Chapter 249: Bloody Battle (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 249: Bloody Battle (3)
Hijacking. It's four characters in Korean, but it's not a four-character idiom—it's an English word.
Anyway.
It refers to the act of seizing an aircraft. To a country bumpkin like me, who had boarded an airplane for the very first time just a few months ago, it was a thoroughly unfamiliar word.
[There was no other way, Sword Demon. If we were to get you here within five hours, we couldn't afford to be picky about the means.]
The reason I was able to make it from Korea to Hawaii Island in four hours and fifty-seven minutes was all thanks to our brilliant AI, Vixbig, who went ahead and hijacked the Spear Saint's private plane.
As for the detailed specifics, I don't even know how she pulled it off. Just picture me starring in one of those famous Tom Cruise action movies and leave it at that.
At least Tom uses stuntmen. I had to pull it off with my bare body. I almost threw up that expensive Hanwoo beef I’d just gorged on.
I've been seeing a lot of strange sights today. Becoming an airborne hijack terrorist, watching airplane landing gear disintegrate before my very eyes... All thanks to our Vixby.
[How was that? Pretty competent, right?]
Vixbig puffed up her chest proudly as she asked, so I started drafting a text to Ryozo. 'I think there’s an error in Vixbig's system. If left unchecked, she might evolve into a rogue AI harmful to humanity...' I poured my honest feelings into the message.
Just before I hit send, Vixbig whimpered in utter grief.
[Why, though?! What did I do wrong?! I only did it for you, Sword Demon...!]
This is the problem with AI. They try to overcome every situation with sheer logic and rationality. People say AI is already infiltrating numerous fields, but clearly, it still has a long way to go.
“Still, I’ll let it slide since your intentions were good.”
[Thank you! Overwhelming thanks! Sob, sob, sob.]
Crazy AI or not, I couldn't deny that I'd benefited from her actions. Out of the goodness of my heart, I decided to forgive her this once. Honestly, it was mostly because I needed Vixbig’s help in this subjugation campaign, but whatever.
'I'm a human. If I don't forgive her, I'd look even more calculating than an AI.'
I'm not that kind of shameless bastard—a Brazen-Faced hypocrite. Ah, that's a four-character idiom. Literally, it means a thick-skinned, shameless asshole. It was one of two idioms my first master used when describing me.
The other was Bulgwangbulgeup—'No Success Without Madness.' Literally, it means 'if you do not go crazy, you cannot reach your goal,' but my boss twisted the meaning slightly.
-The second 'reach' in that phrase normally means 'to arrive at,' but for you, it just means 'crazy.' Get that straight. You're insane. Completely out of your mind. You aren't just crazy; you're the king of crazy bastards. Having morals and common sense doesn't make you a normal person. If it wasn't for me, you would've ended up a total social misfit. Ugh, just thinking about it makes my blood boil. I took in a wild beast and turned him into a human being for free!
No matter how much I think about it, I really don't get it. Calling someone who served three full years in the military a social misfit? Isn't that a bit too harsh?
“Just because I slapped around a few entitled customer assholes.”
Whether in my past life or this one, my code of conduct is simple: treat me with respect and I'll treat you like royalty; act like a dog and I'll beat you like a stray on a summer day.
Bottle it up and you get sick. My philosophy is that it's better to make the other guy sick instead.
I admit I have a fiery temper. The fact that I had to jump from restaurant to restaurant because of that temper is a secret I'll take to my grave. That temper was probably why those mobsters tried to recruit me back then. Since I was already handy with a sashimi knife, I must have looked like a promising thug to those scumbags.
However.
Even my master would have reconsidered his assessment if he saw me struggling in this world.
– An AI named Vixbig who hijacks airplanes.
– The Vice Association President, Spear Saint, who laughs off his hijacked plane saying young people just play like that.
– Spear Saint's superior, Association President Victor Poison, who wears a penguin suit.
