#42 The Great Base Furnishing Operation (1)
Seol Rokjin and the other assemblymen had publicly declared Beltsmets—us—as enemies of the state.
Seol Rokjin, the assemblyman who had always openly proclaimed his affiliation with the anti-Awakener faction, didn't hide his rage as he spat it out.
"The perpetrators who murdered Assemblyman Kim Seongdeok are arrogant and wicked scum."
He continued his denunciation, uttering the name Beltsmets.
"I know there have been many rumors about Assemblyman Kim Seongdeok. For me, I can't believe—nor do I want to believe—that the man who guided me like a father committed such crimes. But even if it were true."
Seol Rokjin's eyes reddened as he clenched his fist. Sighs erupted from the crowd at the sight.
"Is murdering Assemblyman Kim Seongdeok in such a manner the 'right' thing to do? I simply can't understand it. Since when has torturing and killing someone become 'just' in this country of Korea?"
Seol Rokjin's remarks instantly spread as dozens—no, thousands—of articles across the nation.
"This is a horrific crime. If Assemblyman Kim Seongdeok truly committed sins, if those unspeakable allegations were all true, he should have faced trial and the judgment of justice. But there was no proper investigation, no trial this time. Why? Because they lacked the confidence to punish him under due process."
Seol Rokjin shouted at the cameras surrounding him.
"They just wanted to show everyone that even this country, even the law, lies beneath their feet."
Everyone swallowed hard at his words.
Indeed, wasn't this nation of Korea being toyed with by a single criminal?
"Assemblyman Kim Seongdeok's assassination isn't just the death of an individual. It's the downfall of a rule-of-law state."
"My heart is heavy," Seol Rokjin muttered, his voice choking as he paused. Tears welled in his reddened eyes, broadcast across Korea via the airwaves.
Regaining his composure, he continued.
"I know there are people defending them right now. Some say there must have been no choice but for them to step in. Let me say just one thing."
Staring straight ahead once more, Seol Rokjin declared.
"If those with power start wielding it for personal gain, eventually a world will come where might makes right."
His words shook everyone—especially the non-Awakeners. Seol Rokjin had slyly framed Beltsmets' crimes as the deeds of Awakeners in general.
And he tapped into their fears.
Yeah, what if those with power start swinging it however they please?
What if the Awakeners, who now cower and obey the law, go rogue? Can I—the government—stop them?
That's why we need even stronger laws, harsher restraints, a more perfect leader.
In an instant, Seol Rokjin had neatly wrapped up the Beltsmets affair. The subtle defenses of them that had bubbled up vanished just as quickly.
Watching the news, I thought to myself.
"Damn, the guy's still got a silver tongue like nobody's business."
I'd known one shot wouldn't be enough, but flipping the mood this fast? Now anyone siding with me would be branded a traitor aiming to overthrow the nation.
—So, what's next?
Ray asked in a voice brimming with anticipation.
—They just landed a solid hit. You can't just sit there, right?
Huh, didn't peg him for the aggressive type.
"What do you mean? I'm doing nothing."
No matter what I did, those bastards would spin it somehow.
"Gotta prepare instead."
—For what?
"They're definitely about to drop something big soon."
This wasn't ending with words. He'd manufacture an event to solidify the mood.
"So, shall we go make some chairs in the meantime?"
Starting something else now and failing to handle their play would be disastrous.
—Why the obsession with those damn chairs?
"Just a bit more, and it'll be done."
—What is that? Sounds like a gambler deep in the hole!
"Just one more try, I swear."
This time it'll work. It will.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Finally!"
I clenched my fist at the window floating before me. The chair was complete at last.
There were several reasons I'd failed at chair-making before.
For starters, I sucked at making anything straight.
Bricks were easy—just mold and stamp. But a chair? Crafting four legs myself was the problem from the get-go.
Every time I attached a leg, it was like that time I botched Han Seohyun's bangs: one leg too short, then the other. Before I knew it, I was left with a squat floor cushion.
I gave up on normal methods and pivoted to artifacts. If I could make water gush in a dry place or a self-cleaning toilet and tub through mysterious means, a chair that just stood upright should be a breeze!
I used five lightning-struck logs for materials. (Hand-struck, at 50% output. Han Seohyun smashed my back that day, but artifacts need mana-infused stuff—no choice.)
And so, the finished magic chair looked like this.
◈ A chair made by wasting good materials through the shoddy skills of a terrible carpenter.
◈ The moment you sit, your butt tingles and your whole body grows weary.
No need to rub it in like that!
"It's fine aside from the numb butt and killer back pain."
