I Became a 6★ Gacha Character

The Empire's north wasn't much different from the Kingdom's north.

Well, they were both based on Heroines Chronicle.

If you dropped a Seoul country boy in some northern German city, then moved him to southern France and asked "What's different about the buildings?" would he have an answer? He'd probably just look at the signs and think "Must be Europe."

At least northern Germany and southern France had temperature differences - this was more like comparing northern Russia to northern Finland. Just medieval wooden buildings covered in snow and people wearing fur clothes.

"Oh, it's cold. The wind's chillier than expected."

"It's not properly cold yet, but that's normal for non-northerners."

"Still manageable thanks to mana. ...Can't keep using mana though, maybe we should buy some winter clothes?"

In this town where everyone from workers to kids wore fur-lined winter gear, we had five idiots who didn't know the word "cold."

We should have taken a carriage up slowly, buying clothes and gloves while restocking food when it got cold. Instead, we teleported straight from the warm central region to the Empire's north.

"Want to hit the market before the mansion if it's too hard?"

"Nah, we're not that delicate. ...But I will ask for clothes at the mansion."

"I'll tell the maids, don't worry."

Of course, our party members were all superhuman 5★s. Forget using aura - their bodies were naturally enhanced with mana. Even non-warriors like our archer, rogue, mage and priest had tougher stats than normal people, so it wasn't unbearable.

The snowy northern autumn wind just felt "kinda cool." Personally, it felt like 15°C despite probably being -10°C. Back in Korea, this was when I'd switch from shorts and t-shirts to light hoodies.

So walking slowly to the mansion while sightseeing shouldn't be a problem—

"Ugh fuck, it's cold. Why am I the only one cold? What's this physical enhancement bullshit, you melee-walking idiots? Warriors and their exclusive club again? Have some mage sensitivity!"

-Are there even any viewers who've pushed the story to high rank?

-Excuse you, Han Se-ah's average viewer is floor 45 high-rank with 15★+ total companions

-That average is way too low, didn't most clear floor 50 and follow Season 2?

-From 185cm average height and 100M won salary to floor 50 average now lol

-Stop being cheap and check your condition properly, you'll look down and find frostbitten fingers

...there wouldn't be any issues.

As Han Se-ah told chat, she wasn't cheap enough to collapse from frostbite walking through snow, right? At that point she'd be less a player and more a sunfish. ṘἈꞐò𝐁ËꞨ

Of course, Han Se-ah wasn't that thick-headed and made it safely from Magic Tower to mansion. Meanwhile, 19 knights scattered, saying not everyone needed a mansion invitation. They looked just like Han Se-ah, grinning while pushing Olek forward.

Well, after years together, the Ice Cross Knights must have noticed Olek and Alisa's relationship. Our group shrunk to seven heading to Friedrich mansion, immediately drawing attention.

"It's up ahead, let's go!"

The Friedrich viscounty village we crossed was surprisingly normal.

Not in a bad way - just genuinely, pleasantly normal.

Alisa was a beloved noble lady, close enough to chat casually with the old Magic Tower mage. Naturally, the locals near the mansion loved her too - she got over a dozen greetings on the way.

Everyone from laborers to moms chasing kids treated Alisa casually.

The Friedrich couple who welcomed us as their lord's hero party guests were also normally nice people. Not vodka-reeking macho men or blonde blue-eyed Russian beauties, but a neatly groomed middle-aged man and his gracefully aging wife who warmly invited us to dinner and offered rooms.

Living long in a fantasy world before reality got patched in must have messed with my common sense. Feeling strange that a northern noble looked like a diligent salaryman.

The chat erupted with "This isn't the north!" when their bizarre expectations of northern nobles as bearded muscle men or dazzling silver-haired middle-agers were denied. As I watched viewers' reactions, there was a knock at the door.

"Roland, you there? Alisa got us coats, want to check out the market together?"

"Sure, just a moment."

"You'll come right out? We'll wait at the mansion entrance."

It was Grace and Katie's voices. Checking the stream, Han Se-ah had already run off alone to light up the map and hit the market, desperate to clear missions.

As for Irene... since we'd come to the Empire, she probably went to pray at a temple. Or maybe the mansion had a prayer room.

"Here, Roland. This should keep you warm."

"Softer than expected, we got some nice things."

※

The day in Friedrich domain passed incredibly normally.

Being the northern frontier's countryside, the market was smaller than adventurer cities, so our date-like tour was short. We returned to the mansion in under an hour for dinner.

We had pleasant conversation with the normally nice Viscount Friedrich couple about the Goddess Faith (led by Irene), monster wave information (Katie asked tons of questions), and even hunting stories (Grace showed interest).

Of course, the banquet's quality and variety were below the Kingdom's capital. Being Empire not Kingdom, maybe there was no system assist for players - the food was just decent.

"Still, it's a nice domain. Hard to believe danger's right next door, it's so peaceful."

"True."

But that showed how amazing Margrave Sibedev and Viscount Friedrich were. Modern eyes might see a backward countryside, but for medieval fantasy residents, this was practically a golden age.

Despite bordering monster wave territory, no wandering monsters. Despite the harsh northern cold, no one starved though they weren't rich. No nobles throwing their weight around to squeeze and torment commoners.

Plus the Friedrich couple were quite devout, keeping Irene smiling throughout dinner.

"It's wonderful here. As a religious person, this seems like a model to follow - finding happiness while pioneering harsh lands according to the Goddess's will."

"How was the temple?"

"Small but very well maintained. The nuns and villagers clearly put loving care into it!"

True to her nun nature, she got excited about unexpected things. Our carriage headed to Sibedev domain while she chattered with cheeks flushed from cold wind and religious fervor about the admirable people at the temple.

Olek drove with Alisa beside him. Behind them rode the Ice Cross Knights, each with their own horse like proper noble young masters.

A noble family's crested carriage driven by two armored knights, followed by 19 mounted knights. All high-rank - enough force to raze a small rural domain.

"So that's why there's no bandits. Shouldn't places like this have bandits yelling 'hand over everything you've got'?"

-You see this setup and still say that? lol Who would they even try to rob

-Looks like only knights and military supplies travel between Sibedev and Friedrich, who'd dare

-Bandits would freeze to death in this climate anyway lol

-But it is kinda boring, nothing to watch except bouncy mama since yesterday

-That means you've watched 33% of Han Se-ah's stream? 33% noonas, 33% kids, 33% mama, 1% teacher, 0% Han

"If you don't lower those three to 30% and give me 5% share right now, I'm bringing the Magic Tower grandpa next time."

[Han Se-ah The Trailblazer donated 10,000 won!]

-This broadcaster's threatening tactical HAL weapons lol she crazy?

The domain was so peaceful you'd doubt it was the frontline, nature harsh but our force overwhelming even to country bumpkins.

As Han Se-ah fidgeted restlessly in the carriage, Grace suddenly whipped her head sideways with a snap, her flowing hair nearly slapping my cheek like a whip.

"What's wrong, Grace?"

"...I think we might experience a monster wave."

Ah, the Empire's northern event begins already.