769
[Chapter 197]
[Long-Cherished Wish (2)]
Night is the stage for monsters.
Their danger greatly increases.
Moreover, the night in Uijeongbu where the cocoon's power doesn't reach was very dangerous.
Fighting ferocious monsters in an environment where you can't even properly see the darkness will only result in large troop losses.
Therefore─
[─This is a message from the 2nd Supply Platoon commander. All members of the 2nd Supply Platoon have safely arrived at the designated location. We will rest from the current time.]
The first day of the 2nd Uijeongbu Recapture War.
Players who crossed the Dobong Station barrier arrived at Shinhan University near Mangwolsa Station that evening.
They started preparing to camp there for the night.
Fortunately, there was no need to set up all the tents.
The university building was intact.
Players quickly unpacked and made lodgings.
Then they ate dinner.
"I thought I'd never eat combat rations again after graduating from the academy, but I didn't know the day would come when I'd eat this again."
"You're saying that, but you're eating well?"
"I don't know if it's because I'm hungry, but frustratingly it tastes good. I hate myself like this..."
"You have a military constitution."
"Say I have a player constitution. Everyone seems to be like me anyway."
Until reaching Mangwolsa Station.
The recapture force fought at least 5 battles per platoon.
That many monsters kept popping up and draining their stamina.
Moreover, they couldn't help but consume more stamina marching while carrying heavy luggage.
On top of that, the role of the platoon commanded by Pandora Clan was supply.
They inevitably had a lot of luggage to carry.
Kang Si-hyeong who was even eating pound cake reluctantly recalled his situation and lamented.
"Still, eat a lot deliciously. You probably won't be able to eat comfortably like today once we enter Uijeongbu."
"...Why does that sound like you're saying we won't even rest and will be rolled around in Uijeongbu?"
""""...""""
Other Pandora Clan members had exhausted faces too.
They felt daunted thinking of the monsters and corps commanders they would face from now on.
While they were resting like this, monsters might be replenishing their numbers as much as were subjugated today.
Because they couldn't not know that feeling.
Eun-ha and the sub-lords went around encouraging clan members.
Of course, Eun-ha's encouragement sounded like something else to people like Kang Si-hyeong.
People who knew No Eun-ha's viciousness say the food didn't go down well.
The kids must be tired.
It must be a heavy burden since they're leading the platoon.
Meanwhile Eun-ha considered the clan members.
It's been almost 5 years since the clan was founded.
Now they could be said to have established themselves as proper players.
But they still didn't have enough experience leading other players.
So the burden must be heavy now.
Their bodies are unnecessarily tense, and they're unconsciously nervous about the people following behind.
I don't need to worry much about types like stupid hyung or Ariel.
The problem is people like Si-hyeong or Min-ho. Their bodies are too tense now.
I need to make them relax.
Today is just a preliminary battle.
It starts in earnest from tomorrow.
Monsters active in Uijeongbu are faster and stronger than the monsters subjugated today.
So he had to make sure clan members didn't unnecessarily tense up.
This was an issue across the entire recapture force, not just Pandora Clan.
But it's not unsolvable.
Of course, the recapture force must have considered this issue too.
There was just one method.
So Eun-ha waited for contact from Baek Seo-jin who would be stationed at Dobongsan Station during the recapture war.
And not long after, telepathy was conveyed to him.
[─This is a broadcast from the Supply Unit commander. All supply platoon leaders please open supply item #19 and distribute to each platoon.]
The telepathy he was waiting for.
The corners of Eun-ha's mouth rose.
He clapped his hands loudly to draw people's attention.
"They decided to release alcohol from above saying everyone worked hard today. All squad leaders please come forward."
[I'm relaying the Pandora Clan Lord's message so please quickly comply. All squad leaders come forward...]
""""...!!""""
"It's dew! I was just wanting to drink dew so badly, our No Eun-ha is the best! The best!"
At the word alcohol.
The eyes of people with tired faces opened wide.
There was no need to say more afterwards.
Clan members strongly urged their Clan Lord forward.
Cheers could even be heard coming from other places.
[We're not drinking first! We're drinking after supplying other platoons first!]
People's momentum was amazing.
