Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Schrödinger's Crown Prince (1)
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I sent the cows back to the Chunsik Ranch.
There were soldiers at the city gates too, but city walls are strong against attacks from outside—vulnerable to those from within.
As the soldiers screamed and leaped aside, the gate was breached in no time. The Dutchmen, caught up in a frenzy of cattle-driving revelry, burst out after them.
Taking advantage of the chaos, I dashed west—opposite the cows—and linked up with Eoji and Jangbok, who were hiding in Inwangsan.
This was my hideout inside the capital.
Officially, there was no connection between Yeon-i and the Jangdong Kim clan. Even those in the know only whispered about "that servant's wife from their house."
And none of those "in the know" had breathed a word to King Yeongjo. Scrutinizing every such connection would require house searches for a tenth of Hanyang's population.
So this place was safe. The only ones who knew I was here were me, Hong Bonghan, and Kim Seong-eung—bound by our vow to protect the Crown Prince since the Pacheon days.
Yeon-i dropped her shaman act cold.
"What brings such a high noble to a shaman's home?"
I played along.
"We yangban may lack refinement, but I desperately need a auspicious day picked."
But Yeon-i said something odd.
She gazed down at the slopes of Inwangsan beyond the papered doors, then replied softly.
"No divination needed for that. Or rather... now, divination is impossible. That's precisely why it's unnecessary. My lord, you're no longer someone who needs to seek out an auspicious day."
Hey, what? Just shake some bells or scatter rice—anything. So passersby don't get suspicious.
But Yeon-i's face turned sorrowful.
"Please, never abandon my husband from here on. Keep him safe."
"What do you mean? Eoji is someone I trust with my heart. He won't leave me until I die."
"Your words alone fill me with gratitude. For now, please take shelter in the shrine."
"Very well."
What was with her? Something happen today?
Well, today would bring turmoil to many.
The pagan aura was a bit unsettling, but the shrine's quiet was a relief.
I sat cross-legged, lost in thought.
Acquiring Eulji Mundeok's flame skill had revealed one key fact.
As I'd suspected then, skills probably couldn't affect others.
From my position of needing to enthrone the Crown Prince, the most vital skill would be something like "Napoleon's Newspaper"—a wide-area mental ability. But the system made that all but impossible.
Hmm. Then items that could influence others, like Janggak's talisman last time, would be ideal. Even one-use ones. Something like "Rodong Sinmun Chief Editor's Pen" would be perfect.
The reason I'm drawing now, after all this time, is to slightly boost those odds.
The quests and rewards they give are all variable.
Narrow the situation, and you narrow the rewards.
By clearly defining what I must do, I can steer the rewards accordingly.
That woman—Status Window, was it? (No idea her name)—probably knows. But she can't just screw me over. Company policy or subscribers or whatever.
I looked up and smirked, channeling my deduction their way.
Unless they've got other jobs lined up, they can't strike out this time.
I ignored what sounded like a phantom curse or laugh. I opened the status window and probed the top-tier lottery box with Dark Exploration.
Qin Hui? The archetypal treacherous minister? A skill that clashes with my style?
Hmm. No. Even if useless now, in future power consolidation, Qin Hui's abilities could prove invaluable.
As I reasoned earlier, no hypnotizing rulers—but Qin Hui had other talents.
The Song traitor Qin Hui framed Yue Fei, fighting the Jurchens, and had him executed.
When asked Yue Fei's crime, Qin Hui uttered his famous line before the crowd.
"It may exist [Mo Xu You]."
Criminals aren't found—they're decided. This insight into justice's essence holds even in the 21st century.
Exactly what I need.
Replacing the degenerate Yue clan—groomed by Qing emperors to serve their Jurchen ancestors' foes—I'll carry on as Haedong's Yue Fei, this Kim Unhaeng. Watch out, you Qin Hui wannabes flooding the court.
I drew the top-tier lottery without hesitation, dumping in all my amassed mage silver.
Why the nonstop phantom voices? Now laughter?
I'm a reasonable man. Instead of smashing expensive shrine fixtures, I swung my fist at the status window.
But it registered as a touch.
Before I could even Dark Explore it, the E-grade lottery box (what remained after the A-grade vanished) was selected.
As I frantically hunted the cancel button, a message appeared.
I scrutinized the hanja.
After the blood oath incident, I'd memorized all previous kings' names. Not Tang Gaozu—our fastest monarch.
Unlike the twisted skills so far, this was straightforward, no room for interpretation.
A solid top-tier skill unexpectedly?
A hint of failure? Warning me to flee?
No. This "Kim Unhaeng Revolution" isn't historical—they can't predict it. So...
At that thought, Yeon-i's voice came from outside the shrine.
"The Drillmaster General sent a man."
In that instant, I forgot all about the skill.
The Royal Guard and Dragon Army had deployed to Seoul.
I flashed a triumphant smile.
Then I went to the large lottery box in the shrine corner, tapped the lid three times, and whispered.
"Crown Prince, Your Highness. You can come out now."
