Chapter 511: A Changed Situation (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 511: A Changed Situation (3)
The sky was clear.
Standing guard at the 1st Defense Line, Jang Yun-tae looked up at the blue sky and let out a deep sigh.
"Haaah."
Jang Yun-tae was from Busan.
Since childhood, he had been hailed as a prodigy. His talent was recognized early on, earning him a coveted spot in Baek-il, South Korea's top guild. Moving from the provinces to Seoul—it was the textbook elite path. On the day he left Busan years ago, his friends had cheered him on. They told him they always knew he would make it big and urged him to return home in glory one day.
He had believed in himself.
With his talent and social skills, he was sure he could use Baek-il as a springboard to soar even higher.
But now, everything had gone to hell.
After being dragged away by Park Min-woo yesterday, Jang Yun-tae was subjected to a torrent of verbal abuse unlike anything he had ever experienced in his entire life.
"You crazy bastard. Have you lost your mind? Are you insane? Yeah, you must be. There's no way you'd say something like that unless you were completely out of your mind. Fuck, what did I tell you with my eyes? I signaled you countless times with my eyes to back me up and show Baek-il's sincerity, because Lord Roman Dmitry is someone we absolutely cannot afford to offend! But what? A teeeest? If you couldn't read my eyes, you should have at least kept your damn mouth shut! I can't kick you out of Baek-il because too many eyes are on us, but keep acting like that and see if you don't end up dead."
The Mage in White.
That so-called apostle of justice was nowhere to be found.
He had no idea how he was supposed to read someone's eyes, but he still had to endure a lengthy barrage of curses—all because of the mistake he made in front of Roman Dmitry. Jang Yun-tae felt utterly miserable. He had once enjoyed Park Min-woo's absolute trust, but ever since Roman Dmitry got involved, he had been branded as the ugly duckling.
Where on earth did things go wrong?
The decisions he had made based on pure common sense had turned him into complete trash the moment he encountered the absurd.
"Go on in and get some rest."
"Good work."
His shift was over.
Roman Dmitry had organized the shifts to ensure proper stamina management, allowing everyone to get sufficient rest despite the chaotic situation of the Great Disaster. Yet, even on his way back to the quarters, Jang Yun-tae's sighs didn't stop. As he trudged along with a heavy heart, he turned on his phone and immediately received a text message.
[Yun-tae. Is everything you said about Roman Dmitry yesterday really true?]
It was a friend from his hometown.
He stopped in his tracks.
While exchanging messages with this friend yesterday, Jang Yun-tae had babbled extensively about Roman Dmitry.
It was entirely intentional.
He had judged this to be his chance to make up for his mistake.
'The Guild Master swore loyalty to Roman Dmitry. If I take the initiative to elevate Roman Dmitry's reputation, the Guild Master will have no choice but to see me in a new light. Yes. Anyone can make a mistake. But depending on how you make up for it, you can actually leap even higher.'
He began typing a reply, detailing Roman Dmitry and just how incredible of a figure he was.
His fingers flew across the screen, detailing and proving Roman Dmitry's achievements. A reply from his friend arrived shortly after.
[Can you do me a favor? Set up a meeting for us to speak with Lord Roman Dmitry.]
"Hehehe."
It was exactly as he expected.
Busan would definitely want to establish a good relationship with Roman Dmitry.
When they inevitably asked who had made his greatness known, Jang Yun-tae would step forward and monopolize Park Min-woo's favor once again.
* * *
The same sky.
But a completely different feeling.
While Jang Yun-tae felt as if the sky were falling, Park Min-woo thought the blue sky was absolutely beautiful.
'This is what living is. This is life.'
He felt deeply satisfied. In fact, he was overwhelmed with emotion.
Yesterday, Roman Dmitry had made his intentions clear.
Although Baek-il had argued that it wasn't true justice, what mattered to Park Min-woo was the fact that he was included in the category of "people" Roman Dmitry spoke of. How thrilling was that? He had always looked up to the Heavenly Demon, and he was driven mad with joy by the fact that he had finally become one of his people.
