Breaching the Great Wall's Taboo
The inner fortress council chamber reeked of damp moisture and acrid candle smoke.
Thick candle flames flickered atop brass holders, casting the shadows of the assembled officers over the map like grotesque monsters on the walls. The silence between them hung cold and heavy as ice.
Jinhyuk stared blankly down at the premium feast on the table, prepared by the Black Tiger head chef.
It was the Outpost's finest banquet, made from spoils hunted from the Three Great Demonic Beasts and countless lesser monsters, slaved over all evening by Cheonrangdae's top cook.
But to Jinhyuk, it was just a colorless, odorless lump of organic matter too tough to chew.
"Ah, is this real life screwing me over... I finally scrape together some internal energy after that deathmatch, and it nukes my taste and smell entirely? What is this, isekai self-quarantine? No flavor at all, why the hell am I even eating this. Everything's such a pain..."
Jinhyuk grumbled low, spitting out a chunk of meat.
His casual modern Korean mutter made the officers flinch at the 'chill' laced in their commander's voice.
In his deep funk, Jinhyuk shakily dipped a brush into ink from supplies Han Noya had scrounged, scrawling briefly on a bamboo slip.
He picked simple characters, then dropped his head.
[No Appetite / Severance]
Brigade adjutant Beom Dal peeked at the note, his face paling instantly.
He whipped his head toward the officers, roaring dramatically.
"Behold, all of you! Our commander is so drowned in profound sorrow and despair that even this precious feast sticks in his throat!"
"The Great Wall bastards have severed our backroom deals with one stroke, tossing us as 'bait' before the beasts—and in this horrific reality, his soul is tearing itself apart in grief!"
"Can't you feel his agony, worrying for Cheonrangdae's future to the point he forgets to eat?!"
The Black Tiger chef blanched and dropped to his knees.
"Commander! If my cooking has offended you, kill me! But even in this forsaken state, filling your hunger is my sole calling!"
The officers bowed as one.
Then Administrative Officer No Hwi restrained him, flipping open ledgers for a grim report.
"Biho, it's not about the commander's appetite now."
"Commander, the intel from Han Noya is clear. After So Jinpyeong's visit, the winds inside the Great Wall shifted completely."
"Low officers who devoured bribes like candy vanished overnight. Gates slammed shut, bars dropped. Even our usual smuggling routes are sealed."
"This reeks of 'wartime lockdown'—the Great Wall cutting all outside ties, holing up behind their walls."
"Our Outpost, dozens of li away, is no longer li away? No longer under Yeon's protection. Confirmed as an isolated 'discard pawn' to slow the beasts even a little."
Scout captain Gwi Yeong spat into the shadows, growling roughly.
"Other factions are a sight too. Regular Corps, Black Snake bastards— their Great Wall lifelines cut, they're soul-crushed."
"Rumors say their envoys can't even approach, chased off. They sniffed it: Great Wall plans to meat-shield us slaves, wipe the whole plain with us when beasts swarm."
"Panic makes 'em unpredictable. God knows what madness they'll pull."
Demolition Company Commander slammed his fist on the floor, furious.
"Even repair materials for the Outpost walls cut off? Block beasts barehanded? Same difference!"
Jinhyuk propped his chin, eyeing the heated meeting, muttering.
"Gates shut? Telling us to fend for ourselves, huh. Ha, seen this movie before... Bankrupt factory owner skips wages, ghosts overnight."
"We're suddenly contract temps trapped in a shuttered plant. Sucked dry, now 'not my problem,' shut down. Just starve here, that's the play."
But screw dying easy. Since it's come to this, make bows, crossbows? Can't just gawk from the walls.
Jinhyuk sorted his thoughts slowly, brushing the bamboo slip again.
[Archers / Crossbowmen / Conscription]
Beom Dal's face stiffened briefly, then he slammed the table, proclaiming.
"It is the commander's order! The Great Wall's laws mean nothing now!"
"Conscript every Cheonrangdae veteran skilled with bows or crossbows at once!"
"Slave soldiers bearing ranged weapons is taboo—but our survival trumps the cowards inside the walls!"
