35.Universe 1st Year

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“What do you think, Mr. President?”

 

 

The Chief of Staff, after briefing him on recent events, cautiously opened his mouth.

The President, who was hailed as the youngest president in the history of the Republic of Korea when he was elected, now had so much gray hair that no one could call him young, even as a compliment.

Moreover, there were bald spots here and there, clear signs of hair loss. It was evidence that he was under considerable stress at the top.

 

 

He closed his eyes tightly.

You could almost feel his headache from his deeply furrowed brow.

 

 

“Haa… it seems like nothing is going according to plan anymore.”

“Well… yes, that’s true.”

 

He was dedicating his small body to the eternal revival of the Korean people, but his plans and wishes seemed to be drifting further and further away.

Yoo-eun, who should have been achieving the nation’s prosperity, kept doing strange things and wandering outside, and the Galactic Empire’s atrocities, backed by his power, only increased.

 

The situation in old China was beyond mention, and even Japan, which had become the Mount Fuji Autonomous Territory, had fallen due to their tyranny.

 

 

Yoo-eun, who had held a press conference and grandly declared his ambitions when he returned from the other world.

But that passion didn’t last long, and now many things had changed.

 

 

It was pure fickleness.

 

 

On top of that, public opinion in the country was increasingly boiling over.

In the past, people were afraid of the Palace’s immense power, so they only occasionally posted critical articles on the internet and remained silent, but now, citing the examples of China and Japan, they were starting to engage in full-fledged offline activities.

 

Originally, the Republic of Korea was a country where protests happened every day. Now, protests related to the Galactic Empire had been added.

 

Some demanded that the Empire be driven out and Gangnam be returned, while others even argued for a war to overthrow the Empire and seize the ownerless territories of China and Japan.

It was a veritable frenzy of delusional fantasies everywhere.

 

 

 

 

 

“Hoo.”

 

 

The President sighed deeply.

It seemed the time had come to carry out a long-standing resolution.

 

“I don’t think it’s the right time… but it can’t be helped.”

 

 

He dismissed his Chief of Staff and made a phone call somewhere.

 

 

“Contact Joan of Arc.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“That’s quite an unexpected piece of news.”

 

 

The official announcement through the Galactic Empire was delivered to Han-sarang, far away in Fantasy.

The content was about conquering another otherworld. She couldn’t help but be taken aback.

 

 

In fact, she had been startled when Yoo-eun announced the Galactic Empire.

She wanted to declare her own empire, build a force equal to his, and stand side by side with him, but he was already advancing into space.

 

 

That’s why, even after conquering Ishtar, she recklessly continued to advance westward.

The immense wars and massacres that occurred in this process were something that would be recorded in the continent’s history.

 

After wiping out all the countries west of Ishtar and facing the sea, she barely managed to reorganize her forces and enter a period of internal affairs.

Of course, even this was not enough for her.

To go into space, she needed research that could be done at Research Lab level 40 or higher, and to reach Research Lab level 40, she had to raise her Headquarters to level 40.

The resources required for this were astronomical.

 

 

Even after literally ending the western part of the West Continent, her Headquarters level was only at 33.

Considering that the resources required increased as the level went up, she still had a long way to go.

 

 

In that situation, hearing that they were going to conquer another otherworld made her feel increasingly impatient.

 

“Right. What about that side… have you heard from Vulcan?”

“There’s still no response.”

“It seems they haven’t grasped the situation.”

 

 

Han-sarang struggled to shake off the despair that was trying to grow within her.

Focusing on such things wouldn’t do any good. What she had to do was the same anyway: conquer the continent as she had done so far.

 

 

“Well, they are the empire that holds the hegemony of this planet, after all.”

 

 

Vulcan was an empire occupying the northern part of the West Continent, and although it felt distant from the Reisel Kingdom, separated by the Great Plains, it was a vast nation bordering all the countries west of the West Continent, including Ishtar.

 

 

Naturally, Han-sarang, who had conquered the west, shared a vast border with them, and Vulcan was closely watching her.

But apart from that, they hadn’t contacted her separately, which Han-sarang found strangely unpleasant.

 

 

Didn’t it seem like they were ignoring them?

As if they could wipe them out at any time, so there was no value in contacting them.

 

 

“Hmm….”

 

 

Han-sarang tapped the table thoughtfully.

Shirley opened her mouth at the sound that continued with a specific rhythm.

 

 

“It’s not possible.”

“…I haven’t said anything yet?”

“We already have a territory that’s too large to manage. It will be difficult to handle if the army spreads out any further.”

“Keung….”

 

Han-sarang, who had been planning to turn Vulcan’s border area into a wasteland as part of a show of force, blushed and lowered her head.

