Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: A Few Loaches
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There was one schedule that was mandatory whenever cadets came for the field trip.
All first-year cadets had to go find the victory monument.
The cadets gathered here paid tribute to the souls of those who had laid down their lives.
And they reignited their resolve by recalling that glorious victory.
So that we could achieve such great feats too.
So that one day, we might become the protagonists inscribed on that monument!
"...In 2001, three apocalypse-class monsters appeared in the waters near Ulleungdo. By the standards of the time, it was the worst disaster that could have annihilated an entire nation. Not only Ulleungdo, but the coastal cities along the East Sea were reduced to rubble."
The professional guide diligently explained the contents inscribed on the victory monument.
"It was a massive battle that mobilized not just heroes, but the navy and air force as well. There were countless sacrifices in the process, and after over a week of fighting, the monsters were finally subjugated."
"...At the time, our Republic of Korea requested aid from various countries, but others were in no position to help. Still, the U.S. provided significant support with their warships."
Then, one cadet shot up their hand and asked a question.
The main point was why there was no mention of Japan.
Korea and Japan had been embroiled in the Dokdo territorial dispute since the late 1990s.
The monster incident was a major issue not just for Ulleungdo, but Dokdo as well.
If only Korea was shown fighting here, Japan wouldn't be able to stay silent later.
It wouldn't just mean giving up Dokdo; they'd lose influence over the entire East Sea.
Yet why hadn't Japan sent even heroes, let alone their navy?
"Japan had just lost Yokohama to monsters right before that. All national resources were poured into recapturing it, and they succeeded in reclaiming and subjugating the monsters, but at the cost of two S-rank heroes and numerous others. They simply couldn't recover from the damage in time to help with Ulleungdo and Dokdo."
"Ah...."
"The Japanese government expressed regret over their domestic situation, and our government replied that they'd accept Japan's sentiments in spirit. Still, a destroyer from their Self-Defense Forces was dispatched to provide aid."
And truthfully, it was better that Japan hadn't helped.
If they had, Japan's say in the East Sea and Dokdo would have grown stronger.
The cadet who asked nodded at the guide's logical explanation and backed down.
"After that great victory, this area around Ulleungdo and Dokdo became a holy site for heroes, including all of you cadets here. It spurred rapid development, building on the island's stunning natural scenery and marine resources."
It was fine even without anything special. This was the site of a great victory.
Korea happened to be famous as the homeland of exceptional heroes.
Naturally, heroes from around the world flocked to Ulleungdo and Dokdo.
Since they were all doing important work, the heroes received commensurate rewards.
And those who could afford to come here had wealth and leisure to spare.
Tourism revenue naturally boomed, accelerating development.
"That concludes the explanation of the victory monument. As announced earlier, your next activity is to freely explore the Ulleungdo area and learn about the battles between heroes and monsters in each sector. Once again, welcome, hero cadets. I hope you all have a wonderful time on Ulleungdo before heading back."
The cadets gathered in groups of twos and threes to form parties.
Friends group up together. Those who shared words and ideals have also banded together.
As a result, some attention naturally focused on one spot.
"Somehow, we ended up together again, huh?"
"I expected as much."
Starting with Jin Seo-ah and Louise.
"Ahaha! Looking forward to it!"
"The other cadets are giving us weird looks though...."
Seo Ha-eun and Kang Yuna joined them.
"If I join too, it'll be perfect."
And newcomer Jeong Ye-bin slipped in.
This lineup was basically all the top first-year prospects.
By skill. By achievements. Or by something else.
It would be weirder if the other first-years didn't pay attention.
"Mm. Shall we coordinate the schedule first?"
"I think taking a boat out to circle the island would be best."
"I'm curious about the Dokdo shrimp they say is caught in these waters!"
Of course, that didn't make them all that different from the others.
They wanted to explore the beautiful island more.
Or experience something special only available here.
It wasn't just them. All the other cadets felt the same.
Some expected heroes or cadets to be vastly different.
But in the end, everyone was just human. Not much different from ordinary citizens.
