episode_0026

It was a typical pay-to-win inducement message. However, considering the rewards obtained previously, it was a temptation not easily dismissed.

“Ugh, more in-app purchases?”

But the money was already spent from my account?

“There might be a way…”

What way?

Credit cards!

But I don’t have a card. How?

Since it’s online, you can find out the number by visiting the credit card company’s website.

What about the CVC number?

I have around 6 to 7 cards.

However, there was one card I used regularly for discounts since spending a certain amount each month gave me discounts.

One was for water purifier payments.

Another was for cellphone bill discounts.

I couldn’t remember the others, but two CVC numbers stuck in my mind like remembering a resident registration number, never fading even as time passed.

– Sky Card 352

– Modern Card 158

The limit on the Sky Card was 17 million won with a long-term loan of 30 million won possible and cash services up to 3 million won.

The limit on the Modern Card was 20 million won with a long-term loan of 40 million won possible and cash services up to 5 million won.

I didn’t memorize this; it showed up when I visited the website.

“Alright, let’s receive.”

By fully utilizing both cards, I gathered 115 million won in my account.

“Ah, with all this money, there’s nothing I can’t buy, right?”

Upon recharging, there were rewards as before.

Was it 100 million won each time?

No.

Previously, I expected gifts at 100 million won, 200 million won, and 300 million won, but they weren’t there at 400 million won, disappointing me.

However, finally, at 1 billion won, it appeared.

Not a golden box but a legendary box.

Subsequently, with each additional 1 billion won, it continued to appear, ultimately charging 1.15 billion won and obtaining 11 legendary boxes.

So, including what I gained through marriage, I now had a total of 12 legendary boxes.

“Haha, this is insane. Feels like a golden path unfolding in life, doesn’t it?”

Starting with the legendary boxes received as rewards, I opened all 12.

As before, a list of choices appeared, but this time, three new options caught my eye.

They were ‘Exceptional Sailing Skills,’ ‘Sea Weather,’ and ‘Luck Avoiding Reefs.’

My first choice was…

– Erectile strength that lasts 10 times a day even after relationships

This wasn’t for the present moment.

“I may do it 10 times a day while young, but what about when I’m old?”

With more wives to come, this was the most necessary.

Next was…

– Maintaining half an erection even after ejaculation

– Continuing the rigidity of your twenties for a lifetime

– Slowing skin aging by 50%

– Retaining skin radiance and firmness until your fifties

– Living without presbyopia

– Continuing pheromone secretion of your twenties for a lifetime

– Ability to decide pregnancy

– Reducing female jealousy by 50%

– Reducing female dissatisfaction by 50%

A total of 10.

Invested in abilities related to sexual relations, aging, children, and women’s issues.

There were many other tempting abilities, but just by reading the titles, don’t you feel their necessity?

“Alright. Since I’ll get a legendary box every time I marry, let’s start with this.”

The next two choices were…

– Luck Avoiding Reefs

– Body not getting addicted to poison

Because it wasn’t a distant sea voyage, ‘Exceptional Sailing Skills’ wasn’t necessary, and I wouldn’t be staying in the sea for long, so ‘Sea Weather’ wasn’t important either.

The most terrifying thing was encountering reefs and shipwrecking.

Meeting rough waves at a reef could lead to a shipwreck and potential loss of life.

Therefore, I chose not getting poisoned, as it was related to life.

#

Morning arrived, and after preparing the bathwater, I washed and went to the bedroom.

Gae-mi stared at me with an expressionless face.

Honestly, I felt sorry.

As mentioned before, even though it wasn’t a 99-room mansion but a love nest, sounds could still be heard in the bedroom.

“I’ll apply the medicine, so please undress.”

Following the instructions, I removed my clothes.

Considering Gae-mi’s temperament, I had anticipated this, so I had taken a bath.

Gyemi meticulously applied the gold ointment to the wound.

The situation was too awkward, and I spoke first.

“If they had used poison, it could have been dangerous, but luckily there was none.”

This was truly a stroke of luck.

If there had been poison, even I could have died.

“Sanggong?”

“Why do you call me?”

I tensed up at the serious tone.

-Did you really have to do so much?

-The color lady was truly unbearable. I couldn’t sleep with her moaning.