People who said they had no energy just earlier sprang up from their seats and quickly came forward.
When Jin Seo-na soothed their momentum, they started working quickly as if that was fine too.
People's hands and feet match so well...
Eun-ha smiled bitterly.
Not just the 2nd Supply Platoon, but people from other units and platoons came too.
They volunteered to help and carried supplies.
Though they were far from cooperating when fighting during the day, they were matching surprisingly well.
Thanks to that, supplies were quickly distributed.
"─If we drink today, we probably won't have a chance to drink in Uijeongbu."
""""...""""
Eun-ha raised his glass.
Players looked at him.
As someone commanding a platoon, he spoke in a solemn tone.
"So let's drink with the mindset that we won't have a chance to drink for a while. But don't get so drunk you can't even control your body. We're in the middle of a battlefield right now."
Some people giggled.
But they couldn't laugh loudly.
They knew the reason the recapture force brought out alcohol too.
There was clearly an intention to relieve their fatigue, but─
─This could be your last life, so drink one last time before dying.
Eun-ha didn't mention it explicitly.
They didn't put it into words either.
The fact that this could be the last drink for some people.
They just wanted to get drunk at this moment and forget their vague fear.
"Well then, cheers. Drink moderately. You know what happens if you cause trouble? Cheers."
""""Cheers!!""""
Soon Eun-ha downed his drink.
Players shouted loudly.
Starting with that, a boisterous drinking party unfolded.
Eun-ha went around the drinking party exchanging drinks with squad leaders.
He also went to Pandora Clan members to exchange drinks.
"Come here! Come here! Our Eun-ha, I believed in you! I didn't even bring dew because I trusted you!"
"Just drink that."
"Hic... You're mean, you're joking right?"
"No, I'm not joking."
"I'll just drink one more bottle. No, two more bottles."
"Just drink that. Min-ji, watch her well. She'll definitely try to drink more."
"Okay, I'll watch carefully. Ariel, you heard too? Just one bottle."
"Hic..."
Clan members were excited too.
But Eun-ha pointed out Ariel who was dancing with her shoulders among them.
A troublemaker in the clan who can't control her alcohol.
Eun-ha warned her.
Her sky blue scales drooped, and she lowered her head.
The crybaby whimpers.
Eun-ha sighed.
"If you listen to me well, I'll let you drink one glass secretly in Uijeongbu too."
"...Really?"
"Yeah, really."
How many years have we known each other.
Eun-ha knew Ariel's tendencies.
Not letting her drink at all would backfire.
So Eun-ha told only her he would secretly let her drink alcohol as an exception.
Only then did her face brighten.
"So endure well. Don't whine, you crybaby."
"If I endure well, will you praise me too?"
"That depends on how you do."
"I'll work hard! But if you let me drink two glasses a day, I'll work hard for Seo-na's share too..."
"Just work hard on your own work."
"Tch."
Eun-ha ruffled her pink hair and turned around.
He decided to find other clan members too.
Right then─
"─Clan Lord! Over here! Won't you drink with us?"
"Clan Lord! There's a seat here."
"Damn..."
"Papa..."
The place Eun-ha was about to head next.
The twins were there.
Eun-ha clicked his tongue seeing the twins waving at him.
It was obvious what those guys would say.
Sure enough─
"─We won't be able to relieve what's built up during the recapture war... How should we help you?"
"Unnie, but doesn't the Clan Lord have Ha-yang Lord there too?"
"Ha-yang Lord will probably have a hard time making time since she's busy too. She probably can't even leave her platoon much since she's commanding it."
"Ah, that's true. Compared to that, we can go far away on the pretext of exploring the surroundings..."
"You can just make an excuse to go out with us and have fun. Isn't that fine?"
"Oh my, I'm excited. If that happens, we'll be the first to do that in Uijeongbu..."
"Oh my, I'm looking forward to it. Doing that outside while worrying about being caught by monsters..."
"You drink moderately too. Don't seduce other people even as a joke and suffer needless harm."
""Tch.""
Eun-ha ignored the twins.
Ignoring was the answer.
He roughly exchanged drinks with clan members gathered there and got up.
☆
He should have taken care of platoon members to some extent.
Eun-ha decided to go see other unit commanders now.