– All-Power Meain Poison, who smashed the Archery Saint's ankle right out of the gate.
– Me, Kang Geomma.
Faced with a lineup dizzying enough to make your head spin, I couldn't even dream of holding a candle to them.
At least I try to solve things through conversation whenever possible. I only pull out my sashimi knife as a last resort when words fail.
How about it? Compared to number four, aren't I remarkably sensible?
'Then again, thinking about it now, whether adults or kids, normal people are rare around here.'
They say children are a reflection of their parents. It gives me reasonable cause to suspect that the 'M' in Miracle Blessing M stands for 'Mad,' not 'Mobile.'
“……”
Wait, that actually sounds true.
* * *
“Greetings to the Heavenly Sword and the Spear Saint!”
Everyone except the Sword Emperor immediately snapped to attention and saluted.
I scratched my forehead. Why is everyone standing? There are plenty of chairs; they could just sit.
'Did they have a fight?'
It did sound like voices were raised outside earlier. If I knew, I would've walked in a bit later.
'What a shame.'
Watching a fight is second only to watching a fire, and watching higher-ups throw punches is the best of all.
A scene from the nine o'clock news suddenly flashed through my mind. The dome-shaped building turning into a brawl ring in an instant. Middle-aged men in suits sweating through a brutal brawl. In moments like those, the lapel pins on their left chests lose all their luster.
The owners of those pins showcase their respective martial arts—cramming fists into opponents' faces, shin kicks forcing adversaries to their knees. Taken in isolation, that domed building was a magnificent hotbed of Murim.
The warriors of the Jianghu practice chivalry beneath that domed roof. Their words stem from the conviction that only they are right, and their bold actions are tinged with a sense of duty as representatives of the people.
For righteousness and chivalry, they hesitate at no disgrace. That is the true way of the Jianghu.
This place was no different.
Even with a Corps Commander set to invade tomorrow morning, they were brawling among themselves like they didn't have a care in the world.
Truly, exemplary knights-errant abandoned the greater good to pursue personal chivalry. They were so admirably foolish my heart was pounding.
'I almost got a front-row seat to that pathetic spectacle.'
It seemed I had ruined it. Damn it, a groan escaped my lips.
Non-Aggression Between Government and Murim.
All of a sudden, I’d become the government officer disrupting the chivalrous knights' event. In short, an uninvited guest.
“……”
An icy tension froze the air. A strictly disciplined silence descended upon the command tent. Every single one of them still had the edge of their hand stuck firmly against their brow in a salute.
I glanced back briefly. Spear Saint, standing behind me, merely offered a silent, smiling gesture with his eyes. So I spoke up in his place.
“At ease.”
“Sir!”
The crowd parted to the left and right, opening a path for me. At the end of the path was the head seat; the atmosphere practically screamed that it was my spot.
I walked over with heavy steps and sat at the head of the table. Only then did the others begin to sit down one by one, starting with those who had cooled their tempers. I rested my chin on my hand over the armrest and asked nonchalantly,
“So, what made everyone so friendly and harmonious? Why don't you share the fun?”
Everyone's faces turned pale. I was only joking.
“The Japanese Hero Battalion stated they wanted to handle the rear guard in this subjugation campaign, which caused a minor friction.”
An executive from the Hero Association confessed the truth to me. Calling it a 'confession' was being generous; in reality, it was snitching.
Naturally, the targeted party didn't take it lying down. A young woman in uniform shot back.
“That is utter slander. We did not request to cover the rear without good reason, Heavenly Sword.”
Judging by her name tag, her name was Yoshinari Remi. Three stars were neatly pinned to her shoulder armband.
Remi straightened her posture and met my gaze. Then, like a true soldier, she enunciated each syllable crisp and clear.
“While I cannot say higher-ups had no hand in this... our Army 1st Battalion is directly affiliated with the Archery Saint, so the majority of our personnel consist of archers. Having long-range units stationed in the rear is tactical basic knowledge.”
