chapter_0122

121 – Between Protest and Riot

121 – Between Protest and Riot

The next morning.

The Great Church of Holy Flame worship hall.

“In the Old Testament, God commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is one of the ways we can find God’s guidance in our lives…”

As Bellaf, the head pastor, delivered the sermon, Frien and Daniel, who were seated in the worship hall, quietly exchanged words.

“Are you really thinking of dealing with those shameless people who don’t even know grace?”

It was Frien speaking.

Daniel chuckled softly and nodded.

“Yes. No matter how small the flame, it’s important to extinguish it early. If they regret it after it becomes a wildfire, it will be too late.”

“But Colonel, your plan is too dangerous. What will you do if they turn into a mob…?”

“A mob.”

A thin smile appeared on Daniel’s lips.

“Frien, they are not a mob. They are merely a flock of sheep being led by a shepherd’s incitement. No matter how many sheep gather, they cannot bite a wolf.”

Even knowing that a counter-protest was approaching, Daniel maintained a calm demeanor.

Frien, who had been gazing at Daniel’s profile, couldn’t contain her curiosity and asked.

“…Do you have some kind of plan?”

“If I had no plan, I wouldn’t be sitting here.”

After a brief pause, Daniel continued.

“Listen carefully, Frien. What sheep fear most is the blood of the wolf. They cannot know what a wounded wolf might do to them.”

“Blood, you say?”

“I have placed one of my people among the protesters. When the protest turns violent, that person will throw a brick at my head.”

Frien’s mouth fell slightly open at Daniel’s nonchalant revelation of such a shocking fact.

She glanced around nervously and whispered to Daniel.

“A brick? You’ll get seriously hurt, Colonel.”

“Don’t worry. It’s a fake brick made with reduced clay content and increased sand content. Also, since the firing temperature was lowered, it’s easily breakable.”

“Colonel, even if it’s fake, it’s still not safe. You’ll definitely get hurt.”

“I hope so.”

“Hope so?” Frien was left speechless, unable to understand.

Daniel, glancing at her from the side, uttered a significant remark.

“Didn’t I just say? What sheep fear most is the blood of the wolf.”

–

Meanwhile, in front of the Great Church of Holy Flame, about a thousand people were holding placards and shouting slogans.

“Stop idolizing the warmongers at the Great Church of Holy Flame!”

“We do not want war! Only the slaughterers desire war!”

“Daniel Steiner, who denies peace, must step down!”

Different voices rang out high into the sky, united by a single purpose.

“Those who deny peace!”

“Only the slaughterers!”

After some time, several individuals began to lead the protest, repeatedly chanting slogans.

Perhaps responding to their voices, the church doors opened, revealing Daniel Steiner and Frien.

As Daniel walked in, the coat of his officer uniform billowing, he appeared somewhat imposing.

However, perhaps unwilling to lose, the protesters raised their voices again.

“Warmonger!”

“The slaughterer is coming!”

“Get lost!”

The agitated protesters began to throw rotten vegetables and fruits from the baskets they had brought.

They were resisting as much as possible without inflicting harm on the other side.

However, there was no way the flying fruits would hit Daniel.

Amidst the falling fruits, Daniel walked slowly.

Thud—

A tomato brushed past him, but it couldn’t stop his movement.

Having approached within about ten steps of the protesters, Daniel came to a halt.

Although rotten fruits were still being thrown, their frequency had noticeably decreased.

Seeing this, Daniel raised both hands with a troubled expression.

“Protesters, I did not come here to quarrel with you. I am here to resolve misunderstandings and find common ground through dialogue—”

“Common ground my foot!”

A middle-aged man at the forefront stepped forward.

“My son died in the war! The son who was supposed to inherit the family business has returned as a corpse from the battlefield!”

Perhaps echoing the man’s outcry, voices of agreement arose from various places.

“Get lost, you demon!”

“You’re leading everyone to death!”

They began throwing fruits again.

Now that they were closer, more fruits were hitting Daniel’s body.

As the fruits burst, releasing a sour smell, Daniel desperately raised his hands.

“Citizens! Please calm down! I did not come here to fight you!”

At that moment, a brick flew from the crowd.

Daniel noticed the brick coming but did not dodge.

There was no need to avoid it.

Getting hit by the brick was part of the plan.

Thwack—

The brick, flying in a curve, struck Daniel’s forehead.

“Ugh…!”