Just earlier, Regulus Clan had contacted Eun-ha.
They said they were drinking together to discuss strategy among commanders.
Leaving the platoon to Jeong Ha-yang.
Eun-ha headed to the building rooftop.
Noisy sounds could be heard from above.
They seemed to be drinking heavily.
Eun-ha opened the rooftop door and went out.
Familiar faces came into view.
"Hey, Pandora Clan Lord! You came?"
"Come have a drink."
"...Hello."
Blaze Clan Lord Kang Hyeon-cheol.
Eun-ha who frowned seeing him bowed his head to Myeongwang Clan Lord Do Wan-jun.
Then he checked the people.
Zenith Clan Lord Ji Yong-hyeon.
Silla Clan Lord Kim Yu-jin.
Regulus Clan Lord Gu Yeon-su.
Tempest Clan Lord Kang Ye-hee.
Donghae Clan Lord Kim Seong-min.
Samra Clan Lord Chong Eun-ju.
Besides them, there were quite a few people with platoon command authority in their seats.
<Thunder Emperor> and <Holy Mother> are here too...
Ah, Gi-jun ahjussi is here too.
Did the KK Clan Lord not come?
Some Twelve Seats were visible too.
It was surprising that <Beast Tamer> Hwang San-gun, who is both KK Clan Lord and a Twelve Seat, wasn't visible in his seat.
Instead, one person from the Seven Great Tigers of KK Clan was sitting.
When their eyes met, he bowed his head in greeting.
"Pandora Clan Lord, come over here. I saved a seat for you."
"You can sit next to Hyeon-cheol, or there's an empty seat next to me too."
"Then I should sit next to the Regulus Clan Lord."
"Tch."
"How can you be so disappointed over seats when you're not a child?"
Soon Eun-ha ignored Kang Hyeon-cheol and sat next to Gu Yeon-su.
Kang Hyeon-cheol grumbled.
Park Hye-rim sighed.
At the familiar sight by now.
People burst into laughter.
5 years was enough time for Eun-ha to mingle with them.
Moreover, Regulus Clan receiving sponsorship from Alice Group and Silla Clan receiving sponsorship from Luminous Group were very favorable to Eun-ha.
Myeongwang Clan receiving sponsorship from Hana Group and Donghae Clan receiving sponsorship from Donghae Group were the same.
"But what is this alcohol? I know this isn't designated as supplies..."
Meanwhile Eun-ha noticed something strange while receiving alcohol from Gu Yeon-su.
The alcohol bottle was unusual.
He could tell it was expensive alcohol at a glance.
"Ah, this? Myeongwang Clan Lord brought it for this day."
"It's alcohol I was saving. I brought it this time thinking I wouldn't drink it if I just kept it stored."
"...Bringing in alcohol should be prohibited."
"Come on, Pandora Clan Lord knows too. Why are you being so nitpicky? Isn't this the charm of the battlefield?"
"Hey, Pandora Clan Lord! I brought one too! Mine has an amazing alcohol content! Drink this after drinking that."
"Hah..."
Military discipline violation in the name of privilege.
Eun-ha clicked his tongue.
There was a reason these people said to drink alcohol on the rooftop without other players knowing.
But he decided not to press further.
Instead he decided to become an accomplice.
I feel bad for Ariel.
Actually the feeling of guilt was brief.
As he swallowed the alcohol Do Wan-jun said he brought, he was intoxicated by the deep aroma.
"Oh, this is pretty good?"
"Right?"
A feeling like walking in the middle of a forest.
It smelled of rain-soaked wood.
Something like the smell of oak barrels.
Though the alcohol content was high, it felt like drinking perfume.
When Eun-ha evaluated it like that, a smile spread across Do Wan-jun's face.
"─It's alcohol Yeon-ji liked."
""""...""""
He muttered softly.
The sound of conversation cut off.
Former Twelve Seat <Florist > Bang Yeon-ji.
She lost her life in the 1st Uijeongbu Recapture War.
People who knew about her just fiddled with their glasses silently.
"She was a good person. Too good for you, Myeongwang Clan Lord."
"I know too so don't tease me."
Then Gu Yeon-su opened his mouth.
