SSODW 09

Chapter 9

As soon as the front door closed, the system window displayed some welcome news.

I quickly found the guidebook that had been tossed near the edge of the bed and opened it with a pounding heart.

『 2.』

1. The Valdehart Empire and the 29 Islands

1) The Valdehart Empire
The only surviving nation on the continent.
Just ten years ago, there were vassal states bound by feudal ties and numerous island nations, both large and small, but now not even traces of them remain.

Refugees who barely escaped from nations that collapsed due to disasters are now flocking toward the empire’s center.

The empire is currently ruled by the second monarch of the Alenges Dynasty,
Isthar Alenges le Valdehart.

2) The 29 Islands
Among the 2,837 islands located southwest of the Pangaea-like continent, the “29 Islands” refers to the islands where human civilization once existed.

All islands except these 29 are uninhabited.

Humans had lived on 28 of the islands for thousands of years, but the 29th island was only settled about 200 years ago.

Since more than 10,000 people successfully settled on the 29th island 200 years ago, there have been no further cases of new islands being developed.

2. Map of the Continent and the 29 Islands

• Continent area: approx. 50,000,000 km²

• Largest island (8th island, former Kingdom of Alesh): 4,200,000 km²

• Smallest island (29th island, former Republic of Yuriadel): 50,000 km²

“Waa…”

I don’t understand any of this.
How big even is 50 million square kilometers?

Is that like… the size of Eurasia or something?

My head started spinning from looking at unfamiliar numbers.

But the moment I saw the map below, my eyes lit up.

The thrill of discovering an unknown world stirred something primitive inside me.

“Wow… this is basically satellite-level detail? I expected something like a treasure map, but the quality is insane.”

A horizontally stretched continent resembling Eurasia spread out before me, with countless islands scattered across the sea below it.

Among the 2,837 islands, the 29 inhabited ones were marked in red numbers.

I immediately searched for the 29th island—the source of the gray dust.

Most inhabited islands were close to the continent, but the 29th island stood alone, isolated to the west. It was also noticeably smaller.

This size… is 50,000 km²?

Wait, how big was South Korea again?

I definitely answered that once on a quiz show… well, I guessed it, but still.

“Ah! 100,000 km².”

If I remembered correctly, that meant the 29th island—the Republic of Yuriadel—was about half the size of South Korea.

Roughly like combining Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces.

“But why are all these islands gray? And the southwest part of the continent too…”

Ah… those must be the areas consumed by the dust.

My fingers trembled slightly as I traced over the gray regions.

Then I moved my gaze eastward.

At the far end, I found the capital of the Valdehart Empire—Valarion.

Just as Theo had said, the area around it was completely untouched—lush and green.

“No wonder they feel no sense of crisis. To them, the danger still seems far away.”

I sighed deeply and shut the map.

If I kept looking, I’d probably need headache medicine.

Not wanting to see the drifting gray dust outside, I tightly closed the curtains.

Without visible signs of disaster, I felt like I could breathe again.

“Inventory.”

For headaches, nothing works better than shopping.

Remembering I had 700,000 points left, I forced a smile.

Not because I was happy—but because I wanted to be.

“Alright… instant rice, kimchi, and seasoned seaweed first.”

Buying the three-item set I had wanted from the start lifted my mood a bit.

I stored the kimchi in the fridge and placed the rice and seaweed on the shelf.

“Maybe I should save the rest… I don’t really need anything else…”

Ah. Clothes.

I should prepare spare clothes for visitors.

I can’t keep making them wear those yellow sauna outfits forever.

I browsed through the clothing section.

Unfortunately, everything except the sauna outfits was ridiculously expensive.

This wasn’t the time to celebrate earning a million points.

• Silk pajama set – 3,000,000 points

• Sleepwear set – 800,000 points

• “Hot night” one-piece pajama – 1,500,000 points

“What even are these…?”

At this rate, I’d need at least 10 million points to enjoy shopping.

Reality hit hard.

Better to save the remaining 600,000 points for emergencies.

After once again requesting the NPC center to retrieve my 3 million won savings account, I closed the inventory.

“Let’s wash up and eat.”

After throwing off the bunny pajamas, I finally took a warm shower.

“Ughhhh…”
A satisfied groan escaped me.

Clean and refreshed, I stood before the closet.

I needed something comfortable but presentable.

“Why do I only have weird clothes?”

My wardrobe fell into three categories:

• Too old and shabby

• Work clothes that were uncomfortable

• Or idol-era outfits that were impossible to wear casually

Sighing, I grabbed black slacks and a beige blouse—

“Wait… this one might work if I remove the apron?”

I found a black dress with a white frilled apron attached.

It looked like a maid outfit, but not the revealing kind—more like something a 19th-century maid would wear.

“…This brings back memories.”

Back in my idol days, I was basically a filler member.

This dress symbolized that role.

Still…

“It’s comfortable.”

I put it on and looked in the mirror.

“…It’s exactly the same as three years ago.”

I even braided my hair and added a frilly headband.

“…Wow. This is identical.”

Just as I was lost in nostalgia—

[A visitor is arriving at Shelter ‘Studio Apartment’.]

“WHAT? Already?!”

[10]

“Damn this impatient system!”

I hurriedly tried to remove the apron—

It wouldn’t come off.

“…Wait, this isn’t detachable?!”

[3]

“System, wait! You expect me to greet someone like this again?!”

[2]

“Hey! That’s unfair!”

[1]

“Ugh, seriously…”

Defeated, I tied the ribbon neatly again.

Please… just let the visitor be normal.

[Visitor has entered.]
[Language synchronized: Korean]

Creak—click.

I stared nervously at the person entering.

Golden hair brighter than gold.
Sharp yet intelligent blue eyes.
A lean face with defined masculine features.

Beautiful.

But what shocked me more was his outfit.

A pristine white uniform covered in medals.
A red sash embroidered with gold thread.

“…I’ve seen this before.”

On romance fantasy novel covers.

At least a duke-level outfit.

My posture instinctively straightened.

Words fit for addressing royalty filled my head.

“…Please, come in.”

I almost added “Your Highness.”

I smiled politely.

But the man looked at me with clear displeasure and said—

“Where is this place, and who are you? To greet me in such a manner… how insolent.”

“…?”