The Closed Country

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Seria says: "Nothing should be as mysterious as I am!" Some info is missing, please help to provide it if you can.

The Closed Country
Level	90
Rarity	Unique
Value	15,000 Gold
Binding	Bind to Account
Reward Gold	8,208 Gold
Reward EXP	248,904 EXP
Foreign Name(s)	Korean Ver.:  쇄국 Swaeguk 鎖쇄國국 swaeguk 音讀 (음독, eumdok) → 鎖 (쇄, swae) → 國 (국, guk)  (National Seclusion) Chinese Ver.:  隐居 Yǐnjū  (Seclusion) Japanese Ver.:  鎖さ国こく Sakoku  (National Seclusion)

The Closed Country is one of two Storybooks that were added in the Season 5. Act 01. Harlem: Shadows of Kashipa Update. The Storybook consists of three chapters, detailing the death and succession of the late Shonan King, Shonan Kayga, and the ascension of the Shonan First Princess, Shonan Aska.

Chapter 1

Old Man: Koff, koff...

The sound of dry coughs fills the quiet space. Without saying a word, the old man wipes his mouth with a white cloth.
Hemoptysis. The white cloth is now stained red here and there. The woman by his side is on the verge of tears.

Woman: Your Majesty...

This isn't the first time he's coughed up blood. It's been happening for a while, once or even twice a week.
It's just become more frequent recently, once every two days—actually, once every day—that's all.

Old Man: I'm okay.

Woman: But...

The King dismisses her concern in a dry, stern voice. But she can't stop worrying. He sounds frail and hoarse. The sickly yellow tone of his skin is getting sallower by the day.
Having been his doctor for a long time, the woman can tell his condition is worse than ever.

Old Man: I'm attending Court. Get ready.

Woman: Your Majesty, I strongly recommend you rest instead.

The King glares at her. She stares back unflinchingly, expressing her disapproval with her eyes. The King feels his resolution weaken under her gaze.
He's not happy. My own doctor thinks I'm weak! And why does she make me doubt my decision?
He's been through worse in his many years as king. This, a bit of a health setback, is nothing. He coughed up some blood. So what?

Old Man: I said, I'm attending Court. Get ready!

The King roars, and the woman decides to give in. She knows she can't change his mind when he's being this stubborn. She also doesn't want to upset him and aggravate his condition.
Looking at the court ladies who hurriedly walk into the King's chamber, the Royal Doctor sighs and laments inwardly.

Woman: Ah, what do I do?

The court room is filled as usual, with the courtiers lining up the center aisle on either side, waiting for the King. He walks to the throne sitting atop the dais at the back of the room and sits down. It doesn't take long before he catches onto the unusual atmosphere in the room.
The heaviness in the air. The anxious glances that his subjects exchange with each other. It's the same wariness that he's detected from his doctor earlier in his bedchamber. Even his long-trusted subjects are treating him like a frail, useless man.
Anger rises in him. He jumps up from the throne, glaring at the courtiers standing in rows in front of him. None of them would make eye contact.

Old Man: (How dare you?)

The King angrily flaps his sleeves, flopping back down onto the throne. Some of the courtiers flinch at the noise and avert their eyes anxiously. But the awkward atmosphere continues. The heaviness in the air doesn't dissipate. Neither does the anxious look in the courtiers' eyes.
The King ponders. It's not like he doesn't understand why his subjects are being this way. He himself also has been alarmed by the quickening deterioration of his health.
But unlike them, he can't show his worries. He's the king of this country. He must stay stronger than anyone else, to keep them together. If he grows weak, so will his country. If he falls, so will his people.
Or so he believes. It's what's motivated him to stay strong all these years. His subjects know this, and perhaps that's why they've been unhappy about what's transpired recently.

Elder: Your Majesty, your doctor told us you're unwell. Please, you need to take some rest.

A-ha, he knew it! She couldn't stop him on her own, so she came here to tell on him to everyone!
That fox! He's going to have words with her as soon as possible. But first, he's going to deal with the courtiers. Having decided that, he stands up.

Old Man: Listen!

Suddenly, the world turns upside-down. The floor comes rushing at him as if he's falling from the sky. His vision is filled with the red silk carpeting the floor.

Elder: Your Majesty! Are you okay!?