World peace?
Justice?
He couldn't care less about such things.
His life as the Mage in White was perfectly completed the moment he became Roman Dmitry's subject.
'The people of Incheon probably have no idea what an immense blessing this is. Just like Dmitry in my past life, just like the Demonic Cult in my past life... Becoming one of the Heavenly Demon's people means having a reliable backing that will never turn its back on me, no matter the situation. I have finally entered the Heavenly Demon's fold. I am one of his people now.'
His eyes welled with tears.
Overwhelmed by the hot surge of emotion, he had to repeatedly wipe his eyes with his sleeve.
Right then, a man approached him.
'Jang Yun-tae.'
He was a thorn in his side.
A nuisance who ruined things at every turn.
If not for his own reputation as the Mage in White, Jang Yun-tae would have already crossed the boundary between life and death several times over.
Jang Yun-tae approached and spoke.
"Guild Master. I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
The atmosphere felt strange.
Jang Yun-tae spoke in a voice brimming with confidence.
"Just a moment ago, Busan conveyed their desire to contact Lord Roman Dmitry."
"...Busan? Why?"
"Hehehe, that is because I explained to them just how incredible Lord Roman Dmitry is. His tremendous achievements of defeating the S-Rank monster, the Green Dragon, in a single blow, and wiping out the Monster Wave on the day of the Red Time—I informed Busan of all of it. It just so happens that my friend is a high-ranking official in the Busan government, so it seems Lord Roman Dmitry's deeds have spread throughout all of Busan. From what I gathered, the Busan government seems inclined to abandon the Central Government and follow Lord Roman Dmitry."
Park Min-woo's mind raced.
What Jang Yun-tae had done... was this actually a good thing?
No.
Roman Dmitry had clearly stated that he would prioritize the safety of Incheon above all else.
The reason the Busan government had contacted them after hearing the rumors was highly likely to seek Roman Dmitry's help, not simply to praise his achievements. If so, the purpose of this contact was obvious. At a time when they had to focus entirely on Incheon's safety, Roman Dmitry would not welcome Busan's contact.
Therefore:
An unwelcome matter → Jang Yun-tae's doing → Jang Yun-tae is Park Min-woo's subordinate → Roman Dmitry is highly likely to hold Park Min-woo responsible → Roman Dmitry becomes disappointed in him due to this unwelcome matter.
It was a miraculous train of thought.
His expression completely stiffened.
Unaware of this, Jang Yun-tae looked at him with sparkling eyes, practically begging for praise.
Park Min-woo's brow furrowed.
"This bastard is really..."
Jang Yun-tae flinched.
Once again, he realized it too late.
Park Min-woo's flushed face wasn't flushed with joy, but with pure anger.
Realizing he had done something entirely contrary to Park Min-woo's intentions, Jang Yun-tae quietly lowered his gaze.
* * *
Fortunately, there were no major issues.
Roman Dmitry accepted Busan's call, and Cha Young-min, the Mayor of Busan, got straight to the point.
[Please help us. If you help Busan, we will follow Lord Roman Dmitry from now on, not the Central Government.]
It was exactly as expected.
Just as the rumors suggested, what Busan wanted was Roman Dmitry's power.
They hoped that the power which had blown away an S-Rank monster in a single blow would resolve the disaster that had struck Busan.
Roman Dmitry spoke calmly.
"Why should we help Busan? We have no obligation to take responsibility for the safety of other regions."
[...]
On the other side of the screen, Cha Young-min's face was painted with bewilderment.
It was different from the rumors.
Jang Yun-tae had painted Roman Dmitry as an apostle of justice, but Roman Dmitry was not the type to help others out of a simple sense of righteousness. Cha Young-min was quick-witted. Though they had only exchanged a few words, he knew that appealing to a sense of justice would not convince Roman Dmitry.
