Chapter 13: I’ve been waiting for a long time

It wasn’t that Godeo’s decision was entirely incomprehensible.

After all, looking at the kill count exchange ratio, well…

Korea was the one that was attacked first, but the only people who died in Korea were the two who were guarding Manpasikjeok.

In comparison, Jae-in slaughtered the Tennouji, totaling a number that barely fell short of three digits, spread across seven high-speed boats.

Blood is thicker than water, and from the perspective of the ‘ordinary person’, no matter what a divine relic is, the Manpasikjeok is ultimately just a flute.

It’s not that Tennouji, who struck first, did well, but the Special Missions Department, who killed that many of their own countrymen, couldn’t be viewed favorably.

‘This is a disaster… Now it’s completely…’

‘It was true that there was no further punishment for the action… but Godeo-ssi, you shouldn’t have antagonized Korea there.’

However, that was only the perspective of ordinary people.

It was the viewpoint of those who understood nothing of the value of God’s Relics.

It was a perspective Godeo, as King, could not afford to take.

Naturally, Erika and Maria both sighed.

However, while Erika understood, some might wonder why Maria was reacting this way.

Maria’s wish was that there would be no more bloodshed, and in a way, this wish was nearly fulfilled.

The reason was, obviously, because it wouldn’t end like that.

The reason why Erika sighed was not just because of Godeo’s foolish judgment, but because of a separate, more crucial reason.

This decision of Godeo’s,

His words,

Were actions that severed the last thread of reason that was still holding Japan together.

It was an act of throwing the king’s authority, which Erika had barely managed to maintain, into the mud.

‘Now, no one can stop this rampage.’

‘The Japanese History Compilers, the political world, and the noble families will all have gained a conviction, wouldn’t they?’

That our king will support us no matter what we do.

They considered dissuading Godeo even now, but soon the two exchanged glances and quietly shook their heads.

That was because Godeo, who they had seen together, was absolutely not a foolish person.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t think now.

He had just stopped thinking.

Because the conclusion from deep thought, as Erika had said, would be the unavoidable fate of the king.

He was just enjoying his current daily life, denying all the non-ordinary aspects surrounding him.

‘If we forced him to hold on and explained, he might reluctantly change his mind.’

‘But in the end, it’s just a repetition. Unless Godeo makes his own decision, it’s meaningless.’

In the end, it was a problem that could only be resolved after he suffered greatly and deeply regretted it.

Honestly, they didn’t want to imagine how much more damage would be done in that process.

But the longer they delayed, the larger the bomb would become, and it would return to Godeo.

Rather than that, Erika and Maria thought it would be better to let him feel a regret that was, even if small, within the realm of what could be handled.

That way, perhaps, they would be able to reduce their own damage.

“The first target will obviously be Korea. Tsk, there’s no choice. We can only ask the main family for help for Korea. Hopefully, there won’t be any accidents in a day…”

“I’m sorry to ask for this, but I will go meet with Kaoru-ssi.”

“Chief of Staff Shinomiya?”

“Yes, it might be difficult, but at least she can restrain the Japanese History Compilers. If we’re lucky, we might even be able to grasp the movements of the noble families in advance.”

“I didn’t realize you had such great connections, even though you seemed to live a quiet life. Good, I’ll ask for help too then.”

“Yes… so that the burden on Godeo-ssi’s mind might be lessened, even a little.”

“He’s my liege, but he’s a man who needs a lot of hands.”

A bitter smile on Erika’s face showed a deep exhaustion that she usually didn’t reveal.

Maria, seeing her, felt pity and also apologetic.

Although they often disagreed and argued,

She understood how sincere Erika truly was.

‘She’s not someone who should be treated like this here just because she’s not Japanese.

Given the current status of Italy, Erika is practically royalty, comparable to the princess of a country.

In addition, a beauty that captivates everyone.

Talent that made her the youngest Great Knight,

Innate insight and perspective that even encompassed politics.

