510 – Hunters Can Also Be Fired
Wolves are strong. But even so, they are just a pack of wolves. If a country uses all its strength to deal with them in time, they can be defeated without a pack.
However, a country is a huge collective of tens of millions of people living together, and it is difficult to keep paying attention to a pack of beasts that do not know where to do what. Moreover, the wolf king is clever and knows how to avoid it if there is no reason to fight. If there is no dog king, it is difficult to fight the wolf king.
The military country lost hundreds of soldiers while doing the marine rescue operation, and the nations were afraid of the mountain beasts and could not settle in the mountains. Even that empire was afraid of the scourge of the Mediterranean Sea and was using only a small part of the sea. The beasts were a definite headache that even the country could not ignore.
That’s why the vassal state created Ende.
A few years after the Seonghwangcheong subjugated the wolf pack, a wolf pack presumed to have the wolf king appeared in the southern part of the Enger Plain. However, for some political, geopolitical, and administrative reasons, the dog king was abandoned or driven out for several generations. After the kingdom was destroyed by the rebellion, it disappeared without a sound.
In the meantime, the wolf pack gradually grew in strength and wandered around the southern part of the Enger Plain. The vassal state was feeling threatened. So the Lilac vassal state, which was closest to the wolves, decided to take up the shield.
Sooin and Ende. Beings that could be abandoned at any time.
“Ende… a shield?”
“Yes, we are the meat shield of the vassal state. However, we gained freedom by becoming a shield.”
Triber Mayor looked around the square once. The countless houses and people beyond. Tens of thousands of Sooins living in Ende. Triber Mayor said, looking at the city he had built from the bottom up.
“This whole city is begging for freedom. Earn money, work, be treated, and organize. It’s something that’s hard to do easily in a human country. This proves that Sooin is not much different from humans.”
He looked at the Sooins with a momentarily emotional look, and soon appealed with a desperate emotion.
“Wolves. We only have to overcome the wolves. Then we can shake off the threat and have full autonomy. We, the Sooins, too… We can show the vassal state that we can do it!”
“You’re asking us to be a meat shield for the wolves.”
“Wolves are strong, but they are not an opponent we cannot handle. We can fight and win. And with that, we Sooins will have the right to demand from the vassal state, from the world!”
Aji as an offering? No, Ende is the offering. Kicking Aji out of here is like pushing him out of the altar, saying, “You guys eat the offering first.” It would be ridiculous.
Of course, the Sooins, who had not known that they were offerings until now, would find it difficult to accept even that.
“No need! We were not born to be meat shields!”
“But thanks to that, we have escaped the interference of the vassal state and gained freedom!”
“We don’t need interference that controls and kills someone! We’re going to live our lives! Ende’s future is decided by Ende!”
“But kicking out the dog king is like treason!”
Come on. We don’t have time, so let’s leave the fight for later. I have to do what I have to do.
I picked up the megaphone I had brought in advance and slowly climbed onto the platform. I stood between the two, who were just making a noise that I didn’t know if it was an argument or just a quarrel. After a brief cough, I put the megaphone to my mouth and shouted forcefully.
“I understand your intentions. You say you won’t fight the wolves. I’m surprised that your attitude has changed in a few days, but if that’s the judgment that Ende has made after careful consideration, I will respect it.”
There was a roar from Okma’s side, as if it was not the reaction they wanted. I guess they wanted me to be shocked and argue. Unfortunately, what you guys did just now is what I intended.
“Wolves harm humans, and dogs follow humans. Wolves are evil, and dogs are good. It is truly disappointing to choose to succumb to evil and cast out good… but from the standpoint of leading the city, I understand it well enough. You praise sacrifice as noble, but it is difficult to accept when you ask me to sacrifice.”
I sighed as if I was sorry, swallowed my saliva, and smiled brightly again.
“It can’t be helped. So we have no choice but to go north and ask the vassal state for help directly.”
It’s the same rational judgment that Okga made. If you don’t help, what can you do but leave? It’s the best response to an inevitable situation.
However, now that I know the relationship between the vassal state and Ende. It became something that could not be accepted. Poina asked with a pale face.
“Wait a minute. Then, to the Lilac vassal state…?”
“Of course. It’s the closest vassal state.”
“T, that’s not possible!”
‘We’ve already kicked out the public, and if we hear that we’ve kicked out the dog king to avoid the wolf king, it’s going to be a different level of backlash than it is now…!’
So. It’s like treason. Thanks to Triber Mayor telling me in advance, I saved myself the trouble of explaining. I turned my gaze away as if I was sorry and said. Still holding the megaphone in my hand.”It can’t be helped. The Dog King must fight alongside the humans. It’s our oath to protect humans from the wolves. But since you won’t fight, shouldn’t we ask the nearest country for help?”
It can’t be helped. It’s an action taken because we have no choice, just like you. I continued to appeal, and finally, I emphasized this speech.
