32. Walk

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“Effective immediately, I appoint First Maid Im Seo-hyun as the 『Chief of the Secretariat』 of the Imperial Palace Secretariat, and declare her as [Gwiin (貴人), a Noble Person] supporting this palace.”

 

 

Yoo-eun handed the letter of appointment over the platform and shook hands with Seo-hyun.

 

“I will give my loyalty.”

 

 

Seo-hyun, after saying what was expected, bowed and turned around to scan the audience before bowing again.

 

The honored guests sitting in the front row and the thousands of maids sitting behind them all rose and applauded in unison.

Of course, there weren’t many people who genuinely blessed her.

 

 

More than 90% of the people in this place were inwardly extremely worried.

That’s because becoming the 『Chief of the Secretariat』 of the Imperial Palace meant not only managing all the maids but also effectively becoming the second-in-command of the palace.

 

 

And before appointing her, Yoo-eun had also said that she would delegate the punishment of China to the 『Chief of the Secretariat』.

 

 

In other words, ‘that’ Im Seo-hyun would be fully entrusted with the punishment of China.

People couldn’t even predict how terrible a disaster that would bring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following Im Seo-hyun, Yoo-eun appointed Imperial Palace Judge Lee So-nya as 『Minister of Justice』, Lee Yoo-na as 『Head of Business』, Yoo So-ra as 『Head of Imperial Palace Medicine』, and Lee Eun-joo as 『Minister of Imperial Science and Technology』, among other appointments, and formally declared the palace’s ‘resumption of activities’.

 

 

As revealed in the previous press conference, she announced that the immediate goals were to punish China and save the world from the massive dungeon disaster. At the same time, she stated that she would establish a cooperative system for global relief through close meetings with the chairman of the Dungeon Cooperation Organization.

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“What should we do? It feels like the Earth is doomed. Should we go to Mars now?”

“What kind of bullshit is that?”

“No! They appointed ‘that’ woman as the 『Chief of the Secretariat』! Just listening to what she says, she’s practically the second-in-command! And they even said they’d leave the China thing to her… Heeik!”

“Shut up, you punk.”

 

 

The man who flicked the forehead of the junior reporter who was freaking out while holding an expensive camera sighed.

He wasn’t showing it on the outside, but he was trembling just the same.

 

Even when Yoo So-ra, who is considered a relatively mild person, went on a rampage, the nation of Japan was destroyed. But now, Im Seo-hyun, the worst woman in the palace, no, the worst woman you could mention even when talking about ‘humanity’, has been entrusted with the punishment of China and has become the second-in-command of the palace, the 『Chief of the Secretariat』.

 

Even if we overlook the disaster that will befall China with a heart as wide as the ocean, the world will now have to officially deal with Im Seo-hyun, who has become the second-in-command of the Harem Palace.

 

What kind of disaster awaits humanity’s future…

 

 

 

“And, you know…”

“What now?”

“They called those people 『Ministers』.”

“So what about it?”

“Doesn’t that show their willingness to act as a ‘nation’ for real now? They might even start a war demanding land! Then the most dangerous country is obviously ours!”

“…Surely they wouldn’t do that. Yoo-eun-nim herself said she would repay the favor to our country. How long has it been since the press conference? Would she really overturn that?”

“B, but still….”

“They created something called the Relief and Welfare Department and declared they would solve the dungeon phenomenon. Even if they’re going wild, it doesn’t mean they’re completely ignoring the media. So at least they won’t go back on their word. Relax.”

“Ugh….”

 

Anxiety and unease.

He couldn’t calm down even with the words of comfort from his senior.

 

 

“I still think we should go to Mars….”

“You’re really talking shit. Mars, my ass.”

“Tesla-nim! Bless me!!”

“Shut up.”

 

 

He was hit on the back of the head for shouting while looking at the sky as if chanting Manse Samchang, but he didn’t stop.

 

 

And although their actions differed, people who were similarly despairing were popping up all over the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Report on the education status.”

 

 

About a week after officially being appointed as Chief of the Secretariat, Seo-hyun had them report on the status that had been identified so far.

 

“Currently, there are about 50,000 trainees receiving education, of which 3,000 will graduate this week, and an additional 6,000 are scheduled to graduate this month.”

“So, a total of about 9,000 will graduate within this month?”

“That’s right.”

“Good. So, up to those 9,000… what class number is that?”

“Class 3.”

“Then, from Class 4 onwards, I’ll increase the training period to six months.”

 

 

Everyone’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden increase in the training period by more than threefold.

 

 

“From now on, unless there are special circumstances where Master-nim is particularly interested or has brought them directly to her side, we will only raise those who have received six months of training in the education area and have graduated with a certain grade or higher to Master-nim as maids.”

“Then… what will you do with those who don’t achieve that grade?”

“The exact criteria will be determined through future meetings, but for now, those who don’t meet the criteria will be made into sex toys… ah, I purified it. Hwayuk (花肉, Flower Meat), and those who don’t even qualify for that will be disposed of entirely.”

 

 

The women felt a bit bewildered, but soon nodded.

Since they had been called here by Seo-hyun anyway, their basic mindset was similar, and their loyalty to Yoo-eun was also maxed out.

 

 

“Head of Screening?”

“Yes.”

“With the 9,000 who will be graduating this time and those who will graduate within a month, we will have an additional 9,000 within this month, so I think we can replace some of the current personnel. So, from now on, screen out those among the existing maids who have low loyalty or who you think need additional training. The deadline is 18:00 tomorrow.”

