Chapter 3: I Opened the Portal!

“By the way, there’s one more thing I need to do. Liliya, can you help me find a relatively secluded yet accessible place?”

Noticing the atmosphere had suddenly become a bit gloomy, Priestess tried to change the subject, conveniently avoiding the subsequent clothing change phase.

“Uh? Hmm…”

Without asking Vilyric what she intended to do, Your Majesty simply rested her chin on her hand deep in thought. After a while, she pointed at the ground beneath her feet.

“This should meet the conditions, a dedicated fitting room, directly connected to my residence. Without permission, nobody is allowed to enter. Stepping outside leads directly to the audience hall, so it’s quite convenient.”

“Is that so… Then let’s go with this.”

After looking around for a bit, Priestess picked a less conspicuous corner, moved over, and pulled out a palm-sized disk decorated with countless intricate patterns, placing it flat on the ground.

Curious, Your Majesty and the vice-captain of the knight group stared at the object for quite a while but couldn’t figure out its purpose. The former had no choice but to bluntly ask.

“What is this, Vilyric?”

While crouched down adjusting the disk’s position, the black-haired girl replied without looking back.

“It’s a pre-set magic imprint plate; think of it as a magic scroll, but the magic here is a bit special. It’s not the kind meant for one-time use, so it needs a more stable medium to maintain its effect.”

“Your treasure really keeps coming… So what kind of magic is on it?”

Since this was set up at Liliya’s royal palace, Vilyric thought it’d be better to explain clearly, paused her actions, stood up, and explained.

“It’s an invisible space portal. Once it’s finished, I can activate the imprint here to quickly move from other places to here at any time.”

“But considering it’s just a one-way portal and isn’t connected to other points yet, unless I set up another one, I won’t be able to return once I come here. So for now, it shouldn’t be used frequently; it’s just a preparation.”

The 【Invisible Space Portal】 is a high-level magic of the space system in 【Illusory World】, widely used among high-level players.

In the game map, the system provides very few teleport points; basically, only the major cities on the whole map will exist stably. If players want to go somewhere, they must first teleport to the nearest major city, then walk or ride to their destination, which is a time-consuming process.

While spatial magic has a complete skill system, it falls under the category of hidden professions, not easily learned by just anyone; it completely depends on player chance, so the number of players in that category is quite limited.

Thus, in most cases, qualified players store beneficial space magic like portals on magic imprint stones and carry them for emergencies or sell them at high prices to other players.

Coincidentally, among Vilyric’s friends is a seasoned player specializing in space magic, and they exchanged a good amount of stone plates or scrolls containing their respective skilled magic, so she was able to take one out without hesitation.

It seems this world has yet to develop a complete portal system, and research on space magic is still very shallow.

What she had come into contact with so far were all one-time short-distance teleportations or shallow applications like storage, and such consumables in-game can be said to deplete with each use.

Even with plenty of items, there are times when one might run out, so for such non-renewable resources, Vilyric thinks she needs to find a way to replenish them when the opportunity arises.

But that’s a topic for later.

“Is the portal like those sacrificial gates that appear when powerful demons descend? So that means with this, Vilyric could come find me anytime!?”

It felt like a certain blue-haired girl instantly became excited.

“Well… I’ve never seen a demon or anything like that, so I can’t compare. Plus, didn’t I say this is just a one-way portal? I need to find another place to build another one…”

“Wait, I think this is inappropriate.”

A low, serious female voice interrupted Priestess.

From the very beginning, Philena had been listening on the side, her brow tightly furrowed, clearly worried.

“Forgive my rudeness, but Miss Vilyric, I’ve never heard of this portal technology. The fitting room is adjacent to Her Majesty’s holy dwelling, just a few steps away; how can something that hasn’t been verified for safety be built here so casually?”

Unaware of the sudden shock on Your Majesty’s face that quickly turned grim, Philena continued to articulate her concerns in her uniquely solemn tone.

“Moreover, even if it is indeed safe, a passage that could bypass the palace’s strict guards and go directly to Her Majesty’s side is far too dangerous. What if some nefarious person tries to use it as an opportunity to commit assassination…?”

“Philena! Be quiet!!”

The suddenly erupted roar and imposing presence startled even Vilyric, who had been listening to the knight’s opinions quietly. Philena was so shocked that she immediately knelt on one knee.

“I overstepped the holy intent! I deserve death a thousand times over!”

“Uh? Liliya? It’s alright; her worries are not unfounded. At most, I can change…”

“Vilyric, don’t speak for now.”

Struggling to hold back her rage and lingering fear, Your Majesty shook her head as calmly as possible at Priestess before turning to the knight kneeling on the ground, who did not dare raise her head.

“Philena, Philena Trelop, I will emphasize once more, Vilyric is my most important friend, whom I owe greatly; she would never, under any circumstances, harm me. Do you understand?”

“Yes… I understand, Your Majesty.”

Philena lowered her head, and Vilyric noticed she was slightly trembling.

It was not that the knight was particularly cowardly, but the terrifying sense of pressure emitted by the enraged Liliya, although her voice wasn’t shouting, was surprising even to Vilyric, let alone Philena, a subject of the kingdom.

This was not pressure of energy or species level; it was simply the aura of a ruler.

Only at this moment did Vilyric realize that this little princess, whom she had helped nurture, had truly become a leader capable of standing on her own, a ruler of the nation, Your Majesty.

It seems she wasn’t just bragging about what she told Philena earlier.

Taking a deep breath, she managed to swallow the word “roll” that almost slipped out, and Your Majesty turned her head away.

“If it happens again, you won’t be the vice-captain anymore. You may leave now; set off on time tomorrow as planned.”

“Yes, I take my leave…”

The knight princess, getting back up from the ground, bowed deeply facing the back of the queen before slowly retreating until she bumped into the fitting room door, then turned and hurried away.

   

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