While also perfectly possessing excellent character and responsibility.

She might be a lady who would one day represent a country, perhaps even an era.

The reason the Japanese History Compilers put Maria by Godeo’s side, even knowing that their personalities would clash with each other from time to time, was because no matter where they looked in Japan, there wasn’t a woman who could even come close to Erika.

As the saying goes, light loses its meaning before a greater light.

Even Maria, who had no interest in favoritism and wasn’t someone to be outdone by another woman, felt a sense of self-doubt now and then when looking at Erika.

“Godeo-ssi is truly a man with many sins.”

“Isn’t that right? Haha, Maria, as expected, you understand!”

“Yes.”

Of course, more than anyone else, it’s to you.

Well, whatever.

And so, the two began to move busily.

To reduce, even a little, the damage from the coming disaster.

But, sadly, support from Brandelli never arrived in Korea.

Nor did Maria succeed in meeting Shinomiya Kaoru to request restraint from the Japanese History Compilers.

The actions of the noble families, whose reins had been released, far exceeded what Erika and Maria could imagine.

And as a result, they woke the King, who, like Godeo, had been living in an ordinary life.

The man who had written a myth and finally become the King of the Elden Ring, from the land of the틈새.

The first news that arrived by urgent report.

It was the annihilation of the Tennouji family.

‘Why didn’t we realize it? There were definitely many hints.’

Special Missions Department Director Chan-seok and the 30 Special Missions Department agents who came with him to Japan thought as they looked at the scene before them.

A mountain of corpses, a sea of blood.

Traces of thousands of sword slashes, and a sea of butchered bodies.

And in the middle of it, a warrior clad in armor decorated with feathers and plumes was lifting a man’s head.

The identity of the man was a person they all knew well.

After all, he was the reason they had come to Japan.

Tennouji Souken, the head of the Tennouji family, the one at the beginning of all of this.

In fact, as soon as Chan-seok, the director of the Special Missions Department, heard the news that the King of Japan had discarded all pretense of authority and supported the Tennouji, he made a decision.

“Full surrender. Immediately accept all of Japan’s demands and tell them we will return the Manpasikjeok as well.”

They couldn’t stand against a Devil King.

Fighting would only lead to death.

And a meaningless death, no different from an ant being trampled by an elephant.

He didn’t know what the King of Japan was thinking or what reason he was acting out of spite.

But in the end, the ones who held the power and the sword were on the other side, and the reality was that they had no choice but to bow their heads before the overwhelming power.

But it wasn’t a decision to be cowardly and do nothing.

Rather, it was the opposite.

Chan-seok looked at his equipment, which he was wearing for the first time in a while after becoming the Special Missions Department director, and began to put it on.

Immediately, the team leaders, new instructors, and those who were with the Special Missions Department from its beginning followed, taking out their weapons and preparing themselves.

Chan-seok placed the half of the Manpasikjeok that he had said he would return to Japan into his belt, and spoke to those not arming themselves.

“From this moment, we resign from the Special Missions Department.

The Manpasikjeok was unilaterally stolen and fled by me, ‘former’ Special Missions Department Director Jin Chan-seok, and it has nothing to do with the intention of the Korean side, convey that.”

“Director…”

“There is no need to make those faces.”

“Yes, and since Japan, having obtained a Devil King, is intending to swallow Korea, there is no way they would spare us.”

“We are more sorry for you all. We may be ending here, but you have to live on, enduring endless humiliation and shame.”

“Don’t quit just because it’s tough. You are the future and hope of this country.”

“Don’t forget to treat the new recruits well when they come.”

As the National Intelligence Service, the Special Missions Department had considered every possibility.

This, regardless of the Manpasikjeok, was a pre-planned operation from the moment the Devil King was born in Japan.

Operation: Dawn.

When Japan fully attempted to engulf Korea,

The agents, organized as a suicide squad, would all cross over to Japan and inflict as much damage as possible on the noble families and the Japanese History Compilers.