Civil Servant: Is anyone out there? Come here and help His Majesty!

The voices of his subjects grow distant and faint.
Aah... What's happening to me? I'm the country itself...
If I fall, so will this country. If it falls, so will I. Not now—not yet!

Elder: Your Majesty! Please wake up!

That is the last thing the King hears before he loses consciousness.
The chamber is filled with silence. The situation that the Royal Doctor dreaded has happened. Looking pained, she checks the unconscious King's pulse.
She's devastated. She should have insisted that she go with him.
Everyone else in the Palace is dumbstruck. The courtiers who saw their king fall are lying prostrate outside his chamber. The Palace staff who have heard the news are holding their breath, waiting for their king to regain consciousness. Even the young court attendants who are barely out of kindergarten breathe shallowly, lest they disturb the unusual quietness that surrounds the Palace like a shroud.
About fifteen minutes later, the Royal Doctor senses the King's pulse grow stronger. But it can mean anything. Pulses fluctuate all the time. At this rate...

Woman: (No, not yet.)

The Doctor shakes her head violently, as if to get rid of her negative thoughts. I'm not going to let that happen. Never.

Old Man: I'm okay now.

A dry voice penetrates her fog of thoughts.
The King has woken up. The Royal Doctor quickly lets go of his wrist and steps back, prostrating in front of him.

Old Man: No, you don't have to tell me.

Woman: Your Majesty...

He speaks in a decidedly calm voice. The Royal Doctor starts sobbing. Ah... What do I do!? She wails inwardly.
The senior members of Court ask for permission to enter the chamber. They must have heard he's awake. The King allows them to come in and sits up with help. The elders see this as they enter the room and quickly prostrate, sobbing.

Old Man: Everyone, raise your head.

Everyone sits up and busies themselves adjusting their form, but the look in their eyes shows the anxiety and devastation that they're feeling.
Yes, I know. The King empathizes with them. I'm devastated, too... but I can't deny this truth any longer.

Old Man: It's been a long time.

Past events pass through his mind. He ruled his country by justice, fairness, and benevolence, and loved his people with all his heart.
A great many scholars and warriors have sworn loyalty to him and died for him. They've been his weapon against relentless threats from other countries. They've made sure his people lived in safety, prosperity, and peace. Under his reign, no one has suffered from hunger or injustice.
He's been a great king, but even he has regrets. He sacrificed much to accomplish his goals. He shed blood and tears and endured great suffering. All these regrets weigh heavily in his chest.

Old Man: I've always been stubborn. Thank you for bearing with me so far.
It's been a long time. I've gained a lot and lost as much. This is it. This is as far as I can go.

The King pauses to gather his breath, and then resumes his speech.

Old Man: This is it for me. Now... It's her turn.

Alarmed by his statement, everyone lies flat to the floor and starts wailing.

Subjects: Your Majesty, please retract your words!

The old king looks at them with calm eyes. For all their lives, he's been the only master that they've known.
He understands their anxiety and insecurity, and that's exactly why he can't put this off any longer.

Old Man: I don't have much time left. I want to leave with no regrets behind.

No one dares object. Not just because of the determined tone of his voice, but because they all know he's right.
Now it's time we let our king go...

Old Man: I want to bring in the First Princess. She's such a carefree spirit that it won't be easy to find her, or bring her back, even if she's found.
But I don't have time to wait for her. I want one of you to go bring her back on my behalf.

No one volunteers. It's true. It won't be easy to find the First Princess, or bring her back, and none of them are confident in their ability to do so.
The fearless warlords are just as reluctant as the wise scholars.
A long, awkward silence fills the chamber. The King is about to speak and break the silence when a clear voice interjects.

Woo, the Royal Messenger

???: I will go, Your Majesty.

The King and everyone else turn their heads toward the voice. A beautiful woman with a semi-transparent veil covering the lower part of her face is standing with a fan in her hand.

Old Man: You're the teacher of the First Princess.

The King recognizes her. The woman gently bows to the King, and then identifies herself.

Woo: I'm Woo, Your Majesty.

In Suju, one's teachers are revered as sacred. Even the most tyrannical king treated his teachers with utmost respect and listened to their advice, no matter how harsh.
The First Princess rejected all the famous scholars who were recommended to her and personally requested this woman to be her teacher. If anyone could bring her back, it'd be her.
The King nods and issues an order in a voice that sounds stronger and clearer than before.

