The Immortal Saint Hero (5)
The Joseon navy stationed at Byeokpajin was filled with nothing but an ominous atmosphere. Rumors had spread that the Japanese fleet numbered 133 ships. The soldiers were terrified, dreading the Japanese forces that could strike at any moment. Normally, Yi Sun-sin would have gathered his men by the shore and delivered a rousing speech to boost their morale. After all, his famous line—“If you seek to live, you shall die; if you seek to die, you shall live”—had come from the very address he gave before the Battle of Myeongnyang. Inspired by their commander’s words, the navy achieved a legendary victory that would echo through history. That triumph belonged not to Yi Sun-sin alone, but to the two thousand nameless sailors who fought alongside him.
But this time…
‘He must not have had time to prepare.’
Even though the Japanese fleet was only half a day away, Yi Sun-sin had yet to produce his speech. Morale had plummeted so low that desertions were imminent.
“We’re screwed.”
If things continued like this, the frightened sailors would never pull off the miracle of Myeongnyang. Yet I couldn’t exactly pressure Yi Sun-sin to deliver an unprepared speech. I’d seen enough live political addresses to know that a half-baked speech was worse than none at all. Forcing something out would only backfire. The real problem was that Yi Sun-sin showed no sign of finishing the address in the remaining half-day. Great speeches didn’t appear out of thin air; they required time, revision, and often the help of skilled writers. Even the most famous orations in history had gone through lengthy preparation. Yi Sun-sin’s speech was destined to be one of those legendary addresses. There was no way it could be written in a single day.
The worst part was that I didn’t know the full text. All I remembered was that single famous line. Yi Sun-sin was probably in the same position.
“We’re done for.”
While I was leaning against the counter at the general store, lost in thought, an idea struck me.
‘…What if I just write one myself?’
I didn’t know what Yi Sun-sin’s original speech had been, but I did know the great speeches of history. Hitler’s fiery rhetoric that built the worst cult of fanatics the world had ever seen, Winston Churchill’s inaugural address as Prime Minister… Even speeches from anime and manga came to mind. The one delivered by Commander Erwin of the Survey Corps before ordering the charge into certain death had been particularly powerful. If I blended them together, maybe I could craft something convincing. Since the system automatically translated speech and writing, using Korean wouldn’t cause any issues.
“……Let’s try it.”
It wouldn’t be the exact speech Yi Sun-sin had given in the original history, but we were already in an all-or-nothing situation. The Japanese armada was half a day away, and if left alone, the Battle of Myeongnyang would end in disaster.
‘As long as the result is the same, it doesn’t matter.’
Resolved, I grabbed a pen and opened a notebook. Then I began “plagiarizing” the speeches of history’s greatest figures.
*
Yi Sun-sin sat before a sheet of pristine white paper, brush in hand, lost in thought. It wasn’t a strategic concern about how to fight the battle.
‘I’ve failed to prepare a proper address. This is serious.’
War was won with strategy, but strategy was carried out by soldiers. And Yi Sun-sin knew well that the force that moved soldiers was morale. Yet he had no speech ready to lift their spirits. Time spent capturing Bae Seol had left him no room to write one.
“General, the men are growing restless.”
An Wi urged him, but Yi Sun-sin could not answer. Staring at the blank page, he had no idea what to write…
‘This is bad.’
Just as Yi Sun-sin faced the greatest crisis of his life, a voice called from outside.
—General, the Transcendent Choi has arrived.
“Choi the Transcendent? Let him in.”
The sliding door opened and Choi Seojun stepped inside. Yi Sun-sin regarded him with a puzzled expression.
“Transcendent Choi, what brings you here?”
“I thought you might be struggling with the speech, so I came to offer a small bit of help.”
“Oh? The speech?”
“Yes.”
Yi Sun-sin rose to his feet, his face brightening. He accepted the notebook Seojun handed him. As he read the words written inside, his eyes slowly widened, and a gasp escaped his lips.
“Heavens! You truly wrote this yourself?”
“I did.”
“This… this is truly masterful writing…!”
“What on earth does it say that you react so strongly? Whoa!”
An Wi, who had taken the notebook with a curious look, also drew in a sharp breath.
“Assemble the men at the harbor at once!”
“Understood!”
An Wi hurried out of the room.
*
The sound of waves was the only thing breaking the silence along the shore of Myeongnyang at dawn. Two thousand Joseon sailors stood in formation beneath the flickering light of torches. Their faces were filled with nothing but fear and despair. Yi Sun-sin, clad in his commander’s armor, walked slowly toward them. After sweeping his gaze over the terrified ranks, he opened his mouth.
“The Joseon navy will be defeated today.”
Shadows fell across the sailors’ faces. They already knew it was impossible for them to defeat the Japanese. Thirteen ships could never overcome a fleet of one hundred and thirty-three. Yet their general had just stated that grim fact as an inevitability. Someone asked in a trembling voice,
“Then… are we all going to die?”
