Chapter 94
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I am only the king of the sub-races. I am not your king, so you don’t need to call me Your Majesty.”
“If pledging loyalty is the only way to survive… Please grant us the opportunity to pledge our loyalty.”
“Huh? Uh…?”
Jeong Ryeogyeong, flustered, looked around before bowing her head just like Ri Gyeongsim.
Mason forced their bodies up.
“I don’t want obedience. I want cooperation.”
“They are people accustomed to subservience.”
Ri Gyeongsim said with an indifferent expression.
“Don’t expect cooperation, don’t expect autonomy. Asking for their opinions will only loosen their obedience. Only clear, firm orders and harsh punishments will tighten their leashes.”
She didn’t believe that a person could live like a human being. Perhaps it was because she had lived in a world where people were not treated like human beings simply because they were human.
“Do you hate your people?”
“Yes.”
Ri Gyeongsim’s answer was so nonchalant that Mason’s face contorted.
It was because someone’s face flashed through his mind.
The image of Liza, the goddess statue left behind, screaming within the flames. Ri Gyeongsim must have also gone through her own ‘baptism’ to become who she is now.
“Don’t make me hate you.”
“You may hate me. If it only brings about better results…”
Mason realized the madness of North Korea anew.
They, the North Koreans… were people broken under the violence inflicted by the system called the nation.
They were broken people, similar yet different from the sub-races who were shattered by the violence inflicted for not having a nation.
Mason looked at Jeong Ryeogyeong.
“Do you think so too?”
“I, I…”
Jeong Ryeogyeong flinched.
She seemed nervous because the conversation between the two was too sharp.
“…I just want people to be happy. I don’t know what to do, though.”
Mason looked at the two master and servant alternately with an expressionless face.
He turned his back.
“Select those among the North Koreans who have received proper military training. Those who will become the first station’s defense force.”
“Yes.”
A reply came from behind.
The sound of them moving away as well.
“…”
Looking at those broken by violence made his heart ache.
Even if it wasn’t the violence he had inflicted.
Even if there was nothing he could have done.
It felt like something rough was stuck in his throat.
“…”
Mason looked north.
The horizon made of mountain ridges. Beyond that was the land that should be theirs.
‘Can I, help them?’
There was a nation to be built. There were people to be saved.
Why is it that defeating monsters is becoming more and more familiar, but helping people is becoming more and more difficult?
“Sigh…”
His chest felt heavy.
It wasn’t because of the armor.
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After completing the reconstruction and fortification of Jejin Station, Mason and his troops began to march towards Gamho Station.
“Hmm…”
The railroad itself was damaged or lost, but the bridges and the ground itself were well maintained.
“Do you think it can be rebuilt?”
The engineer nodded.
“It is possible if you give me enough time.”
“Good.”
Mason had the regular soldiers protect them and scattered the players in all directions.
“Call me if you are not confident of an overwhelming victory.”
“Yes!”
Unlike Seoul, which had become a high-level demon realm with monsters killing each other, the area around Gamho Station was an ordinary countryside. There weren’t any particularly difficult monsters, and the surrounding cleanup proceeded quickly.
“We will begin the station renovation and fortification.”
“Okay.”
Under the protection of the players and the North Korean army, Gamho Station began to be rebuilt as a fortress. Several stationary heavy weapons were deployed, and thick walls and trenches were constructed.
The station was renovated into a dormitory for the defenders.
Until the entire North Korean land was recovered, each train station would be used as a supply base and a fortress.
At the same time, the reconstruction of the railroad also began.
Mason wore a satisfied expression.
A nation was being built on top of the train station. The railroad was leading to the future.
“Ri Gyeongsim.”
“Yes.”
“How is the order to select North Koreans with high player aptitude going?”
“The selection is in progress. There are eight individuals with a level limit of 50 or higher, and about thirty-five with a limit of 45 or higher.”
“Is that so…”
Hundreds of thousands. It was a large number if you thought of it as large, but a small number if you thought of it as small. Considering that only a few hundred out of tens of millions of people in South Korea had a level limit of 50 or higher, this was probably the limit.
‘It’s fortunate that there are more high-level users than I thought.’
Higher-level players had more core energy. However, the difference in level wasn’t just a difference in the total amount of energy.
Quality.
The qualitative difference in energy was more important. Higher levels meant higher energy density and quality, while lower levels meant lower energy density and quality.
The difference in level created a difference in combat power that went beyond mere numbers.
Therefore, max level, the level limit, was one of the most important measures for a player.
“Select them separately and have them receive player training.”
“We don’t have the personnel to be instructors.”
That was true.
However, it wasn’t a big problem. It was a matter of entrusting the training to the Sub-Race Attack Team.
Mason thought for a moment before speaking.
“I guess I’ll have to go back to the mainland.”
“There is one matter I would like to request before that.”
“What is it?”
“Please hold a wedding ceremony with Representative Jeong Ryeogyeong.”
Mason asked back.
“…What?”
