Chapter 485: Buildup(5)
Chapter 485: Buildup(5)
My father is undoubtedly one of the most renowned warriors in the Empire, but he is also a self-made, enterprising man who started from the very bottom.
In truth, he was incredibly unlucky. While serving as a guard knight for the current Emperor, Berit, he got caught up in political infighting and was reassigned to the Northern Region.
Despite enduring every imaginable hell there, he survived until the end and ultimately stabilized the region.
Back then, it was a place where they literally ground people down instead of providing supplies; it was truly horrific. Fortunately, logistics are smooth now, so there’s no longer a need to sacrifice human lives like that.
Soldiers who have fought in wars say the same thing: hunger is more terrifying than the enemy.
Add to that the freezing cold of winter, known as 'General Winter,' and the losses become astronomical. Yet, the Northern Region is so cold that you can count the warm days on one hand.
Perhaps because people still live in such harsh conditions, military-style anecdotes never seem to end.
"You mentioned earlier that you threw a greatsword at a bird, and it flew away with the sword still stuck in it? Now that I think about it, I had a similar experience."
"What happened?"
"A senior of mine was snatched by a flying monster and barely made it back alive. Thanks to that incident, we didn't have to worry about food for a few days."
"..."
The scale of his stories was on another level. Having served on the front lines myself, I knew there were many creatures comparable to 'monsters.'
For instance, eagles with wingspans the size of wild boars, wild boars the size of cars, or moths the size of a man's palm.
But this was a 'fantasy' world. The scale was fundamentally different.
The eagles here were massive enough to snatch people like pterodactyls, and the boars were as big as elephants. As for the moths... I’ll spare you the details.
It’s a miracle people can even live in such a place. I wonder what kind of otherworldly hellscape it truly is.
"Can... can a person really work in a place like that?"
"It would be difficult for an ordinary knight. Only the Navy Knights can handle it. Since you said you served on the front lines, wouldn't your conditions have been better than others, even without mana?"
"I suppose so, but..."
My physical fitness had improved from trekking up and down the 'Stairway to Heaven' at the guard posts. I even received a Grade 1 on my physical exam.
However, the soldiers serving on the front lines back home aren't special forces like UDT or 707. The environment is just absolute trash; it doesn't require specialized training.
But the Northern Region here requires 'at least' special forces level personnel, and even then, it's a place where you can easily be maimed or killed. Even for someone like me who served on the front lines, it was hard to imagine.
"It makes me respect you even more, Father. My brother and sister, too."
"As long as you don't let your guard down, you won't be seriously injured."
"But in the military, people get hurt for the most ridiculous reasons. Even you, Father, once stepped on an enemy's dung and ended up cracking your head open."
"Ahem. That... that was unavoidable."
Father cleared his throat and turned his head away in embarrassment. Seeing the usually dignified man react like that made me chuckle.
In truth, I rarely had such personal conversations with him. I had received his help while hiding my identity, but that was it.
Father had spent his entire life in the military, whereas I was more of a scholar. Our paths were so different that we had almost no common ground.
In the past, he had tried his best to raise me as a knight, but he gave up because my talent was abysmal. Of course, I did gain a lot of patience thanks to that.
Since then, we would only exchange a few words occasionally, never talking for this long. We had already been sitting in our chairs for over an hour, enjoying a pleasant chat.
I should try my best to avoid any landmines.
However, because Father had fought grueling battles in such a horrific environment, he had many painful memories. This meant there were plenty of metaphorical 'landmines' scattered about.
"By the way, are you still in touch with that person who was snatched by the bird?"
"He's dead."
"..."
Just like that. I clamped my mouth shut at Father's blunt reply.
There weren't many colleagues left who had served with him. Most were either dead or had taken their own lives due to the aftereffects.
The few who managed to survive had either retired like Father or were active as instructors.
I wanted to avoid the landmines as much as possible, but his active-duty days were so bizarre that even a small slip-up would set one off.
"You don't have to make that face. It's the fate of a soldier serving on the front lines. I was forcibly transferred there, so I cursed the place up and down, but the comrades serving there were driven by a sense of duty."