He opened his narrow eyes and gently shrugged his shoulders.
A joke he could say playfully as friends who get along without reserve.
Do Wan-jun brushed it off nonchalantly.
And starting with Gu Yeon-su, people who remembered Bang Yeon-ji opened their mouths one by one.
"I received a lot of help from Yeon-ji unnie when I was first selected as a Twelve Seat."
"While Shin Seo-young sunbae was eccentric, that person was really kind. I received a lot of help then too."
"She was a caring person to anyone. Sometimes she would approach me and invite me to eat."
Park Hye-rim, Kang Hyeon-cheol, Chong Eun-ju.
The three people spoke.
Eun-ha quietly drank alcohol while listening to their stories.
<Florist > Bang Yeon-ji...
She was a person Eun-ha didn't know.
He only knew her name.
In the previous life, she lived like a slave imprisoned in Italy.
When she finally returned to Korea, her body was in tatters.
Public sentiment was greatly overturned at the time, but the incident was quickly buried.
It disappeared from people's attention as other news broke.
Also, there wasn't much the Fairy government could do at that time.
At most they could only protest.
The distance was a reason too.
Above all, at that time─
─Myeongwang Clan wasn't in a situation to pay attention to Bang Yeon-ji.
It was a time not long after subjugating the 2nd rank monster Maegu, after the 2nd Uijeongbu Recapture War ended.
At that time, <Phantom Vision> Do Wan-jun died.
He was killed by Maegu.
Because of that, infighting broke out within Myeongwang Clan over a new Clan Lord.
They also suffered considerable damage to their forces in the process of subjugating Maegu.
In that situation, there was no way they could properly pay attention to Bang Yeon-ji.
So what happened after that...
I don't know. That was the end of it.
Bang Yeon-ji wasn't such a famous person to 3rd generation players.
It was inevitable that people's interest quickly faded.
Eun-ha also didn't pay much attention to her life or death.
He just guessed she probably died unhappily.
That was all.
But─
─Bang Yeon-ji's fate changed.
She died all the same, but.
Bang Yeon-ji in this life was a little different.
She became a wisteria tree after experiencing mana overload in the 1st Uijeongbu Recapture War.
So Do Wan-jun seemed to really want this recapture war to succeed.
It was revenge for Bang Yeon-ji in a sense.
A strange light flashed in Do Wan-jun's eyes as he recalled memories.
He called out to Eun-ha.
"─So Pandora Clan Lord."
"Yes, Myeongwang Clan Lord."
"Please make sure to subjugate Goeshini who killed Yeon-ji... and Myeongwang Clan members."
""""...""""
"I'm begging you."
Do Wan-jun bows his head and asks.
Eun-ha's response was set.
"─Don't worry. I, we will definitely subjugate it."
"...Thank you."
"It's our platoon's job after all."
Eun-ha finished drinking the alcohol.
The forest scent washes over him.
The alcohol <Florist > liked.
But now Eun-ha could feel a different flavor.
"Is that the last of what Pandora Clan Lord just drank? Hey, Myeongwang Clan Lord. Don't you have one more bottle?"
"That's for sprinkling on Yeon-ji. Why don't you drink that weird baijiu Blaze Clan Lord brought instead."
A rich, dense taste.
It must be Do Wan-jun's wish for revenge.
☆
They can't get drunk.
The commanders drank in moderation.
While chatting quietly.
"─Pandora Clan Lord."
"Yes."
Eventually, when they emptied all the alcohol Kang Hyeon-cheol brought.
People left their seats one by one, or disappeared saying they were going to the bathroom.
Zenith Clan Lord Ji Yong-hyeon, who had mostly just been listening, called out to Eun-ha.
Then he suddenly said:
"─I'm sorry about this time."
"Pardon?"
Eun-ha tilted his head.
He didn't understand why Ji Yong-hyeon was apologizing.
Then he smiled bitterly.
"One of our sub-lords said unnecessary things in Dangun Daily last time..."
"Ah, that?"
Soon Eun-ha nodded.
After Ha Baek-ryeon was revealed to the media, there was an incident where a Zenith Clan sub-lord attacked Eun-ha in Dangun Daily.
Ji Yong-hyeon was talking about that incident.
