CH 20

Rattle, rattle.

A first-class cabin on a shaky train. Outside the window, the scenery was nothing more than rice fields all around. I was bored of just sitting still, so I called an attendant that happened to be passing by, dragging a cart outside the cabin.

“Do you need anything?”

“Ah! Give me a newspaper. Whatever you have.”

So I opened up a morning paper dated April 8, 1939, but the newspaper was also boring. First, the headline article on the front page,

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It was news about war. This was probably about Italy’s Mussolini. Europe was slowly going towards the Second World War.

I read the following article.

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<… Friendly units that started clearing out the remaining troops of the Chinese Empire Garrison Army in Shanxi, produced a fierce hand-to-hand battle with an enemy army equipped with magic cannons and mortar magic gates … 125 enemies confirmed dead. …>

What followed was an article about the Sino-Japanese War going on in China. The war in Joseon still seemed a long way away, but the Sino-Japanese War was in full swing.

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‘……Phew.’

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This was a world with Gates, monsters and Hunters, but it seemed that the way history proceeded, things like wars, didn’t change much. Then, this meant that the Pacific War, which to break out in December of 1941, would definitely happen,

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This would coincide with right about when I was to graduate. December 1941 was right after my last semester of 3rd grade, during the winter vacations before the graduation ceremony.

And I was destined to enlist as an officer in the Japanese army due to my father, Baek No-pyeong, forcing me into it.

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‘Going to the US is the only way out.’

However, if I wanted to leave for the US as soon as I received my diploma, there were a lot of things to prepare.

First of all, since this would be right after the war broke out, it would be difficult to travel regularly on a ship, so I would have to find out some way to travel in advance, and it would probably cost me more money.

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So, I would have to start saving up some money, little by little, but the problem was that it’s hard to earn money as a student.

‘And on top of that my monthly allowance is so small…….’

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It was good enough to cover the living expenses of a student, but now that I knew I was the son of a Baron, it looked measly. It made sense why Baek Cheol-yeon was living in such a rundown boarding house.

The main reason why I was going to visit my parents’ house was, of course, to tell my father that I had no plans to become a Japanese soldier, but I also was going to ask for an increased allowance.

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‘Let’s convince him however I can to get more money.’

After thinking it through for a bit, I folded the newspaper up and put it to the side. And I looked at Takahiro, who was sitting right in front of me in this 4-person cabin.

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Takahiro had his arms folded, and was sitting silently, eyes closed.

‘What is he planning?’

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Takahiro, who I had run into at Gyeongseong Station, had offered me a first-class cabin ticket, and even offered me apology on the spot, going as far as prostrating himself.

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‘I did accept the apology but……’

This wasn’t where it ended. He had told me that the Lady had ordered him to take care of me and follow me all the way home. He was justifying himself by saying he would take care of me, but it was clear that he was sent to keep an eye on me.

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『Hey, Takahiro.』

I called out to Takahiro. At this, he opened his eyes and answered,

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『What… is it? Young master.』

…… The 「Wakadanna(young master)」 that came out of his mouth was still hard to get used to. I shook my head to myself and held out my hand.

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『Let’s shake hands.』

『……?』

『You even prostrated yourself, but I didn’t say anything, right? Let’s shake hands and make up with each other. Here.』

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Takahiro hesitated for a moment, but he eventually grabbed my hand. Well, there was no harm with having a friendly relationship with him, even if only on the outside. And the reason I asked to shake hands was to take a look at his status window.

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[User information]

Name 高広 康治 (Takahiro Goji)

Age 24

Mana class B-class

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‘His mana level is B-class and his Awakened abilities are empowering and speed…….’

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It wasn’t much different from what I had expected from facing off with him on the first day. And at that level, his stats were high enough to fit the role of an executive of an organization like the Shimazu Gumi.

‘If I had actually fought him that day, I would have gotten destroyed……’

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However, right now, his role was not my opponent, but rather my servant. And, since someone as high-ranked as Renka had ordered it, he was a servant that couldn’t disobey me.

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‘Since it’s like this, anyway, I’ll try to get some good use out of the situation.’

***

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Arriving at Suwon Station at 6:50 pm. Not even 2 hours had passed since departing from Gyeongseong Station at 5 pm and passing by Yongsan Station, Yeongdeungpo Station and Anyang Station.

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Around the single-story hanok-style Suwon Station there were paved roads, quite a few stone buildings, about two or three stories high, and a few buses and cars driving around. (note: hanok is a traditional Korean building)

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Apart from that, as far as the eye could see, it was all rice fields—.

