Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: The Exodus
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As Go Yohan made his appearance, it felt like time itself had frozen.
And then.
‘Why?’
A question arose.
“Park Yong-man, you drunk driver who killed six people and buried them—what the hell are you talking about?”
Even wrapped in mana bombs and standing in the middle of downtown, was this really worth Go Yohan stepping in?
Every time he had shown himself before, it had been for major incidents.
Even with the mana bombs...
“You’ve got no shame, you bastard.”
Drunk driving? Murder? As if he’d show up in front of civilians for something like that...
“I-I...”
“I know. It’s not like a piece of trash like you wants to die by blowing yourself up. You’ve just been abandoned.”
“D-don’t come closer!”
Park Yong-man staggered back, but Go Yohan didn’t stop.
“Don’t worry. The ones who ordered you to do this...”
Swoosh.
A shadow appeared beside Go Yohan.
“H-heek!”
Yun Seung-ah, recently called the Black Reaper, made Park Yong-man shriek in terror at her sight.
“I’ve taken care of all of them. They were planning to detonate bombs in Yeouido, as well as Jamsil and Gangnam.”
Though her voice was soft, Yun Seung-ah’s words echoed to everyone present.
“Choi Chung-il, Park Sang-gu, Yun Ho-tae...”
The names called out included current and former National Assembly members, as well as ministers and vice-ministers from various ministries.
“Their slogan was the same.”
Yun Seung-ah said.
“For the freedom of Korea.”
Pfft.
Go Yohan chuckled.
“What, acting like independence fighters or something.”
There actually was that kind of public opinion.
That Go Yohan had seized power through unjust means, and Korea would have to endure the pains of the past all over again.
And this time, under even greater, absolute force.
“Ridiculous.”
Yun Seung-ah said.
Ripple.
As her eyes seemed to ripple like a deep abyss, Park Yong-man’s retreating body froze in place.
He was too terrified to press the button anyway, but even so, the Curse of Sloth had permeated his body and stopped him.
“These criminal bastards.”
Yun Seung-ah.
“They’re just trash shouting about freedom to save their own skins.”
In truth, those forming opinions about freedom and such—the pure ones among them were still safely voicing their views.
“For filthy scum like these to mimic those who sacrificed everything for the nation in the past.”
Yun Seung-ah reached out as if to spare Go Yohan’s hands from getting dirty.
But.
“It’s fine.”
The moment Go Yohan stepped forward and clenched his fist.
Crunch!
Park Yong-man’s flesh crumpled.
The mana bomb crushed beneath him began to glow blue, on the verge of exploding.
It was a bomb that could swallow all of Yeouido.
No—the bombs set to go off today could have completely obliterated one or two cities in this small country.
“And yet.”
It was impossible not to scoff.
“They cry for freedom.”
Crunch crunch!
His form completely pulverized.
Boom!
A deafening explosion roared from within, as if to devour the world, and the people immediately dropped to the ground, trembling.
But flames of inevitable death?
“Great work. Seung-ah.”
To Go Yohan, it was nothing at all.
“The Captain has done well himself.”
The two vanished without hesitation, as if they had merely squashed a bug.
*
*
*
“Estimates put the number who have left Korea at over 3 million.”
Time had passed since Min Jun-hyuk’s death.
A large portion of Korea’s citizens had attempted to leave for overseas.
At first, people wondered if Go Yohan would really let them go, but once they realized he wasn’t interfering at all, the exodus began.
“Most are those with significant financial assets.”
That vast number consisted of the upper class with financial resources.
They were packing up their wealth and fleeing to safe, prosperous countries.
“France, Russia, Japan, and others have sought our opinions on the matter.”
No response had been given yet.
‘Angels.’
Their emergence wasn’t limited to Korea.
Ivan had vanished after falling victim, and Japan had lost quite a few of its limbs as well.
And elsewhere...
Especially the United States.
“...They prepared more than we thought.”
Far more aggressively than expected, they had driven out the Temples.
Most Temples in Europe and the Americas had been expelled or detained.
“For now, let’s leave foreign affairs to Ha-yeon.”
“Yes.”
In any case, the movements within the country.
“We estimate a total of around 6 million citizens will leave.”
6 million.
“Fewer than I thought.”
Despite calling Go Yohan a devil and all, the end of democracy, a sign of the apocalypse—the number was surprisingly low.
“Why?”
Economic barriers to emigration weren’t the reason.