"Two hundred engineer alums: set up secret workshops, craft bows, crossbows, arrows immediately!"
"Demolition Company: reinforce walls with arrow slits for archers and crossbowmen!"
"If the Great Wall abandons us, we'll guard this land with our own fire net!"
The chamber fell deathly silent. Slave ranged arms meant execution by Great Wall law—the ultimate taboo.
Then, silent First Brigade leader Doksa spoke in a low, raspy sink.
"Commander. The instant we draw bows and crossbows, we're no longer Yeon's army. Labeled 'rebel scum.'"
"If Wall inspectors raid and find one crossbow? Enemy strikes before ours do—friendly blades take our heads. Bear that?"
The officers shivered at defying the Great Wall taboo for independent firepower.
"They're barricading to starve us anyway. Where's 'friendly'? Sit and die or fight and die—same odds, might as well loose an arrow first. Less grudge."
Jinhyuk waved them off weakly.
"Alright, everyone out and move. I'm beat too."
The officers withdrew crisply. In the emptied chamber, Jinhyuk and Beom Dal remained—soon joined by Hwang-yeonggam and three old soldiers, plus fanatic Dokmun. The 'Survival Ghosts' and All Demons Mine's chief 'Dokmun.'
Jinhyuk gave Hwang-yeonggam and the Ghosts a hollow chuckle first.
"Elder, you heard? Han Noya's warning hit reality. Great Wall really crossed the line."
"Gotta band together now or die. Lone packs get picked off. Time to choose: unite with us, or old ways—end up beast buffet."
Jinhyuk firmly etched the bamboo slip.
[Han Noya Warning / Grand Unity / Fend for Self / Choose]
Beom Dal relayed in chilling, Central Plains warrior style.
"To Hwang-yeonggam and Survival Ghosts: the commander says Han Noya's warning is here. Great Wall shoved us to hell, barred the gate."
"Lone wolves scavenging? Eaten alive by field beasts or vile horse-nomad scum. Pathetic ends."
"Choose! Grand unity with Cheonrangdae to break this hell—or solo survival, dog death!"
The Ghosts' eyes wavered.
They'd survived the Outpost as vet packs grabbing pragmatism—but Wall's back-turn meant isolation now.
Hwang-yeonggam puffed his pipe deep, exhaling a long sigh-smoke wheeze.
"Han Noya clamming up means it's dire, yeah. Commander Kang, we know scattering's death. No fending solo—beast shit's mercy."
"Watch how Cheonrangdae weathers this. Us old ghosts'll confer, let ya know."
Jinhyuk nodded, then called Dokmun last.
"Dokmun, good work this time. Food promised, poison herbs, even extra military gear from Han Noya—generous pile."
"Pay sorcery right, you'll stick for future. Horsefolk kids or bigger beasts ahead—we roll together, yeah?"
Jinhyuk tapped ledgers, writing.
[Herbs / Poisons / Food — Promise Kept]
Beom Dal's voice carried grave dignity.
"Dokmun chief. Commander praises All Demons Mine's feats in the purge."
"Beyond promised food, herbs, meds—extra military gear from Han Noya deals."
"Not mere pay. Token of commander's 'promise': watch each other's backs against foes ahead."
"True reward makes risking this hell worthwhile, no?"
Dokmun's mask gleamed eerie light.
"Cheonrangdae commander... different caliber. We All Demons Mine repay fair pay per our code."
"Know solo here's isolation. Long as you pay promises true, we ally with Cheonrangdae."
Jinhyuk dismissed them all, sinking deep into his chair.
Gloom still crushed his shoulders; mouth thick, senseless.
A red system message blinked in vision's corner.
> Taste/Smell Loss Remaining: 15:48:32
"Sigh... Trust schmust, no meat flavor kills the vibe. System, no taste back by morning? I'll finagle something..."
Jinhyuk entered his quarters in the inner office corner, snuffed the candle, lay on the wooden bunk alone.
Outside, faint sounds of secretly shifting supplies and materials.
The Great Wall's gate-shut was their freedom—but when it reopened, Cheonrangdae's face wouldn't be the wretched slaves they knew.