Chapter 41

Chapter 40

The Corpse That Defies the Natural Order - 3

The great and noble Golden Empire of Avels, a beautiful empire that stood alone, commanding the vast continent. Avels, the third empire to rule this continent, was indeed a great nation.

The lights in Avels never went out, and all the resources of the continent gathered in the capital. Dignified gentlemen and beautiful ladies strolled through the capital, revered by all on the continent, leading the culture. Moreover, the nobility was truly refined, guiding the foolish commoners in an ideal world.

When the seven nations of the continent bowed their heads, that was the Golden Empire of Avels. However, there were sinners who dared to covet the gold and raise their heads, and their despicable and contemptible name was Kphelopen.

The traitor who brought down the Golden Empire, the thief who stole the mandate of heaven, the self-proclaimed empire full of lies. If one follows the natural order, one should rightly bring down the false nation and rebuild Avels. The third glory that once shone brightly on this continent must be restored.

"By destroying Kphelopen, built on deceit and hypocrisy, we will return to that glorious era."

The words shouted by the leader on the day of the founding of the third glory still resonate in my heart. How can a nation that was held back by nomads for two years be called an empire? Only Avels is the true empire.

Firmly believing this, I headed to the Academy with my comrades. It was the place where Avels once established its brilliant legacy and capital. We aimed to reclaim it, kill the sinners of Kphelopen who dared to trample on Avels' legacy, and declare the rebirth of Avels.

We can do it. We can rebuild Avels with our own hands. It will surely happen.

Surely, it will...

'Enen, Enen, Enen, Enen...!'

What is going on here?

The steps toward the great rebirth have turned into the movements of someone fleeing, searching for a god. This cannot be. I am the hero who will rebuild Avels. I am not someone who would show my back to a mere dog of Kphelopen.

"Uaaaaa!"

A comrade beside me was hooked and dragged up a tree. He screamed and struggled, but no one could get close. Several others had already been caught by the hooks and disappeared.

Many comrades have already fallen. The heroes who aimed to revive Avels have collapsed in vain. This cannot be. We have the righteous cause, and we must win for the sake of the right continent.

"Only a scoundrel with fast feet."

A chilling voice from behind made my body fall forward. I tried to get up, but something in front of me broke my spirit.

"Would it be fine without legs?"

"It depends on the mood of the 1st Division Chief."

Two men had surrounded me. The men in gray masks, with no patterns, spoke as if they were in the market. But my gaze remained fixed on something in front of me.

"Aaaah! L, legs...! My legs...!"

The pain came late, but I could only twitch before being stepped on.

"Head?"

"The leader is in pursuit."

"It's over."

After a while, the leader, with his long gray hair, was dragged by the hair by a witch. He was motionless, either dead or unconscious.

It's over. Our righteous cause has ended in vain.

***

It was time to head to the forest, so I left with the 1st Division Chief. I had to go see someone, a flimsy but true excuse, so I needed to finish quickly and return.

Matching the 1st Division Chief's slow pace, I carried him for a while and arrived at the forest where we were to meet the Mokgwang Team.

"We're here first."

"Indeed. What's the matter?"

It wasn't past the agreed time, but the 4th Division Chief is an incredibly diligent person. He often arrives much earlier than the agreed time and waits. During the inspection department meetings, he would arrive before me and clean my desk, which moved me deeply. I told him it wasn't necessary, but he stubbornly insisted and continued to do it.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No, it's nothing."

For a moment, I thought about trading the 1st Division Chief for the 4th Division Chief and wondered if the Special Affairs Minister would accept it, but I shook my head and dismissed the thought. No matter how much the 1st Division Chief annoys me, I can't find someone to replace him.

The 4th Division Chief, while irreplaceable in character, has roles that can be divided between the 3rd and 5th Division Chiefs, so there wouldn't be a significant gap. Of course, the inspection department works better as a complete team.

"Let's wait. They won't be late."

We found a suitable stump where we could both sit, and I checked the dagger I received from the 1st Division Chief. I just tested it on a tree, and it's of good quality. After all, he's not the type to carry cheap stuff. At this level, it won't break even if it cuts through bone. I'm satisfied.

"Ah, Chief. They're coming."

The 1st Division Chief, who had been subtly using my back as a chair, pointed to one side. Indeed, they weren't late. They arrived quickly.

"What's that?"

"Huh?"

The Mokgwang Team, which was slowly approaching, made the 1st Division Chief and me simultaneously question. They were carrying something on their backs or dragging it with their hands.

"It looks like a person?"

"..."

Indeed. Some parts of the limbs are missing, but it's definitely a person. I wondered if an accident happened on the way, but you don't drag an injured person like that. Besides, they aren't even in Mokgwang Team uniforms.

Curious, I watched, and the 4th Division Chief, who was in the lead, approached me and saluted.

"Reporting to the Chief."

The other members, who had been carrying things on their backs and in their hands, threw them to the ground and saluted in unison. Is it really okay to just throw them?

"Good job. You did well to get here."

