Episode 912
: War.
A war is bound to be a war, whether you win or lose.
administrative war.
Even though I won a huge victory, I can’t have them say, ‘I don’t have anything to eat tomorrow.’
‘But it’s not something you can’t do.’
He issued prefecture decrees, administered government troops, and even the civilians of Cheongdo rolled up their sleeves and helped.
“Let’s clean up from the main street first. “We have to clear away the rubble so the cart can pass!”
“Oh my gosh, another body was found here!”
“You can call anyone!”
Strong people are also coming forward to help.
Among them, the one that stands out the most is Jinju.
Funerals play a significant role in bringing groups together again.
Those who died fighting for Cheongdo, no matter their origin.
If we treat them poorly, no one will fight for Cheongdo next time.
The Jinju family began to respectfully collect the body.
Of course, since they are blood relatives, there will be a joint funeral rather than individual funerals.
Soldiers from other places were made into river poems and sent away on a long journey so that they could be buried in their hometowns.
Those born in Cheongdo, instead of turning them into jiangshi, gather their bodies in one place to prevent them from decomposing.
“Ugh…! Is there anyone… is there anyone?”
“There’s someone trapped here!”
“Don’t touch it and call the Baekrin Councilman!”
Those who still have a name are treated by Baekrin Uigak.
Among all the doctors and nurses in the nearby Bunta, doctors are rushing to see the patients.
The temporary clinic was literally reminiscent of a battlefield.
A battle like a disaster.
However, it was not just tragedy.
“It’s so strange that the monster’s armor never gets dented in this battle.”
“Is that all? “The weapons are so strong that they blocked Kang Ho-in’s sword skills and didn’t hurt me once.”
It was like that.
The weapons used by the Goeeo people were of extremely good quality.
The local blacksmiths shook their heads, saying they had no idea what the weapon was used for.
A martial artist from Sacheondanga suddenly found out what this iron was.
“Call it black forge iron.”
Black ingot?
Everyone listened to him.
The warrior flicked the sword made of black forged iron with his fingers, weighed it, held it up to the sunlight, and then continued speaking.
“Even though it is a type of iron, it does not rust. In particular, black iron is resistant to sea breezes. “It is not comparable to 10,000 years of steel, but it is much harder than steel and the blade does not chip or rust, so it is considered a valuable item.”
“Where does that come from?”
“There used to be a mine, but after a few precious stones were made and the seeds dried up. There seems to be a mine that only the monster people know about… Is there any way to know the location?”
Everyone shook their heads.
“Even if it were, wouldn’t it be in the sea? “If you were on land, you would have been caught a long time ago.”
The Sacheondanga warrior looked regretful and nodded.
“This alone is a tremendous amount of wealth. “If I sell it, it will be a treasure to pass on to the bereaved families.”
Jin Cheon-hee, who heard those words, promised to buy the black iron weapons at a high price.
From Baeklin Uigak’s perspective, such weaponry was especially necessary as they would have to deal with these monsters in the future.
And the bereaved families.
The bereaved families needed money.
Dead people don’t come back, but hellish hunger returns every day.
Additionally, since they are exempt from taxes, there will be no problem in raising a family.
A good thing among very realistic misfortunes.
Losing a family member is painful and sad, but humans still have to live.
After spending quite a bit of time doing the cleaning up like that.
Finally, the situation was such that it was possible to return to Baekrin Uigak.
Just before that.
‘I have to meet Admiral Tae-gam and talk about it.’
I called a random classmate and told him to meet me because I needed to return the black plaque.
Then, a little while later, a letter arrived.
Simple password.
After unpacking it lightly and reading it down, it was written like this.
-I am waiting for you at the place where I saw you last time.
I think the sly voice can be heard all the way from here.
Was he watching from nearby?
‘No matter how much I thought about it, it seemed like this.’
That’s why I looked at my classmates.
Even if I tell you to go back, I’m not the type of person to go back.
But at the time, didn’t he just pretend to listen to me?
When I call him right away, he responds right away, like a hundred-year-old raccoon.
And even though these classmates knew where the Admiral Tae-gam was, they didn’t teach him anything and shouted his name, right?
‘They say it’s the imperial palace that cuts your nose even with your eyes open.’
I thought it would be like this.
Still, thanks to you, we were able to protect Cheongdo, so that’s good.
When I went to the tent behind the military camp as instructed, there was a table and two chairs.
One of them belongs to Admiral Taegam.
He sipped his tea and welcomed the congressman.
“Are you here?”
“I am meeting Admiral Jin Dae-soo.”
I deliberately greeted him with formality.
“Oh my gosh, I don’t know what to do when you show me your respect. “Then let’s meet Governor Jin of this village.”
I could feel the sadness in that smile.
You probably don’t want things to be too formal between the two of you.
Jin Cheon-hee also said this because he understood.
“Cheongdo’s tea is really delicious.”
“yes. Thanks to this, I will be able to continue drinking tea from Cheongdo in the future, so my happiness is endless.”