“Well. I’m a little worried that you’ll be pressured by the Wolf King below and the Lilac Principality above… but I believe that you, who are wise, will make a great judgment for the city!”
You only believe in words, so I’ll tell the Principality and let you guys handle it. These were words that neither the Triber mayor nor Okma could accept.
Poina shouted venomously.
“Stop! We can’t abandon the Dog King!”
The answer I had been waiting for came. I leisurely stopped walking and calmly asked.
“Yes? Then what should I do? If you don’t fight, you’ll just leave Aji here and let him die?”
“…It’s none of your business. The Dog King is a being that protects humans.”
“Wow! Where did I hear that story before!”
If you peel off a layer of their hearts, they all have the same thing inside. They keep trying to wrap it up, but humans are humans no matter what.
Suin doesn’t need to try to be human. There’s no need to shout that you want to be equal to humans. That’s because they were the same from the beginning.
“Everyone. I’ll admit it. You’re already great humans! You broke the treaty, ignored the promise, and abandoned the Dog King. If you let it go, it won’t get any better, so you’re just going to let him die? Perfect! Are there any other humans as perfect as this!”
It’s not just Suin’s fault. Until now, it was humans who drove out the Dog King, left him to die, and even imprisoned him in the abyss.
So Suin would have chosen the same option. It’s all the same there.
“Humans are nothing special. They’re just beasts, just like wolves. They bow to those stronger than them, and try to eat the weak. They’re just a bunch of beasts who scheme to live a little more comfortably. You’re really just like them!”
Conversely, the Principality sent Suin to Ende to use him as a shield. It’s the same as Suin trying to use Aji as a shield.
“The Principality thought the same! Ah, damn. Those imperial bastards tell us to do the same thing because they’re strong. I’m so disgusted. Let’s just use Suin. It’s okay. Suin was that kind of being in the first place.”
I whispered on behalf of the Principality, spread my arms wide, and shouted.
“What do you think, Suins? Now that you’re in that position, can you see the human perspective? Do you understand with what heart humans sent you to the front lines of the wolves? Congratulations! If you understand, you’re the same as humans!”
“…!”
I sincerely congratulated them. It was a heartfelt congratulation that I could give because the Suins had achieved what they had so desperately wanted.
In fact, it didn’t come out that way. That’s because I already knew that their wishes weren’t that noble.
They just wanted to live well. They just wanted to eat delicious food, enjoy power, and be treated well. They had all sorts of reasons for it, so they looked like activists, but in fact, they were just a group of people who wanted to live better than they do now. They were steeped in a sense of victimhood, but that was their essence.
“…You know well, magician. If you’re that understanding, you’ll understand that we can’t let go of the Dog King.”
“That’s right! It’s a judgment that we can make! We understand!”
But the pie they want already belongs to someone else. Unless they bake a new pie, they’ll eventually have to take someone else’s.
When it comes to this, all that’s left is the logic of power.
“However, there’s no reason for us to follow it! Just like you guys don’t follow the Principality’s orders!”
Whether it’s money, power, consideration, or respect. You have to get it with power.
It’s beastly, isn’t it? I like this kind of wind. I just don’t like it when this simple and primitive wind pretends to be something else noble.
“Survival is at stake. Now you and I are in the same position. Ende and us. Which of us will die? I’m sorry, but I don’t want to die.”
I put the loudspeaker to my mouth and shouted cheerfully.
“I’m sorry! Everyone, please die instead of me!”
“Catch him!”
Urkpeng and the other mercenaries rushed out. They intended to catch me and Aji so that we couldn’t escape, but at that moment, a huge tragedy separated me and them. The Regressor, holding Cheon-ae, slowly walked in, pushing through the terrified orcs.
Whether my words had lightened his mood a little, the Regressor was giving off a less sharp aura than before. But he was still just as fierce.
“I’m not going to kill you guys! Just abandon the Dog King!”
“Why? Aji is better than you. If you’re going to abandon someone, you should abandon you.”
The Regressor retorted, lifting Cheon-ae.
“It’s not because you’re Suin. It’s just because you’re humans who aren’t even as good as dogs. Unlike Aji, I don’t think it matters if I abandon you.”Wow. I didn’t know I could provoke them to that extent without intending to. The natural-born are different. I’m just an ordinary person who reads minds and chooses words to provoke others.
“Benefits…!”
“I have no business in Ende anymore. Do whatever you want. I’ll do whatever I want.”
The returned hero laughed and shook the power of Cheon-yeong.
Cheongeomgi, Yongoreum.
A whirlwind came out and enveloped Aji. A strong wind broke the platform and caused a sandstorm. A huge whirlwind of earth, dust, wood chips, and debris swirled around. The watermen crouched down and covered their faces to avoid the wind.
When the squall that made it hard to open our eyes cleared, we had already disappeared from their sight.