A Korean Office Worker Who Became a Nuisance Villainess in a Zombie Story - Chapter 187
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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And so time passed.
On the day the first theatrical performance was held at the grand performance hall in Sodom—now transformed into a genuine cultural city, once used as a colosseum where prisoners unable to pay gambling debts killed one another—the stage was set for something extraordinary.
“This was built this quickly?”
“It’s a gift from Mascarpone!”
I arrived in Sodom through the Portal.
Since the traveler’s Portal connecting the Capital to Sodom was still under construction, I took a Portal from the Capital to the Southern Region, then used the cargo transport Portal from there to reach this place.
After taking two consecutive Portals, I felt slightly dizzy. As I frowned, Praha gently steadied my elbow.
“Are you alright, Praha?”
“Yes. Are you quite dizzy?”
“I’m fine too.”
Because.
‘Even this queasiness will be a selling point that makes travelers feel the thrill of travel.’
Just as one always feels a flutter of excitement boarding an inconvenient airplane, knowing you’ll earn enough money next time to fly business class….
Immediately upon arrival, I inspected the Train Station being constructed near Sodom and the carriage station in front of it.
“Everything looks good, but we need to create space on the carriage roof for luggage.”
“Space for luggage?”
“Most people coming here will bring large travel bags. Plus, those using the free carriages provided by the city will likely have no maid following with their belongings.”
“I see!”
After offering a few suggestions, I headed toward Sodom’s main gate.
“Sodom’s city walls are so high that you can’t see inside the city from outside….”
While in the Southern Region, I’d brought Cyprus and Kiriel along as well. I explained various things to Kiriel, who was visiting Sodom for the first time, and signaled to the Guard.
Two Guards dressed in sky blue and cream opened the gates.
And what appeared beyond was.
A city transformed like Disneyland.
“Wow.”
Kiriel gasped in wonder.
Praha, Cyprus, and Tangerine, who knew what this city was originally like, widened their eyes, while Smoothie, who’d suffered through this with me, pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed his eyes.
“When His Excellency ordered the entire outer walls painted in pale pink and blue…I was puzzled, but it’s certainly beautiful!”
“Of course.”
Disneyland is pretty, after all. Following what major corporations do gets you halfway there.
“It smells like sugar!”
“That’s Gourmet Street over there.”
“Wow!”
Tangerine, already beginning to drool, rubbed his hands together.
“There’s a roasted chicken shop!”
“That’s right. It’s the second branch of the roasted chicken shop from District 9 that you love.”
“A Southern Region wine tasting event!”
“Cyprus sponsored that.”
“Limited edition macarons from the Imperial Chef?!”
“A gift from my betrothed.”
“One week only—magical artifacts at bargain prices!”
“Mascarpone.”
“【Anyone Can Become a Mage】, 【Building Foundational Strength for Young Ladies】 lectures!”
“Yujein and Consomme.”
It was all calculated.
The moment I arrived in Sodom and the gates opened, I was startled by colors—cake-like hues you’d never see in ordinary towns—then seduced by the aromas wafting from the Gourmet Street stretching before me, and before I knew it, I was shopping extravagantly along the way.
“Once you’re in Sodom, you have to catch a performance, right?”
That’s right. What I invested the most effort into was Sodom’s cultural arts.
There’s no performance venue in the Capital as grand as the ones here in Sodom. If you have them, you use them.
A neighborhood where you can watch theater and opera 365 days a year.
The Empire’s West End and Broadway.
Once you’ve come to visit, you watch at least three performances as standard and spend your money. After the show, buy merchandise. Watch what you’ve seen again, watch it again, and again! Keep those revolving doors spinning!
“We’re currently constructing several smaller performance venues.”
“Do you have theater troupes to fill those venues?”
“Yes. We’ve made offers to several famous Traveling Theater Troupes. When we told them we’d build them dedicated performance halls, they said they’d pack their bags and come immediately.”
And there’s a Zombie Experience Hall in the basement here. We’re going to have people act as zombies convincingly there, and we’re planning to separately recruit people with decent looks.
Oh, and the hotel we renovated from the Lord’s Castle is over there.
“Every night from 8 to 8:15, the outer walls will glow with magic. Since it’s on high ground, it’ll be visible from anywhere. Especially from the best viewing spots.”