“Let’s show them for sure, that we surrendered to the Devil King, and definitely not to those bastards.”

“So that they would remember every time they set foot on this land.”

“The power that we rebuilt after losing everything.”

All the measures and transmissions that could be taken had already been completed.

Capital, technology, and information.

The countless experiences accumulated from preventing supernatural phenomena in Korea.

No matter what Japan did, they couldn’t take it away like in the past.

So, what remained was the work of the successors, who would be temporarily disappearing, but would rebuild the Special Missions Department again.

Themselves, the ones who had gone ahead, would only paint the scar of resistance on the invaders in the most glorious and awesome way.

“Now, shall we go? Are the cars and ships prepared?”

“I’m a bit worried about Jae-in.”

“Yeah, they will definitely be targeting him.”

“If possible, send him overseas, especially to the United States or Europe. No matter how reckless Japan is, it will be hard for them to reach that far.”

“He’s a talented person, so if we help him out to that extent, he’ll surely survive and grow big on his own.”

“Knowing Jae-in’s character, he will certainly repay the favor, so help him even if it means a little excessive effort.”

“Ah, speaking of which, there was something that had to be done before going to Japan, ‘former’ Director, right?”

“Right, the political figures who were siding with Japan as soon as the King was born. In 6 hours, we’ll kill every single one of them.”

“Six hours… that’s a little tight. Let’s split into 5 teams. Then, rendezvous at point 1.”

“I want to go to where that bastard, who sold out Turtle Mountain’s location, is.”

“That one’s mine.”

“Director?!”

“I’ve been wanting to get my hands on that guy since the beginning. It’s my last chance, so I can’t share it.”

And so, at last, the people who were about to commence the Special Missions Department’s final operation.

But the moment they were about to leave the Special Missions Department, they had to stop.

Because they discovered an approaching force of power exceeding their imagination.

“Could it be the King himself?!”

“It figures they’ve been treating us so terribly.”

“Must be someone with a real hatred for Korea.”

Is this really the end…

So, we can’t even make our last stand…

But at that moment, someone, starting with them all, began to re-grip their weapons.

Since it was the end anyway, there was no reason why they shouldn’t do it against the King as well.

At the very least, they wanted to leave a scar on his neck.

However, the identity of the one who appeared, parting the shadows of the moonlight, was a presence that completely surpassed their expectations.

A warrior in worn armor.

He nonchalantly dropped the severed heads he was holding onto the ground and said.

“Well, you all knew and prepared in advance.”

“That voice… Is that Jae-in-ssi?!”

“That appearance… no, how can he be…”

Their questions were numerous, and as soon as they confirmed that the armored warrior was Jae-in, the Special Missions Department members swarmed and surrounded him.

At the same time, a flood of questions poured out.

What was that armor?

Whose heads were these?

And above all… what was that power?

But Jae-in didn’t answer any of them.

He only pressed down on his helmet and slammed his Bastard Sword into the ground.

And he released all his power again, only saying:

“Who wants to come with me and take off the King of Japan’s head?”

First come, first served, up to 30 people.

It just so happened that the ones chosen for the suicide squad were also 30 people.

As if being drawn to him, they followed Jae-in and arrived at the Tennouji family’s main residence in Japan, where they were able to witness.

“Tennouji Souken, was it? When you go to the afterlife, bow your head from the start.

Today, the name Tennouji will disappear entirely because of what you started.”

“Impossible! Impossible! How… how could the King… if I had known, I would never have—”

“Don’t worry. Soon, that bastard, the King you’re shouting about, will be joining you.”

Thwack!

The sword pierced Souken’s chest.

And at the same time, an unknown black flame enveloped his body.

The moment he pulled out the sword, the sinner disappeared into a handful of ashes with screams that were more desperate than anything.

“A king is here.”

“It’s a king.”

“Ah, why only now…”

The presence before them was the one they’d been waiting for for so long.

Their King.