“What range should I set? The current category of maids is too broad….”

“Of course… all of them. Whether they’re from the police or the prosecution, put all the maids in the range, regardless of which side they’re on. If you think anyone needs training, put them on the list. You’ve been doing this to some extent for a while, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Understood.”

 

Seo-hyun issued various orders to each agency and dismissed the meeting.

Then, she immediately took a few maids and began heading to a certain place.

 

 

Basically, she accompanies the emperor Yoo-eun, but when Yoo-eun-nim doesn’t have any schedules like now, she can move according to her own schedule.

 

 

And as a 『Minister-level』 figure, she also receives protocol on such occasions. This ‘protocol’ is handled by the ‘Protocol Office’, a subordinate organization of the Imperial Palace Secretariat, where she serves as the head, and everything from how many people provide protocol for each figure to how they do it is defined in the manual.

 

 

In the case of Yoo-eun, the highest-ranking person, 150 secretaries provide protocol, and these 150 people are always treated as top-class because their list is fixed. And his wives, Lee So-nya, Lee Yoo-na, and Yoo So-ra, receive protocol from 120 people.

 

And in the case of 『Minister-level』 figure Im Seo-hyun, she receives protocol from 100 people, so even her vehicle procession is enormous.

 

 

Of course, Seo-hyun wasn’t doing this ridiculous protocol because she wanted to, but because of Yoo-eun’s orders.

 

 

 

 

“…It’s still too much.”

 

If Yoo-eun-nim were a little more competent and paid attention to this kind of thing, she would have thought a little more when deciding on this protocol. At the very least, she would have distinguished between protocol for special occasions like events and protocol for ordinary days like today.

 

 

But there’s none of that.

 

 

Seo-hyun was standing in front of a vehicle assigned to 100 secretaries. There were more than 20 vehicles, so how could this be something that’s done on a regular basis? It would be lucky if the road wasn’t blocked.

 

 

“…But it’s Master-nim’s order.”

“…Let’s suggest it again later.”

 

When Yoo-eun-nim gave the order regarding the protocol, Seo-hyun naturally gave her opinions in various ways. But Yoo-eun-nim ignored her, saying, ‘We’re going to formally declare the resumption of the palace’s activities, so shouldn’t we do something cool and amazing? Like a huge protocol. That way, people will be like, “Wow!” and look up to us.’ And the result is the chaos right in front of her eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seo-hyun arrived at the Gangnam Police Station, unintentionally turning the road into a mess. It was a fairly large police station, and about 20 black vehicles stormed in.

Managers and bollards were installed to prevent indiscriminate entry, but they just broke them and came in.

 

“W, what is it?”

 

They tried to stop them, but they were relentless.

Eventually, the conscripted policemen and patrolmen ran out with batons.

 

 

And almost simultaneously, women wearing suits that looked a little more decent than the maid uniforms poured out of the black vehicles.

 

 

 

 

“…Is that the Harem Palace?”

 

In this day and age, there’s only one place where such pretty women wearing black suits would run wild in droves and have the guts to storm into a country’s police station without permission.

 

 

Seo-hyun, who wasn’t used to protocol, opened the door herself, and the woman who was about to open the door awkwardly stepped aside.

More than 100 women, including the secretaries from the executive department that Seo-hyun had brought, confronted the police officers.

 

 

“Hmph.”

Seo-hyun, who had scanned the police officers who were tense and confronting them, opened her mouth.

 

 

“You know who we are, right? You also know that this is Gangnam.”

“….”

 

The police officers were silent.

No one opened their mouth.

They were overwhelmed by the beauty of the women, especially Seo-hyun, but more than anything, they didn’t want to get on her bad side by stepping forward unnecessarily.

 

 

And amidst the commotion, the chief of this place, Shin Do-hee, came out.

 

“…What’s going on? To just barge in like this.”

 

She looked at Seo-hyun with an unwilling expression.

To be exact, there was a bit of fear mixed in, but she couldn’t openly express her fear in front of her subordinates.

 

 

“As the Chief of the Imperial Palace Secretariat of the Harem Palace, there’s someone I need to see. May I come in?”

 

A chill ran down Do-hee’s spine.

As one of the few people who had witnessed Seo-hyun’s wickedness up close, she felt like she shouldn’t let her in right now.

Of course, there was also the matter of her face as the chief.

 

 

“…It’s difficult if you come out so recklessly without contacting us in advance. This is a police station. It’s the public authority of the Republic of Korea.”

“That’s why I’m telling you like this. Politely.”

 

Seo-hyun smiled softly and walked out, tottering.

Each time, the executive members behind her moved with her, and the protocol members also moved as if threatening the police officers.

 

 

“D, don’t come!”

 

 

One of the police officers shouted.

He seemed to be a detective.

 

 

But Seo-hyun didn’t stop, and when she arrived right in front of the police officers, Do-hee’s weak words were heard.

 

 

“…Please step aside.”

 

It was almost a declaration of surrender.

The police officers hesitated, but eventually followed the chief’s orders.

 

 

“Thank you.”

Seo-hyun smiled brightly and walked leisurely through the police officers who parted like the Red Sea until she reached where Do-hee was.

And,

 

 

 

 

“Good thinking. If you had resisted a little more, I was going to put you on the education list too.”

 

 

Ssak.

 

 

 

 

Do-hee froze at Seo-hyun’s words, which she whispered in her ear without anyone knowing, as the horrors of the past came to mind.