Seeing my flustered expression, Father gave a small smirk and spoke to reassure me.
Before I was born, he was the type of person who drank every day and visited the temple just to fall asleep.
Now, his trauma seemed to have healed to some extent, as those habits were gone, but he still avoided mentioning the past.
"I, too, was moved by them and was able to become a true member of the unit. The Northern Region's notoriety is so great that simply having served there brings immense honor."
"..."
"To suppress discontent, the Empire provided not only a good salary but also ample hazard pay and funeral benefits. Was it not the same for you?"
"Uh..."
I couldn't bring myself to answer and could only roll my eyes.
What was my salary—no, my annual pay—back then? I recall that after all the savings installments were taken out, I had less than 100,000 won to spend a month.
Forget the pay; there wasn't a shred of honor to be found. It only remained as stories told among those who had completed their service.
Father seemed to notice something strange in my reaction, as he looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"Why that reaction? Surely the country didn't refuse to pay you just because it was conscription?"
"No. They gave me money, but... it was a very small amount."
"How much?"
Since 1 gold is worth about 100,000 won...
"Roughly 4 gold? By the time I was discharged, I was getting about 6 gold..."
"..."
"I think..."
As I continued, not only Father but even Adelia, who was standing nearby, looked as if they had misheard me.
Father shook his head vigorously to clear his mind and asked with a tone of disbelief.
"4 gold? You don't mean 40 gold...?"
"Even a commoner who becomes a knight receives 30 gold a month... and just subjugating monsters brings in dozens of gold in rewards..."
"......We didn't have anything like that."
When I served, that was the kind of pay we received. Being on the front lines didn't change much.
Well, there were occasionally things like special duty allowances, but even those rarely exceeded 200,000 won.
People say other conscription-based countries pay similar amounts, but most of those places provide treatment that is incomparably better.
In Finland, for example, you can choose alternative service from the start for no reason at all. It’s even a commute-based system, like being a reservist.
The only comparable places are North Korea and Russia. North Korea goes without saying, and Russia's true face has recently been exposed to the world.
"You risk your life to serve your country, and they only pay you that much? Even on the front lines?"
"Yes."
"Does that mean the welfare is so good that you don't need much money?"
"No."
"I figured as much... Wait, what?"
Father nodded at my answer, thinking it made sense, but then he froze mid-nod.
His eyes went wide with shock. Seeing that expression, I scratched my head.
The welfare of the Republic of Korea's military cannot be called good, even as a joke. There’s a common saying that most people who claim it's good are those who haven't served or were exempted.
I debated whether to explain this or not, but I figured a brief summary would be best.
"It's better now than it used to be, but both the welfare and the treatment are poor. There's so much to say that it's hard to pick just one thing."
"Even if you die in the line of duty while serving faithfully?"
"Yes. That's why there's a saying: 'A son of the nation when called, your son when injured, and "Who are you?" when dead.'"
"What kind of country is that? It's a miracle there hasn't been a rebellion yet."
Adelia, unable to comprehend it, spoke to me in a voice mixed with absurdity and anger.
Father also frowned deeply, indirectly expressing his fury. I smiled awkwardly at their reactions.
The terrible perception and treatment of the South Korean military is a long-standing tradition(?). If you look back at history even a little, the answer becomes clear.
First of all, the military government itself was notoriously closed-off, and during the democratization movements, the military pointed its guns at civilians.
Fortunately, as time passed and the internet developed, various malpractices within the military were exposed, and things gradually improved. However, public perception had long since hit rock bottom.
Some people bluntly stated that unless a war broke out in the country, the perception and treatment of soldiers would remain the same.
"Adelia is right. No matter if it's conscription... this is a bit—no, it's truly too much. Were you really okay with that?"
"Even when things made me angry, I just gave a bitter smile and moved on."
"Sigh..."
"Whew."
Faced with such dismal treatment, Father eventually covered his face with one hand. Adelia also let out a sigh and quietly closed her eyes.
I sipped my tea while watching them lost in thought. I could understand why they were reacting so strongly.
In this world, not just in the Minerva Empire, the perception and treatment of soldiers are sky-high. You could say it's on par with the United States.