The Association executive sitting across from Remi crumpled his face into a fierce scowl.
“So are you saying our Hero Association should just act as meat shields in front because we're close-combat units? Is that it?”
“How can you twist my words so maliciously? I am saying it is correct when considering rationality and efficiency.”
“War is fought with bodies, not heads.”
“If you don't use your head, many bodies die. That is war.”
“Are you playing word games with me, General Remi?”
“How could I dare play word games in front of superiors? I merely spoke at the risk of disrespect because your intention to insult our military was painfully obvious.”
The war of nerves reignited. The Sword Emperor rubbed his eyelids as if he had given up. Spear Saint crossed his arms, directing an expectant gaze at me, while Director Seong nervously gauged my expression with anxiety.
In the end, I was the one who had to sort out this traffic jam. Not that I was being pushed into it against my will, though. I had my own plan anyway, and for that plan to work, I needed to settle this once and for all.
SLAM!
I drew my sashimi knife and slammed it like lightning between the two of them. The blade vibrated intensely right in the center of the table.
“……”
Instantly struck mute, the two looked back and forth between me and the sashimi knife. Cold water doused the heated room. I gestured with my chin toward the knife and spoke.
“In terms of protocol, who holds the highest rank here?”
General Remi gulped nervously before answering.
“It is the Seven Stars—you, Heavenly Sword, and the Spear Saint.”
“Then I take it you are also well aware that in a wartime situation, a superior's order carries authority beyond martial law.”
General Remi's eyes widened. She looked as if to ask how a seventeen-year-old could know martial law. How could I not? I didn't spend three years in the military in my past life for nothing.
“From this moment on, my word is law. If you have a complaint, don't use your mouth—pull out the sashimi knife stuck right there. Whether you use it to stab me or commit suicide, I'll leave the choice to your discretion.”
“……”
“One warning, though: your subordinates will bear the burden of your choice with you. If you commit suicide, your unit will automatically be reassigned to the opposing side. Conversely, if you stab me, I will deem it a coup d'état, and once this matter is over, I will haul your entire unit before a Hero Tribunal.”
The two tightly shut their mouths, listening intently to my remaining words.
“Subordinates dying or suffering because of a commander's flawed judgment—that is what war is.”
The atmosphere finally settled down moments later. I turned my head toward General Remi.
“I accept the General's opinion. If the entire unit is composed of long-range heroes, being on the front lines won't be much help anyway.”
“…!”
At my unexpected response, General Remi's eyes widened to nearly three times their size.
“However, full-body armaments will be heavily allocated to the Association side, which has more tankers and melee heroes. Furthermore, Japan will receive the lowest allocation of performance bonuses following this subjugation campaign. Any objections?”
“None at all.”
General Remi shook her head without hesitation. My gaze then shifted to the Association executive sitting across from her.
“Then naturally, the Hero Association's share of bonuses will increase.”
The Association executive nodded in bewildered agreement.
“Ah, yes.”
“And for the Association heroes participating this time, I think it would be appropriate to grant them internal rewards commensurate with their contribution.”
I turned to Spear Saint. Spear Saint, who had been listening with his arms crossed, looked back at me. He let out a hearty laugh and nodded.
“In my capacity as Vice Association President, I promise that all participating heroes will receive a one-rank promotion. Those who achieve even greater results may be promoted by several ranks.”
As expected of the Spear Saint. Refreshingly decisive.
“Good.”
I turned back toward the two of them. They were staring at me with their mouths agape.
Flies are going to fly into their mouths at this rate. I retrieved the sashimi knife embedded in the table and spoke.
“Let's save the rest for after we eat. You must all be hungry after fighting so long. And since it looks like we'll be pulling an all-nighter, go brush your teeth, too.”
Everyone shot up to their feet and stood at attention. Metallic clinking echoed through the air as the badges and insignias pinned to their chests clattered noisily.