Chapter 68: Million-Strong Army (1)

Chapter 68: Million-Strong Army (1)

"N-Noonim, what happened...?"

Namgung Jin addressed her, not even paying attention to Neung Dogun leaving while grinding his teeth.

"Hm? Ah..."

Every single one of her reactions was incredibly fascinating.

To be truly honest, up until now, when he looked at Noonim, she had seemed like a walking corpse, or perhaps a walking disaster.

Of course, that didn't mean he thought of her, who was like a teacher to him, as unpleasant or anything like that.

But seeing her lively expression as she slightly furrowed her brow, he somehow found himself at a loss for words.

"Hmm? I suppose it's because of the Overhaul Rebirth? That must be it."

Huh? Overhaul Rebirth?

Also, isn't that supposed to only change the physical body?

"Hmm. I definitely feel like something has changed."

"Uh, um..."

"How should I explain it... Like shedding the shell of my soul? No, words can't really describe it."

Although I don't understand what she means...

Namgung Jin's eyes wavered at the sight of Virdel, who somehow seemed more human-like.

"A-Anyway, Noonim."

"?"

Ah, what is this? I can't get used to this!

Namgung Jin tried hard to calm himself down.

I absolutely won't make any mistakes!

"A-About thatwar, what's going on with that...?"

"Ah."

Her lively expression turned quite serious.

"He gave me a separate task."

"I-Is that so?"

What kind of task did he give her, to involve war...

Gulp-

"It seems I'm still woefully inadequate if I want to follow him."

No, if Noonim is inadequate, then what about me...?

Of course, I haven't actually conversed with him, but...!

"Especially when it comes to war, I knew nothing, but now a good opportunity has arisen, hasn't it?"

Op... Opportunity?

It was the moment when the Imperial million-strong army was relegated to being mere teaching material.

"Anyway, I'll be busy for a while, so there's no need to come visit."

"...!"

Somehow, he felt left out.

Well, I guess...

Unlike me, who's just wrapped in expensive equipment, Noonim is the real deal.

"...I understand for now. However, if news comes from the government, I shall visit again."

"Do as you please."

She lightly acknowledged his greeting and then vanished.

What on earth is going on?

Namgung Jin swallowed his frustration.

Still.

The outcome is obvious.

He was just curious about what kind of task He had separately assigned her.

***

"Military Governor, have you been well?"

"Haha. I believe this is the first time we've met since the last banquet."

They sat with courtesans on either side, passing drinks back and forth.

"It seems the Chancellor intends to use this opportunity to push out the martial artists..."

Is this reality? Am I not dreaming?

The sight of the world he existed in cracking like broken glass.

It felt alien.

And there was also a sense of discomfort.

Zhuge Hyun was quite a rational person. In fact, too rational to think this was reality even after seeing it right before his eyes.

Pinch-

He pinched his cheek, but nothing changed.

Zhuge Hyun barely managed to steady his breathing and calm down.

"C-Cult Leader. The preparations are complete."

And what about her beauty? Until now, the Cult Leader had always covered her face with a helmet. Even when not wearing the helmet, she always had messy hair and exuded a dark aura, so he had never thought about it.

What on earth did she do...

Dazzling skin and eyes like red jewels.

Hair that reflected light as it swayed.

Even her beauty didn't feel like that of a mortal of this world.

Zhuge Hyun forcibly shook off the feeling of being in a dream and calmed his heart.

He was the Vice Cult Leader of the Galactic Divine Cult.

This was no time to be distracted, with war against the government’s army looming.

"Cult Leader. I heard you won't be taking the field directly..."

"Ah."

She said indifferently while inspecting her body.

"Vice Cult Leader."

"Yes!!"

Zhuge Hyun snapped to attention at her clear voice, like the rolling of jade beads.

"Are you worried?"

"Huh?"

Well, you're probably someone who could crush a million-strong army alone, but...

"There's a limit to the forces the Divine Cult can mobilize currently. Moreover..."

When she succeeded as Cult Leader, most of the high-level Masters of the Demonic Cult lost their lives.

At the hands of none other than the current Cult Leader.

"We are severely lacking in the number of Masters. When it is not just a battle, isn’t the number of troops absolutely crucial in a war?"

At that, Virdel smiled lightly as she looked at Zhuge Hyun.

"Ah... That's why I'm looking forward to it. Vice Cult Leader. I heard you have talent in troop deployment?"

"Huh? Th-That's..."

"I think you'll probably show me the picture I want during the war."

"That..."

"I've excluded the most elite units as I have separate preparations for them, but don't you think it's not lacking?"

Zhuge Hyun was at a loss for words at her response.

It's not wrong, but...

Originally, war was about risking everything and fighting a life-or-death struggle with the opposing force.

However, the Cult Leader had excluded the most elite units and even prohibited the use of most weapons of mass destruction.

As such, the given troops were only about five hundred.

Five hundred against a million?

And even those five hundred weren't proper Masters.

They were warriors who had barely become familiar with their equipment, not even reaching the Peak Realm.

Although she said she would provide additional support as needed...

The crazy ones who could fly and strike down with energy beams had been taken away for the Cult Leader's special training.

What should I do...

"You can do it, right?"

Her clear voice broke Zhuge Hyun out of his thoughts.

"...Yes! I will not disappoint you!"

Zhuge Hyun had no choice but to reluctantly /genesisforsaken