Novel Full Chapter 1477. Continental War (57)
Chapter 1477. Continental War (57)
"You’re even funnier than I expected."
"It wasn’t a joke."
"Do you know the rules?"
"It’s famous as the game the Republic’s commander likes to play. Of course, I know the rules. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have bothered picking this up. I’ve played it a few times with my sister to kill time, too. I think you’ll find it pretty fun."
"So you had eyes in the Republic, too.
"You already knew that... Come on... I figured you were leaking the information on purpose. Let’s not throw pointless tricks when you’re on death’s door, Commander."
"..."
"Poisoned, bleeding out, and you’re still holding on this long. It’s honestly impressive. A normal person would’ve died ages ago, and you still managed to beat all those assassins to death in that state. Hard to believe.
"Whether you buy it or not, they were kids I was rather fond of... so seeing them lying there like rags on the ground doesn’t exactly sit well with me. If I’d known it’d turn out like this, I wouldn’t have sent them here."
"..."
"..."
"I'm not in great shape, but taking care of one of the bastards you sent wouldn’t be that hard. What were you thinking by coming here?"
"I told you, didn’t I? To play a game... ask you a few things while I’m at it... and if you really meant to kill me, you would’ve done it already instead of wasting time talking like this. I’m not the type to fear someone who’s got nothing left to live for, and you know this too. If you push yourself, you could still get away."
"..."
"If you stop the bleeding right now, your chances of surviving will go up. A few other things might be a problem, but you can definitely handle them. Of course, you’d have to do some ugly stuff that doesn’t suit you at all, like crawling across the ground between corpses or curling up and hiding from the pursuit teams.
"Dishonorable things, really, but what’s more important than your life? Yet you’re just sitting quietly in that chair like you’re waiting for someone... So I figured... you don’t intend to live, but you still wouldn’t die to the assassins either..."
"..."
"To anyone watching, it looks like you’re waiting for me... Were you planning on revenge or something?"
"Don’t be ridiculous. If I wanted revenge, I’d have done it long ago. Don’t assume this is the only chance I’ve had to deal with you."
"Haha..."
"Of course, I won’t deny that I feel some guilt over her death, and that she was... an interesting person, but I’m not stupid enough to let pointless emotions like that derail the greater cause. What’s left is nothing more than a bit of human sympathy. Right now, I’m simply taking responsibility for the defeat."
"I wasn’t asking whether your reason for revenge was Aina Penelotti. I was wondering... aren’t you even thinking about revenge for the soldiers who are collapsing and dying around you?"
"..."
"..."
"That's not even worth answering."
"I did want to meet her at least once. They say heroes are born in chaotic times, and I’ve already seen plenty of heroes here, but doesn’t it make you more curious about the ones who never got the chance to fully bloom?
"That new Black Rose Salon or whatever, seems to be carrying on her will... and even you showed interest in her, so I figured she must’ve been clever... I used to think every noble and person in power on this continent is trash. So... what kind of person was she?"
"As you said, she did have a principled side, and she was a genius, too. The kind of talent anyone would be greedy for. Other than that... I don’t really remember much."
"Honestly... if there had just been a few more people like her, the continent wouldn’t have ended up like this. From what I’ve heard, the new Black Rose Salon did pretty well on the 4-2 Front.
"They chased down the Brigade and even pushed them back... though we did run into one variable we hadn’t anticipated. Either way, it really drove home how wars never go the way you expect."
"..."
"In a game like this, you can see what cards everyone’s holding, but the real thing is not like that. Guys you’ve never seen before pop out of nowhere and become variables, fronts you thought had great odds suddenly collapse for ridiculous reasons, and nobodies you’ve never even heard of suddenly awaken and turn into war heroes..."
"Handling those variables is a commander’s job. If wars followed a script, people like us wouldn’t even be necessary."
"But it’s not like luck doesn’t play a part at all, right? Personally, I think the reason I won this time is—"
"Making use of an opportunity is a skill, too," First Jin Cheong interrupted. "You tend to underestimate yourself far too much. I’ve thought of that every time we end up on the same board, but not this time. For me to say I lost because of luck would be an insult.
"Whatever happens on the battlefield, whatever variables appear... they’re all within my calculations. You seized your chance and created this outcome. That’s why you’re the one standing there above me."
"..."
"..."
"We’re facing each other, so I'm not exactly standing above you..."
"It’s a figure of speech, you idiot. The point is... you’re allowed to be proud. I never let my guard down, and contrary to all the nonsense people have been spreading about me, I’m not crazy either. I approached this war rationally... and in the end, I lost to you. What other excuse is there?"
"So you’re saying you weren’t swayed by pointless emotions?"
"How many times do I have to say it? At this point... I can’t even remember anymore."
"From where I’m standing, you didn’t seem all that rational, unlike what you’re saying. Maybe you’re right. No, you are right. I do have low self-esteem. I probably tend to underestimate myself, but if I really didn’t believe in myself, what kind of nerve would it have taken for me to face you head-on on this front?"
"...
