#329. It’s a good opportunity.
* * *
“Puhahahahahaha!”
“…Are you laughing?”
“Then you should laugh. Where can you find such a funny story about your sister being an outlaw?”
“….”
“Besides, the fact that I’m your sister’s lover isn’t enough, so Gyeongguk’s… What? military genius? If Nakyung had been there, I would have laughed so hard that I passed out of breath.”
It’s so funny that I can’t stand it.
Rose could only sigh as she saw the blond-tanned boy almost rolling around holding onto his stomach.
Because of this embarrassing rumor, he himself has a hard time even seeing Limon with his bare face.
It was so absurd that Limon, who was actually the party to the rumor, was laughing so hard that it even felt savage.
“Why did this happen…”
That was it.
What Rose muttered as if lamenting.
I just wanted to help people while I was here.
As a result, he even suffered the stigma of being a reckless tyrant who had a boy as his concubine in a series of wars.
As the benevolent Blue Dragon Princess, she was praised, but it was rare for her to be stigmatized.
Limon looked at her and giggled.
“Why? Because you do a good job.”
“What does it mean?”
“The more protruding the nail, the better it is beaten.”
If Rose was moderately competent.
It would have been possible to reduce the number of enslaved people while continuing to search for the turkey bird unnoticed as she initially planned.
But Rose was too good.
Of course, through extreme reforms, neighboring tribes voluntarily demanded subjugation.
To the extent that he unintentionally made a country out of nowhere.
Besides, it’s because of the rapid growth.
As rumors spread that the Lucuma tribe was overflowing with money, three military governments, wary of its growth, formed an alliance and even invaded.
Rose, who could not stand to see the severe people harmed because of herself, took the initiative to defeat them and subjugate them.
That was the beginning of a vicious cycle.
Ambitious seek the power and wealth.
On the contrary, those who were looking for stability in this chaotic situation to get a shade to protect them.
Individuals, tribes, or even military governments have invaded or surrendered to them.
As a result, in just a few weeks, six military governments and dozens of small tribes were ruled.
“Be proud, sister. Even in Africa, it is rare to have such a powerful force in such a short period of time.”
“It’s not what I wanted.”
“Then you should have left this place and fled.”
“Isn’t that too irresponsible?”
Rose objected.
This military government, centered on the Lucuma and Maasai, was only established because of Rose.
If she disappeared, it would collapse due to internal strife before being taken over by another military government, and the situation was likely to get worse than before.
As a sincere Rose, she couldn’t stand by.
“Is this the result of taking responsibility?”
“…”
Of course, if she knew that the result of her responsibility was becoming the owner of such a giant warlord, she would have thought about it a little more.
I don’t regret the choice, but I regret the outcome.
Seeing Rose who couldn’t hide such a delicate expression, Limon laughed.
“Well, don’t worry too much about that. At least no one would associate ‘The Outlaws of the East’ with you.”
Can you imagine that Rose is being called an outlaw in Africa?
Seeing Limon giggle, Rose sighed.
“I don’t even understand why the rumors spread like that.”
“I told you because you are so competent.”
“Are you just nicknamed a tyrant or an outlaw in Africa for being competent?”
“That and this case are a bit different.”
Limon shrugged.
Although he used force and coercion, Rose never exploited or tyrannized the people.
No, if you look at the result, it is not enough to hear the sound of Seonggun.
The problem was that this was Africa.
“The point is, your sister is so foreign here.”
“Is it because I am a foreigner?”
“Of course, that is also a factor, but a bigger problem than that is mindset.”
“You mean mindset?”
“okay.”
Limon nodded and said.
“People don’t easily accept different things. I like things that are simple rather than complicated, and I want to live as I am used to.”
The idea that only one’s own learning is the truth.
It is common knowledge that only animals eat potatoes.
The belief that the world is flat, etc.
When you hear a different reason or logic than what you have taken for granted all your life.
Most people feel intense rejection or disgust rather than interest in it.
“…does that mean I’m being ostracized for trying to do the right thing?”
“no.”
After shaking my head lightly.
Limon looked at Rose with sunken eyes as distant as the years he had lived.
“You mean they are afraid of denying their lives.”
Right or wrong doesn’t matter.
Admitting that Rose’s policy is better means admitting that they’ve been wrong up until now.
own life and the claims of others.
What if you have to deny one or the other?
Nine out of ten will choose the latter.
It is also part of such a defense mechanism that people often regard things that are different from themselves as wrong.
It was natural for Rose to be rejected in that respect.
I don’t know if it’s another continent.
Because Rose’s existence forcing Africans to act contrary to common sense must have felt irrational.
“That’s probably why rumors spread that I was your sister’s concubine.”
I want to continue to benefit from the policies she is forced to implement.