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Having lived in Suwon for several years in the 21st century, this all felt quite new.

‘In the future a huge department store is built here. And that over there becomes a Rodeo Street…….’ (note: Rodeo Streets are known for being trendy streets for youth culture)

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As I was immersed in my thoughts, Takahiro interrupted and asked.

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『Is your parents’ home around here?』

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Hmm. Let’s see……. Since the family register had the address listed as Suwon-eup, the house would not be too far from the station. As I answered, Takahiro said.

『Then, rather than a wagon, let’s take a rikisha(rickshaw). Hey! Yobo-san!』

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At his word, a rickshaw puller who was on standby around the station, came up with his rickshaw. When he asked where we wanted to go and I gave him the address on the family register,

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“Ah! Do you perhaps mean Lord Baron’s house? The one inside the castle……”

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He answered, understanding where I meant.

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“Ah, yes. There.”

“Of course I know! Leave it up to me, sir!”

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A baron is a baron and a lord is a lord. What the hell was a “Lord Baron”? Anyway, the rickshaw went past the south gate of Hwaseong Fortress, and it started to climb a hill, getting away from the city area as it started to get dark and the streetlights began to come on, one by one.

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The place the rickshaw eventually came to a stop was in front of a magnificent palace-like hanok with a long stone fence.

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I got off the rickshaw, paid the fare, and headed to the front gate with Takahiro. As I entered through the open side door next to the tall gate, an old man greeted me.

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“Oh my! Young master, welcome! I shall let the Lady know.…… My Lady! Young Master is here!”

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He shouted towards the main house across the yard. It seemed this old man was the butler, or something like that.

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As I made my way to the front of the main house, getting across the spacious yard, which was decorated in a crude combination of Joseon and Japanese styles, there was a room with the lights on and the sound of men talking came out of there. It seemed that was the master bedroom.

『Wait here.』

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I told Takahiro, standing in front of the master bedroom and taking my shoes off.

『……Do you mean here?』

『Yes. Stand here waiting, coughing and making some noise.』

『……?』

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As I left Takahiro behind alone and entered the master bedroom, the first thing I heard was,

“Look at that guy, coming now! Do you even have a brain? Your father is ill, yet you come so late…… Cough! Cough!”

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An angry voice. The owner of the voice was an old man lying at an angle on the bedding at the center of the bedroom.

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‘Could that be the man?’

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That wrinkly old mas was probably Baron Baek No-pyeong, in other words my, or Baek Cheol-yeon’s father.

“Father, calm down. Cheol-yeon had to wait until school was over to come here. Here, drink some water……”

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Said a man around his mid-40s sitting next to the old man and calming him down. That middle-aged man was probably my half-brother, and the legitimate son, Baek Cheol-woo.

“Oh, uncle, it must have been tiring to come all the way here. Here, please sit down.”

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A man in his mid-20s with a somewhat flimsy impression said to me. This guy was probably Baek Nam-soo, Baek Cheol-woo’s son and my nephew.

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I sat to one side of the bedroom and looked around at the three generations of my father, half-brother and nephew, and thought.

‘Damn, this is such a bullshit family tree.’

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The guy that was my half-brother was old enough to be my father and my nephew was older than me. This was all because Baek No-pyeong had decided to bring in a concubine so late in his life and have me, a second child.

‘No wonder I get treated like that.’

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I was younger than my nephew, and the only person who would side by me, my mother, had passed away early. This was why Baek Cheol-yeon was treated so roughly by his family, and was forced to do as they told him to.

‘However, that won’t keep on going anymore.’

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『Ahem!』

The sound Takahiro clearing his throat right outside the door came at a very good timing. He had done exactly as I had asked. Hearing this, my middle-aged half-brother, Baek Cheol-woo, looked at me and asked.

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“Cheol-yeon, who is that man standing outside? It looked like he came with you……”

“Ah, I’m sorry, I forgot to introduce him.”

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I shouted out the door with an imposing tone.

『O-i! Takahiro! Kotchi ni oide(Come over here)!』

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As I said this Takahiro, who had been waiting outside, took his shoes off and came inside. But, Baek Cheol-woo and Baek Nam-soo were surprised to see him. What they were surprised by was none other than the bright Shimazu Gumi badge that was on Takahiro’s suit.

I ordered Takahiro.