The Crown Prince was in Pyongyang.
But also in Seoul.
Everywhere—and thus nowhere.
The Sado Crown Prince, frolicking in the hazy probability cloud of overlapping multiverses, materialized in the physical realm through my observation.
This time, unlike that Imo year day, as "existence" rather than "non-existence."
Naturally, I'd hidden the Crown Prince—not the Dowager.
Like Gyeongbok Palace, Joseon rarely razed and rebuilt damaged palaces or offices. No money.
I'd secretly dug a rough basement under the un-searched Nakseonjae fire site and stashed him there for a couple days.
When Yeongjo's investigators gave up inside the palace and spread outward, I disguised him as a eunuch for escape.
And hid him at Yeon-i's.
For hiding methods, I referenced Yeongjo. Of course, no binding the box tight with stones—the Crown Prince came out for meals, then back in.
He seemed quite comfortable, actually. Got a talent for it?
Only I knew his whereabouts.
Hong Bonghan and Kim Seong-eung knew only that I had him—hence sending messengers.
To avoid being discarded like dirt once they held the military, the Crown Prince had to stay in my grasp alone.
From his state in that pitch-black box, trusting no one but me, he wouldn't defect now. He emerged the moment he heard my voice.
A bit haggard... no, plumper from good food and no movement. Tears streaming, he seized my hand.
"Chunsik! How you've suffered outside. Now it's my turn to repay your loyalty."
A most fitting royal decree. I'm ready for repayment.
I declared action begun.
Everyone buzzed—except Yeon-i, muttering oddly about gold chains on the box: "Guess we must enshrine the King of the Lottery Box now... Wonder if it's auspicious since the Crown Prince stayed there..."
Better to link up fast than skulk.
I took Eoji, Jangbok, Chobok, Jungbok, Malbok—the full Jangdong Kim guard—and hurried east down the mountain.
One issue: some Dutch cattle drivers, wandering Seoul after failing East Gate, tagged along mid-way. Quite the motley crew.
I tried shooing the filthy barbarians.
But the Crown Prince—oddly fond of foreigners—welcomed them, so we dragged them along.
Hong Bonghan and Kim Seong-eung were so shocked at our sight they forgot to bow to the Crown Prince—a minor hiccup. In the end, our Citizens' Revolution Party safely regrouped at the Border Defense Command before Changdeok Palace.
Kim Unhaeng nailed it from the start.
"Don't summon the officials yet. It's not time for the Crown Prince to show himself."
Royal Guard Commander Kim Seong-eung glanced at the Crown Prince.
But the Crown Prince just nodded at Kim Unhaeng.
At that clear signal, Kim Seong-eung asked uncertainly.
"Why? We must attack the Royal Guard headquarters quickly to chase the 'treacherous ministers who abducted our senile, confused king.'"
No battle yet.
The situation: explosions at Royal Guard and Capital Guard HQs while the king was away; barbarians festing in Jongno.
The Royal Drills exploited the chaos to delay Bukhansanseong, dispersing to key Seoul sites. The Dragon Army, returning without sailing due to "storm," did the same.
Gu Seonbok was still rounding up scattered troops amid the cattle fest.
Strike now for perfect victory. Nothing stronger or faster than the Crown Prince branding Gu a rebel.
As Kim Seong-eung said, only the Crown Prince could cry, "Aigoo! Those scum tricked my demented father away!"
Yet Kim Unhaeng insisted on securing an even stronger justification first.
"We must first find the Dowager's secret decree."
The Dowager wasn't someone Kim Unhaeng could command. Her deathbed words were an unexpected boon.
A "documented secret decree" would help even more.
The Dowager could legally decide Joseon's next king—even with the current one alive.
But one problem.
Hong Bonghan asked, baffled.
"Didn't the palace ladies unanimously testify no written edict?"
"No. If the Dowager intended no edict for the Crown Prince, she'd have just said a few vague words to quell suspicion. Ordering them to say 'none exists'—that's proof a real one hides elsewhere."
Hong Bonghan was awed.
"Indeed. But the Dowager's coffin followed the royal carriage... Middle Palace Lady Seo Gyeongdal too. How to find it?"
Lee Geum wasn't stupid. To dodge "playing soldier mid-national mourning" amid senility claims, he had to take the Dowager (corpse) and Queen (corpse).
He ditched the Inner Palace (alive) because they needed feeding, slowed the march, and might cause inner trouble. Corpses? No issues.
By now, Lee Geum had likely tortured Seo Gyeongdal via similar reasoning.
'That's why Seo didn't take it. Must be in the palace.'
But no time to invoke Grandpa (Chungheon-gong) for the Dowager's dying message. Kim Seong-eung raised the issue again.
"What if Gu Seonbok notices before we find it? Time's critical. Per your plan, we'd fight purely militarily."
Kim Unhaeng eyed Kim Seong-eung like a brazen customer. I'd set the board this well—what more?
Of course, Kim Unhaeng underestimated Kim Seong-eung. He had tactical reasons.