-How was the concubine’s embrace? Did it erase cleanly from your and Miok’s minds?

I broke out in a cold sweat, expecting similar questions to come up.

However…

“You’re going back to Daemado? And with only 500 soldiers?”

We discussed this yesterday, but it was a part that hadn’t progressed further due to the Ministry of Rites intervening.

“That’s right.”

“Miok is still young, must you really go?”

Uneasy.

Knowing that Gyemi was soft-hearted towards children, she put Miok forward.

“Phew, my heart is weakening.”

But since the decision had already been made, there was no turning back.

“The matter has been approved by King Taesang and the monarch. It’s irreversible now.”

“You’ve already made contributions, why go all the way to Daemado?”

“I didn’t inform King Taesang about this decision. I mentioned it when all the scholars were promoted before. It was approved by the king.”

“So why did you…”

Gyemi raised her hand to stop me from continuing to resent her.

“Lady? You know I had to stay home in seclusion. In my own way, I initiated risky actions for the sake of my reputation.”

“I’m sorry. It’s all because of me…”

“Don’t say that. I am a military man. I will have to face countless battles in the future. This is just the beginning. I am grateful for the opportunity. So, stop with the weak-hearted words and consider it as the fate of a military family.”

It was a cold statement, and even as I spoke, my heart ached, but I couldn’t stay comfortable and linger here.

“…Yes.”

Gyemi replied with a resigned and disappointed voice.

In the original history, Jo Jong-mu’s conquest of Daemado was in June 1419.

After the Biinhyeon Waegu Incident in May, where Taizong suffered a great deal, he hastily gathered a large army to attack Daemado.

Although it was a short period of about a month, we made some preparations and set off.

With over 17,000 troops and two months’ worth of provisions prepared.

However, I felt like Taizong’s decision was impulsive.

There was no document urging Daemadoju to surrender or any promise of granting an official position if persuaded.

Later, I pondered why Taizong acted this way and came up with a few reasons.

First, it might have been an act against filial piety.

“But isn’t Taizong a great follower of Neo-Confucianism?”

If he had thought about filial piety, he wouldn’t have killed his brothers.

It seemed like this wasn’t the reason.

Second, he might have felt overwhelmed by my significant achievements and feared that I would become too powerful to control.

“So did he send me to die?”

Joseon was founded by Yi Seong-gye, a former general of Goryeo who rebelled.

Therefore, exceptional generals were highly distrusted, as seen with Seonjo and Yi Sun-sin!

My bow and Yi Seong-gye’s bow gave a similar feeling, which could have triggered Taizong’s anxiety.

Also, Taizong was known for strengthening royal authority by removing loyal subjects.

A clear example of this was when he killed Sim On, Sejong’s father-in-law!

Although he would be the most supportive figure for the king, if he could weaken royal authority, Taizong showed through Sim On that he wouldn’t tolerate it.

Taizong might have thought that I, who showed signs of becoming significant in the future, could be a threat and wanted to eliminate me.

“Phew, if Taeyong wanted me dead, even if I come back alive from the Great Island, he would probably assign me another dangerous mission. Or maybe he’ll just send me off for a change.

However, ever since my history diverged when I married Gyemi, this was an unavoidable fate.

In reality, I had plans to grow steadily while following the original history to some extent.

But being unable to advance in my career due to my wife, I couldn’t help but make remarkable achievements.

As I grew, it was inevitable that I clashed with Taeyong or Sejong; I had to accept the boundaries of a ruler.

I couldn’t refuse either.

‘Since I couldn’t be reborn as a king, it’s inevitable.’

The meeting with Taeyong wasn’t the end; it was immediately followed by a meeting with Sejong.

Sejong appointed me to the position of Cheomjeoljesa.

I was worried when Taeyong didn’t bring up the position, but when Sejong offered it, I couldn’t help but feel relieved.

I recalled how much Gyemi and my father would like it.

‘But Taeyong’s wariness towards me has nothing to do with the position.’

So, I couldn’t just be pleased; I needed to be cautious.

Even if I establish myself on the Great Island and return, no one knew if this position would continue.

Anyway, receiving the position of Cheomjeoljesa at 24 was four years earlier than in the original history.

Considering the time I spent idling until now, it was a drastic personnel decision.”