41. Hellgate

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Oh my.”

 

 

After hearing the shocking news at the Korean stew restaurant, Sarang-ssi and I entered the Harem Palace for now.

Although Korea is in chaos due to an unprecedented situation, I’m still more important, you know?

 

Sarang-ssi actually proposed to me.

Of course, I told my wives this news first.

Even though another wife is joining, they all have expressions as if it’s nothing new.

It seems they’ve reached enlightenment.

 

 

“I didn’t expect you to propose first. It feels strange.”

 

 

Like a formal meeting between families, Sarang-ssi and I are sitting together, and Sonya-ssi, Sora-nuna, and Yuna-ssi are sitting across from us.

It’s not exactly a tense atmosphere, but it’s a bit awkward.

 

 

Well, it feels like we’re outnumbered…

There are three on the other side, and only Sarang-ssi and I, so two on my side.

 

 

Of course, they’re all my wives, so it’s not like we’re confronting each other. It just feels that way…

 

 

“Usually, the man proposes and the woman accepts, right?”

“When was the last time that happened?”

“Hey, it was like that when I was young.”

“Are you a ‘back in my day’ type of person?”

“Calling your mom that? That’s filial impiety.”

 

Sonya-ssi and Yuna-ssi are bickering quietly.

 

“Anyway, I knew this would happen someday, but we’ve been in a somewhat ambiguous relationship, so it’s nice to have it clearly defined like this.”

“But you know. Honestly, I don’t really understand. There are plenty of other men, you know? Why choose such a playboy?”

 

Hey, excuse me.

 

 

“I agree. I’m a little curious about that too.”

 

Hey, excuse me!

 

 

Sora-nuna and Yuna-ssi are taking turns roasting me, and Sarang-ssi glanced up at me slightly.

Come to think of it, in this person’s previous status window, she was wondering if she should find another man.

Hmm.

Right. She even consulted with Seo-hyun about it.

 

 

“Well, that’s true, but I doubt I’d let go at this point, now that I’m already hooked.”

“There’s no way you’d let go.”

“And even if it were another man… it would be hard to find someone who matches my level.”

 

That’s right.

I’m the only man who suits Sarang-ssi.

I even drive around in a space battleship!

 

 

“Okay. Well. If that’s what you think.”

 

 

Sora-nuna nodded like that.

 

 

“Okay. Is there any reason to be gloomy here? We’re practically family now, so let’s put aside things we need to decide later and focus on building camaraderie.”

“How? Mom’s twice my age.”

“Oh my. You don’t hold back, do you?”

 

Sonya-ssi smiled and created a huge bump on Yuna-ssi’s head.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Yoo-eun and Han Sarang returned to the Harem Palace, the situation in South Korea was changing every moment. And in a very bad direction.

 

 

Countless channels were constantly broadcasting breaking news, and the content was all terrifying.

A city council member in a certain city was beheaded in front of the city hall, or shot to death,

or people who rebelled against the coup forces were brutally suppressed.

 

 

All of them were quite shocking, but the most shocking and world-astonishing content was separate.

 

 

 

 

Public execution of members of the National Assembly!

 

 

 

The mysterious military force openly broadcasted as if judging, tied up about 300 members of the National Assembly, and threw grenades under their legs as they struggled.

Of course, they died powerlessly in the explosion.

 

 

 

Even a public execution by shooting is a shocking scene that can cause massive PTSD, but this is a grenade.

The sight of bodies being torn to pieces was broadcast live across the country.

 

 

 

 

Afterwards, a mysterious man who called himself ‘Dangun’ appeared wearing a mask and a distorted voice.

 

 

 

 

 

“We must revive the weakened Korean people!!!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

With that as the main point, he poured out several words, criticizing the members of the National Assembly who had been leading the country as ‘bugs that waste national wealth’ and shouting that the next target was the Blue House.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How should we accept this situation?

Not only the people of South Korea, but also foreigners watching from the outside were in a panic.

 

To them, South Korea was just one of the foreign countries, but the recent zombie incident, the Incheon incident, and even the appearance of dungeons made them feel that all of this was heading towards the destruction of the world, causing them to feel uneasy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some suspected North Korea, the Galactic Empire, and even Han Sarang’s spaceship still floating in the air, but each quickly issued official statements to dispel the rumors for now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

++

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I don’t know what’s going on.”

 

 

Han Sarang, who returned from the Harem Palace, threw herself onto the soft sofa.

I didn’t really do much, but I feel kind of tired.

It seems I was quite nervous trying to get formal marriage permission(?).

 

 

“Welcome back, Commander-nim. You’re back early.”

 

It was already after spending a night with Yoo-eun, but she felt like I came back very early, as she thought I would stay with him for at least three days.