But they don’t want to deny their lives.
The answer to such an unconscious conflict was to frame her according to their common sense.
Rose is just a wild woman.
Their lives are better because of others.
In particular, as various systems including tax collection and welfare were systematically reorganized, the vested class, which had become more difficult to plunder than before, would have encouraged such dissatisfaction more actively.
I don’t dare to confront it by force, so I’m going to spread it even if it’s a rumor.
“You don’t want to think I’ve been favored, so you’re praising you instead?”
“Because I’m the only one who can speak with you on an equal footing.”
“…the fact that I am a white woman and you have Egyptian identity must be one of the reasons.”
“Well, to some extent.”
Limon shrugged.
He only helped when subduing the Lucuma tribe.
After that, only a few of the Lucuma and Masai knew how strong he was because he was only focused on the search for the turkey.
Even so, did you talk openly with Rose, who showed the power to defeat a military government alone?
It was not unreasonable to regard him as Rose’s beloved concubine based on common sense in Africa.
The biggest reason, of course, was that praising an Egyptian boy was more to their taste than a white girl.
“…”
“You don’t agree?”
“…no, not like that.”
Rose sighed.
She is benevolent but not naive.
I knew from the start that people didn’t necessarily appreciate helping me.
So, what Rose felt was more like bitterness toward herself than disappointment in others.
“It’s because I think I’ve been living a very comfortable life up until now.”
“If you lived a rough life, it seems like it’s something your family should blame themselves for, right?”
“That’s what I mean.”
I’ve never been short of money.
Because there was a family who always helped me.
Rarely have I had trouble doing anything.
That’s why I realized it now that I was working alone in a distant continent without money or entourage.
How hard it is to help others and stick to your own convictions.
So Rose slightly lowered her head.
“I apologize for the inconvenience caused.”
“Lungs, what kind of lungs?”
“Because I’m making the search for the turkey bird difficult.”
“That’s not something your sister should apologize for. Rather, thanks to that, I was able to narrow the scope of the search a lot.”
Limon shrugged.
Although it became more noticeable than expected, there was a decent amount of income instead.
As the size of the military government has grown, it has become easier to gather information about the seven birds.
Thanks to that, they found out two things.
One is that there are no turkeys or feathers left anywhere in eastern Africa, not just around Kilimanjaro.
And another one…
“Even though the scope of the search has narrowed, isn’t the only clue that a turkey was seen somewhere in central Africa a few years ago?”
“Have you at least decided where to search next?”
“Even if you said you would search, what would you say?”
Rumors about Limore, his undercover identity, have already spread throughout Africa.
Even if you want to sneak in and conduct a search, you will be noticed right away.
Even if you change your appearance, it’s perfect to be treated as a spy if you wander around this exhibition without a clear identity.
“If that’s the case, don’t worry. Because I just had a good opportunity.”
“A good chance?”
“Chief Lucuma told me to give this to my sister.”
Looking at the envelope Limon gave me, I was puzzled for a moment.
Once she received the envelope and opened it, she made a strange expression when she saw the card inside.
“Could this be the rumored ‘that’ invitation?”
“Yes, it is a handwritten invitation sent only to promising military rulers by the ruler of paradise.”
“… don’t you know what this means?”
“Of course you know.”
Limon laughed.
Among those who now rule the military government in Africa, there was no one who did not know the meaning of this invitation.
Rumors had been circulating for a long time that the Prince of Paradise was preparing something to oppose Hasneti.
Especially recently, the form of the rumor has become clearer.
“Do you really think that outrageous plan is possible?”
“That’s what I don’t know. The important thing is that with this invitation, you can confidently look around central Africa.”
“That’s…”
Rose put on a puzzled expression.
Rarely will anyone stand in the way of the one invited by the ruler of paradise.
Moreover, considering that he was not the only one who received this invitation, it was a great opportunity to get information about other regions.
Should I just buy myself?
Or should I seize this opportunity?
Rose, who was worried, finally opened her mouth with a sigh.
“I can’t help it. Then I will accept the invitation.”
“Can I go alone?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. If you go to a place like that alone, it’s obvious that there will be problems.”
The goal is to search for the turkey bird.
So, if you want to participate as quietly as possible and come back after completing the investigation, it is better to go together.
Seeing Rose speak decisively, Limon made a strange expression.
“It seems to me that if my sister accompanies me, things will get bigger.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Have you heard rumors about the Prince of Paradise? Will that bastard just watch your sister?”
“…You mean you’re going to play tricks after inviting me as a guest?”
“If the rumors I’ve heard are only half true, maybe.”
Limon scratched his cheek.
Then he said, recalling the rumors he had heard about the Prince of Paradise.
“At least none of the monarchs I’ve met have been decent.”