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『Greet and introduce yourself.』

『…….』

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Takahiro glared at me for a moment, but eventually he bowed reluctantly and spoke in a familiar polite manner.

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『I am Takahiro Goji, vice-manager of the Shimazu Gumi Gyeongseong Branch. Thank you for having me.』

“Uh…….”

“This is…….”

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Baek Cheol-woo and Baek Nam-soo, who were watching the scene, seemed to be embarrassed by the situation. They sat up straight and sighed. Then Baek Cheol-woo carefully asked me.

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“Hey, Cheol-yeon. What is someone like him doing in a place……?”

I answered like if it was nothing.

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“Ah, well. He’s just a guy I make run errands for me.”

“……!”

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Baek Cheol-woo and his son were surprised by my words. The Shimazu Gumi were a Yeopsa union that anybody in Joseon with some knowledge couldn’t not know. It would probably be hard to believe that a high-ranking official of such an organization would be the servant of someone who just barely entered school.

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‘Good.’

I had seized the momentum. Driven by this momentum, I spoke bluntly to the old man, Baek No-pyeong.

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“Father, I am sorry to ask this when you are sick, but having attended school has made me think that it could be better for me to become a Yeopsa rather than a Japanese soldier.”

However, unlike Baek Cheol-woo who had been intimidated by the Shimazu Gumi’s power,

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“What? Yeopsa? What are you even saying?”

The old man had not been intimidated at all by the presence of a member of the Shimazu Gumi, and he began to shout still lying down, his face starting to get red.

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“The only way you can raise our family’s name is not by becoming a Yeopsa, but by enlisting in the Japanese Imperial army, becoming a general and making a contribution! We are just repaying the kindness that the country has shown our family! Why don’t you understand? When are you gonna grow up?”

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“But, What? A Yeopsa? Ever since you were little you’ve been saying this stupid stuff about Yeopsas and what not…… But those are guys who only care about themselves! How can you compare those people to becoming a soldier of the country?! Do you want to be like one of those people and taint our family’s name? Huh? I don’t even wanna hear it!”

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“Do you still not understand that I am spending good money to send you to school? If your plan is to be one of those Yeopsa disgraces, you might as well just stop going to school! I might as well just enlist you in the army as a private……”

So this was what happened.

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Baek Cheol-yeon wouldn’t have committed suicide all of a sudden. He had mentioned several times that he had no wish to become a Japanese soldier, but it hadn’t been of any use and he had decided to take his own life.

And because of Baek Cheol-yeon’s attitude of not wanting to become a Japanese soldier, the old man had probably been displeased by Baek Cheol-yeon, who was not “working for the sake of the family”.

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So he was going to enlist Baek Cheol-yeon as a Japanese military officer, and if Baek Cheol-yeon refused, he would just enlist him as a regular private and not an officer, anyway.

‘Damn it…… You fucking old man…….’

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So, then, Baek Cheol-yeon only had two options. Graduate from the Yeopsa vocational school and become a Japanese military officer through the Awakened special selection. Or just being a regular Japanese military private as a Joseon volunteer. This was why Baek Cheol-yeon had come to take his own life.

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‘But, let’s think about it differently.’

If I thought about it differently, it was thanks to the old man that I could even attend school. And on top of that, there were still 3 years to go until graduation. I could take my time and think about what happens in 3 years slowly.

If I thought about it this way, it would be better not to get on the old man’s wrong side right now.

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I had already come to the decision that I would graduate from school, no matter what it took. If I wanted to still get money for my tuition from the old man until I graduate, it was necessary for me to gain his trust for now.

‘Alright. For now, it would be better not to go against the old man and make him believe that I am going to enlist in the Japanese army.’

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After thinking about it, I was about to speak to the old man again when a sound came from outside the door.

“My Lord! Chun-wol is here!”

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It was the butler calling out. Who was this Chun-wol? It was a name that wasn’t in the family register.

But hearing this the old man,

“Chun-wol?”

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His expression suddenly brightened, and looked at his children sitting around him and frowned again

“All of you, you are dismissed!”

He scolded us.

I had no choice but to leave the room, and as I came to the yard I saw a woman coming through the gate. She was a woman with a sharp impression, about 20 years old, with short hair, cut straight, dark eye makeup, and a wearing a shiny jade coat.

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The woman walked across the yard toward the master bedroom, she saw me standing in front of the room, putting my shoes back on,

“Oh my. You must be the young master. Nice to meet you.”

She said, smiling, and walked past me, entering the master bedroom and closing the door behind her.