As Daniel staggered momentarily, Frien screamed.

Hastily supporting Daniel, Frien turned to the protesters and cried out, as promised.

“What are you doing!? Are you trying to kill Colonel Daniel!”

At Frien’s shout, the protesters looked around in fear, unsure of what to do.

Throwing rotten fruits and throwing bricks were entirely different matters.

Everyone knew that injuring an officer of the empire during wartime would result in severe punishment.

Even injuring a mere officer constituted a serious crime, and now the protesters had harmed Daniel Steiner, who was hailed as a hero of the empire.

“Who on earth…?”

“Why a brick…?”

As a result, the protesters were filled with tension and distrust towards one another.

Watching the scene quietly, Daniel raised his hand and touched his forehead where he had been hit.

Feeling the pain, he frowned.

As he lowered his hand, he saw that his palm was covered in blood.

‘Good.’

Now the protesters were no longer free from the proposition of ‘committing violence against an officer of the empire.’

Thinking he had completely taken control of the situation, Daniel pushed Frien aside and raised his head.

“…Citizens.”

Unlike just moments ago, the citizens were now listening to Daniel’s words, albeit reluctantly.

“You have called me a warmonger and a denier of peace. Half of that is true, and half is false. How can you say I deny peace?”

Blood trickled down his forehead.

“I am the one who desires peace more than anyone else. More than anyone here!”

As Daniel shouted, the tension among the protesters thickened.

Daniel scanned the citizens one by one, frowning.

“If peace is simply a state without war, then yes! I am indeed a denier of peace! Is that what you want?”

Daniel raised his hand and pointed towards the eastern direction where the Allied Nations were located.

“I asked if you wish to surrender to the Allied Nations and live as their slaves! If that is truly your wish, I will take off my uniform and step down right here! As you desire!”

However, none of the protesters dared to tell Daniel to step down.

They were terrified by the sight of Daniel bleeding and passionately speaking, and those advocating for a reversal did not fundamentally want to become slaves of the Allied Nations either.

“Dear citizens.”

Daniel, who had superficially calmed his anger, lowered his voice as if he were grieving.

“War is what we engage in to protect the value of peace we pursue. If going to war to protect an ideal peace makes me a warmonger, I will not argue with that.”

After a brief silence, Daniel continued.

“If blaming me brings you peace of mind, then do so. But do not engage in the act of deceiving yourselves with false peace.”

Some citizens moved by Daniel’s words lowered their heads.

However, some were still displeased with Daniel’s words, merely frightened.

The man at the forefront spoke on their behalf.

“False peace? Can you say that to our son who returned as a corpse from the battlefield!?”

Daniel turned his eyes to the man.

The sharp gaze made the man feel intimidated, but he did not retract his words.

Daniel stared at the man for a moment before speaking.

“I can say that.”

“On what grounds—”

“Do you know how many battles I have fought?”

The man fell silent.

“Do you know what those facing death on the battlefield said to me?”

Daniel slowly walked towards the man.

“I have witnessed the deaths of countless comrades. Some died in my arms. Were their last words truly about a reversal?”

Daniel stopped in front of the man.

“Before dying, the soldiers all said the same thing to me, their commander. They asked me to continue this war. They asked me to ensure that the empire, victorious over the Allied Nations, could enjoy eternal peace.”

“I…”

“Your son would not have been much different.”

The man’s mouth was open, but he could not speak.

He did not know his son’s last moments.

If Daniel Steiner was carrying the last wishes of soldiers like his son onto the battlefield, then insulting Daniel Steiner was no different from trampling on his son’s hopes.

In a moment of quiet realization, the man recalled his son’s face and slowly lowered his head.

Tears began to well up in his eyes, blurring his vision.

“I’m sorry…”

Unable to hold back any longer, the man closed his eyes.

“I’m truly sorry…”

As the man began to sob, Daniel exhaled softly.

He embraced the man and gently patted his back.

“It’s alright. I understand completely.”

Like the man, Daniel closed his eyes and listened to the sounds around him.

The sound of protesters dropping their placards one by one.

Whispers of self-reflection on their actions in the protest.

Murmurs filled with guilt.

‘Amidst all of that…’

The sound of a camera shutter clicked from a distance.

It was the moment when the meticulously planned play successfully came to an end.

A word from the author (Author’s note)

Thank you to the readers who came to see it today!

I hope my novel helps you have a happy day!

Then, I’ll see you again tomorrow!