“Yes. We will be annihilated, and these waters will become the grave of the Joseon navy.”
“Then why… why are we fighting?”
“Because we are the navy of Joseon. To pass our will on to the next generation.”
A famous line from a certain commander in fiction flowed from Yi Sun-sin’s lips.
“Over the past six years of struggle, I can honestly say that I have endured with only one thought in mind: the welfare of our people. The one word I have never known is ‘surrender.’”
Hitler’s speech to Nazi Germany echoed across the sea at Myeongnyang.
“However!”
He plagiarized again.
“What I fear more than surrender is the thought that if we fail to stop them here, every hope for justice and freedom in this land will vanish.”
George VI’s radio address to the nation.
“There is only one promise I can make to you.”
He plagiarized once more.
“I will stand as the shield at the forefront of the Joseon navy, shedding blood, toil, tears, and sweat.”
Winston Churchill’s inaugural address.
“Victory is not guaranteed. I cannot even promise that we will leave this battlefield without a single casualty.”
And then…
“Even so, I hope to march into battle alongside you.”
The legendary words of Admiral Yi Sun-sin rang out.
“If you seek to die, you shall live; if you seek to live, you shall die.”
“Those who wish to die—follow me.”
When Yi Sun-sin finished, a heavy silence fell. Only the sound of waves lapping against the shore remained. Then, at some point, applause broke the quiet. Clap, clap! It spread like wildfire among the sailors. Thud, thud, thud, thud! Their tridents struck the sand in unison.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
A thunderous roar shook the sea at Myeongnyang.
*
“Whoa.”
I clicked my tongue at the overwhelming reaction. A single speech had completely overturned the despairing mood. Blending those famous lines together really packed a punch. No wonder historical figures always gave speeches right before battle.
‘Incredible.’
It looked like some kind of fanatical cult. While I was marveling at the soaring morale of the navy, a scout’s urgent cry cut through the cheers.
“Enemy sighted!”
“The Japanese are here!”
Less than fifty li away, over a hundred Japanese warships were darkening the waters of Myeongnyang.
“Everyone, to the ships!”
At Yi Sun-sin’s booming command, the sailors scrambled aboard the thirteen turtle ships.
“Transcendent Choi, come with us!”
“Right.”
An Wi led me onto Yi Sun-sin’s flagship.
“Raise the anchors!”
“Row!”
The sailors moved swiftly across the deck, hauling up anchors and pulling hard at the oars. Whoosh…! Against the backdrop of the breaking dawn, the thirteen turtle ships cut across the sea at Myeongnyang. Bwooooo—! Trumpets blared in greeting as a swarm of terrifying Japanese warships surged forward like a dark tide. I gripped Napoleon’s Rifle tightly, tension coiling in my chest.
‘If things go south, I’ll just open the store and run.’
I had no intention of fighting here. Even without my help, Yi Sun-sin was fated to win the Battle of Myeongnyang. That was history. There was no reason for me to interfere. Besides, an E-class Hunter like me had no business on a battlefield like this.
“Hey, you there! What are you doing? Come help load the cannons!”
“Ah, yes!”
At the unknown officer’s shout, I quickly followed him. Whatever my personal feelings, I couldn’t just stand around while everyone else was working.
“Hurry it up!”
“Yes!”
‘Ugh, this is ridiculously heavy.’
Carrying the iron cannonballs was enough to make my arms cramp.
“When the drums start, load the cannonballs and light the fuse on the rope.”
“Huh? I’ve never handled a cannon before…”
“Just aim it. It won’t be that hard!”
The officer, short on hands, shoved a single cannon toward me before rushing off to help elsewhere.
“Whoa.”
They wanted me to fire this thing? I was staring at the cannon in dismay when—
Field Energy Detected.
Napoleon’s Rifle has unlocked a new trait.
【Cannonball General Napoleon】
—The hero of the French Revolution, Napoleon, dominated battlefields with cannons. No one on any battlefield could match Napoleon when it came to artillery.
Firepower: 500 | Accuracy: +60%
“…Huh?”
What was this?
Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!
Before I could even process the new trait, the drums began to beat.
“Fire the cannons!”
At the officer’s command, the sailors started firing. One of them who had been loading beside me shouted at me.
“What are you doing? Fire already!”
“Ah, yes!”
‘Screw it.’
I aimed at the nearest Japanese warship and lit the fuse. The rope burned down and ignited the cannon’s primer.
Boom—!
‘Ugh, why is it so loud?’
The thunderous roar made me wince. Then—
Kraaaang—!
The Japanese warship in the cannon’s path exploded with a deafening crash and began to sink.
“……Huh?”
What the—why was it going down?
‘W-was it poorly built?’
The sailor who had been yelling at me to fire stared at the sinking ship in shock.
“W-what did you just shoot?”
“Huh? I just did what you told me to…”
“Fire one more shot at that ship! Right now!”
“Ah, yes!”
Boooooom—!
—A m-monster!
Napoleon’s cannon announced the beginning of the Battle of Myeongnyang.