"I already received an apology then, there's no need to receive another apology."
"Still, I thought we should act properly. We decided to expel that sub-lord in the end."
Zenith Clan was a clan established to protect the Fairy.
So among clan members, there were people who argued they should directly protect Ha Baek-ryeon instead of Pandora Clan.
The sub-lord who tipped off Dangun Daily was probably that type too.
But Eun-ha wasn't worried.
As Ji Yong-hyeon told him now, <First Sword> Ji Yong-hyeon respected Ha Baek-ryeon's wishes more.
<First Sword> is a stubborn person.
He doesn't try to have his own will as a sword that follows what the Fairy says.
In the previous regression, Zenith Clan was Ha Baek-ryeon's sword while <First Sword> Ji Yong-hyeon was alive.
But after he was killed by Armageddon and the Zenith Clan Lord changed.
A person influenced by Galaxy Group quickly took control of Zenith Clan and showed different actions.
If <First Sword> hadn't died, Zenith Clan probably would have continued swearing loyalty to the Fairy─
─And wouldn't have shown the appearance of being swayed by Galaxy Group.
That's how it would have been.
Eun-ha believed without a doubt.
So Eun-ha was hoping <First Sword> would live a long time in this life.
He could be trusted.
His statement now about expelling the sub-lord could be considered evidence.
Eun-ha welcomed it gladly.
"It must have been difficult. When we return after the recapture war ends, I'll let Baek-ryeon know. She had a hard time emotionally back then."
"Yes, I heard. Tell her she doesn't need to worry about leaving the home she's grown attached to for no reason."
"Okay, I'll do that."
And unlike the previous life, Ji Yong-hyeon and Ha Baek-ryeon's relationship was very close.
It was purely because of Eun-ha.
In the previous life, Eun-ha threatened even Ji Yong-hyeon to not approach carelessly.
So there couldn't help but be few points of contact between Ha Baek-ryeon and him.
But in this life, Eun-ha allowed him to approach Ha Baek-ryeon.
Thanks to that, Ji Yong-hyeon was even called uncle by Ha Baek-ryeon.
I'd rather be called uncle too.
But why does Baek-ryeon keep calling only me ahjussi?
His thoughts suddenly strayed to a different path.
Ha Baek-ryeon calling him ahjussi.
He was the only person she called ahjussi.
Before he knew it, Ha Baek-ryeon was calling all the male clan members oppa.
Do I look too old...
I feel oddly disappointed about this.
When the Uijeongbu Recapture War ends.
I should ask Baek-ryeon to call me something else.
He wanted to at least hear her call him uncle.
Eun-ha sipped his empty glass for no reason.
☆
The alcohol didn't go down well.
He wasn't in the mood to drink.
"─I'll get up first."
"Tch, hey, are you upset? Alright. I'll buy you a bowl of soup next time. Let's call it even with that."
"...Why do you say you'll buy Do-jin oppa a meal but never say that to me?"
"Huh? Did I do that?"
"Until now, whenever I ate with you, I was always the one buying meals."
"Ugh... Fine. Isn't it okay if I buy you a large sundaeguk next time?"
"Why is it always soup? There are so many delicious foods in the world!"
""""Haha....""""
The sharp feeling all day hadn't disappeared.
So even Kang Hyeon-cheol's provocation was annoying today.
In the end, <Thunder Emperor> Lee Do-jin got up from his seat first.
"I should have equanimity but it's not so easy..."
Habitually.
He tapped the mistletoe.
He calmed his mind while touching his beloved sword.
Don't get excited.
I've been waiting for this day, how can I mess up by getting excited?
Lee Do-jin took a deep breath.
Not just him, other people probably felt similar.
People who were utterly defeated in the 1st Uijeongbu Recapture War have been sharpening their swords of revenge for this day.
His classmate Kang Hyeon-cheol may look nonchalant on the outside, but he's probably thinking a lot inside.
So they probably wanted to drink together to organize their thoughts.
Therefore─
─This time will be different.
Yangju beyond Uijeongbu.
The corps commander inhabiting there.
3rd rank monster Ishimi.
Lee Do-jin recalled it and clenched his hand holding the mistletoe.