The difference was their righteous hearts vowing to protect those citizens.
"Being an island, there must be a lot of fish dishes here, right? Like in my home country, England."
"Huh? Isn't fish and chips the only fish dish in England?"
"How rude! English cuisine is incredibly diverse! Full of world-renowned delicacies!"
"Saying that already kills your credibility."
"Eel jelly.... Sardine pie...."
"Those are extreme examples!"
Looking indignant, Louise took the time to explain English dishes.
The other four half-listened at best.
When the monster incident ended and Ulleungdo was rising as a holy site for heroes.
The government proposed completely overhauling the entire island.
Given the situation, this place would be a goldmine going forward.
Not just domestic heroes, but from around the world.
Why not turn the whole island into one big tourist complex?
Raze the residential areas and make it all tourist zones!
But the government's grand dream hit a snag from the start.
The island residents protested, saying they'd lived here their whole lives and refused to relocate.
Civic groups joined in, demanding the government not steal the residents' livelihoods.
"Come on! We're offering compensation! Don't suffer on this island—move to the mainland! We need the land to turn this into a full tourist complex!"
"We won't leave! We won't abandon our hometown! How can the nation trample on residents' lives? Get out!"
From messages supporting residents defending their home,
to suspicions that some were holding out just for bigger payouts.
In the end, after several negotiations, the government reached this compromise.
< The Ulleungdo tourist complex will be half the originally planned size. >
< The other half will remain residential for current residents. >
< Compensation will be paid as initially proposed. >
Along with various addendums, one more clause was tacked on.
< For lodging and dining targeting tourists, residents' rights take priority. >
This final clause kept hotels and restaurants from flooding in.
Domestic and international tourists had to use the existing residents' establishments.
This let visitors strongly feel Ulleungdo's local flavor, and reactions were positive at first.
Prices were a bit high, but Ulleungdo was over 100km from the mainland.
Considering that, they seemed reasonable enough.
But as the saying goes, humans can't overcome greed and desire.
Endless stream of tourists. No alternatives besides themselves.
It started with a few residents' unscrupulous behavior and price gouging.
Others soon followed suit, quietly raising their prices.
The guy next door is worse off than me, yet makes more money?
Human psychology is inevitable. No one wants to be the only one losing out.
Soon everyone joined in, and the issues began surfacing.
"This can't go on. If tourists stop coming, how will we eat? Show some restraint!"
"Residents, don't overcharge. This could turn into a real problem."
Conscientious residents and local officials called for moderation.
But it was fleeting; those who'd tasted easy money wouldn't let go easily.
And today too, they were ripping off a man and woman for all they were worth.
"Hahaha."
Wow. Amazing. As expected from a reality-based novel?
Even so, did they have to include this?
Yushin let out an awkward laugh as he looked at the food placed before him.
And understandably so—the portion was pathetically small for the price.
No exaggeration: half the price would still be plenty.
"...What kind of dog food is this?"
The Black Woman sitting beside him reacted with utter disbelief.
First trip. First time at a supposed local eatery.
She didn't know what to expect, but he'd told her to look forward to it, so she did.
Coming from the Smiling Man, she figured it was trustworthy.
But no matter how she tried to see it positively, she couldn't.
The rice was barely passable as a basic staple. The side dishes were nowhere to be seen.
Even accounting for the island's geography, this was inexcusably skimpy.
What about the main dish? Even the secretary's occasional cooking was better.
"We paid money for this?"
Even villains understood economics. By that standard, this was a flat "fail."
Wondering if she was missing something, the Black Woman spoke again.
"Contact the secretary. Show her this and have her check if it's normal."
"Ah, um. Got it!"
He knew what the secretary's response would be, but he did as told anyway.
As he took out his phone to snap a photo and send it...
"No photos!"
No? Wondering what was up, he looked up to see the restaurant owner pointing at something.
< No photos. No YouTubers. >
< Lawsuit for spreading false info! >
"...."
Hahaha. More villainous than actual villains.
For a moment, his mana threads fluttered and dispersed into the air.