Chapter 81
Chapter 81
Chapter 81
Invasion (1)
"We can take control of Korea."
It had been two years since Jimun Seo-saeng said this. Considering when he joined, they had been preparing for the takeover from much earlier.
What would it take to officially take control of the Korean government?
Two things are necessary.
First, taking control of Korea's armed forces.
The military comes first, and the police fall under this as well.
Second is the support of the people.
A coup is completed with these two things.
In countries with low citizen awareness or economic levels, power can change with just military control, but current Korea is not at that level.
This is also why Jimun Seo-saeng is extremely sensitive to public opinion.
"The military is already on our side."
"Still, people will be resistant to the word coup. Many citizens will have negative feelings due to their democratic consciousness."
"There's a way to solve everything at once."
Jimun Seo-saeng seemed to be enjoying this situation.
He always has this expression when executing plans he's prepared for a long time.
"What is it?"
Jimun Seo-saeng answered in a slow but confident voice.
"Korean reunification."
His words made my head feel refreshed.
The Heavenly Demon Cult had So Iryeon personally step forward to announce the collapse of the Ten Alliance.
"The Ten Alliance was a threat to the entire world. Therefore, the Heavenly Demon Cult will reveal everything about the Ten Alliance."
Through So Iryeon, everything about the Ten Alliance was disclosed.
From their identities to the story of Kisan and Roltui, most of the information we knew was made public.
Each time a story about them was revealed, sighs burst out from the press seats.
And at the end, the Heavenly Demon Cult announced the results of their battle with the Ten Alliance.
"We do not forgive groups that touch civilians. Therefore, we pursued them, and now we will tell you about our achievements."
Photos and figures were disclosed to reporters and media outlets.
The photos were cruel but were disclosed without manipulation. Their laboratories and surgery traces were also attached.
"All Magic Swordsmen except for the Gate Lords were annihilated at the hands of the Heavenly Demon Cult. Kisan and Roltui are being held by the Gate Lords, but they were not in a state of being modified into Chimeras."
This announcement was true.
All the Magic Swordsmen they had cultivated were killed. Also, after confirming their escape, the Witch and I searched all the surrounding forests and annihilated the Chimeras.
'They won't appear for a long time.'
This was the conclusion we reached.
Still, making such an announcement was Jimun Seo-saeng's intention.
"When people feel anxious, they desire the protection of the strong."
Since it wasn't announcing a lie, I didn't particularly stop him either.
"Our Heavenly Demon Cult will continue to dedicate our lives to protecting civilians."
As always, when the press conference ended, its contents spread across the world in an instant.
While the media was noisy with the press conference, I went to the accommodation where Fairy was staying.
At a place that was also So Iryeon's personal accommodation, Fairy rarely came out.
'It won't be easy to endure.'
Fairy would only now realize what kind of world they were living in.
When I visited, the Fairy members greeted me as usual. However, a deep shadow still remained in their voices and expressions.
"I came because I have something to say."
I gathered all the Fairy members and spoke. They would be ready to listen to me now.
"It will be harder if you try to endure. If you think you should just bear it and move on, that's also wrong."
Sorrow appeared on Fairy's expressions.
"Then what should we do?"
Jang So-yeon said as if snapping at me.
They must feel wronged.
They were just singing, but people who liked them died. The only reason they died was that they went to see Fairy's concert.
"You'll feel wronged. It will be hard. But I can't promise that such things won't happen again."
"Are you calling that comfort now?"
"I didn't come to comfort you."
I spoke to them with emphasis.
"You need to understand. Why is the situation like this now, why these things happen—understand and judge accurately. Whether it's resentment or sadness, if the target isn't clear, you'll just keep suffering."
The scariest thing about sadness and suffering is expansion.
If you can't escape from one sadness, it soon becomes two, then three, until everything they have becomes sad.
"If you did something wrong, reflect on it. But if you didn't do anything wrong, don't reflect. If you're too sad, think about why you're so sad. And cry only for that sadness."
"Can you do that?"
"Of course, I can. Because it's right."
I looked at the Fairy members and spoke again.
"This is the kind of world you live in."
I left those words and departed from the accommodation.
Right now they might resent me for speaking coldly, but they'll eventually understand.
Each time their thoughts deepen, my words will become comfort and become the strength to overcome on their own.
The reason is that my words are true.
'I'm the villain again.'
It's familiar work.
I shook off the heavy heart and was about to leave the accommodation when the door opened. The person who appeared behind me was Jang So-yeon.
"You bad guy!"
Perhaps upset that it wasn't comfort, she threw something with her eyes flushed.
She just threw whatever she could grab.
But it was a cosmetics bottle that was in the accommodation.
A glass bottle flew toward my face.
Of course, I could have dodged or caught it.
Many thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant. In that brief time of less than a second, I calculated everything that would happen afterward.
And I reached a conclusion.
Chaeng.
I withdrew all my internal energy and took the hit. Not only that, I moved my head slightly the moment the bottle touched.
The glass bottle broke on my forehead, and blood flowed. I moved my head to create a situation where the skin would tear.
"Why......"
Jang So-yeon's pupils widened as if they would burst.
Jang So-yeon, who lost her words, approached trembling.
"Why?"
She only repeated this word.
The other members, startled by the noise, also rushed to the entrance. And seeing me bleeding, they couldn't close their mouths.
"Why didn't you dodge?"
Jang So-yeon tried to wipe my blood with trembling hands. I grabbed her hand and said.
"So you could think about something else, even for a moment."
I even had to see blood for this statement.
'The Witch would say I'm stupid if she knew, right?'
But this is definitely effective.