Old Man: Listen, everyone.

Subjects: Yes, Your Majesty.

Old Man: Get a coach ready for the Princess's Master and see that she wants for nothing in her search for the First Princess.

Subjects: As you wish, Your Majesty.

The King moves to Woo and nods his head as a way of expressing respect.

Old Man: Princess's Master, please listen. I don't have much time left.
I plead with you to bring her back as soon as you can.

Woo speaks without hesitation, her eyes glowing with determination.

Woo: I will, Your Majesty.

Chapter 2

Short Ponytail-haired Woman

Hendon Myre is the capital city of the Principality of Bel Myre, also known as the Freedom City. As its nickname suggests, Hendon Myre is always bustling with all kinds of people from everywhere in the world—adventurers, traders, scholars, just to name a few.
But too much freedom is just as bad as no freedom at all. Every day, fights break out here and there in Hendon Myre, keeping the Guard busy.
Speak of the devil. A great commotion can be heard from the plaza adjacent to the Back Alley.
And people, instead of giving it a wide berth and letting the Guard take care of it, are gathering to watch it.
Even the Guards who showed up to investigate this commotion have forgotten their duty, so engrossed in the spectacle that's taking place in front of them.

BOOM! BANG! POW!

Short Ponytail-haired Woman: Argh, drat it!

After a series of loud noises, a woman with a short ponytail is thrown backward onto the ground. She quickly gets back on her feet and picks up one of the wooden boxes piled up on one side.
A merchant, probably their owner, shouts "No!" as she starts throwing them at whoever in the direction from which she came flying.
One, two, three, four...When she's left with no more boxes to throw, she picks up a brick from the ground and starts charging forward. Behind her, the owner of the thrown boxes falls to the ground, foaming at the mouth.

BOOM! POP! CRACK! PSSSST!

Before the brick hits its target, a flurry of white petals comes to meet it and shatters it asunder. Ponytail steps backward, rubbing her hand that was holding the brick, glaring at her adversary.

Short Ponytail-haired Woman: You broke my brick. You're not a helpless princess, are you?

Her adversary lowers her leg that kicked and broke the brick and adjusts her form, running her hand in her long black hair.

Long Black-haired Woman

Long Black-haired Woman: *Snort* This is nothing.

Short Ponytail-haired Woman: Man, you nobles always have to have the last word. Let's see if you can stop this.

With loud booming noise, they go at each other again. The princess's white energy collides with Ponytail's projectiles, creating a cloud of dust and shooting shrapnel everywhere.

Klopp, klopp, klopp!

*Neigh*

A luxurious, exotic-looking coach stops not too far away from this fighting scene at the plaza. The door opens and a beautiful woman with a veil covering half of her face walks out of the coach.
At any other time, heads would've turned in her direction, but right now, they're fixated on the spectacle in front of them.
They only notice her as she makes her way through them toward the fighting with her retinue behind.

Woman: Let's wait for a while.

The woman whispered to her retinue, and then watches the fight interestedly.
It's almost over, though. Both fighters are showing signs of exhaustion.
A short lull, and then Ponytail brings the fight back to her adversary. She swipes at the ground, picking up some debris, and then charges at the princess.
But the princess has anticipated her move. She quickly steps backward, easily dodging the attack, and then pushes her palms forward, concentrating white energy in between them. The energy turns into a huge light globe and burns the ground.

Long Black-haired Woman: Energy Shield!

*Crackle*

A loud noise is heard as the globe creates friction with the ground, white shards of its energy falling from the sky like fluttering petals. This attack is so powerful that everyone is convinced that the long black-haired woman won. But the veiled woman thinks differently.

Woman: (Uh-oh, that was a mistake.)

As soon as she thinks that, Ponytail breaks out of the light globe, slamming into her adversary. She's predicted the exact moment that the light starts fading and attacked her adversary at the unguarded moment.
A charred shoulder is a cheap price to pay if she could knock out this woman in front of her.

Short Ponytail-haired Woman: This is it. It's not poisoned, but still it's going to sting.

Ponytail produces a sharp needle from somewhere about her person and quickly swings it, aiming at the princess's abdomen.
What a grave mistake! Flustered, the princess reflectively twists her torso to avoid the needle. But it follows her wherever she goes.

