each other.
“An idol… I don’t know much about it, but I think it’s better to go with a pure concept.”
“No, unnie. We have to go with a sexy concept. Going with a pure concept… we’re too big, aren’t we?”
I reflexively looked at their chests. They were voluptuous. Just their presence was already sexy.
“But I’ve heard that it’s hard to gain public popularity with an overtly sexy concept.”
“That’s true. But unnie and I aren’t exactly the pure type.”
Yuria’s brow furrowed for a moment.
“That’s an insult to me. I am pure. Like a noble, single flower… Master said that once.”
“My lord? I think that was just empty words. Yuria unnie’s sexiness is equal to or greater than mine.”
Mireyeong twisted her body, striking an overtly sexy pose. Her chest and hips were emphasized. Yuria looked at Mireyeong’s chest and briefly closed her mouth. Mireyeong’s chest was a little bigger than Yuria’s.
“…Anyway, sexiness alone won’t make us the best idols.”
“Oh, come on. Is this the first or second time my lord has done this? It’ll probably end up fizzling out this time too.”
“……”
Yuria didn’t argue.
It wasn’t just because of my personality. There were also practical issues. The time I could summon them was only 30 days.
Debuting as an idol and reaching the pinnacle of the entertainment industry in just 30 days. …Even to my ears, it sounded absurd. But if it was Juseohyeon, Yuria, and Mireyeong, it would be possible. I would make it possible.
‘Juseohyeon, Yuria, and Mireyeong. They all have incredible beauty, but… the number of members is too small for a girl group. It needs at least four to be worth watching.’
But I couldn’t just bring in any trainee. Unless they had exceptional beauty, their presence would be overshadowed by the others. They could end up as backup dancers instead of girl group members.
‘Considering the chemistry between the members… the fourth member has to be Elena.’
I picked up the conch shell again and tried to call Elena. Elena answered the phone right away.
“Elena. Let’s do an idol group. You’re the only one. The members are already ready. If you come, it’s a go. We can debut right away.”
-Haa. Yujin. Think about my position. I am the head of the Valdert Dukedom. Me, an idol? Not only would my prestige plummet, but other nobles would look down on me.
“Instead of that, let’s think about it differently. If you become an idol, wouldn’t the commoners think of you as approachable?”
-A ruler doesn’t need approachability. It only diminishes their authority. If I want popularity or approachability, I can get it in other ways. Giving away wealth or creating good stories is more efficient. On the other hand, the idol you’re talking about… I’d lose more than I’d gain. Why would I dance in front of people?
“……”
She was right, and I had nothing to say in response. I, who reigns as a lord in [Baekhwan], know well how much commoners are like pigs and dogs. Commoners like and praise you if you treat them just a little bit well. If you just give away some wealth, you can gain the popularity of the commoners as much as you want.
I squeezed my eyes shut. Giving up here and finding someone else was the best option. But in the four-member girl group that came to mind, Elena didn’t disappear.
I still needed Elena.
“I’m really begging you. If fame is the problem, can’t you use illusion magic to… hide your identity? And it’s not like I’m asking you to be an idol forever. 30 days is enough.”
-…30 days? I don’t know much about idols, but what’s the point of being active for only 30 days? And you sound strangely desperate. Wasn’t the idol group just a personal hobby of yours?
“What do you take me for? Of course not!”
-…….
I could feel a strong sense of suspicion in Elena’s silence. I glanced sideways and saw Yuria and Mireyeong watching me. They had good ears. They must have been listening to my conversation with Elena.
‘What, don’t they trust me either? I didn’t explain in detail, but… that’s a bit shocking. What do they think of me?’
Especially Yuria’s gaze was shocking. I thought she would trust me 300%.
-I didn’t hear the explanation in detail. I’ll listen, so tell me.
“Okay. It’s annoying to explain again… Yuria, Mireyeong. Come here.”
-Wait. Yuria is there?
“Yeah. I summoned her as a member of the girl group.”
-Who is Mireyeong?
“A fox?”
At that moment, Mireyeong suddenly rushed towards me and hugged my right arm to her chest. My arm was caught between her soft, warm breasts. Mireyeong even smelled good. It made me feel good.
“My lord~! I’m my lord’s eternal cute fox. You know my heart, right?”
She smiled like a fox, just as she said.
Yuria looked at Mireyeong with a blank face, then quietly approached me and hugged my other arm.
“Master. My body and heart are all yours. I will serve you forever.”
I was surrounded by flowers on both sides. I barely managed to hold back the twitching of my lips.
-Haa.
I heard Elena sigh through the conch shell. It seemed like there was some complex emotion in it, but she immediately spoke in her usual voice.
-Explain the situation. By the way, I hate being interrupted. No, I hate it to the point of loathing.
“Ah, yes. Yes. So, to put it simply… I’m going to conquer District 6,700.”
I added to explain the current situation to Elena.