Han Seohyun stared at me like I was an idiot.
"We agreed to call that a crappy chair."
"Can't we just pad it with cushions?"
He turned away. No.
Tch.
Fine. The rest of the furniture would come from IKEA. Even I had to admit handcrafting everything was impossible.
With Geum Doctor joining soon, no more playing producer.
Everyone has their role, and mine clearly isn't crafting.
Still, it stung. I couldn't make anything functional without magic artifacts.
I'd built a house, so furniture should be cake—or so I thought!
—That house only stands thanks to magic. Without the mana circuits etched into the bricks, it'd collapse. You have zero architecture basics in that head of yours.
Ugh, this chair fiasco left me unable to argue with Ray.
I was confident in words, but against my overwhelming trash hands, even eloquence fades.
Anyway, at IKEA, I eyed the furniture with dead fish eyes.
Damn, mass-produced stuff outshone mine from the craftsmanship alone. Deflated, I sidled up to a display.
"What? This super impressive chair's only 90,000 won?"
Folds when not in use, cushions included, perfectly balanced.
Damn. Defeat. Beaten by factory junk.
"Still, none have the heartfelt effort of mine."
—Only the unskilled talk 'heart'.
"Damn it."
Biting my lip in jealousy, I wandered the aisles. Factory furniture everywhere better than mine.
Ah, is this how Salieri felt seeing Mozart?
—Dunno who they are, but that analogy feels way off.
Butting in uninvited. Total boomer syndrome. Suppressing my rebellion, I pushed the cart.
Or tried to.
It wouldn't budge. Kim Jaeho gripped it, frozen stiff.
Looking at his back spiked my anxiety. Doll section.
Alert, alert.
"Jaeho, what'd I say before we came?"
"Listen well."
"Right, let's go ahead."
He stayed rooted.
"Don't wanna."
"What'd I say?"
"I'm listening well."
He pointed to his ear. True, he was 'listening' perfectly.
"Not like that, man! I meant do as I say."
"Didn't say that."
Oh god! Walked into a trap.
We had tons to buy! No room for giant dolls. I'd just bought him a new one!
"You have dolls at home."
"Not like that."
He pointed to a dolphin plush. True, no fish before.
—Dolphins are mammals, not fish...
'Hey old man, wanna pour oil on the fire?'
Boomer spirit in my head, plus Jaeho's tantrum. Chaos.
Fine. Time to break him properly.
Extreme measures.
"Love the doll so much? Stay here. I'm going home."
He turned serious.
"Live here?"
No sense of humor made it tougher.
"No, no. I'll take my Jaeho."
"Then why say that?"
"Just kidding."
"Funny?"
What's happening? Sweat beaded down my back.
—Midlife crisis strategist?
'Maybe.'
I swallowed hard.
"Nah, not funny. But there's social jokes, y'know."
"You were gonna ditch me."
"No, not serious."
People glanced our way. Damn, drawing eyes. Not villainous behavior.
Self-reflecting, I shut up. Lowering my voice, I whispered to Han Seohyun, who watched us with a weary face.
"Seohyun, you at least move away."
"What nonsense?"
"Too exposed."
"Jeez."
Tsking, he shifted position anyway.
Now just Jaeho remained, glued to the dolls.
Steeled myself.
"As apology, one doll. Pick."
"Two."
"One..."
"Two."
Unyielding thug! I'd planned zero, but one should've sufficed!
"Waaah, buy it! Buy it!"
Thought it was Jaeho's inner voice. Glanced aside.
A kid thrashed on the floor.
"Not here!"
A frantic mom dealt with the toy-section terror.
Poor her. Another brat. Sympathizing, our eyes met.
I smiled understandingly.
She... scooped the kid and fled like we'd seen trash.
Puhaha! Your smile's still a weapon of mass destruction.
'Hah.'
Unlike the mom hoisting her kid, Jaeho wouldn't lift easy. Mana could work, but his flailing...
Fine. One way out.
"Okay, pick two."
His room would be doll hell soon. Grinning, he grabbed two huge dolphins. Same ones, but...
"Why two identical?"
"Not same. Different characters."
"Uh, yeah?"
"Yeah, friends. Gotta stick together."
His logic. Not respecting it.
Shopping done safely.
Aside from Han Seohyun grimacing at our carts.
"All useless crap!"
"All needed."
"Five air fresheners?!"
"Base is gloomy. Nice scents'd help."
"This?"
"Door decor. Lets folks know whose room from outside."
"We're the only ones! Pointless!"
I endured his nagging for ages.