[...I admit it. There is no reason for Incheon to risk itself to help Busan. In fact, when I heard the news that a Monster Wave had occurred in Incheon, I only reinforced Busan's defenses. I didn't have the slightest intention of helping Incheon. Even so, we want to survive. Knowing how selfish and reckless of a request this is, as the person responsible for Busan's safety, I had no choice but to contact Lord Roman Dmitry.]
He spoke with sincerity.
He did not beat around the bush.
[I heard that you declared rebellion against the Central Government. Every region in South Korea, except for Seoul, harbors resentment toward the Central Government. We only follow them because we must survive. No local government welcomes those who only look out for their own safety whenever a Great Disaster strikes. Take us. Take the entirety of South Korea. If you save our lives, we will never forget our gratitude. We will truly follow Lord Roman Dmitry, who saved us from the depths of hell, rather than the Central Government that has always turned its back on the provinces.]
It was treason.
Treason was problematic even if it was just an intention, but to Cha Young-min, such things did not matter at all.
He was at the edge of a cliff.
Right now, survival was all that mattered.
As long as they could survive, serving Roman Dmitry, a foreigner, was not difficult in the slightest.
[Lord Roman Dmitry possesses the power that a coward like me lacks. Please, help us.]
On the other side of the screen, Cha Young-min bowed his head.
He said no more.
In the heavy silence that descended, Cha Young-min awaited Roman Dmitry's decision.
Cha Young-min's words, his sincerity, and the benefits to be gained from Busan did not matter at all.
Roman Dmitry could build a new world without anyone's help, but that did not mean he would reject the entire world. Reigning was impossible alone. There had to be land to rule beyond Incheon, and in that land under his control, there had to be subjects who looked up to him.
Therefore, he intended to take over the entirety of South Korea eventually.
While Roman Dmitry excluded those who did not follow him, those who bowed their heads and approached him first were treated differently.
He already knew Busan well.
While preparing for the Great Disaster, Roman Dmitry had investigated the entirety of South Korea.
It was an unusual move.
At a time when others were worrying about their immediate safety, he was already drawing up plans to swallow South Korea whole.
However, that did not mean he would help them right this moment.
"My priority is the safety of Incheon's citizens. Incheon does not currently possess sufficient military power, and I do not wish for Incheon to be endangered by my absence. For the next two days, during the Red Time, hold out by any means necessary. If you are still alive in two days..."
Their gazes met.
Cha Young-min met Roman Dmitry's gaze with trembling eyes.
"Then, I will accept you. And I do not turn away from the safety of my people."
* * *
Click.
The communication ended.
Cha Young-min stared at the darkened screen with a complex expression.
'...The next two days. Can we hold out?'
Through their contact with Roman Dmitry, they had avoided the worst-case scenario.
Fortunately, they had secured a promise of support, but holding out for two days in the midst of a Monster Wave was a monumental task.
Even so, hope began to stir in Cha Young-min's heart.
"To not turn away from the safety of his people. What a rare, romantic notion in this chaotic world."
It was different from before.
The Central Government's help was always indefinite.
Based on the vague standard of waiting until 'Seoul's safety' was secured, they often only mobilized days after the Red Time had ended. By then, the local governments had already been devastated. Even if they protested the injustice of the Central Government's actions, they were forced to shut their mouths when threatened with a complete lack of future aid.
But now, Roman Dmitry had given them a timeline of two days.
A promise to help Busan once the variables cleared after two days.
Trust began to form.
Though he did not know much about Roman Dmitry, he felt that the man was not one to make promises he could not keep.
The presence of hope.
The difference it made was immense.
Though he had thought this was the end, Cha Young-min could now envision a future.
It was an absurd belief.
Receiving help in two days.
Resolving Busan's crisis with merely the power of Incheon.
Even though he knew it made no sense logically, for once, he wanted to believe that miracles existed.
Cha Young-min summoned his leadership.
He spoke to his people.
"From this moment on, Busan will enter a desperate battle to the death, with no regard for the future. Just two days. Hold out for just two days."
Roman Dmitry.
They staked the fate of Busan on his promise.