 

 

“To properly reorganize internal affairs, you need to stay still for at least 10 years… since that’s difficult for you, please stay still for at least one year.”

“One year? That’s too long.”

 

 

It was a very short time from the country’s perspective, but a long time for Han-sarang personally.

Who knows what the Galactic Empire might do in that one year of staying still.

 

 

“The rebellions haven’t been suppressed yet. If you rush too much, you could ruin the greater cause.”

“Haa….”

 

 

Although she was reluctant, Han-sarang eventually nodded.

Even she thought the Empire was very unstable.

Because it was a country built on countless massacres and conquests, everything wavered even with the slightest breeze.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A few days later, Han-sarang, who was looking down at the developing base from the terrace on the upper floor of the headquarters, received some news.

Someone had come from the Republic of Korea.

 

 

To be exact, someone from the President’s side.

 

 

“They are currently waiting in the reception room.”

“…Okay.”

 

 

It seemed that the ‘day’ the President was thinking of was approaching.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As expected, the topic that came up after meeting the person sent by the President was exactly that.

 

 

“You’ve come a long way… I’ve been in the car for days, it’s been a real killer. Haha.”

 

 

A middle-aged man with a jovial smile.

Han-sarang, who roughly guessed that he was affiliated with the National Intelligence Service, tilted her head slightly.

 

“I heard on the way… you’ve really dedicated your whole body to the country. To run for the nation even while wearing the stigma of a murderer. I’m sure the President, as well as myself, will be very pleased.”

 

 

He was very excited and rattled on about this and that.

Mostly, it was the kind of words that praised Han-sarang’s patriotism and sacrifice.

 

 

But that was very annoying and unpleasant to Han-sarang.

She was already thirty thousand *ri* away from the President’s intentions.

 

She had grown her army to the point of establishing an empire,

and although she hadn’t held a coronation ceremony, she was functioning as an empress.

And in the long term, she had plans to bring this entire planet under her control and advance into space like the Galactic Empire.

 

 

To do this, she couldn’t move her army on the continent for at least a few years.

Of course… the plan with the President was also scrapped.

 

 

But the man, who had no way of knowing that, was constantly beaming.

 

 

“Ah, this is terrible. I’ve been talking non-stop. Colonel Han-sarang.”

“….”

“The Colonel’s achievements will be recorded in the history of the Republic of Korea… no, the Korean people. So… how about wiping that sullen look off your face?”

 

The man, who had been constantly smiling, suddenly narrowed his eyes.

 

 

“You wouldn’t be harboring any other thoughts, would you?”

“Other thoughts?”

 

 

Han-sarang opened her mouth for the first time.

Thinking that was a gain, the man’s lips slightly turned up.

 

 

“Ah, of course, I don’t think that’s the case. Everything that the Colonel cherishes is in the Republic of Korea, so you wouldn’t be harboring other thoughts in this backward place, would you?”

 

 

His words subtly touched Han-sarang’s nerves.

 

“It sounds like you’re threatening me.”

“Threatening? That’s absurd. I’m just telling you the facts. Or… are you doing something that makes you take this as a ‘threat’?”

“Enough with the useless talk. What’s the purpose of coming all the way here?”

 

The man was bothered by Han-sarang’s use of informal speech.

But he didn’t need to make an issue of it here, so he held back and moved on.

 

 

‘Han-sarang has become arrogant.’

 

 

“Well, it’s as you expect. The President has judged that the situation is ripe. You’ll have to move according to the planned schedule.”

“I refuse.”

“Of course, you woul… huh?”

“I said I refuse.”

“……What are you thinking?”

“This Empire has a vast territory, but its internal affairs are unstable, and rebellions are breaking out everywhere. I can’t move the army in this situation.”

“Haa… I was hoping it wasn’t true….”

 

 

The man’s eyes turned fierce.

 

 

“You’ve become a traitor after playing king in this uncivilized place, Colonel Han!!”

 

Kwang! He slammed the table, and the soldiers around him simultaneously drew their guns and aimed.

But he didn’t even flinch and glared at Han-sarang.

 

 

“A traitor? The Empire’s situation is not favorable, so I can’t help but be unable to move, and you call me a traitor? That’s unpleasant.”

“Hmph. It seems like you’re misunderstanding something big.”

“?”

“Once you start politics, you’re no longer a soldier. You’re a gangster. The order given to you was not to raise an army and settle down here. It’s to save the Korean people. Do you understand, Colonel Han? This place is not important! The Korean Peninsula is important!!”

 

At his shout, Han-sarang stood up from her seat with a blank expression.

 

 

“That’s your perspective.”