-Conquering District 6,700… Do you know about that? The Empire once tried to conquer District 6,700 under the leadership of the Imperial Family.
“I’ve never heard of that. Did that happen?”
Looking at the current situation of District 6,700, I could tell what the result was. It must have failed.
-District 6,700 is a civilization that developed differently from the Empire. Instead of magic, they had science and technology. The Empire was very interested in District 6,700. Unlike magic, science and technology could be used by anyone, and culturally, it was more advanced than the Empire. His Majesty the Emperor judged that if they could control and analyze District 6,700, the Empire could develop further.
The Emperor’s power at that time was stronger than it is now, never weaker.
-As soon as His Majesty the Emperor’s order was given, all the famous bards and dancers in the Empire gathered. Among them, the best bards and dancers, and the best staff were selected and sent to District 6,700.
“But it failed?”
-It failed miserably. They didn’t even make it into the top 10. The Empire had underestimated District 6,700 too much. His Majesty the Emperor ordered a more detailed investigation and analysis of District 6,700. As a result, His Majesty the Emperor gave up on conquering District 6,700.
The systematic training methods that they had been preparing since childhood were not something that the Yustia Empire, which was weak in culture, could overcome in a short time.
-The biggest reason why His Majesty the Emperor gave up is because of the current apex of District 6,700. You know who she is without me having to say it, right?
“…Rainbow Bubble.”
The divine seat contracted with Lee Mei.
The most famous god as the goddess of beauty.
“Aphrodite.”
Also known as Venus.
-To control District 6,700 means you have to surpass that goddess of beauty. Can you surpass Aphrodite’s popularity with just an idol group?
“I can surpass her.”
I answered with certainty.
I had already seen Aphrodite’s beauty. It wasn’t difficult to find pictures of Aphrodite in District 6,700. She was beautiful, befitting the goddess of beauty. If it was just Juseohyeon alone, it would have been impossible to surpass Aphrodite’s popularity.
But if Yuria, Mireyeong, and Elena joined to form a girl group… they could surpass Aphrodite.
“In my eyes, you guys are much more beautiful than Aphrodite.”
A faint smile appeared on the lips of Yuria and Mireyeong after hearing my words. There was no woman who didn’t feel happy when told she was pretty.
-You’re so confident that it’s hard to understand.
Elena grumbled. But judging by her voice, she didn’t seem to be in a bad mood.
“It’s true. And Aphrodite isn’t a perfect entertainer. There’s room to exploit.”
-Hoo. Then tell me. What is the goddess of beauty’s weakness?
“Aphrodite is too famous. As you can see from the myths… Aphrodite’s promiscuity is no joke. That’s her weakness.”
As far as I knew, the entertainment industry was ultimately a battle of images. Even if this district was lenient about scandals, even if Aphrodite was a goddess, Aphrodite would eventually fall because of that image. And that someday would be soon.
“I don’t need to surpass Aphrodite. I just need to get close to her. Then Aphrodite will fall.”
-……You said Yuria is in the group? Just the fact that Yuria is there makes the possibility of success seem higher.
“Elena. Let’s do an idol group.”
-Wait a moment. Let me do some calculations.
Elena quietly began to calculate the pros and cons. While waiting for Elena’s answer, I kept my hands moving. I teased Mireyeong and Yuria. I touched their chests and stroked their hips. Their faces were gradually turning red, and just as the atmosphere was starting to turn red,
-I have a condition.
“Yeah. I knew it. Tell me what you want.”
-First of all, I will not reveal my identity.
“It can’t be helped. I understand.”
-Second, it’s a share of District 6,700. Guarantee 30%.
“Sure, why not.”
I answered coolly.
If the plan succeeded, I would gain control. Yuria and Mireyeong would be reverse-summoned after 30 days, and Juseohyeon couldn’t refuse my orders. And Juseohyeon wasn’t very interested in this kind of thing anyway. The only one left was Elena… I didn’t mind giving her about 30%. I would eventually gain control anyway.
-You made a mistake. It’s not 30%, it’s 50%.
“Don’t do this, Elena. I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of.”
-……Okay. I’ll be satisfied with 30%. Instead, the Valdert family will be in charge of distributing goods from District 6,700.
“Distributing goods? It’s impossible to distribute goods from District 6,700.”
-As the ruler, you can distribute 1% of the production of goods from District 6,700 to the outside. Didn’t you know?
I didn’t know there were such detailed benefits.
1%.
It seemed small to me, who could bring modern goods from another world and use them as I pleased… but it would be different for Elena.
“Okay. I’ll accept all your conditions. Instead, come to District 6,700 by tomorrow… no, by tonight. You can get a ticket on your own, right?”
I wasn’t particularly worried about the ticket.
Elena was a duke of the Yustia Empire. She had both money and power. She could easily get a ticket to District 6,700.
-Haa. How did I end up doing something like an idol…
I heard Elena’s lament. I ignored it and teased Mireyeong and Yuria.