Jin Cheon-hee followed his lead and sat down.
Then he put down the black tablet he gave him and then put down the other books one by one.
“this is…?”
“These are the reports leading up to the handling of the strange fishermen. “They have not been completely eradicated, and the sea is their territory.”
Admiral Tae-gam read the first few chapters and then asked.
“It is written that monsters do not age. Is this true?”
“yes. Surprisingly, by human standards, they are a people who live almost forever. Instead, looking at the diary, it seemed that the number of people who reproduced on their own and gave birth to offspring was small, so their hands were precious. That’s why it seems like they are increasing their numbers by giving ‘blessings’ to humans.”
“Now that you think about it, there are no young monster fish to be seen among the corpses of monster fish, so it appears that the growth rate is also tremendous.”
Did the imperial palace understand that far?
“yes. According to the diary, he started walking and talking just one month after birth, and by one year he was already similar to an adult. Of course, this only applies to children born to monsters. Additionally, since ‘blessings’ are usually received by mature adults, I will use them with all my might right away.”
“….”
Admiral Taegam is lost in thought.
Finally, he said this.
“Somehow it’s so unfair. “Why are humans so weak?”
“However, it is weak to poison.”
“Aren’t humans also weak to poison?”
“Okay… that’s right. “Unless you learn the poison separately.”
“Then, if the monster fish learns poisonous attacks, won’t it be more resistant than humans anyway?”
“I won’t deny it.”
Tahapa was definitely resistant to poison.
Even though he was hit hard by the police, all he did was have his regeneration ability blocked.
I guess it can be said that poisonous attacks don’t work against really strong opponents.
But I guess that’s fortunate because the only opponent like Tahafa is him after all the cities were searched.
Admiral Tae-gam sighed at Jin Cheon-hee’s words.
“Why did these things come out during Your Majesty’s reign?”
Because I’m talking about it.
Gold & Silver have become as pitiful as an ant’s nails.
Considering how much he has been doing on the outside, it’s hard to pity him more than an ant’s fingernail.
So, the sin of Gold & Silver.
It is a sin of drawing lots incorrectly.
Even if you choose it, it is still a sin to have chosen Malse.
That’s worse than a slam.
‘It’s fortunate for the people.’
If the Emperor had ascended to the throne during this period, wouldn’t the world have ended already?
First of all, the Sukshin tribe cannot be stopped.
Considering how much data was lost during the reign of the former emperor, it is questionable whether he even played an administrative role properly.
There will also be cholera and typhoid spreading around here.
Smallpox is also likely to be polar.
In addition, the rinderpest will flood and livestock will die en masse.
Corruption among officials will be extreme.
What if a drought or flood occurs on top of this?
‘Well, I think at least half of them either rolled me or I rolled on my own and blocked them?’
Correct.
It is true that Gold & Silver failed the lottery like a dog, but they still picked ‘Jin Cheon-hee’ in the bonus draw.
So, with both hands held by Admiral Tae-gam on the left and Jin Cheon-hee on the right, he wins against the eight families of the empire and manages to survive in the end times.
Well, it’s really shitty that even an emperor like that can’t get to the Big Red Button of Destruction in the underwater city.
We live in a world like this.
Jin Cheon-hee continued.
“As I wrote in the report, one way would be to train a large number of warriors who are skilled in manual and independent techniques. Also, the monster fish people have many powers, so if even a part of them can be appeased…”
“Has there ever been a time when a human struck a duck by establishing diplomacy with a chicken?”
“There is none.”
Jin Cheonhee nodded.
Admiral Tae-gam said.
“You seem to be hesitant.”
Jin Cheonhee nodded.
“If it’s a human or a monster, I will take the human side a thousand times over. “But I don’t like killing.”
He destroyed the city of the Goeo people and defeated their leader, Tahapa.
He led the army and defended Cheongdo.
‘It was a difficult problem.’
I myself am not a philosopher.
However, it wants to eat humans of its own will and makes no attempt to refuse it.
‘It was a different aspect from the Rakshasa era.’
Baekcheon-gun is a fraudster.
It’s not him, but he’s a fraudster.
Because they didn’t explain what happens to the opposite sex if you live as a monster and how you eat people.
On the other hand, this one was closer to a medal than a transaction.
A medal for dedication.
Because in order to receive blessings in the first place, you have to dedicate yourself to them for a long time.
Dedication means that one must continue to dedicate one’s life.
Of course, those who want blessings will also have excuses.
I am afraid of growing old due to an incurable disease, so I want to protect my family.
That’s how you sell other people’s children, sell other people’s families, and hope to become a monster.
When you enter them, you eat the meat together.
‘It’s a difficult problem.’
However, the lawmaker raised a knife.
At the same time, it was hurting myself.
Even though I protected and defeated it, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t killing.
It’s a problem you will have to struggle with for the rest of your life.
‘It’s the essence of trust.’
Both protecting and defeating ultimately require one to pick up a sword.
