The Beacon's Signal
Ah, no. Stop, Kumpa.
Chief, sorry, but I can't obey that order. The woman isn't lowering her weapon, is she?
Let's talk. She'll understand! So stop!
When she puts the weapon down, I'll stop.
It's dangerous. Extremely dangerous. If this goes on, my dream of living in the capital will be gone.
Step back. Or I'll cut you down.
The woman said it in Arcadian.
I don't know what she's saying, woman.
Kumpa answered in the language of the primitives.
They don't understand the language.
Just die.
Just as Kumpa was about to charge,
“Arcadia!”
The woman opened her eyes wide and looked at me. Kumpa was also surprised and looked at me.
The woman stopped. What is 'Arcadia' that the chief said?
“Arcadia! Welcome to the first capital of the Galactic Empire, Arcadia!”
Do you know the imperial language?
Following the Arcadian I learned from the hologram, the woman showed a surprised expression.
But the problem was that my level of Arcadian was truly beginner. My imperial language could only say simple sentences.
Hello. My name is Sihyun. I ate an apple yesterday. The apple was very delicious.
…What are you saying?
Potato! Potato! Construction! Where is the bathroom?
…?
Peace! Peace!
Do you know the imperial language?
Imperial language course.
Ah, you took the course...
She nodded as if she understood.
I have no intention to harm. Let's live peacefully and friendly.
…
I saved you. Savior of life.
That's how it turned out.
She withdrew her laser gun and put it in her pocket.
Sorry. I thought you were enemies.
I understand.
My name is Hil… Garde.
Hildegard.
Your name was Sihyun, right?
I nodded, having understood her words.
I'm looking for a place to stay. Can you take me in?
Compensation?
Want to trade? I'm a soldier of the Galactic Empire. Familiar with combat. Willing to fight as a mercenary.
Please take me to the imperial capital Arcadia.
…? Want to live in the empire? What about here?
I'm leaving.
That was a story Kumpa and the others couldn't understand. If the chief said he's leaving, it would be seen as betrayal, which is fine.
But what I'm saying is in the imperial language. The other tribesmen can't understand at all what the woman and I are talking about. So I could pour out my heart.
I don't like it here. Primitive tribes aren't my taste. The advanced city, the empire's first capital Arcadia. I want to live there.
…Ambition, huh.
Can you promise? If you take me to the empire, I'll protect you here.
She seemed to think for a while, then answered.
I promise. If I return to the empire, I'll take you with me. But after arriving, you'll have to figure out your own life.
Life is no problem. When exactly do you return?
She took out something round and red from her pocket.
Beacon. I'm sending a signal that I'm here. A rescue ship will come soon, and when the rescue ship responds to the beacon, it will leave the planet immediately.
When does the rescue ship arrive?
Can't tell. It could take years, or maybe tomorrow.
Ambiguous answer, but since there was no way to refuse the trade, I accepted.
She extended her hand, and I shook it. It seems the concept of handshake exists even in the Galactic Empire.
She took out the beacon she had. The beacon started glowing red. It was the rescue signal.
Until the surrounding spaceships respond to this signal, she would stay with our tribe. However, staying quietly and eating was ambiguous, so she asked me to teach her the imperial language.
Because when I live in the empire, I thought it would be better to know proper imperial language than to use broken one, to receive less discrimination. Even in Korea, discrimination against non-Koreans exists, but if a non-Korean speaks Korean at Korean level, they receive less discrimination?
I learned the imperial language from her for a while. It was much more efficient to learn directly from her than just from courses, so my imperial language improved day by day.
And she also got used to living in our tribe. The tribesmen initially guarded her, but now they seemed to accept her as 'the foreigner close to the chief'.
But the first time she saw our tribe, she was amazed.
Amazing.
What?
I've seen many primitive planets, but this is the first time I've seen a primitive planet civilized to this degree. This crop… is it wheat?
Similar to the ones grown in the empire, but anyway, it's wheat.
Primitive people farming wheat… and raising animals that look like sheep and cows. This is a level that makes it hard to call them primitive.
It was hard to come this far. When I was young, they ate by hunting and gathering. In other words, hunting and eating wild fruits. I don't know how hard it was to research farming methods, teach them to the tribesmen, and persuade them to settle. All of that was thanks to my efforts as the chief.
Accept it as praise.
But you said you wanted to come to the empire with me.
She looked at me with a serious expression.
What will you do after going to the empire?
I'm a healthy man. There's always a way to live, right?
Thinking of becoming a noble here?
My steps stopped for a moment. Noble? Me?
Each planet is ruled by nobles. Ranked by production: baron, count, duke. In this planet's case, since primary resource production is main, hard to get high rank, but if recognized as the most promising person in this planet, can be recognized as baron. Can live in luxury in the capital with the planet's revenue for life.
Is that true?
I'm more knowledgeable about the empire's political system than you. I'm an imperial noble, after all.
You are a noble.
Thought a commoner would look down on me?
Just thought she was an impudent woman. I stored that thought deep in my heart.
Yeah. First, it seems wheat and livestock are produced a lot here, so sell them and buy better breeds of wheat and livestock. In the international society, the ones with high commodity value.
After that, keep selling wheat and livestock, use the money to attract factories of multinational corporations. What do you think?
The population isn't large compared to the size of this planet. To get people for factories, it seems we need to accept many immigrants from planets with bad economic situations. If possible.
…!
She showed a surprised expression.
Amazing. Where did you learn such knowledge?
Didn't learn from anywhere. Just thought it up myself.
At that answer, she seemed to sigh.
Looking at it, you seem like a talented person. Without me, this planet would eventually be civilized by your leadership someday.
Flattery.
But with me, we can achieve civilization faster. At least because I know more about the empire's political system. How about it? Won't you join forces with me to become a noble?
A bit uneasy.Why? Because this trade was one-sidedly beneficial to me.What is she seeing to propose such a trade? Not pure goodwill.
What do you want in return for that?
Alliance.
Alliance?
Actually, I'm in a politically quite difficult position. Need more allies. Can't tell details, but if you ally with my family in the future, I'll be grateful for that alone and help you.
Ambiguous.Couldn't figure out what she wanted.Even if I could explain the difficult situation, it would be good.
Specifically what…
Can't tell.
Can't tell.
Do I have to? Or not?Logically, maybe refusing is better.But it's true I have almost no knowledge of space.Through this watch, I learned a lot, but basically this is elementary textbook. My knowledge of space is basically beyond elementary.Thinking about the future, it's true that I need a sharp assistant about space. And if only according to her words, my future life will be smooth.Even if she has some scheme to betray me, the one with the lead is me. I could betray first anytime.'Have no choice.'
After organizing various situations, it seems better to listen to her words first.
First, make my tribe larger than now. Then recognize as noble on this planet. That's where everything starts.