#461. I know it when I see it.
* * *
A long time ago.
A time when civilization hadn’t even begun yet.
Primitive mankind was living in a harsh environment and was hunted by wild beasts.
Therefore, having many children at that time was not an option, but a necessity.
Both die in a natural disaster.
Both died soon after birth.
Both get sick and die.
They both starve to death.
They both get eaten.
In the end, only one or two lucky ones out of ten survive.
Even if they wanted to prosper at best, entire villages were swept away by floods or collapsed due to plague.
Rather than achieving civilization, mankind was struggling just to survive and maintain the human species.
However, there is one reason why mankind did not perish.
It was thanks to the spirit.
The spirits with powers beyond human knowledge bestowed infinite good will, limited to humans who could communicate with them.
A spirit of war that defeated the enemy.
A construction spirit who built houses and castles.
A spirit of the sea that aided in ocean voyages.
The spirit of the factory that made all kinds of tools.
Medical spirits that healed illnesses, etc.
With the help of such numerous spirits, mankind was able to escape the crisis of extinction.
Or rather, it has risen to the top of the food chain, dominating all other animals and the natural environment.
That’s why humans have built prosperity around them, giving special treatment to those who can communicate with the spirits or wield the power of the spirits.
that’s the golden age.
It was a legendary era that is said to be the most peaceful in history when human civilization began to emerge.
Of course that is a thing of the past.
silver age.
The Bronze Age.
Age of Heroes.
Until the Iron Age.
As times have changed over thousands of years, the spirits have gradually walked the path of downfall.
At the end of the Spirit Crisis, the last ancient spirit disappeared, and after the Iron Age opened, even the fairy queen ceased to be active, and the influence of the spirits weakened.
To the extent that you can only see it in old story books or cartoon movies that children watch.
But at least one place.
North America was the only exception.
Of course, spirits are still active on this continent.
This is because there are numerous legacies built up by elemental spirits and shamans who have been born and disappeared over thousands of years.
“The transcontinental train is among them a legacy that has quite often interfered with history.”
[Oh, I know that story. The most famous one is the story of Moses splitting the sea, right?]
“To be precise, it opened the way to the sea. With the power of the Fairy Queen.”
The Silver Age, a time of intense religious wars.
Moses, who led a nation that was defeated by Egypt, who worshiped the sun god, and was ruled as a slave for hundreds of years.
He tried to escape Egypt, but he could not escape with all the people, although he might be alone.
Eventually, Moses asked a being for help.
To the absolute fairy queen who has reigned since the golden age.
Until then, the Fairy Queen, who occasionally intervened in the world, at Moses’ persuasion, sent an ancient spirit to open the way for her people to escape.
the sea is parting
An iron snake appears.
It is said that he swallowed them all and fled.
If the story had ended there, it would have become one of the common myths of the Silver Age.
However, the iron snake did not disappear even after that.
They appeared and disappeared all over the world according to the call of the fairy queen or the call of the elementalist who could communicate with them.
“Perhaps thanks to that, the spirits weren’t that unfamiliar until then. But…”
[You mean things have changed since the Elemental War?]
“Yes.”
Limon nodded.
And he continued talking as he looked at the vast wilderness outside the window.
“After the North American continent became like this due to the spirit crisis, the transcontinental train stopped wandering and ran in the wilderness.”
[Umm… I couldn’t help it.]
Yuna-kyung shook her head.
The scorpions weren’t the only corrupted spirits they encountered on their way through the wilderness.
A spirit of a tunnel that set a trap on the railroad tracks.
An echo spirit that attacked with sound.
Cloud spirits appearing from the sky, etc.
It was because I had to watch the fight between the fallen spirits and the transcontinental train once every 20 minutes, at most a few hours.
Fortunately, there is a transcontinental train.
Without it, the United States of America would not have even been born.
[What kind of spirit did the team leader go around here naked?]
“A bare body is enough to have a sword for a swordsman to wield and a horse to ride.”
[We usually call that a suicidal act?]
“Well, there were surprisingly many idiots who committed suicide like that in the past.”
[Why?]
Limon’s answer was simple.
“Because it’s money.”
[…money?]
“The shamans bought the corpses of fallen spirits at high prices. Elementalists even put a bounty on a notorious spirit.”
Fools risk their lives for the dream of getting rich quick, it’s the same as it was then and now.
Limon said with a smile and suddenly turned his head.
Then he smiled mischievously at Charlotte, who was staring at him with his arms crossed on the other side.
“The Golden Dragon clan also played a role. Isn’t that right, boss?”
“You will take good care of the child too.”
“huh?”
Take a moment to blink your eyes at that sudden statement.
Limon scratched his cheek.
“No, well… I’m older, so I’m used to seeing the kids. Why is that all of a sudden?”
“It wasn’t a compliment, so don’t get me wrong. I just watched you play with your pet and evaluated it coldly.”
“…?”
‘Why are you evaluating that?’
Whether Limon is embarrassed or not.
Charlotte untied her arms.
Then, leaning her chin on her side, avoiding Limon’s eyes naturally, she continued speaking in a languid voice.
“Anyway, you’re not wrong about wanderers in the wilderness. At the time, most of the money they hired was used by the Golden Dragon clan.”
[Why is the rich sister again?]
“Because of the gold mine development.”
[…You hired a vagabond to dig gold?]
“The finance industry is more famous now, but the Gold Dragon clan originally started out as a mining industry.”