What will we reach at the end of the blood-drawn path of negotiation?
Admiral Tae-gam looks at Jin Cheon-hee.
‘It’s really difficult to have an enemy you can communicate with.’
People like him only solve problems as ordered, but Rep. Lee knows that he is moving in a different way.
Admiral Taegam pretends not to notice the agony.
“It’s top secret from here on out. Strange things began to be seen not only among the Goe-o-in, but also throughout the empire.”
“I guess they’re ignoring the coffin.”
“yes. As usual, there are many people who treat the people as if they saw something in vain. So, most of them do not even report to the imperial family. Of course, some views may change due to the Cheongdo incident… “They haven’t seen it in person either.”
“The Emperor must be very worried.”
“yes. “A lot of things are being prepared behind the scenes.”
Including that enormous fire bomb.
Admiral Tae-gam said.
“Please stop by the imperial palace sometime and take a pulse.”
“Is this Hwangmyeong?”
“no. You never said anything like that. “It’s just the old woman mentality of this village head.”
As the end times approaches, the two emperors are fighting to the death.
In some ways, it may be a futile resistance.
Hae-seon, whom Jin Cheon-hee met.
‘okay. He said he would submerge the world in the sea.’
In such a world, what does it mean no matter how well you rule?
No matter how much peace we strive for, the whole world will be submerged under water.
however. Nevertheless.
‘It’s just the two of us who move forward.’
Isn’t Jin Cheon-hee herself like that?
And the civilians who are recovering the wreckage in Cheongdo.
Jinju Eonga Island is recovering the body and sending it to their hometown.
There are also soldiers who suffered internal injuries in this battle.
And the doctors who treat those wounds.
Jin Cheon-hee, who was drinking tea, suddenly noticed a procession of ants under her feet.
It looks like it smelled sugar and ran to pick up the powder and eat it.
Since the tent was pitched on the dirt floor, it was only natural.
It looked somewhat like a human and shared sugar and crumbs.
Life is finite.
That was something every member of the National Assembly was keenly aware of.
That death is closer than you think.
No matter how hard I try, no matter how much money or power I have.
In the end, death comes at any time.
But still.
‘We survive.’
* * *
After saying goodbye to Admiral Tae-gam, I returned to Baekrin Uigak with my younger brothers.
When we arrived at Baekrin Uigak, Master was going out.
‘Well, Yuho still remains.’
Since I used the Toyong watch well, I went to see it first.
“What is it? “You take a bath first when you see the master, so you’re saying I can just watch?”
Jin Cheon-hee showed deep respect to Yu-ho, who spoke bluntly.
“I came here to start by saying thank you.”
“If you are grateful, please prepare a table.”
Arms, legs, eyes, internal organs, blood, flesh.
Nothing was taken away, only time was turned.
Isn’t that a truly ridiculous price to pay for just one reward?
“Is that really okay?”
The congressman asked back with an iron plate placed on his face.
“Alcohol too.”
“…okay.”
Yu-ho asked Jin Cheon-hee, who answered that far and was about to go back.
“So what was it like encountering human eaters? Do you think it is possible to achieve both?”
“….”
Jin Cheonhee is lost in thought.
It occurred to me that perhaps this might not simply be a question about the monster, but a question about Yuho himself.
I know that Yuho is not human.
Didn’t Yuho once hint that he, like the monster fish, ate people?
‘I know it’s not a lie.’
Will Yuho eat people in the future?
I don’t know.
First of all, the current Yuho does not eat people.
‘If Yuho eats people, our relationship…’
For some reason, I had a feeling that my current answer would determine my relationship with Yuho in the future.
A feeling unique to someone who has died several times.
However, it is not allowed to lie or to be pretentious.
If you answer a story like this with a lie, it will definitely come back like a boomerang.
A little silence.
Eventually, Jin Cheon-hee opened her mouth and spoke of the answer she had obtained in Cheongdo.
“…It’s not humans who decide that. “They are.”
“I will fight as long as I eat.”
“okay. It’s a surprisingly simple standard. Predator and prey cannot be friends. Either the predator will give up eating, or the prey will become stronger than it is. But humans…”
“Yes. “They don’t live even a hundred years.”
In a way, it was also a word that defined the relationship between the two people.
Relationship between predator and prey.
The lawmaker says there is no compromise between them.
“What kills?”
“In Gangho, even humans kill humans. From there, it is up to the law and Eunwon to decide.”
It was a cold-hearted, or in some ways, extremely principled answer.
“…All right.”
The fox closes his eyes.
“….”
Taking that as a signal, Jin Cheonhee also did not reply any further.
Was there an answer?
I can not know.
However, it would have been enough to establish the relationship between the two people.
Strange air.
Eventually, the lawmaker went straight outside.
When I came out, the sky was turning indigo.
I looked at the darkness spreading like coloring rice paper for a while, and then I took a step back.
“Cough.”
The night air was cold.
As if in the deep sea.