It might be a tired explanation by now, but it's all because of the existence of monsters. Soldiers are the sword and shield that protect the nation and its citizens from external threats.
Being a soldier doesn't necessarily mean fighting other people; they fight monsters more often. While there are adventurers and mercenaries, they have clear limits.
Therefore, it's only natural that the prestige of soldiers—specifically knights—is high, and their treatment follows suit.
Furthermore, choosing to become a knight means transitioning from 'one who is protected' to 'one who protects,' so many people cheer them on.
In this world, if someone insults a knight? Yeah, you're getting conscripted immediately. Or rather, you'll get beaten up first and then sent to enlist. That's how it is.
Aira, the daughter of Marquis Mathews, was dragged off in a similar fashion. Since she's a noble, she even has to serve a mandatory five years.
So, of course, this must seem appalling to them.
I'm used to it, so I'm fine, but to them, this situation must seem worse than a disaster. A literal hell where honor, welfare, treatment, and perception are all in the gutter.
As Adelia said, it wouldn't be strange if a rebellion broke out right now. If someone were to act as a focal point and incite them, the guns would point at the citizens once again.
Naturally, the perception of soldiers would crawl along the floor. It's a vicious cycle trapped in an infinite loop.
To me, it's literally a story from another country—no, another dimension. Whether a war breaks out there or not has nothing to do with me anymore.
"You don't have to worry. It's a story from another world now, and just because I was treated that way doesn't mean I'll treat others the same. In my books, I'll portray them as an honorable group that still feels very human."
"It's not that... Isaac."
"Yes?"
When I spoke to clear up any potential misunderstanding, Father spoke in a low, heavy voice.
I looked at him and saw him staring at me with an expression mixed with all sorts of emotions.
Pity, sympathy, compassion, lamentation, sadness, and so on. They were all emotions leaning toward 'sorrow.'
Father usually had a tough and strong impression, but now his features were soft and sagging.
What is he misunderstanding now?
Every time I talked about my past life, this kind of situation inevitably occurred. Moreover, the more I tried to clear up the misunderstanding, the more tangled the threads became.
It seemed like a similar situation was unfolding now. I waited quietly for Father's next words.
And the words that came out of his mouth were...
"Is it possible... that country uses direct state brainwashing...?"
"...Pardon?"
"Or do they simply view the lives of the youth who should lead the nation as no more than flies?"
"..."
That's actually what our neighbors to the north do. The difference is that they brainwash everyone regardless of age or gender, and the state itself is a total mess.
While they also have conscription, I believe their mandatory service lasts over ten years.
That made it even more absurd. I looked straight at my grieving father and tried to explain.
"It's not like that. Actually, there's a reason for this too. It's a bit long to explain, but..."
"Even if there's a reason, I believe treating soldiers like that is nonsensical. They are sacrificing themselves at the peak of their youth."
"I agree with the Baron. The people who insult soldiers are the very ones being protected by them. If a great threat ever faces the nation, they'll be the first ones looking for a soldier."
"..."
Every word they said was so logically sound that even I started to feel confused. I couldn't think of a single rebuttal.
To explain it all, I'd have to start from the Korean War and go all the way to the 5·18 Movement, and even if I tried to justify it, their points were so valid that I couldn't open my mouth.
We sat in silence for a few minutes. Father then spoke plainly with a pitying face.
"You must be very confused. Having sacrificed your beautiful twenties in such a way. But that is clearly a mistaken concept."
No. He's looking at me like I'm some brainwashed person. I told you, it's not like that. That's what the guys up north do.
"The Baron is right. While some people are out having fun, knights are holding weapons and fighting fiercely. A soldier must dedicate their life to the country, but they should receive just as much in return."
Adelia also spoke to me in a gentle voice, as if worried my 'brainwashing' hadn't fully worn off. The way she stroked my hair felt like she was educating a small child.
I let out a hollow laugh internally and answered with a resigned heart.
"......Let's just say my country was weird."
"It's not 'let's just say.' It was weird."
"Beyond weird, it was deformed. I can't believe a country devastated by civil war developed that much under those conditions."
"..."
I should avoid bringing up my past life for a while.