Chapter 14: Awareness

Not necessarily were Godeo’s decisions completely incomprehensible.

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

Korea was the one who was provoked first, but the only people killed in Korea were the two who were guarding Manpasikjeok.

In comparison, Jae-in annihilated the Tennouji, an almost-three-digit number spread across seven high-speed boats.

Blood is thicker than water, and from the perspective of an ‘ordinary person’, whatever God’s Relics are, the Manpasikjeok is 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 looked upon favorably.

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

‘While it was true there’d be no further punishment for the act, Godeo-ssi, you shouldn’t have antagonized Korea there.’

However, that was the perspective of ordinary people.

It was a viewpoint of those who couldn’t understand the value of a God’s Relic, not at all.

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

Naturally, Erika and Maria both sighed deeply.

While Erika simply sighed, others might have wondered why Maria was reacting this way.

Maria’s desire was that no more blood would be spilled, and at this point, that goal was nearly achieved.

The reason was, as expected, because it wouldn’t happen that way.

The reason Erika sighed was not only because of Godeo’s foolish decision, but because there was a separate, more crucial reason.

Godeo’s current decision,

His words,

Were severing the last thread of reason that was holding Japan together.

It was an act that discarded the authority that Erika had barely managed to maintain.

‘Now, no one can stop this rampage.’

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

That our King will take our side no matter what we do.

They considered dissuading Godeo right now, but after a moment, the two exchanged glances and quietly shook their heads.

Because the Godeo that the two had seen was definitely not a foolish person.

He wasn’t that he couldn’t think now.

He had just stopped thinking.

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

He was only indulging himself in the ordinary of today, denying all the extraordinary aspects surrounding him.

‘If we were to force him to hold on and explain, he might reluctantly make a decision again.’

‘But in the end, it would just be a repetition. It’s meaningless unless Godeo comes to a decision himself.’

In the end, it was a problem that could only be solved after he was deeply hurt and then greatly regretted it.

Honestly, imagining how many more would be harmed in the process, they couldn’t bear it.

However, the longer they delayed, the bigger the bomb that would eventually return to Godeo.

They felt it would be better for Erika and Maria to allow him to experience regret within a bearable limit.

That way, at least, they might be able to reduce their own damage.

“The first target will, no doubt, be Korea. Tsk, we have no choice but to ask the main family for support for Korea. I just hope nothing too drastic will happen in a day…”

“I’m sorry for my impertinence, but I’ll go meet Kaoru-ssi.”

“Chief of Staff Shinomiya?”

“Yes, it will be difficult, but at least she can restrain the Japanese History Compilers to some extent.

If we’re lucky, we might be able to gauge the movements of the noble families as well.”

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

“Yes…so that Godeo-ssi’s mind might be unburdened, even a little.”

“He is my liege, but he is a man who requires many hands.”

A weary smile appeared on Erika’s face, and an exhaustion that she didn’t normally show was visible.

Maria, looking at her, felt both pity and sorry, because,

Although they often had conflicting opinions and argued with each other,

At least Erika sincerely understood how Godeo felt.

‘She is not someone who should be treated this way here just because she isn’t Japanese.

Considering the standing of Italy right now, Erika is practically royalty, almost like a princess of a nation.

Add to that her beauty, which captivates everyone.

The talent that made her the youngest Great Knight,

Innate insight and perspective that encompassed even politics,

While perfectly possessing excellent character and a sense of responsibility.

She was someone who could perhaps one day represent a country, or even an era.

Even though she knew that they’d clash from time to time because of their personalities, the Japanese History Compilers put Maria by Godeo’s side because nowhere in Japan could she find a woman who could even be close to Erika.

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

Even Maria, who had no interest in favoritism, and who wasn’t one to be outdone by a woman, sometimes felt a sense of self-doubt when she looked at Erika.

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

“Isn’t that right? Huhu, I knew Maria would understand!”

“Yes.”

Of course, you, more than anyone else.

Well, whatever.

And so, the two began to move busily.

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

However, alas, support from the Brandelli family never reached Korea.

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

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

And as a result, they awakened the Devil King, who, like Godeo, had become a part of the ordinary in life.

The man who wrote a myth and finally became the King of the Elden Ring, from the land of the隙間.

The first urgent news to arrive was.

The annihilation of the Tennouji family.

‘Why didn’t I notice? There were definitely many clues.’

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, a sea of butchered bodies.

And in the midst, a warrior wearing armor decorated with feathers and plumes was lifting the head of a man.

The identity of the man was someone they were familiar with.

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

Tennouji Souken, the head of the Tennouji family, the one who started it all.