 

“Yeah. Something feels strange.”

“Strange?”

“Yeah. The situation in Korea right now.”

“Ah.”

 

 

Shirley nodded.

Certainly, Korea is currently in the middle of a storm.

A coup d’état has occurred.

 

 

“I did a little research and it’s a mess. All the members of the National Assembly have been killed, and city council members are dying in the provinces.”

“I know that too.”

“Who on earth has that much military control?”

 

Shirley handed me tea and sat across from me.

 

 

“Hmm… I wonder. Did we have that kind of soldier in our country?”

“If we look at the rank, it would be at least a star, right?”

“Maybe surprisingly a field grade officer.”

“But the control is unusual.”

“That’s true.”

 

 

It’s amazing that they occupied the National Assembly and are still maintaining it, but they also have control over the provinces.

Even this alone is impossible for a single field grade officer, or even a general, with only a portion of the forces.

 

 

At least a force comparable to the rebels during the 5.16 or 12.12 incidents would be needed to do this, and considering that all the members of the National Assembly were killed, a much larger force must be behind it.

 

 

And if such a force existed within the military, Han Sarang, who was a lieutenant colonel with a regimental commander position, would have known.

 

 

 

“Something’s very strange. The timing too.”

 

 

That’s why it’s even stranger.

For an organization of this size to move in unison and do something, they would have planned it long ago, so why didn’t Han Sarang know about it?

 

 

Of course, she has been out on other planets for the past few months.

But this means that before that, she was a soldier in South Korea.

 

 

Not just any soldier, but a lieutenant colonel who is the daughter of a general.

 

 

‘…Surely not?’

 

 

A sudden ominous feeling passed by.

 

A general is the biggest star in South Korea.

They are half politicians, but at least within the military, they are like kings.

 

 

 

Tap tap tap.

 

 

Feeling uneasy for no reason, she started tapping the table with her fingers.

It’s a habit that usually comes out when she’s deep in thought.

 

 

“Commander-nim? Are you thinking the same thing as me?”

“What are you thinking?”

“Um~. I was wondering if all of this is the work of that damn President-ssi.”

“…”

“And your father, Commander-nim, is slightly involved in it.”

“…”

 

She groaned silently.

She has just reached the same conclusion that Shirley mentioned.

 

 

Of course, it’s not certain, so it’s forbidden to make a definite statement, but it seemed the most plausible given the circumstances.

 

 

 

First of all, the timing.

This happened right after Han Sarang rejected all of the President’s proposals.

The movement was so unified and unstoppable that it seemed like they had run countless simulations.

 

 

It’s very planned and has been planned for a long time.

 

 

Then, what is the purpose of doing this?

 

 

What will a man who doesn’t even reveal his identity while staging a coup d’état gain from this?

South Korea is not such an easy country that you can have everything with just one coup d’état, no matter how it was in the past.

 

 

Above all, the soldiers of South Korea are conscripted, and they know that they belong to the coup forces, but as time goes by, morale will drop and deserters will increase to the point where they cannot be controlled.

 

 

Even if they somehow gain all the power, it’s still unstable.

There is North Korea, the Galactic Empire, and even the Harem Palace is stuck in the heart of South Korea.

 

But what if a coup government is established in South Korea? Who would just stand by and watch their power without legitimacy? If they come in with a plausible justification of ‘for the restoration of the sovereignty of allied countries’, the coup government without legitimacy has nothing to say, and there is a high possibility that the international community will just stand by.

 

 

Therefore, it doesn’t make sense to stage a coup d’état for personal power at this point.

 

 

 

 

 

Then, who would benefit the most if this goes all the way to the end?

 

Ironically, it’s the President who was designated as the next target of the members of the National Assembly.

 

 

His dream is the revival of the Korean people.

To that end, he is dreaming of the delusion that even if he has to endure some sacrifices, he wants Han Sarang to occupy and rule South Korea, and then join the Galactic Empire.

 

 

But Han Sarang coldly refused.

 

At this point, he would have thought like this.

 

 

 

 

‘If you don’t intend to conquer, you just have to make it impossible not to conquer.’

 

 

 

 

Like that.

 

 

With the scientific and military power to launch even a spaceship, it wouldn’t be too difficult to occupy South Korea.

The problem is to motivate her.

 

 

Even though she refused, if I give her a motive, she will gladly engage in military action.

 

 

Then, how can I create that motive?

 

 

Since ancient times, the greatest driving force of humans has been anger and hatred.

The two make you move forward only towards the goal in front of you without even taking care of your own body.

 

 

 

 

 

And perhaps that is what the President is aiming for.

 

 

“He’s gambling even his own life. Maybe he’s already talked to your father, Commander-nim.”

“……If that’s true, he’s one crazy bastard.”