‘……Who the hell was that?’

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As I looked at her back, my half-brother, Baek Cheol-woo, approached me and softly said.

“Oh, right. You have never met her. After you went to Seoul, she has been taking care of Father. Well…… Chun-wol is here and Father will probably not say much now, so you might as well just go to your room and sleep.”

She’s taking care of him, huh……. After saying that Baek Cheol-woo and his son went into their own rooms.

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『Young master, are you not going to your room?』

『Wait.』

Takahiro asked, but I stood in front of the master bedroom, eavesdropping on the conversation coming from inside.

“I guess that boy out there was the young master?”

“Yeah, Chun-wol. That boy…… There you go, keep rubbing there. That’s it! Oh, that feels good…….”

“Here. Does it feel good?…… So, the young master is causing trouble? He looked like a good boy to me.”

‘That old man is dying but he’s still obsessed with women.’

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Anyway, things had gotten complicated. I had to convince the old man that I was ready to enlist in the Japanese military as an officer before I returned to Gyeongseong tomorrow morning, but I couldn’t see myself getting a chance.

‘He’ll probably get pissed if I come in when he’s with his concubine……’

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At that moment, I could feel mana coming from the room like if a camera’s flash had gone off.

‘Huh?’

Regular people wouldn’t have been able to know, but I could feel it due to my mana detection ability. On top of that, this mana pattern gave me a sense of déjá vu. A while ago, I definitely……

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‘That Joseon criminal!’

It was a mana pattern that was very similar to that of the Joseon Awakened who spread out the poison fog at the tea house. In other words, the mana pattern was that of the release of toxic substances.

‘That bitch.’

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I carefully approached the door, poked a small hole in one corner of the door and peered in. The room was obviously full of a toxic substance. It didn’t work on me because I had a passive poison resistance ability…… (note: Korean traditional house doors were made of paper, or “Hanji”)

“But, if the young master becomes a soldier, he will probably be deployed to China. Does that not bother you? They say it’s a mess there right now.”

“Not fighting in a war because he doesn’t want to risk his life? It’s glory to fight in such an evenhanded war, but life is more important? Mm…… Cough! Cough!”

“What do you mean even handed? Here, take this.”

“Chun-wol, don’t say that! Mm……”

“Oh, you’re drinking so well. Here……”

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It seemed she was secretly injecting toxic mana into the old man by massaging him and making him drink water that had poison mixed into it.

‘What the hell is up with this household?’

This was already such a messy family, but on top of that, that snake-like bitch had come into the picture as well. A bitch that could easily kill the old man if she wanted.

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‘That old man can’t die!’

If the old man died, my tuition would be cut off immediately. And it was even a wonder if my half-brother, Baek Cheol-woo would even pay for my tuition.

‘But I can’t even go into the room right now ……!’

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If I went into the room and stop that concubine, the old man, who was completely drunk on her, would be absolutely furious. I had to go around it in such a way that I wouldn’t anger the old man.

And anyway, what would I even do by going into the room? It was poison that was made from mana, so I had no evidence that regular people could see if Chun-wol stopped emitting her mana.

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And it was just my gut feeling telling me that she was using poison. I could only find out exactly what abilities she had by looking at the status window whilst being in physical contact with her, but I couldn’t just carelessly grab a woman’s hand.

‘Damn it, what should I do……’

I stood around thinking for a while when.

“Aren’t the Great Qing and Russia all in the commie same boat? I’m so grateful that the Japanese soldiers have come to the front to stop all those commie perpetrators from crossing the line.”

“Well, of course. However, I have heard that there have been a lot of civilian casualties in Nanjing…….”

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I listened closely to the conversation coming from the master bedroom.

“Hahaha…… Cough! Cough! Chun-wol, you only say that because you’re innocent and don’t know anything! There’s nothing they can do if they want to get all those commies! Like having to use strong drugs if you’re very sick! If they didn’t go that far, would the commies even listen?”

“But the Chinese people, what are they guilty of? Rather, the Japanese army are just going too far…….”

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‘This is it.’

As soon as I heard this I ran into the room, with my shoes still on,

Slap-!

“Aak!”

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Chun-wol, who had suddenly got slapped, screamed,

“W-What are you doing?! You’ve finally lost it!”

Baek No-pyeong, who had been lying down, got up halfway in surprise, eyes wide open. But I shouted to Chun-wol with an angry face.

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“You bitch! How dare you insult the Imperial Japanese soldiers who are risking their lives in far away lands?!”