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

“Unconditional surrender. Immediately, convey to the Japanese side that we will accept all of Japan’s demands, and we will return the Manpasikjeok as well.”

They couldn’t face a Devil King.

To fight would only result in death.

And a meaningless death, no different than an ant being crushed under an elephant’s foot.

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

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

But that wasn’t a decision of cowardly surrender and doing 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 had been with the Special Missions Department from its inception all followed suit, taking out their weapons and preparing themselves.

Chan-seok placed the half of the Manpasikjeok, that he had declared that he would return to Japan, in his belt and said to the others who were not armed.

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

The Manpasikjeok was stolen by me, “former” Director of the Special Missions Department Jin Chan-seok, and it has nothing to do with the Korean side’s intentions. Convey that.”

“Director…”

“There’s no need to make those faces.”

“Yes, and Japan, having obtained a Devil King, is going to swallow Korea. They wouldn’t spare our lives anyway.”

“Rather, we are sorry for you. We’re going to end here, but you have to live on, enduring endless humiliation and shame.”

“Don’t quit just because it’s frustrating. 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 also considered all possibilities.

This was a pre-planned operation, regardless of the Manpasikjeok.

Operation: Daybreak.

When Japan fully attempts to encroach on 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 clearly, that we surrendered to the Devil King, but not to those bastards.”

“So that they will remember every time they step on this land.”

“Our power, rebuilt after losing everything.”

All measures and communications that could have been taken had already been completed.

Capital, technology, and information.

And all the experience accumulated by preventing countless supernatural phenomena in Korea.

So that no matter what Japan did, they couldn’t take it like in the past.

So what remained now was for the successors, who would temporarily disappear, but would rebuild the Special Missions Department again.

Themselves, who went ahead, would only leave a scar of resistance on the invaders, as glorious and magnificent as possible.

“Alright, shall we go? The cars and boats are ready, right?”

“I’m a bit worried about Jae-in.”

“Yeah, they’re definitely going after him.”

“If it’s possible, send him overseas, especially to the US or Europe.

No matter how reckless Japan is, they might not be able to reach that far.”

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

“Knowing Jae-in’s character, he’ll definitely repay the favor, even if it takes a bit of effort.”

“Ah, by the way, there was something we had to do before we went to Japan, ‘former’ Director, right?”

“Right. The political figures that sided with Japan as soon as the King was born. In six hours, we kill every single one.”

“Six hours…That’s a bit tight. Let’s split into five teams. Then we rendezvous at point 1.”

“I want to go after that bastard who found the location of Turtle Mountain.”

“That one’s mine.”

“Director?!”

“I’d been wanting to get him from the beginning. This is my last chance, so I can’t give it up.”

And so, finally, the people who were about to begin the Special Missions Department’s final operation.

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

Because they had detected a wave of power approaching them that was beyond imagination.

“Could it be the King himself?!”

“No wonder they were treating us like trash.”

“Looks like they really hate Korea.”

Is this it…

So, the last stand had never been made…

But at that moment, starting with someone, they all re-gripped their weapons.

No matter, that the enemy was a King, it didn’t change that this would be their last stand.

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

But the identity of the person who came, stepping out from the shadow of the moonlight, was a presence that completely shattered their expectations.

A warrior in worn armor.

He nonchalantly threw the severed heads he was holding onto the ground, saying:

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

“That voice… Is that Jae-in-ssi?!”

“What’s that appearance… No, how—”

They wanted to ask so many things, but as soon as they saw the armored warrior was Jae-in, the Special Missions Department members swarmed around him.

At the same time, they unleashed a flood of questions.

What was that armor?

Whose heads were these?

And above all… what was that power?

But Jae-in didn’t give them any answers.

He just put his helmet back on and slammed his Bastard Sword into the ground.

He unleashed all of his power and said:

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

First come, first served, up to 30 people.

Coincidentally, the people chosen for the suicide squad were 30.

As if they were led, the people headed off toward the Japanese territory.

At Tennouji’s main house, they saw:

“Tennouji Souken, right? When you go to the afterlife, kowtow from the head.

Today, Tennouji will disappear, all because of you and your doings.”

“Impossible! Impossible! How could a King… If I had known, I would have never—”

“Don’t worry, soon that bastard King you keep yelling about will be joining you as well.”

Thwack!

The sword went through Souken’s chest.

And at the same time, a jet-black flame enveloped his body.

At that moment, he was gone.

“A king is here.”

“It’s a king.”

“Ah, why now…”

The one standing before them was the one they had been waiting for: their king.