“We’ve built a luxury restaurant operated by the Grand Duke’s House.”
“Right. As a night view attraction.”
The Head Chef from the Grand Duke’s House, who never had a chance to showcase his skills because of the former Grand Duke who starved daily, went to that restaurant as its chef.
Besides, I’m always working and rarely go home anyway… Why let the Head Chef sit idle? Put him to work.
“So all the profits from there go to you, Yusara, right?”
“Yeah. I need personal assets too.”
That way I can do charitable work with my own money instead of using the Local Lord’s funds, I said, lifting my chin confidently.
Meanwhile, Praha was absorbing the surroundings with his eyes, as if drawing them in.
By the way, this is Praha’s first time visiting Sodom after it changed.
I deliberately didn’t spoil how much Sodom had transformed. I didn’t even take him along during my Territory inspections in the meantime.
“What do you think? It’s nice, isn’t it?”
I asked proudly.
You know that feeling.
The desire to show him: ‘I’ve developed the Territory you gave me so well.’
The desire to boast in front of the man I like about how capable I am.
With that feeling, I watched for his reaction.
‘Surely he won’t say it’s not impressive. This is a city developed by the Empire’s finest minds putting their heads together. Not just me, but kids like Smoothie too.’
This is surprisingly nerve-wracking…
“….”
“What? Don’t you like it?”
“….”
“Pardon?”
“I need to work harder….”
“Harder?”
“To become a man worthy of you.”
“What?”
“To become someone befitting you.”
In such a short time, with a meager budget, he’d transformed the city beyond recognition.
“Sodom will become the Empire’s greatest tourist destination. Exactly as you wish.”
“My goodness.”
I should chide him for laying it on so thick, yet my lips keep twitching upward.
“How do you always know exactly what to say to make me happy?”
“Because it’s my genuine feeling.”
Praha spoke without a hint of jest, then took my hand.
“Ugh.”
Cyprus made a gagging sound from beside me. Kiriel, standing nearby, kicked his shin.
Tangerine kicks Kimon’s shin whenever he says something foolish—and now Kiriel, having developed a taste for the leg-work, has picked up the habit.
Cyprus doesn’t mind the footprints on his trousers; he’s simply delighted that his sister moves her legs, grinning like an idiot.
A lovely sight of siblings.
“We’re constructing the Yusara-Praha Museum and the Department Store over there.”
I tugged at Praha’s interlaced hands.
“The museum will have a free observation deck, and the Department Store will have a dome-shaped stained glass ceiling….”
“Soon you’ll be wealthier than I am.”
“Oh, absolutely. I’ll earn lots of money and buy you a fine sword.”
I gestured toward the longsword at Praha’s waist.
Truth be told, that last remark was pure bluster. That sword is incredibly expensive—an Imperial heirloom I inherited upon my ascension. To buy something costlier, I’d have to work myself to the bone for thirty years.
Yet Praha accepts it with innocent delight, nodding earnestly.
Cyprus made another gagging sound from behind, and this time Tangerine struck his ribs.
“Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty!”
“How am I supposed to forgive you when you’re committing the offense as you ask, Tangerine….”
Regardless.
Praha pressed his lips to the back of my hand and asked, “Have you decided on the museum’s name?”
“Yes. The Yusara-Praha Museum.”
We’re even erecting statues of us both at the entrance. I hesitated because it seemed a bit self-indulgent, but my friends insisted it was necessary to attract tourists.
“….”
“What? Don’t you like the name?”
“I think the Praha-Yusara Museum would be better.”
Of course. I knew you’d say that, Praha.
“I already had it registered as the Yusara-Praha Museum, anticipating you’d say that.”
I pointed toward the museum construction site beginning to take shape.
At the entrance of the construction site, where massive columns like those of a Greek temple were being erected, a large sign hung prominently.
A large sign was posted at the main gate of the construction site, where several massive columns like those in Greek temples were being erected.
The name written there.
Yusara-Praha Museum.
Praha laughed aloud upon seeing it.
A handsome man’s smile.
It was indeed a sight to behold.
“Well then, shall we go see the performance now?”
The inaugural performance of Sodom, transformed into a city of culture and arts.
The first work to be recorded in history was none other than.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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