BOOM! Pshhht! *Crackle*

As the two run past each other, a loud crashing sound reverberates the plaza.

Woman: (Checkmate.)

The veiled woman knew their fight would ended this way. Everyone's eyes are glued onto the two fighters who are standing still as if they're frozen. A long silence. Then...

Short Ponytail-haired Woman: Koff! Dang it...

Ponytail collapses to the ground, buckling at the knee. At the same time Black Hair's knees start shaking violently as if they're also about to give out.

Short Ponytail-haired Woman: Drat it! Let's do it again!

Colleague

Colleague: Wait, Faris. Your eye...!

Angrily, Ponytail stands up, bleeding from her left eye.
The last time she swung her needle, Black Hair stopped and broke it, and one of the broken pieces was shot past her, grazing her left eye.,br> Thank gods, it didn't pierced her eye and left her blind.

Long Black-haired Woman: I-I'm sorry about that, but you had it coming. You picked up a fight with me.

Feeling remorseful, Black Hair mutters, and then quickly covers her mouth when she realizes she's said too much.
What she said makes Ponytail angrier. She starts shooting off a geyser of expletives in a loud voice.

Short Ponytail-haired Woman: This is why I want to break you nobles' necks! You're so stiff in the neck that you can't even nod!

Long Black-haired Woman: *Snort* This is over, whatever you say. Both of us are too exhausted to fight. Let's just say we tied.

Short Ponytail-haired Woman: Hell noooh! I'm not agreeing to that! Hey, stop right there!

Black Hair declares a tie and turns around. Screaming, Ponytail tries to charge after her and staggers.
She's too exhausted. She can't see clearly either because of the injury to her eye. Most of all, the Guards who have been watching them finally came to their senses and remembered why they were there. She has no choice but to let her adversary go.
Black Hair steals a backward glance and sighs. She puts her hand against the wall, leaning toward it, as the tension in her body finally leaves her.

Woo, the Royal Messenger

Woman: That was interesting to watch. You haven't changed.

Startled by the familiar voice, Black Hair raises her head and turns toward it. Standing there is the veiled woman who came in a coach and watched her fight.

Long Black-haired Woman: Master! How did you find me?

Black Hair shouts happily. The veiled woman smiles and bows lightly.

Woman: Long time, no see, Your Highness, Shonan Aska the First Princess of Suju.

---

Later...

Aska: I was planning to go see you, Master.
I can't believe you came this far! When did you arrive?

They're alone in a quiet place to talk. In this closed space, Shonan can express her happiness to see Woo in a more friendly manner.
She wouldn't have if they were in Suju, but right now that they're in Arad and without one else to criticize her unprincessly behavior.
Woo smiles and responds.

Woo: Probably about the time you shouted Energy Shield.

Shonan blushes at the light teasing tone of her teacher's voice. Even though she knows how embarrassing it is to shout skill names as she uses them, sometimes she just can't help it.

Aska: Err, I-I was just in the moment...
M-Master, please don't tease me!

Woo grins quietly.
Shonan tries to breathe, and then remembers her embarrassing action again. She huffs and puffs, tapping her foot against a table leg.
She sighs and starts talking again.

Aska: Anyway, what brings you to this far away from Suju?
With the royal coach and a large retinue to boot.

She can't help but ask. She's the First Princess of Suju, but even she can't use the royal coaches without the King's approval.
The royal coaches are only used to assist important national matters and accompanied by select horses and a special retinue.
Knowing this, she can already tell why Woo is here.
There's only one answer to why her master came in a royal coach to see her. But she's not ready to admit that yet. This was going to happen one of these days, but this is too early.

Aska: No...

Woo: Yes, His Majesty is gravely ill.

Suddenly Shonan's brain goes blank.
His Majesty... Father... Oh my, Father! Woo sadly watches Shonan covering her face with her hands in shock.
It doesn't matter if she's a royal. The news of their parents' deteriorating health is devastating to any child.
Woo decides to wait until Aska calms down.
After a while, Aska lowers her hands from her face, stands up, and stares at Woo.
Her left cheek is streaked with tears.

Aska: I'm going back. Master, please make necessary arrangements for me.

Woo quietly nods her head.

Chapter 3

Storybook contents are currently under construction for revision...