I couldn't scold the members who had come to help me. They must have brought these things because they were necessary. I stood up and returned the 4th Division Chief's salute, and he finally relaxed.

Noticing my gaze on the people scattered on the ground, the 4th Division Chief spoke.

"The Third Glory. We encountered them during the move and captured them all."

"Wow..."

The 1st Division Chief let out a small exclamation. I was momentarily speechless. They captured them? All of them? I was just sitting here resting, and it's already over?

"Really, good job."

I'm curious about what happened, but seeing the 4th Division Chief's expression, which subtly seemed to hope for something, I decided not to ask. Well, as long as the result is good, the process doesn't matter.

I patted his shoulder in praise, and his eyes sparkled. The dagger on my belt also glimmered pitifully. I borrowed it, and it only cut a tree. Next time, I might just carry an axe.

With the successful capture of the Third Glory, my role and the Mokgwang Team's role were over. I feel a bit embarrassed to call it a role since I just breathed the whole time.

The Mokgwang Team, with no more tasks, set up a temporary camp in the forest where a battle was supposed to happen. Even if the opponent is weak, they still consume energy in a battle, so they needed to rest. They gathered and shared water, looking harmonious.

"Chief, can I have some water too?"

I threw a canteen to the 1st Division Chief, who caught it and poured it towards someone's face. He wasn't drinking it himself but giving it to someone else. He even covered the face with a cloth to filter the water, so the person wouldn't choke.

"──! ──!!"

"Hehe, you must be thirsty too?"

The leader of the Third Glory, with his arms held by Mokgwang Team members and his head pulled back, struggled and expressed gratitude, which seemed to move the 1st Division Chief even more, and he continued to pour the water.

"Can you pull his head back a bit more?"

"Yes, Chief."

At the 1st Division Chief's request, the Mokgwang Team member, who was holding the leader's hair, pulled it back further. The 1st Division Chief nodded in satisfaction, and I turned my gaze away.

'He'll handle it.'

For someone who usually starts by pulling out fingernails, this is a surprisingly mild start, but he'll make them talk eventually. Leave it to the expert and wait for the results.

While chatting with the 4th Division Chief, I waited, but the leader's mouth was surprisingly stubborn. The 1st Division Chief, when determined, can break anyone in ten minutes, but it seems the leader of this half-military group is not as easy to break.

When I approached the 1st Division Chief with the 4th Division Chief to check the torture situation, the hands and feet were already unrecognizable. The rest hadn't been touched yet.

'What?'

It's not that he was holding out because of a heavy mouth. The process was slower than usual, so he could still hold out. I had expected this from the moment I heard about the Avels revival army and their achievements, but seeing it in person is frustrating.

"Why is it so slow? Can't you hurry up?"

"He's doing it alone outside. If he hurries, he might die. We need to make him talk."

Hehe, while his words are true, I can't really blame him. If he hurries and the person dies from shock, it would be a problem. There are no other 1st Division members or specialized equipment here to help the 1st Division Chief.

The issue is that he's not the type to make such a mistake, but he's using it as an excuse to proceed slowly.

'This guy is just getting more skilled and lazy.'

I frowned, and the 1st Division Chief awkwardly looked away. Well, he still has some conscience left.

"If you keep this up, we'll move on to the next person. If you don't want that, talk now. You need to value your comrades."

Under my intense gaze, the 1st Division Chief proposed a bizarre compromise. If the leader talks, he'll be sent to the inspection department for future play, but if he keeps quiet, the torture will start properly. What a strange hobby.

However, the leader of the Third Glory neither got angry nor ignored the 1st Division Chief but let out a low laugh.

"Kukuk..."

"What? Did you touch his head?"

"No. It's dangerous to touch someone's head outdoors, so I didn't."

If the 1st Division Chief isn't the culprit, the leader must have gone mad from the torture. If he loses his mind, it will be a problem. Despite my concerns, the leader, after a while, suddenly turned his bloodshot eyes towards me.

"Comrades? There's a scoundrel who rose to power on the blood of his comrades over there, barking—"

—Thud!

Before the leader could finish, the 4th Division Chief quickly kicked his jaw. The leader's head snapped back, and he fell, indicating a strong kick.

A moment of awkward silence fell. The 4th Division Chief, who had rushed out, the 1st Division Chief, who was watching, and the Mokgwang Team members holding the leader's arms were all watching me.

"Huh."

I let out a small sigh and scratched my head nervously. How widespread is this, that a scoundrel like him would bring it up.

'Fucking bastard.'

Forget the information, just kill them all.

Author's Note (Author's Afterword)

All the resources of the continent gathered in the capital. = The nation's regions and the entire continent were plundered.

The capital's upper class strolled, leading the culture. = They didn't care if the regions outside the capital were starving.

The nobility was truly refined, guiding the foolish commoners in an ideal world. = No matter how capable a commoner was, social mobility was absolutely impossible.

Wow! The great and noble Golden Empire! It's really amazing!

Thank you for reading this chapter!

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