Drills and Dragon troops scattered citywide were dutifully culling cows and cleaning blasts. That justified Kim Seong-eung and Hong defying the king to enter.
Thus, the Border Defense Command was lightly guarded.
Luckily, Kim Seong-eung didn't need to explain.
Seeing is believing. The crisis he feared—sans battle-savvy Hong or Kim Unhaeng—erupted.
"Royal Guard troops incoming!"
Gu Seonbok, trudging cow dung to half-regroup his troops, heard earth-shaking news before catching breath.
"Kim Unhaeng headed to Border Defense!"
Kim Unhaeng or Crown Prince might pass unrecognized, but Dutch dogs or Eoji's bearing? Hard to miss. Inevitable leak.
"Yes. Dragon Commander Kim Seong-eung went too."
"Where's the Drillmaster General?!"
"Th-the troops are spotted here and there, but we don't know the Drillmaster's location."
Gu Seonbok pierced the rebels' plot instantly.
Hong Bonghan was the king's in-law; Kim Seong-eung bore grudges.
Colluding with traitor Kim Unhaeng to seize old unit Royal Drills. Hong probably captured or dead.
Gu's character sucked, but not his generalship. He chose the sharpest counter here.
In political-military clashes, not supplies, numbers, or arms matter most.
Speed.
The scattered troops Kim Seong-eung fretted over felt like encirclement to Gu. No time for Drills and Dragon to unite, he judged.
So Gu abandoned further rallying, charging Border Defense.
Fewer numbers, but loyal zeal—and his unmatched prowess.
He'd long heard of Jangdong Kim's Dog-Beating Stick fame. Time to test against Noryeong Gu clan's supreme martial art.
"All officers and men—follow me to the death!"
A few who still prized life slipped away, but unbelievably low deserters for Joseon: 200 Royal Guards straight to Changdeok Palace.
Troops storming the palace looked the rebels.
Defending Border Defense: Yoon Pil-deok, Drills' staunchest Kim Unhaeng fan. First reformed by Kim as secret inspector in Hamgyong.
Royal Guards appeared; Yoon voiced what Gu wanted.
"Traitors storming the palace! Fire!"
Pre-formed ranks volleyed.
Joseon troops' identity—"mountain forts" and "cannon"—meant bravery in one-sided pounding from afar. Not cowardice; elves' trait is ranged DPS.
Royal Guards, post-Kim terror, had scant powder. Like elves sans arrows.
But Gu Seonbok was an orc mutant among elves.
Gu downed a distant gun officer with bow, then boar-charged as six subordinates fell to bullets.
Roaring a battle cry to startle orcs, Gu swept gunners with massive flail. Two men per swing—befitting famed martial house.
Won Gyun, hypnotized to steal Yi Sunsin's post, answered "How to command better?" thus:
"Shoot arrows far, swing clubs close—what's to ponder?"
His relative praised: even Cao Cao, slaughtering 400k foes, couldn't match.
But Gu avenged Won Gyun.
Surprise plus peerless valor pierced Drills' defense—like Won's tactics.
Yoon Pil-deok, top Drills marksman, ace of Jeon-gang, drew sword too.
But Yoon was old. Gu's flail too long, thick.
"Keurk!"
Yoon tumbled; Royal Guards surged.
Gu, most berserk, spun flail like pinwheel, breaking into Border Defense.
Desperate Kim Seong-eung yelled.
"You vile cur—does the Crown Prince here not meet your eyes?!"
But Gu, self-proclaimed king's intimate, shared one mind—er, regressed brain.
Brazen before Crown Prince, he bellowed Won Gyun's face.
"What Crown Prince rebels against father-king?! I'll punish you all!"
Reason Kim prioritized Dowager's edict: Crown Prince subordinate to king. Fatal Confucian bug; some troops wavered.
But Kim Unhaeng couldn't gloat vindication.
Gu spotted him, flail aimed.
"Kim Unhaeng! Unprecedented traitor! Come out! This elder will smash your skull personally!"
Kim Unhaeng sneered at Gu's intellect, reaching for bow.
But Eoji—trusted more than Jangbok, holding the bow (no bows escorting Crown Prince)—was marked priority kill, now brawling troops.
Jangbok better. In real fight, he'd dart behind master fast.
Kim Unhaeng cursed himself, activating skill in panic.
The untested special: 'Yi Yeon's Speed'.
[Yi Yeon (李昖)'s Speed]
[First-time activation]
Author's Note
1. Rodong Sinmun's chief editor wields major influence in North Korean ideology, often doubling as Party Propaganda chief (strictly, Propaganda cadre appointed editor).
2. Qing favored descendants of old loyalists for Confucian propaganda; one was Yue Fei's descendant Yue Zhongqi. Trusted general over three emperors, notably in Yongzheng's Dzungar campaign.
Considering Yue Fei died fighting Jurchens, it's humiliation. Contemporaries criticized Yue Zhongqi.
3. Post-Sado Crown Prince death, a shaman enshrining "King of the Lottery Box" emerged—likely because 'he died there.'