Like the most arrogant and greedy clan, the Golden Dragon clan entered the wilderness without hesitation if there was a gold mine.
It was only possible because they developed mines alone using telekinesis.
However, it was not easy for even the Golden Dragon clan to carry the gold they dug up alone and fight the spirits and cross the wilderness.
So they hired wilderness gunmen.
Those without even the slightest ability to self-defense could not even be used as porters because the wilderness was a place.
In any case, in that sense, the Geumryong clan was the water owner who nurtured countless vagrants.
“It’s not like there weren’t other reasons… but that’s not important right now, so let’s move on.”
Maybe he remembered the days when he was swept away by Geomlang and fought against the Golden Dragon clan in the wilderness, and then the fallen spirits gathered and made a mess.
Shaking his head slightly, Limon continued quietly.
“The point is to be careful in North America.”
This is the land of spirits.
Of course, like the transcontinental train, the heritage of the spirits, which are treated as ancient relics beyond antiques on other continents, rolls around like stones in the back mountain.
It is said that it is a place that is contrary to common sense compared to other countries.
Limon said seriously.
Yuna-kyung laughed.
[really. The team leader seems to be worried too.]
“Does it look odd?”
[sure! How long have I been following the team leader?]
Maddo London where the witch is.
Brazil, where drugs are a luxury.
Africa where war was commonplace.
to Russia where the revolution took place.
Of course, thanks to Limon, I almost traveled around the world and saw and experienced all kinds of countries.
As a big fan of the Spirit Sentai series, he wondered if he, who is so familiar with the United States, would not be able to adapt to such a cultural difference.
Looking at Yuna-gyeong speaking triumphantly, Limon made a subtle expression.
“Don’t you think it’s a big mistake to think that you know everything about other countries just because you’ve seen some cartoons?”
[yes? Why is that?]
“…No, that’s okay. You’ll find out soon anyway.”
When Limon has warm eyes, as if looking at a child full of dreams and hope.
Charlotte asked suddenly.
“Can you find them right there?”
“Well, that would depend on the situation.”
“That means it may take time.”
“Don’t worry too much, boss. If so, it will be resolved in a few days.”
Limon shrugged.
Thanks to accidentally getting hold of Jones’ diary, I knew where the legacy was.
But that’s approximate.
In order to know the exact location of the heritage, clues in the secret bank of the Geumryong clan were needed, so it was not possible to immediately find the remnants of the liberation brigade.
“For a few days…”
It would have to be a pretty complicated game of hide and seek.
After reviewing Limon’s words, Charlotte asked proudly as always.
“If so, did you make a reservation for the lodging?”
“You didn’t?”
“….”
“I rushed to the point where I couldn’t even bring the boss’s aides so as not to miss this train.
“It’s such a cute, silly hound.”
“Don’t expect too much from the hound, boss.”
Despite Charlotte’s sarcasm, Limon did not raise an eyebrow.
It’s like he’s innocent.
I just shrugged my shoulders and answered shamelessly.
It’s been awhile since I’ve looked at Limon like a cute pet… not like a hound that doesn’t listen.
“Then do your job as a hunting dog. I didn’t hire you as a tour guide or something.”
“You know.”
Eventually, with a light snort, Charlotte took her eyes off Limon and, looking toward the window, tapped her finger on the armrest.
and after a while
A single mechanical sound echoed through the air.
[This train will arrive at the next stop soon. Customers who transfer to another car or get off at Rushmore City, please prepare to get off.]
“Hmm, did we finally arrive?”
Limon took out two tickets from his pocket.
Then, he picked up Yuna-gyeong from the table and put it on his head, saying casually.
“Look out the window. You will be able to see quite an interesting spectacle.”
[yes? Wow!]
Just as Limon said, Yuna-kyung looked out the window and exclaimed with her eyes wide open.
Wilderness covered with red dust.
A city with all sorts of mechanical parts and signboards standing tall like a steel castle in the middle.
The brilliance of anti-gravity cars and flying boats glimmering over the city.
Above all, the four huge heads looking down on the wilderness with their eyes shining from the tower rising in the center of the city made Yuna-kyung spontaneously exclaim.
But after a while.
The train enters the middle of the magnificent city.
The moment I put the ticket into the inspection machine in the room and the wall on the side of the room opened wide.
Yuna-kyung had no choice but to open her beak in a different way than before.
[Eh? Ugh?]
After confirming the text ‘… is reserved.’
Charlotte, who casually picked up her smartphone from her armrest, reached out to Limon like a proud young lady.
“Your pet seems to be unfamiliar with this kind of sight.”
“Because he is still a year old.”
And Limon, who naturally held Charlotte’s hand like a serving butler, shrugged.
And he said to Yuna-gyeong, who was still stunned.
“Blue, it seems you don’t know much about America because you only watched the Spirit Sentai series…”
Limon sighed.
And in the middle of a sophisticated station, a narrow, shabby exit covered in trash with a sign for whites only stuck to it.
To be precise, he said as if he was very sorry to see all the signboards and graffiti plastered around it.
“America is a country of racism.”
(YANKEE GO HELL)
(WHITE TRASH)
(FU■■ING REDNECK)
Slavery was the most prevalent.
A place that still despises white people.
That it is this United States of America.
Hearing what Limon said, pointing at the graffiti that was dotted with abusive language against a certain race, Yuna-kyung couldn’t help but harden like a stone.