Numerous countries were watching Korea’s situation closely and rolling out refugee-friendly policies.
Coveting Korea’s human and financial assets.
‘Players.’
Especially the players mixed among them.
Among those wanting to emigrate, countries were lining up to unconditionally support settlement for families with even one player.
‘China’s especially active.’
China in particular had thrown open its arms, declaring it would welcome Korean refugees and spare no support.
‘Over 2 million.’
That many were estimated to be heading there.
“Public opinion is better than expected.”
Yun Seung-ah said.
“Actually...”
A faint smile seemed to play on Yun Seung-ah’s lips as she spoke.
“There’s quite a bit welcoming it.”
“Welcoming it?”
“Executing corrupt politicians and releasing all the evidence played a big part. Plus, many of those fleeing in fear are celebrities who’ve drawn a lot of resentment.”
Such talk had been circulating.
-Ruined nation.
That Korea was now a ruined nation, beyond saving.
Amid that, voices saying the world was better now that the filth was gone.
“Kim Ha-neul and Yong Yong’s roles are huge too. Their subscribers have already hit 50 million.”
“Really? They’re doing great.”
“And about the North Korean residents who were hastily relocated.”
Yun Seung-ah said.
“Over 90% chose to migrate to Korea.”
It was over 20 million.
When 6 million were expected to leave, three times that number was incoming.
“And...”
“Hm?”
“Never mind.”
Yun Seung-ah turned her head shyly.
How could she say it?
-Great Leader! Praise Comrade Go Yohan!
That the North Korean residents who chose Korea were spreading the most correct message everywhere.
*
*
*
Everyone in Korea was living busier days than ever.
Shin Sung had opened its vaults for the North Korean refugees, and the alliance along with the Sanctuary Union had poured out supplies and aid funds.
With the Association stepping in to manage them, there was no major uproar.
The government had its own headaches but was stabilizing fairly quickly.
That said, claiming no chaos would be a lie.
-5.29 million.
The number of Korean citizens who had become refugees and fled into exile.
The reasons varied.
The ominous feeling from North Korea’s fall, still trapped in its black dome; the existence of an absolute ruler named Go Yohan—those were factors.
Even with the decline, many cried for freedom as they left.
-Stay here and you’ll die.
-What happened?
-Looking at everything Go Yohan’s done so far... we’re all gonna die.
-So why! Don’t tell me you...
-...
-You crazy bastard!
Even with the Church doing its utmost to block it, those who had secretly tried contacting demons were leaving on their own legs.
Those who had committed grave sins but covered them up.
-The acting police chief has declared a full reinvestigation of all unsolved cases.
Most were fleeing in fear of the blade to come.
Among them, over 60% of Korea’s players had emigrated overseas.
Players had committed big and small crimes due to their traits, claiming inevitability, and feared exposure.
On top of that, players’ powers weren’t fully manifesting now.
-In the US, players are regaining their strength?
-Stepping on UK soil alone restores the status window!
With angels appearing, rumors spread that in central nations, players’ powers were returning.
And the North Korean residents more than filling those gaps.
-Great Leader!
In reality, they wouldn’t be much help.
Restoring their education levels and shattered, brainwashed minds would take a long time.
The silver lining?
-Praise Comrade Go Yohan!
That the object of their brainwashing had shifted from the Paektu bloodline to Go Yohan.
Thanks to that, public concerns about North Korean refugees’ mindset or crimes had completely quieted.
“Ha-yeon, you okay?”
Lee Jae-kyung asked Greed—no, Lee Ha-yeon—with a worried face.
Her complexion was deathly pale.
For an Apostle like her, it looked like she had barely survived a deathmatch with at least seven Archdemons.
But the demons were quiet now.
What was draining her was.
“I need some rest...”
Among the Apostles—no, anyone in Korea—she was by far the busiest.
Overseeing the complete overhaul and management of overseas Temple organizations.
“Don’t talk to me...”
She was also at the forefront blocking the massive outflow of resources domestically.
“...I told the Captain.”
“What...?”
“If there’s anything you want.”
Even now, she couldn’t tear her eyes from the screen, moving nonstop.
“He said he’d buy me a country if I wanted.”
“...?”
“We already have Korea, but not completely.”
Beep beep beep beep.
The screen was filled with numbers.
Numbers so enormous it would take considerable time just to count them.
“I’m in the middle of buying it completely, so don’t talk to me.”