“Please hold a wedding ceremony with Representative Jeong Ryeogyeong.”
Mason looked at Jeong Ryeogyeong. She wasn’t flustered. It seemed like they had discussed this beforehand.
“…What’s that about?”
“The North Koreans are anxious. They are afraid of being abandoned at any moment. The best way to turn that anxiety into a sense of belonging is through a marriage between Representative Jeong Ryeogyeong and Your Majesty, Mason.”
“I am not your Majesty.”
“That is why the people are anxious.”
Ri Gyeongsim said with a calm expression.
“We are people trained to obey. Please become the one we can obey, the one we can belong to. Please relieve their anxiety and allow them to obey Your Majesty, Mason, with peace of mind.”
“We can coexist. There is no need to obey.”
“Why are you forcing them to get used to something they have never experienced before overnight?”
Mason looked down at Ri Gyeongsim. It was a look that couldn’t be described as friendly by any stretch of the imagination.
“What if I don’t want to?”
“I am not in a position to force Your Majesty. I only request that you at least consider it.”
“…”
Mason looked at Jeong Ryeogyeong.
“Jeong Ryeogyeong.”
“Yes, yes!”
“Do you feel the same way?”
“…Yes.”
Mason narrowed his eyes.
“You haven’t forgotten that your life is at stake, have you?”
“I haven’t forgotten. The lives of the North Korean people are on my shoulders…”
Taking a deep breath, Jeong Ryeogyeong looked up at Mason.
“The day we first arrived in South Korea, we were met by soldiers. We had to stay in a temporary shelter prepared by the soldiers. It was better than North Korea, but we had to spend time in uncomfortable lodging with meager meals. We were refugees. Abandoned people of a vanished nation.”
She no longer trembled or stuttered.
“The eyes of the South Koreans who looked at us were truly cold and indifferent. They looked at us as if they were looking at a group of beggars. But what was truly sad was that we really were a group of beggars. The fact that we had nothing but d*rty clothes and couldn’t do anything but rely on the kindness of others made us even more miserable.”
Jeong Ryeogyeong said in a sad voice.
“I know. Neither Your Majesty nor the sub-races are keeping us because you like us. You took us in because of a deal, because the South Korean government wanted to get rid of us, I know that very well. But this is the only place we can rely on. You are the only one we have, Your Majesty.”
Jeong Ryeogyeong turned her head to look at Gamho Station.
A cold and hard building, serving as both a military base and a train station.
“I want to be a place where the North Korean people can rely on. If I can’t be a place to rely on with my own strength, I want to be a bridge between those who can be relied on and the North Korean people.”
Mason looked at Jeong Ryeogyeong.
“Why you?”
“I am of the Mount Paektu bloodline. My father and grandfather lived in luxury and power above the North Korean people just because they were of the Mount Paektu bloodline, so shouldn’t someone repay the debt that the Mount Paektu bloodline owes them?”
Mason looked down at Jeong Ryeogyeong.
His head and heart were complicated.
One thing was for sure.
He no longer despised Jeong Ryeogyeong.
“Are you busy?”
“Excuse me?”
“I asked if you’re busy.”
She said, her expression already shrinking.
“No, I have nothing to do if Gyeongsim is busy…”
“Then follow me. I’m going to Gwangju, let’s go together.”
Mason walked towards the car.
“Let’s talk on the way.”
Jeong Ryeogyeong smiled brightly.
“Yes! Your Majesty!”
“…If you don’t stop calling me Your Majesty, I won’t take you.”
“Yes! Your Maje…”
Jeong Ryeogyeong covered her mouth with both hands.
“…”
Mason sighed.
It seemed like it would take quite a long time.
To become intimate with someone who wants to be his wife.
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It had been three months since Mason, who had been moving from site to site in Gangwon Province, returned to Gwangju.
There was a lot of work piled up. There were stacks of documents that Mason had to approve and research projects to check, and there were lines of people who Mason had to meet and people who wanted to meet Mason.
Mason first contacted the most important person.
“Kacha, I’m in Gwangju.”
“There’s something I need to talk to you about in person.”
“Why?”
Mason made a dubious expression.
“Weren’t the Freemasons just a social gathering in name only?”
“That’s what it said on the internet…”
Yekaterina laughed.
“That’s true.”
Mason scratched his head.
“So, when are you coming? There’s something I need to talk to you about face-to-face.”
“Okay.”
Mason said to the driver.
“Let’s go home for now.”
“Yes.”
Mason’s house was as empty as ever.
“Hmm…”
Three months of absence. Even before that, it was only used for sleeping. Plus, it was a single man’s house.
Seeing the state of the house, Mason made an awkward expression.
“…Sorry, it’s a bit messy, isn’t it?”
“I, it’s… free-spirited and nice.”
Jeong Ryeogyeong only spoke politely, with a horrified expression.
“Why don’t you just curse?”
Mason grumbled as he sat down on the sofa.
“I need to make some calls, so rest up. The shower’s over there if you want to wash up.”
“Yes.”