"I rolled the dice because it was worth rolling. If you’d seemed perfectly normal, I wouldn’t have bothered. I'll tell you that much."
"Interpret it however you want... but there’s no need to desperately search for some reason behind your victory, Lee Ki-Young. You don’t believe it? Look around. This is the outcome you've created."
"..."
"What more do you want me to say? That I spent four years unable to forget the death of a woman I can’t even remember anymore, lost my composure, lost my mind, went mad with revenge, made terrible decisions, and ruined the war because of it?
"Would that make it easier for you to accept your own victory? Don’t assume everyone’s like you. For some people, revenge might be their purpose and their driving force. For others, it’s meaningless, nothing more than a pointless lingering attachment."
"..."
"So now it’s starting to feel humiliating that I lost to you. Even more foolish than a commander who can’t trust himself..."
"As someone who keeps receiving compliments... I feel like I’m getting completely crushed here..."
"..."
"..."
"I was pretty confident before we started... Honestly, I thought I’d stomp you flat and laugh in your face... but I’m the one getting destroyed. Aren’t your words and actions contradicting each other?"
"It just means you’re not that smart, or rather... you’re self-destructive."
"..."
"And you’re bad at looking at the bigger picture, too."
"Hmm... then what about this?"
"..."
"..."
"A meaningless trick. Deception, bluffing, and exaggerating about yourself, it’s very like you. But like always, it’s empty."
"Ah, then... how about this..."
"Forced boldness. Did my telling you to have more confidence get under your skin? Are you acting it out or something? This is just another meaningless move."
"..."
"..."
"Aren’t you just too set in your ways, Commander?"
"What a ridiculous excuse. It’s just a simple game."
"..."
"..."
"Then let me try it like this."
"Pathetic."
"Then this one..."
"Hoo..."
"This is kind of hurting my pride. I didn’t expect to get pushed back this badly..."
"..."
"Then..."
"..."
"How about this?"
"..."
"..."
"Interesting move. That’s all I can call it. If anything, I wish it had been that woman instead. I thought it'd feel different meeting you face to face like this, but talking to you... still doesn’t feel like I’m actually having a conversation."
"For someone who’s dying, you’re awfully demanding. That’s not something you say to the person who came all the way here to see you off. Telling me outright to bring someone else instead. At least have some basic manners, yeah?"
"..."
"It’s not like there wasn’t talk of it. Noona wanted to come too... but if she’d come with me, we probably would’ve ended up fighting."
"..."
"She’d probably want to keep you alive. She’s greedy for talent, always thinking about where someone could be useful. I figured I might end up getting talked into it too, so I came alone."
"..."
"It’s not like I’m not tempted myself... but you’re too capable. Way too capable for us to use."
"That’s surprisingly kind, coming from someone who lost."
"Since when did you know about us?"
"Is that important?"
"Because of you, more than a few of our plans went sideways... You even used us a couple of times. Isn’t it normal to wonder how long you’ve known? As well as who else might know about us..."
"A few people. Yeah, they probably know, but does that matter? You guys were going to reveal yourselves soon anyway. Am I wrong... Lee Ki-Young?"
"..."
"..."
"Yeah, you really are impossible."
"I’ll take that as a compliment."
"..."
"..."
"Alright, let’s get to the point. There’s something I want to ask you."
"I don’t know what you’re talking about.
- That purge a while back. There was a rumor you had the list of everyone who agreed to that plan... and that bastard who defected to the Republic. You heard everything from him, didn’t you?
"Don’t you already know?"
"I do. I’m just making sure."
"And why should I tell you?"
"Don’t bother clinging to your pride when you’re about to die. Just say it and make it easy on everyone. There are plenty of other people I could ask anyway."
"..."
"..."
"Charlotte, the Empress of the Empire.
"Good. We’re getting somewhere."
"Song Jung-Wook of Castle Rock.
"Dead."
"Cardinal Marlen of the Vatican."
"Dead."
"Dawan’s—
"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah."
"Celia’s..."
"Dead too.
"And..."
"..."
"..."
"Kim Hyun-Sung of Lindel.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Now... are we done here?"
"Whoo... yeah. I guess that’s everything I came for... but I’ll wait with you."
"Like hell you will. Thanks anyway."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"I’m not saying this because of you... but the sunrise looks pretty nice."
"..."
"Aren’t you going to keep playing, Commander?"
"..."
"..."
"What do you think about this?
"It’s... not... bad."
"..."
"..."
"Commander?"
"..."
"..."
"Yeah..."
"..."
"I... remember it now..."
"..."
"Come on... If you die here, that means I win."
"..."
"..."
"Now... that... I think... about it..."
"..."
"..."
"She said..."
"..."
"She enjoyed... watching... the sun... rise..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Ai... na..."
"..."
"..."
Just then...
“Kim Hyun-Sung of Lindel...What does that mean... Mr. Hyun-Sung?” I asked.
“...”
“Mr. Ki-Young...?”
I saw Kim Hyun-Sung, and he was staring at me with eyes full of disbelief.