All the Fairy members came out of the accommodation and examined my wound. They finally left the accommodation.
But this doesn't solve everything.
"I'm sorry."
Jang So-yeon bowed her head and just shed tears.
"If you know, hurry and come out of there. When you do, I'll give you the comfort you want."
First, they need to come out on their own.
"When you come out of there, I'll be waiting."
All the Fairy members hugged me and burst into tears.
'As expected, you have to see blood to gain something.'
On this day, I was able to escape from being the villain.
After that day, the Fairy members came out for walks to the Heavenly Demon Cult's lake park. They greeted people and even sang songs for the children.
Most importantly, although not as much as before, they started smiling again.
I spent time with them as promised. Fortunately, the weather was warm too, so children ran around the lake park, and that sight seemed to soothe Fairy's hearts as well.
I sat on a bench around the lake with Jang So-yeon.
"Let me see."
Jang So-yeon examined my forehead. The wounds had already healed completely without a trace.
"From next time, just dodge."
"Shouldn't you say you won't throw things first?"
"I'm really sorry about that."
Jang So-yeon bowed her head again.
I casually grabbed her shoulder. I didn't intend it, but Jang So-yeon leaned her body and rested on my shoulder.
"Will we be able to stand on stage like before again?"
That's her biggest concern. All of Fairy is thinking this way.
It's natural since the audience was massacred during a performance.
"You can stand again."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because I did it."
Jang So-yeon stared at me intently.
"Did you dance in your past life?"
I laughed at the unexpected question.
"Well, if sword dancing counts as dancing, I danced a lot."
I turned my gaze forward and said,
"I fought and died on the stage called the battlefield. All the reincarnators are like that. But we step onto that stage again."
I don't know if it was comforting. However, I said what I could say.
Jang So-yeon's arms wrapped around my body. I just protected her time as it was.
That night.
"The plan is as follows."
The first step to take control of the country in earnest began.
As always, big plans start with Jimun Seo-saeng's tactical explanation. So Iryeon and Cheong Ak-sal also always attend this meeting.
"We will pressure North Korea using China. And the Heavenly Demon Cult will directly collapse North Korea's military regime."
"Are we taking control of North Korea first?"
"No."
Jimun Seo-saeng continued his explanation.
"We will leave North Korea in an anarchic state and proceed in a form where South Korea unifies North Korea."
"The reason?"
"For the movement of the Korean military. On the surface, it will be a unification military operation, and in this process, they will come to completely trust us. Of course, we just need to give proper compensation to such a military."
Korea's military is already following our words. If we add meaning to such a situation, it will turn out as Jimun Seo-saeng says.
"Just before unification, we declare a regime change and replace the Korean government. In this process, we will expose the corruption of the government officials we've identified and reveal the evidence."
"How many corrupt officials are there?"
To my question, Jimun Seo-saeng smiled and answered.
"It's hard to find those who aren't."
This is Korea's reality. It would be much better to flip everything over.
"We replace the regime and we declare a dictatorship. However, while maintaining the current management system as is, we need to create a policy group to replace the National Assembly. We will start this work right now."
"You're prepared, right?"
"I've already compiled a list of capable people. There are over 100 people I've directly recruited."
It's an operation Jimun Seo-saeng has prepared for a long time. There's no doubt he prepared meticulously.
"The policy group's personnel will be gathered not only from domestic but also international figures, thinking of 1,000 people. They will comprehensively review the current legal system and present new policies."
"What should I do?"
"You just need to name this group."
"Jung Cheon. Because plans should be at the center of everything."
I named it without hesitation. It was the same name in my past life.
Jimun Seo-saeng seemed to like it too.
Next, detailed explanations followed, but it just felt like receiving a report. It seemed better to leave it to Jimun Seo-saeng rather than me interfering.
"I've decided on people to use as Jung Cheon's leadership. I'd like the Cult Leader to see them directly."
"You want to keep them at the headquarters?"
"To start work in earnest, I think it's better to keep them by my side."
"Do that."
It's a group for Jimun Seo-saeng.
This existed in my past life too.
The group that conveyed his words and held meetings served as the brain of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Of course, I've hardly ever seen them.
'The most boring group in the Heavenly Demon Cult.'
Just visiting there gives me a headache. So I just gave them lots of rewards and didn't meet them.
"Cult Leader."
Jimun Seo-saeng read my expression and spoke with emphasis.
"This time, I hope you'll pay some attention."
"I paid a lot of attention in my past life too."
"I mean attention, not money. Do you know what was said in Jung Cheon in your past life?"
"Why are you bringing up the past life?"
I dodged slightly, but Jimun Seo-saeng ultimately said what he wanted to say.
"As expected, the sword is stronger than the brush. To see the Cult Leader, you have to become a warrior who wields a sword."
My heart stung.
"I always give generous rewards though."
"All those who enter this group are outstanding people. That means they're people who can make money well anywhere."
It's an inescapable pressure.
"Alright."
"I always trust the Cult Leader."
Jimun Seo-saeng smiled.
That smile looked particularly cruel today.
"I'll meet Kim Mu-jin separately and prepare him."
"Do that."
Kim Mu-jin is also included in Jimun Seo-saeng's plans.
"He will operate as the central company of the North Korean development plan."
Since it was the most trustworthy method, I didn't refuse.
"Now, shall we summarize simply?"
I looked at So Iryeon and Cheong Ak-sal and said,
"When we collapse North Korea, Jimun Seo-saeng will take care of the rest. Both of you understand, right?"
"That sounds much better."
"I understand clearly."
At the two's answers, Jimun Seo-saeng's eyebrows twitched.